auckland — The quarterback wasn't there. His name was not mentioned at all for two hours. Maybe it wasn't necessary.
The mere prospect of a pairing had already served its purpose of moving the news cycle, stirring speculation and stirring up intrigue around an unexpected bid for the White House by an outsider intent on defying political norms. But is Aaron Rodgers running for Vice President of the United States?
This was not only contrary to political norms, but also incited mistrust.
It's hard to imagine Rodgers juggling the rigors of his day job as quarterback for the New York Jets with a high-stakes political campaign, especially this fall, when the heart of the NFL regular season collides directly with Election Day. It was almost impossible to do. Still, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate and member of America's most famous political establishment, insisted earlier this month that his friend Mr. Rogers would be at the top of his list of running mate candidates.
Mr. Rogers has never publicly denied or dismissed his candidacy. According to the New York Times, Mr. Rogers “welcomed the proposal.” For at least a few days, the 40-year-old NFL quarterback was even more likely to be a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. With the Jets' season hopes on his shoulders, he could also take time off to travel the country campaigning, meeting with voters and possibly participating in a vice presidential debate. Or somehow do both at the same time.
The possibility of a Kennedy-Rogers ticket, which was not to be expected from the beginning, was formally called off Tuesday in Oakland, with Kennedy naming lawyer and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. Shanahan, previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, is a political newcomer. She recently provided $4 million to pay for Kennedy's ad that aired during the Super Bowl.
Rodgers fit the mold Kennedy was looking for. President Kennedy said in a recent interview that “our appeal is to young people,” and that Rogers “has endured the test of time because he has been attacked by the press” for his “skepticism of authority.” .
It is debatable how much influence Rogers had on Kennedy's candidacy. Within a few years, he had become one of the most polarizing figures in sports, and some of Kennedy's most ardent supporters shuffled into the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts on Tuesday for the announcement. But there were no supporters. The idea that Rogers is a serious candidate for vice president.
Zack Nelson called this a “publicity stunt.” The 26-year-old business executive, who flew in from Seattle for the event, said he made a large donation to Kennedy's campaign, citing the president's active embrace of cryptocurrencies. “Just saying, 'Aaron Rodgers could be our vice president,' is going to bite people,” Nelson continued. “I think it was a very smart PR move to get attention. And it worked.”
Ryan Sarnataro, 72, who drove 135 miles from Santa Cruz on Tuesday, said from a nearby seat that he was not impressed by the possibility of Rodgers being on the ticket. “I'm not crazy about unqualified people being usurped as president,” he said.
Trip Durham, a native New Yorker, never took this seriously. “I couldn't believe it,” he said. “That would just be a lot. It would cause major disruption to the race.”
Some, like lifelong Bay Area resident Nicole Fuller, were stunned to learn that Rodgers was a candidate for the job. “I didn't know he was being considered. He had no clue,” she said. “But maybe he brought that populist feel to this, like Taylor Swift? Maybe that's what's needed. We're hoping for a miracle to happen here. ”
Supporters cheer at an event for President Robert F. Kennedy as he announced Nicole Shanahan as his running mate on Tuesday. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)
Sue Peters, a New York neuroscientist who flew in for Tuesday's announcement, had no qualms about any of Kennedy's running mate candidates, including Rogers. “I trust (Kennedy),” she said. “I felt that (former President Donald) Trump broke conventional wisdom and paved the way for Bobby, who has no political experience, to run for president.I don't think a political background is necessary for a vice president.'' .”
One Kennedy supporter, who admitted he's new to politics, snuck out of his seat backstage before the announcement to pick up some “KENNEDY 24” hats in the lobby. For a moment, he stood and admired the life-size mural that adorned the entrance: a collage of photos from Kennedy's life. One of the photos showed the candidate, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, cradled in his father's arms. Until Tuesday, Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) did not know that Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was running for president when he was assassinated in 1968.
Like Rodgers, the 20-year NBA veteran and former champion has developed a friendship with Kennedy over the past year. He flew in from Los Angeles on Tuesday morning to voice his support and wowed the crowd by speaking from the podium three times before Kennedy and Shanahan took the stage.
Asked about Rodgers, who he does not know personally, World Peace considered the possibility of a professional athlete running for vice president mid-season. “Oh, I guess so.” Really “Interesting,” he said finally. “And it's really cool.”
How did we end up in a world where a star quarterback turned part-time provocateur happens to be John F. Kennedy's nephew on the vice-presidential shortlist? Or?
