New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is putting to rest any speculation about a rift between him and head coach Robert Saleh.
The two have been at the center of controversy after differing reactions to the team’s recent penalty issues, with some wondering if tensions were brewing behind the scenes.
Rodgers on Saleh: We have a good friendship
During the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, the team was flagged for an NFL-high 13 penalties, eight of which were committed by the offense.
This placed additional scrutiny on Rodgers, who is known for his complex cadence designed to catch defenses off guard but has also been blamed for the false starts.
The controversy further escalated when Saleh suggested after the game that the team might need to review Rodgers’ cadence-a comment he later walked back.
However, in his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,”Rodgers dismissed any rumors of friction with his coach.
“Rob and I have a great relationship; we have since day one when I got here,”Rodgers said, addressing the rumors head-on.
“We have text message conversations, threads that we’re in, and we talk about a lot of things outside of football. We have a good friendship.”
Jets under intense public scrutiny
Despite the public attention on their interactions, Rodgers insisted that the viral moments, such as the “non-hug” incident during a game against the New England Patriots, are being overblown.
When Saleh attempted to celebrate with Rodgers, the quarterback nudged him away, sparking online buzz about possible discord.
Rodgers laughed off the moment, calling it a misunderstanding.
Saleh, for his part, also made it clear there’s no issue between him and the veteran quarterback.
“Aaron and I are fantastic,” Saleh said during a press conference.
“Love the guy.”
Saleh also confirmed that there’s no problem with Rodgers’ cadence, labeling the issue as “created.”
Amid the controversy, Rodgers also addressed concerns over his health following the Broncos game, where he was sacked five times and took several hard hits.
While acknowledging his knee was “a little swollen,” the four-time MVP reassured fans that he would be ready for the Jets’ upcoming game against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
Saleh also confirmed Rodgers’ presence on the team’s injury report was simply a precaution.
“He’s just dealing with his knee, but we’re not concerned,”Saleh said.
“It’s for the spirit of the rule if he’s getting treatment for something.”
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