It seems like Aaron Rodgers’ final assembly with the Jets was lots like his first sport with the group — brief and painful.
Rodgers ripped new Jets coach Aaron Glenn throughout an look on “The Pat McAfee Present” on Thursday. It was the primary time Rodgers has spoken for the reason that Jets made the choice in February to launch the quarterback.
Rodgers, 41, flew from his California house to New Jersey in early February for what he thought can be an prolonged assembly with Glenn and new common supervisor Darren Mougey. As a substitute, the assembly lasted simply quarter-hour, and Glenn didn’t present “ample respect,” in accordance with Rodgers.
Rodgers mentioned he and Glenn started talking, then Glenn went “working out of the room” to get Mougey.
“That was form of unusual,” Rodgers mentioned. “I believe we’re going to have this lengthy dialog. I’ve flown throughout the nation, and 20 seconds in he goes and he leans to the sting of his seat and says, ‘So, you wish to play soccer?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m .’ And he was like, ‘We’re moving into a unique course at quarterback.’
“I used to be form of shocked. Not shocked as a result of I didn’t assume it was a chance, however shocked as a result of I simply flew throughout the nation and you could possibly’ve instructed me this over the cellphone.”
Rodgers mentioned the Jets weren’t fascinated about discovering out whether or not he wished to stay with the group or in his opinion on gamers he performed with. As a substitute, they only wished to understand how he wished to deal with “the messaging” round his launch.
“I don’t give a s–-t concerning the messaging. Why?” Rodgers mentioned.
Rodgers mentioned Glenn intimated that he was nervous the four-time MVP would “undermine” him. Rodgers mentioned Glenn instructed him he didn’t wish to be chatting with the group and have the gamers then taking a look at Rodgers behind the room.
“It was a really unusual assembly, for certain,” Rodgers. “There was no me pleading, ‘Please have me on the group.’ I don’t wish to be part of that. It was already a debacle in some instances. That complete state of affairs was loopy. That was a little bit rogue by the pinnacle coach.”
Rodgers mentioned he spent one other 25 minutes on the group headquarters chatting with the coaching workers and tools room staffers. He praised vice chairman Christopher Johnson however noticeably mentioned nothing about Woody Johnson, Christopher’s brother and the chairman of the group.
“There’s clearly issues that must get fastened over there,” Rodgers mentioned.
This caps the unusual and disappointing two-year tenure of Rodgers with the Jets that actually started with one other look on “McAfee” when he mentioned he wished the Packers to commerce him to the Jets. The commerce turned a actuality in April 2023 with a lot fanfare. Rodgers’ first season ended after 4 performs when he tore his left Achilles tendon within the season opener towards the Payments. He returned in 2024 however may solely get the Jets to a 5-12 report.
The group introduced it was releasing Rodgers in February and made the transfer official in March when the league yr started. Justin Fields was signed to a two-year, $40 million contract to switch Rodgers at quarterback.
Rodgers is a free agent for the primary time in his profession, and the NFL has been ready for his determination. He acknowledged chatting with the Giants, Steelers and Vikings, however wouldn’t give a full listing of groups he has spoken to. The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and the Vikings have mentioned they wish to give J.J. McCarthy an opportunity to start out, leaving the Steelers as his doubtless vacation spot.
Rodgers referred to as Giants coach Brian Daboll a “lovely soccer thoughts.”
The 41-year-old mentioned his focus proper now could be on his private life, the place two individuals near him are coping with critical conditions. Rodgers mentioned he’s nonetheless open to retirement and doesn’t really feel like he has a deadline to signal with a group.
“I’m attempting to be open to every little thing and never particularly connected to something with regards to this determination,” he mentioned. “I’m not holding anyone hostage.”
