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    • Jets Robert Saleh’s shooting goes back to Aaron Rodgers
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    Jets Robert Saleh’s shooting goes back to Aaron Rodgers

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    Aaron Rodgers couldn’t fire himself. And the New York Jets’ fading quarterback certainly has no desire to cast aside Nathaniel Hackett, his coordinator buddy.

    Robert Saleh, right? Roadkill.

    The Jets pulled off an October surprise on Tuesday by dumping Saleh as coach just five games into his fourth season. Certainly, Saleh’s 20-36 record isn’t the defense’s ideal benchmark (pun intended) for his viability as a coach.

    But this smacks of desperation. And somehow it goes back to the quarterback the Jets were counting on to take them back to the promised land of the NFL.

    Of course, the plug was officially pulled on Saleh by team owner Woody Johnson, the former U.S. ambassador to Britain, who was no doubt embarrassed by the Jets’ most recent performance on Sunday in London, a 23-17 loss to Minnesota. Vikings.

    As Johnson explained at a media conference, “I feel like we needed to go in a different direction. Change will bring new energy and positivity.”

    Johnson claimed that while he spoke with Rodgers on Monday night, they did not specifically discuss Saleh. He claimed he also spoke to general manager Joe Douglas, and that it was ultimately his decision. Maybe.

    However, I suspect Johnson – who had never fired a coach during his 25-year reign to date – won’t make the move if Rodgers isn’t on board with the dramatic change. After all, the Jets have been operating under some serious A-Rod rules for a while now. That, I suspect, also explains why Hackett, whose unit ranks 27th in the NFL in total yards, still has a job while Saleh was shown the door.

    Hackett, whose tenure as coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022 was a short-lived disaster, was given the opportunity to revive his career by reuniting with Rodgers, who he worked with in Green Bay. And look what happened. The plan has had an adverse effect. But now that Rodgers had Johnson’s ear, you can bet he wasn’t jumping up and down on the proverbial table in support of Saleh.

    What a mess. Saleh, whose specialty is defense, leaves behind a championship-caliber defensive unit that ranks second in the NFL. With defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich promoted to interim coach, the talented defense should keep rolling.

    No, defense wasn’t the Jets problem and it won’t be next year when Johnson recruits Bill Belichick to be his next coach.

    However, Saleh is apparently paying the price for not winning much after being given the, well, privilege of having a Hall of Fame certified quarterback. The Jets gave him Rodgers and his hand-picked coordinator, a new O-line coach, and this year they added an elite pass rusher in Haason Reddick — well, theoretically anyway, as the edge rusher remains a holdout — and they are still getting the same lousy results.

    So, given the huge investment in Rodgers and, well, Saleh’s inability to make big profits with him – what should he be undefeated at this point? – it somehow traces back to the quarterback. Even with the ugly displays in London, there is no point in taking this step now. Maybe that awkward body language and icy stare Rodgers gave Saleh during the win against the New England Patriots were indeed a signal of tension between the coach and the quarterback. Especially now that Johnson is talking about ‘positive energy’.

    Anyway, Jet’s dysfunction strikes again. The offense is a mess, so they keep the status quo. Hardly logical. Coming off the torn Achilles tendon that ruined his debut season in 2023, Rodgers looked nothing like the four-time MVP the team expected when it acquired him in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. Instead, the 40-year-old showed significant rust. The rhythm that defined his game for so long has been short-circuited. On Sunday he threw three picks and came up empty on a last gasp.

    It’s not just Rodgers. The Jets rank last in the league with 402 rushing yards, an average of a paltry 3.6 per carry. The O-line has neither paved the way for daylight in the trenches nor provided a consistent fortress to protect against pass blocking.

    Things need to be fixed. And I suspect it’s not about Rodgers’ cadence. Trading for disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams would help, but they will still have to block and run the ball.

    Why fire Saleh now? Why don’t we let this season play out? At 2-3, the Jets, with their elite defense, are at least positioned to believe they have a legitimate chance to dethrone the Buffalo Bills as rulers of the AFC East. If they catch fire, they could even become the serious Super Bowl contenders that team owner Johnson envisions, because the defense wins championships, especially when complemented by a hot quarterback.

    By firing Saleh, Johnson has gone far out of character. He’s certainly had plenty of practice. Look how he’s moving: In 2020, Johnson allowed Adam Gase to finish a 2-14 season. In 2018, he didn’t get rid of Todd Bowles until after Todd Bowles’ 4-12 campaign. Same for Rex Ryan in 2014, a 4-12 finish. In 2005, Herm Edwards also finished 2-14.

    But now Johnson has changed tack on the decision to relieve Saleh mid-season.

    Perhaps the franchise quarterback, backed by Hackett, will spark the resurgence the Jets probably thought would have happened by now. Jets fans, who have endured one broken promise after another for decades, know better than to hold their breath. It is more likely that hopes will ultimately be pinned on a new HC for the NYJ.

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