Wealthy Cimini, ESPN Employees Author
Losers of 4 straight, the New York Jets are “within the hearth,” in response to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And he believes it is on him to save lots of them.
Rodgers, in his weekly spot on “The Pat McAfee Present,” stated Tuesday the Jets are “taking part in with an excessive amount of anger and never sufficient enjoyment.” The four-time MVP, whose management was questioned by pundits along with his current criticism of teammate Mike Williams, stated he will likely be centered this week on altering the group’s angle.
“The facility of perception is a snowball that may begin in an avalanche, and I feel that is what we want,” Rodgers stated. “It begins with me. I’ve received to deliver the fitting power each single day, and particularly on recreation day.
“I really feel like we have been free, we have been having good practices, however for no matter purpose there’s been a little bit of tightness on recreation day, and I feel that is received to begin with me. … I must be an important chief.”
The Jets (2-5) are on the highway this Sunday to face the New England Patriots (1-6). After Sunday night time’s 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers raised eyebrows by saying the group was flat earlier than the sport and once more at halftime. He might have contributed to that with a momentum-changing interception late within the second quarter — a “s—ty interception,” he referred to as it.
“We simply have to have a bit extra enjoyable, smile extra to take pleasure in one another,” he stated. “It is enjoyable while you win, after all, however I feel there are methods of taking a number of the stress off and it is received to begin with me this week with my power and my strategy.
“I used to be dissatisfied not simply concerning the [interception], however a pair different [throws] I want I may’ve had again. However we simply have to reply adversity a bit bit higher, and it begins with me, and I’ve received to cleared the path with that.”
Rodgers, 40, is off to maybe the worst begin of his profession. He already has seven interceptions, essentially the most he is had after seven video games since 2010. That yr, his third because the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ starter, he had 9 picks in that span.
“The facility of perception is a snowball that may begin in an avalanche, and I feel that is what we want. It begins with me. I’ve received to deliver the fitting power each single day, and particularly on recreation day.”
Aaron Rodgers
The Jets, 0-2 since firing Robert Saleh, are on the verge of falling out of rivalry. Their final win was over the Patriots — 24-3 in Week 3. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich stated “there is a little bit of urgent” from gamers, together with Rodgers.
“I simply assume he is such a tremendous human being and teammate, and he feels such a powerful obligation to this group within the locker room,” Ulbrich stated Monday. “That may get us all a bit bit out of whack at occasions, myself included.”
Rodgers spoke glowingly of Ulbrich, however he evidently feels the group performs tight and does not deal with adversity nicely. And stress, for that matter. Earlier than Pittsburgh, the Jets dropped three shut video games in a row. In actual fact, they’d an opportunity to tug out a win on their last possession in every recreation. Two of them ended with interceptions on targets to Williams.
After an Oct. 14 loss to the Buffalo Payments, Rodgers referred to as out Williams for operating the unsuitable route. It is uncommon for a quarterback to publicly criticize a participant. Williams, who could possibly be deemed expendable with the arrival of Davante Adams, insisted he wasn’t bothered it.
Now Rodgers need to put the onus on himself and the offense. Lengthy thought-about a defensive-minded group — it had a prime 5 protection the final two seasons — Rodgers stated it is time to make a shift.
“I feel we have to simply modify that mindset,” he stated. “As an alternative of like, ‘Hey, let’s go play,’ it is, ‘Hey, let’s win the sport on offense.’ And I do know it looks like a bit factor or trivial, however mindset is every thing.”
