March 14, 2024 • 37 mins
Host Eric Allen is joined in the Audi Performance Studio by Team Reporter Ethan Greenberg and new Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor to discuss the opening of Free Agency.
3:45 - Jets Free Agency reset to date
4:35 - Former Ravens OL John Simpson and Morgan Moses fly north
11:15 - Breaking down the DT signings of Javon Kinlaw and Leki Fotu
23:20 - Tyrod Taylor joins EA to talk about why he signed with the Green and White
26:45 - Why Taylor is a big fan of Aaron Rodgers game
30:50 - Taylor's take on what makes a good quarterback in the NFL
34:08 - Virginia native talks about the influences of Allen Iverson, Michael Vick, Ronald Curry and Aaron Brooks
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the official Jets podcast, Ericalling here at One
Jets Drive joined by Ethan Greenberg. We're gonna get into
free agency right now. It is Thursday. The NFL leaguer
actually commenced on Wednesdays, so if you're listening to this
after Thursday afternoon, there could be a move or two
(00:25):
that Joe Douglas has made. With that being said, we
gotta get to some news, and later on in the podcast,
we're gonna give you a little bit of light a
window to what's been going on here at One Jets
Drive today because we want speaking to all the new Jets,
including Trod Taylor, and to Rod Taylor, I got a
(00:47):
chance to sit down with him, but let's start with
greens Ethan Greenberg in the house. Ethan, from your perspective,
what's his day like in terms of let's take people
behind the scenes. Oh sure, as far as the guys
actually coming in, they signed their contracts, and then what
happens From a content perspective, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Kind of like hurry up and wait a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Because the guys that come to the facility, they have
an itinerary and they have to whether it speak to coaches,
Joe Douglas, personnel staff, take medicals, sign contracts like there's
so much that goes on that we don't see, and
then we just we wait and then those guys come
to the studio that we're recording in right now, we
(01:30):
interview them, whether it's podcast, whether it's one on one,
whatever it is, get a little FaceTime, then get up
on out of here.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Joe Douglas has been active at all fronts since last Sunday.
He resigned two potential UFAs off the bat and Chuck
Clark and Greg Zerline agreed to terms of a couple
of his ourfas and Kenny Oboa and Jay Canson. He
went the UFA route for Tarrod Tayler, John Simpson and
Javon Kinlaw. He even to trade for Morgan Moses. Then
(02:02):
there was a reported restructuring today of linebackers CJ. Moseley.
There are also two additions to that list including Thomas
Morstead uh that happened throughout the week, and then the
big defensive tackle from Arizona as well, who you go
ahead of? Lucky FO two actually has a Jets connection
(02:25):
because he played collegiately at Utah and his defensive line
coach was so we're gonna have to talk to him
about uh lucky. But with all that being said, what
do you think about what's been done here from Joe
attacking every possible possible avenue and also with this restructuring
(02:49):
reporter restructuring CJ. Moseley and also DJ Reid's been quite
active on social media as well, so maybe there's something there.
I don't know if he's been telling us something, but
I don't think the Jets are done.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I don't think they're done either.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I think a lot of like cap analysts, like we've
talked to Brad Spielberger from PFF in the past, and
guys like him and who really take a look at
the numbers when you look at restructuring. A couple guys
had mentioned, you know, do you extend someone like DJ
Reed now to try to free up more cap space
this year? And I think that we kind of saw
that with CJ. Moseley, who this was I believe the
(03:27):
last year of his contract and he gets a two
year deal reportedly in terms of the restructure, which frees
up some more money for the Jets this year to
probably make more moves. Whether that's free agency, the draft,
whatever the case may be. But I think that Joe
Douglas has I think Jets fans were a little antsy
early in the negotiating window, which happened two days before
free agency began. But I think when you look at
(03:49):
the whole picture of what he's done, I think you
have to be happy. You bring back to your point
Zerline and Moristead, who were both essentially weapons for the Jets.
Both of those players won the Jets games in twenty
twenty three. Chuck Clark is interesting because I think that
he was such a versatile piece in Baltimore. We just
never really got to see it last year because he
(04:09):
tore his ACL. Then you add some big boys up
front in terms of Morgan Moses and John Simpson and
Javon Kin Long Lucky Fotso like the Jets right now
going into the offseason, I think a lot of people
would say, you're looking at the positions in which he filled.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
So let's go right there, perfect transition segue, as we'd
like to call into business. Jets enter the offseason with
needs it offensive line, backup, quarterback, wide receiver. Then defensively,
you'd start at defensive tackle and safety. Let's go to
offensive line first. What do you make of the moves
(04:44):
is Simpson and then Morgan Moses returning for his second
stint with the je Well.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I think Simpson's really interesting because just speaking to him
and doing some research, he was the first one to
say like he didn't quite have the confidence he has
now when he got cut by Las Vegas and then
he kind of refound himself in Baltimore and he was
in a left guard competition. He wins the job, then
he gets a little pay day comes here, and I
(05:09):
think that you can see it when you if you like.
I keep saying this, if you have highlights as an
offensive lineman, like if you're laying people out, you're.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Probably doing something pretty good.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And he's a tone setter, so I think from that perspective,
I think you have to like it, especially like.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's a free agency.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
It's hard to get I would say team friendly deals
with good players, but based on the reported numbers out
there compared to what some of his offensive line counterparts,
that guard received seems to be like a Jets friendly deal.
And then with Morgan Moses, but he was a Jet
and he was great, and he seems to be great
for Baltimore. Frankly, I'm not quite sure why Baltimore was
(05:46):
so okay with letting him go, And some people have
said that on Twitter, and I think if you're a
Jets fan right now, you think about where this offensive
line could hypothetically be, Like left tackles I would imagine
as a question mark guard. You would imagine Simpson Titman
right guard. Let's say Avt for all intention purposes, and
then Morgan Mojes. I mean, you're shaping up to have
(06:08):
a pretty nice starting five who get after it or
agile and our tone setters.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Well, Avt's the chess piece. He could play left tackle.
You can play all four of those spots on the line.
The only spot that you're probably not going to put
him at would be center. You're trying to find permanent home.
I'm just wondering if the permanent home is right card
and if there is a move on the horizon again
Thursday afternoon, I guess it's a little bit after noon
(06:35):
right now. It's the in the twelve o'clock range, either
in free agency or the draft. Also, you got some
depth pieces there, Carter Warren, Max Mitchell, Wes Schweizer, of
course Schweitzer.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, it's a tough twist.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Also, just I can't imagine what it's like for some
of the like the Adam Schefters of the World, Ian Rapaport,
Mike Carfulo, Tom pelisera like the Insider guys. Like every
time my phone buzzes because I have their tweet notifications on, like,
I get like a little jittery and I feel like
I need to check it in case something happens. I
can't even imagine what those guys are like right now.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I think there's a mindset change going on here for
the Jets as far as what they want to do
up front along the offensive line you talk to Simpson,
I just feel like they want to get a little
bit grimier, nasty, ear set the edge. And there's the
guys in the past who've done some good things for
(07:31):
the Jets, no doubt about it. But I mean, when
you're talking about Simpson and Morgan Moses, thocial guys are
gonna get after you. And also, I think that what
we've seen in the past from Aaron Rodgers is that yes,
he can do anything, but he's especially effective with the
play action game and the Jets have one of the
best running backs in the National Football League in Brisall.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, they do.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And I think that if you're Brice Hall, you got
to be really happy about this. Obviously, fans are going
to say, oh, this is great for Aaron, also great
for Breze Hall. I mean, you take a look at
Pro Football Focus, John Simpson had nine big time blocks.
I'm not quite sure what that means, but big time blocks.
You'd imagine that that's a good thing. And you have
(08:12):
he has highlights of laying dudes out and that ranked
second among guards.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
And then Morgan.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Moses, I believe, had like the third best run block
raide on Pro Football Focus this past year among tackles.
