After spending the first seven seasons of his NFL career playing for the Jets, defensive end Muhammad "Mo" Wilkerson is a free agent at the moment, and he’s weighing all of his options before deciding where to take his talents next. Earlier this week, he was in Green Bay meeting with the Packers, and according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, he’s on his way to New Orleans next to meet with the Saints.
The fact Wilkerson is reportedly meeting with the Saints would normally create little more than a small ripple in the NFL free agency pond. Wilkerson isn’t necessarily one of the more prominent names on the free agent market this offseason. But his trip to New Orleans has taken on a life of its own over the course of the last 12 hours thanks to a tweet sent out by New York Daily News columnist Manish Mehta, who covered Wilkerson extensively during his time with the Jets.
In his tweet, which was sent out on Thursday night in response to Rapoport’s tweet about Wilkerson, Mehta suggested Wilkerson potentially signing with the Saints and playing in New Orleans could be problematic because of "his issues with alcohol."
The thing is, Wilkerson doesn’t seem to have any documented "issues with alcohol." He did have some well-documented issues with lateness to team meetings with the Jets last season, which is likely part of the season why the Jets decided to part ways with him this offseason. But as far as alcohol goes, there is no proof what Mehta said about him is true.
As a result, Wilkerson’s mom Ka’idah decided to call into the WFAN radio show Boomer and Gio on Friday morning shortly after Mehta appeared on the show to voice her displeasure with the things the columnist had to say about her son. She denied Wilkerson has a drinking problem and said she might consider taking legal action against Mehta over what he claimed. She said she was "livid" with the entire situation.
"I am livid," Ka’idah said. "Manish has never liked Muhammad...So, therefore, he always has something against him. Where is his proof? Where is your proof, Manish, that Muhammad is an alcoholic? Like, really? You always say all these things. I can’t tell you, Boomer, I’m just livid. I’m just livid with him. Why do you keep saying these things about my son? The Jets released him. He’s moved on, so let’s just let it go. Let’s just let it go."
Wilkerson’s mother also accused Mehta of disliking other Jets players in the past and using his platform to speak out against them unfairly. You can hear her go off in the clip above.
As of right now, Wilkerson himself is staying silent with regards to the things Mehta said about him. But after what his mom said on the radio, is there even anything left to say?
