ESPN’s Mark Schlereth does not think very highly about new Jets wide receiver Eric Decker being a number one receiver in this league. The three time Super Bowl winning lineman and former Denver Bronco was very direct on what he thought of Eric Decker and his skills as a wide receiver.
“Decker in my mind was your fourth option in Denver and that’s the talent I think he has,” Schlereth said on 98.7 ESPN Radio. “I think he’s a marginal No. 2 at best.”
Ouch. This was harsh but an opinion that I’m sure is shared by many analysts. Schlereth’s comments were met with a shrug from Decker who was not going to get into a battle of words with the ESPN analyst.
“He said what he said and he’s entitled to his opinions. Let’s move on,” Decker said. “If I get into that kind of war I would stress myself out over what people say. I’m confident in my ability.”
Decker was the big off season acquisition for the New York Jets who had a weak receiving corps coming out of last season. Jets were able to steal him away from the Broncos, but people wondered whether Decker’s success was a product of having Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, and Julius Thomas and that high powered Denver offense last season. Decker wasn’t the only one to comment on Schlereth, as Jets head coach Rex Ryan was quick to jump to his prized new receivers defense. Ryan, who needed to be calmed by a Jets PR told the Daily News,
“You know I’d fire back at this dude. He was a great player, there’s no question,” said Rex Ryan. “And by the way he makes some darn good salsa. I’m just going to give him some props on it. I’m not going to say he has bad salsa because he had great salsa. And he was a fine player . . . even if the Eagles used to get after him. . . .”
-Rex Ryan
Decker may realize life is a lot tougher in New York than it was in Denver last season, especially with Geno Smith throwing the ball his way rather than future Hall of Famer, Peyton Manning. If Decker does start slow the New York media will go at him hard and then we’ll find out what he’s made of.