The New York Jets head coach was unexpectedly candid in his presser today
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh has become a quotable quote.
“All Gas, No Brake” and “Positive Vibes Only” are two of his mantras.
Now, though, the second-year head man has a different quote, one that’s directed at those mocking the Jets for their performance against the Ravens in a 24-9 loss yesterday.
“We’re all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say we aren’t going to do anything … and I’ll be more than happy to share them when it’s all said and done,” per Jets X-Factor’s Robby Sabo.
Robert Saleh says he's "taking receipts" of those who are all mocking the not believing in the New York #Jets, and he'll be glad to share those receipts once it's all said and done.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) September 12, 2022
Robert Saleh and the Jets are keeping receipts on those that "mock" the team:
"I'm going to be more than happy to share them when it's all said and done" pic.twitter.com/608akdkz9H
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 12, 2022
Those are bold words from a head coach who is 4-14 in his tenure and has yet to win a game in September.
However, the ever-positive Saleh found genuine pockets of growth to build on for next week.
Robert Saleh: "In my opinion, we did not get beat. We lost. Those are two totally different things." #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 12, 2022
Saleh quoted Tony Dungy, who said that 90% of games are lost, not won. He felt that the Jets really could have been explosive yesterday if not for the mistakes, pointing out that the defense did a great job except for two blown coverages that resulted in touchdowns.
Offensively, he said that the team had almost 180 yards in the first half and were moving the ball freely, but drops and fumbles killed drives.
Saleh’s comment about keeping receipts was in a response to a question about how a rebuild comes together, whether it happens slowly or suddenly clicks, specifically regarding mistakes.
He said that you see it on tape and on TV, as the team gets faster and flies all over the field, and he knows it’s going to happen.
The head coach’s confidence has been refreshing in injecting new life and strong team culture into East Rutherford. However, as long as the wins remain elusive, the mockers will not be silenced.
I have no problem w/ Saleh’s statement and apparent frustration.
What I do have a problem w/ is a number of blogs and sites spinning his comments to be directed at the fans. Trying to create or intensify a rift between the fanbase and Saleh is counter-productive. In my opinion, Saleh gets this year and next to prove himself.
We are clearly at least a year away, roster-wise, from being a playoff team. Assuming Zach progresses when he returns, we need O Line additions and safety help.
Yeah, it’s a little much to say that he was challenging the fans. It was more the media that he was referring to.
Yes, this team is at least a year away roster-wise. The problem is that the performance on Sunday didn’t look like just one year away.
I think offensively you’re right but it’s not like Zach was playing and that OL has been shuffled for the past month. Believe me I know everybody is tired of hearing it, but just because we are all exhausted with these things happening to the Jets doesn’t mean we can dismiss them. The defense looks a year away, and appears to have the ability to be a good group this season.
Starting an old and slow Flacco set the Jets back before the game even began.
His sophomoric attempts to have the Ravens practice for two QBs by saying Zack Wilson may play then two days later said 4th game at earliest. You fooled the fans not the Ravens.
White must start. Flacco is so done, if he were a horse it would be humane to shoot him. Now he wants to throw another game away by making the same mistake.
We take my check because if Flacco starts I’ll be checking out Sunday!
White is not better than Flacco. The only reason to start White is that he is a little more mobile, which is saying something because he’s not mobile. It made sense to start Flacco because no one could have predicted that the left side of the Jets’ offensive line would melt down.
Thank you for some sanity. He WAS NOT directing any of that towards his fans. I agree, give him some time. How many people who are up in arms about the loss actually picked the Jets to win before the game? Just about everybody I saw picked Baltimore, now that it happened they are upset. PLEASE!
I’m 100% happy he and the team is taking this personally. They ARE CLEARLY better, look at what the defense gave up in rushing yards to Jackson, not to mention total yards. That was the worst defense in the history of the franchise last season.
Again, it’s not about the loss, it’s about how it looked. I picked the Ravens 27-14, which is actually close to the differential that we saw, but I didn’t expect the offense to look quite that anemic. The left side of the offensive line is very concerning. The signs from the defense were obviously good, and that’s an upgrade over last year when not much of anything went well. But still, the frustration among the fan base is justified.
