What Aaron Rodgers wants in New York, apparently Aaron Rodgers gets in New York.
This week it was a blockbuster trade for Rodgers’ former Green Bay Packers teammate Davante Adams who left the Las Vegas Raiders for Metlife in exchange for a conditional third-round pick.
Rodgers and Adams have been reunited in New YorkGetty
Rodgers already has one of his previous wide receiver weapons in Allen Lazard alongside him as well as former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
What Aaron Rodgers wants, Aaron Rodgers gets.
What about a Super Bowl? That’s clearly the aim anytime you have a legendary – yet 40-year-old – quarterback.
Now, reunited with one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation, legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez has called the Jets “Super Bowl caliber” while throwing the gauntlet down at the feet of their QB.
Speaking on Amazon Prime’s coverage of the New Orleans Saints defeat to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, Gonzalez said he expects Adams to have a greater impact than fellow midweek mover Amari Cooper who left Cleveland for the Buffalo Bills.
“If I had to pick, I’m going to go with Davante Adams,” Gonzalez said. “This is going to be the deodorant that covers up the stink that has been that New York Jets offense. Davante plus Aaron is legendary, I think it’s going to work out great.
“But the pressure? It’s now on Mr. Aaron Rodgers. Because if I’m (Jets owner) Woody Johnson I’m going to Aaron saying ‘I’ve done everything you wanted, since the beginning, I’ve done everything you wanted!’
“There are no more excuses. They can be a Super Bowl caliber team now. Do I believe they could go to the Super Bowl? With that defense, yes! I think they have a Super Bowl caliber chance, that’s how much I believe Davante is going to help this team.”
Meanwhile, former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick – sitting alongside Gonzalez at the Saints Superdome Stadium – wasn’t willing to go that far but did put the league on notice, saying:
“They already have that chemistry and that’s scary for the rest of the NFL. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s a good move.”
Rodgers has not been at his elite best this seasonGetty
Adams wants to be on a Super Bowl contender’s rosterGetty
Gonzalez made the Pro Bowl 14 times in a 16-year careerGetty
Of course, perhaps none of this matters as much as the words of the man that helped bring Adams to New York, Rodgers.
“He looks like he drank the elixir from the fountain of youth as I watched some of his clips,” Rodgers said after the deal was announced.
“We went back and watched some old 2014 stuff, when he was a rookie, and I lovingly call him ‘Fat Tae,’ because he was over 220 [pounds]. Then he got real serious about his diet and his health and got down to under 210, speed came back, and became the dynamic player that he is today.”
Rodgers had arguably his best game in a Jets shirt on Monday night, throwing for just under 300 yards and two touchdowns while posting a 99.0 quarterback rating.
But the Bills powered past them to win 23-20, pushing the Jets to 2-4 and with their season threatening to unravel, they made the call to Oakland and completed the deal for Adams to become a Jet.
Adams has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury but he is back practicing in full during his first week with his new team and is on track to make his debut this weekend.
The six-time Pro Bowl receiver is currently staying with Rodgers in his home as he adjusts to life across the country and the roommates will get a chance to show that their chemistry hasn’t faded when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the 4-2 Steelers on Sunday.
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