Cimini Can Write

[Dunnie]

Really nice article from Rich. The guy can write when he applies himself.
 
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40077096/aaron-rodgers-update-qwantez-stiggers-draft-journey-jets-notebook
 
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[Bronx]

1. Super sleeper: Most NFL prospects are discovered on Saturday afternoons in the fall, before massive crowds and national TV audiences. On rare occasions, there's a hidden gem such as cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers. For him, it took a random find on Facebook, a recommendation from one of former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie's old coaches, a life-changing email and a shrewd scouting department north of the border.

This is how Stiggers wound up on the NFL radar, eventually drafted by the Jets in the fifth round -- only the third player in the common draft era (since 1967) to be selected without having attended college.

"It's still surreal for me," he said Friday at rookie minicamp. "Never thought I'd be here."

He was supposed to attend Lane College, a Division II school in Jackson, Tennessee, but he paused his football career and returned home to Atlanta to help support his family (13 siblings) when his father died after several months in a coma because of injuries from a car crash. When Stiggers was ready to resume, his mother searched the internet for playing opportunities, eventually signing him up for Fan Controlled Football, a 7-on-7 indoor league that operated on the premise that fans called plays on their phone.

John Jenkins, a coach in the league, was impressed by Stiggers' potential. Jenkins, who was the offensive coordinator with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 1997 when Flutie was the quarterback, was on a routine visit with the Argos in 2022 when he told them about Stiggers.

"[He] told us about this young, 20-year-old phenom kid," Argos assistant general manager Vince Magri said in a phone interview.

"Honestly, it all sounded a little out of left field."

But, what the heck, they took his name and filed it away. Eventually, they tracked down game film -- which wasn't easy. It was difficult to track his games on YouTube because FCF rosters reset every week. The FCF streamlined things by emailing video links to the Argos, who were able to study every play that directly involved Stiggers.

Magri was impressed. Soon, the videos made the rounds with Toronto staffers and coaches taking looks. They were blown away. Magri said the consensus was, "Am I crazy with what I'm seeing?" He added, "Everyone thought there's a potential gem here."

New York Jets fifth-round draft pick Qwan'tez Stiggers tries to make a tackle last season for the Toronto Argonauts. David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire
They interviewed Stiggers, now 22, by phone and offered him a contract. Not only did he make the team, but he recorded five interceptions and became the first defensive back in 25 years to win the CFL's rookie of the year. Some NFL teams wanted to sign him as a free agent, but he was ineligible because he didn't attend college. The rules required him to go through the draft process.

Magri reached out to a friend, Eric Galko, the director of operations and player personnel for the East-West Shrine Bowl. He offered a roster spot to Stiggers, who dazzled NFL scouts at the all-star game with his size (6-foot, 204 pounds), speed (4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and sticky pass coverage.

"A man among boys as a man-coverage corner," Galko said by phone, adding that Stiggers impressed so many with his maturity and desire to learn.

By now, Stiggers was no longer a scouting secret, although he didn't get an invite to the scouting combine. The Jets' pro scouts had eyes on him in the CFL, with the college scouts taking over during the pre-draft process. Drew Morris, a former CFL scout, did a lot of the legwork.

Stiggers said he's grateful to the CFL for the opportunity, adding, "Everybody that missed out on me, now they have to pay."

He made $73,000 Canadian during his lone season with the Argos, which equates to $54,000 in current U.S. dollars. His four-year contract with the Jets will average about $1.1 million per year.

2. Mission: Super Bowl. The 2023 offseason was dominated by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The hype has died down, and it's all about football, according to captain C.J. Mosley.

"I feel like we're in a position now where we're not even thinking about that stuff anymore," Mosley said. "Once we get on the field, once we all get together as a team, we should be on a mission and one mission only -- and that's to win a Super Bowl. If anyone is still starstruck when they see Aaron, get that out of the way. If not, he's going to throw the ball and light you up anyway. All that's stuff that's not about winning, we're not worried about that anymore."

3. Tough losses: The front four is the bellwether of the defensive unit, and it took some big hits this offseason. Gone are starters John Franklin-Myers and Quinton Jefferson and team sack leader Bryce Huff. It's fair to wonder if the Jets erred in not keeping one or two.

Huff, Franklin-Myers and Jefferson combined for 134 quarterback pressures last season -- 44% of the defensive line's total, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. They combined for 78 run stops -- 34% of the total. Jefferson was their second-best run stuffer, based on run-stop percentage.

