NFL reporter Ian Rapoport called out Aaron Rodgers for taking aim at his reporting during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Rapoport appeared himself on McAfee’s show Thursday, the same day the host announced a $30 million deal with FanDuel. The NFL Network insider said he “took note” of the “interesting comments” Rodgers made about his reporting in a previous episode.
Rapoport was referring to a claim made by Rodgers on McAfee’s Nov. 30 show, in which the quarterback alleged that Green Bay coaches have slipped stories to the media.
At the time, Rodgers was discussing treatment options for his fractured pinky toe, when McAfee mentioned there were conflicting reports about whether or not the quarterback would undergo surgery.
The day before Rodgers spoke to McAfee, Rapoport and his NFL Network colleague, Tom Pelissero, reported that the quarterback would avoid surgery for the time being, and was hoping to rest over the Green Bay’s Week 13 bye.
When McAfee asked Rapoport on Thursday if the report Rodgers referenced was his, Rapoport replied, “That was me as a matter of fact.”
This week, however, Rodgers told McAfee that surgery is still a possibility if the injury worsens, but he would “see how it feels later in the week.”
McAfee and Rapoport were discussing the Packers’ overall health when the conversation veered to Rodgers and the pinky toe saga.
“I did see that. No surgery this week, which was interesting,” Rapoport told McAfee, before stating the quarterback “had some comments on some of the reporting on his toe, which is interesting comments.”
Last week was the Packers’ bye week, so if Rodgers was to get in-season surgery that would have been the most sensical time to get it.
Rodgers, who will suit up Sunday night against the Bears, said Wednesday that he’s feeling good after resting during the Packers’ bye week.
“I’ve got to see how it reacts on Sunday when I get back out there and play. But this was really, really positive – the time to heal and not doing anything for now going on 10 days. That’s been really, really helpful. So we’re hoping that we can get on the other side of this,” he said.