Jets QB Aaron Rodgers Slams Sean Payton for Nathaniel Hackett Comments
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently came to the defense of his offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, amid a controversy involving Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, per ESPN.
In a sit-down interview with NFL+ after practice, Rodgers strongly disapproved of Payton's comments, which he deemed "insecure" and "out of line."
Last week, Payton made disparaging remarks about Hackett's coaching tenure with the Broncos last season, referring to it as "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL."
He also suggested that multiple factors, represented by "20 dirty hands," contributed to quarterback Russell Wilson's career-worst performance, featuring 16 touchdown passes and a league-high 55 sacks.
Rodgers found Payton's comments surprising and criticized the Broncos coach for attempting to bring another coach down to elevate himself.
He emphasized that such behavior was inappropriate and urged Payton to refrain from mentioning his coaches' names in such a manner.
Moreover, Payton took a swipe at the New York Jets, implying that their offseason acquisitions, including Rodgers, created an atmosphere of "pomp and circumstance" and likened them to a "dream team" that might face failure.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett
The bond between Aaron Rodgers and his offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, appears to be strong, stemming from their previous work with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 to 2021, according to the NFL.
Rodgers expressed genuine affection and admiration for Hackett, both on and off the field, praising his coaching approach and the positive impact he had during their time together.
Despite Sean Payton's recent critical comments about Hackett's coaching performance with the Denver Broncos last season, Rodgers firmly defended his former colleague.
Rodgers suggested that Payton's words might be a preemptive excuse in case the Broncos face challenges in the upcoming season.
Considering the controversy, Payton apologized for his candid and direct comments, acknowledging that he might have spoken without fully transitioning from his previous role as a FOX analyst to that of a coach.
He took responsibility for his statements and expressed regret for the impact they had on Hackett and his coaching staff.
The New York Jets and Denver Broncos are scheduled to face each other in Week 5 this season in Denver.
Jet's Coach Robert Saleh Also Reacts to Sean Payton's Remarks on Nathaniel Hackett
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh responded to Sean Payton's remarks on Thursday, taking a dismissive stance towards the Denver Broncos coach, CBS Sports noted.
Saleh chose not to acknowledge Payton's comments and expressed confidence in his team's performance, highlighting that Payton felt the need to talk about them when their game was still weeks away suggested they were making an impact in the league.
He also referred to the proverbial saying, "There are a lot of crows pecking at our neck," implying that critics were taking notice of their progress.
In light of the controversy, Payton also apologized to Coach Saleh, expressing his respect and admiration for him.
Although he admitted not knowing Nathaniel Hackett personally, he emphasized that he holds Jets coach Robert Saleh in high regard and intends to handle the situation appropriately.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
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