The former Giants wide receiver hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass to give Kansas City its first lead of the game, then broke a 65-yard punt return — the longest in Super Bowl history — to set up another score. The Chiefs sealed the victory on a 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker in the waning seconds after a controversial holding call on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, also a former Giant.

Some quick thoughts:

• The Eagles blew that game. More specifically, their defense. They had a 10-point lead at halftime, but they never generated any pass rush. And then Chiefs coach Andy Reid began to pick apart Philly defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. It may not be fair, but this result will play into the already-existing narrative the Eagles beat up on a bunch of tomato cans before wilting against an elite opponent.

• A second title is big for Patrick Mahomes’ legacy, but the way he did it is even more monumental. God only knows what that guy had injected into his ankle to play in the second half. And he was brilliant. A courageous, gutty performance for the ages.

• It was a ticky-tack call on Bradberry. But it was the right one. Fortunately we can count on Philadelphia to handle the disappointment with grace and poise.

• The Eagles will be fine. They aren’t going anywhere. Yes, they have to pay Jalen Hurts. But general manager Howie Roseman will work his salary cap magic as he always does.

• The Giants still made the right move dumping Toney. No one ever doubted his talent. But he was never going to work here. And who knows if he will ever stay healthy.

• If Reid actually retires — the possibility became a thing Sunday — someone should make sure Sean Payton is OK. And then call Jim Harbaugh for his thoughts.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney is a world champion as Eagles blow Super Bowl LVII | Elite Sports NY

But that does not mean Gary Vaynerchuk is giving up hope. The entrepreneur and Gang Green fan has not let his dream of ownership die. Vaynerchuk has expressed interest before and he did so again during a Radio Row appearance Friday on the Pat McAfee Show.

Keep in mind, Forbes has valued the Jets at $5.4 billion.

"I genuinely think I'm gonna own the Jets one day.. if it doesn't happen I'll know that I tried" @garyvee #PMSinAZ pic.twitter.com/CrwfRpZEJ9

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 10, 2023

“New York’s going to be expensive regardless. It’s not like I want the Saints or Colts,” Vaynerchuk said. “I want a certain team, it’s going to be what it’s going to be, I’m going to keep trying. … What’s scary is that I genuinely think it’s going to happen. What’s even more exciting is if it doesn’t happen, I tried.”

It is unlikely Vaynerchuk himself could buy the team outright. His net worth is nowhere near billionaire level. CNBC estimated his net worth at $160 million in 2019 — it has likely grown since then, but not to where it would need to be. But if he partners with others to bid on the team (if the Johnsons do eventually sell)? There’s always a chance. Because who knows who would be joining forces with him, and what their financial assets would entail?

We saw Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez try to purchase the Mets in 2020 with an ownership group that reportedly included billionaires Mike Repole and Vincent Viola, amongst others. Of course, that was before Steve Cohen and his over-$10 billion net worth eventually finalized a $2.4 billion purchase. But the former power couple were at least in the mix. The Johnsons are not selling right now, of course. But if they are down the line, though, don’t be surprised if Vaynerchuk and a potential star-studded line of investors start bidding.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Gary Vaynerchuk hasn’t let Jets ownership dream go | Elite Sports NY

But before the festivities were underway, Johnson was chatting on the red carpet. And as with just about every conversation involving New York these days, he talked about the Jets’ current quarterback situation.

The most interesting conversation occurred between Johnson and ESPN’s Dianna Russini. She specifically asked him about Aaron Rodgers, but since he’s under contract with the Green Bay Packers, there wasn’t a whole lot he could say on that front.

Johnson did say plenty about the Jets’ quarterback situation in general, though. And Zach Wilson — if you’re reading this, it’s probably best to just close out the browser.

When discussing how things went in 2022, the Jets’ owner didn’t mince his words (quotes via Sports Illustrated):

The weakness right now is in the quarterback position. Whether it was management or whatever, everybody kind of regressed a little bit so what we’re gonna do is we are gonna look for an experienced quarterback to come in and help us and help develop these other young players.

Whomever the Jets bring in, Wilson plans on “making that dude’s life hell” during practice each week. That’s the right mindset to have, but it’s not like he’s going to beat out Rodgers for the starting job. You know, if he decides to join the Jets after his darkness retreat.

When Russini tried to get some specifics out of Johnson, this is how he responded:

I think you want the best quarterback you can get to lead the Jets. I think with a good quarterback and our great defense… and a good running game. Our special teams is really good. I think it’s plug-and-play, when a quarterback comes in it’s kind of an ideal situation.

This isn’t the first time Johnson has mentioned the Jets’ roster in this way. During his end-of-season media availability, he essentially said that a capable quarterback was New York’s missing piece. He’s not totally off the mark here, as the Jets’ defense was among the NFL’s best in 2022, while the offense was toward the bottom of the league.

What struck me the most is the directness he used in speaking about 2022’s quarterback play. Johnson isn’t wrong, but Wilson also isn’t going anywhere and the Jets will attempt to actually develop him while he’s backing up the veteran they eventually acquire.

Either way, it’s pretty clear the owner isn’t at all sold on the current (and possibly, future) potential of Wilson leading this offense.

He looked up to Rodgers while growing up, so that would probably be the best-case scenario in his eyes if the former second-overall pick becomes the second-string QB. There will be several veteran options for the Jets to address their quarterback issue. It seems like Rodgers is at the top of that wish list, but we’ll see what happens from here.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Woody Johnson: Jets have an ‘ideal situation’ for veteran quarterback | Elite Sports NY

The two greatest defenders in Jets history will now enter into football immortality together. They have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Revis on the first ballot, Klecko as a senior candidate 34 years after he retired.

Couple the Hall calls with Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson each winning rookie of the year honors at NFL Honors in Phoenix and it was a banner day for the Jets. The only downside is they may get forced to play in the Hall of Fame Game this summer. But they will worry about that later.

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Revis was a dominant, transcendent cornerback at his peak; a player who changed games on the field and flipped the league’s financial system on its head off of it. And Klecko was a standout pass rusher who had many things out of his control stand in the way of his induction for far too long before finally breaking through.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet as far as total acceptance or whatever,” Klecko said Thursday night after his election was announced, via NJ.com.

“I was talking to my friend the other day, and he says, ‘You know, you’ve got to get over this. … You belong. You’ve got to convince yourself you belong.’ And that’s one of the things after you wait 30 year and you finally get the call, even though you want it and you’re grateful for it and all, it’s still sinking in.”

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets greats Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis enter Pro Football Hall of Fame | Elite Sports NY

And the two New York squads, while not participating in the Big Game, shined on stage.

The Jets swept the Rookie of the Year Awards, with cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson winning the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year, respectively.

Gardner was essentially a lock to win the defensive award. The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft was a star from the get-go, leading a revamped Jets secondary that finished the regular season third in the NFL with only 189.4 passing yards allowed per game.

While the young buck finished with only a pair of interceptions, Gardner led the NFL with 20 pass breakups and allowed quarterbacks to complete just 53.5% of passes for 452 yards, one touchdown, and a lowly 62.7 passer rating when targeting him. The 22-year-old’s efforts earned him a Pro Bowl nod, a spot on the AP All-Pro first team, and this prestigious award.

On the other hand, Wilson put together a spectacular first season despite poor quarterback play and play-calling from now-former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

The 2022 No. 10 overall draft pick out of Ohio State finished the year with 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns, leading the team in each category.

Even with the struggles of Zach Wilson (and Mike White and Joe Flacco), Wilson was sensational and has provided that receiver room, which certainly deserves better assistance, with great hope for the future.

And then, there was the Coach of the Year, awarded to none other than the Giants‘ Brian Daboll.

Daboll was hired in January 2022 and entered an absolute dumpster fire, to say the least. The Giants were coming off a four-win season and had just fired former head coach Joe Judge. Plus, there was the whole “retirement” of former general manager Dave Gettleman, who was at the helm of one of the worst eras of Giants football. The roster was in shambles, the team was in shambles, and the organization was in shambles.

But Daboll played a massive role in what was an even bigger turnaround. The Giants defied all odds, finished the season at 9-7-1, and reached the postseason. It was their first winning season and playoff appearance in six years. Big Blue proceeded to win its first playoff game since Super Bowl 46 over the Vikings before losing in the Divisional Round to the Eagles.

No, the Giants aren’t playing this Sunday. No one expected them to. But no one expected them to win nine games or make the playoffs, two major accomplishments Daboll did with a lackluster roster and a quarterback everyone wrote off just six months ago.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: NFL Honors: Jets’ Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson win rookie awards; Giants’ Brian Daboll is top coach | Elite Sports NY

A lot of that had to do with the quarterback position. We’ve talked plenty about how New York is planning to fix that after hiring Nathaniel Hackett as the newest offensive coordinator. Do you know what wasn’t a problem this year for Gang Green? Their rookie players. They were fantastic.

If running back Breece Hall didn’t suffer a season-ending injury, he’d probably be in this discussion, too. But for this week, we’re talking about Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson. These two dudes are finalists for Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year. You’d imagine the chances of them both bringing home their respective hardware is pretty good. How often in NFL history has a team done that, though?

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, just twice:

#Jets will pull off a rare “daily double” tonight if Sauce Gardner + Garrett Wilson win NFL Defensive and Offensive Rookies of the Year. Has happened only twice in history:

1967: #Lions: CB Lem Barney, RB Mel Farr
2017: #Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, RB Alvin Kamara pic.twitter.com/XP3fIlTLoU

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) February 9, 2023

They’ve been among the best rookies at their positions for most of the year. It’d only be fitting to finish it with a bang and make some history in the process, right?

Gardner’s first year in the league ended with First-Team All-Pro honors and a trip to the Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas. He also accumulated 20 pass deflections and mostly shut down every elite receiver facing him week after week. His competition for this award includes Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen.

As for Wilson, he did a lot with very little. He lined up at wide receiver and looked in at four different quarterbacks under center throughout the year. This included Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Chris Streveler. Despite that, he pulled in 83 catches on 147 targets for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns. Those 1,100 yards are also a Jets rookie record, breaking the mark previously held by Keyshawn Johnson. The other finalists for this honor include Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

We don’t need Gardner and Wilson to win these awards to know the Jets have something special with these two. It’d be a great way to get the offseason started, though. What could be next? A veteran quarterback to help them get over the hump would be nice.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets looking to make rare rookie history at 2023 NFL Honors | Elite Sports NY

Tuesday’s big takeaway, as relayed by Rob Demovsky, ESPN’s Packers reporter: Rodgers is going to go sit in a dark room for a few days to figure out his plans for 2023.

Rodgers said he will be in pitch black all day and night for four days and nights. “It’s really sensory deprivation isolation.”

He said it stimulates DMT and there can be some hallucinations.

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) February 7, 2023

DMT is “a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that naturally occurs in many plant species,” if you were wondering. So Rodgers is really calling in the big guns after that astrology seminar. Time to get molded in the darkness.

Anyway, it remains inconceivable to us that Rodgers would actually retire. He has just under $60 million in guaranteed money coming his way as long as he shows up. It’s one thing to say money isn’t everything when we’re talking about some loose change. This ain’t that. So the real question Rodgers needs to figure out on his vision quest is where he wants to collect that money.

Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause, but he does not need one. If he wants to run it back one more time with the Packers, they won’t have much choice. Even if they are ready to move on with Jordan Love. And if he decides he wants out, the Packers will have to send him somewhere he is willing to go. No one is trading for him — and giving the Packers a satisfactory compensation package in return — unless they know Rodgers is all-in.

