http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...ew_could_be_option_for_jets_in_nfl_draft.html OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew could be option for Jets in NFL Draft BY Rich Cimini DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Tuesday, April 21st 2009, 12:39 AM Schlegel/AP Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew (87) could be the next in a long line of tight ends drafted by the Jets in the first round. They are among the most scorned words in the lexicon of longtime Jets fans: First-round pick...tight end. The words trigger bad memories of Johnny Mitchell, Kyle Brady and Anthony Becht, first-round disappointments from years past. The Jets tempted fate again last year, selecting Dustin Keller, and now they may do it again. Get the TV cameras ready; there could be some priceless reactions Saturday at Radio City. "I hope they wouldn't give me a bad greeting," Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew said Monday in a phone interview. "If they do, I'll go out and play and prove to them I'm a good player. But I would hope it would be a positive reaction." Chances are, it would be, "Not another one!" - followed by boos. The Jets would be criticized for overkill, but Pettigrew is a possibility with the 17thpick. Three reasons: They failed to replace Chris Baker, a salary-cap casualty who bolted for the Patriots; Keller is their only other tight end, and he's a liability as a blocker; and Pettigrew (6-5, 263) is regarded as the most complete tight end in the draft, a devastating blocker who would fit nicely into Rex Ryan's plan to be a smashmouth running team. Pettigrew's speed is a question (4.8 in the 40), but many scouts believe he has underrated receiving skills. "I think he's a fantastic talent," said Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' chief of college scouting. "He's big, he's athletic, he can catch the ball, he can block." The Jets are hurting for an in-line tight end. They're so desperate that Kareem Brown, a defensive end, worked at tight end in last week's minicamp. Then again, with other needs (namely wide receiver), could they justify another first-round investment in the position? If the coveted receivers are gone, and if the Jets opt to stand pat at quarterback, Pettigrew could be the best value at No. 17. But he has some off-the-field baggage. In January of 2008, Pettigrew was arrested and charged with felony assault and battery on a police officer. He also received a misdemeanor public-intoxication charge. There was an early-morning fight involving 10 to 15 people at a house on campus, according to the police report. Pettigrew refused to leave, allegedly cursed police and elbowed one officer in the chest - an accident, he claimed. He spent about eight hours in jail, which he described as a life-changing experience. "That was rough," he said. "That was my first trip to a jail cell, and it'll be my last. I embarrassed my family, my school and my team." Pettigrew pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, receiving 30 hours of community service and one year probation. "It made me look bad," Pettigrew said. "It was my fault and I've learned from it, and I'm ready to move on." ON TO CORTLAND: The first three weeks of training camp will be held at SUNY-Cortland. Camp opens July 31. The Jets made a one-year commitment to Cortland. Extending an olive branch to their fans from Long Island and New Jersey, they will have one public practice (Aug. 12) at Hofstra, their former year-round facility, followed by three open practices at their new headquarters in Florham Park, N.J. In an unprecedented move, they will open their June minicamp to the public for five practices, starting June 6.
I was dedfinitely one of the "oh no" crowd originally, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of Pettigrew. He'd help the run game and the pass game and there's nothing like two capable TEs to make a young QB comfortable. I see that we could use a WR and I acknowledge we will soon need help at RB, but a TE makes the WR and RBs we have better. He's not my first choice, but he's on my list.
i would love if we picked him......and i would love even more if we trade down to maybe the eagles......get an extra 3rd.......and still pick him 1st
I don't like players being heralded when they are drafted, and i don't like the fact people boo players when they are drafted. Give them a chance to prove themselves on the field, and then if they turn out rubbish, boo your hearts out. I wouldn't mind him, he is not just a good blocker, he is a excellent blocker, he can catch, and if we are going to run a lot of 2 TE sets, then the thought of him and Keller on the same field is exciting to me. Wouldn't be my first choice, but i would welcome him to the Jets.
This is the scenario i would like to see play out. Im not completely sold on taking a TE in the first but if they are able to trade down get more picks and still get the guy they want that would be the move to make.
I can understand the reasoning for Pettigrew and would not be disappointed with the pick. He'd be the best mix of need versus BPA at the time, I suppose. But I don't like the thought of trading down to the Eagles at 21 because that's a dangerous game and a good way to get burned, and you probably don't get much in return for it. And anything can happen between 17 and 21... trades with other teams, etc., so there you are sitting at 21 with Pettigrew gone and egg on your face. For those reasons I'm not a big fan of making small downward moves like that. If you want Pettigrew and he's available at 17, take him and don't play around with it. Just MO.
I like Pettigrew individually as a player and he'd represent good value. However, If we're drafting him solely for his blocking...that is a really dumb move. Keller brings everything you can possibly want as a recieving TE..and frankly...we could easily put a young OL(like we did last year in Robert thomas) at the second TE spot and just ass good of blocking if not better for the QTR of the price of another first round TE. If thats the reasoning for bringing pettigrew in..count me out
My thoughts exactly. I still think we need a WR who can stretch the field though. Clowney MIGHT be that guy but we're not sure yet. What would be real nice would be to get Pettigrew and have a decent WR fall into the early 2nd round and be able to trade up to take him. Then we'd have our cake and eat it too.
I think the reasoning is, he's being touted as the "most complete" TE in the draft... blocking and catching. He lacks bursting speed but it didn't seem to hinder him from making decent YACs in college. The thought of a very good double TE set intrigues me and would help the supposed smash-mouth running attack we're supposedly developing, but I still think the lack of a very good field-stretching WR should be a very high priority.
Anthony Becht 2.0? Although raising hell and fighting cops may give this team a bit more of the attitude it needs :wink: :smile:
I agree 100% with this. The last time we traded down with the Eagles, everybody assumed we were going to take Gocong. Then the Eagles took Gocong and we got stuck with Schlegel.
Yeah, but there's so many directions we could go that low I don't think it'd be a problem. Beanie, Knowshon, Gilbert, Brown, Unger, Nicks, Britt, Pettigrew... I'm telling you, I feel better about our draft position this year than I did last year. Those high picks really are a burden.
If we take Pettigrew here it would bring back Roger Vick memories for me. He might be a good player, but are we really drafting a one dimensional TE at 17 when we used a 1st last year to get Keller? I would think drafting Bear Pascoe in the 5th would be better value for us.
To the contrary, I believe our GM and scouts are booed. U can't really boo a player for being selected by us. Its not in their hands.
I'm not necessarily for or against Pettigrew at this point, but I think that the reason that people are talking him up is because he's seen to be the best "all around" TE in the draft. If the pick was just to fill the need of a blocking TE, I agree, it wouldn't warrant a #17 selection, but if they really feel that he'll be a premier blocker as well as a legit pass-catching threat, that definitely adds a lot to his value (maybe not enough to warrant the #17, but obviously we'll all have to wait to find out).
You have to admit TE hasnt been the greatest selection choice for the Jets over the years Dustin Keller was a bright spot but besides that name a productive TE out of the first round for us!!!
