By Who would have been New England’s starting quarterback in 2023 if the Patriots had moved quarterback Mac Jones, whose relationship with head coach Bill Belichick grew (to put it mildly) strained in 2022?
Bailey Zappe is the obvious answer. Aaron Rodgers had the more entertaining answer.
On his FS1 morning programme this week, Craig Carton, who left WFAN and now works exclusively for Fox Sports, said that Aaron Rodgers declined a trade to the Patriots.
“Aaron Rodgers almost wasn’t a Jet,” Carton said. “The New England Patriots made an offer to the Green Bay Packers to get Aaron Rodgers, and when Aaron Rodgers heard it, his agent said, ‘No, we ain’t playing for New England. We want to be a Jet.’ ”
For a few reasons, it makes sense. First off, Nathaniel Hackett, a former offensive coordinator for the Packers, now works for the Jets rather than the Patriots. Second, Belichick has a reputation for pushing athletes to their limits. That might not be what Rodgers wants.
Rodgers has raved about the joy the Jets have brought him. A Super Bowl parade is the one time it’s “zero fun, sir” under Belichick.
If true, the fact that the Patriots sought Aaron Rodgers demonstrates that Belichick is aware of how little time he has to make things right. The hot seat is getting closer, whether it’s this year or the one after.
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