SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Aaron Rodgers — When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way from “West Side Story.”
Since the all-pro arrived in Floral Park, N.J., from the lengthy All-National Football League stay of quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers, he has certainly adopted the call of green and white.
Yup, the New York Jets, that’s his team now, no doubt about it. He has in every practice, every lunch break, ever overall team meeting, found his way.
At Wednesday’s practice he strolled over to the team’s defensive sideline, gave a few teammates pats on their backs and then got to Tony Adams.
The second-year safety had just picked off the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player in team drills and Rodgers had a couple of messages for him.
Said Rodgers: “I wanted to tell T.A., man, nice play on that interception, and two, I also wanted to remind him that it was a free play because they jumped offside.”
Indeed, there was a penalty on the play, but it was another display of Rodgers’ ultra competitiveness and leadership.
“I see him walking all over the place,” said Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh, “and it’s funny because I think he’s using his body language where he’s going to either talk some trash or give a good coaching point. He’s been great.”
Nice, adds Saleh, because it’s rare to see a quarterback be so actively involved in the entire operation, especially during training camp.
“Yeah,” Saleh said, “I compare him to a coach on the field, so do the players.”
Rodgers mixes up where he sits during lunch, getting to know players up and down the roster.
“I love our guys,” said Rogers, “and I think any chance they can see me and feel me encouraging them is a good thing. I really enjoy the conversations with the DBs and there have been a lot of them.
“I think it’s important that we communicate because if we’re just trying to beat other’s (butts) in practice, that’s great competition-wise, but we’re not actually getting better.”
And so Rodgers wants to know from the cornerbacks and safeties or the Jets’ receivers are doing something about tipping off the defense about what the offense will be running on an even play.
“That’s good,” Rodgers said, “so I need them to tell me that there’s things to work on for both sides and I think that sharing
of information is really important to us kind of getting together on the same page and taking that next step.”
He continues to learn the tendencies of his new teammates and vice versa, and uses each practice as an opportunity to learn.
“If we’re still going through the motions when we’re on the field,” Rodgers said, “we’re missing opportunities. Every time we’re on the field we should be alert for anything. And I like to test them on some stuff that maybe they haven’t thought about, but we’re getting there.”
Trying to elevate the Jets’ offense has been in the works since Rodgers was traded to New York from Green Bay in April. He was reunited with offensive coordinator Nathanel Hackett and spent the offseason at voluntary workouts helping him install the offense while bonding with his new teammates and city.
The 39-year-old Rodgers insists that training camp is where most of the work is done. He had talked about being patient with the offense developing during the summer.
He has looked mostly terrific in the previous practice sessions, including developing a quick rapport with second-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson, although the first team offense struggled Wednesday during the second consecutive day of fully padded practice.
“Today was kind of taking a step back a little bit,” he said bluntly. “Felt a little tired. Mentally, made a lot of mistakes, so we’ve got to clean some stuff up. But that’s part of training camp.”
But, he said he’s having a blast and doesn’t at all this as just a one-year thing.
“No way,” he said, “I’m green and white now, and expect good things occurring.”
Yeah, here come the Aaron Rodgers Jets, and when you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet, right from “West Side Story.”
