Robert Saleh is absolutely embracing the do-over that many NFL head coaches by no means get.
The Jets retained Saleh after a 3rd straight shedding season due to the interior feeling that quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending torn Achilles on the primary possession of the 2023 season altered what was doable.
A wholesome Rodgers primarily places a playoffs-or-bust label on 2024.
“Excited to assault this season,” Saleh advised NFL Community in his first feedback of the offseason Sunday on the annual spring house owners conferences, “and attempt to accomplish the issues we had been supposed to perform a 12 months in the past.”
The Jets have had a busy final two weeks, rebuilding their beginning offensive line round free-agent additions Tyron Smith and John Simpson whereas re-acquiring Morgan Moses by way of commerce.
In addition they signed arguably the highest out there receiver, Mike Williams.
Smith, Williams and Moses all include various levels of harm considerations.
Jets basic supervisor Joe Douglas inked Smith and Williams to incentive-laden one-year contracts primarily based on taking part in time.
“You have a look at a man like Morgan Moses, who performed on a torn pec final 12 months: Simply an old-school soul within the sense that he simply reveals as much as work, works his tail off, and a man who’s going to drag folks with him,” Saleh mentioned.
“Tyron Smith has performed at a really excessive stage for a really very long time. And John Simpson at guard, I imply, he’s just like the definition of pressure. The best way he works and sort of his story. He’s saved battling to show he belongs on this league. Excited concerning the psychological make-up of the room.”
Saleh and NFL Community reporter Steve Wyche categorized the offseason as “quiet” for the Jets, relative to at least one 12 months in the past at the moment once they had been in pursuit of buying and selling for his or her future Corridor of Fame quarterback.
“Final 12 months was just a little loud,” Saleh mentioned. “We welcome just a little little bit of quietness.”
It’s an fascinating definition of “quietness,” given all that has surrounded Rodgers in the previous few weeks.
First, Rodgers was talked about as a doable vice presidential operating mate for impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s marketing campaign.
Then, he was accused in a first-hand CNN report of claiming that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary College taking pictures (26 useless) by no means occurred and was a part of a authorities conspiracy.
Rodgers denied the CNN report and mentioned, “I’m not and have by no means been of the opinion that the occasions didn’t happen.”
None of these matters had been addressed within the NFL Community report however may come up this week when Saleh meets with beat reporters.
Saleh mentioned he speaks with Rodgers “typically,” and the quarterback is “preparing” for the season, with no indication that he won’t be prepared for coaching camp as deliberate.
“He’s on a mission,” Saleh mentioned.
For Saleh’s sake, it must be mission achieved.
“All of the younger guys that had been pressured to play a 12 months in the past, we’re actually excited concerning the path they’re going,” Saleh mentioned. “However on the identical time, to herald some veteran presence, to herald some management, to herald guys who know tips on how to play the sport — who’ve performed the sport at a really excessive stage and who actually have the potential of attaining and matching the usual which we’re attempting to create.”
