Tag: John Franklin-Myers

Jets DL John Franklin-Myers provides Tua Tagovailoa with some bulletin board material after their loss

It sounds like some sour grapes.

The Miami Dolphins moved to 4-7 on the season after they defeated the New York Jets 24-17 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

In this game, Miami’s defense continued their string of solid performances that kept the Joe Flacco-led Jets’ offense to just two touchdowns. The Dolphins’ offense wasn’t great, by any means, but they made enough plays to get the job done.

After the contest, Jets defensive lineman Jonathan Franklin-Myers had some harsh comments about Tua Tagovailoa’s play in the Dolphins’ Week 11 win.

According to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, Franklin-Myers said that Tagovailoa was throwing up prayers, and “sometimes prayers are answered.”

Tagovailoa only threw four passes over 10 yards on Sunday including a busted coverage by New York’s secondary that resulted in a 65-yard touchdown for Mack Hollins, Miami’s longest play of the year.

It didn’t seem like there were many “prayers” in this game. That’s not really what this offense is at this point. However, it will be interesting to see if Tagovailoa and the rest of the team use this as motivation going forward, especially with the Jets coming to Hard Rock Stadium in a few weeks.

[vertical-gallery id=441488]

Tearful John Franklin-Myers breaks down discussing his son, extension with Jets

Speaking for the first time since signing an extension with the Jets, John Franklin-Myers became emotional when he was asked about his son.

The first person John Franklin-Myers called after signing his new four-year, $55 million extension was his son.

The Jets’ 25-year-old defensive end broke down in tears when talking about his son on Friday. Franklin-Myers explained that he does everything for his son and that he wants him to have “every opportunity.”

“I play football for him,” Franklin-Myers, speaking for the first time since signing his contract, said

Franklin-Myers was all smiles immediately after signing his new deal. He tweeted his excitement and noted it was “an honor” to play for the Jets.

Franklin-Myers has performed well during his time with New York. He already has three sacks in four games this season after tallying two in the final three games of the 2020 season. He was originally a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2018 out of Stephen F. Austin, but he didn’t make the roster in 2019.

The Jets claimed him and he sat out the 2019 season due to injury before playing well at end of the 2020 season.

[listicle id=651969]

Jets sign DE John Franklin-Myers to big 4-year extension

Jonh Franklin-Myers has done nothing but impress since joining the Jets. Now he has a new four-year deal with Gang Green.

John Franklin-Myers is staying with the Jets for the foreseeable future.

The young defensive end signed a four-year, $55 million extension with Gang Green, according to the Daily News’ DJ Bien-Aime. The deal includes $30 million in guaranteed money.

Franklin-Myers was on the final year of his rookie contract before inking his new deal with New York.

Franklin-Myers, 25, has enjoyed his time with the Jets after being picked up off waivers before the 2019 season following a rookie campaign with the Rams. He spent the entire 2019 season on injured reserve but tallied two of his three sacks in the final three games of the 2020 season. Franklin-Myers added to his sack total early in 2021 with three in the first four games. He became the youngest Jets player since John Abraham to tally two sacks in the first two games of the season.

Franklin-Myers also has 17 total tackles, five quarterback hits and a forced fumble on the year.

Franklin-Myers, alongside Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Foley Fatukasi, Bryce Huff and Shaq Lawson, make up an impressive front that’s among the best at winning at the line of scrimmage. Now Franklin-Myers will be part of that line for years to come.

[listicle id=667792]

Zach Wilson, John Franklin-Myers dealing with minor injures

Zach Wilson has a minor groin injury, but Robert Saleh isn’t worried about the Jets rookie’s availability for Week 2.

Two new Jets starters popped up on the injury report Wednesday.

Zach Wilson has a minor groin injury and defensive end John Franklin-Myers has a calf injury, Robert Saleh said Wednesday. Wilson was a full participant in practice while Franklin-Myers didn’t practice, but Saleh isn’t concerned about either’s availability for the Week 3 matchup with the Broncos.

“[Wilson] woke up a little bit sore and since they touched on him in the training room he has to go on the list,” Saleh said. “It’s not a concern.”

Saleh added that he hopes receiver Jamison Crowder (groin) and linebacker Jamien Sherwood (ankle) could return this week, too. The Jets will need all hands on deck against the Broncos, who boast a solid defense that’s allowed the fifth-fewest points as well, as an offense that can score and put up good yardage.

