Bleacher Report - Articles by Angel Navedo

Two Rhodes Diverged: Is Jets Safety Kerry Rhodes Still Missing the Message?

Angel Navedo — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:07:57 -0500

"I shall be telling this with a sigh..." -- Robert Frost, 1920.

New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes sent a message on Sunday that didn't take 140 characters or fewer against the Carolina Panthers.

The avid tweeter delivered a two-interception performance to stamp a final exclamation point on a tumultuous week that started with a demotion. Jets coach Rex Ryan had removed the fifth-year safety from his base 3-4 packages.

Yet, Rhodes still didn't say enough. Making Jake Delhomme, a turnover-plagued quarterback, look like a turnover-plagued quarterback doesn't signal the long-awaited return of the Jets' playmaking superstar.

But if you ask Kerry, he'll imply that the demotion was all he needed to reignite his fires.

"The message was sent," said Rhodes, briefly. "Now I am moving on...You saw Kerry today and that is what you will see."

A peculiar notion, to say the least.

The Jets' 2008 defensive captain shouldn't need a message to become the blitzing ball hawk who was snubbed in Pro Bowl voting, following strong 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

And he definitely shouldn't have needed a message after an offseason he peppered with expectations of performances akin to that of Baltimore Ravens five-time All-Pro safety Ed Reed.

Former Jets quarterback Ray Lucas and NFL analyst Adam Schein discussed Rhodes' performance on SNY after the game, and they agreed on something fans believed was missing from Rhodes' preparation all season: he played like a man who studied the film on Delh-"Oh my God! Where are you throwing?" and took advantage.

If Lucas and Schein were right about Rhodes improving his preparation with more film study, then that speaks to a much bigger problem with the player who's posted more than 7,100 messages to his Twitter profile.

Regardless, the intention is not to vilify Rhodes for his extracurricular activities—that would be inappropriate. But his motivation is not beyond reproach.

When former Jets coach Eric Mangini shipped Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints, he also shipped the defensive leader who kept Rhodes in the film room. The result: David Harris emerged as the quiet leader where Vilma once stood, and Rhodes regressed to a playmaker by previous reputation.

As it stands, fans have to wonder if Rex Ryan should consider making the demotion even stronger than just a message. Perhaps it could signify a real change.

Granted, Rhodes' success could have been a result of added determination after an embarrassing public demotion. And then his performance could also have to do with the decrease in responsibility in his new role.

Finding the field in nickel packages didn't require Rhodes to have sideline-to-sideline range in the defense against the Panthers. He played a support role and waited for Delhomme to toss one of those errant passes he's become infamous for since January.

Rhodes is more athletic than Eric Smith, the safety who replaced him, but one has to wonder if he's diagnosing plays with the efficiency needed to be the deep safety in Rex Ryan's defense.

Nonetheless, consider these the cracks in the wall that separate fan from journalist:

I own an authentic Kerry Rhodes jersey.
Kerry Rhodes' autograph is permanently Sharpie'd onto another jersey of mine.

It'd bring me great joy to declare the end of Rhodes' two-year regression. But in the spirit of responsibility, it must be understood that such a declaration would be premature.

Until then, I'm looking down the road as far as I can, hoping the demotion made all the difference.

Darrelle Revis Speaks: A Conversation with the Jets' Shutdown Cornerback

Angel Navedo — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:34:55 -0400

The New York Jets (3-3) ascended quickly during the first three weeks of the 2009 season, only to course directly into the most turbulent of skies.

With three disappointing losses to contrast against three impressive wins, Gang Green is searching for a break of light in the Bay Area's treacherous black hole when they face the Oakland Raiders (2-4).

Yet, through the Jets' darkest moments remains one illuminated constant. Darrelle Revis, a third-year cornerback out of Pittsburgh, has started every game since being drafted 14th overall in 2007. The flashes of greatness were on display from the onset.

Revis arrived late to training camp after lengthy contract negotiations and stepped in as the team's No. 1 cornerback. It was a role he would never relinquish—and a decision no one would ever second-guess, either.

He followed a three-interception rookie campaign with a five-interception, one-sack season for Pro Bowl honors in 2008. And he's continuing his gradual climb, vying for consideration as the league's best cornerback on a weekly basis.

Revis has kept every team's primary receiver in his sights, refusing to let some of the NFL's most dominant—the Texans' Andre Johnson, Patriots' Randy Moss, and Saints' Marques Colston—take over games as they normally do.

And so, on an oddly warm October night, Revis sat backstage at Comix in New York's Meatpacking District, prepared for a night of sports-themed satire to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. The 24-year-old cornerback looked as comfortable as can be after a rushed rehearsal, an hour away from making his stage-acting debut with the 12 Angry Mascots.

Revis took a moment to discuss his methods on the field, two-year-old grudges against receivers who scored on him, and life for the Jets' defense after Kris Jenkins' season-ending knee injury.

Angel Navedo: Is it safe to say that tonight is your acting debut?

Darrelle Revis: Yeah (smirks). I don't know. It might be. [There is] going to be comedy with it, though. I just want to have fun with it. I joke a lot, so this is something that's going to open me up and let people see Darrelle Revis off the field.

AN: Any plans to do more work in front of the camera down the line?

DR: (thinks for a moment) Eh, if it presents itself, [then] I'll look more into it. But right now, I'm just doing this for a good cause—for Crohn's and Colitis disease research. I'm here to have fun in the city tonight. [The 12 Angry Mascots] asked me to do it, and I just want to enjoy it.

AN: Now, most cornerbacks consider themselves either ball-hawks or physical guys, but you do both well. Do you prefer a certain style?

DR: It can be both ways. I try to think of myself as an all-around corner. I like to cover, but I like to come up and tackle as well. In certain situations, I might be a finesse type of corner on receivers or with the quarterback.

And sometimes I might just wanna get in your face and tear it off (laughs).

AN: When you watch film, do you still identify problem areas in your game?

DR: It depends. We all make mistakes, week in and week out. The one thing I try to always preach on to myself is being consistent in my play, even at practice. I go back and look at the practice film and see if I made a step the wrong way, or did something else. I try and critique myself.

Usually, nine times out of 10, I know as soon as I mess up. If it's in a game or if it's in practice, I automatically know. It's something you have to know and follow to keep your game consistent against some of the top receivers in the league.

AN: Do you feel like your mistakes are things you mostly do to yourself, or were you caught off guard?

DR: It's moreso something I did to myself. Don't get me wrong, these top receivers get paid a lot of money, too. I have to have my A-plus game on these guys. You can't try to relax or give in.

Every now and then, there might be a false step here and there, but you can recover and do other things. It depends on how athletic you are. But if you know yourself, you can avoid getting caught in bad situations.

AN: Any situations where guys really try and test you?

DR: I was tested real good last week by [Buffalo Bills' receiver] Terrell Owens. [On the] first play, he tried to come off the ball and knock my head off. And he saw that I was meeting him head on.

You can't show that you're weak out there.

AN: I remember you last played Owens in your rookie year. And if I'm not mistaken, he's one of two guys who did catch a touchdown on you.

DR: Yes (laughs).

AN: But you bounced back and kept him covered this time around. What was it like getting another chance at him?

DR: That actually stuck with me for two years (laughs). I really took it to heart, and I always wanted to get a chance to play him again—to compete with him and show him that it ain't gonna happen this time.

I was so excited when he signed with the Bills, because now I get to see him twice a year. I know he's a great player, so I have to match every step with what he does. That's what I tried to do [on Sunday] to get him back, and I actually did. He caught three balls for 13 yards.

AN: But what about the other guy who scored on you in 2007?

DR: Braylon Edwards (laughs). And now he's my teammate, but I can't do nothing to him.

AN: Maybe see him in practice?

DR: Not during the season (laughs). We don't want to hurt the star players. Maybe in training camp, though. It might get a little bit heated in the offseason.

AN: Speaking of injuries, how is the defense adjusting to the loss of Kris Jenkins?How does losing him change things for the secondary?

DR: We have to focus on what we do. Our first job is to not let any balls go over our heads. Through the six games we've had, we've been doing fairly well, but we have to keep focus on that. But now it comes to a point where we might have to come up and tackle more.

Kris Jenkins is a big loss. He's a four-time Pro Bowler and everything; big body at 6'4", 380 pounds. He takes up two guys sometimes.

AN: He's listed at 360. Are you saying he's actually 380?

DR: I don't know. I just know he's a big cat (laughs). But we still believe in the guys who are going to step in for him. They wouldn't be in the NFL if they couldn't.

[Injuries are] just tough, man. We're even kind of short at the receiver position. [Losing] Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith hurts. We want to get them back, but they have to come back healthy.

AN: And this Sunday you're going to Oakland to face a Raiders team that looks to be improving. How's coach Rex Ryan preparing you to come back from the Buffalo loss?

DR: Basically, don't take [the Raiders] lightly. They beat a good Philadelphia Eagles team, [and] they beat us last year in Oakland. [Coach Ryan] told us this is a trap game. This is a situation where we have to go out there and prove not just to them, but to the NFL that we're still a top contending team in this league.

AN: Thanks a lot, Darrelle. Good luck this week and have a great show.

DR: You're welcome, man.

Click here for excerpts of Darrelle Revis' performance with the 12 Angry Mascots, courtesy of the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Mark it Down: Jets Learn Jerricho Cotchery's Value to Sanchez in Loss

Angel Navedo — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:06:32 -0400

How many ways can one team lose a football game?

The New York Jets discovered a few more creative ways in their crushing 16-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It was a masterful showing of ineptitude in all phases of a football game after two previous flirtations with disaster.

A second-quarter, season-ending injury to All Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins triggered a tragedy of errors, highlighted by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and his five-interception outing.

Coach Rex Ryan showed his rookie colors again with poorly-timed challenges and a mismanaged clock. A lost fourth-quarter challenge exhausted a valuable timeout following a Buffalo punt return for an insignificant six yards.

Penalty flags flew early and often with everything from false starts to unnecessary roughness. While Ryan's Jets are certainly more aggressive, they're also undisciplined when it matters most.

Gang Green's disgraceful performance received it's final stamp of emphasis when punter Steve Weatherford bobbled the snap on what should have been the game-winning field goal in overtime.

At least that's what this brand new excuse machine of mine sputtered for the first few hours after the loss before settling on a small shred of vindication.

Turbulence through the air

In losses to the New Orleans Saints and Bills, Jets' fans witnessed the kind of quarterback Sanchez will be when he doesn't have receivers he can trust.

Jerricho Cotchery, the Jets most sure-handed receiver, missed Sunday's game against the Bills with a hamstring injury—his first since December 2007—severely staggering the offense.

Through five games, Cotchery's 360 receiving yards are tied with Arizona Cardinals standout receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Except Cotchery has 24 receptions and one touchdown to Fitzgerald's 35 catches and five scores.

Cotchery was a league leader in receiving yards early in the season until the Saints defense neutralized him in Week Four. He was identified by New Orleans as a favorite of Sanchez and was double-covered.

The fifth-overall pick went on to throw three picks in the Superdome, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum pulled the trigger for an early October trade with Cleveland for receiver Braylon Edwards.

The transaction is still expected to be a successful one. But the expectations are contingent upon how well Cotchery and Edwards complement one another. If Cotchery's not available, it's unreasonable to expect Edwards to fill the void of two receivers after 10 days on the roster.

With no viable receiving threat to play opposite Edwards, the Jets newly-acquired receiver faced double coverage from Buffalo's fourth-ranked pass defense. Sanchez targeted Edwards nine times for three completions and 40 yards.

Losing versatile receiver Brad Smith in the lineup didn't help either.

First and 10: NFL Early Season Favorites for Annual Awards

Angel Navedo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:53:09 -0400

We’ve seen quarterbacks make 300-yard games look routine; we’ve seen defenders completely neutralize offensive superstars; and we’ve seen coaches turn their teams completely around, for better and for worse.

Amazing that we can say this at the start of every season, yet remain surprised as if we’ve never seen it before.

I battled with myself a lot while compiling this list of too-early predictions. Paragraphs were deleted, my laptop was closed violently, and Facebook and Twitter came through in the clutch with the 20-minute distraction.

But after I finally deciphered the messages in my crystal ball and tea leaves, I settled on my list of the most impressive candidates for the annual awards handed out in the NFL.

It’s first-and-10 right now and I'm in hostile territory. Hopefully no one is flagged for a false start. Let’s see what the defense shows me before the snap.

MVP

QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Listen. I didn’t think Peyton Manning deserved the MVP award in 2008. He received too much credit for the Colts’ nine-game winning streak when they had the benefit of playing through mediocre competition.

This is where Colts’ fans remind me their team beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers on that run. Don’t care.

As far as the first four weeks of this season are concerned, no quarterback is playing better. And yes, I'm aware of Drew Brees' existence.

Manning’s 1,336 yards and nine touchdowns have him off to the best start of his illustrious career. If that doesn't say it all, then you're simply not listening.

For your consideration: QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers—It really is unfortunate that a pair of losses damages a man’s credibility. But should Rivers really be faulted for his defense’s inability to secure the victory when he's brought 1,245 yards and six touchdowns to the field?

Also noteworthy: LaDainian Tomlinson, who? Just saying.

Offensive Player of the Year

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

"Baltimore" and "prolific offense" used to be the grandest of contradictions. The two do not go together.

But in his second season, Joe Flacco is testing history with the Ravens, churning out 300-yard performances, and challenging Baltimore's decade-long identity.

With 1,103 yards and eight scores, Flacco is hiding the biggest elephant in the room: Baltimore’s defense is running on reputation this season. The Browns don't count.

For your consideration: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints—I swear I’m not going with the “shock” angle by waiting until now to nominate Brees. I promise you.

His production in the first two games was mind-boggling, but two weeks don’t make a season. When his high-octane offense is neutralized, the only thing stopping his Saints from being the 8-8 team of 2008 is a scoring defense.

Defensive Player of the Year

S Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints

Too generous? Any player who's returning interceptions for more than 95 yards in his 13th NFL season should be acknowledged accordingly.

Darren Sharper leads the league with five picks, proving his speed is still perfectly synchronized with an elite sense of awareness. Most defensive backs watch that skill fade in the twilight of their careers, but Sharper remains as omnipresent as ever.

His 33 years really can't be disregarded in all of this.

Most elite defenders are usually reduced to reserve roles at this stage of their career, whereas Sharper's arrival in New Orleans made him the centerpiece of the Saints' new defensive tradition under Gregg Williams.

For your consideration: CB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets—In his third season, Revis turned shutting down top receivers into an art. The one thing that keeps Revis a notch below Sharper is the empty touchdown column. Locking down receivers is all fine and dandy, but he needs to create turnovers and convert them to points every now and again, too.

Comeback Player of the Year

QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

This award is his to lose.

