This hasn't been a groovy, Beach Boys kind of summer for the New York Jets. If this keeps up, the unflappable Todd Bowles might want to start flapping.
The latest installment of bad news came Thursday with the NFL's announcement that backup guard Oday Aboushi -- battling for a roster spot -- was suspended for one game without pay for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Compared to the team's previous transgressions, this hardly creates a blip on the radar screen, but it provides more fodder for those who believe it's Camp Chaos over at One Jets Drive.
To recap: Sheldon Richardson was suspended four games for a substance-abuse violation. Two weeks later, he was arrested after allegedly trying to avoid police by driving 143 mph with a child in the car and the smell of marijuana seeping out of his deluxe Bentley. Worse, he kept the Jets in the dark, putting his employers in the uncomfortable position of having to find out when everybody else did. You can bet his suspension will be increased once commissioner Roger Goodell's people get done with their investigation.
Then came the punch heard 'round the sports world, Geno Smith getting popped in the jaw by then-teammate IK Enemkpali, who was released immediately by the Jets.
You certainly can't blame for Bowles for the Aboushi situation. It occurred in January, when New Jersey police found a small amount of marijuana in his car, according to Aboushi's agents. It happened a few days before Bowles was hired. Unlike Richardson, Aboushi informed the Jets, the responsible thing to do.
The Jets probably anticipated a suspension because, taking a page out of the pre-suspension handbook for Richardson, they've cut Aboushi's practice reps. Aboushi, once thought to be a candidate to be the starting right guard, has been working at left guard with the third-string line. He's on the roster bubble and this won't help his chances.
This has been an egg-on-the-face summer for the Jets, who can't seem to get through a week without creating unwanted headlines. Clearly the culture needs to be changed, and you can bet Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan will attack the problem next offseason by continuing their roster makeover. This is their honeymoon year.
Some honeymoon.
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