Who knew players going away during the bye week to see their families would be such a problem?
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson spent the bye week with his family in Utah and posted quite a few pictures with his girlfriend during that time. It’s customary for players to spend some time with family during the week off and it gives many a chance to have a mental break from the action.
Not in the eyes of some at WFAN though.
New York’s top sports radio station debated whether it was a good idea that the Jets starting quarterback spent a week away with his family before coming back to join an offensive group ranked 28th in passing. While most of the show commended the quarterback for taking some time to be with his family, one host spent the afternoon slot bashing the former second-overall pick.
“Zach is, in what is about to be the biggest stretch of his career, decided it was a good time to take his girlfriend to Utah and go pumpkin picking,” Shaun Morash mockingly said during his usual slot with Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber.
Morash later doubled down saying that because Wilson is a professional athlete then his family should be the ones to come and see them in New York/New Jersey.
“The Jets stink after byes. His season derailed after the bye. I believe 52 guys could’ve gone and visited family but the quarterback, the leader, needs to be at the facility all week and he has not done enough to get his ass on a plane with his girlfriend to go to Utah.”
One of the main issues that hurt Wilson the year prior was that he was too invested in the building during the team’s bye week and struggled to move past his midseason struggles. Head coach Robert Saleh even said that he hoped Wilson would “get away from football for a little bit” after the 2022-23 regular season ended.
This is not the first or last time Morash has gone after Jets players as a New York Giants fan.
The loud-mouth takes artist just last week criticized Aaron Rodgers for “leaking something that wasn’t meant for public consumption” when he spoke about his rehab and the coaching staff asking him to join the team for their Week 6 upset over the Philadelphia Eagles.
In seven games as the starting quarterback this season though, Wilson has shown monumental improvements over his first two years in the NFL. His football has greatly impressed and he’s helped the Jets get within striking distance for both the playoffs and the AFC East crown.
To criticize a player for taking time with his family, especially in the modern day of mental health being a priority, is very surprising and worthy of heavy criticism. Wilson’s biggest issue last year was that he was so far in his head he couldn’t get out. This year, his improved mental health has allowed him to play more freely and be pretty good on the football field.
No one should have to grind themselves down to the nub for their job and Morash saying otherwise is in direct defiance of reality as a compassionate human being.