[listicle id=666474]

John Franklin-Myers praises fellow defensive lineman on the roster bubble

John Franklin-Myers had high praise for fellow defensive lineman Tanzel Smart. Smart is fighting for a roster spot this summer.

Tanzel Smart hasn’t made much of an on-field impact with the Jets, but he is influencing at least one teammate behind the scenes. 

“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen in my life,” John Franklin-Myers recently said on the “Take Flight Spittin’ Fire Podcast.” “He makes me work harder than I’ve ever worked since I’ve been here.”

Given the surplus of talent on the Jets’ defensive line, it is somewhat surprising to hear Franklin-Myers namedrop Smart, a player who saw just 26 total snaps last season. He recorded three total tackles in as many games.

Smart has been a journeyman since entering the league out of Tulane in 2017. He spent three seasons with the Rams before bouncing around to the Bills, Browns and Jets. He’s played in 509 total defesive snaps in his career, and 306 of those came in his rookie year.

While Smart is motivating Franklin-Myers, the former is no threat to the latter’s job. Franklin-Myers is a potential starter following a career year that included 19 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, 13 quarterback hits, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 15 games.

Smart, meanwhile, will need to go above and beyond this summer if he hopes to crack New York’s deep defensive line rotation.

[listicle id=662684]

Jets DT Quinnen Williams to miss 8-10 weeks with foot injury

Williams broke a bone in his foot that may require surgery and should force him to miss most of the Jets’ offseason workouts.

The Jets will be without their start interior defensive lineman for most of the team’s offseason workouts.

Quinnen Williams will miss 8-10 weeks after breaking a small bone in his foot, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The injury, which will likely require surgery, occurred last week while Williams was doing on-field work at the Jets’ facility, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

This means Williams is likely to miss OTAs and minicamp later this spring, but he should be ready for training camp in the summer if all goes well.

This is a big offseason for Williams as he prepares for his third season with the Jets and first under Robert Saleh. Williams is coming off a career year in which he tallied seven sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and 55 total tackles. He is poised to anchor a Jets defensive line that includes John Franklin-Myers, Foley Fatukasi and free agent acquisition Carl Lawson.

Injuries have played a role early in Williams’ career. He missed time in 2019 with an ankle injury and missed the final two games of the 2020 season with a neck injury.

Instant analysis of Jets agreeing to sign DE Carl Lawson

The Jets got one of the best pass-rushers on the market in Carl Lawson to upgrade their defensive line for Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich.

[mm-video type=video id=01f0wahz9kg1jh84by playlist_id=01eqbx856p96chh2p4 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f0wahz9kg1jh84by/01f0wahz9kg1jh84by-4bd8c43ab50d983db848b7a92a7edf94.jpg]

Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich found their pass-rusher.

The Jets agreed to terms with former Bengals DE Carl Lawson on a three-year, $45 million contract with $30 million in guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Lawson’s deal can’t become official until the new league year begins on March 17 at 4 p.m. ET.

Edge rusher was arguably the biggest position of need for the Jets and Lawson fits the bill as the perfect player for Saleh and Ulbrich’s 4-3 defense. Lawson thrived in Cincinnati over the past four years with 20.5 total sacks in 51 games. He played exceptionally well this past season, too: Lawson finished second in quarterback hits with 32 and finished fourth among edge rushers with 64 pressures.

Lawson is exactly the type of defensive end the Jets need in their new defense. He’s big, fast, ferocious and should be a terror on the edge. He finished with an 84.9 pass-rush Pro Football Focus grade – ninth in the league – and can play the same role Dee Ford and Nick Bosa played in Saleh’s defense in San Francisco. Lawson isn’t much a run-defender with a 61.1 PFF grade, but the Jets won’t really need him to be in this defense. What the Jets need is a player who can consistently get to the quarterback, and Lawson fits that description.

Even better is his contract. The Jets will pay Lawson up to $15.83 million a year for three years. That’s a steal for a pass-rusher in today’s NFL. He’ll now play in a defense tailored to his strength, which should help him build on the skills he already had and the production he’s used to creating. Lawson, who will turn 26 in June, also fortifies a line already rife with young talent in Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers and Foley Fatukasi.

The Jets defense just got a whole lot better because of Lawson.

