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Florham Park, New Jersey – Look I understand it’s REAL early, but the . . .
. . . vibe around Jets camp is definitely better this year. I’m not just talking about today, but vibe from the spring.
This is a closer group and the Jets’ football culture seems to be a lot better.
I know this sounds like training camp propaganda and summer happy talk, but I think I think it’s a legitimate take.
The release of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Marshall helped.
I don’t think many people understand how bad Revis was for the Jets’ football culture. When your highest-paid player plays as poorly as Revis, displays a nonchalant attitude, plays too far off in coverage and refuses to tackle, that is very damaging to the culture. A lot of the players were looking up to Revis, and it turned out there was nothing to look up to.
Think about the first Jets-Pats game at MetLife Stadium. The Jets played one of their better game of the season, losing 22-17. Revis gave up two touchdown passes in that game to rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell, so clearly he was a big reason they lost.
Getting him out of the locker room was essential, and the Jets did this at the beginning of free agency. It was the right move at the right time.
Marshall wasn’t well liked in the Jets’ locker room. Like so many of his stops in the league – it starts out well, but then he starts to grate on people the longer he’s there. Getting him out of that clubhouse was probably the right way to go.
The addition of Josh McCown is huge.
Demario Davis was raving about him today. They were teammates in Cleveland last year. Davis feels he is one of the best teammates/people he’s ever played with.
I think the Jets made an excellent decision signing McCown as their veteran free agent addition. I’m not putting him in Canton as a quarterback, but I do think he can be a solid, smart game-manager for Jets. But also, his alpha dog leadership qualities are much-needed in Florham Park after last year’s dysfunctional disaster.
Imagine if they had gone with Jay Cutler? Probably a better arm talent, but not much of a leader.
The Jets locker room already loves McCown. He’s a unifier.
Davis and Jamal Adams were also good additions for the Jets in terms of culture and leadership. Davis and Adams are great leaders.
Matt Forte has also been terrific this off-season leading the young guys. Forte has repeatedly said, and said it again today, that the locker room is so much better now than last year.
I don’t know how the Jets will fair this year, but I think they will be a closer team and have a better football culture . . .
I mentioned yesterday the pure politics involved in the release of wide receiver Devin Smith.
Devin Street was claimed on waivers by the Houston Texans.
The politics involved in roster decisions are off the charts. Street’s release had nothing to do with talent. It had to do with where he stood on the anointing scale. And since he wasn’t a returning player, a draft pick or a priority undrafted free agent, and was added in the middle of the spring, he was tossed to the curb.
Don’t think for one second that most teams keep the best 53. That narrative is bull in most places outside of New England . . .
July 28, 2017
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