NFL: New York relies on star power

On January 12, 1969, the Jets won the third edition of the NFL finals – longer than the moon landing. No team waits so long for another triumph, and that is by no means the only negative series they have to show. No other team in the major leagues is waiting longer to participate in the play-offs. That was twelve seasons ago for the Jets.

Rodgers is supposed to change all of this for the franchise, whose recent past can be described as a “blunder” (keyword: “butt fumble”). The 39-year-old superstar completed his first 18 seasons in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers. Although he only won the title once, he was named the league’s most valuable player (MVP) four times and is considered one of the best in his career for more than just that reason Guild. “In the last six months I have worked hard to be better than last year – I expect that too,” said the playmaker before the season opener against Buffalo on Monday.

From the darkness to the big city

After missing the postseason at the beginning of the year, the veteran star wanted to emulate Tom Brady and literally ride into retirement (“I was 90 percent retired”), especially since Jordan Love, General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s designated successor, was finally in Green Bay A position was made – and thereby alienated Rodgers.

Several days in a dark room (“Darkness Retreat”) brought Rodgers spiritual enlightenment and a change of mindset, for the benefit of the success-thirsty Jets, who had honestly sought Rodgers’ services. “My intention is to play, and I want to play in New York,” the superstar explained afterwards in the Ides of March, and one trade later, New York had one more attraction.

On the trail of “Broadway Joe”

Although the Jets, like their local rivals the Giants, play in East Rutherford and therefore in New Jersey, they are closely linked to New York, and not just because of their name. Both used to play in the local baseball stadiums, the Jets in their first years as the Titans of New York in the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, later in Shea Stadium in Queens. There, Joe Namath became the NFL’s first pop star.

IMAGO/Darryl Norenberg Jets quarterback Joe Namath once made headlines in more than just sports

“Broadway Joe,” as the now 80-year-old was known back then, led the Jets to their only NFL title win to date. It is often said that his “guarantee” before Super Bowl III, when the Jets followed up his words before an award (“We will win the game, I guarantee it”) with action and, as outsiders, won the final against the overwhelming favorites Baltimore Colts with 16: 7 decided for themselves. His iconic gesture at the end of the game went down in the history books, just as his busy life in the city that never sleeps made just as many headlines.

Stars and starlets are supposed to inspire jets

Since then, the Jets have been waiting to take part in the Super Bowl, after all, they have been in the semi-finals four times. The “Gang Green”, as the team is called because of their dominant club color, had to wait a long time for a playmaker of the caliber of Namath. 15 years ago, the Jets brought in a veteran star – Brett Favre, of all people, Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay. The one-year project, to which Favre had only partially committed himself, failed prematurely before a possible play-off entry.

It remains to be seen how long Rodgers will play. He clearly enjoyed his initial preparation elsewhere, which was also evident in the training camp documentary “Hard Knocks”. “I’m having a lot of fun, I’m enjoying it,” said Rodgers, who knows the expectations in the largest media market in the USA, but doesn’t consciously increase them. “First of all, we want to win the AFC East (division, ed.), so we have a home game in the play-offs, and then we know that anything can be possible in the tournament,” said Rodgers, who also did so during his presentation in the spring It didn’t go unnoticed that “the one Super Bowl trophy (displayed in the Jets office, note) seems a bit left alone.”

IMAGO//Icon Sportswire/Rich Graessle The chemistry is right: young star “Sauce” Gardner and old master Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers played his part in putting together a championship team by “lightening” his contract by $35 million. The Jets were also able to afford star running back Dalvin Cook, most recently under contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Rodgers lured former teammates (Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb) to New York, and offensive coordinator and friend Nathaniel Hackett (“It’s probably the best offense I’ve ever been a part of”) coached him in Green Bay in his final two seasons MVP level in the NFL.

The Jets around general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh once again demonstrated a very good hand in the draft a year ago, as they now have the two “Rookies of the Year” (offensive and offensive) in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner Defensive). Running back Breece Hall is a promising talent returning from injury. Star playmaker Rodgers should finally raise the squad with a lot of potential to the top level.

NFL

Schedule and tables

Knowing the potential – the defense allowed the fewest touchdowns in the league last season – the Jets are putting everything on one card. “The pieces are there, the team is hungry,” emphasized Rodgers, who is not only hoping for protection from those in front of him (offensive line), but also for a Brady effect. After 20 seasons with New England, he was successful in Tampa Bay. “I think Aaron is going to have a great year,” Brady predicted.

New York longs for success

The road to the title is, of course, hard and rocky, especially in the American Football Conference (AFC), which is filled with so many stars, and where Patrick Mahomes is far from having enough after his second Super Bowl triumph with the Kansas City Chiefs. And in the AFC East, with Buffalo, Miami and arch rivals New England, there are enough high hurdles for the new star ensemble to overcome.

But if Rodgers really pulls off the coup with the Jets, another dry spell would end. In the four major traditional US leagues in American football (NFL), basketball (NBA), ice hockey (NHL) and baseball (MLB), the Giants last won the championship for New York in 2012. Since 2000, there have only been four major titles for the largest city in the USA. One of the greatest and best quarterbacks of all time is supposed to change this situation.

National Football League

Donnerstag, September 7: Kansas City Detroit 8:21 PM Monday, September 10: Cleveland Cincinnati 24:3 Baltimore Houston 25:9 Pittsburgh San Francisco 7:30 Indianapolis Jacksonville 9:31 Washington Arizona 8:16 Minnesota Tampa Bay 5:20 p.m New Orleans Tennessee 4:15pm Atlanta Carolina 24:10 New England Philadelphia 8:25pm LA Chargers Miami 34:36 Denver Las Vegas 4:17pm Chicago Green Bay 8:38pm Seattle LA Rams 1:30pm NY Giants Dallas 0:40pm Montag, 11 September: NY Jets Buffalo