John Franklin-Myers among 5 Jets who quietly shined in 2020

Jets Wire takes a look at five players who quietly shined for New York during a rather forgettable 2020 season.

The Jets haven’t had a lot to hang their hats on with the 2020 season coming to a close Sunday.

That said, the team has found players who have played significant roles that can be building blocks and depth pieces for an organization looking to move in a different direction. Once Week 17 officially commences, the Jets will likely begin searching for their third head coach in five years. Even as the franchise turns a new leaf, it’s encouraging for the team’s front office that there have been contributing players who can play a significant role in the team’s development moving forward.

Let’s take a look at some New York players who quietly shined during the 2020 season.

Jets DL Quinnen Williams done for the season

Quinnen Williams is done for the season due to a neck injury and a concussion.

Quinnen Williams’ breakout sophomore season has ended.

Adam Gase said Wednesday that Williams will be placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and a concussion. He’ll have to clear the concussion protocol before being placed on injured reserve, though. Williams suffered those injuries in Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Rams.

The second-year player out of Alabama emerged as one of the NFL’s top, young interior defensive linemen this season. In 13 games, Williams registered 53 total tackles, seven sacks, three pass defenses and two forced fumbles.

Now the question with Williams will be whether he can replicate his production in 2021. If he can, that would give the Jets a true force along their defensive line.

In other injury news, CB Javelin Guidry (knee) won’t practice on Wednesday. WR Jamison Crowder, WR Denzel Mims, WR Jeff Smith, OL Josh Andrews, LB Frankie Luvu and DL John Franklin-Myers will all be limited.

Jets defense in for an overhaul in 2021

Joe Douglas could lose as many as seven starters to free agency as well as more with roster cuts as he continues his Jets rebuild

A lot of change should be coming to One Jets Drive in 2021 as Joe Douglas continues his rebuild, and there could be a lot on the defensive side of the ball.

The Jets have just $70 million tied to the defense – the sixth-lowest in the league, according to Over The Cap – with seven starters set to hit free agency after this season. Ten others have expiring contracts and a few more players could be released as well.

Safety Marcus Maye and cornerback Brian Poole could possibly return if the Jets can get a good price. The rest of the starters – Bradley McDougald, Pierre Desir, Tarell Basham, Jordan Jenkins and Neville Hewitt – could all be on their way out after a season filled with poor defensive showings. Other players like defensive linemen Henry Anderson and Nathan Shepherd haven’t played well and would save the Jets money if cut early, too.

That would leave the Jets with a very small core of players. Quinnen Williams, Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers look great on the defensive line, while defensive backs Ashtyn Davis and Bless Austin and linebacker Blake Cashman should continue to improve with more playing time. Cornerback Bryce Hall and pass rusher Jabari Zuniga remain question marks after spending most of their rookie seasons injured. Don’t forget, linebacker C.J. Mosley will return as well after basically a two-year hiatus. 

While that group isn’t awful, there would be a lot of gaps to fill if Douglas cleans house.  

Where will Douglas find his replacements? It’s hard to say. The free agent class is shallow and mostly filled with expensive veterans. Guys like Patrick Peterson, Matt Judon, Shaq Barrett and Melvin Ingram will all cost a lot more than Douglas would probably like to spend and all have reached the peak of their careers.

The draft, too, isn’t great at the top, but Douglas could find some solid prospects with his late first- or early second-round picks after potentially using his first pick on a quarterback or offensive lineman. Someone like Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade or Miami pass rusher Quincy Roche are possibilities. A trade or two could be on the table, as well, but that doesn’t seem like Douglas’ style unless he takes a gamble on an inexpensive player or moves up in the draft for a guy he really likes.

Rebuilding the defense is easier said than done, but it’s necessary – especially if Gregg Williams doesn’t return as defensive coordinator next season.

The unit as a whole took a step back this season. A year after allowing the seventh-fewest yards per game and allowing 22 points per game, the Jets defense ranks 27th in yards allowed and 30th in points allowed. New York saw a precipitous drop in run defense as well – dropping from second to 18 in rushing yards allowed and from ninth to 24th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Trading Jamal Adams couldn’t have accounted for that much of a drop-off.

A lot of the Jets’ 2021 success hinges on Douglas’ second full offseason as general manager. That will especially be true for a defense that’s suffered mightily this year. If Douglas doesn’t keep a lot of the Jets’ starters from this season, he’ll have to take some big risks in the draft and free agency.