It wouldn’t be a Jets offseason without unnecessary drama. But the franchise is claiming the latest negative headline never actually happened.
Jets owner Woody Johnson released a statement Thursday aggressively denying a report calling his relationship with head coach Robert Saleh into question. Johnson attempted to shut down the idea of any discord among the team’s key decision-makers.
Saleh recently told reporters he appreciated the “quietness” of this offseason compared to the last. Ahead of the 2023 season, Aaron Rodgers made it clear he wanted to be dealt to the Jets, but negotiations lingered deep into April.
While the Jets have made notable moves in 2024, including the addition of Cowboys great Tyron Smith, the tenor of this offseason has been more relaxed. That is, until this week’s report of a “very heated conversation” between Johnson and Saleh.
Here’s what you need to know about the reported argument, as well as why the reporter in question has apologized to the Jets.
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Woody Johnson-Robert Saleh report, explained
NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe said on the “Around the NFL” podcast earlier in the week that Johnson and Saleh engaged in a “very heated conversation” at the league meetings in Orlando. She initially stated that the interaction happened Monday night before later saying it occurred Sunday.
Wolfe’s report, which was casually mentioned on a podcast rather than blasted across NFL Network as formal reporting, was the only word of a dispute between Johnson and Saleh during the league meetings. Still, it circulated enough that Johnson felt compelled to respond.
“All this nonsense about a heated argument between Coach Saleh and me at the League Meeting is absolutely false,” Johnson said, calling the rumor “yet another irresponsible report from NFL Network.”
All this nonsense about a heated argument between Coach Saleh and me at the League Meeting is absolutely false. It is yet another irresponsible report from NFL Network. Please disregard.
— Woody Johnson (@woodyjohnson4) March 28, 2024
Johnson was clear about his belief in Saleh even as the Jets’ disappointing 2023 season ended. But he told ESPN’s Jeff Darlington in February that Saleh can still become a more well-rounded head coach.
“One thing about head coaches is you get better as you get more experience. And he’s going to concentrate on offense,” Johnson said. “He’s got Jeff [Ulbrich] to do the defense. And we’ve got good special teams. It’s offense, offense, offense.”
Even if Jets brass are on the same page right now, there’s a strong possibility that harmony won’t last once the season gets underway. Johnson has made it clear in public comments that he expects New York to be much improved in 2024, all but making the playoffs a mandate for Saleh and GM Joe Douglas.
If the Jets’ season derails with Rodgers healthy, it figures to be the end of the line for Saleh regardless of how aligned he is with Johnson today.
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Why did Colleen Wolfe apologize to the Jets?
Wolfe apologized to the Jets on Thursday for creating an “unnecessary distraction,” but she didn’t outright retract her report.
The 39-year-old NFL Network host confirmed that her source attended the meeting and witnessed the interaction, but explained that “others on-site Sunday night have since reached out and described the interaction differently. My intent wasn’t to break news, I leave that to the insiders.”
The apology stands by the claim of some kind of interaction between Johnson and Saleh, but Wolfe softened up on the idea that the interaction was a heated dispute, as she first alleged.
Based on Johnson’s statement, however, it doesn’t appear NFL Network will be on his good side anytime soon.