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Dan gets into a number of hot topics today in the latest edition of Website Whispers, including notes on Mohamed Massaquoi, Jason Smith and the gate. Let’s go . . .
Mohamed Massaquoi and the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks were both wide receivers at Independence High School in Charlotte at the same time. How crazy is that? Two NFL wide receivers were the two main targets on the same high school team . . .
While Massaquoi is a decent player, I think it’s ridiculous to say his arrival means Brayon Edwards is in trouble. Perhaps Edwards is in a little trouble if he isn’t healthy. He’s being hobbled by an undisclosed leg injury right now.
“He’s had a leg injury,” Rex Ryan said on Thursday. “I don’t know exactly what it is.”
I find it hard to believe than an NFL head coach wasn’t told by the team’s GM or trainer what exactly is wrong with a potentially important receiver for this year’s team. But Ryan’s media dealings are a topic for another day.
My point here is it’s ridiculous to pretend that Massaquoi is on Edwards’ level.
After disappointing in Cleveland, he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars a few days ago, even before the cut to 75.
He was buried on a depth chart in back of players like Ace Sanders, first-year veteran Mike Brown, fourth-year veterans Jordan Shiple y and Charly Martin, first-year veterans Toney Clemons and Jeremy Ebert and rookies Tobais Palmer, Jamal Miles. I’m not saying these are bad player, but this isn’t a whose who of targets.
Massaquoi should have at least hung around to the final cut with this group. He didn’t even make it to 75. And remember, one reason the Jags signed Massaquoi was to give them a big, veteran target to help them during Justin Blackmon’s four-game suspension at the beginning of the season. Clearly, that plan didn’t work out.
Look, I’m not looking to destroy Massaquoi here. He was a very good player at Georgia, and a really nice young man. But he’s not Braylon Edwards . . .
The Jets signed of offensive tackle Jason Smith doesn’t bode well for Oday Aboushi, the Jets’ 2013 fifth round pick from UVA.
Smith is now the leading candidate to man the Jets’ backup swing tackle position, a spot that Aboushi was drafted to fill. Aboushi has the potential to fill the role, but just isn’t ready. Aboushi needs to get stronger, and must improve his technique. He could use a year on the practice squad.
Somebody asked me today, “Would Aboushi be safe on the practice squad, or would he be stolen?”
I think the Jets are willing to take the risk because he didn’t blow them away this summer.
Offensive line coach Mike Devlin was yelling at him quite a bit . . .
There was an interesting article on “The Street,” website run by Jim Cramer about the potential for a lot of blackouts in the NFL this year, due to the bad economy and how awesome the home viewing experience has become with HDTV, the Red Zone Channel, and so forth.
The Jets repeatedly have said they will never be blacked out.
But you have to wonder. Let’s say they are something like 2-11, will Woody Johnson and a local network affiliate still be willing to buy up the unsold tickets to avoid a blackout.
Also, the trailer is back in the Jets parking lot. This trailer comes and goes, and is generally extra office space added for seasonal ticket sellers, a boiler room, if you will. The trailer came back to town this summer.
Expect a lot of blackouts around the league in 2013.
You just have to wonder if one is in the Jets’ future.
August 23, 2013
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