Is the Jets locker room on the same page or in turmoil as the Rams arrive?

The Los Angeles Rams (8-6) are traveling to the Big Apple in Week 16 to face the New York Jets (4-9) in a game that will likely receive national-level coverage. While the Rams will not be catching a Broadway show, there will be no shortage of drama in this game. From the early start for the West Coast Rams players (a 10:00 am PT kickoff) to the brutally cold temperatures at kickoff (the forecasted temperatures at kickoff are 27 degrees Fahrenheit), this game has plenty of forces that can impact the game.

But this is New York City, the epicenter of drama, both on stage and on the gridiron. And with the Jets falling far short of expectations this season, you can bet that there are any number of NFL media personalities that would love to get a scoop of who is to blame for the Jets demise, and why.

Even before the Rms arrive, sports interviewers continue to fan the flames of controversy in the Jets locker room:

Of course, the trick is to get an NFL veteran to openly show visible signs of frustration. Once that happens, any speculative rumors can be reported with some level of credibility. Jets veteran wide receiver Garrett Wilson is truly a fan favorite in New York, but with him openly frustrated over a lack of targets, the field is wide open to report that he will ask to be traded at the end of the season:

And that is not the only rumor that is setting the Jets on center stage. It has been widely reported that before agreeing to become the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team, former New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick asked if the Jets had any interest in his candidacy to take over the role of head coach of the New York Jets. When they expressed no interest in him, he pursued the North Carolina job.

Saying no to Belichick is a pretty big story all by itself. But this is a football team that loves to stir the pot to chaos.

Of course, then there is the clash of two elite and venerable NFL quarterbacks, as Rams QB Matthew Stafford squares off against Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, perhaps for the last time in NFL history.

And the chaos of Aaron Rodgers goes to New York City continues

With the Jets falling on hard times in 2024, and with the team due to hire a new general manager and head coach this offseason, the team is already exploring how to accelerate another rebuild. The thing is, that becomes rather challenging when the team wrapped its roster around surrounding Aaron Rodgers with veterans who could win now.

Only they did not win now.

And so, even Aaron Rodgers is facing questions over his role and willingness to mentor his replacement. Keep in mind that his replacement is likely not currently on the roster, and he is preparing to face the Rams in several days. Ah, but that is the beauty of the East Coast, where media can be one of the biggest distractions:

There is just too much drama with too mucn urgency for my taste. Imagine if Matthew Stafford ws asked during the Week 6 BYE if he would be willing to take a pay cut as well as mentor his rookie replacement in 2025? For starters, it would never happen. For the other point, whoever dared to ask that question would almost certainly not be viewed favorably in the future.

That is even though the Rams will need to address the plans for their future quarterback succession sooner rather than later.

If the Jets players were able to focus on Week 16 exclusively, this would certainly be a tough game for the Rams. But with so many distractions posed by the media, hopefully the Rams will be able to slip in and get a victory. The Jets are not competing in the postseason this year. And thanks to an aggressive media presence, their feet are already being held to the fire.

As always, thanks for reading.

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