Jenkins: ‘I Don’t Just Play Football for the Check’
In his first TV appearance as a member of the Jets, Kris Jenkins was…well, himself.
In an interview with SNY’s Steve Overmyer the veteran defensive lineman who was traded to the Jets for some draft picks earlier in the year seemed very intent and focused on the NFL game. As you may know, Jenkins played on a 4-3 defense when he was with the Panthers, and as he says, he will be able to make a smooth adjustment.
“A 3-4 nose has a different type of patience than a 4-3 tackle. In a 4-3, you can just take off and go upfield. In a 3-4, you have to be a little bit more patient,” he said. “But one of the things that I’ve kind of made a name for myself on is not moving, so I think that’s going to stay pretty consistent in a 3-4 as well.”
Beyond the individual talent he possesses and has possessed over the course of his career. It’s the team-first attitude that Eric Mangini sees in him that will make Jenkins a fit for this team. Even teams that Jenkins faced, like Tampa Bay head coach John Gruden, see the talent there and is glad that he won’t have to see it twice a year anymore.
“I did some celebrating driving down Dale Mabry [Highway],” Gruden said to a few scribes at the owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. “I gave Eric Mangini the biggest hug I’ve ever given a coach and told him, ‘Thank you. Good God, do we appreciate you taking that guy out of our division.’”
Now, I’m not sure Jenkins had that kind of effect on the Bucs last year. I mean he is getting older, but I think Gruden wanted to send a message that was clearly put: This guy has given people hard times during his career. Another good thing to go along with his team-first approach is the selfless attitude Jenkins shows about the game.
“I don’t just play football for the check, I don’t play football just to get the notoriety and sit on TV with you while you’re in your cushion. I play it because I love the game — I just love the game. If I had to play for free, I would play for free.”
I’m just glad he’s on the Jets now. Aren’t you?
16 Responses to Jenkins: ‘I Don’t Just Play Football for the Check’
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mike G says:
Did anyone watch this interview? He began every sentence with.. To be honest with you, it was hysterical.
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Thurdeye says:
To be honest with you, when someone says they would play for free, it lowers my opinion of them just a little.
No you wouldn’t. Stop lying to sound respectable.
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GregNJ says:
Kris Jenkins is ready and waiting to get his first crack at showing not only the JETS, but the rest of the AFC east what their going to have to contend with the whole year. My God I hope this guy brings great success to our D-line because to be quite honest I think right now if the season started today we would be sitting pretty in the top 10 in most defensive categories… I’m being optimistic about this season, but why not. Kris Jenkins will be a HUGE FORCE to be reckoned with and he feels reborn being in NY. Usually when I new player gets a fresh start somewhere else that means he is more focused and more motiviated to show everybody he’s still got it.
PLAYOFFS… let’s jsut hope offensivly we make the right moves cause defensivly we are on the right track.
Just my thoughts…
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Rocky says:
Im really happy we took him over Shaun Rogers, I watched the interview and he seems really grounded and mature, he probably just wasn’t happy at Carolina
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Mehl56 says:
This move finally feels like we are starting to get the right parts in place for this defense as opposed to the last couple of years! now- if we can only get another pass rusher in the first or second round this year!
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57jetsblitz says:
I saw this interview also. Likeable guy and I think he’s a football first guy, based on his word. Actions of course speak louder. He sounds like he know his assignments and knows it’s far from the glory postion on this D. Sounded like a team guy. Oh and I trust Tangini when it comes to questions of character.
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Liam says:
A poster made this point the other day and I’m going to have to piggy back- why is Mack Rosenberg a featured poster? His stuff is consistently weak.
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greepills says:
To be honest with you…i dont care about his personality…i want him to stuff the middle….to all you fantasy football players out there….draft JETS Defenese/Special Teams, we are gonna be SICK!!!!
Justin and Leon are a threat to take it to the house everytime……and David Harris and the boys will mucking people up!!!
