Julian Edelman calls out Aaron Rodgers for minicamp absence: ‘Bad look’

Yes, Julian Edelman went there when discussing Aaron Rodgers’ unexcused absence from Jets minicamp. He dropped Tom Brady into the conversation.

Of course, Edelman was a long-time teammate of Brady’s. And the two former Patriots still are close friends. Take that for what it’s worth.

But on Friday, during an interview on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Edelman used Brady as an example to talk about Aaron Rodgers. Brady likely is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. And he didn’t skip.

“I think it’s a bad look for your leader, for whatever reason, to go and miss (a mandatory minicamp),” Edelman said. “I was with Tom Brady in his 25th year or 23rd year, and he started missing OTAs here and there. But he never missed a mandatory minicamp. I just thought it was a bad look.”

.@Edelman11 says Aaron Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp is a bad look:

"If they go 1-3, this is going to be such a big distraction for that locker room." pic.twitter.com/WLrwwgln2r

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 21, 2024

Jets coach Robert Saleh announced that Rodgers wouldn’t be attending the team’s minicamp earlier this month. The coach didn’t offer a reason for the absence, other than to say the quarterback had asked to attend an event he thought was important. Rodgers had not missed any OTAs, which are voluntary. But minicamp is another matter. The Jets can fine Rodgers up to $100,000 for not showing up.

Saleh said he was good with Aaron Rodgers’ absence. But Edelman wasn’t. He explained why.

“I know a lot of people do things differently,” Edelman said. “But God forbid the New York Jets start 1-3 at the beginning of the season, which they start with the (San Francisco) Niners, Tennessee (Titans), (New England) Patriots and someone else regardless. We all know the Patriots are no good, but that defense is still the same defense, and that’s who Aaron goes against. 

“If they go 1-3, this is going to be such a big distraction for that locker room. Because everyone is going to be talking about it – this is New York City. It’s the media capital of the world.”

Meanwhile, NFL insider Albert Breer offered his insight of why Aaron Rodgers missed minicamp. Breer hinted it had to do with Rodgers’ documented use of ayahuasca. Breer talked about the quarterback during an interview with Rich Eisen as Jets minicamp was going on.

“He is somewhere that they could not excuse and maintain credibility with the rest of the locker room,” Breer said. “But would be expected. It would not be out-of-left field for him. So you guys can open your minds so to speak. He’s been known to open his mind sometimes to all possibilities that might create for him.”

Aaron Rodgers can enjoy about another month of doing what he wants. Jets rookies report to training camp, July 18, with veterans checking in five days later. Rodgers is starting his second season with the Jets. Last year was an abbreviated one after Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles four plays into the season opener.

Edelman brought up the quarterback’s injury.

“I’m a big Aaron Rodgers fan,” he said. “But if I was in that locker room, and Aaron Rodgers wasn’t there for three days on the mandatory minicamp, having played four snaps off of an injury when we have two new receivers, a bunch of new linemen that we added to the team, with a CBA that doesn’t allow us to practice a lot, I guarantee there’s four or five guys – six, seven, eight, nine guys in that locker room – sitting there like, ‘Where’s he at?’”