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rex & 2013 ~ ~ ~


kelly

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If the Jets make the playoffs in 2013, Rex Ryan should be Coach of the Year.(Assuming that one of the new coaches taking over a bad team doesn’t turn it around, like the Colts this year, but I digress). Ryan is facing several obstacles in the way of getting the Jets back above .500, and it won’t help that he will be coaching for his job, more so than in any of his seasons leading the Jets. Let’s break down some of the things going against Ryan:

He’s facing lame-duck status

As of this writing, the Jets have still yet to name a general manager, but these situations don’t tend to go well with a returning head coach — just ask Lovie Smith, who couldn’t survive a 10-6 season under new GM Phil Emery. Woody Johnson has put his support behind Ryan after a dismal 2012 season, but his new GM is “stuck” with Ryan. Every general manager wants his own head coach, as seen in Jacksonville, where Mike Mularkey avoided getting fired right after the season, but got the pink slip when the Jaguars hired a new GM, David Caldwell. Ryan will be facing extreme pressure from this situation and working with a brand new GM when it comes to personnel.

The Jets will have a new offense and defense

Similar to the general-manager spot, the offensive and defensive coordinator positions have not been filled — though it has been widely reported that DBs coach Dennis Thurman will be promoted to defensive coordinator. Ryan wants a brand new, attack-style offense, but that’s still a new scheme that needs to be installed, with big quesitons at quarterback and the rest of the skill positions. The defensive transition should be a little easier, especially with it being Ryan’s specialty, but Mike Pettine also brought some of his assistants to Buffalo. Two new coordinators, two different schemes to learn and install in one offseason.

Mark Sanchez is still the Jets’ quarterback … for now

This is a quarterback-driven league, and the Jets are behind the eight ball. Sanchez got benched at the end of 2012, but with $8.25 million heading his way in 2013, is likely to remain with the team, and without a strong quarterback class in this April's draft, could still be in line to start Week One. Sanchez has shown the skills, at times, to be an effective quarterback, but his turnovers have been too much for the Jets to overcome. Ryan can’t have much confidence entering a make-of-break season with Sanchez under center.

The roster could see plenty of turnover

The following starters are entering free agency: OGs Brandon Moore and Matt Slauson, RB Shonn Greene, TE Dustin Keller, DT Mike Devito, LB Bryan Thomas, SS Yeremiah Bell and FS LaRon Landry. In addition, reports indicate that LBs Bart Scott and Calvin Pace could be salary-cap casualties. That’s a lot of production to replace for a team that is reportedly a league-high $19.4 million over the salary cap.

Darrelle Revis and Santonio Holmes will be back, but this is still a team that went 6-10 in 2012

Considering the quarterback position and the potential for lots of new faces, not to mention the cap problems, the idea of the Jets having the personnel necessary to compete for a playoff berth next year is hard to sell. One cannot understate the impact of having Revis and Holmes back, and possibly getting a Year Two jump from WR Stephen Hill, but the talent on this team did not match its AFC foes in 2012, and losing some veteran starters won’t help that cause.It is an uphill battle for Ryan. Johnson may have said that Ryan is not facing a lame-duck situation, but they both have to understand nothing is guaranteed for 2014 with a new general manager coming to town.It’s not a bad idea for the Jets to experience some rebuilding after two disappointing seasons, especially with plenty of players on the wrong side of 30, but rebuilding in 2013 does not help Ryan’s future with the club, unless he can pull a rabbit out of his hat and make the Jets next year’s surprise team.

> http://www.profootba...allenge-in-2013

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The article insinuated a new defensive system based on coaching, not on personnel. I would imagine a few of those players will be filled internally as well.

" ... I would imagine a few of those players will be filled internally as well. "

~ ~ one would hope so but..w/ OUR present roster... https://sphotos-b.xx...591806121_n.jpg

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Jets at fourth anniversary of Rex's arrival

Four years ago today, the Jets hired Rex Ryan.

It has been a wild ride ever since. It's been filled with, among other things, two AFC title games, a butt fumble and, of course, Tebow Time.

Here are some of the more memorable quotes from Ryan's opening news conference on Jan. 21, 2009, and how they relate to the current state of the Jets :

"I'm going to surround myself with the best people I can find. The kind of coaches that I bring in here are going to work with me. They don't work for me, they work with me. ... Mike Westhoff coaching special teams and Bill Callahan are already committed. ... I just hired Mike Pettine, who was with me in Baltimore for the last several years, as our defensive coordinator. He's a rising star in the league. We don't want to pump him up too much. We want him to be around here for a while, as well, but you're going to see, he's a star in this league."

Four years later: All of the coaches Ryan specifically mentioned are gone, and none are head coaches in the league. Pettine and Callahan went to different teams and Westhoff retired.The staff has a much different look four years later."We want to have an all-weather offense. What kind of offense? We're going to have an all-weather offense, and that starts with a running game, being able to run the football, because I think it's important. You've got to win when the snow falls to get where you want to go, and that's to win Super Bowls."

Four years later: The Jets might have an all-weather offense -- it just isn't any good. The running attack worked early on but has faltered since, and the team will be on its third offensive coordinator in three years. The offense has held the team back in many ways."The only way I know how to handle a challenge is to hit that thing head on, and that's what we're going to do. The message to the rest of the league is, 'Hey, the Jets are coming and we're going to give you everything we've got, and that's going to be, I think, more than you can handle.' We're going to find out."

Four years later: That may have been the case the first two years, but the Jets have missed the playoffs the past two seasons and have had some truly bad performances in that span."I know the Jets' fans. This is going to be great. This is a great marriage right here, I can honestly say. The style of defense that we're going to play, with our fans, whoo, it's going to be rough on people. ... The expectations are high for me as a head football coach. I have high expectations of our fans. We don't let them score at home. Anywhere, really, but at home let's put it on them."

Four years later: Would Jets fans say it has been a great marriage so far? Seems like some of the fans are turning on Ryan and might want to see the team go in another direction.

> http://espn.go.com/b...ex-ryan-arrival

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Analysis: Jets sign up for Marty Ball

Quick thoughts on the Jets' decision to hire Marty Mornhinweg as their new offensive coordinator :

ny_g_mornhinweg1_sy_300.jpg

Marty Mornhinweg was the Eagles' offensive coordinator the past seven seasons.

1. Thumb's up: I like this move. Mornhinweg is an upgrade over Tony Sparano and he was the best option out of the five candidates interviewed by Rex Ryan. Unlike Sparano, he has considerable experience as a play-caller and he sees the offense through the eyes of the quarterback. In Sparano's scheme, the quarterback was just one of the 11.