So I think, basically to your point that Jets are
getting a little grime heer if they really start to
attack the running game with Priese Hall. I mean, he
gives Breesze Hall a sliver of daylight and he's getting
a decent chunk of change. You give him a hole,
(08:39):
we see what happens there. Like to me, I'm thinking
about that Denver run from this past season. He had
a gaping hole to run through and now ended up
in a touchdown. And we've talked about it so much,
like he is so strong that if he really gets
a full head of steam or a couple of yards
of steam, it's going to be really difficult for defenses
to bring him down.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Jets aren't done along that offensive line. Let's skill to
backup quarterback. We knew that was on their radar starting
in the off season as far as veteran quarterback was concerned.
They gave Zach Wilson and his team permission to seek
a trade to Rod Taylor, most recently with the New
York Giants last couple seasons. The Jets make a move
(09:18):
there to get a very capable backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah, I think that if you're a Jets fan, you're
obviously very familiar with Taylor, because the Jets played in
this past year a little bit with the Giants. They
played him in against the Browns the Texans. Like, I
think that if you're a Jets fan, what you want, Well,
first of all, you don't really want to see your
backup quarterback on the field because you want Aaron Rodgers
to be healthy. But if for whatever reason Taylor needed
(09:45):
to come in, I think you'd feel confident that he
could not only play well, but win the football game
the way that this team is structured, where the defense
is so good, you add some pieces up front, like
we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I don't think the Jets are done either, whether that's.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
The I was like the ticketing team is not on either,
because there's a lot of noise here and a bell
just wrung.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So I will say, like, let's take him behind the scenes,
like there's a probably less than five feet outside of
the studio to both of our rights, there's just bell,
and if you make a deal, you ring the bell,
and the bell's ringing right now.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Maybe they're excited about tyright.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
About.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yes, the New York Jets in twenty twenty four so
very capable backup quarterback. I can't believe he's entering year
fourteen already. With that being said, he's a guy who's
still t mobile and one of the most accurate long
ball throwers that I've seen in the league for a
(10:42):
long time. So listen, you're in capable hands. If Rogers
can't play. Now, if Rogers can't play, you're hoping for
is it just a couple of games? I don't even
want to think beyond of course, all right, so you
have a really seasoned quarterback room and maybe you add
a young guy to the mix. And Day three of
the draft, the Jets have three compensitory selections. We'll get
(11:05):
to that later. So let's flip into the defensive side
of the ball. A lot of movement defensive tackle, starting
with Kim Law. The connection there with Robert sala former
first round pick of the San Francisco forty nine ers
back in twenty twenty, so Salon knows exactly what he's
getting his hands on. And then you don't just stop there.
(11:29):
Fotwo comes in, big body, it's like six four, six five,
three thirty five, So you're thinking about that guy can
come in and be a run plugger and occupy space
and a younger version.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So I think with kin Lawn FO two, these are
like these are athletes. I mean you talk about Photo specifically,
he grew up playing rugby and the Athletic put out
this article on him that sheds a little bit of
light about to his upbringing and.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
The hardship that he had to deal with.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I would suggest that if you wanted like a glimpse
or peak behind the curtain in terms of who Fotwo is,
but on the field, like this is an athletic defensive
tackle like al Woods. I think this is essentially the
al Woods type replacement, like the run stuffer FO two
is more athletic than al Woods is, especially at this
point in both of their respective careers. Woods coming off
(12:19):
a big injury and achilles injury at the twilight of
his career, where Folks who's coming off his rookie contract
with the Cardinals. So I think the upside is there,
And I think if you're a Jets fan, you have
to kind of believe in Jeff Ulbrick and this defensive
coaching staff that they're going to get the best out
of these guys. Solomon Thomas to your point, or someone
you mentioned, he had a career year in sacks in
(12:41):
this defense last year. Same thing with Quinton Jefferson, who
reportedly agreed to terms with the Browns. So I think
if you're a fan like Javon Kinlaw number fourteen overall pick,
he might be thinking, well, you know, he didn't maybe
play out the way that a lot of forty nine
ers fans were hoping this guy. I mean, I don't
know if you saw him today, he was in the
cafeteria downstairs, He is so long and so broad, and
(13:02):
you would imagine that Aaron whitecomm the defensive line coach,
it's gonna have a field day with this guy because
he's he has the measurables that the Jets want in
their defensive lineman. Now it's just about teaching them how
the Jets want to do it and unleash these guys.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Any defensive tackle was gonna be happy playing next to
a superstar in Quinn Williams, and the Jets have that
luxury here. Let's go back to the safety position. Chuck
Clark unfortunately wasn't able to play last year. We know
he's been here rehabbing consistently. People have talked about what
a good duty is, what kind of presence he brings
to the locker room. So Tony Adams returns that free safety.
(13:37):
He was under contract a lot of uncertainty elsewhere as
he started the offseason. But you don't even let Clark
get the free agency. You re sign him and you're
set up there.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I think with Clark, like how many guys I'm serious,
like this is I'm curious in your wealth of knowledge
in terms of being in the league for a long time,
Like how many guys are as versatile as Chuck Clark
because for those who.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Don't know Ravens flying here to the Jets, by the way.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah there are, Yeah, there are a lot of former
Ravens flying up by ninety five here. But with Clark, like,
he's taking snaps at every single defensive position throughout his career,
including like interior defensive line. So I'm not asking you, like,
who are players that have done that in the past,
but players who are talented and so versatile, Like I'm
trying to think of guys over the last couple of years,
(14:31):
and it's hard for me to name.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
No.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
They asked him to do pretty much everything, and he
was central command for the Ravens and he's a guy
who kept Kyle Hamilton off the field, which is crazy.
If you really think about it. That speaks to the
transition to the National Football League, and that's why you
should be excited about it. A guy like kN Law
not comparing these guys as far as positions are concerned,
but sometimes it takes players longer to transition to the NFL.
(14:54):
There's familiarity here and Kim Law's coming off a career
here with the forty nine years Hever Knights with the
reunites with a guy like Sala, who Sala has said
in the past, a lot of guys come here and
they end up having career years. Quinton Jefferson a great example,
six and a half sacks last year he signs with
Cleveland Browns. Jets get younger, much younger at the defensive
(15:17):
tackle position. Is this defense will continue to be nasty
and salty in twenty twenty four?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Say so, I will say this before we get to
to Rod. Can you speak to what's out there? What's
got your what's got your eye? What should we pay
attention to? Because one of the needs that I talked
about to start the offseason, the one position that Jets
haven't addressed just yet has been receiver. We know they
(15:46):
could have had another running back down the line. You
got Breist, of of course you're Bob Kyle, but Israel
Obana Kana very promising, a guy entering his second season.
But what else do you think potentially could be out
there here and free agency that we should continue to monitor.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Well, So, just going on receiver alone, I think it
was pretty quiet from the beginning, Like in the very
early stages of the negotiating window, guys like Gabe Davis
went and the most recent one was Calvin Ridley, who
got a lot of money from the Tennessee Titans. Yes, Now,
in terms of wide receiver, I mean we've talked about this.
Maybe maybe this year's class isn't in terms of free
(16:27):
agent class isn't as active as a lot of people
thought because of the depth in the draft class, No doubt.
So if the Jets were to add people in free
agency at wide receiver, the guys who still remain as
of now twelve oh six, just making sure that who's available,
Guys like Marquise Hollywood Brown, Tyler boyd Odell Beckham Junior,
(16:48):
who it seemed like was definitely in the mix to
becoming a Jet last season. And then there's other guys
like if you go, I mean there's Michael Thomas, who's
obviously dealing with injuries as of late. I just think
that if the Jets want to add a receiver, they can.