If Rodgers wants out, the Jets make a lot of sense for myriad reasons. But so do the Raiders and Titans and potentially other clubs (although the 49ers seem to be out). So it will come down to what Rodgers is thinking. And that, he claims, depends on what he gets out of his time in the darkness. May he fine total consciousness there. Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga lagunga.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Rodgers to contemplate potential Jets future in dark room for days | Elite Sports NY

Either team makes sense. Rodgers could win a second title with this Jets roster. He could also succeed with a talented Raiders roster that includes an old friend in superstar wide receiver Davante Adams.

Rodgers doesn’t have a no-trade clause tied to his expensive contract but will still have a say on where he ends up for the 2023 season. And in Boomer Esiason’s eyes, the veteran passer seems like a better fit in Sin City.

Aaron Rodgers to the Raiders? Anywhere he goes in the AFC is going to be "no cakewalk" according to @WFANMornings. pic.twitter.com/uO8dGZNqN9

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) February 6, 2023

“If I was going to bet, I would put my money on the Raiders right now,” the WFAN host said on Monday’s edition of “Boomer and Gio” from Radio Row at the Super Bowl. “Remember: he still controls where he wants to go and play. So the Jets could offer more than the Raiders and he could say no to that and say “I want to go to the Raiders and go figure it out with the Raiders.””

While the Jets are looking for a veteran stopgap starter as struggling youngster Zach Wilson develops as a backup, the Raiders also have a huge need at the game’s most important position after deciding to scapegoat veteran Derek Carr.

Of course, there’s an argument against trading for Rodgers if you’re the Jets. He has a $31.6 million cap hit just next season, is aging, would be a potential off-field issue with the tough New York media, and would cost significant draft capital in a trade. But it’s always been a risk worth taking.

The Jets are in prime position to contend and various jobs are on the line, including those of general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh. Rodgers could propel this Jets team to heights fans have only dreamt of since January 1969. Having said that, Douglas needs to step up and steer Rodgers toward the Tri-State Area, no matter what it takes.

It should be a tough task though, especially considering the Jets are the potential suitor that doesn’t employ Adams.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: WFAN’s Boomer Esiason believes Aaron Rodgers will play for Raiders | Elite Sports NY

However, we will be able to hear from the potential future Jets quarterback on Monday as Super Bowl week begins. You just have to log into this … free astrology class.

From Pro Football Talk:

[Rodgers is] the guest speaker at an astrological event. A “masterclass,” if you will. Specifically, an Astrological Immersion Party aimed at helping the participant “fall in love . . . with YOU” through the “ancient science of astrology.”

During the conference, participants will “[d]iscover how Aaron Rodgers has fallen in love with his fate and uses it to have confidence without validation or approval and how you can, too.”

It looks to be totally legitimate and real and absolutely not a hoax, even if it may seem that way. And that’s fine. People can do whatever they think they need to do and/or believe whatever they need to believe to achieve happiness. We all deserve it, and it’s one of our fundamental rights as American citizens to have the ability to pursue it.

Mike Florio is feeling patriotic this morning. Anyway, it appears to be free to sign up for the class led by Debra Silverman, who “over the past 46-plus years of professional experience and private practice … has helped thousands of individuals achieve emotional health and wisdom based on their unique personality and the four elements: Water, Air, Earth, and Fire.” Page Six previously reported Silverman is Rodgers’ astrologist. So that is further confirmation it is the real deal. So let’s see if the stars are telling Rodgers he belongs in Florham Park.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: There might be a lot of Jets fans on this free online astrology course | Elite Sports NY

Based on how things are playing out, Gang Green needs to be involved in multiple conversations in their pursuit of a quarterback. It sounds like Jets general manager Joe Douglas is prepared to go “all out” to bring Rodgers to MetLife Stadium. Even after a down year and a huge annual salary, the price tag for Rodgers could still be pretty steep.

NBC Sports’ Peter King recently said that it could be a couple of first-round picks. He also said it wouldn’t be surprising if team owner Woody Johnson would “happily” pay that price to acquire the four-time MVP.

You’d imagine that’d be plenty for Green Bay to unload Rodgers and hand the ceremonial quarterback reigns to Jordan Love. But not so much for some Packers fans. There are people on the bird app making hypothetical trades including two of New York’s best defensive players:

Hate to break it to Packer fans, but you're not getting Quinnen Williams or Sauce Gardner in any Aaron Rodgers package as I've seen on here numerous times, Destroying the foundations of what made the Jets a good team, defeats the entire point in getting a rental QB.

— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) February 5, 2023

I saw the above tweet on Sunday morning and I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. So, naturally, I had to look around to see if this was actually true. Spoiler alert: it is.

Well, as a Packers fan, I hope “go all out” means Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, and two 1sts to the Packers for Rodgers and a 4th. Hey, Sauce likes wearing cheeseheads.

— Kenneth Prochnau (@kkprochnau) February 5, 2023

No I understood that. That’s why I said you wanted a jet sided trade. Rodgers is worth one of those players you mentioned or a combination of picks.

— JC (@jaycas85) February 5, 2023

Aaron Rodgers to the Jets potential trade proposal

Jets get:
-Aaron Rodgers

Packers get:
-Sauce Gardner
-Quinnen Williams
-2023 & 2024 1st round picks

Jets get their franchise guy and the Packers beef up the defense, a solid trade for both sides. pic.twitter.com/d86K6DhYI9

— Freeze (@freezesports1) January 24, 2023

Granted, these opinions and hypothetical trades appear to be coming from a small minority of Packers fans. But still, I have to take a page out of WFAN legend Joe Benigno’s book and say… come on, bro.

Every fan overvalues players (or prospects) on their favorite team. However, the fact that some people think Rodgers would be worth not one, but two All-Pros and two first-round picks is just laughable. The Jets would never include either of these guys in any trade right now. Let alone both of them!

Then again, these hypotheticals may be for nothing. As the rumor mill churns, people are starting to say Rodgers is destined to play for the Las Vegas Raiders. That’d reunite him with former teammate, Davante Adams. We know the pass-catcher would be psyched about that.

What happens next is anyone’s guess at this point. All we really know for sure is Rodgers probably isn’t going to play for the San Francisco 49ers. Oh, and neither Gardner nor Williams will be going anywhere this offseason.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Packers fans concocting laughable Jets-Aaron Rodgers trade proposals | Elite Sports NY

Tom Brady has retired. The Giants have committed to Daniel Jones. The Bears are reportedly sticking with Justin Fields. So with those options off the board, here is an updated look at Gang Green’s 2023 possibilities under center — and ranked:

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
1a. Derek Carr, Raiders
3. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
4. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Your mileage may vary with this quartet. Our logic is as follows.

If the Jets can get Rodgers, they should do it. He does not have a no-trade clause like Carr, but no one can deal for him unless he blesses the deal. And Rodgers’ nearly $60 million cap hit in 2023 will limit what the Packers get in return — especially if they want to move on, as they reportedly do.

As long as the Jets believe Rodgers is still a difference-maker, going all-out for a quick championship sprint makes sense. They do not need to worry about his age (39) or all the drama that comes with him. They just need to squeeze a Super Bowl win out of a limited timeframe. The Brett Favre experiment almost worked. This one certainly could pay off.

That said … Carr (32 in Week 1) may be the best all-around fit for the Jets in terms of age, durability — he has missed two regular season games and one playoff game in his career due to injury — production and cost. He is a better player than Garoppolo and the anticipated price tag could offset the performance deficiency with Rodgers.

How the Raiders handle their Carr mess — one of their creation — will be fascinating. He has a no-trade clause and his scheduled $32.9 million salary for 2023 (and $7.5 million in 2024 salary) becomes guaranteed if he is on the roster three days after the Super Bowl. If the Raiders cut him before that deadline, they will eat about $5.6 million in dead money and save just over $29 million in cap space.

Why should Carr sign off on a trade that helps the Raiders? They unceremoniously dumped him and he will get paid either way. And the Raiders are likely to recoup little given they have no leverage. The Raiders should cut Carr the day after the Super Bowl. Take the minimal cap hit and move on. That is a much safer move than holding out hope for a trade. And it would allow the Jets to pursue Carr as a free agent.

Garoppolo, 31, would be a good pickup. No one should complain if that is where the Jets end up. He has proven he is a competent game manager who can lead winning teams. But his injury history is a massive concern. And he is going to cost a lot of money.

We only have Jackson, 26, still on here because of how fraught his negotiations with the Ravens have been. They have said they want him back and are expected to use the franchise tag. But if Jackson is hell-bent on a fully-guaranteed deal that rivals what the Browns gave Deshaun Watson, anything could happen. That said, landing Jackson would require a massive financial commitment from the Jets AND likely sending multiple first-round picks to Baltimore. Not to mention his durability issues- ones we argue are far more concerning than Garoppolo given Jackson’s style of play and the unique offensive system the team will build around him.

5. Matt Ryan, Colts
6. Ryan Tannehill, Titans

Ryan (38 in Week 1) is not getting enough mention. The Colts will likely cut him before a $10 million roster bonus (plus further 2023 salary guarantees) kick in on March 17. He did not have a great 2022, but he did enough to bet that it was more about the team around him than his own regression. Ryan would be a good mid-level fallback option. And it allows the Jets to keep hope alive with Wilson. If there is any way to salvage his career here, putting him in a position room with a potential Hall of Famer would seem like a good thing.

Tannehill, who will be 35 on Opening Day, is likely staying put. The Titans seem inclined to try to run it back one more time after dealing with a rash of injuries. But he is in the last real year of his contract (he has two void years in 2024-25) and would be available on the cheap via trade if the Titans end up upgrading (they could be a Rodgers suitor). Tannehill is not a superstar, but he’s a capable game manager if he has playmakers and a strong defense. Which the Jets give him.

7. Sam Darnold, Panthers
8. Geno Smith, Seahawks

Just kidding, folks.

9. Mike White, Jets
10. Zach Wilson, Jets

Neither guy is The Guy. We have learned as much. It makes sense for the Jets to re-sign White if the price is right. And Wilson seems likely to stick around, even if out of pure organizational stubbornness. But if either is the Jets’ Week 1 starting quarterback, they are in trouble.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Resetting (and ranking) Jets’ 2023 starting QB candidates: Is Aaron Rodgers top target? | Elite Sports NY

A couple of the top choices for the Jets appear to be Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers. If we look at the headlines of the trade rumor mill, Rodgers is the one most consistently linked to Gang Green. But, we don’t even know if the four-time MVP plans on playing football next year yet.

When will we have an idea of that? Rodgers appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday and said he *could* make a decision “in a couple of weeks“. While it seems like he doesn’t have any interest in playing for the San Francisco 49ers, that doesn’t answer other questions people have right now.

Let’s say he does want to suit up for 2023 and says so exactly two weeks from this past Tuesday. That’d put us at February 14th (two days after the Super Bowl).

Regarding Carr, his contract stipulates a move should happen reasonably quickly. The signal-caller has a no-trade clause, so he’ll have a direct say in what his future looks like. However, his 2023 salary ($32.9 million) and part of his 2024 salary ($7.5 million) becomes fully guaranteed if he’s still on Las Vegas’ roster by February 15th.

We can assume neither Carr nor Rodgers is super interested in what either decides and what timeframe it’s done in. But for the Jets, it’s incredibly important since these decisions will directly impact how they’ll eventually improve the quarterback position.

If we take some clues from current players — and New York hiring Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator — Gang Green’s preference might be acquiring Rodgers. But until he commits to playing, New York must keep its proverbial hat in the ring on multiple quarterbacks. And it’s not like they won’t have to deal with competition for these signal-callers to begin with. As if the Jets weren’t already aware of that, Raiders wide receiver (and former Packer teammate) Davante Adams provided a reminder on Twitter the other day.

