NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Aaron Rodgers says in a soon-to-be published book that he should have handled discussing his COVID-19 immunization status differently.
The was still with the Green Bay Packers in 2021 when he told reporters he was 鈥渋mmunized鈥� against the virus 鈥� and then tested positive for COVID-19 three months later and had to be sidelined for 10 days.
Rodgers unsuccessfully appealed to the league that his homeopathic treatment regimen should qualify him as vaccinated. The four-time NFL MVP was widely criticized for not being truthful about his status.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 one thing I wish could have gone different, it鈥檚 that, because that鈥檚 the only thing (critics) could hit me with,鈥� for the biography, 鈥淥ut Of The Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,鈥� which goes on sale next week.
ESPN said Rodgers says in the book his main reason for claiming he was 鈥渋mmunized鈥� was the statement represented 鈥渢he crux of my appeal.鈥�
Rodgers said at the time he was allergic to an ingredient in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines 鈥� polyethylene glycol 鈥� and was concerned about potential adverse reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
鈥淏ut if I could do it again, I would have said, (forget) the appeal. I鈥檓 just going to tell them I鈥檓 allergic to PEG," Rodgers says in the book. 鈥淚鈥檓 not getting Johnson & Johnson. I鈥檓 not going to be vaxxed.鈥�
The book, based on interviews with 250 people, including Rodgers, also delves into other aspects of the quarterback's life, including his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon after four snaps in his debut with the Jets last year, his long estrangement from his family, his introduction to using ayahuasca and details of his football playing career through college at Cal, his draft-day plunge in the first round in 2005 and his 18 seasons with the Packers.
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