Aaron Rodgers Calls ESPN ‘Gutless’ Over Scandal That Rocked NFL Media

The only way Aaron Rodgers is taking shots is at other people via media appearances. His latest came this week on his teammate Cam Heyward’s podcast “Not Just Football.”

The Steelers quarterback has been outspoken about Dr. Anthony Fauci and vaccines, but lately he’s opened up about his disdain for the way some media handles topics, specifically ESPN, calling the worldwide leader in sports a “gutless” organization.

“They spend so much time on certain issues, but you won’t talk one second on the Dianna Russini situation,” Rodgers claimed.

Rodgers contrasted ESPN’s treatment of the controversy involving former NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel with its prominent coverage of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York.

“The owner of the [49ers] solicited a prostitute for $140 in Ohio. That literally was the number one topic when you click on ESPN dot com,” Rodgers said. “That was the featured story. So you bring in how many millions of eyes to that situation. Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don’t know.”

York pleaded no contest in August to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools after authorities said he responded to an online ad and agreed to pay $140 for sex in a sting operation. An initial charge of engaging in prostitution was reduced under a plea agreement.

Rodgers questioned whether the Russini controversy presented a more serious conflict because of her role as an NFL reporter and awards voter.

“Does that have the same effect as a reporter who you know has intimate relations with a coach, who has a vote for MVP, has a vote for coach of the year? I don’t know if she’s on the Hall of Fame [committee] or not, but there’s voting stuff,” Rodgers said. “How many more inside stuff was shared?”

Photos published in April showed Russini and Vrabel hugging, holding hands, and spending time together at an Arizona resort. Both are married to other people, but each denied rumors of an affair.

Russini resigned from The Athletic as the New York Times-owned outlet investigated whether the relationship presented ethical issues related to her journalism.

RELATED: Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny

Despite Rodgers’ criticism, ESPN has covered the controversy. The network reported on Russini’s resignation, The Athletic’s investigation that found she violated newsroom standards, and published a lengthy report on the scandal’s fallout earlier this week.

Rodgers’ attack on ESPN is particularly notable because he is a regular on “The Pat McAfee Show,” which is independently produced but distributed across ESPN’s platforms. He revisited his August appearance on the show, when he criticized ESPN while appearing on the network’s own airwaves.

“ESPN is really scared… because I can speak up and speak my mind,” Rodgers said. “And that McAfee thing rattled their feathers, because I didn’t just say that on McAfee’s show, who is, honestly, I love Pat, and he’s done more for that network than any other horrible show they have on there.”

Entering his final NFL season, Rodgers hasn’t held back on his buddy’s daily show. Back in August, Rodgers took a dig at Dr. Anthony Fauci, calling him a “coward” after the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director chose to plead the Fifth to every question during a congressional hearing about how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

It looks like the signal caller is poised for some polarizing interviews during his farewell campaign.

Rodgers and the Steelers open their season Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

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