Joe Namath says he’s not on speaking terms with Jets owner

Joe Namath, the most celebrated player in New York Jets history, said he hasn’t been on speaking terms with Jets owner Woody Johnson or new General Manager John Idzik.

“I haven’t met Mr. Idzik unless it was 40 years ago,” Namath said Thursday on WFAN’s “Boomer and Carton Show” in New York.

Namath added: “I have not been on good terms with Mr. Johnson for the last couple of years.”

He said he’s somewhat bothered by the fact that he and Johnson aren’t on speaking terms, “but you’ve got to be honest. I want to be honest, and I think they’ve been deceptive. ... They’re continually telling us how good they are. Last year, going into the season, the ‘best team Rex [Ryan] has had.’ Oh, please.”

Criticism from Namath typically makes big news in New York. When the Jets got off to a 2-5 start in 2002, Namath told the Los Angeles Times he couldn’t believe that the team had the highest payroll in the league.

“How? Why? How did they get in that position?” he said at the time.

Those comments were incendiary in New York, where the back page of the Daily News the next day read: “Broadway Schmoes -- Namath blue over Green.”

His comments Thursday might ruffle feathers even more.

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