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New Jersey – A couple of items to get into today – one about the status of Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the other on an individual in the Jets secondary . . .
Honestly, the Jets really have no idea at this point if Ryan Fitzpatrick will be able to play at Houston.
It’s too soon after the thumb surgery to discern that.
Now there is a good chance he will be able to play, but it’s purely speculative at this point. They have to see how he feels later in the week.
He clearly gives them a much better chance to win than Geno Smith.
Not just because he’s the more experience quarterback, reads defenses better and knows Chan Gailey’s offense as well at Chan Gailey, but because of where he played last year.
He was the Houston Texans’ starting quarterback last year until December 14, when he fractured a tibia against the Indianapolis Colts.
So throughout the 2014 off-season, training camp and most of the season, he practiced every day against Romeo Crennel’s Texans defense.
The import of this can’t be minimized. Fitzpatrick is very, very smart guy. All this practice time against Crennel’s defense gives him a tremendous feel for what the Texans like to do, beyond studying film.
The Jets need Fitzpatrick in his huge game, there is no way around that.
Now Dr. Ken Montgomery clearly thinks that Fitz will be able to play, but even “Monty” doesn’t know for sure right now.
Fitz and all the decision-makers involved will know a lot better late in the week . . .
Nick Foles was benched today in St. Louis. They are going with Case Keenum.
With his season in the balance, Jeff Fisher showed great leadership and knew he had to make a gutsy move to change things.
You can’t worry about the fact that you traded Sam Bradford for him. It really doesn’t matter. This is a winning-based business.
Good for Fisher.
Todd Bowles also needs to show he has the gumption to bench people.
Antonio Cromartie should not start against the Houston Texans.
Bowles can’t worry about feelings and what the tenacious Jets’ media corps will say. It’s a little easier in St Louis, since they have like two beat writers, so there you make the announcement and move on – not a huge deal. Around the Jets, everything is made into the biggest news ever – Extra, Extra, read all about it.
It’s not Cro’s fault that he’s lost recovery speed. He’s been in the league a decade. He’s 31. Some tread is off the tire. It happens.
Hey, he should have a role. I’d actually have him cover some of the tall tight ends. At 6-2, he’s the Jets tallest corner, so he has the length for the role.
The Jets have a lot of depth at corner.
It’s time to start somebody else.
If Bowles continues to roll with “Cro” as a starter, he wouldn’t be showing the best leadership, and clearly wouldn’t want to hurt the feelings of the player.
You can’t lead that way.
Stay tuned. Let’s see how he handles this.
November 16, 2015
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