Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his first public feedback Friday after testing optimistic for COVID-19, addressing why he informed the information media in August that he was “immunized” and why he’s not vaccinated.
Rodgers won’t play in Sunday’s recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and will not be allowed on the crew facility for the subsequent 10 days, in line with NFL protocols.
He addressed the controversy and backlash for 45 minutes on the “Pat McAfee Show,” providing a robust rebuke of the method and referencing a number of debunked speaking factors circulating amongst individuals against the vaccine.
DANGEROUSLY MISINFORMED:Aaron Rodgers isn’t a victim of ‘woke mob’
RODGERS HAS COVID:He lied about being vaccinated, and being a team player
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“I’m any individual who’s a crucial thinker,” he mentioned. “I consider strongly in bodily autonomy and the power to make decisions on your physique.”
Nonetheless, Rodgers mentioned he’s not a so-called “anti-vaxxer.”
“I’m not a COVID-denier or any (expletive) like that,” Rodgers mentioned. “I simply wished to make your best option for my physique.”
Rodgers mentioned he has been examined each day per NFL protocol and mentioned he was “within the cross hairs of the woke mob proper now.”
“So, earlier than my last nail will get put in my cancel tradition casket, I would prefer to set the file straight on so lots of the blatant lies on the market. I examined for COVID over 300 occasions earlier than testing for potential optimistic and I most likely bought it from a vaccinated participant,” Rodgers mentioned.
He hasn’t supplied particulars on which contaminated participant he believes he was uncovered to or any particulars of the place or when he might have been uncovered.
The three-time MVP claimed he did in depth analysis on the vaccines, however mentioned he was allergic to one thing in each the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. He sought various remedy when he mentioned the 2 vaccines out there weren’t proper for him.
“For me it concerned lots of finding out within the offseason,” Rodgers mentioned. “I put lots of time and power into researching and met with lots of completely different individuals within the medical area to get essentially the most details about the vaccines earlier than making a call.”
Rodgers additionally mentioned he consulted along with his good friend Joe Rogan andtalked about ivermectin, a drugs that’s typically used to deal with threadworms, roundworms and different parasites. That medication is not approved to be used in battling COVID-19 by the Meals and Drug Administration.
“The particular protocol, I’m going to maintain between me and my docs,” he mentioned.
Rodgers appealed to the NFL on his unnamed various remedy, which was rejected, and says that the Packers, his teammates and the NFL knew of his standing when he was questioned by the media in August.
“I’ve adopted each single protocol to a T, besides that one which makes completely no sense to me,” Rodgers mentioned, referencing that unvaccinated gamers should be six toes aside and carrying a masks when chatting with the media.
He then went on to say civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., saying, “The good MLK mentioned, ‘You’ve got an ethical obligation to object to unjust guidelines and guidelines that make no sense.'”
Rodgers mentioned he was excited for his backup Jordan Love to play towards the Chiefs and has talked to him regarding Sunday’s recreation.
“I really feel actually good and if this was the flu, I might be enjoying on Sunday. I hope we will take a step again with the mendacity and the witch hunt,” he mentioned.