Fair or not, there are certain NFL owners who most fans feel are holding their organizations back.
Needless to say, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is at the top of that list.
The Athletic unleashed a shocking report today that to be perfectly honest is almost impossible to believe – that’s how outrageous the details sound.
However, if the reporting is correct (and Dianna Russini has a very high batting percentage), it speaks unprecedented volumes about just how toxic Woody Johnson and Jets ownership really is.
According to the report, a potential trade between the Jets and Denver Broncos for Jerry Jeudy was vetoed by Johnson because he believed the wide receiver’s Madden rating “wasn’t high enough” to justify the deal. (I wish I was kidding.)
The influence of Madden ratings on Johnson’s decision-making was reportedly driven by his teenage sons, Brick and Jack, who have begun accompanying him to team meetings and having a say in football matters.
“When we’re discussing things, you’ll hear Woody cite something that Brick or Jack read online that’s being weighed equally against whatever opinion someone else in the department has,” a Jets executive said.
Fired-general manager Joe Douglas even expressed frustration last offseason, noting, “I answer to a teenager,” referring to the influence of his boss’s sons.
This dynamic was widely viewed as a sign of their influence over decisions, such as the vetoed Jeudy trade.
The report also highlighted another instance where Johnson didn’t want to sign free-agent guard John Simpson due to a low ‘awareness’ rating in Madden. (Again, I can’t believe I’m writing this.)
“Another example came when Johnson pushed back on signing free-agent guard John Simpson due to a lackluster ‘awareness’ rating in Madden. The Jets signed Simpson anyway, and he has had a solid season: Pro Football Focus currently has him graded as the eighth-best guard in the NFL.”
A spokesperson for the Jets disputed the notion that observations from Brick and Jack had any impact on organizational decisions, stating that such ratings were used merely as “a reference point” and not as “determinative” factors in team choices.
“It’s really sad that an adult would use a misleading anecdote about teenagers to make their father look bad. It’s ridiculous, quite honestly, the idea that this was used to influence the opinion of experienced executives,” the spokesperson said.
“(The sons) have no roles in the organization. It’s completely ridiculous to suggest that any outside info is intended to replace the opinions of (Woody Johnson’s) staff.”
While it was known that Johnson had vetoed a trade for Jeudy, the full details of the nixed deal only came to light when The Athletic reported it in November after Douglas was fired as general manager.
The Jets had offered Allen Lazard and a day two pick in the 2024 NFL draft to the Broncos for the veteran wideout before Johnson intervened.
It turns out that the Madden video game played a crucial role in this decision. Since the talks happened during the offseason, Jeudy’s rating would have been from Madden NFL 24 – an 83 overall rating.
That rating would have made Jeudy the second-best receiver on the Jets roster behind Garrett Wilson, who had an 84 rating. The Cleveland Browns eventually traded for Jeudy, giving up picks in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2024 draft.
Currently, Jeudy has 1,052 receiving yards this season, which would lead the Jets roster. Wilson, the team’s top receiver, has 933 yards.
In a bid to bolster their receiver depth in-season, Gang Green made a trade for Davante Adams. Although he was vintage-Adams last Sunday against the Jaguars, the fact of the matter is he hasn’t had as big of an impact as expected.
The stunning report also detailed a brutal moment in the locker room following the Jets win over the Houston Texans back in October…
Like I said, the details in this report are almost impossible to believe. That’s how truly mind-blowing some of these allegations are.
What are your thoughts on the wild story?
Will the Jets be forever doomed as long as the Johnson family is in charge???
