Aaron Rodgers spoke publicly for the first time since the New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh.
Appearing on ESPN’s ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, Rodgers opened up about his relationship and feelings towards his now former head coach and where the team needs to go moving forward.
Saleh was fired five games into the season, after stumbling out to a 2-3 recordGetty
Rodgers stated that the players, himself included, needed to take responsibility for where the franchise find themselves and that if he had been playing better, Saleh would still be their coach.
“What we really need is for things to change,” Rodgers said. “We need as players to take accountability. Yesterday, my main thought was if I played better Sunday, maybe this (Saleh firing) doesn’t happen.”
Rodgers spoke at length about his relationship with Saleh and made it clear how he felt towards him.
“I love coach Saleh,” Rodgers said. “We have a very solid relationship. He was a big reason why I came to the Jets.
“I just had a lot of respect for him, and so you know, it’s just a reminder yesterday how tough the business is. I think what people can forget in this is not only is Robert a fantastic human being and a damn good football coach, he’s also a family man.
“He’s got seven kids. He’s got incredible wife and the business of football can be hard, not just on those of us who are playing and coaching and doing personnel things and ownership obviously, but it’s tough on families.
“And I’ve got to know Robert’s family over the last couple years, and especially one of his kids, Adam, my little throwing buddy from training camp.
“Anybody who’s kind of championing this decision, I would just appeal to the humanity of the situation and remind you there’s other people involved.”
When McAfee asked Rodgers if he had any say or influence on the decision to move on from Saleh, Rodgers shot down the notion immediately.
“As far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, I’m not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers and Saleh’s relationship remained under a 24/7 microscope at all timesAP
“And that is that I resent any of those accusations because they’re patently false.
“It’s interesting the amount of power that people think that I have, which I don’t. But I love Robert.”
Saleh had earlier released a lengthy statement of his own, thanking the Jets organization and those who he got to work with everyday.
“To all of the players, I truly love and appreciate every single one of you. The character of the men in the locker room made coaching you guys the ultimate privilege.
“Through all the ups and downs, each and every one of you showed up everyday and attacked every moment.
“To my fellow coaches and staff, it has been an honor to work with all of you. Every one of you were “all in” and made sacrifices for one another that will never be forgotten. I wish you all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season.”
It’s no secret that Rodgers and Saleh had a rather complicated relationship, not always seeing eye-to-eye, but according to Rodgers, it was all love in the end.
Unfortunately for Saleh, love wasn’t enough.
In 3.5 seasons, he went 20-36, never accumulating more than seven wins in a single season.
Defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, now takes over as interim head coach to help right the ship and has promised that they will be looking at all avenues of playcalling.
As of now, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is still the one calling plays, but reports suggested that Saleh was planning to hand offensive duties to Todd Downing.
If the last 48 hours has taught us anything, everything can change in a blink of an eye.
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