For your consideration: LB David Harris, New York Jets—In 2007, Harris replaced the injured Jonathan Vilma and recorded 52 solo tackles in his first three starts. He went on to lead the team with 127 tackles with production to rival that of 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

And then injuries happened in 2008. Harris was sidelined for most of the season and was a shadow of the potential All-Pro he appeared to be as a rookie.

With Rex Ryan in town, and working with linebacker Bart Scott to form “Assault & Battery,” the Jets’ Punisher has forced a fumble, picked off a pass, recorded 33 tackles, and notched two sacks.

Is This a Little Silly? QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings—Is it possible for someone to comeback after being voted to a Pro Bowl?

Favre was written off after last season’s stint with New York. I helped seal the envelope. His two touchdown, nine interception disaster to close out 2008 with the Jets was supposed to spell the end.

Now with the Vikings, Favre has a 104.6 passer rating, eight touchdown passes, and only one interception. Adrian Peterson doesn't have to do it all alone anymore.

Oh, and two thrilling victories to boot. Welcome back, again.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

QB Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

So the Saints game was really ugly. The fifth-overall draft pick laid the first egg of his young career, and you’d be naïve to assume it’s the last. But that doesn’t change the veteran-like presence Sanchez had in his first three outings.

Jets coach Rex Ryan wasn’t forcing his prize quarterback onto the field when he named Sanchez the starter. He said Sanchez was the best man for the job, and it's hard to argue after watching him play.

For your consideration: WR/KR Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings—He’s every bit the playmaker he was expected to be coming out of college. His speed makes him a threat from anywhere on the field, validating why the Vikings drafted him out of Florida.

Harvin will be even more dangerous once he stops running on pure instinct and actually understands what a defense is trying to do neutralize him.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

I’ll be honest with you: I’m making this call off the strength of one play. Crazy, huh?

I was sold when Clay Matthews ripped the football from the clutches of the NFL’s best running back, Adrian Peterson, and returned it for a touchdown on Monday Night Football.

There was no doubt in my mind that he’s a good player, but that’s the kind of play that prefaces a highlight reel when you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame. Too soon?

For your consideration: LB Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins—Call me a fan. I like Orakpo's style...a lot. He's turned his raw power into 13 tackles and two sacks, and is showing flashes of being an elite pass-rush specialist once the game turns on for him.

Coach of the Year

Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns

Just kidding.

Rex Ryan, New York Jets

All trash talk and bravado aside, Rex Ryan knows how to make a football team work. He isn't only coaching a talented team, but he's working towards changing the culture for an entire fanbase. How's that for leadership?

He might be rough around the edges, but isn't it about time the NFL saw a coach who actually speaks from his soul?

Regardless of those intangibles, Ryan identifies what his team needs to improve, and he gets it done. Once it became clear that his offense would struggle without a premier receiver, he made sure the Jets pulled the trigger on a trade for Braylon Edwards.

The attack-style approach he promised in New York turned his team into a 3-1 contender when, before the season, most analysts presumed it to be a bottom-dweller.

For your consideration: Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings—Idiot savant? Sorry. That was harsh.

Childress took a lot of heat in the offseason for delivering pies to Brett Favre's door every morning last summer. People questioned why he was so desperate to entice a quarterback ready to turn 40, with a surgically repaired arm, back to the field.

After four weeks, his Vikings are undefeated and Childress gets to smile the whole way through. His defense is lights out with Jared Allen performing like a monster (sorry if you Vikes fans feel he was snubbed for Sharper).

The Vikings' last second victory against the San Francisco 49ers was the kind of thing Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels couldn't do. Childress' desperation for the gunslinger sure looks different from this side of September.

The Braylon Edwards Effect: Will Jets' New Receiver Be the Difference?

Angel Navedo — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:08:02 -0400

And the New York Jets may have done it to Eric Mangini and the Cleveland Browns again.

The draft day trade that allowed the Jets to leap 12 spots and select Mark Sanchez was eyebrow-raising, especially given the compensation Mangini accepted for the rights to the Browns' fifth-overall pick.

Cleveland received safety Abram Elam, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, and quarterback Brett Ratliff—none of them standouts at their respective positions—as well as the Jets' 17th-overall and second-round picks, granting New York the opportunity to select the NFL's Rookie of the Month.

The Jets' search for a receiver to complement their prized rookie began after the draft, and finally culminated in a trade for Browns receiver Braylon Edwards. And all it cost Gang Green was special teams linebacker Jason Trusnik, receiver Chansi Stuckey, and what's being reported as third- and fifth-round draft picks.

Steal? Sort of.

Considering the Browns demanded defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and a first-round pick from the New York Giants in April, it's easy to feel like Cleveland is on a walk of shame through the NFL with ex-Jets.

Yet, it's hard to say Cleveland was completely fleeced. Edwards had his issues with the Browns, and Eric Mangini shipped away a headache he hoped to alleviate all offseason. So that works in their favor.

But it's harder to overlook the offensive dynamic Braylon Edwards brings to the Jets, completely justifying the package they pieced together to ship Mangini.

A receiver capable of nearly 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns in a season is always worth the gamble.

Why the Trade Had to Happen

New Orleans completely neutralized the Jets' offense in Week Four. Safety Darren Sharper and the Saints' ball-hawking defense disrupted Sanchez with pressure and tight coverage schemes, knocking him out of the comfort zone that made him a three-time Rookie of the Week.

And that's when it became evident that sixth-year receiver Jerricho Cotchery was in dire need of a complement on the other side of the field.

Chansi Stuckey, a seventh-round pick in 2007, wasn't awful. He has great hands and can tally up yards after the catch. But he struggles with separation at the line of scrimmage, making him an inconsistent option in the offense.

For that reason, Braylon Edwards was critical for the Jets, despite the criticisms of his talent and issues with dropped passes. His true value to the Jets can't, and shouldn't, be quantified through individual statistics.

The physical aspect of the fifth-year receiver's game is why he was necessary.

His presence must be respected by a secondary while his speed and size commands a consistent double team. With that extra attention, receiver Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller should be able to find open space as coverages roll in Edwards' direction.

Sanchez also receives a 6'3" target as defenders stop stacking the box, giving running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones the necessary space to reignite the Jets' stalled rush attack.

Most importantly, the Jets couldn't afford to exhaust their fourth-ranked defense with a one-dimensional offense every week.

Flight Pattern to Destination

A trade for a 6'3", 215-pound receiver with game-breaking potential is one that every franchise with championship aspirations has to make if they want to be competitive.

After Sanchez came on board, the question revolved around who would become his premier receiver and help the Jets clear the runway.

Leading up to the season, every high-priced and/or troubled star receiver was linked to the Jets. Despite long flirtations and rumors, none of them stuck.

A quick refresher course:

Plaxico Burress didn't gain separation from his legal troubles.
Matt Jones couldn't sniff a practice field throughout training camp.
Anquan Boldin made peace with the Arizona Cardinals.
Brandon Marshall buried the hatchet with the Denver Broncos.
Michael Crabtree, the 10th-overall pick in 2009, signed with San Francisco after the 49ers filing tampering charges against the Jets.

After the smoke cleared, Edwards' fire was the only one still burning.

No need to be coy about it: The Jets are hoping a change of scenery is the catalyst Edwards needs to overcome the flaws in his game.

There are no sure things in gambling, but coach Rex Ryan's familiarity with Edwards should put fans at ease.

If Ryan believed in him after preparing for him twice a year in Baltimore, then it's safe to assume that the decision to make the trade was carefully examined.

Prize of the Franchise: Jets' Mark Sanchez Named NFL Rookie of the Month

Angel Navedo — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:09:05 -0400

It was a September of firsts for Mark Sanchez.

The fifth-overall selection in April's draft was the first rookie quarterback to start for the New York Jets since Matt Robinson in 1977. He stamped an exclamation mark on that, notching his first win on the road in Houston.

Then he helped the Jets hand Patriots quarterback Tom Brady his first regular season loss since December of 2006.

To close out the month, Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback to start his career at 3-0 with a win over the Tennessee Titans.

And with the first of October came recognition as the NFL's first Rookie of the Month, making Sanchez the first offensive player to win the award in Jets' history.

That euphoric feeling hovering over Florham Park in New Jersey has transformed into something visible from space.

In fact, an anonymous source spoke of frantic calls from civilians in every town harboring an NFL franchise, concerned that the massive green cloud was harmful. Facetiously speaking, of course.

With 606 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions to his credit, Sanchez has looked like anything but a rookie at times. His resiliency, pocket presence, and fluid footwork are indications of a quarterback with natural ability akin to that of a wily veteran.

Despite his fumbles and momentary slip-ups, Sanchez has done an admirable Michael Phelps impression in a "sink or swim" situation with the Jets.

It's difficult to not be enamored with the young man and his abilities. He's personable, respectful, and his 14-yard touchdown scamper against the Titans in Week Three proved to his teammates that he's more than the 22-year-old face of a franchise.

"That play epitomizes what we want to be all about with this football team," said right tackle Damien Woody. "We want to be tough, smart, and have that desire to do whatever it takes. That's what it was."

Now Sanchez and Gang Green hope to be the first blemish on the Saints record when they travel to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the high-octane offense he commands in Louisiana's Superdome.

And the irony of it all...

Mark Sanchez to New York was made possible by ex-Jets coach Eric Mangini to start off his first draft with Cleveland.

With no plans for the Browns' fifth-overall pick, Mangini gift-wrapped the spot to the Jets for a package of two picks and three marginal players, including a previously undrafted quarterback.

Hindsight is 20/20, so it'd be cruel to kick Mangini and the Dawg Pound's faithful while they're down. But with three straight weeks of offensive woes surrounding the team's ineffective quarterbacks, one can't help but wonder if the NFL's Rookie of the Month could've helped out a little.

Then again, the Brett Ratliff era could take the NFL by storm if Derek Anderson isn't up to the task. Right? Anyone?

Hello?

Jets-Titans: New York Wins in Hard-Fought Battle Against Reeling Tennessee

Angel Navedo — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:41:55 -0400

Ups and downs, highs and lows, and everything in between. The New York Jets emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle against the desperate Tennessee Titans, improving to 3-0 and leaving Tennessee winless.

"Their record is not indicative of how tough that team is," said Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez of his opponents.

Throwing for 171 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, Sanchez had his struggles against a proud defense looking to prove the Titans are better than their record.

The fifth-overall draft pick capped off a strong opening drive with a 14-yard scamper to the end zone and followed it up less than three minutes later with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock on a convincing play-action fake.

Then Sanchez started to look a little like a rookie. The wet weather forced him into mistakes as the Titans' defense pushed the Jets into five consecutive three-and-out drives.

It was the NFL's top-ranked defense at the start of Week 3 that salvaged the game for New York. It bent for quarterback Kerry Collins, but never broke for running back Chris Johnson.

When there was a game to be won, linebacker David Harris stepped up to intercept Collins to end one drive and sack him for an eight-yard loss to stifle the Titans' comeback bid in another.

There May Be a Kitchen Sink Out There, Too

When Kerry Collins was named the starter in Tennessee, the expectation was that he'd be the game manager for a strong running team with a ragtag crop of receivers. At 36, Collins played that role well for the Titans, working more diligently than anyone in an effort to secure his team's first victory.

Sure, he may have thrown 13 consecutive incompletions as the offense stalled Tennessee's attempt at a fourth quarter rally, but Collins stands out for throwing directly at Darrelle Revis, challenging the cornerback who Matt Schaub and Tom Brady avoided in previous weeks.

Ultimately, Collins opened the run game with his passing, threw two touchdowns, and allowed Johnson to dash for 97 yards while LenDale White smashed for the first offensive touchdown scored against the Jets this season.

Tennessee's defense didn't let New York off the hook, either.

The Jets' offensive line had an all-pro opening drive, but couldn't open any holes big enough for Thomas Jones.

Tennessee showed that adapting to life after Albert Haynesworth is simple enough, limiting Jones to a dismal 20 yards rushing on 14 carries, while the defensive ends applied consistent pressure, flushing Sanchez out of the pocket to end drives.

The Titans' secondary, featuring three Pro Bowl defensive backs, succeeded in not allowing a 300-yard passer for the first time this season, an accomplishment even though Sanchez is a rookie quarterback.

"How Dare You?"

The season is young, and with youth comes questions as to the reality of a team's abilities. For New York, every contest has been about finding out who the real Jets are while pundits hesitate to acknowledge the impressive nature of their victories.

The reality of Tennessee's talent should only serve as a testament to the quality of the new, New York Jets.

Gang Green didn't squeak by with a sloppy victory—they created opportunities, taking advantage of mental errors, particularly at critical moments in the game.

"We've played three outstanding football teams. We're 3-0, right here, maybe that says something about us," said coach Rex Ryan during the Jets' postgame press conference.

"For anyone out there who thinks this is a gimmick defense, that this is a defense that can't play smash mouth: How dare you?" asked linebacker Bart Scott.

"This team's built on tough, gritty players that can adjust to any style of football."

Jets-Titans: New York Aims To Remain Undefeated against Starved Tennessee

Angel Navedo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:13:50 -0400

The desperate Tennessee Titans will enter the Meadowlands on Sunday in pursuit of their first win when they face the undefeated New York Jets and their top-ranked defense.

How’s that for an opening sentence you never expected to read?

The territory is fairly familiar for the Jets when recalling recent history.

In November 2008, the Jets followed up an overtime win at New England with a 34-13 thrashing of the undefeated Titans at LP Field. New York held the ball for 40 minutes in their last hurrah before slipping into a 9-7 abyss.

But as far as the 2009 season is concerned, last November is ancient history. They’ve been vocal, hostile, and efficient at the same time—a far-cry from the Jets of yesteryear.

Jets coach Rex Ryan spent the bulk of the offseason placing himself in a “put up or shut up” position and his team responded in strong fashion. Displaying defensive dominance over two explosive offenses—the Houston Texans and Patriots—the Jets have quickly become an early-season darling.

Can the Mad Scientist Concoct a Formula for Chris Johnson?

With exotic yet volatile blitz packages the Jets have suffocated quarterbacks and stonewalled running backs on their way to the top of the AFC East.

Third-year cornerback Darrelle Revis bottled up two Pro Bowl receivers, allowing Houston’s Andre Johnson and New England’s Randy Moss a meager four catches apiece. Neither receiver finished his day with more than 35 yards.

But as impressive as the Jets defense has been in not allowing a touchdown, Sunday's contest places them in the unfortunate position of containing a running back that scored three of them in one game from over 50 yards, an NFL record.

Titans running back Chris Johnson, the AFC’s leading rusher, scored on a 91-yard dash and two receptions of 57 and 69 yards to cement his place in league history last week.

