JETS NEWS for 9/1

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N.F.L. Notebook

Jets, Picking Ramsey, Deal Bollinger to Vikings

By KAREN CROUSE

Published: September 1, 2006

The Jets

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JETS TOSS BOLL

DEAL BROOKS TO VIKES FOR DT MOSLEY, PICK

By MARK CANNIZZARO

September 1, 2006 -- Prior to playing their final preseason game against the Eagles tonight, the Jets have solved their summer-long quarterback competition.

The Jets last night traded Brooks Bollinger to the Vikings for defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and an undisclosed draft pick in the 2007 draft.

So now, instead of Bollinger starting tonight's game at Giants Stadium, Patrick Ramsey will make the start and be relieved by rookie draft pick Kellen Clemens. Chad Pennington, who was announced as the starter this week, will not play in tonight's game.

The move makes sense, as the Jets were in need of defensive tackle help. They had high hopes for Tui Alailefaluela and Sioni Pouha, both defensive tackles and both out for the year. The Jets placed Alailefaluela on injured reserve Tuesday. Pouha had been put on IR during training camp.

The 23-year-old Mosley, entering his second year in the NFL, showed flashes of promise last year. Last season, Mosley, a 6-2, 314-pounder out of Missouri, had 15 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble for the Vikings.

Bollinger, who was competing with Ramsey for the No. 2 quarterback position, started nine games for the Jets last season, going 2-7 after Pennington and Jay Fiedler were lost for the season. Bollinger threw for 1,558 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Now Ramsey, the veteran the Jets acquired as insurance in case Pennington's shoulder wasn't right, will take hold of the back-up reins. Ramsey, who has taken 35 snaps this preseason, has not looked sharp with his decision making and hasn't moved the offense. Ramsey is 8-of-12 for 42 yards and has been sacked twice.

Bollinger had been 10-of-16 for 69 yards this preseason for the Jets and hadn't been sacked while rushing for 35 yards on five carries. He led the Jets on a 23-play drive in Washington that produced a field goal.

Clemens, who has a roster spot cemented, has completed 15 of 29 passes for 118 yards with one TD and one INT and four sacks. He'll likely mop up tonight.

Prior to last night's trade, Jets coach Eric Mangini toyed with the idea of keeping all four QBs. The Patriots did that in 2001, when one of them was Tom Brady. The question of who will stay and who would go was answered last night.

"Anybody in the room has an opportunity to stay with us," said Mangini before the trade announcement. "Whether it be the quarterbacks or the defensive backs, we're trying to evaluate the team as a whole and how each part fits into the other parts. The only thing cleared up right now is who the starter is."

Prior to the trade, Laveranues Coles supported Bollinger as the team's back-up quarterback.

"You always appreciate a guy who comes in and makes plays," Coles said. "There were a lot of people that didn't really think he could get the job done when he stepped in last year. He came in and did an excellent job considering the time and the reps he got in the preseason and off-season. Personally, I would want him to stay here."

Clearly, Coles didn't get his wish.

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Brooks done with Jets

QB shipped off to Vikings

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Brooks Bollinger goes from Gang Green to Purple People Eaters in trade.

In a span of 48 hours, the Jets clarified their muddled quarterback situation, first anointing Chad Pennington the starter and last night trading popular backup Brooks Bollinger to the Vikings.

It means coach Eric Mangini has decided to go with Patrick Ramsey, a disappointing offseason acquisition from the Redskins, and rookie Kellen Clemens as the two backups.

It was a frantic day of activity for Jets rookie GM Mike Tannenbaum, who consummated three trades. He began by dealing tight end Doug Jolley, one of the biggest mistakes of the Terry Bradway era, to the Bucs for an undisclosed draft pick, believed to be a sixth-rounder.

By nightfall, Tannenbaum improved the team's depth at tight end and defensive tackle. He traded a seventh-round pick for a blocking tight end, Sean Ryan, who was on the verge of being released by the Cowboys. Then, in the Bollinger deal, the Jets picked up defensive tackle C.J. Mosley, an inside pass rusher with quickness. They also received an undisclosed pick in the trade.

The moves came as no surprise, as the Jets let it be known throughout the league this week that they were willing to make deals. They may not be finished. Concerned about the right tackle and cornerback positions, the Jets continue to explore possible trades.

The Jets close the preseason tonight against the Eagles at Giants Stadium. By 4 p.m. tomorrow, their 75-man roster must be pared to 53.

