Tag: Jets players

Robert Saleh’s desire to get his players paid will win over Jets’ locker room

Robert Saleh’s desire to get his players paid should make him an instant hit in the Jets’ locker room.

Robert Saleh has yet to run a single practice as Jets head coach and he likely already has a better hold of the locker room than Adam Gase ever did in his two years with the team.

Saleh’s goals were made clear during his introductory press conference Thursday. He wants to win championships, and he wants to do so with a process that requires an “all gas, no brake” mentality in which daily improvement is the key.

He also wants to do everything in his power to take care of his players — especially financially.

Saleh went out of his way to note that he wants New York’s players to “get paid as much as possible.” It’s not his job to hand out contracts, but with effective coaching, Saleh has the power to help his players maximize their earning potential once it comes time for them to negotiate a new deal.

“It’s an absolute joy to see them get to the pinnacle of their career where they can get second contracts and get rewarded,” Saleh said, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

Players often say winning is everything, but money remains king at the end of the day. Whether they are willing to admit it or not, every player wants to be in a position to land a lucrative contract at some point in their career. There is now a head coach in place at One Jets Drive who is intent on making that happen for each player on his team.

There is no doubt that Saleh’s words resonated with New York’s players and won him his fair share of early fans in the locker room. He does not just want to win big, he wants to win big and keep his players happy. That is not exactly what Jets players have been used to since 2019.

Yes, Saleh is here to turn the Jets from AFC bottom-feeders to perennial contenders, but he is going to go about doing so in a way that will also take the locker room and getting the best out of it into account. As long as he does his job and coaches the team up as well as expected, New York’s players are going to be celebrating more than just wins on most weekends.

And, if Saleh follows through on his plan, they’re going to cashing sizeable paychecks, too.

Robert Saleh has texted every Jets player, met a few at team’s facility

Robert Saleh has texted every single player on the Jets and has met a few in person at the training facility.

Robert Saleh wasted no time acquainting himself with his players.

Saleh spoke to the media for the first time on Thursday and said he’s already reached out to every single Jets player via text. He added that he’s met a few players in person while they were rehabbing from injuries at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.

Saleh said he will have an “open door” policy with his players, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

The Jets head coach noted in his introductory press conference how important it is to make a “personal investment” in people, especially his players.

“Everybody says this is a business,” Saleh said. “It’s not. It’s a personal investment to people. The most important people are the ones that strap up on gameday and step between the lines.”

He added: “The investment you put in players has to be equivalent to the investment you put in your children.” Saleh openly talked about wanting to see his guys get paid as well.

That’s sure to get some Jets to buy into their new head coach.

Clearly, Saleh is a player’s coach. He offered a different vibe Thursday than the one Adam Gase did during his two years with the Jets. Saleh’s predecessor didn’t always appear to be on the same page as his players, and Gase experienced personnel rifts in New York and Miami.

Now, with Saleh coming in as the new head coach, he has already brought in a breath of fresh air.