NFL insider’s notes: Why there’s doom and gloom in Jets locker room after Saleh’s firing despite Davante Adams’ trade
Hopes were high for the New York Jets before the start of the regular season. Aaron Rodgers was healthy after suffering a torn Achilles tendon just four snaps into the 2023 season, veteran talent was added to the offensive line and many predicted the Jets would make a Super Bowl run. Yet thus far the season has been a dud.
Rodgers has not played well, the team made a coaching change five games into the campaign and the offensive coordinator was invited to leave. So where do things stand now in the Jets locker room?
Just hours after the Robert Saleh firing was made public, I wrote an article on what took place that morning at the Jets facility in Florham Park. Overall, the players were surprised by the timing of the announcement. Despite getting manhandled by the Minnesota Vikings in London just days earlier, the Jets’ next game against the Bills would ultimately dictate first place in the AFC East.
Players thought the firing of Saleh could’ve waited a week until after that game. The owner publicly said he wanted a change because new head coach Jeff Ulbrich would bring a new attitude and a burst of energy to the team, which would result in more wins. The Jets lost the game to Buffalo. Then they lost the following game this past Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Ulbrich is now 0-2 as a head coach.
Jets locker room remains in 'doom' despite acquiring Davante Adams
In the interim, the team acquired receiver Davante Adams from the Raiders and saw pass rusher Haason Reddick end his holdout. Yet I’m told there is still a sense of doom and gloom in the locker room.
Several players I’ve heard from continue to believe the firing of Saleh by owner Woody Johnson five games into the season was premature and question the timing of the move. The Buffalo Bills game aside, they would’ve liked to see what their former coach could have done with Adams and Reddick on the depth chart.
There is a sense that the wind has been knocked out of the sails, and I’m told there is not a good feeling in the locker room. It would be unfair, if not untrue, to claim Saleh or Ulbrich lost the locker room, yet players -- especially the veterans -- can’t understand how a team as talented as the Jets cannot win football games, especially the ones they are expected to win.
The overall belief by players I heard from is that the team is not on the right track and they should be much better than their present record of 2-5, yet no one seems to have any answers why they are not.
Despite the offseason moves, the offensive line is still a major issue, which has been part of the reason for Rodgers’ disappointing play thus far. If the offensive line cannot quickly turn it around, one must wonder how this will affect the play of a 40-year-old quarterback come November and December after taking a beating the first half of the season. In other words, how will Rodgers physically hold up?
GM Joe Douglas could lose his job if Jets don't make the playoffs
There’s still plenty of time for the Jets to right the ship. A quick look at the schedule would lend one to believe the team could have eight wins in total prior to the final two games of the season against the Bills and Dolphins. Then again, few expected the Jets to lose to the Denver Broncos or get pounded by the Vikings.
And if the Jets don’t turn things around, what will happen? League sources tell me that if the Jets don’t make the playoffs, they believe the team will clean house, GM Joe Douglas will be fired and Woody Johnson will start all over, once again.
The hot name already circulating for a general manager job this offseason, though not necessarily a job with the Jets, is Mike Borgonzi, presently the assistant general manager with the Kansas City Chiefs. Borgonzi has been with the Chiefs for 16 years, initially starting with the franchise as College Scouting Administrator back in 2009.
But will bringing in another new general manager move the needle for the New York Jets? League insiders tell me the answer is no. As I’ve written about previously, the overwhelming belief is that Johnson must cede power and bring in someone who will push back against his wishes and whim.
Unfortunately for Jets fans, no one believes Johnson will let that happen, even if the Jets don’t turn it around this season and the owner is forced to start from scratch- again.