A week ago, I wrote that if Muhammad Wilkerson wanted to remain with the Jets next season, he would need to prove it over the final four games of the season. I guess we have our answer.
Wilkerson will not travel with the team to New Orleans and won’t play in Sunday’s game against the Saints. Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t reveal much when he announced on Friday what he called a “coaching decision.”
“I’m just worried about the guys going to the game,” Bowles repeated several times during a press conference that lasted all of three minutes.
Wilkerson was late for another team meeting, two weeks after he missed the first quarter against the Chiefs for the same reason. His agent told The Post’s Brian Costello that Wilkerson contacted the team ahead of time and told Montelle Sanders, the team’s manager of player development, in the morning that he would be late because of a personal matter involving one of his children.
Excuse or not, it’s clear Wilkerson doesn’t need to be in the Jets plans for next season. Bowles said no decisions have been made beyond Sunday’s game, but a suspension for the final two games and an outright release in the offseason would send the proper message.
The Jets will save $11 million by cutting Wilkerson, but still have to be kicking themselves for giving him a 5-year $86 million contract in the summer of 2016. The $18 million he earned this year apparently wasn’t enough for him to become the kind of responsible leader the Jets had hoped. That decision has turned what was once among the most talented defensive lines in the NFL into a mediocre front that no one fears.
It wasn’t that long ago, 2013 to be exact, that Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon “Snacks” Harrison were imposing enough to earn the nickname “Sons of Anarchy.” Leonard Williams fell into the Jets’ lap in the first round of the 2015, but he had the potential to be just as good as the veteran trio he was joining.
But with an eye on Wilkerson seeking a rich deal, the Jets let Harrison go in 2016, and he signed with the Giants. Harrison has had two terrific seasons with the Giants and could earn his first spot in the Pro Bowl this year after earning All-Pro honors last year.
The Jets also viewed Richardson expendable as well, trading him to the Seahawks for Jermaine Kearse this September. Richardson, the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013, was a bit of headache with the Jets, earning a four-game suspension to start the 2015 because of substance abuse and later squabbling with former Jets receiver Brandon Marshall. Richardson, who was moved to defensive tackle, has started all 12 games he has played for the Seattle. His versatility as a lineman and linebacker has been missed by the Jets. Now Wilkerson’s release is inevitable. So much for the Sons of Anarchy.
This comes at a terrible time for not only the Jets, but for Bowles, who needs some sort of respectable finish to keep his job. He had been a strong supporter of Wilkerson throughout a season when the former Pro Bowl defensive end didn’t collect his first sack until the eighth game. He has just 3.5 on the year, his lowest total since his rookie year.
Wilkerson offered no accountability for whatever led to not starting against the Chiefs, refusing to answer any question related to the subject.
Interestingly, he seemed upbeat on Wednesday as he talked about looking forward to Sunday’s game in New Orleans and facing Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
“We have to keep him uncomfortable and make sure no balls get thrown over our head,” he said. “He’s a short guy. We have to get pressure in face.”
He even talked about having “focus” during the week of practice and taking that focus on the road to New Orleans.
“We’re going to focus on getting better each and every day this week in practice,” Wilkerson said on Wednesday.
Talk isn’t always cheap. It proved to be very costly for the Jets.
