Official Jets podcast is presented by Win bet Betting is a team sport bet together at win but Eric Allen here join in the audi performance studio by Jay Feeley, former Jets kicker, who of course provides analysis on CBS Sports.
It's so great, Senia.
Oh, it's great to be great to be out of practice and to see all the excitement, and you know, it's palpable. You feel the excitement out there in practice, from the fans, from the team, you know, from everybody on the sidelines, you know, everybody who has anything to do with the Jets. You can feel the excitement.
So your thoughts.
When the Rogers trade became imminent March fifteenth, it goes on the Pat McAfee show, says, my intention is to play in the National Football League. My attention is to play for the New York Jets. And then the strait is finally consummated a couple of days prior to the draft.
Well, I thought for the Jets it was a home run in every way. I mean, you look back to last year and I said often, I thought this was a very talented roster. Obviously they had injuries and then they had the issues at the quarterback position. And I think what Aaron does first and foremost is he brings leadership. He brings stability and a confidence from all those players and coaches, and it changes the whole direction of your franchise.
And you know, to be able to then go get other guys and they want to play with a guy like Aaron Rodgers. You know, it's going to be really exciting to see what happens with this team. You know, if the offensive line can stay healthy and you know, figure out where everybody's going to be. You look at
the defensive line. I compare that defensive line maybe to that Eagles defensive line because of the depth and the talent that they have on that defensive line, the ability to bring guys in and out, sub guys in and out keep them fresh, which is what the Eagles were able to do last year. You know, they basically had eight starters, you know, and to be able to get after the quarterback like they were able to do. You
know that Robert Sala wants to do. That's what he was able to do in San Francisco, and I think he's now got that defensive line all right.
So you've watched Rogers for years you played across from him when you were in the National Football League. Just watching him at practice, what are you trying to take out of it?
Just in an hour and a half two hour session.
I wanted to see one how comfortable he was and two did I feel like and I do, is he really engaged and excited to be here? And it definitely seems like that. He made two or three throws, you know, one throw and I was talking to Whatdy Johnson about it was a very simple throw to a back, but you know there's pressure. He kind of hops back and turns and throws it right away and knows exactly where
to go. It's perfect ball, perfect location in the back and get up And I'm just like, that's what he's that's the ability that he brings, you know, to understand where everybody is, to understand where the pressure is coming from and make those you know, different angle throws and do it so smooth. And then he throws one down the sidelines and I'm sure you know we'll on hard knocks.
Oh yeah, and it was such a beautiful ball. Again pressure again, but just flicks it, you know, almost looks like he's thrown it away and it's perfect ball location, receiver goes up, catches it for the touchdown, and you're just like, that's what he brings, and that's what's so exciting.
He's been a magician in the red zone here this summer, I mean throughout his career, but just being able to watch that every day, it was funny. I was joking about it and saying that in the red zone it seems like he's playing in the Canadian Football League because it's supposed to be a condensed space, but every time he gets down there, he's lighting up the scoreboard.
Well, he's so creative, right, and he can do so many different things and throw from so many different angles, and he has the ability to move the pocket and get outside and use his feet to create time. I think that's what makes him so dangerous in the red zone.
What do you think about him at thirty nine and is forty the new thirty?
I mean I watched Tom Brady and he amazed me every single year that he kept playing. I still think Tom could play, you know, right now if he wanted to, you know, so, I don't think you know you're going to see an old Aaron Rodgers. I think you're going to see a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers, somebody who's excited to be out there. The last couple of years in Green Bay, you know, it was almost just with everything that happened, I think it was probably hard on him, you know,
and you could see it where on him. And I know personally when I change teams and you go to somewhere new and it makes you want to go out there and prove yourself again. I think that's what he's going to do here.
It's someone who played here.
What do you think about where the fans are at as far as their hunger is concerned, and you talk about that excitement level. This is a team, this is a franchise that hasn't been to the postseason, says twenty ten. Now, the expectations are a little bit different.
Honestly, Jets fans probably caustiously optimistic, right because they're always waiting for the shoot to drop and something to happen or you know, but I'm sure they're just elated and just so excited because think about the quarterback position with this franchise, and when have you had a quarterback of
his caliber? You know, we had Brett for that year he was he played awesome until he got injured, you know, and that was a super talented team and I always talk about if if Brett didn't get hurt that year, what we could have done. You know, it would have
been exciting. But you know, they haven't had a lot of great quarterbacks in this franchise, and so to have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, you know, is spectacular and hopefully I'd love to see him bring him to another super Bowl and get a championship, and get another championship here with the New York Jets.
