Former WFAN host Mike Francesa didn’t pull any punches this week when talking about Aaron Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp for the New York Jets.
Francesa blasted Jets head coach Robert Saleh on the latest episode of his podcast. He basically suggested that Saleh has surrendered all of his power to Rodgers.
Let’s just say it was a classic rant from Francesa.
“He handled this terribly again this week,” Francesa said, via Awful Announcing. “If he is OK with this, then he just made it worse. He is a puppet in this game. He just showed you what a puppet he is in this game. ‘It’s an in-excused absence. I’m fine with it; he’s not here.’ How could you be fine with it if it’s an in-excused absence?
“You can’t have both. If it’s in-excused, how can you be fine with it? Then, none of your guys have to show up. It’s either mandatory or it’s not. It’s not somewhat mandatory, or it’s mandatory to everybody but the guy that runs the franchise. ‘The guy who’s more important here than I am. More important here than anyone is.’ And there’s a coach basically saying, ‘I’m here, and I’m at his beck and call. He runs the franchise; I don’t.’ That’s why Saleh has no chance. He has abdicated his own power and given it to the quarterback.”
Honestly, it’s hard to argue against Francesa in this situation. Saleh basically changed his tune on Rodgers’ absence in the span of 24 hours.
After telling reporters on Tuesday that Rodgers had an unexcused absence, he then said on Wednesday that he’s on the same page with his veteran quarterback.
“Aaron and I are on the exact same page,” Saleh said. “There’s no issue between Aaron or his teammates, for that matter. We addressed it yesterday. It’s more of an issue for everyone outside the building than it is inside.”
No matter which way you slice it, this whole situation looks terrible for Saleh and the Jets.