Bill Parcells went through a similar situation for the NY Giants in the early ’80s. In 1981, with Parcells are defensive coordinator, the Giants reached the playoffs and won a playoff game against the defending NFC Champs, the Eagles. In ’82 and ’83 (Parcells’s first as head coach) they had losing seasons causing people to remark “same old Giants.” In a one-hour ESPN special, Parcells said “I’m sick of losing with other peoples’ guys, I need my own guys” and “we have too many California guys, I need some Jersey guys.” He set out on a path to acquire Karl Nelson, Brad Benson, Jim Burt, Gary Reasons, Carl Banks and a bunch of players who became cornerstones of the Super Bowl Champs for the ’86 and ’90 seasons.
In ’86 after crushing the 49ers, Redskins and Broncos in the playoffs I suspect he told his critics “look like the same old Giants to you now?” So, I’m willing to bet he was taking receipts and flashing them when appropriate.
I believe Saleh is the right coach to build a Jets team with character and talent. I think he deserves that opportunity and it will take more than 2 seasons to build it. But we should keep in mind that he can only select the final roster from that pool of candidates someone else brings in to “audition” for him. The Jets are not yet at the point where talent wants to come here. The Jets need to string together a few competitive seasons first. But I think he can get us there.
Mostly agree. I do think that “positive vibes” are not enough. Bill brought accountability, sometimes “severe accountability”. Saleh is at the end of the honeymoon period, the fans and team need results; not necessarily wins, but competitiveness.
Parcells’s tough approach would not sit well in today’s NFL. I suppose he’d be able to do what his disciple has done in New England, but he’d have to sacrifice a lot of talent to do things his way. Younger players do not respond well to tongue-lashings and public humiliation.
You’re 100% right about Saleh. The team needs to put a competitive effort out there every week, and they didn’t in Week 1.
Parcells was a little different in that the Giants had made the playoffs in ’81 and already had Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, and Phil Simms. The rebuild was sort of underway when he got there, even though ’83 was so bad that there was discussion of firing him after just one year. But the turnaround already happened in his second season as head coach because the building blocks were there. Obviously, Bill was vindicated when his team won the Super Bowl in ’86 and then again in ’90, but it wasn’t the same kind of turnaround that the Jets need.
Saleh came into a dumpster fire, so it’s easier to say to give him time. As you said, more than two seasons. However, given the talent on this roster, the kind of performance the Jets put forth on Sunday is unacceptable. Yes, the offense is shorthanded, but there’s no excuse for doing that little with the skill position players on the team.
I don’t think the issue this offseason was that Douglas couldn’t attract free agents. In fact, we heard from some of the guys who did sign here that they did it because of Saleh. I believe that Douglas refused to pay a premium price to sign those free agents. In most cases, his stance made sense (i.e., Chandler Jones), but not bringing in at least one decent tackle in the main free agency period was a big mistake. In my opinion, leaving the cupboard so bare at free safety was also an error, even though the team couldn’t fix everything at once.
Douglas and Saleh know they have another year to figure things out unless this season is an absolute disaster (and perhaps even if it is). However, what happened on Sunday provides a sense of foreboding about that dumpster fire happening. There were enough positives, especially on the defensive side of the football, to hope that it’s not the case. Still, this year was supposed to be a step forward to build towards the playoffs next year. The first game output was worrisome.
Well said
One of my points is that it is too early to panic. As a longtime fan of both the Jets and Giants I have heard the “same old …” phrase often, many times with justification. Building a winning culture is hard but I believe the Jets can do it. At this point I have more faith in Saleh than in Douglas. If Zack works out, Douglas’s stock will rise. If not, then faith in him will be tested.
Saleh has really done nothing here. The trades Douglass made to acquire more draft picks and his last two drafts were lauded by almost all in the game.
