When the Jets cut LB Jachai Polite, it raised a few eyebrows. And the Jets took it a step further by letting him go outright on Sunday after he cleared waivers.
So why did the team let their 2019 third-rounder walk?
Well, according to NBC Sports' Mike Florio, Polite was a nuisance off the field. He totaled more than $100,000 in fines due to "tardiness and other issues regarding doing things he shouldn't have done or not doing things he should been doing."
Coming out of Florida, ex-GM Mike Maccagnan knew full well that Polite came with disciplinary issues despite his obvious talent. But GM Joe Douglas had no loyalty to Polite, and between his lackluster play on the field and the off-the-field issues, he made the executive decision for him to walk.
The Jets dished out a $1.22 million signing bonus to Polite, so the fines will be taken care of. But a third-round pick normally makes the 53-man roster he is drafted to. Instead, Polite is now part of the Seahawks practice squad, and will have to fight to make it back up to the first team.
It's a shame that Polite didn't work out with the Jets, as some believed him to be a first-round talent if he didn't have his problems off the field. It's also a big waste of a draft pick, and that will definitely bring up scrutiny about Maccagnan being allowed to run the Jets' draft before he was let go.