What do you think this place would be like if it's January, in late January and the Jets are end of the playoffs, what do you think New York would be like as a guy.
Well, I mean, you know, the fans are so passionate, you know, both negatively and positively. You know, so if things are going really well, they're going to be just rocking. You know, that place is going to be packed and so excited, and the fans are going to be into it. And you know, I think your Jets fans are starved for success and star for really good quarterback play. You know, it's a tough schedule to begin with. Yeah, the first month of the season is going to be really hard,
and so you know, you got to be ready. The coaches have to know, like, we have to be ready to go September tenth, and you know, come out there and and try to be at our best. Ret Week one you can't have. You can't afford to be like, all right, well, we'll get used to each other and you know, we'll work our way into the season. You have to be ready to go week one.
How challenging will that be? Because Rogers Center's here and he's got a system he's familiar with and he's really comfortable with Nathaniel Hacket and that's a great first step. And Alan Lazard is here, and Billy Turner is here, and Randall Cobb is here. But it's like they have to teach that entire system to all the all the pieces that haven't been here at one.
Jet's driving the past.
Yeah, and you have to assimilate everybody together, and you have to figure out what everybody does well. And the key for Aaron ros is knowing where his receivers are going to be and them understanding what their quarterback wants to wants them to do, and if they can get to that point. You know, by September, then they're going to be excellent, you know, And because that's what Aaron
likes to do. He wants to know where the receiver is going to be and what he's going to do and what route and the anticipation and throw that ball on time and get it out. So you have to understand each other from the quarterback position in the receiver position.
I'm disappointed you get the opportunity to watch Garrett Wilson today, Offensive rookie of the Year. He's having a fabulous start to camp. I think it's a minor this week with the ankle, but he's developed an instant chemistry of the Rogers. And when Rogers talks about Devonte Adams, you know how much.
He thinks of Wilson.
Are ready and he says, hey, this guy could be the top receiver in the National Football League, and he anticipates he's going to put on five ten pounds of muscle in due time. But what are your expectations for Wilson now that he has a guy like Rogers throwing full Well.
I watched him last year and I was blown away at just how mature he was as a football player already as a route runner, as a receiver, the ability to do everything like he was better than I thought he would be. And I had high expectations watching him at Ohio State, you know, and how well he played there, So you know, I just think that, you know, he could become, like you said, one of the best receivers
in the entire league. And when you talk to people about him off the field, you know, there's so many good things that people say about how positive he is and the energy he brings and how hard he works and what kind of person he is, and so when you when you bring those two things together, you know you could have a really special player.
You see the similarities and parallels with saus Gardner because the way he just talked about his approach and mindset. I'm always arguing or stating the fact that these two just have special physical skill sets, but where they are mentally as far is where they want to go.
It's just on an other level.
Yeah, I think the Jets could have one of the best secondaries in football this year, you know. And I looked at Sauce today. Obviously covered him last year, but standing next to him, he was taller than I thought he was, you know, and as well as he can move, and you know his ability to play that corner position, but to have the length that he has is I think what really makes him special.
He should have more opportunities interceptions. Because you were talking about the defensive line and the combination with Rogers, you would anticipate the Jets having more late leads, right mm hm.
And you know that defensive line they work together, right, you get pressure, gives the opportunity for the corners and the safeties to make plays, that secondary to make plays.
And you know, as you get better collectively on defense, it's it's harder for an offense to go away from a guy like Sauce Gardner because you know, you can't just say, okay, we're not going to throw there, you know, because the whole defense is better, and I think with that strength in that secondary, it'll allow him to have opportunities.
What did you make of Sean Payton's comments the other day, and what did you make of the way Robert Salah handled it, Because obviously Nathaniel Hackett, to a man, everybody in this building, you know, they loved the way he teaches. He's had success with different quarterbacks other than Aaron Rodgers being an offensive signal caller. And I'm sure Peyton had he probably had a couple things in mind in who he was addressing as far as those comments were concerned.
But how did you take him?
