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Aaron Rodgers Is Not A Fan Of A Certain ESPN First Take Personality

Aaron Rodgers is currently playing football at about the highest possible level. His Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions and currently undefeated in 2011, and Rodgers is the primary reason why. He’s taken his already-superb play to an entirely different level, throwing 28 touchdowns against three interceptions so far this year and generally being so on target, so in command, so in tune with his teammates that CBS Sports’ Will Brinson referred to watching Rodgers as “football porn.”

Indeed, it feels like a privilege to watch Rodgers play, such is his mastery of his position. Recently, Rodgers opened up about someone – a media member, not a football player – he finds it’s decidedly less of a privilege to watch. Someone who’s a professional contrarian, someone who says things where you sometimes wonder if they actually believe what they’re saying. Who was Rodgers talking about? Well, he never said specifically, but…

“I just think it just goes to the point that you can’t take a whole lot of what those people say too personally because they’re shock experts on ESPN and NFL Network. A lot of them are just going for the shock value of what they’re saying, as is typified by that guy on ESPN, I don’t want to even say his name. He works for “First Take”…All he does is say things that are so ridiculous just for the shock value.”

Well, THAT’S not a nice thing to say about Jay Crawford!

We kid, we kid. It’s pretty clear that Rodgers is referring to one Skip Bayless, who tends to get on a lot of nerves, and he no doubt likes it that way. That’s his style. Rodgers says it right there: shock value. You know, statements like this. And we’re glad Rodgers is this candid. As exhilarating as it’s been to watch him on the field this year, he’s not boring off it, either.

For the record, someone else who’s happy about Rodgers making such strong statements? Skip Bayless. Check out this tweet – he’s delighted Rodgers is saying this stuff. It means he’s succeeded. As far as Rodgers showing up on First Take goes, we’re not holding our breath, but hey, the invite’s out there. We’ll admit: if Rodgers did go on the show, we’d watch. For now, though, we have to say we’re pretty happy we were able to write this First Take-related post without actually watching it.

[h/t Mike Freeman]