"The guys that are coming in to replace them, they have big shoes to fill," Mosley said.

The replacements are Haason Reddick, Javon Kinlaw and Leki Fotu, who combined for 97 quarterback pressures and 66 run stops with their respective teams last season.

Reddick, one of the NFL's most prolific pass rushers, will be a three-down player at end, with Kinlaw and Fotu likely to split time alongside Quinnen Williams at tackle. Will McDonald IV and Micheal Clemons will have to step into bigger backup roles on the outside. They're counting on Clemons to replace Franklin-Myers as the so-called enforcer, but it will be hard to duplicate his third-down rushing from the inside.

4. Idol chatter: First-round pick Olu Fashanu started studying Tyron Smith video as a sophomore at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. It was only his second year in football, his first on the line, so he figured the guy to emulate was Smith, a perennial Pro Bowl selection with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Jets in March.

"He's truly my football idol," Fashanu said.

5. Keeping busy: While Fashanu isn't slated to start, the Jets expect him to get plenty of valuable reps through the spring and summer because Smith, 33, will be on a modified practice program. Ditto, right tackle Morgan Moses, 33, which should create reps for others. Fashanu was limited in rookie camp because of a quadriceps strain from the combine.

6. Handy: In this age of draft-information overload, a player's hand size can become a talking point. Such is the case with Fashanu, who has unusually small hands for a person his size -- 8 ½ inches, easily the smallest among the 70 offensive linemen at this year's combine.

The last offensive lineman with 8 ½-inch hands was Isaiah Wynn, according to nflcombineresults.com. Wynn was a New England Patriots first-round pick in 2018.

7. A story for the ages: Rookie running back Braelon Allen (fourth round), who doesn't turn 21 until January, was the youngest player in the draft. Rodgers, 40, was the NFL's oldest player in 2023. Now the Jets could have the youngest and oldest player. Allen was a 1-year-old when Rodgers was drafted in 2005.

8. 'Jot' this down: Every offseason has a theme. This year, the coaches are preaching J.O.T. -- Just One Thing. They want each player to focus on one area of improvement. Linebacker Quincy Williams revealed his J.O.T. -- ball skills. He said he dropped too many would-be interceptions last season.

9. A name to watch: Quarterback PeeWee Jarrett, an undrafted rookie from Division II West Florida, has the kind of arm strength that will open some eyes. He amazed some scouts by launching 70-yard passes at West Florida, where he threw 65 touchdowns in two seasons.

10. Big investment: Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker's fifth-year option ($15.3 million) was exercised despite having played only 28 games -- unusual, but not unprecedented. Of the 18 first-round picks in 2021 whose options were picked up, one has logged fewer games than Vera-Tucker -- Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (21).

[TuscanyTile2]

3 minutes ago, Dunnie said:

Really nice article from Rich. The guy can write when he applies himself.
 
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40077096/aaron-rodgers-update-qwantez-stiggers-draft-journey-jets-notebook
 
Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

If this kid makes it, that would really be something.  Maybe the story of the draft!

 

Sounds like Bobby Slogans is back at it, btw:

Quote

8. 'Jot' this down: Every offseason has a theme. This year, the coaches are preaching J.O.T. -- Just One Thing. They want each player to focus on one area of improvement. Linebacker Quincy Williams revealed his J.O.T. -- ball skills. He said he dropped too many would-be interceptions last season.

 

[BreeceHallofFame]

Rich ChatGPT 

[Integrity28]

17 minutes ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

Sounds like Bobby Slogans is back at it, btw:

 

This is pretty typical stuff for a former-corporate leader. I’m guessing they don’t use teaching mantras for the fry cooks at Hardee’s?

[Bronx]

6 minutes ago, Integrity28 said:

fry cooks

 

[Adoni Beast]

1 hour ago, Dunnie said:

Really nice article from Rich. The guy can write when he applies himself.
 
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40077096/aaron-rodgers-update-qwantez-stiggers-draft-journey-jets-notebook
 
Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
 
 


 

Cimini is a pimp. He could never write something this good. But I didn't know until this day that Donnie was Cimini all along.

[Larz]

ESPN Cimini is very different than his usual crap.  There is a reason he doesn’t have a single source in the building but yes when he isn’t trolling he can be good 

[Integrity28]

40 minutes ago, Bronx said:

 

So you’re saying the motivational speeches are in binary?

[Rich Thornburgh]

Cimini can write, Zach can play quarterback and Saleh can coach.  Good day to ya!

