New York Jets: Mark Gastineau’s plea goes to the wrong place

Former New York Jets defensive lineman Mark Gastineau pled his case to Roger Goodell on WOR on Thursday, but it should’ve gone to Chris Johnson.

Former New York Jets defensive lineman Mark Gastineau was on 710-WOR’s The Sports Zone with Pete McCarthy on Thursday night, and he got emotional. You can’t blame him. Gastineau is the latest in a long line of former NFL players that has been hit with brain disease.

He told Pete McCarthy this:

"“The commissioner told me, he said, ‘Listen, Mark, you know what? You need anything, let me know.’ He was my ball boy. I treated him great. He told me. Hey, Roger Goodell, treat people right.”"

Let’s be honest. Gastineau gave it all to this league, and now it’s time for the league to repay him for what he left. Maybe it’s not up to the league office though. Many former players who’ve been struck with brain disease, at least partially due to their time in the NFL, shouldn’t be reaching out to the NFL commissioner to do the right thing, but instead should do so to their teams.

According to Gastineau, he was denied a part of the concussion settlement after giving his medical case to the league last year. His radio plea may have been heard by acting owner Chris Johnson, but franchises need to take a more active role in these cases, especially in cases where a player either spent a majority or all of his career in one place.

The Jets should not have allowed to take no as an answer from the league. If the league says no, the Jets should take the initiative and do it themselves. Be on the forefront of this issue, and be leaders.

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The Jets are currently laughingstocks on the field for their play. However, if they can take the initiative and do this for a player who left it all out there for them, they can set a blueprint for other NFL franchises to follow.

They should take care one of their own, period.