You done messed up, A-A-Ron!

For my money, ESPN.com writer Kevin Seifert best summarized this latest Aaron Rodgers saga in which the Green Bay Packers QB tested positive for COVID-19. 

The most important thing to worry about is Rodgers' health in both the short- and long-term. The best-case scenario is that he will re-join the team the day before the Packers' Nov. 14 game against the Seahawks. So it's not out of the question that he could miss two games, and that's assuming he tests negative and is asymptomatic at the 10-day mark.

Chatter throughout the day Wednesday centered on the surprise of Rodgers' unvaccinated status, but the health of all involved should be the top priority.

Looking back, a lot of people are now suggesting Rodgers lied when he was asked in August if he was vaccinated but conveyed that he was "immunized." If you wanna get technical, Rodgers was being truthful given that "vaccinated" and "immunized" are two different things. However, the National Football League's COVID-19 policy indicated that unvaccinated players were, among other things, subject to tests daily and required to wear masks at the club facility & during travel. As such, Rodgers himself was subject to those protocols once the NFL did not provide him a waiver for taking a holistic approach to the virus (i.e. treatments to build up antibodies through immunization). 

I imagine a league investigation will occur to ascertain what, if any, COVID-19 protocols Rodgers violated. As was mentioned, unvaccinated players are required to wear masks at their team's facility and Rodgers throughout the season has been present at Packers' headquarters conducting regular press conferences --- without a mask. Beyond that obvious violation, we'll have to wait and see what else the NFL determines. 

Sure, Rodgers is ultimately responsible for his skirting of any rules, but I place larger culpability on the Packers organization itself. After their ineptitude in handling the drama regarding Rodgers even returning to Green Bay, the Packers brass has been walking on eggshells ever since he set foot back in the team facility over the summer. Heck, Rodgers was allowed to lambast his employer at a preseason media gathering and the organization, out of fear of making him angry, just had to collectively grin and bear it. So when the NFL denied Rodgers' request to supplant vaccination with immunization, my guess is the Packers were willing to take the heat if he was determined to have violated any of the league's COVID mandates. 

From a football standpoint, 2020 first round pick Jordan Love will start this Sunday for the Pack against the Kansas City Chiefs. This will give the team a good opportunity to see if Love is ready for prime time. And if indeed he shows promise (much like Rodgers did in 2007 when he replaced future Hall of Famer Brett Favre midgame on a Thursday night in Dallas), this could give the Packers some leverage when having to deal with the Rodgers drama again this offseason. 

Serious question: Is there any other professional sports outfit which generates more hot button debate topics than the National Football League? Dang.

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