There’s no point being a soldier if there’s no soldiering to do.
Jets tight end Kellen Winslow saw Jeff Cumberland get more opportunities to play and produce on Monday night, and Winslow didn’t like it.
Sure, Winslow made a nice catch of a touchdown pass. But it was the only pass thrown his way all night, and quarterback Geno Smith reportedly said Winslow was frustrated.
Asked by reporters after the game to respond, Winslow said (via Matt Winkeljohn of ESPNNewYork.com), “I don’t think that would be a good choice.”
No, it wouldn’t be. It also wouldn’t be a good choice to say “I don’t think that would be a good choice” or to otherwise say or do anything that could be viewed as evidence of frustration.
Winslow should have no frustrations of any kind. After being out of the NFL for most of last year and having to get the Jets’ attention via participation in a minicamp on a tryout basis, Winslow has a job in the NFL and he is contributing. So what if, for one game, Cumberland contributed more?
And if the problem is that Smith has a greater level of comfort with Cumberland because Cumberland is able to practice more frequently, because Winslow has chronic knee problems, Winslow’s only alternative to doing what he can within his physical limitation is to do nothing at all.