At this point, there isn’t much excitement among Jets fans for the team to do anything other than trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
What is their reserve? Jimmy Garoppolo? please.
They have to get the deal done. Rodgers knows that. Packers know that, too.
Case in point — the recent meeting between Rodgers and several members of the organization (Vice Chairman Christopher Johnson and Team President Hemi Elhai told us, accompanied by owner Woody Johnson, General Manager Joe Douglas, Coach Robert Salih, and Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett) took place not in New York but in California. They all flew to see him, and not the other way around.
In a situation like this, this is a crucial difference. Rodgers was not interviewed by the Jets; He was interviewing them. The moment Johnson & Johnson and inherited Johnson and Johnson got on that plane, it was game over.
Rodgers has the power. Rodgers has the clout. Rodgers has control.
And what did the planes do to calm expectations? They feed the narrative. They enjoy the attention. Now they have to close the deal.
Hopefully for them, it won’t lead to the Packers asking for too much — nor will it lead to Rodgers expecting the roughly $60 million more he’s set to make this year.
But what would the Jets do if either the Packers or Rodgers tried to take advantage of the fact that the Jets had to make this deal? They’ll probably do the same thing they would if/when Rodgers makes it clear he’s not coming to an off-season program (he absolutely should), or if he gives them a list of friends he wants them to sign (Randall Cobb, Mercedes Lewis, etc.) they’ll smile and nod and say , “We’ll do it, sir.”
Who cares if it’s not on the vacation program? (Again, it should be.) The Jets didn’t have Brett Favre until training camp opened in 2008, but for a partially torn biceps tendon, they were going to make the playoffs. The Jets already have a strong team, and Rodgers could be the difference maker.
At this point, whatever might happen in January will make no difference. The Jets wrote a blank check in March. They offered to sell their souls to the willful Prince of Darkness. The only question is whether Rodgers will accept.
