Aaron Rodgers, a regular participant in the voluntary portions of the Jets’ offseason program, was noticeably absent on the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp. The Jets considered Rodgers’ absence unexcused and, according to a source familiar with the situation, he will be fined for not showing up. The fine for missing the first day of mandatory minicamp under the CBA is $16,953, which is a small amount for Rodgers but sends a clear message.
There seems to be some ambiguity regarding whether the Jets had the discretion to excuse Rodgers’ absence. The CBA specifically mentions “unexcused” absences, suggesting that absences can be excused. However, it also states that discipline must be imposed uniformly on all players for the same offense. If the Jets excused Rodgers, it could set a precedent that would apply to other players as well.
The situation could have been handled differently if Rodgers’ absence was expected for weeks. The Jets could have disclosed or leaked that information beforehand, lessening the surprise of his sudden absence on Tuesday. Despite this, the Jets did not excuse Rodgers’ absence and will be imposing a fine. It will be interesting to hear Rodgers’ response, whether in a press conference or on a podcast, where he feels more comfortable speaking openly.