2. West meets East: Ground & Pound is dead. Ryan talked about it at the end of the season, shifting the approach on offense, and he followed through. Mornhinweg will run a West Coast offense, a la the Eagles. He will use the pass to set up the run, a dramatic departure in these parts. He's not afraid to fill the air with footballs. Nick Foles, a rookie, averaged 39 pass attempts over the Eagles' final six games.

3. The Sanchez Factor: Can Mornhinweg fix Mark Sanchez? He has worked with a number of top quarterbacks -- Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Brett Favre and Steve Young. This doesn't mean he can turn Sanchez into an elite passer. He's not an ideal fit in a West Coast system, a rhythm-and-timing passing scheme that requires accuracy. Many coaches demand a 65 percent completion rate in the West Coast system; Sanchez is a 55 percent career passer.

4. Just say no: Unless new GM John Idzik slams the door shut on Vick, as Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell did last week with Tim Tebow, the speculation will run rampant. Mornhinweg helped re-start Vick's career in Philadelphia, but this is one reunion that shouldn't happen. Vick, 32, is an aging turnover machine with durability issues; his best football is behind him. He'd attract a Tebow-like circus, and that's something the Jets don't need.

5. Another QB option: A better option than Vick would be Seahawks backup Matt Flynn. Obviously, Idzik is familiar with Flynn; he negotiated the free-agent contract for Seattle. Flynn also is comfortable in the West Coast offense; it's the only NFL system he's known. The Seahawks are open to trading Flynn; the Jets would be a logical landing spot.

6. Receivers needed: The West Coast offense is better with big wide receivers because it's predicated on crossing routes. The receivers have to break tackles and make yards after the catch. The Jets have only one big receiver under contract -- Stephen Hill, who has to refine his route running to succeed in Mornhinweg's system. The scheme also requires a pass-catching tight end. This increases Dustin Keller's value to the team; he's a free agent. The Jets also need running backs that can catch, another important element in the West Coast offense.

7. Not for Tim: Not that we needed to mention this, but ... Tebow is the last quarterback you'd want in a West Coast offense. Like we said, it's based on accuracy and timing, along with precise footwork. Adios, Tim.

> http://espn.go.com/b...-for-marty-ball

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The rebuilding of the Jets began here — at a tiny high school football stadium in the suburbs of Mobile.

Head coach Rex Ryan and new general manager John Idzik spent their first day on the job together yesterday, watching college players practice for Saturday’s Senior Bowl. It was an unlikely setting at Fairhope Stadium with a wooden pirate ship in the corner of the field and concrete bleachers. The Jets are not making Ryan or Idzik available to the media until Thursday’s press conference, but both men chatted informally with reporters and had big smiles as they sat in the stands for the practice to view the entire field. Ryan and Idzik do not know each other at all, so this week is like a first date. They met for the first time last Wednesday when Idzik had his second interview with the Jets. The two sat down to discuss football philosophy and learn a little about each other. Idzik officially got the job on Friday.

The former Seahawks executive did not have any Jets clothing yet, in contrast to Ryan, who wore a Titans throwback sweatshirt. The duo spent the two-hour practice talking and joking at times. They will have plenty of time over the next three days here to get to know each other. They will interview the college players, have meetings and watch about five practices together. The Jets’ contingent at practice consisted of Ryan, Idzik, assistant general manager Scott Cohen, director of football administration Ari Nissim, director of pro personnel Brendan Prophett and a number of scouts. It appears Idzik has not made any changes to the front office yet. The decision to hire Idzik is a popular one with many people in league circles. Agents who negotiated contracts with him when he was with the Cardinals and Seahawks spoke very highly of him. “It’s a great hire,” one agent said. “He’s smart. He’s a really good guy. He has the perfect combination of what they need — he’s good with the cap, but he also has personnel experience.”

That is the one question people around the league bring up with Idzik : Just how much personnel experience does he truly have ?

Those who defend him point to his time in the personnel department with the Buccaneers in the 1990s and early 2000s. His detractors say that was low-level work and he is really just a salary-cap expert who dabbled in some scouting. “I was surprised they went with someone so similar to Mike [Tannenbaum],” a league executive said. “The talk had been that they were going to hire a personnel guy. But they hired a numbers guy with this much [holding fingers slightly apart] personnel experience.”One thing nearly everyone agrees on is how big a challenge Idzik faces turning the Jets around after a 6-10 season with major questions at quarterback and a bad salary-cap situation.

“He’ll fix things there,” an agent said. “It may take three or four years, though.”

brian.costello@nypost.com

> http://www.nypost.co...tm_content=Jets

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~ ~ ok,..this my help us.

i e-mailed idzik :winking0001:

Patriots are short on draft picks

It's no secret that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick loves stockpiling draft picks. But 2013 is one of those rare years where the reigning AFC East champions will be short on currency. The Patriots made several recent trades involving draft picks for veteran players, and now it's time to pay the bill. New England will lose three picks in this draft in the middle rounds.

2013 NFL Draft

nfl_e_draft_65.jpgRd. 1: April 25, 8 p.m. ET

Rd. 2-3: April 26, 7 p.m. ET

Rd. 4-7: April 27, Noon ET

Radio City Music Hall

New York City

New England shipped its 2013 fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for cornerback Aqib Talib. That trade paid immediate dividends. Talib was New England’s best cover corner in the second half of the season and contributed to the Patriots' playoff run.But the other two trades didn't go as well. The Patriots shipped their fifth-round pick to the Washington Redskins for former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. He was a major bust in New England and was released after six games. Haynesworth is still out of football.

New England also shipped its sixth-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for receiver Chad Johnson. He lasted one unproductive year with the Patriots and was released. Johnson also didn’t play in the NFL last season.The Patriots have just four picks in this year's draft to improve the team. New England owns its first-, second- and third-round pick, as well as a seventh-round pick.

