Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers isn’t as simple as it seems

For a Jets fan ready on Aaron Rodgers to make his huge transfer, that is merciless and weird punishment. Test that — it’s merciless and standard punishment. 

No metropolitan space client group has been subjected to extra setbacks than the women and men who help MetLife Stadium’s secondary tenants. Excruciating delays are, in actual fact, a part of the Jets’ season-ticket plan. 

And so, on muscle reminiscence, the hopes that have been raised Friday by the words of Packers president Mark Murphy have been additionally tempered by previous heartbreak. Requested throughout a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation ladies basketball match telecast if Rodgers would return to Inexperienced Bay for the 2023 season, Murphy stated that might occur solely “if issues don’t work out the way in which that we might need them.” He added that the Packers are “looking for out what [Rodgers] needs and what we would like, and hopefully we will discover a win-win scenario.” 

Murphy additionally referred to Rodgers’ profession in Inexperienced Bay prior to now tense in an interview with WBAY-TV. He identified that only a few gamers find yourself taking part in for just one NFL group and spoke of Rodgers sometime going into the Corridor of Fame. “We’ll deliver him again and retire his quantity,” Murphy stated. 

That needs to be a walk-off landing for Jets followers, adopted by a celebratory slam dunk of the soccer over the crossbar. A Packers govt simply publicly admitted that his group doesn’t need Rodgers again, and that the four-time league MVP would retain his present job provided that he successfully forces his employer to maintain him. 

Hey, arrange the press convention in Florham Park, and ensure somebody arranges the automobile service to get Joe Namath there. 

Till additional discover, nevertheless, it’s not fairly that easy. Nothing is ever fairly that easy with the Jets. 

Rodgers clearly is aware of that, too. In October, after his group misplaced a house sport to the Jets, the Packers quarterback praised Robert Saleh’s teaching and Joe Douglas’ roster. However in making his level on “The Pat McAfee Present,” Rodgers stated, “That’s not the Identical Outdated Jets.” 

So a man who performed his highschool and faculty ball in California, and spent his complete NFL profession on an NFC group in Wisconsin, knew all in regards to the S-O-J. In different phrases, Rodgers is aware of how the New York market and the remainder of the league perceives the group. 

Jets followers are wired to fret about such issues. The group’s decision-makers hopped on Woody Johnson’s jet Tuesday and flew throughout the nation for his or her Malibu assembly with Rodgers, and everybody supposedly got here away joyful. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that the Jets’ touring celebration was optimistic sufficient after the sit-down to consider they have been “on the brink” of touchdown the longer term Corridor of Famer. 

However as of Friday night, the Jets have been nonetheless on the point of both one thing fairly rattling particular, or one thing that might be filed below memorable S-O-J moments. Perhaps Rodgers deliberate on ending the ready sport later Friday night time, or someday this weekend, prematurely of the begin to free company subsequent week. 

Perhaps Rodgers has no considerations in regards to the Jets’ legitimacy, or about Woody Johnson’s Woody-ness. Perhaps he has already determined to complete his profession on the Meadowlands, and simply doesn’t wish to announce his intentions publicly in case Packers basic supervisor Brian Gutekunst plans on utilizing his acknowledged desire as leverage in commerce negotiations with Douglas. 

Or perhaps Rodgers has referred to as timeout on the 5-yard line whereas asking himself, “Am I actually going to place my endgame within the palms of the New York Jets?” 

The Packers would’ve by no means granted the Jets permission to talk with and meet with Rodgers if they’d any intention of retaining Jordan Love on the bench for one more yr, or in the event that they hadn’t already determined that Douglas would certainly give up some type of package deal that might make the commerce work. 

On prime of all the things else, star cornerback Sauce Gardner posted a singular recruiting video of him burning the cheesehead he grabbed at Lambeau Area in a yard barbecue attended by teammates Garrett Wilson and Breece Corridor. The outdated Jets, the middle-aged Jets and the younger Jets all need Rodgers. A group divided by quarterback points all final season stands unified on this entrance. 

So what’s the holdup? The Jets have revealed their desperation for an achieved veteran quarterback, and their proprietor has confirmed that he’s keen to spend huge for stated veteran quarterback. The group employed an offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, who’s positively adored by Rodgers, and everybody agrees that the protection is already set to contend. 

And but the deal isn’t finished. Jets followers are left to hope and pray that nothing goes improper close to the aim line, as a result of that’s what they’ve been educated to do. 

Jets followers lead the league in ready. They’ve been doing that since January 1969.