Aaron Rodgers took an unrelenting shot at ESPN and Monday Night Football
By Josh Hill
Aaron Rodgers didn’t need to go far out of his way to take a brutal shot at ESPN’s Monday Night Football telecasts.
Monday Night Football isn’t what it used to be.
The hallowed brand had been a staple of prestige sports presentation for decades, with iconic names like Howard Cosell, Al Michaels, and John Madden all gracing the broadcast booth with their legendary presence.
But for one reason or another, Monday Night Football has become the bargain bin of our football weekend, rivaling that of the early days of Thursday Night Football in terms of laughable competition and low interest contests. Rather than be a staple of primetime, the Monday Night Football of the last few years garnered more attention for its flubs; from the Booger Mobile to things being so unlike they used to be that Jason Witten retired from the MNF booth to go back to playing football rather than the other way around.
Not every game has been a dumpster fire affair, but even matchups that should be good — like the Ravens-Chiefs a few weeks ago — turn out to be largely uninteresting.
Aaron Rodgers has noticed.
When asked if he had watched the Monday Night game, Rodgers casually daggered ESPN.
“It was on for a little bit with the sound off which is how I’ve watched a lot of games on ESPN over the last few years,” Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show, as a smile crept onto his face.
Did you catch the game last night @AaronRodgers12?
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 13, 2020
"It was on for a little bit with the sound off which is how I've watched a lot of games on ESPN over the last few years" #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/gOC0Lb1qtp
Rodgers has played on Monday Night three times in the last two seasons, and his opponents personify the general disappointment with where Monday Night Football is now versus where it was 15 years ago. Aside from a game which decided the NFC North title in Week 16 last year, the Packers played the haphazard Detroit Lions and the atrocious Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night.
That’s not exactly must-see television.
Of course, ESPN’s worst outing is a lot better than not having any outing at all. Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Brian Griese have brought a new energy to Monday Night Football as they seem to be leaning in to the self awareness that the product isn’t what it used to be and are having fun with an incredible opportunity.
Rodgers wouldn’t know that though, since he’s quite literally tuned Monday Night Football out.