It's been quite a ride for Aaron Rodgers in 2021, with plenty of peaks and valleys, and he's again found himself in the latter. The reigning league MVP went from a toxic fracture with the Green Bay Packers front office to reconciling it in a way that hints at this being his last year with the club, then playing the worst game of his career in Week 1 before rattling off seven straight wins. But the Packers are now going to have to lean on former first-round pick Jordan Love for one (maybe two) games after Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 this week -- sparking a mountain of controversy over his vaccination status and a subsequent interview he hoped would clarify things.
In doing so, he opened a cacophony of question marks on his intent behind using the word "immunized" versus "vaccinated" when asked about his status this offseason, with some viewing it as an attempt to skirt NFL protocol for unvaccinated players. Rodgers himself admitted to violating protocol during press conferences, by not wearing a mask indoors to address media, and pressure is now on the league's front office to determine if they'll render punishment and what that might be.
Rodgers' first consequence isn't from commissioner Roger Goodell, though, with Prevea Health officially severing ties with him.
"Aaron has been a partner of Prevea Health, serving as a spokesperson and supporting the health care organizations health and wellness initiatives throughout Wisconsin, since 2012," they explained in a press release Saturday, one day after Rodgers' interview on The Pat McAfee Show aired. "Prevea Health remains deeply committed to protecting its patients, staff, providers and communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes encouraging and helping all eligible populations to become vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent the virus from further significantly impacting lives and livelihoods."
It was in 2019 when the two sides extended their partnership with Rodgers to the tune of four years, but roughly two years later, they've opted to distance themselves from his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine and the science supporting it.