The last time Ryan faced Johnson, the fastest man in the NFL was a nightmare for Ryan's blitz-happy schemes in Baltimore. Johnson's speed was the counter-punch to an aggressive Ravens defense in the divisional round of last year's playoffs.

Johnson nearly ousted the Ravens on his own, performing as a perpetual one-man army in the first half until an untimely injury sidelined him. In two quarters of play Johnson gashed Ryan's former defense for 72 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries with a 28-yard reception before his ankle kept him from returning.

No one should expect the Jets to deviate from the aggressive, attack-style approach that’s predicated their success thus far, but with enough patience, Johnson can be the player who exploits New York's tenacity.

Unless, of course, Ryan's Jets take him out like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis did last January.

In Sanchez They Can Trust

Does it need to be written? Really? You sure? Okay.

Mark Sanchez is only a rookie by definition. The criticisms of his inexperience aren’t all that relevant anymore. The Jets franchise quarterback is a fast learner who makes quick (and smart) decisions and doesn’t let anything rattle him.

There.

Perhaps all of this confidence is a result of the euphoric, honeymoon phase at the start of every new relationship.

The belief here is not that Sanchez is flawless and incapable of error; it’s that he’s every bit as talented as advertised—with even more room to grow.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said he wouldn’t scale back the game plan to benefit the rookie. But the hesitation was evident early against the Patriots when he afforded Sanchez with an unnecessary learning curve.

The defense's endurance was tested before Schottenheimer finally unhooked the handcuffs.

Whatever happened during halftime of that New England game—if Sanchez flashed his pearly whites and charmed Schottenheimer into letting him throw, or if Ryan called Schottenheimer to leave a fired-up message—must be built upon in the first quarter against Tennessee.

The Titans are susceptible to the pass, allowing an average of 339 yards per game through the first two weeks of action. That’s not to suggest Sanchez will easily pick them apart; it only means he might not face too much resistance if he tries.

Keep the 12th Man on the Roster

So the Titans aren’t in the AFC East, and coach Jeff Fisher is a much more likeable guy than the Hooded One in New England. Does that make New York’s bid for a 3-0 start any less significant?

Absolutely not.

Rex Ryan awarded the fans with last week’s game ball after everyone in attendance made the stadium as unfriendly for the Pats as possible. A repeat performance is in order.

The excessive crowd noise can be credited with forcing four uncharacteristic Delay of Game penalties on the Patriots, including two consecutive flags early in the second half, forcing a third-and-19 situation after the Jets went up 13-9.

Tennessee can't be left off the hook simply because they’re not a division rival.

On a Sidenote

Don't be alarmed when New York is introduced as the Titans on Sunday.

Celebrating 50 years since the inception of the AFL, the Jets will honor their history as the Titans of New York while Tennessee represents theirs as the Houston Oilers in one of 16 AFL Legacy games.

NFL Power Groupings: Steelers Reign, but One-Man Armies Threaten Champs

Angel Navedo — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:43:32 -0400

The 2009 NFL season is officially upon us, and with it comes the first real opportunity for premature evaluations and knee-jerk reactions.

With the meaningless preseason out of the way, now is the appropriate time to cue every optimist offering their reminders that it’s only Week One. But with all positivity aside, the reality of the regular season is that a loss only serves as a step away from the ultimate goal.

Oddly enough, the ultimate goal is actually open to interpretation. Many would lead you to believe it’s all about the Super Bowl, except it’s really not in some cases.

If you’re Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, the goal is to break Jim Marshall’s record for most consecutive starts and stick your tongue out at the Green Bay Packers.

If you’re the Detroit Lions, the goal is to not supplant the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the record books for the most consecutive losses.

If you’re Marvin Lewis, the goal is keep your job with the Cincinnati Bengals through the end of the season. Actually, that probably wouldn’t be in his best interest.

But that’s enough tone-setting rhetoric for right now.

Doing a little Nino Colla swagger-jack, I’ve decided to break the NFL down into my own four tiers of power, with an irrefutable leader sitting atop. How comfortable they are up there will be open to my interpretation, of course.

The categories will be subject to change as I settle into this new task, but you’re all thoroughly encouraged to rock with me in the meantime. Let the scorn begin.

Competition Is None

Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams

The thrill of starting the NFL season may have dissipated very quickly if you pledge your allegiance to any of these teams.

While the Bengals, Lions, and Rams remain constant from 2008, the expectations for the others made their losses even more deflating than the final scores would indicate.

Browns coach Eric Mangini looked most ridiculous in his first outing with his new-ish team. His ridiculous handling of the quarterback situation backfired severely.

Someone should remind the Mangenius that the best competitive advantage comes from having better players—not castaways from the franchise that fired you.

But if there's a coach who’s in legitimate danger of not finishing the season, it has to be Marvin Lewis.

Sure, the Bengals were victims of circumstance, as their loss transpired in a scenario that no one could have foreseen. Somehow it feels like we’re always saying this about Cincinnati.

Without question, Carolina suffered the most disturbing defeat of all, receiving no return on their good faith investment in Jake Delhomme.

With each turnover more crippling than the previous, the Panthers are in a legitimate soul-searching situation. Was this an embarrassing setback for their freshly extended $42 million quarterback or a gross miscalculation of a 34-year-old’s ability?

You’re Doing It Wrong

Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

ESPN’s Monday Night Football kicked off with what should’ve been a doubleheader of upsets. But then again, “should have” really has no place in NFL discussion, does it?

We deal in what was around these parts.

The Bills and Raiders failed to cash in on opportunities against reputedly stronger teams, letting victories slip away when they were all but guaranteed.

Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin should have taken a knee in the end zone, and the Raiders defense should have avoided the prevent defense, as the aggressive approach slowed Chargers running back Darren Sproles all night.

They didn’t, they lost, and so they did it wrong.

Joining them are the Bucs' defense for allowing three Cowboys receivers to make emphatic statements about life after Terrell Owens with long touchdown receptions, and the defending NFC Champion Cardinals for not looking like a team that nearly won the Super Bowl seven months ago.

The Bears mortgaged their future on QB Jay Cutler and left no opportunity to build a team through the draft. Maybe receiver Michael Crabtree can fall to one of the draft picks they didn’t give away in desperation for a franchise passer.

The only winning team in this tier is the Broncos. Outside of Brandon Stokley’s circus catch, I’m open to suggestions of anything they did right.

Results Were Inconclusive

Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

This was the tricky section to piece together.

Technically, the teams could’ve been broken up into two more categories, but I wanted to avoid redundancy. The objective here is to identify the teams who aren’t quite there yet.

Without tip-toeing around it, the Patriots belong here. The return of Tom Brady was never enough to make me believe the NFL should tremble again. New England’s offseason moves only validated that for me.

The offense aged with receiver Joey Galloway and running back Fred Taylor. But the defense took the biggest hit with all the lost leadership. A Bills team that scored six points in four preseason games and fired their offensive coordinator exposed that glaring weakness.

Brady is Brady, and he can still stage thrilling fourth-quarter comebacks. But that defense might make him do it more often than ever before.

While the Eagles abused the Panthers at every turn(over), it’s another injury to QB Donovan McNabb that hangs in the balance for Philly.

Backup Kevin Kolb will likely be released as the Eagles’ sideline will house two capable quarterbacks—Jeff Garcia and Michael Vick—if McNabb can’t play.

The Colts and Jaguars played a close game, and the NFC West teams only won because someone had to. The Jets carved the Texans up real nice, but they easily dispatched of a team that’s been known for their slow starts to the season.

Pursuit of the Throne

Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans

Trying to pick the most impressive of all the bunch is no simple task.

The Falcons' decision to trade for future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez will compete with the free agent acquisition of LB Mike Peterson for smartest offseason move.

Or, if you prefer, we can discuss the Saints, Drew Brees, and his machine-like passing touchdown performance. The addition of Darren Sharper to a defense in need of a leader could be exactly what Brees needed to keep his season alive.

The Chargers are probably receiving the most generous position on this list. At times they looked like every bit of the 8-8 team they were in 2008 against Oakland. Then they showed flashes of that threatening postseason team when it mattered.

Ultimately, San Diego receives credit for coming to terms with LaDainian Tomlinson's age versus Darren Sproles' explosiveness. There was a game to be won in the final minutes, and Norv Turner asked Sproles to pick up where he left off late last season.

As for the Titans, it's actually quite simple: lol @ the Redskins for paying Albert Haynesworth so much money.

But the best settling point in this discussion has to be Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and how he bullied the Browns on Sunday.

Brett Favre made his debut with the Minnesota Vikings, and it didn't even matter. The man who was expected to be the difference-maker for a young team was rendered useless by a running back who can win games alone. Was there anything the old gunslinger did that Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels couldn't?

View from the Top

Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s not going to be so lonely for the Steelers up here much longer.

They default to the top position for winning their first game as defending Super Bowl champions and should hold it until they’re defeated convincingly; or maybe until a team like the Saints or Vikings obliterates a contender of yesteryear—not sure yet.

But between now and then, the Steelers have to figure out where their running game went and how to get it back.

Ben Roethlisberger continues to show his worth as a legit quarterback, but can his offensive line protect him well enough to keep him alive when the running backs struggle?

Losing Troy Polamalu after a monster first half of play is going to hurt.

Jets-Texans: Ryan's Defense Smothers Houston as Sanchez Shakes Jitters

Angel Navedo — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:40:09 -0400

Even those who fully subscribed to rookie coach Rex Ryan's optimism and bravado were taken by surprise.

Ryan and his New York Jets had to deliver on a lot of off-season lip service, or join the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears in the Monday morning funny papers.

But the Jets avoided any such criticism and made an emphatic statement to the NFL on Sunday, when they took the field at Reliant Stadium. Rex Ryan proved to be a man of his word.

Analysts and gamblers alike predicted gloom for Ryan's debut against Houston and their high-powered offense. Yet, from the opening kickoff, New York absolutely suffocated the heavily-favored Texans.

The Mad Scientist Didn't Lie

New York's variation of Baltimore's organized chaos didn't disappoint in their regular season debut. The Jets' new-look defense swarmed to the ball and took every opportunity to make contact with the Texans.

Linebacker David Harris built on his strong preseason, notching 11 tackles, slamming Schaub to the ground for a sack, and introducing himself to any ball carrier in his vicinity. The expectations fans had for Harris and linebacker Bart Scott to complement one another were met from the onset.

Fans are already thinking of nicknames for the inside linebacking duo, with "Assault and Battery" being a personal favorite.

The Texans' offensive line was shredded by New York as the defense registered two sacks and eight hits on Schaub. Second-year running back Steve Slaton ran for more than 1,200 yards in 2008, but was limited to a paltry 17 yards on nine carries.

All-Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins continued his dominant ways, swatting linemen away and swallowing anyone he could behind the line of scrimmage.

Third-year cornerback Darrelle Revis limited receiver Andre Johnson, the NFL's 2008 reception leader, to a modest four catches for 35 yards. And newly-acquired cornerback Lito Sheppard picked off Schaub on a desperation toss while under pressure.

It's the Little Things That Count

Offensively, all the attention rested upon rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, his 272 passing yards, and a second quarter touchdown strike to receiver Chansi Stuckey. But the fifth-overall draft pick proved his value in another way.

The fifth-overall draft pick displayed his intangible leadership quality in the first quarter after a scuffle broke out following kicker Jay Feely's field goal for the first points of the game. Fourth-year tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson was flagged on a personal foul triggering Sanchez to leave the sideline and lead his teammates away from the fracas.

The 22-year-old's footwork and pocket presence impressed everyone, but if there's anything that validates Ryan's decision to start Sanchez, it's that natural sense of responsibility for his team.

Jets' Alpha and Omega

While Rex Ryan stands at the center of his football team, it's evident he's entrusted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to do what he sees fit. And after one week of play, the decision has the makings of a great one.

Presumably handcuffed under ex-coach Eric Mangini, it was Schottenheimer who had to re-establish himself as one of the NFL's emerging masterminds. Schottenheimer's willingness to experiment while never straying from a struggling rush attack spoke volumes of the Jets under Mangini.

The Jets were unafraid of showing the Texans an unorthodox formation, lining right tackle Damien Woody to the left of Ferguson.

Schottenheimer also debuted his own variation of the popular Wildcat formation, dubbed Seminole, in honor of running back Leon Washington and his Florida alma mater. But it's Schottenheimer's ability to remain steady that helped New York put the game away.

Running back Thomas Jones could not find any openings in the Texans defense for the first three quarters of play. But the game plan never strayed from the 10-year pro, allowing Jones to put the game away in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard touchdown run—his second of the day.

Perhaps Rex Ryan is a psychic, of sorts. Or maybe he's the confident coach New York needed to realize it's full potential.

Jets-Texans: Will Rex Ryan Define the New, New York Jets in Houston?

Angel Navedo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:06:40 -0400

The best first step will always be the one that supports your preferred stance. For first-year coach Rex Ryan and his New York Jets, the time to tie laces is rapidly drawing to a close.

Gang Green will kick off their 2009 season in Reliant Stadium when they take on Gary Kubiak and his Houston Texans. But this isn't the same expansion team the Jets defeated in all three of their previous meetings.

The Texans are a team no longer interested in learning curves. They are a talented team, starved for respect in a competitive AFC South with hopes of sending an early message to the NFL.

For the Jets, Houston represents an immediate challenge in a schedule loaded with ever-present danger.

While all eyes will be on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, fans should realize that the fifth-overall draft pick is not expected to be the actual star of the show. It's Rex Ryan who has to prove his value through the tenacity of his defense on Sunday.

Ryan is a big man with an even bigger shadow cast over him. Ryan must shoulder the burden of his father Buddy Ryan's reputation—a brilliant defensive mind, but mediocre head coach—in his first season.

The architect of Baltimore's defense cannot show any signs of being overwhelmed with the responsibility of commanding an entire team.

Ryan's first task places him in the unenviable position of standing behind his own strong words. The loquacious coach has to back up all of his offseason bravado or suffer the wrath of the media as they analyze his rhetoric.

The only way Ryan can avoid any criticism will be if his Jets support his confidence, and remain relentless at all times.

He must become the complete anti-Mangenius, so to speak.

One of the chief criticisms of ex-Jets coach Eric Mangini rested upon the flat performances his teams brought forth when the game was on the line. Under Mangini, the Jets were never devoid of true talent; their strategies simply lacked creativity when victory was imminent.

Fourth-quarter leads were blown when Mangini and former DC Bob Sutton defaulted to a prevent-style defense with a bland, four-man rush. No pressure was applied to any offense as sub-par players looked like reincarnated Hall of Famers against the Jets.

Mangini failed to counter any and all adjustments his opponents made at the half. That's the brand of football that Rex Ryan cannot subscribe to if he hopes to be successful in New York.

