Jets' Quinnen Williams regrets 'immature' tweet following release of Aaron Rodgers
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams during a news conference following an OTA on Wednesday. Credit: Ed Quinn
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Quinnen Williams said it was “immature” for him to tweet his frustrations after learning the Jets were releasing Aaron Rodgers.
At the time, Williams tweeted “Another rebuild for me I guess” along with a rolling-eyes emoji. The Jets' three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle also tweeted a thumbs-down emoji. Williams later deleted the tweets. He took accountability for what he did in conversations with Jets officials and in his first interview session with reporters since that happened.
“I definitely think it was an immature thing for me to do at the moment, out of emotion, out of frustration,” Williams said Wednesday. “It is definitely immature.”
Williams added that he’s “trying to grow as a leader, trying to grow as a player, trying to grow as an adult.” He also said after speaking to Aaron Glenn and the coaching staff it gave him “super, super confidence that we're going in the right direction to win football games and do the things that I want to do, like change the whole narrative of New York Jets’ losing streaks or the playoff streaks.”
The Jets have missed the postseason 14 consecutive years. Williams has been a part of six of those seasons. He remains driven to change that.
“I was drafted here a long time ago and I was paid to help change this thing around,” Williams said. “I wear that with a badge of honor and like a cape to make sure that before I leave this game the New York Jets are going to be on top, the New York Jets are going to be the football team to watch.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
