Stephen A. Smith says quiet part out loud about Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ retirement

Aaron Rodgers shocked the world when he all but confirmed his retirement plans — and Stephen A. Smith applauded the future Hall of Famer’s direction.

Rodgers claimed that when he retires, no one will see him out in public — a decision that Smith believes, when considering the unnecessary criticism directed at him, is well deserved.

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“They used every excuse to get at [Rodgers],” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “It has been very, very annoying — and it has been a bit intrusive. Dare I say, even in this day and age, where every little excuse that you could find to get at him, people have gotten at him.

“I like the idea: ‘Listen, this is it. I’m out after this, and you won’t see me.’ He’s basically telling the world, ‘Kiss his a–.’ And I have no problem with it whatsoever, because I think half the world deserves to hear that from him — because I think not enough appreciation has been thrown in his direction. This brother was not good. He was great.”

From outspoken analysts like former Steelers safety Ryan Clark to the polarizing response of his signing with Pittsburgh, Rodgers has more than his fair share of critics — but Smith makes a valid point: a lot of it has been unfair.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ critics blasted by Stephen A. Smith