Maccagnan needs to ignore the white noise

It’s unclear what the reason was, but if this was the reason, it shouldn’t have an impact on the negotiations at all.

According to the New York Post, Eric Decker skipped the Jets’ first couple of offseason practices as a protest. According to the Post, Decker was sending a message by his absence. The message was that he’s upset that the Jets haven’t re-signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick yet.

But Decker’s wife, country singer Jessie James, posted a photo of the family on vacation at a beach somewhere.

These workouts are voluntary, so Decker wasn’t required to be there contractually. He can’t be fined. So was this a vacation or was he making a statement? Perhaps it was both.

Newsday headline – “Jets’ OTA absentees not linked to Ryan Fitzpatrick stalemate.”

So there is some conflicting information here.

So which one is it?

If Decker shows up next week, at the OTA open to the media, what will he say?

Will he actually admit he stayed away to support Fitz? He’s usually very, very careful and measured with everything he says. I’d be surprised if he stood in front of his locker and admitted he skipped the workout as a protest.

Perhaps he did stay away for that reason, but I doubt he admits it on the record. I don’t think he’s wired that way.

“Sources said Decker’s absence was indeed a message he wants Fitzpatrick back,” wrote Brian Costello in the New York Post. “As for Marshall, a source said his absence was unrelated to Fitzpatrick’s situation, but it still seems suspicious. The move by the receivers puts more pressure on Maccagnan.”

Does it?

Is Eric Decker, and perhaps Marshall, going to dictate policy?

It’s not a revelation that these guys love Fitzpatrick and want him back. That is well-documented.

But whether it’s player pressure or media pressure, Mike Maccagnan needs to ignore the white noise.

You don’t make football decisions based on public relations. You make them based on football.

So whether the Jets get ripped by the media over Fitz, or are victimized by player protests, they need to stick to their guns, and do what they think is right.

Hey, it’s pretty clear what is right – give the guy in the area of $10-11 million a year, and get it over with.

But don’t do make any football decisions for PR reasons – EVER.

Last year the Jets overpaid Darrelle Revis, and there was definitely a PR element to that story.

“It was a mea culpa to the fans,” said one long-time Jets fan.

One beat writer has said to me, “signing Revis made the Jets relevant again.”

I’ve never understood that. I thought winning makes you relevant, not free agent signings.

So the point is simple.

Player protests or media rip jobs for not signing Fitz yet (one of the writers I had to talk out of writing a column early in the season calling for Fitz to be benched – true story), should not impact this situation at all.

You can’t pander.

If you have a plan, a blueprint, stick to it.

Don’t govern by public and locker room opinion polls.

May 27, 2016

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