Patriots expose Aaron Rodgers so badly he’s literally searching for fountain of youth
By Matt Sidney
Last week’s 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots stripped away any pretense surrounding the New York Jets. Exposed as frauds, the team hasn’t fared any better with Aaron Rodgers at the helm than it did under the likes of Sam Darnold or Zach Wilson.
And the person to blame? Rodgers himself. It’s no secret he’s having a historically awful first full season with the Jets. The “sure-fire Hall of Famer” now looks more like a washed-up journeyman. He’s missing open receivers, his timing is off, and he lacks the mobility to escape pressure.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Mock Rodgers all you want for pushing the Jets to hire his buddy Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, only to watch one of the least inspiring offenses in football take the field. Laugh at how he throws his receivers under the bus after interceptions. Tease him for strong-arming the organization into bringing in his best friend, Davante Adams. And sure, you can even give him grief for getting his head coach fired earlier this season.
But there’s one thing you can’t criticize him for: trying to turn back the clock…
Aaron Rodgers turns the Jets into a chaotic spectacle with newfound youth “remedy”
Rodgers is enduring the worst season of his storied career. Injuries, aging, and physical decline have all fueled speculation that this could be the end of the road for him.
But hold on, Father Time - Rodgers isn’t going down without a fight. In his latest attempt to fend off aging, Rodgers has turned to a “remedy” that’s as bold as it is bizarre: a mix of water and cayenne pepper. That’s right, this “fountain of youth” isn’t a high-tech supplement or an exotic potion but a simple concoction he picked up from Jets punter Thomas Morstead.
“T-Mo gave me a little fountain of youth he said he’s been taking for a while,” Rodgers told reporters via The Associated Press. “All legal, of course. … He’s been taking like cayenne pepper and water, so he gave me some before the game.”
Rodgers added, “Felt pretty good, but I’ve been kind of gassing him up that that’s why I’m feeling so good. I’m not sure how much that’s playing a factor.”
It’s an admirable, cost-effective attempt, but the collective eye-rolls from the NFL are hard to ignore.
Not everyone can age like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, and history proves that quarterbacks over 40 are often on borrowed time. Rodgers’ herbal remedy may be a genuine effort to stay relevant, but at 40 years old and in his 20th NFL season, the decline feels inevitable. The signs of regression have been clear for seasons now, and no amount of cayenne-infused water is likely to change that.
Rodgers is simply learning a hard truth that every athlete eventually faces: Father Time never loses, much like the Jets seem destined to.