#Links:

• Otis on Twitter – @osmittyiii

#TimeStamps:

1:34 – Erik asked Otis if Bill Parcells had anything to do with his second stint with the Jets.   What was it like playing for Parcells?

2:54 – Otis explained his discipline on how he approached the game and why he played 14 years in the NFL.

3:55 – Erik wanted to know which players Otis took under his wing and what his style to help his teammates.

5:02 – Erik brought up the struggles Otis had in New York, and asked what advice would he give to a player who comes under scrutiny, like Geno Smith.

8:20 – 180 games played, what’s the name of the game for longevity?

10:44 – EVERYONE is a young guy in the NFL according to Otis, and they think like young kids.

12:03 – Otis doesn’t buy into the fact that Geno didn’t have talent as the reason for his poor play.  There is talent everyone and he explained it with questioning Erik on the Patriots and their WRs and their championships.

14:40 – What was Otis’ best play in the NFL?  It’s not what you think.

15:35 – Otis talks about the toughest guys he played against and covered.

16:35 – Life after Football and coaching.

#Listen

#Watch

#Links:

• Google Search on Johnny Mitchell
• YouTube Video

#TimeStamps:

0:40 – I got to attend training camp for the first time as an official “media” member and I use that term loosely, because hey, I’m a blogger.

1:15 – While I was standing on the sideline with the rest of the media, a former Jets athlete starting talking to Rich Cimini and it took me a while to figure out who it was, but I eventually identified former first rounder in 92′ TE Johnny Mitchell.

3:54 - I finally get to talk about my thoughts on Sheldon Richardson and the news that broke on Friday.

7:21 – Todd Bowles presser talking about Devin Smith Injury and the first day of pads.

8:08 – Pass rush drills – Jace Amaro gets a little fresh at the end and riles up the crowd.

8:47 – Eric Decker is a family man walking with his wife, baby girl and sister and law after practice.

8:51 - Yup, that’s my son dunking the Miami Dolphins’ fan at Miami Mike’s in East Hanover at the Jets Fan Media BBQ Tailgate after practice.

 

 

#Listen

#Links:

• Adrian on Twitter – @adrianmurrell29
• The official web site:  AdrianMurell.com

#TimeStamps:

1:10 – Love what Adrian has been doing on twitter, we discuss why the recent appearance.  This question was asked by long time Jets Twit Follower Big Ed:

 

@e_man is kinda like to know why he came out of the woodwork all of a sudden! What spurred him to get involved again?

— Big Ed (@jetspop5) July 31, 2015

2:01 – Who does Adrian interact with on twitter and who does he still keep in touch with from his playing days with the Jets?

3:05 – Going into his junior year, Adrian was thinking about leaving West Virginia if he wasn’t getting the opportunity.  Coach Nealon regretted not red shirting him.

4:15 – Adrian talks about the process of being drafted.

5:14 – Adrian addressed the early years when he first started with the Jets.  He was behind a number of backs, suffered a set back, and gave this advice about opportunity.

7:00 – How difficult was it to have a rotating head coaching carousal.  Adrian talks about what coach had his back and had the most influence on his career.

10:40 – If Adrian was a running back today, how would he fair?

13:19 – Opinion of Today’s Jets, Is he a Jets fan?  What veteran player’s  son was memorized by Adrian, but Murrell was trying to tell this youngster that his Father was a big deal.

14:50 – Sheldon Richardson’s Troubles

22:20 – Will Adrian be up for games in 2015?  Will he be making an appearance at #L7?

23:19 – Fireman Ed and the Jets Chant

 

 

 

 

#Listen

I helped design a shirt for our good friends at TurnOnTheJets.com for the upcoming season.   My company Stoney Creek Creative was asked to design a killer shirt that would be the talk of the season.   With the rumblings of the Jets having one of the best defensive lines in football, the only choice was to involve that super 4 in a shirt called “Sack Exchange 2.0″

It took us 8 designs, but we finally nailed it!

“I haven’t made a decision on that one yet,” he said Monday in a phone interview. “I probably will in about a week. I’ll get a better feel as camp goes on.”

Better feel as camp goes on?  I guess Todd wants to see the chemistry in the first few days and to see if the team is gelling or if they need to have an inside man to make sure things stay in line.  It’s common that veteran leadership wear the patch.  You want someone in there that the players respect.

Personally, I think Bowles knows what he is going to do, but isn’t ready to tell the media.  My opinion is it’s going to happen, and who do I think is worthy?   Mangold, Revis, Wilkerson and Harris.   Of course Fegurson is deserving as is Davis, in my opinion, but what happens if Bowles makes a player a captain motivate him to play above his past ability.  Geno Smith anyone?  The Jets did it with Mark Sanchez, and I’m positive no one thought he was a lock to get the C.

Remember when Rex Ryan made Santonio Holmes a captain.  Not only was he not worthy of it, he was the reason that it wasn’t used again under the Rex Jets regime.  I wonder what Ryan will do in Buffalo, but hey, that’s not our problem anymore.   Let him name game captains depending on the situation of the opponents, and let the Jets adopt what most EVERY team does in the league, they name a captain for the year.

Is Roger Goodell Really Worth So Much Money?

