The winless New York Jets are planning a quarterback change, according to sources close to the team. Owner Woody Johnson has expressed strong criticism towards Justin Fields, the current starter. Johnson has made it clear that the final decision rests with coach Aaron Glenn, who is considering naming Tyrod Taylor as the new quarterback. However, Johnson did not hide his opinion on the situation.
It’s difficult when you have a quarterback with the rating he has. He has ability, but something isn’t working… You have to play consistently in that position, and that’s what we’re going to try to do for the rest of the season.
Woody JohnsonIn an NFL meeting in New York, Johnson highlighted improvements in defense and special teams as reasons for hope. In addition, he added: “If we could just complete a pass, it would look good.” The Jets gave Fields a two-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed, hoping he would be the long-term solution. After a 0-7 start to the season, it seems the team has lost patience. Glenn is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday, before Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson commented that “the offensive simply isn’t working, and you can’t run the ball if you can’t pass the ball. That’s football 101”. In six starts, Fields has recorded a Total QBR of 32.1, the lowest of his career, ranking 31st out of 33 qualified quarterbacks. Although he performed well against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, his performance has declined in recent weeks. The Jets have only managed seven touchdowns in the last six games, none in the first half. Johnson stated that he does not regret letting go of Aaron Rodgers, who now leads the Steelers, with a 4-2 record. Johnson also expressed his complete confidence in Glenn, the first coach in franchise history to begin his tenure with so many losses.For months, Glenn had backed Fields, even after a Week 6 loss against the Denver Broncos. The coach’s first sign of doubt came on Sunday, when he replaced Fields with the Jets losing 10-3. Fields completed only 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards in the first half, suffering three sacks. The Jets finally lost 13-6, with Taylor throwing two interceptions in the second half. After the game, Glenn indicated that he was considering a change and would consult with people inside and outside the organization. This situation is familiar to Taylor, 36, who has a record of 28-29-1 as a starter. Taylor was the starter in Week 3, when Fields was out with a concussion. In just over seven quarters of play, Taylor completed 43 of 69 passes for 379 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.I believe in Aaron. I’ve known him since 1996. I’ve always been a fan of his. I see the way he handles the locker room. If I were a player, I would respond to him because he is authentic. No nonsense. No ulterior motives. What you hear is the truth, and many times players don’t get the truth. They get a lot of nonsense.
Woody Johnson
