Aaron Rodgers vs. Lamar Jackson: Jets Oddly Cite ‘Bad Faith’ in Trade Thinking

“We have our plan, we have our process and we’re sticking to that,” Jets GM Joe Douglas says when asked about Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers. “We’re never going to operate in bad faith.”

The New York Jets just invented a brand new reason to offer the same old take on a trade for Lamar Jackson.

“Lamar Jackson is a fantastic player,” Jets GM Joe Douglas says of the available Baltimore Ravens QB. “But …”

Ah. “But.” And here we go …

“But where we stand is, it would be disingenuous and negotiating in bad faith if we went down that path,” said Douglas.

Oh. Of course.

Wait. What? Why?

The Jets of course are focused on trading for Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. Nothing especially wrong there.

But is Douglas trying to say that it would be “dishonest” of the Jets to negotiate with multiple teams about multiple ideas?

In the ultra-competitive and billion-dollar NFL world where every edge matters, where deception is common and where bidding wars are gold …

The Jets are skipping on Lamar so they don’t hurt anybody’s feelings?

Douglas concedes that Jackson is “fantastic.” At 26, he’s 13 years younger than fellow MVP Rodgers. And while acquiring Lamar is complicated (and includes the sacrifice of two first-round picks), the Rodgers trade is already one of the most high-profile messes in NFL trade history.

And it hasn’t even reached its twisty conclusion yet.

There are real reasons New York (and others) aren’t bidding here; the belief that the Ravens will simply match any offer an retain the player is a justifiable one.

But, “We won’t talk to Lamar and Aaron at the same time because we’re too ethical” is laughable.

“We have our plan, we have our process and we’re sticking to that,” Douglas said. “We’re never going to operate in bad faith.”

“Bad faith”? No.

“Bad excuses”? Apparently.

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