Robert Saleh, head coach of the New York Jets, dismissed any claims of discord between himself and quarterback Aaron Rodgers regarding the team’s cadence at the line of scrimmage. Saleh was clear in his statements, asserting that the supposed issue had been blown out of proportion, particularly after the team’s disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos. Despite the penalties that plagued the Jets during the game, Saleh believes there is no fundamental issue with the offensive cadence or his relationship with Rodgers.

No Cadence Issue, Says Saleh

When asked if there was any miscommunication between him and Rodgers concerning the quarterback’s calls at the line, Saleh responded bluntly, “There is no cadence issue. There never was a cadence issue. That was created.” His terse response reflects his belief that the media and some fans have overreacted to his post-game comments, which may have been misconstrued.

During their recent 15-penalty performance against the Broncos, five of those were false starts by the offense. When asked about reducing such mental errors, Saleh admitted, “We’ve got to figure it out. Whether or not we’re good enough or ready to handle all the cadence. Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously, today, it took a major step back.”

Rodgers Unfazed by Criticism

Rodgers, who is in his 20th NFL season, has long used his cadence as a tool to disrupt defenses, often drawing them offside. He has had success with this strategy, recording 18 touchdown passes on “free plays” throughout his career, including one against the San Francisco 49ers this season.

Following the Broncos loss, Rodgers seemed surprised when told that Saleh had suggested dialing back on cadence to avoid pre-snap penalties. Rodgers responded, “That’s one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable. We haven’t had an issue. … It’s been a weapon. We use it every day in practice. We rarely have a false start, and to have five today, it seemed like an outlier. I don’t know if we need to make mass changes based on kind of an outlier game.”

Saleh Clarifies His Comments

In his follow-up remarks on Monday, Saleh sought to clarify his earlier statements. He emphasized that the Jets would continue to “push the envelope with cadence” and that his post-game comments referred more broadly to the offense’s overall execution. “Getting in and out of the huddle, getting to the line of scrimmage, there’s a communication that’s being had,” Saleh explained. “Those are all things that we can continue to look at and clean up. But from a cadence standpoint, that’s part of what makes us who we are and we’re going to continue to always push the envelope on that.”

Rodgers, too, downplayed the issue during his appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show*, saying, “I think the question may have been posed in a way that might not have been exactly what was said,” referencing Saleh’s earlier post-game remarks. He added, “Listen, I’ve used my cadence my entire career. Everything we do in the game, we do in practice. And that’s why I said after the game that it felt like, I used the word ‘outlier,’ maybe a better word is ‘anomaly.’”

Saleh and Rodgers’ Relationship Stands Strong

Aside from the cadence controversy, there have also been rumors about tension between Rodgers and Saleh, particularly after an awkward sideline hug following the Jets’ victory over the New England Patriots on September 19. However, Saleh was quick to dispel any rumors of friction. “Aaron and I are fantastic,” Saleh stated emphatically. “Love the guy.”

Garrett Wilson’s Offensive Remarks

Amid the chatter around Rodgers and Saleh, another player’s comments added to the discussion surrounding the Jets’ offense. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson went viral after an interview with ESPN Radio’s Bart Scott, where he remarked that the Jets don’t “do a lot of different stuff” on offense compared to other teams. He noted that New York is still trying to find its offensive identity and that his “route tree hasn’t been what it has been the last two years.”

While Wilson later clarified on social media that he was answering a “strung out question” from Scott, Saleh appeared less willing to engage on the matter. “I’m just glad he added context to the quote,” Saleh said when asked about Wilson’s remarks. When pressed on Wilson’s claim that his route tree had changed, Saleh responded, “I’m not going to address it.”

Looking Ahead

Despite the setbacks and swirling rumors, the Jets remain focused on their season. With Rodgers set to address the media again on Friday before their game against the Minnesota Vikings, all eyes will be on how the team performs and whether they can put the cadence controversy and other distractions behind them. For now, Saleh remains firm in his belief that the perceived issues with Rodgers are overblown, maintaining confidence in his quarterback and his team’s ability to rebound from their recent struggles.