The New York Jets are the Worst
Throughout the offseason, it was common knowledge that the Tim Tebow experiment in New York had run its course and that the Jets were trying to move Tebow. They were so desperate to do so that they even told Tebow and his agent to seek out trade partners. They had no such luck. So, I wake up today, two days after the NFL draft ended only to see the news that the Jets are releasing Tebow. Talk about a slap in the face. All Tebow has done was be a good teammate through some of the worst circumstances he's ever been in since he has been in the NFL. Why couldn't the Jets just cut him after they knew the trade market for Tebow was non-existent back in March? That would have at least given him the opportunity to try to find another team to play for. Now, it's going to be next to impossible for him to find a team that will take him because teams have already signed veterans and undrafted free agents to fill open QB spots heading into camp. To top it all off, the Jets have the gall to come out and say that they have the utmost respect for Tebow. Respect?! The way this went down was the complete opposite. The Jets completely disrespected Tebow throughout all of this, and I hope he does find a team that will give him a chance. When he does, I hope he gets a chance to play the Jets and totally annihilates them.
So, I Have a Friend In the NFL...
I first met Mason back in 1st grade. We were in the same class. The first thing I noticed about him was that he only talked about football. Everything he did was football-related. Even back then, he knew exactly what he wanted to do - play in the NFL. Big dreams for a six-year old kid from Somerville, right? Well, fast forward to high school. Mason was the star of the football team. How good was he? Think Reggie Bush at USC in 2005; that's what it looked like when he had the ball in his hands. He was easily the fastest guy on the field. That translated to his track and field career too because I'm fairly certain he still holds the 100-meter record for Somervile High School. Needless to say, Mason had a bright future ahead of him.
Mason and I didn't have many classes together in high school, but we were in the same homeroom. It was a short period, but him and I would always be catching up during it. I'd help him with some last minute homework or give him some last-minute study help for a test he would have. I remember when colleges started recruiting him. It was around the same time that I started looking at schools. There were several schools that wanted Mason. I forget the schools exactly, but I know there were a few from Big Ten and ACC country. Of course, Rutgers also came calling. Greg Schiano wanted to keep the best talent in New Jersey at the state university. So, it made sense that Mason got a look.
Initially, I wanted to go UNC-Chapel Hill, but both them and UVA denied me, so that ended that. I was left with Delaware, West Virginia, Penn State, and Rutgers. Our senior year of high school was the year of the "Pandemonium in Piscataway" game. Rutgers beat #3-ranked Louisville on a Thursday night in front of a national audience on ESPN. I was at that game, and so was Mason. What an experience that was! Later in the school year, Mason verbally committed to Rutgers. He invited me to his signing of his letter of intent on National Signing Day that year. I was so happy for him then, and when he put the pen to paper and made it official, I didn't need anything else to make my choice for college. I also decided to go to Rutgers, and I have zero regrets about that choice. Mason is only one of two people that I went to school with from kindergarten all the way through college.
Throughout our time at Rutgers, we tried to meet up at least once a semester to catch up. Playing division one football is like having a full-time job. It made meeting up tough, but we made it work. We ended up being in the same calculus class the spring semester of our freshman year. Once again, just like in high school, I helped him out whenever I could. I ran into him at graduation last year when he finished his undergrad degree. Again, I was incredibly proud of him. Both us were Somerville grads and now we were both Loyal Sons of Rutgers. He still had another year of eligibility to play for Rutgers because the team used a medical redshirt on him for one of his injuries. After this season ended, he went right to work training for the NFL draft.
Even though his name wasn't called draft weekend, the same coach that recruited him to play college ball, Greg Schiano, gave him the chance of a lifetime by signing him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. I may not have agreed with Greg's play-calling at Rutgers, but I never once questioned his character and his loyalty to his people. Because of that and Mason's hard work, determination, and perseverance, my friend now has a chance to live out the dream he's had his entire life, and I couldn't be happier for him! If there was ever someone in my life that I could use as inspiration, it's Mason. The guy has battled through two season-ending knee injuries and has come out of it with a chance to make it in the NFL. He shows me that you can't give up on your dreams and goals, no matter how tough the circumstances may be. The Buccaneers should be thankful to have Mason Robinson on their squad. Mason is a better man than he is a football player, and he surely is one hell of a football player!
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