The New York Jets released 14 players today as they began the process of reducing their active roster to 75 players by the NFL's Tuesday 4 p.m. ET deadline. The biggest name on the list is RB/KR Joe McKnight, the team's fourth round pick in 2010. Veterans OG Stephen Peterman, who practiced with the starters for most of training camp, S Bret Lockett and S Donnie Fletcher were released as well.
Here's the full list of released players:
RB — Joe McKnight, Chad Spann
OL — Patrick Ford, Trey Gilleo, Stephen Peterman
WR — Joe Collins, Marcus Rucker, K.J. Stroud, Rahsaan Vaughn
LB — Sean Progar-Jackson
DB — Donnie Fletcher, Bret Lockett
ST — P Ryan Quigley, LS Patrick Scales
McKnight was one of the NFL's top kickoff returners in 2011 and 2012. His 29.0-yard career average leads all active players. he also scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns. However, he failed the team's conditioning test, blaming dehydration. Then, he was arrested in New Jersey on outstanding traffic violations. If that wasn't enough, McKnight engaged in a war of words with a fan on Twitter, suggesting they meet for a fight.