I just keep coming back to that this receiving room
is going to be in a better spot with Aaron
(17:08):
Rodgers under center, regardless.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
And I do think that.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
We've spoke about this too, like Alan Lazard I think
will be a much better player in twenty twenty four
than he was last season for the Jets.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And Gibson and brownly give you a depth as well.
So okay, let's go to tackle. Tyrone Smith's out there,
Trent Brown is out there, David Bactieri's out there. What
do you think. Are you surprised it's Smith being out there?
And again he again he would fill the void and
(17:41):
left tackle. And obviously those three UFA's that the Jets
had in the house, they're also out there, in fact
in Brown, Billy Turner, and then a couple we haven't
talked about a number of UFAs, including Jordan Whitehead the
safety position going back to Tampa, but Ashton Davis remains
(18:03):
out there as well, justin Hardy another guy. But let's
focus on tackle.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Yeah, I think I don't know what the hold up
is with Tyron Smith. I think it's kind of interesting.
Obviously I'm not privy to those conversations, but you would
imagine a guy who's still playing at an elite level,
even though there are durability questions, would sign rather quickly.
And we're standing here, you know, this is now almost
twenty four hours after officially, the new league year begins,
(18:29):
which means that teams have had at least won three
days to talk to Tyron Smith's representatives and try to
work something out. Am I surprised that there's been a
little no, little to no movement there a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I'm wonder what that means.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
However, I will say I think Joe Douglas will end
up signing a tackle period, because I think when you
go into the draft.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You know, we know that we're going to try offensive line.
But they got a starting guard and you got a
starting right tackle.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, but like you don't want to be pigeonholed no draft.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
So if the Jets do sign someone one of the
guys that you just mentioned, Tyron Smith, Bactiari, Trent Brown,
even a guy like Donovan Smith Okay, who I'm pretty
sure is on record said something like it'd be cool
to block for Aaron Rodgers. This is when he was
with the Chiefs, like knowing that he was going to
become a free agent. I think that that there are
(19:17):
just a lot of options there, and so if the
Jets do sign one of those guys, then you go
in the draft and you can be in a spot
at ten overall, where you don't know how one through
nine is going to play out.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
So if you want to add a receiver, you go
for it. If they're available. You want to add a tackle,
go for it.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, if you sign a tackle, starting caliber caliber tackle
over the next couple of days, maybe over the next
few hours. I wonder if the play is to get
another playmaker at the top of his draft, you can't
go wrong in another offensive linement. Moses is interesting, Like
people are wondering why did Baltimore part ways? I look
(19:58):
at that is probably more of a cost cutting future
move because he signed through twenty twenty four. They knew
maybe at the end of the day, is he gonna
be on this roster in twenty twenty five. So Joe
Douglas makes a move that's very smart, you know, and
(20:18):
you get a guy who's gonna be starting at the
right tackle spot. But as far as what he's done
here early on in free agency, every possible avenue RFAs
UFA's street. We didn't mention Isaiah Oliver. Guy's gonna come
in and provide some depth in the secondary and can
play multiple positions as well. The Jets have the best
cornerback group in football who add to the mix, and
(20:41):
it's just as a depth piece trade, you know. So
he's done everything the UFAs, but they're not done it,
and they also have flexibility and whatever move that they
make moving forward, you know, it sets it up for
an interesting spot. Remember he told us in Indianapolis not
too long ago that bottom line is, I like where
(21:05):
we're at now, we're kind of seeing the picture unfold
before us.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I think that obviously free agency crystallizes the draft. The
one team that's actually on the Jets schedule for twenty
twenty four that I think based on their free agent
moves kind of paints their picture a little clear in
the draft is Tennessee. You think about they have DeAndre Hopkins,
they just added Calvin Ridley, they already have trailing I
(21:31):
don't know what, so I don't know what their defense
is looking like. But to me, my uneducated opinion is
that they would likely go tackle or defense and they're
sitting there at seven. Last year under the same regime,
they drafted Peter Skoronski in the first round and he's
playing guard for them. Could they want to add someone
to protect Will Levis or you know, depending on like,
(21:54):
if there's a quarterback available, would they be open to
trading back if someone wants to trade up. That's the
team that I kind of have circled right here based
on their free agency moves at impact the Jets come
draft time.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
But even if they did, fashion new might be on
the table, and one of those top three receivers might
be on the table.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Exactly, which is why it all comes full circle to me,
because if the Jets do sign one of these tackles
we've talked about, you're in a good spot where you where.
Let's say, for the sake of this conversation, if the
Jets didn't sign one of those tackles, then all of
a sudden, you're worried Tennessee's drafting a guy, and then
maybe you have to figure it out what your solution
is at tackle.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Afterwards, I thought, on and you're going to get a
starting tackle and you're gonna starting guard, and free agency
you've already done that, so maybe one more is in
play and this line looks completely different again. But one
guy is gonna be lining up behind the offensive line
in the spring and throughout the preseason. Tara Taller hopefully
(22:53):
he's not taking too many regular season snaps, but we
had an opportunity to talk to him. For myself and Ethan,
We're going to keep you updated. Remember our apologies in
advance because this was TAP twelve thirty Thursday, our free
agency reset. At this point, Joe Douglas has been a
(23:14):
busy man, and I can tell you right now the
hall's buzzing down there right now. Hey, So how does
it feel to Rod to embark on a journey with
your seventh NFL team? Now?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
It's a blessing. Each team or each city has been
unique in his own I've learned a lot and I've
grown as a person as a player, and thankful for
this opportunity I have here.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
What did you think when the season ended with the Giants?
What was ahead for you?
Speaker 5 (23:44):
Truly, I honestly didn't know. Finished off on a good foot,
but yeah, you never know. The league changes day to day,
week to week, so you really have to be at
peace about what you put on the field. And for me,
I'm a believer, uh so I think that God, God's
(24:05):
timing is everything, so he'll find the right the right
steps in the right uh direction for you, and I
just trust trust them.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
You've been through this before, no stranger of the process.
What was it like this time around?
Speaker 4 (24:21):
Wasn't that bad? Actually?
Speaker 5 (24:24):
Obviously, listening to your agent, you're weighing out different different options.
You're trying to see what makes the best, what's what
makes the most sense, and ultimately thought that this was
a great fit. Fortunately I don't have to move places,
but excited about this, this journey here with the Jets.
(24:44):
Have a talented roster, a lot of players that I
respect from playing or just knowing alone in the years,
and uh excited to get to work with these this
group of guys.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
You just touched upon it a little bit, but money talks.
We know that you got to make a living. But
what made the Jets attractive to you?
Speaker 5 (25:03):
You look at the roster, very talented roster. I mean,
obviously some injuries last year that you can't control. But
I believe everything is in the house to be able
to achieve what every NFL team is trying to achieve,
which is a Super Bowl early right now. Obviously you
never want to get into that. There's a lot of
(25:23):
steps they got to get to that, but I believe
that this team is capable of achieving that goal with
with the with the right work to just.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Put in.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
What do you see from them? Offensively explosive, group wide receivers.
They compete their butts off, makes contestant catches. It knows
how to stretch the field and just explosive playst's.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Specifically, I wanted to ask you about guys like Garrett
Wilson Brew.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Yeah, I'm very I'm a big fan of Garrett as
well as Breece. Too fast guys to electric, guys get
the balls in their hand and it could be a
big play.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Wait to heaven.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
What's the mindset for you now at this point in
your career, entering year fourteen, joining a team with the
future Hall of Famer here and Aaron Rodgers coming back
from the Achilles. You guys have a lot of combined
experience when you're talking about being in that room together.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, obviously being able to assist Aaron at any capacity,
but also staying ready for the opportunity if it presents
itself well at the same time, being able to offer
my leadership and my knowledge that I've accumulated over the
years to the younger guys within the locker room. My
goal is to just help any capacity that I can.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Over the years. What kind of interactions maybe have your
head with Aaron and how much do you appreciate his game?
