Robert Saleh Gets Feisty With Reporter Who Asked Why He Doesn’t Look Sadder About His Team Sucking

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The New York Jets, for the 13th straight season, will miss the playoffs. That’s the longest active drought in American professional sports. The team has also lost at least 10 games for four straight seasons, which is a franchise record.

Three of those 10-loss seasons have been overseen by head coach Robert Saleh, who, despite that, seems likely to have a fourth season in charge of the team next year.

After their latest loss to the Cleveland Browns, Saleh was asked by ESPN reporter Rich Cimini during the postgame press conference why he doesn’t seem “angry” about the Jets’ struggles and understandably got a bit feisty with Cimini when responding to the question.

“Umm…[long pause] I’m not quite sure on the question Rich [Cimini],” Saleh responded. “Do you want me to throw the podium on the floor?”

Following their 37-20 loss to Joe Flacco — who was on their roster last season (what might’ve been if they kept him instead of Zach Wilson?) — and the Cleveland Browns, the Jets record sits at 6-10 as they head into a road matchup with the New England Patriots in what seems like will be Bill Belichick’s final game as the team’s head coach, which certainly meant another whooping could be brewing.

Saleh is certainly an interesting case study in circumstances, as the ones that surround him make a case both for and against him keeping his job.

On one hand, he’s never had a real quarterback thanks to Zach Wilson’s general suckiness and Aaron Rodgers’ injury. But, then again, it was also his decision (at least partially) to draft Wilson and to go after the 39-year-old Rodgers instead of someone like the 32-year-old Derek Carr.

While Saleh is clearly a master motivator, a well-liked player’s coach, and has built a championship-level defense with general manager Joe Douglas, the offense has been a mess for the entirety of his tenure and the team, as a whole, can often come out looking sloppy (penalties) and unprepared.

Saleh has the ultimate trump card, though, and that’s Rodgers’ vice grip on the organization, who have been bending to his every will since BEFORE trading for him (with things like signing Allen Lazard, which has turned out to be a *terrible* contract), which will likely include keeping Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett around next season.