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.
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The Athletic spoke with 30 sources regarding the #Jets and it is not a good look for many, including head coach Robert Saleh who out of fear made a lot of brash decisions.
āITāS SUCH A F*CKING MESSā
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
clear inability toā¦ pic.twitter.com/5bebn38QSd— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 31, 2024
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.
How did the Jets' season go so wrong?
ā½ļøA paranoid head coach
ā½ļøExcuse-making
ā½ļøA QB that rubbed some teammates wrong@ZackBlatt and @DMRussini spoke to 30 sources in and around the organization to better understand their failed season.A thread š§µhttps://t.co/g49epOfxEU pic.twitter.com/ZZrHLL3mxo
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 31, 2024
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.
Robert Salehās battle cry as the Jetsā losses piled up and criticism mounted:
What do you expect? We lost Aaron Rodgers.@ZackBlatt and @DMRussini detail a season gone awry just four plays in ā¤µļøhttps://t.co/g49epOfxEU pic.twitter.com/PpQGWJF5al
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 31, 2024
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).
Iām currently reading the scathing Jets article in The Athletic.
I canāt say Iām surprised by the details, but Iām still FUMING. š”š¤¬
As I have said all along – and Jets fans have ATTACKED me on this – Robert Saleh does not coach. Heās only worried about job security & mediaā¦ pic.twitter.com/B6lAUvdy74
— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7) January 31, 2024
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.
Breaking: The #Jets and Rex Hogan have mutually agreed to part ways, sources tell @snytv.
The move allows Hogan, who spent the last five seasons as the teamās assistant general manager, to explore other opportunities.
Hogan is well respected around the league. He will be aā¦ pic.twitter.com/AhrokxF7CJ
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 31, 2024
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.
Jets waived Tim Boyle after the Athletic piece on Wilson not wanting to play.
Jets fired Hogan after the Athletic piece on Rodgers and the staff.
The optics of both moves are so funny. Just the timing š
— Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) January 31, 2024
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.
Biggest takeaway from The Athletic #Jets leaks article? Bring in help for Hackett because heās horrible.
Glad Rodgers is involved in those ādiscussionsā too because he saw the BS that went on this year and he canāt even defend Hack. pic.twitter.com/XU5gvbDnY1
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) January 31, 2024
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???
The most concerning part about The Athleticās article is thatās itās abundantly clear the Jets have ZERO direction heading into the future. pic.twitter.com/K1V3lZHdPs
— Danny Bags (@DannyBagsZ) January 31, 2024