New Orleans – Aaron Rodgers' days with the Jets seem to be over.
Fox Sports Insider's Jay Glazer reported on Sunday that Rodgers met with the Jets in New Jersey last week, and was told the team was moving from him.
This is no surprise. Things have been leaning this way for months as the jets make changes with their general manager and head coach. New GM Darren Moogie and coach Aaron Glenn didn't speak much at Rodgers' introductory press conference, and the silence spoke.
It has been believed for a while that the team would move on from Rodgers. It's difficult for Glenn to establish a new program with 41-year-old Rogers having such a big presence within the organization.
It is unclear whether Rodgers wants to continue playing, but the fact that he shows he is still considering it to go back to New Jersey for an argument. Rodgers could either move to the third team or retire.
It's all a disappointing ending for the blockbuster trade that the Jets made with the Packers alongside Landrogers in April 2023. The four-time MVP offered hope to the Jets franchise, who appear to be doing a never-ending search for franchise quarterbacks.
Rodgers' first season with the Jets began with a lot of fanfare with a “hard knock” camera at training camp and a motorized introduction before his first week game against the Bills in football on Monday night.
But it all crashed four plays into that game when he tore his Achilles tendon in his left ankle.
The Jets were replaced by Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Sheemian, replacing Rogers, who had hopes of returning home in December if the Jets were in a fight. But they weren't and he didn't play again in 2023. The Jets finished 7-10 and put pressure on everyone who goes to 2024.
Rodgers was able to stay healthy by starting all 17 games last season, but his play was uneven. A leg injury hindered him playing for a long time in the season, and he struggled to find the chemistry between young stars Garrett Wilson and Brace Hall.
Rodgers ultimately threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a very respectable number, but the team only went 5-12. Coaches and GMs Robert Sale and Joe Douglas, who brought Rogers to the Jets, were fired in October and November, respectively.
There's always something going on from the field beyond what Rodgers did on the field, and that must be part of this decision too. Rogers appeared in the “Pat McCuffy Show” weekly, often finding headlines about vaccines and feuds with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Last March, Rogers reportedly was considering being Vice President of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sparking CNN's story that Rogers is Sandy Hook Denier.
Rogers then appeared in a mandatory minicamp last June and instead chose to travel to Egypt. During the season, Rodgers appeared to have shots on owner Woody Johnson about when Sale would fire five games in the season. He pointed out that a strong franchise supports their coaches and uses the Lions as an example. He later joked to McAfee, a reference to the idea that Johnson's teenage son had power within the Jets.
By cutting him off, the Jets will charge $49 million of dead money this season, unless designated as a June 1 cut. If you go on the route after June 1st, you can spread the hits for $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. Glenn and Moogie may just want to eat all the money in their first year of time with the Jets. . As for cash, the jets have not borrowed any more guaranteed money from Rogers.
Rodgers' move is the first big thing in the Jets offseason. It also features wide receiver Davante Adams and his $35.6 million salary release. The Jets traded for Adams in October and reunited with Rogers. It's hard to see the future that Adams has or hopes with the Jets without Rogers.
