Former Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez joined the Pat McAfee Show to talk Aaron Rodgers
If you play professional sports in New York, you need to have thick skin. No one knows that more than former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
In 2004, the Yankees acquired Rodriguez in a trade with the Texas Rangers, fresh off winning the American League MVP award. Despite going on to win a World Series and two MVPs in New York, fans never adored Rodriguez as they did his teammates.
Aaron Rodgers’ trade from Green Bay to the New York Jets has many parallels to Rodriguez’s situation. And while the success of the Jets’ trade remains to be seen, Rodriguez believes the team (and Rodgers) will have success.
Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Rodriguez talked about the future Hall of Fame quarterback – discussing his handling of the New York media and projecting future success for the 39-year-old. After all, Rodriguez knows what it’s like to come to New York as a former MVP with sky-high expectations.
“Well, first of all, he is so much more mature than I was. He’s very, very, very smart. He’s ready to go, a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Rodriguez said on McAfee’s show. “Hopefully he can do some great things for the Jets.
"Aaron Rodgers will be just fine in New York and I love that he's leaning into it..
He's a first ballot Hall of Famer and hopefully he can do some great things for the Jets"@AROD #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/42YRgGxuLk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 31, 2023
While many Jets fans are excited to have Rodgers as the new starting quarterback, the national media hasn’t always been as generous. The former Yankees third baseman is no stranger to the media spotlight, however, and exclaims that Rodgers is handling himself very well in the national spotlight.
“I know New York is thrilled to have him, but I think he’s going to be just fine,” said Rodriguez. “I love the way he’s leaning into it. He’s having fun. He’s at concerts, he’s at Knicks games. That’s exactly what New York wants to do. You’ve just got to go out and perform and have fun and be yourself.”
Of course, Rodgers and the Jets are in their honeymoon phase, with nothing but great reviews inside the building. But even if the team doesn’t quite live up to expectations, Rodriguez believes the risk is worth it for the Jets.
“There’s really nothing to lose, right? He can’t be Joe Namath 2.0. And the fact is that he can lift the Jets to heights … Jets fans are ready to go. They’ve suffered a lot, they’re great fans, smart, and passionate and now they have their guy, which is awesome.”
