There’s not a single player in all of football who has more power and control than New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers … And that’s not a good thing.
Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever pick up a football.
It’s not his fault the Jets moved heaven and earth to acquire him. Just like it’s not his fault they have given him total control over virtually every decision that is made in the organization … After all, that’s the bed the Jets made for themselves – now they have to sleep in it.
According to a bombshell report by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini, the entire environment surrounding Gang Green and their football operations has become “such a f*cking mess” and “something has to change.”
Those aren’t words from an outsider. Those are words from one of the THIRTY inside-sources the reporters spoke to, which included multiple Jets coaches.
The report outlined various issues during the 2023 season, including a “paranoid head coach, an ill-equipped offensive coordinator, and an organizational tunnel vision on the quarterback that rubbed some teammates wrong.”
One AFC general manager even labeled Joe Douglas as the “assistant GM,” with Rodgers seemingly perceived as the head decision-maker for all personnel choices.
The Jets offseason signings raised eyebrows as several Green Bay Packers – including Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Tim Boyle, and Billy Turner – made the trek east with Rodgers.
The biggest headache of all has turned out to be the hiring of Rodgers’ old offensive coordinator (and good buddy) Nathaniel Hackett as Jets OC.
Hackett’s relationship with Rodgers was described as “more frat brothers than player/coach,” but concerns were raised about his attention to detail on the field.
The report highlighted that, for most of the season, Hackett would only meet with specific offensive staff members at the “last minute” of game preparation.
The report also indicated that Hackett spent minimal time studying film and had no sense of urgency when it came to fixing the biggest issue on the team – the offensive line.
The report didn’t single-out Rodgers. By all accounts, he’s still well-liked and held in high-regard among his teammates. However, he reportedly distanced himself from quarterback Zach Wilson once he got injured.
The worst thing Rodgers did was insist that head coach Robert Saleh remain as head coach.
In literally any other circumstance, with any other team, Saleh would have surely been fired by now … He’s proven to be a terrible head coach – That’s just the reality of the matter.
Saleh spent the majority of the season complaining about how the New York Giants weren’t criticized at the same level as the Jets.
The report also stated that Saleh compiled a list of how head coaches who have lost their starting quarterbacks fared, seemingly a tactic to award himself a “get out of jail free” card since Rodgers got hurt.
Rodgers did get hurt and the Jets failure to field a competent backup quarterback falls on them. Everyone knows that Zach Wilson is not a backup you can rely on.
Yet despite having numerous chances to at least bring in a capable veteran backup, they refused (other than signing the woeful Trevor Siemian).
Paranoia was a big theme with Saleh.
Following an in-season report by The Athletic which shined a very ugly light on Saleh and the Jets, the sensitive head coach reportedly threatened to confiscate cell phones of players to identify the anonymous source that leaked information in the report.
Clearly, there’s a cultural problem with the Jets.
Long considered one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional franchises, this shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise.
However, it must be extremely disappointing for Jets fans to see the issue continue. They were hoping everything would be different with Rodgers in town.
Again, there’s no doubting Rodgers’ greatness.
He’ll be back next season and you can bet he’ll have a bigger chip on his shoulder than ever.
“Assistant GM” Joe Douglas has a whole lot of work to do this offseason – and you can be assured Rodgers will have his ear, for better or worse.
But again, this is the bed the Jets made for themselves … Only Rodgers can save them now.
What are your thoughts on the report?
Where do you rank Saleh among the worst coaches in recent history?
What do the Jets need to do this offseason to at least attempt to bounce back next year?
Will the greatness of Rodgers be enough to make them legitimate contenders next season?
Or is the whole operation a ticking time bomb that will inevitably explode???