New DC Mike Pettine joins Ryan to make sure the Jets' new-look defense doesn't crumble when there's a game to be won. But the new style and improved personnel face a direct challenge from the Texans.

Starting the season with a hackneyed expression may seem premature, but Sunday's match-up should be determined by the ultimate battle of wills. Both teams match up against one another fairly evenly.

Second-year running back Steve Slaton looks to build upon a stellar rookie season where he rushed for over 1,200 yards. But he has trouble in front of him with All Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins and the bolstered front seven he leads with linebacker Bart Scott.

Complementing Slaton is wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the best players in the NFL—on and off the field. Johnson led the NFL with 115 receptions in 2008, yet remains underrated for his relatively low media profile.

"He really flies under the radar because he’s a soft-spoken individual who just goes out, plays, and performs. He comes to work every day to get better," said Texans' QB Matt Schaub last month.

"He’s not one of those, 'typical' receivers you see in the game today who’s gonna have the camera in his face all the time with the media," continued Schaub. "He goes to work and whatever it takes to win is what he wants to do."

All of Johnson's hard work will be put to an immediate test when he lines up against Jets' star cornerback Darrelle Revis. The third-year pro is regularly acknowledged as one of the best defensive backs in the league, blanketing top receivers at every opportunity.

On top of having to throw against Revis, Schaub has been hobbled by a preseason ankle injury that's brought his status for Sunday's game into question.

If the sixth-year pro cannot play, Kubiak is prepared to start the season with ex-Bears QB Rex Grossman.

Ultimately, the only matchup of significance is the one between Rex Ryan and his Jets. The sooner the players can synch up with Ryan's vision of Jets football, then the sooner the New York can produce results and fulfill some of the coach's promises.

Kellen Clemens Dealt Lowest Blow in Brett Favre Injury Conspiracy

Angel Navedo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:12:40 -0400

Someone said there's a dead horse around here that still needs to learn who's boss.

It's no secret that Kellen Clemens never stood a chance against rookie Mark Sanchez in their quarterback competition this summer. But fans should wonder as to the true depth of the rabbit hole that houses the former second-round draft pick.

The tale of Clemens received a final exclamation point on Thursday when New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum confirmed Brett Favre's claims of a smudged injury report.

The Minnesota Vikings QB discussed his torn biceps with the media, forcing the NFL to investigate the Jets for not disclosing Favre's condition. As per league rules, the torn tendon should have been included on a weekly injury report.

Tannenbaum says the team did not disclose the 39-year-old's status because he did not seek treatment for the tear. Instead, Favre opted for cortisone shots to relieve the discomfort.

That's where things get particularly ugly for Clemens.

While Favre claims he was "receptive to sitting," Tannenbaum maintains that the decision to stay with Favre was reached collectively.

With Favre's support, former coach Eric Mangini, former QB coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and Tannenbaum all believed that an older, injured QB gave the Jets "the best chance to win."

There goes that phrase for Clemens again. First-year coach Rex Ryan echoed that statement when he named Sanchez the starter last month.

Tannenbaum's inadvertent confession could be the most telling detail in a Kellen Clemens era that never was.

For Clemens, it has to sound like the equivalent to, "it's not you, it's me" in an uncomfortable divorce.

Being dumped hurts, but being a healthy veteran who hopes to play, only to be told you don't give your team the best chance to win, says everything and nothing at the same time.

Using a gentle letdown stings worse than the truth—mainly because there's no honesty in the scapegoat. The truth is that it is "you." It always is.

How could Clemens ever understand where things went wrong if the Jets would tell anyone willing to listen that he's a capable quarterback?

The decision to play an injured Favre over his healthy backup bears a striking resemblance to the 2005 season, when two quarterbacks were lost in one game. Former Jets QBs Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler suffered season-ending shoulder injuries in Week Four against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After Fiedler's injury, ex-coach Herm Edwards asked an injured Pennington to finish the game over a fresh third-string QB in Brooks Bollinger. Edwards' hesitation to support Bollinger continued when he called 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde off his couch to start the very next week.

Would that make Kellen Clemens the new Brooks Bollinger?

No one should have expected the Jets to confess their lack of faith in Clemens, but fans have to wonder about the length of the string used to pull him along all these years.

Brett Favre Says Jets Hid Injury; NFL Should Investigate His Hypocrisy

Angel Navedo — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:04:45 -0400

The gunslinger cannot be silenced, no matter how hard you try to ignore him.

In Brett Favre's latest discussion with the media, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback said the New York Jets declined to disclose his torn right biceps tendon on weekly injury reports last season.

While Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum did not refute Favre's claim, the situation does straddle a fine line between the unspoken rules of confidentiality between a player and his team.

"It was a decision that we made collectively and Brett was part of it," said Tannenbaum.

"As general manager of this team I should've handled that differently and listed him on the report. We didn't because he wasn't getting treatment every day and we knew he was going to play."'

While Tannenbaum appears willing to handle any repercussions stemming from their collective decision, the words that sparked this latest controversy stand as another testament to Favre's waning integrity.

"I was receptive to [sitting] last season," said Favre, according to the initial report from ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Receptive to sitting, he says. Receptive to sitting when the Jets were favorites to win the AFC East? Receptive to sitting when the playoffs were a near certainty and the Super Bowl a possibility?

Wait a second. Receptive to sitting at the price of the very streak that's redefined his career?

When Favre lines up against the Cleveland Browns in Week One, he will tie Jim Marshall's 270 consecutive start streak—the coveted record he's relentlessly pursued since initiating his retirement charade years ago. Now that the record is within reach, Favre insinuates he would have been receptive to sitting.

Okay. Whatever, man.

Would this be the same Brett Favre who called Tony Romo last October, offering words of encouragement before a broken finger sidelined the Dallas Cowboys quarterback?

Ed Werder of ESPN wrote, "Predictably, Favre advised Romo to do everything possible to avoid the sideline, explaining how he played though the agonizing pain of a fractured thumb to maintain his streak with the Green Bay Packers.

"'The only thing I said was, it's worth trying [to play] if you can deal with the pain and can function good enough with a splint,' Favre said."

Everyone already knows Favre is indecisive. Sadly, these latest remarks leave evidence of delusion, or worse yet, blatant hypocrisy.

"[The Jets] knew I had a torn biceps, which we backed off in practice," Favre continued. "I took cortisone shots a couple times to try to relieve the pain."

And the difference between functioning "good enough with a splint" and relieving the pain with cortisone would be what?

There should be no tolerance for grown men who parade themselves as misunderstood victims. The decision to suit up and play every snap was one Favre made of his own will, not one where he was strong-armed by the Jets.

"I felt like, with about four or five games left, that even though I was making some pretty good throws and some decent plays, I felt like I was doing the [Jets] more harm because I was missing on some throws," Favre added.

Football fans are supposed to believe Favre's collapse in December was the New York Jets' fault for "persuading" him to play despite injury. Unfortunately, revisionist history is reserved for his dedicated apologists.

Looking at the last "four or five games" Favre has played in over the last four seasons shows a distinct pattern of an aging quarterback. Torn tendon or not, Favre has declined significantly when playing in wintry conditions.

Since 2005, Favre has thrown 31 interceptions and 11 touchdowns in December games.

Those who subscribe to the belief that he was legitimately injured in 2008 are free to subtract his two touchdowns and eight interceptions with the Jets if it favors any argument.

The portrait of a resilient quarterback Favre has tried to paint throughout his career is irreparably tarnished. It only exists as a masterpiece in his own mind.

The latest illustration is that of a deceitful man who sidesteps the truth and deflects blame for his own errors in judgment.

Brandon Marshall Drawing Interest from Jets, but Is New York Tampering?

Angel Navedo — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:22:05 -0400

And the Brandon Marshall saga takes another ugly turn in Denver.

The well-publicized rift between the disgruntled wide receiver and the Broncos organization continues to grow even more peculiar by the day. As reporters cite their anonymous sources, the Broncos are preparing to co-write an NFL-inspired episode of Gossip Girl.

ESPN's Ed Werder reports the Broncos' intentions to "monitor" any words that escape from Florham Park, NJ regarding their Pro Bowl talent.

Werder's report comes on the heels of an article written by Bob Glauber of Newsday, speculating upon the Jets' interest in making an offer for the talented, albeit troubled Marshall.

As Rich Cimini noted in his Daily News blog, the information that's sending Denver into a frenzy isn't exactly new. The Jets have a disturbing question mark where the Broncos have a severe migraine; it's only natural for Marshall's name to be muttered in connection with New York.

After all, how often are Pro Bowl talents ostracized by their teams? Well, twice in one year if you follow the Broncos, but that's rare.

But accusations of tampering at this juncture? Where there's smoke, there's fire—and the Chicago Bears can attest to that with the new franchise quarterback they salvaged from a Mile High inferno.

Yet this isn't the first time the Jets have been accused of tampering in recent years. Werder's report bears a striking resemblance to the situation in 2006 when the New England Patriots believed the Jets were in the ear of wide receiver Deion Branch.

The claims were disregarded, Branch was moved to the Seattle Seahawks, and that's, uh, about it.

Merely a coincidence that the Jets are now being monitored by a Bill Belichick disciple, right?

If there's any tampering to report, it should revolve around first-year head coach Josh McDaniels and the Broncos fanbase he's managed to alienate with his reckless handling of personnel since being hired.

It's understood that new head coaches will inject their philosophies and preferred players into their teams, but McDaniels' dismantling of a high-powered offense with championship potential is far more detrimental than any vague transaction speculation.

The most appropriate thing for Denver to do is stop playing coy and work out the best compensation package for a receiver who will never give McDaniels his all. No one likes the aloof approach.

Product of His Environment? Thomas Jones Must Repeat Success for Mark Sanchez

Angel Navedo — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:27:30 -0400

Much like Michael Turner did for Matt Ryan with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008, Thomas Jones will have to be the running back every defense has to respect.

But before that happens, the 31-year-old running back has to prove he's actually capable of shouldering the responsibility on his own. Yes, he's still at that stage of his career.

It may seem absurd to suggest such a notion with Jones coming off one of the best statistical seasons he's ever had, but there are harsh realities that shouldn't be overlooked or, at the very least, examined in-depth.

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum may not realize it, but he sparked some legitimate questions and concerns when he pretended not to hear Jones' offseason grumblings for a new contract.

Although the 10th-year running back led the AFC in rushing with more than 1,300 yards and set a single-season Jets record for TDs (15), Tannenbaum refused to listen, fully expecting Jones to honor the contract he signed. Jones did exactly that, avoiding any ugly offseason standoffs with the Jets.

Yet the obvious reluctance to even entertain Jones' unhappiness raises some eyebrows.

Realistically, Jones' production was consistent with the expectations the Jets had of him when he was traded from the Chicago Bears in 2007. Jones resurrected his career in Chicago, maxing out at 1,335 rushing yards in 2005—a total Jones was shy of by 24 yards in 2008.

But can he do the same without a well-established gunslinger under center in 2009?

Detractors can say what they will of Brett Favre's tenure with the New York Jets, but denying his impact on the running game would be irresponsible.

Upon Favre's arrival, the indecisive quarterback brought immediate credibility to the Jets' passing game—a luxury Jones was not afforded in his disappointing, 1,119-yard inaugural season with New York.

When Jones was given an opportunity to run against a less congested line of scrimmage, he flourished.

It was when defenders stopped respecting Favre and the Jets receivers could no longer command a double-team that the team suffered. As defenses uncovered the Jets' weaknesses, they honed in on the running game, and Jones struggled.

But the issues were never as generic and bland as football fans assumed early in the offseason. It's not a simple storyline starring Favre as the aloof villain, with Jones and the Jets cast as the unlikely victims.

There's a significant subplot involving offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and how deeply he was involved in the week-to-week strategies.

In six of the Jets' seven losses, Jones carried the ball fewer than 20 times per game, with a meager 10 carries in three losses. By comparison, Jones was handed off to over 25 times against New England and Tennessee—wins which marked the Jets as midseason favorites for the Super Bowl.

The depth of Schottenheimer's involvement will ultimately be determined in 2009.

Sadly, there is a worst-case scenario for the extreme pessimists to hang their hats upon—and it could be the most telling reason as to why Tannenbaum gave Jones the silent treatment.

Is Thomas Jones only as good as the talent Tannenbaum acquired during the 2008 offseason? How much of Jones' success is hinged upon the financial commitment the Jets made to improving the talent surrounding him?

Favre, left guard Alan Faneca, and right tackle Damien Woody highlighted the Jets' new, high-priced offensive faces in 2008—with Faneca and Favre representing the Jets as two of seven Pro Bowl selections.

When combined with the talent already in place—Leon Washington, Nick Mangold, and Pro Bowl alternate D'Brickashaw Ferguson—Jones was in an ideal position to succeed without having it do it alone.

While all of those players are returning in 2009—Favre being the single exception—one has to wonder if they're better prepared to be in 2008's midseason form or if they'll continue to be haunted by the late-season disappointment that's followed them all offseason.

With a rookie under center to start the season, opposing defenses will try to rattle Mark Sanchez until he can establish himself as a franchise quarterback.

Whether Jones is prepared for it or not, the Jets' offensive success in 2009 hinges more upon his ability than it does on any high-priced rookie.

Matt Schaub Speaks: An Interview with the Houston Texans' Starting QB

Angel Navedo — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:35:31 -0400

The congestion of bodies is absolutely punishing. You look to your left and right, hoping to dash for a clear passage through to the other side, but it's not promising.

After inching for what feels like forever, a crevice to maneuver through finally opens. If you pick up enough speed, you can hit the opening before the big guy coming from the other direction forces you off course.

Sweat drips into your eyes and your breathing is heavy. The crowd is shifting even closer, everyone astutely aware of the opportunity as the opening ahead becomes even narrower.

Drenched in your own perspiration and overwhelmed by the stifling conditions, you collapse. Defeated.

Yet, this is not an attempt to create the atmosphere of a torturous football game. Not in the slightest. In New York City, that's called riding the train in July and August.

But the perils of such conditions are very real. And such hazards are exactly what inspired Matt Schaub, the NFL, and Gatorade to launch the "Beat the Heat" campaign this summer.

Speaking with passion and unquestionable enthusiasm on the topic, Schaub detailed the importance of staying hydrated on the field.

And understandably so. Taking measures to prevent against heat exhaustion has been a chief concern in the NFL since the untimely passing of Minnesota Vikings' lineman Korey Stringer in 2001.

Taking a moment to discuss his efforts with Gatorade, the sixth-year quarterback out of Virginia shares his preparations for the upcoming season, thoughts on Mike Vick, and handling the extremely competitive rivalries in the AFC South.

Angel Navedo: You’re with Gatorade and the “Beat the Heat” campaign they’ve recently launched. How deeply involved are you with everything?

Matt Schaub: Pretty involved. We’re trying to get the word out on everything about the "Beat the Heat" program and raise awareness on the subject.