Bollinger was scheduled to start the finale, but it had become apparent late Wednesday night that he was on the verge of being shipped out. In Minnesota, he has a chance to be Brad Johnson's primary backup. He likely will replace former Rutgers standout Mike McMahon, who is having a terrible preseason.

Bollinger, who went 2-7 last season as a starter, was thrown into a four-way competition in training camp. Though he never complained, he admitted the unique situation was "difficult at times."

Mangini hinted Wednesday that he might keep all four quarterbacks, but the Jets decided to unload one of their veteran insurance policies for two reasons:

Pennington's surgically repaired shoulder, a major concern at the start of camp, seems to be holding up. (The Jets' fingers are crossed.) Also, Clemens has impressed so much that he's still in contention for the No.2 job.

Some might argue that Bollinger outplayed Ramsey, but the Jets' new regime wasn't about to unload the former Redskins starter, who received a one-year contract extension before camp started. He also cost them a sixth-round choice in the trade from Washington.

Jolley's departure was a foregone conclusion, especially after his senseless unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in last week's loss to the Giants. An irked Mangini called it a "selfish" act.

A year ago, Jolley was supposed to solve the tight end problem, but he wasn't happy with his role and finished with 29 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown.

Claiming Jolley was better than any tight end in the 2005 draft, Bradway included his first-round pick in a complicated package that, in essence, brought back Jolley and a second-rounder. By doing so, the Jets missed a chance to draft Heath Miller, a budding star with the Steelers.

Ryan, a former fourth-round pick who has no career catches, probably will make the team as the third tight end, behind Chris Baker and Joel Dreessen.

Mosley, a former sixth-round pick, showed flashes last season as a rookie. He played in 12 games (two starts) and finished with 15 tackles and three sacks. The Jets are hurting for depth at tackle, although Mosley might not be a good fit in a 3-4 scheme.

Originally published on September 1, 2006

[NIGHT STALKER]

JETS

Bollinger sent away

Backup QB traded to Minnesota for DT and draft pick

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Writer

September 1, 2006

Brooks Bollinger, the mobile quarterback who gamely stepped in as a rash of injuries crippled the Jets' 2005 season, was traded to the Vikings last night in a deal that further clarified the Jets' quarterback situation while also filling a need on defense.

In exchange for the fourth-year passer, the Jets received defensive tackle C.J. Mosley along with an undisclosed draft pick. The move ended a busy day for the Jets in which they also traded tight end Doug Jolley to the Buccaneers and picked up a pair of players from the Cowboys and Titans. All of the deals are pending physicals.

Bollinger was one of four quarterbacks competing for the starting job in training camp this year under first-time coach Eric Mangini. Chad Pennington won the job, which was announced Tuesday, and that left Bollinger, veteran Patrick Ramsey and rookie Kellen Clemens to battle for the two remaining spots on the roster. Bollinger, who played sparingly in three preseason games, was expected to be the Jets' starter in tonight's preseason finale against the Eagles.

The move leaves Ramsey and Clemens to battle it out for the backup job. Clemens, a second-round pick and the Jets' future at the position, has had a better preseason than Ramsey and is the only Jets quarterback with a touchdown pass, but the veteran has experience as a starter with the Redskins. The Jets traded for Ramsey in March as an insurance policy in case Pennington was unable to return from a second rotator cuff surgery in two years. They also gave Ramsey a one-year contract extension in July.

The deal with Minnesota came together quickly. On Wednesday, the same day he strongly suggested that Bollinger would start against Philadelphia, Mangini said he would consider keeping four quarterbacks on the roster. The swap means such a decision will not have to be made before the team cuts its roster to 53 tomorrow.

Bollinger, who grew up in North Dakota and played college ball at Wisconsin, likely will be a backup to Brad Johnson.

Mosley, a sixth-round pick of the Vikings in 2005, played 12 games as a rookie and registered three sacks and 15 tackles. At 6-2, 315 pounds, he'll add beef to the Jets defensive front which has not lost a starter but has had its depth stripped by injuries.

Tui Alailefaleula and Sione Pouha are gone for the season and veteran Monsanto Pope left the team early in training camp.

Dewayne Robertson and Kimo von Oelhoffen have been sharing time in the middle of the Jets' new 3-4 defense.

Bollinger's entire career has been one of uncertainty. On Wednesday he said that experience helps him block out the distractions or fighting for roster spots and potential trades.

"It's not easy and it's something you have to learn," he said. "When you're around in this league for a while, you see it's an easy way to get yourself in trouble."

