In a Dark Cloud, Sheldon Richardson Is a Silver Lining for Gang Green

April 22, 2013 is a day that will live in infamy for Jets fans. That’s when newly installed GM John Idzik traded Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Of course, Gang Green has no lack of infamous days. How about the day Idzik decided not to bring Revis back, leading the cornerback to relocate his island to New England and return to his otherworldly form while playing for the hated Patriots? Or the day Idzik was hired? Or Rich Kotite? Or Bruce Coslet? Or Lou Holtz? OK, you get the point. And I won’t even mention butt-fumble day.

Oh well, too late, I guess.

But back to that fateful April day. The Jets parted with Revis --arguably the best player they’ve ever had -- and in return received a mid-first round and a fourth round draft pick. Sounds like a steal for the Bucs, right? Like taking candy from an Idzik?

However, in one of the few standout moments from what will likely soon be the end of the GM’s brief tenure of infamy, with the first round choice he wisely selected Sheldon Richardson from Missouri.

Yes, just four spots earlier, the GM chose Dee Milliner, the DB from Alabama, and not only is the jury still out on that pick, but at this point no one can even seem to find the jury. The rumor is it’s being sequestered somewhere under MetLife Stadium, a stone’s throw from the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. And Idzik also whiffed on 2014 fourth round choice Jalen Saunders, whom the Jets dropped after he failed to catch a pass through the first few games of his rookie campaign.

But even if Milliner doesn’t pan out, you can’t call Idzik’s first first round a wash, because Richardson has already proven to be one of the best players from the 2013 NFL Draft. The defensive end won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Honors last year, and has followed that up with an even stronger sophomore season.

A staunch run-stopper in the Jets’ base 3-4 D since he arrived in New York, Richardson has stepped up his game in the pass-rushing department in 2014 -- especially since linemate Muhammad Wilkerson went down with a toe injury in November. Richardson was a constant presence in the Vikings’ backfield two weeks ago, racking up three sacks in the 30-24 defeat.

Revis should be a Jet. After all, it’s rare that you get a second chance at a talent like that, and Idzik obviously blew it. Milliner? We still don’t know what we have there. But Sheldon Richardson is exactly the kind of building block the Jets need more of if they’re going to progress from a punch line to respectability.

If they can do as well with their first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft as they did with their second choice two years ago, they shouldn’t be a laughing stock for much longer.  

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