You didn't really think I was going to give Aaron Rodgers a pass now, did you?

By now, even non-football fans have probably heard some buzz about the Green Bay Packers' star quarterback Aaron Rodgers' vaccination saga.

Rodgers recently tested positive for covid, so had to sit out Sunday's game - which the Packers lost - and will not be allowed back on the field until he has a negative test.

The big deal is not that Rodgers got covid. Lots of folks get covid, including vaccinated athletes. The big deal is that he lead people, including his teammates, to believe that he was vaccinated, claiming that he was "immunized." Putting them at risk. So much for Rodgers' vaunted leadership abilities. 

The National Football League has a bunch of rules and regulations about vaccinations. All players have to observe certain protocols, and non-vaccinated personnel are supposed to observe even more. Penalties have been levied - financial and loss of draft picks - on a number of teams, and it's expected that the Rodgers and the Packers will face some of these. 

So far, the big kahuna penalty - forfeiting a game - hasn't been levied, and it's unlikely to be levied here. Still, Rodgers and the Packers aren't making any new friends given the current brouhaha.

Rodgers kind of surprised me. I always rather liked him, and thought he was at least reasonably intelligent. After all, he was one of the folks given a tryout as host for Jeopardy. Turns out he's something of a fringey nutter, doing his own "research" on vaccinations and turning to comedian/podcaster/fringey nutter Joe Rogan for covid advice. 

I love these people who claim to do their own research.

Sure, when it comes to things medical, don't we all? When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I looked at a ton of stuff on line. It came from sources like the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and the American Cancer Society. And I used the information I gathered to help come up with questions that Jim and I discussed with his oncologist, surgeon, and radiologist. I also looked at "civilian" sites where people discussed their personal experiences with cancel. This was interesting,often comforting, and sometimes hopeful, but not really all that helpful. When it came to helpful, I stuck with the pros to inform my thinking.

But I never would have said that what I was doing was exactly research. It was more or less looking at information online that was generally research-based. 

What I wasn't doing was conducting clincial trials, peer reviewing studies, studying the science. 

Yet all of a sudden, anyone with Internet access and opposable thumbs is a "researcher." No. You're. Not.

But what can we expect from a guy who's engaged to an actress who suns her vagina? Aaron Rodgers may not have started out a full-fledged kook, but he's sure on the road to kookdom. With a good bit of rightwing self-righteousness thrown in. Rodgers has complained that he's "in the crosshairs of the woke mob." And that said "woke mob" is hammering nails into his "cancel culture casket."

Oh, boo hoo. A local (Wisconsin) healthcare system has parted spokesman ways with Rodger, but how can a healthcare system that's not full of quacks allow someone who doesn't believe in vaccination to act as a spokesman for them? Simple answer: they can't.

State Farm has a major deal with Rodgers, who for years has been appearing in their (often amusing) ads. They're standing by their man, stating that while they're all for vaccination, he has his right to his opinion. Which is pretty weak and weaselly, in my book. In any case, last weekend, only a very small, well below the norm percentage of State Farm ads featured Rodgers. And Terry Bradshaw, a former football great who also does State Farm ads has come out with a pretty pointed attack on Rodgers.

Whethere Rodgers loses his endorsements remains to be seen, but most companies don't want a controversial crackpot fronting for them. 

Anyway, I hope he ends up with a big fat fine and/or has to sit out a few more games. He can go hang out with his fiancé, sunning his junk or something.

And how about them Packers?

They're now getting it in the neck from the sports and non-sports media alike. What did they know about Rodgers' vaccination status, and when did they know it? And the teams that have been penalized for covid infractions are clearly scrutinizing this one.

The Packers are an interesting team.

Although the Dallas Cowboys are often referred to as "America's Team," I'd argue that title really belongs to the Packers. 

They're an old time team, owned by their fans, and playing in their old time stadium, often on frozen tundra. They're in a relatively small market, yet they have a nationwide fan base. And they have a history that includes a lot of glory and a lot of winning. After Patriots gear, the most common football

clothing I see around here is Green Bay Packers. I'm guessing that an awful lot of football fans place the Pack second in ther affections, rooting for them when they're team isn't involved.

And now they're looking like dopes who let Rodgers get away with living a lie, leaving their team members and other personnel at risk. Not to mention those playing on teams that were up against them. And now this. All I can say is that I don't mind seeing the Patriots replaced as the team that folks love to hate. Green Bay Packers, come on down!

We pay altogether too much attention to what athletes have to say, especially when what they have to say is ill-informed and just plain wrong. And yet they can influence behavior for the better, and if more of the biggies would lock arms and come out in favor of vaccinations for everyone, it would likely help some folks make a pro-vaccination decision they may have been dragging or diggint in their heels on. Making it good for society and making the athletes look good, too.

I hope that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have to pay hefty fines. I hope that the Packers end the season with a resounding thud. 

Years ago, when the Packers were having a resurgence, they used a tagline "The Pack is back." 

Well, right about now, the Pack ain't back. Back-wards would be more accurate. As for Rodgers, I'm no longer a fan. And I'm just as glad that he spells his name the wrong way. No way I want to be related to that guy.