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Morris County – Time for Friday Night Whispers . . .
Saw Trevor Siemian in the locker room and he looks like his broken leg is pretty much healed. He was walking around with no limp and had no brace or wrap on his surgical leg . . .
Temple center Matt Hennessy declared for the NFL draft today. He is the brother of Jets long snapper Thomas Hennessy . . .
USA Today Headline – “Former Jets QB Chad Pennington praises Sam Darnold’s ‘considerable improvement’ in second season.”
Perhaps there has been some improvement, but the story was based on an interview with the team’s website. Pennington, who is heck of guy, does some work for the team website.
And even if he didn’t, the team website wouldn’t print negative quotes in a story about Darnold. Clear thinking people know that. The naïve perhaps don’t know that.
If Pennington had said, “I think Darnold is too in love with this first read. He needs to do a better job going threw his progressions.” Do you think that quote would have seen the light of day on the Jets’ website?
I’m just keeping it real folks. I know this is out of style these days.
You need to separate the wheat from the chaff on quotes and take them in context.
Pennington is not going to say anything negative about Darnold. No way.
Look, I understand the Jets website doing these kind of interviews, but the mainstream media taking a quote from the Jets’ website about their starting QB is probably not an ideal approach.
Darnold could turn out to be great, but he has some work to do, and in order to be objective about where he’s at, you need to be careful buying quotes from an entity which is making him the centerpiece of their marketing campaign . . .
The Jets media gave Jordan Jenkins an award today for being the most cooperative player with the press. Each beat writer gets a vote. I don’t get a vote due to voter suppression. But I’ glad I don’t have a vote. Because media cooperation has nothing to do with winning and losing.
Jenkins is amazing with the media, almost never turning down an interview, and constantly providing good quotes.
But what can be an issue with the media and cooperative players and coaches, is that it can cloud their judgement. If somebody is nice to reporter, and helps them do their jobs with cooperation and good quotes, are they are going to critical of the player?
“A player talking to you will color your view,” said one legendary New York sportswriter, now retired.
So maybe some didn’t see these two plays against Pittsburgh – Before he left the game with an injury, Pittsburgh Steelers tailback James Connor had two nice runs where he got to the outside and gained 15 yards (first quarter) and 12 yards (second quarter). On both plays, Jets end Jordan Jenkins was taken out of the play, allowing Connor to take the corner.
Or the player get shut down by a backup left tackle, James Hurst, in Baltimore.
Jenkins gives you everything he got. He’s super-tough, plays hurt and has great character, but he lacks ideal quickness, speed and athleticism for his position. None of this is his fault.
When deciding whether to re-sign Jenkins or not, Joe Douglas needs to look at the film real hard. If he likes what he sees, give Jenins a long-term deal, but do no get caught up in what a great guy he is and his great character. Bill Belichick never let’s that get in the way. None of the great personnel guys do. It’s all about the film, not personal relationships and the player being an awesome guy.
So if Douglas likes the film, then give him a nice new contract.
December 27, 2019
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