Was this why Robert Saleh was fired? The former Jets coach’s comments shed light on the coaching change

As there are varying theories as to why Jets owner Woody Johnson has now decided to fire former coach Robert Saleh, former Jets coach Eric Mangini’s recent comments have resurfaced.

Mangini said last week on FS1’s “First Things First” that Johnson, a former ambassador to Britain who was introduced as “Ambassador Johnson” in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, would be “pissed off” if the Jets lost to would the Vikings in London last Sunday.

“This is an absolute victory,” Mangini said on the show last week. “And here’s why, Woody Johnson, the 66th Ambassador to the United Kingdom. All his friends will be there and after the game, when he’s eating tea and crumpets, he’ll want to talk about his team and how successful they are. On top of that, the former first-round draft pick is playing against you and playing really well, and you have a 40-year-old quarterback.”

Mangini added that Johnson would be “pissed” if the Jets lost.

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Mangini also said a win in London would have helped Rodgers in his pursuit of wide receiver Davante Adams

“You win the game,” Manginii said. “You go to the box afterwards, meet all his friends: ‘Hey, what about Davante, Woody?’ Sounds like a good idea.’”

The theory makes perfect sense and has been repeated elsewhere in NFL circles.

Still, Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that his decision to fire Saleh had been developing over “a few years.”

“I would refute that,” Johnson said hours after leaving Saleh. “It’s not just the last two games that brought about this decision. It’s a longer time frame. I’ve had a few years to think about it. And yeah, I just think we can do better. The team can do better.”

While there was speculation about what influence the star quarterback had on the Saleh move, Rodgers was said to have been “blindsided” by the decision, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

“Woody Johnson made the decision on his own without consulting with his HOF quarterback in the final decision,” Schultz wrote.

Rodgers is scheduled to appear on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN on Wednesday.

The Jets, now led by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” with a chance to take over first place in the AFC East.

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter covering Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his website ZAGSBLOG.com.