Well, I did read that Sean Payton apologized and said he probably shouldn't have said that. And you know what, I don't think anybody in this building really cares what,
you know, what somebody else says. And they they know when you when you go out and become a head coach and you don't succeed, you know there's gonna be there's gonna be negative naysayers and people that you know that you have to go prove yourself against, kind of like a player, you know, when when as a player, you know you you have a bad year, you have to go back out there and you have to prove
yourself again. And coaching is the same way, you know, and this is a league that you have to win, and if you don't win, you're gonna get replaced, you know, as a player, as a coach management, And that's just the way it is. And so it's a great opportunity for Nathaniel Hackett to get back together with Aaron Rodgers and to put together an offense and to put together
a really good offense. And you know, for Robert solid to be able to have an OC and a quarterback like that, and then to get his defense playing the way he wants them to play as aggressive as he wants them. You know, it should make Jets fans really excited.
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What do you like most about Salah? He's entering that third year. They embrace the youth movement in year one, then you year two, you take off seven and four. We know what happened down the stretch, and now here we are people are talking about the Jets is potential contenders.
What I like most about him is just the person, Like I think he is an outstanding person, obviously knows football really well, handles himself well. I think he's steady. You know, it doesn't get too high and too low. You know. I think as a head coach, you want that, you know, you want that coach that's going to be able to stay the same and weather the storm. And he has had to weather the storm. Hasn't been easy for him, and it's been a long process for them.
So I'm excited for him just as much as I am for Jets fans because you know, hopefully this year goes really well for them and you know he can solidify himself moving forward.
We're taping this on a Sunday afternoon. People might be listening to this on Monday, Tuesday or beyond. Dalvin Cook was at practice today. What do you think about the potential fit?
Oh, I think it'd be spectacular. Again, Liking Aaron Rodgers, you're gonna get a guy who was so has been so good the last you know, four years, who now is motivated again, right, because when a team lets you go and releases you and now you move on, it rejuvenates you and makes you like, I'm gonna go out there and improve myself. And for a guy that's accomplished as much as he did, you know, I think when you get those kind of players, you know that that could lead to something really special.
It's hard to get inside his mind, but he said very complimentary things about the Jets the Dolphins as well, or people will say New England is involved in this. For a guy who used to compete inside the AFC East, this is very interesting in the way that his suitors are lining up.
Well, it'd be great if he does sign with the Jets and you keep him away from Miami or New England, right, you know. I mean that's just an added bonus when you're able to sign somebody and not allow that one of your division rivals to sign them as well. And you know he's a home run hitter. You know, he's a guy that when when you talk to defensive coordinators getting ready to play the Vikings, the first guy they
talked about was Dalvin Coon. You know, you had to make sure to shut him down, not allow him to hit those big runs, and because that's the fastest way to get beat. And then obviously justin Jefferson as well, but the priority was started with Dalvin Cook because they knew how dangerous he was.
The Jets got a home run hitter of their own in that offensive backfield and priest All coming off the ACL they're very excited about where.
He is in his rehab.
It looks so good too before he got hurt.
So what will be the challenge for him?
Because even if you are ahead of schedule as far as the rehab is concern, you don't want to go too fast. It's like that balance of you don't want to hold him back, but you don't want to.
Do too much.
Well, I just want to make sure he's healthy and ready. And then you know, when you're healthy and ready and the doctors say you're good, you got to go and you got to trust it. And if you try to go and play football and try not to get hurt, that's how you're gonna get hurt, you know. So when they say you're ready and you've passed all the tests, and you know you've progressed along. You just got to go out there and let let it rip.
The people you think nationally understand you're a guy that covers it inside and out and you talk to the coaches and management. But I'm saying, like, as far as elite talent, Aaron Rodgers is an elite player, one of the best ers ever played the game. But when you look at the Jets and you say Quinn and Williams, and you say CJ.
Moseley and Sauce Cardner and.
DJ Reid, Elijah vera Taker, Breese Hall, Garrett Wilson, do you think people know how good this roster is other than Rogers.
No, I don't think they do, you know, because you haven't. You know, you haven't won a lot of games. Like you said, you haven't been to the playoffs, and and so they've been building though, and they have depth and they have talent, and now you just need to bring it to fruition. You got to go out there and win games. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters is however you do it. You gotta find ways to win games, and you know, try to get in the playoffs and do something special.
Who's not going to be good in AFC because if you look up and down each division, I mean there's only what eight teams are going to make the playoffs? Well, not eight teams, sevent teams. Excuse me, because you got the division winners and the wild cards.