Speaker 4 (26:51):
I appreciate his game. I've said this before.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
He ranks very high on my list of quarterbacks, one
of my faves. I haven't had a lot of interaction
other than pregame conversations postgame conversation, but I have a
ton of respect for Aaron. A big fan of his
games and looking forward to being able to learn from
him and and working alongside him.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Why A big fan of his game Just the way he.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Carries himself on the field obviously one of the in
my opinion, one of the best passes of the football
that the NFL has seen. And not necessarily the prototype
that you see a lot of these guys that I
was kind of conditioned to growing up, that you had
to be a certain high, you have to fit a
(27:37):
certain build.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
He's kind of broke that mode and he plays the
game the right way.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
How do you break that mold when when you talk about.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
A well, when I say that, I mean not from
when I first came into the league, I was told
that I was too short.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
I'm six to one.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I don't know there's plenty of guys that have came
after me, but I think it also starts with Aaron
Rodgers Drew Brees not being the six four the six '
five stationary guy like can be as mobile as you
need to, but also throw from the pocket, make plays, extend,
(28:17):
extend plays as well too.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Just a big fan of his.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
How have you been able to do it? Because you
were a six round draft pick out of attack who
had to wait his turn to actually get that first
start in the National Football League where when you look
at your resume now, most of your starts, of course
came with the Jets division rival to Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Yeah, just staying committed to the process. My time in Baltimore,
obviously I didn't get a chance to play as much
as I want, but I had a chance to learn
from a veteran group of guys. I walked into a
locker room with ray Lewis ed Reed. Flacco wasn't necessarily
a veteran at the time, but I learned a lot
from Flacco and Kwam Bolden, a lot of a lot
(29:02):
of friends that I still have to this day. But
I look back on that time and it was those
four years prepared me for the opportunity that I had
in Buffalo, and from there, I just, like I said,
staying committed, not necessarily getting discouraged about the downs of
the NFL season or of a career, but just going
(29:26):
out and playing at a high level whenever you whenever
the opportunity presented itself.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Man, you're so level hated. But when you finally had
the opportunity to get a start, when you're out there
with the Bills, and we were just talking about it
before we started recording, what do you think about the
play call? Because here you are, you're getting your first
start in the NFL and just saying, well, actually we're
going to line you up as a decoy. And I
first played at receiver.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of that. I never
spoke on that, but also it's part of the game.
We try to throw a wildcat formation out there to
confuse the defense. Ultimately won the game, and that's really
what matters is winning, and that's that's really what my
mindset is. I mean, stats, yeah, they mattered to the outside,
(30:15):
but for me, it's about wins. And ultimately we won
that game against the Coats. It was a great feeling
and it, like you said it, it sparked my career
as a starter and very thankful for that time.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
What makes for a successful quarterback in the National Football
League Because you said, you're not a big numbers guy,
because you're interested in winning and losing. But with that
being said, I think one of the most impressive ratios
that you've had throughout your career is touchdown to interceptions.
And now you're joining forces with a guy like Rogers
number one in NFL history touchdown interception ratio.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Yes, obviously, protecting the ball gives your your team the
best chance to go out there and win. From a quarterback,
you have to be a leader. You have to be
able to perform on the pressure, and you have to
be a guy that the team coaches, everyone organization depends
on and can count on, and and crunch time on
(31:10):
the field. As a person, you have to be truly
the dependable person. And there's other factors that play into
quarterback play, but I think those those three speak out
to me.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
How is your game changed over time from the guy
who came out as a hockey and starting with the
Ravens and now.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
I think, if anything, I've just got better at the
things that I do. Obviously being able, I've always been mobile.
I've always been able to extend plays, never been afraid
to push the ball down the field. Uh, the game
has changed from when I first came into the league.
Not to get too deep into it, but I like this.
(31:50):
You see more of a spread offense. Now, you see
more obviously air attacks. It was pretty balanced early on
in my career as far as just offensive approaches. But yeah,
I think I've just had a chance to grow and
get more comfortable with the things that I do and
the things that I've done, and I'm looking forward to
still building and shoppening those twos and just continue to
(32:12):
keep growing as a player. I think each year, obviously
you look back at the things that you've done good
and you want to build on those, but you also
want to attack the weaknesses of what you could have
done better and.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
Each year you have to find ways to get better,
and it starts with self reflection and looking yourself in
the mirror.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
How hard is that to start a new because I
don't know if a lot of people could do what
you've done throughout your career in terms of going to
a new team and a new organization and picking up
and then going to another team and another organization.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
I want to say this too, but I think it
really goes back to what I said about staying committed
as a young kid Hampton, Virginia, having goals of get
into this this level. You don't take anything for granted.
You challenge yourself to be better, and ultimately you have
(33:13):
to say so in that. I mean, you can you
can go about the day. You can look at just
being in the NFL and you could just be happy
with that. But I'm always challenging myself to be better
as a person and as a player, and that's just
who I am. And I take those those challenges personally
and I attack them daily and put the work behind it.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
What do you attribute to your upbringing you just talked
about Hampton. Yeah, as far as what you learn there
and what you carry with you.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
Yeah, I'm the only child, so I spent a lot
of time my parents, but also spent a lot of
time playing sports. Hey you basketball, football, baseball, ran track.
There's just a little bit of everything. But I also
was fortunate to grow up watching Alan Iverson, Michael Vick,
Ronald Cerry, Aaron Brooks, a lot of names from just
(34:04):
guys from my hometown or the city over for the
next city over, and trying to write my own story,
trying to give something to a young kid back in
Hampton Hampton Roads, something to look up to. So, yeah,
I had role models, but I'm also trying to create
(34:26):
that opportunity for the next generation as well too.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
How influential was Mike Vick with you in terms of
maybe his guidance along the way, and he's a guy
who had to stop here later out in his career.
Speaker 5 (34:40):
Yeah, I learned a lot from Mike. We didn't meet
until I got to college.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
I grew up.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Knowing Ronald Cerry very closely, Alan Irverson very closely, and
I watched Mike, but I didn't meet him until I
got to school. But he's he's helped me along the
way as long as as well as those other guys
as well, Aaron Brooks, Irvers and Ronald carry Out. I
thank them for my success, but I also just thank
them for being who they are and and uh and
(35:09):
helping me throughout this journey. Someone that I could lean
on and someone those people I could call any day
and they pick up the phone and offer anything, whether
it's just about life or about sports, to offer any
of us anything they have to give to me.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
The longer you're in the league, how small this will become.
Because you've mentioned Ronald Curry a couple of times now
he's Buffalo.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
Even last year, UH our officeer coordinator Mike Kafka, we
joked about it all the time. He was drafted the
year before me, so he had. The longer that you
stay in it, it definitely gets smaller. You see a
lot of familiar faces, a lot of people that you've
crossed paths with somewhere. But that's the that's the beauty
(35:53):
of this business. That's a relationship business. Definitely at the
you don't have to, but I think when you treat
people the right.
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Way that that.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
That lasts and that memory goes a long way for
a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Give us scatter report what you're at at this point
your career. Throughout the years, You've always been accurate that
long ball. When you've talked about the ability to extend as.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Well, Yeah, I think I spoke to it.
Speaker 5 (36:19):
Like you said, obviously an accurate deep ball passer still
mobile and can extend plays. I think the true definition
of a do a thread quarterback.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Defensively, you've gone against these guys. Very tough, okay, So
so what's it like behind center liner up against this defense.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
It's tough.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
They create challenges, especially up front, but on the back
end as well too. They have a we have a
fast defense on the back end, and in a group
of guys up front that can get after it. Linebacker
position probably one of the best duos in the league.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
And just have a lot of respect for for the
guys on this defense.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
So you're part of this free agency class and I'm
gonna let you get going here in a second. What
do you think about some of these big guys coming
up in front of you and John Simpson walking in.
