New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson used social media Thursday to rebut a declare by an NFL Community host that he and coach Robert Saleh engaged in a “very heated dialog” earlier this week on the NFL’s annual league assembly in Orlando, Florida.
“All this nonsense a couple of heated argument between Coach Saleh and me on the league assembly is totally false,” Johnson stated on X. “It’s yet one more irresponsible report from NFL Community. Please disregard.”
It is uncommon for Johnson, 76, to reply on this method, however he evidently felt compelled after a remark by NFL Community’s Colleen Wolfe gained traction late Wednesday.
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On the “Across the NFL” podcast, Wolfe stated she heard concerning the alleged Johnson-Saleh dispute from a “very dependable supply.” Initially, she stated it occurred on the NFL’s cocktail reception Monday evening on the Ritz-Carlton Resort, which hosted the NFL’s league conferences. Later within the podcast, she stated it was Sunday evening, not Monday. She offered no different particulars, besides to say it turned “a little bit awkward.”
In an announcement launched Thursday, Wolfe apologized to the Jets “for the pointless distraction.”
“Relating to my feedback surrounding the Jets on the @AroundTheNFL podcast: no, I used to be not on the Annual Assembly and sure, I used to be informed of the alternate between head coach Robert Saleh & Woody Johnson by somebody in attendance. Others on-site Sunday evening have since reached out and described the interplay in another way. My intent wasn’t to interrupt information, I go away that to the insiders. My sincerest apologies to the Jets group for the pointless distraction throughout such a vital a part of their offseason,” she stated within the assertion, which was posted to X.
The Johnson-Saleh relationship has been below the microscope for the reason that finish of the season — a disappointing 7-10 marketing campaign for the Jets. The strain across the group escalated in early February when Johnson, chatting with reporters on the NFL Honors in Las Vegas, put everybody within the group on alert by saying he anticipated a giant enchancment in 2024.
Johnson stated that Saleh and basic supervisor Joe Douglas have “seen me about as mad as I might be with what was happening. … We have now all this expertise, and now we have to deploy expertise correctly. So, I believe all of them acquired the message. That is it. That is the time to go. We have to supply this 12 months.” On Monday morning, Saleh addressed reporters for the primary time for the reason that finish of the season.
Requested about Johnson’s pointed feedback from February, Saleh informed reporters: “Woody supplies a number of good perception, he actually does. No matter what the tone might or will not be, the essential factor is the message, and he is delivered a number of actually considerate, good messages which have helped us progress, particularly throughout this offseason.
“It will assist us throughout the season. So, his phrases are at all times welcome. He is the proprietor of the soccer group, and his frustrations are shared with everybody.”
The Jets have gone 13 straight seasons with out making the playoffs, the longest drought for any group within the 4 main sports activities leagues in North America. They started final season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, however every thing unraveled when quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles on the fourth play of the season.
In Orlando, Johnson stated he is “fairly impressed” with the group’s offseason.
“I prefer to win video games, like a number of different homeowners do,” he stated. “Shedding video games isn’t why we’re in it. We’re in it to win video games, each the gamers and the followers. So, we need to win video games, and we’re making an attempt to place a group collectively. I believe we have made some actually good progress in placing a group collectively to make that occur.”