Who's not going to be part of this?
Yeah? I mean it's look at the AFC West and how talented they are. And then you look at this division and how talented all four teams are, you know, with with the Dolphins and the Patriots and the Bills and the Jets, and you're you're like, okay, they all could be really good. And and then you sit there and you say, okay, Pittsburgh is probably gonna be better. And you look at the Baltimore and Cincinnati obviously and
that that division is gonna be really good. And so you know, obviously when you look at the Texans, I don't think the Texans are going to be very good this year. And and then you know that division with the Colts and the Titans, you just don't know Jacksonville. You expect them to continue to get better and take a step forward. And they got Calvin Ridley now and to pair with who they had last year, and Trevor Lawrence probably takes another step forward. So the AFC is
just so loaded with quarterbacks. That's what makes it so difficult to play in the AFC.
Yeah, because it's interesting because we're talking about the teams at the front, but then you if you include Cleveland and Deshaun Watson, he bounces back and the Chargers just gave Herbert the monster.
Come.
Yeah. I expect the Chargers to take a big step forward this year.
But everybody's gonna make it, you know.
I know.
So when you look at top to bottom, do you still see at the start the onset of twenty twenty three and say, okay, you got to start with Kansas City.
I mean that's a team that's defending.
Champions and Patrick Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes Joe Burrow, Cincinnati, Buffalo Josh Allen. Do you still have those three teams?
Yeah?
They play together, sure, yeah, until somebody beats him, you know. And you know Buffalo is trying to figure out a way to take the next step themselves. You know, they they've struggled and lost in the playoffs, even though they played so well the last two years throughout the season, you know, and they have to find a way to take that next step and to get to a championship
game and try and get to a Super Bowl. And you know, Patrick Mahomes is the best player in football, and so when he's there with Andy Reid, as long as he's healthy, like they're going to be one of the best teams in the league. And you know, obviously the Bengals went to the Super Bowl and they've played Kansas City as well as anybody, right, you know, so those three teams are your front runners, and everyone else is trying to go out there and prove that that
we're one of the best teams. And you know, it's it's so fascinating to me. And I love the AFC because of the strength at the quarterback position.
How about the division We mentioned the Bills, They've won the last three ACS. People have high hopes with Dolphins. I know, jay Lee Rams just got hurt, but Vic Fangio comes over in New.
Defense, a huge pickup for the Dolphins. Vic Fangio and.
New England's always a tough out.
I mean New England's beat the Jets in fourteen consecutive regular season games, so there is I don't think these guys carry it with them what's happened in the past.
But no, they feel like they owe them something.
Right sure. I mean, if you've been here for a few years and you have beat them, you know that's going to stay with you. You know. I'm curious to see what happens with New England and how they you know, they got a new offensive coordinator. They had issues last year. You know, with that role, I think Bill o'brown will be a lot better. They'll have some more stability. He knows exactly what Bill Belichick wants him to do offensively.
And can you get Mac Jones to become, you know, a very good quarterback in this league because you can't win without quarterback playing right.
So what do you think is going to happen down the line? Like we're in January? Where do you think do you think this Jets team is poised?
I think they're a playoff team if they can stay healthy. I do. There's there's nothing about this team that that I think if there's if they're able to stay healthy, keep that offensive line helping keep Aaron Rodgers healthy. Uh, you know, the health is always that That's the big factor, you know, and you just don't know what's going to happen. But I think they have the caliber to be a playoff team and make a real push. And you know, with Aaron Rodgers, the only expectation you have with an
Aaron Rodgers here is to win a championship. You know, he's not coming here to get into the playoffs. He's done that his entire career. He's coming here to win a super Bowl. And everyone in that locker room and every coach has to have that same mentality.
What would it do for his career, bio to win one more win a second championship, but to do it here, yeah.
Well, I mean he'd be legendary as a jet you know, if he goes and he's able to win it and get him another super Bowl. And you think about Tom Brady and what it did for him to leave New England to go to Tampa and to be able to win another super Bowl and really just legitimize everything he had done, you know, and his position as the best of all time, you know, and Aaron is considered, you know,
one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history. To be able to go and to take a franchise like this that had so many issues last year and raise them up and win something would be unbelievable.
Okay, a couple of quick ones. What's it like for you coming back here?
