After Robert Saleh’s shock firing on Tuesday, an anonymous Jets player has slammed the team’s ‘selfish stars’ in an attempt to bring to light some of the behind-closed-doors problems of the franchise.
The unidentified player has stated that the Jets are not united in the locker room, with not all of the team’s problems falling to the feet of Saleh.
New York is 2-3 with a struggling offense, despite having four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Jets owner Woody Johnson seemingly made the move to capitalize on what time the team has remaining this season. Yet, there appear to be more roadblocks than just a coach.
‘I have a massive respect for coach Saleh, and I feel bad that he got fired as he tried everything he could to make the best out of this team,’ the Jets star told The Sun.
Saleh was fired as head coach of the New York Jets on Tuesday after 56 games in charge
An anonymous Jets player has blasted their ‘selfish’ stars five weeks into the season
‘The responsibility of the bad start is also because of us too, the players, as we haven’t found the best chemistry yet, and some guys who are stars are being too selfish and don’t want to put their egos on the side for the best interest of the team.’
‘It’s quite embarrassing. Some players can’t even look at themselves in the mirror. We have to do better ASAP, or we are going to hit a wall hard, and the consequences will be very disappointing for all of us, the board, and mostly, the fans.’
There are no further clues as to which of the 53 full-time Jets players it could be speaking anonymously to the press.
Johnson could feel the heat to win now with a limited window for the 40-year-old Rodgers at quarterback.
‘This morning, l informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets,’ Jets owner Woody Johnson confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. ‘I thanked him for his hard work these past three-and-a-half years and wished him and his family well moving forward.
‘This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.’
Rodgers reportedly arrived at the Jets’ facility on Tuesday with no idea Saleh was no longer employed by the team.
Rodgers was ‘blindsided’ by the news of Saleh’s firing and had no indication the move was coming, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Johnson also made the move on his own and did not reach out to Rodgers before firing Saleh, or tell him before he arrived at the team’s headquarters about the move.
Rodgers did have a meeting with Johnson after hearing the news of Saleh getting the pink slip.
Jets’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named the interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Rodgers has stated on multiple occasions that he likes Saleh, with any power play to get his coach fired claptrap.
Saleh reportedly was considering firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, the embattled former Broncos head coach, before getting canned himself.
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