FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. QB evaluation: Robert Saleh is a media-savvy coach who knows how to control the message, and that’s exactly what he tried to do with this comment about quarterback Zach Wilson: “He doesn’t need to be Tom Brady this year.”
It was an exaggerated way of saying it’s unfair to expect stardom in Year 2 even though he was the second pick in the 2021 draft.
Perhaps trying to contain outside expectations, which have grown amid a bountiful offseason, Saleh provided a reality check at the conclusion of the offseason. It also may have been a notice to Wilson, who too often tried to play hero ball as a rookie.
“People are forgetting that he’s got a young offensive supporting cast,” Saleh said as minicamp wrapped up. “His receivers are young, his backs are young, the O-line is just jelling together. He’s young.”
That led to the Brady quote.
“Now if ends up being [Brady], that’s awesome, but that’s not the expectation for him,” Saleh said. “The expectation is for him to continue to climb that mountain.”
Over four weeks of practice, Wilson delivered some Tom Brady, with a little Brady Quinn mixed in. In other words, his performances ranged from very good to choppy.
His decision-making, command and overall feel for the progression-based passing scheme are significantly better than last season, according to the coaching staff. He looks like a different quarterback than the rookie who was so overwhelmed at times that he wasn’t able to recognize his own mental mistakes. Now he doesn’t need the coaches to point out when he messes up; he knows it immediately. That shows a greater understanding of the position.
On the flip side, Wilson still misses too many routine throws. This was an issue last season, when his completion rates on throws behind the line of scrimmage (74%) and within 0-9 yards (62%) were the worst in the league, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Saleh called it a “rough” rookie year. The coaches believe those numbers will increase as Wilson improves his eye discipline, which is a fancy way of saying he needs to do a better job of getting his eyes in the right spot at the right time. That’s atop his to-do list. A quarterback can’t afford to miss that many lay-ups.
Don’t be alarmed. It’s only June, but Wilson’s consistency level should spike as the year progresses. No one expects a miracle turnaround, but he has to be better than a 56% passer, his overall completion mark.
“I really do have a lot of confidence in myself,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I think I can be one of the best. If anybody doesn’t say that, they’re not a true competitor.”
2. Unstoppable? The fans are excited about the team, and so are the players. Speaking of the receiving corps,
You love the enthusiasm, but let’s tap the brakes. The receiving corps is very young. Corey Davis is a seasoned pro, but Moore (11 games) and Garrett Wilson (rookie) are developing players. The same could be said of the running backs, Michael Carter (14) and Breece Hall (rookie). Four of their top five backs/receivers are under 24. Ditto, the quarterback. There will be growing pains. 3. Camp Wilson: In mid-July, Wilson and his receivers will gather at an undisclosed location for a couple of days of pitch-and-catch. It won’t be all work, no play. He said fun activities are planned. 4. Money position: The Jets are keeping their Mekhi Becton-George Fant plan close to the vest. Offensive-line coach John Benton said it doesn’t matter which one plays left tackle because the two tackle spots are interchangeable. Easy for him to say; the amount of his paycheck doesn’t depend on it.
Like father, like son.
That’s certainly the trend in professional sports.
More than a few players in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB have followed in the footsteps of their dads. In fact, in three of those four sports, the number of second-generation players has increased notably this century.
Second-generation players*
| League | 1981 | 2001 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | 1.0% | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| NHL | 1.9% | 1.5% | 6.1% |
| MLB | 1.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| NBA | 1.3% | 1.6% | 4.9% |
| *Minimum one game played | |||
The NHL tops the list as 6.1% of players who took part in at least one game last season have a father who played in the league, up from 1.5% in 2001. The NBA is next with 4.9% (up from 1.6%) and the NFL was at 3.4% last season (up from 1.8%). MLB had the most second-generation players in 2001 (2.9%) but dropped to 1.9% in 2021.
What was it like to grow up with a father who played sports professionally? Did they push their sons to carry on their legacy? Did the kids have any advantages in their goal to become professional players?
Heading into Father’s Day, we checked in with second-generation combos Melvin and Jump to:
NBA’s Bookers | NHL’s Domis | MLB’s Bryans | NFL’s Pittmans
Devin Booker’s journey to the That’s when Melvin stepped up his game as a father.
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Devin moved to Mississippi from Michigan to attend high school — and so his dad could train him. For the next few years, Melvin was more than a dad. He was a coach, trainer and mentor.
“We were like best friends, together every day,” Melvin said. “I missed a lot of Devin’s life because I was overseas, and those seasons are like 10 months long over there. So, whenever we were together, it was like catching up.”
Melvin was sharing NBA-level coaching with his son — something not many, if any, of Devin’s peers in Mississippi were receiving. Melvin taught his son how to lift weights, how to eat right, how to put in time after practice with one-on-one drills.
