ROBERT Griffin III thinks he knows the exact moment when the New York Jets decided they need to fire Robert Saleh.
The Jets dismissed their head coach Tuesday after a poor start to the season.
Aaron Rodgers shoved Robert Saleh on the sideline when the Jets coach went for a hug[/caption]
Robert Saleh was fired by New York on Tuesday after a 2-3 start to the season[/caption]
Saleh paid the price for three defeats in five games and the offense looking off all year.
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst RG3 claims he knows when the Jets decided it was time to move on.
He posted a short clip from the Jets’ Week 3 win over the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
It featured quarterback Aaron Rodgers walking over to the sideline after a drive and coach Saleh going in for a hug.
Rodgers seemingly pushed him away and glared at the coach as he walked off.
The pair both played down the incident – but it led to more scrutiny on their relationship.
RG3 added the caption, “The Jets fired Robert Saleh. It was more than just a shove.”
Fans and analysts have claimed that Rodgers had greater control of the organization than Saleh.
The coach was also apparently escorted out of the Jets building Tuesday by security after being fired.
A report from NBC’s ProFootballTalk claimed he wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye to his players.
The U.S. Sun contacted the New York Jets for comment on the alleged incident.
Saleh apparently predicted his firing in a press conference four days ago.
The U.S. Sun also revealed that some New York Jets players were left embarrassed by the firing.
The Jets had just returned from London, where they lost 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement Tuesday, “This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the head coach of the Jets.
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.
“I thanked him for his hard work these past three-and-a-half years and wished him and his family well moving forward.
“This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in different directions.
“Jeff Ulbrich will serve as our interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team.
“I believe he along with our coaches on this staff can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason.”
