http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/03/tomlinson-content-to-be-third-down-back-joe-mcknight-pissed-and-motivated-at-jets-draft-pick/ Tomlinson content to be third down back; Joe McKnight “pissed and motivated” at Jets draft pick Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on May 3, 2011, 5:34 PM EDT Getty ImagesThe roles are changing in the Jets’ crowded backfield. Rex Ryan has talked about Shonn Greene handling more of the workload, and that sounds just fine to LaDainian Tomlinson. He said Tuesday that he’s done the “best running back in the league” drill and is ready to try something new. “Now at end of my career, I’d love to be best third down back,” Tomlinson told the three-pack of Jets writers — – Manish Mehta, Jenny Vrentas, and Rich Cimini – who made the trip West for some player-run practices. Tomlinson wasn’t worried the team added fourth-round pick Bilal Powell to the mix, saying you can’t have too many running backs. Second year back Joe McKnight had a slightly different response. “I was pissed and motivated at the same time,” McKnight said about Powell’s selection. We’re not sure exactly how this will all work. The Jets want McKnight to get the ball more, which would come at the expense of Tomlinson. In Powell, the team has a younger doppelganger for Greene if he gets hurt. Consider it a good problem to have and a sign the Jets won’t stray too far from their run-heavy ways. Especially since they have no one to play receiver at the moment.
I'm sure some of your heads will explode when I say this but: Joe McKnight is the most physically gifted back on our roster. (If LT was in his prime, he'd hold that title, but we all know he's on his last legs)
I'm glad our most physically "gifted" HB is pissed off....it means he's going to put in 120% instead of a 100% this upcoming season.
I agree but in that same breadth Reggie Bush may be the most physically gifted back in the league. Doesn't always translate to production the way we'd like.
Reggie Bush is a hell of a player. Injuries have hurt his career more than anything. Sean Payton uses him perfectly. I'd love to see Schottenheimer use McKnight in a similar fashion.
Reggie Bush has a championship and the faint scent of Kim Kardashian's tits on his face. His life is complete.
Will someone please email PFT an tell them Cotchery isn't dead and one between Edwards and Holmes will be re-signed almost for sure. Jeez... That said I'm happy McKnight is motivated, he'll get some carries this year, while I don't see Powell being active unless one of the other RBs gets hurt.
I'm not sure how anyone could dispute that. Having said that, if I were him I'd have left the comments at "motivated". I'm guessing a few posts down we'll have people jumping on him for the pissed part. As stated, Powell doesn't impact McKnight, although there were some idiots on here claiming that drafting Bilal was a clear sign that the team was giving up on McKnight. I like, however, that the decision to draft him pissed Joe off. We're all going to like the results.
This is always good news. LT being happy with a reduced role, and willing to give it his all is awesome. Toss in an extremely motivated Joe Mcknight, it can't do anything to hurt him. Hopefully he comes out this preseason and proves he is ready for an expanded role in the regular season. Thank God for the Draft followed almost immediately by Jets West. finally at least we have a few days of football news!
As far as I am concerned, pissed is often better than motivated in a situation like this. When somebody is motivated, thats cool, it lasts them a while, then they settle down and aren't overly irritated. But if he is truly pissed, every time he sees Powell it should make his blood boil and make him go out and try to prove that he is so much better than Powell it will make him so much the better player. Often times with sports like football and hockey, playing angry leads to increased focus and it just gets a guy fired up and allows him make plays that he otherwise could not. I can't wait to see Mcknight get fired up to prove his worth in NY and to turn himself into LT's heir apparent this year. Look for him to become the next great KR/PR guy in line for the NYJ.
As was previously stated, the drafting of Bilal has nothing to do with McKnight. If Greene goes down, we had two 3rd down backs behind him. LT put up a solid effort last year, but his days as a ground and pounder are over. McKnight will never be a ground and pounder. Bilal was insurance for Greene, plain and simple.
Joe McKnight has incredible upside. I hope he cares. Usually, guys that talk a lot about caring, don't, but the notion that we should have kept Chauncey Washington over him is silly. A lot of guys have bad rookie years, and it's not as if he was a first round pick. People need to calm down. It's great having running back depth. It's entirely possible that LT is finished. Backs go all at once, and now we have a lot of insurance. -X-