You got Morgan Moses coming on board. Quarterback's best friend, right.
Speaker 5 (37:17):
Yeah, I'm excited. I was spending time this morning, but
I'm excited to get a play with these guys.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
And lastly, staying in New York, you don't have to
you don't have to pack the bags or anything at all.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
It's the best city.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Thanks,
Welcome to the official Jets podcast, Ericalling here at One
Jets Drive joined by Ethan Greenberg. We're gonna get into
free agency right now. It is Thursday. The NFL leaguer
actually commenced on Wednesdays, so if you're listening to this
after Thursday afternoon, there could be a move or two
(00:25):
that Joe Douglas has made. With that being said, we
gotta get to some news, and later on in the podcast,
we're gonna give you a little bit of light a
window to what's been going on here at One Jets
Drive today because we want speaking to all the new Jets,
including Trod Taylor, and to Rod Taylor, I got a
(00:47):
chance to sit down with him, but let's start with
greens Ethan Greenberg in the house. Ethan, from your perspective,
what's his day like in terms of let's take people
behind the scenes. Oh sure, as far as the guys
actually coming in, they signed their contracts, and then what
happens From a content perspective, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Kind of like hurry up and wait a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Because the guys that come to the facility, they have
an itinerary and they have to whether it speak to coaches,
Joe Douglas, personnel staff, take medicals, sign contracts like there's
so much that goes on that we don't see, and
then we just we wait and then those guys come
to the studio that we're recording in right now, we
(01:30):
interview them, whether it's podcast, whether it's one on one,
whatever it is, get a little FaceTime, then get up
on out of here.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Joe Douglas has been active at all fronts since last Sunday.
He resigned two potential UFAs off the bat and Chuck
Clark and Greg Zerline agreed to terms of a couple
of his ourfas and Kenny Oboa and Jay Canson. He
went the UFA route for Tarrod Tayler, John Simpson and
Javon Kinlaw. He even to trade for Morgan Moses. Then
(02:02):
there was a reported restructuring today of linebackers CJ. Moseley.
There are also two additions to that list including Thomas
Morstead uh that happened throughout the week, and then the
big defensive tackle from Arizona as well, who you go
ahead of? Lucky FO two actually has a Jets connection
(02:25):
because he played collegiately at Utah and his defensive line
coach was so we're gonna have to talk to him
about uh lucky. But with all that being said, what
do you think about what's been done here from Joe
attacking every possible possible avenue and also with this restructuring
(02:49):
reporter restructuring CJ. Moseley and also DJ Reid's been quite
active on social media as well, so maybe there's something there.
I don't know if he's been telling us something, but
I don't think the Jets are done.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I don't think they're done either.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I think a lot of like cap analysts, like we've
talked to Brad Spielberger from PFF in the past, and
guys like him and who really take a look at
the numbers when you look at restructuring. A couple guys
had mentioned, you know, do you extend someone like DJ
Reed now to try to free up more cap space
this year? And I think that we kind of saw
that with CJ. Moseley, who this was I believe the
(03:27):
last year of his contract and he gets a two
year deal reportedly in terms of the restructure, which frees
up some more money for the Jets this year to
probably make more moves. Whether that's free agency, the draft,
whatever the case may be. But I think that Joe
Douglas has I think Jets fans were a little antsy
early in the negotiating window, which happened two days before
free agency began. But I think when you look at
(03:49):
the whole picture of what he's done, I think you
have to be happy. You bring back to your point
Zerline and Moristead, who were both essentially weapons for the Jets.
Both of those players won the Jets games in twenty
twenty three. Chuck Clark is interesting because I think that
he was such a versatile piece in Baltimore. We just
never really got to see it last year because he
(04:09):
tore his ACL. Then you add some big boys up
front in terms of Morgan Moses and John Simpson and
Javon Kin Long Lucky Fotso like the Jets right now
going into the offseason, I think a lot of people
would say, you're looking at the positions in which he filled.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
So let's go right there, perfect transition segue, as we'd
like to call into business. Jets enter the offseason with
needs it offensive line, backup, quarterback, wide receiver. Then defensively,
you'd start at defensive tackle and safety. Let's go to
offensive line first. What do you make of the moves
(04:44):
is Simpson and then Morgan Moses returning for his second
stint with the je Well.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I think Simpson's really interesting because just speaking to him
and doing some research, he was the first one to
say like he didn't quite have the confidence he has
now when he got cut by Las Vegas and then
he kind of refound himself in Baltimore and he was
in a left guard competition. He wins the job, then
he gets a little pay day comes here, and I
(05:09):
think that you can see it when you if you like.
I keep saying this, if you have highlights as an
offensive lineman, like if you're laying people out, you're.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Probably doing something pretty good.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And he's a tone setter, so I think from that perspective,
I think you have to like it, especially like.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's a free agency.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
It's hard to get I would say team friendly deals
with good players, but based on the reported numbers out
there compared to what some of his offensive line counterparts,
that guard received seems to be like a Jets friendly deal.
And then with Morgan Moses, but he was a Jet
and he was great, and he seems to be great
for Baltimore. Frankly, I'm not quite sure why Baltimore was
(05:46):
so okay with letting him go, And some people have
said that on Twitter, and I think if you're a
Jets fan right now, you think about where this offensive
line could hypothetically be, Like left tackles I would imagine
as a question mark guard. You would imagine Simpson Titman
right guard. Let's say Avt for all intention purposes, and
then Morgan Mojes. I mean, you're shaping up to have
(06:08):
a pretty nice starting five who get after it or
agile and our tone setters.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Well, Avt's the chess piece. He could play left tackle.
You can play all four of those spots on the line.
The only spot that you're probably not going to put
him at would be center. You're trying to find permanent home.
I'm just wondering if the permanent home is right card
and if there is a move on the horizon again
Thursday afternoon, I guess it's a little bit after noon
(06:35):
right now. It's the in the twelve o'clock range, either
in free agency or the draft. Also, you got some
depth pieces there, Carter Warren, Max Mitchell, Wes Schweizer, of
course Schweitzer.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, it's a tough twist.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Also, just I can't imagine what it's like for some
of the like the Adam Schefters of the World, Ian Rapaport,
Mike Carfulo, Tom pelisera like the Insider guys. Like every
time my phone buzzes because I have their tweet notifications on, like,
I get like a little jittery and I feel like
I need to check it in case something happens. I
can't even imagine what those guys are like right now.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I think there's a mindset change going on here for
the Jets as far as what they want to do
up front along the offensive line you talk to Simpson,
I just feel like they want to get a little
bit grimier, nasty, ear set the edge. And there's the
guys in the past who've done some good things for
(07:31):
the Jets, no doubt about it. But I mean, when
you're talking about Simpson and Morgan Moses, thocial guys are
gonna get after you. And also, I think that what
we've seen in the past from Aaron Rodgers is that yes,
he can do anything, but he's especially effective with the
play action game and the Jets have one of the
best running backs in the National Football League in Brisall.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, they do.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And I think that if you're Brice Hall, you got
to be really happy about this. Obviously, fans are going
to say, oh, this is great for Aaron, also great
for Breze Hall. I mean, you take a look at
Pro Football Focus, John Simpson had nine big time blocks.
I'm not quite sure what that means, but big time blocks.
You'd imagine that that's a good thing. And you have
(08:12):
he has highlights of laying dudes out and that ranked
second among guards.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
And then Morgan.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Moses, I believe, had like the third best run block
raide on Pro Football Focus this past year among tackles.
