4 Things Jets: Fields Brings Hope, Rodgers in the Rearview

FLY JETS FLY?
Chasing a “Franchise Quarterback” is costly. Not only does it normally cost draft capital, but unless you get extremely lucky (see Washington Commanders circa 2024), it costs you football games and playoff revenue. That’s why it became clear to me this winter, that the quickest way back to contention for the New York Jets was to look a few hours south.

Eagles providing blue print for @nyjets At 41, A-Rod lacks mobility. Move on. Sign Fields. Build around run and defense, then look for your franchise QB in middle rounds or wait to next year after evaluating Fields (and Travis). They have talent at RB, OL and defense. Glenn and… https://t.co/9lQgkytgg5

— SportsRantNY (@SportsRantNY) January 26, 2025

Just like the Philadelphia Eagles, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey inherited a team with an above average offensive line, promising depth at running back and a consistent top 10 defense. All they needed was their Jalen Hurts. That’s why I joined a quiet, yet admittedly brilliant contingent of pundits, pushing the Jets to sign Justin Fields if he made it to free agency.

Since all teams camouflage their schemes and strategies until Week One, yesterday was our first chance to see what Glenn and OC Tanner Engstrand were cooking up. By every metric other than the win-loss column, the offense got off to an outstanding start.

Keep in mind that to be a competitive team, the Jets just need Fields to be regular season Hurts. Efficient, occasionally inconsistent, but a leader and a winner. We’ll worry if he can be All-World Super Bowl Hurts down the road.

Yes, it is just one game. But it was very encouraging. Now the Jets need to emulate the Eagles “tush-push” so they don’t go 0 for 2 on two-point attempts in a three-point loss. Fly Jets Fly?

NO EXCUSES
Glenn impressed me again today, 9-8-25, when he said, “for the past two years we led the league in penalties”. As a reminder, the Jets were coached by Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich during those two seasons. Glenn was in Detroit.

Glenn played for Bill Parcells. It was Parcells who he gives credit to for advising him to go into scouting before coaching. Parcells is a mentor to Glenn and he advocated for Glenn to get this job. But it’s lazy journalism to suggest that Glenn is trying to be Parcells. In a style befitting the 80s and 90s, Parcells created conflict between coaches and players. Glenn is his own man.

It would be so easy for Glenn to qualify his statement with, “before I got here”, or “they led the league in penalties”. But that’s not his style. While I do think he will drop the hammer on players that continue to show a lack of discipline, I think he’s going to continue to show his players that he is in the trenches with them and has their back.

ICYMI “Mac’s Picks for Week One”

CONTINGENCY PLANS
While the Jets overall performance was applauded yesterday, there were three players who did receive a lot of heat. CB2 Brandon Stephens had a tough day but received a full vote of confidence from Glenn on Monday.

WR/KR Xavier Gipson was carrying the ball in the wrong hand when he fumbled a kickoff in the fourth quarter. SS Tony Adams was credited with six tackles but missed a couple of crucial open field tackles that went for significant gains.

While it is too early to put any of these players “on notice”, it should be encouraging to Jets’ fans that there are three rookies waiting in the wings.

• CB Azareye’h Thomas was drafted 73^rd overall out of Florida State because the Jets were shocked that he was still available. While it seemed like a luxury pick at the time, his development will be closely monitored by Jets coaches as they continue to evaluate Stephens’ performance.
• S Malachi Moore was drafted 130^th overall out of Alabama. Mougey traded up 15 spots to acquire the safety that Glenn has compared to Detroit Lion standout, and Moore’s former Crimson Tide teammate, Brian Branch.
• WR/KR Jamaal Pritchett is an undrafted free agent out of South Alabama. The 5’8” Pritchett became a fan favorite at training camp and in preseason with his slippery moves and is currently on the practice squad.

The Jets were prepared for Alijah Vera-Tucker’s injury by having C Josh Myers waiting in the wings, allowing them to move Joe Tippmann to RG. Myers is a known quantity. Thomas, Moore and Pritchett are not. However, you still must credit Mougey with improving the Jets depth in year one of his tenure.

ADIOS ROGERS
As I said before, the “idea” behind signing Aaron Rodgers in 2023 was solid. Bring in a veteran, MVP-level QB, albeit on the downside of his career, to solidify the Jets offense that was dragging down a top 10 defense. Move Zach Wilson to the bench so he could reset his career learning from his idol. While I was never a fan of Rodgers’ diva personality, it seemed like a solid move.

Unfortunately, while the “idea” was solid, the “execution” was not. Nothing you can do about the torn Achilles, but the Jets did not need to give Rodgers the keys to the franchise. The decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett under Rogers’ direction, eventually lost Robert Saleh his job. Plus, the forced signings of several washed-up former teammates eroded former GM Joe Douglas’ credibility.

Bottom line is it did not work, and Glenn and Mougey were right to move on. Did they handle the “firing” correctly? I don’t know. Having Rodgers fly across country to be fired in a 10-minute meeting seems like a bleepy thing to do— but that’s if you believe that Rodgers wouldn’t have said, “can you believe they fired me over the phone without giving me the respect of an in-person meeting?”.

The NFL made the Jets and their fans relive the “Rodgers Era” this past Sunday. It made the loss more painful for Jets’ fans because we all knew that Rodgers would serve up his typical self-serving, passive-aggressive postgame comments. “There were probably people in the (Jets) organization that didn’t think I could play anymore,” he said, “so it was nice to remind those people that I still can”.

Glenn and Mougey never said he couldn’t play, just that they didn’t want him to play for the Jets. It was the right decision. With Rodgers the Jets felt like 1+52 roster with no accountability.

Now, Glenn leads a 53-man roster. One that just may have enough talent to make this season interesting.

Fly Jets Fly? 

ICYMI “4 Things Jets: Aaron Glenn Era Season Preview”