Robert Saleh's blunt reaction to reporter says it all about New York Jets' woes
The latest chapter of a miserable season for the New York Jets was written on Thursday night with a blowout defeat to the Cleveland Browns, and head coach Robert Saleh's exchange with a reporter summed up the mood for his team.
The Jets started the season with high hopes of putting together a Super Bowl run after trading for Aaron Rodgers, but the four-time MVP's ruptured Achilles derailed their plans after just four plays of the opening game. Thursday's 37-20 defeat to the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium leaves just one game remaining with the Jets sitting at 6-10 on the year.
It was a humbling night for the Jets' vaunted defense. Although the offense has been moribund without Rodgers under center, Saleh's defense has stood tall and lived up to expectations. But they were blown away by quarterback Joe Flacco and the Browns in primetime on Thursday, despite Amari Cooper's absence through injury four days after a record-breaking 265-yard performance against the Houston Texans.
Flacco carved open the Jets' defense with 296 passing yards by half time, with a pair of touchdowns for Jerome Ford and scores for Elijah Moore and Kareem Hunt putting Cleveland 34-17 on top. The scoring slowed in the second half with just three points for either team, but it was a resounding victory as the Browns climbed to 11-5 and booked their place in the postseason.
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Although the Jets have been unfortunate this season with Rodgers' injury sucking the wind from their sails, the Browns undoubtedly found a better way to respond to adversity. Cleveland lost Deshaun Watson and Nick Chub, the pillars of the offense, to season-ending injuries, and former Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Flacco is their fourth starting QB of the season, yet they have still enjoyed a season to remember.
Saleh, meanwhile, has cut a dejected figure in recent weeks, handling his press engagements in an understated manner while his efforts to rally his team into playoff contention have been inhibited by poor quarterback play from a revolving cast of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian.
Robert Saleh's New York Jets defense was torn apart by the Cleveland Browns. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)The 44-year-old's mood extended to his post-game press conference when he took umbrage to a question from ESPN's Rich Cimini.
“You don’t seem – and maybe you’re not conveying what you really feel inside – but you don’t seem like particularly angry upset about it. I’m wondering if you can just share what’s really churning inside of you now?” Cimini asked, pointing to Saleh's sombre mood.
“Um, I’m not sure of your question, Rich," Saleh said softly after a long pause. “Do you want me to throw the podium on the floor?” Saleh then looked away and no further questions were posed, with only the January 7 visit to the New England Patriots remaining before the Jets can close the book on a deeply disappointing season.
"It wasn't good enough across the board," Saleh added. "I'm looking inwards on me and what we could do better on these short week games."
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