Decker catching on with the Jets
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Diapers and playbooks.
That’s what life is all about these days for Eric Decker – brand-new father and big-time wide receiver for the New York Jets.
“She’s been keeping me up at night,” a smiling Decker said Wednesday about three month-old daughter Vivianne. “I get a couple of hours (sleep) here and there. That’s about it.”
Talk about a life-changing week: He agreed to terms on a five-year deal with the Jets on March 12, and six days later, wife Jessie James gave birth to their first child.
Decker is learning to balance his increased responsibilities on the field with a new team and at home with a new baby, which is why he has no regrets about missing time last week at the Jets’ voluntary practices to travel to Nashville with his recording artist wife to attend the CMT Music Awards. The wide receiver received some criticism from fans and media for not attending the practice, but received full support from coach Rex Ryan and the team.
“A marriage is give-and-take, and any relationship is give-and-take,” Decker said. “It’s funny how this became such a story. It was an opportunity for us to get down there and be around our friends and be around the music industry that she’s a part of.
“When your wife gives birth and goes through nine months of tough days to give you a child, you respect the woman a lot more. Obviously, she’s very important to me and her career is very important, as well.”
Ryan has often mentioned that his biggest regret in football is missing the birth of his second son, Seth, because he was coaching. So, when family events come up – particularly in “voluntary” offseason sessions – Ryan knows where his players are coming from. That’s why the coach made it clear last week that he was on board with Decker spending time with his wife, even if it was at a country music awards show.
“It’s huge, and that’s what’s so great about Rex Ryan, and really this organization,” Decker said.
Texans, Broncos to hold joint practices: Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt get to chase Peyton Manning around for a few days at practice this August, not that fans will get to watch in person.
The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans will conduct three joint training camp practices in Colorado leading up to their Aug. 23 preseason game at Sports Authority Field. They will practice together Aug. 19-21 at the Dove Valley training headquarters.
Because of a $35 million construction project of an indoor practice facility, the Broncos aren’t allowing fans to view their workouts this summer for safety reasons. They can watch three practices at their stadium, all of which will take place before the Texans’ visit.
It’s the first time the Broncos will have hosted another team at the Dove Valley facility since practicing with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 preseason. The Texans and Broncos last held joint practices in 2003 and 2005 in Houston.
Concussions end Scheffler’s career: Tony Scheffler is retiring from the NFL.
Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday he made the choice because he had three concussions over the past four years.
He had 258 receptions for 3,207 yards and 22 touchdowns in his eight-year career. The Detroit Lions released Scheffler in October. He later had workouts with Chicago and Kansas City and says there was “moderate” interest in him as a free agent this offseason.
Denver drafted him in the second round in 2006 out of Western Michigan and traded him four years later to Detroit.
Scheffler says his plans include becoming a real estate agent and assistant football coach at the high school in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan.
Rams’ stadium crisis: The indoor football stadium that the St. Louis Rams call home is running out of money.
The St. Louis Post -Dispatch reports that the publicly funded Edward Jones Dome anticipates needing an extra $40 million to cover maintenance over the next 15 years. The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, which owns the downtown dome, expects to exhaust its $16 million savings in six years.
The dome receives $4 million annually for yearly maintenance for the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and the state of Missouri.
The stadium’s future remains in limbo as lease negotiations between St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the stadium authority drag on. The Rams can break their 30-year lease after the upcoming season, which would be a decade early.