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Morris County – It’s time for a heaping helping of Jets Whispers with all the trimmings. Let’s get this meal started . . .
Former Jets outside linebacker Trevor Reilly is on the New England Patriots’ practice squad. Surely he’s been a big help to Patriots coaches this week in their preparation. Not only does he know the inner workings of the Jets’ defensive playbook, but he was a scout team outside linebacker against the Jets offense all last year.
He came in handy this week up in Foxboro . . .
The Jets have two former Patriots on their roster, defensive lineman Anthony Johnson and cornerback Darryl Roberts, so their brains were picked as well . . .
The Jets have pulled the plug on Jalin Marshall as a punt returner. They have seen enough. They brought back Jeremy Ross, who probably should have been doing it all year.
Marshall is very inconsistent catching punts. Even today in practice, he had one muff and double-caught a punt.
Maybe he needs glasses. I’m not being flippant. He’s having tracking problems.
I’m surprised at how long they went with Marshall. You can be the most electrifying open-field runner imaginable, but that doesn’t matter if you can’t consistently catch the ball cleanly.
Ross is a consistent catcher.
Marshall is probably a little relieved to take a respite from punt returning. Now he can focus on receiving, an area he’s done a nice job this year. It’s probably reached the point that he’s nervous has heck every time he goes back to catch punt. He’s just not a confident punt catcher right now . . .
Being around the Jets’ scene the last few days, I just get the feeling the biggest reason Bryce Petty isn’t starting against New England is how he played against Los Angeles.
He’s just not ready, and playing him now, especially against the Patriots, could do more damage than actually help his maturation process.
So the Jets are taking a “time out” on playing Petty.
They aren’t giving up on him, just don’t want to throw him to the wolves now. His second half performance against the Rams wasn’t NFL quality. He was missing gimme throws and struggling reading the defense.
Baylor didn’t play an NFL system. Not even close. Petty needs a lot more work before he’s ready for prime time . . .
There was a column yesterday in a tabloid accusing Todd Bowles of “betraying” Jets fans by starting Ryan Fitzpatrick over Petty.
What’s up with that?
I’d say it’s low hanging-fruit.
So many fans are crying that Petty isn’t playing, so why not pander to them to get clicks or sell papers?
But the concept that the Jets are “betraying” their fans by playing the QB who they think gives them the best chance to beat the Patriots is a concept I don’t understand.
And you know what, maybe this is a seminal moment in Jets history. Maybe they have finally realized you don’t govern by public opinion polls when running a football team.
Moves like Tim Tebow, Brett Favre, Percy Harvin and giving Darrelle Revis $39 million guaranteed. Enough already.
Hire football people and let them do their thing. Ignore the white noise.
If their plan doesn’t work, you fire them and bring in new management. But owners, coaches and GM’s who govern by public opinion polls are doomed to fail.
As one long-time NFL coach once said, “If you let the fans dictate your choices you end up sitting with them.”
November 23, 2016
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