Aaron Rodgers is angry about rumors that he was involved in the firing of Robert Saleh

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke out for the first time about the firing of Robert Saleh, hitting back at those who believe he echoed owner Woody Johnson's decision to change coaches only affected five games.

“As far as the ridiculous allegations out there, I'm not going to spend more than one sentence on them,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday. “And that means I reject each of these accusations because they are patently false. It's interesting how much power people think I have that I don't. I love Robert.”

Rodgers said he would support interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and any changes he might make to the offensive staff. One of those changes could be a demotion of Rodgers' close friend Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator and playcaller. Ulbrich said Tuesday that he was considering changes but did not provide further details.

Before he was fired, Saleh was preparing to demote Hackett, a source said – a decision that may have angered Rodgers. He wasn't asked about that Wednesday; Rodgers gave no indication of any tension or disagreements in their relationship.

A day after Saleh's firing, several players said they were stunned by the move. On Tuesday, when the news broke shortly after 10 a.m., the Jets held a series of internal meetings to discuss the change – a leadership council meeting (which Johnson attended), a players-only meeting and a full team meeting at which Ulbrich spoke. The overarching theme, players said, is the importance of accountability.

Rodgers spoke at the players-only meeting and emphasized the same point, tight end Tyler Conklin said Wednesday. According to Conklin, the idea of ​​Rodgers getting Saleh fired was never discussed in the forum.

“I don’t think anyone in that building thought playfully or anyone else had anything to do with it,” Conklin said. “To be honest, I really believe that. I mean, Aaron probably took it harder than almost anyone.”

On McAfee's show, Rodgers expressed his sympathy for Saleh and his family and lamented that if he had played better, things might have turned out differently. He said he received a call from Johnson on Monday evening, adding that Saleh's future was not mentioned in the conversation. The conversation lasted five minutes, he said.

“We had a quick conversation,” Rodgers said. “I appreciated the call. It was a real call. He just asked me how I was doing. Apparently I got turned around during the game, hurt my ankle pretty bad, so he just called and asked how I was doing.” .

“We talked about the game and how disappointed I was with my performance, that I will play better and that we will get things under control. And then we hung up. At this point, Woody has no.” The obligation to inform me of his plans doesn't matter. Whether he knew what he was doing at that moment or not.

On Tuesday, Johnson said the decision to fire Saleh (20-36) was “my decision and mine alone.” He spoke only briefly with general manager Joe Douglas about it before firing Saleh, sources said. Johnson said he didn't ask Rodgers for input.

Rodgers and Saleh's relationship has been under scrutiny since June, when Saleh fined the four-time MVP for vacationing in Egypt instead of attending a mandatory minicamp. There has been continued speculation in recent weeks, but both men insisted their relationship was fine. Rodgers called it “a very solid relationship.”

On Wednesday, Saleh released a 181-word statement thanking the organization, his staff, players and fans. He didn't mention any people.

“He was one of the main reasons I came to the Jets,” Rodgers said of Saleh.

“When it comes to me, I don’t feel like I have to defend myself or say anything,” Rodgers added. “There will always be narratives and conversations about what I think and how much power and influence I have. It’s not something I’m worried about – it really isn’t.”

In the meantime, the players were still processing the shot. Linebacker CJ Mosley said he was “pretty shocked.” Offensive tackle Morgan Moses said it “surprised a lot of people.” Conklin said, “(I have) a heavy heart. A lot of us talked about it being a production company and as a group we didn't produce and Coach Saleh ultimately took the fall for that.”

Despite a two-game losing streak, the Jets (2-3) will play for a share of first place in the AFC East when they face the Buffalo Bills (3-2) on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.