NY Jets: Team welcomes back Sheldon Richardson

Despite his off the field issues, the NY Jets are easily welcoming back Sheldon Richardson to the team in hopes he learned his lesson.

The Jets have completed the first quarter of their season. They reside at 3-1 sitting in 2nd place of the AFC East. The team has shown flashes of playoff potential with Ryan Fitzpatrick holding the fort down at quarterback, Chris Ivory running over all enemies and Brandon Marshall catching anything within his wingspan.

On the defensive side of the football, the Jets have more than lived up to all expectations thus far and that has been without the services of one of, if not the most talented player on the entire roster in Richardson. The NFL has reinstated him and it appears that the NFL will not further discipline him at this point in time.

Sheldon Richardson’s pre-trial hearing continued as DL is reinstated from suspension. #nyj | http://t.co/MJSoSaMLiR

— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) October 5, 2015

It’s great news for fans around the league and it also instills fear into future opponents for the Jets that if their defense was that good without Richardson, imagine the defense now?

Head coach Todd Bowles almost seemed giddy with the thought of having Richardson back in the fold and he answered a few more questions at the Jets’ first press conference back from London; provided by their Media Relations Department:

On getting Sheldon Richardson back…

It gives us an extra weapon, extra depth down there. I mean, he’s a Pro Bowl player, he’s a heck of a player. (We) have to get him back in football shape and get him in the rotation and keep moving forward.

On if he has received an indication from the NFL if Richardson will receive extra discipline…

No, we still haven’t.

On if it will be a challenge to incorporate Richardson into the rotation with the way Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson have been playing…

No, you don’t have a challenge finding places for good players to play. You just play them.

On if he’s spoken to Richardson about returning…

I have not spoken to him since last week, before we left to go to London. But, he was here every day in meetings and everything else and working out and he was doing fine.

On if team will receive a roster exemption for Richardson…

We have about a week. We don’t have to do anything until next week.

Sep 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball in front of New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

“It gives us an extra weapon” for a defensive line that already consisted of: Harrison, Wilkerson and rookie Williams who hasn’t played so bad himself. Bowles will find ways to get Richardson involved, that’s for sure. But let’s talk for a moment about Richardson the person.

He made some critical errors in the off-season, a lot of bad judgement that resulted in him not only hurting himself in terms of his reputation and game-checks, but also his teammates for getting himself suspended. No one is bigger than any other man in the Jets’ locker room, let alone the NFL. Eventually you’ll get the cold-shoulder and you’ll lose your opportunity at greatness.

I seriously hope that Richardson has his priorities straight and he can come in, put his head down, and contribute to this team. Everyone knows the talent level of this kid as even Bowles said he’s Pro-Bowl talent since he’s got all the tools in the box to become a Hall-of-Fame-talent, a once in a generation kind of player.

For Richardson to reach that level he’s got to dedicate himself to the game that he loves not only for himself, but for his teammates. Luckily for Richardson it seems that his teammates have welcomed him back with open arms and are ready to move on and let bygones be bygones.

One of those teammates has had a mercurial past himself in Marshall, but so far with the Jets he’s been anything but. Not only putting up rock-star numbers, but being an even better teammate. He really displayed his leadership and maturity with this Twitter post and it just goes to show these may not be ‘the same ole’ Jets’.

Welcome back baby bro.. . We live and we Grow.. . #MindOverMatter pic.twitter.com/czStlHPxSi — Machine Marshall (@BMarshall) October 6, 2015

Next: NY Jets Flashback: Johnny Hector

More from The Jet Press

Home/Jets News