Esiason: McDougald missed tackle 'on purpose'

Indianapolis Colts running back Jordan Wilkins (20) runs the ball while New York Jets strong safety Bradley McDougald (30) defends in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Boomer Esiason: Bradley McDougald missed tackle 'on purpose' in Jets' loss to Colts

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/28/20

New York Jets safety Bradley McDougald, who joined the club via the summer trade that involved safety Jamal Adams moving out west to the Seattle Seahawks, led the team with 10 overall tackles in Sunday's embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

However, one play involving McDougald had former quarterback and current radio host Boomer Esiason fuming during a segment of Monday's "Boomer and Gio" WFAN program.

Halfway through the third quarter of Sunday's blowout, Indianapolis rookie running back Jonathan Taylor found the end zone from a yard out after he evaded McDougald. Esiason explained that he believes McDougald purposely missed the tackle for unknown reasons.

Boomer Esiason rips into #Jets' safety Bradley McDougald for whiffing on a goal-line tackle "on purpose" against the Colts yesterday. pic.twitter.com/p2XiAI5zdb
— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) September 28, 2020

"He didn't want any piece of Jonathan Taylor," Esiason said. "He shut his eyes and he dove...he literally tried to dive away from contact. That's what it looks like to me."

As Brian Costello wrote for the New York Post, McDougald questioned the team's practice habits before Gang Green fell to 0-3 over the weekend.

“We’ve had some slow practices and it correlates to the game," he said. "We need to have a complete, full week of just great practices. I don’t think we’ve had that yet. As soon as we realize that and hone on in to how important practice is and come out and win at practice then it will translate to the games on Sunday.”

On Wednesday, McDougald added:

“I said we, we as players, we’re the ones that are on the field, we’re the ones that’s going through the plays. We step on the field on Sundays to play. My comments weren’t pointing the finger at anyone because I feel like this is a collective effort to turn this ship around. I’m not coming for my coaches. Our coaches do a great job preparing us. We’re all in this together.”

The Jets will try to earn their first win of the campaign against the banged-up Denver Broncos on Thursday night.

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