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Adam Schefter: Robert Saleh was ‘drained’ by New York market

Robert Saleh, NY Jets, NFL, New York Media
Robert Saleh, New York Jets, Getty Images

In the aftermath of the New York Jets firing their head coach, ESPN’s most prominent NFL insider had some thoughts to share.

On “The Pat McAfee Show,” Adam Schefter said that he felt Robert Saleh was heavily affected by the pressure of the New York media market.

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“I do think that working in this market affected him. I think he got a little beat up mentally. I think that wore him down him a little bit. I think it drained some of the enthusiasm that he had for the game. I think that, unfortunately, he let all the outside noise get to him at times.

“And, to do that job in any market requires you to put on the blinders and block out the noise as best as you can. And inevitably, you can’t tune out all that noise. And if you’re a human being, it’s hard not to let it affect you in some type of the way. And in this particular case, I think coaching in New York got to him a little bit. It’s not an easy job to be a head coach in the NFL anywhere, but it’s especially difficult doing it in New York.”

Schefter also said he believes Aaron Rodgers’ claim that he was not involved in the decision, and that he feels Saleh’s firing had been in the works for a long time before it actually occurred.

“I might be naive, but I thought Aaron Rodgers came off as believable. I really did. Woody Johnson calling to check in on his ankle sounds plausible. A short conversation sounds plausible. Being in the training room when he hears? I believe all of that.

“I also believe that this has been coming for a long time. There were conversations at the end of last year about whether or not they should make a change. They didn’t make the change. Woody Johnson was thinking about it all along,” said Schefter.

The insider also said that the loss to the Vikings was “the last straw” for Johnson and that he does not believe Rodgers “ordered” the firing.

Schefter also spoke about what he perceives as Joe Douglas’s role in the firing.

“I’m sure that Joe Douglas had to be aware of this in advance. And I’m sure that Woody told Joe, because I can’t imagine an owner firing a head coach and the GM getting an alert. That’s not practical in this day and age. Joe Douglas is in his own challenging situation with his contract being up at the end of the year.”

While most of Schefter’s quotes are speculative, it is interesting to hear that the Jets were considering firing Saleh after last season.

Once Aaron Rodgers was lost for the season with his Achilles injury, the team struggled immensely in every category. Whether it was a poor level of play on the field or a severe lack of accountability behind the scenes, it seemed that Saleh’s days as the head coach were numbered anyway.  Now, he is officially gone from New York.

The Jets will have to pick up the pieces and figure out how to move forward in 2024. The hope is that, with Ulbirch at the helm and a message of accountability permeating the roster, New York can turn it around fast.

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