> http://espn.go.com/b...-on-draft-picks

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~ ~ Rising

1. Jets salary cap :

Idzik's hiring raised some questions about his talent evaluation, but there is no doubt he will fix New York’s salary cap. The Jets are projected to be $19.4 million over the cap this offseason. High-priced veterans such as Bart Scott, Calvin Pace, Eric Smith and Jason Smith are all likely candidates to get released. New York will be a much younger team in 2013 and they have to start over before they get better. After former general manager Mike Tannenbaum grossly mismanaged the cap, Idzik should be able to figure out how to pay the bill this year.

rest of above article :

> http://espn.go.com/b...-stock-watch-33

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Jets owner Woody Johnson to explore trading Darrelle Revis

The New York Jets, fresh off an exhaustive hunt for new general manager John Idzik, will explore options to deal star corner Darrelle Revis this offseason, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.Revis, whose contract voids after the 2014 season, is set to earn $6 million in 2013 (between salary and bonuses), and owner Woody Johnson has strong reservations about the ability to extend Revis's deal, the sources said. Johnson has expressed his desire to attempt to land value for Revis now, rather than risk losing him as an unrestricted free agent a year from now, most likely seeking as much draft-pick compensation for him as possible.

The Jets are very much in transition mode, they have cap issues moving forward and are trying to embark on a rebuilding process after firing former long-time general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Revis, who missed almost all of last season after suffering a torn ACL, engaged in a long holdout in 2010 that resulted in a contract extension that was more of a Band-Aid than anything else.Revis signed a seven-year deal then that voids to a four-year pact, thus making him an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season. The deal also precludes him being hit with the franchise tag or any other such mechanism. Johnson has made it very clear he would like to pursue a means to reap rewards for Revis now, sources said, and it is likely to be an immediate part of Idzik's initial job duties.

Revis is considered by many to be the best defensive player in the game. And with pass rusher Mario Williams earning $60 million guaranteed from Buffalo a year ago, Johnson understands how financially restrictive it would be to retain Revis. His team desperately needs young, cheap, impact players to help reposition the team for the future, with 2013 a year of transition.Revis is the only real trading chip that he has. Knee injury or not, there would be no shortage of teams interested in securing his services and no shortage of rebuilding teams sitting on massive cap space in 2013. The Jets are also likely to be hard-pressed to retain free agents like tight end Dustin Keller, running back Shonn Greene and defensive tackle Mike DeVito, though they will make a push to retain DeVito, sources said.

Getting Revis signed to an extension would be a possibility to remedy this situation, but the sources said Johnson has established his desire to move the star corner if he can secure fair value in exchange.Dealing Revis would incur a $9 million cap hit due to some option-bonus prorations involved in the contract -- thus Revis would count an additional $3 million against the cap than he is currently scheduled to -- but the Jets could navigate that relatively easily according to sources familiar with their cap situation, via a restructuring or by releasing a veteran. The team is using 2013 as a year for cap and budgetary housecleaning to get situated for the future. It stands to reason that come 2014, both Revis and head coach Rex Ryan, are gone.

> http://www.cbssports...-darrelle-revis

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Is Rex Ryan now a lame duck ?

The New York Jets do not have a quality quarterback, they’re about $19 million over the cap, and the owner wants to trade the best player on the team.

Does all this make Jets head coach Rex Ryan a lame duck in 2013 ?

Ryan enters next season on the hot seat after back-to-back non-winning seasons.The outspoken coach survived the mess while his former general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, did not. Ryan now is in a must-win situation with no excuses.

Yet, everything the Jets are doing shows the team is ready for a major rebuild. New York is in the process of gutting the roster under new general manager John Idzik. The Jets will cut a lot of veteran talent this offseason to get under the salary cap, and pending free agents such as safety LaRon Landry, tight end Dustin Keller and 1,000-yard rusher Shonn Greene may not return. The Jets are handcuffed with the cap this year and will not be major players in free agency. That puts Ryan in a very tough spot to try to win with a rebuilding team.

This week's news that New York is shopping star cornerback Darrelle Revis was the most telling. How do you think Ryan feels about the Jets looking to trade their best player? Jets ownership appears convinced they have no chance of keeping Revis beyond next season. From that perspective, it makes sense to get something for the cornerback now.However, Ryan may be shaking his head behind closed doors wondering if he has a legitimate chance to succeed with New York's thinning roster. It could be playoffs or bust in 2013 for Ryan to keep his job -- and the odds appear stacked against him.

> http://espn.go.com/b...ame-duck-status

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John Idzik was introduced Thursday as the New York Jets' new general manager,replacing the fired Mike Tannenbaum.The 52-year-old Idzik, formerly the Seahawks' vice president of football administration, insists that the Jets will "explore every measure to bring in talent and to compete." He adds that the NFL draft will be the team's "lifeline."Idzik, wearing a green and black checkered tie, was hired last Friday after a two-week search by the Jets that included 10 candidates. Idzik had been with the Seahawks the past six seasons after previously working in the front offices of Tampa Bay and Arizona.

Idzik's primary strengths include managing salaries and the salary cap, but he has also worked in player personnel — a combination that attracted the Jets. Calling it a "very, very important day" for the team, owner Woody Johnson adds that Idzik has "the requisite" to help rebuild the team into a perennial playoff contender.Idzik, who will have the final say on all personnel decisions, but he and Johnson often repeated that things will be a "collaborative" effort, which will include coach Rex Ryan."It will be the power of `we' over `me,'" Idzik said.He will face immediate challenges with the Jets. He will have to make decisions on whether to keep quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, who is due $8.25 million in guarantees next season and would cost the Jets a $17.1 million cap hit if they cut him, and Tim Tebow, who is not expected back after one disappointing and unproductive season."We just need to take our time and evaluate Mark, along with everyone else," Idzik said.

New York is also about $19 million over the salary cap."I never saw the salary cap as a hindrance," said Idzik, adding that he's confident the Jets can have "fruitful" offseason.

Neither he nor Johnson would definitively answer questions about a report that the Jets will explore trading star CB Darrelle Revis, who is recovering from a serious knee injury."I would never say anything about a trade or contract," Johnson said.Revis, who has held out of training camp twice and nearly did again before last season, has a contract that voids after the 2013 season. The Jets also won't be able to use the franchise or transition tag on him, so there's some concern that the team won't be able to re-sign and would prefer to get something back for him rather than lose him as a free agent next winter."I think it's way premature to say anything specific," Idzik said.Ryan has often called Revis the best defensive player in the NFL."I'm not going into any of those specifics right now," Ryan said. "Let's let the process run its course."At the team's season-ending news conference, Johnson defended retaining Ryan, and said potential GM candidates would have to be willing to work with the coach. That setup — having a coach already in place for an incoming GM — was considered a possible drawback by some."I look at Rex Ryan as a very accomplished coach, energetic, optimistic and engaging — and he gets players to play hard," Idzik said. "I look forward to working with Rex Ryan. That, to me, was a plus."

