NY Jets Coach Tussles With Reporter Over Owner’s Controversial Comments About the Team’s QB
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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn on Wednesday had an awkward exchange with a reporter who asked about the owner’s comments on quarterback Justin Fields.
The day before, team owner Woody Johnson offered a brutal assessment of Fields following the team’s 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers. As a result of another disappointing performance, Glenn made the decision to bench Fields at halftime in favor of veteran backup Tyrod Taylor. At the time of writing, the team was still winless and stood at 0-7.
In response to the loss, Johnson said that any team in the league would have the same struggles if they had a “quarterback like that.” Johnson added that consistent play is essential from that position and cited Fields’ poor passer rating.
During a Wednesday presser, Glenn was asked how Johnson’s comments could potentially impact his decision at starting QB. The coach had clearly taken exception to the line of questioning:
REPORTER: Woody made his position pretty clear yesterday with the comments. Does that impact — I mean, we know how he feels about Justin. Clearly, he does not want him playing, but does impact your–
GLENN: What made you say — did he say that?
REPORTER: Well, he was very critical of him, so–
GLENN: What did he say?
REPORTER: He said he couldn’t pass.
GLENN: Did that say he doesn’t like the quarterback?
REPORTER: He said–
GLENN: Did that say that the quarterback’s not playing?
REPORTER: No, but I’m–
GLENN: No, he said–
REPORTER: –asking you how his opinion impacts your decision when your owner is basically stating that he doesn’t think that Justin Fields is getting the job done.
GLENN: Well, I said before that Woody puts that in my hand, as far as who plays, and I don’t see that changing. He trusts me to make that decision. Again, he made a comment and he has every right to his comment. And again, that comment was actually said by a number of guys — including our quarterback — as far as the efficiency of how we play. And we’re not going to fight that. We understand that. We have to get better. We do.
But I don’t think there’s anywhere in that comment where he said he doesn’t like Justin. I don’t think there’s anywhere in that comment where he says that Justin is just — I don’t think so. Yes, is he upset that we haven’t completed a pass as far as what you just said, he said. I didn’t even read it, so I don’t know. That’s what he says. But overall, overall, we’re on the same page when it comes to that.
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