Robert Saleh downplays talk of Aaron Rodgers 'wish list' for Jets as 'silly narrative,' praises QB's focus

05-05-2023
3 min read
(Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers joining the Jets has seemingly completely altered the outlook of the franchise. Robert Saleh has done nothing but sing the praises of the future Hall of Fame QB, and it's clear the Jets want to make Rodgers comfortable.

To that end, they have signed some familiar faces. Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have joined the Gotham receiving room, in the wake of reports Rodgers gave the Jets a "wish list" of players he wanted before he joined.

This report from March caught some fire in the football world, with some fans and analysts pointing to it as evidence Rodgers is a diva who is looking for special accommodations.

Saleh, however, isn't having it. He downplayed the idea of the "wish list" during a meeting with the media Friday, calling it a "silly narrative."

"I'm gonna try to say this as respectfully as I can," Saleh said. "And I'm not attacking anyone. I do think it's a silly narrative, with regards to the wish list. And I say that because there's 32 teams in the NFL. And it's common practice for when there's changes ... That you surround those people with people they're familiar with. I had a wish list."

MORE: Reviewing Aaron Rodgers' reported wish list with the Jets

Saleh also mentioned Tom Brady as another quarterback who had a wish list when the joined the Buccaneers.

"Tom Brady goes to Tampa and he gets [Rob] Gronkowski and Antonio Brown. So it's very common for new faces to come in and want old faces."

MORE: Ranking all 16 AFC QBs as Aaron Rodgers joins loaded conference

It's been quite the love fest for Rodgers in his early days in New York. He's been spotted watching the Knicks and Saleh has showered praise upon him from the word "go." That didn't change in the conference Friday.

"You see a fire in his eyes," Saleh said of Rodgers participating in voluntary workouts. "He's coming to win."