Jets ink Pro Bowl C Kalil
Langi approaches every workday the same now: Show his coaches and teammates that he’ll never stop working. Nobody will give more effort. His unspoken message to the Jets: “No. 44 is going to deliver when you need it.”
“I’m glad to see that he’s back competing and back balling out there,” teammate and friend Jordan Jenkins says. “When he told me the story about the accident, I said, ‘You’re blessed to be alive.’ I love being around Harvey because after going through that, he’s still so happy and always ready to work. He always brings good energy. He’s the Tongan Missile.” •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Cassidy reaches into the stroller and gently picks up her six-week-old son, Rad.
Like her husband, she is a person of strong faith. She believes that everything happens for a reason. The explanation for that night might always escape her, but that’s okay.
Right now, she’s surrounded by the two people that matter the most. She hesitates for a moment when asked about Harvey’s most endearing quality before putting it the best way she can.
“He’s just a very caring person,” Cassidy says. “He’s always looking to do stuff for other people. He puts everyone ahead of himself. But love, for sure. The love he has for me and our son — no matter how busy he is — he always puts us first.”
Harvey speaks with an unmistakable positivity. The accident, the near-death experience, all of it. It has emboldened them.
“After that happened,” he says, “We just knew that we only got each other in this life. And you never know when that can be taken away.”
The mother stares at her son. “He’s the biggest blessing ever,” Cassidy says. “We have a healthy little boy. It’s what we wanted.”
“And he came at the perfect time,” Harvey says with a smile. “We had him six week ago. If we would have had him two years earlier, you would have never known what would have happened.”
“If he was in the car with us…” Cassidy says, her voice trailing off.
But he wasn’t. And his parents know there was a reason for that.
They’re happy and healthy. It’s time to build a life together. New Jets general manager Joe Douglas made his first noteworthy move by coaxing fivetime Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil out of retirement on Thursday. Gang Green agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the 34-year-old Kalil after a more than month-long courtship.
Kalil, who has started 145 of 148 career regular-season games in 12 seasons, called it quits after starting 16 games for the Panthers last season. Shoulder and neck injuries limited him to just 14 games in the previous two seasons.
The Jets didn’t land the top two centers in free agency (Mitch Morse signed a blockbuster deal with Buffalo and Matt Paradis landed in Carolina amid health concerns). Gang Green whiffed on draft targets Dru Samia (Oklahoma) and Hjalte Froholdt (Arkansas) too, seemingly paving the way for journeyman Jonotthan Harrison, who signed a two-year, $5 million deal in the offseason after starting six of the final eight games in the pivot last year.
“Those two guys have a good relationship,” Gase said of Sam Darnold’s connection with Harrison. “They’ve done a really good job of taking control of the offense and really kind of putting their spin on it. The communication is outstanding between those two.”
Kalil, however, will offer a savvy veteran presence to help Darnold. An experienced and accomplished center can be a young quarterback’s best friend. Kalil will have to pass a physical before the deal is official.
“I’ve always been a guy that got counted out,” Harrison said before news of Khalil’s deal surfaced. “I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder because of it. And I use it. That’s my motivation. That’s my fuel. I’m not saying I’m the best thing since sliced bread, but I’m here to work. I’m here to compete.”
Douglas made a shrewd move if Kalil still has something left in the tank.