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The Jets are handling this right. Hey, it might mean nothing in the long run, but it’s one of many things that needed to be tweaked . . .
The Jets are definitely trying to take a more low-key approach with the media this off-season. For instance, when the Jets’ player reported on Monday for their off-season program, there were no interviews with players. In the past, they provided two or three players on a conference call.
“Unlike past years, the Jets had no media access today. Instead, they sent out canned player quotes about how excited they are to be back,” tweeted the New York Post’s Brian Costello.
And they made no free agent additions available player after they signed, like Morris Claiborne and Josh McCown.
If you have noticed around the league, a lot of teams made players available upon the opening of their off-season programs, and when they signed as free agents. Buffalo had press conferences for each of their free agent additions.
It’s been crickets around the Jets.
And that is just what they need.
They need to be like the New England Patriots – when it comes to the media, Bill Belichick’s team is like watching paint dry. And that is a good thing.
It’s important to win on Sunday, not win press conferences.
Now the media will complain. Some will rip the Jets for not being more cooperative, but honestly, what the heck is the difference from how the Jets are usually treated, even when cooperative?
So they have nothing to lose. Even when they tried to be media friendly, they got destroyed. Being nice got them nowhere.
I was once talking to a very high-ranking Jets official about the media disrespect.
He said, “We just have to win.”
I disagreed, and I have always disagreed with this premise.
Of course winning makes the critics quiet down, but the problem here isn’t about winning and losing, it’s about common decency.
Hey, maybe the era of common decency is over in the “click-bait” world, but to me, you can be critical of players, coaches, executives, the team overall, but you don’t have to do it with cheap shots.
I’m sure many of you have noticed in this space, I can be very critical, but I try to stick to the facts, and not travel on the low-road.
When the Daily News quotes an unnamed scout comparing Mo Wilkerson to the “Goodyear Blimp,” that is low road stuff.
Just like that “Same Old Jets” nonsense whenever the Jets have a bad game or bad season.
The Jets need to be as boring as heck off the field on 2017, and just worry about playing much better on game day.
Brandon Marshall won the media good guy award last season. He provided great quotes. But often those great quotes led to distractions. And sometimes ticked off some teammates. What good is that?
Jets need to be like that old Elvis Presley song, “a little less conversation a little more action.”
So cutting back on media access is a great idea.
Because honestly, they are going to be disrespected by the press whether they are cooperative or not.
April 19, 2017
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