When the New York Jets introduced in Aaron Rodgers throughout the 2023 offseason, hopes have been sky excessive for the primary time in a very long time within the Massive Apple.
The media hype main as much as the commerce with Inexperienced Bay was as intense as we’d seen in a while. So, watching from the sideline at how the previous two years have performed out, it’s straightforward to grasp a sure degree of disappointment and anger at the way it’s ending.
Rodgers got here in and bought the whole lot he needed with out hesitation from then-general supervisor Joe Douglas, with proprietor Woody Johnson’s blessing.
The Jets have been greater than prepared to provide Rodgers the contract extension that the Packers handed on. They introduced in a few of Rodgers’ favourite teammates from Inexperienced Bay and even picked up his previous offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, off the scrap heap.
New York allowed Rodgers to have his manner in each manner conceivable. All they’ve bought to indicate for it after two years is 5 wins, one misplaced season resulting from damage and extra Rodgers headlines for off-field engagement the Jets might’ve imagined. Rodgers has had much more publicity (good or dangerous) for what he’s stated within the media, particularly on his buddy, Pat McAfee’s ESPN present.
Whereas Rodgers’s first full season main the Jets onto the sector hasn’t been as dangerous statistically because it appears, we absolutely haven’t seen a lot of the greatness of years previous. Rodgers’ completion proportion is the bottom in his profession, courting again to 2008 when he turned the Packers’ full-time beginning quarterback.
He’s additionally averaging the second-fewest yards per recreation (234.1) of his profession. In 2022, Rodgers averaged simply 217.4 ypg, which wound up being his final in Inexperienced Bay.
After Rodgers’ last season in Inexperienced Bay, it was clear that he wasn’t the identical MVP-caliber participant he’d been beforehand. However the Jets simply needed to have him and went to any lengths essential to accumulate the Tremendous Bowl winner and four-time league MVP. Nonetheless, the Jets have been paying for an inferior mannequin.
Then in his first recreation with the group, Rodgers tore his Achilles and the writing ought to have been on the wall then.
On the time Rodgers was 39 years previous with an damage that’s robust for a 24-year-old to get well from. He even teased followers and teammates with discuss of coming again final season though it by no means occurred. For anybody to assume Rodgers would return in ’24 and all of a sudden revert to what he was for thus a few years with Inexperienced Bay was absurd.
And that’s precisely what we’ve seen this season. It ought to be the tip of an period.
Whether or not Rodgers continues to play is his selection, but it surely doesn’t must be in New York. This experiment ought to be over and the Jets ought to be trying to transfer on from him without delay following their Week 18 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
All the things the Jets did to deliver Rodgers in, they need to be attempting even more durable to maneuver him alongside.
Issues have gotten so dangerous with the Jets that rumors have surfaced about extensive receiver Garrett Wilson potentially wanting out if Rodgers returns for yr three. It’s time for the Jets to chop their losses with Rodgers as he could solely play yet one more yr no matter the place that could be.
Wilson is 24 and has many productive years left in entrance of him. It’s time to place an finish to A-Rod’s reign of terror.
