The open of the Jets season is just some days away, and we are going to lastly have some precise soccer to dissect. Till then, we’re nonetheless speaking about off-field tales surrounding the group.
The true preparation for the 49ers begins with Thursday’s observe, when the group actually shifts into regular-season mode. With that shift upon us, I believed it might be a superb time to have a look at just a few of the large tales across the group this week.
1. The most important story for the time being is the holdout of go rusher Haason Reddick. I’ve been requested loads how I believe this may finish, and I actually don’t know. I’ll say it doesn’t really feel like it’s ending in time for Reddick to play Monday evening. For him to play, I believe he must be at observe Thursday, and that isn’t taking place until he immediately has a change of coronary heart.
It looks like each side are actually dug in. The Jets refuse to barter till Reddick reveals up, and Reddick refuses to point out up till he will get a brand new contract. Somebody goes to must blink.
In the meanwhile, I don’t assume Reddick has a lot leverage. His absence is not going to wreck the protection — they nonetheless have loads of good gamers. Now, in the event that they fail to get strain on Brock Purdy and the QB has a monster recreation, Reddick immediately will get momentum come Tuesday morning. The coaches and entrance workplace might be stressed, and possibly Reddick can get the Jets to the negotiating desk.
Reddick has proven a willingness to rack up fines to the tune of greater than $2 million in coaching camp. Now, he might be lacking recreation checks, which might be about $800,000 per week. That’s going so as to add up shortly. How lengthy can he abdomen that?
That is an attention-grabbing mess the Jets discover themselves in. I believe their protection is ok with out Reddick … for now. But when they’ll get to the place they’re gunning for — enjoying playoff video games in January and into February, they’ll want Reddick. Image the Jets enjoying at Arrowhead Stadium in January with Reddick and with out. Which one seems a complete lot higher?
2. The Jets gave nickel cornerback Michael Carter II a three-year, $30.75 million contract extension Tuesday. You received’t discover anybody across the group who just isn’t glad for Carter. He has been probably the most dependable gamers on the protection in his three years with the group and probably the most well-liked gamers within the locker room.
That is the primary Joe Douglas draft decide to get a multi-year extension from the Jets. You may make an argument he’s the perfect Douglas draft decide. Douglas hit residence runs along with his 2022 draft class, however that was with 4 excessive draft picks. Carter was a fifth-round choice out of Duke. He’s the form of third-day gem the Jets have failed to search out lately.
It’s straightforward to miss Carter on the star-studded protection, however this contract reveals how a lot the group appreciates him.
3. Talking of cornerback contracts, the Broncos handed Pat Surtain a four-year, $96 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback within the NFL. Sauce Gardner will be the subsequent in line for that title. Gardner is eligible for an extension after this season, his third. He certainly might be seeking to be the top-paid cornerback, and Surtain’s $24 million per 12 months wage is now the baseline for the Gardner contract talks. The Jets can be sensible to lock up Gardner as quickly as they will earlier than the worth goes up once more. Barring a dramatic regression this season, Gardner has confirmed he’s certainly one of, if not, the perfect cornerbacks in soccer.
4. The Jets introduced their captains Tuesday. The one who caught my consideration was Quinnen Williams. The choice by his teammates reveals Williams is coming into his personal as a pacesetter. Williams has led by instance for years however has been quieter within the locker room. Final season, you would see Williams taking a extra vocal position and that’s persevering with. He units the tone for the protection, and his teammates acknowledged that with this honor.