Who is the Jets’ preferred acquisition for quarterback next year? Will they even be available to acquire? Will any decisions that must be made take them out of the running for others?

All good questions. It’ll be fascinating to see how things play out and who Gang Green eventually ends up with.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets have to thread needle with Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr interest | Elite Sports NY

Gang Green ended the season with six straight losses, finished 7-10 and missed out on the postseason for a 12th straight year (the NFL’s longest active drought).

Once again, sadness and desperation are upon Florham Park.

But the franchise must move forward and try to improve the roster during a long offseason. What could general manager Joe Douglas attempt to accomplish in the coming months?

Figure out the QB position. The Jets need to address the biggest question mark on the roster. Zach Wilson isn’t the guy and Douglas should look to trade him for a few early- and mid-round picks in the offseason. Mike White is a nice player but can’t stay on the field and doesn’t have the makings of a true franchise quarterback. Joe Flacco is on his way out of the league. Chris Streveler is a preseason hero, nothing more.

The Jets need to trade for Aaron Rodgers. Whatever it takes. This roster has the potential to be the real deal — now the Jets need a real-deal option at the game’s most important position.

There would be various draft picks given up and much money spent to handle Rodgers’ expensive contract. But in a make-or-break year, with jobs on the line, the Jets must swing for the fences.

If not Rodgers, then go get Jimmy Garoppolo, who’s set to be a free agent. But the longtime Packer is obviously the better choice for a Jets team with legitimate playoff aspirations.

Address the left tackle position. If the Jets are going to start over with a new quarterback next season, they’ll need to protect him regardless of who it is. And at left tackle, they don’t employ many promising options.

Duane Brown will be 38 years old next season, George Fant is injury-prone, and 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton has been an absolute draft bust. Like at quarterback, you can suggest the Week 1 starting left tackle isn’t on the roster.

Unless the Jets look to make a move for a quarterback in the first round, they should absolutely use their top pick to fix this crucial position. The Jets own the No. 13 overall pick and could land someone like Georgia’s Broderick Jones or Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr.

Who to re-sign? The Jets have various players who are either eligible for an extension or have an expiring contract.

First and foremost, they need to extend defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. He’s entering the fifth year of his rookie deal but played the best football of his life this past season. The 2019 first-rounder out of Alabama became a premier pass rusher, recording 12 sacks and 28 quarterback hits, both career-highs.

He absolutely deserves a payday and should be a staple for a young, talented defense. Expect Douglas to make him one of the higher-paid interior defensive linemen in the NFL.

The Jets also have a number of offensive linemen with expiring contracts (right tackle George Fant and center Connor McGovern). It’s tough to imagine the Jets retaining Fant again when they already employ a younger Max Mitchell on the roster. Mitchell started five games during his 2022 rookie campaign and could assume a larger role next season as the starting right tackle. Still on a rookie deal, Mitchell would be a cheaper option than the veteran Fant.

McGovern is a nice player on the interior. But he’s expendable and it’s too early to tell whether he’ll return next season. We could see Douglas once again target this area in free agency like he did last year when signing starting left guard Laken Tomlinson. While keeping tabs on McGovern, expect Douglas to still target other interior linemen to try and find a starter for 2023.

There’s also safety Lamarcus Joyner, who had a solid year. But the veteran is getting up there in age. He is turning 33 next season and the Jets would benefit from a younger, fresher, cheaper option, whether that be Ashtyn Davis or someone else.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets offseason blueprint: What is right move at QB? | Elite Sports NY

Rodgers is playing the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week. And before teeing off, he informed the world that “I’m not going to San Fran.”

Aaron Rodgers on the tee at the #ATTProAm “I’m not going to San Fran.” pic.twitter.com/H25KYw1gcr

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 2, 2023

The 49ers say they have no interest in adding a veteran quarterback this offseason. They intend to roll with Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, even with injury questions. It could be as simple as Rodgers acknowledging that. But if the Northern California native and former Cal star wanted to go to the Niners, you have to think head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch might reconsider. This Super Bowl window will not stay open forever, after all. So this could also be Rodgers taking himself off the table.

MORE: These Jets who could be salary cap casualties

Either way, it suggests the Jets have one less potential suitor to worry about. But will Rodgers want them? That is the big question here. From Thursday:

Rodgers is not going to retire. No one should take him seriously when he suggests he might. The guy is scheduled to make close to $60 million this coming season. You don’t just walk away from that. What Rodgers is doing is ensuring he will collect his $60 million wherever he decides he will be most comfortable.

Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause. But he does not need one if people think he will refuse to show up if traded to a team he does not want to play for. If he wants to stay with the Packers they are likely stuck with him, even if they are ready for the Jordan Love era. And if Rodgers wants out, he is going to more or less pick the destination. And that will keep the cost of doing business with the Packers manageable.

The Jets have a lot to offer Rodgers, from his buddy Nathaniel Hackett to young playmakers to an elite defense. They make sense for Rodgers from a football perspective. He can win a Super Bowl here. But Rodgers is going to get called on all his off-field stuff here. That will not necessarily be the case if he goes to the Raiders or Titans or wherever. Which is why we remain skeptical.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Rodgers says he’s ‘not going to San Fran,’ whatever that means | Elite Sports NY

From Pro Football Network:

[O]ne source said that general manager Joe Douglas is admitting to people in the league the franchise will go all out in the attempt to bring Rodgers to Gang Green. And it only makes sense.

Well, it does for the Jets. And for their fans. And for the entire NFL media-industrial complex. But does it make sense for Rodgers? That is the part I remain hung up on.

Rodgers is not going to retire. No one should take him seriously when he suggests he might. The guy is scheduled to make close to $60 million this coming season. You don’t just walk away from that. What Rodgers is doing is ensuring he will collect his $60 million wherever he decides he will be most comfortable.

MORE: These Jets who could be salary cap casualties

Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause. But he does not need one if people think he will refuse to show up if traded to a team he does not want to play for. If he wants to stay with the Packers they are likely stuck with him, even if they are ready for the Jordan Love era. And if Rodgers wants out, he is going to more or less pick the destination. And that will keep the cost of doing business with the Packers manageable.

The Jets have a lot to offer Rodgers, from his buddy Nathaniel Hackett to young playmakers to an elite defense. They make sense for Rodgers from a football perspective. He can win a Super Bowl here. But Rodgers is going to get called on all his off-field stuff here. That will not necessarily be the case if he goes to the Raiders or Titans or wherever. Which is why we remain skeptical. But stay tuned.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Rodgers hot stove update: Jets ready to go ‘all-out?’ | Elite Sports NY

The other thing that needs to happen is for Gang Green to clear some payroll. Even with the NFL setting a record-high salary cap number of $224.8 million for 2023, the Jets are nearly $3 million over the cap. If they want to bring aboard someone like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr, general manager Joe Douglas needs to make room.

How is he going to get that done, though? SNY’s Conor Hughes provided some thoughts on eight players who could factor into the Jets’ salary cap maneuvering — whether it’s via roster cuts or contract restructuring. Here are those players:

– Wide receiver Corey Davis. After signing a three-year, $37.5 million deal with New York in 2021, one of Davis’ biggest issues has been staying on the field. While cutting him would incur a $666K penalty, it’d also save the Jets $10.5 million. Hughes notes that Davis is the most likely Jets salary-cap casualty.

– Wide receiver Braxton Berrios ($5 million)

– Safety Ashtyn Davis ($2.7 million)

– Special-teamer Justin Hardee ($2.35 million)

– Defensive end Carl Lawson. Making this roster cut would save the Jets $15.4 million, while only incurring a $333K penalty. Hughes notes that it’s more likely for New York and Lawson to discuss an extension. He appears to be in the team’s future plans, and agreeing to a new contract would lower his cap hit.

– Linebacker C.J. Mosely. New York’s veteran leader on defense has a team-high cap hit of $21.46 million. The Jets just reworked Mosely’s contract in September to create some flexibility. If they did decide to cut him, it’d free just $6.572 million, with the rest accounting as a dead charge. So, maybe another restructuring is on the horizon.

– Safety Jordan Whitehead ($7.25 million in savings, $2.98 million penalty) and tackle Duane Brown ($4.9 million in savings, $6.3 million dead) are the final two names Hughes mentioned.

The Jets clearly have some work to do. But as we can see, several options are out there to not only get themselves under the cap but to also create enough space to make the moves on their offseason to-do list.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: 8 Jets players who could factor in New York creating salary cap space | Elite Sports NY

Signs could be pointing to the Packers being done with their long-time signal-caller. Rodgers may not be done playing, but he’s still unsure. The 39-year-old said he’s “a couple of weeks away” from deciding whether or not he wants to play in 2023, so that’s still to be determined at this point.

While 2022 wasn’t the kind of year he hoped for, he did win his third and fourth MVP Awards in 2020 and 2021. He also recently said he could get back to that MVP form in the “right situation“. Of course, that’s incredibly vague and only he knows what it means.

What we do know is that the jets are “committed” to finding a veteran quarterback while actually trying to develop Zach Wilson. Even with Tom Brady retiring (for good… we think), several experienced quarterbacks need a new home. Is New York focused on Rodgers if he wants to play another year? There’s no way he’s not at least on Gang Green’s radar.

And, judging by the following comments on Hackett, Rodgers probably has some level of interest in New York, too (quote via NJ.com):

Love Hack. Hack is my guy. Love him and [his wife] Megan and the kids. They’re really special to me. We really bonded when he was in Green Bay. He made it fun. He made the room fun. He made the weeks fun.

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like it’d be the definition of the “right situation” to me. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into it. But I’m sure I’m not the only one doing that.

Green Bay had a highly productive offense with Hackett there as the offensive coordinator. He wasn’t the guy calling plays (which he’ll do in New York), but it’s clear Hackett had a positive impact on Rodgers. And for a veteran quarterback looking for one last hurrah before hanging up his spikes? Working with someone who can make the week-to-week grind of an NFL regular season fun seems like an ideal scenario.

I guess we’ll see what happens in the coming weeks. Guys like Sauce Gardner, Breece Hall, and Quinnen Williams would probably love to see this happen. And those are just the three that made it publicly known.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Rodgers fuels trade rumors by praising Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett | Elite Sports NY

Usually, it’s the primadonna superstar quarterback being a little passive-aggressive, being a little bit of a mystery, and hinting that he could be on his way out of Green Bay or the league altogether. Only for him to be back in the green and yellow come training camp.

But could this finally be the end? Judging by the latest Adam Schefter report and Rodgers’ comments on his weekly “Pat McAfee Show” spot, the Packets could finally be pulling the plug.

Schefter reported over the weekend the Packers prefer to move on from their longtime passer, and that Rodgers is aware of this. Rodgers then spoke to McAfee on Tuesday, stating “It sounds like there are already conversations going on that aren’t involving me, which are interesting…I’m not a part of those conversations right now. When I make up my mind one way or another [on my future], everyone will know at some point.”

"I'm not a part of those conversations right now but when I make up my mind everybody will know"@AaronRodgers12 dives into the possibility of returning to the Packers #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3e0QUXOGVZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 31, 2023

So it sounds like the Packers want out of the rocky relationship. However, it also sounds like Rodgers feels he has the ultimate say in whether or not he’s Green Bay’s quarterback next year.

“When I make up my mind,” he says. But, isn’t the organization deciding whether or not to dump him? Isn’t the organization deciding the necessary return should it wish to trade him? Any parting of ways isn’t necessarily up to Rodgers, but the veteran seems to believe he will have the leverage once again this offseason.

