CORTLAND — On the final day of training camp at SUNY-Cortland, Jets rookie cornerback Brian Jackson didn’t take kindly to some veteran punishment.
Jackson, an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma, found himself tied to a goalpost and doused with Gatorade after yesterday morning’s practice thanks to linebacker Bart Scott and nose tackle Kris Jenkins.
Jackson went ballistic in response to what Rex Ryan described as rookie hazing — “a training-camp tradition,” the coach said. But players said it was payback for Jackson spouting off to secondary coach Dennis Thurman.
“I haven’t talked to Brian yet, but I heard he’s taking it as a personal thing, which is unfortunate,” Ryan said between workouts.
Jackson redeemed himself in the afternoon, hitting the goal post with a 65-yard throw after Ryan told the rookie that he would end practice early if Jackson were successful.
Ryan appeared to endorse rookie hazing, which has been a hot topic recently after Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant refused to carry Roy Williams shoulder pads and Tim Tebow endured a “Friar Tuck” haircut from teammates.
“I’ve seen way worse than [what Jackson endured yesterday],” Ryan said. “We all saw the Tim Tebow haircut. That would have been a disaster for most guys.”
*
Joe McKnight was a bit testy in reaction to the segment on Wednesday’s episode of “Hard Knocks” in which the rookie running back was blistered by the coaching staff for mental mistakes and poor conditioning.
McKnight, a USC product who has admittedly struggled out of the gate, said he refused to watch the episode after being told ahead of time that he would be featured.
“I heard about it,” McKnight said.
McKnight said teammate Santonio Holmes spoke to him after the show, apparently to clear up a scene in which Holmes lobbied running backs coach Anthony Lynn to make McKnight run a punishment lap.
*
While much of the league is battling a blizzard of training-camp injuries, the Jets escaped relatively unscathed from their 17-day run (not including today’s walk-through).
Center Nick Mangold was the only starter who suffered an injury in camp. He missed two practice days and the exhibition opener due to a blow to the temple, but is back practicing.
*
Wednesday’s episode of “Hard Knocks” also appeared to indicate — courtesy of an off-hand comment by Ryan — that first-round bust Vernon Gholston had agreed to an unspecified pay cut this season.