NFL News and Rumors: Joe Anderson Finally Lands a Job with the Jets
Joe Anderson did something that guaranteed to catch the New York Jets' attention. The lack of a contract offer from any NFL team forced the wide receiver to use social media to ask for work. The Instagram post became viral, which later helped him get a job with the team. The team announced the agreement with Anderson on Tuesday.
The post was actually published by Anderson on his Instagram account, showing himself standing outside a stadium while holding a sign that read: "not homeless but starving for success. Will run routes 4 food." In order to generate attention, he cleverly tagged several sports and television personalities like LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Deion Sanders, P. Diddy, and host/comedian Steve Harvey.
Anderson, for this part, couldn't hide his excitement. "Thank you Jesus for blessing me and my family with this job for Christmas," the 27-year-old wide receiver said. "Now it's time to continue to work with all my heart and help make this team better," he added.
Anderson was out of job last season after the Chicago Bears waived him while on the injured reserve due to a combination of abdominal and groin injury. He came into the NFL as an undrafted player who was called by the Bears.
One can't help but admire his resilience in trying to get another crack at pro football. "This is why you can't be so quick to throw the towel in, because you don't know when that call will come," he said. "When that call came, it wasn't no surprise… because I had prepared for it," he added.
If not for the stunt in the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium, he wouldn't have made it with the Jets. It's a surprising tactic from an NFL player because not everyone would dare humble themselves that way.
But Anderson simply needed a job. It is all that matters.