Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radio's daily program "The Dean Obeidallah Show" and a columnist for The Daily Beast. Follow him @DeanObeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN.
(CNN) Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers typically makes headlines for his outstanding plays on the field. Earlier this year, he was named the NFL's MVP of the year for the third time in recognition of his remarkable performance in the 2020 season, and before Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Rodgers' Packers were tied for the best record in the league. To achieve that success, Rodgers has not only shown an amazing level of talent but also true leadership.
Dean Obeidallah
In jaw-dropping contrast, Rodgers' response following the news last week that he was unvaccinated and contracted Covid-19 has been the opposite of a strong leader. While appearing on SiriusXM's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, he lashed out at critics as a "woke mob," spewed medically unsound concerns on Covid-19 vaccines and failed to apologize for seemingly misleading people in August that he had been vaccinated.
"At the time, my plan was to say I'd been immunized; it wasn't some sort of ruse," Rodgers said."I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some woke-culture-crazed group of individuals who say you have to do something," although he did note that he has followed the protocols for unvaccinated players to a T.
Rodgers' reaction to the fallout has been more akin to the Trumpian tactic of refusing to take responsibility for past wrongs and instead attacking one's critics. Rodgers should -- and must -- be better than that, both for his teammates and for his legion of fans who admire him and even see him as a role model.
There's just so much wrong with what Rodgers said on McAfee's show. For starters, Rodgers shared that he's taken medical advice from a comedian. And not just any comedian, but Joe Rogan -- the same person who was slammed in April for his inaccurate comments that 21-year-olds shouldn't get vaccinated if they are a "healthy person."