The New York Jets have experienced plenty of discord and dysfunction this season. Now they have another situation involving a disgruntled player on their hands.
Last month, the Jets released offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele after he elected to have shoulder surgery without the team’s approval. Osemele could potentially take legal action against the organization.
Tonight, veteran wide receiver Quincy Enunwa went on a lengthy Twitter rant after being fined by the team. Enunwa has been on injured reserve since suffering a neck injury in Week 1, and he previously missed the entire 2017 season with neck problems.
“I normally chill on putting issues on twitter, but this doesn’t sit right with me,” Enunwa’s Twitter thread began.
Enunwa went on to post a photo of a board at the Jets facility notifying him he’d been fined nearly $28,000 for missing two days of treatment. The sessions occurred last Friday and this Monday.
Given everything that’s going on around the team I thought this could’ve been handled so many different ways. I’ve spent my time with the team trying to build myself up to be dependable and hardworking so this shit hurts. pic.twitter.com/xEUZV69rAJ
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) November 15, 2019
He then explained why he apparently skipped those sessions.
“I missed those two days, because I took my VETERAN wife out for Veterans Day lunch and because I had to handle an emergency in my house,” Enunwa explained. “I let the team know this after the fact, and yes, I should have told them beforehand, but I feel like this was excessive.
“I’m on IR trying to get back to play so I never thought that they’d be worried about me missing, but obviously I was wrong.”
I’m on IR trying to get back to play so I never thought that they’d be worried about me missing, but obviously I was wrong.
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) November 15, 2019
Enunwa continued to protest the Jets’ decision to fine him, implying that the punishment was unfair considering the team wants him to resume playing for them if he is eventually cleared.
This shit feels like punishment already and then they FINE me the max. And then want me to continue to do my rehab there and IF I get healthy they want me to then play for them after.
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) November 15, 2019
Enunwa then finished with a flourish.
“I’m not writing this for sympathy and never wanted to even say anything, but when multiple teammates are coming to me saying it’s f—-d up I don’t care to sit on it anymore,” he wrote.
I’m not writing this for sympathy and never wanted to even say anything, but when multiple teammates are coming to me saying it’s fucked up I don’t care to sit on it anymore.
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) November 15, 2019
Yikes. Listen, Enunwa probably should have informed the Jets ahead of time of his plans. We’re willing to say he screwed up in that regard.
However, the Jets fining him the max when he’s rehabbing from a potentially career-threatening and life-altering injury is a bit overboard. At the end of the day, this is another example of players and coaches/management not being on the same page.
Not a great sign for head coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas.