Jets players motivated by Robert Saleh's 'receipts' comments
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh continues to be the focus of headlines throughout the local market coming off his team's disappointing 24-9 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday.
Perhaps that was Saleh's goal all along.
Saleh was blasted by fans and media personalities when he said multiple times on Monday he was "taking receipts" of what critics were saying about his 0-1 Jets after just four quarters of action.
The coach with a 4-14 overall record during his Jets tenure somewhat walked those comments back Wednesday, however, when he told reporters that "you guys caught me in a passionate moment defending the locker room" and then later insisted that "this is not the same old Jets." It seems, though, that Saleh's original words inspired those on the Gang Green roster heading into Sunday's showdown at the 1-0 Cleveland Browns.
Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post reports that Saleh addressed the "taking receipts" comments with players and coaches during Wednesday's team meeting.
"It motivated the s--- out of us," Jets safety Will Parks told Cannizzaro. "I felt like it was necessary. Wake guys up. Either you’re going to perform or you’re not."
Parks added that he didn't even know what Saleh said on Monday before Wednesday's discussion. Meanwhile, running back Michael Carter said the initial statements "meant a lot coming from the head man" after the Week 1 defeat.
"From a players' perspective, we want to do everything we can to have his back like he has ours," Carter explained.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins appreciates Saleh being "protective" of the squad and that his coach is "a leader of men" who makes players "want to go that extra mile" on the field of battle.
"It always starts at the top, so when your leader has that type of passion and that type of determination and fire, it definitely bleeds down to the rest of the team," Rankins said.
Rankins and company will attempt to reach that extra mile at a Browns team that beat the Carolina Panthers 26-24 in Carolina this past Sunday.
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