Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic wrote an article that ran Wednesday morning detailing the systematic issues inside the New York Jets, where the offseason acquisition of ex-Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers brought a renewed energy to the franchise’s hopes, only to see them dashed by Rodgers’ Week 1 injury.
Collecting data from what the writers said were “30 sources in and around the organization,” the story chronicles some Rodgers notes that Packers fans will find a bit familiar.
“It’s not uncommon for team decision-makers to consult star quarterbacks on potential roster additions, but the perception around the league was the Jets went beyond the norm,” they wrote. “’Rodgers isn’t the assistant GM,’” one AFC general manager said. ‘Joe Douglas is the assistant GM.’”
That won’t escape Packers fans, who watched Rodgers exert what sometimes appeared to be outsized influence. With Rodgers in New York, the Jets brought in several familiar faces from past Packers teams, like Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner and Tim Boyle. The story reports that Rodgers had offensive lineman David Bakhtiari and tight end Marcedes Lewis on “his wish list” as well.