flgreen Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Sheldon Richardson: I wanted to play for a guy like Rex By Steve Serby November 28, 2013 | 2:33pm Modal Trigger Sheldon Richardson Photo: Charles Wenzelberg This one Thanksgiving Day back in St. Louis was the among the best of times for little Sheldon Richardson. “It was a cold winter. About eight inches of snow, and we were at my grandmother’s house. It was just me and my folks and little cousins just having a good old time while we were thankful,” Richardson recalled. The Jets, you may have observed, haven’t had a lot to be thankful for over the years. Broadway Joe Namath… a Super Bowl 45 years ago… the New York Sack Exchange… the Cinderella story of Wayne Chrebet… Bill Parcells in 1998… Curtis Martin… Rex Ryan in 2009 and 2010… Darrelle Revis… Muhammad Wilkerson… and now, a bright-eyed rookie named Sheldon Richardson. There weren’t very many Jets fans who would have imagined that Sheldon Richardson would have captured Defensive Rookie of the Month for November honors on draft night. The hue and cry went something like this: How could John Idzik draft TWO defensive players, Dee Milliner with the ninth pick, and Sheldon Richardson with the 13th pick acquired in the Revis trade? How will Richardson possibly fit in Ryan’s defense? Why Richardson instead of Sharif Floyd and Star Lotulelei? Richardson was at Radio City when the call that would change his life came. Ryan: “We want you to be a New York Jet.” Richardson: “I’m glad you called.” Ryan: “You ready?” Richardson: “Of course!” Ryan: “I already know you’re ready.” From afar, Richardson felt as if he knew Ryan j– passionate and intense just like him –ust a little bit. “He has a little bit of a filter now. . .I’ve seen Hard Knocks, so I’ve seen what he was like back in the day and I see how he is now,” Richardson said, and smiled. What does Richardson remember thinking at the time? “I liked him then. I’m a guy who’d love to play for a coach like that.” And so there the two of them were at practice Wednesday. “I didn’t find out I was Rookie of the Month ‘til after practice,” Richardson said. How’d you find out? “He made an announcement to the team,” Richardson said. “Everybody hand-clapped, and broke it down, that was the end of practice.” Of course, Ryan couldn’t resist tweaking his prized rookie. “He was like, ‘We got this stud on my team. He thinks he’s hot s- – t,’” Richardson said, and cracked up. In truth, Richardson is… a stud (59 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble). “I always had the utmost confidence in myself and my ability,” Richardson said. He always had this NFL dream. “Holding up the big one – - Lombardi Trophy, man, trying to work for that, man,” Richardson said. He’ll be waiting for that night, of course, until the Jets identify their modern-day Broadway Joe at the very least. First things first. “Trying to make the Pro Bowl right now, man, if I couldn’t get a Super Bowl,” Richardson said. He isn’t as strong as Joe Klecko used to be, but he’s lightning quick for a 294-pound man. When Richardson describes his onfield mentality, he sounds like the young Klecko. “Determined… ruthless… there’s a whole bunch of names I can call it, man,” he says. “It’s just the determination to win.” Ruthless in what way? “Just getting after the quarterback. . .any means to win,” he said. Are you one of those guys that doesn’t like the quarterback? “I like Geno,” Richardson says, and smiles. “I like Garrard, Simms… all my guys, man.” How about on the other team? “Ah, can’t say the same for them. Can’t say the same for them.” How about running backs? “Chris Ivory, Bilal… all them guys, man, they’re my dogs.” He loves playing for these Jets fans. “They’re intense, intense. Crazy about their green-and-white, man… I love it,” Richardson says. What kind of feedback do you get from them on Gameday? “Ah man, they should be coaches!” Richardson says, and laughs. “It’s all fun and games, though. It’s the experience they get, and I’m glad they’re having a good time.” No. 91 on your program, dream rookie living the dream. “It’s a blessing to be here waking up every day. Win, lose or draw, I’m just happy to be in the NFL playing. It could be worse,” Richardson said. No turkey on Thanksgiving Day. “I’m more of a ham guy,” Richardson says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 If this is true, Rex deserves that extension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM28 Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Gotta love this kid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Ham guy? Cut him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 If this is true, Rex deserves that extension. + Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 What is Stephen Hill thankful for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SayNoToDMC Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 What is Stephen Hill thankful for? Mike Tannenbaum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Mike Tannenbaum ^Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sourceworx Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Mike Tannenbaum Exactly. He's thankful there was an idiot who was dumb enough to draft him in the second round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flgreen Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share Posted November 29, 2013 What is Stephen Hill thankful for? Geno Smith (Somebody on offense worst then him) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Really brings a tear to the eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billo83 Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 sourceworx, on 28 Nov 2013 - 6:28 PM, said: Exactly. He's thankful there was an idiot who was dumb enough to draft him in the second round. Meh. Most of what I read had him going in the 2nd or 3rd and a few even said in the back end of the 1st. Tanny's mistake was not drafting Wilson even when his buddy Bradway was screaming to get him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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