Always consider your sources, kids.
Current-future-former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't seem to like ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter very much, but the genesis of his dislike is unclear. One thing is clear, though: Schefter won't be getting any info from the passer anytime soon.
As is his prerogative, Rodgers doesn't let Schefter in on any information, leading to his recent "Pat McAfee Show" revelation: Schefter recently texted Rodgers for a scoop on his NFL future with the Jets, which prompted the quarterback to tell the reporter to "lose my number." Schefter confirmed Rodgers' report with a screenshot of the QB's response.
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But the sometimes-prickly Rodgers didn't let the world in on the events leading up to the text, but Schefter detailed his reporting process to Peter King in his "Football Morning in America" column this week:
I’ve had his number for a while. I never once used it. Trey Wingo reported he was 'hearing' that Rodgers to the Jets was done. The day he did it, ESPN was going live from 3 to 5 on free agency. Everyone was saying Aaron Rodgers to the Jets is done. We're on the air for two hours. I call the Jets, I call the Pack, I call Rodgers' advisers. No one's saying anything. So, I'm sitting there on the set with Dianna Russini. 'Should I text Rodgers?' She said, 'Yeah, text him.' At 3:35, I texted him. I say, basically: 'Have you informed the Jets that you’d like to play there? I wanted to open it up to you.' He didn’t respond for maybe 10 minutes. So then I called the number, got sent to voice mail. Then he texts me, 'Lose my number. Good try tho.' That’s all. He’s the one who says the media’s getting it wrong. I wanted to go to source and get it right. That's all. I was just trying to do my job.
If Schefter's retelling of the events is accurate, then he's not necessarily in the wrong here. He seemed to check all his boxes before going to the source of the information (Rodgers himself) to make sure there wasn't a high-stakes game of telephone happening.
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In fairness, Schefter hasn't always been a paragon of journalistic integrity, but in this case, he seems to have taken the proper steps to ensure the story was covered on all bases.
Rodgers made it clear on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he wants to be a Jet, but New York and Green Bay are still at a standoff regarding potential compensation. Debates surrounding the "leverage" rage on, but it seems apparent that the passer is done with the Pack — and vice versa.
It seems to be a matter of time when Rodgers will be trading shades of green, but when news of the deal finally breaks, don't expect Schefter to have the first scoop.