Rodgers has no excuses post-Adams trade: Smith

The New York Jets reported trade for Davante Adams is a sign owner Woody Johnson is going ‘all in’ on a plan for success that leaves Aaron Rodgers with no more excuses, claimed ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. 

Adams is reportedly set to reunite with good friend and former teammate Aaron Rodgers in New York in a bombshell trade that came less than 24 hours after the Jets’ loss to the Buffalo Bills Monday night. 

Adams’ NFL future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months amid his desire to leave Las Vegas, where he spent the last two seasons, but after slipping to their fourth loss of the season, the Jets and owner Johnson wasted no time in pouncing on the wide receiver. 

Smith believes it was a warning shot fired to the rest of the league as he claimed Johnson would do anything in his power to redeem the foundering franchise.     

‘All I’m trying to say is that the dye has not been cast, the fat lady isn’t singing yet. There’s still a chance, particularly when you are acquiring Davante Adams,’ the analyst said on Frist Take Tuesday morning, referring to the Jets’ hopes of turning their season around.  

Davante Adams’ trade eradicates Aaron Rodgers’ excuses, claimed Stephen A. Smith

‘And props to Woody Johnson,’ he continued. ‘Clearly Saleh wasn’t his hire, he was the ambassador to the United Kingdom. He let his brother hire Saleh.

‘He gets rid of Saleh. He calls Aaron Rodgers and he’s like, “Yo, what do we need to do?” He calls Hasaan Reddick’s people and says, “Let’s find a way to get you on up in here.” 

‘Cleary Woody Johnson is back on the scene and he’s saying to hell with it, we aren’t going to have any excuses. We’re going for it. He’s all in.’

Smith also claimed the move ‘minimized the excuses’ for Rodgers and the Jets’ underperforming offense. 

New York reached the red zone on four occasions but converted only once, scoring just 20 points in their fourth defeat of the season Monday night. 

‘The fixation on the meticulous details and ironing things out that we’ve seen and revered from the great ones – Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and others – we haven’t seen from Aaron Rodgers,’ Smith added. 

‘What I come to his defense of is his talent. I believe his ability to throw a football, even now, can be elite. And now that you look at a Davante Adams and you know what he can bring to the table. And you know what Garrett Wilson can do. And you saw Breece Hall remind us of what he can bring to the table when you give him the ball and run the football. 

‘Yet again, it’s the latest excuse that gets to be eradicated  for Aaron Rodgers.’

The ESPN analyst insisted the trade was a sign that owner Woody Johnson was ‘all in’ 

The quarterback and wide receiver previously spent eight seasons together in Green Bay

The Raiders are reportedly set to acquire a conditional third-round draft pick – which could become a second-rounder based on performance – from the Jets in return for Adams. 

Adams previously spent eight seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay, where they formed a close relationship on and off the field despite failing to make a Super Bowl together.

It is believed the legendary quarterback played a key role in the Jets trading for Adams, who is joining a team in disarray after three straight defeats and the firing of head coach Robert Saleh.

So far this season, he has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games for the Raiders. He is currently nursing a nagging hamstring injury that caused him to sit out the last three weeks.