So I think, basically to your point that Jets are
getting a little grime heer if they really start to
attack the running game with Priese Hall. I mean, he
gives Breesze Hall a sliver of daylight and he's getting
a decent chunk of change. You give him a hole,
(08:39):
we see what happens there. Like to me, I'm thinking
about that Denver run from this past season. He had
a gaping hole to run through and now ended up
in a touchdown. And we've talked about it so much,
like he is so strong that if he really gets
a full head of steam or a couple of yards
of steam, it's going to be really difficult for defenses
to bring him down.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Jets aren't done along that offensive line. Let's skill to
backup quarterback. We knew that was on their radar starting
in the off season as far as veteran quarterback was concerned.
They gave Zach Wilson and his team permission to seek
a trade to Rod Taylor, most recently with the New
York Giants last couple seasons. The Jets make a move
(09:18):
there to get a very capable backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah, I think that if you're a Jets fan, you're
obviously very familiar with Taylor, because the Jets played in
this past year a little bit with the Giants. They
played him in against the Browns the Texans. Like, I
think that if you're a Jets fan, what you want, Well,
first of all, you don't really want to see your
backup quarterback on the field because you want Aaron Rodgers
to be healthy. But if for whatever reason Taylor needed
(09:45):
to come in, I think you'd feel confident that he
could not only play well, but win the football game
the way that this team is structured, where the defense
is so good, you add some pieces up front, like
we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I don't think the Jets are done either, whether that's.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
The I was like the ticketing team is not on either,
because there's a lot of noise here and a bell
just wrung.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So I will say, like, let's take him behind the scenes,
like there's a probably less than five feet outside of
the studio to both of our rights, there's just bell,
and if you make a deal, you ring the bell,
and the bell's ringing right now.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Maybe they're excited about tyright.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
About.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yes, the New York Jets in twenty twenty four so
very capable backup quarterback. I can't believe he's entering year
fourteen already. With that being said, he's a guy who's
still t mobile and one of the most accurate long
ball throwers that I've seen in the league for a
(10:42):
long time. So listen, you're in capable hands. If Rogers
can't play. Now, if Rogers can't play, you're hoping for
is it just a couple of games? I don't even
want to think beyond of course, all right, so you
have a really seasoned quarterback room and maybe you add
a young guy to the mix. And Day three of
the draft, the Jets have three compensitory selections. We'll get
(11:05):
to that later. So let's flip into the defensive side
of the ball. A lot of movement defensive tackle, starting
with Kim Law. The connection there with Robert sala former
first round pick of the San Francisco forty nine ers
back in twenty twenty, so Salon knows exactly what he's
getting his hands on. And then you don't just stop there.
(11:29):
Fotwo comes in, big body, it's like six four, six five,
three thirty five, So you're thinking about that guy can
come in and be a run plugger and occupy space
and a younger version.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So I think with kin Lawn FO two, these are
like these are athletes. I mean you talk about Photo specifically,
he grew up playing rugby and the Athletic put out
this article on him that sheds a little bit of
light about to his upbringing and.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
The hardship that he had to deal with.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I would suggest that if you wanted like a glimpse
or peak behind the curtain in terms of who Fotwo is,
but on the field, like this is an athletic defensive
tackle like al Woods. I think this is essentially the
al Woods type replacement, like the run stuffer FO two
is more athletic than al Woods is, especially at this
point in both of their respective careers. Woods coming off
(12:19):
a big injury and achilles injury at the twilight of
his career, where Folks who's coming off his rookie contract
with the Cardinals. So I think the upside is there,
And I think if you're a Jets fan, you have
to kind of believe in Jeff Ulbrick and this defensive
coaching staff that they're going to get the best out
of these guys. Solomon Thomas to your point, or someone
you mentioned, he had a career year in sacks in
(12:41):
this defense last year. Same thing with Quinton Jefferson, who
reportedly agreed to terms with the Browns. So I think
if you're a fan like Javon Kinlaw number fourteen overall pick,
he might be thinking, well, you know, he didn't maybe
play out the way that a lot of forty nine
ers fans were hoping this guy. I mean, I don't
know if you saw him today, he was in the
cafeteria downstairs, He is so long and so broad, and
(13:02):
you would imagine that Aaron whitecomm the defensive line coach,
it's gonna have a field day with this guy because
he's he has the measurables that the Jets want in
their defensive lineman. Now it's just about teaching them how
the Jets want to do it and unleash these guys.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Any defensive tackle was gonna be happy playing next to
a superstar in Quinn Williams, and the Jets have that
luxury here. Let's go back to the safety position. Chuck
Clark unfortunately wasn't able to play last year. We know
he's been here rehabbing consistently. People have talked about what
a good duty is, what kind of presence he brings
to the locker room. So Tony Adams returns that free safety.
(13:37):
He was under contract a lot of uncertainty elsewhere as
he started the offseason. But you don't even let Clark
get the free agency. You re sign him and you're
set up there.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I think with Clark, like how many guys I'm serious,
like this is I'm curious in your wealth of knowledge
in terms of being in the league for a long time,
Like how many guys are as versatile as Chuck Clark
because for those who.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Don't know Ravens flying here to the Jets, by the way.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah there are, Yeah, there are a lot of former
Ravens flying up by ninety five here. But with Clark, like,
he's taking snaps at every single defensive position throughout his career,
including like interior defensive line. So I'm not asking you, like,
who are players that have done that in the past,
but players who are talented and so versatile, Like I'm
trying to think of guys over the last couple of years,
(14:31):
and it's hard for me to name.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
No.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
They asked him to do pretty much everything, and he
was central command for the Ravens and he's a guy
who kept Kyle Hamilton off the field, which is crazy.
If you really think about it. That speaks to the
transition to the National Football League, and that's why you
should be excited about it. A guy like kN Law
not comparing these guys as far as positions are concerned,
but sometimes it takes players longer to transition to the NFL.
(14:54):
There's familiarity here and Kim Law's coming off a career
here with the forty nine years Hever Knights with the
reunites with a guy like Sala, who Sala has said
in the past, a lot of guys come here and
they end up having career years. Quinton Jefferson a great example,
six and a half sacks last year he signs with
Cleveland Browns. Jets get younger, much younger at the defensive
(15:17):
tackle position. Is this defense will continue to be nasty
and salty in twenty twenty four?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Say so, I will say this before we get to
to Rod. Can you speak to what's out there? What's
got your what's got your eye? What should we pay
attention to? Because one of the needs that I talked
about to start the offseason, the one position that Jets
haven't addressed just yet has been receiver. We know they
(15:46):
could have had another running back down the line. You
got Breist, of of course you're Bob Kyle, but Israel
Obana Kana very promising, a guy entering his second season.
But what else do you think potentially could be out
there here and free agency that we should continue to monitor.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Well, So, just going on receiver alone, I think it
was pretty quiet from the beginning, Like in the very
early stages of the negotiating window, guys like Gabe Davis
went and the most recent one was Calvin Ridley, who
got a lot of money from the Tennessee Titans. Yes, Now,
in terms of wide receiver, I mean we've talked about this.
Maybe maybe this year's class isn't in terms of free
(16:27):
agent class isn't as active as a lot of people
thought because of the depth in the draft class, No doubt.
So if the Jets were to add people in free
agency at wide receiver, the guys who still remain as
of now twelve oh six, just making sure that who's available,
Guys like Marquise Hollywood Brown, Tyler boyd Odell Beckham Junior,
(16:48):
who it seemed like was definitely in the mix to
becoming a Jet last season. And then there's other guys
like if you go, I mean there's Michael Thomas, who's
obviously dealing with injuries as of late. I just think
that if the Jets want to add a receiver, they can.
I just keep coming back to that this receiving room
is going to be in a better spot with Aaron
(17:08):
Rodgers under center, regardless.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
And I do think that.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
We've spoke about this too, like Alan Lazard I think
will be a much better player in twenty twenty four
than he was last season for the Jets.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And Gibson and brownly give you a depth as well.
So okay, let's go to tackle. Tyrone Smith's out there,
Trent Brown is out there, David Bactieri's out there. What
do you think. Are you surprised it's Smith being out there?
