Report: Jets may deal for A-Rod
Now, there’s buzz about Brady, Miami
NEW YORK — On Tuesday, New York Jets brass flew out to California to meet with Aaron Rodgers after receiving permission from the Packers to talk to the star quarterback. Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett traveled to the west coast with the hopes of acquiring the former fourtime MVP.
Now it appears Gang Green is closer to landing the 39-year-old quarterback. The Jets are “optimistic” that they will land Rodgers in a trade, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Rodgers is scheduled to make $59.5 million guaranteed if he plays in 2023, part of the three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed last year.
While the Packers and Jets will continue to engage in trade compensation conversations, they could also restructure Rodgers’ contract to allow for an easier cap hit. But Rodgers’ salary cap hit is only $15.8 million in 2023 and $32.5 million in 2024.
Currently, the Jets are $1.7 million over the salary cap. All 32 NFL teams must be under the cap by the start of each new league year, which starts on March 15.
The four-time MVP is coming off one of his worst seasons as he passed for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also threw 12 interceptions.
Also, Rodgers did not record a single 300-yard passing game as he dealt with a broken thumb and injuries to his ribs and a knee during the season as the Packers missed the playoffs and had their first losing record (8-9) since 2018.
Since the end of the season, Rodgers has been contemplating his future. He could retire, remain with the Packers or ask for a trade. He went on a darkness retreat in southern Oregon to find clarity on his future, but Rodgers remains undecided as he said on the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” last week that he would make a decision about his future soon.
If Rodgers is traded to the Jets, he would instantly make them a contender in the AFC East. Last season, the Jets defense finished fourth in yards (311.1) and points allowed (18.6).
POUNCEY RETIRES … : Mike Pouncey has retired from the NFL, but the 33-year-old ex-Miami Dolphins center is still living the dream.
Pouncey, who has lost 70 pounds in the last year and now weighs 228, signed a one-day contract with Miam on Thursday for the purpose of retiring as a Dolphins player.
“It means the world,” said Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons (2011-17) with the Dolphins.
“I always said I was going to be a Dolphin for life, and I meant that.”
… BUT HAS BRADY? Tom Brady may be joining the Miami Dolphins after all, according to several recent reports from NFL media members.
The latest to report that the 45-year-old legendary quarterback will come out of retirement for the second straight season is former New England quarterback Scott Zolak, who is now a member of the Patriots’ broadcast team.
“Brady may go to Miami,” Zolak said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston. “I think that’s in play. I do. I think the possibility of him coming out of retirement is definitely 100 percent in play. You can sit there and look at the kitten tweet from yesterday. Don’t buy that.
“This isn’t me saying it,” added Zolak, who spent seven seasons with the Patriots (1992-98) and one season with the Dolphins (1999). “This isn’t someone close to Brady. It started with Rich Eisen. Eisen’s at the (scouting combine). Multiple people dropped the hints. This is Colin Cowherd, he knows some Fox people. I don’t think he’s going to call games. How does that deal get done? How do you sign a guy to that $375 million, 10-year contract to call games, he’s not even going to do it next year. I know his handlers have moved to Miami. It’s built for him. He’s looking at private schools for his kids. Cowherd talks about the San Francisco offense. He’s not talking about San Francisco. He’s talking about (Dolphins coach) Mike McDaniel in Miami.”
The Dolphins have taken several runs at Brady over the years when he was with the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resulting in Miami losing a 2023 first-round pick for tampering with the future Hall of Famer.
The Dolphins have steadfastly maintained that Tua Tagovailoa will be their starter this season.
TRADE: The New York Jets are acquiring veteran safety Chuck Clark from the Baltimore Ravens, according to a person with knowledge of the trade.
New York agreed Thursday to send a seventh-round draft pick in 2024 to Baltimore, The Associated Press reported. Teams can’t announce trades until the NFL’s new year begins next Wednesday.
DRAFT-HAPPY: A river of compensatory draft picks rushed into the San Francisco 49ers’ hands Thursday, replenishing their coffer for next month’s player-selection festivities. A trio of picks at the end of the third round — Nos. 99, 101 and 102 — highlighted the NFLhigh seven compensatory picks distributed to the 49ers, by way of the NFL’s calculations factoring in free-agency moves and minorityhiring incentives.
The other compensatory picks are in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, with two in that last round.
In total, the NFC runner-up 49ers now hold 11 draft picks, including a pair in both the fifth and seventh rounds, which they had prior to the comp-pick parade.