I’m sorry, I feel just the opposite
You can’t see a difference in the culture of this team? I know they played poorly but clearly this is a different group. Making that kind of change in one season after the stench of 10 seasons and Adam Gase is a major accomplishment. Do they need to play better on Sunday and start winning some games? Yes, but it was game 1. I think to say Saleh has done nothing isn’t the case. Also, how about giving the picks some time to prove themselves? Garrett Wilson showed some things Sunday, Johnson made some plays, and Hall flashed even though he had some yips.
I know your frustrated, I feel you, it’s early. I think there are signs of progress.
Saleh has definitely changed the culture, but that’s not enough anymore. This team has too much talent to be beaten the way it was last week.
You can argue about many of the moves Douglas made. His first draft was nothing short of disastrous. His second draft will all depend on how Zach Wilson plays, but the trade up for Alijah Vera-Tucker was viewed by many as too steep a price to pay for an interior lineman (it should not have taken two third-round picks). This year, taking Breece Hall in the second round was highly controversial, and waiting until the fourth round to take a tackle was a risk that has not paid off.
Yes, he’s made some savvy moves, but sometimes he gets too much credit. Also, as long as Saleh is the head coach, Douglas will listen to Saleh about personnel – and that goes back to the fact that Saleh’s personnel requests are baffling at times.
Ok I have no idea how you know Douglas is following Saleh’s request on all personnel decisions. What personnel request has Saleh made that is baffling? The Hall pick wasn’t “highly controversial” by anybody at the time. It’s a bit of a leap to say it shouldn’t have taken 2 third round picks to get AVT. We have no idea what the options were at that point. How can you say the OT pick hasn’t paid off this year? They have played ONE GAME.
Everybody would be saying the same thing if they lost by your predicted score which was about the same point differential. Of all the teams you mentioned the Jets were the only to start a backup QB and I’m sorry Geno Smith had ONE great half and the team scored ZERO second half points. Typical over sensationalizing from ESPNquirer.
Yes, changing the culture isn’t enough anymore but again it’s been ONE game. Did everybody think every game was going to be close this year? Especially with Flacco? Criticism is warranted but how about we not go off the deep end?
It’s pretty evident from how the Jets addressed the linebacker and safety positions that those were at Saleh’s directive. It’s based on how he values those positions. Douglas was never going to sign a safety to a big deal, but I still think he would’ve addressed the position more thoroughly in a different situation.
The Hall pick was certainly controversial. Michael Carter was a highly productive back last year, and there were strong reasons to say that the Jets should have picked a linebacker or safety in their second-round slot instead of giving up another pick to trade up for an RB. It’s understandable why they drafted Hall – they wanted more big-play potential and to surround Zach Wilson with as much talent as possible – but with the way the NFL is run nowadays, it may not have been the best use of assets. The Jets may have been able to increase their production at the RB position by taking a back in the 4th or 5th round, just as they did with Carter last year.
As far as AVT is concerned, it was an overpay based on the analytics charts and the inherent value of an interior offensive lineman. Regarding OT, I’m saying that their whole plan has already gone to the dust with the injuries to Becton and Brown. Mitchell starting out of the gate was pretty much the Jets’ worst-case scenario, but they didn’t do enough to prevent that from happening.
It’s how bad the offense looked that is alarming, not the final score. To me, 27-14 was with the assumption that the offense would be able to move the ball more. I certainly did not anticipate a complete meltdown from George Fant and Laken Tomlinson. Their failures and Joe Flacco’s indecisiveness were the two biggest red flags to me.
As far as those other teams, yes, they were not starting backups, but the Jets’ offense is supposed to have more talent at the skill positions. Maybe that’s on LaFleur for not game-planning to exploit them, but it was certainly a gut check.
It was one game, but it was one really bad game from the offense.
I can agree the offense was not even close to good, however if they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot it may have been a bit better. I didn’t like the 13 package so early, would have been better as a wrinkle but not a primary attack.
You may not have liked the Hall pick but “controversial” it wasn’t. It’s not like they drafted a guy that could have been drafted later in the draft. Houston may have taken him. Given the questions that still exist about Zach, it wasn’t a terrible move.
