Unfortunately, the New York Jets are no stranger to losing their starting quarterback to injury early in the season. Legendary NFL coach Bill Parcells spoke from experience to offer some advice to current Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
Parcells was asked by the New York Post’s Brian Costello where the Jets should go from here and Parcells had this to say: “I think a coach’s challenge is your team has to have hope… if the nucleus they built up there, if that was good enough to win, I think you’ll see a highly competitive team.”
If there is anyone that Saleh should take advice from, it’s Parcells. He similarly lost his Pro Bowl quarterback when Vinny Testaverde tore his Achilles in Week 1 of the 1999 NFL season against the New England Patriots.
Despite losing their future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Jets still managed to pull off an impressive victory against a legit Super Bowl contender in the Buffalo Bills. It took an all-around team effort to win the game without Rodgers. The defensive and special teams’ units both stepped up when it mattered most to make important plays.
Without Rodgers, the defense and special teams are going to continue to be asked to do more and help the Jets win games. No one player can quantify and/or replicate what Rodgers brought to the Jets locker room and now they’re going to have to find a new identity and way to win games.
