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Premium – The Jets are doing the right thing staying clear of a certain hot free agent wide receiver, taking a lesson from their own recent history.
After the Jets moved on from Santonio Holmes, why on earth would they go after DeSean Jackson?
Seriously, folks, let’s keep it real.
Do people think Chip Kelly is an idiot?
He just sent his leading receiver packing in the prime of his career.
Just like Mike Tomlin sent Santonio Holmes packing in the prime of his career.
This isn’t fantasy football. Team chemistry matters. It matters a lot. We have seen what some bad actors have done to tear apart the Jets’ locker room in recent years.
The Jets are doing the right thing by staying away from Jackson.
They don’t need another guy who is going to suck the life out of the receiver room.
They don’t need another guy who has had issues with pot (I’m not looking to get into a pot debate here. I’m just dealing with the fact it’s against the rules in the NFL).
According to NJ.com. Jackson was arrested for possession of pot in 2009.
The Jets signed Eric Decker, speedster Jacoby Ford and they have Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson, Stephen Hill (who isn’t a bust yet, even though the Daily News made that claim) and Greg Salas, a former 4th round pick of the St. Louis Rams, who was a record-setting receiver at Hawaii.
And they will likely add another receiver high in the draft, and later as well.
So they will have many options entering training camp.
If you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.
To sign Jackson, on the heels of cutting Holmes, would be a move devoid of vision.
I like the Ford signing.
He’s not getting a lot of money, and players with his speed are rare.
He ran one of the fastest forties in the history of the combine, clocking a 4.28.
At the minimum, he upgrades their kick returner game, which was a weakness last year. He has returned four kicks for touchdowns during his career.
He will also help the Jets on reverses.
He’s not a starting receiver, but can help them as a #4, who plays in a rotation. He’s not a big guy, so you need to keep his snaps on a pitch count.
As for his injuries, I think he’s coming to the right place to become a healthier player.
The Jets medical facilities are on another planet compared to the Oakland Raiders, not known for a state-of-the-art medical operation.
The Jets have all the bells and whistles at their complex from a medical standpoint – A-Z, from nutrition to rehab equipment. The best of the best.
I remember talking to Salas, who came over from the Eagles last year with a knee injury, and he was raving about the Jets’ rehab facilities – he said he’s never seen anything like it.
Of course, football is a rough sport, and guys are going to get hurt.
But the Jets are on the cutting edge when it comes to football medicine.
Ford is coming from a place that is more mom and pop.
I think the Jets approach will help him.
Also, keeping him on a pitch count will help as well.
But considering this is a low-money, low-risk deal, and the guy has world class speed, he’s certainly worth taking a flyer on.
And the Jets are doing the right thing by not taking a flyer on Jackson.
April 1, 2014
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