Preposterous reason Jets nixed 2023 trade for star receiver revealed in scathing report
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Did the New York Jets back out of a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy last season over the player's rating in a video game?. As reported by The Athletic, since-fired Jets general manager Joe Douglas was interested in dealing for the former Denver Broncos first-round pick in February of 2023. Over the course of weeks, Douglas found himself deep into negotiations with Denver general manager George Paton, only for those talks to break down for a very surprising reason.
![[A New York Jets fan wears a paper bag during a game in Arizona on November 10]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/93316969-14210183-image-a-5_1734618156291.jpg)
Douglas reportedly told the Broncos he couldn't make the trade because embattled Jets owner Woody Johnson was concerned about Jeudy's player rating in the popular football video game, Madden. The Broncos ultimately dealt Jeudy to Cleveland, where he recorded the first 1,000-yard season of his career and recently delivered a 235-yard effort against his former team.
![[The New York Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas last month amid another bad season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/92427929-14210183-The_New_York_Jets_fired_general_manager_Joe_Douglas_on_Tuesday_a-a-14_1734618329986.jpg)
And the allegations don't end there for the struggling 4-10 Jets. Johnson similarly had reservations about signing free-agent guard John Simpson in the offseason because of his poor 'awareness' rating in Madden. Only this time, Johnson's concerns didn't prevent Douglas from signing Simpson, who is now a solid starter for the team.
![[Aaron Rodgers may be the next to leave the Big Apple after a difficult tenure with the Jets]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/92428323-14210183-Aaron_Rodgers_may_be_the_next_to_leave_the_Big_Apple_after_a_ter-a-15_1734618563741.jpg)
The problem, according to The Athletic's sources, is Johnson's increasing reliance on his teenage sons, Jack and Brick, the latter of whom is entering his first season on Harvard's tennis team. To many inside the organization, the owner's references to the video game appeared to a sign of their growing influence over their father.
![[Jerry Jeudy has shined in Cleveland after nearly being dealt to the Jets in a 2023 trade]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/14/93317409-14210183-image-a-16_1734618640947.jpg)
