ROBERT Saleh’s shock New York Jets firing has been blamed on “selfish players” in the locker room, sources have told The U.S. Sun.
Saleh’s four-year reign was abruptly ended by owner Woody Johnson following Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London.
Robert Saleh has been fired after not getting the best out of Aaron Rodgers[/caption]
Saleh struggled to get his Jets side across the line, with the team 2-3 this season[/caption]
The Jets, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers performing far below his best, have dropped the last two games, and early-season optimism about reaching the Super Bowl is quickly evaporating.
Saleh has paid the ultimate price for the inconsistent start – with one front office member telling The U.S. Sun his axing was “tough but the right thing to do.”
“For some of us, he should have been fired last season, and we should have started on a new coaching cycle during the past offseason,” said the board member who spoke anonymously.
“We were being stagnant, at least, even not progressing as a team, so it was a logical decision because, in my opinion, we have a very solid roster.”
The current player, however, blames some teammates who “keep on speaking s**t” to each other and are not pulling in the same direction.
Johnson’s brutal sacking of Saleh, who had one year left on his current deal, is the first time the Jets have changed coaches during the season since 1976.
But the key roster member says the locker room is full of cliques, and some players only look out for themselves.
He believes the decision to send Saleh packing was a “cold move” but wants the Jets’ struggling stars to stand up and take their share of the blame.
“I have a massive respect for coach Saleh, and I feel bad that he got fired as he tried everything he could to make the best out of this team,” said the star, who also spoke, providing he remained anonymous.
“The responsibility of the bad start is also because of us too, the players, as we haven’t found the best chemistry yet, and some guys who are stars are being too selfish and don’t want to put their egos on the side for the best interest of the team.
“It’s quite embarrassing. Some players can’t even look at themselves in the mirror.”
The arrival of NFL legend Rodgers at the start of last season boosted generations of Jets fans who have never stopped dreaming of seeing the beloved boys in green return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969.
But once Rodgers injured his Achilles in the first game, everything went downhill in typical Jets fashion.
This season, they have gone 2-3 through the first five games, with Rodgers needing more consistency.
Why firing Saleh is the right call
By Ryan Sanudo, sports reporter
The New York Jets stunningly fired Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start to the season, but his resume and recent coaching showings did him no favors.
The Jets had their eyes set on not just being a playoff team, but also a Super Bowl-contending team with the return of Aaron Rodgers and other offensive additions.
But New York sits at 2-3 after consecutive disappointing losses – the first which occurred against the then-winless Denver Broncos while having a 10-day layoff.
The second defeat in London was the final straw for Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Mistakes and penalties have plagued the team on both sides of the ball – and both issues have been a consistent issue for New York in Saleh’s three-plus seasons at the helm.
Saleh has seen his defensive unit play stellar against the pass over the last two seasons, but he has been responsible for hiring the offensive staff that has come under fire.
The 45-year-old Saleh has also appeared to have a dicey relationship with Rodgers, who will always have his say respected.
Remember, Saleh seemed to pin false starts in the team’s loss to the Broncos on Rodgers’ cadence.
Saleh’s press conferences haven’t been pretty, either, as he has seemed tense since the Week 4 loss.
And when you factor in Saleh’s results, it’s hard to wrap your head around how he even lasted more than three campaigns.
He went 20-36 over 36 games with the Jets.
The NFL is a what have you done for me lately business and while the timing of Saleh’s firing stunned the world, the decision comes at a time when the New York squad needs motivation ahead of their Monday Night Football game with the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers and company will now be playing under interim head coach and highly respected Jeff Ulbrich, who was the team’s defensive coordinator.
Saleh leaves with an unimpressive 20-36 record—he has been replaced in the interim by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich—and the player reckons that despite the roster’s underperformance, the front office needs to shoulder some blame, too.
“I had some former players that texted me since the news broke, and they feel bad for coach Saleh, but some aren’t surprised as they didn’t trust the board to be competent, that is why most of them left in the last few seasons and last offseason too,” he added.
“We have to do better ASAP, or we are going to hit a wall hard, and the consequences will be very disappointing for all of us, the board, and mostly, the fans.”
“Jeff Ulbrich is a great coach; there’s going to be a lot of pressure on him,” said a front office member.
“It’s a big challenge because we expect him to do great with the team and change the current dynamic, but we must step up our game and reach our expectations as we believe our roster is pretty competitive.
“It wasn’t a good look in the last few weeks.
“We have been playing at a disappointing level but need to bounce back urgently.”
“As a fan, I’m happy with the move,” said Jets lifetime supporter Mike Satz.
“Saleh’s record was 20-36, the team is very talented and has underachieved.
“They don’t seem prepared on a weekly basis and hoping Ulbrich will create a spark.”
