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New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is back in the spotlight this week after a bombshell report accused the former ambassador of passing on a trade for Cleveland Browns star receiver Jerry Juedy because of his Madden NFL rating.
A report from The Athletic published Thursday morning painted a picture of dysfunction for the organization, which missed out on the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the longest active streak in the NFL.
New York Jets fans during the fourth quarter between the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Mark Smith-Imagn Images)
At the heart of that dysfunction, according to the report, is Johnson.
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An example detailed in the report was the Jets’ decision to kill a trade with the Denver Broncos involving former first round pick Jerry Jeudy. Sources told The Athletic that despite the negotiations of former general manager Joe Douglas and the interest of his counterpart, George Paton, the deal was called off because Johnson was influenced by the player’s rating in Madden NFL.
“Douglas told the Broncos that Johnson didn’t want to make the trade because the owner felt Jeudy’s player rating in ‘Madden NFL,’ the popular video game, wasn’t high enough, according to multiple league sources,” the report read. Jeudy was instead traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, #3, runs against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The video game’s rating also influenced other football decisions, per the report, including Johnson pushing back on signing guard John Simpson.
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Perhaps more concerning, however, was sources’ claims that Johnson’s two teenage sons had an influence in the decision-making.
“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,” a current team executive told the outlet.
A spokesperson dismissed this claim in a statement to The Athletic.
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson walks onto the field prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
“It is used as a reference point; it is not determinative,” they said of the opinion of Johnson’s children. “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.”
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The spokesperson added that they have “no role” in the organization, calling it “completely ridiculous” to imply otherwise.
After firing both head coach and general manager and demoting their offensive coordinator, the Jets’ offseason will again feature more turnover and, hopefully, fewer leaks.
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