Chris “Mad Dog” Russo — who has made his career giving tough opinions on players, especially New York athletes — ripped Jets legend Joe Namath on Tuesday for his public criticism of Zach Wilson.
After the “Mad Dog Sports Radio” host on Sirius XM said he “loves” Namath and that he’s “a very, very good guy” who “always signs autographs,” he went on to blast Namath for taking shots at Wilson on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN New York on Monday
“Do we need Joe going on radio… and I love Kay. But do we need Joe Namath going on Michael Kay’s radio show, basically calling Zach Wilson’s play disgusting? And, you know, he’s got to get out of there, get him outta there now, tomorrow.
“But I mean, geez, we gotta have Joe pile on now? This is what we gotta have an 80-year-old man go on a radio show in New York and basically say that the Jets quarterback is a disaster, a young quarterback trying to find his footing.”
Russo also said no one from the Jets’ organization — owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas nor head coach Robert Saleh, can publicly go after Namath, even if they disagree because he is the one “beacon of light” in the franchise’s history.
“[Are] they going to knock Joe Willie Namath? Namath is the reason they are the Jets,” Russo said. “The problem is, is that Zach Wilson has been destroyed by every Jets fan that I know of and killed. Again, tarred and feathered.
“And the last thing the kid needs, and I actually feel sorry for him. The last thing he needs is Joe Willie to go on a big radio program on the Jets’ station … and basically call the guy incompetent and get him outta here, not tomorrow, yesterday. I mean that’s a tough spot, geez.”
The 80-year-old Namath appeared on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN New York on Monday and was asked if he took any positives out of Wilson’s performance on Sunday.
“No, I didn’t take anything positive out of it yesterday. It was awful,” said Namath, who also voiced his frustration with Wilson and the coaches on X, formerly Twitter, during the Jets’ 15-10 loss to the Patriots on Sunday
Asked why, Namath, who quarterbacked the Jets’ only championship victory in Super Bowl III in 1969, responded, “Why? Were you watching? I mean, puh-lease. You sit down? You sit down on the play, you go right down? What happened? I thought you were trying to make plays and win. You quit on a play. What is going on? It’s disgusting.”
Russo, in his rant, said it’s time to stop using Wilson like a “piñata,” which he mispronounced.
“How many times are you going to treat [Wilson] like a piñata,” Russo said. “I mean eventually you gotta say you know what, geez, let him play. Tim Boyle [the Jets’ backup quarterback] is not the answer, OK.”
Russo and Namath might be glad to know that later on Tuesday the Jets signed journeyman quarterback Trevor Siemien to the practice squad after he passed a physical.
The 31-year-old quarterback played for the Jets in 2019, making one abbreviated start in Week 2 against the Browns on “Monday Night Football,” injuring his ankle.