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It’s time for another helping of “The Good Stuff” from Dan. The Jets have some tough decisions to make, not just in free agency, but as far as how to handle training camp in Florham Park . . .
If everything goes well on the labor front on Thursday, the Jets have a tentative plan for the players to report to work on Friday.
But memo to fans – don’t show up in Florham Park. This isn’t training camp. This will be pre-training camp work. If the labor deal is settled in the next few days, the Jets plan on having players check int of camp on July 31, and start practice on August 1. The practice schedule for August 1 and beyond is still unclear, because the practice rules in the new CBA have not been finalized. I’m sure you have all heard by now that two-a-days might be outlawed.
Another issue the Jets brass is mulling over right now is player housing during camp.
In Cortland, all players were required to live in the dorms.
But in Florham Park, there might not be central housing.
Granted, there is a school across the street from the Jets complex with dorms (Farleigh Dickinson-Madison), but I just don’t get the sense that the road the Jets are going down, or at least not with the entire team.
Like a lot of teams do these days, they will likely go the hotel route.
There are a lot of hotels in the area of Jets camp, and a lot of big ones at that. This is likely the direction the Jets go.
But here is the kicker. It is possible, and this has not been decided yet, that Rex might let some of the veterans live at home.
This could be a slippery slope.
Remember, Rex pushed hard to go away for camp because he wanted to team-build and limit distractions. Cortland was perfect for this plan.
So to train at home, and also let veteran players live at home, is the polar opposite approach.
Even LaDainian Tomlinson, who has a wife and kids, has made it known that he thinks training in Florham Park might not be as effective as Cortland.
We can understand that decision because of the lockout.
But to let vets live at home, that takes it to another level.
Take Damien Woody for example. I know he’s not on the team right now, but he’s a good case-in-point to study regarding let players live at home.
He has six kids, and he’s a very dedicated father.
Imagine going home after a long day of camp, and having to do the father thing. That is quite a day.
Players, even the great family men often admit, it’s better to handle camp like a business trip, and not get involved in too much of one’s normal day-to-day live.
There is so much work to do – mental and physical. Training camp takes so much out of you.
Like I said, this hasn’t been decided yet.
But hey, if Rex lets the veterans live at home, he could save the owner a bunch of money in terms of hotel rooms.
If the players report Friday, Mike Tannenbaum will likely hold a Saturday press conference.
That should be real interesting. Â The Jets have 17 free agents (including Kellen Clemens, pictured above), are currently over the proposed $123 million cap ($120 plus a $3 million exemption – you can spend as much as you want on ONE player, and it will only count $3 million against the cap).
It sill be fascinating to see what Mr. T. has in his bad of tricks.