Tiki seems to like to criticize Jets QBs, potential or otherwise
The New York Jets offseason news cycle revolves around who their next quarterback will be.
When a New York media personality weighs in on the situation, people listen. When Tiki Barber makes his thoughts known, though, it’s always taken with a grain of suspicion. After all, Tiki played for the Giants for 10 years.
Tiki gave his take on the Jets’ rumored pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. On his WFAN ‘Tiki and Tierney Show’ together with Jets fan Brandon Tierney, Barber commented that he does not want Rodgers on the Jets—but for a somewhat perplexing reason.
On ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ this week, Rodgers contradicted reports from Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter about when his ‘isolation retreat’ will take place. Tiki apparently took issue with that.
If Aaron Rodgers is already "taking shots" at the media, @TikiBarber says he isn't cut out for New York: pic.twitter.com/v7ca9LBuOl
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) February 15, 2023
There has been some speculation about how Rodgers’s prickly personality will play in New York, but this is a very odd spin on that idea.
All Rodgers said to McAfee was that the reports about his timeline for a decision were false. He took shots at Rapoport and Schefter only inasmuch as he was explaining why they were wrong.
Since these are the two most well-known and generally accurate reporters around the NFL, it makes sense to clarify why they were not correct in his case.
This is not the first time Tiki has publicly criticized a player connected to the Jets. Last offseason, with a lot of social media stir about Zach Wilson’s private life, Tiki came out and knocked Wilson for a lack of focus on football.
While there may be a reason to be concerned about Rodgers’s potential to clash with the New York media, some would argue that Tiki’s personality compares nicely with Rodgers’s. Barber called out his teammates publicly, both during and immediately after his playing career. He also showed character issues throughout the years.
For the Jets, this is a non-story. Let the Rodgers pursuit continue as scheduled.
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I don’t find myself agreeing with Tiki often but we should be concerned about Rogers. Rogers appears amazingly insecure and loves to create drama. His statement ripping Schefter and Rapoport was not only angry but completely unneccesary. Why makes those statements? What does he have to gain by telling people that these reporters will never get access to his inner circle. His lies last year about his vaccination status was bizarre, dishonest and put innocent people at risk. Rogers reminds me of Adam Gase where both are so insecure they seem obsessed with constantly telling other people how smart they think they are.
In regards to Rogers getting along with the media I do think that is a bit overblown. As long as he wins with the Jets everything will be fine. But, if he doesn’t win, then yes the media may come after him. But, at that point Rogers relations with the media will be the least of our worries as we wil likely need a new coach and possibly a new GM and will be back in rebuild mode with a large salary cap bill coming due on Rogers contract.
Media personalities resort to outrageous statements to gain attention over all the other shouting voices out there. Or, if I were to be charitable, they tend to embellish and exaggerate.
Maybe it’s me, but I have a hard time thinking Aaron Rodgers wants to play in NY. He has found a way to dominate the sports headlines during the offseason, no small feat, for 3 years in a row now. I think he is doing this for the attention and what better way to get national media attention than to drag the NY sports media into the discussion. I could be wrong, but I just don’t think Rodgers is serious about playing in NY.
i’m not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say