Keyshawn Johnson gave it to Aaron Rodgers in recognition of the Jets quarterback sitting on the bench during Sunday's blowout loss to the Bills.
On Monday's FS1's “Speak,” Johnson ripped into his former team's quarterback after he admitted he hinted at leaving the game when the Jets were down 40-0 early in the fourth quarter. .
“It wasn’t going my way, so I decided to take the ball and go home,” Johnson said. “…You quit the team, dude. I'm not going to be nice to Aaron Rodgers like that. I thought he was on a mission to convince them. [the Jets] that he should come back. Considering what he did yesterday, I don't want to be near him.
“He took the ball and went home!” he continued. “That's exactly what he just did. He didn't have his way and got his ass kicked by the Bills, so he took the ball and went home. What the hell is wrong with Aaron Rodgers?”
In the postgame press conference after the 40-13 loss, Rodgers revealed that his idea was to bring in backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor because the game was getting out of hand.
“I mean, it was 33-0, we were sitting there, and at one point I said, I'm probably going to go to Tyrod here, right? So the next play is [the Bills] He threw a screen for a touchdown. So it was 40-0,” Rodgers said.
Taylor eventually entered the game and led two Jets touchdown drives.
Johnson likened Rodgers' actions to 49ers linebacker Devondre Campbell's refusal to play in a game earlier this month. The former star wide receiver persisted despite attempts by panel members Paul Pierce and Joy Taylor to say things were different with Campbell out and Rodgers left on the bench.
“He took the ball and went home! That’s exactly what he did,” Johnson retorted, “He didn’t have his way and the Bills were kicking his ass so he took the ball away and that’s exactly what he did. I went home. What the hell is wrong with Aaron Rodgers?”
In the week leading up to the game, Rodgers emphasized the importance of divisional play despite the Jets' long absence from playoff contention, calling the final two weeks against the Bills and Dolphins “an audition for all of us.” is.
With the loss, the Jets dropped to 4-12 and 2-9 in the standings since Robert Saleh was fired in late October.
Asked after the game about his future with the Jets, Rodgers said, “I'm going to enjoy next week and then rest mentally and physically.''
