Replacing Jonotthan Harrison with Ryan Kalil reportedly “chafed” some of the members of the New York Jets’ offensive line.
Offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison was in line to start at center for the New York Jets this season. However, general manager Joe Douglas came to the team in June and he had other ideas.
Douglas was able to pull Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil out of retirement and convince him to sign a one-year, $8.4 million deal with New York. With all that Kalil has accomplished in his career, it only made sense for the team to name him as the starter. Or did it?
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the replacement of Harrison with Kalil was a move that teammates may have not preferred in the first place.
“Harrison became a lame duck and was yanked as soon as the season started, which chafed some,” wrote Cimini. “They felt bad for the well-liked Harrison, who, thinking he was the starter, busted his rear end in the offseason. This made for an uncomfortable situation, I’m told, and it certainly was reflected in the line’s play.”
Harrison has appeared in eight games for the Jets this season and has started in two of them. He’s spent most of his time in an offensive line role but has played some special teams as well.
Kalil, on the other hand, has played (and started) in seven games. He missed the most recent loss to the Miami Dolphins due to knee and elbow injuries.