The New York Jets came into the 2024 NFL season with Super Bowl aspirations. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers had fully recovered from his torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season after just four snaps, they restocked their wide receiver room, and revamped their offensive line both in free agency and the NFL Draft.
Through five games, though, the Jets do not look anything like a team that is going to compete for a Super Bowl. They lost their last game, a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in London, 23-17. Rodgers completed 29 of 54 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions, which tied his single game career high.
Now 2-3, the Jets need to get right before the season, once again, slips away from them. And while a trade for Davante Adams may be on the horizon, there are serious questions regarding the relationship between Rodgers and head coach Robert Saleh.
New York Jets Insider Fears Robert Saleh Will Lose the Locker Room After Aaron Rodgers Criticism
No one is more aware that Rodgers did not play up to his standards against the Vikings than the man himself. After the game, Rodgers told reporters, “You’ve just got to be honest with your performance every single week and hold yourself to a standard. Obviously, I was below my standard.”
Saleh also addressed Rodgers’ play on Sunday, saying, “Obviously, up and down. Unfortunately, that pick-six was a big difference in the game.”
The Jets losing by six points does indicate that Saleh is correct. However, one Jets beat writer and insider believes that the head coach’s bluntness and refusal to defend his quarterback could have dire consequences.
Jon Conahan of Sports Illustrated wrote of Saleh’s comments:
“If Saleh doesn’t stand up for his quarterback, he should expect to lose the locker room soon.
“Saleh and Rodgers have a confusing relationship. While on the outside looking in, it might not be as bad as it may seem, there have been moments where it’s fair to question whether they’re fans of one another.
“It’s also fair to question if Saleh is starting to believe he might lose his job.”
These comments from a Jets reporter would usually bring a feeling of uncertainty and dread among fans. And it still might for some.
Aaron Rodgers Previously Called Out the New York Jets Media
However, it is worth noting that Rodgers himself called out the New York media last week for writing these type of things:
“”I think there’s some driving force trying to put a wedge [from] outside the facility between Robert and I. We’re really good friends. We enjoy each other. We spend time almost every day in his office talking about things and talking about the energy of the team, focus of the team. What we need to get done, how I can help him out, how he can help me out. So we’ve got a great relationship.”
Perhaps Rodgers did not like Saleh saying what he said to the media, but the fact of the matter is that he likely agrees with the statement. That pick six was a key turning point in the game and was a big part of why they lost.
Say what one will about Rodgers, but he is an incredibly intelligent football player. He knows what he did wrong, and one can be sure he is going to work incredibly hard to fix it.
At 40 years old, though, whether or not his body will cooperate remains to be seen.
If it doesn’t, well, what Conahan wrote about Saleh fearing for his job may come to fruition. Rodgers himself said before the season began that if he did not play well, he and many others could be looking for new jobs next season.
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