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Let’s talk about the Jets release of David Harris.
Todd Bowles said it was an “organizational decision.”
First of all, this wasn’t an “organizational decision” – it was Mike Maccagnan’s decision.
Lets’ get that out of the way up front.
The bucks stops with him. He makes personnel decisions. He did this. Let’s not sugarcoat it.
Sometimes Mike seems more book smart than street smart. I talked about the importance of him being more of a GM, less college scouting director. There is a difference.
This Harris situation wasn’t handled well.
I actually don’t think it’s a terrible football decision, but it should have been done in March.
To approach Harris about a contract reduction in June was no way approach this situation.
I’m not into this entitlement stuff, saying a team “owes” a player something.
Harris has made a nice money over his 11 years with the Jets. Good for him. He’s a terrific guy.
Harris was very average last season and should have been asked to take a pay cut early this off-season. His coverage skills have declined.
But that pay cut discussion should have been in March, not June.
Just be upfront about this, man. Don’t play games. Don’t hold a gun to Harris’ head on June 6, and “say take it or leave it,” after he busted his butt through the team’s entire off-season program.
Come to him in early March and say, “we would like to take you salary from $6 to $3 million.” If he declines, release him, like Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis, and wish him well.
To make him go through the weight work and the gut drills the last three months, at the age of 33, and then pull this on him in June, is just bad bedside manner in my opinion.
Now from a football standpoint, I don’t think this move is going to hurt the Jets much.
Harris lumbers in space, but that isn’t something new that reared it’s head this spring. It was going on last year. That is why I’m saying that if you wanted him to take a pay cut, you could have pointed to last season as the reason why.
Bruce Carter is better in coverage than Harris. You could make an argument Julian Stanford is as well. Both of these players are better in space than Harris. Harris might have the edge in run support, but that is where DeMario Davis fills the void. Davis is a tackling machine in run support.
Also, Davis is a great leader, so that helps the Jets fill the Harris leadership void.
So once again, this move isn’t going to devastate the Jets on the field.
I just think that Maccagnan didn’t handle this well.
Why did Harris need to leave the Jets on bad terms. If they were upfront with him in March, and released him then, there would be less rancor. Harris seems pissed. There was no reason for this to end so badly.
June 6, 2017
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