Something has changed for Rodgers in recent years, at least publicly. He lost interest in biting his tongue and delivering canned sound bites, which is why many professional athletes, especially franchise quarterbacks, lean in when pressured in front of a microphone or camera. Rogers puts it this way: He was simply tired of sitting back, being quiet, and allowing others to shape the story around him.
He wanted to express his opinion.
Rodgers has repeatedly courted controversy, but at times he has seemed welcoming and relished the ensuing firestorm. At other moments, he begins to get irritated with how he believes he is being portrayed. As he dabbles in conspiracy theories from the cozy pulpit of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers knows he won't be challenged by the host.
Even if, as happened in January, TV host Jimmy Kimmel's name may be revealed in court documents related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein Even if Mr. Rogers made a false claim. Kimmel threatened to sue. Mr. Rogers tried to retract his comments, but he never apologized.
“I didn't call him a (pedophile) and neither should you,” Rodgers later said on McAfee's show. “Let me be clear about that. I don't get excited or happy about someone doing that. So please don't do that in my name. Never do that. These are on the list. These are serious accusations against the people listed.”
He recently denied a CNN report on X that he shared conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre. This is the only statement he has made publicly since he was announced as Kennedy's running mate, saying he would support Kennedy this fall if he became president on the ballot. Like Kennedy, Rogers has repeatedly expressed skepticism about vaccines and once referred to Travis Kelce as “Mr. Kennedy.” Pfizer” comes after the Chiefs All-Pro tight end appeared in a commercial defending the coronavirus and flu vaccines. Rogers later requested that Kelce and Dr. Anthony Fauci join Kennedy in a discussion on the topic.
Rodgers misled reporters about his vaccination status before the 2020 season and later tested positive for the coronavirus. He was fined by the Packers for not following league protocols. “I now find myself in the crosshairs of a woke mob,” he said on McAfee's show shortly after. There are a lot of blatant lies out there about critical thinkers. ”
That's what Rogers often calls himself.
“You know, I'm not like the anti-vaccine Flat Arthur,” he told McAfee in 2020. “I'm a critical thinker.”
Rodgers said his outspokenness cost him friends, teammates and sponsors. Both on and off the field, turmoil followed him like a shadow. Last spring, a years-long messy divorce with the Packers sent him to New York, where he was hailed as a savior. His first season with the Jets ended in the first quarter of his first game. The team stumbled.
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Aaron Rodgers, Robert Saleh and how the Jets' season fell apart: 'Something has to change'
During a recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Rodgers noted that he “gets less respect now” than he did a few years ago. The conversation then returned to the debate over the coronavirus. “The opposite of standing up for something and being brave for what you believe in is to say nothing and be a coward,” Rogers said. “That wasn't my intention.
“I don't want what I went through to never happen,” he continued. “And I don't give AF —. I've been able to make a lot of money playing a sport that I'm good at, so I'm grateful for that. I have a platform. People who want me to shut up and throw a soccer ball. There are some, and that's fine, but I think we need some sort of voice of reason…”
That was what attracted Kennedy to Rogers in the first place.
“Aaron Rodgers’ instinct to choose service to others over his own financial gain, his commitment to America’s physical and mental health, his efforts to legalize psychedelic treatment of veterans and trauma survivors, and his courage to stand by his beliefs. “My consistent record of continuing to inspire and inspire me,” Amaryllis Fox, Kennedy's campaign manager, wrote about X earlier this month.
So Mr. Rogers was in Costa Rica on his annual ayahuasca trip when the New York Times reported that he was one of President Kennedy's running mate candidates.
There's no evidence the Jets knew of that possibility. One can only imagine how quickly his jaw hit the floor of the team facility when the words “Rogers being considered as Kennedy's running mate'' appeared on the caption. At an NFL league meeting in Orlando this week, team leaders said the star quarterback was considering a short-term major political foray, before Kennedy named Shanahan as his running mate and formally eliminated Rodgers. It seems that he underestimated the possibility that
“We didn't take (it) too seriously,” general manager Joe Douglas said.
Did Rodgers contact the team and let them know that he and Kennedy talked?
“He didn't have to do that,” coach Robert Saleh said.
So, football. Douglas spent most of his offseason money strengthening the Jets' leaky offensive line, which contributed to Rodgers' untimely Achilles injury last September. “I hope he feels like he has some candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security (and Secretary of Defense) now that we have strengthened the O-line,” the GM joked.
Owner Woody Johnson has publicly stated that Rodgers is “definitely ready to go” and plans to return as scheduled.
That's good for the Jets. They avoided one distraction. But there's more to come knowing this quarterback.
Zach Rosenblatt contributed to this report.
(Rogers photo: Ryan Kang/Getty Images)