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.