NFL
Report: Jets owner Woody Johnson vetoed Jerry Jeudy trade for wild reason
Report: Jets owner Woody Johnson vetoed Jerry Jeudy trade for wild reason
Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets, has gotten too involved in team and personnel decisions over the years according to various reports and rumors since he purchased the franchise in 2000.
In the midst of a 14-year playoff drought, the latest update on the 77-year-old’s potential involvement is perhaps the worst report of all.
The Athletic released a piece on the state of the 4-10 Jets and a report in that feature stated that Johnson did not want to acquire wide receiver Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos last offseason… because of his rating in the EA Sports NFL video game, “Madden 24.”
Evidently the deal was expected to happen with former New York general manager Joe Douglas anticipating that to even be the case… but it did not:
“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 Broncos ultimately traded the receiver to the Cleveland Browns.”
Instead, Johnson approved of the signing of Mike Williams in free agency last offseason. Williams was eventually traded this season after Davante Adams was acquired.
The Athletic report adds that Johnson has been swayed by “Madden 24” ratings by his teenage sons, Jack and Brick. However, a spokesperson for the Jets disputed that. In addition, Johnson reportedly cited “Madden 24” ratings when making player evaluation in regard to offensive lineman John Simpson as well… that free-agent signing still managed to happen.
A separate report from earlier this season had indicated that New York offered Denver receiver Allen Lazard and a day two pick in the 2024 NFL draft for Jeudy.
The Cleveland Browns wound up trading for Jeudy, giving up picks in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2024 draft to the Broncos.
Jeudy currently has 1,052 receiving yards this season, which would be the most on the Jets roster. Garrett Wilson leads the Jets with 933 yards