PFT hit piece on Rodgers

[vince]

Rodgers was on Dan Patrick and said he didn't see the woman.

[sharpe1027]

Unintentional or not, I doubt there is a single pro football player that has never walked past someone that might have wanted an autograph.

You can't tell me that Florio has never walked past a homeless person without acknowledging them. Not a perfect analogy, but there are a lot of similarities.

[K-town]

http://www.uglyfours.com/ugly-fours/2011/1/17/aaron-rodgers-shits-on-cancer-patient-real-or-just-bear-prop.html

"Okay, there you have it. Proof, in the purest sense, that Aaron Rodgers is funny, kicks ass, and loves cancer. Patients.
Nice try, Cook County Propaganda Team. Better luck next time.
Update on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 2:19PM by Lord Castleton
Update:
Rodgers had signed a shirt for her the week before, and other things for her in years past. Holy shit, what a non-story."

[pbmax]

Beyond Patler's assessment, there is only one more thing to say.

Florio's standard apparently is that it is never appropriate to say no to a fan for an autograph. And its newsworthy if that no is said to a cancer survivor. That standard is patently idiotic. He has an angle only because there is video that provides a glimpse, and no context, into the encounter.

He is simply moralizing and looking to collect on indignation. And Patler is quite right, Florio has treated her far more shabbily than Rodgers.

[Packgator]

He is simply moralizing and looking to collect on indignation. And Patler is quite right, Florio has treated her far more shabbily than Rodgers.

Controversy = hits for his website. At least in his mind.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Controversy = hits for his website. At least in his mind.

Yep, more hits and more money for him. So let's just not visit him and help the Viking lover lose money.

[BallHawk]

Listened to Aaron on the Dan Patrick show and Aaron just really emphasized how much he cares about the Green Bay fans but when asked directly about the video and the woman, he kinda tensed up and it was obvious he didn't want to talk about it. I guess Dan Patrick felt bad about his response afterwards because he reassured himself about 15 times that it was okay to ask the question. Kinda weird.

[Joemailman]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/dan..._Interview.mp3

Link to audio of interview with Dan Patrick,

[MadScientist]

Of course I'm still pissed at that asshole's bigoted remarks towards atheists.

I missed that. What did he say?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ad-shot-first/

I get even more uncomfortable when someone (whether it’s Richard Tillman or Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens) feels compelled to grab a microphone and seek company for the possible misery of their own non-belief. If you choose not to believe in God, that’s fine with me. It’s your choice. But there are a lot of people out there, young and old and in between, who have yet to make a final decision, and I don’t like it when folks who have yet to complete their own spiritual journey — regardless of the destination — have their paths obscured by someone on television who is telling them that there is no God.

[Guiness]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ad-shot-first/

I get even more uncomfortable when someone (whether it’s Richard Tillman or Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens) feels compelled to grab a microphone and seek company for the possible misery of their own non-belief. If you choose not to believe in God, that’s fine with me. It’s your choice. But there are a lot of people out there, young and old and in between, who have yet to make a final decision, and I don’t like it when folks who have yet to complete their own spiritual journey — regardless of the destination — have their paths obscured by someone on television who is telling them that there is no God.

Does he get uncomfortable when someone on TV obscures a person's path by telling them there is a god, and what he wants from them?

[mraynrand]

That comment is presumptuous, opinionated and limited, but it's not bigoted. I don't grudge people talking about their faith position, be it atheism, deism, or theism, but I pretty much dislike when it's laced with hatred, name calling and attempts to quiet or stifle other opinions (as the quote above suggests). I especially dislike it when Christians do it, because they should know better. I believe we all have a broken, sinful nature, so I expect this kind of thing from both sides. Still, prefer open discussion. Let the best argument win.

[Joemailman]

Some comments from Andrew Brandt at National Football Post:

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...lbag-5325.html

What about the report on television in Green Bay showing Aaron walking past a woman -- a cancer survivor -- on the way to the team flight to Atlanta?

I've made that walk many times through fans at Austin-Straubel airport on the way to the team charter (and no, no one ever asked for my autograph). Sometimes players stop, sometimes they don't. Sometimes there are many fans; sometimes there are few. I don't know what happened with Aaron but I do know him -- from personal experience and reputation -- as someone who does a lot of good things far from the cameras.

Since that report, I've received dozens of emails from fans telling me of Aaron's kindness away from the media. Several messages mentioned a pre-Christmas gathering of 100 kids from the Boys & Girls club at a bowling alley with 15 Packer players; free soda, pizza and bowling; and a $100 gift certificate to Shopko for each kid. It received no publicity at the time and was completely funded by Rodgers.

I knew that during the season a couple of years ago, at eight o'clock on Saturday mornings, Aaron would be out at eight-year old flag football, warming up the kids with passes. And I knew he used to babysit for his neighbors' children to give them a night out on occasion. It is unfortunate he did no sign that woman's autograph. In the overall context of what I know, however, it's a minor hitch in a solid body of work with Packer nation, much of it while no one's looking.

[Freak Out]

He just apologized.

[RashanGary]

It was a good apology too. I think 90% of PFT readers check the site regularly so that apology will be enough. If Rodgers goes to the super bowl, this might turn into a positive. I think he's a rare superstar who's still down to earth and his good nature still shines through. I was disgusted when I read that original piece. He's a Viking fan so it makes the motivation seem obvious. He has to rip on the good thing we have going and wanted to believe AR was a jerk.

I'm glad he apologized but I never did trust that guy and I trust him even less now, apology and all.

[Joemailman]

Well done by Florio. Putting this issue, and error behind him is best for all concerned.