Category: Jets News and Notes

New Jersey sports radio host not bullish on the Jets – ‘This is heading to a disaster’

A New Jersey sports radio host blasts the New York Jets chances this season.

One sports radio host isn’t giving the New York Jets much of a chance this season, it seems

Rich Quiñones, a noted sports radio host in south Jersey, was talking on his podcast this past weekend about the state of the AFC East. In leading off the breakdown of the division, Quiñones talked about the state of the Jets.

The big talking point for Quiñones was the status of Aaron Rodgers and how his play and health will impact the Jets. It is a fair point, especially since the Jets season is very much driven by how Rodgers will recover from last year’s season-ending injury.

Sporting a look reminiscent of the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, Quiñones went scorched earth on the Jets.

“I’m not sold on the Jets. I think this is heading to a disaster. I’m not implying, I’m not suggesting I’m not trying to manifest Aaron Rodgers getting injured four offensive snaps into the season,” Quiñones said on his podcast.

“Truth be told, so many outside noises and factors with this team. And this is it for Robert Saleh (the Jets head coach) and perhaps the GM (Joe Douglas) and perhaps Aaron Rodgers. It’s boom or bust right now. You got to win the division, you got to make a deep run in the playoffs and you got Super Bowl aspirations – anything less and you’re going to be in trouble.”

Now, let’s be fair. If Rodgers can stay healthy, the Jets can and should be a playoff team. And if any starting quarterback is lost for the season, then it would be a disaster for most teams, right?

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The devastating injury to Rodgers so early in the season clearly set the tone for the rest of the Jets 2023 campaign.

Last season with Rodgers out for the majority of the season with an Achilles injury, the Jets finished 7-10 and third in the AFC East.

But, if Rodgers is healthy (he has been for much of his career), then the Jets do have a shot at something special. If he plays at the level he did in 2021 (when he was an All-Pro), then this should be a playoff team.

 

Is the PFF placement of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers fair?

PFF seems to still like Aaron Rodgers.

As Aaron Rodgers goes, so goes the New York Jets season. That is the conventional thinking when mapping the outlook for the Jets in 2024, and it isn’t a bad take at all for projecting this team.

The Jets are very much dependant on how Rodgers bounces back from last season’s injury. They aren’t the only NFL team in this situation, but they are the organization with the biggest question mark about their star quarterback.

But Pro Football Focus (PFF) seems to believe that Rodgers is very much still a top-tier difference maker in their quarterback power rankings.

Rodgers is set for season No. 20 in the NFL, with last season unceremoniously cut short due to an Achilles injury in Week 1. If Rodgers can bounce back, then the Jets can and should be a playoff team.

Can he do it? Will be healthy? If not, then the Jets’ season is likely to be another long one.

There is understandable reason for optimism, however. The defense has a chance to be elite and the offense, if Rodgers is under center, has the potential to be a very good unit.

This is the best Jets roster since 2011 (yes, even better than 2015 when they narrowly missed out on the playoffs). If, and it is a significant if, Rodgers can stay healthy then this team should go far.

PFF has Rodgers as eighth in their ranking of NFL quarterbacks. Is this a fair placement?

After noting last season’s injury, PFF had this to say about Rodgers:

“But if you don’t take the toll of Father Time too far into consideration, Rodgers won MVP in 2020 and 2021, so just one season of play separates him from that back-to-back run. If he’s fully healthy, he has to remain a top-10 quarterback heading into the year. His resume demands it until we see otherwise.”

Rodgers is the second-highest-ranked quarterback in the AFC East, only trailing the Buffalo Bills‘ Josh Allen (fourth in the PFF rankings).

NBC Sports has the New York Jets near the bottom of their NFL power rankings

The New York Jets are in a lowly spot in the PFT power rankings.

The big concern about the New York Jets is being highlighted by NBC Sports in their NFL power rankings.

In their late-June power rankings update, Pro Football Talk and Mike Florio have the Jets at No. 25 in the NFL. That puts the Jets third in the AFC East rankings with only the Patriots (No. 31) worse in the power rankings.

Their reason, according to Florio, is because “They’re counting on way too many injured veterans to stay healthy.”

And while Jets fans may not like the ranking, it is a valid concern expressed by Florio. Is the ranking a bit too low? Maybe. But the concern is there.

Consider that last year, quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not make it out of the first quarter of the first game of the year without suffering a season-ending injury and it is clear the risk here. The Jets are rolling the dice that Rodgers can and will make it through the regular season in 2024 relatively unscathed.

Given that Rodgers has had a remarkably healthy NFL career for much of his 19 years in the league, it is a reasonable gamble by the Jets to assume that their quarterback can make it through the season and perform at a high level.

