I saw this on ESPN's site and I didn't see this posted here so here's a different take on the Coles situation: Pennington: Coles acting out of loyalty August 20, 2008 8:06 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham AP Photo/Kathy Willens Laveranues Coles has been a model teammate since Brett Favre joined the Jets and Chad Pennington was released. DAVIE, Fla. -- New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles still hasn't spoken publicly about the team's decision to cut his close friend, Chad Pennington. The Jets had to dump Pennington to clear the way for Brett Favre's arrival two weeks ago. Coles' refusal to talk has been one of the more fascinating Favre-related storylines of Jets camp. Coles has been criticized for pouting, for petulance, for being selfish because his pal was unfairly treated. Some wondered if he would reject Favre. In Wednesday's New York Post, beat writer Mark Cannizzaro called Coles' decision not to speak to reporters "an unfortunate adolescent act of sulking over his hurt feelings." Coles' old partner doesn't see it that way. Pennington, who quickly found work with the Miami Dolphins, claimed Coles' actions are being misread. "Laveranues Coles' best trait is loyalty," Pennington told ESPN.com. "He's an extremely loyal guy. That's what has made him great in the league, and it's taken him a long way in life. "I don't fault him for that and I respect him for that. But once the games start and the whistle blows, he'll play hard for the Jets. I don't think anybody can ever question that." Pennington was asked if he expected Coles to take his departure so hard. "There's a special bond there," Pennington replied. "We came into the league together, and we've been great friends for a long time. "But Laveranues also has that edge about him. [Coles' silent treatment] is not something that I would make too big a deal of." The Jets drafted Pennington in the first round and Coles in the third round eight years ago. They hit it off immediately. Even though Coles had a productive stint with the Washington Redskins in 2003 and '04, his best numbers came when Pennington was throwing to him. Of Pennington's 82 career touchdown passes, Coles has caught 18 of them, more than anybody else. The Jets don't seem concerned with Coles' reticence. By all accounts, Coles has been a model teammate since Favre joined the team and Pennington was released. "He's not avoiding me right now, so that's good," Jets coach Eric Mangini said with a smile Tuesday. "We talk all the time. He has been great, great in meetings, great in everything we've asked him to do. He's been perfect." Favre said he has been speaking with Coles, too. Favre understands the splendor of chemistry. As Coles had a connection with Pennington, Favre had one with Donald Driver in Green Bay. Favre, in fact, sees similarities between the two receivers. "He's a lot like [Donald] Driver," Favre said. "I mean that with the highest confidence. "I've seen a lot of guys come and go that had tremendous speed, who could jump high, who could bench press more than anyone in the locker room. But could they play football? When it's all said and done, that's the most important thing: Can you play?" While Coles has been hobbled by a leg injury that sidelined him the first two preseason games, Favre has been hooking up often with Jerricho Cotchery in practice. But that doesn't mean Coles can't be Favre's go-to guy like Driver was. "I can't wait to get [Coles] back," Favre said. "I'm sure Eric doesn't want to put him on the field until he's 100 percent. It makes no sense. "But having him out there, talking through things, having his experience can't do anything but help us."
But Hutchinson said its Coles dealing with a family matter and its not about Chad? I'll trust our own guys than ESPN. I hate ESPN.
Some reporters seem to take it personally when a player doesn't want to talk to the media. They should probably just get over it.
Don doesn't understand the point of this writer's comment. :smile: It's just the way he chose to word his article, nothing more.
oh fuck.... WAIT A MINUTE... this was written by Tim Graham?? That piece of garbage wrote for papers that blow the Fins, Pats, and Bills, but he never ever broke the NY papers. He's a Jet-hating embarrassment of a "blogger." Pay no attention to this article.
Don't worry, I wasn't. I'll take the player who explcitly stated that his silence is a result of personal issues, not anything on the field, over any sensationalistic douchebag sportswriters.
I think Coles' silence is purely a way of getting out of all of the incredibly stupid questions he would be asked by the media and beat writers about his friend and also the coming of Favre. Quite frankly, I do not know if I would want to talk about such a thing either. I do not think he is causing any waves with the team or in practice at all. I really beleive he is looking forward to making a great contribution to the team come the season.
I think it's part avoidance of stupid questions and part not wanting to listen to Can'O'Lardo breathe like Darth Vader for 10 minutes.
Funny how his family troubles started as soon as Chad got released. He is always bitching to the press about something anyways..so maybe this is a good thing.
LC has been around here a while, he probably knows it's best not to say anything if he's pissed, so they don't take it and try to make a huge deal out of it. If he doesn't give them anything, they can't twist it into anything else. As long as everything is ok within the team and the offense, there's no story, the rest doesn't matter.
Okay, couple things that keep being repeated that need some clarification: 1) Every time, without fail, these contrived stories of Coles being some sort of loud mouth cancer are shown to be big steaming loads of horse shit. Every single time. This idea that Coles is a big mouth always looking to start trouble is ridiculous. Even Mangini says so, and he never says anything. 2) This idea that Coles is only loyal to money is a joke too. He was offered money to go to Washington, just like any other free agent, restricted or otherwise. Terry Bradway chose not to match the number, thereby keeping him in Green & White. Whose fault is that? Should Coles have told Washington "Look, I appreciate the offer, but the Jets would like to retain me at several million less, and I think that's the best option for me"? GTFOH. I guess Faneca is a money-hungry douchebag too then? This image the media has created of Coles makes me sick. Guys like CanO'Sbarro are laughing all the way to the bank when people make these knee-jerk reactions. The guy does nothing but go out on the field and perform, even after concussions, and he still gets a shitty rap. Unreal.
Coming off an amazing 2002 season and his so called loyalty to Chad, you would think he would have stayed in New York. Something could have been worked out. Going into 2003 the Jets had Super Bowl thoughts, losing Coles and other key players hurt those chances. (Talking about Free Agency before the season, not when Chad went down.)
Washington offered him an amount of money and NY didn't want to match... why should he stay? I'm sure he wants to go to the team that wants him more.
The best part is, when Coles doesn't say anything to the media, they make more of a deal about it than if he gives them some comments to misconstrue about him. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Well, when you're talking about a rag like the Post, anyway.
I think maybe Coles is just waiting until the real games start and there's something actual to talk about. Can't blame the guy. Meantime, he gets to practice and hang out with the guys. I bet he's laughing his ass off about all this in private.
He was a restricted free agent. He was offered a contract by the Redskins. All the Jets had to do was match the dollar amount, and Coles would never have been able to leave. Instead, Bradway simply let him go. There was nothing to work out. The 'Skins offered him a contract first. The Jets waived their rights to him. Do you honestly believe the Union would have allowed Coles to tell the Redskins "No" then negotiate a lower contract with the Jets? Come on.
Thats true. I forgot how bad Bradway was. Coles went on to beat the Jets in 2003 and made the Pro Bowl.
So true. If he says something, they twist it to mean something totally different. If he just sits quietly, he must be brooding. In a town that until recently featured Plaxico Burress, Michael Strahan, Jeremy Shockey, and Tiki Barber, Coles gets the short end of the media stick. And his own fans eat it up like CanO'Sbarro at a $5 breakfast buffet.
If we win a Super Bowl, we should be able to trade beat writers with the Giants. I'm so sick of having to read these turds year-in and year-out for Jets info.
