Belichick rips Jets: I thought Saleh did a good job
NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick criticized the New York Jets on Monday night for their decision to terminate head coach Robert Saleh.
"I'm not a big Jets fan, in case you don't know that," Belichick said on "The Manningcast." "You know what, coach Saleh did a good job with that program. I mean, he brought in a culture, a level of toughness and competitiveness. ... I thought coach Saleh really did a good job with this team."
Belichick then ripped the Jets' track record on the broadcast, even appearing to take a shot at team owner Woody Johnson.
"That's kinda what it's been there with the Jets," Belichick remarked. "They've barely won over 30% in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just ready, fire, aim."
Belichick's comments echoed what he said earlier Monday, calling Saleh's dismissal "premature" but "not out of character" for Jets ownership.
"Just seemed like a little early to pull the trigger on that one to me," Belichick mentioned on his "Let's Go!" podcast, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "But not out of character for the owner. Woody's always been kind of hard to predict what he's gonna do."
The Jets made the shocking decision to fire Saleh earlier this week after only five games this season. At the time of his exit, the Jets held a 2-3 record and were allowing 17 points per game, though their offense struggled with Aaron Rodgers under center.
Belichick spent the majority of his coaching career battling the Jets as the sideline boss of the New England Patriots. However, he's famously remembered for being the head coach of the New York franchise for one day in 2000 before turning in his resignation note on a napkin.