The Hall of Fame quarterback is in place, added to a Jets roster already stocked with dynamic young offensive talent and a defense that ranked in the NFL’s top-five last season.Now comes the pressurehave some of the highest expectations in the league
The day after the Jets conducted their introductory press conference to present Rodgers to his new adoring public, I texted a high-ranking team official and suggested that if Rodgers is half as good on the field as he was in so masterfully handling his press conference, it’s going to be a hell of a year for the Jets.
“Bulls–t,’’ was the response when I relayed that to Eric Mangini, who was the Jets’ head coach from 2006-08.“This has changed everything,’’ Mangini told The Post. “When you’re paying someone $100 million who’s a season removed from being the back-to-back offensive MVP, yeah, this is win or someone else is going to be calling the shots. I don’t even think it’s debatable.’’
Mangini was fired after the Jets finished 9-7 that season when an 8-3 start was sabotaged after Favre suffered a torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder and continued to play with it. Eric Mangini celebrates with Brett Favre after a win over the Titans in the 2008 season. But things went south for both Mangini and Favre after that.“I got fired after starting 8-3 and losing four of the last five and that was after having gone to the playoffs,’’ Mangini said.
Mangini said a huge positive is the fact that the Jets got Rodgers so early in the offseason and he already has offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, his former OC in Green Bay and a close friend, in place.