Sorry, it’s wrong to blame the turf for Aaron Rodgers’ injury
From every corner of the NFL different players are blaming turf for Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury, but Zolak & Bertrand just can’t do it.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
This injury happens on grass just the same…
Marc Bertrand: The injury itself that has happened here has been blamed on turf. Why is it that no one is willing to say that Aaron Rodgers trying to get himself out of the sack when he is clearly dead meat on this play contributed to that injury?
Scott Zolak: You try to set him up to get that spin out. We see it all the time. I’m going to get hit. Boom. But last second I’m going to spin out of it. Now you got caught.
Marc Bertrand: Do you remember how Brady had said on multiple occasions that he had learned how to take hits and how to go down?
Scott Zolak: Yeah, his shoulder.
Marc Bertrand: Yeah. And I believe him. When you are dead, like he was dead on that play with Leonard Floyd there wrapping him up, taking him down. He’s trying to pull himself out of that grasp with his two feet. What does that have to do with the turf?
Scott Zolak: We saw Mac go down a couple of times last year like that in his rookie year, like you fall. You’re dead, go down.
Marc Bertrand: Right. Go down. Well, he thought he was going to beat him. He thought he was going to get out of that sack. And that’s a big part of why he got hurt. It is. He’s 39 years old and he’s trying to escape the grasp of a 6’6 defensive end. Is that a great idea? I don’t know that it is. I don’t know that it is. But the NFLPA, meanwhile, is now calling for the removal of artificial turf across the league.
Scott Zolak: Zero chance that happens.
Marc Bertrand: I’m going to tell you right now, you guys are going to lose. Good try. Nice effort, but nothing is going to change.
Scott Zolak: Jesus. How many concerts were at Gillette this year? It was like a record breaking year. Massive.
Marc Bertrand: By the way, I agree with them. Football on turf sucks and yes, I believe it leads to a higher rate of non-contact injuries, especially ACLs and there are studies, independent studies, not league data. Not Jeff Miller in the NFL telling you what their data tells you. Get out of here. Don’t believe them on it. But it does in the non-contact ACL department. On this? Someone has to tell me this. How is it that the turf was responsible? Playing on turf was the reason that happened.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 26: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets waits in the tunnel prior to a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Greg Bedard: 10 questions from around the NFL after week 1
Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger and Mazz program on Tuesday following the New England Patriots season opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. While on, Bedard did his weekly “10 Questions” segment following week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
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The 10 Questions
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JANUARY 15: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
10. What are your thoughts on the play of Josh Allen last night and recently?
Greg Bedard: I’ve definitely had my criticisms of him over the years, however, I don’t think they’re doing enough around him. Like, I think that, you know, they got him Stefon Diggs, yeah, but he doesn’t have a whole lot of other options. It’s too “Josh” centric. Like they basically say, “Josh, you’re our offense go do it” and sometimes he’s going to act like a jackass. So you reap what you sow with Josh Allen.
9. Have the Packers done it again with their QB transition?
Greg Bedard: Settle down, Packers shareholder it’s week one. Calm down. Nobody has any film on Jordan Love. The Packers own the Bears. The Bears are terrible. But I will say he looked really good. Really good.
8. Redraft the 2020 QB class 1-5…
Greg Bedard: Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
7. Redraft the 2021 QB class 1-5…
Greg Bedard: Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance.
6. Tua Tagovailoa….or Mac Jones?
Greg Bedard: Today…Tua Tagovailoa.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks along the sideline during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Oct. 16, 2022.
Vikings V Dolphins 30
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 10: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals is sacked by Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
3. Points and offensive production was way down across the league in Week 1. Are defenses catching up, or is it something else?
Greg Bedard: They’re trying to hang on to like 50 year old tackles in this league who aren’t healthy. I just think you put all that stuff together, offense gets off to a much much slower start than defense which is much easier to play and coach and get ready for.
Sep 11, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (not pictured) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
2. Referee analyst John Perry said last night that there should have been a tripping call on the Jets’ GW punt return. Agree or disagree?
Greg Bedard: Agree, but they still would have kicked the game winning field goal so it wasn’t egregious.
1.What fan base in the NFL feels the most hopeless about their team, historically and now? Who are the most miserable fans in the league?
Greg Bedard: Of course it’s the Jets.
