Aaron Rodgers did not show up for the first day of mandatory minicamp with the Jets during the offseason. This absence was considered unexcused by the team, and according to a source familiar with the situation, he will face a fine. The Collective Bargaining Agreement specifies a fine of $16,953 for missing the first day of mandatory minicamp.
There is speculation about whether the Jets had the authority to excuse Rodgers’ absence, but according to the terms of the CBA, absences are either “excused” or “unexcused.” This suggests that there is a possibility for an absence to be excused if it falls under certain circumstances. However, if discipline is uniform for all players in case of similar offenses, then any excuse given to Rodgers could set a precedent that applies to other players as well.
The handling of this situation could have been better to avoid any confusion or surprise. If Rodgers knew in advance that he would not be able to attend due to another commitment, he could have informed the team in advance so they would not have been caught off guard. Despite this oversight, the Jets did not excuse Rodgers’ absence and have decided to impose a fine instead. It remains to be seen what Rodgers’ perspective on this matter will be when he next speaks with reporters or on his podcast.
