National Football League
New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers bringing unabashed confidence to long-downtrodden Jets
But that’s the thing: It doesn’t matter if we buy in. It matters if the Jets buy in.
And Jets players and coaches are obsessed with Rodgers, who is a sight for sore eyes after a season of abject disaster on offense under Zach Wilson.
“It’s a different vibe,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said during OTAs. “He sets the bar. He sets the expectations with his résumé, with his name and the way he approaches the game every day. It’s not every day you get to go against a future Hall of Fame quarterback. As a defense, we’re honored to be in this situation.”
Rodgers might be throwing in shorts and a T-shirt, but he’s getting a lot of love from Saleh, who was asked if he’s had any “whoa” moments since Rodgers has joined the team.
“I think there was another one that they threw out there where he threw it to CJ Uzomah,” Saleh said. “It was a dirty throw. He’s just got tremendous vision. He can see it all. … There’s been some wild moments. I’m sure there’s going to be a heck of a lot more.”
More than a few players are feeling the glow.
“I ain’t gonna lie to you, I was kind of star-struck at first,” linebacker Quincy Williams said. “We warm up right next to each other so I was just like: ‘Hold on, Coach. Let me take a few minutes to take this in, watch a few throws, seeing him in the green.’”
There might be one player who stands to gain the most: receiver Garrett Wilson, who might just be on the verge of establishing himself as one of the NFL’s elite receivers in 2023. He demonstrated clear frustration with Zach Wilson last year. But Garrett Wilson is all aboard the Rodgers hype train.
“This is something 20 years from now, 30 years, I’ll tell my kid: ‘I played with Aaron Rodgers,’” Wilson said.
It’s Hope SZN. And just like Saleh mentioned, every team thinks it can win the Super Bowl. Most fan bases think their team can win it all.
For the Jets, this is the year when they’re not delusional. They have a legitimate shot at making a title run. And that’s not because Rodgers is manifesting it. It’s because he’s there playing football. And he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the world.
Prior to joining FOX Sports as the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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