Of course, Rodgers can believe he has that privilege…until the Packers actually rip the bandaid off. And if there’s an offseason to finally end the marriage, it’s this one. The team just missed the postseason for the first time since 2018, Rodgers is 39 and expensive, and the Packers don’t exactly sport a title-contending roster. Plus the hopeful future of the franchise is already on the roster in Jordan Love, the 2020 first-rounder the Packers traded up for without telling Rodgers.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Have Packers signaled they’re done with Aaron Rodgers? | Elite Sports NY

The rookie quarterback tore the UCL in his throwing elbow during the 49ers’ disastrous NFC title game loss to the Eagles on Sunday. The injury is expected to sideline him for six months. Purdy should be ready for the start of training camp, but he will not have much wiggle room. His injury throws yet another wrench into the Niners’ fascinating quarterback situation. And it could have a trickle-down effect on the Jets’ pursuit of a passer this offseason.

Aaron Rodgers. We will start with the obvious. It would be quite understandable if Niners coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch decide they are not going to let another Super Bowl-caliber roster ride on Purdy or Trey Lance, who is working his way back from a serious ankle injury. They have shown interest in Rodgers, a Northern California native who played at nearby Cal, before. They could do it again. And Rodgers may be more inclined to grease the skids for a trade to the Niners than the Jets (or any other suitor).

MORE: Quinnen Williams vented about Jets offense after NFC title game

Derek Carr. He likely does not make as much trade sense for the Niners. Rodgers would be a short-term sprint option that leaves the door open for Lance or Purdy to be the long-term answer. Carr is a multi-year investment. But you would imagine he waives his no-trade clause for a return to the Bay Area and a chance to play for a serious contender. If so, that would be a tough blow for the Jets. Carr may be their best external option, all things considered.

Jimmy Garoppolo. Hey, stranger things have happened. The Niners have already held onto Garoppolo one more year than anyone expected. They cannot franchise tag him. But if his market is weaker than he had hoped, another one-year bridge contract could make sense for both sides. The good news for the Jets if they really want Garoppolo: He is more likely to cash in now — for whatever he can get — rather than delay things and risk another injury derailing him in 2023.

Tom Brady. This was always a pipe dream for the Jets. But you figure Brady is completely off the board if his childhood team has a greater sense of urgency at the position.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: How Jets’ offseason could be altered by 49ers’ bad Brock Purdy news | Elite Sports NY

Based on the number and before any moves are made, each squad is in a very different situation. And for both, it’s the opposite of last year.

The 2022 NFL salary cap was $208.2 million. It will go up to a record number in 2023, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero:

The NFL informed teams today that the 2023 salary cap will be a record $224.8 million per club, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

That’s up from $208.2 million in 2022, $182.5M in 2021 (COVID adjustment), 198.2M in 2020 and $188.2M in 2019.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2023

How does this impact both the Jets and the Giants? At the moment, Gang Green has no wiggle room while Big Blue has plenty.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets are $2.8 million over the cap. Meanwhile, the Giants have $44.7 million in cap space, according to SNY’s Conor Hughes. This is the opposite of what happened last year, as the Jets had plenty of room to spend and the Giants were stuck with the mess Dave Gettleman left behind.

Each situation can still change by making roster cuts (*cough* Kenny Golloday *cough*) and restructuring contracts, which will surely start happening soon. It will have to for the Jets, who are sincerely looking for a veteran quarterback to slot in ahead of Zach Wilson next season.

If Golloday does get the axe from New York, that’d free up just under $7 million in cap space. So, that’d give the Giants a total of $50 million to work with. It’s not like that’ll go unspent, either. After all, quarterback Daniel Jones needs to get paid, and a decision on Saquon Barkley’s future needs to happen, among many other impending free agents.

This doesn’t necessarily change how the Jets and Giants are planning on doing things this offseason. There’s a good chance they already had an idea of what the salary cap would be before officially getting notified. However, it provides some certainty on what the limits are moving forward. Now, they’ll just be able to forge ahead with their plans for next season.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Giants, Jets in different financial situations with 2023 salary cap revealed | Elite Sports NY

Once the game was over and the Eagles secured another trip to the Super Bowl, Williams shared this tweet, which he quickly deleted:

Quinnen Williams said “give me Aaron Rodgers.” pic.twitter.com/4fFTzD6TRa

— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownRadio) January 30, 2023

This goes against one of the cardinal rules of Twitter: whatever you do, don’t tweet.

It’s not hard to see why Williams feels this way. Purdy was San Francisco’s third-string quarterback behind both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, who each went down with injuries during the regular season. So, Johnson was the fourth quarterback to get significant playing time this year… during the NFC Championship Game, no less.

New York went through something similar, but it was only partially related to injuries. Gang Green used Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Chris Streveler throughout the 2022 campaign. And outside of a couple of good performances, the quarterback position was the Jets’ weakest link.

It’s gotten to the point that team owner Woody Johnson is willing to pay for a veteran quarterback to fill that “missing piece” on the Jets’ roster. There are plenty of experienced signal-callers on the market, but Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has seemingly been front and center.

That has only intensified with New York hiring Nathaniel Hackett as its offensive coordinator to replace Mike LaFleur. It was wise of Williams to delete that tweet quickly. But as we all know, the internet is undefeated and never forgets.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout season for the Jets, which included All-Pro First Team and Pro Bowl selections. He entered the year with 15.5 career sacks through three seasons and nearly doubled that in 2022 by racking up 12 more. Williams is planning on playing contract hardball with New York this offseason, as well. While that happens, he should adhere to that one main rule about Twitter… before you tweet something, just don’t.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Quinnen Williams vented about Jets offense after NFC Title Game | Elite Sports NY

Wondering about the Jets’ level of interest in Rodgers began when reports surfaced of New York’s interview with Nathaniel Hackett. It only continued once he was officially hired as offensive coordinator. Cornerback Sauce Gardner would be OK with this acquisition, as well. Here’s what Hall said about it in an interview with USA Today:

You can definitely connect the dots and start to make your assumptions, but in this league you never know. I’m just excited to see what our GM does and what moves he makes, and I feel like these past few years he’s done a great job of getting the right people in this building.

That first sentence is great because it’s just further proof that NFL players are just like us, only extremely talented athletes. They also see the reports and rumors, and most times, they’re left in the dark until something officially happens.

It seems like Hall, who is rehabbing from an ACL injury, is excited about the addition of Hackett regardless of the Rodgers situation:

I get back to the facility on Saturday for rehab, so I’ll probably have to chop it up with [Hackett] when I’m back at the facility. As long as the offense is running back-friendly, I’ll be fine. So as long as they’re giving me the ball, I feel like we’re gonna have a good chance. So I’m excited to see what he does for our team.

I love the “running back-friendly” comment. There’s definitely potential to squeeze every ounce of production out of Hall with Hackett as the OC, so all the rusher has to do is get healthy and back on the field.

Of course, Hall had to cover himself a smidge in case a trade for Rodgers doesn’t come to fruition:

I’m confident with our guys now. [But] I feel like Aaron Rodgers, any team could take Aaron Rodgers and he’ll get you to the Promised Land. So I think any team will take him.

We know Jets owner Woody Johnson thinks getting a quarterback is the “missing piece” for his team. There’s also speculation that he’d be willing to pay a huge price to land Rodgers. Can the four-time MVP get New York back to the playoffs and help them hoist the Lombardi trophy?

The Jets need to acquire him first before those questions can start getting attempted answers. There’s one fan who probably hopes so, though.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets’ Breece Hall also endorses an Aaron Rodgers pursuit | Elite Sports NY

The Jets need an upgrade at quarterback amid Zach Wilson’s drastic development, and the team also hired Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator on Thursday. Hackett was Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Green Bay from 2019-21 before lasting 15 games as Broncos head coach this past season.

The future Hall of Famer and the quarterback-needy franchise could be a great match. And one of the Jets’ top players is giving Rodgers his shine.

“He’s definitely great. He’s definitely elite,” star cornerback Sauce Gardner said Thursday on ESPN Radio’s “Fitz & Harry” program. “He’s been doing it [since] damn near before I was born. I can’t discredit nothing that he do. I’ve seen him do so many good things. He’s a great quarterback for sure.”

When asked whether he would want Rodgers as his quarterback, Gardner responded, “I wouldn’t mind that. I want what’s best for the offense. But at the same time, I just gotta focus on my job and what we got going on on the defensive side.”

Gardner handled it well. He simply praised Rodgers without ousting Wilson or Mike White or whoever.

But you can only imagine others within the organization probably feel the same way about Rodgers as Sauce does. Which could make things interesting down the stretch.

If the Jets truly want Rodgers, whether that’s this week, next week, next month, or at any point before the 2023 season, they should make the move. And there’s a chance owner Woody Johnson will put his foot down for the move to occur.

Because there are various jobs on the line. After a disappointing 7-10 campaign that ended with a six-game losing streak, Jets general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh are on the hot seat. There’s no way this team can try the Wilson experiment for a third straight year or try to sell White as a franchise quarterback after 2-3 good games.

In a make-or-break year, with everything on the line, the Jets must swing for the fences. It’s not the time to rebuild. It’s not the time to go through the whole draft-and-develop process the Jets have failed at various times. This is going to be year five of Douglas and year three of Saleh — the first playoff appearance since 2010 is a must. And in order for the Jets to accomplish, they need to upgrade the roster’s most important position.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets’ Sauce Gardner hops on Aaron Rodgers hype train | Elite Sports NY

Well, not necessarily when he is Aaron Rodgers’ buddy. So let us take the speculation to Ludicrous Speed. The Jets are trying to win Rodgers over, aren’t they? Or they know they just did by hiring Hackett (and new offensive line coach Keith Carter)?

The plan seems pretty clear: Convince Rodgers to force the Packers to trade him, and to the Jets at that. He holds all the cards; they have a Super Bowl-caliber roster ready to make a championship sprint and will clear the cap space. Joe Namath has even said he’ll let No. 12 go back into circulation. Oh, and now Hackett too. What else is there to discuss?

This is not necessarily a bulletproof approach. The Broncos also thought hiring Hackett would lead to acquiring Rodgers. But he decided to stay with the Packers, they traded for Russell Wilson instead and disaster ensued. Who is to say the Jets are guaranteed success?

Rodgers will have plenty of non-Jets options available to him. He could retire (although unlikely with a guaranteed $58.3 million pay day in 2023). He could remain where he is. Or he could demand a trade elsewhere. Is New York really a place he wants to be?

Everyone is going to compare the Rodgers speculation (and deal, if one is consummated) to Brett Favre. And understandably so: He was also a mercurial 39-year-old future Hall of Fame Packer quarterback with one Super Bowl title. But we only tend to remember the bad about his lone season here (and there was plenty of it). The truth is it almost worked on the field. The Jets were a true Super Bowl contender until he got hurt. And if they get Rodgers, they will have the same short window to win a title. Now they just have to get him. Maybe Hackett seals the deal?

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett, confirm Aaron Rodgers charm offensive is on | Elite Sports NY

Zach Wilson is not going to be the guy. The Jets need an improvement at the game’s most important position to best take advantage of the offensive talent they employ.

There have been various names floated around, and that will continue to be the case over the next few months are so. Who could play quarterback for the Jets during a crucial 2023 season?

Aaron Rodgers. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, whose future is uncertain, may have played his final game in a Packers uniform. Green Bay could potentially trade its longtime franchise quarterback this offseason and pivot to the forgotten Jordan Love, who the Packers drafted in the 2020 first round.

It would take multiple draft picks and the Jets would be bringing in a late-30s quarterback who may only have one or two years left in him. And they’d be taking on a contract that carries a 2023 cap hit of $31.6 million. But if Rodgers is what’s going to get this team over the contender hump, the Jets should make a move.

