Braylon Edwards Takes a Leadership Role

by John B on Nov 5, 2009 9:03 AM EST

Braylon Edwards is stepping up in the locker room.

I asked Edwards, as he was getting ready to leave the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on Monday for a six-day bye week, if he's given his new teammates the full force of the Braylon boldness yet or if there's a lot more left for everyone to feed off of once the team reconvenes next Monday.

"I think the team has seen it. Guys have made comments," he said with a smile. "I think the guys have seen that I want to win, I want to do everything in my power to win. I'm here to help. I'm not here to cause problems and be a distraction. So I've just been going out there and giving it my all, practicing hard, playing hard, and I think the guys appreciate it."

They do appreciate his attitude, and they welcome the great things that may be ahead now that he and Cotchery finally were teamed at full strength for Sunday's home rematch against the Dolphins, during which they combined for relatively tame yet still beguiling numbers of seven catches for 144 yards and Edwards' not-to-be-denied 19-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

How many times do you see it? A guy who was a problem somewhere benefits from a change of scenery. Make no mistake about it. Edwards is playing for a new contract and will be on his best behavior. He wants to show the league his former team was the real problem. Still, he's seemed very mature, a real asset during his month in New York.

I think the Jets need to make resigning him after the season a priority. Do you think it's more important to sign Braylon or Leon Washington to a new deal?

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Impressed with him

He has done and said everything right. Like you say, he is playing for the contract, but right from the get go he has been mature and responsible. We commented on it during his introductory press conference. Cleveland fans are still sending the guy hate mail, and I think he became a scapegoat for that club. I think we need to sign both to be perfectly honest, but right now Edwards for pure football reasons.

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by David_Wyatt on Nov 5, 2009 9:53 AM EST reply actions

He wasn’t a scapegoat. He was just terrible.

by SpecialBrownie on Nov 5, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Who isn't terrible on that team

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by David_Wyatt on Nov 5, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Lol

Very true

by Jerrad p on Nov 5, 2009 10:48 AM EST reply actions

I give my vote to Edwards but agree with Wyatt above, it’d be nice to sign em both.

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by FrankD on Nov 5, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions

Both please.

by RevisIsland24 on Nov 5, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions

Edwards

He seems to have the motivation to win, not just play for his next contract. You see it on the field and on the sidelines when he tries to settle down Sanchez. They definitely need to resign Edwards if they want to continue the development of our quarterback. As we’ve seen with Sanchez, his level of play goes with his level of confidence.

Leon, I feel horrible for. He was very deserving of a new contract before the season and it couldn’t have turned out worse for him. I agree that he might have been asking for too much, but a contract in the range of 3.5-4 mill a year sounds right. He’s so dynamic and can change the entire complexion of a game everytime he touches the ball. Let’s hope he fully recovers and still has the speed and agility to earn the contract he deserves.

by DG whaaat on Nov 5, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions

Would have said Leon before the leg.

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by jcgamble on Nov 5, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions

I love Leon and all, but I would say Braylon even if Leon were healthy (if Braylon is Braylon)

There really aren’t very many guys who can get down the field at 6’3 and the vertical leaping ability of Edwards. As good as Leon is, RB’s come and go, almost every year we see guys like Leon in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft. These guys can be found all over. Leon is very good in this role, but a lot of teams have similar type players. Reggie Bush, Steve Slaton, LeSean McCoy, Kevin Faulk, Fred Jackson, Didi Dorsey, these are just some guys off the top of my head. I know that among the 3rd down type backs who are great receivers and have great YAC ability, Leon is among the best, but there are guys out there who can at least replace some of the production that he brings from that spot, there are usually a couple guys like that in the draft every year. As for Edwards, when he is right, there are only maybe a handful of guys in the league who can add the dimension that he does to an offense. I don’t want it too come off like I take Leon for granted, because I love him, but if Edwards can get back too somewhere close to his 2007, he will be a massive addition to this team like Plaxico was for the Giants.

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by nrmax88 on Nov 5, 2009 9:01 PM EST reply actions

But I'd love to have them both back.

"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez

by nrmax88 on Nov 6, 2009 4:16 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah i say Braylon.

Shonn Greene is our new protege.

by FlyNYJ on Nov 5, 2009 11:07 PM EST reply actions

He's a lot more limited than Leon though

but I have to say he showed some surprising speed against the Raiders. I don’t really know who I’d pick.

by Exystence on Nov 6, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

I would love to have them both

But I have to say Braylon just because the kind of injury Leon had is the kind that ends careers if you’re unlucky. I hope he recovers and returns to form, bu I don’t know how likely that is

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by blueandorange4life on Nov 6, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions

I know,

what a brutal injury. Broke both leg bones. Honestly I’m not sure he would ever return to 100% form, I mean I’m not a doctor or anything but it just seems unlikely. especially a compound fracture.

by FlyNYJ on Nov 6, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

It's definitely a tough road ahead

for a player that relies on his quickness and his ability to cut sharply, this is not going to be an easy path for him. He seems like a mentally strong guy though, but I wouldn’t expect him to be back up to full speed until half way through next season. It’s one thing playing, but it’s another thing getting the strength back in the leg and getting the confidence to push off on it like he needs to.

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by David_Wyatt on Nov 6, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

Bone break

I know I might be eating crow by this time next season, but what the heck. I dont see Leon making it back to the stage he was before the injury. He should of signed the contract before the season started that the Jets offered. Now I say sign Edwards to a reasonable deal(ppl are making it sounds like he is the second coming of TO) and draft another Leon type RB or sign one from the FA pool.

by JEDIJOKERS2 on Nov 7, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions