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The Jets signed WR Chaz Schilens and QB Drew Stanton on Friday.
A few hours after they were signed, the Jets sent out a press release with quotes from each player.
“I had just really a positive day today,” said Schilens. “It was just too good a place to leave [without signing a contract]. It was a combination of everything that impressed me. The two most important things were the mindset of the coaching staff on where the team is going, and the overall feeling of the commitment of the team to want to win with this great facility. I just always liked playing the Jets — it always seemed to be a big-time game. I always liked the type of players they have on their team. And I like Rex Ryan’s mentality.”
“I’m extremely excited to get an opportunity to come to an organization like this,” said Stanton. “Everybody from top to bottom has impressed me. I just think everything in general is first-class. The nice thing is we’re all going to be learning Tony Sparano’s offense together. My goal is to help Mark [Sanchez] produce on the field and to help this organization win football games.”
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – the Jets training facility is the “Taj Mahal” of NFL complexes. The Jets spent $75 million on this state of the art facility in Florham Park.
There aren’t many close in the NFL.
And it’s an amazing recruiting tool for the Jets. When players see it, many of them are agog at what they are seeing.
Schilens must have been particularly impressed – the Raiders have never cared much about training complexes – they used to train out of a high school.
When Stanton says, “I just think everything in general is first-class,” he’s not lying.
Look-it, I’m not looking to carry water for the Jets here, but they deserve high praise for the edifice they built in Florham Park, and I’m telling you, it helps them in free agency. A players working environment is important, and the Jets complex is “off-the-chain,” to borrow James Ihedigbo’s favorite expression.
Right now safety Reggie Nelson is visiting the Jets, and I’m sure he has been blown away.
Think about where he came from – the Cincinnati Bengals – they don’t have a training complex. Their facility is Paul Brown Stadium – same locker room , training rooms as on game day.
And before Nelson arrived in Cincinnati, he was in Jacksonville, a team that also works out of their stadium.
Nelson’s visit is two days, which is likely a good sign for the Jets, and their chances of signing him.
Nelson would give the Jets a safety that can cover anybody – he runs sub-4.4 – few offensive players can outrun him. He’s also a big-time hitter. I remember when the Jets played Jacksonville a few years ago, it looked like Braylon Edwards had hauled in a touchdown pass – that was until Nelson slammed him in the back, jarring the ball loose.
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