FLORHAM PARK
Chris Lindstrom Jersey , N.J. (AP) — stoic
public persona.The New York Jets coach had just been asked what his initial
impressions were of first-round pick Sam Darnold at rookie minicamp Friday — and
Bowles went wild. Well, sort of.“He was great! I want him to play right now!” a
smiling Bowles shouted while slamming his left hand on the lectern for emphasis
.It was stunning. And made a room filled with wide-eyed reporters laugh.Bowles
has never been one to make bold declarations, especially after just one
practice. So the coach jokingly mocked the question — while providing a video
and sound clip like he never has before.Then again, Bowles and the Jets are
hoping Darnold someday develops into the type of quarterback the likes of which
this franchise has rarely, if ever, seen.“He was good,” Bowles said, still
smiling. “Obviously, we threw the ball around a little bit and he’s going to be
getting better.”Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft last week ,
surprisingly “dropping” into the Jets’ lap after being rumored as a potential
top overall selection for several months. Instead, Cleveland went with
Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and the Giants took Penn State running back Saquon
Barkley at No. 2.That meant the team that has been craving a franchise
quarterback since the glory days of Joe Namath had its guy: the 20-year-old
Darnold, a could-be savior from USC who could soon be shouldering the pressure
of leading the Jets out of a seven-year playoff drought.The kid who oozes
California cool knows all about it.“Yeah, I embrace it, but I understand every
single day that it’s a process,” Darnold said before his first practice of
rookie camp. “You’ve got to come in here and earn respect. I’m not going to come
in here and demand it.”Darnold is fresh-faced, has a terrific head of
reddish-blond hair, and should make for a target of companies looking for
celebrity endorsers or magazines searching for a cover-boy athlete. Make no
mistake, though, he’s got an unrelenting competitive streak and lives and
breathes football.Just moments after meeting with an overflow crowd of media
armed with cameras and lots of questions
http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jahlani-tavai-jersey , Darnold was back at his makeshift stall in the middle of the Jets’ locker room,
studying his playbook.“Just coming in here and understanding the position that
I’m in — I’m a rookie,” Darnold said. “I understand that. But at the same time,
I understand that I’m a quarterback and that I’ve got to be a leader on the
field and off it, as well.”Darnold will have a chance to win the starting job
this summer. His main competition, of course, will be Josh McCown, the
soon-to-be 39-year-old veteran who was the starter for most of last season.The
Jets also have Teddy Bridgewater, still working his way back from a serious knee
injury nearly two years ago, and Christian Hackenberg, a second-rounder in 2016
who has yet to see the field in a regular-season game.“We’re giving him every
chance,” Bowles said of Darnold. “He’s going to learn it as he goes. He might
get the (first-team) reps as he goes, but we’ll make that determination through
preseason and see where we are at the end of it. But we’re not holding him
back.“We’re not rushing him, at the same time, but we’re not holding him back at
all.”Darnold was given a small chunk of the playbook to run through during
rookie camp, with the team keeping things relatively simple to start.There were
some ups — a few beautifully placed long throws — and some downs — two botched
snaps and an interception on a tipped pass — while getting in his first on-field
practice since late December.“It’s a combination of being nervous,” Darnold
said, “but at the same time, I think it’s more relief than anything just because
I haven’t been with a team, I haven’t been inside the pocket for a long
time.”While Bowles’ response to what he saw from Darnold was intentionally over
the top
Kyler Murray Jersey , there’s no doubt many Jets fans hope the rookie is under center in Week 1 — and for years to come.Until then, though, Darnold is
going about his business the only way he knows how.“Consistency, I think is the
biggest thing,” Darnold said. “I’m just going to come in here and be consistent
every single day. Do what I need to do: lift, eat right, get with coach (Jeremy)
Bates, get with Josh and Teddy, learn everything that is installed that day.
Just go about it, it’s a daily process that I go through. If I treat every
single day like it’s the most important day, I think that’s really where my
success comes from.”NOTES: The Jets waived RB Akeem Judd. … The team announced
it signed RB Trenton Cannon, a sixth-round draft pick out of Virginia State. …
New York signed seven undrafted free agents: Oklahoma FB Dimitri Flowers, Auburn
OL Austin Golson, Jacksonville State CB Reggie Hall, Columbia DL Lord Hyeamang,
Auburn OL Darius James, University of British Columbia G Dakoda Shepley, and
Texas Tech DL Mychealon Thomas. The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without
closer Brandon Morrow for a little while.
The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most
important piece.
While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked ”outstanding
http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/byron-murphy-jersey ,” and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as
he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.
Morrow – signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS – has 16 saves
in 17 chances.
He hurt his back taking his pants off at home early Monday morning, after the team returned from St. Louis. The Cubs put him on the DL before their game
against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with
the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday’s
day-night doubleheader.
”Anybody who’s had a back spasm knows you can pretty much get it doing anything – brushing your teeth, sneezing, picking up a kid,” Morrow said. ”I
think almost everybody has a story about doing so I just said how I did it.”
Morrow said he’s ”pretty comfortable” walking, but feels it when he sits. He said he would have needed a few more days to be ready to pitch. But the Cubs
opted not to hold his spot on the active roster.
”We thought it would be wise to give him a couple of days,” Maddon said. ”We just can’t go with one less pitcher right now. We just cannot.”
The Cubs are also missing relievers Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) and Brian Duensing, who is on the bereavement list after his
grandfather died Saturday.
Maddon said the matchups will dictate who closes with Morrow sidelined. He also said the Cubs are ”very close” to mapping out a plan for the return of
Edwards, who has been throwing. He said the Cubs hope to get Duensing back by
Friday.
Darvish, meanwhile, said through an interpreter that the simulated game went better than expected. He felt some anxiety before the outing but felt
comfortable on the mound and had good command of his fastball and slider, though
he needs to work on his curve and splitter.
Darvish also said he thinks he will need only one rehab start before rejoining the rotation. Once he is ready, the Cubs will have some decisions to
make.
Mike Montgomery has a 1.21 ERA in five starts since he was inserted into the rotation in Darvish’s absence. And Tyler Chatwood leads the majors with 63
walks.
Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts, not what the Cubs envisioned when they signed the prized right-hander to a $126 million, six-year contract in
February.
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