2024 Jets: Out of the Darkness - Take 2

Van Everyman

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This may be nit-picking, but a moron is a person with low intelligence and that shoe doesn't remotely fit. Kraft is/was a very intelligent and shrewd businessman who has been growing increasingly senile.

Of course, it may not matter much in the wash
This is not nitpicking but rather a clarification: Robert Kraft is not senile. Senile people could not handle the press conference Kraft did the afternoon after he and Bill jointly announced their partnership was over about 10 months ago. I will admit that I myself was a bit surprised at how deftly he answered that litany of questions for as long as he did. But he did.
 

Tony C

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...

And, probably most importantly, from Rodgers' side, what does AR have to gain by sticking around the Jets? Would appear to be little chance he can lead that team deep into the playoffs next year, which really is the only level that would be acceptable to save AR's legacy. Really no other team for him to play for that would be appealing either: Vegas? Tennessee? Panthers?. The best I could come up with is Cleveland.
I think you have the leverage wrong here. AR is in the Joe Flacco stage of his career. Beggars can't be choosers. But he has been less than mediocre this season. Hell, I'm not even sure Woody the Moron was wrong when he wanted to bench him (1-6 record says it wouldn't have been much worse).

If he wants to play he'll need to accept being on a 2nd division team that wants a caretaker or being a back-up.

I don't think that's in AR's ego DNA. Maybe if a really good team has a late injury they'd come calling on AR for his experience and what still seems to be a professional level arm, despite all the other deterioration?
 

Eric Fernsten's Disco Mustache

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This is not nitpicking but rather a clarification: Robert Kraft is not senile. Senile people could not handle the press conference Kraft did the afternoon after he and Bill jointly announced their partnership was over about 10 months ago. I will admit that I myself was a bit surprised at how deftly he answered that litany of questions for as long as he did. But he did.
Fair enough-- you've seen something I didn't
 

joe dokes

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And, probably most importantly, from Rodgers' side, what does AR have to gain by sticking around the Jets? Would appear to be little chance he can lead that team deep into the playoffs next year, which really is the only level that would be acceptable to save AR's legacy. Really no other team for him to play for that would be appealing either: Vegas? Tennessee? Panthers?. The best I could come up with is Cleveland.
I dont understand trade/salary cap implications enough, but i suspect the Jets would be happy to package the (ex)- Packers and trade em all to some team somewhere.
 
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8slim

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The latest news led me to learn more about Woody Johnson... and man, he's really unimpressive. Looks like he lived his pre-Jets life using his generational wealth to do philanthropy, buy and sell a cable company in the 70s, and run a private investment firm (which doesn't sound like he grew to anything substantial).

I know Woody's been the punchline to Jets jokes for the past 2 decades, I just never realized how mediocre the dude really is. Nice life if you can get it.
 

Saints Rest

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You follow the Jets so much more closely than me, but I can't see how Rodgers returns next year.

For starters, while Rodgers is owed ~$23M for 2025, if they cut him after June 1, they actually save $9.5M on the 2025 cap, according to this: "Can the Jets Get Out of Aaron Rodgers?"

From the ownership side, Rodgers has now become a pariah with the fanbase and moving onto something new would be warmly received. Moreover, Woody went on record saying he wanted AR benched, which I don't believe in a million years, but that's the position he decided to stake and publicize. Getting rid of him now gives off a strong "I'm in charge here now" vibe that I'm sure Woody deeply craves.

And, probably most importantly, from Rodgers' side, what does AR have to gain by sticking around the Jets? Would appear to be little chance he can lead that team deep into the playoffs next year, which really is the only level that would be acceptable to save AR's legacy. Really no other team for him to play for that would be appealing either: Vegas? Tennessee? Panthers?. The best I could come up with is Cleveland.

Now from the actual football perspective, what would the Jets do next, that's a tough one. No meaningful QBs to trade for far as I can tell unless you want Deshaun Watson (!). Or trade for David Carr? Sam Darnold will be a free agent, but that's tough to see. Justin Fields? Draft the #2 QB on the board and rinse/wash/repeat, I guess.

I think the best way out for Rodgers' ego is to say he never got all that healthy in 2024 (not un-understandable) and all things considered it's probably best for him to turn the page and get into the next chapter of his life. As a philosopher and thought-leader.
Let's say that the Jets bench Rodgers at some point in 2025. I think we can all agree this won't sit well with AR. So he "demands" a trade. NYJ shops him around and can't find any takers.

