With the New York Jets nowhere to be found during tournament time, would Gang Green fans dare root for David Harris to win a ring in New England?
This was something we speculated about when the New York Jets first released David Harris back during the summer. Once he signed with the evil empire, a.k.a. the New England Patriots, we were faced with the question, “If the Jets didn’t make it, would we root for the hitman to get a ring?”
I can tell you with little hesitation that I said a firm but subtle heck no! Some Jets fans hate the Patriots more than they love the Jets, and I can respect that.
David Harris enjoyed an amazing career with the Jets. He was reliable, a leader, and someone who portrayed blue-collar worker through good and rough times. Harris punched in and punched out every day. He wasn’t a big talker, but he didn’t have to be because his play did the talking.
He was the last successful second round draft choice of the Jets—although 2017 second rounder Marcus Maye might have something to say about that in the near future.
This should feel like Déjà vu because this same question was pondered after Darrelle Revis signed on with the Patriots several years back. It was a day I’ll never forget. It felt like my brother had betrayed my entire family. It was so painful to see one of, if not the best defensive player in the history of the Jets sign on with the Jets arch-rivals.
Of course in Revis’ lone season with the Patriots, he was able to capture that elusive Lombardi Trophy. The very next season he was welcomed back with open arms and all was forgotten at 1 Jets Drive.
There’s a difference between the two. Revis was an instrumental piece and reason the Pats were able to come away with that Super Bowl victory. Harris has been a relative non-factor with the Patriots this season.
“In the regular season, he was inactive for four games and didn’t play in two others. He finished with only 177 defensive snaps, roughly three full games of work during his days as an every-down player for the Jets,” per Rich Cimini of ESPN.
It’s not as easy of a choice. On one hand, I despise the Patriots with every fiber of my being. On the other hand, Harris was a soldier for the Jets for a decade and always did the right things.
You could even argue that Harris was treated poorly via his exit from the Jets. He was blindsided by the team who made a business decision to hold onto him as long as possible to lock in his replacement (Demario Davis). That was a shrewd business move. I don’t blame them for protecting themselves.
But at the end of the day, Harris isn’t just a pawn to be thrown around. He’s a future member of the Jets Ring of Honor that circles MetLife Stadium. He deserved to be treated much better than that. So for that reason, I feel deeply for him.
So let’s see what Jets fans thought in our Twitter poll:
I'm doing a column for @EliteSportsNY and I need your opinions #Jets fans! Will you be rooting for future Ring of Honor member David Harris to get a ring w/ @Patriots this postseason?
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) January 13, 2018
