Rodgers criticizes MVP voter after controversial comments: 'He's a bum'
Aaron Rodgers didn't hold back while addressing the controversial comments made by an MVP voter on Wednesday.
Hub Arkush, one of the 50 media members who vote for the NFL MVP award, said Tuesday he won't vote for Rodgers because the Green Bay Packers quarterback is "the biggest jerk in the league," according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.
Rodgers criticized Arkush, adding the remarks stem from the 10-time Pro Bowler's vaccination status.
"He's a bum. I think he's an absolute bum," Rodgers said Wednesday, according to NFL reporter Dov Kleiman. "You don't know me. I don't know who he is. Nobody knew who he was probably until yesterday's comments.
"In my opinion, (the NFL) should exclude future votes (from Arkush). His problem isn't with me being a bad guy or the biggest jerk in the league ... His problem is: I'm not vaccinated."
In his comments, Arkush also said Rodgers' off-field behavior particularly affects his voting.
"Has (Rodgers) been the most valuable on the field? Yeah, you could make that argument, but I don't think he is clearly that much more valuable than Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp or maybe even Tom Brady.
"We are told to pick the guy who we think is most valuable to his team. And I don't think it says anywhere, 'strictly on the field,' although I do think he hurt his team on the field by the way he acted off the field. (The Packers are) gonna get the No. 1 seed anyway, but what if the difference had come down to the (Kansas City) Chiefs game, where he lied about being vaccinated, and they ended up getting beat?"
In August, Rodgers implied he'd received a COVID-19 vaccine, saying he was immunized when asked about his vaccination status. However, he faced protocols for unvaccinated players and missed Green Bay's Week 9 loss to the Chiefs after testing positive. The 38-year-old, who said he tried an alternative immunization protocol against the virus during the offseason, later apologized for the situation.
"If (Arkush) wants to go on a crusade and collude and come up with an extra letter to put on the award just for this season and make it the most valuable vaccinated player, then he should do that," Rodgers also said Wednesday.
Arkush apologized for his comments Wednesday evening, calling his remarks a "terrible mistake."
Rodgers, the reigning NFL MVP, is the favorite to win the award again this year. The Packers currently have the NFL's best record at 13-3 and enter Week 18 with the NFC's No. 1 seed already locked up.
"The MVP should be about the most valuable player on the team," Rodgers said, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. "A lot of times it goes to the best player on the best team, and we're the best team."