The Jets have also been perceived by many fans and media as having a circuslike atmosphere because of the headlines the franchise seems to constantly make off the field, including trading for Tebow and Ryan's tattoo of his wife in a Sanchez jersey."I don't sense dysfunction or anything like that," Idzik said.

> http://www.profootba...-as-jets-new-gm

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With Jets a mess, Darrelle Revis should embrace trade talk

Darrelle Revis should be glad the New York Jets are thinking about trading him.

Did you follow the Jets this season ?

They have about 99 problems, and Revis' situation is just one.

At this stage of his career, Revis would benefit from a change of scenery. He is a 27-year-old cornerback coming off knee surgery for a torn ACL. Even if Revis returns and proves he is still the NFL's best corner, another long-term contract with the Jets is not in his best interests.

First of all, the Jets don't want to pay Revis what he is seeking, and he can become a free agent after next season. Other teams want Revis. He has leverage, a precious commodity in the short lifespan of an NFL player. Revis owes it to himself to use that leverage and get more than the Jets are willing to pay. His knee injury was a reminder of that old saying — NFL really stands for Not For Long.

Revis has said he wants to retire as a Jet. Which raises this question.

Why ?

Loyalty is an admirable trait. But here's a news flash. The Super Bowl will be at MetLife Stadium next year, and the Jets won't be its host. They are much farther from being a Super Bowl team than they were two years ago. Unless new general manager John Idzik seriously upgrades the offensive talent, the Jets are in for a few more seasons of misery, no matter how long Rex Ryan stays, or doesn't stay, as coach.That's why the Jets are not crazy for exploring Revis' trade value. He is their best player, but even with him, they must get better at so many positions to compete with the league's elite. Trading Revis could give them more ammo in the draft to fill their holes.

141109-330-0.jpg

Darrelle Revis on the trade block ? It's a deal both the Jets and their star cornerback should endorse.Because the Jets can't put the franchise tag on him, per the contract negotiated by former GM Mike Tannenbaum, they can't stop him from leaving a year from now anyway.So why not find out what a trade could bring ? Asked if he would be open to the possibility of dealing Revis at his introductory press conference Thursday, Idzik said, "I think it's way premature to say anything specific. Again, I haven't even had the chance to sit down and thoroughly vet through our roster with Rex, his staff (and) with our personnel staff. "One of our first steps is to go through our roster in detail. That includes (Darrelle), that includes everybody on the roster. Then develop a comprehensive plan off of that. But it's still a little premature to say."

Revis had no trouble reading between those lines. Idzik did not rule out a trade, and that was enough to make Revis tweet: "I'm speechless by far but more importantly I feel more upset for the jet nation for having to go through this!!! I guess we'll see how this plays out."

Revis should not fret.

Although the Jets are not about to trade him to another team in the AFC East, imagine if they dealt him to the Denver Broncos? We know John Elway is not afraid to make bold moves. Elway just saw his secondary get roasted by the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs.The idea of having Revis must make Elway's heart beat just a little bit faster. And imagine Revis standing on the sideline, watching Peyton Manning play quarterback for his team instead of Mark Sanchez — does that sound like torture ?

Or how about the San Francisco 49ers, another contender that could use secondary help? Imagine if the 49ers lose the Super Bowl and their secondary has a bad day. Revis could be viewed as a fix. Why wouldn't Revis welcome a move to the 49ers? They don't just talk about Super Bowls. They actually play in them. Jets owner Woody Johnson refused to rule out trading Revis, but he told reporters Thursday that he expected Revis to recover from his knee injury. "I saw Darrelle the other day and if you looked at Darrelle, I think he's going to come back and be 100 percent," Johnson said. "I don't think there's any question. I'm confident he'll be good. This is an injury you can come back from today that maybe 20 years ago you couldn't, but now you can."

Nobody doubts Revis' pride, so he will be driven to re-establish himself as the game's best corner. But which team will Revis come back with? As Revis said, we will see how this plays out. However, he should not be losing any sleep. If the Jets deal him, a great player could easily find himself landing in a better situation.

> http://aol.sportingn...nson-ryan-idzik

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~ ~ ok,..this my help us.

i e-mailed idzik :winking0001:

Patriots are short on draft picks

It's no secret that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick loves stockpiling draft picks. But 2013 is one of those rare years where the reigning AFC East champions will be short on currency. The Patriots made several recent trades involving draft picks for veteran players, and now it's time to pay the bill. New England will lose three picks in this draft in the middle rounds.

2013 NFL Draft

nfl_e_draft_65.jpgRd. 1: April 25, 8 p.m. ET

Rd. 2-3: April 26, 7 p.m. ET

Rd. 4-7: April 27, Noon ET

Radio City Music Hall

New York City

New England shipped its 2013 fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for cornerback Aqib Talib. That trade paid immediate dividends. Talib was New England’s best cover corner in the second half of the season and contributed to the Patriots' playoff run.But the other two trades didn't go as well. The Patriots shipped their fifth-round pick to the Washington Redskins for former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. He was a major bust in New England and was released after six games. Haynesworth is still out of football.

New England also shipped its sixth-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for receiver Chad Johnson. He lasted one unproductive year with the Patriots and was released. Johnson also didn’t play in the NFL last season.The Patriots have just four picks in this year's draft to improve the team. New England owns its first-, second- and third-round pick, as well as a seventh-round pick.

> http://espn.go.com/b...-on-draft-picks

This is good news. This particular draft is said to be soft in the top 100, but thick with depth in the next 100. Good year to have those 4th and 5th rounders.

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Sunday notes : Could Revis stay, Cro go ?

A quick take on the Jets (the Revis edition) and the rest of the NFL :

1. Revis or Cro ? :

Instead of shopping Darrelle Revis, maybe the Jets should put fellow CB Antonio Cromartie on the trading block. Don't laugh, it's not such a far-fetched idea. There's a small segment of the organization that would rather trade Cromartie than Revis, according to a source.Let's think about this for a second: Cromartie's trade value never will be higher; he's coming off arguably his best year. A Cromartie trade would clear $8.2 million in cap room (only $2.5 million in dead money); a Revis trade would actually cost the Jets cap room ($12 million in dead money, as opposed to his current cap charge of $9 million).

ny_u_cromartiea_200.jpg
Antonio Cromartie earned his second Pro Bowl invitation this season.