Bollinger played in 11 games - he started nine - in 2005, and threw for 1,558 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. His only other NFL game came in 2004 when he completed five of nine passes for 60 yards in a 13-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

"Brooks has proven that he can play this game," Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles said before the trade. "After you have proven that you can play this game, there's always going to be work for you, whether it's here or somewhere else."

It turned out to be the latter.

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Jets ship Bollinger

Acquire DT Mosley from Vikes in return

Friday, September 01, 2006

BY COLIN STEPHENSON

Star-Ledger Staff

Brooks Bollinger won't get another start in a Jets uniform.

A day after coach Eric Mangini suggested the quarterback would get the nod in the final preseason game tonight, the Jets last night traded him to the Minnesota Vikings for second-year defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and an undisclosed draft pick.

The move solidifies the quarterback position for the Jets while acquiring a player who will help them shore up one of the weakest areas on the team.

In the end, Bollinger, 26, was a victim of a numbers squeeze. The fourth-year pro started nine games for the Jets last season after starter Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler went down with season-ending injuries.

First, veteran Patrick Ramsey came over in an off-season trade from Washington to compete with Pennington for the starting job. He later signed a contract extension, making him an unlikely cut. Next, the Jets made Kellen Clemens a second-round selection in the draft. So far, he has been the second-best quarterback in the preseason behind Pennington, making him a lock to make the 53-man roster.

Mosely, meanwhile, was caught in a numbers game of his own in Minnesota, where the Vikings are deep on the defensive line.

A sixth-round pick out of Missouri last year, the 6-2, 314-pounder had three sacks and 19 tackles in just seven games as a rookie. With the Jets, Mosley, 23, will likely step immediately into the playing rotation at nose tackle, and could eventually challenge current starter Dewayne Robertson for the starting job.

The acquisition of Bollinger is bad news for former Rutgers quarterback Mike McMahon, who signed with the Vikings this off-season to back up starter Brad Johnson.

McMahon, 27, has been pressed from behind by exciting rookie Tarvaris Jackson and didn't seem to respond particularly well. Entering last night's game against the Dallas Cowboys, McMahon had completed just 4 of 16 passes and thrown an interception.

In contrast, Bollinger, who threw for 1,438 yards and had seven touchdowns and six interceptions last season, had completed 10-of-16 passes and had no interceptions in two preseason games with the Jets.

With Bollinger now out of the picture, Ramsey and Clemens are left to battle one-on-one tonight for the right to be No. 2.

When Mangini officially named Pennington the starter on Tuesday, he said Pennington would not play tonight against Philadelphia.

Ramsey, a starter for parts of three seasons in Washington and the starter for the Redskins in their first game last season, had an inconsistent training camp and has not gotten much playing time in the preseason.

Clemens, who struggled early in camp, completed 15-of-29 passes (51.7 percent) for 118 yards and a touchdown -- the Jets' only passing touchdown of the preseason -- with an interception.

[NIGHT STALKER]

JOLLEY'S BOUND FOR BUCS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

September 1, 2006 -- The Jets finally rid themselves of enigmatic and unproductive tight end Doug Jolley, trading him to the Buccaneers yesterday for an undisclosed draft pick.

Meanwhile, the Jets acquired tight end Sean Ryan from the Cowboys for an undisclosed draft pick and claimed receiver Sloan Thomas off waivers from the Titans.

Jolley, 6-4, 250, was acquired by the Jets on April 24, 2005 after spending three seasons with Oakland. The Jets traded a first-round draft pick for Jolley and also got a draft pick, which they used to select kicker Mike Nugent.

Jolley, in his fifth season, originally entered the NFL in 2002 as the Raiders' second round draft pick, 55th overall. Jolley has played in 63 career games, and recorded 119 receptions for 1,296 yards and six touchdowns. He caught only 29 passes and scored only one TD with the Jets last season and was known more for his poor blocking, suspect hands and soft play.

Ironically, in last week's preseason game against the Giants, Jolley was called for a late hit out of bounds on Sam Madison. It might have been his most aggressive play as a Jet.

Ryan, 6-5, 265, is in his third year in the NFL after being drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2004 Draft, 144th overall. He has played in nine games with two starts.

*

When it was suggested that with the last preseason game ahead, there was "light at the end of the tunnel," Laveranues Coles said, "I was informed that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The last time I checked, there is no light, so just put your head down and keep working. [The media] will probably see the light before we will, so when you see it you come tell me."

