Content available exclusively for subscribers
Cortland – Matt Slauson is not talking to the media.
The last two days, he turned down all requests.
In my mind, he has a right to be pissed.
He should not have to platoon with Vlad Ducasse.
Slauson has played pretty well the last two years, well enough to not have to platoon with another player in camp.
Wayne Hunter isn’t platooning right now, and Slauson is? Who played better last year? I think we’d all agree Slauson was a better left guard than Hunter was a right tackle.
On top of that, Slauson played a big chunk of last year with a wrecked shoulder, that required major surgery after the season. He took painkilling shots and sucked it up, making around the league minimum.
And how he’s a victim of the political games we have seen too often – the Jets propping up high draft picks.
Now I think Ducasse can still turn into a good player (he had an impressive pancake block on Quinton Coples today), but to do this to Slauson is wrong.
But this is what goes on around here – whether it was Vernon Gholston playing when he shouldn’t, Kyle Wilson starting for Revis (hamstring) as a rookie way before he was ready, Quinton Coples starting immediately before he even knows the defense, and so on.
If I were Slauson, I’d be pissed also.
It’s bullbleep.
Just play the best players, and stop playing political games – something that happens way too often under this brass . . .
On a long run by Joe McKnight today, Slauson had a nice block on Kenrick Ellis, to get the run going . . .
Ricky Sapp was outstanding today.
He had sacks on consecutive plays, and stopped a run in the backfield.
With all the talk about Aaron Maybin, this guy isn’t getting enough attention.
He has a lot of ability.
If he had not hurt his knee late in his Clemson career, he would probably would have been a second round pick, but health concerns made him slip to the fifth. Then the knee was still an issue in Philly last summer, and they released him.
He looks right out of Central Casting to play 3-4 OLB – 6-4, 250, 4.65 speed.
And today, he made people stand up and take notice of him . . .
Josh Mauga had a good practice.
He had terrific coverage, airtight, on a quick out to Hayden Smith early in practice.
He also had a “sack” on Greg McElroy, nailing him in the back (a little overzealous hit for the drill).
Mauga and Nick Bellore both have had good camps.
They are making a statement. With the pick of DeMario Davis, and Rex using names like Ray Lewis and Bart Scott to describe him, one of these guys might not make it.
Davis is going to have a role, whether he’s ready or not (this fits into the theme of what I wrote about in the first note about Slauson).
Davis has not practiced yet due to a hamstring injury, so Mauga and Bellore are doing a nice job taking advantage of the extra reps . . .
Davis isn’t speaking to the media. Cro and Robert Griffin refused to talk today as well . . .
Maybin is working as a gunner on special teams, but on one play, he could not get off a block by the feisty Ellis Lankster.
This might not be a great role for Maybin. He’s not great at shedding blocks, and that is a huge part of this job . . .
Josh Baker had a diving catch over the middle. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, this guy another Aaron Hernandez (New England TE). He’s got great range, soft hands, and is very tough.
As you know buy now, he broke his nose yesterday, had it set back in place by a doctor, and went back on the field . . .
July 30, 2012
(Premium will return by Tuesday at 9:30 pm.)