The Jets would have to move fairly quickly because Cromartie is due a $2.3 million roster bonus on the third day of the league year (March 15); Revis is due a $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day. It would take some handiwork from new GM John Idzik, because he'd have to sign Revis to a long-term extension before dealing Cromartie. It can't be the other way because Idzik would be giving more leverage to Revis. Food for thought. Rex Ryan would disagree, but it might be a stretch to have two corners counting $20 million on the cap.

2. The price of Revis : I spoke to a personnel executive from another team and he said the Jets should be able to recoup at least a first-round pick for Revis. Said the executive: "I wouldn't be surprised if he merited a first-rounder and something else in the second year that was good, too." Another executive said any deal probably would have to include a conditional pick in 2014, based on Revis' performance in 2013. That would protect both teams. Frankly, I wouldn't trade him unless I got a top-10 pick in return. Another thing to keep in mind: The Jets would get a third-round compensatory pick if Revis walks next year as a free agent.

2a. Same Old Jets : Typical Jets luck. They have a legitimate bargaining chip and there are no franchise-type quarterbacks in the draft. :wild:

3. Let's make it real simple : Basically, the Jets have only two options: Pay Revis now or trade him now. Letting him play out the season makes absolutely no sense. They'd have a better chance of turning Tim Tebow into the NFL passing leader than re-signing Revis after the '13 season and before he hits the open market. And get this: Because of a quirk in the structure of the current contract, the Jets would get hit with $9 million in dead money in 2014 if he walks as a free agent -- the remaining, pro-rated portions of the $18 million option bonus he received in 2011. That would be an egg-on-face moment for the ages.

4. The untold story : Everybody seems to be focusing on what the Jets could get for Revis, but the trickiest part of a trade would be Revis getting what he wants from another team. He wants to be the highest-paid defensive player, which means $16 million per year and $50 million in guarantees -- Mario Williams money. (It should be noted that Williams landed that deal as a free agent; Revis is a year away from that.) Is there a team willing to pay that much for a cornerback coming off ACL surgery? His agents drive a hard bargain. If they don't get their price, they'll blow up potential trades and position themselves for a free-agent score next year. A trade can't happen unless Revis agrees to a long-term deal; no team would surrender significant compensation for a player whose deal voids in a year.

4a. The leverage game : Make no mistake, Revis has the leverage. He's only one year from the open market and the only way he can blow that is by holding out. That would cancel the voidable, keeping him under contract through 2016 at $3 million per year. The Jets, however, have a card they can play, according to an executive -- the injury card. The executive said they should "play that as hard as they can," trying to scare Revis into accepting less.

5. The whole truth : There was a report Saturday that said the Jets floated Revis' name in trade talks before his ACL injury in September. Here's what happened: Former GM Mike Tannenbaum talked to some confidantes around the league, discussing possible end-games to the Revis situation. Basically, he picked their brains, trying to get ideas and suggestions. He didn't dangle Revis in trade talks.

6. Woody bashing : This is how one longtime GM responded upon hearing the Jets are open to trading Revis: "Woody (Johnson) wants to wave the white flag. That's no way to do business." Basically, the Jets are trapped in a maze, except there's no way out in this maze. There's no clean escape, and they have no one to blame but themselves.

7. What a tweet : I wonder if Revis was as concerned about the feelings of Jets Nation during his two holdouts as he is now.

8. West Coast Offense 101 : I read in the New York Daily News that QB Mark Sanchez reached out to former QB Jeff Garcia to learn Marty Mornhinweg's version of the West Coast offense. I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

> http://espn.go.com/b...vis-stay-cro-go

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LT rips Tanny, issues Revis warning

Former Jet LaDainian Tomlinson, whose favorite pastime is criticizing his former team, ripped former GM Mike Tannenbaum for the Jets' current salary-cap plight, pointing to the Mark Sanchez contract extension as a major blunder.

"That was Tannenbaum's fault," Tomlinson, an NFL Network analyst, told the New York Post at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. "They're still trying to fix what Tannenbaum messed up." Tomlinson, who played 2010 and 2011 with Sanchez, said "they're stuck" with the embattled quarterback because of his hefty contract. He also doesn't believe the Jets when they say they're planning to bring in competition at the position. "They said that last year," Tomlinson told the newspaper. "They brought Tim Tebow in and it wasn't much of a competition because (Tony) Sparano didn't know what to do with Tim Tebow. I just think they're in a situation where they have to stick with Sanchez."

Tomlinson believes it would be a mistake to trade Darrelle Revis, but he thinks that could happen because "Rex Ryan's silence in the whole thing about Revis has spoken volumes to me that something is actually happening."He also said of a potential trade, "I feel because of the situation that they're in, the Jets feel like that's the only way they can make some headway in turning this roster around, getting more athletes on the roster, more athletes that can perform better. "At the same time, the guy is the best defensive player in the league. To me, you win championships with defense. So, in a passing league, how can you get rid of Revis? I don't know if that's the best decision to make, to get rid of the best defensive player in the league."

Tomlinson said the Jets would miss Revis' leadership, the way he helps young players. He said Revis has made Antonio Cromartie a better player."I just think sometimes organizations make decisions based on strictly business when you can't replace a guy like Revis," Tomlinson said.It wouldn't be an offseason without Tomlinson commenting on the soap opera that is the Jets.

> http://espn.go.com/b...s-revis-warning

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5. Another QB option: A better option than Vick would be Seahawks backup Matt Flynn. Obviously, Idzik is familiar with Flynn; he negotiated the free-agent contract for Seattle. Flynn also is comfortable in the West Coast offense; it's the only NFL system he's known. The Seahawks are open to trading Flynn; the Jets would be a logical landing spot.

> http://espn.go.com/b...-for-marty-ball

Uh oh.

Tomlinson, an NFL Network analyst, told the New York Post at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. "They're still trying to fix what Tannenbaum messed up."

> http://espn.go.com/b...s-revis-warning

He's been gone for 3 whole weeks and they still haven't fixed it!

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Uh oh.

He's been gone for 3 whole weeks and they still haven't fixed it!

Think this is very possible if Idzik likes Flynn, and he probably does.

I’ve read that Flynn makes about 5 mil this year, and if he doesn’t work out he can be released next year without a cap hit.

The Jets are cap strapped, but 5 million, and a 5th round pick is workable for a potential starting QB.

I really don’t know much about Flynn except he had a big game against a weak team. Somebody in Seattle thought he was good enough to take a good team into the season. Wilson was a pleasant surprise for them.

Idzik was one of 3 guys who made that decision, Think Flynn has a better then 50% chance to be the Jets QB next season

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Think this is very possible if Idzik likes Flynn, and he probably does.

