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Will Aaron Rodgers be back with the Jets next year?
I have no idea and nobody else does either.
Saw this story on CBS Sports today: “Aaron Rodgers rumors: Jets already expecting to move on from star QB after 2024 season?”
The subheadline struck me: “New York brass might already have its mind made up.”
What brass?
“When we talk about Aaron’s future, it’s crazy to even talk about it,” said ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier this week. “We don’t know who the GM is going to be. We don’t know who the coach is going to be. We don’t know who is going to be leading this team. Who is going to make decisions? You can’t say a QB will or won’t be back, when you don’t know who is going to be making the calls on these things.”
“Reporting on Douglas’ ouster, ESPN this week quoted an anonymous source close to the situation who’d be “shocked” if Johnson retains Rodgers in 2025,” wrote Cody Benjamin on the CBS Sports website. “SNY also reported that the Jets “prefer a change at quarterback,” echoing speculation that the former Green Bay Packers star isn’t long for the organization.”
Once again, I have no idea whether he will be back, and neither does anybody else.
After Joe Douglas was fired earlier this week, SNY’s Jets Insider said, “This organization does prefer a change at quarterback, and this hammers that home.”
With all due respect, I’m not sure what one move has to do with the other.
Maybe one of the reasons they fired Douglas was because how he didn’t put a good enough roster around Rodgers to take advantage of having a future Hall of Fame. Their defense is atrocious. For Anthony Richardson, who entered the game with a 44.4 completion percent, and had been benched two weeks earlier, to be able to lead the Indianapolis Colts on two 70-yard TD drives in the fourth quarter, was beyond comprehension.
In his heyday, Rodgers could put team on his back and lead them to wins even when other parts of the team were broken.
He can’t do that anymore.
But with a supporting cast, you can win with him. His second half against Houston was brilliant, and against Indianapolis, he threw two TDs, had a 114.7 QB rating, and gave the team an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and then a five-point lead, after Indy cut it to two.
In the fantasy football world we live in, everyone wants to point at the QB, but he’s the least of their problems. I’m dead serious.
This is the best QB play I’ve seen around here in a long time. Granted, the bar is low, but watching the Jets, I don’t see this player as their problem – he has 17 TDs and 7 INTs and a 63 percent completion percentage. Solid numbers. Not guady, but solid.
Joe Douglas plan at at offensive tackle, going with two beat-up vets, didn’t work out that great, and Rodgers had no had consistent pass pro all year.
But to me, Rodgers with a good defense and offensive line can still get the job done.
And this idea he can’t move any more. How many plays under pressure in the pocket, did he move around, and find somebody?
Against Minnesota, on third-and-10, Rodgers under pressure, hit Allen Lazard in the middle of the end zone, in tight coverage for a TD. Under pressure, he stepped up in the pocket, and threw a rocket in the pocket.
He also has made a lot of quick decisions under pressure with his high football IQ. A perfect example against Pittsburgh – In the second quarter, on a second and nine, defensive tackle Keanu Benton beat center Joe Tippmann with a swim move and got to Rodgrs who dumped it to Breece Hall who took it for 57 yards to the Pitt 3.
This guy is their problem?
Will he back next year?
I have no idea. And neither does anybody else.
Let’s see how he does moving forward. You know what he’s like when people doubt him.
I will add this – if Christopher is back as owner, that will increase the chances of returning. Aaron loves Christopher. Loves him.
Don’t know what is going to happen, but I’d be careful what you wish for to those looking to show him the door.
November 22, 2023
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