Less than a week after The Athletic published a story detailing dysfunction within the New York Jets organization, quarterback Aaron Rodgers used his latest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” to address leaks to journalists.
“There’s definitely some leaks,” Rodgers said during his Monday appearance. “There’s people that have relationships with people in the media. There’s motivations for writing stories it seems like and nothing is surprising at this point. There’s some interesting things that go on in every organization — some that would like to be left uncovered but it seems like here those don’t always get left uncovered. They get covered.”
Rodgers also mused on the show about the possibility of getting released after the season, and joked at the recent reporting of owner Woody Johnson receiving team input from his teenage sons.
“Being released would be a first; being released by a teenager, that would also be a first,” Rodgers said with a laugh during his weekly spot on the show.
Those comments came as part of a discussion of The Athletic’s story about Johnson’s perceived mismanagement of the franchise. Among the details contained in that piece: “Madden” video game ratings led Johnson to nix a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and the owners’ teenage sons have been increasingly influential when it comes to Johnson’s decisions.
Later during the “McAfee” appearance, Rodgers added: “It can’t be the norm that there’s so many leaks and so many people continue to have conversations whether its getting some sort of angle of revenge or even with people who are still in the building. The standard needs to be you are not creating questions for other people all the time. Leaking these things doesn’t become the standard.
“Obviously, what’s best for the Jets is not having these types of leaks all the time. When that gets figured out, it will be a little easier to win. That doesn’t have a direct impact on the players on the field but it does have an impact on the culture and the chemistry and the overall energy of the building. That’s what needs to get better.”
On Sunday, the Jets fell to 4-11 following a home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, has played in every game this season after an Achilles injury limited him to just the first four snaps in 2023. He has thrown for 3,511 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Last month, The Athletic reported that Johnson suggested benching Rodgers in September. With two games remaining in this season, the 41-year-old’s future with the team remains in question.
In October, Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh, the same day offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted as the team’s play caller. One week later, wide receiver Davante Adams — a close friend of Rodgers’ — was acquired via trade. In November, general manager Joe Douglas was dismissed. The team has already started its search to fill the open GM spot.
Required reading
(Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
Comments are closed.