On the last episode of Hard Knocks, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh spoke about his biggest pet peeve as a coach
Playing hard is not enough for Robert Saleh anymore.
In the final episode of this season of Hard Knocks, the Jets’ head coach gave a fiery speech in which he described his mindset going into the 2023 season.
Warning: NSFW language in the clip below.
#Jets HC Robert Saleh on the biggest pet peeve he has as a head coach.
Kept it real.pic.twitter.com/4rE0hcBb5N
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 6, 2023
In arguably one of the best speeches from the show, Saleh embraces the target on the team’s back and makes it clear he wants all of the smoke.
“One of my biggest pet peeves I have as a coach is when you’re on a team that’s not doing very well and the opposing coach whose team is doing well walks up to you at the 50-yard-line and says ‘Man, you guys play hard.’ F— you. I don’t want to play hard, I want to f— you up. That’s the mindset,” Saleh said. “No one is talking about how we play hard anymore. They’re f—— hating. And that’s exactly what you f—— want.”
Saleh is not wrong. Many in the media have expressed their lack of confidence in the Jets, along with the large number of fans that have come out of the woodwork to show their passionate dislike of the team.
"There is just so much arrogance. So don’t be mad when we hate you back"
Morash says Jets fans, more than any other fanbase in New York, is "insufferable" for one specific reason:https://t.co/RJc9hXDLEW
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) September 5, 2023
Don't be the Jets under 9.5, bet them to miss the playoffs.@getnickwright explains: pic.twitter.com/K7JHZBKylz
— What’s Wright? with Nick Wright (@WhatsWrightShow) September 5, 2023
Expectations and hype breed hatred, and that is exactly what has happened with the Jets heading into this season. Instead of being hyped as a rising team poised to break a playoff drought, most want to see the Jets fall flat of their expectations.
Luckily for Robert Saleh, the hate is exactly what he wants for the Jets, positioning them to take on the NFL’s villain mantra for the 2023 season and beyond.
I’m glad the Jets are PO’ed. As a Jets Fan personally. There have been times of disappointment but looking for pity and having a “woe is me mentality” is not a mindset that I have when it comes to being a fan. The Goal is always the same Superbowl win or bust. One team walks away as the Champion every season. The rest of the 31 teams walk away as the losers. Plain and simple. No team can say that they are content with a losing record or making it to the Superbowl only to lose.