When the New York Jets decided to go for broke and bring in
Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season, they weren’t just looking for a
quarterback who could potentially get them to the Super Bowl. They were
looking for stability at the position, something the franchise has notoriously been
missing seemingly forever.
The Jets were also looking for a strong leader. Regardless of his oddities, eccentricities or whatever you want to call them, Rodgers
knows a thing or two about leading a football team. Of course, it’s difficult to be
a leader when you are stuck on the sideline — which is where Rodgers spent
almost all of last season — but now that he is healthy, he has a chance to showcase
his ability.
Immediately he has an opportunity to do this with Haason Reddick. Due to a contract dispute, the Jets and the recently acquired Reddick are at an impasse. He has yet to even practice with the team and is now requesting a trade. The edge-rusher was the prized acquisition of the offseason for New
York and the situation is creating a lot of embarrassment for the
organization.
Even before Rodgers demonstrates any heroics out on the field,
he can prove to be a hero if he can bring Reddick into the fold. So far,
however, his response has been lukewarm.
“Obviously, we’d love him to be here, but we don’t judge him for trying to do what’s best for him,” Rodgers said to ESPN. “I think what’s best for him is to be a Jet because this is
going to be a fun ride. But he’s got to make the best decision for him and his
family.”
Rodgers also revealed that he’d only spoken to Reddick after
he got traded to the team, which was back in March. And when asked if he would
reach out to him, he cryptically replied, “Yeah, it’s possible. Anything is
possible.”
Those responses make you wonder how someone like Tom Brady or Patrick
Mahomes might have handled things. Would they have stood idly by if a key teammate
decided to hold out, only saying that he should suit up because it would be
“fun”?
Rodgers
has already cemented himself as a Hall of Famer. But because he seems to care about his legacy and being considered one of the best QBs of all time, for
this last stage of his career, he will need to show that his leadership prowess extends
further than the football field.