It helped that Melvin was always one of Devin’s coaches, whether it was a head coach or an assistant on his high school or AAU teams. He’d give Devin in-game adjustments, dissecting the game and information at a pro level. And Devin soaked it all in.
Devin was the definition of a “Basketball Jones.” Being an NBA player was all he wanted to be, and Melvin used his career as a blueprint for Devin, who has gone on to be an NBA All-Star. He also made sure to not push Devin too hard.
“There’s a thin line,” Melvin said. “I understand that as well.
“We never had one bump in the road along the way.”
It all hit Melvin on the bus from the hotel to the 2015 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He sat by himself as the bus inched along in traffic, giving Melvin time to reflect on the moment.
“I’m like, ‘My son’s dream is about to come true,'” Melvin remembered.
He started to tear up.
Now, whenever Melvin watches Devin in person or on TV, he still sees the little boy who’d dribble around the house and talk about making it big.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Melvin said. “It’s hard to even explain it in words.
“He’s a professional basketball player, so it worked out for him.” — Josh Weinfuss
The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning are facing off in the Stanley Cup Final. You can watch all seven games on ABC, ESPN+ and in the ESPN App.
Game 1: One of the first times Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a home run in T-ball, he tripped rounding first base. His dad looks back at those moments now and laughs. To Charlie, who played in the major leagues for 14 seasons and won the 1996 World Series with the
“I used to trip and fall, like, back peddling and shuffling,” Ke’Bryan said. “Looking back, it’s funny to see how far I’ve come from the time I was 5, 6, 7 all the way to now. Without [my family], I wouldn’t be here today.” Now in his third season as a major leaguer, with an eight-year, $70 million contract signed earlier this season, Ke’Bryan is more than capable of staying on his feet when he hits a home run for Pittsburgh just like his dad did when he was with the Pirates in 1996. Because Charlie retired when Ke’Bryan was 4, Ke’Bryan doesn’t remember much about his dad’s professional career. Who is the greatest baseball player ever? We ranked the 100 best to ever take the diamond.
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Alaina GetzenbergESPN
LAS VEGAS — Von Miller leaned to the side, looking poised to rush a quarterback. Next to him stood defensive end Greg Rousseau, the Buffalo Bills’ 2021 first-round pick, watching the future Hall of Fame linebacker’s movements, where Miller placed his feet and hands and listening to his new teammate explain his moves off the line.
Miller was demonstrating his skills on a high school turf field under the Las Vegas morning sun during his sixth pass-rush summit last week. The event featured the NFL’s top four active sack leaders — Miller (115.5 sacks), Chandler Jones (107.5), Cameron Jordan (107) and Justin Houston (102) — who shared tips with other defenders on how they’ve been successful.
Rousseau was one of three Bills pass-rushers there among 21 players, alongside teammates Boogie Basham (Round 2, 2021) and AJ Epenesa (Round 2, 2020). They took up Miller’s invitation to learn from the best ahead of a season of high expectations for them and the team.
“I’m an open book and I’m going to force some of my chapters on them,” Miller said of the Bills’ young pass-rushers. “I’m going to force some of the stuff I know on them. It’s just little things.”
Miller & Co. spent the day coaching their peers on how to handle various situations and offering details on how to approach the line of scrimmage before the snap. Several veterans went into detail on cut-ups of their own film as Rousseau, Basham and Epenesa sat at a table together taking notes.
“To have an opportunity to physically come out here and physically see it, get hands-on attention, I find to me, that was a big jump,” Basham told ESPN. “Definitely for me to take my game to the next level, but also learn from other guys around the league, too.”
The Bills want to improve at getting after opposing quarterbacks following consecutive playoff losses to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, so they invested big in Miller this offseason with a six-year, $120 million deal. But Miller won’t be able to do it all on his own and his impact on his teammates off the field could potentially be almost as important as his presence on it.
“Getting to know these guys, these guys getting to know me, on and off the football field, Vegas is the perfect place for that, we can hang out, chill,” Miller said. “… Being in the OTAs with all these guys, man, it’s building up that respect, earning their respect from them.
“I come out here, I work out, break my neck for these guys and you building their brotherhood now. So, when the season starts and it’s fourth-and-long and we need a play, everybody trusts each other.”
The Bills need more from Rousseau, Basham and Epenesa after spending high picks on them. The Bills finished the 2021 regular season with 42 sacks, tied for 11th and sixth in pass rush win rate (45.6%), but the team lacked a consistent dominant pass-rusher whom opponents needed to be aware of at all times. The young trio combined for eight of those sacks, with Rousseau leading the group with four.
“This is going to be a big offseason for those guys,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “They’re in a position where they have to, we need them to really, really grow and develop and make a mark on our defense — and not just in a supporting role, but in a primary role.”
