Former Jets wide receiver and kick returner Andre Roberts still has some hard feelings toward the organization.
Roberts is still upset that the Jets did not attempt to re-sign him following one of the best seasons of his career. He hopped on the 17 Weeks Podcast with fellow Bills WR Cole Beasley’s and didn’t pull any punches about Gang Green.
“It’s so much better than being in NJ,” he said of playing for Buffalo. “The organization is better from top to bottom,” he said.
With Roberts returning kicks, the Bills lead the league in kick return average. Roberts is third in the NFL in that category. Buffalo is averaging 8.5 yards more per kick return than the Jets.
It’s not just returning kicks either, as Roberts is the ninth highest-graded punt returner in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
In his first and only season with the Jets, Roberts led the NFL in kick return yards and was a first-team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and was named to the AP All-Pro first team.
Roberts racked up 324 punt return yards and 1,174 kick return yards — both career bests. In Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, Roberts returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown and posted a career-high 215 total return yards in his best showing of the season.
It’s no mistake to say the Jets miss Roberts returning kicks. Letting him go was one of the more head-scratching decisions that Mike Maccagnan made this past offseason when the Jets former general manager was still in charge.
New York has not seen enough production from Trenton Cannon, Vyncint Smith or Ty Montgomery to make an impact in the return game this year.
Roberts also shined the light on the culture and power structure between the Jets and Bills. He pointed out that Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane actually speak to one another, where it was apparent that Maccagnan and Todd Bowles rarely did. Instead, they both directly reported to CEO Christopher Johnson.
The disparity in the two teams can be seen in their records this year. The Bills are 7-3, while the Jets are 3-7. Roberts is correct and instead of merely labeling him as bitter, the entire Jets organization might want to look in the mirror before they allow another Roberts to slip through the cracks.