The 2023 season will be a make-or-break year for a number of individuals, including head coach Robert Saleh, his staff, and general manager Joe Douglas. This isn’t the time to draft, develop, and rebuild — this is the time to win games.

Rodgers could make the most out of the Jets’ young and talented offense. Plus, former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is a candidate to earn the same role with the Jets. If Saleh hires Hackett, Rodgers might welcome a move to Florham Park.

Derek Carr. But if the Jets don’t want to take a chance trading for a guy who’s in his late-30s, maybe they shoot for someone more on the younger side: Derek Carr.

The 31-year-old Raiders quarterback is on his way out of Vegas — he wasn’t even active for the final two games of the team’s miserable 2022 season.

Carr also has an expensive contract. And while that contract could force the Raiders to take less in any trade, the Jets still may need to give up a first-rounder. The Jets are desperate for a guy who can maximize the ability of this roster, and teams know this.

If Carr comes to New York, expect the Jets to have given up their No. 13 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Jimmy Garoppolo. While Mike LaFleur is out as offensive coordinator, Jimmy Garoppolo would still be a legitimate option for the Jets in 2023.

The 49ers are likely to move forward with either Trey Lance or Brock Purdy, or both. Garoppolo will not be with the team in 2023, but he’s still someone who can assume starting quarterback duties just as long as he’s healthy.

Garoppolo is experienced and can limit the mistakes — the Jets need this, as Zach Wilson’s mistake-making and lack of experience have held them back.

Not listed: Lamar Jackson, Mike White, Zach Wilson, Tom Brady. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson will get a new deal done this offseason. They’re even including him in the search for a new offensive coordinator, so he has to be staying put in Baltimore.

While Mike White isn’t the clearcut franchise quarterback they need and will likely return to a backup role next year, Wilson has played his way off the team. Tom Brady was an interesting idea, but his rough 2022 season has altered any desire of picking up the GOAT.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Updated Jets QB options for 2023: Aaron Rodgers? Derek Carr? | Elite Sports NY

“If Aaron Rodgers went to the Jets, they can win it all,” the star of ESPN First Take opined Wednesday. “They can win it all. With that defense, if he went to the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers in the AFC, against (Patrick) Mahomes, against (Joe) Burrow, against Josh Allen, against Tua Tagovailoa, I’m telling you, the Jets have got a chance now. I’m not saying I’d pick them. But they’ve got a chance now. They’re in the mix.”

That all may be true. But the only way the Jets trade for Rodgers is if Rodgers allows the Packers to trade him here.

MORE: Breaking down Jets’ 2023 free agents: Who stays, goes?

Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause. But he is due $58.3 million in guaranteed money in 2023, and that is all he needs to control the board. If the Packers do not want to pay that bill in full, they need to trade Rodgers. And the only way they will find a trade partner is if the other team knows Rodgers will show up and play for them.

Rodgers suggested retirement was a possibility during his latest appearance on buddy Pat McAfee’s show. But it is hard to believe he would actually hang it up with close to $60 million coming his way. Which means he either stays in Green Bay or asks out. And if he asks out, he will more or less get to choose his destination. The Packers and his new team will then hammer out the particulars.

Put aside whether the Jets would want Rodgers (for now). Would he want the Jets? There are a lot of things to like about the roster if you are a veteran quarterback looking to win one more Super Bowl. We’ve said as much when discussing the Tom Brady Dream. But Rodgers may not be as equipped for handling New York as Brady would be. That could end it all right there.

MORE ON ESNY:
• NFL mock draft: Time for Giants to get Daniel Jones a weapon
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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets can win Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers, Stephen A. Smith says | Elite Sports NY

But in the coming weeks, with a crucial offseason on deck and a make-or-break 2023 season to follow, general manager Joe Douglas needs to make a variety of decisions.

How may he handle each of these 23 players with expiring contracts?

Should retain (2): OT George Fant, K Greg Zuerlein

While Fant is on the wrong side of 30, the Jets could use a reserve swing tackle (or potential starter) who has familiarity with the roster and coaching staff. It’s very much unclear if Mekhi Becton will remain healthy in 2023 after missing virtually all of the last two seasons.

The Jets have been incredibly unlucky at the placekicker position in recent years and have bounced from guy to guy. But they have some stability with Zuerlein and should maintain it. Zuerlein connected on 30 of 37 field-goal attempts and 28 of 29 extra-point attempts in 2022.

Would be nice (5): DT Sheldon Rankins, G Nate Herbig, LB Quincy Williams, QB Mike White, C Connor McGovern.

Rankins is a decent player but one that’s definitely replaceable on the interior of the defensive line. Williams is also a nice player and was second on the team in tackles this past year with 106 combined. But Douglas would be better off addressing this spot in the draft, given C.J. Mosley is still under contract.

Herbig and White would provide depth at their respective positions, so re-signing either of them is a possibility.

McGovern could be a back-and-forth decision. While he has experience alongside guards Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, both of whom will be starting next season, he had a rough 2022 campaign. McGovern allowed five sacks, tied for third-most among centers (per Pro Football Focus).

Goners (16): QB Joe Flacco, G Dan Feeney, S LaMarcus Joyner, RB James Robinson, RB Ty Johnson, LB Bryce Huff, OLB Marcell Harris, WR Jeff Smith, FB Nick Bawden, LB Kwon Alexander, DE Solomon Thomas, DE Vinny Curry, DT Nathan Shepherd, OT Mike Remmers, OT Greg Senat, OT Cedric Ogbuehi.

Shall we go down the line?

There are better backup quarterback options than Flacco, who is 38 years old and might retire.

Feeney played only 18% and 10% of the Jets’ offensive snaps in 2021 and 2022.

Joyner is 32 and Douglas prefers not to re-sign safeties (SEE: Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye).

James Robinson was active in just four games after the Jets traded for him in October.

Ty Johnson is a reserve running back at best.

The Jets already have various pass rushers under contract, so Bryce Huff will likely catch the eye of another team.

Marcell Harris is another backup at best and was on the field for 8% of the Jets’ defensive snaps all season.

The Jets’ strong receiver room will edge Jeff Smith out.

Nick Bawden is a replaceable fullback, and who knows if the team’s new offensive scheme will even need one?

The Jets already have enough money tied up in Mosley and could replace Kwon Alexander in the draft.

Solomon Thomas, Vinny Curry, and Nathan Shepherd were lower on the depth chart and Curry is 34 years old.

And finally, Mike Remmers (age), Greg Senat (inexperience), and Cedric Ogbuehi (poor play) will depart due to the presence of tackles Mekhi Becton, George Fant, Max Mitchell, and/or a rookie, the four potential Week 1 depth chart options.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Breaking down Jets’ 2023 free agents: Who stays, goes? | Elite Sports NY

Maybe a little too confident.

The Jets haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2010. Their current drought is the NFL’s longest. Despite 2022’s unfortunate finish, New York has some reasons to feel optimistic. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall (when he returns from injury), and Sauce Gardner all look like the real deal. The defense was also among the best in football. Owner Woody Johnson thinks getting a veteran quarterback could be the missing piece to get his squad over the hump.

One fan took matters into their own hands and made a decision he’ll definitely not regret at all (insert sarcasm here):

This guy really got "Jets Super Bowl 58 Champs" tatted on him @brgridiron

(via brettgeffner/IG) pic.twitter.com/zv16G57iDk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2023

Whoa, boy. A tattoo is a tattoo, but it’s very obvious he thought for a while about putting it in a strategic spot. It’s not like he got a face tattoo that’s easily visible upon walking out the door. If the Jets don’t make good on this particular guarantee, all he’ll have to do is wear some pants. That’s doable, I’d imagine.

It didn’t take long for optimism to start manifesting itself after New York’s Week 18 loss to the Miami Dolphins, too. Gardner said that by Week 18 next season, the Jets would be in the playoffs. Outside of the NFL-long playoff drought, there are other things Gang Green will have to overcome to prove him right.

But then again, he didn’t get that guarantee tattooed on his body. We aren’t aware of the backstory to the above tattoo. Maybe it was in the midst of a heated debate and he wanted to stake his claim about the squad. Or, maybe he lost a bet. Either way, this is a bold move that could be rewarded handsomely or laughed at for ages.

Regardless of the result, it’s the start of an interesting story.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets fan gets ‘Super Bowl 58 Champs’ tattoo he’ll almost definitely regret | Elite Sports NY

New York interviewed Nathaniel Hackett recently for its open offensive coordinator position. Since Hackett spent three years in that same position for the Green Bay Packers, people began thinking the Jets’ interest in the former Broncos head coach was directly tied to the four-time MVP.

Would it work, though? Rodgers is 39 years old, is coming off a sub-optimal year in Green Bay, and has an enormous contract with equally-enormous cap hits to consider. And with all this, what would the Packers be asking in a trade? You’d think it couldn’t be that much considering the situation, but not so fast, according to Peter King.

In his “Football Morning in America” column on NBC Sports, King had this to say about the Jets and Rodgers:

So, how possible is it? Well, consider that Rodgers’ cap numbers in the next two seasons would be $48.3 million, combined. That’s certainly manageable. As for the compensation due Green Bay, my guess is the Pack would want at least two first-round picks. The Woody Johnson Jets, desperate for a star QB almost since the Broadway Joe days, would happily pay that freight, I’d guess. But would Rodgers accept a deal to the Jets? We shall see.

We’ve got a lot of guessing and “we shall see” type of language in here, but my goodness. Hearing that Johnson is willing to pay for a veteran quarterback isn’t surprising, though. He said that while chatting to the media right after the Jets’ season ended. Potentially taking on Rodgers’ cap hit plus surrendering multiple first-round picks sounds like a steep price.

Johnson has pointed to the quarterback position as the “missing piece” for a “loaded” Jets team. And with New York being the current owner of the NFL’s longest playoff drought, who knows, he might just be desperate enough to take the gamble. This could also give Zach Wilson one or two years to learn from his childhood idol. That’s probably not a terrible consolation price for being bumped down to second string, right?

King also wondered aloud if Rodgers would even accept a trade to the Jets. The signal-caller recently said his play could return to an MVP-caliber level “in the right situation”. Nobody knows exactly what that means just yet. However, Rodgers did get a glimpse of what the Jets are capable of. New York went into Lambeau Field during Week 6 and handily beat the Packers, 27-10.

So, he may have more opinions on the Jets than we’d initially assume. There are plenty of teams in need of a veteran quarterback this offseason. There are also several veteran signal-callers looking for a new home in 2023. The rumor mill should be fascinating to follow in the coming weeks. One would imagine the “Aaron Rodgers to the Jets” rumors will only intensify until something else happens.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Add Peter King to Aaron Rodgers rumor mill, says Jets ‘desperate’ for QB | Elite Sports NY

He joins Kevin Patullo, Marcus Brady, Nick Caley, and Darrell Bevell as other coaches have been legitimately connected to the Jets for this position in some way. The reaction to this news on the Twitter machine has been mixed. There’s been a lot of “Oh my God, no thank you” reactions because of how his tenure with the Denver Broncos transpired.

He spent one year in the Mile High City and was fired after just 15 games (which included a 4-11 record). That’s not ideal, but he wouldn’t come to New York as a head coach, ya know.

The other type of reaction has included cooking up a conspiracy theory saying the Jets’ interest in Hackett could mean they’d try to make a run for Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

These two were both in Green Bay between 2019 and 2021 when Hackett served as the offensive coordinator. Head coach Matt LaFleur called plays, but the Packers were among the league’s best-scoring offenses. Rodgers also took home MVP honors in 2020 and 2021.