Buffalo added to its defensive line in other ways this offseason, bringing back Shaq Lawson and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, in addition to signing tackles DaQuan Jones and Tim Settle. They opted not to re-sign veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, who played the first- and third-most defensive snaps among Bills defensive ends last season.
The Bills also picked up the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Ed Oliver (four sacks in 2021) in May, linking the 2019 first-round pick to the team for at least the next two seasons.
What are the Bills looking for from their young pass-rushers?
“Probably the consistency piece, where you kind of know what you’re going to get every day, that’s important,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “They’re past that point when they were rookies, and it was kind of up and down, lulls here, break out here.”
While the summit was valuable for learning from a variety of players and coaches, Miller has been helping his teammates during offseason practices as well. Going into his third year, Epenesa noted how he told Miller during the team’s OTAs that he was working on his rush angle. During practice, Miller made a point of noting reps where Epenesa had a good angle.
When Epenesa was interviewing with the Bills prior to the draft in 2020, he told the Bills he modeled his game after Miller.
“People are gonna see him, and they’re gonna wanna protect against him because of his reputation, and that kind of opens the door for other people,” Epenesa said. “If they’re gonna focus on him, we have to be able to execute ourselves and make plays whenever it’s needed as well.”
During the 40-plus minutes Miller spent breaking down his film at the summit, he lauded the efforts of former teammate
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Mac’s edge: Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in March that quarterback Mac Jones was “respectful of coming in as a rookie” last season and that he believed Jones “has a little more edge that we’ve seen.”
It’s showing now.
The Patriots have two weeks remaining in their offseason program — with a three-day mandatory minicamp scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday this week — and Jones’ increased leadership has caught his teammates’ attention.
“It’s just at another level now,” receiver Kendrick Bourne told ESPN. “He’s more comfortable, more confident. He knows what’s going on, and the muscle memory is there [from having gone through it] — OTAs, then camp, and the season. He’s just more locked in, more secure in his position.”
As a result, Jones is positioned to become a team captain in just his second NFL season. If that’s the way it unfolds when players vote near the end of training camp, it would put him in rare company, joining Jerod Mayo and Devin McCourty as the only other Patriots to earn a second-year captaincy in Bill Belichick’s 23-year tenure as head coach.
“He connects with all the players really well. I’m proud of that dude, because it’s not easy,” said Bourne, who was among the visitors at Jones’ house for a hibachi party during the first night of the NFL draft. “Going into his second year after having a year like that, it’s going to be a challenge, but he’s a guy that likes challenges, like all of us in that Patriot building.”
Jones’ increased comfort level has manifested itself at practice when demonstrating to his pass-catchers what he’s looking for in their routes. At one point on Tuesday, he split out wide and ran a route as wide receivers watched intently.
Highlighting a top observation from Patriots practice: Mac Jones’ growing comfort level with WRs to express what he is looking for route-wise.
This video from Tuesday, after DeVante Parker takes a rep, shows one example.
Rolling the route, instead of a sharp cut, was emphasis. pic.twitter.com/miHqn728bH
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 1, 2022
“He’s a young guy but he’s developed as a leader. That’s what this team needs,” said receiver DeVante Parker, now in his eighth NFL season and first in New England after being acquired in a trade from Miami. “I’ve only been here a few weeks, but I still see it.”
Added veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler: “He has great energy on and off the field. His confidence, his swagger — I love that about him.”
2. Balancing act: Starting safety Adrian Phillips arrived in town last week to take part in the final couple of weeks of the team’s offseason program. He said he felt it was the right thing to do, even though it wasn’t easy leaving his wife, Camille, and their 8-month-old son, Dylan, back in Texas. Camille, a doctor, has a demanding job.
“I was at home being a dad and house husband,” Phillips said. “I’m sad that I’m away from him for an extended period of time, because this time is so pivotal. But I FaceTime with him every day and make sure he doesn’t forget my face.”
3. Post-McDaniels era: How has the transition been without Josh McDaniels at offensive coordinator? Spending time with Bourne last week at the 47th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Golf Classic, he shared one player’s perspective.
“It’s been dope so far. Joe Judge, our newest member [of the staff], he’s doing a great job,” Bourne said. “Really just new terminology, new words. Football is football, so it’s just about learning the new words, and getting the old words out. And it’s applying my abilities to the new system.”
How much the Patriots’ system actually changes — versus how much the staff is focusing on experimentation — is one of the greatest areas of intrigue surrounding the team.
“I think [Judge is] putting us in position to be successful. I’m excited so far,” said Bourne, adding that his abilities as a rusher (12 carries, 125 yards, 10.4 average in 2021) have been among the personal highlights. “Hopefully we’ll have a great year. We’ll see how it goes.”
4. CB questions: If there’s one position that stands out when asking the question “Do the Patriots have enough?” it’s outside cornerback. Veterans Butler and