Tag: Jets running backs

Bilal Powell wants to retire with Jets

Bilal Powell would like to retire as a New York Jet.

Bilal Powell hopes Green and White are the only colors he wears during his NFL career.

Powell was on WFAN’s Joe and Evan show Thursday and discussed his future in the league. Powell has spent his entire nine-year career with the Jets and wants to continue his career with them in 2020 and beyond.

“I just stay in my lane,” Powell said. “I sit back and let things happen and unfold. I want to retire a Jet, that’s the biggest thing for me.”

The 31-year-old is an unrestricted free agent for the second straight offseason. After the 2018 season, the Jets weren’t sure if he was healthy enough to play again, as he suffered a serious neck injury that put his career in jeopardy. However, Powell was cleared to resume play and the Jets brought him back in June on a one-year deal.

Powell has told his teammates that other teams have reached out to him in the past, but he’s committed to the Jets for the long run.

“For me, I just like to sit put,” Powell said. “I had a couple opportunities to leave around the times that I was a free agent in previous years, but I wanted to stick around and see this thing unfold.”

The longest-tenured Jet has run for 3,675 yards in his career to go along with 15 rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, Powell has 1,600 yards and five touchdowns. Last season was one of Powell’s worst in his career as he only ran for 229 yards. It was his lowest-rushing total since 2014.

Former Jets coach couldn’t remember Raheem Mostert

Former Jets running backs coach Marcel Ship has no recollection of Raheem Mostert even being with the Jets.

The Jets weren’t aware that they had a diamond in the rough with Raheem Mostert.

Now a 49ers playoff hero on his way to the Super Bowl, Mostert was signed to the Jets practice squad for six days in September 2016. The Jets were not the first or last team to cut the running back, but he’s since played an integral part in San Francisco’s Super Bowl run.

Yet, his old position coach in New York couldn’t even recall him being on the Jets roster.

“Wow, I don’t remember him at all,” former Jets RB coach Marcel Shipp told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I usually remember those guys. This is bad. I do not remember him being in the room.”

The Jets weren’t the only team who misjudged Mostert. He went undrafted out of Purdue in 2015 and spent time on six different rosters before finding a home in San Francisco in 2016. Mostert didn’t succeed with the 49ers until this year, though. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, Mostert totaled 772 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in the regular season and 278 rushing yards and four scores in the postseason.

While the Jets and several others missed out on Mostert, these types of stories happen all the time in the NFL. Sometimes, it takes a few years and the right set of circumstances for a player to finally make an impact.

Mostert got his opportunity in San Francisco. Now he’s heading to the Super Bowl as a feel-good story after making the most of it.

Bilal Powell approaching eighth on Jets’ all-time rushing list

Bilal Powell needs 19 more yards to move up to 8th on the Jets all-time rushing list.

Bilal Powell has seen his playing time diminished this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from moving his name up in the Jets ‘record books.

Powell is 19 yards away from passing Bill Mathis for No. 8 on the team’s all-time rushing list. He is currently at 3,571 yards. With Le’Veon Bell’s status for Sunday’s game in question, Powell could see a lot of playing time and move up on the list.

Powell has had a remarkable career in green and white, but he’s not taking all the credit.

“It’s a privilege to be in the NFL,” Powell told reporters. “I can’t give credit to myself. I’ve had some good offensive linemen that helped me along the way… I’m worried about the team first, going to get a ‘W’ vs. the Dolphins.”

The 31-year old running back is the longest-tenured Jet on the roster. He was drafted in the fourth round back in 2011 out of Louisville.

Powell has always been consistent with the Jets. He has never been the superstar running back, but he is reliable. In eight-plus seasons with the Jets, Powell has run for over 600 yards three times while also having two seasons of over 300 receiving yards. His best season came in 2017 when he ran for 772 yards and five touchdowns.

This could be Powell’s last season with Gang Green given his age and the Jets’ situation at running back. To finish his Jets career as a top 10 rushing leader in Jets history would be well deserved for Powell.