When we combine this with Rodgers’ recent comments about his future, it becomes even more interesting. While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, he said the following (quote via the Associated Press):

Do I still think I can play? Of course. Of course. Can I play at a high level? Yeah. The highest. I think I can win MVP again, in the right situation. The right situation — is that Green Bay or is that somewhere else? I’m not sure.

Could the right situation be in New York with the Jets and his old OC? When looking at what Gang Green is missing, the answer to that question might just be yes. But any potential trade would be complicated thanks to Rodgers’ current contract.

Rodgers is effectively scheduled to make just under $60 million in 2023 thanks to a $58.3 million option bonus that is fully guaranteed. The only option the Packers have is when they hand over the cash (but it has to get done before Week 1). And he is also due another $47 million bonus in 2024, also fully guaranteed. So his dead cap hit in 2023 would be just under $100 million.

Assuming Rodgers is not willing to drastically rework the deal, the Packers would almost assuredly want to designate Rodgers as a post-June 1 trade. That would allow them to spread the dead cap money out and avoid such a massive immediate hit. But that would also mean Rodgers could not show up to the Jets (or any other team) until June 1. This would hypothetically complicate the Jets’ offseason plans since they’d have to juggle cap space.

The bright side is Green Bay would likely pay a significant portion of Rodgers’ guaranteed money to grease the skids on a trade. And they couldn’t demand much in return because of this ridiculous contract (along with his age and recent performance).

So could this actually happen? I mean, sure, nothing appears to be off the table right now for New York. But it seems incredibly unlikely. Even if Robert Saleh and Co. think Hackett is the best option for them moving forward, it certainly wouldn’t “guarantee” Rodgers also becoming a Jet. That won’t stop some fans from dreaming about it, though.

James Kratch also contributed to this story. Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Could Jets’ Nathaniel Hackett interest have Aaron Rodgers implications? | Elite Sports NY

“He’s not going to play in the AFC East,” Russo said Wednesday on ESPN First Take. “He’s not going to go against (coach Bill) Belichick two times a year. And he’s not going to do that to (owner Robert) Kraft, who hates the Jets, to go play for the Jets. He’s not doing that. He’s not going to go against the Patriots twice a year.”

Coming to New York would probably be good for his sex life, though.

OK, back to business. No guy talk here. Anyway, Russo is likely onto something.

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If Brady plays in 2023 — he’ll be 46 in Week 1 — he almost assuredly will not stay with the Buccaneers. And the Jets would have a pretty compelling story to tell him if they were granted an audience. But no matter what happened at the end in Foxborough, it is hard to believe Brady would stick it to Belichick and Kraft in such an audacious manner. That, coupled with the Dolphins’ complicated situation — they’ve committed to Tua Tagovailoa and got in scalding hot water for their past Brady pursuit — likely makes the AFC East a no-fly zone.

Russo, like many, predicted Brady will end up with the Raiders if he keeps playing. And Las Vegas does make sense for myriad reasons — Josh McDaniels, Davante Adams, warm weather, a franchise that needs a culture change. Yes, he would have to play Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes twice a year. But do you really think the GOAT cares about that? Of course not.

One last stray thought: We could have been having this chat about the Giants as recently as a few weeks ago. And Brady is a documented Buddy of Brian Daboll, too. But Daniel Jones made sure that did not happen.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Christopher ‘Mad Dog’ Russo is not having this Tom Brady-Jets talk | Elite Sports NY

So where should the GOAT head next? ESPN assembled a panel of NFL reporters to discuss Brady’s future. And Sal Paolantonio made a hard sell for the Jets.

Sal Pal says:

If Miami really is committed to bringing back (Tua) Tagovailoa, that takes the Dolphins out of the Brady sweepstakes and should make the Jets contenders. If Brady is looking for a similar situation to the Bucs in 2020, it’s the Jets, who have a ready-made defense. He could remake the offense the way he wants. And he would face Bill Belichick and the Patriots twice a year. Get your popcorn ready.

The Raiders are considered the current frontrunner for Brady in many corners. And for good reason. They just exiled Derek Carr, they desperately need a culture change and to generate excitement and Brady would reunite with head coach Josh McDaniels. And the Dolphins made a much-publicized — and impermissible — push to sign Brady not too long ago. So they make the short list as well given the uncertainties surrounding Tagovailoa’s concussions and the quality roster they have built.

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But after that? The Jets have as good an argument to make to Brady as anyone. They have a Super Bowl-caliber roster, save the quarterback. And Brady would give them everything they want and need. He would be their biggest star since Joe Namath. They’d get one or two seasons out of him, ideally win a Super Bowl and then move on. They can even keep the Zach Wilson Hope Flame lit while doing so.

Will it happen? No. Would it be awesome? Yes.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: NFL insider: Jets should take run at Tom Brady, and he should listen | Elite Sports NY

This is not a move we had on our 2023 bingo card. We have not given much thought to indoor football since that brawl in Texas where the guy had a steel chair. But thankfully Friend of ESNY Nick Kosko — a former AFL play-by-play guy — has a sharp eye.

The @OfficialAFL has updated their profile pics to the mid-2000s logo and it looks like Twitter and Instagram are scrubbed. @soulfootball and @aflblackjacks were among the 6 remaining franchises during 2019, the leagues final season.

Hmmm pic.twitter.com/neBt93OkrX

— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) January 16, 2023

The AFL has effectively shut down twice since the peak of its success about 15 years ago. And when the league declared bankruptcy in 2019, it was considered the end of the road. That version of the AFL was technically a separate entity from the original AFL. It only had six teams in a pretty condensed geographic region — Albany, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Columbus, Philadelphia and Washington — and was nowhere near as popular as the initial version, which stretched coast to coast and had 19 teams at one point.

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But given the need for streaming service content and the legalization of sports betting — that #BetOnUs hashtag on the Twitter banner caught our eye — it would make sense to try to revive something that once worked. As we previously wrote: The AFL was the ECW of real sports — a preposterous that worked far better and longer than it likely should have. The issue for the AFL will be that it now has to compete with the XFL and the USFL for players and exposure.

The AFL has had past teams located in Albany, Atlantic City, East Rutherford, Hartford, Long Island and Manhattan. So we have rich arena football tradition in this region.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Arena Football League is back, please email if you want to own a team | Elite Sports NY

To recap: Jackson did not play in — or travel to — Sunday’s excruciating playoff loss to the rival Bengals. And he did so amid criticism and questioning about whether he should fight through his knee injury — even from wideout Sammy Watkins. Then running back J.K. Dobbins — while complaining about his touches — threw backup Tyler Huntley under the bus and said Baltimore would have won with Jackson.

And then Jackson threw this up on Instagram:

Lamar Jackson’s Instagram … pic.twitter.com/k9ndDZIEtH

— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) January 16, 2023

Kudos to all involved for kicking off the biggest story of the NFL offseason on such a strong foot. So what’s next? Good question.

Jackson — who is representing himself — is reportedly determined to get a fully-guaranteed deal like the Browns gave Deshaun Watson. Which is fine. But the rest of the NFL sees Watson’s contract as a legal bribe to get him to play in Cleveland rather than a precedent-setting event.

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The Ravens reportedly offered Jackson a deal with $133 million guaranteed before the season. That is more guaranteed money than any other active quarterback aside from Watson. And Jackson turned it down. He has since missed a significant stretch of the season for a second straight year to hamstring the Ravens’ postseason hopes. Still, let’s assume the Ravens still want Jackson and they do not want to reduce their next offer given his recent health issues.

That creates a situation where the Ravens have three options: Re-sign him before free agency begins, give him the franchise tag or let him walk. The latter two would give the Jets a chance to land him. It is hard to believe the Ravens would throw their hands up and lose Jackson without any compensation in return, so the Jets are likely hoping the Ravens will be open to a tag-and-trade situation.

There are two ways that could go down. The Ravens could tag Jackson and then let him negotiate with the Jets, followed by a deal. The Packers and Raiders did this with wide receiver Davante Adams. Or Jackson — assuming Baltimore gives him the non-exclusive tag — could sign an offer sheet with the Jets independent of the Ravens.

Baltimore would then be able to match the sheet and retain Jackson or let him leave. The NFL rulebook says the Jets would owe the Ravens two first-round picks if Jackson takes their offer sheet. But that is not believed to be a hard-and-fast standard; the teams would be able to negotiate Jackson’s passage at a lower price.

James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskratch.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets must love watching this Lamar Jackson-Ravens drama unfold | Elite Sports NY

Gang Green is one of four teams that fits the criteria to be featured on HBO’s 2023 training camp “Hard Knocks” season, as pointed out by For The Win. To be eligible, teams “must not have made the postseason for two straight seasons. They must have a coach who is in his second year on the job, at least. And they haven’t participated in the program in a decade.”

Also in the running: The Bears, Commanders and Saints.

There is nothing all that compelling about the Saints currently. And while the Commanders would be amazing television for myriad reasons, there is no way the NFL puts a spotlight on owner Daniel Snyder and his litany of scandals. So that leaves us with the Bears and Jets.

FTW argues the Bears would make for the best television:

By the time the Bears will have potentially been locked in for “Hard Knocks,” they will have just finished an offseason where they will have had to mandatorily spend over $100 million in cap space while harnessing the power of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Factor in one of football’s most exciting players in Justin Fields and a charter franchise notorious for attempting to keep secrets about their inner happenings, and the Bears are a no-brainer.

But we would argue the Jets are a better pick. Head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas are likely playing for their jobs, no matter what owner Woody Johnson claims. The potential for a big-name quarterback addition. The Mekhi Becton and Zach Wilson comeback attempts. Wilson’s mom. Charismatic young stars like Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson. There is a lot to work with. And they might just be able to live up to the iconic Rex Ryan-powered “Hard Knocks” season of lore.

FTW’s read on the Jets:

There’s a distinct possibility the Jets will soon be in the throes of a quarterback “competition” between Zach Wilson and (Insert Veteran). You also can’t discount the idea of a major market New York team really playing to the camera, as they once did during the Rex Ryan era. Count me on in Gang Green letting us under the hood should the first option fall through.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: More good Jets news: They might be on ‘Hard Knocks!’ | Elite Sports NY

He spoke with the media on Thursday. On many occasions, he didn’t say a lot of surprising things. Well, except for one quote in particular.

Johnson had similar thoughts to what head coach Robert Saleh said about quarterback Zach Wilson. You know, that it was a tough year, but they still see the talent there and want to help him realize it.

On whether there’s a “make the playoffs, or else” kind of mandate on Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, Johnson said there isn’t one because mandates don’t work. The Jets are owners of the NFL’s longest playoff drought and have the league’s worst overall record since 2016. He’s probably only saying this to avoid making headlines.

If he “expects” to make the playoffs every year — like he claims to — Saleh and Co. will have to show him something in 2023. The best news from his media availability is that he’s willing to spend big on a veteran QB. Johnson even went so far as to say that having good play under center is the Jets’ “missing piece”.

Jets fans are probably reading through this and thinking, “OK, this isn’t terrible and it’s mostly stuff many of us are thinking.” Well, that was the case until Johnson was asked if he could sense the fans getting tired of being close to getting over the hump.

Here’s what he said:

cont … "I want to give them what they want. They want wins + they deserve wins I will try to get them wins."

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) January 12, 2023

I’m sorry, sir…what? He tried to save it with the second half of this quote, but my goodness. Has he actually talked to Jets fans? If he has, did he hear the truth? We’re going to go with no on the first question. And if he has, then no on the second question, too.

Johnson is right to a degree, though. Everyone saw a defense that was among the NFL’s best in 2022. They saw bright young stars in running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson on offense. But we also watched them go from a 7-4 team with playoff aspirations to a 7-10 squad.

