Jets Blog
By BRIAN COSTELLO
Last Updated: 6:37 AM, July 5, 2012
Posted: 12:44 AM, July 5, 2012
At the end of the 2011 season, Rex Ryan said “C” you later.
The Jets coach dumped the idea of having captains after putting a “C” on players’ chests for the first time last season. It ended up blowing up with Santonio Holmes, a captain, fighting with another captain, Mark Sanchez, and the team’s chemistry becoming a focal point when the 8-8 season was analyzed.
This year, Ryan is ditching the captains. Players say the lack of named leaders has had little effect. Some believe it enables everyone to feel like a leader, rather than just the few who were chosen.
Neil Miller
Santonio Holmes Criticized teammates.
“I think in a situation like that where there are no captains named, it kind of forces guys to step up and take ownership,” guard Matt Slauson said, “and guys like Brandon [Moore] have done a phenomenal job with that. Mark [Sanchez] has done a phenomenal job, obviously. Those are just the offensive guys. It kind of forces those guys to step up and all the rest of us respect them even more because that ‘C’ is not just given to them.”
Ryan selected Holmes, Sanchez, Moore, Eric Smith, Sione Pouha and Darrelle Revis as captains last year. Holmes seemed emboldened by having the “C” on his chest, referencing it several times while making remarks critical of some teammates. His implosion at the end of the season forced Ryan to reconsider the idea of captains. Instead of embarrassing Holmes by stripping him of the title, he did away with the idea completely.
Moore said the Jets’ locker room has plenty of leaders, and that has nothing to do with the things people see publicly. Guys have set the tone during the spring with how they have worked behind the scenes.
“You guys in the media like to anoint leaders,” Moore said. “But there’s people here every day who are veterans, starters who are leading by example, helping a young guy, setting the tempo, leading by doing his job at a high level or limiting his [mental errors] or running to the next drill. That’s leadership. If that’s the case, a lot of guys are doing that.”
Sanchez organized his annual “Jets West” camp to bring the skill players on offense together. Sanchez has shut the media out of this year’s camp to further drive home the togetherness.
“At Jets West, we get a chance to really get in the playbook, but it’s more for having fun, being with each other and getting a feel for the other players in this skill position group,” Sanchez said. “As far as defensive groups, I know some guys go on vacation with each other. I know some guys stick around here and work out as much as they can here. It just seems like we have a close unit, so I don’t think that stuff will fade. ’’As soon as we get back to camp, they’ll pack us in the dorms and we’ll be together for a month.”
Different position groups have had outings this offseason to help bonding. Tight end Dustin Keller rented a yacht for a night and had the tight ends and receivers cruising around Manhattan. The offensive line and defensive line went out to dinner, but the two groups had different philosophies when the bill came. The offensive line handed the check to one of the young guys (no one would say whom). Pouha picked up the tab for the D line, something he learned from Shaun Ellis when he was a young player.
“The real emblem is not the ‘C’, it’s the team name on the front of your jersey,” Pouha said. “It doesn’t affect us in any way. We know we’re all here to help each other. We all stand in one line and march together.”
brian.costello@nypost.com
Read more: http://www.nypost.co...O#ixzz1zkueVoGJ