AN: What was it that inspired you to join the campaign?

MS: Number one, being here in Houston and knowing how extremely hot it is almost every day of the summer. [Knowing] how much we have to go through to replenish fluids and be properly hydrated during August is a huge reason for getting involved.

Thinking back to my youth days, growing up in Pennsylvania, it doesn’t get nearly as hot there as it does down here.

But remembering those days in August—sweating and working hard in practice, not knowing how important hydration was, or replenishing the fluids that we lost during two-a-days—was a big reason for my wanting to get involved.

[I want] to raise awareness to parents and youth coaches about how important it is. You have a lot of coaches out there who have that old school mentality, thinking it makes you weak or something like that. But it’s important. Players can lose a lot of fluids, get ill, or even in some cases die from it.

AN: I remember when I played, it used to be about earning our water breaks.

MS: (laughs) Yeah, exactly. I remember those days, too. And those days need to be long gone.

[Professional athletes] are fortunate to have athletic trainers who harp on replenishing our lost electrolytes and fluids with Gatorade. It's important to get those things back in to help us recover so we can go back out to practice.

Those electrolytes are what help us perform at a very high level for a long period of time. Water doesn’t do that, but Gatorade is important for us to replace those things in our body.

AN: Absolutely. So Matt, your last two seasons ended with consecutive 8-8 finishes, but last year there was a lot of momentum built up to carry out the season. What’s being done to try and carry that into 2009?

MS: Well, like you said, that finish that we had to last season really catapulted us into the off-season. Guys were really excited to get back to work. There were a lot of guys who never even left.

They just wanted to get after the off-season program and come back to training camp ready to go and start the year fast, much like we were able to finish the year last year.

Guys were really enthused with their participation in the off-season program and were ready to go here in camp. We’re looking to get off to a fast start and continue to play well throughout the year.

AN: Understood. The Texans' offense advanced quite a bit last year with Andre Johnson's breakout season and Steve Slaton's emergence. Is there someone on the team who makes you feel like he can build upon that even more?

MS: Well, I think it’s the group as a whole. All the starters from last year’s team are the same people this year. To have the same group and the continuity that they have working together is gonna really show itself early in the season.

With Owen Daniels playing tight end, who went to the Pro Bowl last year, and our entire offensive line back after playing all 16 games together last year, I think they're going to be a big plus for us going into this year.

Kevin Walter on one side of the field—opposite Andre Johnson—is a big-time playmaker for us. Having Steven and Vonta Leach behind me in the backfield, our running game should be strong again, along with our play-action pass game and catching the ball out of the backfield.

We have a lot of weapons back there. It’s just about us as a team, and individuals taking the next step as players to get better. If we all get better individually, then as a group we’re going to get better.

AN: Given Andre Johnson's phenomenal season, do you feel like he's receiving his due and proper as one of the game’s top receivers? Or is he still unappreciated?

MS: I think he’s starting to be recognized throughout the league as one of the best receivers in the game. He really flies under the radar because he’s a soft-spoken individual who just goes out and plays and performs. He comes to work every day to get better.

He’s not one of those, quote-unquote, typical receivers you see in the game today who’s gonna have the camera in his face all the time with the media. He goes to work and whatever it takes to win is what he wants to do.

If he goes down with 80-85 catches this season and we win three or four more games than we did the past couple years, then he’s all for it. As long as we’re winning, that’s what matters to him.

AN: That's always refreshing. So the offense should be able to click early, but it can't be easy lining up against Mario Williams and that improved defense every day in training camp.

MS: You’re right. We went out this off-season and really bolstered our defense in spots that we needed to. We’ve got a lot of talent on that side of the football, and it’s only going to help us throughout the season.

It helps us as an offense to go against guys like that. With Duane Brown at [left tackle], going against Mario every day only helps him when he faces Kyle Vanden Bosch, Dwight Freeney, and guys of that nature.

AN: So let's figure out this AFC South. It's a ridiculously competitive division that leaves you guys with minimal room for error. Do you believe the Texans are about ready to push for a division title?

MS: I definitely think we are. As long as we go out and play good football and play our game, I think we’re in a good position.

We’re getting better every day and we’re going to climb to the level of those teams that were winning this division for years. We’re not gonna wait for them to come down to us.

We’re just gonna keep getting better and take it one game at a time.

AN: Last year’s 8-8 finish would’ve been good enough to get you in the playoffs in another division. Have you ever wondered where the Texans would be if the league were aligned differently?

MS: (laughs) Well, it’s tough to think about that. We’re obviously aware of that situation, but we’re in the division that we’re in and we just have to keep getting better. Those teams aren’t gonna change much.

AN: Unfortunately, you've been sidelined the last couple of seasons with injuries. What steps have you taken to remain healthy and get a full season done in 2009?

MS: Being able to finish out last season and being 100 percent this offseason while attacking the conditioning program has been big. The year before, I had to come off a surgery that didn’t let me get [to the field] till May.

It's been good to get in there from the get-go and build myself up. I continue to prepare the same way I have in the past and be ready for the season.

AN: What are your gameday preparations like? Anything specific you do to psych yourself up before a game?

MS: There’s not much that I do to psyche myself up. Just the opportunity to go out and play is enough. I get myself prepared and warmed up to just go out and play. Mentally, I just get myself ready to go.

Some of the other guys are the guys who can get psyched up listening to music and everything. I just kinda have my routine, go out, get loose, and just play. As a quarterback, you wanna be wired in and ready to go.

But having the opportunity to go and play is all the motivation I need.

AN: You started your career in Atlanta playing behind Michael Vick. What did you take away from your time with the Falcons?

MS: I had a great three years there. It was a great transition from college for myself. Being in a great city with a great organization and getting a lot of playing time in the process—in the pre-season and when I was called upon—I had a great experience.

And working behind a guy who’s one of the most visible athletes in the world really helped me be prepared when my time came here in Houston.

AN: Did you learn anything from watching his game that you’ve adopted to yours?

MS: I’d like to say I learned how to run really fast and be very quick (laughs). But that’s not my M.O.

I definitely learned a lot from Mike. Just watching him and seeing how he prepared himself to play, and handle all the things you need to handle as a QB in the NFL, I learned how I wanted to go about things when I got my opportunity.

AN: Do you believe he can find his way back into a starting role in this league?

MS: I definitely think so. He has a lot of ground to make up for missed time, but I feel like he’s getting an opportunity now, and it’s well-deserved. I’m excited that he’s back in the league, and excited that he’s in uniform with a chance to play.

I definitely think he can work his way back into a prominent role in the NFL.

AN: Great stuff. Thanks a lot for your time, Matt. I really appreciate it.

MS: All right, no problem.

AN: Good luck in your upcoming season, and stay hydrated.

MS: (laughs) All right, definitely. Thank you.

Kellen Clemens and the New York Jets Quarterback Job He Could Never Win

Angel Navedo — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:08:26 -0400

It’s difficult not to feel some sorrow for Kellen Clemens and his unfortunate tenure with the New York Jets.

The young man wasn't exactly sabotaged, but his run in the NFL has been an arduous one thus far. With decks routinely stacked against him, one has to wonder where his thought process was on the day he was formally notified of his position as the backup quarterback...again.

After spending the last two seasons in what's been billed as open quarterback competitions, it would appear from some angles as if the job he’s been working to earn was intentionally kept just outside his reach.

When Mark Sanchez was drafted, there Jets-Examiner%7Ey2009m5d4-Mark-Sanchez-vs-Kellen-Clemens-the-quarterback-competition-no-one-believes" target="_blank">wasn’t much doubt surrounding the intentions for the fifth overall draft pick. The Jets were to be his team, and he would eventually receive the starting nod. Head coach Rex Ryan agreed.

Sure, there were some intriguing scenarios and compelling arguments in Clemens’ favor, but none were going to alter the future of the organization.

The Jets made sure to never invest themselves too deeply in Kellen Clemens, and that’s why the future rests in the hands of No. 6, for better or for worse.

The idea here is not to suggest that the fourth-year quarterback deserves an extensive pity party. But a little bit of sympathy can be a positive thing, no?

The writing was on the wall for Clemens the night Mike Tannenbaum completed the trade for Brett Favre in August 2008. The circus was packed and ready to come to town, and with it came an indictment on Clemens and how the Jets felt regarding their desire to grow through him.

That sentiment ultimately received an emphatic echo when Sanchez was drafted in April.

But this does not signify a complete “Woe is Clemens” scenario. For whatever reason, he could never distinguish himself from his competition when given his opportunities.

That was true against a rookie this summer, and it’s been true throughout his career.

Former head coach Eric Mangini appeared willing to hand the keys over to Clemens after benching Chad Pennington in 2007, but Clemens had to help his former coach make that decision. He didn't.

When the job was up for grabs in 2008, all reports out of training camp revolved around their pedestrian performances—nothing terrible, but nothing magnificent either. In fact, it took an undrafted free agent in Brett Ratliff to generate any kind of quarterback buzz in the pre-Favre era.

Since Favre's retirement, Clemens may have been taken for an unceremonious ride filled with false hopes and vacant nods of approval, but there was still an idea that he could be the opening day starter in 2009. But he had to do it on his own.

There are expectations that come with being a starting quarterback. Clemens found a way to do a confident quarterback impression in his dealings with the media, but he was never quite convincing enough.

He’d say the right things, but it was always tough to believe him.

Whether or not he received a fair shot at the job is inconsequential at this juncture. He was drafted as a second-round pick, which can be translated to high enough to produce but low enough to not hinge a future upon.

As far as the Jets are concerned, it appears as if all parties involved are content with the decision to go with Mark Sanchez to start the season.

While Sanchez may have very well earned the job outright, it speaks volumes about Clemens' inability to relieve everyone of any doubts.

Speculation for the Heck of It—Sound Off!

With Clemens being in the final year of his contract, there rises an interesting situation. Do the Jets let him walk or try to find immediate value for him before it's too late?

At the present, it's unreasonable to expect many teams making offers Tannenbaum can't refuse. But the preseason is young.

One of the most intriguing sidebar-worthy notes of the first two exhibition games has been the extensive look Ryan has had at Erik Ainge. All things considered, is it unreasonable to assume he’s being groomed as the immediate backup to Sanchez?

Is it too reckless to assume that the next two preseason games could be Kellen Clemens’ opportunity to audition for another team if Rex feels confident about Ainge?

There’s no five-year, $50 million deal with the Jets in Clemens’ immediate future. If all goes according to plan, Sanchez will be the face of the franchise for the next decade.

What would be the purpose of holding on to a quarterback whose contract is about to expire—especially if said quarterback believes he has starter potential?

Whatever happens next for Clemens is unknown, but in the meantime, could the Jets potentially seek value for him with a quarterback-starved team? The Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, and San Francisco 49ers immediately come to mind.

Obviously, experience is not a concern for Ryan, so keeping Clemens around under the guise of veteran tutelage, or as an insurance policy, defies logic.

The next two preseason games should determine where Clemens and Ainge fit into the Jets' plans.

Nick Mangold Speaks: An Interview with the New York Jets' Pro Bowl Center

Angel Navedo — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:24:44 -0400

There aren’t many opportunities in life for a 6’4”, 300-pound offensive lineman to go unnoticed; it simply doesn’t happen. Yet on a stormy July afternoon in lower Manhattan’s lavish Tribeca Grand Hotel, Nick Mangold effortlessly blended into a crowd of video game lovers whose attention rested solely upon UbiSoft’s holiday lineup.

Despite towering over everyone in attendance, the New York Jets’ Pro Bowl center proved to be no match for the multitude of demos and previews UbiSoft brought with them.

Mangold played a secondary role to Panasonic’s high-definition plasma displays, featuring Assassin’s Creed II, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Red Steel 2, RUSE, and much more.

On the surface, the former first-round pick looks like he’d be more comfortable with an axe and flannel shirt in the middle of a forest. But the long blond hair and grizzly beard can only camouflage his jovial charisma for so long.

Within minutes, he’s encouraging everyone in close proximity to have their mind blown by the uniqueness of the hotel’s restroom before they leave for the day.

The afternoon was one of palpable anticipation. While UbiSoft’s upcoming holiday titles received well-deserved interest, any sports fan could tell Mangold’s mind was with football, the Jets, and the beginning of training camp in Cortland, NY.

The man appeared absolutely focused. The video games serve only as a momentary distraction for No. 74 as he makes his necessary adjustments prior to an arduous month of practice and preparation.

Discussing everything from Madden ratings to his arrival in New York following the Kevin Mawae era, Mangold makes it abundantly clear that, no matter what, football comes first.

Angel Navedo: What are your feelings on traveling to Cortland for training camp?

Nick Mangold: I’m excited. I’ve never gone away for training camp. This is my first time—high school, college, and pros—I’ve never gone.

AN: What about when camp was held in Hofstra?

NM: Well, I lived five minutes from there. If we had two hours at night, I was able to run home and catch dinner or something. Being four hours away from home is a whole new beast that I haven’t really wrapped my whole head around.

AN: You were invited to this UbiSoft Holiday Preview event. Do you consider yourself to be technologically savvy?

NM: I like to. I don’t know where I measure up to everyone else, but I like to believe I’m gadget and tech-friendly. I’m a Blackberry guy.

AN: That hurts my feelings.

NM: (Spots my iPhone) But I’m an iPod Touch guy! The iPod Touch is awesome. I think it’s a great device for games and messing around. But for dealing with emails and everything, I pick Blackberry—with the actual keyboard and everything—hands down.

I can bang out a page-long email while I’m sitting, doing whatever. Touch screens, you know, I got fatter fingers. It’s not my thing.

AN: It definitely took some getting used to for me.

NM: I even tried the Storm. I’m just not a touch screen guy at all. I love it for playing games and stuff, but I keep them separate. If that requires me to carry two different things, I live with it.

AN: Given the love for technology, would you say it’s a hobby or a passion?

NM: (Contemplates for a moment) I gotta say hobby. Football is my passion. Tech, it’s like, right above a hobby. I love dealing with surround systems at home, messing with speakers and stuff like that.

AN: Always wanna go a little bit louder, huh?

NM: Yeah, always wanna go a little bit louder. I always wanna add more speakers somewhere. In college, I wired it so we had speakers outside on our porch. When we first got there, my roommate was like, “There’s no way you could pull that off.” I was like, “No, I’ll figure it out.”

It’s just one of those things. I always like messing with stuff. It’s not a passion, but it’s right below there—in between passion and hobby.

AN: Being a gamer is pretty big for you. I know you attended the Halo 3 launch party, too. How deep does this run for you?

NM: [The first] Halo you didn’t have online, right?

AN: Yeah. That’s the one where you needed to hook it up through a LAN connection.

