Packers star Aaron Rodgers not surprised Jets are 3-2
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds a press conference at The Grove in Chandler's Cross, England, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Credit: AP/David Cliff
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Aaron Rodgers spent time with the Jets and their coaches last year during their joint practice in Green Bay, and he’s not surprised they’re 3-2.
Rodgers said he’s “a fan” of Robert Saleh and Zach Wilson and he thinks the Jets have a good coaching staff. Rodgers knows offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who is Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur’s younger brother. Rodgers called Mike LaFleur, “a little shorter, little calmer version than Matt,” and praised Saleh as a leader.
“Good staff, good players and they’re coached really well,” Rodgers said. “They fly around to the football. I’m not surprised they’re 3-2. The kind of leader that Saleh is, when they get some players in and they added to their football team this last year and got a lot better - it’s not surprising to me they’re 3-2 and playing well.”
Matt LaFleur, who is best friends with Saleh, also was very complimentary of the Jets.
“We know it’s a very young football team that we’re playing, but they got a ton of talent,” LaFleur said. “You can see it and I think it’s a matter of time before they really hit their stride. It doesn’t happen overnight, but you’ve seen the strides that they made in a short period of time. It’s pretty impressive.”
Ultimate respect for Brown
Mike LaFleur already respected Duane Brown, but that grew with the way the veteran left tackle honored his commitment to the Jets.
Brown, signed in August, opted to not have shoulder surgery so he could play this season. The five-time Pro Bowler made his Jets’ debut last week after missing the first four games.
“His story is written if he wanted it to be,” LaFleur said. “He gets the injury and he easily could have walked out of here. … For him to say, ‘I’m not going out like this.’ That’s the exact words he used, ‘I’m not going out like this.’. He could have walked away. [His contract] was fully guaranteed and he wasn’t leaving.
“I had respect for him. I’ve gotten to know him over the last five, six weeks. The way I feel about him, he is the ultimate professional.”
Wilson said Brown’s “passion and energy” and the way he’s sacrificed his body for the team, “rubs off on the guys, seeing how someone like that is willing to give up their arm for us.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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