And again he again he would fill the void and
(17:41):
left tackle. And obviously those three UFA's that the Jets
had in the house, they're also out there, in fact
in Brown, Billy Turner, and then a couple we haven't
talked about a number of UFAs, including Jordan Whitehead the
safety position going back to Tampa, but Ashton Davis remains
(18:03):
out there as well, justin Hardy another guy. But let's
focus on tackle.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Yeah, I think I don't know what the hold up
is with Tyron Smith. I think it's kind of interesting.
Obviously I'm not privy to those conversations, but you would
imagine a guy who's still playing at an elite level,
even though there are durability questions, would sign rather quickly.
And we're standing here, you know, this is now almost
twenty four hours after officially, the new league year begins,
(18:29):
which means that teams have had at least won three
days to talk to Tyron Smith's representatives and try to
work something out. Am I surprised that there's been a
little no, little to no movement there a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I'm wonder what that means.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
However, I will say I think Joe Douglas will end
up signing a tackle period, because I think when you
go into the draft.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You know, we know that we're going to try offensive line.
But they got a starting guard and you got a
starting right tackle.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, but like you don't want to be pigeonholed no draft.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
So if the Jets do sign someone one of the
guys that you just mentioned, Tyron Smith, Bactiari, Trent Brown,
even a guy like Donovan Smith Okay, who I'm pretty
sure is on record said something like it'd be cool
to block for Aaron Rodgers. This is when he was
with the Chiefs, like knowing that he was going to
become a free agent. I think that that there are
(19:17):
just a lot of options there, and so if the
Jets do sign one of those guys, then you go
in the draft and you can be in a spot
at ten overall, where you don't know how one through
nine is going to play out.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
So if you want to add a receiver, you go
for it. If they're available. You want to add a tackle,
go for it.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, if you sign a tackle, starting caliber caliber tackle
over the next couple of days, maybe over the next
few hours. I wonder if the play is to get
another playmaker at the top of his draft, you can't
go wrong in another offensive linement. Moses is interesting, Like
people are wondering why did Baltimore part ways? I look
(19:58):
at that is probably more of a cost cutting future
move because he signed through twenty twenty four. They knew
maybe at the end of the day, is he gonna
be on this roster in twenty twenty five. So Joe
Douglas makes a move that's very smart, you know, and
(20:18):
you get a guy who's gonna be starting at the
right tackle spot. But as far as what he's done
here early on in free agency, every possible avenue RFAs
UFA's street. We didn't mention Isaiah Oliver. Guy's gonna come
in and provide some depth in the secondary and can
play multiple positions as well. The Jets have the best
cornerback group in football who add to the mix, and
(20:41):
it's just as a depth piece trade, you know. So
he's done everything the UFAs, but they're not done it,
and they also have flexibility and whatever move that they
make moving forward, you know, it sets it up for
an interesting spot. Remember he told us in Indianapolis not
too long ago that bottom line is, I like where
(21:05):
we're at now, we're kind of seeing the picture unfold
before us.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I think that obviously free agency crystallizes the draft. The
one team that's actually on the Jets schedule for twenty
twenty four that I think based on their free agent
moves kind of paints their picture a little clear in
the draft is Tennessee. You think about they have DeAndre Hopkins,
they just added Calvin Ridley, they already have trailing I
(21:31):
don't know what, so I don't know what their defense
is looking like. But to me, my uneducated opinion is
that they would likely go tackle or defense and they're
sitting there at seven. Last year under the same regime,
they drafted Peter Skoronski in the first round and he's
playing guard for them. Could they want to add someone
to protect Will Levis or you know, depending on like,
(21:54):
if there's a quarterback available, would they be open to
trading back if someone wants to trade up. That's the
team that I kind of have circled right here based
on their free agency moves at impact the Jets come
draft time.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
But even if they did, fashion new might be on
the table, and one of those top three receivers might
be on the table.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Exactly, which is why it all comes full circle to me,
because if the Jets do sign one of these tackles
we've talked about, you're in a good spot where you where.
Let's say, for the sake of this conversation, if the
Jets didn't sign one of those tackles, then all of
a sudden, you're worried Tennessee's drafting a guy, and then
maybe you have to figure it out what your solution
is at tackle.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Afterwards, I thought, on and you're going to get a
starting tackle and you're gonna starting guard, and free agency
you've already done that, so maybe one more is in
play and this line looks completely different again. But one
guy is gonna be lining up behind the offensive line
in the spring and throughout the preseason. Tara Taller hopefully
(22:53):
he's not taking too many regular season snaps, but we
had an opportunity to talk to him. For myself and Ethan,
We're going to keep you updated. Remember our apologies in
advance because this was TAP twelve thirty Thursday, our free
agency reset. At this point, Joe Douglas has been a
(23:14):
busy man, and I can tell you right now the
hall's buzzing down there right now. Hey, So how does
it feel to Rod to embark on a journey with
your seventh NFL team? Now?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
It's a blessing. Each team or each city has been
unique in his own I've learned a lot and I've
grown as a person as a player, and thankful for
this opportunity I have here.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
What did you think when the season ended with the Giants?
What was ahead for you?
Speaker 5 (23:44):
Truly, I honestly didn't know. Finished off on a good foot,
but yeah, you never know. The league changes day to day,
week to week, so you really have to be at
peace about what you put on the field. And for me,
I'm a believer, uh so I think that God, God's
(24:05):
timing is everything, so he'll find the right the right
steps in the right uh direction for you, and I
just trust trust them.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
You've been through this before, no stranger of the process.
What was it like this time around?
Speaker 4 (24:21):
Wasn't that bad? Actually?
Speaker 5 (24:24):
Obviously, listening to your agent, you're weighing out different different options.
You're trying to see what makes the best, what's what
makes the most sense, and ultimately thought that this was
a great fit. Fortunately I don't have to move places,
but excited about this, this journey here with the Jets.
(24:44):
Have a talented roster, a lot of players that I
respect from playing or just knowing alone in the years,
and uh excited to get to work with these this
group of guys.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
You just touched upon it a little bit, but money talks.
We know that you got to make a living. But
what made the Jets attractive to you?
Speaker 5 (25:03):
You look at the roster, very talented roster. I mean,
obviously some injuries last year that you can't control. But
I believe everything is in the house to be able
to achieve what every NFL team is trying to achieve,
which is a Super Bowl early right now. Obviously you
never want to get into that. There's a lot of
(25:23):
steps they got to get to that, but I believe
that this team is capable of achieving that goal with
with the with the right work to just.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Put in.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
What do you see from them? Offensively explosive, group wide receivers.
They compete their butts off, makes contestant catches. It knows
how to stretch the field and just explosive playst's.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Specifically, I wanted to ask you about guys like Garrett
Wilson Brew.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Yeah, I'm very I'm a big fan of Garrett as
well as Breece. Too fast guys to electric, guys get
the balls in their hand and it could be a
big play.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Wait to heaven.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
What's the mindset for you now at this point in
your career, entering year fourteen, joining a team with the
future Hall of Famer here and Aaron Rodgers coming back
from the Achilles. You guys have a lot of combined
experience when you're talking about being in that room together.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, obviously being able to assist Aaron at any capacity,
but also staying ready for the opportunity if it presents
itself well at the same time, being able to offer
my leadership and my knowledge that I've accumulated over the
years to the younger guys within the locker room. My
goal is to just help any capacity that I can.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Over the years. What kind of interactions maybe have your
head with Aaron and how much do you appreciate his game?
