The sacking spree at the New York Jets continues. Amid this season’s disastrous run, General Manager Joe Douglas becomes the latest to get axed by the franchise. This came barely a month after coach Robert Saleh was fired by the Jets. With the conundrum raging, Aaron Rodgers was understandably pulled into the conversations again for his mediocre on-field performance. Robert Griffin III had a clever allusion for the situation, connecting the struggling quarterback.
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Candid as ever, RGIII reacted to the removal of Douglas by taking a dig at the Gang Green’s signal caller, hinting at A-Rod’s popular lores with ayahuasca. Rodgers has never shied away from listing the benefits of the psychedelic herb, and had credited it for his on-field heroics in 2020 and ’21, when he was the NFL MVP.
RGIII called the franchise’s current situation as a psychedelic “darkness retreat” on X:
“The New York Jets have been on a darkness retreat all season.“
The New York Jets have been on a darkness retreat all season.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 19, 2024
It is evident that Jets owner Woody Johnson is filtering and refining the roster. Last month, when Saleh was fired, the ire had fallen on Rodgers. Fans and analysts alike felt that it’s the quarterback who is at the root of the Jets’ problem. They concurred with RGIII’s recent comment too.
Yall not ready to have this conversation… darkness starts here pic.twitter.com/MpSY7L20TY
— Mahad Abdi (@SomaliSportsGuy) November 19, 2024
Sometimes I wonder if Rodgers is a locker room nightmare
— Dennis (@GoPackGo541) November 19, 2024
“Hello darkness my old friend…”
— Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (@SebastianMRT) November 19, 2024
Many Jets fans welcomed Johnson’s move as they felt it was the beginning of a much-needed rebuild of the franchise.
They’re getting warmer on the root cause of all of their problems. Let them cook pic.twitter.com/cQ02DsKjjI
— HailorHighWater (@Hail0rHighWater) November 19, 2024
While the back-to-back firings seems to be the first steps toward change, Johnson’s executive decisions have been iffy at best. Especially when his actions now are in sharp contrast to the affirmative statements he made about the team not so long ago.
Woody Johnson’s early comments resurface
In October, the Jets’ owner delivered some positive statements about this season’s roster. Johnson had proclaimed he is looking at “probably the best roster” in his 25 years of team ownership. And a little over a month later, he has fired a third staff member.
Six weeks ago, Woody Johnson said this was the probably the best roster he’s had in 25 years of ownership. Today, he fired the architect of the roster. Things change fast in JetLand. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 19, 2024
The wave of releases started with Saleh. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was next, and now Douglas.
This also puts a question mark on Rodgers’ future with the Jets. With calls to bench him rising, there is a possibility that A-Rod might not be coming to New York next year.
Rodgers has recorded 2,442 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions this season, playing his part in the Jets dismal 3-8 run.