Original posted on SI.com on 7/16/2015

Some think Roger Goodell has a nice comfortable job given the NFL’s prosperity. In January, it was reported that he had made about $300 million over the previous seven years as commissioner. Remember, he works for the team owners, who dictate his salary and grade his performance. They obviously think he’s doing a great job, because he’s lining their pockets with some serious dough. But with the recent scandals, reports of growing anger amongst players, and the close relationship he has with Robert Kraft, is Goodell really worth so much money?

Goodell isn’t afraid to introduce and try new things, whether it’s protecting the players on the field, reducing the contact they can have at practices during the season, or moving games out of the United States to promote the brand. Despite his good intentions, however, Goddell has come under scrutiny. The booing he received at the NFL draft would lead you to believe that people are ready for a new commissioner. In the court of public opinion, Goodell should have been fired years ago.

Despite being on a mission to “protect the shield,” Goodell has taken shots based on how he handled recent major controversies under his watch. The NFL has made some major headlines for the wrong reasons, such as Spygate, the 2011 lockout, Bountygate, the 2012 referee lockout, brain damage, the Ray Rice domestic violence incident, the Adrian Peterson child abuse charges and Deflategate, just to name a few.

Yes, the NFL is the most popular sport in the United Sates and has a massive following worldwide. Would the NFL continue to have this level of success with a new commissioner at the helm? We might not know for quite some time. As long as Goodell increases the NFL’s popularity, continues to line the pockets of the team owners, he will remain the guy in charge despite the negative opinions of players and fans.

There is SO much reaction across twitter when the news broke, and there were many fans like me, who were going off on Sheldon for being selfish.  I had some other people tweet me saying I was being harsh because it wasn’t like he killed someone (God forbid), but it was really “no big deal”.  I saw tweets saying that if any one is complaining they were being labeled as being too moral.

I had someone tell me that pot is just a “plant” and to “relax”.   I guess people have forgotten the fact that 1.  it’s a banned substance in the NFL regardless if it is legal in parts of the US.   You get caught with it in your system, you pay the price.  Done.   2.  It IS IN FACT a Drug.   It’s not just a plant.   You get high on this said plant.   I can’t believe I had an argument with someone for more than 5 tweets.  I’ll never get those minutes back.

Someone brought up a statistic that over 60% of NFL players smoke pot.  Um.  So.   I don’t want my players to do it let alone get caught.   Many were ok with him lighting up but said he just got caught and that’s why they were upset.  Look, I’m not perfect, but remember what they teach you in school:  “Say no to drugs”.   It messes with your brain.  I know you are going to tell me that so does alcohol, but last I checked it’s not a banned substance and with anything in this world, with moderation, it’s ok.

Let me now address my big problem with today’s news:

1. Sheldon is one of the up and coming stars in the NFL.   Well it didn’t take him long as we won ROY.  He’s one of the best players on the Jets, and I’m sure that many of the young players (he’s young himself) look up to the fact that he’s a force to be reckoned with on the field.   He let his teammates down period.  Our line is one of the best in the league, and I’m sure we’ll “be ok” like many people say, but that’s not the point.
2. We are now forced to start the rookie, Leonard Williams.   I don’t think that any pressure will be put on him as, in my opinion and many others, we stole him with our pick in the draft as he’s the best player in the NFL.   He’ll perform, and he’ll be fine.
3. If Sheldon’s offense were his first ever, I would be disappointed but I probably wouldn’t be this upset. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still be upset, but not flipping angry like I am now.
4. Let’s tally up his recent behavior:   He’s been busted for substance abuse before, this is his second offense in his short career.  He skipped some voluntary OTAs but then freaked out on twitter when fans were tweeting that he should have been there with his teammates.  He’s been vocal with Mo’s contract saying that he deserves Suh money, well Sheldon, you definitely swung the momentum to Mo with his contract.
5. Sheldon does come close to the line with arrogance.  I think that maybe he let things get to his head, that maybe he was untouchable.  Think about it.   He knows he’s good and is not shy telling anyone about it.  He said he was the best player in the NFL Top 100 countdown on NFLN.   I know this is minor, and some will say I’m looking for problems now, but, his twitter handle is @godforshort.  That is a high opinion of ones’ self.  I’ll wait for someone on twitter to call me out about that last point.

So as what usually happens, the player goes online and tweets he’s sorry, and that he’ll support his teammates, and that he’ll never do it again.   Then the coach and organization say they are disappointed and that they’ll welcome him back etc etc etc.

The script played out exactly as it always does, but now we wait.   Will he come back and will it be business as usual (under the Rex era I would say yes), but there are new sheriffs in town with Maccagnan and Bowles.  I say he must prove and earn his way back on the roster.  I know, many of you will say that I’m nuts because this was no big deal and that his talent should override his behavior, but I say no.  I’m sick of certain players putting themselves before the team.  It’s few and far between, but once is too many for me.   Don’t get me started on Holmes.

I’m sick of players messing up knowing that they’ll get slapped on the wrist and they’ll go back to business as usual.  The fact is, Sheldon put the Jets in the news today and it was utterly embarrassing, disappointing and selfish.  I truly hate this time of year when the players have six weeks to themselves.   This is the time when players get in trouble.  Oh, Sheldon was one of four players to get nabbed today.

So do I wish Sheldon to be traded?  No.   Will I look at him differently now?  Yes.   I’ll always will be waiting for that next thing and boy do I hope Sheldon proves me and all the Jets fans wrong.