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The Barbara Walters’ Specials Continue . . .
For the younger fans out there, Barbara Walters is a legendary broadcaster who used to do long sit-down interviews with celebrities, and they would often open-up to her and make news. These interviews used to prime-time specials on the ABC Network.
Jets kind of have their own version of these kind of elongated interviews that usually make news, and they are conducted by Manish Mehta.
He will go up to a player’s locker and conduct lengthy, probing interviews with players. These dogged interviews, which are never stopped by the team, often lead to newsworthy quotes. Other teams might throw the player a lifeline, help the player get out of these tough situation when it seems to be going on too long. The Jets don’t.
You see, the more questions you ask somebody, the better chance you will land a money quote. It’s kind of like fishing. The more times you throw your line into the water, the better chance you have of pulling in the big catch.
Now we find out, via one of these protracted interviews, that linebacker Avery Williamson didn’t like how he was used with the Tennessee Titans. This was the lead story on Pro Football Talk this morning, which often links to Mehta’s myriad scoops. Mehta and Mike Florio have a strong relationship, and Florio is constantly promoting Mehta’s work.
Williamson wasn’t happy playing 60 percent of Tennessee’s defensive snaps last year. Here is an excerpt from this Barbara Walters-type interview.
“I don’t know, man,” Williamson told the New York Daily News. “It was a weird situation. Honestly, I don’t know. But they didn’t want me to play certain downs. I was definitely offended by that all last year. Like I said, it wasn’t my decision. Now I’m here and I’m definitely going to get the opportunity. So, I’m glad to be a part of this. It gives me extra fuel to continue to improve my game and become better than I was last year.
“It’s motivation. There’s always going to be somebody’s that’s going to put news out there about you and say that you can’t do this or that. So, I prove them wrong. That’s the point: I know I’m a three-down backer. I know I got the skill set to do anything on the field. Shoot, I feel like I fit in perfectly with this defense.”
Let me ask y’all a question. Do you think Dick LeBeau is an idiot?
LeBeau, the long-time Pittsburgh Steelers DC, is in the NFL Hall of Fame for his work as a coach and player. He was the Titans’ defensive coordinator the last couple of years.
“Dick LeBeau is arguably the best ever to coach defense. … He has done it on such a consistent basis over a long period of time,” said Ron Jaworkski.
Williamson isn’t a great coverage linebacker. That is why he came off the field sometimes in Tennessee.
“[Williamson] has average athletic ability and foot quickness,” wrote Nolan Nawrocki when Williamson came out of Kentucky. He is a step late to the perimeter. He has limited cover range and reactions — is late to recognize. He can be targeted in coverage.”
I’m not saying Williamson is a bad player. He is a younger/cheaper Demario Davis – a tackling machine in run support, a good blizer who has good leadership ability, but is average in coverage.
So it comes down to this. Who do you trust more on this one – LeBeau or Williamson?
You make the call.
But this story is all over the internet, so another feather in the cap for the Daily News.
June 4, 2018
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