3rd string QB Greg McElroy torches the Jets locker room - smart or dumb?

As you have probably heard by now, former Alabama QB Greg McElroy excoriated the NY Jets locker room in a public radio interview in Birmingham, Alabama, following their 8-8 season.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16720536/mcelroy-jets-had-corrupt-mindset

He stated that there was a “corrupt mindset”, and that the Jets locker room “is not a fun place to be, I can assure you.” He said that “But there were people within our locker room that didn’t care whether we won or lost, as long as they got [theirs].”

Pretty strong words from a 7th round rookie on injured reserve.

Note, however, that he did not call anyone out by name (even though everybody pretty much assumes he meant, at the very least, Santonio Holmes), and he really didn’t say anything that we hadn’t heard before from, among others, Ladainian Tomlinson.

The main objection to his statements appears to be against his chutzpah. How dare this snotty kid break the code and speak in public about the locker room?

I dunno. I can understand that, but it’s obvious that Mark Sanchez isn’t going to step up and lead the team at this point. Maybe Greg is making a political move.

Sure, it’s a big gamble, but he’s a smart kid, and he might end up getting a shot at QB because of it, instead of sitting at 3rd string for the rest of his career.

The funny thing is, and I totally did not expect this, but from reading a selection of online opinions about this, it appears that the majority of fans and commentators are actually supportive of his statements.

I’m glad people are supportive of him, because why shouldn’t they be? He was in the locker room just as much as anyone else, so he has a right to form an opinion based on what happened there.

Maybe he’s breaking some unspoken code wherein you are supposed to protect locker-room jerks and selfish players, but I doubt it. It’s not like he’s naming names, or calling out players for faking injury.

Ogre, I hesitate to say too much on the issue as it would most likely be seen as an Auburn fan’s dig, but I think McElroy has demonstrated more than a few times that his opinion of himself is much greater than that of the general public’s (Bama fans excepted).

Smart or dumb? Who can say at this stage? Classy? No way.

He has? What has he done? I’m in the dark on this one.

I don’t even know what “classy” means in terms of the NFL. Is he attempting to get a shot at 1st string? Perhaps. Probably. I don’t see anything wrong with that. The Jets need leadership. Everybody knows that. We’ve heard it from 10-year veterans. Now we’re hearing it from a fiery rookie QB who thinks he has what it takes to become a team leader and who wants his shot at it. God knows Sanchez isn’t going to step up to the job.

And regarding the “locker room code”, I agree with markdash. Rex Ryan has specifically fostered a NYJ culture in which players are encouraged to speak their minds publicly. Gosh, who could have known, with their team falling completely into internecine warfare after a dismal season, that someone would actually do it?

Reading even more about it, it appears that most fans and commentators are overwhelmingly supportive of his comments.

If we’re to believe Colin Cowherd, which I usually don’t, McElroy is the smartest human being on earth and this was the move of a LEADER! Honestly, though, I don’t fault McElroy. If he’d have named names, it would be different. It would probably also be best for him to approach Jets leadership with his concerns, but if he tried that and nothing happened, then I have no problem with him airing his opinions.