After the failed experiment to make receiver Santonio Holmes act like a captain by putting a “C” on his jersey last season, Jets coach Rex Ryan won’t be applying the “C” to anyone’s jersey in 2012.
The question is whether they have anyone who will act like a captain in 2012.
Guard Matt Slauson says it will. “I think in a situation like that where there are no captains named, it kind of forces guys to step up and take ownership, and guys like Brandon [Moore] have done a phenomenal job with that,” guard Matt Slauson said, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. “Mark [Sanchez] has done a phenomenal job, obviously. Those are just the offensive guys. It kind of forces those guys to step up and all the rest of us respect them even more because that ‘C’ is not just given to them.”
Moore agrees. “You guys in the media like to anoint leaders,” Moore said. “But there’s people here every day who are veterans, starters who are leading by example, helping a young guy, setting the tempo, leading by doing his job at a high level or limiting his [mental errors] or running to the next drill. That’s leadership. If that’s the case, a lot of guys are doing that.”
Defensive lineman Sione Pouha, who wore a “C” last season, says the “C” is irrelevant.
“The real emblem is not the ‘C’, it’s the team name on the front of your jersey,” Pouha said. “It doesn’t affect us in any way. We know we’re all here to help each other. We all stand in one line and march together.”
The real question is whether Holmes will be regarded as truly part of that line. His words and actions last year while wearing the “C” could have a lingering impact in 2012 -- especially if his words and actions in 2013 aren’t substantially different.