Aaron Rodgers wants to set the record straight as rumors circulate that the NFL star was involved with the New York Jetsâ decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh.
The 40-year-old quarterback appeared on The Pat McAfee Show â often his go-to media platform when addressing the public â to deny his involvement in Salehâs dismissal after the team announced theyâre parting ways with the head coach on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
âAs far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, Iâm not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it,â Rodgers began when addressing the ongoing narrative among NFL fans.
âI resent any of those accusations because theyâre patently false,â the Jets quarterback said, adding that his influence on the organizationâs decisions isnât as impactful as people assume. âItâs interesting the amount of power that people think that I have, which I donât,â Rodgers said on the show.
Rodgers suggested instead that Salehâs firing was a reminder of how âtoughâ the business of professional sports can be, saying, âYesterday was a day that reminds you of the simple fact that all of us who have played know all too well, and thatâs that itâs a tough business.â
The Jets star said he has âa lot of respectâ for Saleh and that he has a âvery solid relationshipâ with his now-former head coach. âHeâs a big reason why I came to the Jets,â Aaron remarked during the interview.
Following the Jetsâ decision to let him go, Saleh penned a thoughtful statement to the organization and their fanbase via ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
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âTo the Jets Organization, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people. I will always be appreciative of the love and support from everyone at 1 Jets Drive,â the former head coach wrote.
Saleh addressed âall of the playersâ heâs coached for the team, writing, âI truly love and appreciate every single one of you,â and commending the players who âshowed up everyday and attacked every moment.â
âTo my fellow coaches and staff, it has been an honor to work with all of you,â Salehâs statement continued, before he thanked Jets fans for being âthe most passionate fan base in the NFLâ and for âembracing my familyâ during his time as head coach.
âIt has been a pleasure calling New York our home and we will forever appreciate all of the memories that were created here,â Saleh concluded.
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