Aaron Rodgers calls Chicago reporter a ‘bum’ over criticism

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called longtime Chicago sports reporter Hub Arkush a “bum” for disregarding him as an MVP candidate. 

Aaron Rodgers may have already spent 47 minutes defending himself on his vaccination status on The Pat McAfee Show, but his media tour isn’t done yet.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rodgers came for one of the many reporters who have criticized him in recent months, but this one just so happens to cover the team Rodgers “owns.”

Rodgers said that longtime Chicago sports reporter Hub Arksuh is “a bum… an absolute bum.”

Arkush has made the case that Rodgers shouldn’t be MVP because of his vaccination debacle, to which Rodgers replied: “If that’s the case, then make it ‘the most vaccinated player.'”

Chicago sports reporter faces backlash for Aaron Rodgers MVP comments

Arkush, who is one of the voters for the AP’s prestigious NFL MVP Award, told Chicago’s 670 The Score radio station why he didn’t think Aaron Rodgers deserved to win this season.

"“I don’t think you can be the biggest jerk in the league and punish your team, and your organization and your fan base the way he did and be the Most Valuable Player. Has he been the most valuable on the field? Yeah, you could make that argument, but I don’t think he is clearly that much more valuable than Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp or maybe even Tom Brady. So from where I sit, the rest of it is why he’s not gonna be my choice.”"

Arkush continued, saying that, the way Rodgers has carried himself this season is “inappropriate.”

“I think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think a bad guy can be the most valuable guy at the same time,” he said.

A day later, Arkush was already regretting his decision to reveal his stance on Rodgers.

“I made a big mistake,” Arkush said on Wednesday as he rejoined 670 The Score. “As far as what happened last night, it’s on me. I screwed up.”

Arkush said it was more about violating the one rule that all 50 MVP voters are expected to follow — don’t reveal your vote — than it was about offending Aaron Rodgers, but Arkush’s comment will likely have the opposite effect on Rodgers’ MVP campaign.

As in, comments like this only inspire players to work even harder to counter such claims — look no further than Brady’s “FEA year” in 2016. The year began with an unfair suspension and ended in a Super Bowl, and while it’s unlikely Rodgers will win the award in two consecutive years, his performance over the next few weeks could potentially cement his case.