I love coming back here. I love my time with the Jets. You know, people always ask me what's your favorite team, And one of the things I'll say is when I played for Res, I never had more fun. Yeah, you know, especially those first two years and going to
the championships, and you know, it was fun. It was a great locker room here, and I think that's what made it so successful at the beginning with Rex, you know, because you did have a great life, locker room and a lot of really good leaders and good people here, and it was just a blast to play for him. And so I always come back with great memories. I
love doing the games, doing the Jet games. And you know, I probably won't get get him this year because Jim and Tony will probably get them, you know, might be living in the last five years. You know, hopefully I can get one, but no, it's it's it's great to be able to see the Johnson's and say hi to them and and and catch up with everybody. This is a special place and I just want to see him start winning.
I know it's not sexy when we talk about kickers, but the Jets got a pretty good one in Greg' zerline.
Huh.
Well, they have a great nucleus, their whole special team's nucleus, you know, with their long snapper and their punter and the kicker. Obviously veteran guys that that are excellent, that have done at the highest level. And you know, Thomas more said, I think really highly of him. You know, I watched him punt today and it was just so
easy and so consistent. And you know, Greg is an excellent kicker, has been for all twelve years that he's played, and with such a big leg, and you know, they're talented, and that's what you know, you're gonna after rely on your specialists as well, you know at certain times, and they got some excellent ones.
Yeah, that's kind of under the radar here as you would anticipate. But brand Boyer he reminds me of Westuff, not in personality ways, but he's.
But like respect the way that people think of it.
Yeah, sir, I mean, how many other guys are going to be here where the coaching staff changes multiple times?
And he stays, Yeah, it's because of the way that people respect him, because he's an excellent SPSH teams coach.
And I like that Morstead is reuniting with Justin Hardy because those guys did damage together in New Orleans. And one thing that Boyer said about about Morstead is he's one of the best, if not the top, directional punter in the National Football League.
Yeah, and you watch him punt, he's going to directional hits great hang time. Punds hangs it up there. So I would think they would be one of the best in the league at having the least amount of return yards against them this.
Year, you know, and in yards that's big.
Yeah, that's huge. And you know that his offenses to go, you know, another first down and you can pin him back and you can look at the numbers when when you pin him inside the the ten and inside the five, you know how dramatically it drops the percentage of drives the score points and so you know, those those are all huge. And when you have an excellent defense and a really good defensive line, you want a punter who's gonna be able to limit them. Put him down there and pin him back deep.
How many years for you at CBS now.
It's my ninth year. Yeah, that's crazy.
How much you enjoy it?
And can you can you tell us about your schedule and what's on tap for you?
Well, I only know my first three games. That's all they've they've given me, and it's all they've released. I'm at Denver week one, which will be fun. The Raiders play at Denver. My son Jay so be kicking for Colorado. So he plays on Saturday, the day before against Nebraska. So that'll be cool because I get to go run over and watch him play and then come over and do my game the next day. And then and then
I met Tennessee. I get to see Justin Herbert and the Chargers go to Tennessee and take on the Titans and Vrabel and and then and then I get to go see Lamar Jackson. Week three at Baltimore. The Colts play Baltimore. So I'm really excited about my schedule. I'm fascinating to see what happens in Denver and how Sean Payton's able to go in there and try and turn out and turn around Russell Wilson and get him playing
the way he has his entire career. And you know what Josh mcdannel is able to do with the Raiders, you know, and and if they can play better. I mean, that defensive line has so much talent and they probably didn't get the production that they expected out of them as well. So I just can't wait for the football
seae to start, you know. I love it, love going and doing games, and my favorite thing is meeting with the coaches, sitting down and doing the production meetings and getting to pick their brains and you see so many different ways of getting it done and different philosophies. You know, not just you know what they're what their ex'es and o's are, but just the way they build a team, the way they go about it. That that's super fascinating to me.
And we got to ask you how's the golf gain?
Well, my son beat me the last three rounds. He hadn't beat me his entire life until a month ago, and now he's beat me three straight round So I'm not really happy with my golf game right now, although I will say like the one round, the one round he beat me his first time, I shot three under on the back night and I shot four under the back night he shot three under you guys are crazy and he beat me by one, so he had to earn it. He played and then he shot on Thursday.
He beat me, but he was under par as well. So what can I do. He hits it like sixty yards by me every time, so I'm starting from way back behind him at.
Yay.
I really enjoyed it. Great seeing it.
Oh, it's great to be Thanks for having me