Sam Darnold huddled up with his Pad to keep on top of the New York Jets‘ offense during his brief contract holdout.

The rookie quarterback missed the first three practices of training camp while his representatives ironed out details of his four-year Danny Salazar Jersey , $30.5 million fully guaranteed deal. But Darnold wasn’t very far from the field – literally.

Staying at a hotel just a few deep passes down the road from the Jets’ practice facility, the No. 3 overall pick was able to view film of the team’s camp sessions on his own while staying patient as his contract negotiations played out.

”It sucked watching them,” Darnold said Wednesday, speaking to reporters for the first time since rejoining the team Monday. ”But at the same time, I knew what needed to be done. It was tough watching them, but at the same time, I knew that it was necessary.”

The hang-up appeared to be over contract language – namely offsets and possibly defaults – and Pro Football Talk first reported that the deal includes offset language on future guarantees – if he gets cut. But the Jets also agreed to pay the quarterback’s full $20 million signing bonus within 15 days after Darnold signed Monday and removed language in the deal voiding guarantees based on fines by the NFL.

”I thought it played out great,” Darnold said. ”But honestly, you know, I think with the way that everything worked out, that’s why I have great agents because they’re able to figure that stuff out. And then whenever I get back on the field, that’s my job and my job is to play football to the best of my ability.”

While sitting out camp, Darnold said he worked out at the hotel gym and also was able to throw passes at a nearby high school with fellow clients of his agents’ group – CAA – serving as his receivers.

Darnold is competing with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job, but has to make up for a little bit of lost time because of his early camp absences.

”That’s a coach’s decision Dorian O'Daniel Jersey Chiefs ,” Darnold said when asked if his goal is to be the starter in Week 1. ”The competitor in me, yeah, I want to start. But at the same time, it’s about the team and what’s best for the team.”

Darnold has appeared comfortable running the offense, hardly looking like a lost 21-year-old who’s simply trying to tread water. He has made his share of mistakes, too, but his ability to immediately bounce back from them has been impressive.

”It was the second day for him,” coach Todd Bowles said. ”He’s learning, progressing. He’ll watch the film, learn and get better.”

After having his arm hit as he was throwing a pass that was intercepted by Morris Claiborne, Darnold completed a long pass to Chad Hansen for a big gain.

”We always talk about it in the quarterbacks room, but we also talk about it as a team: You want to limit your mistakes,” Darnold said. ”At the same time, if you do make a mistake Mike White Jersey Cowboys , you don’t want to keep your head down. You want to hold your head up high and go after the next play with all you’ve got. So that’s kind of our mentality here, but that’s also been my mentality throughout playing football.”

That cool-headed, veteran-like approach has impressed his teammates.

”Just his decision-making with the football,” running back Bilal Powell said. ”Just taking what the defense gives him and not just trying to force it in there. He’s a smart guy and I think he’s going to do well in this league.”

Added Bridgewater: ”I’m a huge fan of Sam Darnold. I’m glad to be in the quarterback room with him.”

While a rookie holding out might rub some teammates the wrong way, many insisted they understand the business side of the game and didn’t resent Darnold for not being there with them when camp opened.

That didn’t make the young QB immune from some good-natured razzing, of course.

He received a slow-clap as he jogged onto the field for the first time Monday, causing him to break into a sheepish smile just before practice.

”That was awesome,” Darnold said with a laugh. ”To be able to just be a part of that, not really expecting anything and them doing that, it kind of pushed everything – me not showing up to camp on time and me being late – it kind of pushed all that aside. It made me feel comfortable and made me feel like a part of the team.”

Darnold was the main attraction during and after practice Wednesday, with a couple dozen reporters and cameras surrounding him as he spoke.

Even the other two quarterbacks knew who everyone wanted to hear from.

Bridgewater went first and cracked about how he was part of the undercard to the main event. McCown then compared himself to a warmup act at a concert.

”I’ve only got three songs,” the 39-year-old quarterback joked, ”and one of `em is a cover.”

Then, the headliner made his way to the podium.

”Personally Roberto Perez Jersey , because I have really high expectations for myself, I’ve got a ways to go in terms of growth,” Darnold said. ”But I feel comfortable with the offense at a rudimentary level.”

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The Tennessee Titans willingly paid a big price to make sure their defense got younger and deeper on the front seven.

For the second straight night, the Titans moved up in the NFL draft to acquire the linebacker they wanted. Tennessee chose Boston College outside linebacker Harold Landry with the 41st overall pick Friday night after sending the Oakland Raiders the 57th and 89th overall selections 鈥?its second-round and third-round picks.

The Titans aren't scheduled to draft again until the fifth round. Titans general manager Jon Robinson believes the quality of Landry and first-round pick Rashaan Evans of Alabama will make up for their draft's lack of quantity.

"Two guys that were certainly worthy of going in the first round," Robinson said of his picks.

The Titans had traded up three spots in the first round Thursday to take Evans with the 22nd overall pick . This second trade leaves the Titans with only one fifth-round pick and two sixth-round selections the rest of the draft.

Tennessee had traded its fourth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens when the two teams swapped first-round picks in the Evans deal, which also got the Titans an extra sixth-rounder.

Landry, who is listed as 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds, opted to return to Boston College for his senior year after recording 16 陆 sacks to set a single-season school record in 2016. He recorded five sacks in eight games last year before an ankle injury shut him down for the remainder of the season

Landry says he's feeling better now.

"I'm 100 percent healthy and ready to go to work right now," Landry said.

Landry also isn't second-guessing his decision to return to school.

"I have absolutely zero regrets about going back for my senior year," Landry said. "Going back for my senior year, I met my fiancee, my son was born and now I'm a Tennessee Titan. I don't think it can get much better."

Although he couldn't match his 2016 production last year, Landry still was rated as a probable first-round pick on several mock drafts. Robinson said he started working the phones Friday morning trying to get an earlier second-round pick with Landry still on the board.

"We felt like we got a first-round-caliber player that for whatever reason slipped into the second round," Robinson said.

The Titans recorded 43 sacks to tie for fifth in the NFL last season Denzel Ward Browns Jersey , but the age and contract status of their outside linebackers made that position a draft priority.

Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are heading into the final years of their contracts. Orakpo turns 32 on July 31, and Morgan is entering his ninth season in the league.

The Titans used a 2016 second-round pick on outside linebacker Kevin Dodd, but he was hurt for most of his rookie year and wasn't much of a factor last season.

"We've invested quite a bit of draft capital on the offensive side the last couple of years," Robinson said. "This year we invested some on the defense."

Landry is eager to contribute to that group and says he's "beyond blessed" to have this opportunity. Landry's pre-draft meeting with new Titans coach Mike Vrabel made him eager to work with the former New England Patriots linebacker and Houston Texans defensive coordinator.

"He's definitely a coach I've always wanted to play for all along," Landry said. "Tennessee's a place where I want to raise my family. I think it's a perfect fit."

The Titans now have quite a bit of time to wait before they get to choose the next few guys who best fit their remaining needs.

"Hopefully we can add some role players, guys that can help us in the kicking game, add some depth there," Robinson said. "We're going to stick to that philosophy of tough, team-first guys that are going to come here and work."
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