NM: Right. We did that in college. My friend had a two-bedroom apartment, and both of the guys had good TVs. So we’d bring the Xbox over to his house, hook them up, and we’d play in different rooms. We were playing it all the time.

AN: Would it be safe to say you’re more into the Xbox than PlayStation?

NM: I’m a 360 guy, I am. I have a PS3, but I was sold on Xbox because of Halo. That made the decision for me. Grand Theft Auto was another huge one, so I always had a PlayStation around. Now they have it for Xbox—which is awesome—but that always kept me playing a little bit of the PlayStation.

AN: Since there’s no more need for a LAN connection, do you find yourself playing online at all?

NM: Yeah.

AN: Ever let anyone know who you are?

NM: Sometimes, but it depends. I was at a grade school, and we were talking to a bunch of fifth graders. I gave them all my gamertag, which—in retrospect—was probably a bad idea, but we had fun with it that day. I kept it. I’ve had the same one for about five years now.

AN: Yeah, 800 credits to change it is rough.

NM: (Exhales) Yeah. I’m not changing it.

AN: Are you a Madden player at all?

NM: Yeah, I am a little bit. I play more games like Assassin’s Creed, Halo, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty. Madden, for me, it’s not an escape. It’s what I do for a living.

AN: I hear you.

NM: Every once in a while I’ll play Madden or NCAA to become an offensive coordinator. I sit out there and just go five-wide all the time, change all the hot routes.

AN: But I thought linemen liked to run block? You wanna go out into pass protection?

NM: (laughs) Not my five offensive linemen. I don’t listen to them. Just like every other offensive coordinator, we’re just gonna throw the ball.

AN: What about the rating system? The whole thing this summer with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and DeAngelo Hall complaining about their Madden ratings is something you have to hear often in the locker room, right?

NM: Some guys are worried about it. You can hear it sometimes. There’s always some sort of arguing going on with whose Madden rating is higher than the others. I don’t care; I’ve never really looked at it.

AN: Oh, okay. If you did, I imagine you’d be glad to know you don’t have to worry about it. You’re the second highest rated center in the league, behind Kevin Mawae.

NM: Well, that’s awfully nice to know. There’s another “Thank you” note I gotta send out. But it’s something I’ve never really looked at or wondered about. I’ve heard too many people with the arguing, “Watch me! I should be a 76, not a 74!” I wonder, does it really matter?

But some people do care about it; there are some guys on the team who are passionate about what their Madden ratings are.

AN: Now, you were drafted as an immediate replacement to Kevin Mawae after he was released. How did you handle coming in knowing you’d be filling a role he defined?

NM: It was difficult coming in and having that kind of a player here before you. You have that hanging over your head. But I do appreciate Kevin. I’ve talked to him a couple of times when we play each other.

But he really set up the center position in New York. People really know about it because of Kevin and what he was able to do. I appreciate him alerting people to the position.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to follow in his footsteps and hopefully give the fans something less to worry about having me in there.

AN: I don’t know how much you’ve spoken with Mark Sanchez since he’s been in New York, but there’s a belief that he faces a similar dilemma following Brett Favre. Is that realistic?

NM: I don’t know how it works with quarterbacks, but I imagine it could be something like that. But, you know, with Brett, it’s different.

Kevin had been here so long that he built up that fanbase. Brett had a fanbase because he’s Brett, me being one of them. I grew up watching him. But it’s not like he had the die-hard group following him after an eight-year career in New York.

AN: It’s definitely not Green Bay.

NM: Yeah, it’s a little different situation coming in.

AN: Say it’s an actual game day. What are you doing to psyche yourself up before the game?

NM: I pride myself on being a controlled-aggressive person. I’m not banging my head against the locker before a game. I’m more focused on who I’m going against and what I have to do. I’m slowly amping it up.

If you get all amped up at 8:00 in the morning for a 1:00 game, you’re spent by 10 and your day is ruined. I try to keep it mellow. I let the cold ball of nervousness that sits in your stomach grow so it explodes after the first play. Then you have all that energy throughout the game.

AN: Now, you said you think about the person you’re going up against. With training camp coming up, the next month will be spent lining up against Kris Jenkins for most drills. What’s it like going up against him, then facing the rest of the league?

NM: Going against Kris is horrible. I have to do it every day, sometimes two times a day, and it’s miserable. People that play against him—unless they’re in the division—only have to worry about him one Sunday.

I have to worry about him for a whole month, and then some during the season. It’s miserable.

AN: It sounds agonizing.

NM: He’s a great player. Going against him every day has helped me, especially last year. Being able to go to the Pro Bowl was due to his help, because going against Kris, you gotta be on top of your game every day. That was huge when going against everyone else in the league.

AN: So everybody seems a little bit easier after him?

NM: (laughs) Not everybody! But some people, yeah.

AN: Do you still see areas where you can improve when you watch yourself on game film?

NM: Oh yeah. There’s a ton of stuff. It’s amazing, you look at it and you’re like, “I don’t know how I got by doing that horrible of a job.” You look at it, and there’s times where you’re like, “Why would I do that?”

That’s a big focus of the spring and making sure I’m doing all the right things exactly at the right time. I think it’s great having Brandon [Moore] and Alan [Faneca] next to me. With their kind of combined experience around me—something like 20 years—it’s been great being able to bounce things off them.

AN: Brandon Moore was released momentarily at the start of the offseason. I know you have to deal with the business aspect of the game, but what was it like when you thought you’d be losing one of your guys on the line?

NM: It was tough. Brandon was here when I got here, you know? He’s been a great friend and a great player next to me who’s helped me out a ton. That one-week period that he was gone was tough. I wondered, how am I gonna deal with him not being in the locker room?

But then we re-signed him, and all was right with the world again. Having us five together for another year is going to be huge in making our game—pass and run—that much better.

AN: That chemistry is critical.

NM: Oh yeah. It’s huge.

AN: Given the wealth of experience around you, how much of an impact do you feel a coach has in cultivating a player’s talent?

NM: Well, it all depends on an individual player, first and foremost. But—especially in my situation—having Coach [Bill] Callahan come in, with the knowledge he had on offensive lines and offensive systems, was a huge help to my success. I try to give him credit every time that I can.

Having a good coach is huge. If you have a guy telling you exactly what you need to do and how to do it—and then you can be coachable and do it on the field—you have a great opportunity to do well.

AN: Do you feel like there’s somebody poised to have a breakout season this year?

NM: I haven’t really thought of that. Going through the spring, I’ve been more focused on the offensive line. We did well last year, so I would say the offensive line is poised to have a huge year. Being together for another season, we’re hopefully doing the right things.

AN: So, if everything works out, you feel like you guys can definitely open it up for the running backs again?

NM: When you have Leon [Washington] and [Thomas Jones] running, you don’t need to open it up that much. They get the job done. Having those guys back there and knowing that if you give them an extra inch, they’re gonna break it. Those guys back there are fantastic.

AN: It definitely sounds promising. Thanks for your time, Nick. I really appreciate it.

NM: Not a problem.

Hollywood Plans Broadway Revival: Jake Gyllenhaal to Star as Joe Namath

Angel Navedo — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:08:51 -0400

There comes a time in every icon's life where the rights to his name and likeness are licensed for the purposes of a major motion picture. For "Broadway" Joe Namath, that time is now.

Initially rumored nearly two years ago, a recent update to Jake Gyllenhaal's IMDb filmography is finally confirming him as the actor chosen to portray the New York Jets' legendary quarterback.

The film is expected to follow Namath's life as one of the game's first true stars while transcending the sport to become the most recognizable face of American football.

Adapting Broadway Joe's story to the big screen will be David Hollander, most recently known for his work on A&E's critically acclaimed drama The Cleaner. Mad Chance and Andrew Lazar will handle the production end of the film.

It's unknown where Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Namath will begin, especially given Joe Willie's numerous exploits in the early stages of his career. However, there are at least two logical starting points to properly introduce him to wider audiences.

The first of possible introductions could focus upon Namath's 1964 National Championship with the Alabama Crimson Tide under celebrated head coach Bear Bryant.

If Hollander chooses to begin Namath's story after his collegiate career, then he could detail Broadway's decision to rebuff the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals and sign with Sonny Werblin and the New York Jets with the less-popular AFL for a then-staggering $427,000.

As the first American football player to find a home under the media spotlight, Namath's story should be entertaining enough to captivate any audiences outside of Jets fans. He charismatically pioneered the football player bravado that's all too familiar today.

But the film has to be done right. Gyllenhaal's resemblance to the illustrious quarterback cannot be the driving force behind capturing Namath's essence for modern day movie watchers.

A Joe Namath film has to do more than paint a picture of the league's first superstar quarterback.

For the sake and integrity of history, the New York Jets players and coaches surrounding Namath must be honored properly.

Everyone from Johnny Sample to Don Maynard, Weeb Ewbank to George Sauer, and Matt Snell to Emerson Boozer must be recognized as personalities who were critical to Namath's on-field success.

Once his supporting cast is given their due and proper, then the tone of the film must be more than a contrived, inspirational sports story. Fans of the game have been spoon-fed too many of those in recent years.

While 2006's We Are Marshall and 2008's The Express were tolerable films, such glossy looks into historic football failed when trying to capture the brutal nature of their respective eras.

Outside of 2004's Friday Night Lights and portions of 1999's Any Given Sunday, football scenes employ too much slow motion as the primary tactic for building on-field drama. Those two films managed to bring the bone-crunching grittiness of the gridiron to life.

If Namath redefined how America viewed professional football players, then it's only natural for a film about his life to redefine the yawn-inducing stigma surrounding athletic biopics.

Most importantly—and it doesn't matter how it's done—Mr. Hollander must find a way to incorporate Namath's Noxzema commercial with the late Farrah Fawcett into the story.

If everyone involved in this film wants a chance to thank the Academy, this scene better be in the can.

Not So Fast: Vernon Gholston Still Has To Earn the Starting Role in 2009

Angel Navedo — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:33:33 -0400

"We talked about Vernon (Gholston). How he's going to have to step up, how we expect him to make great strides this year, and how he was going to be a big reason in our successes moving forward," said Rex Ryan to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

"He's just got a role with it now where he's going to be a starter. We'll see how he does."

Interpretation is key. Ryan's words can be deciphered as a simple motivational tactic, or be completely misconstrued as a declaration of something that has yet to be appropriately evaluated.

To put it bluntly, mid-July is too early to thrust a marginal player into a starting role without seeing how he performs when full contact is permitted in practice and in exhibition games.

All eyes have been on Gholston since Ryan's arrival. After a disappointing rookie campaign, or whatever, the second-year linebacker has been the subject of resurgent expectations; especially given the nature of Ryan's reputedly aggressive defense.

Rex Ryan may have chosen to confront everyone's hesitation by implying Gholston's starting role, but nothing was confirmed. The distorted analysis of his words has sparked a bounty of headlines prematurely certifying Gholston as a defensive starter.

It's a false illustration of Ryan's words, devoid of logic given what lies ahead for the New York Jets.

With training camp set to open in a little over a week, it's beyond foolish to believe that the setting for a critical position battle to be decided would be on a podium.

Suffice it to say, fans should expect such gross estimations to happen often with a vocal, emotionally-driven head coach.

The rest of Rex Ryan's words were errantly neglected to fuel the rampant, irresponsible speculation.

"The plan is that we're going to play the best 11," said Ryan. "This is a deep football team so we're going to play all of our guys.

"Some guys will have maybe more of a role on first down, or maybe more of a role on third down," continued Ryan. "We don't have to play the same 11 guys. This is all about what's best for our football team."

Those comments offer no guarantees of Gholston's role in 2009.

He may be the front-runner to supplant the suspended Calvin Pace during the first quarter of the season, but Ryan's defensive vision clearly involves a fluid rotation of players who bring different skills to the gridiron.

By design, training camp is intended to be long and arduous. With a month of grueling practice sessions and game simulations, there is still plenty of time for Gholston to squander his opportunity.

Of course, the preference is that he thrives within Pace's role and embodies the confidence Rex Ryan is trying to inject into the New York Jets.

Perhaps Ryan's comments were motivation for a young man who struggled to find the field as a rookie. However, in this scenario, the only realistic motive centers upon Ryan's obligation to finding out what kind of player Gholston will become.

The former sixth-overall pick can either embrace Ryan's expectations this summer or validate every concern people have feared since April 2008. The path is Gholston's to choose.

Regardless, with the season nearly two months away, who knows what can change between now and then? Well, maybe Bubba Franks has an idea.

Should Rex Ryan's Double-Talking Concern New York Jets Fans?

Angel Navedo — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:48:03 -0400

"[Bubba Frank's] coming around good.... We don’t expect Bubba to do anything really until training camp," said Rex Ryan after the Jets re-signed Bubba Franks on May 11.

"Bubba’s a football player, we know it," continued Ryan. "We signed him knowing that he’s going to be an outstanding blocker for us and he’s gonna have a role."

Only two months have passed and the New York Jets have shoved Franks back into the deep end of the free agent pool without any explanation.

It's easy to speculate upon the reasons for the decision. His injury-shortened 2008 season was a concern when the Jets re-signed him to a one-year, veteran minimum contract.

It's also possible that his release wasn't motivated by injury. Throughout the offseason, the Jets have added tight ends at random. Perhaps the staff found comfort in the personnel they evaluated during mandatory minicamps over a month ago.

But somehow and somewhere, the Jets' evaluation process failed. Either Franks was too injured to recover in time for training camp, or he was no longer deemed necessary as a player in 2009.

Whatever the reason, Rex Ryan still has some explaining to do—not because there were any Pro Bowl expectations for Franks, but because Ryan built Franks up to the media as a sure contributor just over 60 days ago.

Most fans knew the Franks acquisition wouldn't be much more than a depth signing. He was to be a role player at a position where the Jets were anemic, offering run-blocking support while serving as a complement to second-year tight end Dustin Keller.

Franks' original stay in New York wasn't very impressive. Despite his injuries, the Jets held on to Franks, likely in an effort to smooth the transition for Brett Favre.

Anyone watching closely enough could see that Franks was far removed from his years as a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end.

Unfortunately, Ryan insisted on preaching otherwise. "A big-time blocker, I think...I think [he] learn[ed] all the tricks of the trade, and I think Bubba’s that guy. He’s a real professional to me."

Again, what changed over the last two months? Is Rex Ryan patronizing the fans?

No one should ever expect Ryan to admit that the signing was insignificant, or that Franks likely wouldn't make the opening day roster. But must he go the extra mile to feign excitement?

Upon being hired, Ryan was advertised as a straight shooter who's going to call it as he sees it. So if he saw Franks as "a real professional" and "a big-time blocker" two months ago, then would it be too soon to raise questions about his ability to properly evaluate talent?

