A look at what’s going on around the New York Jets:
1st race! Crisis management is a huge part of the job of any NFL head coach, especially the NYJ HC. Bad things often happen to the jets for some reason. If that Carl Lawson Injury news broke on Thursday, an ex-jet wrote to me: “Maybe that? [Joe] Namath curse s — is real. Geezzz. “
Welcome to New York, Trainer Robert Saleh.
Lawson’s Achilles injury at the end of the season is the first major downer on Saleh’s watch. He knew something bad was coming because it always comes in the NFL. Now we are going to start getting to know the character of this Jets team. When Saleh spoke about finding out the team’s identity in June, he said he wouldn’t know the answer until it had to deal with adversity.
Well, they just lost their best pass rusher. Now it is up to Saleh to maintain morale, adjust staff, and tweak the plan to make up for Lawson’s absence.
“I’ve said it before: The NFL train doesn’t stop for anyone,” Saleh said on Saturday night after one Win 23-14 against that Green Bay Packer. “If someone falls off the train … it’s another opportunity for someone to jump on the train – and they got it.”
Saleh has gone this way before.
As the San Francisco 49ers‘Defensive coordinator in 2020 he lost the top pass rusher Nick Bosa to a cracked ACL in Week 2 (against the Jets) and a few other starters later in the season, however, still made it to 17th. He’s not a big fan of lightning, but has deviated from his philosophy by increasing the lightning rate to keep the pressure going. Make sure he repeats this plan without Lawson. Saleh’s ability to overcome last year’s injury plague is one of the things that attracted the Jets.
Saleh, feeling terrible for Lawson, says, “You couldn’t ask for a more perfect money-free agent … even though he was paid, he still wanted more.”
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2. Lots of money, not a bang: Check out the Jets’ last three major defense signings:
Lawson (2021): Three years, $ 45 million ($ 30 million guaranteed). Misses his first season.
CJ Mosley (2019): Five years, $ 87.5 million ($ 43 million guaranteed). Only play two games in two seasons.
Trumaine Johnson (2018): Five years, $ 72.5 million ($ 34 million guaranteed). Only 17 games in two seasons before launch.
Never in the history of jets has so much been spent for so little money.
3. Adams fallout: safety Marcus Maye congratulated former teammate Jamal Adams on his four-year contract renewal for $ 70 million with the Seattle SeahawksIn his Instagram story he says, “I love it for you, buddy!”
All security guards will love it because it raises the financial bar – and that will affect the Jets’ ability to sign Maye on a long-term contract after the season.
Adams’ annual average ($ 17.5 million) is well above that Denver Broncos‘ Justin Simmons ($ 15.25 million) for top positions in the position so now the next set of collateral for new business will try to capitalize. Aside from Maye, there are those Kansas City Chiefs‘ Tyrant Mathieu and the Cincinnati Bengal‘ Jessie Bates III.
“Basically, [Adams] sets a new standard for a franchisee’s expectations for the position, “said Over the Cap contract expert Jason Fitzgerald.
Maye, unable to close a deal with the Jets before the July 15 deadline, is playing on Franchise Day – $ 10.6 million. If he has another good season, chances are he could be re-awarded for $ 12.7 million (120% of his current salary). I have my doubts about a long-term agreement. If the Jets were reluctant this year, why change their minds next year when he’s 29 and his asking price is higher?
Back-to-back tags would be a team-friendly situation (two years, $ 23.3 million) considering what Adams ($ 34.4 million) and Simmons ($ 32.1 million) earn in their first two years. Maye is not at her level as a player, but this huge financial inequality is unlikely to go well with the Maye camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if his camp takes a page from the Adams playbook and tries to make it ugly when tagged again. He didn’t rule it out a trade inquiry in his last interview on his contract.
There could be fireworks in the next off-season.
4. No doubt: By the way, Adams wanted $ 17.5 million a year from the Jets last year. He wanted to outperform Mosley ($ 17 million) as the highest paid defensive player. Kudos to Adams for getting so much from the Seahawks, but it doesn’t change my mind about the trade. It was excellent business for the Jets – still.
Left tackle Mekhi Becton, battling plantar fasciitis, missed most of the Jets’ offseason program. John Jones / Icon Sportswire
5. Becton’s slow start: Comments from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on the left tackle Mekhi Becton Raised eyebrows: “Mekhi is going through a few things right now. He’s not playing at his best.”
Here’s the story: It’s not about him being overweight or out of shape. He’s just rusty because he missed the whole spring with a foot injury. It’s a new system that requires movement for the Jets’ offensive linemen, and it controls the transition. Becton needs to find out quickly as failure to do so could endanger the quarterback’s health.
6. For your eyes only: One of the advantages of joint practices is the ability to scout out the opposing team. The staff of the jets have a good look at the Green Bay Packerlike this week with the Philadelphia Eagles Visit to the jets facility on Tuesday and Wednesday. The information they have compiled is invaluable and could be used in recruiting decisions when compiling the roster. Don’t be surprised if a player or two from those teams land on the jets – and vice versa.
Sometimes teams are paranoid about exercises together because they fear the other side will pass the exercise tape on to another team, but there was a trust factor between the jets and the packers. Saleh and trainer Matt LaFleur are BFFs. the brotherly bond between the Packers trainer and Mike LaFleur also contributed to a smooth collaboration.
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7. Sponges: Quarterback Zach Wilson spent time picking out the brains of Packer’s quarterback Aaron Rodgerswho gave tips for a two-minute drive. Mike LaFleur also had some time with Rodgers. When a future Pro Football Hall of Famer speaks, you listen.
“I wanted to give you a few things to think about in your own room,” Rodgers said. “He’s a first-time coordinator, he’s a first-responder. There are only a few things in the operation that I felt I could help with.”
Especially since the two teams are running pretty much the same offense.
8. Farewell, coach: the Death of former jet trainer Joe Walton, 85He hit an emotional nerve because he was the first coach I covered on the beat. I had dinner with Walton and his wife prior to the 1989 season (my first, his last), which formed the basis of a 2,700-word profile on Newsday. Walton was so relaxed that night, so sincere, telling stories and twisting my arm to have a shot of sambuca with him. It’s a wonderful memory.
Walton was fired after that season, but he always reminded me of that newspaper story when I called him in the years that followed. He always started the conversation the same way: “This is the most beautiful thing that anyone has ever written about me.” It was good to hear, but bittersweet because I always knew there wasn’t much beautiful writing about Walton, whose seven-year coaching career (53-57-1) was accompanied by the incessant “Joe Must Go!” Chants from the fans and tension with his own players.
“He found his niche at the end of his life,” said former Jet Marty Lyons, referring to Walton’s run at Robert Morris University from 1994 to 2013. “He went back to college and built a program. He took young men and developed them “into great leaders and was highly regarded. They named the stadium after him. I think that’s what people should focus on, more than his work with the jets. “
2:09
Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick lead the Giants to 1986 Super Bowl victory.
9. Happy birthday, tuna: Speaking of former jet trainers: Bill Parcells celebrates his 80th birthday on Sunday. He will always be remembered for his championships with that New York Giantsbut its impact on the jets was immeasurable.
10. The last word: Rodgers had some funny sayings about a couple of Jets players – former teammates Greg Van Roten and former rival of NFC North Jarrad Davis, an ex-Detroit Lions Linebacker.
About Van Roten: “I’ve had some good nicknames for him over the years. Greg Van Rotten. We have some good videos of him. Pretty much the dancer.”
About Davis: “[He] gave our boys a lot of concussions … Mr. Davis has one of the toughest minds in NFL history. “