The coaching staff is trying to preach that this isn’t the “Same Old Jets” anymore. However, that second-half tailspin looked all too familiar for fans.

Let’s not get it twisted, Woody — fans are tired. There are reasons to be hopeful about the future. But this isn’t the first time those feelings have appeared since New York’s last playoff appearance. It would’ve been OK to say he realizes fans are tired. Instead, he said something that makes him seem hilariously out of touch with reality.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets’ Woody Johnson provides media with hilariously out-of-touch quote | Elite Sports NY

New York’s offense had a hard time getting things going for most of 2022. It hit another unfortunate level to finish things off, though. Zach Wilson threw a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Jets’ Week 15 loss to the Detroit Lions. That was the squad’s final touchdown of the regular season.

Yes, they went 0-for-the-end-zone over their final three games with Mike White and Joe Flacco sharing the duties. That was probably the final nail in offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s proverbial coffin, as he won’t be back in the same role next season. A list of potential candidates the Jets could consider as his replacement has begun circulating.

Whomever that hire is will likely also be joined by a veteran quarterback. That was already on general manager Joe Douglas’ to-do list this offseason. Maybe it was more of a preference than a necessity, but with LaFleur not returning, it’s an absolute must.

New York is committed to developing Wilson into the NFL quarterback they think he can be. While he’s up for the challenge of having to fight for his job, there’s almost no scenario where him being the starter in 2023 is a preferred solution.

SNY’s Conor Hughes lists a couple of excellent reasons why:

The #Jets were already going to, but it's increasingly important they add a veteran quarterback.

Zach Wilson is already working on a complete fundamental rebuild. Now you're adding learning a new offensive scheme — his third (BYU, LaFleur, TBD) in four years — on top of it.

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 12, 2023

Wilson’s mechanics were a mess in 2022. That’s why he’s stripping everything down to the studs and starting from scratch. Add in having to learn a new scheme and playbook, and this isn’t a job for a third-year QB who is starting over. It’s a job for a veteran signal-caller with a proven track record. You know, one who can deal with these kinds of changes rather easily.

The Jets’ goals for 2023 are likely two-pronged.

Since Wilson is probably staying put, there will be a focus to set a good foundation for him to build from for his own career. How well New York does this could be significant for the organization’s long-term outlook. But Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh know what’s at stake. They’re on the chopping block if Gang Green doesn’t take a step forward and reach the playoffs next season. Bringing someone in to bridge that gap and break the league’s longest postseason drought was already critical.

Now that we know there will be a new offensive coordinator running the show, it’s even more important. As if that was possible at this point.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets’ veteran quarterback search now an even more critical mission | Elite Sports NY

The Jets parted ways with their offensive coordinator Wednesday after two disappointing seasons. New York’s unit finished in the bottom eight in both total offense and scoring each of the last two years under LaFleur’s watch. And for that, the organization is allowing him to pursue other coaching opportunities while the Jets will begin to find a replacement, per SNY’s Connor Hughes.

So the Jets now have two major question marks on that side of the ball: quarterback and coordinator. The former will be addressed in the coming months; the latter will be addressed ASAP.

Who could the Jets bring in to man this offense?

Frank Reich. He already looks to be one of the favorites for the job.

Sure, he hasn’t been a playoff coach since the 2020 season and was just canned after the Colts started the year 3-5-1. But if there’s one thing Reich has proven to do, it’s finding success even with questions looming over the quarterback position. And that’s what the Jets unfortunately possess at the moment.

From 2018-22, Reich was 40-33-1 as Colts head coach with two playoff appearances. And he never was able to locate quarterback stability after Andrew Luck’s stunning August 2019 retirement.

He had Jacoby Brissett, a temporary NFL starter at best. He had 39-year-old Philip Rivers. He had the shaky Carson Wentz. He had washed-up Matt Ryan before throwing a young Sam Ehlinger to the wolves. And still went 40-33-1 with two playoff appearances.

The Jets have a major issue at the game’s most important position. But Reich has experience with this type of situation.

Kliff Kingsbury. He’s currently unemployed after the Cardinals fired him on Black Monday. Kingsbury made the postseason just once in four years as Arizona’s head coach and finished this past season in the basement of the NFC West at 4-13. And that’s with talented players on the roster, including one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL in Kyler Murray.

The young coach could use a step back in hopes of eventually returning to the prominent role he just held for four years. And as an OC, why wouldn’t the Jets be a fit?

Kingsbury would bring a young, creative mindset to a mostly young and talented offense. He’d have various weapons to work with both in the running back and receiver rooms, with general manager Joe Douglas potentially adding another wideout this offseason.

While the quarterback situation is still uncertain, it’s tough to imagine Kingsbury (as an offensive coordinator, not a head coach) failing to maximize these weapons.

Shane Day. Nothing like using your coaching network to your advantage.

Shane Day was with head coach Robert Saleh in San Francisco from 2019-20, serving as the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach.

Now, he’s the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Chargers and has been since 2021. And in his first two seasons on Brandon Staley’s staff, the passing game has been stellar in LA.

The Chargers have been a top-three passing offense in the league each of the last two seasons, and Justin Herbert has proven to be one of the more talented quarterbacks in the league.

Day could work well with the Jets’ slate of weapons and figure out how to maximize the talent of whoever the starting quarterback is, just like he’s done with Herbert.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets offensive coordinator candidates: Frank Reich, who else? | Elite Sports NY

The Jets are not exactly an attractive destination for quality candidates at the moment. Mike LaFleur’s replacement won’t have a quarterback when they arrive. And considering Saleh likely faces a playoff mandate in 2023, they won’t have much job security either.

But all that can be overcome if the new guy knows he has a chance to be the next guy. Which is why the Jets should be bold here and make a run at former Texans coach Bill O’Brien.

If Zach Wilson can be salvaged, O’Brien can do it. If he cannot, O’Brien will find a way to make it work with a veteran quarterback (whoever that is). Saleh shows he is capable of taking on personal risk for the betterment of the organization. And the Jets will be sticking a thumb in Bill Belichick’s eye — even more so if BB actually has BOB in his sights to fix the Patriots’ broken offense, as many anticipate.

O’Brien is going to be an head NFL coach again. The guy had five winning seasons and won four AFC South titles in Houston and has since gone to Nick Saban Career Rehab as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. But he will need to step back in as a coordinator first. You can make the argument the Jets provide him immense upside.

If O’Brien transforms the Jets’ offense with or without Wilson, he either moves on for his second chance. Or receives it here at Saleh’s expense, inheriting a roster that is close to Super Bowl caliber. And most likely will some form of personnel control or sway.

Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas are at the fork in the road. They have to win in 2023. They need to swing for the fences with their jobs at stake. O’Brien is the type of hire that can save them. Even if they need to use their own demise as incentive.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets should make run at Bill O’Brien for offensive coordinator, stick it to Bill Belichick, Patriots | Elite Sports NY

To recap: A Houston television station reported LaFleur had been fired on Wednesday afternoon. The Jets pushed back on the report. Six hours later, LaFleur was gone along with some curious reported backstory.

LaFleur’s status was undoubtedly in question due to Zach Wilson’s struggles and the Jets’ collapse this season. It was not entirely LaFleur’s fault, but he certainly played a big role. And someone probably had to take the fall for a six-game losing streak to end the year and Wilson’s lack of development.

But every Baggie Day indication from general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh suggested LaFleur was returning in 2023. And that was reportedly the Jets’ plan. But when other NFL teams reached out to LaFleur — supposedly because they thought he might be on shaky ground — the coordinator and the Jets sat down and decided to mutually part ways so he can pursue other opportunities.

Does that all pass the smell test? Of course not. Why would the Jets let a guy they wanted to keep walk away with no compensation? Especially when they will need to turn around and overpay to replace him given the specter of a housecleaning if the Jets don’t make the playoffs next season? And why would rival teams be banging down the door of an offensive coordinator with no real accomplishments they believed was about to get fired?

The obvious explanation: Saleh was trying to do well by his good friend after making a tough decision and the leak made the process messy. But the fear if you are a Jets fan is owner Woody Johnson has begun meddling in football affairs. Which would not be ideal for the long-term integrity, and success, of the Douglas-Saleh regime. Especially if Johnson wants to force them to stick with the Wilson charade.

Anyway, the Jets need a new offensive coordinator. They have no quarterback and the coach could get fired 12 months from now. Happy hunting.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur out after 2 seasons | Elite Sports NY

The Jets quarterback and 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick finished last among all eligible quarterbacks in passer rating and completion percentage for his miserable second season, according to NextGenStats. He threw only six touchdowns and seven picks in nine games. And he was benched multiple times for Mike White and Joe Flacco.

Wilson desperately needs to put this year in the rearview if he wants to grow into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be. Luckily, the confidence is there. When asked about the Jets possibly acquiring a veteran quarterback this offseason, Wilson’s comments were telling.

“I’m going to make that dude’s life hell in practice every day,” he told reporters on Monday. “I’m going to go out there and do my best to show the coaches I deserve to be there. And it’s not in a negative way; it’s in a positive way. It’s making everybody else better, hopefully.”

It’s a fantastic quote in a tough situation –- don’t forget, the kid is only 23-years-old and needs to answer questions about a disastrous season. After mightily struggling on various occasions and partly costing his team a playoff spot.

But the confidence can only get Wilson so far.

It’s not a confidence league; it’s a results league. And as we previously alluded to, the results have been horrendous with Wilson under center.

While he may have the correct mentality, his lackluster on-field performance will trump all and could force the Jets to part ways with him this offseason. Because general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh, and Co. can’t run it back with the kid. They need to stop trying to justify a draft pick for the betterment of an organization that hasn’t reached the playoffs in over a decade.

He’s clearly not the answer, nor is he a fit in Mike LaFleur’s offense. There’s a reason White looked better in the Jets’ offense and so did Flacco at times. And the team cannot disappoint this fanbase yet again by trying to justify the drafting of Wilson, especially when there are superior options at the game’s most important position.

So the confidence is great — it’s a whole lot better than if Wilson said he would refuse to compete and would only return unless he was the clearcut starter. But that’s not what’s going to ignite a career resurgence — actually playing the quarterback position the correct way will.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Zach Wilson’s bravado will only go so far. Jets need results now | Elite Sports NY

The standout defensive tackle made that crystal clear Monday as the Jets cleared out their lockers after Sunday’s season finale. Williams told reporters he wants a long-term extension, and he wants it done before the start of the offseason program this spring. If that does not happen, he plans to skip all voluntary workouts.

“I feel like I deserve to get a contract done before the offseason program,” he said. “I did everything right on the field and I did everything right off the field. … I just want to be compensated for what I am.”

Well, what is that?

Williams and his agent, Nicole Lynn, will argue that is a significant amount.

Williams, 25, had a breakout season as a pass rusher with 12 sacks and 28 quarterback hits (to hell with PFF). He tied his career high with 55 tackles and earned his first Pro Bowl nod. He also played 16 of 17 games — the most he has played in his four-year career.

Williams is scheduled to make $11.5 million in 2023 after the Jets picked up his fifth-year option before the season. Former Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson made $10.5 million this season. And Williams is clearly a better player. So he is going to be aiming much, much higher.

How much higher?

Williams is not going to get Aaron Donald money (about $32 million a year). But he figures to ask for more than the Giants pay Leonard Williams, which is $21 million annually. And $50 million guaranteed might be a north star to shoot for — and that would surpass Donald’s current deal.

Why Jets have reason to move fast

Williams is a cornerstone player they value. They’re going to pay him in the end and they have the salary cap room to make things work. There is also the consideration of the overall market. The Giants’ Dexter Lawrence, Bills’ Ed Oliver, the Dolphins’ Christian Wilkins and the Titans’ Jeffery Simmons are all in similar situations. Why let those teams set a market first?

