Good afternoon, GGN faithful. Kick your feet up and take a few minutes to relax. Screw your work productivity.
The Brodown:
-NYC receives the Giants in a parade, and the team gets the keys to the city. Steve Weatherford marches with the band for some reason. Little brothers are we once again. If you'd like to celebrate some city pride, festivities are still going on and the Giants will have a rally at Metlife at 3p.m. after ceremonies are concluded.
-Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno charged with DWI and careless driving in South Denver.
-Midweek moves: Bills re-sign Rian Lindell, Channing Crowder has contacted the Atlanta Falcons expressing interest in playing for them, Mario Manningham expresses a desire to stay a Giant. Tom Coughlin indicates that he will return as head coach next year and possibly beyond.
Story of Interest:
Former Jets Safety turned Patriots DB James Ihedigbo defended his teammates Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and Aaron Hernandez against inflammatory post-game comments by Gisele Bundchen, per ESPN.
Brady's super model girlfriend has received notable attention for both organizing a large scale prayer circle for Tom Brady leading up to the Super Bowl, as well as her acting like a really snotty, overbearing version of Adrian at the end of the original Rocky movie in the aftermath. Ihedigbo did not directly respond to Gisele, but he addressed her comments:
"You can't point fingers at anybody. Wes made amazing plays all season," Ihedigbo said. "You win it as a team; you win it and lose it as a team. And we lost to a good football team."
Tuesday is scheduled to be a mini-biography of a past or present Jet player selected at random, after the jump of course. Today's feature is former Jets defensive back Dwight Lowery. Feel free to discuss any thoughts about him, or any of the stories from the feed. Or really anything football that's on your mind. Go nuts.
Dwight Lowery
Lowery was born on January 23rd, 1986 in Santa Cruz, CA to a single mother who Lowery describes as his best friend. Dwight helped take care of his siblings and frequently talks of his family, including a young sister whose heart condition required surgery as those of you with more detailed memories may recall. She has since made a full recovery.
Dwight Lowery attended Soquel High School in California, where he played iron man (he was involved on all sides of the football), and he received several awards for his productive play as both a record-shattering running back, and his more familiar position of defensive back. Lowery has said he's comfortable playing any role that is asked of him. Also notable is that Dwight was a starter on his schools varsity basketball squad, he even received MVP honors once.
Lowery started his college career playing Free Safety for Cabrillo College in California. Lowery would later transfer to San Jose State U, where he would play cornerback and be a two time AFCA All-America selection.
The Jets drafted Lowery in 2008 in the fourth round at 113th overall. Lowery was considered by CBS sports to be the 19th best CB in the 2008 draft. It was actually through an injury to former Jet CB Justin Miller; whose strength was in return and corner skills were severely lacking, that Lowery would see his first field action in the NFL.
Although Lowery played passable at first, he along with fellow Jet-turned-Jaguar Drew Coleman had a reputation for being picked on in coverage. Dwight would see less action in starting roles and more time behind the likes of Lito Sheppard, Ty Law, and Donald Strickland. Still, Lowery proved to be a bit of a ball hawk and both picked off and defended ample passes for a 4th round pick every season. Statistically speaking, Lowery is consistent in many ways other Jets are not.
Most appealing about Lowery is his versatility. As the Jets coverage improved under Revis and with the additions of Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson, Lowery found his most productive role on the Jets as a Safety. Dwight's ball skills would prove an asset, and playing behind one of the best Cornerback sets in the NFL benefited Lowery greatly.
Dwight Lowery's best play for the Jets would come against another former Jet, Brett Favre in a 2010 game against the Vikings. Lowery, who had evolved into a sort of game closer for the Jets, intercepted an errant Favre pass for a touchdown, delivering the Jets a victory.
In 2011, Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum cited an excess of defensive backs and traded Lowery to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a conditional pick. Lowery's listed position with the Jags is Strong Safety. Of all the players Mike T let go last season, Lowery has sucked the least, bringing in two picks and a sack plus 36 tackles. This is pretty much in line with Dwight's performance every single season. Dwight doesn't have the highest ceiling, but his floor is not really that low at all.
I think Lowery has several more years as a decent and largely reliable DB in the league. If the Jets were to pursue him again, I would neither be thrilled nor heartbroken. His salary when we last had Lowery on the team was $116,125, chump change versus what he brings to the table.
What do you think of Dwight Lowery? Do you have fond memories of him as a Jet, or not so much?