Big man interceptions are becoming a thing, and big man touchdown was a thing in New York last week (thanks to the Giants’ lone touchdown in Tampa coming on a pass to Andrew Thomas).
So, how about both from Gang Green?
Well, almost, as they got the first from John Franklin-Myers in Sunday’s win in Houston, as he picked off Tyrod Taylor on the Texans’ first possession and took the ball back 32 yards to the Houston 37, running out of bounds less than halfway to the house.
“I wanted to score, but I had to do what was smart,” JFM laughed. “I saw someone catching up to me, so I had to run to the sideline; I didn’t want to risk fumbling. It is what it is, I’ll have another opportunity.”
That someone was Texans running back David Johnson, who was tracking Franklin-Myers down when he decided to go out a bounds…and got an earful about it from his entire team, including fellow lineman Shaq Lawson, who had his first career pick a few weeks ago.
“Shaq knew what it was, he’s been in that position; he knows that when defensive linemen pick off the ball and try to score, they fumble the ball, so he said he’d do the same thing,” Franklin-Myers joked. “David Johnson’s fast, too, so it makes me feel better.”
Listen to New York sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Jets team gear
“The first thing I thought was ‘don’t hurt yourself running,’ but as soon as I saw him veer towards the sideline, I knew he was good,” C.J. Mosley laughed. “Nobody could block for him, so we couldn’t escort him to the end zone, but a heads-up, game-changing play for him.”
No touchdown on the play, or on the ensuing drive (the Jets settled for a Matt Ammendola field goal), but Franklin-Myers still made an athletic play to make a difference.
“Foley (Fatukasi) got some pressure, and I saw (Taylor) throw it so I tried to tip the pass,” JFM said. “I ended up tipping it and I ran and said ‘f—k it, I’m gonna go get it’ so I ran and got it. I tried to score, but I had to be smart there; it’s more important to have the ball.”
Franklin-Myers made his bones – literally and figuratively – on his defensive prowess, but he does have some offensive experience in his past.
“I played running back in high school, I had two carries for 25 yards…I don’t know why,” he smiled. “Good old days!”
Related
Regardless of the result of his INT, though, the Jets got the win, and it was a great bounce-back performance for Franklin-Myers after a Week 11 where he was nearly invisible on the field in a loss to Miami until a roughing the passer call that may have helped cost the Jets the game.
“That’s just the standard I hold for myself; I know a mistake like that can’t happen,” he said. “Thankfully, my teammates and coaches put me in a good position, and I just made the routine plays routine. You can’t make the same mistake twice; as a defensive lineman, bang-bang plays are going to happen, and if I can’t slow myself down, I have to be smarter.”
"He's worth his weight in gold," head coach Robert Saleh said of JFM. "But much given, much expected. I know he was beating himself up all week, but he works his tail off every day and every game day."
And, especially meaningful in his home state, with 50 or so friends and family in attendance to cheer on the product of Greenville High just northeast of Dallas and Stephen F. Austin University, about two hours northeast of Houston in Nacogdoches.
“My house is 30 minutes from here, and it was great to play in front of them,” he said. “They don’t get a chance to get to New York often, so it was a great opportunity.”
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch