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| Even after the trade, Otah still can't get on the field. (US Presswire) |
Remember that one time when the Panthers traded former first-round pick, but oft-injured tackle Jeff Otah to the Jets for a seventh-round conditional draft pick? Well, you should, since it happened Monday.
Wednesday brought news that was nearly as exciting. I’ll let Howard Balzer explain:
Shocker: Newly acquited T Jeff Otah failed Jets physical; placed on active/PUP.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) July 25, 2012
OK, so Balzer meant “acquired” and not “acquited,” but you get the point. The Jets have since confirmed that Otah has failed his physical and has been placed on the active physically unable to perform list. If he doesn't pass a physical with the team within seven days, the trade is voided. That means New York gave up a probably-irrelevant draft pick for the right not to play an offensive lineman.
Since Otah hasn’t been healthy the past two seasons, this isn’t exactly shocking news. Plus, he can come off that PUP list whenever the Jets want.
"Otah is a beast," one general manager told CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora after the trade. "He can be dominant. He has to stay on the field, and the knee is a concern, but when he's healthy there's not too many better."
For now, he’s obviously not healthy. And the Jets right tackle position is still in flux. As is Otah’s career.
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