“All the fame and all the recognition that we single out in various industries, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is really special,” stated 1992 Hall of Famer John Riggins. His words still resonate deeply. When it comes to Hall of Fame status, New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh is not mincing words. If Saleh is already putting Aaron Rodgers on that pedestal, he’s not merely tossing around Hail Marys—he’s calling a touchdown!
Saleh’s High praise: A Testament to rogers’ prowess
“He’s an impressive dude. And he’s a Hall of Famer for a reason,” Coach Saleh declared from the podium on August 3, 2024. The coach must have witnessed some serious fireworks during camp to dish out such high praise. When asked if Rodgers, making a comeback after an injury-ridden season, exceeded expectations during camp, Saleh’s response was simple yet sufficient, “He looks good.”
Robert Saleh says that Aaron Rodgers looks “really good” in practice:
“He’s an impressive dude and he’s a Hall of Famer for a reason.”
Robert Saleh says that Aaron Rodgers looks “really good” in practice:
“He’s an impressive dude and he’s a Hall of Famer for a reason.” pic.twitter.com/8fRUWp6o1W
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 3, 2024
Reflecting on the past: Saleh’s admiration for Rogers’ consistency
He extended his appreciation by reminiscing about how, back in 2021, he and Ricky Manning were always baffled by the Packers’ relentless drives. Saleh said, “We would always just be dumbfounded at why Green Bay would always have eight or nine drives in a game.” Fast forward to August 3rd, and it all makes sense now.
“He looks like he never missed any time,” Saleh gushed over Aaron’s scrimmage performance. Rodgers ran the offense for 42 plays in practice, completing 19 of 30 passes for 210 yards with no interceptions, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. With three drops and a spike to stop the clock, it’s clear A-Rod’s still got the magic touch. The Jets seem to have their maestro ready to orchestrate some gridiron symphonies. No wonder Saleh was marveling at the 40-year-old QB’s 18-play, 11-play, and seven-play drives—classic, clock-chewing, methodical marches downfield that scream Hall of Famer. Is it a surprise, though?
Statistics and Accolades: A legendary stat line
Coach’s accolades just pump up the hype around Rodgers’ Hall of Fame destiny. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon ranked Rodgers second among active NFL players destined for Canton, noting that only Peyton Manning (five) has more MVPs than A-Rod (four). Talk about a legendary stat line! Given Saleh’s endorsement, it is evident that Rodgers is not simply following the status quo; he is revolutionizing the strategy.
As he starts his 20th season, Rodgers is not only accumulating statistics. He’s giving his career’s longevity aspect approval without much thought. Having received 10 Pro Bowl selections, 4 MVP awards, a Super Bowl MVP title, and a championship, A-Rod is considered a legendary figure. Someone who should eventually have their career capped off with an induction into the Hall of Fame. But where does he stand in the GOAT debate? This former running back believes nowhere!
The goat debate: where does Rogers stand?
Tom Brady might be the GOAT quarterback, but Patrick Mahomes is hot on his heels. There are many great QBs, but the title of “greatest” is a rarefied air. LeSean McCoy, who’s been teammates with both Brady in Tampa and Mahomes in Kansas, believes that Aaron Rodgers is talented, but there’s a huge gap between him and the top two.
Speaking on Fox Sports’ SPEAK on August 2nd, McCoy went all in, proving why Rodgers isn’t the best. “It’s super disrespectful to say Aaron Rodgers’ name with dudes like Joe Montana. Dudes like Tom Brady. If I am them, I am offended,” the former RB said. To put things into perspective for all, his anger stems from people changing the criteria for calling someone the greatest. He said that “throw” can’t be a measure of A-Rod’s greatness when Brady, Montana, and, now, Mahomes’ success equals wins.
The Mahomes factor: a new benchmark for greatness
Here’s a stat that’ll blitz your mind: In just six years as a starter, Mahomes has more playoff wins than Rodgers has in his 19 seasons. With three Super Bowl rings and aiming for a “three-peat,” Mahomes is in the fast lane to greatness. Meanwhile, Rodgers has just one ring from his lone Super Bowl appearance.
Guess this is what LeSean echoed when he said, without meaning any disrespect, “I’m not talking about winning. You’ve only seen… In 20 years, you’ve only seen the Super Bowl one time.” However, this does not tarnish Rodgers’ legend status. The title of “Chicago’s most-hated player” is one of the many reasons for the same. And former WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh acknowledged his status quo as well.
A peer’s perspective: rogers’ elite status
He said that while A-Rod might not be in the league of Montana or Brady, per se, he is elite, to say the least. “We played in the flag football tournament this off-season. And Aaron Rodgers wasn’t even all the way healthy. All the other quarterbacks in the league were like, ‘God, how does he make that throw? How’s he throwing it?’,” ex-Bengals player said. However, he did conclude by saying that now’s the time Rodgers must produce something more out of his talent. Maybe another Super Bowl?
A promising future: what lies ahead for Rogers and the Jets?
Well, who’s to bet against it as Saleh and the Jets are eyeing a glory season as well! But the question remains: Can A-Rod add another stellar chapter to his career playbook? Share your thoughts!