I cant wait for the season to start!!!! Just sent in my season ticket money…lets get a huge tailgate planned for opening day!!!
This is an open invite to all TJB’ers….feel free to stop by 18C for some good beer (meaning Becks, Stella, and Grolsch) and even better food…just look for the Grand Cherokee and throwback jersey’s….
I cant wait for the season….i mean dont get me wrong, i love baseball…..but I would watch footabll for freee!!! LOL!!!!!
GO JETS!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yeah, he said the right things. Ok. But let’s check back when he’s consistently getting double teams and has to sacrifice himself week in and week out so Harris and Pace make all the plays and get all the attention.
Hey, look. I hope he’s speaking truth. i really do. But I’m just a little more wait and see right now.
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SackDance99 says:
P-Cat, and a guy who was both all-pro (2 times) and a pro-bowler (3) at Carolina wasn’t being double-teamed? Even in a 4-3, there’s still 5 offensive lineman, so there’s always a free OL to double and a good strong-side DT gets regularly doubled and/or blocked by a FB. Growing up, I don’t ever remember, whatever the defense, Joe Klecko not being doubled. That’s just the consequence of being good. The only difference I can see, and he mentioned, is that he has to protect his backside, so he can’t flow too fast or he’ll have the runner cut back behind him. Given his technique (he’s not a gap shooter and swimmer like D-Rob, he has more of a rip technique and bull rush, in other words, he engages the OL and moves him out of the way) and David Harris behind him, I’m not too worried. There’s reason to be optimistic.
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billvv says:
He got his respect in his paycheck! He won’t be playing for free, but he knows what he’s in for and I think he can’t wait, just like us!
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subwayfare says:
I like that he said, “one of the things that I’ve kind of made a name for myself on is not moving.” If he lives up to his own standard in that regard he’ll upgrade the defense significantly.
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Neil Herschkowitz says:
How difficult is the transition to Nose Tackle? Is it something that takes a season to happen…or just a preseason? He is so much bigger then D-ROB …seems like he just is a physical force that will require 2 people to block him.
If Harris played as well as he did last season, he should with Jenkins play like an all pro this season. Am I being overly optomistic here…or can this guy get it done at nose?
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zfreeze says:
Speaking as a Carolina Fan. The most sincere form of flattery I can give the Jets is the fact that I hate that Fox traded Jinx away. The guy has been one of those DTs that any team would love the luxury of having. A DT that the isn’t just a run stuffer but a guy who plays all out, and is a theat to run down the QB on virtually any play.
That being said, I would like to side w/ P-Cat on this one, because it’s a logical arguement. But Jinx isn’t a logical guy. Even when he started to hate the Panther’s organization he still played with his usual trademark nastiness and usually got his dose of tackles and sacks.
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Jimmy the Nose says:
Coming from a Panthers fan, Jets nation can expect a lot of this from Jenkins this year. The Panthers media loved the guy because he would say whatever he wanted to.
Jenks went on the record and called out the Panthers last year a few games after Delhomme was out for the season and the wheels were starting to fall off. The very next game he backed up his smack talk with a few costly off side penalties. It was the Tampa game when Cadillac tore his patella tendon. You can check the file if you don’t believe me.
Jenks is a good player but he took it real personal when the Panthers made it public they were trying to trade him before last years draft. He doesn’t deal with rejection very well and has severe character flaws. He’s also an alcoholic. Not to mention the Panthers decided to keep former first round “bust” Damione Lewis over the former all-pro. Lewis has resurrected his career in the Carolinas.
He’s not the big #77 of a couple seasons ago but you guys should be able to get 2-3 decent years out of him pending of course he keeps his nose clean off the field and his sketchy injury history does not start back up.
Good luck guys. Jenkins was a good panther for his time in Charlotte but it was obvious a change was needed on both sides.
YES. The Jets site has the video and the man looks trim, if that can be said of someone weighing 350. Steve Overmeyer looked tiny even sitting on a cushion!