New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson throws the ball against the New England Patriots in the first half of his team's loss at MetLife Stadium.
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NEW YORK — NFL Insider Dianna Russini is doubling down on her Zach Wilson report.
Russini discussed her reporting during an interview with 98.7 ESPN New York’s “The Michael Kay Show” Tuesday.
“I think right now everyone’s trying their best to figure out was it a player, was it a coach, was it a trainer, was it somebody that works in security? I can just tell you that it was multiple people that are very aware because the entire building has been aware of this for over a week now — that Zach Wilson has reluctance to wanting to go back in there. He’s expressed it openly to people,” Russini said.
‘[My sources] can’t be low level people [for a story to get published], it has to be people that are in the situation, that are close to the situation, & it has to be multiple people & that’s why I stand behind my reporting because as you know when you have all the information & all the main players are aware of it, all I can do is just report what I know & that’s what I’ve done’
Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported on Monday that the Jets want Wilson to start, but the disgruntled quarterback is not inclined to risk getting hurt. The report also claimed Aaron Rodgers reached out to Wilson in an effort to encourage him to play again.
“(Rodgers) was told to speak with (Wilson) last Wednesday. He spoke with him yesterday about changing his mind,” Russini said. “I was actually told that it didn’t even work initially, that Zach said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks. This is what I’m gonna do moving forward.’ Someone from Zach’s side of this did reach out (to me and say) that if he was named the starting quarterback he is going to get out there and play. He’s now changed his mind on this and will be doing it.”
Making his weekly spot on the “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday, Rodgers didn’t hold back. Not only was he upset by a report that he believes unfairly paints teammate Wilson as “a kid quitting on the team,” but he also blasted the organization for “chicken s—” leaks to the media.
“That’s a problem with the organization,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “We need to get to the bottom of whatever this is coming from and put a stop to it privately, because there’s no place in a winning culture where — and this isn’t the only time. There’s been a bunch of other leaks.”
“[The report is] basically saying that this kid is quitting on the team and doesn’t want to play and has given the middle finger to the organization,” Rodgers said. “Now listen, I don’t want to speak for him because he’s getting a chance this week to speak and I’m going to let him speak.
If Rodgers doesn’t want to speak for Wilson, we will. He quit on the team and should be released.
The bottomless, tanking, embarrassing 4-8 Jets have once again stole the headlines amid another disaster season.
