Aaron Rodgers' self-criticism 'sounds' different after Jets fire Robert Saleh

After the Minnesota Vikings knocked off the New York Jets 23-17 on Sunday in London, Aaron Rodgers told reporters he blamed himself for the loss.

The postgame remarks reflected a sense of genuine accountability from the 40-year-old four-time NFL MVP. However, now that the Jets have fired coach Robert Saleh, Rodgers' comments in England are subject to alternate interpretations.

Addressing the media after the Vikings game, in which he threw three interceptions, Rodgers said :

"I've never thrown two picks in the first quarter before.... One of them cost, obviously, seven [points]. And the other could have cost three. Three turnovers for me is definitely out of character and I'm disappointed... in a game where you lose by six, plays like that are exponentially highlighted... You just got to be ... honest [about] your performance every single week, and hold yourself to a standard... Obviously, that was below my standard."

Rodgers' remarks seemed apropos following an underwhelming performance in which he completed only 29 of 54 passes and threw three interceptions, one of which was a pick-six.

Did Rodgers' mean what he said in London? Does he genuinely blame the loss to the Vikings on himself, or does he primarily blame Saleh for the Jets' struggles?

In the words of NJ Advance Media columnist Steve Politi , Rodgers has "claim[ed] his first Jets' victim in Robert Saleh." Although the Jets will inevitably claim Rodgers had nothing to do with Saleh's termination, Politi observes, "Jets owner Woody Johnson wasn't making a decision like this without the blessing — or maybe even encouragement — of his future Hall of Fame player."

Consistently, USA Today notes that "tension" and "drama" between Rodgers and Saleh appear to have contributed to the coach's firing.