Todd: Wilkerson still a Jet leader
MUHAMMAD Wilkerson is much better at talking like a leader than acting like one.
The latest evidence of that fact came Sunday, when the Jets defensive lineman was benched for most of the first quarter of a 38-31 victory over the Chiefs after he arrived late to a meeting the previous day. It marked the third time in three seasons Wilkerson — the highest-paid player on the team by a wide margin — was punished for tardiness.
Wilkerson wants to be a leader. At various points this season, he has discussed his motivation for taking on that role with Todd Bowles’ young team. He stopped practice in training camp to rally the team after a sluggish start. He’s delivered locker-room speeches after losses. But how much weight does his word hold if he continues to show up late for meetings? And what kind of example does that set for younger players?
When asked Monday if he still considers Wilkerson a leader on the team despite his latest misstep, Bowles said, “Yes, he is.” And it’s hard not to take the thirdyear head coach’s words at face value.
Wilkerson, though, has not earned the same benefit of the doubt.
Last November, several days after he was suspended for the first quarter of a game at the Dolphins, Wilkerson offered what appeared to be a sincere apology. He promised to improve.
“Those actions are unacceptable,” Wilkerson said then. “As a leader on this team, I definitely need to do better. … I respect the coaches and everybody in this building. And I take responsibility for my actions. Moving forward, it won’t be an issue. I know as a leader on this team, I have to show better and do better. And that’s something I will do.”
The Jets have moved forward, though, and it’s still an issue. At the same time, Wilkerson’s production has plummeted while he’s enjoyed the fruits of a mega contact signed before the 2016 season. In 27 games since inking the $86 million deal, Wilkerson has seven sacks.
“The biggest things is we are a family here, and sometimes family do different things,” Bowles said Monday, when asked what Wilkerson’s actions show to younger players. “At the end of the day, you love them up, and you may be pissed off for a minute, and you get over it and move on. We treat every incident differently.”
Linebacker Darron Lee was inactive Sunday after he was late to Saturday’s walkthrough practice.
“We all have a job to do and we all have work to do. You treat everybody like grown men,” Bowles said. “There are consequences and repercussions for everything we do here, and we have rules that we go by. …You put in a hard day’s work, and we take no wooden nickels. I don’t believe in beating around the bush. I don’t want nobody to beat around the bush with me. And we have our fun, but we get our work in. And when you don’t work, some excuses are necessary and some things you get away with that are very understandable, and some things aren’t. That’s just how I am.”