Despite Jets QB’s Embrace, Aaron Rodgers Slammed for Meddling in Robert Saleh’s Affairs as NFL Analyst Questions 4x NFL MVP’s Worth

Aaron Rodgers found himself buried in pressure when he did a presser a few days ago. In his own words, the QB stated, “If I don’t do what I know I’m capable of doing, we’re all probably going to be out of here. I like that kind of pressure, though.” He might be implying how Woody Johnson wouldn’t think twice about firing coach Robert Saleh along with the QB if matters don’t turn around well for the team this season.

Rodgers’ narrative fueled a debate about just how much say the QB has in the New York Jets organization and why is he exposing the team’s business for everyone to see. The comments found their way to Nick Wright and his associates on First Things First and they were taken aback by Rodgers being so forthcoming.

Did Aaron Rodgers make everyone’s job difficult?

The hosts rehashed Rodgers’ statements from last year about the “trophy looking lonely,” and since then, the Jets’ fans’ expectations have been on another level. Everything crumbled down when Rodgers got injured and the Jets were back to the baseline after chasing the highs. However, per the hosts of the show, Rodgers wasn’t essentially brought to the NY team to win a Super Bowl but to take the Jets to a respectable record.

What fueled the fire of the debate was something Greg Jennings on the show pointed out. It was as though everything in the Jets was centered around the QB, from the receivers to the coaching staff, catered to maximize the 4x MVP’s output. The only reason the Jets haven’t fired anyone is because Rodgers didn’t get a chance to play last year. But the QB making comments about everyone else getting fired has caught some negative attention.

Wright was sarcastic about Rodgers when he commented, “If what he’s saying is true, then they are making a grievous error keeping those people in place,” and added, “These guys [Saleh and the coaching staff] still have a job because Aaron prefers it when we think they are going to be fired, you know they are ‘this close’ to be fired, then they should have been fired. Firing Robert Saleh or Nat Hackett or both of them doesn’t cost you Aaron Rodgers theoretically, it shouldn’t.”

But it goes deeper than the Super Bowl winner speaking for everyone on his team. Per Wright, for Aaron Rodgers to succeed, he needs to be in control of everything.

Aaron Rodgers requires a particular setup for success?

In the last 3 seasons including the one with the Jets, Rodgers had only 4 games where he threw for more than 300 yards, let alone have a 400-yard game. Wright’s reasoning behind this performance was that the Jets QB needs to have everything picture-perfect for him to be able to deliver. Some of the reasons why Rodgers left the Green Bay Packers were the lack of communication, the team drafting players without his input, and a fairly young roster that Rodgers didn’t get with.

That led Rodgers to become willing to give the Jets a shot. He had crossed paths with Robert Saleh on a few occasions in his career and was interested in working with Nathaniel Hackett, who the 39-year-old considers a brother. But alas, now Saleh and Hackett’s jobs depend on what the QB’s season will be like this year. Moreover, Nick Wright had a few more things to add about the QB’s stint with the Jets.

“We are going to believe in the Jets under the premise of, that Rodgers two years ago could have been better but wasn’t bought in enough. This year is going to be better under the preconditions of things that are not supposed to be in control of the quarterback he gets to say over like the full coaching staff, the GM and offensive coordinator as long as everything is laid out the way he demands,” said Wright about the Jets QB.

While there haven’t been any changes to the Jets coaching staff, the team sure has hired multiple talents to place around the former Packers veteran. Signing players like Tyron Smith, Mike Williams, Javon Kinlow, and even Solomon Thomas might be a huge boost to the QB’s performance. As pointed out earlier, Rodgers prefers to play with vets, and to fulfill his wishes, the Jets signed Allen Lazard, who is also Rodgers’ ex-teammate. Coming back to the coaching side of things, Robert Saleh was 18-33 in his career with the Jets without Rodgers at the helm. Hence the Jets were a struggling franchise even before the QB joined in.

But Rodgers is committed to working hard so that his potential last season doesn’t tarnish his image. “I don’t want to go out as a bum. So that’s why I put the work in and believe in my abilities. I mean, you guys saw today. There’s no pads on, but I can obviously still throw it with the best of them and can still move around,” said Rodgers as he worked out in the OTAs.

For all we know, Rodgers is doing well in practice and the Jets can hope once again that they would be able to bounce back from last season.