As everyone knows by now, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension related to the air pressure of footballs.
This might help the Jets in their AFC East race if the Patriots struggle during his absence.
However, could Brady’s acceptance of his sentence for Deflategate also help assuage the recent tensions between the black community and the police?
Former NFL players Chris Canty and Jamie Dukes think it could help, and said as much on the NFL Network recently.
These statements were made after the Second Circuit Court declined Brady’s request for an appeal, and before the quarterback announced he wouldn’t pursue more legal action.
“I think he’s just got to understand the landscape of where we are as a country, and where the game is at, and the importance of it and what it means to people,” said Canty, a former NFL defensive lineman. “We’re trying to bring people together, we’re trying to heal as a country, and this game goes a long way in being able to do that. I think Tom Brady needs to go ahead and take the suspension on the chin.”
“I believe, personally, he didn’t do anything wrong,” Dukes added, “but beyond that, this to me is much bigger than that. There’s some serious stuff that’s going on right now in this country. To me, it would appear very self-serving for you to put something like this ahead of what is going on.”
When former Patriots QB Scott Zolak, now a host on 98.5 FM in Boston, heard these comments, he went ballistic on the air.
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” Zolak screamed. “Are you kidding me? What are you on Fox News? What are you on MSNBC? Are you kidding me? We’re talking about a legality between a CBA of the owners and the NFL players. And you want Tom Brady to take a suspension because this country’s crazy, man, some crazy things going on?
Denne historien er fra September 2016-utgaven av NY Jets Confidential.
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Denne historien er fra September 2016-utgaven av NY Jets Confidential.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FIRST DOWN- A lot of potential, but a lot to learn
There is a lyric in an old song by the rock group Chicago that sums up where Zach Wilson is right now:
IN HIS OWN WORDS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JEFF ULBRICH - Ulbrich breaks down Jets' defensive personnel
(Marcus Maye) can do it all. I would feel comfortable with him (at free or strong safety). He’s a guy that, to me, he can play deep, he can play the half field, he can play the middle third, he can do that and you feel comfortable with it. I think he’s got range, speed and athleticism. I think he’s got ball skills and instincts to be a deep safety. But I think he’s got enough size and girth and want-to and courage to play in the box. It’ll be fun to utilize all the things that he does. He can cover tight ends; he can cover some of the wide receivers in this league.
Dan's Minicamp Diary
Becton bombarded with weighty questions
Saleh calls Wilson ‘relentless' as a worker
QUESTION SESSION WITH QB ZACH WILSON
Jets hope initiatives will increase winning edge
Aside from adding as many good players as possible to help the Jets improve, coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are trying to turn over every stone to find extra ways to give their team a winning edge, and two examples of this were announced over the course of the offseason, with the additions of a game management coach (Matt Burke) and the installation of an Athletic Care and Performance Department. Let’s take a closer look at these two moves and how they might help the Jets:
Dan's Spring Camp Diary
This time of year for learning, experimenting, not stats
AUDIBLES-Saleh doesn't cave on offseason work
Tom Brady might be wrong about this one.
SAFETIES
Justin Simmons, Broncos 6-2 • 202 pounds • 27 years old
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Trent Williams, 49ers 6-5 • 320 pounds • 32 years old
LINEBACKERS
Lavonte David, Buccaneers 6-0 • 226 pounds • 26 years old
