New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has fired back at a report claiming he and head coach Robert Saleh had a spirited confrontation at this week’s league meetings.
Johnson vehemently denied the report from NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe in a tweet on Thursday afternoon.
“All this nonsense about a heated argument between Coach Saleh and me at the League Meeting is absolutely false,” Johnson said. “It is yet another irresponsible report from NFL Network. Please disregard.”
Earlier this week, in an appearance on the “Around the NFL” podcast, Wolfe cited a “very reliable source” who told her there was a “very heated conversation” between Johnson and Saleh.
“To the point where it was a little awkward,” Wolfe said. “What were they arguing about? Who knows? Could have been about anything. Could have been about how they like their steak cooked. Doubt that, though.”
Now, Wolfe went on to stress that she would not call the exchange between the Jets leaders as an “argument,” but that’s the phrasing Johnson used in his tweet.
Either way, it sounds like the New York executive is saying the situation either didn’t happen at all or was mischaracterized.
Jets reporter Connor Hughes of SNY had previously refuted Wolfe’s report on Wednesday night.
“There was no verbal argument between Robert Saleh and Woody Johnson at the NFL’s annual meeting reception,” Hughes tweeted. “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.”
Johnson has been the Jets’ owner since 2000, while Saleh is entering his fourth season as the franchise’s head coach.