I’ve read that Flynn makes about 5 mil this year, and if he doesn’t work out he can be released next year without a cap hit.

The Jets are cap strapped, but 5 million, and a 5th round pick is workable for a potential starting QB.

I really don’t know much about Flynn except he had a big game against a weak team. Somebody in Seattle thought he was good enough to take a good team into the season. Wilson was a pleasant surprise for them.

Idzik was one of 3 guys who made that decision, Think Flynn has a better then 50% chance to be the Jets QB next season

I'd love to see Tebow as part of a trade for Flynn. For all his faults, Tebow is a decent fit as a backup QB in a read option style offense. Love to see Idzik sell that to his former team.

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I'd love to see Tebow as part of a trade for Flynn. For all his faults, Tebow is a decent fit as a backup QB in a read option style offense. Love to see Idzik sell that to his former team.

Right now that would be a hard sell.

If Idzik can pull off a Tebow for Flynn trade it would be a great start for him in NY

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Think this is very possible if Idzik likes Flynn, and he probably does.

I’ve read that Flynn makes about 5 mil this year, and if he doesn’t work out he can be released next year without a cap hit.

The Jets are cap strapped, but 5 million, and a 5th round pick is workable for a potential starting QB.

I really don’t know much about Flynn except he had a big game against a weak team. Somebody in Seattle thought he was good enough to take a good team into the season. Wilson was a pleasant surprise for them.

Idzik was one of 3 guys who made that decision, Think Flynn has a better then 50% chance to be the Jets QB next season

I'm not sold on the Seahawks really knowing anything about QBs. They are the same group that thought Charlie Whitehurst was the future. They liked Tavaris Jackson. They just got lucky with Russel Wilson in the third round. Flynn is a guy who really had one great game in like Week 17 when nobody cared to play. Other than that, he's just another backup that has never done anything. And he's a guy who signed a big contract and lost out to a 3rd round rookie. Looking back now you can say picking Wilson was a great move, but back in August, it was more like Flynn just wasn't that good to beat out a 3rd round pick.

This is what I don't get about fans and the media. They kind of believe what they want to believe with no facts behind it.

Tebow didn't play as QB nor did Flynn. Flynn really has 1 game in his entire career, and it was a meaningless week 17 game. And it was for a team that went 15-1. Tebow, while not a good QB, still helped his team win a playoff game. THis year Tebow was a known backup, a distraction, and the coaches didn't want him. Flynn was supposed to be the starting QB and lost out to a 3rd round pick most people knew little about. I don't like Tebow as a QB, but it's funny how suddenly guys like Matt Flynn are some QB of the future.

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Tomlinson believes it would be a mistake to trade Darrelle Revis, but he thinks that could happen because "Rex Ryan's silence in the whole thing about Revis has spoken volumes to me that something is actually happening."He also said of a potential trade, "I feel because of the situation that they're in, the Jets feel like that's the only way they can make some headway in turning this roster around, getting more athletes on the roster, more athletes that can perform better. "At the same time, the guy is the best defensive player in the league. To me, you win championships with defense. So, in a passing league, how can you get rid of Revis? I don't know if that's the best decision to make, to get rid of the best defensive player in the league."

Tomlinson said the Jets would miss Revis' leadership, the way he helps young players. He said Revis has made Antonio Cromartie a better player."I just think sometimes organizations make decisions based on strictly business when you can't replace a guy like Revis," Tomlinson said.It wouldn't be an offseason without Tomlinson commenting on the soap opera that is the Jets.

preach it LT

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Tomlinson : Jets failed to develop Sanchez

As long as there is a radio row at the Super Bowl, there will be former Jets stepping up to critique the season. It happened again Thursday as LaDainian Tomlinson spoke to Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

StephenA_Ruocco_134.jpgListen to the complete interview:

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Tomlinson, a former Jets running back, said the team has failed to develop quarterback Mark Sanchez while Rex Ryan was so focused on the defense."One of the biggest mistakes I felt like the Jets made, even before I got there, is not keeping Chad Pennington when they drafted Mark Sanchez," Tomlinson said. "When you draft a young guy like Mark Sanchez out of USC, that has only played in 12 college football games, you have to have a veteran to teach this guy how to play the position. A guy to take him in the film room and say, 'This is what you look for.' And then take him on the practice field and say, 'This is how you practice, this is how you perform on Sundays.'

"They just kind of threw him out there, a young kid, threw him out there and really never developed him."

Of course it was Brett Favre, not Pennington, who was last under center before the Jets drafted Sanchez. But that oversight didn't stop Tomlinson from pushing on."Here's the thing: They have been trying to get Mark Sanchez to be the guy," Tomlinson said, "to be a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning type of quarterback. And it hasn't worked out. Not to say that you can't win with Mark Sanchez, but you’d better have a good running game and you better have a dominant defense if you're going to win with this guy." Tomlinson played for two season with the Jets, including the team's second trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2010.

> http://espn.go.com/b...develop-sanchez

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I'm not sold on the Seahawks really knowing anything about QBs. They are the same group that thought Charlie Whitehurst was the future. They liked Tavaris Jackson. They just got lucky with Russel Wilson in the third round. Flynn is a guy who really had one great game in like Week 17 when nobody cared to play. Other than that, he's just another backup that has never done anything. And he's a guy who signed a big contract and lost out to a 3rd round rookie. Looking back now you can say picking Wilson was a great move, but back in August, it was more like Flynn just wasn't that good to beat out a 3rd round pick.

This is what I don't get about fans and the media. They kind of believe what they want to believe with no facts behind it.

Tebow didn't play as QB nor did Flynn. Flynn really has 1 game in his entire career, and it was a meaningless week 17 game. And it was for a team that went 15-1. Tebow, while not a good QB, still helped his team win a playoff game. THis year Tebow was a known backup, a distraction, and the coaches didn't want him. Flynn was supposed to be the starting QB and lost out to a 3rd round pick most people knew little about. I don't like Tebow as a QB, but it's funny how suddenly guys like Matt Flynn are some QB of the future.

Didn’t say Flynn was going to be the Jets QB of the future.

Thing is they have to bring in some competition for Sanchez this year, on the cheap. Flynn’s a viable option, in that another competitive team gave him a decent contract, and was planning to go into the season with him. He has two years left on his contract. If he doesn’t work out, release him.

No damage.

You are correct, he is totally unproven. He competed with a rookie 3rd rounder last year, and lost. From what Wilson has shown this season, about 25 other starting QB’s would have lost out to him also

.