At the start of camp, Jets coach Eric Mangini told the players there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Coles, asked if the players had asked Mangini to lighten the workload at camp this summer, said: "I don't have anything to say. I just come to work and I do what I'm told to do and I leave it like that. My opinion stays in here with me and the guys. My relationship with my teammates is what I value. Whatever they all decide together, I stick behind them 110 percent. If they decide not to say anything then we don't say anything. If they do, I'm willing, whatever they decide."

[NIGHT STALKER]

TE Jolley is traded to Bucs

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Writer

September 1, 2006

Doug Jolley yesterday became the latest disappointing tight end to land in Tampa Bay. The trade for an undisclosed draft pick was one of three roster moves the Jets made on the eve of their preseason finale. The Jets also claimed wide receiver Sloan Thomas off waivers from Tennessee and acquired tight end Sean Ryan from the Cowboys for another undisclosed draft pick.

Jolley was acquired from the Raiders along with a second-round pick just prior to the 2005 draft. That allowed Jets starter Anthony Becht to sign with the Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent. The Jets gave up their first-round pick in that draft for Jolley, a pricetag Jets fans recalled with every dropped pass. Jolley's stats in 2005 were nearly identical to his career numbers - he caught 29 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown compared with an average of 30 receptions for 324 yards and 1.6 touchdowns in three years with Oakland, but he never lived up to his potential.

The progress of Chris Baker, who drew praise from coach Eric Mangini this week, along with the addition of veteran Walter Rasby, made Jolley expendable. He did little to endear himself to Jets coaches when he drew a penalty flag for head-butting Giants cornerback Sam Madison in last week's preseason game.

Thomas, who was a college teammate of Titans quarterback Vince Young at Texas, played in one game in 2005 without catching a pass. The Jets have depth at wide receiver, but Tim Dwight has missed a week with a leg injury and Justin McCareins has been involved in trade talks despite apparently emerging from Mangini's doghouse.

[NIGHT STALKER]

Flip-flop: Jolley dealt to Bucs

Friday, September 01, 2006

BY COLIN STEPHENSON

Star-Ledger Staff

Monday, coach Eric Mangini went out of his way to rip tight end Doug Jolley for what the coach called a "selfish" 15-yard penalty Jolley committed against the Giants in last Friday's 13-7 preseason loss. Yesterday, Jolley, a disappointment since the Jets acquired him from the Oakland Raiders last year, was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft choice.

The Jets replaced Jolley on their roster by trading an undisclosed draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys for TE Sean Ryan, and they also claimed WR Sloan Thomas off waivers from the Tennessee Titans, whom the Jets will play in their season opener Sept. 10.

The Jets sent their first-round draft pick in 2005 and Minnesota's seventh-rounder that year to Oakland in exchange for Jolley, Houston's second-round pick in 2005, and two sixth-rounders that year. The Jets used that second-round pick, No. 47 overall, to take kicker Mike Nugent. One of the sixth-rounders was used to take RB Cedric Houston.

The 6-4, 250-pound Jolley was an immediate disappointment, and ended up losing his starting job halfway through the season to Chris Baker. He had 29 catches for 324 yards and one touchdown in 2005, though that one touchdown was a 60-yarder from Brooks Bollinger. This preseason, Jolley had just one catch, for 2 yards, in three games. A second-round pick by Oakland in 2002, he goes to Tampa with career totals of 119 catches for 1,296 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons.

Ryan, 26, was a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys in 2004 and he played in nine games in two seasons, starting two. The 6-5, 265-pounder has zero career catches, but had one catch, for 5 yards, this preseason.

Thomas, a seventh-round pick in 2004 by Tennessee, played one game for the Titans last season, making two tackles on special teams.

Ray Mickens, who played his first nine seasons with the Jets before signing with Cleveland last season after the Jets cut him in training camp, enters tonight firmly on the bubble to make the 53-man roster. Mickens, 33, has seen extremely limited playing time this preseason.

[NIGHT STALKER]

Barlow ready to aim higher

The Jets' final preseason game might be meaningless to most people, but not to Kevan Barlow, who likely will see significant action tonight against the Eagles at the Meadowlands.

Barlow, acquired Aug. 20 in a trade with the 49ers, hopes to make a better showing than he did last week in his Jets debut. After only one full practice, he faced the Giants and rushed only three times for 11 yards, losing a fumble on his second carry. He also committed a holding penalty.

"I'll try to get out there and get some camaraderie with the fellas, so I can understand what I'm doing," Barlow said. "Last week, I was thrown out to the wolves."

