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While Aaron Rodgers is the most high-profile former Green Bay Packer that the New York Jets acquired this offseason, he’s not the only recent Wisconsin-to-New York transplant.
In addition to Rodgers, the Jets also hired former Packers offensive coordinator to run this offense, signed wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million deal, longtime Rodgers’ teammate Randall Cobb, former Green Bay backup QB, Tim Boyle, and offensive tackle Billy Turner.
As a result, there have been some jokes in the NFL world that Rodgers is basically serving as the Jets’ general manager given the apparent wish list of players that the team has signed in order to appease him.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, however, recently pushed back on that narrative when speaking to the media.
“It’s very common for new faces to want old faces, to come in and help accelerate the installation of an entire program,” Saleh said at the start of the Jets rookie minicamp. “Everything is pinned on the quarterback. It’s not just him.”
“[Offensive coordinator Nathaniel] Hackett has something to say about it. He loves Lazard. He loves Randall. He took Billy Turner with him to Denver, and he wanted him here. Of course, you’re going to surround a coach with people who he feels like will plant the flag. That whole narrative — what people are trying to put on the quarterback — it’s tired. It’s common practice in the NFL.”
The Jets are certainly hoping that Rodgers and the rest of the former Packers they’ve signed will be able to bring some of that successful Green Bay Packers culture to New York, as the Jets are the current owners of the longest postseason drought in the National Football League, having not qualified for the playoffs since the 2010 season.
Currently, the Vegas bookmakers are expecting Rodgers and co. to have a seismic impact on the team, as the Jets are one of the top seven betting favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl.