NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
No matter how much New York Jets fans don’t want to admit it, maybe bringing Aaron Rodgers back for another season won’t be worth it. People will say he’s falling off, or that Father Time is catching up to him, or even he just doesn’t have it anymore but none of that should matter. If the Jets want to get back to competing as quickly as possible, it might be time to pull the plug on the Aaron Rodgers experiment before it’s too late.
In his defense, all the people saying that Rodgers is having a down season don’t really have a leg to stand on. He played well enough to rack up some stats, still managed almost 4,000 yards, and only threw 11 interceptions to 28 touchdowns for New York. Too bad it’s not worth celebrating. The Aaron Rodgers they got wasn’t the Aaron Rodgers they paid for. The Jets wanted “the” Aaron Rodgers who could win those close games with the late Hail Mary. They wanted the same guy who would come out at halftime and turn the game on a dime. They wanted the guy who could bring the energy and excitement to the team the same way he proved to be one of the greats in Green Bay, but that’s not what they got.
Statistically, Aaron Rodgers was there, but not from a winner’s standpoint. Nothing he did this season was remarkable and nothing looked like he could take over a game. As a matter of fact, there were times when he didn’t even look like he could lead the offense let alone lead a rally. He looked tired, frustrated, and out of place, something you’re not used to seeing with the star quarterback. He can point fingers all he wants, but the Jets let him get away with whatever he wants. They brought in players at his recommendation, hired his OC, and fired the head coach Robert Saleh because it wasn’t working out. All that took place, and the New York Jets were no better than when Aaron Rodgers joined the team. Yet, he did just enough in the stat column to make New York have hope. Take a lesson from Ted Lasso Jets fans, it’s the hope that kills ya.
Even if Aaron Rodgers magically turns back to his old self producing his old winning ways. He’s not putting this Jets team on his back and excelling to the level of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, or even the division-rival Buffalo Bills. At best, he might get you a 10-win season and a wild card win, but he’s not the guy who’s going to get them to the Super Bowl. Rip the band-aid off and start thinking about who’s next. Bring in the coach who’s going to have complete control over the team. Go get a veteran QB who can be the bridge this season or next to the future QB and keep hunting for one until you find it. There’s a lot of talent in New York and if you waste it all trying to get one good year, it may take years to rebuild. End the Aaron Rodgers experiment, even if it means he succeeds somewhere else.
