The New York Jets, and the entire New York City sports media market, is one of, if not the harshest markets in the U.S. Being a professional athlete in New York is a double-edged sword. On one side, if a player is successful and leads the team to a Championship, that player can all but guarantee that they will be a forever hero and be put into the Hall of Fame. Conversely, if things don’t work out great, the fans and media don’t take long to turn against the player.
Aaron Rodgers is on the edge tip of the sword.
New York Jets Fans Are Losing Patience
Aaron Rodgers was brought into New York as the greatest thing since New York Cheesecake or New York-style pizza. The way the Jets welcomed and celebrated his arrival, you would have thought that they had already won the Super Bowl.
The honeymoon is over.
After getting injured four plays into last year’s season, Rodgers spent the rest of the offseason in a boot on the sideline. Nobody blamed Rodgers for the injury, but the anxiety levels of fans started to rise as they realized that the now 40-year-old only had so many seasons left, and one of them was over before the team could even get their first touchdown.
Now, with the news that Rodgers has not been attending mandatory practices, my anxiety levels are turning into frustration. Fans are beginning to wonder whether or not Rodgers is invested in the game or if he is already looking ahead to other things post-football.
Aaron Rodgers Contract Favors…. Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers signed an adjusted contract last year for a two-year $75 million deal that would get him through this season. The contract actually cut some of his pay, but it made it so that almost regardless of what happens this season, he will still get $37.5 million after this season. There is a real scenario where if Rodgers were to get injured again, he would be paid $75 million for virtually no playing time.
But that was the contract that Rodgers wanted, and given his name and brand, the Jets agreed to it. This has made things very interesting for the Jets organization and Rodgers. That isn’t to say Rodgers isn’t invested in the team, but contract favors Rodgers so much, that he can do just about whatever he wants and there isn’t much the Jets can do about it.
Jets Fans Have Run Out of Players Before
The Jets haven’t been to the Playoffs since 2010, and their last winning record was back in 2015. Those are both by far the worst in the NFL and at least a small portion of the blame has to be considered to be the Jets fan and media market.
Since 2010, the Jets have gone through 13 different starting quarterbacks, none of which have been remotely successful. Zach Wilson and Sam Darnold were both first-round draft picks quickly turned on after a few bad games. Darnold has gone on and had a serviceable (but much better) career, and early indications show that Wilson is doing very well in Denver.
So what will happen if the Jets start 0-3? Will the fans turn on Rodgers as well? If they do, then what?
How Much Longer Does Rodgers Want to Play?
Last December in an interview with the “Look Into It Podcast with Eddie Bravo,” Rodgers said the following:
“I got back on the practice field late in the season and couldn’t get to a top speed sprinting, but really been in a good place rehab-wise, from the start, and feeling really good…I’m hopeful I can play two or three or four more years, but you need to have some good fortune in there to.”
Anyone who knows Rodgers knows that he is very much the kind of player who likes to evaluate everything every year before making final decisions. With his contract finalizing after this season, one has to wonder, is there a chance that Rodgers will call it quits after one year? Or at least in New York?
My guess is that if the Jets turn on Rodgers, he will find a new place to play his final year or two in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t seem like the kind of player that will stay in New York to prove anyone wrong. If he isn’t happy, he’s gone.
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