When quarterback Aaron Rodgers went on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, the most noteworthy comments were supposed to pertain to his potential signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Instead, in typical Rodgers fashion, things got controversial, particularly when he spoke about the New York Jets, who unceremoniously released him.
According to the quarterback, he had to fly out to the facility for a meeting with head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, only to quickly be told the team was going in a different direction.
“So, we sit down in the office, and I think we're going to have this long conversation,” Rodgers said. “I've flown across the country and, 20 seconds in, he goes ... 'So, do you want to play football?' And I was like, 'Yeah, I'm interested.' And he said, 'We're going in a different direction at quarterback.'
"I was kind of shocked. Now I'm not shocked because I didn't think that was a possibility. Listen, of course, if they want to move on, that's totally fine, but shocked because I just flew across the country. You could have told me this on the phone if we weren't even going to have a conversation."
Simply put, Glenn earned his first Jets victory as Rodgers feigned apathy.
Glenn asked Rodgers to meet in person about his future, telling him to his face the truth about his plans. To Rodgers, that might be an insult, but Glenn has the backing of this fanbase.
Further, Glenn wanted to meet, in part to discuss the messaging of the move. With the two on the same page, a split could be amicable, if not banal. Leaving Rodgers hanging in the balance opens the door for his team to opt for its veteran quarterback rather than its next option, which turned out to be Justin Fields. It would eliminate the need to get Rodgers’ take on the staff and smooth the transition to the next chapter of New York football.
Now, Glenn will have to answer questions about the quarterback he rejected. If that’s as far as this story goes, and the team can officially close the book, Glenn will have won again.
If Rodgers wants revenge, he can sign with the Steelers, who head to East Rutherford in 2025. Otherwise, his weekly ESPN showings can take all the shots he wants at Glenn and the Jets. Rodgers’ days of hurting New York’s chances are over. Glenn and his new team are better for it.
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