The LB’s fit Saleh’s system, yes. They actually looked better than I expected, and since we are making season long judgements off of one game then give Saleh credit for getting the right LB group. They looked good. Did you notice the rushing yards for Baltimore…or lack of?
Did I miss something or did the Jets spend money in free agency on a safety? I think I see one out there they brought in….I mean you can’t say Joe wasn’t going to sign a safety when he actually DID sign one. I think it would have been a mistake to spend so much cap space on the safety position in the same off-season and as I mentioned I’d rather give Zach another player.
I know the value chart etc. but it was “within reason” to sweeten the package a bit for AVT ESPECIALLY considering how atrocious that OL was at the time.
The OT plan has blown up for sure this year. Maybe it was the best they could do?
I feel your frustration, I’m in the same position but I’m saying give it some time. You can’t say you gave it 10 years. This is going to be an up and down year. There will be more duds for sure. There will be some really good games. We can’t keep going off the deep end because we have 10 years frustration built up. That’s part of the reason they are in the position to begin with…
Thanks for your hard work!!!!
I was actually in the camp that was okay with the Hall pick. But it was controversial in that it’s high for a running back. Yes, Houston may have taken him, but the analytically-driven move would have been to let them.
Regarding the LBs, yes, the run defense was surprisingly effective on Sunday. If they can keep it up this week, I’ll tip my cap to Saleh and Ulbrich and say that they figured out how to make it work.
As far as safety is concerned, yes, they signed Whitehead, but they left free safety to the wolves. Also, Whitehead is overrated by many Jets fans. The TD he gave up on Sunday was emblematic of his overall struggles in coverage. The 2nd-round pick may have been better used on Jalen Pitre or another safety with better coverage skills. Joyner may end up as this defense’s Achilles heel this season. It’s incredible that the Jets gave up three deep touchdowns while their starting cornerback duo gave up a grand total of eight yards.
As far as AVT was concerned, I guess that’s where I disagree. I would not have sweetened the pot for an IOL. But my point is that some of Douglas’s moves have been suspect. Even if the AVT trade was okay, there are still things Douglas has done that were questioned by many at the time and have not worked out.
Regarding tackle, there were a few free agent tackles available that are better options than throwing Max Mitchell to the wolves. Mitchell did better than expected vs. the Ravens, but there were still other options out there. Re-signing Conor McDermott was a concession to having a serious hole on the line if Fant or Brown went down. With Fant’s injury history and Brown’s age, that was likely to happen at some point.
Yes, it will be an up-and-down year. Everyone knows that. The schedule is tough in the first half. But one of the biggest goals of this season was keeping games competitive, and Week 1 was not a good start in that area.
I have been a longtime fan as well, I think the “same old” phrase just comes out way too soon. I mean how many wins did people predict? 7, 8 maybe 9? That means about 10 losses, they just had one, in a game many expected to be difficult for them. Let’s give it time.
Again, it wasn’t about the loss. It was the way they looked in losing. Most people have the Jets between 6-8 wins, but I think one of those was Cleveland in many people’s minds. Now, with Myles Garrett on the horizon, that is no slam dunk at all.
It may be too early, but one more week of that kind of offensive output and I don’t think it will be too early any longer. I have more faith in Douglas than Saleh, personally.
For some reason I’m not so worried. I do believe they hold on to a couple of balls, don’t shank a punt, make a kick or two, and the game would have been closer. Those things can be fixed. They clearly have some talent. I know some will say, these are the same problems as last year but this isn’t the same group.
I may be in the minority but I see this team as fighting through some early games but winning some and making a nice late season run. I don’t know if it will be a playoff run but I do think improvement.
Everyone who looked at the schedule knew that most of the Jets’ wins will come in the second half of the year. Still, compare how the Jaguars, Lions, Seahawks, and Bears (four games that many people marked as must-wins on the schedule) played in Week 1 to how the Jets did. The Jets very much earned their No. 32 spot in every power ranking.