Robert Saleh said he’s hoping for more Jets’ ‘quietness’ and NFL fans had so many Aaron Rodgers jokes
The New York Jets have more or less been embroiled in some kind of consistent turmoil ever since they acquired Aaron Rodgers. After a chaotic 2023 offseason culminated with nonstop Rodgers drama during the regular season — even after he was out for the year — the Jets are clearly hoping for more peace and quiet these days.
Robert Saleh’s tenure as head coach might depend on it.
In an interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche during the annual league meeting, Saleh repeatedly talked about a refreshed mentality for the Jets. With a new glorious opportunity on hand in 2024, the team has apparently refocused. And it looks like they’re appreciating a smaller microscope on their every exploit this time around.
“I think (general manager) Joe (Douglas) has done a really nice job adding some really cool pieces to the football team, but, yeah, quiet,” Saleh said, regarding the Jets’ 2024 free agency. “Last year was a little loud. We welcome a little bit of quietness.”
I understand Saleh’s appreciation for less attention concerning the Jets. The specter of scrutiny can weigh a lot on a team and its players. However, this statement reads a tad naive to me. Does Saleh understand who his quarterback is? Does he know how Rodgers operates? Does he know his team is in the unforgiving New York media market? At a certain point, you can’t ignore reality!
It’s one thing to say everyone has refocused and channeled their energy toward redemption. But I can’t believe that the New York coach of known headline maker Aaron Rodgers said he’s hoping for more baked-in quietness moving forward. That’s never gonna happen. Talk about a lack of self-awareness.