Jets secondary hopes its 'New Jack City' moniker brings respect
Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne speaks to the media wearing a New Jack City T-shirt after training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on Tuesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – As catchy nicknames go, it isn’t exactly the New York Sack Exchange, or the Legion of Boom, but cornerback Morris Claiborne is hoping the “New Jack City’’ moniker the Jets secondary has given itself will catch on around the NFL, and will cause people to have a healthy respect for the Jets’ defensive backs.
“We want people to fear us when we walk out,’’ Claiborne said after practice, while proudly wearing his black New Jack City T-shirt. “We’re gonna walk out, we’re going to talk, we’re going to play on the edge but not hurt the team. We’re going to go out there and leave it out there. From me, to Tru(maine Johnson), to – every guy in that room, Buster (Skrine), everybody – we have the same mindset, and that’s to go out and perform at a high level.’’
The Jets DBs are feeling pretty good about themselves, and the potential they have to be great. Led by second-year safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, with Claiborne and free agent import Johnson on the corners and Skrine in the slot, the Jets believe their secondary is poised to do big things this year.
“I feel like we can do a lot of things,’’ Claiborne said. “I feel like we can, this group, with this team, we can go somewhere it hasn’t been in a while. We’re loaded with talent on the back end … We have all the pieces; we just have to find a way to put it together and get some wins.’’
K Myers claimed
Apparently concerned about the health of K Cairo Santos, who is still healing after having had groin surgery in the offseason, the Jets claimed K Jason Myers off waivers from Seattle. The team also has Tyler Bertolet on the roster. Bertolet has done the kicking in the first two preseason games.
Pryor, Enunwa game-time decisions
Coach Todd Bowles said WRs Terrelle Pryor and Quincy Enunwa will be game-time decisions regarding whether they play in Friday’s preseason game against the Giants. Pryor, who got in trouble with Bowles for disclosing to the media that he broke his ankle in May, has been running well at practice and is “close’’ to returning, but Bowles pointed out Pryor has been practicing on grass, and would be playing on FieldTurf at MetLife Stadium. Enunwa is recovering from a thumb injury, so the turf wouldn’t affect that. Maye, who is also dealing with an ankle injury that dates back to last season, is a possibility, too, Bowles said. OL Kelvin Beachum (foot) is “probably behind the other ones,’’ Bowles said, but if he’s healthy he will play. TE Jordan Leggett, who has been battling a knee problem, “looks healthy, finally.’’ He will “definitely play’’ Friday, Bowles said.
Bowles says Mauldin 'in the mix'
Bowles was asked about a tweet Monday from LB Lorenzo Mauldin, which made it sound as if Mauldin expects to be cut soon. “Praying for better days,’’ the since-deleted tweet read. “I’m ready for what’s going to happen so it’s not a surprise.’’
“I didn’t hear that. I didn’t see it,’’ Bowles said. “I don’t have Twitter, or anything. I don’t really know what he’s talking about. He’s in the mix, like everybody else.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