Ultimately, the reasons for Franks' release are inconsequential. The decision merely serves as a catalyst for the questions that need to be asked about Ryan's approach as the Jets' new head coach.

Most fans have been enamored with him, existing in a perpetual state of bliss and euphoria since Ryan's first press conference. He's a quote machine, he's confident, and his reputation should spell for an improved and more aggressive Jets' defense.

It's a far cry from the brand of football previous head coach Eric Mangini installed during his three-year tenure.

However, it appears as if Ryan is saying even less than Mangini by talking a whole lot more. It remains to be seen if that's a bad thing.

His headline-grabbing comments distracted the media from football-relevant questions during mandatory minicamp. It was extremely effective then.

He protected Mark Sanchez from the inevitable flurry of premature "Will he be ready?" speculation by engaging Channing Crowder of the Miami Dolphins much longer than was necessary.

Ryan has always maintained that the Jets' successes will be credited to his staff and players, while the team's failures will rest squarely on his shoulders.

Apparently, the truth rests somewhere in between.

Calvin Pace Suspended: New York Jets Open OLB Competition for Camp

Angel Navedo — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:50:03 -0400

The NFL has announced the suspension of New York Jets' starting outside linebacker Calvin Pace, citing a violation of the league's substance abuse policy regarding performance enhancing drugs.

The suspension comes after Pace tested positive for what he describes as "an over-the-counter dietary supplement." The former first-round pick has been deemed ineligible for the first four games of the 2009 season.

The Jets acquired Pace in 2008 during their free agency blitz, signing him away from the Arizona Cardinals with a lucrative six-year, $42 million contract with nearly $22 million in guaranteed money.

Pace was easily the Jets' best linebacker in 2008, recording 80 tackles and seven sacks. He also forced five fumbles, recovered four, and returned one 50 yards for a touchdown.

Clearly, his suspension leaves a significant void in the Jets' defensive line-up to start the regular season.

In a summer already headlined by the looming quarterback competition between Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens, the suspension forces the Jets to acknowledge and evaluate their depth sooner than expected.

While all eyes will remain fixated upon the offensive signal callers, the opened door ushers in new opportunities along the depth chart for unrealized potential, and for unproven commodities to stake their claims.

The first name to leap to the forefront of everyone's mind is Vernon Gholston, and whether or not he's prepared to be thrust into a starting role. Gholston has been at the center of the Jets' defensive concerns this offseason, as fans and coaches expect him to become a productive fixture in the rotation.

If he isn't ready for the responsibility, the role could fall to one of the hybrid defensive end-outside linebackers on the roster.

Marques Murrell and rookie Jamaal Westermann, two undrafted free agents who impressed during spring activities, could emerge as favorites for the position if Gholston can't validate his role as a sixth-overall pick.

Westermann signed with the Jets after an impressive career with Rutgers. Although he failed to generate interest in the draft, he immediately received praise from Rex Ryan for his hard work and football intelligence.

The collegiate defensive end is said to be picking up the defense extremely well. Ryan experimented with him during minicamps, utilizing him as an inside linebacker as well.

Murrell is in his third season with New York. Signed away from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad in 2007, Murrell has impressed coaches with his speed, motor, and natural pass-rushing ability.

Needless to say, Pace's suspension comes as an absolute shock. If there was going to be an outside linebacker whose job was evaluated this summer, most fans expected it to be Bryan Thomas.

Two consecutive seasons of mediocrity, after one average campaign in 2006, have made Thomas' position an area where the Jets could afford to upgrade.

Nonetheless, whoever earns the position while Pace serves his suspension should be in the running to replace Thomas when No. 97 returns to action on Oct. 5.

Honoring Mo Lewis: New York Jets' Former Linebacker Was One for the Ages

Angel Navedo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:03:41 -0400

“You play on enough losing teams and it breaks you down. I don’t care who you are, (or) how strong you think you are. You’re worried that no matter how hard you play, everyone just looks at you and says, ‘He’s a loser like everyone else.’”

Such was the burden Mo Lewis shouldered throughout his 13-year career with the New York Jets.

Selected in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft, the former University of Georgia Bulldog didn’t enjoy a winning season until Bill Parcells arrived in 1997. New York posted a 93-115 record throughout Lewis’ tenure, while he recorded 1,236 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and 14 interceptions of his own.

His production earned him three trips to the Pro Bowl (1998, 1999, 2000) and All-Pro honors in 1998 and 2000. But the acknowledgment came late in a career where Lewis was consistently overlooked despite his value to the organization.

At one point Lewis was considered the best football player in New York—including the Giants.

“It’s hard for people to separate the person from the team he’s playing for,” said Lewis.

“They say, ‘Mo Lewis of the New York Jets.’ But if the Jets haven’t had success, then it doesn’t mean anything.”

As Jets fans suffered through the early-mid 1990s, so did Mo Lewis. Seasons where he led the team in tackles and received the Jets’ MVP award went for naught. No. 57’s talents remained unnoticed around the league.

His pursuit for NFL glory was stunted by the reputation of the team to which his career was dedicated. Lewis would have to reserve himself to winning personal battles rather than holding his breath for proper recognition.

“We’d go out there at the end of the season, and no matter what our record was, I’d tell myself the game meant everything. The team’s record would be 1-12, and I’d tell myself I was really 13-0. That was the game I’d play with myself. Or the way I’d trick myself.

“I’d be a winner in my heart, and in my mind. Because if you don’t do that, you become the thing you hate the most.”

Then the recognition finally came.

After eight seasons, Mo Lewis was voted to his first Pro Bowl. Parcells was in his second season, effectively changing the Jets’ culture and working to establish a new winning tradition.

It took a 12-4 record, seven sacks, and an interception to send Lewis to Hawaii for the first time in his career.

But it was four years too late. While his teammates were happy for him, Lewis was already focused on another goal.

“I felt like, in ‘94, I should’ve made (the Pro Bowl)...but after all these years of losing, having that ring on your finger is the most important thing.”

Unfortunately for Lewis, the playoffs following the 1998 season would end tragically in Denver.

Lemony Snicket would call Lewis’ career a series of unfortunate events.

Playing second fiddle to the late Derrick Thomas for Pro Bowl votes, despite posting better numbers in some seasons, was the first bout with despair. Lewis dealt with more suffering, finishing eight out of his 13 seasons without a winning record.

Ultimately, his career ended without earning what would have been a well-deserved Super Bowl ring.

Such is the cruelty of life. As if 13 seasons of disappointment weren’t enough, fate concocted a more devious plot.

One of the most beloved New York Jets of all time would be the catalyst for the success of a sworn enemy.

That bone-crushing blow to Drew Bledsoe ushered in the Tom Brady era, and historical revisionism nearly thrust Lewis into the bowels of Jets hell with the jerseys of Neil O’Donnell, Blair Thomas, and Doug Brien.

But such ridiculous thoughts should only be reserved for the most foolish of fans.

Brady’s success with the Patriots is unfortunate, but Lewis should never be faulted for doing what made him one of the most respected men to ever wear the uniform.

The hit should be a footnote, not a definition.

Mo Lewis was the on-field extension of Jets fans. All the pain and agony the fans felt through years of defeat, he experienced firsthand.

That makes him a martyr, of sorts—more appropriately, a legend for the New York Jets.

His loyalty and dedication to the Jets—through all of the ups and downs—make him absolutely worthy of admiration from any fan who cherishes the Jets’ history.

The fans who celebrate No. 57’s career hold him in the highest regard for being a player who wanted the Jets to win as badly as any of them.

“I think one of the most interesting conversations I had was with Mo Lewis,” said Parcells after being hired.

“He was just telling me, ‘I am sick of people running up points on us. I’d just like to have, one day, a defense that when the other team comes out of the huddle, we know they’re not getting anything. You’ve had those defenses before, and I’d like to have one where they have a hard time moving the ball.’”

On Jun. 27, 2005, Mo Lewis signed a one-day contract with the New York Jets to formally retire with the only team he’d ever known.

Does Rex Ryan Plan to Hide Vernon Gholston in the New York Jets' Defense?

Angel Navedo — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:22:08 -0400

"There (are) expectations for (Vernon Gholston) individually," admitted New York Jets' Head Coach Rex Ryan. "We're wrong by doing that."

"We just need to place our expectations on (the defense). If we do that, sometimes in the stats, he may not show up individually...but he might play a great game...let's see how this group does. Let's see how we perform collectively."

There is no appropriate way to gloss over any of Ryan's words without being dishonest. Vernon Gholston is going to be afforded more opportunities than he deserves because of where he was drafted.

When Ryan arrived with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, they knew they'd have their work cut out for them with Gholston. "From a physical standpoint, he's got all the tools," said Pettine to the New York Post back in January.

"I'm looking forward to meeting Vernon and seeing what makes him tick...if the guy's got it in him, we're (going to) get it out of him."

Rather than getting it out of him, Ryan's comments appear more as if they're hoping to disguise it in the defensive scheme.

The sixth-overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft is expected to contribute, and the Jets are hoping to see a return on their guaranteed $21 million investment.

Principles be damned?

It's understandable that his draft status and guaranteed salary would force the business side of the NFL to take precedence when evaluating him, but it's unreasonable to disregard his shortcomings if supported by his teammates' strengths.

What good does Gholston bring to a strong defense if he's going to be judged by the performances of the men around him?

Given Ryan's comments, it feels as if Jets' fans are being treated to a second round of "the glass is half-full" excuses for his lack of motivation and tenacity. His teammates shouldn't be subjected to baby sitting an expensive project if he can't contribute effectively.

The confidence and excitement Ryan exuded in his introductory press conference sounds like it's been replaced by constant optimism—to the point where it could be misconstrued as an attempt to patronize the fans.

It's unreasonable to expect Ryan to go on a slanderous tirade about Gholston, but where's the accountability?

The vocal head coach is a far cry from Eric Mangini's relentless code of silence. But, what's the difference if fans are left to assume the whole truth?

Mandatory minicamps came and went in Florham Park, and there was not a single report on Gholston that justified his positioning with the first defensive unit. It may have been early in the offseason program, but it's never too early to show something.

The concern remains the same as it was since he was drafted: does Gholston have the heart to contribute in a full-time capacity during a game, or will he continue to disappear as he would do with Ohio State?

Yet, the most eyebrow-raising comment through all of this came from Gholston himself: "I don’t know why people think my rookie year was upsetting or whatever."

Is that so?

Gholston's rookie performances were so uninspiring that the Jets' coaching staff couldn't even find a constant place for him with the special teams units.

That was upsetting.

Watching Gholston dance with blockers continues to be upsetting.

But learning that the Jets' defense might as well be one man short every time he's on the field—now that's just heart-breaking.

Ryan's gift of gab has been on full display in recent weeks, but as far as Gholston is concerned, talk really is cheap.

New York Jets Minicamp Observations: They Could Be Nothing—or Everything

Angel Navedo — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:28:22 -0400

The New York Jets have wrapped up their mandatory minicamps, triggering the period for preliminary roster evaluations prior to training camp on July 31.

Needless to say, three days of practice in June should be considered too premature for any declarations on anyone's future. But there are areas that require prompt attention before the regular season kicks off in Houston.

The defense appears to be making all the strides advertised, while the offense is en route to validating every issue that's been discussed at length throughout the offseason.

While the Jets are expected to be a run-heavy team, the concerns with the passing game cannot be ignored.

Wide Receivers

It was fun to entertain the notion of playing through 2009 with the current crop of wide receivers, but reality may have different plans.

It's difficult to assess if the issues were caused by a phenomenal defense, or if every receiver is really struggling to make a play. Outside of Jerricho Cotchery, no other receiver managed to find open space on a consistent basis.

Lining up as the No. 2 receiver, Chansi Stuckey was not gaining separation at the line of scrimmage. After the snap, Stuckey would disappear as the play took shape.

Realistically, it could be because Rex Ryan's defense is overactive and physical. And then again, Stuckey's ability to make a clean break off the line of scrimmage was a concern coming out of college.

It appeared as if Stuckey wasn't on Kellen Clemens' radar as he progressed through his reads.

Typically, Clemens looked to Cotchery first. His next read was to tight end Dustin Keller, with a running back in the flats as the third option.

On Wednesday, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez made one of the better throws when he found special-teams ace Wallace Wright for a touchdown.

Rex Ryan had good things to say about Wright during the final minicamp press conference, saying, "We all know Wallace as a great special-teams player, but he’s made some strides as a receiver. That’s encouraging."

Finally, the only potential dark horse in the unit is Huey Whittaker, formerly of the Arena Football League. At 6'5", he could be the big target the Jets have coveted for years.

There is still room for improvement as he needs to become more reliable if he hopes to make the team.

But he proved his worth in red zone drills, making a tough grab when everyone knew a fade route to the corner of the end zone was coming.

Quarterbacks

"Right now, you can tell it's really going to be a dogfight," said Ryan about the competition between fourth-year veteran Clemens and the team's first-round draft pick, Sanchez.

However, nothing has changed. This competition will be decided when Sanchez shows he looks good enough.

With this being Clemens' fourth time going through minicamps and working in the offense, he has no business being in "a dogfight" with a rookie. Since being drafted, Clemens has been through competitions for the starting job and hasn't inspired confidence.

He may be playing slightly better and with a little more efficiency, but Clemens is not looking like the experienced veteran that should have no trouble dispatching of a rookie.

Clemens is still indecisive in the pocket, patting his feet, and holding onto the ball longer than he should.

For Clemens to have a chance at the job, he has to be more than efficient. He has to be phenomenal enough to make the Jets question ever drafting Sanchez.

Despite Clemens keeping it close, Sanchez is struggling to close the gap as he continues going through his rookie woes.

Most importantly, Sanchez has to make better reads against the defense. Perhaps he's taking chances because it's only minicamp. Or maybe he's telegraphing his throws and making it easier for defensive backs to pick him off.

Whatever the reason, the Jets have to feel confident that he won't be a liability before handing him the keys to the organization.

However, he does have a stronger arm than Clemens.

When the two quarterbacks ran their simultaneous throwing drills, the receivers Sanchez hit were already turning to run after the catch when Clemens' throws arrived to his targets.

Sanchez isn't afraid to run out of the pocket either. It's difficult to tell how his running would work in a game situation, but he's mobile enough to make a defense hesitate when he starts moving.

As for the third string quarterbacks, it's going to be tight between Harvard's Chris Pizzotti and Erik Ainge. But don't be surprised if Pizzotti is kept over Ainge—he looks more confident and throws with more power and precision.

Specific Players and Their Performances

Vernon Gholston spent most of his time as a defensive end with with the first unit—a spot that should allow him to return to his collegiate comfort level—but he still needs work.

Gholston is very quick off the snap, but it's his next move where he hesitates. He's not stringing combinations together, allowing himself to get tangled up with blockers as the play develops.

With all of his strength, he should show more natural ability at shedding blocks to make plays.

