Lito Less Than Thrilled With Benching

by John B on Jan 25, 2010 9:00 AM EST Comment 10 comments

Lito Sheppard wasn't too happy about spending most of yesterday's AFC Championship Game on the sideline.

"I knew about it at the beginning of the week - Wednesday, when we got in" to practice, Sheppard said. "It was obviously a big surprise."

And a big disappointment, similar in nature to the end of his tenure with the Eagles when he went from Pro Bowl starter to the fourth cornerback behind Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, and Joselio Hanson.

"I've been through this situation before," Sheppard said. "I didn't think it would happen again, but we'll see how it goes."

....

"I felt like I was a key part of this team that helped us get to this point, and there was no answer that was going to satisfy me other than me being out there," Sheppard said. "I'm not a disgruntled player. I'm not going to make a scene and distract the other players. You just have to go with what they say."

This is the kind of comment you would expect from any competitor, particularly when his replacements were being dominated. Still, you have to wonder whether Lito has played his last game with the team. He's due a big roster bonus. If the Jets are willing to bench him for such a big game, do they really think he's part of the long term solution?

0 recs | Comment 10 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I cant believe they kept Coleman for so long after getting torched over and over again. Lowry started to spudder, no sight of Sheppard.
He is physical and gets alot of penalties, but we were getting killed, try something other than Coleman. Shit im not sure Coleman is NFL worthy.

We need help at CB for sure. Clone Revis or something.

Curtis "my favorite" Martin - 1 of the best!

by jcgamble on Jan 25, 2010 9:30 AM EST reply actions

I think they cut Lito and draft a DB. Obviously Lito got burned by Collie in the last game against the Colts but I thought he held his own against Coles and Floyd. He did come in for one play and got beat by Garcon. There has to be an underlying issue to this, like he got in a disagreement with Thurman, Pettine, or Rex.

by chrebetsthebet on Jan 25, 2010 9:33 AM EST reply actions

He doesn’t get his roster bonus but I can’t believe that we wont try and re-sign him. He was solid most of the year, and to see Coleman over him was very surprising. Definitely back-fired. I hope we see him back, he is a good player, better than Lowery and better than Coleman. He was a big part of our pass D most of the year. Rex thought the match-up suited a player like Lowery, which seems to have been a mistake.

Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com

by David_Wyatt on Jan 25, 2010 9:48 AM EST reply actions

So you think they are gonna cut him then resign him just to avoid his 10M bonus?

by chrebetsthebet on Jan 25, 2010 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

That’s what I hope we do, the Saints did something similar with Vilma last year

Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com

by David_Wyatt on Jan 25, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

what do you think Mr T looks to do in the draft?

by chrebetsthebet on Jan 25, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

If there is a player he likes, I’m sure we will stay true to form and be aggressive. Personally think we go DE in the first, a Jared Oldrick/Corey Wootton/Arthur Jones type deal, then maybe go that direction again in the 2nd, either that or get a wide receiver like a Jordan Shipley out of Texas who is being compared to our nemesis Wes Welker.

I think I’m right in saying we have our 1st and 2nd round selection, and then we have the Eagles 5th round, our 6th and 7th….maybe not the 7th as we sent a undisclosed selection for Kevin O’Connell. Will get a article up later taking a good look so we can get a discussion going.

Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com

by David_Wyatt on Jan 25, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with your round 1 & 2 Picks. The next pick needs to be a cornerback to compliment Revis. Shepard is the best of the rest and we need him back at a reduced cost. Strickland is pretty good but can’t stay healthy.

by NYC KID on Jan 25, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

If I was Lito, I'd keep my mouth shut.

HE and the Entire Secondary not named Revis sucked ballz yesterday so he has no room to whine that he would’ve made much of a difference.

He’s not the player he was with the Eagles. He’s D-O-N-E, Period.

Dump his azz along with Coleman and let’s get some REAL Corners on this team.

by BNTHIS on Jan 25, 2010 1:48 PM EST reply actions

It looks like Lito’s near benching has sealed his short tenure with the Jets. I was really surprised he didnt start and played the volume he did, especially considering the Jets other db options and the Colts use of 3 and 4 wide sets. I dont know what he did to get so far in the doghouse, but it seems almost a repeat his demise in philly. Really surprised he wasnt out there more in one of the most important games in franchise history.

by Ozone on Jan 25, 2010 5:40 PM EST reply actions