What To Do With Wilkerson

What To Do With Wilkerson

- Craig Thomas

Now what?

Recently, the Jets left defensive lineman Mo Wilkerson home from their New Orleans trip for being late on the Friday before the game against the Saints.

The New York Post got Wilkerson’s side of the story.

“Chad Wiestling, Wilkerson’s agent, told The Post that Wilkerson was indeed late, but he followed team protocol by notifying Montelle Sanders, the team’s manager of player development, in the morning that he would be late because of a personal matter involving one of his children,” wrote Brian Costello. “Wiestling said Sanders told him that the coaches and members of the front office were told about Wilkerson’s call before the meeting. (Todd) Bowles still decided to sit Wilkerson down.”

The problem for Wilkerson is that this wasn’t his first time being late. If it had been, Bowles might have been more understanding, but there is a pattern of behavior here, and the coach decided enough was enough.

“Wilkerson was benched for most of the first quarter on Dec. 3 against the Chiefs, after being late to a team meeting, according to a source,” Costello wrote. “It marked the third straight year Wilkerson was benched a quarter for lateness. Last year, he famously missed a walk through which included a get together in a defensive meeting room to celebrate his 27th birthday with a cake.”