FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Pepper Johnson is the wise, old teacher in the New York Jets' defensive-line room, and Sheldon Richardson is the formerly stubborn student who used to resist his coach's instruction.
It kind of sounds like a "Karate Kid" movie, doesn't it?
Johnson (Mr. Miyagi) introduced a new way of doing things last year, and Richardson (young Daniel LaRusso) couldn't understand why he needed to wax on, wax off. Or something like that.
And now he does.
"(I'm) a little more compliant this year," Richardson said Monday. "Last year, I was a little more hard-headed and I felt like my way worked.