Woody Johnson looks like a fool after hypocritical Zach Wilson comments

One of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL this offseason has been the NY Jets' desire to trade Zach Wilson. In fact, even calling it a "secret" feels like an insult to other secrets.

The Jets desperately want to move on from their former No. 2 overall pick, and it's highly likely that feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, their team owner, Woody Johnson, is doing his organization no favors.

Johnson spoke at the NFL owners meetings on Monday and insisted that Wilson was a "valuable asset" for the Jets and that his team would not release him under any circumstances. Johnson said that the Jets will consider a trade, but if they're unable to find a trade partner, they will simply keep him on their roster.

This would have been fine and completely acceptable had Johnson not publicly trashed his quarterback less than two months ago. Speaking at the NFL Honors event last month, Johnson remarked that the Jets "didn't have a [real] backup quarterback" last season.

Johnson went from publicly throwing Wilson under the bus to claiming he's a valuable asset in roughly six weeks. His latest comments do nothing to increase Wilson's trade value — they only serve the purpose of making the Jets' owner look foolish.

NY Jets owner Woody Johnson continues to bungle the Zach Wilson trade situation

Reports emerged late last year that Wilson and the Jets had privately agreed to mutually part ways in the offseason. Of course, Wilson would end up reluctantly returning to the starting lineup after only to suffer a head injury in December that effectively ended his Jets career.

While Johnson insists the Jets won't outright release Wilson, it's hard to envision a scenario in which he's on the roster come Week 1. That doesn't seem to be in the best interest of either party.

Wilson has already made it abundantly clear that he wants a fresh start this offseason — something Johnson openly alluded to in his comments on Monday. He's also had his own team owner publicly trash him to the media.

Wilson does not want to be a member of the Jets' organization anymore, and it serves the Jets no purpose to carry him into the summer as a disgruntled third-string quarterback just taking up a roster spot.

Johnson's latest comments reek of damage control following his misguided and nonsensical remarks last month. He's trying — and failing — to salvage whatever trade value Wilson might have left at this point.

This comes on the heels of a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on Monday that insinuated Johnson might be the one preventing the Jets from trading Wilson. Florio's report insists the Jets have received offers for Wilson but that they've turned them down — quite possibly at the behest of Johnson.

Whether that last part is accurate or not (Johnson has denied the report), Johnson continues to insert himself into the situation with his hypocritical public comments.

Here's to hoping the Jets find a taker for Wilson and that the organization keeps Johnson away from a live microphone for the foreseeable future.