There goes that man again, and no, it has nothing to do with those mysteriously hovering drones invading Northern New Jersey.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke to the media after Wednesday’s practice, and he did so while reiterating one of his favorite narratives: The media doesn’t know a damn thing.
When asked about Jay Glazer’s recent report suggesting that the veteran signal-caller dealt with more injuries this season than anybody realized, Rodgers was sure to set the record straight.
“Jay did that? Where’s he getting his information?” Rodgers bluntly asked the media scrum. “How’d he know it’s a grade two if there was never an MRI?
“There was a hamstring at one point. There was a knee at one point, and I think you all saw the ankle in London. I don’t know what the grades were with all of them.”
More colorful language was added in the next breath for emphasis.
“Jay came in and gave a great speech this training camp. Other than that, he doesn’t know s*** about my body. And that’s the truth.”
Rodgers, 41, is no stranger to bouts with the media. In fact, the ease with which he so publicly questions the media’s motives, coupled with his cynical mind about all things serious, makes it worthwhile to not even have to mention one of his previous run-ins with the folks who live in journalism land.
In 13 games this season, Rodgers has thrown for 2,966 yards and 20 touchdowns to 8 interceptions on 63.1% passing. Of course, Jets fans are incredibly divided while simultaneously suffering through the worst case of fan depression this land has ever seen—for obvious reasons.
Courtesy of a 3-10 record, the Jets have extended their playoff drought to an absurd 14 seasons. The organization’s last playoff win remains a glorious night in Foxborough, MA when Rex Ryan could be seen sprinting (or, more aptly put, some form of moving one’s body) down the sideline to greet a young Shonn Greene.
The reasons why the ultra-hyped 2024 Jets failed are many, yet a singular issue reigns supreme. Without directing attention to the issue specifically, by name, the Jets’ future Hall of Fame quarterback gave away the game by revealing two of the team’s greatest ills.
Coaching (and/or leadership).
Whether Robert Saleh was actually leading the charge or some variation of his staff, the Jets feature arguably the worst coaching in the NFL. Although he didn’t come out and say that specifically, the team’s offensive leader pointed to poor situational football play and accountability as major reasons for this no-good, very bad season.
“Situational football hasn’t been there for us, and that’s why we haven’t gotten to 30 (points),” Rodgers told reporters. “30 (points) is kind of the magic number, so (we’re) still trying to get there.
“I don’t know what the proper nomenclature is for the situation where we’ve lost some leads or haven’t been able to take the lead late in the game but that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Rodgers added. “We haven’t been great in situational football. (A) lot of those games come down to the plays in the first and second, (and/or) even third quarter. If you make the play, the game is not in that situation; but in those situations, we haven’t been very good on offense or defense or even teams.”
As far as the accountability bucket is concerned, hey, it’s nothing Jet X hasn’t been screaming about for years. If players aren’t walking on eggshells to at least some degree—while consistently worried about letting down the brother lined up next to him—then something’s extremely wrong.
“It takes a conscious effort, it takes an intentional effort to do that,” Rodgers explained when asked how the Jets organization can turn things around. “It’s a group that has to find that gel, spend time together, and enjoy each other enough to take the work outside.
“Also (we have to) just hold each other accountable at work, and kind of let the ego go away (so that) it’s a professional environment, and guys are so locked in that they don’t want to mess up for the buddy next to them.”
No, in this case, it actually isn’t the economy.
In a simple nutshell, “It’s the coaching, stupid.”
