The Jets returned to work Tuesday with a few less teammates. The team went from 75 players to 53 over the weekend, and the players were getting used to who was gone and who was new.
One of the most noteworthy cuts was cornerback Dimitri Patterson, whom the team dumped after his disappearing act the week before. Players were cautious to say too much about Patterson, but no one seemed too upset Patterson was gone.
“I don’t have any reaction,” guard Willie Colon said. “I didn’t know enough to feel any emotion toward him. I just know he wasn’t there for a game and everything else was he said/he said, so to speak. I’m not going to comment on how he’s been disciplined because I don’t know enough.”
Colon said he thinks Patterson may have been able to come back to the team if he had taken responsibility for his actions.
“I think there’s always some level of accountability you have to have, especially when you’re new to a team,” Colon said. “I think he would have had to come in and say, ‘Hey, this is what happened X, Y and Z,’ whether he’s right, wrong or indifferent. That didn’t happen so it is what it is.”
The team dumped Patterson after he failed to show up for the Giants preseason game two weeks ago, then disappeared for two days without telling them where he was. The Jets initially suspended Patterson for the rest of the preseason, but he sealed his fate when he issued a statement to ESPN basically calling general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan liars.
“It was shocking,” safety Dawan Landry said about the whole situation. “I can’t really say too much about it. The GM and those guys made their decision. We just have to roll with it.”
First-round pick Calvin Pryor is excited about making his NFL debut on Sunday. The hard-hitting safety will start against the Raiders.
Asked if he feels like he is ready, Pryor smiled and said, “I’ve been ready.”
The Jets do not have to release an official injury report until Wednesday.
While the media was watching practice, CB Dee Milliner (ankle), S Josh Bush (quad), LB Nick Bellore (calf) and OLB IK Enemkpali (foot) were on the stationary bikes. TE Jeff Cumberland (Achilles) began practice in the trainer’s area, but joined practice. … Former Jets WR Stephen Hill, who was cut over the weekend, signed with the Panthers to their practice squad. … The Jets signed draft picks LB Jeremiah George and WR Quincy Enunwa to their practice squad.