Giants legend defends Jets' Woody Johnson over Aaron Rodgers fears

New York Giants legend Tiki Barber has defended New York Jets owner Woody Johnson for allegedly being "scared" about paying too high a price for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"There are multiple reasons for having cold feet, and I don’t blame him for having cold feet," Barber said of Johnson during Friday's edition of the WFAN "Tiki and Tierney" program, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "I’m not saying I wouldn’t do the deal, but I don’t blame him for having cold feet and thinking about this really strategically and long-term minded." 

It was reported earlier in the week that the Packers still want to land a 2023 second-round draft pick and a guaranteed 2024 first-round choice from the Jets in return for Rodgers. While Green Bay apparently is willing to offer draft compensation for 2025 if Rodgers retires after spending only one season with Gang Green, Johnson supposedly grew nervous after hearing the future Hall of Famer admit during a March appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" he began his controversial darkness retreat "90 percent retired and 10 percent playing."

Rodgers told McAfee during that same interview he intends to play for the Jets later this year, but the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player has yet to publicly say anything about his plans for 2024 and beyond. Rodgers turns 40 years old this December. 

"If Aaron Rodgers plays a year, is OK and not great, they go 10-7 and make the playoffs...and then he says, 'OK, I’m good, I’m retiring,' the Jets are now stuck," Barber added. "They don’t have the picks, they don’t have a way to recoup what they’ve given up, and now they’re stuck at quarterback, right back where they were before the Aaron Rodgers stuff happened." 

Jets general manager Joe Douglas made it known in late March the organization has no plan B in the event that the Packers hold onto Rodgers until they have to exercise the $58.3M option bonus attached to his contract ahead of Week 1 of the 2023 campaign. Considering Barber's known relationships with NFL personalities, one wonders if the former running back has reason to believe Rodgers could be a one-season-and-done option for the Jets or any other club.