Jets' Aaron Rodgers says the team has to play with less 'anger'
Aaron Rodgers of the Jets looks on during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Credit: Getty Images/Joe Sargent
Aaron Rodgers took responsibility for the Jets being flat in Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh and said he needs to bring more energy and be a better leader.
Rodgers also feels that the Jets’ mentality and approach has to change and that they need to relax and play freer.
“Personally and as a team we’re playing with too much anger and not enough enjoyment,” Rodgers said during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “We just need to have a little more fun, smile more, enjoy each other. It’s fun when you win, of course. There’s ways of taking some of the pressure off. It’s got to start with me this week, with my energy and with my approach.”
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said similar things on Monday. Ulbrich feels the Jets are pressing too much and he needs “to do a better job of alleviating them of that pressure that they’re putting on themselves.”
The Jets seem to be on the same page here. They haven't been on the field.
They have lost four straight games and are a disappointing 2-5. The Jets believed they could contend for a Super Bowl. A loss Sunday in New England and the Jets will be tied for last place in the AFC East.
Rodgers pointed to his past Green Bay teams that went on runs after bad starts. In 2016, they were 4-6 and won their next eight games before losing in the NFC title game. Rodgers said it starts with believing.
“The power of belief is a snowball that can start an avalanche. That’s what we need, and it starts with me,” Rodgers said. “For whatever reason there’s been a little bit of tightness on game day. It’s got to start with me. I got to bring the same energy during the week and lead with that energy.
“I think there’s been some good leadership moments, but I need to be a great leader.”
Rodgers has made some uncharacteristic mistakes during this skid. He’s thrown six interceptions in the last three games. One came just before the half in Pittsburgh – which Rodgers admitted was “a bad decision” – and led to a momentum shift. The Jets never recovered.
Now Rodgers thinks the Jets need a mentality shift – offensively and overall.
Rodgers said the offense should be the reason the Jets win instead of it being “in spite of the offense.”
Additionally, Rodgers said the Jets players have to ask themselves two questions: What’s the worst that can happen and what’s the best that can happen? He said they have to be able to “deal with it, but then move on” and just play free.
“The worst that could happen is we don’t turn this around and things go south and a lot of us are in a different stratosphere,” Rodgers said. “Now deal with that. Are you going to be OK at the end of that? Yeah, I’m going to be OK. Guys are going to be OK.
“The best that can happen is we embrace the energy that’s shifted in two weeks, we go out and play free, we have fun, we enjoy each other on the field, we do the little things, we pick each other up, we celebrate. We believe in each other. We communicate on the sidelines. And we go on a run, and we can do something magical.”
Davante Adams felt a lack of energy the entire game in his Jets debut.
“We could have been more energetic as a team, supporting each other and just celebrating each other’s success,” Adams said during an appearance on “Up and Adams with Kay Adams” on Tuesday. “I felt from that standpoint it was a little flat. Next week that’s something that we [have to] make sure we harp on.”
Rodgers dismissed the idea that the Jets are close to figuring things out.
“That doesn’t do [expletive] for you,” Rodgers said. “Hey, we’re close. All right. Maybe this week we’ll put it together.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how we respond to this. We’re in the fire, for sure. It’s been a rough four-game stretch for us coming off of a win [over New England] that everyone was feeling real good about on Thursday night. We got to reset and get this thing moving in the right direction starting Sunday.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