At that point, the Jets have 3 options, yes?
  1. Cut him and take full and huge cap hit in 2025.
  2. Cut him but designate him post-June 1 and take half of a huge cap hit in 2025 and then again in 2026.
  3. Keep him on the roster to "compete" for the starting role with a new QB.
So let's assume they decide that option 3 is the best route and then rraining camp ends with new QB was starter and AR on bench. If AR says "fuck this, I'm retiring," what happens to the Jets cap hit?
 

nattysez

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FWIW, Boomer Esiason used the opening minutes of his radio show yesterday to say that he'd analyzed the film and concluded that Rodgers is hurt. I'm not sure what incentive he has to do Rodgers or the Jets a solid (or vice-versa), but I wonder if that was step 1 toward an announcement that Rodgers has an injury and needs to go on the IR.
 

luckiestman

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FWIW, Boomer Esiason used the opening minutes of his radio show yesterday to say that he'd analyzed the film and concluded that Rodgers is hurt. I'm not sure what incentive he has to do Rodgers or the Jets a solid (or vice-versa), but I wonder if that was step 1 toward an announcement that Rodgers has an injury and needs to go on the IR.
The funny thing about this is Rodgers was probably hurt in the Denver game and then even more in the Vikings game but looked better moving last week. His legs have looked bad since after the first Pats game.
 

E5 Yaz

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Imagine if Rodgers leaves to join the incoming administration and Woody doesn't
 

Justthetippett

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FWIW, Boomer Esiason used the opening minutes of his radio show yesterday to say that he'd analyzed the film and concluded that Rodgers is hurt. I'm not sure what incentive he has to do Rodgers or the Jets a solid (or vice-versa), but I wonder if that was step 1 toward an announcement that Rodgers has an injury and needs to go on the IR.
Seems like a graceful way out for everyone. If they really want to, they can reboot for 2025. Hard to reconcile with his miracle recovery projections from last year but that's AR in a nutshell.
 

DanoooME

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The Jets' fate is really going to come down to two things, one that needs to be resolved before the other happens.

1. Aaron Rodgers - stay or go. If stay, they are going to have to continue conforming the team around his wishes, which severely limits the options for #2. If he goes, clean slate.

2. Bring in a good GM, and by extension good coach. Might not be able to do this given general Woodyness in the organization, but it's their only real hope.

Really, the cancer that is Aaron Rodgers needs to be removed because it's killing the team. Getting rid of Saleh clearly pissed off the defense to the point where they really don't give that much of a shit anymore. They were carrying the team early and Rodgers' offense couldn't keep up their end of the bargain, so when their coach got canned, they probably decided to keep playing well enough to keep their jobs, but that's it. It's not like the talent on that defense (and they have quite a bit of it) has changed much since Saleh was fired, so it's clearly an effort thing at this point.

Do the Jets have options at QB in 2025 and beyond? Sure, and some of them are even better that Rodgers is now (as mentioned previously: Fields, Darnold, Russell Wilson, and a flotilla of decent backups). I don't personally recommend trading up in this draft class for Ward or Sanders. It will cost too much and I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze. They really need a good GM that will hire a good coach and good coordinators and build the team so that they'll be ready to invest in a QB at that point. They don't need to rush into a potential QB solution and make yet another mistake.
 

DJnVa

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I feel like Pats fans dunking on the Jets for their front office mess are ignoring that we, too, have a moron owner and (unlike the Jets currently) have a bad roster, terrible HC/GM

Drake Maye is the only thing the Pats have (currently) over the Jets and there’s a good chance Mayo, Wolf and Kraft waste Maye’s rookie contract window.

not saying I’d rather be in the Jets position but I think both teams are in a bad spot (Miami too for different reasons)
Man alive.

Back to the pink with you!
 

MikeM

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I think you have the leverage wrong here. AR is in the Joe Flacco stage of his career. Beggars can't be choosers.
In a world now basically dominated by tallied up eyeballs and clicks Aaron Rodgers still brings something to the table that few other players, and certainly not Joe Flacco, can.

I wouldn't underestimate that perceived value to a bad franchise and team owner either. AR had Woody and the backpage news Jets at hello.
 

MikeM

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Colts?

Edit beaten by @Ed Hillel
I actually pointed the potential fit out a few days back ;)

In Irsay We Trust.

But again, first I need to see some non taken out of context and direct indication that Woody is actually willing to give up on the headline attention here. Much less hand it over to somebody else (on his own dime at that).
 

OCST

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The latest news led me to learn more about Woody Johnson... and man, he's really unimpressive. Looks like he lived his pre-Jets life using his generational wealth to do philanthropy, buy and sell a cable company in the 70s, and run a private investment firm (which doesn't sound like he grew to anything substantial).

