Shonn Greene wasn't surprised that the coaches gave him the silent treatment after his fumble late in the second quarter on Monday. The second-year running back was predictably yanked after coughing it up, but it was puzzling why he turned into a ghost for much of the rest of the game.
"I was just waiting on when they said I could go back in," said Greene, who had 5 carries for 18 yards before fumbling with 4:17 to go before halftime. "I wasn't expecting to get back in. In the preseason, that was the formula: If you fumble, you're not getting back in the game."
Greene didn't play on the next 16 offensive snaps (plus one Mark Sanchez kneel down before halftime). In those 16 plays, LaDainian Tomlinson touched the ball 50% of the time. The veteran had 8 touches for 40 yards, including seven carries for 33 yards, as Greene watched.
The second-year running back didn't play in the third quarter. He reentered the game with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter for one play. He dropped a pass in the flat and was gone for good. In all, Greene didn't play in 25 of the final 26 offensive snaps.
If you watched Hard Knocks, the numbers aren't surprising as the Jets staff was pretty much fed up with fumbles by the final preseason game against the Eagles.
Factor in they seemed very impressed by Tomlinson's performance and it looks like Greene will have to earn his way back on the field. He'll get his touches vs. the Pats it looks like LT may get the bulk. But at this point, you have to worry about his production for a while it seems.