I apologize if this was already posted, but I could not find it anywhere in the threads. Does anyone know why Lito Sheppard was benched for the AFC championship game? I heard during the game that he was benched as a coach's decision and it was not injury related. That cant be good if you started all year long at #2 db and your demoted for the AFC championship game. Anyone know why he was benched. Thanks guys.
I don't think it was ever publicly stated why he was demoted, but I'm sure it had something to do with him getting repeatedly burned in the week 16 game vs the Colts. Mostly by a rookie WR, nonetheless.
Needless to say we will not be picking up his 10M option for next year. Guy used to be a pro-bowler, but he lost a step and got lazy at the same time. Pretty bad combination. I think CB is where we need to go in the first round this year, hard to find a good corner (just retreads who have lost a step) in the FA market, chances are (like with Lito) You'll end up paying too much for someones past performance.
I wouldn't want to pick up his 10mil option, but it sure would be nice to have him for depth. Even though I'm on record as saying I'd like to cut him, I didn't really consider the depth aspect, until this point. The problem is that Lito was so upset in Philly because they used him as depth, and we don't need a negative nancy on the defense.
Jets would be smart to let him go and fill his spot with a FA. Tanny missed on that one. He was injured for at least 5 games and was toasted or penalized in the another 6.
I had high hopes when we got him from the Eagles as he played well there. So far we lose a 5th and a 4th (?) and the only thing we got out of it was half a season of him being injured and the other half he played indicates a bust. Cut our losses now, send him packin'.
If Sheppard could not be out there on the field against the Colts and he was not hurt he really has no value for the Jets. When I saw he was not slated to start I got nervous about the game for the first time.
We can never seem to fill that #2 CB with a solid cornerback who doesn't handicap our defense. Our defense is only as good as it's worst weakness. We will never be as good as we hope without filling that void.
I watched the first colts game and Peyton lit up Sheppard from the go, no surprise when he did it again on Sunday. Peyton will be back next year so Sheppard has to go.
