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Like Twitter these days, Vernon Gholston bashing was en vogue during the 2008 season. Since Gholston’s late season scratch fans and media have been extremely down on the player. He’s already been derided as a bust by many in the media … let’s face it, he was an easy mark. While Mangini was always measured, Ryan is was more energetic when answering questions on Gholston, of which ESPN’s Tim Graham took note.

It’s possible Ryan was telegraphing a rah-rah message through the press, but maybe the Jets finally are seeing evidence last year’s sixth overall draft pick can start living up to his immense promise.

“I think he’ll have to earn his role no matter what it is,” Ryan told reporters at the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, N.J. “Whether he is a starter? Is he this? Is he that?

“I know one thing: He is going to be a major contributor for us.”

Well don’t say we didn’t tell you so, cause we did … like … multiple times.

While we here at TJB expected Dusty to get involved quickly during the 2008 season, we also expected that 2008 was going to be a quiet year for Gholston with *some* hope for upside. Mangini was fairly rigid in how Gholston would play in his system and Gholston was squarely behind the eigth-ball for all the normal reasons we’ve explained time and again: the Ohio State quarter system, leaving as a junior, playing at a higher level, learning a new position, etc.

When the new coach was hired, we knew that if anyone could coax the game out of Gholston, it was Rex Ryan. Although reporters haven’t been in all the sessions, they’ve noted that Gholston has recorded a couple of “sacks” (no pads remember) during the spring workouts. These might be the signs that he’s coming around, but I think that Ryan’s notation that Gholston will warrant on his own merit whatever playing time he sees on the field. We’ll know just how much he’s earned soon enough.

From thejetsblog.com. Please read the complete article and let us know what you think below.