NY Jets' Robert Saleh extends olive branch to Haason Reddick amidst contract dispute

With just three weeks left before the NY Jets begin their Super Bowl run on the Bermuda grass of Levi's Stadium in San Francisco, they are still without a key piece of the puzzle in newly acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick. He is no longer simply holding out — he is now demanding a trade.

Reddick's value has only dropped since being traded to the Jets for a third-round pick (which could potentially turn into a second-round pick), so there is no way for the Jets to recoup his value.

Their only option is to make it work with Reddick, or collect additional funding via his weekly fines. It has gotten to the point where even Aaron Rodgers is gently, yet publicly, pleading with Reddick to come to his senses.

Reddick has no real leverage in the situation being that he won't be costing the Jets any money while he doesn't play. The only leverage he may have is his potential impact on the field in 2024, and how much the Jets value that.

According to Robert Saleh in a recent appearance on ESPN's Bart & Hahn, Reddick could take the Jets' defense to another level.

Robert Saleh really wants Haason Reddick back with the NY Jets

When former Jets linebacker Bart Scott asked the Jets' head coach how Haason Reddick's absence changes the roles and rotations for the Will McDonalds of the world, Saleh made sure to speak highly of his other pass rushers saying, "We got plenty of ammo... we feel good about where we're at."

He then made sure to add that "A guy like Haason, he adds another closer to the repertoire - to the guys we have in the room. We think we have four or five closers already, and when he gets here he'll be number six."

Notice he says "when he gets here" and not "if" he gets here. And notice how positive he is staying about the relationship. He clearly wants him here. Reddick may have soured on the Jets, but Saleh is showing that the feeling is not reciprocated.

Obviously, the Jets' head coach sees value in Reddick's presence on the outside. This goes without saying being that they potentially traded a second-round pick for him, but Saleh coming out and saying this now is interesting.

He could be staying totally quiet about it. He could decline to comment. If he were Bill Belichick, he probably would, but Saleh chose to publicly vocalize for all to hear, including Reddick himself, just how strongly he feels about the former All-Pro's talent.

The Jets' defense is not going to go from good to bad if they never make the deal happen and get Haason Reddick on the field. Either way, they are going to be good. There is just too much talent for them not to be. But he can be the difference between being good and being Super Bowl good.

There isn't much time left for either side to blink. In three Mondays, the Jets will take the field for their regular season opener. Robert Saleh is making it perfectly clear that he hopes Haason Reddick is one of those Jets.

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