Coach expulsion and Adams trade New York puts the Jets at the feet of quarterback legend Rodgers
Florian Papenfuhs 10/17/2024, 7:31 a.m
Within one furious week, the Jets turned their franchise around. New coach, new assistant, new star receiver. The quarterback, on the other hand, is still the same, namely the oldest in the league. From now on, Aaron Rodgers alone will decide the welfare and woe of the franchise.
Everything has been said. Or rather done. After the past few days, those in charge of the Jets franchise might as well fax Aaron Rodgers the door codes, ask someone to water the flowers in the office and fly off on vacation until the off-season to watch from a lounge chair in the Bahamas. how the Jets finish the season. What had happened?
On Tuesday of last week, the New York Jets fired their coach Robert Saleh, and it was anything but quiet. It is the first season-long coaching firing since franchise owner Woody Johnson took the helm in 2000. In addition, Saleh is said to have learned of his dismissal at the training ground – and was immediately escorted back to the parking lot. The 45-year-old apparently didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his players.
“I don’t have that power”
Saleh was not necessarily considered a close friend of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers; a strange attempt at a hug in a game against the Patriots became a symbol of the relationship. After his dismissal, Rodgers, who was only five years younger than him, even had to defend himself against allegations from Fox Sports that he had initiated a coup. “I don’t have that power,” he says as a guest on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh attempting a hug.
(Photo: IMAGO/USA TODAY Network)
From a sporting perspective, the decision certainly raises question marks. If the management is not happy with Saleh, why wasn’t there a cut after last season, which was made irrelevant by Rodgers’ injury? Instead, the Jets are now firing their coach after just five game days. Plus someone who has worked successfully, especially with the team’s defense. For example, in the entire NFL, only the Tennessee Titans allow fewer yards against the passing game than the Jets. Only seven teams conceded fewer points overall.
Even more movement in the coaching staff
After the bang, Jeff Ulbrich, who was until then the franchise’s defensive coordinator, took over as interim coach – and announced the next coaching change a few days later. Quarterback coach Todd Downing is promoted to offensive coordinator. Even under Saleh, there were rumors of such a promotion in order to finally get the Jets’ faltering offense going again. However, Nathaniel Hackett, whose job was previously organizing the offense, will not be fired. Rodgers’ close confidant will remain with the club in an unspecified role.
The first game after the radical restructuring of the bench was lost against the Bills 20:23. The Jets are sniffing victory, but the end of all hopes comes with an interception from Rodgers. One week after the quarterback legend threw three bad passes against the Vikings in the London Game. Rodgers said after the game against the Bills: “We have to get going. This was a golden opportunity. You win some games in the NFL, you give others away. We gave this one away.”
Hoping for the Green Bay tandem
There is also criticism of referees and – much more importantly – of their own pass recipients. Receiver Mike Williams ran the wrong route in a key scene, as Rodgers explains. The Jets receivers, especially Mike Williams, are likely to be big fans of this statement. It almost seems like the Jets officials want to play the statement right back. Because on Monday evening, a few hours after the Bills defeat, the franchise announced the signing of Davante Adams.
The receiver was released from the Las Vegas Raiders due to an acute dislike of his current job. Adams and Rodgers played 108 games together for the Green Bay Packers, in which the duo scored 69 touchdowns. After leaving Green Bay, Adams’ performance didn’t drop off at all. The 31-year-old is still one of the best pass receivers the league has to offer and is taking the Jets offense to a new level upon his arrival.
Rodgers has been given everything – and has to show everything
But will we also see this level? The Jets have been waiting for a playoff appearance since 2010. It is the longest dry spell in all of US sports, and it should finally end with the legendary duo from the Packers days. What has already ended is the time for excuses. Rodgers is fit, the not always popular head coach has been fired.
And in order to give the lame offense a leg up (ranked 27th in yards per game), not only was a new offensive coordinator installed, but Rodgers’ favorite pass receiver was also lured from Las Vegas to the Big Apple (apart from that, no quarterback helps an offense, who throws four interceptions in two games).
The rest of the season is solely in the hands of Aaron Rodgers. The referees, the receivers’ routes, the coach’s decisions – none of this will be of any interest to anyone until they reach or miss the playoffs. “I don’t have that power,” said Rodgers, when asked about Saleh’s dismissal, and that may be true. Nevertheless, the past few days in New York show that he is perhaps the most powerful quarterback in the NFL. It’s time to show that he’s still one of the best.
If he really succeeds and finally leads the Jets back into the playoffs – maybe even further – then everyone involved will have truly earned their vacation after the season. However, if the last ace up the “Gang Green’s” sleeve turns out to be a bad hand, some of those in charge may have more free time than they would like.
