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Some fans and media ripping the Jets . . .
. . . for not signing center Matt Paradis.
He’s coming off a fractured fibula suffered in Week Nine last season.
Mo Wilkerson suffered that injury in Week 17 of the 2015 season, and the Jets gave him a new deal seven months later, in July, 2016, before he was healthy, and were burned. He still wasn’t healthy at the beginning of the season.
Paradis suffered the injury four months ago, so some fans and reporters expect them to dole out big money to a guy coming off a fractured fibula, a few years after they got burned big-time with Wilkerson.
Paradis signed with Carolina.
I’m sorry, but I have no problem on the Jets not being gung-ho about signing a center coming off a broken fibula that isn’t totally healed yet.
Part of this heavy criticism is perhaps connected to the agency that represents the player, which is owned by a Jets fan who is active on social media kind.
When a fan asked the agency owner why Paradis didn’t sign with the Jets, he tweeted, “It takes two to tango.”
To me, the criticism the Jets are taking on this one is patently unfair.
Something they should be criticized for is their handling of the Anthony Barr situation.
As you all know by now, some of the NFL media insiders, who are essentially surrogates for NFL agents, announced on Tuesday night Barr was signing with the Jets.
Today those media insiders said he wasn’t going to sign with the Jets, and would return to the Vikings.
My criticism of the Jets has nothing to do with them being left at the altar on this one.
The guy chickened out. What are you going to do?
My issue was the organization confirming the reports on Tuesday.
Why do that?
Wait until the ink is dry.
I understand that they can’t control the agents leaking stories to their surrogates in the media.
That is out of their control.
But why confirm a story before the ink is dry?
Why?
When you see beat writers, who got beat on the story by the surrogates, tweet stuff like, “Source confirms Jets are planning to sign LB Anthony Barr,” this is coming from the Jets.
The Jets should not worry about appeasing writers who want an answer after the agent’s lackey report this stuff.
Wait until your GM says the ink is dry on the contract, and if people demand answers before, tell them you don’t have them.
You think Bill Belichick lets team officials announce a signing before the ink is dry?
The Jets need to get out of this practice of confirming a media report about a potential signing before the contract is signed. Retire from this.
When a player is official signed, then alert the media
If the writers demand a confirmation, tell them to call one of the agent’s media surrogates.
March 12, 2019
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