FLORHAM PARK, N.J. _ Former Jets teammates of Joe McKnight recalled him Friday as a popular, joke-telling prankster in the Jets locker room and all-around "very cool cat," as cornerback Darrelle Revis put it.
But their reminiscences were darkened by the shock and sadness at the news the former kick returner and running back had been shot and killed Thursday in New Orleans.
"It's tragic," center Nick Mangold said. "Joe was a great guy. It's very disappointing. You feel sad for him, his family, the guys who played with him. It's tough ... Good dude. He always had a joke and made you smile."
The man identified as the shooter, Ronald Gasser, was released overnight, Col. John Fortunato, a spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, said Friday. Gasser has not been formally charged at this time in McKnight's shooting death.
McKnight was a Jet from 2010 to 2012, so only a half-dozen or so veterans played with him. But he made an impression during ups and downs as a player that never changed his demeanor.
"Great guy, great personality," kicker Nick Folk said. "He had a lot of fun. He was, I wouldn't say sarcastic, but he joked around a lot. We had a great time in here ... Just super sad."
Despite McKnight's struggles on the field, Folk said, "He never changed. He was always in an upbeat mood, had a smile on his face all the time."
The kicker recalled some of McKnight's battles with their special teams coach, saying, "He and Mike Westhoff sometimes didn't see eye to eye, so it was always kind of fun."
Linebacker David Harris said in a statement issued by the team, "It is sad and unfortunate what happened to Joe. I remember all he wanted was to be a good teammate and friend."
Some former teammates marveled at the outpouring of reaction to McKnight's death far beyond the Jets locker room, from his native New Orleans to the University of Southern California, where he played college ball.
"If you're an SC player, everybody pretty much knows Joe McKnight," said defensive end Leonard Williams, a fellow USC alumnus who played after McKnight there.
Revis said in a statement issued by the team, "Joe was a great teammate who did anything he could to help. He had such a good heart and wanted nothing more than to see everyone succeed. It's hard to come to grips with the reality that he is no longer with us."
Revis recalled watching McKnight recover from a difficult rookie season to make an impact in 2011, including a 107-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Ravens.
"It was awesome to see him excel not only as a teammate but as a friend," Revis said. "I think this was a safe haven for him and for a lot of us, where we get to escape the outside world and do something we love. He definitely put his best foot forward when he came to work and he worked his butt off."
