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On Tuesday, I asked Robert Saleh about the blockbuster story last week from the Jets media partner, SNY, that the team was looking to “replace” Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator this off-season.
That SNY story went viral nationally and was a segment on many national sports radio and television shows last week.
This was a really big story.
I was listening to a national sports talk show yesterday, “The Lombardi Line” on VSIN, and they ran my back and forth with Saleh in the press conference on this topic.
Here is that exchange from Tuesday:
Q: Robert, there was a report that you guys legitimately tried to hire someone who would replace Nathaniel Hackett. What was the thinking there?
Saleh: I addressed all that stuff at the owner’s meeting, so I’m not going to rehash it.
Q: This was a report last week.
Saleh: It was rehashed from the owner’s meeting.
At the owner’s meeting, Saleh said they were considering adding another guy to the offensive staff, to serve the role that the late Greg Knapp served, just another set of eyes and ears to bounce things off of. It wasn’t to replace Hackett. They ended up not adding that extra guy.
When I heard VSIN run the sound of my questions and Saleh’s answers, it reiterated how big this story was nationally.
You’ve got to understand, while local reporters ignored the story and claimed it was old news, nationally, the SNY report wasn’t considered old news, but breaking news.
The host of “The Lombardi Line” is a woman named Stormy Buonantony, and she had this to say about Saleh’s answers:
“I feel like Saleh is pleading the fifth again,” Buonantony said.
She added: “I think the response by Saleh there, or the lack thereof, was pretty telling in that he had an opportunity to shut it down and say, ‘No we aren’t planning on moving on from Hackett. We believe in him and the trust that he and Aaron have in each other.’ He had a golden opportunity on that platform, on that podium to say something, and he elected not to, which sometimes speaks volumes.”
“It says it all,” said Lombardi.
I understand where the criticism is coming from. As Stormy said why not just come out and endorse Hackett and throw your full support behind him?
But I don’t agree with the criticism of the answer and here is why:
By doing so, you are breathing life into a suspect story.
One long-time TV sports director described Saleh’s answer to me as “Belichickian.”
Instead of giving this story legs, just shut it down quickly. He also invited people to go back to his answer from the owner’s meeting which makes this story sound even more of a reach.
Here is this the question and answer from the NFL owner’s meeting in Orlando on March 25:
Q: There was a report that you guys were looking to add a senior advisor to your offensive staff. Is that something you are still looking to do?
Saleh: No, we have our staff. I always had three guys in that room. God rest his soul- “Knapper” (Greg Knapp) was with (Rob) Calabrese and (Mike) LaFleur, and then we had (Matt) Cavanaugh. Last year we had (Todd) Downing with [Nathaniel Hackett] and Calabrese. You always looking to add that third piece. I felt Downing and Hackett would be enough.
May 23, 2024
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