In a weak QB class it is a major risk to bring in a 2nd or 3rd rounder, and be paying him for the next 4 years, and probably have to do it again next year.

If Flynn doesn’t work, bye. If he is a starting QB he would be a major steal.

Jets don’t really have many options right now. This is a fairly cheap one with little down side

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Didn’t say Flynn was going to be the Jets QB of the future.

Thing is they have to bring in some competition for Sanchez this year, on the cheap. Flynn’s a viable option, in that another competitive team gave him a decent contract, and was planning to go into the season with him. He has two years left on his contract. If he doesn’t work out, release him.

No damage.

You are correct, he is totally unproven. He competed with a rookie 3rd rounder last year, and lost. From what Wilson has shown this season, about 25 other starting QB’s would have lost out to him also

.

In a weak QB class it is a major risk to bring in a 2nd or 3rd rounder, and be paying him for the next 4 years, and probably have to do it again next year.

If Flynn doesn’t work, bye. If he is a starting QB he would be a major steal.

Jets don’t really have many options right now. This is a fairly cheap one with little down side

flynn might work out for us but ,...i doubt it :frown:
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Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Antonio Cromartie hopes the team does not make many changes on defense but finds some solutions on offense.“I think a lot of people look at our offense and they’re not intimidated by our offense,” Cromartie said at a Super Bowl autograph signing yesterday. “We need some guys on the outside that can be game-changers on the outside. It’s going to help having Santonio back, but I think we also need a true No. 2 guy ready to go, too.”Cromartie was the team MVP last season after fellow cornerback Darrelle Revis tore his ACL in his left knee. He spent last week in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl.

Cromartie heard the reports about the Jets entertaining the possibility of trading away Revis. Cromartie hopes the team keeps Revis and the rest of the secondary intact. Both safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell are scheduled to be free agents in March.“I think as a team we would love to have [Revis] in the locker room this season,” Cromartie said. “I know I would love to have him back because I don’t want to mess up the tandem that we have between us. Not just having him back, I would like to get LaRon Landry back as well. We need somebody on the back end that can cause fear for the receivers and tight ends when they’re coming across the middle. Having those two guys as a unit and a whole, I think having us play together for the next couple of years would be great, if that could happen.”

The Jets defense will have a new leader this year with new coordinator Dennis Thurman, who has been Cromartie’s position coach for the past three years.“I think DT will do good,” Cromartie said. “He’s been part of this defense for 10 years now. I think he joined the Ravens back in 2002. I think he knows what to do. He knows the position. He plays in this game. I think from a play-calling standpoint he’ll know how to use his players and put them in the right position.”With Thurman being elevated to coordinator, the Jets hired Tim McDonald as the new defensive backs coach. Cromartie met with him this week in Florham Park.“He’s a lot like [Thurman],” Cromartei said. “[He’s] down to Earth. I think he’s going to be a great teacher for us. I think he’s going to try to help us out the best he can.”

Cromartie has had a month to think about the team’s 6-10 finish. He’s ready to see some changes for 2013.“To be honest with you, we had our ups and downs,” he said. “We weren’t consistent. I think the biggest thing for us is we have to focus in on what’s important, what we need to try to add to this team and go from there.”

> http://www.nypost.co...tm_content=Jets

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Rex's blind spot -- offense

Looking at the Jets and the NFL in our expanded, Super Bowl edition :

1. Tim-sanity: Since the season ended, we've come to learn that the relationship between Tony Sparano and Tim Tebow was strained, and that Sparano's lack of faith in Tebow was a big reason why he didn't play much, according to sources. This raises a larger issue: Where was Rex Ryan in this? Ryan gave autonomy to Sparano, just as he did with Brian Schottenheimer, but he's the head coach and he should decide playing time. Ryan's expertise is defense -- we get it -- but he'll never be a complete head coach until he takes control of the entire team.Former special-teams coach Mike Westhoff discussed this topic the other day on ESPN New York 98.7 FM, offering a candid (what else?) evaluation of Ryan in this area. "Maybe he has to be more forceful in getting his philosophy across," Westhoff said. "If he doesn't feel someone is doing it a particular way, he'd better step in there and say, 'This is what we have to do.' You can't keep going through coordinators."It's an excellent point. Ryan has tried in recent years to become more involved in the offense, but he has to do more than show his face in meetings. He needs to take charge and do it his way; time is running out.

2. The shadow of Revis: You're a disgruntled Jets fan, preparing to watch the 44th consecutive Super Bowl that doesn't include your favorite team. That's no fun, so you're wondering how Ravens-49ers can impact the Jets. Here's how: If the 49ers lose the game and their secondary gets torched by Joe Flacco, it will create a groundswell of sentiment for them to trade for CB Darrelle Revis. He'd be the proverbial missing piece.The 49ers are an aggressive team with the ammunition to pull off that kind of trade. They have a bargaining chip in backup QB Alex Smith, who, despite what owner Jed York said the other way, is done in San Francisco. They will try to trade him before April, when his $7.5 million salary becomes guaranteed. If they can't, they'll release him. The Jets surely would consider dealing Revis for Smith and a first-round pick (31st or 32nd). Unless they're willing to go heavy on QB salaries in 2013 -- remember, they're into Mark Sanchez for $8.25 million -- the Jets probably have to restructure Smith's contract. He has two years left on his deal. Keep this in mind if Flacco gets hot.

2a. Core of the Revis issue: Unless new GM John Idzik has a different philosophy than the previous administration, the Jets won't be willing to satisfy Revis' demand to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Their stance, shared by many teams, is that cornerbacks aren't worth as much as pass rushers. They'll make him the highest-paid corner (he's already close to it at $11.5 million per year), but it's hard to imagine them going into the $16 million-a-year neighborhood -- unless Idzik revamps the organization's value system.

3. Caponomics: Much has been said and written about the Jets' salary-cap plight. But are the problems really that bad? This year will be a struggle, no doubt, but they have only $5 million in guaranteed money committed to the 2014 cap, according to a source. That's when the Sanchez and Santonio Holmes guarantees will be off the books.

4. Mike-crophone Tannenbaum: Former GM Mike Tannenbaum spent the week in New Orleans, doing interview after interview on radio row. Clearly, he's angling for a job in the media. He gave scripted answers to all the tough questions, but there was a moment of candor in an interview with a Boston radio station. The hosts grilled about him the highly criticized Sanchez contract extension. "That's one of the reasons why I'm sitting here today," Tannenbaum cracked.

