New York Jets: David Harris’ release fits pattern, but leaves bad taste
The New York Jets released linebacker David Harris on Tuesday, a move that fits in line with how the front office has been moving.
The New York Jets are in the third week of OTAs as they move closer to the 2017 season. It’s a season of rebuilding as the team isn’t expected to do a lot of winning. It’s a young team looking to find its direction as they move into the future, and that starts with 2017.
One of the exceptions to the rule of getting younger was David Harris. He was a veteran holdover from previous regimes. Specifically, he was the final holdover from the Eric Mangini era, drafted in the second round back in 2007. 154 games and 147 starts later, Harris was poised to be a veteran influence on a young group of linebackers for one more season. Until now, as the team has announced his release on Tuesday.
The move fits the pattern of moves that the Jets have made all offseason. With the move, they save $6.5 million that Harris was scheduled to make. That is all the Jets have done since 2016 ended. They have gotten rid of older players that made a lot of money. Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, and Brandon Marshall are examples. The key to rebuilding is to get rid of the older players and the excess money in favor of a younger team. From that respect, the move is not surprising at all.
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However, the timing of the move is questionable, to say the least. Okay, it’s frankly pretty bad. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Harris went through OTA practice as normal, went through an interview with ESPN, before being called into the office to be told the news. There was no warning of this coming at all. His agents said it all in a statement giving to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Rich Cimini):
"“Very disappointing in the timing of this event and the decision,” the statement said. “The Jets could have done this prior to free agency instead of waiting three months, especially for a player who has exhibited nothing but loyalty and class for 10 years.”"
They hit it right on the money here. This guy was a Jets loyal soldier for the last 10 seasons. There was never any rumor of the years of him leaving town, at least nothing serious. David Harris stuck around through the good years and the bad ones, as loyal as anyone has ever been. They don’t release him during the free agency period? They let him practice and send him packing just like that? The Jets have to handle their best and most loyal players better than that.
What about general manager Mike Maccagnan? Why was he unavailable for comment? He’s the one making these moves, but they leave coach Todd Bowles as the sacrificial lamb? It seems like the Jets never know how to handle anything appropriately. David Harris has been the epitome of “Play like a Jet” since his arrival in 2007. He was seemingly dumped out like the bath water and it simply isn’t right.
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Even if the move followed the plan, David Harris deserved better. No matter who is in charge, the Jets will always be the Jets.