Perhaps the only people enthusiastic about the Davante Adams trade are fans of the New York Jets. That’s understandable and acceptable for a team whose season probably went in the tank with Monday night’s loss to Buffalo.
But the reality is, the Jets won’t halt and catch fire with this trade, and it’s not so much because of Adams. It’s because Aaron Rodgers isn’t Aaron Rodgers anymore and it showed against the Bills.
Jets’ Aaron Rodgers hasn’t changed mentally, just physically
Sure, Rodgers is arrogant as ever — at least it seems that way from his smug looks and body language when something goes wrong. But if you need to hear it, consider what he said about his second straight game-clinching interception, according to nbcsports.com.
“It was two verticals,” Rodgers said. “Allen (Lazard is) down the seam, Mike (Williams is) down the red line. So I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up, three guys go with him. So I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. And when I just peek my eyes back there, (Williams is) running an in-breaker. So I had to kind of adjust it a little bit. But the play is two guys vertical, one guy down the seam, one guy in the red line.”
Basically, the blame falls on Williams, Rodgers said. There are many NFL quarterbacks — perhaps 31 others — who would throw themselves under the bus and accept the blame. Not Rodgers. It’s dirty under the bus and he probably doesn’t like it there. But it’s a good place for Williams, apparently.
Let’s be brutally honest about Rodgers. He still can chuck a Hail Mary, but he’s not the Green Bay Rodgers in any way. He hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in a game since 2001. Let’s put that in perspective.
Throwing for 300 yards these days isn’t special
NFL quarterbacks have topped the 300-yard mark 28 times through six weeks this season. On that list is Joe Flacco, who at 39 is just one year younger than Rodgers. Also on the list is former Jets’ QB Geno Smith, who has done it three times. It’s hard not to laugh at the Jets about that.
Also, Rodgers threw 12 interceptions during his final season in Green Bay, missing a career high he set way back in 2008. This year with the Jets he has tossed five, putting him on a pace for a career-high 14. But of course, none of those will be his fault. A ball got tipped, the receiver ran the wrong route, it should have been a penalty, the crowd was too loud, the field is too soft, my elbow hurts, etc.
Let’s face it. Rodgers is 40 years old. He looks slow — admittedly he should, coming off an Achilles injury — and his passes don’t seem to have the same buzz they had 10 years ago. But he’s not a bad quarterback. On the right team, asked to be a game manager, he could guide a team deep into the postseason. The problem is he can’t carry a team anymore. And the Jets have far more problems than Rodgers can solve.
Can the Jets make the playoffs?
Trading for Adams only works if the Jets make the playoffs. It’s possible because of their remaining schedule. Winnable games remain against the Patriots, Cardinals, Colts, Seahawks, Dolphins (twice), Jaguars, and Rams. But it’s hard to see the Jets winning all of those games. And the Dolphins won’t be pushovers if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returns to the lineup.
Getting to 10-7, which might bring a playoff berth requires an 8-3 march from here. The Steelers, Texans, and Bills look like difficult chores. So 9-8 might be the top end. And even that takes a ton of great football — without an elite NFL quarterback.