I know Woody's been the punchline to Jets jokes for the past 2 decades, I just never realized how mediocre the dude really is. Nice life if you can get it.
This is too kind.
 

Tony C

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Co-hosting and aiming first to be the next McAfee then the next Rogan seems most likely.
In a world now basically dominated by tallied up eyeballs and clicks Aaron Rodgers still brings something to the table that few other players, and certainly not Joe Flacco, can.

I wouldn't underestimate that perceived value to a bad franchise and team owner either. AR had Woody and the backpage news Jets at hello.
I keep trying to think of a team that'd want him as a starter and I still don't see it. Tennessee, Las Vegas, and Cleveland are the 3 wastelands that might be desperate enough, but even those 3 seem unlikely...I guess maybe maybe Cleveland, but dubious. The only good situation I can see as a long shot is Pitt if both Fields and Wilson move on, but....why would Pittsburgh let Wilson go if the fallback is the inferior Rodgers?

The Joe Flacco route seems much more suited and he'd be a very good back-up I'd think. But very hard to see his ego accepting that.

So, yeah, my vote is next year with Pat McAfee for a bro-fest.
 
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Co-hosting and aiming first to be the next McAfee then the next Rogan seems most likely.
I keep trying to think of a team that'd want him as a starter and I still don't see it. Tennessee, Las Vegas, and Cleveland are the 3 wastelands that might be desperate enough, but even those 3 seem unlikely...I guess maybe maybe Cleveland, but dubious. The only good situation I can see as a long shot is Pitt if both Fields and Wilson move on, but....why would Pittsburgh let Wilson go if the fallback is the inferior Rodgers?

The Joe Flacco route seems much more suited and he'd be a very good back-up I'd think. But very hard to see his ego accepting that.

So, yeah, my vote is next year with Pat McAfee for a bro-fest.
The Rams if Stafford retired (as he’s hinted at for a few years) could work for Rodgers

Las Vegas or maybe the Giants could be interested (not sure if the interest would be mutual)

Pittsburgh could work
 

E5 Yaz

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The Jets probably are going to release him and he will sign somewhere for the minimum just like Russ
The Athletic's Diana Russini reported Saturday, citing sources, that is is "increasingly likely" that Rodgers could be placed on injured reserve or benched over the next few weeks. Russini also reported that sources around the NFL wouldn't be surprised if Rodgers is cut at some point during the regular season.
https://www.si.com/nfl/jets-benching-cutting-aaron-rodgers-midseason-likely-woody-johnson-report
 

MikeM

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Co-hosting and aiming first to be the next McAfee then the next Rogan seems most likely.
I keep trying to think of a team that'd want him as a starter and I still don't see it. Tennessee, Las Vegas, and Cleveland are the 3 wastelands that might be desperate enough, but even those 3 seem unlikely...I guess maybe maybe Cleveland, but dubious. The only good situation I can see as a long shot is Pitt if both Fields and Wilson move on, but....why would Pittsburgh let Wilson go if the fallback is the inferior Rodgers?
Outside what i personally believe is a extremely flawed and oversimplified manner in which a majority of QB evaluations are being done these days (similar to say baseball player evaluations pre-moneyball and the sabermetric evolution that were basically ignoring a lot of meaningful variable data), I actually think a lot of this "Rodgers is cooked" talk is routinely overblown. No doubt his ability to extend plays with his legs has notably diminished, and as a result MVP Rodgers is no longer there. But much of his failure this year imo still boils down to the Jets being terrible execution team more so then him not being able to sling it or play adequate level QB if/when he actually gets protected.

I mean if you instead start that evaluation from a place of acknowledgement that there is essentially 32 different team/system performance outcomes on the table for every QB, the Jets would probably be a bottom 3 expected outcome team. That the surrounding hype train spent this entire time focusing on all the wrong and essentially meanningless surrounding "stats that happened elsewhere" variables wasn't going to change that. It's an offensive league these days. You are not going to manufacture successful outcomes while constantly maintaining a league worst offensive coaching room who for years now has consistently shown zero capabaility of figuring anything out once the actual games start.

So yeah overall I generally find this idea Rodgers wouldn't upgrade more then a few of those QB rooms, in a much improved and equal opportunity setting, as being kinda silly imho. Now whether a said team can make that upgrade fit work with all the baggage that comes with it is another matter. Starting with the final Brady years dillemma where there is really no compromise to the fact he needs to be behind a line that consistently gives him time to work.
 

MikeM

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The above said Dianna Russini's report today that Rodgers indeed has a strained relationship with Woody is what I been waiting to hear.

