By Tom Rock
On the other side of the chopping block were a handful of players who were not only surprisingly still around, but perhaps surprised even themselves with their staying ability (if only for a few days). They had various reactions to suiting up for another practice, as well as the thinning of the herd. The Jets are down to 75 players and need to reach 53 by Saturday. For many who survived this round, the next cut will be the unkindest.
LB Andre Wadsworth, trying to mount the mother of all comebacks after six years away from football and twice that many surgeries, was able to put the cutting process into perspective. “It’s the nature of the business,” he said. “It’s not really emotional. It happens. It’s not the end of the world. If they were going off to death row, it would be a different thing.”
(A quick aside: Wadsworth has not missed a practice this training camp and said "the battle is already won." In other words, just getting this far in his comeback is more than he could have imagined.)
The idea that RB Alvin Banks is still on the team after not playing in two consecutive preseason games had his head spinning with double-negatives and contradictions. “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I don’t think I’m not surprised either,” he said of sticking around. “I was holding my breath. I’m holding my breath now until they make those cuts sometime soon. You can’t really get comfortable.”
It’s certainly not comfortable when you’re not fighting for a job and not playing in the games. His primary competition for the third RB position, Danny Ware, is the team's leading rusher in the preseason (150 yards on 38 carries).
“I don’t know what’s going through the coaches’ minds, I’m just hoping I’m here when it’s all said and done,” Banks said.
While Banks and Wadsworth are aware of their own precarious place on the roster, some refuse to think about it. Anthony Schlegel was a third-round pick at LB a year ago and could have trouble making the team this season.
“I can’t control any of that so I don’t even think about it,” he said. “Not even a thought.”
Schlegel said he thinks he’s had a good preseason, even if his reps aren’t many.
“When I’ve been given opportunities, I’m doing my job,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”
Comments (4)
The O-line was awful! Not Chad's fault! Kendal's absence will haunt them all season.
What is the prognosis for T. Jones?
T-Rock, if you had to take Coles or Cotchery in your fantasy draft, who would you take?
Last year, the Jets couldn't do anything WITH Pete Kendall.
Now that he's gone, people have transformed him into Randall McDaniel.
Sheesh.