While Eric Decker‘s wife says the Jets‘ losing ways have left her husband feeling “depressed,” Decker himself admits that he’s disappointed by the team’s 2-10 record, but doesn’t regret his choice to leave the Broncos in free agency, as Jane McManus of ESPN.com details.
“I don’t second-guess my choice at all,” Decker said. “The New York Jets wanted me to come here and Denver didn’t. So I was excited about coming here and I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”
Here’s more on the NFL’s two New York teams, as the Jets and Giants stagger toward the 2014 finish line:
- The Giants‘ loss in Jacksonville on Sunday has accelerated speculation that Tom Coughlin‘s time with the team is nearing an end, and the head coach is willing to blame himself for the team’s failings. “I accept the full responsibility and whatever price has to be paid for that responsibility then it starts right here with me,” Coughlin said, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
- George Willis of the New York Post disagrees with Tony Dungy‘s suggestion that the Giants will be starting a “long-term rebuilding process” this offseason. In Willis’ view, GM Jerry Reese needs to spend on defense and perhaps to shore up the offensive line, but the club has plenty of offensive playmaking talent.
- Giants safety Antrel Rolle doesn’t know whether or not he’ll return to the team next year, but said today on WFAN in New York that he has “a lot left in the tank” (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News).
- The Jets‘ brain trust wants to further evaluate Geno Smith down the stretch, but they won’t learn much if the offense’s game plan continues to marginalize the QB as much as it did last night, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Meanwhile, Steve Serby of New York Post suggests that the Jets‘ decision to treat Smith with kid gloves is doing the quarterback – and the team – no favors.
- In a separate article for the New York Post, Serby makes the case for pursuing 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh to replace Rex Ryan. Mike Vaccaro of the Post provides the counterpoint, explaining why it would be ill-advised for the Jets to gamble on Harbaugh.
- The Jets should use the last four games of the season to take a look at some younger players – rather than veterans – all over the field, not just at quarterback, writes Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday.