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Cleveland – Bigger question I have about Nick Bawden than him getting temporarily cut to make room for Aaron Rodgers who isn’t going to play – Why doesn’t Nathaniel Hackett ever use him in the passing game? He’s a very good receiving fullback . . .
Why did the Jets bring back Bawden after the public backlash?
Maybe this has something to do with it?
“Some may be influenced by fans and pundits a little more than I’m used to,” Rodgers said on ESPN a few weeks ago.
The Jets got trashed for this move, saying Rodgers was taking Bawden’s job for no reason, since he’s not going to play.
However, a couple of things to keep in mind. Bawden was injured dealing with a knee injury, and the fullback also was guaranteed his full salary already as a vested veteran. When you play three accredited seasons in the NFL, once you are on the roster for Week 1, you get all your money for the season, so Bawden was getting that no matter what.
And they were going to bring the player back.
Guys get cut and return all the time. For goodness sake, the New England Patriots starting QB, Bailey Zappe, was cut this summer and brought back
We can’t 100 percent prove the Jets reacted to the public outrage on the Bawden release, or starting Zach Wilson after it was reported he didn’t want to start anymore, but Rodgers said what he said for a reason.
Moving forward, the Jets need to block out the white noise.
That is very important from a football cultural standpoint . . .
Some people say the reason why Joe Flacco is doing better with the Browns than during his five starts with the Jets is much better offensive line play in Cleveland.
But keep in mind that the Browns are starting their third-string right tackle, and backup left tackle, due to injuries.
The Browns’ offensive line coach Bill Callahan, a former Jets assistant, is perhaps the best line coach in the NFL.
He’s done a pretty amazing job this year with a patchwork group.
This isn’t meant to be a shot at Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter, who has a good reputation, but clearly the Browns have overcome their offensive line injuries better than the Jets. Once again, this isn’t an attack of Carter, but it is what it is . . .
Many people think the Jets have no chance in this game, but in reality, this shouldn’t be the case.
When you have edge-rushers like the Jets, and you are facing a team with their third-string right tackle, and backup left tackle, and the opposing QB is a 38-year-old, and not particularly mobile, why wouldn’t you have a chance?
And while people are putting Flacco in Canton for his four starts in Cleveland, he has thrown 7 picks, and now he’s facing a secondary featuring Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed.
Also keep in mind, that the Browns barely beat the Chicago Bears a couple of weeks ago, 20-17, in a game Flacco threw three picks.
No excuses, if the Jets are prepared properly and well-coached in this game, they honestly have a chance.
But how will they do in the chess match against Kevin Stefanski, Jim Schwartz, Callahan and company?
Stay-tuned.
This game could come down to coaching.
December 27, 2023
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