New York Jets: Jace Amaro Injury Latest 2014 NFL Draft Letdown

By Israel Gonzalez | Sep 2, 2015

The New York Jets’ 2014 NFL draft was historically bad, both on paper and in hindsight.

On Tuesday, the team announced that Jace Amaro, the second-year tight end out of Texas Tech, will miss the entire 2015 NFL season due to a shoulder injury. The injury is a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The injury was suffered in the very first preseason game against the Detroit Lions.

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“When he got hurt it was more of the shoulder, and it was either a 2 ½-3-week period to get better, or if it didn’t get any better, we knew we’d have to go ahead and do the surgery and shelve him,” said Todd Bowles to the New York Post. “We gave him time to get better, and the end result is he didn’t get better, so we had to do surgery and put him on IR.”

Yet another stain on the record of former Jets General Manager, John Idzik. Here’s a look at the other guys chosen by Idzik in 2014.

With their first round pick, the Jets chose Calvin Pryor. Pryor struggled mightily last season, and was benched at one point. However, that should be taken with a grain of salt. Pryor was forced to play a position he wasn’t used to playing.

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With their third round pick, the Jets chose Dexter McDougle. McDougle didn’t play last year due to injury. With the Jets signing Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Buster Skrine, McDougle is arguably 129^th on the Jets’ cornerback’s depth chart.

In the fourth round, the Jets chose Jalen Saunders. Muffed two punts last September. Was cut. The Jets also selected Shaq Evans in the fourth round. Martavis Bryant went three picks after Evans. Sigh. Also in the fourth round, the Jets chose Dakota Dozier. To be determined, I suppose, but with a bleak outlook.

Jeremiah George was picked in round five. He is now a Jacksonville Jaguar. Brandon Dixon was picked in round six. He is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Also in the sixth round, the Jets chose IK Enemkpali. He broke Geno Smith’s jaw and is now reunited with Rex Ryan. Tahj Boyd was also chosen in round six. Couldn’t even contend for holding the clipboard for the guy that holds the clipboard.

Rounding out this draft was Trevor Reilly, chosen in the seventh round. He is actually a functional special teams player, which makes him, arguably, the best player the Jets drafted in 2014.

Going back to Jace Amaro, who was chosen in the second round, fair or unfair, he may very well be the biggest disappointment in the 2014 Jets draft class. In his last year at Texas Tech he had 106 receptions, 1,352 yards, and seven touchdowns in 13 games.

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In his first season in the NFL, he played one more game (14), had 68 less receptions (38), had 1,007 less yards (345), and five less touchdowns (2).

At this point, Amaro’s public bickering with former Jets Head Coach, Rex Ryan is the most noticeable thing he has done in his professional career.

He couldn’t even win that battle.

“I feel bad for the kid,” said Rex Ryan to the Buffalo media (transcribed by the New York Post). “Jace is a good kid. He just made stupid comments. He’s a good kid and I feel bad that he can’t do it. He’s a talented guy, but I wasn’t exactly afraid of him.”

Rex says Jace Amaro made "stupid comments" but says he feels bad he was placed on IR. But adds, "I wasn't afraid of him."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 1, 2015

Game, set, and match, Rex Ryan. See you next year, Amaro.

Next: Who is the greatest Jets first-round pick in franchise-history?

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