Why Kerley sometimes feels he’s underrated as a receiver

Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with Jets receiver Jeremy Kerley for some Q&A ahead of the Gang Green's clash with the Lions on Sunday.

Q: New York is not for everybody. Do you enjoy playing in this market?
A: I do, I do. Not a lot of people can play on the big stage, a lot of guys freeze up, it's not for everybody. I love the bright lights. I love being under pressure. It's something that time and time again is getting more and more comfortable to me. It's fun to play in the big city. Sometimes I see it's just the people love you or they're not gonna like you. Your first impression is really the only one that you have so either you can win 'em, or you don't. If you don't win 'em, sometimes it's hard to get 'em back.

Q: Why do you think pressure doesn't bother you?
A: I put a lot of pressure on myself in life. There's other pressures out there that scare me a lot more than playing in front of 70,000 people on Sunday.

Q: Such as what?
A: Such as failing as a father. Not being successful for my family. Those are the pressures that you gotta live with for the rest of your life.

Q: Why do you think you're that way?
A: I don't think I've seen a lot of successful fathers growing up … very successful relationship marriages, just families growing up. Sports has always been like a getaway for me. It turned into fun, it didn't turn into a worry for me, it was nothing I ever worried about. There was never any pressure. You get butterflies, don't get me wrong. But it's not something I was, "I can't make a mistake, I can't do this." … I think that kinda scared me into, when I first had kids, to be the best father I could be for them, and never fail or give them any opportunity to say that, "My dad wasn't there for me, or I didn't see him there, I didn't do that, I didn't do this."

Q: What was growing up like for you?
A: It was difficult for me a little bit. But everything that I seen and I went through made me into the person I am today.

Q: Difficult how?
A: I'll just say there were things that I wish that I had, there were things that I wish I didn't see that I did see. But, everything happens for a reason, so … I don't regret anything.

Q: Do you feel like you're either underrated as a receiver or under appreciated?
A: Sometimes. I just feel like I get labeled most of the time — labeled as, "Oh, you know, Jeremy's just a slot receiver." Or, I don't [get] credited for the all-around stuff that I do. But it kinda motivates me to prove myself just a little bit more. I can see myself as a guy that's underrated, but it's something that I probably wouldn't change, and I hope through my career, I kinda had that chip on my shoulder.

Q: You were a fifth-round pick. Do you think it was because of your size?
A: Nah, I don't necessarily think it's because of my size [5-foot-9, 188 pounds]. Randall Cobb, I don't know if he's too much taller than me [5-foot-10], too much heavier than me [192 pounds], but he was a second-round pick. I don't feel like I necessarily had that much of an opportunity to prove myself in college [at TCU]. Once again, I feel like I got labeled as a slot receiver. Also being in the offense that we ran, it primarily wasn't an NFL offense. The first time that I ever a route tree, let alone a comeback, was when I first got to the Senior Bowl.

Q: You're a free agent after this year. How does that motivate you?
A: I don't even think about it too much. I kinda see myself as a once-a-Jet-always-a-Jet type of guy. Hopefully my play talks for itself. Whatever happens at the end of the day, it happens. I have other motivations that carry me through my career. It just so happens that money isn't one of them.

Q: What are some of the other ones?
A: I'm just showing my kids that accountability and hard work can get you somewhere. Proving to myself time and time again that I can go out here and play this game, but anybody who's played this game for three or more years, they can tell you that each year after that, it's a little harder than the next, your body's not the same. You got younger guys coming in who, you know, feel a little bit better, or haven't wore out themself a little bit more than you have. It's different, so you gotta cherish the years that you're in here, so every year after Year 3 or Year 4, it's a commitment, not only to yourself but to your family, showing them that, "I'm in it for the long haul for y'all."

Q: Ideally, would you want to play your entire career with one team as Derek Jeter has?
A: Yeah, I mean, ideally. That would be the best thing so my family doesn't have to get up and switch from city to city, state to state. But, like I said, once a Jet, always a Jet, I would love to be a Jet. This is a place that I call home. All the coaching staff, and players and stuff, I see them as friends and family, so … I would always want to be a Jet.

Q: Who are some slot receivers you enjoy watching?
A: Victor Cruz is a good receiver, inside and outside. … Eddie Royal … but I wouldn't say necessarily it's a conscious guy I look up to. I kinda like outside receivers a little bit more.

Q: Who for instance?
A: Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Cris Carter … obviously Jerry Rice.

Q: Describe Cruz's game for me.
A: I'd say it's similar to mine — quick receiver, real shifty … finesse receiver, route-runner. He's not just a good receiver, he's a good route-runner. A lot of guys are perceived as good receivers, and they're good with the ball in their hands, and good against separation. But not a lot of guys are good route-runners. I see him as a guy that can run a route tree and make it look pretty good.

