Stephen A. Smith makes bold claim about how New York media will treat Aaron Rodgers

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made a bold claim about how the New York media will treat Aaron Rodgers this season.

Sparring with his Wednesday First Take debate partner Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, the two got into an argument, naturally, over how Rodgers could handle New York compared to Green Bay. Russo didn’t think Rodgers stood a chance.

But Smith on the other hand called Russo’s take asinine.

“This is not Green Bay where they fawn over Rodgers and they bow over Aaron,” Russo said Wednesday morning. “In two weeks, they’re gonna be on the back page and the front page of the New York papers every day, and that’s before a game is starting. And they’re gonna look at Rodgers and they’re gonna scrutinize him like you wouldn’t believe and that is gonna drive them absolutely crazy.”

That’s where Smith made an analogy to cutting the cheese, so to speak. You’ll have to read for yourself.

“That is the most asinine take that you have given since you have arrived here,” Smith said. “New York’s got a lot going on. But if there was ever an individual that was in position to be a godlike figure in the world of sports, it would be Aaron Rodgers.

“Because you got to take into account the purgatory that has been the New York Jets for ages. This dude pass gas, they’ll think it’s perfume. What are you talking about? It makes no sense, what you’re saying!”

The current state of the team is all good, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. How could it not be with Aaron Rodgers?

A future Hall of Fame quarterback gives New York a chance at a Super Bowl title. 

Rodgers was acquired by the Jets from the Green Bay Packers through a trade on April 24 leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, sending the future Hall of Fame quarterback to a new team for the first time in his NFL career.

Since landing in New York, Rodgers has been seen courtside at New York Knicks playoff games and at New York Rangers hockey games with teammates. He has really embraced the culture that the city offers.

“It is all good. And I sort of thought that new team, new approach, the buy-in would be really strong and really quick. And it has been all of that,” Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show. “Like, not only was he there for some OTAs and showed his teammates like, ‘Hey, I’m around.’

“Like (Aaron Rodgers) was there for all of [the practices]. And I know some of that was related to the calf injury, but still, he was there for all of them. He doesn’t have to learn a new offense, but he can help teach everyone else the offense along with Nathaniel Hackett, I think that’s gonna really help.”