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It’s time for another edition of “Behind the Jets,” and today Dan shares something interesting he’s hearing from Florham Park, and also touches on Garrard . . .
Here is something I’m hearing.
The Jets are in total lock down mode.
People in the building have been read the riot act about leaking stuff to the media.
And in case they forgot what they were told, a front official reminded the coaches and personnel people at the combine – “DON’T TALK TO ANYBODY.”
After a year of leaks and unnamed cheap shots, the owner has had enough.
And I get the sense the people have been scared straight, so to speak.
Think about it? When was the last time you have read somebody quoting a “Jets source?” It’s been a while.
When Manish Mehta tweeted today, “Plenty of intriguing big-name free agents available, but I’m told Jets will take less expensive route. Need more quality depth this,” I really doubt he got his from inside the building.
I’m telling you, people aren’t talking.
And if they do, they are risking their jobs.
Remember, John Idzik kept the entire personnel department in tact, scouts, executives and so forth.
But a lot of these people are on the fence. You know at some point Idzik is going to want to bring in some of his own people.
Usually, new GM’s wait until after the draft to do this, since the incumbent staff has been scouting college players since the last draft, so why waste all that work? That would be foolish. When Idzik was hired, the Jets scouting department was really far along in their college prospect analysis.
I don’t sense that Idzik is going to make a lot of changes, but he could make a few.
Maybe he will look to bring in his friend Rod Graves, the former Arizona Cardinal’s GM, was just fired. Prior to joining the Seahawks, Idzik spent three seasons as Senior Director of Football Operations for the Arizona Cardinals, and Graves was his boss.
But the point here is simple – nobody is talking, and if some writer claims he’s getting a scoop from a Jets source, they are either misleading you, or somebody is willing to risk their jobs.
Woody, Neil and company aren’t messing around on this one.
No more loose lips.
Loose lips helped sink the Jets ship last year . . .
As you know by now, the Jets worked out David Garrard, and there is a good chance they will sign him.
Why not?
Bring him in, let him compete.
The 35-year-old has 89 career touchdowns to 54 interceptions to go along with competing 61 percent of his passes.
He’s a serviceable quarterback, and a good character guy.
I think he’s average at reading defenses, but knows his limitations and doesn’t force a lot of passes. He is the quintessential example of a player who “plays within himself” to use an old sports cliché.
Let him slug it out with Mark Sanchez and Greg McElroy, and may the best many win.
Maybe throw Brady Quinn in there.
John Idzik says he’s all about competition.
So let the quarterbacks battle it out in the spring camps, in the class room (where the coaches can see who is picking the offense up the fastest) and in training camp.
Competition is great in sports – it usually makes people better.
March 1, 2013
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