Speaker 4 (26:51):
I appreciate his game. I've said this before.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
He ranks very high on my list of quarterbacks, one
of my faves. I haven't had a lot of interaction
other than pregame conversations postgame conversation, but I have a
ton of respect for Aaron. A big fan of his
games and looking forward to being able to learn from
him and and working alongside him.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Why A big fan of his game Just the way he.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Carries himself on the field obviously one of the in
my opinion, one of the best passes of the football
that the NFL has seen. And not necessarily the prototype
that you see a lot of these guys that I
was kind of conditioned to growing up, that you had
to be a certain high, you have to fit a
(27:37):
certain build.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
He's kind of broke that mode and he plays the
game the right way.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
How do you break that mold when when you talk about.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
A well, when I say that, I mean not from
when I first came into the league, I was told
that I was too short.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
I'm six to one.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I don't know there's plenty of guys that have came
after me, but I think it also starts with Aaron
Rodgers Drew Brees not being the six four the six '
five stationary guy like can be as mobile as you
need to, but also throw from the pocket, make plays, extend,
(28:17):
extend plays as well too.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Just a big fan of his.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
How have you been able to do it? Because you
were a six round draft pick out of attack who
had to wait his turn to actually get that first
start in the National Football League where when you look
at your resume now, most of your starts, of course
came with the Jets division rival to Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Yeah, just staying committed to the process. My time in Baltimore,
obviously I didn't get a chance to play as much
as I want, but I had a chance to learn
from a veteran group of guys. I walked into a
locker room with ray Lewis ed Reed. Flacco wasn't necessarily
a veteran at the time, but I learned a lot
from Flacco and Kwam Bolden, a lot of a lot
(29:02):
of friends that I still have to this day. But
I look back on that time and it was those
four years prepared me for the opportunity that I had
in Buffalo, and from there, I just, like I said,
staying committed, not necessarily getting discouraged about the downs of
the NFL season or of a career, but just going
(29:26):
out and playing at a high level whenever you whenever
the opportunity presented itself.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Man, you're so level hated. But when you finally had
the opportunity to get a start, when you're out there
with the Bills, and we were just talking about it
before we started recording, what do you think about the
play call? Because here you are, you're getting your first
start in the NFL and just saying, well, actually we're
going to line you up as a decoy. And I
first played at receiver.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of that. I never
spoke on that, but also it's part of the game.
We try to throw a wildcat formation out there to
confuse the defense. Ultimately won the game, and that's really
what matters is winning, and that's that's really what my
mindset is. I mean, stats, yeah, they mattered to the outside,
(30:15):
but for me, it's about wins. And ultimately we won
that game against the Coats. It was a great feeling
and it, like you said it, it sparked my career
as a starter and very thankful for that time.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
What makes for a successful quarterback in the National Football
League Because you said, you're not a big numbers guy,
because you're interested in winning and losing. But with that
being said, I think one of the most impressive ratios
that you've had throughout your career is touchdown to interceptions.
And now you're joining forces with a guy like Rogers
number one in NFL history touchdown interception ratio.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Yes, obviously, protecting the ball gives your your team the
best chance to go out there and win. From a quarterback,
you have to be a leader. You have to be
able to perform on the pressure, and you have to
be a guy that the team coaches, everyone organization depends
on and can count on, and and crunch time on
(31:10):
the field. As a person, you have to be truly
the dependable person. And there's other factors that play into
quarterback play, but I think those those three speak out
to me.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
How is your game changed over time from the guy
who came out as a hockey and starting with the
Ravens and now.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
I think, if anything, I've just got better at the
things that I do. Obviously being able, I've always been mobile.
I've always been able to extend plays, never been afraid
to push the ball down the field. Uh, the game
has changed from when I first came into the league.
Not to get too deep into it, but I like this.
(31:50):
You see more of a spread offense. Now, you see
more obviously air attacks. It was pretty balanced early on
in my career as far as just offensive approaches. But yeah,
I think I've just had a chance to grow and
get more comfortable with the things that I do and
the things that I've done, and I'm looking forward to
still building and shoppening those twos and just continue to
(32:12):
keep growing as a player. I think each year, obviously
you look back at the things that you've done good
and you want to build on those, but you also
want to attack the weaknesses of what you could have
done better and.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
Each year you have to find ways to get better,
and it starts with self reflection and looking yourself in
the mirror.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
How hard is that to start a new because I
don't know if a lot of people could do what
you've done throughout your career in terms of going to
a new team and a new organization and picking up
and then going to another team and another organization.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
I want to say this too, but I think it
really goes back to what I said about staying committed
as a young kid Hampton, Virginia, having goals of get
into this this level. You don't take anything for granted.
You challenge yourself to be better, and ultimately you have
(33:13):
to say so in that. I mean, you can you
can go about the day. You can look at just
being in the NFL and you could just be happy
with that. But I'm always challenging myself to be better
as a person and as a player, and that's just
who I am. And I take those those challenges personally
and I attack them daily and put the work behind it.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
What do you attribute to your upbringing you just talked
about Hampton. Yeah, as far as what you learn there
and what you carry with you.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
Yeah, I'm the only child, so I spent a lot
of time my parents, but also spent a lot of
time playing sports. Hey you basketball, football, baseball, ran track.
There's just a little bit of everything. But I also
was fortunate to grow up watching Alan Iverson, Michael Vick,
Ronald Cerry, Aaron Brooks, a lot of names from just
(34:04):
guys from my hometown or the city over for the
next city over, and trying to write my own story,
trying to give something to a young kid back in
Hampton Hampton Roads, something to look up to. So, yeah,
I had role models, but I'm also trying to create
(34:26):
that opportunity for the next generation as well too.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
How influential was Mike Vick with you in terms of
maybe his guidance along the way, and he's a guy
who had to stop here later out in his career.
Speaker 5 (34:40):
Yeah, I learned a lot from Mike. We didn't meet
until I got to college.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
I grew up.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Knowing Ronald Cerry very closely, Alan Irverson very closely, and
I watched Mike, but I didn't meet him until I
got to school. But he's he's helped me along the
way as long as as well as those other guys
as well, Aaron Brooks, Irvers and Ronald carry Out. I
thank them for my success, but I also just thank
them for being who they are and and uh and
(35:09):
helping me throughout this journey. Someone that I could lean
on and someone those people I could call any day
and they pick up the phone and offer anything, whether
it's just about life or about sports, to offer any
of us anything they have to give to me.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
The longer you're in the league, how small this will become.
Because you've mentioned Ronald Curry a couple of times now
he's Buffalo.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
Even last year, UH our officeer coordinator Mike Kafka, we
joked about it all the time. He was drafted the
year before me, so he had. The longer that you
stay in it, it definitely gets smaller. You see a
lot of familiar faces, a lot of people that you've
crossed paths with somewhere. But that's the that's the beauty
(35:53):
of this business. That's a relationship business. Definitely at the
you don't have to, but I think when you treat
people the right.
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Way that that.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
That lasts and that memory goes a long way for
a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Give us scatter report what you're at at this point
your career. Throughout the years, You've always been accurate that
long ball. When you've talked about the ability to extend as.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Well, Yeah, I think I spoke to it.
Speaker 5 (36:19):
Like you said, obviously an accurate deep ball passer still
mobile and can extend plays. I think the true definition
of a do a thread quarterback.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Defensively, you've gone against these guys. Very tough, okay, So
so what's it like behind center liner up against this defense.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
It's tough.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
They create challenges, especially up front, but on the back
end as well too. They have a we have a
fast defense on the back end, and in a group
of guys up front that can get after it. Linebacker
position probably one of the best duos in the league.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
And just have a lot of respect for for the
guys on this defense.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
So you're part of this free agency class and I'm
gonna let you get going here in a second. What
do you think about some of these big guys coming
up in front of you and John Simpson walking in.
You got Morgan Moses coming on board. Quarterback's best friend, right.
Speaker 5 (37:17):
Yeah, I'm excited. I was spending time this morning, but
I'm excited to get a play with these guys.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
And lastly, staying in New York, you don't have to
you don't have to pack the bags or anything at all.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
It's the best city.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Thanks,
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