But, it is still a risk and a gamble, one upon which the whole season invariably centers on for the Jets.

Last year without Rodgers, the Jets finished 7-10 and with the second worst offense in the NFL.

Watch – Jets defensive end Michael Clemons is putting in offseason work

Michael Clemons is looking good this offseason.

Michael Clemons is certainly putting in the effort this offseason as the New York Jets edge is training with one of the top defensive line coaches in the nation.

Set for a very important third season in the NFL with the Jets, Clemons is looking to bounce back in 2024. Last season was a bit of a step backward for Clemons in terms of his production.

As a rookie in 2022, Clemons had 36 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. Last year, he had 27 total tackles and he shared a sack.

This offseason, Clemons is working out with Brandon Jordan, a highly-regarded pass rush coach who works with players such as Von Miller in the offseason.

He posted this video of Clemons’ working out on a recovery day. Clemons is focusing on his handwork in this drill:

 

Clemons, who played his college football for Texas A&M, looks absolutely jacked in this video, for what it is worth.

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If Clemons can take a step forward in his development this season, it could and would be big for the Jets. A healthy and productive Clemons as part of a deep edge rotation would be a huge lift for a defense that projects to be top-three in the NFL this season.

Mike Tannenbaum on ESPN – Is Aaron Rodgers’ quickness back?

Mike Tannenbaum wants to check out the quickness of Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Tannenbaum has concerns about the ability of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get back to his Hall of Fame level this season.

Tannenbaum, a former general manager of the Jets, made his comments this week on ESPN while discussing the return of Rodgers from last season’s Week 1 Achilles injury. The Jets’ season very much hinges on Rodgers’ ability to perform at a Pro Bowl level.

Last year without Rodgers, the Jets missed the playoffs and finished second from the bottom in the NFL in total offense.

Tannebaum cautioned that the Jets defense is “built to play with the lead and rush the passer.”

“When you’re over 40-years old and you’re coming off an Achille tendon injury and what I’m really curious to see in training camp -we’ll see what he does in the preseason,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN before diving into his area of concern.

“How quickly he gets rid of the ball and short-area quickness with his feet.

“I’ve been around other quarterbacks from Vinny Testaverde, Brett Favre…(I) worked with Dan Marino in Miami – they always talked about losing that little quickness really was the beginning of the end and that’s something that we really have got to watch carefully really just in a couple of weeks.”

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Tannenbaum was the Jets’ general manager from 2006-12. He was the last general manager of the team to lead the Jets to the playoffs.

Could the New York Jets be a landing spot for Brandon Aiyuk?

Brandon Aiyuk could put the New York Jets offense over the top.

Could Brandon Aiyuk land with the New York Jets?

That’s the speculation from the 33rd Team, which is projecting the Jets as one of five potential landing spots for Aiyuk. Set to enter his fifth year in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver is one of the best players at his position in the league.

Last year, Aiyuk had 75 catches for 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season. Last year was his first All-Pro selection (second-team).

Aiyuk is owed $14.124 million for the 2024 season.

This is the last year of Aiyuk’s contract with the 49ers. He is an unrestricted free agent next season.

Given the 49ers star-laden team, the money for Aiyuk may not be there next offseason in terms of the salary cap. This might mean that the 49ers, in order to obtain some sort of compensation for Aiyuk, might want to move the star wide receiver.

Marcus Mosher, in writing for ‘The 33rd Team’ nuances through a situation where the Jets could target Aiyuk. It isn’t feasible, Mosher rightly writes, but it could make sense:

“New York doesn’t have the cap space to get a deal done right now, but they can easily free up some money with a few restructures. If the Jets are really all-in for this season, why not go out and get the best receiver available and make the offense even more explosive?

It might seem like overkill, but with such a small window, it’s not be a bad idea to consider.”

Last year, the Jets had the second-worst total offense in the NFL and were bottom three in passing offense.

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A healthy Aaron Rodgers could and should go a long way toward addressing the ailing offense. Could an all-in move from Brandon Aiyuk put the Jets over the top and make them the AFC East favorites?

Former teammate James Jones defends Aaron Rodgers missing minicamp: ‘ He’s been at everything’

James Jones defended Aaron Rodgers this week on FS1.

A recent trip may have caused Aaron Rodgers to miss minicamp. But a former teammate of the New York Jets quarterback believes it has no bearing on the season.

James Jones, who won Super Bowl XLV with Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, came to the defense of Rodgers this week on FS1. Jones played nine years in the NFL (eight with the Packers) and this week, he defended the now-Jets quarterback for his recent trip to Egypt.

