By Dennis Waszak Jr.
Diapers and playbooks.
That’s what life is all about these days for Eric Decker — brand-new father and big-time wide receiver for the New York Jets.
“She’s been keeping me up at night,” a smiling Decker said Wednesday about three month-old daughter Vivianne. “I get a couple of hours (sleep) here and there. That’s about it.”
Talk about a life-changing week: He agreed to terms on a five-year deal with the Jets on March 12, and six days later, wife Jessie James gave birth to their first child.
Decker is learning to balance his increased responsibilities on the field with a new team and at home with a new baby, which is why he has no regrets about missing time last week at the Jets’ voluntary practices to travel to Nashville with his recording artist wife to attend the CMT Music Awards.
“A marriage is give-and-take, and any relationship is give-and-take,” Decker said. “It’s funny how this became such a story. It was an opportunity for us to get down there and be around our friends and be around the music industry that she’s a part of.
“When your wife gives birth and goes through nine months of tough days to give you a child, you respect the woman a lot more. Obviously, she’s very important to me and her career is very important, as well.”
Rex Ryan has often mentioned that his biggest regret in football is missing the birth of his second son, Seth, because he was coaching. So, when family events come up — particularly in “voluntary” offseason sessions — Ryan knows where his players are coming from. That’s why the coach made it clear last week that he was on board with Decker spending time with his wife, even if it was at a country music awards show.
“It’s huge, and that’s what’s so great about Rex Ryan, and really this organization,” Decker said. “Everyone here is family and you take care of one another. That’s how you build a winning culture. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and for him to stand up and say that, it means a lot to me.”
Decker is doing his best to seamlessly work himself into Marty Mornhinweg’s offense, one that was in dire need of a playmaking No. 1-type target. He had 87 receptions for 11 touchdowns last season while catching passes from Peyton Manning, and totaled 172 catches for 2,352 yards and 24 TDs the last two years.
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