Calvin Pryor: I wouldn't have taken Jaiquawn Jarrett out
Dawan Landry #26 and Jaiquawn Jarrett #37 of the New York Jets look on after a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Jim McIsaac
If he were the coach, Calvin Pryor would have let Jaiquawn Jarrett play the entire game as well.
Two days after he was benched in favor of his no-name counterpart, Pryor acknowledged (in not so many words) he was late to a meeting. But when asked if his benching was related to his tardiness, the first-round pick offered a "no comment."
Pryor did say that he appreciated his teammates taking him aside and explaining what's expected of a first-round pick. "Those guys are my big brothers. They want what's best for me," he said, though he added that "I'm pretty sure it's not the first time guys have been late."
Pryor played only 13 special-teams snaps in Sunday's win over the Steelers; Jarrett was in for all 64 defensive plays. The pair of safeties rotated during practices last week, but on Friday Jarrett was told he would start. The Brooklyn native had a career day, recording his first sack, his first two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
"Jarrett had a hot hand. Why not leave him in?" Pryor asked. "I wouldn't have taken him out."
That being said, the 18th overall pick has issued a challenge to himself. "I've got a little chip on my shoulder right now," Pryor said. "Kind of my back is against the wall, so to speak. Because everything, just expectations and just me, personally, taking it upon myself. I haven't been playing the way I should . . . I have to look at myself and tell myself and just go do better."
Tomlin: Blitz was wrong
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin agreed with Rex Ryan Tuesday, calling Mike Mitchell's victory-formation blitz "unprofessional." "We don't want to play football like that," Tomlin added. "Mike is an emotional guy, he's new to us, learning how we do business." Tomlin said miscommunication led to the safety leaping over the line of scrimmage in an attempt to force a turnover with just seconds left in the game.
"He came over and said something to me prior to that sequence on the sideline,"Tomlin said. "I couldn't hear what he said. I just kind of acknowledged him and nodded. I guess that he assumed that I gave him those instructions, the OK for him to do that. I showed that play to the team yesterday and just wanted to be very clear about how we play and what it is we value."
