The hypothesis began in June, when New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was fined by coach Robert Saleh for lacking a compulsory minicamp. Since then, his relationship with Saleh has been below a microscope.
On Tuesday, Rodgers rebutted the notion that he and Saleh don’t get alongside.
“Rob and I’ve an important relationship; we now have since day one once I received right here,” Rodgers stated throughout his weekly look on “The Pat McAfee Present.” “We’ve textual content message conversations, threads that we’re in, conversations about numerous totally different subjects outdoors of soccer. We’ve a great friendship.”
The highlight has centered on them over the previous two weeks. First, there was the notorious non-hug throughout the Sept. 19 sport towards the New England Patriots: When Saleh tried a celebratory embrace after a landing, Rodgers nudged him away. The second went viral.
Then, after the Jets’ 10-9 loss Sunday to the Denver Broncos, Saleh indicated they could have to look at the effectiveness of Rodgers’ subtle cadence. The Jets dedicated 5 false-start penalties within the sport. The subsequent day, Saleh backtracked, insisting they haven’t any plans to mess with Rodgers’ cadence.
Rodgers made gentle of the non-hug. As for his general relationship with Saleh, the four-time MVP stated to not imagine what’s being stated.
“There’s all the time going to be messaging and narratives on the market, and you’ve got two selections,” he stated. “You possibly can journey the wave — actually, a curler coaster — or you’ll be able to say, “F— it, I do not care.’ And I am the latter. I do not get into what the dialog is occurring outdoors the constructing round myself.
“The relationships that I’ve — an important ones — are wanting a man within the eye, within the locker room or in a gathering room, and understanding he is received your again and you bought his again.”
Rodgers reiterated that his cadence, designed to attract defenses offsides, is not a difficulty. He stated it is on the gamers — not the coaches — to make it work.
“To ensure that it to be a weapon, we received to remain onsides,” he stated. “So I feel in these conditions, and I do not know why Robert would get any — and even [offensive coordinator Nathaniel] Hackett — I imply, no person deserves any crap for that aside from the gamers.”
Rodgers additionally stated he is a “little banged up” after being sacked 5 occasions by Denver, noting his left knee is “a little bit swollen.” He is anticipated to play when the Jets (2-2) face the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) on Sunday in London.
One other situation on the Jets is Garrett Wilson’s gradual begin. The star wideout has solely 20 receptions for 191 yards and one landing. Wilson expressed some frustration Tuesday, saying he is been used in another way than in previous years.
He additionally addressed the offense as a unit.
“I do not assume we do plenty of totally different stuff, to be trustworthy,” he stated throughout his weekly spot on the “Bart & Hahn” present on ESPN New York radio. “I watch soccer on Sundays, and I see plenty of groups combine it up and stuff like that. I do not assume we do this. I feel we all know our identification. It is nearly going out and executing it or determining if it is going to work. I do not assume we’re making an attempt plenty of various things.
“I do know, personally, my route tree hasn’t been what it has been the final two years so far as the stuff I have been working. It is nearly determining if it is the best identification and whether or not it is going to win video games.”
Wilson is drawing further protection from opponents. He stated he appreciates the respect, including: “However I really feel like we now have to make it a little bit tougher on groups. On the finish of the day, they attempt to take me out of the sport and we allow them to. That is all proper. … I really feel like I might help. We simply should discover a approach — I’ve to discover a technique to get entangled and do issues to get the ball in my fingers in area and take pictures down the sphere. Do issues that I do nicely.”