Rodgers created a stir in some corners for an unexcused absence that caused him to miss Jets minicamp.

Jones said “I ain’t worried about Aaron Rodgers missing two days when in two years he has been at everything, even when he’s hurt.”

In his commentary on FS1, Jones took the long road in defending Rodgers:

“I’m proud of my dude for taking some time to himself. Planning his trip to go to…Egypt. Because he’s been at everything. If I’ve been at everything for the last two years and I’m a four-time MVP, All-Pro…whatever you want to say. Super Bowl champion. I’m all that – listen I deserve to get two days since I’ve been here. Been the ultimate teammate when I’m hurt, when I’m not hurt. All of that – hey man, I messed up, however you want to all look at it. But I’m gone. I’m not tripping off Aaron Rodgers missing because I don’t think this is going to be a defining moment to where the Jets going to the Super Bowl because of this or the Jets winning five games because of this. It’s not going to be because he missed two days of practice.”

Earlier this week, Rodgers donated to help the victims of the Thompson Fire in Butte County (California).

 

Way too early for this but 2025 mock draft has New York Jets picking a playmaker

The latest mock draft for the New York Jets has a wide receiver pick.

A playmaker wide receiver is the pick for the New York Jets in the latest 2025 NFL draft mock from The 33rd Team.

And yes, on a day about freedom and independence (also hot dogs and fireworks), let’s not forget that is only nine months away. So let’s breeze through the regular season and the playoffs, Jets fans.

April is almost here!

Despite the lunacy of a mock draft in July (we’re sickos around here), let’s acknowledge for a moment two things about this mock draft from Ian Valentino:

A wide receiver makes a ton of sense for the Jets

Valentino has the Jets picking at No. 21 which means playoffs!

The pick in the mock is Tetairoa McMillan, who had 90 catches for 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last year for Arizona.  Valentino speculates the Jets could go with a quarterback to potentially replace Aaron Rodgers.

But he goes wide receiver here for the Jets:

“They could also add a viable star next to Garrett Wilson since their receiving depth is poor. Tetairoa McMillan is in the Mike Evans mold as a gigantic 6-foot-5, catch-everything threat with surprising speed and fluidity.”

 

Aaron Rodgers partners with a community organization to help California fire victims

Aaron Rodgers makes a donation to support the fore victims of his hometown.

Very quietly and without much fanfare, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has donated $100,000 to fire victims in California.

Rodgers, set for his second year with the Jets, was born in Butte County. The fires have ravaged the area, consuming nearly 3,600 acres with thousands under evacuation orders to leave the area.

Recipients of the donations include the United Way of Northern California, the American Red Cross and the Oroville Church of the Nazarene among other groups.

Rodgers, in a statement, drew attention to the needs of those affected by the fires:

“With the help of my friends at the North Valley Community Foundation, I will always be committed to helping my beloved Northern California home areas. My heart goes out to the families and communities affected, and we will be deploying funds immediately to help those in need.”

Those interested in supporting the relief efforts can donate via the North Valley Community Foundation.

(h/t @RichCimini)

 

2015 playoff miss with the New York Jets still haunts Antonio Cromartie

Antonio Cromartie laments the Jets’ playoff miss in 2015.

Antonio Cromartie will be returning to the New York Jets as an assistant coach for training camp.

Cromartie, who had two tenures with the Jets, returns to the organization as part of the Bill Walsh internship program. Cromartie spent five of his 11 seasons in the NFL with the Jets.

The fellowship was “Designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL clubs participate each year. Specific aspects of the program — including hiring, compensation and coaching duties — are administered on a club-by-club basis.”

Cromartie was  recently on staff with Texas A&M where he was a defensive assistant.

In speaking with Jake Asman, Cromartie talked about the Jets playoff drought, which extends back to 2010. Cromartie was a part of that Jets team, but his thoughts were centered on another New York team that he was also a part of that nearly made the playoffs a few years later.

“I’m still thinking about the 2015 year when we should have made it and beat Buffalo. We beat Buffalo, we’re in the playoffs. We wound up going 10-6 that year. You talking about beating Buffalo, being 11-5, back in the playoffs as a Wild Card,” Cromartie told Asman.

“Nobody probably wanted to play us. It would have had that same feeling – that 2010 feel that nobody wanted to play us at that point in time.

“We didn’t get in and it’s been 14 years, it’ll be 14 years since we’ve been. It’s at the point of how that’s going to change and what’s going to change.”

The Jets ended the 2015 season with a record of10-6 as Cromartie noted and with a brutal 22-17 loss at the Buffalo Bills. Win that game, and the Jets would have been in the playoffs.

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It was one of the most brutal losses in franchise history.