Aaron Rodgers doesn’t want to ‘go out as a bum’ as he outlines grim reality if Jets fail again

Aaron Rodgers has ratcheted up the pressure on the Jets ahead of their do-or-die season this fall, admitting he “don’t want to go out there looking like a bum” as he outlined the grim reality of his team making the play -off drought extends – longest in the NFL.

Speaking to reporters after his second OTA workout — the first open to the media — on Tuesday, the 39-year-old quarterback looked healthy, confident and unfazed ahead of a career-defining year for himself, head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas .

“You might not think it, but as you get older in the league, if you don’t perform, they will fire you or bring in the next player to take over,” he said, recalling what his former team said. did it prior to his trade to New York in 2023. “I mean, it happened in Green Bay, and I’m a few years older than I was then.”

Rodgers set the bar high for his teammates and was in no mood to joke about his expectations for next season, considering the Jets last appeared in the playoffs 14 years ago in 2010.

‘I expect to play at a high level. I expect us to be productive and competitive and for all those things to take care of themselves,” he said, adding, “If I don’t do what I know I can do, we’ll probably all drop out.” from here, so… I like that kind of pressure.”

The 39-year-old veteran QB is unrestricted in the Jets’ OTA after tearing his Achilles tendon in September.

Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in the fourth snap of his debut with the Jets in the season opener against Buffalo last September 11. He continued his rehabilitation with the intention of returning late last season, but decided to abandon those plans when New York fell out of playoff contention and he was still not 100 percent healthy.

Rodgers instead focused on being fully ready for this season – and he seems well on his way to doing that. The four-time league MVP and 2011 Super Bowl champion will have no restrictions as he practices with the team during the OTAs, which began Monday.

“I feel really good,” Rodgers said. ‘It’s just about the mental part. These exercises have been fun the last few days, just to feel what it’s like to be out there, walking around and not thinking about it and seeing how I react the next day.

‘This is the last part. The strength is good, the movement is good. Just the confidence to do anything.”

Jets head coach Robert Saleh added, “He does everything. There are no restrictions on what we ask him during training.”

Rodgers looked sharp and moved well during non-contact team drills on Tuesday. Rodgers had a highlight reel throw down the middle of the field to a well-covered Xavier Gipson, which would have been a touchdown. He also connected with leading receiver Garrett Wilson a few times, including one that raced through traffic for a short score.

According to ESPN, Rodgers misplaced a pass only in the final stages of the 90-minute practice

The QB’s return has stoked optimism around the Jets, who were considered a playoff contender a year ago — with rumors of a Super Bowl appearance suggested by Rodgers and his teammates.

NFL schedule makers also have high regard for the team, with the Jets playing six nights of prime-time in the first 11 weeks. They also play an early morning national game in London against Minnesota in Week 5.

Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast scheduling, said last week, “I feel like the Jets owe us something” after the team scheduled five primetime games and the first Black Friday game of the league and Rodgers was injured during the week. 1.

“It’s New York, there’s always going to be excitement,” Saleh said. ‘It’s great that we are seen in that light. But at the same time, none of it matters unless we focus on the process, go day by day and try to do the best we can.”

Rodgers’ first season as a Jet was over in the opening minutes of New York’s game against the Buffalo Bills on September 11, 2023

Rodgers said rumors that he might be a vice presidential candidate for Robert Kennedy Jr. were ‘real’, but that his heart was still focused on football and not politics.

“I love Bobby,” Rodgers said. ‘We had some really nice conversations. But there were really two options: retire and become his VP or keep playing. And I wanted to keep playing.”

Rodgers has been in the news other times in recent months for various comments about politics, vaccines, health care and conspiracy theories during TV and podcast appearances. He emphasized late last season that the team must eliminate outside distractions – a statement he still stands by.

“Those were offseason things and those were real opportunities,” Rodgers said. “Once the season starts, it’s all about football.”