Quinton Coples' release by Todd Bowles sent a message to Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick hopes trimming his beard will be the event that changes the mojo of the Jets’ locker room after a 1-4 skid has brought this team to its knees after a 4-1 start.

But it’s something with far more direct consequences to the football operation that has a great chance of turning Todd Bowles’ team around heading down the stretch toward the playoffs.

Bowles' release of former first-round pick Quinton Coples was the move that sent the clearest message yet of how serious the coach is about his team’s current malaise.

Bowles chose not to go into much detail about his reasons for Coples’ release, calling it a business decision and explaining that Coples simply wasn’t playing all that much anyway. But make no mistake about a coach who isn’t much for words: His actions resonated – loudly – inside the locker room.

And if this move pays dividends like the one Tom Coughlin made with his own underperforming player, then the Jets soon will snap out of a funk that is five weeks long and counting. Preston Parker may not have been a first-round pick, but with a handful of dropped passes in the Giants’ 0-2 start, Coughlin’s decision to send the slot receiver packing sent an unmistakable message throughout the locker room.

The Giants responded with an immediate improvement in the passing game, and they have won five of their last eight games heading into Sunday’s divisional showdown in Washington on Sunday. Parker’s release has led to the emergence of Dwayne Harris, who was signed mostly as a return man but who is now a key target for Eli Manning, and Harris is now making important contributions to the offense.

Bowles hopes a far more noticeable roster move with a player once considered the answer to the Jets’ pass rush problems can have a similar effect. It’s uncertain who might emerge in Coples’ absence, although it may not be coincidental that his release comes a week after the Jets promoted former Chaminade and Princeton star defensive end Mike Catapano to the active roster.

Catapano may not have the physical skills or athleticism of Coples, but he’s a far more energetic player who can at least help inject some much-needed enthusiasm for a defense that has looked far too listless and unemotional during this five-game stretch. The Jets already are getting contributions from rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, who has emerged as their only outside pass rushing threat and could see an even more expanded role in Coples’ absence.

The Jets won’t need to look far to see where Coples landed. He was claimed on waivers by the Dolphins, who visit the Jets on Sunday in a critical AFC East game at MetLife Stadium. It’s no coincidence the Dolphins were the team that put in the first claim for Coples. Miami general manager Mike Tannenbaum was the Jets’ GM when Coples was drafted 16th overall in 2012.
But Bowles doesn’t much care that Coples wound up with the team he’s facing Sunday. He cares about how his team will be impacted by the player’s release.

“Of course it sent a message,” safety Calvin Pryor said. “At any given point, anybody’s job can be taken away. It’s all about taking care of your business the right way.”

Coples fell out of favor with Bowles and his staff early on. His inconsistent effort was a source of frustration, and the fact that he rarely contributed during games led to a steady decline in his snaps. He played on just five snaps in last Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Houston.

“I’m pretty sure guys are opening their eyes and seeing what’s in front of them and are taking the job very seriously,” Pryor said. “He was a good teammate. I’m sad we lost him, because he’s a good friend. He was a guy I enjoyed playing with.”

Defensive end Sheldon Richardson said Coples’ release was particularly difficult.

“Seeing Coples leave got to the defensive line more than the rest of the guys,” he said. “It’s a business. We knew that coming in. This stuff happens. Just got to make changes.”

Center Nick Mangold said the Coples release resonated in the locker room.

“Obviously, it was felt he wasn’t doing his job,” Mangold said. “That’s the crazy part about our business, is that at any point, you could be on a different team or out of the league. It’s what have you done for me lately. You mess up enough, bad things are going to happen.”

Bad for Coples, but good for the Jets if the players respond to the move Bowles felt he had to make to shake up his slumping team. The coach was seething after this latest loss, and screamed at his team in the locker room afterward, according to defensive end Mo Wilkerson.

A day later, words weren’t needed for the coach’s message to be delivered. Coples’ release was all that needed to be said.

Just like the message the Giants received – and heeded – from their own coach.