Bob Raissman: Aaron Rodgers faces obstacle course of opinions with Jets’ primetime slate

With Aaron Rodgers leading the Jets through a 2023 TV schedule featuring five prime time games, four 4:25 p.m. tilts, and a first-ever Black Friday matchup, media expectations for Gang Green are sky-high.

Not only are Rodgers’ Jets expected to win more than lose, but NFL Schedule Gnomes are betting on this new incarnation of Gang Green, one with a Hall of Fame-bound quarterback, to produce huge TV ratings while playing under the brightest of TV spotlights.

Yet trucking through such a high-profile — tough — schedule means Rodgers will often be scrutinized by the best NFL TV analysts in the game. Mouths like Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sunday Night Football), Troy Aikman (ESPN Monday Night Football), Tony Romo (CBS), Greg Olsen (Fox) and Kirk Herbstreit (Amazon).

For Rodgers, it’s an obstacle course of opinions.

While most of these voices have analyzed Rodgers’ performances with the Packers, what happens if the Jets, under his leadership, get off to a slow start? And what happens if Gang Green’s “savior” looks pedestrian in the process? The analysts can either verbally point fingers, picking him apart, or extend his Jets honeymoon.

The latter is not likely, especially for cats like Collinsworth and Aikman who rarely pull punches. And in Rodgers’ case, he has plenty of tangible positives going into the season suggesting he won’t be making major adjustments. Or have any opportunity to make excuses.

First and foremost, he’s Aaron Rodgers.

He is also reunited with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who he developed a strong relationship with over three seasons in Green Bay. Learning the offensive won’t be a problem. Rodgers helped create it.

Then there are the former Packers’ players GM Joe Douglas acquired to make Rodgers even more comfortable.

Considering these elements of familiarity, expectations are Rodgers and his Jets offense will be ready for takeoff. If those assumptions are not met and the analysts dish heat at Rodgers things could get interesting.

Rodgers has never been shy about verbally sparring with high-profile analysts. His stature is such that no matter what size platform he uses Rodgers will be heard. Nonetheless, his platform of choice to deliver soliloquies is Pat McAfee’s YouTube show.

That’s the program Rodgers used to chide NFL Insiders like Dianna Russini, Adam Schefter, and Ian Rapoport for, in his opinion, disseminating “fake news.” While Rodgers can’t accuse top-shelf game analysts of putting out “fake news,” he can claim they don’t know what they are talking about.

Rodgers has never been shy about letting the Free World know his football acumen is higher than most current NFL TV analysts. And a Jets uniform, all of a sudden, won’t turn him into a shrinking quarterback.

But even if the Jets go off the rails, Gang Green will morph into a compelling reality production. See, inside the NFL’s TV tent, The Aaron Rodgers Show is a show unto itself.

BECTON BLAMING

Listening to Norman Julius Esiason carefully, you would think Mekhi Becton is the most selfish person on the planet.

For NJE, a guy who has played in the NFL and works in sports talk radio, that’s a grand leap. Last season, Becton’s “sin,” according to NJE, was not being able to control his appetite. It was a legit critique until Esiason kept piling on.

NJE even had an I-told-you-so moment when an injury ended the offensive tackle’s 2022 season before it ever got started.

Lately, NJE has been on Becton’s case (so is Robert Saleh) for daring to tweet: “I. Am. A. Left. Tackle.” Saleh has stated there will be competition for that position.

Esiason said: “[For Becton] to put this out there is crap. You haven’t earned one thing since you’ve been here.”

That’s one way of interpreting it. Another is Becton showing confidence that he will win the left tackle spot. That didn’t register with Esiason. Last Wednesday, out of the blue on FAN, NJE accused Becton of having an “entitlement mentality.”

How soon before Esiason blames Becton for causing Inflation?

COACH REDICK

Those who regularly watch ESPN’s “First Take” were not surprised to hear about JJ Redick, a frequent contributor to the show, interviewing for the Toronto Raptors coaching vacancy.

Although his TV career is in its early stages, Redick has taken to “coaching” FT’s control room technicians.

Like last Tuesday. While analyzing Warriors-Lakers Game No. 4, Redick called for video of a particular sequence. When it didn’t instantly appear, Redick (he looked frustrated) started talking about the play. When the video did appear, Redick “coached” the producer by advising when to “freeze” the video in order to emphasize his point.

Like a coach, Redick sounded good yelling at other people.

CARTON CALL

If Craig Carton leaves WFAN permanently for an exclusive contract with Fox Sports’ FS1, where will Audacy suits shop for a replacement voice to team with Evan Roberts?

Industry sources say Roberts’ new partner would come from outside the FAN Cave and not from the current roster of eligible Talkies who yak on the station.

The sources said they expect Carton to leave FAN to expand FS1′s “The Carton Show” for a financial offer Audacy (it owns FAN) will not be able to match.

AROUND THE DIAL

WPIX-TV sports anchor Marc Malusis will team with former Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa to co-host a new daily 7 p.m. show, “New York Sports Nation Nightly,” on PIX. It debuts Monday. Malusis and Figueroa were colleagues at SNY. Fans of no-shtick sports coverage with original insight should like what the two voices bring to this endeavor. …

There was something missing from WFAN Evan Roberts’ contention that the Rays hot start, and the overall successes of the franchise, is about “something suspicious.” Unfortunately, Roberts could not bring a shred of evidence to back his claim that the Rays are cheating. And since there is no one to hold him accountable, Roberts was able to continue his Tampa Bay quacking for a few days. It’s clear Roberts, and the suits he works for, believe his irrational, baseless, raving is good for business. …

Guess FAN’s Tiki Barber can now take credit for being the first Gasbag on his block to link the words “Buck Showalter” and “fired.” “It would be justified if he [Showalter] got fired if this team keeps sliding and he doesn’t start screaming at [GM] Billy Eppler, ‘Give me talent,’” Barber said on the air. Apparently, Barber does not put much stock in baseball being the longest season.

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DUDE OF THE WEEK: JAMES HARDEN

For caring. The Sixers star struck up a FaceTime friendship with John Hao, a paralyzed Michigan State shooting survivor. Harden then invited Hao, and his parents, to Game 4 of the conference semifinal in Philly. Harden put on a show, scoring 42 points with nine assists and eight rebounds in an OT win over Boston.

DWEEB OF THE WEEK: BOB HUGGINS

For using a homophobic slur during a radio interview. The West Virginia basketball is known for shooting his mouth off but on this occasion, he revealed himself to be someone who doesn’t care who he offends. Predictably, Huggins offered an apology that rang hollow.

DOUBLE TALK

What Buck Showalter said: “It’s tough because we know our guys are capable of a lot better offensively.”

What Buck Showalter meant to say: “Offensively, we stink.”

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