New York Jets Quotes: Todd Bowles speaks on first day

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Jul 31, 2015

The start of a new era on the New York Jets has officially begun with training camps starting. New head coach Todd Bowles already held his first day of training camp as it was a great way to address the team, the media and of course, a fan base ready to take a positive step to a brighter future. There is a long road ahead but Bowles has so far proven to be the right man for the job to push this team to a rebounding season and hopefully build a contender again.

We here at The Jet Press would like to thank the Media Relations Department of the Jets for sending us a complete transcript of what Bowles had to say about the first training camp he ran with his new team. Here is what he had to say:

More from Jets News

Opening Statement…

We’re out of pads. A couple of people fell. Everybody ran around. We’re working the kinks out and we know we have a long process. They worked hard and we will go from there.

On how Geno Smith looked today…

If I said I was watching him the whole time I’d be lying, I was looking at everybody. I’ll have to look at the film to get a better grasp of it. He looked sharp, he had some recall from what he was doing.

On his overall message during the team’s first meeting…

The biggest thing is what we’re here for, accountability. You know we’re going to work hard every day, we’re not going to look past the day. We just try to win the day and get better. We have to be accountable for each other. We have to have chemistry and we have to play as a team. We’ve got to play a lot smarter than we’ve been playing. In spring we made a lot of mistakes and (I) kind of let them know what the rules were and what I wanted, what I didn’t want and we went from there.

On his feelings about Sheldon Richardson’s suspension…

Obviously disappointed about something like that. You know, it’s been awhile since he’s been suspended, we’ve to come to grips with it and help him hopefully get help with his problem. He’ll practice every day and we’ll get him in shape. It will be a good lesson for him. I’m sure his parents are more disappointed than anybody and understands that. His actions will speak louder than his words going forward.

On if he is extra disappointed because of the type of suspension Richardson received…

You’re disappointed because one of your players got suspended regardless of the crime or whatever happened. So from that standpoint you’re disappointed, but at the same time you have to go forward with the other guys.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91) answers questions from media about his substance abuse suspension during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On his plans for Richardson during training camp knowing that he will miss games…

He’s practicing, I mean we’ve talked about it he understands. He’s running the second team right now to get his reps because he is not playing the first four games. So he understands that and we have that discussion already and that’s how we’ll use him.

On if he plans to keep Richardson on the second team all training camp…

Mostly, depending on what the guys go down and different packages he’ll get some (first team) reps here and there. But for the most part he will get his designated reps on second team.

On when he found out about Richardson’s suspension…

Sometime this summer. I don’t know because I had surgery, it was kind of on my phone a little bit and I hadn’t checked it in a few days. When I found out this summer, we called and talked about it and went from there.

On if he found out about Richardson’s suspension shortly after minicamp…

Yeah it was around that time. It was after minicamp, I can’t say the exact date

On what it means for Leonard Williams’ learning curve to get more reps…

It doesn’t accelerate (his learning. It’s a process. He gets a lot of reps, all of the defensive linemen do. We’ll see how many guys, if not one, how many guys can fill that spot.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams (62) answers questions from the media during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On if Williams will the get line share that Richardson would have got…

He’ll get a bunch of snaps at it. I mean we have (Leger) Douzable, (Stephen) Bowen and we have (Kevin) Vickerson sitting over there. We have a bunch of guys that will get reps, but Leonard (Williams), we’ll take a long look at him.

On Muhammad Wilkerson coming to camp…

Mo (Wilkerson) is a good guy, he’s a competitor, obviously every player wants a better contract but he came in. He is a professional. He’s a great guy to be around and we’re happy to have him here.

On out of the guys on the PUP list, which one will be able to come off first…

We’ll see how Willie (Colon) goes, he may be the quickest off the list, but we’ll kind of go from there.

On if he has any reaction to Tom Brady’s suspension being upheld…

Not really, no.

On his plan with the right guard position in camp…

There will be different guys taking different reps in different drills and we’ll get a better feel when the pads come on. They are going to battle that spot out. There are some tough people in there and they are going to battle it out.

On not putting Dee Milliner on the PUP…

He did individuals today and he ran well yesterday and he’s been doing well all summer. In the next two days or so he’ll do more.

On the weather being like this on the first day of camp and having to move inside…

When I played, I don’t think we saw rain for about six years. It’s supposed to be hot but it’s a little different. When the siren goes off and the thunder, it gets a little dangerous and we have to go indoors.

On his schedule with putting practice in the middle of the day…

It’s hot. It’s not Cortland, guys need to get in shape. Some guys ran indoors all summer. We need to get in heat shape. If we practice in 70 degrees then go play a preseason game in 90-degree weather then we’re in trouble, but this helps get guys in shape and helps with curfew at night so guys have nothing to do but go to sleep. It’s just really about getting guys in football shape.

On if Stevan Ridley is close to being able to practice…

He runs well straight ahead, we’re not trying to rush him. We’re going to take it as a process and from that standpoint we’ll go forward and I’ll know more as it goes. But I can’t tell you what his timetable is. I would hope it’s short and it’s a couple of weeks, but I can’t tell you for sure.

Oct 5, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vincent Rey (57) during the second half quarter at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 43-17. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

On if he had any concern Wilkerson wouldn’t show up for training camp…

I didn’t think of it one way or the other. He came to minicamp which was a positive sign and that says a lot about him. You know the kid, you know the character. You had an idea, but you didn’t know until he showed up.

On if he gets the sense that Wilkerson is bothered that he doesn’t have a new contract…

No. He’s been fine.

On if there are any other guys, other than Milliner, that have some restrictions in practice…

No.

On how different it seemed overseeing the whole operation as a head coach…

It didn’t seem much different. You can’t focus in on certain things or certain groups at one time. You have to go back and look at the film a few more times to see everyone. So from that standpoint it’s a little different.

On if the push-ups have replaced the wind sprints as extracurricular activities in camp…

There will be different things. That is what they came up with. We are in camp and it’s hot and there is a lot of running going on so you don’t really want to run them, temperature wise, and run them after that. So it was push-ups today.

Next: Coffee with the New York Jets: Richardson may never play again

More from The Jet Press