4a. Brad on the brain: I'm tired of hearing Tannenbaum drop Brad Smith's name every time he's asked about Tebow. The reason for the trade, he explains, is they wanted a replacement for Smith in the Wildcat. Wait a minute, when did Brad Smith become Emmitt Smith? In his final season with the Jets (2010), Smith carried the ball a grand total of 38 times. So what Tannenbaum is saying is, he was willing to live with the Tebow circus just to replace 38 carries. That's not what you call sound risk-reward management.

4b. Mad Mike: Tannenbaum also spent a lot of time defending the cap situation. In three weeks, he said, the entire world will see his space-clearing plan unfold. Plan? The Jets will clear $30 million by releasing Calvin Pace, Bart Scott, Eric Smith and Jason Smith. That would put them about $10 million under the cap, but then what? With less than 40 veterans under contract, they'd still be in a tight situation.

5. LT speaks (again): I know people are tired of hearing LaDainian Tomlinson take shots at his former team -- he's become the new Joe Namath -- but the man doesn't sugar-coat his opinions. On ESPN New York 98.7 FM, he was asked if Sanchez can snap out of his funk and become a winning QB again. Tomlinson: "Can he do it? Man, I don't think so."

6. Deer, Ray -- go away: Ravens LB Ray Lewis is an iconic player, but his act is wearing thin. Has there ever been such a legendary team leader so absorbed with himself? He's such a contradiction. Lewis has the rare ability to galvanize a team, yet he morphs into the ultimate "me" guy with his pregame "Squirrel" dance. He seemed to relish the attention from AntlerGate -- his reported use of a deer-antler spray that naturally produces a banned substance connected to HGH. Lewis denied the report. Forget Pinnochio; if Lewis' nose turns red and it starts glowing, we'll know if he's lying about the deer-antler stuff.

7. Hatched from the Parcells nest: The man behind the 49ers' success is GM Trent Baalke, who began his career as a Jets scout. He was about to give up on his football dream when he received a call from former Jets personnel man Dick Haley, who interviewed him and offered him a job. Baalke worked three years with the Jets (1998-2000), catching the eye of then-coach Bill Parcells, who was selected Saturday night to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.One thing about Parcells: He surrounded himself with talented people. Three members of scouting/personnel went on to become GMs and six assistant coaches became head coaches in the NFL and/or college.

8. Jet setters: Only eight players in Super Bowl XLVII have previous Super Bowl experience, and two of them are former Jets -- Ravens S James Ihedigbo and 49ers C Jonathan Goodwin (Saints).

9. Super Bowl on TV: Interesting nugget from "Sports on Television," a wonderfully informative book written by former ESPN producer and current Syracuse professor Dennis Deninger: Only 36 percent of American homes watched Jets-Colts in Super Bowl III -- the lowest-rated Super Bowl in history. Two days before the game, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, concerned the Super Bowl would lose its appeal because of the perceived disparity between the AFL and NFL, announced the league was considering a new postseason structure that would allow two NFL teams to meet in the Super Bowl. It was yet another insult directed toward the Jets and the AFL. Everything changed, of course, after Joe Namath got through with the Colts.

10. Enjoying the holiday: For the first time in 24 years, I'm not covering the Super Bowl. I intend to find out why America is so fascinated with Super Bowl Sunday. Pass the chicken wings, please.

> http://espn.go.com/b...nd-spot-offense

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The NFL is a copycat league, but I don't think the Ravens' 34-31 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII will spark any new trends in 2013.Let's face it, the Ravens were outplayed in some respects. I don't think GMs and coaches will look at the Ravens' winning formula and say, "That's what we need to do." After all, they were outgained by 100 yards and allowed a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers -- not recommended for consistent winning.

However, we can extract a few things from the game that can be applied to the current plight of the Jets. For instance :

nyj.gif1. All about the quarterbacks: Unlike the Jets, who have coached around Mark Sanchez for the better part of four years, the Ravens and 49ers made Joe Flacco and Colin Kaepernick the focal point of their respective offenses. They weren't game managers, they were game changers -- Flacco with his pocket passing, Kaepernick with his dual-threat skills. Kaepernick began the day with only nine career starts, but he certainly wasn't babied by coach Jim Harbaugh. On championship teams, the quarterback is the catalyst, not a complementary player. If the Jets don't feel that way about Sanchez, they need to find a new QB -- and they might.

2. Leadership matters: The Ravens were built on strong leadership, from old war horses (Ray Lewis and Ed Reed) to young, ascending stars (like Flacco). That served them well in the third quarter, when the 49ers reeled off 17 unanswered points to make it a game. Instead of panicking, the Ravens regrouped and finished the job. Every championship team has a few good men. The Jets used to have a bunch of them, but they eliminated too many leaders over the last couple of years. This should be a point of emphasis for new GM John Idzik.

3. Revis Island in the Bay area: If Darrelle Revis is put on the trading block, the 49ers should waste no time in calling the Jets. Flacco torched the 49ers' secondary for 287 yards, averaging 13 yards per completion. The secondary didn't get much help from the pass rush -- where did you go, Aldon Smith? -- and the back end wasn't up to the challenge. The 49ers did a nice job on vertical threat Torrey Smith, but they didn't have a physical corner who could bang inside with Anquan Boldin (six catches for 104 yards). He was money on third down, catching all four passes thrown to him, including a TD. Imagine if they had Revis; Harbaugh wouldn't be whining and the 49ers would be preparing for a victory parade.

4. The pistol has pop: Rex Ryan said after the season that he'd like to incorporate the "pistol" formation into the Jets' offensive repertoire. Most of the 49ers' rushing attack came out of the pistol. Unofficially, they racked up 124 of their 182 rushing yards on 20 designed rushes in which Kaepernick took a direct snap and handed off. The pistol is more unpredictable than the shotgun because the running back is directly behind the quarterback, not to his side, making it harder for the defense to anticipate which way he'll run. This would be a nice wrinkle for the Jets' ground game.

5. Defensive depth is important: Let's face it, neither team played a vintage defensive game. The Ravens and 49ers allowed a combined total of 835 yards, perhaps because fatigue was a factor. The 49ers used primarily only 13 players on defense, a remarkably low number in this era of specialization. The Ravens used 16, closer to the norm but still not an overly high number. With so many teams employing spread offenses, it's imperative that teams develop a deep defensive roster, especially on the back end.

> http://espn.go.com/b...away-from-sb-47

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