ESPN analyst calls Aaron Rodgers “a distraction”

To no one’s surprise, HBO’s “Hard Knocks” decided to put the New York Jets as the team they will be following during the pre-season, and why not?

The addition of Aaron Rodgers has brought the team a lot of attention, so it was an easy pick.

But Chris “Mad Dog” Russo of ESPN says that having the cameras following Rodgers and the Jets is a big mistake because just having Rodgers is enough of a distraction.

.@MadDogUnleashed said Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) is ‘enough of a distraction’ & suggested if #NFL forces ‘Hard Knocks’ on #Jets they can attempt to tank the show so it’s not entertaining 🧐 + @Foxworth24 pushed back ‘it’s just going to be 5 or 10 extra cameras’ + he also… pic.twitter.com/nxLEc88RAU

— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) June 29, 2023

Russo said this on “First Take” Wednesday:

“They got Aaron Rodgers, that is enough of a distraction. Rodgers helps you win, Hard Knocks doesn’t help you win. I’ll tell you one thing about this NFL thing about well they are going to make the Jets do it. The NFL doesn’t want to be in that situation because if they do make the Jets do it, which they have the contractual right to do so, the Jets can say fine you can come we’re not going to help you,” he said.

Another thing is the Jets had no interest in being part of this year’s show which Russo also pointed out that it might bad for TV.

“So then HBO has a lousy show. They need a team that wants HBO to come in and if the Jets don’t really want it, if you’re HBO why go there? I think it is a complete waste of time and that’s the last thing you need if you’re the Jets,” he concluded.

{Paul Andrew Esden Jr.}