Jets' Robert Saleh was 'defending the locker room' with 'receipts' comments

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is under fire even before the start of the fall months, both for his 4-14 overall record that worsened via this past Sunday's 24-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and for saying after the fact that he was "taking receipts" of what was being said about his club coming off that defeat. 

"And we’re all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we ain’t going to do anything. I’m taking receipts and I’m gonna be more than happy to share them with all y’all," Saleh said on Monday. He later declared he will be pleased "to shove it down everyone’s throat when it comes around." 

Reporters witnessed a more subdued Saleh during Wednesday's media availability. 

As Phillip Martinez noted for SNY, Saleh wore a black shirt that featured the phrase "positive vibes only" for Wednesday's press conference. 

"I’m a very positive person," Saleh responded when asked about the "receipts" comments. "Not necessarily taking a shot at anybody, it's just showing a lot of conviction in this locker room, and what I know we’re doing in this building and the types of players we have. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the passion and the history of this organization of what’s happened, especially over the last 11 years. Trust me, I get it, I've been on losing teams before, it's not fun." 

Correctly or incorrectly, some assumed Saleh was including fans along with media members when he mentioned "taking receipts" on Monday. 

"Our focus is to focus on the moment and everything moving forward," Saleh continued during his Wednesday remarks. "While we're holding ourselves accountable… I just know it’s going to happen, it's just a matter of proving it and it’s our job to prove it. You guys caught me in a passionate moment defending the locker room and that’s about it."

Saleh's decision to stick with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco as his temporary fill-in for the injured Zach Wilson over cult hero Mike White has been widely criticized by analysts and fans alike. Flacco completed 37-of-59 passes for 307 yards with a touchdown and an interception but also suffered three sacks and 11 quarterback hits in the loss to Baltimore. He will again get the nod for this Sunday's game at the 1-0 Cleveland Browns. 

"This is not the same old Jets," Saleh vowed on Wednesday, per Michael Baca of the NFL's website. "But until we win, until we prove it, which is on us as coaches and on us as players, the shots will keep on coming. And so, we welcome them -- keep bringing them. It's not going to change our mission, and that's to bring this organization and this fan base a winner."