The New York Jets are no strangers to turmoil, but it's usually due to the lack of a star quarterback. This time around, the problem is a little different.
The Athletic surveyed 31 NFL agents to evaluate this year's team and its potential. Three agents rated the Jets as the most dysfunctional franchise in the league, with only the Panthers (9) and Raiders (7) voting them as more dysfunctional than the Jets.
“The Jets” and an agent said“It's a complete mess over there. Look at how they handled Aaron Rodgers. Has they had a stronger player than him? He missed minicamp. They haven't been able to turn him into a team player. The atmosphere in the building is awful.”
Some fans and media outlets criticized Rodgers for missing the Jets' two-day minicamp for the trip to Egypt, even though he had been working out and practicing with the team during overtime activities.
Rodgers came to New York in a highly publicized blockbuster trade with Green Bay last year, and many analysts believed he would provide the missing piece that would help the Jets become a bona fide playoff contender. But the future Hall of Famer ruptured his Achilles just four plays into his first game with Gang Green and missed the rest of the season.
The Jets continued to thrive, winning seven games behind a strong defense. But their offense has largely underwhelmed without Rodgers. With Rodgers healthy, the team is expected to be strong on defense and have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with on offense, so expectations and pressure have been building in New York this offseason. The pressure has only grown with reports of Rodgers' feud with head coach Robert Saleh and his absence from minicamp.
If the Jets fail to live up to expectations this year, changes will surely come in the front office and at the quarterback position.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
