The New York Jets got off to a heartbreaking start to 2023 when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1, but the decision to deny coverage added insult to injury.
The New York Jets turned down the opportunity to sign Aaron Rodgers with injury insurance ahead of the 2023 NFL season, so his season-ending Achilles tear could cost the AFC East franchise more than 16.5 million pound.
For 18 years, the Green Bay Packers regularly purchased disability insurance for Rodgers, who suffered many injuries during his illustrious career. Although the Jets signed the four-time MVP to a fully guaranteed deal worth £62m this offseason, the franchise has refused to do the same.
That proved to be a costly decision just four times during the 2023 season. Amid a wave of hype and anticipation, Rodgers’ Jets debut ended prematurely when the veteran quarterback was injured during the opening series . The Jets reportedly took out several insurance policies on the 39-year-old’s contract, but ultimately chose not to purchase one. While the decision is consistent with the Jets’ general approach to contract coverage, it could cost New York more than £16.5 million in insurance money.
Premium coverage, known as a Temporary Total Disability (TTD) policy, allows teams to recoup a significant portion of their injured players’ guaranteed salaries in the event of an injury. try at the end of the season. The NBA and NHL have rules requiring teams to insure their highest-paid players, but the NFL and MLB leave that up to the discretion of each franchise.
While insurance terms vary widely depending on a player’s age, position and injury history, policies on offer to the Jets have premiums ranging from £800,000 to £3.30. million pounds. However, premium options account for around 60% of Rodgers’ £30m guarantee this season.
Richard Giller, an experienced insurance recovery attorney, believes Rodgers’ case should pave the way toward NFL-wide TTD coverage going forward. Giller denounced the Jets’ decision, insisting it was a “no-brainer” to cover Rodgers.
“If they actually had an offer to insure a 39-year-old quarterback with 19 years of service, they should have taken it at any cost,” Giller told Sportico. “I know hindsight is 20/20, but he is a 39-year-old quarterback.”
Throughout the NFL, teams regularly insure more than a dozen players. But the Jets are an anomaly; it has been at least a decade since New York took out a TTD policy on a single player, according to Sportico.
Jets owner Woody Johnson, who bought the team for £524m back in 2000, perhaps wishes his team operated differently. Whiffing on Rodgers’ insurance has cost the franchise immensely, and now they’re left to deal with the consequences.
Leave a Reply