Barlow probably didn't arrive in time to win the starting job by opening day - Derrick Blaylock will likely get the nod - but he's still expected to be a significant factor in the backfield. Coach Eric Mangini could use Blaylock and Barlow as a 1-2 punch.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I'm going to be Curtis Martin," Barlow said. "He set a high expectation around here. I'm just going to play hard. Hopefully, I can help this team win some games."

WAIVE HELLO: The Jets acquired WR Sloan Thomas on waivers from the Titans. He played in one game last season, recording two special teams tackles. He will compete for the fifth spot at wideout.

START IT UP: The Jets' starters, minus QB Chad Pennington, will see limited action tonight. Now that Brooks Bollinger has been traded to the Vikings, Patrick Ramsey and Kellen Clemens will split the quarterbacking. In a sense, they'll be auditioning for the No.2 job, although it's hard to imagine the Jets using a rookie in that role early in the season.

Eagles coach Andy Reid usually doesn't play his starters in the final game.

JUST IN: WR Justin McCareins, once thought to be a goner, apparently will be staying. He attracted some interest, but his salary ($2.2 million) was too rich for those teams....The final cuts are tomorrow. Several veterans are on the bubble, including CB Ray Mickens, RB Cedric Houston, TE Walter Rasby, FB Jamar Martin and DB Derrick Strait....The offense has scored only two touchdowns in the preseason.

[NIGHT STALKER]

For starters, Barlow out to prove he's the one

Friday, September 01, 2006

BY COLIN STEPHENSON

Star-Ledger Staff

It's almost heresy to talk about someone trying to replace Curtis Martin, but somebody is going to have to play running back for the Jets in the season opener Sept. 10 and the 15 games that follow. If Kevan Barlow wants to be that guy, tonight would be a good time to make a statement.

"I'm going to go out there and do what Kevan does best, and that's play hard," Barlow said yesterday, pointing toward the Jets' final preseason game tonight at Giants Stadium against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm going to be the next Curtis Martin -- he set a high ex pectation (level) around here, I see, so I have to try to live up to that."

Before Barlow worries about living up to the standards set by Mar tin, the NFL's all-time fourth-leading rusher who will miss at least the first six games of the season while on the physically unable-to- perform list, he should just try to improve on his first appearance in a Jets uniform.

Playing against the Giants just five days after the Jets traded an undisclosed draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for him, Barlow fumbled the football on his second carry. He ended up gaining 11 yards on three carries, but figures to get much more playing time to night.

Barlow is in a three-way battle with Derrick Blaylock and Cedric Houston to nail down the starting job, and is way behind the other two, who have had the entire training camp to learn coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's offense.

Blaylock has looked good in each of the past two games, gain ing 35 yards on nine carries against the Giants and 46 on 10 carries against the Redskins. Through the first three games of the preseason, Blaylock leads the team with 93 yards on 25 carries, while Houston -- who started four games last season with Martin and Blaylock in jured -- is right behind with 70 yards on 19 carries.

But Barlow, 27, has a more extensive r

[NIGHT STALKER]

Mangini Has Confidence in Rhodes’s Word Game

By MICHAEL WEINREB

Published: September 1, 2006

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Aug. 30 — For all of his obvious success this preseason, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes will measure his progress in his verbiage at least as much as in his physicality. And that might not be such a bad thing for a player who has seemingly never lacked the confidence to speak his mind.

Rhodes, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville, stepped right into the Jets’ secondary as a rookie last season, starting all 16 games and finishing the season with 85 solo tackles. While the Jets’ depth chart remains a closely guarded secret, Rhodes has already won praise from Coach Eric Mangini, who informed him that he would be relied upon to call out signals and recognize coverages even more than he did last season, as part of the team’s new defensive system.

“It’s a little different,” Rhodes said. “The main thing is that the words he uses are different. It’s just a matter of getting the terminology right.”

Amid a locker room thick with uncertainty, with cuts to 53 players from 75 pending and with nearly every position still up in the air, according to Mangini, Rhodes is one player whose job appears safe. Mangini singled him out earlier in training camp, praising his progress. And despite spending a harrowing few moments on the Giants Stadium turf after a tackle on Giants running back Brandon Jacobs during Friday night’s exhibition game, Rhodes had another strong performance, recording six tackles and a sack.

“With a new coach, you never know what he’s thinking,” Rhodes said.

