Jets owner Woody Johnson struck down a trade for Jerry Jeudy because his Madden rating “wasn’t high enough”
Woody Johnson was influenced by his sons' Jack and Brick who cited Jerry Jeudy's low rating as a reason to not trade for him.
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Jerry Jeudy and Woody Johnson (Images via Open Source)
It is agonizing as it is to be a fan of the New York Jets as the team continues to fail despite having a future Hall of Fame quarterback, elite wideouts, and a great defense. The reason for the organization’s failure begins right at the top with owner Woody Johnson. He is no football genius but after the latest news, the team’s existing fanbase count is likely to reduce further.
During the off-season, the Jets had an opportunity to trade for Jerry Jeudy before the Browns landed him. The deal between the Jets and the Broncos fell through because Woody Johnson did not see the benefit this would bring to the team. His reasoning? The wide receiver’s Madden rating.
Yes, that is right. A report by Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini, and Michael Silver of The Athletic states that Woody Johnson relied on his teenage sons Brick and Jack who are likely to have mentioned Jeudy’s rating in the game. To him, the receiver’s rating in the game “wasn’t high enough.” Once he heard this number, it stuck with him and he did not pursue the wideout any further.
Woody Johnson has been criticized in the past for relying on his sons to influence the team’s decision-making process
Jerry Jeudy had an 81 overall rating in Madden 24, this season he is rated 83 but considering the incident happened in the off-season, it would be safe to assume that Johnson was displeased with trading for an 81 overall wideout. Ultimately, the hours of real game film available on Jeudy is irrelevant, why base a decision on this when a video game is dictating how good an athlete truly is?
This is not the first time that Woody Johnson’s sons Brick and Jack have made a call that has influenced the owner’s decision. The report states that he has included them in some meetings and within the team facility since he returned to the country in 2021.
An anonymous Jets executive revealed how Woody Johnson dismisses the views of experienced professionals within the organization for his sons’ views.
When we’re discussing things, you’ll hear Woody cite something that Brick or Jack read online that’s being weighed equally against whatever opinion someone else in the department has.
The Jet executive revealed
Is it really a surprise that this organization has not been to the playoffs in over a decade? Former GM Joe Douglas had hinted at the influence his sons wield over him in the decision-making process at one point in the off-season. “I answer to a teenager,” Douglas had said publicly.
It gets worse as this was not the first time that Johnson allowed a player’s video game rating to influence his decision. He was not happy with the team’s decision to sign free-agent guard John Simpson “due to a lackluster ‘awareness’ rating in Madden,” fortunately the team went on to sign him despite the owner’s objection.
The result? Pro Football Focus has ranked John Simpson as the eighth-best guard in the NFL this season. The problem here isn’t his sons Brick and Jack. It is laudable that Johnson wants them to have a say in the decision-making process of the Jets and give them such exposure in their teen years.
However, the NFL is a business, and running a team is not a child’s business. The report indicates that people within the team would rather he use their opinions as a “reference point” rather than “determinative” to the actions that the team takes.
Even though the Cleveland Browns are not going to be making the playoffs this year, Jerry Jeudy wound up on the right team. He has 1,052 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. If he had wound up on the Jets, the combination of him, Garrett Wilson, and Davante Adams would have been lethal but unfortunately, his Madden rating came in the way of him playing alongside Aaron Rodgers.
Related: Aaron Rodgers makes his feelings clear about the Jets potentially drafting a rookie quarterback
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Sumedh Joshi
(2317 Articles Published)