Stop us if you’ve heard this before: a Jets player is responding to Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s comments on Jets offensive coordinator and former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett. And it’s another former Packer, at that.
This time, it was wide receiver Allen Lazard who spoke to the media. Lazard not only worked with Hackett in Green Bay, but also as an undrafted rookie in Jacksonville. Lazard defended Hackett and said the comments made by quarterback Aaron Rodgers are the thoughts of the entire team.
“I think what Aaron said spoke for everyone here,” Lazard said, via Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News. “At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We have bigger things to worry about than people worry about our offensive coordinator.”
Rodgers spoke to NFL Media’s Peter Schrager and said Payton’s “comments were very surprising” and that his love for Hackett “runs deep.”
“His approach to it, how he makes it fun, how he cares about the guys, just how he goes about his business with respect, with leadership, with honesty and integrity,” Rodgers said about Hackett. “It made me feel bad that someone that’s accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some easy fall if it doesn’t go well for that team this year. I thought it was way out of line, inappropriate and I think he needs to keep my coach’s name out of his mouth.”
Lazard echoed those sentiments, speaking on his own close relationship with Hackett. “Hackett is the best teacher I’ve ever had in my life,” Lazard said. “His personality, his style of teaching, coaching, his vulnerability just to be himself, I think it’s very powerful and it speaks to high regard of him being comfortable with himself.”
Payton backtracked on his comments, but the responses are still coming from the Jets. They’ll likely ramp back up following the Jets’ date with the Chiefs in Week 4, since they’ll then start preparing for the Broncos.