More important than his numbers are his words. Rhodes said he had already spoken to Mangini about what he could do to improve, about how he could elevate his game and become one of the league’s better safeties. Mangini told him of the great safeties he had worked with in the past, most notably Rodney Harrison in New England, where Mangini was defensive backs coach from 2000-4 and defensive coordinator last season. He also told Rhodes that, in the end, it would come down to communication.

“I can still get better with it, every play, calling stuff out before it happens,” Rhodes said. “Any defensive back has got to be a great communicator. If things break down there in the back, you’re in trouble.”

So many of the adjustments heading into Rhodes’s second season have been mental. The word cut, for instance, means something different in this season’s scheme than it did last season, he said.

But that does not mean that Rhodes can ignore his physical self, either. Late last season, he said, he hit the rookie wall. So he spent the off-season building his strength and working on his conditioning. He came in nearly 10 pounds heavier.

Although the Jets finished dismally, Rhodes said he could feel himself developing throughout each game.

Against Miami late in the season, there was a moment, he said, when he and the defensive backs coach, Corwin Brown, felt he broke through. On that play, the Jets shifted into a dime defense, and cornerback David Barrett entered the game. Barrett was unsure of his assignment, so Rhodes spoke up and told him what to do.

“Coach Brown told me to remember that play, to take that into this year,” Rhodes said. “That’s how you do it.”

[NIGHT STALKER]

5 QUESTIONS FOR

WAYNE CHREBET

September 1, 2006 -- This week, NYP TV Sports' Andrew Marchand spoke with former Jet Wayne Chrebet. Chrebet, 33, will work as an analyst on some of SportsNet NY's Sunday Jet postgame shows.

Q: How is retirement treating you?

A: I certainly miss football. I'm spending a lot of time with my family and looking forward to going on with the next part of my life.

I haven't been around training camp. From a distance, I've been watching what has been going on with the changes. Obviously, it would have been something I would want to be a part of. I miss the guys. I miss the camaraderie in the locker room. I miss pretty much every aspect of it.

Q: How is your health in terms of dealing with the concussions?

A: I'm still battling the effects from it. But I'm not going to focus on it. In a weird way, it is something you get used to.

Q: What kind of things do you have to deal with?

A: I don't really want to go into detail about it. It has been documented that I have post-concussion syndrome.

Q: In terms of doing TV, why did you want to work with SNY? Did you have any offers from CBS, Fox, ESPN or any other outlets?

A: I had a couple of opportunities. I met with the guys at SNY. They felt it was a good match. I thought I would try it, see how I like it.

I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about [other offers.] There were always offers, even while I was playing, if it were during a bye week or during the playoffs. It was not something I wanted to do then. Now, I'll start small and see how I like it.

Q: How do you think the Jets will do?

A: I've definitely seen some progress in the preseason. With a head-coaching change and personnel changes, sometimes it takes a little time to adjust, sometimes it doesn't.

I think they could surprise some people. From what I read, not many people have high hopes for them, but I know the kind of personalities and character they have in that locker room.

[NIGHT STALKER]

3 THINGS TO WATCH FOR IN JETS VS. EAGLES

Friday, September 01, 2006

1. WHICH QB WILL STAND OUT IN THE BATTLE FOR THE BACKUP JOB? Now that Brooks Bollinger has been traded to the Vikings, the backup spot will come down to Patrick Ramsey and rookie Kellen Clemens. Clemens is the front-runner to win the No. 2 job.

2. ARE THERE ANY DECENT PLAYERS ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE? Despite picking up DT C.J. Mosley in the Bollinger trade, the rest of the D-linemen need to step up to convince the Jets that they don't need to add a veteran after teams make their final roster trims tomorrow?

3. HOW WILL FIRST-ROUND PICK D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON RESPOND AFTER HIS TWO-FALSE START PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE GIANTS? The rookie left tackle the Jets selected instead of Matt Leinart sure would like to finish the preseason with a clean, crisp performance.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO SEE ... Coach Eric Mangini play his starters longer than usual. Usually, starters only play one or two series at most in the fourth preseason game. But Mangini still has some issues to resolve, namely, who is the starting RB and who is the backup QB? He might want to see how RB Kevan Barlow looks behind the first-string O-line.

ONE MORE THING: For the record, the Jets are 15-11 against the Eagles in preseason, but 0-7 against them in the regular season. Don't expect the Eagles to be trying too hard.

[SoFlaJets]

I like how JFF has resumed his role (that he manned at another board) of posting the morning articles-I hereby officially nominate him for one of the moderator slots

[NIGHT STALKER]

No way Jose...but, thanks anyway SFJ. I'm only doing this as a favor for Spermy until he gets back.