Question of whether Woody Johnson, Robert Saleh had “very heated conversation” becomes very hot topic

It’s one factor for NFL Media, owned in equal components by all 32 groups, to monger a rumor concerning the proprietor of one of these groups. It’s fairly one other for the rumor to finish up being unsuitable.

That’s the subsequent query, because it pertains to the declare made by Colleen Wolfe on the Around the NFL podcast {that a} “very heated conversation” occurred between Jets proprietor Woody Johnson and Jets coach Robert Saleh on the league conferences in Orlando.

It’s not clear at this level whether the report is factually correct. The Jets, we’re informed, strongly consider it’s not. (We’ve requested the workforce for an official remark.) To the extent, nevertheless, that some are pointing to an X publish from Connor Hughes of SNY.television because the definitive phrase on the matter, that’s not the smoking gun you suppose it’s.

Here’s the Hughes post: “There was no verbal argument between Robert Saleh and Woody Johnson at the NFL’s annual meeting reception. I know because I was at the party where this apparently happened, feet from Saleh & Johnson, before Johnson & Jets contingent left. Woody took them out to dinner. Checked in with a two sources at the dinner. Confirmed nothing happened there, either.”

The threshold downside is that Wolfe, whereas initially saying that the “very heated conversation” occurred on the Monday night time reception, later stated in the identical clip that it occurred on Sunday. Thus, to the extent Hughes is referring to the Monday night time reception (the context of his publish and different associated posts makes it clear that he was), he’s bought the unsuitable day.

Second, I’ve been on the Monday night time occasion. Multiple instances. It’s not possible to have eyes on the identical two folks your complete time. There are too many individuals and an excessive amount of exercise. Unless you park your self subsequent to them from the second they arrive to the second they go away, nobody can conclusively say they noticed every part that did, and didn’t, transpire between them throughout the celebration.

We initially lined this story as a uncommon if not unprecedented instance of NFL Media, owned and operated by the NFL and its groups, intentionally, casually, and nearly gleefully leaping on the third rail. Whether a “very heated conversation” between Johnson and Saleh occurred isn’t the problem. The subject that the media firm Johnson owns in equal measure was the one to report the story.

Watch the clip. This isn’t an instance of a reporter at NFL Network embracing an in-depth journalistic mission on a topic the league finds delicate, like off-field proprietor misconduct or the problems for which Jim Trotter believes he was fired. (Sorry, his contract was not renewed. Which is a fancier approach of saying he was fired, as a result of he was.) This had a gossipy, jokey, nearly game-show-y vibe to it.

The Jets aren’t blissful about it. Especially since they consider the declare is inaccurate. Again, we’ve requested the Jets for an official remark. Until then, the Hughes publish on X shouldn’t be handled as dispositive, particularly if (because it appears) he’s speaking about one thing that occurred on Monday, as a result of the declare from NFL Media is that it occurred on Sunday.

If it even occurred in any respect.