Jets owner Woody Johnson lured quarterback Aaron Rodgers into his organization like a bee.
According to the New York Post, Johnson brought Rodgers a unique gift when the organization met with him at his home in Malibu, California, during the last offseason.
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The Jets had to impress Rodgers, who was leaving the Green Bay Packers after 18 seasons, and convince him to join their organization.
“He gave me some honey from the Queen’s garden,” Rodgers said of Johnson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, to the New York Post.
Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022, was delighted with the honey from Buckingham Palace’s hives, according to the royal family. Rodgers, who describes himself as a history bluffer, appreciated the thought behind the gift.
“It’s a cool gift,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers spoke about Johnson’s gesture in his upcoming biography, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,” written by former New York Post columnist Ian O’Connor.
While it may be a strange gesture, the Jets did not violate any NFL rules by giving Rodgers a royal gift before the trade was completed.
“Reasonable travel expenses, entertainment and lodging may be part of a visit paid for by a club,” the league told Pro Football Talk via email. “Such a thing would not be a problem.”
The Jets hope their decision to sign Rodgers turns out to be a good deal. In 2023, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1. They need him to recover from that injury and play well in 2024 to become a Super Bowl contender.
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You can reach Cayden Steele at [email protected]
