Jets Owner Gets Failing Grade from Players

The New York Jets owner, Woody Johnson, is in hot water. He's the only team owner to receive an "F" grade from the players in the NFL Players Association's annual report card. This isn't shocking news. The Jets have had a rough patch, with 14 seasons without making the playoffs. That's the longest dry spell among the four major North American sports. Things got even worse when they tried to bring in aging superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers for two years, but that didn't work out. The players weren't happy with how things were run from the top. They said the organization had "top-down problems" and that management made things worse when they tried to address concerns. The NFL Players Association backed this up, saying, "Rather than addressing concerns, players believed that management responded to feedback by making conditions worse. " At the scouting combine, things got even more intense. NFLPA chief strategy officer J. C. Tretter spoke about the Jets' survey, saying, "It's a culture of fear here. " This really stood out in the grades. The Jets ranked 29th out of 32 teams in 11 categories, including food, locker room, and treatment of families. Nearly 1, 700 players voted, so this isn't just a few disgruntled voices. Johnson didn't have a great season. He fired the head coach early on, and things didn't get better after that. Now, Johnson is trying to turn things around with a new team staff. He hired Jets alum Aaron Glenn as head coach and Darren Mougey as general manager. Johnson admitted he needs to do better. He said, "I have to look in the mirror, and I have to be a better owner. " The Jets' struggles aren't just about wins and losses. They're about creating a positive environment for the players. The players' feedback shows that there's a lot of work to be done. Johnson has his work cut out for him. He needs to address the culture of fear and make sure the players feel valued and heard. It's not just about hiring new staff; it's about changing the way things are done from the top down. The Jets' situation is a reminder that success in sports isn't just about talent on the field. It's about creating a positive culture and environment for the players. The players' feedback is a wake-up call for Johnson and the Jets organization. They need to take a hard look at what's going wrong and make changes that will benefit the players and the team as a whole.