Report: Woody Johnson killed trade for Jerry Jeudy over his Madden rating
New article from TheAthletic.com makes bad owner look ever worse.
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Dysfunctional teams indeed do dysfunctional things.
The latest evidence of dysfunction within the New York Jets comes from TheAthletic.com. Among various juicy nuggets contained in the #longread is a claim that owner Woody Johnson nixed a trade with the Broncos for receiver Jerry Jeudy because Johnson believed Jeudy’s Madden rating was too low.
Per the report, that wasn't the only time Johnson cited Madden ratings in connection with football decisions. Johnson reportedly pushed back on signing guard John Simpson because his "awareness" rating on Madden was too low. (Maybe even lower than Woody's.)
The Madden factor apparently comes from Woody's teenage sons, Brick and Jack.
“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,” an unnamed Jets executive told TheAthletic.com.
The Jets actually provided a statement to TheAthletic.com acknowledging the involvement of the teens, and defending it.
“It is used as a reference point; it is not determinative,” a Jets spokesperson said regarding Brick and Jack's input. “It’s really sad that an adult would use a misleading anecdote about teenagers to make their father look bad. It’s ridiculous, quite honestly, the idea that this was used to influence the opinion of experienced executives. . . . [The sons] have no roles in the organization. It’s completely ridiculous to suggest that any outside info is intended to replace the opinions of [Woody Johnson’s] staff.”
They might have no official role, but let's face it. They eventually will. And one of them likely will inherit the team, unless Woody sells it.
And even if there's no official role for now, Brick was handing out a game ball after a rare victory.
“It was the most awkward, cringe-worthy, brutal experience,” an unnamed player told TheAthletic.com.
It feels like the Jets under Woody Johnson are constantly prompting that reaction.
