When New York sports are going well, their fan bases are the most passionate and fun fanbases to be around. Their love for their teams and support during good times are almost unrivaled in any other sports market in the U.S.
However, when things aren’t going great, the New York market turns on their teams and players in a way that destroys many players’ careers. In the case of Aaron Rodgers, it appears that the honeymoon is over, and fans are demanding results…Now.
New York Jets Have Not Had Great QB Play
The New York market celebrated during the spring and summer of 2023 when it was announced that Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was going to join the New York Jets. Since Mark Sanchez led the Jets to the playoffs in 2010, the Jets have gone through the following QBs:
- 2011-12 Mark Sanchez (Butt Fumble)
- 2013-14 Geno Smith/Michael Vick
- 2015-16 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty
- 2017 Josh McCown
- 2018-20 Sam Darnold/Joe Flacco/Luke Falk
- 2021-22 Zach Wilson, Mick White, Joe Flacco
- 2023 Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle
That is a lot of quarterbacks, and none of them have delivered the Jets to the NFL Playoffs. Only 2015 saw the Jets finish with a winning record. The Jets haven’t been to the playoffs in 13 seasons, five more than the Denver Broncos, who have gone eight seasons.
In other words, the Jets have been the worst team in the NFL over the past decade, and it isn’t particularly close.
Do Fans Hold Any of the Blame?
There is debate amongst fans and the media that perhaps it is the fans and the pressure they put on the organization that causes QBs and other players to lose their confidence the second things appear to go wrong.
If you look at Zach Wilson or Sam Darnold’s experience with the team, it is easy to see why some many feel this way. Both players were drafted in the first round and were thrown into the starting role. Both players came in with a lot of confidence and upside, and the media and fanbases harassed both to the point where they became very uncomfortable in the offense.
Last year, Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh threw Wilson under the bus last year, saying he would no longer start or even suit up for the team. He was later forced to redact those words and ask Wilson to start again when the backups proved to be less productive than Wilson was. The same happened to backups; ultimately, the team did not succeed.
If this were a single player, or even two players, then it could be attributed to being NFL busts, but considering that zero of the last 12 quarterbacks under four different coaches have all struggled to get wins suggests that issue may be more than just the players and coaches.
As crazy as it sounds, the media and fanbase must consider the blame. Will Aaron Rodgers be next?
Aaron Rodgers is 40 Years Old and Has Taken 4 Snaps
When Aaron Rodgers was signed to the New York Jets, the expectation was to win and win now. Nobody blamed Aaron Rodgers when he went down on the fourth play from scrimmage, but it cooled down the hype of having him on the team. The need to win and the timeframe to do so quickly went from 3-4 seasons to maybe only one or two.
It also didn’t help that Rodgers claimed that he could be back all season due to a new medical procedure. But then that never happened. Sure, the Jets were out of the Playoff hunt, but that still led fans on a bit.
Today, fans find that Rodgers is skipping out on Mandatory OTAs. Regardless of his reasoning, this certainly is rubbing fans the wrong way. Fans claim he is off doing something stupid or leaving the team behind.
This singular event will mean nothing if the Jets start off 2-0, but if the Jets lose a game, don’t be shocked to Aaron Rodgers, the next victim of the Jets media and fanbase.
Apparently Aaron Rodgers no-showed Jets camp today. We’re ahead of schedule. pic.twitter.com/KEymYOAvas
— Boorish (@Boorish_Sports) June 11, 2024
So Aaron Rodgers skips mandatory mini camp 🤔 is he all in #JetUp
— IGreen (@IsaacGr26475362) June 11, 2024
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