[TuscanyTile2]

14 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

Cimini is a pimp. He could never write something this good. But I didn't know until this day that Donnie was Cimini all along.

Tattaglia is a pimp.  Cimini is just a sports writer.

[JetsFanatic]

36 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

Cimini is a pimp. He could never write something this good. But I didn't know until this day that Donnie was Cimini all along.

 

[Warfish]

It's always fun watching a collective group who can barely string together two coherent, consistent, logical sentences evaluating the writing skill of professional article writers as if they just won the Pulitzer themselves.

[jeremy2020]

It's amazing how the talent level of sports writers changes based on how much their opinion agrees with mine.. like why can't they write as well when they disagree with me?!

[The Crusher]

2 hours ago, Integrity28 said:

This is pretty typical stuff for a former-corporate leader. I’m guessing they don’t use teaching mantras for the fry cooks at Hardee’s?

They better not start. I hate waiting to eat. 

[Green Ghost]

52 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

It's amazing how the talent level of sports writers changes based on how much their opinion agrees with mine.. like why can't they write as well when they disagree with me?!

I came here to say just about the same things you and @Warfish did.

When I saw the thread title my first thought was “Cimini wrote something with a positive slant about the NYJ” had he done the opposite, he’d have been called a hack who writes for a site nobody cares about.

[Green Ghost]

4 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

They better not start. I hate waiting to eat. 

Is there anything worse than hearing “I don’t think it’s ready. I’m going to leave it in the oven another 5-10 minutes” and you’re sitting there at the table staring at an empty plate?

 

 

[The Crusher]

3 minutes ago, Green Ghost said:

Is there anything worse than hearing “I don’t think it’s ready. I’m going to leave it in the oven another 5-10 minutes” and you’re sitting there at the table staring at an empty plate?

 

 

I respect your self control, I’m not so blessed. 

[BigRy56]

I only take my Jets articles with a minimum of 15 anonymous sources. I am not reading this trash

[Green Ghost]

1 hour ago, BigRy56 said:

I only take my Jets articles with a minimum of 15 anonymous sources. I am not reading this trash

I love the stuff with anonymous sources. 

[Warfish]

25 minutes ago, Green Ghost said:

I love the stuff with anonymous sources. 

I presume most folks understand that the "anonymous" sources aren't anonymous to the writer or their employers, right? 

And that any reputable media entity will need to get independent confirmation of that source via another source before they'll publish, right?

And that most of the so-called anonymous sources in sports are the teams PR dept., front office staff, or players themselves.

And that without these sources we'd get a hell of alot less info about what's going on.

Don't get me wrong, dishonesty in the media is a thing, and some media is far, FAR worse about it than others.  

But a source being "anonymous" doesn't mean made up per se.  Even in the cesspool that is NY sports media.  

[Green Ghost]

23 minutes ago, Warfish said:

I presume most folks understand that the "anonymous" sources aren't anonymous to the writer or their employers, right? 

And that any reputable media entity will need to get independent confirmation of that source via another source before they'll publish, right?

And that most of the so-called anonymous sources in sports are the teams PR dept., front office staff, or players themselves.

And that without these sources we'd get a hell of alot less info about what's going on.

Don't get me wrong, dishonesty in the media is a thing, and some media is far, FAR worse about it than others.  

But a source being "anonymous" doesn't mean made up per se.  Even in the cesspool that is NY sports media.  

I’d be shocked if anyone doesn’t understand why anonymous sources are cited by journalists.

Akin to what @jeremy2020 mentioned a few moments ago, the angst over those anonymous sources only occurs when the reader disagrees with what’s been written in the story.

For example, there was a big to do here recently about a Russini/Rosenblatt story where they claimed up to 30 unnamed sources. It was refuted in an OP and in various other threads by someone who posts here saying he knew they fabricated the story.
I found it very amusing that he used an anonymous “source” he claims to have within the organization as his proof.

[bicketybam]

43 minutes ago, Warfish said:

I presume most folks understand that the "anonymous" sources aren't anonymous to the writer or their employers, right? 

And that any reputable media entity will need to get independent confirmation of that source via another source before they'll publish, right?

And that most of the so-called anonymous sources in sports are the teams PR dept., front office staff, or players themselves.

And that without these sources we'd get a hell of alot less info about what's going on.

Don't get me wrong, dishonesty in the media is a thing, and some media is far, FAR worse about it than others.  

