Peter King is back at the keyboard (welcome back!) for SI and talks about the New York Jets and the many questions surrounding this team heading into training camp.
2. Sexy Rexy and the Jets. Can Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards — both in contract years — co-exist? Is Jason Taylor washed up? Will the best non-quarterback player in football, Darrelle Revis, be happy with his contract? Can Rex Ryan keep a lid on all these high-strung personalities? Can Mark Sanchez keep peace in the huddle? Will the unceremonious dumping of Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca impact the best line in football? Can anyone here rush the passer? Can Antonio Cromartie have some discipline on Friday nights, if you know what I mean?
Interesting that I’ve asked 64 important questions and haven’t mentioned LaDainian Tomlinson, but remember this: I think Shonn Greene‘s the genuine item and will exceed 1,400 rushing yards if healthy. That leaves scraps for Tomlinson. He’s not going to like scraps. Stay tuned. Stay tuned to a lot with this team, actually.
As I know LaDainian’s personality a lot less than King seems to, so I’ll take his word. I do think it bears mentioning that the team made it clear that his role would be open ended with the Jets based on his merit, but I do perceive it as the team might have shined him on a little bit … For his part, Tomlinson has said all the right things so far and that he’s solely focused on winning a championship.
There’s going to be no team with more pressure, and it won’t even be close, than the 2010 New York Jets. I hope Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum knew what they were doing when they said yes to HBO for the Hard Knocks show because it sure seems more attention is just what they won’t need in August.
If you’ll remember, Bart Scott had voiced his opinion on the subject to the Times, and was concerned about how the cameras might affect the bonding process he holds sacred. It might turn out to be nothing, it might be everything, but I just hope the Jets know that the eyes of more than just us Jets fans are going to be on them, and not everyone will be cheering them on … offseason darlings are rarely given much leash in the national media.
I agree that they are likely to have a grumpy Tomlinson around. I think he was a very questionable acquisition.
Isn’t that pretty much what was rumored to have happened with Thomas Jones last season? The reports said that he was told his role would be reduced and that Greene would become the feature back and they were not pleased with how he responded to this.
Tomlinson was already userped by Sproles last season, so let’s hope he is realistic about his likely role on this team.
Tomlinson is saying the right things right now. He understands he has a reduced role with us. If that is how it plays out we will come to find out.
The guy is a pro. He knows this is his only shot at getting the elusive ring everyone wants. I don’t see him being a nuisance.
We all know how well this team does with pressure. As with the Mets we’ve seen talented teams fall flat on their faces before. Instead of getting my hopes up, I’m going to focus on individual players – I’ll enjoy Revis dominating opposing WRs, Sanchez (hopefully) continuing to figure things out, Schonn Greene taking up the mantle as a true heir to Curtis Martin. If they win, great, but I’ll try to keep myself in check this season if they lose games like they did last year.
Have you seen Hard Knocks? Not much controversy, and it certainly isn’t their model. One guy makes it, another doesn’t, big deal. They wouldn’t last two years if they made the team look bad. Overrated hype.