Robert Saleh hopes that the NFL “will do the right thing” when it comes to Miles Austin’s suspension.
Austin, the Jets wide receivers coach, is appealing his NFL-issued ban of at least one year for gambling. The league’s policy prohibits team staff, including coaches, from any form of sports wagering, but players are allowed to place bets on games other than football.
Bill Deni, Austin’s attorney, released a statement claiming that Austin did not bet on NFL games. It is possible that he confused the difference in the player and coach rules after a 10-year NFL career that ended in 2015.
“I’m not going to get into details of all the things,” Saleh said. “I know Miles is a non-malicious person. There are a lot of things I’d like to say, but he has to go through his due diligence. I have faith in the people making the decisions that once they hear him out they will do the right thing.”
Offensive assistant Mack Brown, who initially joined the Jets staff in 2019, is coaching the receivers since Austin “has been away from the team.”
WR Jeff Smith (knee) and CB Brandin Echols (quad) will not play Sunday against the Seahawks.
S Lamarcus Joyner (hip) is expected to be available after missing the last two games and remaining limited in practice this week.
“He’s an explosive player back there,” Saleh said. “He’s 99 percent right when he does trigger. When that ball is snapped, post-snap he’s as good as anybody.”
There is a chance that the Dolphins-Patriots game is decided before kickoff in Seattle. The Jets need to win both their remaining games to reach the playoffs, but they could gain a little clarity on the competition.
If the Dolphins win, then the Patriots, who beat the Jets twice, are eliminated from playoff contention. A Jets win over the Seahawks would set up a winner-take-all Jets-Dolphins game in Week 18 that could be flexed to “Sunday Night Football.”
If the Patriots win, the Jets’ path is a little more complex.
“Not scoreboard [watching],” Saleh said. “I’m sure, human nature, we’re going to glance at it, but unless we take care of ours it doesn’t matter. It’s not about the playoffs. We’ve had a rough December. Luckily, we get a new month – the game is happening in January – so take a deep breath, get off the mat and get ready to play.”