During this time of year in the NFL, the tendency for excessive praise is at an all-time high. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out, the onset of free agency often leads to favorable reporting due to the “symbiotic relationship” between league agents and insiders. Agents share exclusive information, and in return, insiders portray it positively, perpetuating a cycle.
However, the coverage surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ free agency has been noticeably different. It’s rare for the buzz around an NFL player’s free agency to be characterized by an urgent, “hurry up!” sentiment. Yet, more than a week after the league’s legal tampering period began, that has been the prevailing tone for Rodgers. Numerous insiders, media figures, and even players from potential teams have urged him to make a decision, most prominently ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“This shouldn’t be hard, right?” Schefter remarked during an appearance on ESPN Milwaukee’s Jen, Gabe & Chewy last week. “The Steelers want you. The Giants want you. Players are making decisions. It’s not that hard. Make a choice and live with it.”
Schefter is tired of the Aaron Rodgers waiting game pic.twitter.com/cGcAnl4iLy
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 12, 2025
While The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has taken a more neutral stance on Rodgers’ free agency, she did describe the situation as getting “bizarre” on her Scoop City podcast. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, during a segment on The Pat McAfee Show, noted, “Aaron Rodgers is a friend of the program.” He playfully suggested that if Rodgers is watching, he could share a decision.
Rapoport’s eagerness for Rodgers to make his choice, even if it was said in jest, reflects why others like Schefter are less inclined to treat him with kid gloves. There’s no COVID reason behind it, as he might claim. Instead, it’s about the understanding that if anyone is likely to break Rodgers’ next move, it will be McAfee or Rodgers himself on the show.
So why pursue a scoop that is unlikely? It’s not as if Schefter, Colin Cowherd, or Cam Heyward are criticizing Rodgers; rather, they’re simply not offering him the usual leniency granted to other NFL free agents during this time.
It’s also essential to note Rodgers’ history with various insiders, having called out Schefter and Russini in the past. Why worry about burning a bridge that’s already been scorched? If insiders do report on his next destination, they likely believe it will come from a team source, not directly from the quarterback.
By now, it has become evident that Aaron Rodgers is a distinctive figure in the sports realm, particularly regarding his connections with non-McAfee media. Accordingly, it’s safe to assume that his free agency decision will be unveiled on PMS, similar to when he disclosed his intentions to join the Jets in 2023. And honestly, that’s completely acceptable, especially if it encourages more transparency from those covering the league, which is often a rarity at this time of year.
