New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has strongly rebuked recommendations he was concerned within the choice to fireside head coach Robert Saleh.
The Jets shocked the NFL world on Tuesday by dismissing Saleh from his publish simply two days after the crew’s 23-17 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Saleh’s departure got here regardless of the Jets sitting at 2-3 and on no account out of the playoff image simply 5 weeks within the the 2024 season.
What’s extra, Saleh’s protection is at the moment ranked second in complete yards, second in passing, 14th in speeding and seventh in scoring as one of many league’s greatest models in distinction to an offense ranked backside 10 in complete yards, speeding and scoring.
Talking on The Pat McAfee Present on Wednesday, Rodgers denied having any involvement in Saleh’s exit.
“As far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, I’m not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it, and that is I resent any of those accusations because they’re patently false,” Rodgers stated. “It’s interesting the amount of power people think I have, which I don’t. But I love Robert.”
“Yesterday was a day that reminds you of the easy reality that every one of us who play know too nicely, and that is that it is a robust enterprise.
“I love coach Saleh, we have a very solid relationship, we have since I met him in 2021 and had a nice conversation when they came and visited us for joint practices. He was a big reason why I came to the Jets.”
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Highlights of the New York Jets in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 of the NFL season from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Saleh was appointed Jets head coach in 2021 following his time as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, and departs with a 20-36 document with out making the playoffs.
Hopes of ending the Jets’ postseason drought spiked in 2023 upon the arrival of Rodgers by way of commerce from the Inexperienced Bay Packers, just for the four-time MVP quarterback to undergo a year-ending Achilles damage 4 performs into his debut. Saleh’s aspect would finally end 7-10 after struggling on offense behind quarterback Zach Wilson.
Upon Rodgers’ return this season, the Jets opened the marketing campaign in defeat to the 49ers earlier than beating the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots amid indicators of Saleh’s crew discovering their toes on offense. A setback adopted within the type of an unsightly 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, earlier than Rodgers grew to become the newest sufferer to Brian Flores and his high-flying Vikings protection.
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Talking on Contained in the Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold analyse Rodgers’ efficiency in opposition to Minnesota and what went flawed for the Jets
Rodgers famous on Wednesday that Jets proprietor Woody Johnson had known as him the night earlier than Saleh’s firing, however solely to verify in on the ankle damage sustained in London on Sunday.
“Woody has no obligation to let me know what his plans are,” defined Rodgers. “I just appreciate the call that he was checking on me. It was like a friend call.”
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