Justin Hardee is used to creating huge tackles for the Jets, however he is nonetheless making an attempt to get a deal with on the NFL hitting him and his friends the place it hurts.
The NFL has adopted a brand new rule that may permit the ball to be positioned on the 25-yard line if the receiving workforce makes a good catch on a kickoff contained in the 25 moderately than choosing a return.
NFL house owners handed the rule in Could beneath the premise of accelerating security by lowering full-speed collisions within the open subject, however Hardee stated he believes it might truly restrict its worth to groups by lowering the significance of its kickoff protection skill.
“I kind of take it as a slap within the face, taking off — or making an attempt on — a chunk,” Hardee stated. “That is how guys feed their households. That is how I feed my household. It is a possibility they take away from us.
Hardee would not be within the NFL with out his particular groups skill.
He performed one defensive snap at cornerback, in comparison with 765 particular groups snaps throughout his two seasons with the Jets.
The upward trajectory of his six-year NFL profession was rewarded final season when he was voted Professional Bowler because the AFC’s solely non-kicking specialist.
The Jets co-captain stated he and different particular league groups tried to rearrange a bunch assembly “to go in opposition to it, however by then it was too late.”
The NFL says knowledge suggests the kickoff return price will drop from 38% to 31% and the concussion price will drop 15% by adopting the rule, which school soccer has used since 2018.
“I’ve to kiss her,” Hardee stated. “I do not essentially agree with that, however that is the best way it’s. I’ve to discover a approach to make extra video games.
The diamonds are endlessly, and so is the bromance between Sauce Gardner and Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets cornerback advised reporters Friday that he gave Rodgers a “shock” reward.
Seems it was a inexperienced and white #8 collar.
Gardner bequeathed the reward to Rodgers on Saturday, with the Jets’ social media workforce capturing the commerce.
“So that you’re my jeweler’s favourite quarterback,” Gardner advised Rodgers. “You realize what I imply, Al the Jeweller. So he needed to concoct one thing particular for you. He introduced me the concept; I stated I believed it might be a good suggestion.
Gardner himself put the chain across the neck of the brand new Jets quarterback as Rodgers smiled along with his arms folded.
The celebrity quarterback went out in town with Gardner within the months main as much as camp, with the 2 being scouted in a Knicks playoff recreation.
Throughout organized workforce actions, they even supplied a secret handshake, which mimicked them smoking marijuana.
With coaching camp underway, they lastly face off in practices.
“I feel he will prefer it,” Gardner stated of the reward. “It is most likely not his fashion all the best way, however I really feel like it will be good since he is in New York now.”
It is easy to joke that the Jets acquired former Seahawks defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods as a free agent, however that is not removed from the reality.
Woods first toured the Jets amenities, however he did not signal till after Jefferson.
“We dwell in the identical residence advanced,” Woods stated. “Our wives are greatest pals. This is without doubt one of the most important causes I got here right here. We talked all through the free company course of about what it was like. When he signed right here, it was like, ‘Okay, if we will do it, I will come over there.’ ”
The Jets positioned OT Duane Brown on the bodily unable to carry out listing.
He missed the primary two practices for “private causes”, in response to head coach Robert Saleh, earlier than showing out of uniform on the touchline on Saturday.
Brown underwent shoulder surgical procedure within the offseason after enjoying final season with a torn rotator cuff. RB Breece Corridor, TE CJ Uzomah and WR Randall Cobb are additionally on the PUP listing.
With so many gamers returning to protection, the Jets may script fewer exercises than up to now if Saleh needed to depend on muscle reminiscence. He doesn’t do.
“Proper or incorrect, my philosophy is that you simply at all times return to the very starting,” Saleh stated. “Now for protection, speed up sooner so you’ll be able to add and evolve and check out new issues as you go to see if you wish to evolve the sample, however you at all times need to begin firstly.
“All of us discovered algebra again then. After leaving college and coming again after solely three months, you neglect every little thing, do not you? It is the identical precept: by no means neglect the important.
— with Ethan Sears
