Amaro Says Unlike Rex, New Head Coach Bowles Will Hold Jets Accountable
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- To a man the Jets loved Rex Ryan, but that doesn't mean they all approved of everything he did.
Count Jace Amaro among those who seemed to have a problem with how the former head coach doled out discipline. The second-year tight end recently told Sirius XM NFL Radio he can already tell during his limited interaction with new head coach Todd Bowles that there will be rules in place and they will be enforced.
"He's not really playing around with everyone being late. We had an issue with that last year," Amaro said. "Guys just weren't accountable last year as much as they could be. I think that's the biggest thing, he's making sure everyone's gonna be 100 percent in or he's not going to be on the team."
Ryan was without question a player's coach who tended to let his guys be individuals. Sometimes, however, it seemed like the inmates were running the asylum. The most often used example was then-second year quarterback Geno Smith being allowed to a start an eventual 31-0 loss in San Diego last season despite missing a team meeting.
Bowles, who was hired back in January after a 4-12 season cost Ryan and general manager John Idzik their jobs, has a reputation for being strict but fair when it comes to handling discipline. Many players, including cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who played for him last season in Arizona, and NFL higher-ups have said Bowles might be the right guy to fix what has often been perceived as too much of a relaxed Jets locker room.
"(Bowles is) strong-minded, and to the team he speaks his mind," defensive end Sheldon Richardson told the Jets' official website.
"We got to see him up in front of the team (Monday) morning," center Nick Mangold told reporters Monday. "He's got a great passion."
It will be interesting to see how that passion translates on the field for a team that has spent a ton of money this offseason in an attempt to end a four-year drought without a playoff appearance.
