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A little more clarity . . .
On Anthem-Gate . . .
Congressman Peter King doubled-down, telling Newsday on Memorial Day – “My message for Jets management is if they don’t stop their policy of reimbursing those who violate our flag, who show disrespect for the American flag — from today — so many people told me they’re no longer Jets fans. They say, ‘So long Jets,’”
Here is what I gathered today about this issue being at the Jets facility.
Some people around the team feel that the owner’s message was taken a little out of context.
You see the new NFL rule states that if a team has a player kneeling during the anthem that the TEAM will be fined by the league. The TEAM will be fined, not the player. The Jets were always going to have to pay this fine. Johnson’s statement doesn’t change this. But NFL teams are also allowed to fine players for kneeling, and Johnson is saying he wouldn’t do that.
So the league fine part was confused a little bit. The TEAM was always going to have to pay the league fine, Johnson’s statement doesn’t change that.
But what the Jets need to realize is that when you put employees ahead of customers, you can damage your business. That is an age-old business tenet.
Johnson picked his players over some of his customers (the fans who find his new policy offensive), so we will see if that hurts his business moving forward . . .
Today was the first practice open to the media since the NFL changed their kickoff rule.
It was interesting seeing Jets special teams coach Brant Boyer lining up his players in all kinds of different alignments we haven’t seen before.
There are no more blocking wedges. The NFL used to allow a three-man wedge. That was outlawed. So then they allowed a two-man wedge. Now there is no wedge at all. A wedge allows blockers to lock arms and block together. You can’t do this at all, anymore. Also there are no more running starts for kick cover guys.
Boyer was like a chess player moving players around to different spots today. It will be interesting to see how this turns out . . .
There was a report last week in a tabloid that Teddy Bridgewater had an excellent practice last week, and that was spread all over the nation on sports websites. That is how things work these days – one report, accurate or not, spreads like wildfire. I must have been at a different practice. I saw one standout throw by Bridgewater, a pass down the right seam to rookie tight end Chris Herndon. Great throw.
Other than that, it was a pedestrian practice at best, and included an interception by LB Kevin Pierre-Louis.
To me, that story about Bridgewater’s good practice last week was bogus. And he had a very inconsistent accuracy practice today. He’s still working the kinks out – new offense, new receivers for him (aside from Charles Johnson) and he hasn’t played much the last two years.
Look, I’m not looking to pick on him. I like the signing, and I believe he should be the #2 QB when the season starts. Why? Because if you are taking your time with Darnold, and McCown gets hurt in Week 2, that doesn’t make Darnold ready faster. It doesn’t work that way.
McCown should start the season, if he gets hurt early, Bridgewater should play, and if they fall out of Wildcard contention, then Darnold should play late in the season.
The Jets need to make the playoffs. Missing seven years in a row is embarrassing. Bowles/Maccagnan missed the playoffs all three years they have been here – I’m sorry, I’m not going to keep hitting the reset button with them . . .
May 29, 2018
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