Opinion: Aaron Rodgers has made it hard to believe anything he says
Aaron Rodgers has a future as a cattle farmer, so skillful is he at shoveling the, uh, manure.
Taking refuge in his usual safe space, Rodgers went on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to rebut the idea that he was responsible for Robert Saleh’s firing or had advance knowledge the stunning move was coming just five games into the season. Rodgers was incredulous that anyone would believe he could wield that much power. Or would backstab Saleh after the quarterback had grown so close to the New York Jets coach and his family.
Yeah, it’s a real leap.
Rodgers seems not to realize that everyone else’s memory is just as long as his. Ever since he claimed to be “immunized” against COVID-19, everything he says is considered suspect, especially when it's to his benefit. There are receipts galore about his loyalty, and anyone who heard his potshots at Jimmy Kimmel and Travis Kelce last season know how low he will stoop when he feels he’s been wronged.
And let’s not even start on families.
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The Jets are not a good team, and their struggles are all the more glaring because they were a trendy pick to make a deep run in the postseason, and maybe even make the Super Bowl. But defense, Saleh’s forté, is not the Jets’ problem. They rank second in the NFL in yards allowed per game and are tied for fifth in points allowed.
It’s the offense that’s a mess, and Rodgers is a big part of that. He’s completing just 61% of his passes, which would be his second-worst mark as a starter, and has thrown almost as many interceptions (four) as he has touchdowns (seven). A year after tearing his Achilles, his mobility remains an issue, a factor in his 13 sacks.
“There was going to be some things that needed to change, regardless of what happened to Robert. We just haven’t been playing consistent football on offense,” Rodgers said. “As we know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When you have a couple of games – and obviously I didn’t play well in either of them – (where) we just don’t play very efficiently, you’ve got to adjust some things.”
And yet, it was Saleh who took the fall rather than offensive coordinator and play caller Nathaniel Hackett – who just so happens to be Rodgers’ good buddy going back to their days together in Green Bay.
“I know there were a lot of things swirling out there. But at this point, (interim coach Jeff Ulbrich) and I have talked a couple of times, and I’m on board with whatever he decides as far as offense goes,” Rodgers said.
“I want to do what’s best for the team and we’re throwing our support behind coach Ulbrich,” he added. “Whatever he believes is best for the team is what we’re going to go with.”
Ulbrich, like Saleh, comes from a defensive background, however. The offense will only change so much, even if Hackett loses play-calling responsibilities. It's a direct result of Johnson giving Rodgers the keys to the kingdom when he was trying to entice the future Hall of Famer to come to New York.
The Jets brought in Hackett, along with several of Rodgers’ favorite teammates in Green Bay. New York’s offense was designed with Rodgers in mind – albeit a more accurate, more mobile version. The Jets even played along with Rodgers’ insistence he could return from the torn Achilles last season, putting him on the 53-man roster despite everyone knowing he had almost zero chance of playing.
There was little room for the man in charge of the Jets and Saleh to co-exist when things were going well, and none once things went south. One was going to have to go, and Johnson knew he needed to keep his mercurial QB happy to have any chance at salvaging this season.
“I resent any of those accusations because they’re patently false,” Rodgers said. “It’s interesting the amount of power people think I have. Which I don’t.”
Sure. And Johnson just happened to call Rodgers on Monday night to check up on him and then just happened to fire Saleh the next morning. This is, was and, so long as he’s in New York, will be Rodgers’ team. Ulbrich, and even Hackett, would do well to remember that.
Rodgers is a smooth talker, and his somber tone on the tough business that is the NFL and the toll it's taking on Saleh's family could convince anyone who doesn't know better. Problem is, we all do. Rodgers is all about Rodgers, and Saleh isn't the first — and won't be the last — to learn that the hard way.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.