Content available exclusively for subscribers
Mo Wilkerson will be at the Jets’ veteran minicamp. That is what Sheldon Richardson told his friend Josina Anderson, and the reporter made the announcement.
Richardson isn’t talking to the Jets’ beat reporters, but is talking to Anderson.
You see that a lot. She does a nice job of getting information from players other reporters don’t get.
Remember, she is the only media personality that Dimitri Patterson talked to after he didn’t show up for a preseason game. His follow-up comments to her likely got him waived.
Why Richardson is making announcements for Wilkerson is something I can’t explain.
Honestly, not going to the mini-camp wasn’t going to help Mo’s bargaining position. He might as well go, show he’s a team player, and perhaps that will help his case a little.
I happen to think the Jets are wrong on the Wilkerson front. He’s been the best player on their defense the last few years. Richardson is very good, but Wilkerson is a better all-around defensive lineman – better against the run than Sheldon – more stout; better at taking up double-teams. Wilkerson is a quintessential 3-4 defensive end.
Because the Jets overpaid Revis, and yes they overpaid him, that has contributed to the Wilkerson contract mess. Revis has received many big pay-days already. That is well-documented. This is Mo’s first big shot. He’s still on his rookie contract, one for the 30th pick of the first round.
I’ve said this before – in many ways the Jets were bidding against themselves on the Revis-front. No other team was going anywhere near $39 million guaranteed. Why couldn’t they have give him $35 million guaranteed, and swing some of that money over to Mo?
In my opinion, Wilkerson is a star player. He didn’t play a lot over the second half of last season due to a high ankle, so he lost a little luster, but this guy is special – he’s 6-4, 315 pounds with arms like vines, the quickness of a smaller man and is a powerhouse.
I don’t care if they picked Leonard Williams. No question Williams will help them, but that shouldn’t stand in the way of paying Mo.
Don’t get me wrong. I think signing Revis was the right thing, but to overpay them, and then try to shortchange Mo, is wrong . . .
We have talked about so many things regarding Todd Bowles over the last few months, but one thing that hasn’t been brought up in quite some time is what a terrific defensive mind he possesses.
“As far as Xs and Os, [Bowles] is one of the best I’ve been around and seen,” Leger Douzable said. “His defense, if we do it the right way, you can tell, we’re goin to make plays — and people are going to be in trouble with us on the field.”
While Bowles hired Kacy Rodgers as his defensive coordinator, he will be a co-defensive coordinator, if you will. Bowles will be heavily-involved in the defensive game-planning and play-calling.
Bowles did an amazing job last year in Arizona. His Front Seven was ravaged by injuries (DE Darnell Dockett), suspensions (ILB Daryl Washington) and retirements (OLB John Abraham), and he kept that unit playing at a high level. A defensive collapse wouldn’t have surprised people, but Todd didn’t let it happen.
What somebody close to the Arizona program told me recently is what Bowles tries to do every week is take away the two biggest threats of the opponent. People always talk about how Bill Belichick looks to take away your biggest threat. Bowles goes for the top two.
Jun 8, 2015
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.
