This story was updated to add new information.
Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh were both pumped up after the New York Jets opened up a 14-0 lead over the New England Patriots in the second quarter of their ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup.
However, it appeared that Rodgers thought his head coach was a bit too amped following Breece Hall’s touchdown run.
Rodgers was happy to share a brief handshake with Saleh. But his head coach then went in for a hug, and Rodgers appeared to push his coach away (as seen in a video captured by the Amazon Prime broadcast).
Rodgers followed his arm-bar with an icy stare at Saleh. That was the cherry-on-top of the most cringeworthy moment of TNF’s first half.
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Saleh commented on the exchange when asked about it during his postgame news conference.
‘Part of the things we’ve been talking about is to just give the defense a two-score lead,’ Saleh said. ‘And it was a two-score lead.
‘I guess he just wanted to see something on defense,’ Saleh added, with a laugh. ‘He just reminded me that, you know, it was a two-score lead.’
Rodgers confirmed the two-score lead was the subject of the exchange. He also said that Saleh’s hug caught him off-guard.
‘He’s not a big hugger,’ Rodgers told reporters. ‘I didn’t know he was going for a hug.’
It seems like the interaction between Saleh and Rodgers may be much ado about nothing.
Saleh seemed entertained that the moment had drawn so much attention. Or, perhaps he was just happy that his quarterback completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns in what was, by far, his best performance with the Jets.
New York is riding into a mini-bye with a 2-1 record after its 24-3 demolition of the Patriots. Saleh and Rodgers have to be happy with that after Rodgers’ first season in New York ended in disaster.
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