New York Jets get David Garrard back
David Garrard (9) throws a pass during a scrimmage at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets signed veteran QB David Garrard in the offseason in order to try and add a stabilizing presence to a then-highly unstable group of Jets quarterbacks. Geno Smith has had plenty of downs due to his interceptions, but he’s looked promising and looks like an even wiser second-round pick for the Jets. Garrard decided to leave the Jets in May and retire due to knee issues, and injuries have hurt Garrard significantly over the past couple of years, preventing him from becoming a solid QB. The Jets wanted Garrard’s experience badly enough that they offered him a job on the coaching staff, but the 35-year-old declined.
About five months later, David Garrard has had a change of heart, as the New York Jets official site informs us that Garrard has re-joined the Jets after deciding that he didn’t like being retired after all.
“I was able to take the whole summer off and let my body heal. I started training a couple of months ago and my knee feels great. I’m sitting at home, watching games thinking, ‘Why am I at home? Why I am doing this to myself? I didn’t want to have any regrets one day.”
Age and injuries have taken their toll on the athletic passer, and his arm strength was reportedly significantly diminished during OTAs. Let’s hope that changes, because Garrard could be pressed into playing if Geno ever goes down with an injury or suddenly implodes. The Jets have accepted Garrard’s return to the team, and he has been placed on the “Exempt List”, meaning that the Jets have two games to decide whether or not they want to activate him.
Solid move here to accept Garrard’s return, because they can see how well he has recovered (specifically, a close look at his arm strength) from the knee issues that plagued him in the offseason before making the call.
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