Jeremy KerleyPhoto: Paul J. Bereswill

Q: How would you grade yourself as a route runner?
A: I would grade myself as a pretty good route-runner, that's something I take pride in. [Jets wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal] is always on me about it, so give credit to him, he's helped me a lot. I'm a guy that never really played receiver until I got to college.

Q: Describe Eric Decker.
A: He's a guy that can gain separation. I didn't watch too much on him when he was with Denver, but when he got here, I got to see him progress as a route runner over the month that I've been with him. He catches the ball well. He gets along with the coaching staff and guys in the building and guys in the locker room, so he's a good player.

Q: What is the major area of growth you've seen in Geno Smith?
A: Just poise and his ability to communicate, get information in and out to guys where they need to be. In the past, I don't think communication was a strong suit for Geno, or for us, myself included. But two years, under the same coordinator, same system, during the game, the way that he's able to communicate and get guys in the right places and doing the things that he wants them to do instead of kinda guessing and second- guessing himself — he definitely took that part out of his game. He's showing a lot of poise, a lot of leadership.

Q: What sense do you have for how he's handled the presence of Michael Vick?
A: I think he's handled it pretty good. We treat Michael Vick as one of those guys that's a coach on the field with you. I'm assuming he'll go down as one of the best to do it, Hall-of-Fame type guy. For him to be in the same meeting rooms with Geno, I think it only helps him.

Q: Rookie safety Calvin Pryor, how good is he going to be?
A: Calvin Pryor's gonna be a potential Hall of Famer. Good instincts, good speed.

Q: What are your thoughts about the AFC East?
A: I feel like the AFC East is definitely more competitive this year.

Q: Do you think the division is up for grabs?
A: Yeah, I think so. Hopefully we grab it.

Q: Have you thought about playing against Darrelle Revis?
A: I hope I get a chance to go against him. Who wouldn't want to play against one of the best?

Q: How would you describe your recent touchdown dance?
A: Flawless.

Q: How did you decide on it?
A: I'm always clowning, I'm always doing something to make people laugh.

Q: Do you like New York City?
A: To tell you the truth, I really wasn't a fan starting off. I guess it was because I was homesick or whatever, but it's grown on me over the years. This is a place that I kinda call home. I get a lot of love out here, so the people made it kinda easy for me to adjust.

Q: Favorite New York City things.
A: Going into Ripley's Believe It Or Not with the kids, showing them all kind of crazy stuff. Obviously the food … but I try to stay out of Manhattan. Most of the time I try to go to Brooklyn, and just enjoy downtown and walk around.

Q: What part of Brooklyn?
A: Right by Barclays.

Q: Did you go to Nets games?
A: Yeah, I've been to a couple of 'em.

Q: Do you like the Knicks?
A: I haven't been to a game, so I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Knicks. I haven't been to the Garden.

Q: Are you still holding onto the hope to pursue a baseball career?
A: Somewhat, man, but I'm getting a little older, so (chuckle) I don't know if my body is the same as it was three or four years ago. Baseball was my first love, so it's always something I think about.

Q: You were a center fielder?
A: Yeah, I played everywhere, man — center field, pitcher, shortstop, everywhere.

Q: Your oldest child is 5. Is he a football fan?
A: Yeah. … He's a Daddy fan.

Q: Describe him.
A: He has a big heart just like me. A lot of energy, man, always doing something, always running around, always trying to be involved in something. Really a country boy, so kinda gets closed in up here in the city [New Jersey], he can't run wild like.

Q: Your next oldest?
A: The next one is 18 months.

Q: The youngest?
A: Seven months.

Q: How has fatherhood affected you or changed your life?
A: I think it put a lot of things in perspective for me. It's beautiful. It's a good thing coming home and seeing those faces and them seeing my face.

Q: Describe Jets fans.
A: They're definitely sincere … emotional … and they want to see good football. You don't want fans that come out and blow smoke up you, and give you false hope. They tell it how it is, and they want to see good football. They're loyal fans so, that's kinda what you want to see out of your fans.

Q: How would you describe your fashion style?
A: I'll wear anything from suspenders to overalls to long johns. … I'm different when it comes to fashion.

Q: You have a unique style, you mean?
A: Very unique.

Q: Do you have a favorite place to shop?
A: Can't tell the world that!

Q: What's your favorite Jets highlight?
A: Probably the opening day punt return against Buffalo [2012]. It was a momentum changer. I think it was a packed crowd, man, I just looked up into the stands, everybody was going crazy with it. That was just one point in my career I probably will never forget.

Q: Did you watch Jeter's last game at Yankee Stadium?
A: I just watched the highlights.

Q: What would be your retirement final game fantasy?
A: I guess it would be catching a winning touchdown … the Super Bowl, obviously. That'd be ideal.

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