Ryan Braun ‘bet’ winner would settle for Aaron Rodgers game check
Aaron Rodgers can breathe a little easier today -- Todd Sutton isn’t going to insist the Green Bay Packers hand over his entire salary from last year just because Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun was suspended for violating baseball’s drug policy.
“I’d just take a game check,” a laughing Sutton told USA Today Sports on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper’s calculations, that would be $281,250 -- which is just a fraction of the $4.5 million Rodgers made last season but a nice chunk of change to make off a silly little Twitter exchange.
Back in February 2012, Braun successfully appealed another MLB suspension for similar charges. When Rodgers took to Twitter to celebrate his fellow Wisconsin sports star’s good fortune, Sutton, a 37-year-old flight nurse from Denver, responded with a tweet of his own, calling the quarterback “delusional.”
@AaronRodgers12 you really believe he didn’t you PED’s???? #delusional — Todd Sutton (@toddsutton) February 23, 2012
To Sutton’s surprise, Rogers replied:
@toddsutton ya I’d put my salary next year on it. #ponyup #exonerated — Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 23, 2012
During the next few days, Sutton tried to engage Rodgers in some more Twitter chatter about the topic, trying a variety of approaches.
@AaronRodgers12 I guess you think WWE is real too. — Todd Sutton (@toddsutton) February 23, 2012
@AaronRodgers12 can you get me a discount double check? I got nothing but respect for you! — Todd Sutton (@toddsutton) February 23, 2012
@saraschoepke @aaronrodgers12 u mean guilty till I get off on a technicality? Great QB but either ignorant or naive ....u pick. — Todd Sutton (@toddsutton) February 24, 2012
@MunizLidia @aaronrodgers12 just to be clear. Not questioning loyalty, still haven’t heard anything other than Braun saying he didn’t do it — Todd Sutton (@toddsutton) February 25, 2012
Rodgers never took the bait again, and Sutton finally let it drop. And even after their so-called bet started making news again this week, Sutton hasn’t had much to say about it on Twitter, although he did an interview on Jay Mohr’s sports radio show as well as the one with USA Today.
Rodgers has been less accessible, with nothing to say on Twitter since the Braun news broke. Maybe it’s because his friend is in trouble ... or maybe he’s trying to avoid Sutton.
“I’m not really expecting to hear from him,” Sutton said. “It’d be cool, but I doubt it’s going to happen.”
ALSO:
Bill Plaschke: Ryan Braun, and belief, are both suspended
Ryan Braun makes best of bad situation by accepting suspension
Aaron Rodgers’ wallet should be lighter after Ryan Braun suspension
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
