On Monday morning, the Giants made a quarterback determination and benched Daniel Jones in favor of Tommy DeVito.
It’s unlikely, however may the Jets observe go well with and sack Aaron Rodgers for the rest of the season?
The reply isn’t as minimize and dry because the Giants’ scenario.
Giants basic supervisor Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll will label Jones’ benching as a “football decision.” Nonetheless, Jones is being benched due to a $23 million damage assure in his contract for 2025 that turns into totally assured if he will get injured and can’t go a bodily in the course of the offseason.
The Jets aren’t in that place with Rodgers, 40, however it’s time to surprise how for much longer the four-time NFL MVP would possibly play for the membership. After Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to the Colts, the Jets are 3-8 and are inching nearer to being mathematically eradicated from playoff competition.
When Rodgers was traded from the Packers to the Jets in April 2023, he talked about the staff’s Tremendous Bowl III trophy seemed a bit lonely. From there, the Jets went from being bottomfeeders to being anticipated to compete for a championship.
Final season, an Achilles damage 4 performs into his debut robbed the Jets of seeing what Rodgers would have seemed like. A 12 months later, Rodgers has three wins and is a shell of what he was in Inexperienced Bay.
By 11 video games, the Jets offense ranks twenty sixth in yards (294.4) and (18.5) factors per sport. Rodgers has thrown for two,442 yards, 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Nonetheless, he ranks twenty fourth in whole quarterback ranking, sandwiched between Steelers quarterback Justin Fields and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Rodgers was alleged to be the cherry on prime of a staff with an elite protection and ascending younger gamers like Garrett Wilson, Breece Corridor, and Sauce Gardner.
Clearly, the Jets protection has taken a step again and is permitting over 26 factors per sport since Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh and made defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich interim coach on Oct. 8. With no playoff carrot dangling in entrance of the Jets in the course of the remaining six video games, it’s honest to ask if the Jets and Rodgers can stay motivated the remainder of the season?
“I’m in my 20th year,” Rodgers stated after the sport on Sunday. “I’ve figured out a way to do this for a long time, so just got to remember why you fell in love with this game. This would definitely be a week to clear all of our heads and come back and stick together.”
It’s unlikely, however the Jets may shut down Rodgers and begin planning for his or her future at quarterback, which doesn’t seem to incorporate him. Rodgers has zero assured cash remaining on his contract that runs by 2025.
With a brand new coach and basic supervisor possible coming to the Jets facility, they wouldn’t be tied to Rodgers, who turns 41 on Dec. 2. But when the Jets did need to deliver again Rodgers for an additional season, they might decide to take a seat him to save lots of additional put on and tear, and let backup Tyrod Taylor play within the remaining six video games to see what he can do. However Ulbrich’s employees has no incentive to take action as a result of they’re unlikely to be there in 2025.
It’s uncertain the Jets would bench Rodgers for a number of causes exterior of that. One could be Johnson primarily admitting that the Saleh firing was untimely, which it was. If the Jets have been going to fireside Saleh, they need to have completed it following the 2023 season, through which he recorded his third consecutive dropping season.
Another excuse the Jets most likely wouldn’t bench Rodgers is as a result of he is an effective buddy of each Woody and Christopher Johnson, they usually wouldn’t need to do something to alienate him.
Final week, Rodgers advised reporters he want to play for the Jets subsequent season, however it’s a two-way avenue. Gang Inexperienced has misplaced seven of their previous eight and is likely one of the worst groups within the NFL. The staff is 1-5 since Johnson fired Saleh and changed him with Ulbrich.
Do the Jets actually need to stay married to Rodgers for an additional 12 months, or would they like to chop their losses now and begin over?
Rodgers is due $23.5 million in 2025, the ultimate 12 months of the restructured three-year deal he signed final summer season. However the Jets may make Rodgers a chosen post-June 1 launch, saving them $9.5 million towards the cap.
The Jets may additionally take the overall cap hit head-on subsequent season and hold Taylor and rookie Jordan Travis subsequent season and primarily punt on 2025 whereas rising cap room and possibly acquiring picks for his or her rebuild.
Whether or not Rodgers retires or not, the writing is on the wall for vital adjustments with the Jets subsequent season. It’s only a matter of when it occurs, not if.
