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Somebody asked Mike Maccagnan yesterday . . .
. . . during his presser if he’s concerned that Sam Darnold will have bad feelings toward the organization over the contract dispute.
Maccagnan obviously said “no.”
And I agree with him.
The first thing I thought of when the question was asked was “How would that be helpful to him at all to have ill-will toward the Jets.”
Adam Schefter announced yesterday that Sam Darnold got a four-year contract with $30.25 million guaranteed. Where is the downside to the son of a hardworking plumber getting that kind of money?
And the only thing he had to give up was the right to double-dip financially if he happens to get cut in his fourth year and signs with another team. What’s the big deal and what are the odds he gets cut in his fourth year?
Also, how would it serve his interests, in any way, shape or form, to harbor bitterness towards the Jets? His goal is to become a franchise quarterback in the NFL. It would make absolutely not sense for him to have any negative feelings toward the team. It would be counterproductive.
This reporter who was asking about bad feelings, felt that the Jets were petty for making their first-round pick holdout out for four days over offset language.
First off, I don’t think there are any bad feelings.
Secondly, in the long-run, that missed time isn’t going to mean much, because it’s a long-shot he’s going to start the opener, so he should have plenty of time to learn and grow . . .
Todd Bowles was asked about all the penalties in training camp so far, and he said, “It’s part of training camp. With installs and physical play, it’s going to be part of the early process. As training camp goes on it will diminish.”
Perhaps, but certain players who are penalty-prone on the team, have been penalty-prone in games the last couple of years, so I’m not sure the installation is entire reason.
During camp, the Jets have had players (on the side of the ball of the penalty) do pushups after penalties, with the flagged player standing amongst the players doing pushups, almost as a humiliation.
The thinking being that the pushups, and the guilt of the player forcing his teammates to have to do them, will cut down on penalties.
Maybe, but I think there is a far better way of cutting down on penalties – benching players who have penalty issues.
Losing playing time, or a starting job, is a great wakeup call to a penalty-prone player. This kind of humiliation is a tremendous wake-up call and truly gets a penalty-prone players attention.
But Todd clearly isn’t a guy into benching guys. Brian Heimerdinger (pictured above with Bowles) should try to talk Bowles into benching guys more who are penalty-prone or mistake-prone. They have a great relationship. Benchings are a great deterrent. Heimerdinger talks to Bowles all the time on the practice field. I never see Maccagnan speaking to Bowles on the practice field – I hear they aren’t that close.
However, if you think you could lose your job if you don’t cut back on penalties, I think that mentally sends a stronger message than pushups.
July 31, 2018
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