Lining up with the second unit was Marques Murrell, who was much quicker after the snap and more confident in his reads at the line of scrimmage. Murrell disrupted Sanchez' timing on a few occasions.

Kareem Brown, the defensive end turned tight end, looked very athletic in his new role. Initially, the decision to move him to offense was met with hesitation as it was clearly done out of desperation. But he does look to be adjusting well. Training camp will be critical for him.

Third-round draft pick Shonn Greene showed significant improvement as a receiver out of the backfield after being criticized during rookie minicamps. He had a great burst after the catch and looks like he's going to be a load to bring down when he does see the field.

With the wide receiver situation looking so bleak, many Jets fans have high hopes for Dustin Keller as the No. 2 receiving option, and rightfully so. He impressed as a rookie and should only improve in his second season.

But there is a reliability concern.

Keller had some significant drops in 2008 and disappeared in a few games. The disappearing act could be credited to a faulty game plan, or perhaps his inexperience as a rookie.

However, Keller must become a sure-handed target for the quarterback if the Jets are going to have any aerial success without a top-flight wide receiver.

Otherwise, it was only minicamp. so it's probably not worth reading too deeply into any of the observations.

Realistically, the Jets could look completely different by July 31.

NFL Copycats: Adoption of the Wildcat Is Only Domesticating the Offense

Angel Navedo — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:35:03 -0400

I'm sorry, I-formation, but we no longer have anything in common. We had some great times, but sadly...the thrill is gone.

The element of surprise is critical to maintaining a healthy relationship in the NFL, and the base offensive packages that once dictated the pace of the game are no longer doing the trick.

And so, the Wildcat offense has captivated the league, emerging as every team's latest method of trickery.

It's the offensive flavor of the month.

The Miami Dolphins piqued everyone's interest in 2008 after using the formation to perfection against the New England Patriots.

Therefore, it's only natural for every other team to want to employ its own variations in 2009.

If Lightning Strikes Twice...

The Oakland Raiders stand out immediately as a team with enough speed to make the offense work. Al Davis' commitment to making the fastest team in the NFL looks like the best attempt at creating a dangerous Wildcat team.

With three running backs on the roster and the addition of Darrius Heyward-Bey, a Raiders' Wildcat offense would only need to find open space.

Darren McFadden proved he could take snaps in college, making him the ideal candidate to lead the formation in 2009.

Aside from the Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings drafted Percy Harvin for the versatility he displayed in college.

However, unless he can establish himself as a legitimate receiving threat in the NFL, his presence on the field will only be associated with some form of Wildcat trickery.

With Adrian Peterson being a one-man wrecking crew, running the Wildcat would be a step back for the Vikings offense.

Then again, this is the same team that's courting a retired Brett Favre.

How the Wildcat is Stopping Itself

With the Dallas Cowboys developing the Razorback—another variation of the Wildcat offense—it has become even clearer that the NFL's latest bright idea is en route to being driven directly into the ground.

New attempts at the offense will only succeed in rendering a creative formation completely useless. Thinking logically, the more common the formation becomes, the less impressive the results will ultimately be.

The writing is already on the wall for the Wildcat.

The death of the formation is imminent.

With most offensive coordinators having no flair and completely abandoning the concept of creativity, the Wildcat is being beaten into submission as they attempt to concoct their own cheap imitations.

PETA has yet to provide a statement.

Miami's success with the formation has everyone fooled.

While the Wildcat was effective for the Dolphins, the formation is most useful for teams with weaknesses they're hoping to mask.

Teams without strong offensive lines or game-changing receiving options rely heavily upon their speed at running back to make the offense work. It takes a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses to run a believable Wildcat.

On the flip side, the rampant incorporation of the Wildcat into offensive playbooks is only helping to familiarize defenses with the formation.

With more coordinators looking to utilize it, more defenses have opportunities to practice against it.

The success of the Wildcat is largely predicated on the ability to catch a defense completely off guard. But if a defense is prepared at the sight of the formation, then the offense has already been neutralized.

The element of surprise becomes commonplace.

Defensive coordinators can develop audible packages with altered assignments to neutralize any mismatches, and linebackers can instantly blitz to disrupt the blocking schemes that make the offense work.

There are a multitude of shifts and motions that can add more variety to the Wildcat, so the chances of the formation disappearing overnight are none.

But at some point, an offense is going to have to line up and play straight football, and if they can't, their Wildcat illusion is going to lose its prestige sooner than expected.

Rex Ryan Will Have to Adjust More Than the New York Jets' Attitude

Angel Navedo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:06:37 -0400

The rest of the NFL is finally catching on. Rex Ryan's bravado will not allow anyone to misinterpret his intentions with the New York Jets in 2009.

He's in New York to change the culture.

In a league dominated by agent-prepared statements and predictable commentary, having a head coach who speaks from the heart should come as an electric shock to the bloodstream.

It should be a breath of fresh air—something he's been pumping into the tri-state area since January.

Criticism of his confidence is premature. It should be clear that throwing caution to the wind was essential for Ryan as he lays the groundwork for the Jets' new identity.

While the attitude is good for quotes and bulletin board material around the league, the most important adjustment Ryan has to make to Jets' culture has to happen on the field.

Before all of his words are dismissed as steam from a first-time coach, Ryan's first order of business has to revolve around helping his Jets unlearn the complacency Eric Mangini instilled during his three-year reign.

A Tale of Two Halves

The New York Jets were a Jekyll and Hyde of sorts under Mangini.

From 2006 through 2008, the first two quarters of Jets' football were usually exciting to watch. The offense would execute and the defense made impressive stops when necessary.

In Mangini's three seasons as head coach, the Jets held halftime leads on 23 different occasions. Of those 23 games, they only lost three times—all of them during the abysmal, injury-plagued 2007 campaign.

Of their 20 victories, the Jets led by 10 points or more at the half in nine games. The only time New York built upon their lead was in a 47-3 blowout victory over the St. Louis Rams in 2008.

Outside of that one game, the Jets were consistently outscored in the second half after holding substantial leads.

To hold a two-score lead over an opponent and allow them to dictate the pace of the game is unacceptable.

Unless a game was completely out of reach, Mangini was seemingly unprepared for his opponent's halftime adjustments—adjustments that Mangini couldn't counter.

Either he was too arrogant to deviate from his strategy, or he was naïve enough to assume that the gameplan would work as scripted.

The halftime woes also work in the opposite direction.

Under Eric Mangini, the Jets never won a game in the second half if they didn't already hold the lead, regardless of the margin. If the Jets were losing at halftime, the game was essentially finished.

The Jets trailed at the half in 16 regular-season contests. Behind by a touchdown or more in 10 of those games, the Jets never came within more than seven points of victory.

The only two games where the Jets came close were in a 24-17 loss to the New England Patriots in 2006, and a 20-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2007. They were down by 17 points and 14 points at the half, respectively.

Otherwise, the Jets would completely collapse and barrel down Mangini's path of futile football.

This cannot continue under Rex Ryan.

Adjusting From Mental to Physical

If you remember Steve Emtman's words of wisdom in 1994's Little Giants, then you should already know that football is 80 percent mental and 40 percent physical.

His math is only wrong to people who don't understand the game. Winning is all about knowing how to use that extra 20 percent.

While Mangini was credited for his commitment to the mental aspect of the game, his issues as a head coach are proof-positive of his inability to balance the percentages.

"(Mangini) is very cerebral," said special-teams coordinator Mike Westhoff on Michael Kay's ESPN radio show in January.

"He's very much a film coach. He studies it, he loves to watch the film, (and) he loves to teach off it. Sometimes there's a little transition that gets lost between that and the field."

The contrast to Rex Ryan is astounding.

In his introductory press conference, Ryan promised that his Jets will be more physical from the onset.

Now fans only have to hope that the Mad Scientist's mental sacrifices will be what's necessary for developing a winning formula.

While Mangini studied film, it's Rex Ryan's defense that focuses on what's happening on the field. His organized chaos guarantees a fluid, ever-changing adjustment.

It's a system that will allow players to succeed on their own terms while chasing one objective: pound the other team and make them want to quit.

That philosophy alone makes Ryan's Jets superior to Mangini's.

After three seasons of Jets' football being all about the process, it's exciting to know that the future is in the hands of a coach who flourishes with the unpredictable nature of the game.

One More Time: Nine NFL Players Who Need to Prove 2008 Was No Fluke

Angel Navedo — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:13:59 -0400

When it comes to reputations in the NFL, a player is only as good as his last season. In 2008, a multitude of stocks rose as unknown commodities emerged on NFL highlight reels. Players became stars on a weekly basis, earned Pro Bowl votes, and sold a ton of replica jerseys when it was all said and done. But what you done for me lately? Or perhaps, what will you do for me next year? It can be argued that it's easier to excel when no one is prepared for you. Now that these players have lost the element of surprise and opposing coordinators can focus all their attention on neutralizing them, who still has what it takes to rise to the occasion?

Begin Slideshow

Gotta Have Faith: Leon Washington Returns to New York Jets Practice

Angel Navedo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:53:11 -0400

The New York Jets have returned to full offensive strength as Leon Washington's "move of good faith" has restored the Pro-Bowl backfield.

Washington has avoided offseason workouts as a declaration of disappointment with his current contract. Still playing under his fourth-round rookie deal, he is scheduled to earn a meager $535,000 in 2009 before becoming a restricted free agent next March.

Agent Alvin Keels has been in negotiations with general manager Mike Tannenbaum to determine more adequate compensation for a player of Washington's caliber.

The definition of a "slash" player, Washington's market value is difficult to distinguish because of his various skill sets.

Dangerous as a kick-returner, receiver out of the backfield, and as a running back, No. 29 provides the Jets with a well-rounded offensive weapon. Therefore, his desire for a more well-rounded bank account is far from unreasonable.

A team captain and MVP, a Pro Bowl talent, and a nightmare for opposing coordinators, there should be no doubt that Washington is worthy of a new contract. In three seasons, Washington has amassed 2,289 yards from scrimmage, 3,184 return yards, and 19 touchdowns.

Unfortunately, the status of the collective bargaining agreement complicates his financial matters.

With the current CBA set to expire in 2009, the Jets are looking for the middle ground in a market with 116 players in the same contractual limbo as Washington.

Washington's fear is that he will play 2009 without a new deal, and have a best-case scenario with a franchise tag in 2010. While the one-year salary for a tagged player is impressive, Washington wants the security a long-term contract provides before he gets ever closer to 30.

Now that Keels has stated his client's return to practice is an act of "good faith" toward establishing a new deal, the hope is that Washington will be satisfied with a contract that also protects the Jets from any salary cap difficulties in 2010.

And it couldn't have happened any sooner.

Having the entire offense on hand throughout the offseason is of the essence. If the Jets hope to hit a stride before starting the season in Houston, then they need to be at full capacity, without any disgruntled players.

With a quarterback competition looming, the only way for the coaching staff to properly evaluate Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens is with all of the team's play-makers present.

A competition can't be decided appropriately without Washington involved, mainly because the offense is a shadow of itself without him.

Of course, Sanchez has to have his rookie contract worked out before training camp, as well.

Now that Washington has formally placed his faith in the organization to do right by him, it's time for the Jets to show their loyalty and reward him for being the premier player he is.

Marques Murrell Speaks: A Conversation with the New York Jets Hybrid Linebacker

Angel Navedo — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:18:28 -0400

Marques Murrell was 10 years old when he watched his older brother Adrian emerge as the New York Jets' leading rusher in his third season. The elder Murrell played five seasons with New York, rushing for 3,130 yards as a starter from 1995 through 1997.

While the Murrell name is familiar to Jets fans, the 6'2", 250-pound linebacker has carved out his own path to the NFL.

Marques Murrell shined as a defensive end with Appalachian State, winning two national championships with the Mountaineers in 2005 and 2006.

A former two-time All-American, Murrell was touted as one of the top defensive players in Division I-AA.

Recording 36 sacks and forcing 18 fumbles—the latter holding as a school record—Murrell entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles before the Jets signed him away from their practice squad in November 2007.

Entering his third season with the Jets, No. 94 recently took the time to discuss his transition from defensive end, the NFL's new "wedge" rule, his motivation as a professional football player, and much more.

Angel Navedo: You grew up watching your brother play for the Jets. What was it like for you when the Jets signed you and kept the family ties alive?

Marques Murrell: Yeah, I can say there was a tie between the Jets and the Murrell family (laughs). When I signed with the Jets, I felt blessed—especially for the fact that I have a chance at true playing time now.

AN: Did Adrian have any advice for you?

Murrell: Adrian and I have talked about football (since) the time I was in high school. I've been soaking up all the advice I can get from him and his fellow NFLers.

AN: You say you felt blessed to be with the Jets. I understand that you're a very spiritual man. How has your faith in God impacted your life?

Murrell: My faith is continually growing. It has taught me to believe. Every day I leave all of my worries in God's hands and know that He will always see me through it. I can say that for on and off the field. He'll never leave my side!

AN: You were a dominant force at Appalachian State, yet you entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. What have you done to stand out since being in the league?

Murrell: I use my speed to stand out. That's how I got all my sacks in college. Reps in practice are different from preseason reps, though.

AN: Are there any undrafted free agents who have inspired you?

Murrell: Definitely. I (look to) players like Bart Scott and Marques Douglas. They make me feel like I can do well in the NFL and be blessed enough to play for a while.

AN: Your teammates have always taken notice of your motor and work ethic. Do you feel like that's contagious?

Murrell: I wouldn't say my work ethic is contagious (laughs). But I have heard that I do have a "motor." Throughout time I have had a couple of friends drop by the wayside when it comes to training hard, though.

AN: The transition from defensive end to linebacker is considered to be a tough one. How's it been going for you so far?

Murrell: The transition has been fun. Honestly, it's been everything I've dreamed of. At times it can be difficult, but I'm having a good time while learning.

AN: Have you seen anything you like for yourself with the new system Rex Ryan brought in from Baltimore?

Murrell: I have seen some great opportunities that I can make the best of in Coach Ryan's defense.

AN: What about with special teams? What do you think of the new "wedge rule"?

Murrell: I can tell you, with the new wedge rule in place I will have to change my approach on kickoffs—by getting more tackles! Now there are less guys I have to take on (laughs).

AN: What interests you most when you're not playing football?

Murrell: I like cars. I studied finance at Appalachian State, but that's because they didn't have an automotive program. During my spare time I learn all I can about cars.

AN: How tough is it to balance the NFL with your hopes for the future?

Murrell: It can get difficult at times, but you have to be proactive now because you never know. Family will come first, next I study my plays, and then the cars (come after that).

AN: Awesome! I can't thank you enough for taking the time out to do this. Everything will be ready to go by Friday.

Murrell: Sounds good with me.