Defending the team’s latest signing as quarterback, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh calls the narrative about wish-list Aaron Rodgers a “silly one” just 10 days after the 39-year-old was traded from the Green Bay Packer.
Since the end of the NFL draft, the Jets have added two veterans who played with the 2011 Super Bowl (XLV) champion in Green Bay: wide receiver Randall Cobb and offensive tackle Billy Turner.
Additionally, Allen Lazard, who also caught several passes from Rodgers while with the Packers, signed with New York ahead of the four-time league MVP’s mega trade on April 24.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Saleh dismissed the media’s narrative that the new Jets No. 8 had prerequisites before signing with Gang Green.
“I’ll try to say that as respectfully as possible, I’m not attacking anyone, I think it’s a silly narrative,” said the 44-year-old. “There are 32 teams in the NFL. When you have a new coaching staff, it’s common for you to surround them with people they are familiar with.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh called it “standard practice” to reunite new players with familiar places where they played
Robert Saleh calls the Aaron Rodgers wish list narrative a “silly one”:
“It’s very common for new faces to want old faces” pic.twitter.com/RzcZAznzIN
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 5, 2023
The Jets have recruited at least four players to play with Aaron Rodgers at Green Bay this offseason
“I had a wish list – Solomon Thomas, Marcell Harris, DJ Reed, Kwon Alexander – people I’ve worked with who have been very comfortable with our messages, who have been very comfortable with our scheme and who can come in and play. We had it on offense with Laken Tomlinson, Tevin Coleman and people who were in the system.
“Shoot, Tom Brady goes to Tampa and he gets [Rob] Gronkowski and Antonio Brown. So it’s very common for new faces to want old faces – to be able to come in and speed up the installation of a program.’
Additionally, Saleh added that the Jets’ new offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, also has a say in the recruiting process, not just Rodgers. The duo formed a deadly offense at Green Bay before joining the Jets as a sophomore head coach at Florham Park this spring.
“Everything depends on the quarterback — it’s not just him,” Saleh said.
“Hackett has something to say about that. He loves Lazard, loves Randall, took Billy Turner to Denver and wanted him here [New York]. Of course you will surround a coach with people who he thinks will be able to raise the flag.
“So, this whole narrative of everything people are trying to put on the quarterback, I think it’s tired.”
Rodgers will once again play with Billy Turner and Allen Lazard at Florham Park after taking the field with the pair in Green Bay, Michigan
Another wide receiver Rodgers will play with in New Jersey is Randall Cobb, an ex-Packer
The Jets are now said to be interested in signing Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis
Immediately after defending the Jets’ recruitment process, Saleh was asked if the team planned to sign tight end Marcedes Lewis, who also played with Rodgers in Green Bay.
“You never know,” said the American-Lebanese head coach. “At the end of the day, the top 53 will be in the football team,” he added.
“And then the top 11 will be on the football field when it’s time to grab the ball. But at the same time, we’re so excited to bring these guys because they stand for everything we believe in.
“Look at Allen Lazard, he came in as an undrafted free agent and he has all these incredible skills and he made himself. Randall has so much experience. Billy Turner has so much experience. But they are internally driven individuals who only want to win soccer games. And they love the game of soccer.
“And it’s like, well, why don’t you get them over here to help accelerate and raise the flag and convey the message that Nathaniel and his associates are trying to get through?”