AFC Notes: Jaguars, Jets, Patriots

Jaguars

New Jaguars QB Cody Kessler says that WR D.J. Chark‘s athletic ability is “off the charts” and he’s done a good job of picking the offense up this offseason.

“His athletic ability is off the charts but the way he learns the offense and you’ve seen him grow over the last couple of weeks, understanding the playbook, knowing where to go with each route and where to be,” Kessler said, via Mike Kaye of First Coast News. “He’s been great. We’ve hooked up on some deeper routes and he’s been a real reliable guy for me throughout [the offseason program] and it’s been exciting to get to work with him.”

Jets

Last week, new Jets WR Terrelle Pryor explained that the ankle injury he dealt with last year was just something he couldn’t play through.

“Tearing my deltoid [ligament] was horrible, just horrible for me,” Pryor said, via ESPN.com. “I was going out there from Week 1 all the way to Week 6 or 7 when I was playing, and there were times when I just fell on my face after running routes. It was so hard. Eventually, after Week 7, I said I can’t do it anymore. So that’s when I decided to get the surgery.”

According to Pryor, the injury prevented him from focusing his game because he was worried about his foot.

“I couldn’t focus on my game because I was worried about my foot,” Pryor said. “It took control of my mind. Right now, I’m healthy and ready to get back to form and have a dominant year.”

Pryor added that he’s hoping to finish his career with the Jets.

“I love it here,” Pryor said. “I’d like to finish my career here. I want to come out and have a great year, and I believe I will.”

Patriots

During his interview with Oprah Winfrey, Patriots QB Tom Brady explained that the decision to drop the appeal of his four-game suspension from “DeflateGate” was due in part to the amount of anxiety he was experiencing and the fact that it became clear he was unlikely to win the case.

“Just too much anxiety,” Brady said, via the Boston Herald. “I realized I couldn’t win. It was divided attention and I was tired of that, tired of waking up and having a call with someone from the Player’s Association. I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to use this as an opportunity, to have the month of September off for the first time in like 16, 21 years, and I’m going to take advantage of this.’”

Brady says he spent the month away from the Patriots in California, visiting his mother, who was receiving cancer treatment.

“Man, that was the best month off I think I’ve ever had,” Brady said. “In some ways, it was a great experience. I think you look back on those experiences and it was a really tough experience in my life.”