New York Jets: Austin Seferian-Jenkins keeps it classy in response to the phantom fumble

The New York Jets tight end keeps things classy as he is asked about the controversial call from the game against the Patriots.

In sports, typically the guy that makes the noise is the one that gets the ink. The one that speaks out, says something stupid or generally does something to draw attention to himself, gets the looks from all of the sports media. For this story about the New York Jets, that changes. When it comes down to it, this New York Jet probably had the right to make noise but decided against it. He decided to be better than that.

Off all of the people that were on that field on Sunday, there is one guy that would have probably been justified if he popped off a bit. Who? Austin Seferian-Jenkins. After all, he was the one that was the direct victim of the phantom fumble. Now it wouldn’t have changed anything, other than getting him fined. But, would any of you out there really have blamed him if he had been angry when talking to the press after the game? Being fair about it, there is no way I could have been angry with him for reacting. Frankly, he would have deserved the chance.

But instead, Seferian-Jenkins decided to do the right thing. He wouldn’t call it the high road, opting to call it the “honest road”. Either way, he stayed above the fray. Take a look:

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"“I can’t take it back. It’s not going to say touchdown, it’s a fumble and a touchback,” he told reporters in his postgame comments. “That’s what it is. It’s not like I’m taking the high road, I’m just saying what the facts are. I don’t think it does anything for me to come up here and blast the official or blast the rule. The rule is the rule. They called it. It is what it is. I have to do a better job of having better ball security so it doesn’t happen again. If I catch the ball and run through both of them and don’t fumble or anything than that’s what it is. I don’t feel like I fumbled but it is what it is. I can’t control that. I have a game next week. This game’s over with. They played well. They made two more plays than us to win and that’s what it is.”"

How perfect was that answer? He actually was able to express disagreement with something in a professional manner. What a concept! He could disagree without saying nasty things about the other party. If we all did that more often the world would be a better place.

Next: Three takeaways from the loss to New England

That’s the soap box statement for the night. But seriously, Seferian-Jenkins taught us all a bit about being professional. There is no reason to dwell on what happened. His attitude? Protect the ball better so there is nothing to question next time. That’s how someone good becomes great. In a world where everybody runs their mouth too much, it’s good to acknowledge someone who does it the right way.

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