Chaos is hitting Gang Green! A sudden announcement of Robert Saleh’s firing has rocked the Jets. And guess who’s at the center of it all? Yep, Aaron Rodgers. Rumor has it, he’s the voice pulling the strings behind the scenes. But who really knows? Now, he’s getting LeBron James comparisons, though… for all the wrong reasons.
The Pardon My Take crew didn’t hold back, asking, ‘Is Aaron Rodgers the LeBron of the NFL?’ The hot takes? “Old. Period. Gets coaches fired. Period. Getting his children on his team, even though they might s-ck. (Hackett, Lazard, etc.)”
Is Aaron Rodgers the LeBron of the NFL? @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/tIi3vk7SY1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 9, 2024
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Let that sink in for a moment—yeah, Chase Daniel didn’t hold back, tweeting, “Aaron Rodgers might be a coach killer.” Harsh? Definitely. But look, the numbers don’t lie.
First, it was Mike McCarthy, Rodgers’ longtime coach in Green Bay. They even lifted the Lombardi Trophy together in 2010! But by 2018, things got ugly, and McCarthy was gone mid-season with a 4-7-1 record. Then came Matt LaFleur, and it was all sunshine for three straight 13-win seasons. But last year? A rough 8-9 finish, no playoffs. And now, the Rodgers-Saleh saga—rumblings of off-field tension were clear before Saleh’s exit. A-Rod’s way or the highway? It’s starting to look that way.
Now, think about King James for a second. The basketball GOAT had his own coach casualty list. Out of nine coaches, only Lue and Spoelstra survived. The rest? Toast. Paul Silas, Mike Brown, Luke Walton—they were shown the door, even with decent records. But here’s the kicker: LeBron’s influence made those changes happen. It’s like he’s pulling the strings, right?
Paul Silas? Gone mid-season. Mike Brown? Five playoff runs but no ring, so he was out. David Blatt? Axed despite a solid win percentage. You see the pattern? The greats—whether it’s Rodgers or LeBron—seem to push these moves. Is it the price of elite athletes who know exactly what they want, or is it just how power works when you’re at the top?
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Is Aaron Rodgers the NFL's LeBron James, or is this comparison just plain unfair?
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Some fans are dubbing it Diva Rodgers getting his way, cherry-picking who sticks around. But not so fast—Woody Johnson’s defending his QB, trying to quash that narrative. Behind the scenes, though, who knows what’s really going on?
Aaron Rodgers did not call Robert Saleh’s exit?
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Woody Johnson apparently had enough of the Gang Green, for displaying almost no action after 2-3 start. And after the defeat against the Vikings, he said goodbye to Robert Saleh, handing the reins to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Before your thoughts lead you towards Aaron Rodgers, no, he wasn’t behind this decision! I mean, that is, if you want to take the owner’s word for it.
In Johnson’s words, “This was my decision and mine alone.” Saleh, blindsided, was swiftly escorted from the facility, following what was described as standard protocol. Tough end for a coach who had high hopes for the Jets’ future.
And talking about a man maintaining his class through it all. Saleh expressed gratitude to his players and staff, calling it “the ultimate privilege.” So, what sparked the sudden exit? The Jets’ 13-year playoff drought and their rocky start to the season certainly didn’t help. But you can rest assured, Rodgers wasn’t in the room when this move was made. Or was he?
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Despite all the speculation, Johnson stated, “Rodgers had no input into the coaching change.” Let’s be honest, though—even if it were A-Rod behind the scenes, Woody wouldn’t admit it on the record. As for the rumors, there’s some method to the madness. Rodgers and Saleh’s indifference was pretty evident. Sure, both denied any friction, insisting, “There’s no rift.” Yet, here we are.
So, with Ulbrich stepping in and Aaron Rodgers apparently staying clear of the coaching drama, can the Jets pull it together before it’s too late? To salvage something from this mess, the future Hall of Famer must deliver an MVP performance.
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Is Aaron Rodgers the NFL's LeBron James, or is this comparison just plain unfair?