Then, twelve hours in, owner Woody Johnson and his front office attempted their own Mist Mary, finishing a deal for wide receiver Davante Adams to rescue his slumping 2-4 team. Will celebrities smile at them again?
No one can say too much, but it is clear that Johnson will not give up in this season of splendid expectations. The coaches’ deadline changed, and on this date he is them and Rodgers a dynamic playmaker. Explaining his daring hits, Johnson declared Tuesday at the league’s annual fall conference in Atlanta: “A lot of times, you just have to go with your gut.”
To emphasize his level, Johnson cited a sequence from the movie “Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.” It’s the scene where Susan tells Ricky Bobby, “Ricky Bobby is not a thinker. Ricky Bobby is a driver.” (There’s something interesting: a billionaire couple quoting a Will Ferrell movie.)
“The thought is overrated,” said Johnson, who is trying to force the Jets to their first postseason in 14 years.
What the Jets are doing is part Ricky Bobby, part Tom Brady. Let’s give an explanation.
After writing the Brady/Tampa Bay Buccaneers playbook, the Jets gave Rodgers the reunion he was looking for, buying and selling his all-time favorite receiver. There’s Brady and Rob Gronkowski everywhere again, excluding the extra cost in commercial pay and there are fewer months to assemble the work.
The Bucs, in fact, did this in 2020, signing Brady in March and buying and selling Gronk for a couple of weeks to then recreate the terrible tandem that helped launch the Pristine England Patriots dynasty. In Tampa, Gronk scored nine touchdowns (including playoffs) in his first season, partnering Brady as they won the Super Bowl.
The Jets had been dreaming of it for more than half a century. They tried to accelerate their new rebuild by buying and selling Rodgers most of the week, and now they’ve given him the most prolific pass catcher he’s ever had.
Gronkowski, in a recent interview on the “Up and Adams” podcast, said the “best fit” for Adams was the Jets, citing the same reason he wanted to be with Brady and the Bucs: chemistry. and familiarity, that rare telepathy between a splendid pitcher and a splendid catcher.
“I think he’ll take the team to another level,” Gronk said of Adams.
There are variations between the 2 states. Brady and Gronk had an entire offseason to prepare for their second trip. Rodgers and Adams, who haven’t played together since 2021, would have to relearn all the options on the fly within the crucible of the regular season. It won’t be easy for them or the team.
This Rodgers-Adams project has also become somewhat expensive, certainly more than what the Bucs gave up for Brady (a remote agent) and Gronk (traded for a fourth-round pick). Primarily, the Jets gave up two second-round alternatives for Rodgers, plus a conditional third-rounder for Adams.
The Jets, who have all kinds of problems on offense (their 304.3 yards and 18.8 points per contest each rank No. 2), rely on the worn-out charm of Rodgers and Adams. Oh, they have been combined excellently for eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers, posting 615 receptions, 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns. Rodgers was also named league MVP in his final two seasons combined.
Rodgers, 40, hasn’t been the same quarterback since losing Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. From 2022 to now, he ranks 31st among 35 certified passers in overall QBR, ahead of top-ranked Aidan O’Connell, Mac. Jones, Bryce Young and Will Levis.
The big question is how Adams’ arrival will affect receiver Garrett Wilson, who has been the focus of the passing attack, with a league-high 65 targets. Intermediate teacher Jeff Ulbrich expects Adams to have a good impact on the young receiver, taking dual defense out of Wilson and serving as a homework model. Ulbrich noticed a similar condition while playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 2000, when an aging Jerry Rice helped educate the tender Terrell Owens.
“I think Davante will provide the same thing to Garrett and all of our receivers,” Ulbrich said.
In theory, Adams’ presence should even out the playing field and help in the red zone, where the Jets went 1 for 4 in Monday’s loss. If teams play with comfortable protection to limit heavy plays, the Jets can run the ball. If groups need to play man-to-man games, doubling Adams or Wilson, Rodgers can find the most efficient matchup. It looks great on paper.
Rodgers Sends Postgame Comments About Mike Williams to McAfee
Aaron Rodgers joins Pat McAfee and offers some clarity on his comments about Mike Williams closer to the Jets’ loss to the Expenses.
Adams, Wilson and Lazard will be the top three receivers, and Mike Williams’ waiver spot is in question. The Jets took a $10 million gamble on Williams, hoping to get his worn-out system back on track closer to ACL surgery, but it’s been a slow process. He has bad chemistry with Rodgers, who called him out Monday night for going the wrong way on the game-clinching interception.
This can be a slippery slope. If Rodgers starts favoring Adams, it could be perceived as another example of the team meeting its quarterback needs, which could sour feelings inside the vault room. Or maybe the X’s and O’s will work so clearly that they override personal emotions.
Either way, Rodgers got his wish. Adams too. Now all they have to do is turn back the calendar to 2021 and hope the 2024 Jets don’t get in the way. Everyone is aware of what is at stake, due to Johnson’s proclamations.
“Let’s kick it; you can add the words after that,” he stated.
If they don’t kick ass, there’s reason to believe they’ll all get kicked out.