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Quinnen Williams playing contract hardball with Jets already | Elite Sports NY

But let’s be clear: If he goes, McVay, 37 in a few weeks, is not done coaching. He is going to return at some point. And the minute he walks away in Los Angeles, he immediately becomes the biggest free agent* coach ever. Forget Grumors. Welcome to the world of McVumors.

* — The Rams own his rights since he is under contract through 2026, so he is not actually a free agent. They will need to let him go and will likely require compensation in return. But you get the point.

The guy has a .612 winning percentage, has won the Super Bowl (and lost another one), is regarded as an offensive genius and has immense charisma and movie-star looks. Not only will every other NFL team will be interested in hiring him, but so too will every big-money booster and big-swinging athletic director in college football. I cannot wait for a world where Jerry Jones and Auburn are both trying to give the guy $30 million a year to coach their team.

You wonder if a McVay resignation might spur Sean Payton to settle for a job that does not check all his boxes this coaching cycle. Because if Payton does not get back in this year, he will likely find himself competing with a younger, hipper, more successful version of himself — and one with much less baggage.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Sean McVay would be biggest free agent coach in history of civilization | Elite Sports NY

If team owner Woody Johnson doesn’t clean house this offseason, the goal will be simple for New York in 2023. Make the playoffs or it could cost Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas, and Co. their jobs. Week 18 vs. the Miami Dolphins had just barely wrapped up, but cornerback Sauce Gardner was already making predictions about next year:

Sauce Gardner: “This time next year, we’ll be in the playoffs. For sure.” #Jets

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 8, 2023

Judging from how things looked this year, that’s not necessarily an outrageous thing to say. Heading into Week 17, the Jets still mostly controlled their playoff destiny before losing to Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks. The defense looked elite at times, there are exciting weapons on offense, and New York might just end up with a veteran quarterback as the final piece of this puzzle.

In theory, it all sounds pretty simple. This young roster just gained a year of experience, and will hopefully take it to the playoffs next season. But for any team in the Jets’ position, we know it’s not just this simple. Those demons and ghosts of years past will continue to haunt them, regardless of how different the team currently is compared to the “Same Old Jets”.

The Mets know a thing or two about that. Maybe Saleh should give Buck Showalter a call. Things are a little worse for the Jets, though. It’s not just that New York is the owner of football’s longest postseason drought. It’s everything that comes with it. Check out this graphic that was shared during Gang Green’s matchup with Miami:

#jetstwitter Like I have mentioned before, being a Jets fan truly sucks. Here is part of the reason why: pic.twitter.com/wrTGeb8rHT

— Manny S. (@MMS0272) January 8, 2023

This is the unholy trifecta of things you’d never want to see from your favorite NFL team. However, these are the kinds of regular-season demons the Jets will have to get rid of to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Going through a complete culture change takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, ya know.

New York got a taste of that in the middle of the season. They not only had the playoffs in sight, but at 7-4, the squad was actually in a position to take over the AFC East division. That’s when everything started to unravel. This can serve as a valuable learning experience for a young roster like the Jets, though.

Maybe they’ll be in a similar position next year after half a season’s worth of games. And maybe then, we’ll see New York rise to the occasion instead of watching them tailspin out of contention. They got a taste of what those expectations could be like this past season, and they won’t be going away.

Saleh had preached early in the year about how this isn’t the “Same Old Jets” anymore. Many fans are still thinking that after what just transpired. Whether this is justified or not, it’s a narrative Gang Green will have to deal with until they can prove otherwise.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets must overcome plenty to prove Sauce Gardner right next year | Elite Sports NY

The Miami Dolphins beat Gang Green 9-6 and clinched the seventh AFC Playoff seed in the process. We’ve seen many reports and quotes from coaches about how the organization is committed to developing Zach Wilson. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be the starter next season, though.

If the following report from SNY’s Conor Hughes is accurate, the Jets would prefer Wilson be the second-string signal-caller to a more established veteran. Hughes reports that the three quarterbacks on the Jets’ wish list at the outset of the offseason include Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, and… Lamar Jackson.

The #Jets will have a new starting quarterback for the 2023 season.

They’ll pursue Jimmy G, Derek Carr and, if available, Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/xJsPanClXM

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 9, 2023

The first two names here aren’t very surprising. If Mike LaFleur is indeed back as offensive coordinator, Jimmy G fits into the Jets’ current offensive scheme. LaFleur spent time as the San Francisco 49ers passing-game coordinator from 2017-20.

After getting benched to finish out the regular season, Carr’s days with the Las Vegas Raiders appear done. His contract situation would hypothetically mean a trade has to happen quickly after the conclusion of the Super Bowl. He comes with his own issues, but Carr is a proven NFL commodity. That can’t be said about either Wilson or Mike White (another pending free agent).

Also, the only times he’s missed a game since 2018 have come in the past two weeks when the Raiders sent him home for the year. Durability is a wonderful thing, too.

Jackson, on the other hand, feels like the pie-in-the-sky option should he become available. This is the least likely of the three signal-caller listed. But still, the fact that the Jets are even interested in paying the price to acquire Jackson is notable.

As Hughes said in the above clip, general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh know their impending fate. They could get canned at the end of next season if New York doesn’t make the playoffs. Even if they are committed to developing Wilson, it seems like they’d rather not go through more growing pains with him as the starter in 2023.

Matt Musico can be reached at matt.musico@xlmedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter: @mmusico8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jets’ veteran quarterback wish list reportedly 3 players deep | Elite Sports NY

A refresher: The NFL plays 17 regular season games. Fourteen of them are locked in years in advance based on divisional matchups and pre-determined inter- and intraconference crossover cycles. But three matchups are set each year based on crossovers matching teams that had the same divisional finish — i.e. the Giants finished third in the NFC East this season and will play the third-place teams in the NFC North and South next year (it was already scheduled to play all four NFC West teams).

The Giants were already locked into their divisional finish before losing to the Eagles. And the Jets clinched a fourth-place finish in the AFC East with their loss to the Dolphins. So here is where things landed for them in 2023:

The Giants’ 2023 slate:

• Home: Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles, Jets, Patriots, Rams, Seahawks, Packers.

• Away: Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles, Bills, Cardinals, Dolphins, 49ers, Raiders, Saints.

The Jets’ 2023 slate:

• Home: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Chargers, Chiefs, Commanders, Eagles, Texans, Falcons.

• Away: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Raiders, Browns.

Worth noting: The Raiders have nine home games next season. They could be a prime candidate to be placed in an International Series game in Mexico. And the Giants and Jets could be attractive opponents for such a showcase. The Jets could also be in position to give up their ninth home game for an international game — especially because they will play a “road” game at the Giants as well.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Here’s who Giants, Jets will play in 2023: Finalized schedules | Elite Sports NY

There is a good argument the Jets turned out to be what they should have been. A 7-10 finish would have sounded about right if presented in August. And the fast start raised expectations to an unrealistic level before everything regressed to the mean. Especially with all the quarterbacking issues.

That is all well and good. But the Jets were 7-4 and headed to the playoffs. And then they lost their last six games to to crash out of contention and extend the NFL’s longest postseason drought. Collapses like that tend to get people fired. So the floor is yours, Woody Johnson.

The Jets may like what Saleh has done in two years as head coach. They may be convinced he and general manager Joe Douglas have built a roster that is a quarterback away from contending for the Super Bowl. And they may actually believe Zach Wilson can still be that guy. But still. Six straight losses. Seven of eight down the stretch. No touchdowns in the final three weeks.

You can make offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur the sacrificial lamb. But is that enough? And if Saleh balks at firing his close friend, does Johnson reconsider everything? Jim Harbaugh is very much ready to mingle, remember. The next few days will be interesting.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Will Jets’ tailspin spur Woody Johnson to starting firing people? | Elite Sports NY

Joe Flacco started the Jets’ season opener. Four months later, he will start the season finale Sunday at the Dolphins. And in-between? Arguably the most confusing and dysfunctional quarterback usage in modern NFL history.

The Jets’ starting decisions have been questionable at times, but mostly rooted in some semblance of logic. But their backup selection? It has consistently been nonsensical. It has felt like head coach Robert Saleh is picking names out of a hat sometimes. And it has come to a head in Week 18, when Flacco was picked over supposed still-the-team’s-future Zach Wilson to replace the injured Mike White, even though a meaningless road game in sunny conditions against a mediocre team is ripe for Wilson to get some low-stakes experience and rebuild confidence.

If you think we’re exaggerating, we’re not. Here is a complete timeline of the Jets’ quarterback moves this season:

Preseason. Saleh pumps Flacco’s tires up, says he is an NFL starter-caliber passer and makes it clear he is Wilson’s backup. White is the clear No. 3 despite his flashes of success in 2021. Wilson gets hurt in the preseason opener. Flacco becomes the short-term starter and White temporarily becomes the No. 2.

Weeks 1-3. Flacco starts. White is the backup. Wilson is inactive while working his way back from his knee injury.

Weeks 4-7. Wilson returns as the starter. Flacco shifts back into the No. 2 spot. White is inactive as the third-stringer.

Week 8. The first curveball. Saleh surprises the morning of the Jets’ first loss to the Patriots and promotes White to the No. 2 role. Flacco is now the No. 3 and inactive. Saleh says White is younger than Flacco and if anything happens to Wilson, the Jets want to see what White can do. Even though they saw it in 2021, then pegged him as their No. 3 guy from Day 1 in training camp. And even though Flacco is supposedly a starter in the league and has been the backup for several weeks following Wilson’s return. The Jets elevate summer folk hero Chris Streveler from the practice squad, but he is also inactive.

Weeks 9-11. Wilson starts and White backs up. Flacco is inactive as the No. 3.

Weeks 12-14. The Jets bench Wilson after the second loss to the Patriots. White is named the starter. Flacco is promoted back to the No. 2 role. Wilson shifts down to the No. 3 spot to be inactive on game days and “reset” himself.

Weeks 15-16. Saleh unexpectedly promotes Wilson to the No. 2 spot — and demotes Flacco for the second time! — before revealing White cannot play against the Lions due to bad ribs. Wilson then starts against Detroit and the Jaguars while Flacco backs up. The Jets lose both games to all but crash out of the playoff race. Moreover, Streveler is again elevated from the practice squad against Jacksonville. This time he actually dresses and he replaces a struggling Wilson as the Jets bypass playing Flacco. Which means Flacco could spiritually have been the No. 4 quarterback that week.

(Side note on Saleh’s “Ford pick-up truck” comments about Flacco: If he’s built for bad weather, why the hell didn’t he play against the Jaguars in the downpour then?)

Week 17. White returns. Flacco and Streveler are both active, but neither takes quarterback snaps. So who knows who the actual backup was. And Wilson, effectively now the fourth-string quarterback, is inactive.

Week 18. White’s ribs will keep him from starting. Flacco is named the starter. Wilson will be the backup. The Jets insist they believe in Wilson and he is in their future plans. But he just is not in position to play this meaningless game. Even though he was capable enough of ruining the entire season two weeks ago. He needs to read a book instead. And who knows what the deal will be with Streveler.

To recap … The Jets have had three starting quarterbacks. They have had four different No. 2 quarterbacks, if you count Streveler. And three different No. 3s. White moved up from No. 3 to No. 1 without throwing a single pass. And Flacco has gone No. 2-to-No. 3-to-No. 2-to-No. 3-to-No. 2-to-No. 1 while throwing one pass.

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James Kratch can be reached at james.kratch@xlmedia.com

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: A complete timeline of Jets’ nonsensical QB depth chart upheaval | Elite Sports NY