Jets begin players-only practices in NJ
An NFL football sits on a cooler as New York Jets defensive end Jamaal Westerman stands nearby as a group of players hold an informal practice in Morris County, N.J. (June 2, 2011) Credit: AP
Typically, this is the week the Jets would be immersed in mandatory minicamp, their final practices together before going their separate ways until training camp.
Mark Sanchez & Co. are doing their best to unofficially stick to the script.
The Jets kicked off three days of practices Monday at an undisclosed location in New Jersey, according to a source. From 40 to 45 players attended the session, which was open to all Jets players, unlike Sanchez's "Jets West" camp last month in Southern California that was limited to the skill positions.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, speaking Monday night in Roslyn before the third annual gala for his foundation, didn't offer any insight into the Jets' latest player-organized workouts. But the Freeport native couldn't deny the benefits of finally getting together with teammates.
"Camaraderie is something you can never get enough of," Ferguson said. "It builds those trust relationships. It helps with having a good relationship and rapport with individuals outside as well on the field, so it's real when it's crunch time. Because oftentimes you have to rely on others to do your job in order to have team success.
"So any time we can have camaraderie, that's something huge."
This week's workout comes less than two weeks after five Jets defensive players -- Sione Pouha, Mike DeVito, Muhammad Wilkerson, Jamaal Westerman and Ropati Pitoitua -- held their own session at a Morris County, N.J., high school.
"Again, when we get the guys together, it's great. It's good because it's a team," Ferguson said. "It's one team and that unit is something that you constantly have to work on. It definitely helps us build what we try to do, which is build a family and build a championship."
More Jets
