No matter where you are with Aaron Glenn as the new HC, it seems pretty much now that he just gambled the Jets’ locker room. The question is: Was it worth it?

The Aaron Rodgers era in New York was never going to have a fairy-tale ending, but this? This feels more like a messy breakup that everyone saw coming, except for the guys in the locker room. New HC and GM. Backed up by the Big Apple. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey felt invincible. Guess that’s why they didn’t just part ways with A-Rod—they slammed the door shut. And if the reaction from players is any indication, the locker room wasn’t exactly consulted on this one.

Glenn and Mougey made it clear: “Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback.” Simple. Direct. No room for debate. Except, the Jets’ locker room was debating. Because whether Rodgers was still the guy or not, plenty of players wanted him back.

ESPN’s Dan Graca put it bluntly: “If they [the Jets] went around and administered a secret ballot to each and every guy in the locker room, I think you would get that the majority would say yes [to wanting Rodgers back].” Now, that’s a problem.

And it’s not just speculation. Quinnen Williams, the heart of the Jets’ defense, didn’t hold back. His since-deleted post? “Another rebuild for me, I guess.” That’s not a guy happy about the new direction. That’s frustration. EXHAUSTION.. sigh!… But he wasn’t alone. A thumbs-down emoji followed, a universal signal for this ain’t it, chief.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s just social media noise, but when your All-Pro defensive tackle is subtweeting your offseason moves, it’s safe to say the vibes aren’t immaculate.

Look, now! I am not saying that the writing wasn’t on the walls. Rather, I firmly believe Rodgers didn’t exactly make things easy for himself. He missed all of 2023 with a torn Achilles, and in 2024, he looked like a guy on the wrong side of 40. The Jets went 5-12. That’s not exactly “franchise savior” material. Plus, Rodgers spent just as much time making headlines off the field as he did on it.

His weekly Pat McAfee appearances? Yeah, that too… One Jets player bluntly put it, “That was very disrespectful to all of us… He was pretty much doing his own PR.” And if there’s one thing NFL locker rooms hate, it’s a guy who feels like he’s above the team.

So maybe Glenn had a point. Maybe cutting ties now, ripping off the Band-Aid, was the best move for the long-term health of the franchise. But was it the best move for right now? The Jets don’t exactly have many great alternatives. Tyrod Taylor? Solid veteran, sure. But a long-term answer? Not even close.

And if Glenn’s vision is about “starting fresh,” well… good luck selling that to the guys who have already endured 14 straight seasons without a playoff appearance. That’s the longest active drought in North American sports. Another reset doesn’t scream progress. So, this better be worth it.

Even a pleading Aaron Rodgers couldn’t convince the Jets otherwise

Aaron Rodgers’ Jets era? A Shakespearean tragedy with a side of reality TV drama. Season one: torn Achilles, a 5-12 disaster season, and the finale: an unceremonious exit. But here’s the kicker—Rodgers didn’t want to leave. Yeah, hit them with plot twists and that.

According to reports from The New York Post, the four-time MVP practically begged the Jets to reconsider, even “aggressively urging” them for another shot. The front office, however, had already moved on, treating Rodgers like a veteran backup on a rookie-heavy roster. Cold.

Rodgers’ numbers last season were decent—3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and an 11-pick performance that, on paper, doesn’t scream “washed.” But the deeper analytics told a different story. The 41-year-old ranked 19th in EPA per play, 25th in QBR, and a dismal 31st in completion percentage. His on-target rate? 26th. The only quarterbacks below him in CPOE? Cooper Rush and Anthony Richardson. Yikes. Factor in the injuries—knee, ankle, hamstring—and it wasn’t exactly shocking that the Jets decided to move on.

That didn’t stop Rodgers from making one final push. He flew in from California for a meeting with new head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey, only to be hit with the hard truth. No more Jets, no more Gang Green comeback story. “It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity,” Glenn and Mougey said in a statement.

Rodgers? Reportedly took it “like a man going to the gallows” before disappearing into the shadows. A fittingly dramatic exit.

Jets’ owner, Woody Johnson, kept it classy, though. “From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet… He will always be welcome.” That’s a nice sentiment coming from a guy who wanted to bench A-Rod… Hmm, we don’t talk about that, do we? Now, let’s be real—Rodgers probably felt more like a houseguest overstaying his welcome.

So, moving on, the Jets are taking a $35 million cap hit while Rodgers hits the market as one of the NFL’s most unpredictable wild cards. Retirement? Maybe. The TV booth? Definitely an option. But a team willing to bet their season on a 41-year-old QB with an injury history and a McAfee segment habit? That’s a tougher sell.

As for Glenn, he better hope he’s got a better backup plan than Tyrod Taylor. If not, then he can kiss goodbye to all that fanfare he’s got up until now. Those fans don’t care as they should NOT! So, he better have a championship hauling play up his sleeve.