Giddyup. My excitement for the upcoming offseason just tripled.
 

Van Everyman

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The Jets probably are going to release him and he will sign somewhere for the minimum just like Russ
Would he really? I honestly question whether Rodgers' ego would allow him to do that instead of just saying that his achilles was never right, etc. and retiring.

That said, if Rodgers actually does get cut this year, this has to be considered the biggest flameout in NFL history, right? I mean, I get that he wasn't great in 2022 the year before he came to the Jets. But he was 1 year removed from an MVP season. To go from "Aaron makes us a likely Super Bowl contender" to "Horrific injury five snaps into the first season" to "Please take $50M (or whatever the actual money is) to get the fuck off our team" in less than 18 months is just an incredible fall from grace and speaks as much to what a horrible shithead he is as his compromised ability to play.

I still can't get that image out of my head of Mecole Hardiman fanboying the fuck out of Rodgers when he got out of the helicopter at training camp on Hard Knocks last year.
 

E5 Yaz

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The above said Dianna Russini's report today that Rodgers indeed has a strained relationship with Woody is what I been waiting to hear.

Giddyup. My excitement for the upcoming offseason just tripled.
The Russini story on The Athletic is paywalled, but it says basically that in the building and the locker room, the rift between Woody and Rodgers is well-known
 

mcpickl

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Would he really? I honestly question whether Rodgers' ego would allow him to do that instead of just saying that his achilles was never right, etc. and retiring.

That said, if Rodgers actually does get cut this year, this has to be considered the biggest flameout in NFL history, right? I mean, I get that he wasn't great in 2022 the year before he came to the Jets. But he was 1 year removed from an MVP season. To go from "Aaron makes us a likely Super Bowl contender" to "Horrific injury five snaps into the first season" to "Please take $50M (or whatever the actual money is) to get the fuck off our team" in less than 18 months is just an incredible fall from grace and speaks as much to what a horrible shithead he is as his compromised ability to play.

I still can't get that image out of my head of Mecole Hardiman fanboying the fuck out of Rodgers when he got out of the helicopter at training camp on Hard Knocks last year.
They won't owe him any more money by cutting him now(besdies the remainder of his 3.1M salary this season)

He's owed no more guaranteed money after this season. The Jets just have to account for the 49M they've already paid him, that they haven't had hit their cap yet.

The only difference between cutting him now, or in the off-season, is they wouldn't have the option to spread that 49M accounting over two years(14M in 2025, 35M in 2026) instead of taking the whole hit in 2025.

He's not getting another big check from the Jets to leave.
 

MikeM

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Would he really? I honestly question whether Rodgers' ego would allow him to do that instead of just saying that his achilles was never right, etc. and retiring.

That said, if Rodgers actually does get cut this year, this has to be considered the biggest flameout in NFL history, right? I mean, I get that he wasn't great in 2022 the year before he came to the Jets. But he was 1 year removed from an MVP season. To go from "Aaron makes us a likely Super Bowl contender" to "Horrific injury five snaps into the first season" to "Please take $50M (or whatever the actual money is) to get the fuck off our team" in less than 18 months is just an incredible fall from grace and speaks as much to what a horrible shithead he is as his compromised ability to play.

I still can't get that image out of my head of Mecole Hardiman fanboying the fuck out of Rodgers when he got out of the helicopter at training camp on Hard Knocks last year.
I mean the progressive decline you state there was starting at the player age of 39. In NFL football.

The stupidly shallow expectation evaluations that have surrounded all this from the start aren't an L that falls on him imo.
 

DeadlySplitter

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I can't get past this: if the owner wasn't on board with Rodgers last month, how was he convinced to trade a 3rd rounder for Adams?
 

MikeM

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So if Rodgers is indeed out for 2025 then the most important decision this franchise will make this offseason, by far imo, will end up shifting over to who Rex Ryan picks as his OC.

Because it's going to be Rex at HC for the "vibes" lol

I actually won't immediately reject the concept idea of Rex more or less working out (the bar is pretty low here) *IF* we match him with the right OC hire.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The Russini story on The Athletic is paywalled, but it says basically that in the building and the locker room, the rift between Woody and Rodgers is well-known
Pardon My Take is tight with Russini and one of the main hosts was intimating that there is a lot more Jets drama still to be revealed. The degree of the rift between Dark Aaron and Johnson is probably what they were referring to in the latest episode.
 

E5 Yaz

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Pardon My Take is tight with Russini and one of the main hosts was intimating that there is a lot more Jets drama still to be revealed. The degree of the rift between Dark Aaron and Johnson is probably what they were referring to in the latest episode.
You raise a good point. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.