Robert Saleh determined to not hearth again at Sean Payton Thursday following the Denver Broncos’ head coach’s disparaging feedback in regards to the Jets and Nathaniel Hackett.
Aaron Rodgers took a a lot completely different strategy Sunday.
“It made me really feel unhealthy that somebody who’s achieved rather a lot within the league is that insecure that they must take one other man right down to set themselves up for some form of straightforward fall if it doesn’t go effectively for that staff this 12 months,” Rodgers stated throughout an interview with NFL Community at Jets observe. “I assumed it was method out of line, inappropriate, and I feel he must maintain my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Payton is coming into his first season as Denver’s head coach, and through an interview with USA In the present day he railed on the Jets for caring extra about publicity than profitable, in addition to the staff’s new offensive coordinator in Nathan Hackett, who served because the Broncos’ head coach final season.
Hackett was the Packers’ offensive coordinator and coached Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay previous to taking on in Denver.
His tenure with the Broncos, which started with excessive expectations stemming from the staff’s blockbuster commerce to amass Russell Wilson, went disastrously.
Hackett was fired after 15 video games, with the Broncos sitting at 4-11.
“It may need been one of many worst teaching jobs within the historical past of the NFL,” Payton informed the outlet. “That’s how unhealthy it was.”
Payton additionally ripped all the eye surrounding the Jets – who’re featured on this 12 months’s HBO “Exhausting Knocks” sequence – since they acquired Rodgers, evaluating it to the Broncos final 12 months with Wilson’s arrival.
“It doesn’t occur typically the place an NFL staff or group will get embarrassed,” Payton stated. “And that occurred right here. A part of it was their very own fault, relative to spending a lot [expletive] time attempting to win the offseason – the PR, the pomp and circumstance, marching folks round and all these items.”
“We’re not doing any of that. The Jets did that this 12 months. You watch. ‘Exhausting Knocks,’ all of it. I can see it coming. Keep in mind when [former Washington owner] Dan Snyder put that Dream Workforce collectively? I used to be on the Giants [in 2000]. I used to be a younger coach. I assumed, ‘How are we going to compete with them? Deion’s [Sanders] there now.’ That staff received eight video games or no matter. So, hear … simply put the work in.”
Rodgers and Hackett spent three years collectively in Inexperienced Bay and after disappointing 2022 seasons whereas separated from one another are reunited with the Jets.
They share an especially shut bond.
“I like Nathaniel Hackett,” Rodgers stated. “These feedback had been very stunning, for a coach to do this to a different coach. My love for [Hackett] goes deep. We had some nice years collectively in Inexperienced Bay. Saved in contact. Love him and his household, he’s an unbelievable household man, unbelievable dad.
“On the sector, he’s arguably my favourite coach I’ve ever had within the NFL. His strategy to it, how he makes it enjoyable, how he cares in regards to the guys, simply how he goes about his enterprise. With respect, with management, with honesty, with integrity.”
Payton, who labored as an NFL analyst with Fox whereas taking a break from teaching final 12 months, apologized for his feedback Friday, saying he “nonetheless had my Fox hat on and never my teaching hat on.”
The Jets and Broncos play in Denver on Oct. 8.
