Jets QB Aaron Rodgers admonishes Sean Payton

Aaron Rodgers has joined the fray between the Jets and Broncos, which was ignited earlier this week by Sean Payton. The brand new head coach of the Denver Broncos lately spoke with USA TODAY, the place he criticized his predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett, for doing “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

Hackett, who’s now the offensive coordinator for the Jets, was let go by Denver halfway by way of the 2022 season after the group completed 4-11. Nonetheless, Hackett was a profitable offensive coordinator in Inexperienced Bay, the place he aided Rodgers in profitable MVP in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021) earlier than accepting the job with the Broncos. Since then, Rodgers and Payton have reconciled in New York, and in an interview with the NFL Community on Sunday, Rodgers fired back at Payton, calling Hackett “arguably my favorite coach.”

Rodgers declared, “Nathaniel Hackett is my favorite.” To listen to a coach say one thing like that to a different coach was surprising. I really feel a profound affection for [Hackett]. We spent many pleasurable years in Inexperienced Bay collectively and maintained contact. Honor him and his family members. He is an excellent father and husband.

Relating to the sphere, he’s up there with my all-time favourite NFL coaches. I felt dangerous for somebody who has completed quite a bit within the league however feels the necessity to tear one other man down as a way to set themselves up for a simple fall if issues don’t go properly for that group this 12 months due to the way in which he approaches it, makes it enjoyable, cares concerning the guys, and simply goes about his enterprise with respect, management, honesty, and integrity.

I discovered it completely unacceptable and offensive that he introduced up my coaches by identify.

In his feedback to USA TODAY, Payton criticized not solely Hackett’s time in Denver but in addition the Jets’ seeming preoccupation with the offseason and public relations fairly than precise soccer. With out straight responding to Payton’s criticism, head coach Robert Saleh remarked, “there are a lot of crows pecking at our neck.”

Payton did concern an apology for his remarks on Friday, stating he had “still had my analyst had on and not my coaching hat on,” and including, “It was a learning experience for me, it was a mistake, obviously.” I must tighten up my filter a bit.

In Week 5 of the 2018 season, Rodgers and the Jets will journey to Denver to tackle Payton and the Broncos.