Report: Jets owner Woody Johnson vetoed Jerry Jeudy trade for wild reason

Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets, has gotten too involved in team and personnel decisions over the years according to various reports and rumors since he purchased the franchise in 2000.

In the midst of a 14-year playoff drought, the latest update on the 77-year-old’s potential involvement is perhaps the worst report of all.

The Athletic released a piece on the state of the 4-10 Jets and a report in that feature stated that Johnson did not want to acquire wide receiver Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos last offseason… because of his rating in the EA Sports NFL video game, “Madden 24.”

Evidently the deal was expected to happen with former New York general manager Joe Douglas anticipating that to even be the case… but it did not:

“Douglas told the Broncos that Johnson didn’t want to make the trade because the owner felt Jeudy’s player rating in ‘Madden NFL,’ the popular video game, wasn’t high enough, according to multiple league sources. The Broncos ultimately traded the receiver to the Cleveland Browns.”

Instead, Johnson approved of the signing of Mike Williams in free agency last offseason. Williams was eventually traded this season after Davante Adams was acquired.

The Athletic report adds that Johnson has been swayed by “Madden 24” ratings by his teenage sons, Jack and Brick. However, a spokesperson for the Jets disputed that. In addition, Johnson reportedly cited “Madden 24” ratings when making player evaluation in regard to offensive lineman John Simpson as well… that free-agent signing still managed to happen.

A separate report from earlier this season had indicated that New York offered Denver receiver Allen Lazard and a day two pick in the 2024 NFL draft for Jeudy.

The Cleveland Browns wound up trading for Jeudy, giving up picks in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2024 draft to the Broncos.

Jeudy currently has 1,052 receiving yards this season, which would be the most on the Jets roster. Garrett Wilson leads the Jets with 933 yards

Garrett Wilson on Potential New Deal: “I Love the Jets,” but “Can’t Focus on That Right Now”

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson isn’t focused on securing his long-term future at the moment.

“I don’t know, man,” Wilson said, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I just go about my day… wherever my feet are at. If they [extend my contract], that would be a blessing. It would be awesome. I love the Jets. At the end of the day, they were the ones that believed in me. But, yeah, I can’t be worrying about that. I have to go out and finish these three games the right way.”

“I love the Jets. At the end of the day, they were the ones that believed in me. I can’t be worrying about all that. Just going to finish these three games the right way.”

Wilson is under contract with the team through the 2026 season and is eligible for an extension as soon as the upcoming offseason. However, his comments suggest that he may not be eager to commit to a new deal right away.

Cimini referenced a source who wouldn’t be surprised if the 2022 first-round pick asked for a trade in the near future.

Wilson had a standout rookie year, catching 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. However, despite high expectations following that breakout season, his progress has stalled, even with Aaron Rodgers back on the field this year.

The Jets’ recent struggles on the field might also be taking a toll on Wilson. During a 32-25 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15, he was seen having a tense exchange with receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

A recent article by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini, and Michael Silver raised concerns about why a prominent player would want to stay with the Jets right now. The report largely placed the blame for the team’s dysfunction on owner Woody Johnson. One of the most notable revelations was the increasing influence of Johnson’s sons within the organization, including a reported incident where Johnson cited Jerry Jeudy’s Madden video game rating as a reason for opposing the acquisition of the veteran wide receiver.

In the NFL, players are motivated to secure long-term financial stability as quickly as possible, knowing that one injury can drastically reduce their earning potential. But for Wilson, the challenges and instability in New York since his arrival could cause him to reconsider his future with the team.

“They put my s—t out there” – Aaron Rodgers rages against invasion of privacy over $9,500,000 investment

There were more than a few headlines to pay attention to this week ahead of Thursday Night Football but the most glaring one emerged on Monday night. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s Ohio mansion was burglarized. The incident occurred while Burrow was orchestrating the Bengals’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked for his thoughts on the break-in. In an interview with reporters, Rodgers pointed out that the same incident occurred in Kansas City with Travis Kelce. Rodgers also took a pointed shot at the media over leaking the address of his mansion in New Jersey.

“It’s an interesting situation that happened in Cincinnati. Mostly around the call. I think something happened in Kansas City out there. I got security, full-time, thanks to Daily Mail putting my s—t out there,” Rodgers said.
View on TikTok
In August last year, the British publication revealed that Rodgers had purchased a sprawling mansion in New Jersey. The property set Rodgers back a cool $9.5 million. It features eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms and overlooks the New York City skyline. The report added that Rodgers’ house is a 20-minute drive from MetLife Stadium.

Aaron Rodgers staring at big decision in 2025
That sprawling property may have stunning views of the New York City skyline but it remains to be seen if Rodgers holds on to that mansion in 2025. The four-time NFL MVP has been non-committal over his future with the Jets but all signs point towards the franchise going a different way.

During one of his weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers made it clear that he would need to be on the same page as the decision-makers in the building to suit up in 2025.

“There’s uncertainty with everybody on the staff, so I’m not naive to what the situation is. If a new GM comes in and they don’t retain Brick [Jeff Ulbrich], I have to fit in those plans.
“This is my first option. I’d love to play here if I end up deciding to play, but there’s got to be the want for them to want to bring me back and for me to want to play. But ‘I think so’ was the truth and ‘I’m not 100% sure’ is also the truth today,” Rodgers said.