The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers decided to part ways this season after 18 long years. Both sides felt like it was time to move on. As the Packers have stormed back to a 6-6 record and are right in the middle of the NFC playoff race, it looks like they may have made the right decision.
The New York Jets got the short end of the stick in 2023. Just four offensive plays into the season the Jets lost Rodgers for (seemingly) the entire season. Since then it has been a nightmare for the Jets at the quarterback position. Zach Wilson once again proved he isn’t ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL and many NFL critics made note of that. Some even questioned if he “wanted” to play. That is where Rodgers had enough.
There was no holding back for New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In addition to criticizing the organization for leaks to the media, he also blasted a report that unfairly painted teammate Zach Wilson as “a kid quitting the team.”
“That’s a problem with the organization,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “We need to get to the bottom of whatever this is coming from and put a stop to it privately, because there’s no place in a winning culture where — and this isn’t the only time. There’s been a bunch of other leaks.”
“I think it’s chicken s— at its core, and I think it has no place at a winning organization,” Rodgers said.
“[The report is] basically saying that this kid is quitting on the team and doesn’t want to play and has given the middle finger to the organization,” Rodgers said. “Now listen, I don’t want to speak for him because he’s getting a chance this week to speak and I’m going to let him speak.
“I’ll tell you that I love the kid and I’ve spent a lot of time with him, and I think he’s an amazing young man. … He’s gone through a lot of s— in the last three years, and he’s got every right to be frustrated and disappointed about it. I think he’s done a good job of standing up and taking accountability this year when it’s been his part to do it.”
“Some conversations are only meant for certain people and shouldn’t leave the building,” Rodgers said. “There’s a trust that goes along with being in the locker room, where you say something to your homie and that s— doesn’t go anywhere.
Or you say something in the team meeting room [and it] doesn’t go anywhere. There’s been too many instances this season where stuff is happening. It’s not OK, and we need to weed it out in whatever way necessary.”
Rodgers Still Clearly Care Deeply About The Jets Organization And His Teammates
During the spring and summer, Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets in April, said they made “amazing progress” culture-wise. After he was injured in Week 1, Rodgers returned home to California to rehab. His criticism of the Jets’ sideline outbursts followed their Week 3 loss, saying they needed to stick together. There are just a few things to tighten up, he said, “fine-tuning a few things.”
Rodgers clearly went to New York with expectations on winning the Super Bowl. That included the players already in place as well as the players (and coaches) they brought in during the off-season. He has already been adamant on playing in 2024. Rodgers wants this team to stick together for multiple years, this statement shows that.
