Aaron Rodgers hits back at HOF Jets quarterback Joe Namath for criticizing the team. What did he say?
Though he’s been sidelined by a season-ending injury, it’s clear that the Jets QB is no less involved in what’s going on with the team. No, he’s got their backs.
In a recent appearance, the Jets star gave his thoughts on his new team and the challenges that it now faces in his absence due to injury. He also took the time to hit back at what can be considered in-house critique which he didn’t take too kindly to.
Aaron Rodgers is more concerned with the Jets’ attitude not results
While it’s clear that Aaron Rodgers isn’t happy with some aspects of his new team especially the offense, it should be said that nothing the four-time MVP had to say stepped outside of the realm of constructive criticism. Indeed, one could even say that in his comments Rodgers had nothing but the team’s best interests at heart. Yet, what’s very interesting, is the fact that Rodgers’ issues aren’t simply based on the fact that seemingly struggling to score points, they’ve now dropped to 1-2 after a 15-10 loss at home to the Patriots. No, the 39-year-old is actually much more concerned with what’s occurring off of the field.
“This is what teams have to go through,” Rodgers said on Tuesday during an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’ “There’s adversity points in every season. This year, it’s happening early and people are coming for us. There’s some heated conversations on the sideline and different things. I think we need to hold our poise a little better, really just offensively. We need to not have some of things happen on the sideline and to be a little better and just be a little better competitors.”
Interestingly, Rodgers referenced the mentality displayed by his former team, the Green Bay Packers, who had to come from behind to win against the visiting New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“We need to understand that this is part of it. It’s not always going to be pretty,” Rodgers said. “The most important thing is winning. You saw what happened in Green Bay, they were down 17-0 and came back and won that game, an ugly game, 18-17. ...Doesn’t f-----g matter. It’s like, you win the game, that’s the most important thing. However you’ve got to get it done,” Rodgers continued. “There’s been, I think, too many little side conversations and we just need to grow up a little bit more on offense, and lock in, and do our jobs, everybody, and not pointing fingers at each other, the coaching staffs, each other. Just get back to work, get the job done.”
HOF Former Jets QB Joe Namath criticized Zach Wilson. Aaron Rodgers didn’t like that
Speaking of “pointing fingers,” there is no doubt that the comments from Rodgers that will draw the most attention are those he made in response to the public and brutal critique that Jets Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Namath, aimed at now-starting Jets quarterback, Zach Wilson, following the team’s loss to the Patriots on Sunday. “I want to see us stick together through the tough times,” Rodgers said. “I said it to them during the preseason, our toughest task is going to be handling success, and that’s whether we’re having success or not having success. ...When we’re not having success, how do we respond? And that goes for our fan base and former players as well. You’re not helping the cause.”
Where Wilson specifically is concerned, Rodgers alluded to the idea that it’s about shutting out the chatter as he explained that Wilson has “got to find a way to block out some of that noise.” He then admitted that it does in fact hurt to be unable to help Wilson and the rest of the team as he recovers from a severe injury. “It sucks not being there,” he said. “It’s tough. It’s really hard. I miss the guys, I miss the leadership opportunity, miss balling and competing. If I was there, some of those things wouldn’t be happening. Not sure we’d be 3-0. I’d like to think there’d be a possibility of that. But it’s more the side stuff that I don’t like.”
Aaron Rodgers believes in the New York Jets
As he spoke of the similar start to the season that the Jets had last year - they were 1-2 initially - Rodgers made it clear that he believes the team can also do what it did in 2022 as well i.e., turn things around with a series of wins. Truth be told the Jets went on an impressive run after their early season stumble, a run that included a massive win over Rodgers’ Packers to boot.
“Let’s stay behind our guys. Let’s support our guys,” Rodgers said. “Let’s support the boys on the field. Let’s stick with our guys, and let’s have a little belief, because as we saw this weekend, anybody can beat anybody. I’ve already seen we’re almost double-digit underdogs at home against Kansas City, and they’re coming off a beatdown in Chicago and blah, blah, blah. It’s a home game, it’s ‘Sunday Night Football,’ it’s an opportunity for us to go out there and show what we’re all about.”
How is Aaron Rodgers’ recovery going?
Though it remains to be seen whether Rodgers can actually achieve a January return as he previously stated he would like to do, he did give an update on his recovery process, and it’s worth noting that he was rather positive about it.
“It’s been operating,” Rodgers said of his surgically repaired Achilles. “There’s been some good days and some bad days for sure. Last week was a good week of recovery. Had a good day yesterday. Sunday was the lightest day since I started rehab and also the worst day I’ve had in a while. Yesterday was a good day. Today’s a good day. Making a lot of progress. Every day is a little something. Little less swelling, little more movement, a little more mobility, a little more strength.” For the moment, the NFL, the Jets, and football fans everywhere can only sit and wait for his return.