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Joe knows.
Who he wants in the Jets’ locker room.
And having the privilege to participate in Zoom Media Conference Calls yesterday with new Jets defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins and Vinny Curry, these are two more guys who fit Joe’s blueprint.
Another pair of high character guys who “get it.” Just watch these press conferences and see for yourself. I know it’s not just about press conferences, I get it. It goes a lot deep with these two guys. You will see that when read about them.
I know some fans are getting bored with all the references to “culture,” but it’s so important in sports.
And Douglas and his staff are bending over backwards to vet the players the Jets are drafting and signing. They aren’t messing around. This isn’t just lip service.
I want to focus on Curry a little more today. Will get back to Rankins at some point.
Douglas was with Curry in Philly, and he made a beeline for him in free agency last year, but Curry re-signed with the Eagles. Curry lost his brother to COVID-19, and just didn’t feel it was a good time to change teams.
So when free agency started again this year, Douglas went after Curry again, and this time he landed the Neptune, New Jersey-native.
Douglas knew he wanted this guy in his locker room. He’s everything Joe loves in a a player – great character, very smart and tough, to go along with an unbelievable motor.
Curry isn’t necessarily the most physically gifted pass rusher, but he goes a million miles an hour on every play. As they say in the football world: “He plays with his hair on fire.”
“(Former Eagles defensive line coach) Jim Washburn used to call me ‘The Caveman’ – I find a way to kick ass and take names,” Curry said when I asked him about his playing style.
Curry had a smile on his face the entire Zoom Conference Call with writers. He’s a special guy and Joe knows it, and he wants him around his young players to show them the way.
Curry said something about Robert Saleh that needs to be brought up more when talking about the Jets new coach – the impressive play of the 49ers defensive line after losing three starters for the season, including star defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. They kept rolling along on a high level with backups.
“Anybody who watched football, I hope paid attention to that – what he did was amazing,” said Curry. “For his starters to get hurt and he comes back with the second group, and do what he did, that is amazing man.”
It really was. I watched a lot of 49ers games last year, and was so impressed with how well that D-Line played after losing so many key players. A lot of that was culture and coaching.
And Curry (and Rankins) are really important additions to not just the Jets’ D-Line, but their culture.
Douglas isn’t going to bring knuckleheads to Florham Park.
I can assure you of that.
As I said before, there is a intense vetting process by Douglas and company, before players are brought to work at One Jets Drive.
April 14, 2021
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