Rodgers downplays absence from Jets minicamp
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers insists it's not a big deal that he missed mandatory minicamp in June.
"When I was in the NFC North ... there used to be a real thing called minicamp where it was ... five practices in three days," Rodgers said on the "Pardon My Take" podcast. "Now, it's not a minicamp. They can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want and say, 'This is the minicamp week,' which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks. But it was an OTA schedule.
"That's how words can be a little deceiving from time to time. You can make a story of the fact that I missed a minicamp when it was really two OTA days. I came to the first 10."
Rodgers made headlines when he didn't attend the Jets' mandatory two-day minicamp because he was on vacation in Egypt. New York head coach Robert Saleh said it was an "unexcused absence" but later supported Rodgers' decision.
The 40-year-old is subject to fines for his absence, per the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.
"I'm sure I'll get fined for that," Rodgers said.
Rodgers tore his Achilles four snaps into his Jets tenure last season. The four-time MVP will have some new players around him this campaign; the team added former top-10 pick wideout Mike Williams and veteran offensive tackle Tyron Smith, among others.
"I always like our chances," Rodgers said when asked how the Jets will do this season.
New York has its first training camp practice Wednesday.