New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace is taking a page from the notebook of Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard and keeping his termination letter close by to use as motivation.
Where Pollard keeps his termination letter in his locker to fuel his fire against his former team - the Baltimore Ravens - Pace keeps his close as a reminder he never wants to feel that pain again. Pace was one of a handful of veteran players released by the team in February in a salary purge by new general manager John Idzik.
“It says you weren’t as good as everybody else,” Pace said, via RIch Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. “It’s something that stuck with me and will always stick with me. Even on days where I don’t want to see these guys, coming out here for practice, I think about that. I don’t ever want to feel like that. I didn’t want my career to end on a mediocre year.”
Pace posted just 55 tackles with three sacks and two passes defensed despite starting all 16 games for the Jets last season. Head coach Rex Ryan has said Pace is having a “monster” training camp as Pace hopes to regain his old form. Pace is entering his sixth season with the Jets.
