Jets must solve disciplinary issues before it is too late

Heading into the second season of their rebuild, it has become abundantly clear that the New York Jets have a major problem with discipline. 2018 fourth-round draft pick, Chris Herndon, adds to the list of players who the Jets have seen get themselves into trouble.

When head coach, Todd Bowles, and general manager, Mike Maccagnan, formed a new regime with the New York Jets in 2015, many believed that the so-called “circus” within the organization would cease to exist. At this point, things do seem to have gotten a lot better in the facility on a day to day basis. However, we’re seeing players get into trouble on their own at an alarming rate.

Along with rookie tight end Chris Herndon who recently got a DWI, players such as star receiver Robby Anderson, 2017 fifth-round draft pick Dylan Donahue, and others have gotten into trouble off the field. New York has gotten relatively lucky to this point as they haven’t seen any horribly damaging suspensions. If something doesn’t change soon though, their luck will run out.

So, what exactly has to change for this problem to be solved? There are a few factors that go into it, but the most important is clearly what punishments are handed out following incidents such as a DWI.

Bowles and Maccagnan have been very lenient to this point giving most of these players support with their troubles. While this works in many cases, it hasn’t in any way slowed the rate of promising players getting into troubling situations with the league.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets should target TE Hunter Henry in free agency
• NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
• NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
• NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency

The main point here is that the Jets may need to lay down the law if another situation like this comes up. If the regime start handing out their own punishments, maybe players will be more fearful of consequences such as fines, suspensions, and even the possibility of falling out of favor with the team and losing a roster spot.

Another aspect that should be seriously looked into is the education that young players are getting when they come to the Jets. The team needs to make sure that players are aware of the trouble they can get into and the harm they can do to the team.

Overall, the Jets must put more of an emphasis on these issues and make more of an effort to stop it. It doesn’t matter what it takes, having a completely clean football culture is as important as anything for an organization. Gang Green must start worrying about their culture before anything else if they’re going to put an end to the madness.