Musicians + Sports: Jerrod Niemann on Dreams of Sports Commentating and Waiting to Hear Back from Aaron Rodgers

By Scott T. Sterling

Like countless other hardcore sports fans across America, country music star Jerrod Niemann is ready for some football.

For one, the "Drink to That All Night" singer-songwriter wants another stab at making NFL game picks for CBS Local after a less than stellar showing against fellow country artists including Justin Moore and Rodney Atkins back in 2012.

"They were just going win or lose on that thing. I was going by the line, the actual way you bet, so all my picks were really wrong," he admitted during a recent video interview. "I would like another fair shot, now that I know the rules."

Niemann's love of sports is enough that if given a chance, he'd follow augment his successful career in music for a chance to go head-to-head with two of ESPN's most outspoken and controversial commentators.

"I would sit there with Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith and mediate when they get heated," he revealed. "I like watching those guys. I'm pretty sure I saw Stephen A. Smith running down the street today. I'm serious. If that was you, Stephen A., call me. We'll drink some whiskey."

The singer was also eager to talk about his burgeoning friendship with star Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, after a chance meeting at a show.

"When we were in Green Bay on the Brad Paisley tour, I was backstage when this guy walked by me and I was like, 'that looks like Aaron Rodgers.' It ended up being him, and later we all got onstage and did Brad's song, 'Alcohol,' together," Niemann remembered. "Then he came on my bus and we just hung out. I thought, 'man, what a great guy.' So a lot of the Green Bay Packers, I got to meet a few of them that night and Aaron and I swapped information. We text every now and then, but he hasn't been texting me back lately. I guess he's moved on. He must've got Lee Brice's number or something."

Niemann is on tour across America through early December in support of his latest album, High Noon. Following dates opening for Keith Urban and hitting state fairs in Oklahoma and East Texas, he'll be headlining a slew of shows including stops in New York (Nov. 1), Chicago (Nov. 13), Detroit (Nov. 15) and Houston (Dec. 4).