But a source being "anonymous" doesn't mean made up per se.  Even in the cesspool that is NY sports media.  

Anonymous sources are legit when they support what you want to believe. 

[bitonti]

Cimini could always write 

What happened was he covered the team legit, reported the dysfunction and fans, rather than believe that, tore down the source 

That's the world we live in. I don't have to disprove the logic and facts presented against my chosen beliefs, I just have to attack the source 

[Warfish]

27 minutes ago, bicketybam said:

Anonymous sources are legit when they support what you want to believe. 

They're legit when they've been properly vetted by the standards generally used by most major journalists working for reputable entities, as noted.

They're not legit if not.

Has nothing to do with what I, or anyone else, believes or thinks.  Same way his writing can be evaluated as good or not on it's face, regardless of it's content.

[MykePM]

Cimini can write, and is usually good for a few stories each year that are really cool human interest pieces about someone tied to the Jets.  I remember him interacting with us fans 30 years ago in AOL chatrooms, back when that was a thing (I know I'm dating myself here).

What makes me shake my head (or laugh) sometimes is how he'll throw a negative comment into an otherwise "just deliver the news" article, usually at the very end, that seems almost outside the tone of the rest of it.  Maybe he's just jaded after so many years covering this black cloud franchise, or maybe he's savvy enough to know that when he does that he gets the positive/hopeful fans riled up and feeds into the negativity of the other faction.  Either way, paraphrasing the old cliché, there's no such thing as bad attention when you're in the public eye, and this thread is a perfect example.

[Lupz27]

9 hours ago, Warfish said:

It's always fun watching a collective group who can barely string together two coherent, consistent, logical sentences evaluating the writing skill of professional article writers as if they just won the Pulitzer themselves.

Either you can tell a story or you can’t.

It doesn’t take a well educated person to know a good story teller.

[Bowles Movement]

7 hours ago, bitonti said:

Cimini could always write 

What happened was he covered the team legit, reported the dysfunction and fans, rather than believe that, tore down the source 

That's the world we live in. I don't have to disprove the logic and facts presented against my chosen beliefs, I just have to attack the source 

Public distrust of main stream media has never been greater and its warranted.

“News” now means click bait, making up stories, and burying stories that don’t fit the intended narrative.

Maybe you missed the since fired NPR reporter story about the way the NPR works and who they hire?

[AFJF]

14 hours ago, Dunnie said:

Really nice article from Rich. The guy can write when he applies himself.
 
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40077096/aaron-rodgers-update-qwantez-stiggers-draft-journey-jets-notebook
 
Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
 
 


 

He's always been the best writer on the beat.  He just rarely has a story worth writing because they're usually a joke and fans get pissed when he tells the truth.

[AFJF]

1 hour ago, Bowles Movement said:

Public distrust of main stream media has never been greater and its warranted.

“News” now means click bait, making up stories, and burying stories that don’t fit the intended narrative.

Maybe you missed the since fired NPR reporter story about the way the NPR works and who they hire?

It's 100% warranted.

Like I tell my kids, the News is like any other TV show.  They need viewers to sell advertising.  Making people angry, scared or confused will keep them tuned in.  Has little to nothing to do with reality.

[Green Ghost]

Let’s be honest. Jet fans are soft.

The extent to which they’re offended by the media is comical.

[Rolloffjet]

13 minutes ago, Green Ghost said:

Let’s be honest. Jet fans are soft.

The extent to which they’re offended by the media is comical.

[jeremy2020]

2 hours ago, Bowles Movement said:

Public distrust of main stream media has never been greater and its warranted.

“News” now means click bait, making up stories, and burying stories that don’t fit the intended narrative.

Maybe you missed the since fired NPR reporter story about the way the NPR works and who they hire?

So where did you see that? In the media?

[Bowles Movement]

7 hours ago, jeremy2020 said:

So where did you see that? In the media?

 

[redlichtie]

He’s been excellent for years and people should appreciate him while they can, actually appears to be a Jets fan but doesn’t hold back on the criticism, ok he occasionally goes way overboard with things like the butt-fumble but his knowledge of this team is unmatched and his Sunday Notes are always informative.

People who complain about what a waste of space this team can be get all bent out of shape when he points out what a waste of space this team can be!….if all he did was rah rah they’d complain he’s a homer

guy can’t  win 

Rich Cimini is one of the few consistently good things about the Jets the last 30 years. His Flight Deck podcast is really good too, always has an interesting array of ex-jets come along.