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From an analysis standpoint, I view “Hug-gate” just like the Haason Reddick-Jets dispute.
I wasn’t in the room, or on the phone, for the conversations between Reddick and the Jets about his contract, and I wasn’t on the sideline to hear what caused Aaron Rodgers to avoid hugging Robert Saleh after Breece Hall’s TD gave the Jets a 14-0 lead over New England.
There was some explanation after the game, but since I wasn’t privy to what was said between Rodgers and Saleh at the time of the incident, it’s hard to comment.
If I were to guess what the uncomfortable moment was about, I stand by what I wrote on Sunday, Rodgers perhaps thought it was premature to get too effusive with a celebratory moment. NFL games can flip quickly.
Some coaches and players don’t think you should truly celebrate anything until you lift the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. Perhaps that is a little unfair to expect players and coaches to hold it all in until then, but the point is well taken.
Robert Saleh is a wonderful man, a great family man, and he loves his players, but some would argue sometimes his celebrations after big plays are a little much. But some would argue there is nothing wrong with the enthusiasm he shows after big plays.
But once again, I have no idea what they said to each other, just like I don’t know what Reddick’s camp and the Jets said to each other, before, and right after the trade, about his contract.
I’m not copping out there, just keeping it real. I can’t comment on private conversations or spin from the parties involved, and I have no issue with spin. It’s what teams and companies do. It’s baked in the cake, but I’m not a parakeet, who is just going to repeat whatever I’m told like a sideline reporter.
But the bottom line is this whole thing isn’t a big deal, and should not impact the Jets at all.
Rodgers is going to do what Rodgers is going to do, and that is go out there and play QB at a high level, and that is going to help the Jets win a lot of games, in a league where there is a dearth of elite quarterbacks. In most games this year, perhaps outside of the two Buffalo games, you could argue the Jets have a big advantage at QB in the games, and that is a huge factor entering any game in a QB-driven league. Huge!
And sometimes creative tension is good . . .
This isn’t meant to be disrespectful, but after linebacker C.J. Mosley got hurt early in the second quarter at Tennessee, they did okay without him. Same against New England on Thursday night.
This isn’t meant to be a shot at Mosley, who is a good player and terrific leader, but his replacement Jamien Sherwood has done a fine job, and perhaps has a little more range.
People were wondering if Sherwood would ever turn into a contributor for the Jets, and it turns out, that now, with a legitimate chance to show what he can do, not just playing occasionally on defense, he is the real deal.
Now some will say they have to get Mosley back out there as soon as possible, but based on what we saw for essentially 3/4 of the Titans game, and then against New England, they should not rush Mosley back before he’s ready.
Sherwood is not a downgrade.
And to Mosley’s credit, he helped develop Sherwood, as painful as that was for an Alabama linebacker to train an Auburn linebacker – LOL.
September 20, 2024
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