The Draw Play

WHAT A FUN TUESDAY TO WAKE UP TO!

So obviously I made this post in record time. Inspiration can really provide a sense of speed. It helps that I spent the entire day thinking about nothing but Jets drama. I am such a messy bitch who lives for sports drama. I bring this up because since I am writing it the same day that the news broke, there’s a very good chance a number of things mentioned here become outdated pretty quickly. I’m sure every sports journalist with access and some without are trying to uncover the Saleh drama right now. We are going to get a lot of rumors, conflicting reports, and nonsense. As of right now, I do not know why Saleh was fired, nor do I know the extent of the Jets backroom politicing and drama that may have led to this. All we got for now is speculation and jokes.

The very, very obvious and maybe legitimately true joke here is Rodgers won a power struggle. Rodgers is like an infection. He came in, things weren’t going his way, lots of people were calling for Hackett to get fired, the offense was struggling, and something was bound to give. The team shelled out everything to roll in the green carpet for Rodgers and his relationship with Saleh seemed strained. They are committed to the Rodgers experiment, so Saleh became the odd man out. Adios, baldy. You sure did exist. One thing I know I will not do: take Rodgers word on any of it. Whatever Rodgers says is his side of the story can kiss my ass. He has not earned the benefit of our belief. If a later, credible reporter backs up whatever he says, then I’ll believe him. Whatever comes out of his mouth about it in the coming days may as well be shoved in an industrial freezer in the basement.

Another theory is that Woody Johnson, former ambassador to the UK under Trump, was deeply and personally embarrassed in front of his UK buddies by the loss in London. Big sad billionare is sad, wee woo. I don’t honestly know how to take this theory because my gut says that’s a bit silly. If Woody Johnson was embarrassed by the Jets looking bad, he would have sold this team off ages ago. On the other hand, I’ve watched Elon Musk rapidly expose himself as a moron and descend into deep crevasses of pathetic cringe in real-time on Twitter for the past several years so it’s not out of the question that an uber-rich dipshit would be an emotional baby who is sad his toy looked bad against a QB that his own team failed several years ago. But again, if Woody Johnson was embarrassed by the Jets losing…I doubt Saleh even lasts this long.

It might have contributed to how abrupt this particular firing was, though. I can’t say Saleh’s firing is completely out of left field; far from the contrary, you could even argue it was necessary and should have happened last offseason. It’s more the sudden timing. Saleh was already on a scorching seat.

I’ve also seen mentions that Saleh might have been let go partially because he wore a Lebanese flag on his sweatshirt during the game. This is probably a joke theory and should be regarded as such. Only the most terminally online dope would genuinely believe this. Not that I think Woody Johnson doesn’t suck ass as a person, but even he wouldn’t fire his Lebanese head coach for wearing a Lebanese flag on his gear. That’s nonsense.

I’m going to go with the wild theory that…this might be the right move. Sure, they did it in classic Jest fashion. They made a big fat mess, nothing was explained properly, they probably made a scene by escorting him out of the building, all of this is classic Jest. Even when the Jets make smart moves they do so like clowns. But maybe this was ownership realizing that after so many seasons Saleh simply has not delivered a prepared team over and over again. This is probably the final chance for this particular regime. Rodgers is 40. They banked everything on this. The division looks wide open now that the Bills are stumbling. Yet they drop a terrible loss to the Broncos and then a terrible loss to Sam Darnold to sit at 2-3, literally tied with the fucking Dolphins. Nothing about Saleh’s tenure has suggested that he’s going to pull this team around suddenly. So…you know…why not shoot for the moon? Fire the guy who probably should be fired anyway with enough season left to take charge before it gets too late potentially. Lost in the Sauce Gardner is the fact that this might actually be the correct decision. A lot of Jets fans seem to think so.

They promoted DC Jeff Ulbrich in Saleh’s place. If Rodgers was behind this, Hackett seems like the more sensible choice, no? At least Hackett has HC “experience” (lmao). The defense has unequivocally been a success under Saleh and Ulbrich. Maybe Saleh was losing the locker room and Ulbrich seems like a fit. This move probably doesn’t do anything to help the offense outside maybe a moral boost. Of course, Davante Adams is out there and interested…

I don’t know what happens now. The little sideline shove between Rodgers and Saleh looks bad in new contexts. The Hasan Reddick agent leak about the team being in disarray a few weeks back also suddenly looks more interesting. There is so much we don’t know but will likely come to understand. I’m excited.