Job security no longer exists in MetLife Stadium, unless your name is Dexter Lawrence II of course. Just six weeks after the Jets fired Robert Saleh, they have served GM Joe Douglas walking papers with six games remaining in the season. In the same stadium, the Giants have finally ended their Daniel Jones chapter after nearly six seasons.
The Jets are currently 3-8 in a season that started with championship aspirations, and fans are frustrated. Owner Woody Johnson has clearly been pointing the finger around the organization, but many analysts and fans believe the blame belongs mostly to ownership. Johnson served in President Donald Trump’s administration during his first term, and many are hoping he is offered another position this time around and ushered out of MetLife, having less influence on the team.
Joe Douglas isn’t innocent, however. The Jets went 30-64 during his time as General Manager, never achieving a winning season, and cycling through eight different Quarterbacks. His draft history is extremely hit or miss with misses like Mekhi Becton and Denzel Mims in 2020, and Zach Wilson No. 2 overall in 2021. 2022 on the other hand was an absolute masterclass of a draft for the Jets, scoring Sauce Gardener, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Jermaine Johnson II all in a single draft. Douglas’ job was always on the line with his losing record, and his time was borrowed especially after the Saleh firing.
It is worth mentioning that since firing the defensive-minded HC Robert Saleh, the Jets have taken a massive step back when it comes to their defensive identity. Under Saleh, the team was 2-3 and was statistically one of the better defensive teams in the league, only allowing just over 17 points per game. Since his firing, the team has produced an abysmal 1-6 record and is allowing over 26 points a game, which is 24th in the league, a complete 180 from Saleh’s top ten defense.
Another factor in the Jets’ dysfunction? Aaron Rodgers’s poor play. Rodgers has tallied 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions but is averaging only 6.4 yards per throw and has never thrown over 300 yards in a game as a Jet. Seems to me Father Time is knocking on Aaron Rodgers’ door…
Joe Douglas is responsible for the talent on the roster today, no debate there. Aaron Rodgers, Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Davante Adams, Allan Lazard, and the list goes on. A roster that owner Woody Johnson said was the best he’s had in 25 years of owning the Jets
All roads lead back to Aaron Rodgers’ poor performance and Woody Johnson’s self-sabotaging of the potential success of his team. It’s public knowledge that Johnson fired Saleh based on his own judgment with little to no influence from the other prominent members of the organization, a move that has devastated the Jets from top to bottom; and now he trains his sights on the man who built the best roster he has ever seen. The failure of the Aaron Rodgers experiment continues to claim victims.
The Jets are clearing house, resetting, and laying the groundwork for a new Head Coach, new General Manager, and potentially a new Quarterback.
Giants finally bench Daniel Jones amid 2-8 record and potential $23 Million payout.
The New York Giants have decided to bench Daniel Jones, a move fans have been begging for. The team announced coming out of their Week 11 BYE that Jones would be trading places with QB3 Tommy DeVito, leaving Drew Lock as QB2.
The only relative shocker here is that the starter is Tommy Devito, not Drew Lock; other than that, we saw this coming.
Daniel Jones, like many other high-paid QBs, has an injury clause in his contract. The clause states that should Jones sustain an injury that would prevent him from passing a physical by March, the Giants would then owe him $23 Million in guaranteed money. A healthy Jones would be guaranteed nothing in 2025, so benching him now gives the Giants an inexpensive path to a new signal caller and ends the Danny Dimes era in East Rutherford.
The Giants are currently 2-8 on the season and find themselves competing against the Jags (2-9), Browns (2-8), Raiders (2-8), and Titans (2-8) for a top-three spot in the NFL Draft. With stars like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders headlining the QB class, it seems like the Giants are gearing up to embrace the tank to go get their guy.
While fans have been all but dancing in the streets over this news, reports suggest that the locker room isn’t as happy. Dexter Lawrence made sure to show his support for DJ via The Athletic.
“That’s my best friend,” Lawrence said Tuesday “It’s tough for that to happen. I can’t control it. They made the decision based off their evaluations and their thoughts and feelings. … That’s my boy. As a player, you got to keep playing. As a human and as a brother, I feel for him.”
Dexter Lawrence explained that while he doesn’t necessarily agree with the coaching decision, he trusts the staff and will continue to do so.
Head Coach Brian Daboll acknowledged the comments on Wednesday :
Reportedly, an anonymous Giants player had this to say to FOX Sports’ Jordan Shultz:
“We’re not idiots. They did it because of money. So be it,” the player said. “But Daniel has been all class, never complained, and is now being completely disregarded. The team record is bad. You can point fingers everywhere. To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as f–k.”
Chemistry may be something to keep an eye on for the remainder of the season.
Something has got to be up with the air in MetLife Stadium because the Jets and Giants always stink.
Written by Raven Ullah, a WUFO Intern and deeply depressed Giants fan.
