New York Jets: The anger is now directed at NFL legend Aaron Rodgers

Next jet crash
The anger is now directed at NFL legend Aaron Rodgers

November 21, 2024, 2:31 p.m

Superstar Aaron Rodgers will come to the New York Jets in 2023 as a savior. The four-time MVP has been disappointing so far, the season has been messed up and the fans’ patience has been exhausted. And the team owner also made a damning verdict early this season.

Actually, Aaron Rodgers had everything for a real football fairy tale. The New York Jets, the NFL’s laughingstock for years, are bringing in a top-class quarterback in the four-time MVP, building a strong team around him including his “best buddy” Davante Adams – and ending their 13-year playoff drought ? Maybe even more?

The dreams of Jets fans and football romantics that Rodgers sparked by signing in the Big Apple for three years and $112.5 million in 2023 have been shattered. The usual sadness quickly returned. Even the promising second year under the 40-year-old’s leadership is turning into a nightmare. Rodgers’ whereabouts in New York are up in the air; his contract still runs for one year.

Will the next act of desperation follow?

“After an Achilles tendon injury and a disastrous start to 2024, it is clear that Aaron Rodgers’ days in New York are numbered,” is the opinion of the fan portal JetNation, which coincides with that of some experts. The franchise must stop allowing itself to be bossed around by an “average quarterback in the league,” is the tough demand.

Team owner Woody Johnson, who fired head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas in recent weeks, had questioned Rodgers’ competence early in the season. After four games – the Jets were 2-2 – according to US media reports, he wanted to put the star playmaker on the bench, but was changed. The move could soon be the next act of desperation.

Worse win rate than its predecessors

After the 27:28 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, a low point has been reached. Douglas had to go, Rodgers had to explain himself again. “We worked really hard to find out where the problems were,” he said, but the team apparently found little. With a record of 3:8, the crisis franchise can practically tick off the play-offs. It remains to be seen whether Rodgers will continue to lead the offense after the week without games. “It’s not just one person. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s someone else,” he complained.

In fact, Rodgers is not solely to blame for the lack of success. The Jets have the most talented squad in recent years; 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions are below Rodgers’ standards, but are not a total failure either. However, it cannot be denied that his win rate is worse than that of his predecessors Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Rodgers counters the lull with continued optimism. The game-free week was “definitely a week to clear our heads, come back and stick together,” he preached with sadness. He had imagined his personal fairy tale differently.