Some New York Jets seem closely attuned to what people say about them
Most NFL players, coaches, and executives, including those of the New York Jets, claim to ignore what the media and fans say about them. The recent Aaron Rodgers minicamp hoopla was not a team distraction, they say. They’re unaware of what reporters write about them or fans comment on social media.
According to ESPN’s Mina Kimes, this is largely untrue. On the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, she asserted, “I would say like 9 to 1 is the ratio of guys I’ve encountered who are aware of some of it. It is far more the exception that anyone, athlete, player or executive or coach, is not seeing it.”
Kimes further explained that a track record of success does not mean an improved ability to ignore the chatter.
"There are a lot of very successful people in football who are very online, or pay attention to people who I’m shocked they care about their opinions… There are very successful GMs who I know for a fact see everything and read everything…"https://t.co/szcn2DKxUf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 4, 2024
Ironically, Kimes maintains that it’s not just professional media whom NFL figures pay attention to.
“It really is, different people in the sports world care about different voices,” Kimes remarked. “There are a lot of guys who we would respect or hold in pretty high esteem who are very online, and I know that just personally, because I’ve been shocked by it as well.”
Among New York Jets players, coaches, and executives, there are some individuals who make no secret of their attunement to what people say and write about them (see: Whitehead, Jordan in 2023). Others keep mum. Here are the Jets who might most closely fall into the category Kimes describes and some whose preferences are unknown.
Aaron Rodgers
If there’s anyone who knows exactly what’s going on in the media, it’s Aaron Rodgers. He often derisively cites what media members say about him. He commented to one Jets beat reporter about a specific family detail which the reporter had posted about on X and followed up about an event the reporter was attending.
Woody Johnson
Woody Johnson has always responded to media attention on the Jets. A report in The Athletic at the end of the 2023 season indicated that Johnson would bring up negative press coverage in meetings with Saleh. More recently, he refuted a media report claiming that he and Robert Saleh had a heated exchange at the owners’ meetings.
Robert Saleh
Robert Saleh once cited a statistic which Michael Nania had tweeted about just days earlier (regarding the Jets’ rushing numbers with and without Alijah Vera-Tucker).
It appears Robert Saleh reads my tweets.
If you’re reading this Saleh, give me a call, I am all ears and would love to help this organization win football games however possible pic.twitter.com/gsgtTZBBtz
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) January 9, 2023
If you need any proof that Saleh is aware of how the media covers the Jets, though, look no further than the same bombshell report in The Athletic. The report indicated that Saleh often laments how the Jets are covered in the media compared to the Giants.
Maybe Saleh doesn’t read everything, but he certainly knows how the New York media perceives his team.
The Jets’ head coach also responded to fans who preferred to tank the 2023 season finale against the Patriots. That may have come from media questions rather than him following, but he’s certainly aware of the chatter.
Sauce Gardner
Sauce Gardner frequently responds to detractors on X, especially former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. In 2022, he liked a post criticizing Zach Wilson, though he later claimed it was a mistake. He fired back at former Jets linebacker and current SNY analyst Bart Scott on X after Scott cited possible areas of improvement for him. He made some controversial comments on a podcast, then posted on X to defend himself from criticism of his remarks.
Gardner is as tuned in as they come when it comes to not only what the media but also fans say about him.
Breece Hall
Breece Hall posted on X in response to rumors that Ezekiel Elliott might join the Jets in the 2023 offseason. He posted “lol” (and then deleted it) when the Dalvin Cook rumors began. He liked X posts criticizing Zach Wilson and Cook in December 2023. Hall retweeted a post from former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody stating, “How some teams neglect the OL is criminal.” He replied with laughing emojis when former Titans tackle Taylor Lewan criticized Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter on X.
Most recently, Hall responded derisively when CBS Sports left him off their list of the top 100 NFL players. “There’s not 100 People better than me in the NFL… #ChildPlease,” he wrote.
Hall pays very close attention to the NFL landscape on X.
Quincy Williams
This X post from Quincy Williams says it all.
— Quincy Williams (@quincywilliams_) May 31, 2024
Jermaine Johnson
Jermaine Johnson loves tweets about his best plays.
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) May 25, 2023
Me too😂 https://t.co/KpCp3r5BBR
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) January 19, 2024
He also ripped an ESPN reporter who wondered about his role after the Jets drafted Will McDonald in the first round.
Lmao make or break?😂 bro please do your homework… I played about 23% of snaps due to depth with very limited 3rd down ops and what I did with those snaps was impressive to say the least. It’s no question with more snaps I’m more productive. I’ll earn it like always. Take care🏄🏽♂️ https://t.co/0oiBUbXP5e
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) July 12, 2023
Question mark: Joe Douglas?
We know Woody Johnson and Robert Saleh pay attention to the media, but what about Joe Douglas? The Jets’ general manager speaks to the media so rarely that it’s impossible to know. His reputation of running a tight ship is at odds with the leaks that have come out about the inner workings of the Jets at the end of the last two seasons. Still, that doesn’t mean he pays any attention to the noise.