WoodysGirl;2403382 said:
12:38 PM Wed, Nov 05, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
We gave Mike Jenkins an opportunity to explain his non-contact actions on Giants RB Derrick Ward's fourth-quarter touchdown run. The rookie didn't come across as a guy who regretted his decision.
"I was just waiting on the safety to make a play," Jenkins said. "It just looked different. I really can't explain it."
When pressed, Jenkins said he thought he might knock down LB Kevin Burnett if he cut Ward's legs out from under him. That would seem to be a better alternative than letting Ward prance into the end zone. Would he do anything different if that situation presented itself again?
"I'd say go get the tackle," said Jenkins, who is well aware that he's been criticized for avoiding contact over the last few days. "That'd be the right answer."
Well, it sure looked like he intentionally avoided contact. When asked if that was the case, Jenkins said, "That's what it looked like. That's your eyes. If that's what you seen, that's what you seen." And then he threw a teammate under the bus, too.
"I wasn't the only one there," Jenkins said. "Everybody's pointing it out like it was me, but there was a safety back there, too."
The safety was Courtney Brown, who has made a grand total of two tackles all season despite getting significant playing time. A wait on Brown to make a play could last more than a month.
CB Anthony Henry said some veterans got on Jenkins immediately after the play about his effort. Jenkins said nobody had said anything to him. Well, was his effort acceptable?
"Obviously not," Jenkins said, "because y'all are going to have your own opinion, no matter what."
In my opinion, Mike Jenkins didn't 'give up' on that play as I have written extensively about.
It is easy for a fan or a hack reporter to sit on the sideline and try to judge someone's intent or heart. Most don't know what it is like on an NFL field. Football is played in real time speed, not pictures. Yes. It looks like he could have dove forward and perhaps, tripped him up. I bet the coaches asked him about the play. It is very possible that Jenkins just froze up on the play for reasons only he knows, but hey, we have people with telepathic ability on here.
I wrote about the possibility that he didn't want to slam into Burnett. What if Burnett was injured on the play, and Barbie has to play. You guys would really love that. That game was out of reach, and if anyone thinks any differently, they are dreaming.
Anyone who attempts to negatively label Mike Jenkins by using a subjective view that they are passing off as absolute certainty is wrong, imo. No fan or reporter or other player knows what Mike Jenkins' brain was processing on that play.
Again, this guy has busted his tail on the football field. He has hustled, tackled, and hit people. Mike Jenkins has played very well next to the sideline, and he is learning to play Phillips' zone schemes and techniques. He scored a touchdown in the freaking game, and he made a great play in deep coverage down the sidelines. He was the least of your problems that day, my friends. Yet, he's being treated like a witch on trial during the 19th century.
Mike Jenkins is one of the most talented players on the entire team. In my opinion, he is a bigger, faster, and stronger version of Asante Samuel. He has a bright future with the Dallas Cowboys, and the future is now.
Jenkins said that he would 'go get the tackle' if he could do it over again. What more do you guys want?
He is being put on trial to a certain degree for one play where other players did fail on the play. I would be defensive, too. He owned up to it. Get over it.
By the way, he saved a touchdown with that diving pass break up in the Eagles game, or you are 4-5.
