Aaron Rodgers could be fined for ‘unexcused’ absence from Jets minicamp

As he did last year, after the Jets acquired him from the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers had attended all of New York’s voluntary organized team activities this spring that media members and fans were allowed to watch. That stood in contrast to Haason Reddick, a pass rusher who came in a trade this year from the Philadelphia Eagles and who had skipped OTAs. With Reddick widely suspected of being unhappy with his contract, it wasn’t a shock that he also was absent Tuesday, the first day of a two-day practice session in which all players were required to participate.

That the Jets’ star quarterback apparently chose to be elsewhere, though, was a surprise, one that ensured more headlines for an organization that has seen its share of drama and again is set to be one of the league’s more scrutinized squads.

Asked if he was disappointed by Rodgers, Saleh downplayed the situation, telling reporters: “Selfishly, I want our guys here all the time, but when you get to these mandatory things, you make the best decision for yourself. … He made a decision, and that’s what he went with.”

Saleh added that Rodgers, who was at the Jets’ facility Monday, and Reddick would be “subject to the [collective bargaining agreement] fine schedule.”

In January, after his stunning Week 1 Achilles’ tendon injury set the stage for a disappointing 7-10 campaign for a Jets squad that had Super Bowl hopes, Rodgers said: “Anything in this building that we’re doing that has nothing to do with winning needs to be assessed. … The [B.S.] that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the building.”

He was asked about those comments last month after revealing to reporters that he was offered a chance to be the running mate on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential ticket. Rodgers’s strong backing of Kennedy and outspoken agreement with the candidate’s anti-vaccine views kept the four-time MVP in the news during the offseason. Rodgers also went viral for espousing conspiracy theories, and he took to social media in March to deny a CNN report that he had years earlier suggested the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was staged.

Rodgers said in May that those episodes were “offseason things” and asserted, “Once the season starts, it’s all about football.”

On Tuesday, however, his absence sparked a torrent of questions for Saleh. The coach spun the situation as “a great opportunity” for backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor to “get reps with the [first-team offense] over the next couple of days.”

That comment appeared to confirm Rodgers was likely to miss Wednesday’s mandatory session, too. Saleh pointed to the 40-year-old quarterback’s wealth of experience as a reason not to be overly concerned.

“As far as Aaron, I mean, he’s been in the league for a while,” Saleh said. “He’s played at a very high level. I think it’ll be more beneficial for Tyrod than a loss for Aaron, if that makes sense.”

Saleh also expressed equanimity over the continuing absence of Reddick, a top sack artist in the final year of a contract he signed with the Eagles that has an annual average value of $15 million.

“He’s in a really good place, mentally, working his tail off, like we already know,” Saleh said of the 29-year-old Reddick. “But he’s choosing to sit out this one, unexcused.”

“When it comes time to play football,” the coach added, “he’s going to be ready to play football.”