FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The first few days of Mike Maccagnan’s first training camp as the Jets’ general manager had been largely quiet — except for Sheldon Richardson’s latest off-the-field infractions, Muhammad Wilkerson’s simmering contract dispute and Devin Smith’s broken ribs.
This was the backdrop for Maccagnan’s news conference on Saturday, a 15-minute session in which his overarching message was one of support and concern for Richardson, who had nevertheless, Maccagnan said, damaged “a level of trust” by failing to tell the Jets that he had been arrested last month in Missouri.
“There definitely has to be a better line of communication with Sheldon and us, but we’re going to do everything in our power to help him — not just, obviously, as a football player, develop, but to make sure he can do the right things off the field,” said Maccagnan, who added that Richardson would have access to the team psychiatrist and other resources.