Top-notch receiver Coles might be team captain BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com August 2, 2007 Will Laveranues soon become Captain Coles? The wide receiver dismissed that idea yesterday, insisting that he is too much of a jokester to play the part of team leader in any official capacity. But with the Jets soon to be voting for the positions of captain - and offensive incumbent Pete Kendall sure to be scratched from the ballot by management - there's a good chance that the guy whom the players selected as their MVP last season could be out calling coin tosses this season. "I don't view myself as one of those guys who is real vocal," Coles said sheepishly of his place on the team. "I try to keep things light because I think that's what my job is." Still, there are others who think he'd be a perfect fit for the office. "He's a true leader," fellow wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "He's a guy who works hard and keeps the team level-headed. He talks a lot of smack in the locker room, but when it's time to go out and perform, he does it." Coles does talk. That's one of the things coach Eric Mangini had to get used to when he arrived here last year. Coles was one of the more outspoken critics of the Mangini Way, using words such as "grueling" to describe training camp and even slapping the coach with his nickname: The Penguin. Mangini recalled a similar relationship with another former player whom he refused to name. "Every single day he was in a bad mood, to the point of just complaining, complaining, and finally I had to say, 'Do we have an issue here? Is there a problem?'" Mangini said. "He said, 'Look, Eric, it's just how I get through the week. I'm going to do exactly what you tell me to do, it's just how I get through the week.' And at that point, I understood where he was coming from. It was just who he is." Coles is fond of using the ubiquitous phrase "it is what it is." Coles is who he is. He expressed reservations about coming back for another year of the physical demands of the Jets' system, but then developed his own offseason regimen that put him in the best shape of his career. After he emptied the exercise room in his house in Jacksonville, Fla. - "I really didn't want to look at any weights," he said of the eviction - and realized there were no training facilities nearby, he took to the outdoors. Coles began running through the wooded area near his home, chugging through the muck and brush until he couldn't go any farther, then turning around and coming home. He said he came up with the idea while cruising the area on a four-wheeler a few years ago. "I used to say, 'Man, this would be a pretty rough terrain to run on,'" Coles said. "So I just went out and ran it and it was tough, but it's been working for me so I'm not going to stop." Running through the woods, cutting in front of trees as if they were defensive backs, Coles always kept his eye out for wild animals that lived in the area. Luckily, he said, there were no encounters. "I was fortunate not to have anything happen other than my neighbors' dog that looked like it was going to chase me," he said. But ultimately, the humid and uncomfortable conditions of those woods changed to the humid and uncomfortable conditions of Jets training camp. Coles, 29, said he knows when he'll stop playing: "When I'm not as productive in helping this ballclub, it'll be time to step away," he said, "and I think I still have a lot of production left in me." Last year he had a career-high 91 receptions for 1,098 yards and started all 16 games despite a head injury late in the season. He's the only receiver in the NFL to start all 96 games from 2001-06. And this year, after an early career filled with casted aspersions and misjudgments about his character, he could very well become a captain on the Jets. "He's a warrior," Cotchery said. "He definitely has my vote."
Hard to say whether Coles should be captain. On the one hand, he is the clear veteran on the offense and obviously knows what he's doing and is a great influence on the younger guys. On the other hand, I think he relishes being the guy who will say whatever is on his mind. I guess Chad is probably the better choice.
I don't think it should be Coles either. This has been the only offseason where he hasn't been bitching and moaning about something. While he's a quality player and the best wide receiver we have, he's not a leader in many regards (unless he's changed a lot during this camp and Mangini feels differently). I also think Chad should be captain. He's shown a lot of leadership qualities in the past and can inspire almost everyone he plays with.
I don't know...not sure if Coles could get the guys in the right frame of mind for the coin toss. Thats serious business.
I'd be ok with Coles as a captain. He's the player most likely to play all 16 games and make a big contribution.
I don't want my captain doubting his leadership abilities! Here are my votes: Chad J-Ville James Dearth-(I know what you're thinking, but really, model of consistancy and from what I hear, he's a hard worker and good leader.) Actually, James Dearth was a joke. I'd say Chad, J-ville and I'd say Ellis if he didn't suck. I think captains should be older, and have been here for a little while(3 years is about right) Hmm, this is tough.. Let me think for a second.. Yeah, I've thought about it for like 30 seconds, not really going anywhere here. I'll let the players choose.
I love Laverneus Coles. Remember when we drafted him how he was immediately classified as "Trouble." Hell, that was his nickname. He got a raw deal at FSU, made some mistakes. He could have easily been a Maurice Clarett like disaster, but for the most part he has been nothing but hard work, class, unparalleled toughness, and leading by example; the exact opposite of what the scouting report on him was before the draft. It really is amazing how wrong people/scouts can be, and Laverneus is a living testament to that. He is a great person, and he definitely deserves to be captain.
I believe if LC wants to be the captain then it is his ship this year, and if Mangini wants to believe, then I will go along with it, but if the rattlesnake bites, we need to go down with the ship, LC if you want to be a HOF, take this waylost ship to the promised land, then we will believe, you are way better than the Moss that grows in NE....believe, cause I still do.... There is no foundation? I want to believe again, as so many fans, it's up to you, Guide us Peace
I'm OK with whoever the coaching staff chooses. How could I possibly have an opinion on this? I'm not in the lockerroom. I mean, Jason Glenn was a special teams captain for a few years. As a fan I wouldn't have been able to identify him as a leader, but by all acounts he did a great job.
Exactly. However, the object of a captain is not to be the parrot of the coaching staff. They are usually the conscious of the team, someone that the majority of the team respects. From an outsiders perspective he seems like a very good choice. Despite his complaining he trains hard and plays even harder on game day.
Before getting into who I think should be captain, I just want to say that I really enjoyed that article. It was definately one of the better pieces in recent memory IMO. As for being captain, I think it would be great if Coles was ours. On my high school team we had three captains, the kiss-ass quarterback, the workout-warrior defensive end, and the laid-back running back who would joke around and what not. Everyone hated the two guys that took everything ultra seriously, but we all loved our other captain, because he would talk to us normally/not think of himself as any better, and we all respected that and therefore played harder for him. I think every team with multiple captains needs something like that. It really helps to have some different character types so that your captains aren't just little coaches minions, and I believe that's what Coles could bring to the table. I also think Eric Barton would be an excellent captain. The guy just goes out there and plays, he's been a consistent force, and has the experience to pass on to the younger players (Vilma, Hobson, Harris)
For some reason, QBs rarely seem to be captains. I think that's because they would be the obvious choice so it usually goes to someone else.
I have alot of respect for Coles, one of the toughest players on the team. If the players chose him, then who am I to argue, it would be a good choice.
Theres 5 captains correct? 2 for O, 2 for D, and 1 for ST. I would say Penny, Coles, Vilma, Rhodes and Graham.
