Aaron Rodgers Slammed By Ex-NFLPA Head For Being 'Dismissive' And 'Isolated'

Former NFL Players Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith has taken a swipe at Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers, describing him as "isolated and dismissive."

Smith's comments come over a month after the controversial quarterback was accused by his ex-girlfriend, Danica Patrick, of being "emotionally abusive."

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers finally signed with a new NFL team after being fired by the New York Jets following a two-year run.

Former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has slammed Aaron Rodgers in his upcoming book Turf Wars," describing the quarterback as "isolated and dismissive."

Smith ran the association from 2009 to 2023 but faced difficulties as Rodgers increasingly became a vocal critic of the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, voting against it with dissent over the 17-game season.

"The god of Cheesehead Nation was isolated and dismissive," Smith wrote about Rodgers in his upcoming book.

"He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit," Smith continued, per Awful Announcing. "An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist."

Describing how off-putting he found the star's character, DeMaurice Smith wrote in his book: "In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers. 'Can you call me?' it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?"

Rodgers isn't the only one Smith criticized in his book, as he also described league commissioner Roger Goodell as a "cold, dark void."

He fired shots at polarizing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, writing, "If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up."

Smith's critical remark about Rodgers in particular doesn't come as a surprise, as the four-time NFL MVP has long been known for his controversial and outspoken nature on various topics, both on and off the field.

The 41-year-old quarterback's character was called into question recently when his ex-girlfriend, Danica Patrick, labeled him "emotionally abusive" and said the relationship with the footballer "wore [her] down to nothing."

Smith's comments about Rodgers in his upcoming book come almost a month after the quarterback finally signed with a new NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, after a two-year run with the New York Jets.

NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport, confirmed the signing back on June 5 in an X post, writing, "Aaron Rodgers plans to sign with the #Steelers, per The Insiders. It'll be a 1-year deal. At long last, the four-time MVP lands in his best spot."

On June 7, Rodgers made it official, as he signed his contract, reportedly worth $13.65 million, with $10 million already guaranteed, at the Steelers' facility.

During a chat on "The Pat McAfee Show" in April, the quarterback, who recently got married to his wife, Brittani, shared why he was holding off on making a decision regarding his future in the NFL.

Rodgers noted at the time that he was focusing on helping people in his inner circle navigate some "difficult stuff."

Knowing his remarks could be misconstrued, Roders clarified that he wasn't trying to "string anybody along" or "hold anybody hostage" by delaying his decision.

"I've had constraints in my life right now that warrant my attention," the footballer doubled down, per the New York Post.

During his chat with McAfee, Rodgers also broke his silence about his departure from the Jets, stating that he was surprised about how the matter was handled.

He recalled flying out to meet with the team's showrunners to discuss his future, but the meeting was brief and ended with him being let go.

"The confusing thing to me is I went out there, I meet with the coach [Aaron Glenn] we start talking… he runs out of the room. I'm like 'that's strange,'" Rodgers recalled.

"Then he comes back with the GM, and I'm like, 'all right.' So we sit down and I think we're going to have this long conversation, and 20 seconds in and he [Glenn] goes: 'You sure you wanna play football?' And I said 'yes' and he said 'we're going in another direction at quarterback.'"

Reflecting further on the incident, Rodgers said he was "shocked" by how things unfolded, as he had made an effort to fly out for the meeting.

"I was shocked because.. I flew halfway across the country, and you could have told me this on the phone," he noted.

"They said, 'We just want to know how you want it released,' 'I said, 'I don't give a sh-t about the message,'" Rodgers added.