In the high-flying world of NFL drama, the New York Jets are once again soaring to new heights. Just when fans thought the team had finally found its wings with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, turbulence struck in the form of a potentially fractured relationship between the star quarterback and head coach Robert Saleh. It’s a plot twist worthy of a Broadway play, leaving Jets faithful wondering if their dreams of playoff glory are about to crash.

Nick Wright, the outspoken NFL analyst known for his razor-sharp takes, didn’t pull any punches when discussing the Jets’ situation on “First Things First.”, Wright straight out declared, “I am officially putting Robert Saleh on the hot seat.” This bold statement came after Rodgers questioned Saleh’s decision to label his absence from mandatory minicamp as “unexcused.”

The controversy, which has been brewing faster than a pot of New York deli coffee, stems from Saleh’s handling of Rodgers’ absence. Despite the organization’s prior knowledge of the quarterback’s plans, Saleh chose to use the term “unexcused,” a move that didn’t sit well with the future Hall of Famer. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported, “Rodgers went to Saleh after that to question why he would call it unexcused.”

Russini later added a twist to the plot, revealing that Saleh’s choice of words was “to show everybody that he’s not the GM.” Interestingly, Wright had predicted this very scenario a month ago. In a prescient moment on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Wright forecasted, “What is going to happen Colin, is when Aaron comes out and talks about this publicly, this is my prediction, not only is he not going to take accountability, he is going to not so subtly slap Robert Saleh’s wrist.”

It seems Wright’s crystal ball was clearer than the skies over MetLife Stadium. The Jets’ mishandling of the situation has drawn more criticism. With better communication, this could have been a one-day story, not the big offseason topic it ended up being.

Adding fuel to the fire, Wright pointed out the Jets’ challenging early schedule. “If they were to lose that game and then that week three against the Patriots game is a Thursday game… you couldn’t see interim head coach triumphant return against…” he trailed off, implying that an 0-3 start could spell disaster for Saleh. As the Jets camp deals with this massive pre-season controversy, there is a matter of Nathaniel Hackett that needs to unfold as the season progresses.

Is offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett Rodgers’ wingman or dead weight?

As the Jets try to navigate this storm, all eyes are on offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. He’s Rodgers’ trusted ally from their Green Bay days, but his first season with the Jets was to put it subtly unsuccessful.

Despite reports that the Jets considered replacing Hackett, Rodgers stood by his man. In a May interview that sounded more like a declaration of loyalty than a football discussion, Rodgers stated, “You should trust me and I trust Nathaniel. So, to me, that’s end of story.”

This unwavering support could be the key to unlocking the Jets’ offensive potential. Last season, under Hackett’s guidance and without Rodgers, the team’s offense was as stagnant as rush hour traffic, finishing dead last in offensive DVOA. But with Rodgers under center, there’s hope that Hackett’s playbook might finally take flight.

However, Wright isn’t buying the hype. He pointed out Rodgers’ declining performance in 2022, marking it as his “worst” season since becoming a starter, with career lows in key stats like yards per game (217.4) and passer rating (91.1). “How that guy is considered by….a lot of these guys a top five quarterback is wish cast,” Wright argued.

Despite the drama, Rodgers remains confident. In a recent interview, he boldly claimed, “I love it. We are must-watch TV. And that’s pretty obvious. Everybody knows that. Whether you love me or hate me, people wanna see me play.” As the Jets prepare for takeoff into the 2024 season, the question on everyone’s mind is whether this drama will be the wind beneath their wings or the turbulence that brings them down.

Will things ease between Rodgers and Saleh or will this pre-season hiccup prove to be fatal? Only the season start will determine the course and repercussions for these two veterans. How do you think Rodgers will lead the Jets army this upcoming season? Do you think the current rough waters will hamper their efforts? Let us know in the comments.