It’s crazy how football works.
You often hear cliche sayings around NFL complexes like: “The best ability is availability” and “You can’t make the club in the tub.”
So when NFL personnel executives look for players in free agency and the draft, aside from talent and character and all that stuff, they want guys who have been durable.
This past off-season, the Jets acquired two safeties who entered 1 Jets Drive with amazing durability records from their pasts.
On March 15, the Jets traded for Baltimore safety Chuck Clark, who had not missed a start his last three years with the Ravens, and had not missed a game in five years (he was a backup safety his first two years, but was always active).
However, in his first spring with the Jets, this ironman tore his ACL in an OTA practice, ending his season before he played one regular season snap with his new team. And these OTA practices have limited contact and no tackling.
The Jets picked LSU safety/cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. In college, “JBC” started 56 games, which is remarkable for any college player, let alone a defensive back. Not only did he start 56 games in college, but appeared in 64. The guy never missed the bell.
Well, when Jets training camp started, this bastion of durability had his left foot in a walking boot and missed all of camp. He started the season on the PUP list.
In football, you just never know.
