Rodgers: Jets need all distractions ‘out of building’
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets can officially look ahead to next season, after a 17-3 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday put the finishing touches on a disappointing 7-10 campaign.
Rodgers met the media Monday morning and admitted, “It’s going to be a long offseason for all of us” as the Jets look to figure out what went right and what went wrong in 2023.
“We’re all going to be on the hot seat next year,” he said.
For Rodgers himself, the most important thing is to be fully recovered from the torn Achilles tendon that ended his season in Week 1 after only four offensive snaps.
Beyond that, the veteran quarterback said the team needs to sharpen its focus.
“Anything in this building that we’re doing that has nothing to do with winning needs to be assessed,” Rodgers said. “Everything that we do has to have a purpose ... the (expletive) that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the building.”
However, he didn’t address any particular changes he, personally, might make.
Last Tuesday, Rodgers drew criticism for comments he made about late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel during his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” ESPN later issued an apology, calling Rodgers’ linking of Kimmel to the Jeffrey Epstein court documents “a dumb and factually inaccurate joke.”
When asked by reporters about those comments on Monday, Rodgers declined to respond, other than to say, “I’m going to talk about it tomorrow on the (McAfee) show.”
Rodgers also said he’s looking forward to being the Jets’ starting quarterback next season – and possibly longer.
“I would like this to be more than just next year,” he said.