Jets News 11-11-11

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Midseason player poll: Ryan, Tomlin voted favorite coaches

Staff report Sporting News

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With half the season finished, Sporting News’ network of correspondents asked 111 players from 31 teams everything you want to know about what has happened—and will happen—in the 2011 season.

As always in our midseason poll, players were not allowed to name their team, teammates or head coach for any of their answers.

When Mike Tomlin speaks, players listen. And the way he speaks makes him appealing to players. Tomlin and Rex Ryan are No. 1 with the guys who go between the lines each week. (AP Photo)

Which coach (other than your own) would you most like to play for?

Rex Ryan, New York Jets—22

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers—22

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots—11

Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers—11

Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers—8

Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers—5

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints—5

John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens—4

Hue Jackson, Oakland Raiders—3

Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—3

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans—2

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers—2

12 coaches received one vote

“Rex Ryan. I just like the way [the Jets] play. It’s a wide-open defense. It’s organized violence. I like to watch them, Pittsburgh, Baltimore with all the movement they do. They just get after you.”—Colts DE Robert Mathis

“Rex Ryan. I was around him when he was with Baltimore. He’s like the coaches I have here, a great motivator.”—Chiefs NT Kelly Gregg

“Rex Ryan. He’s a very player-oriented coach. He knows how to get the most out of his players, and he runs a great style of defense. He coaches with a lot of emotion and that’s what you want. I like that.”—NFC defensive player

“Mike Tomlin. He just seems like a guy who always knows how to fire up his players. He seems like a guy whose players always want to play for him. And I get that. It’s what I see from coach Smith (Bears head coach Lovie) and coach Marinelli (Bears defensive coordinator Rod). And I hope I will always have a chance to play for coaches like that.”—Bears CB Charles Tillman

“(Tomlin) is definitely a players coach, but at the same time it’s not like by any means he is close to being a pushover. He demands the most from his players and he gets it. He demands respect. He’s one of those guys that when he stands up and talks, everybody listens—a great public speaker. He always says the right thing.”—Bears tight end and former Steeler Matt Spaeth

“(Tomlin) has been in the league for three or four years and he’s already been in two Super Bowls.

He was the youngest coach to ever win. That’s just impressive.”—Redskins DE Adam Carriker

“Being a fan of the game, you respect what Bill Belichick has done. You would be fortunate to play for a guy like that. Anybody who has had the success that he has had ... as a player, you would love to soak up that knowledge.”—Cowboys TE Jason Witten

“I think (McCarthy) brings a lot of energy to the team. He got them into the winning habit, and he

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2011-11/players-poll/story/midseason-player-poll-ryan-tomlin-voted-favorite-coaches#ixzz1dQcxOxgn

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Passing to a Revolving Door

Has the Jets' Ever-Changing Corps of Wide Receivers Stunted Sanchez's Growth?

By MIKE SIELSKI

Associated Press

Mark Sanchez has thrown to several receivers in his short career.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—Since drafting Mark Sanchez in 2009, the Jets have committed themselves to riding out all the growing pains that accompany starting such a young quarterback. At first glance, though, they seem to have a funny way of showing their support for him.

New York Jets/Getty Images

Derrick Mason

If a quarterback's maturation depends at all on his cultivating synchronicity with the men who catch his passes, one could argue that the Jets' constant turnover at wide receiver already might have stunted Sanchez's progress. Over Sanchez's three seasons with them, the Jets have made a habit of bringing in veteran wideouts with just one or two years remaining on their contracts: Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, Derrick Mason. Two of those four receivers (Edwards and Mason) no longer play for the team. One of them, Mason, was with the Jets for just three months before they traded him. And among the four, only Holmes has received a multi-year deal since joining the organization.

The average NFL wide receiver has 2.72 years of tenure with his current team, according to Stats LLC, and none of the top three wideouts now on the Jets' roster—Holmes, Burress and rookie Jeremy Kerley—has been with them longer than a year and a half.

"Obviously, you bring in somebody new to your system, there is an adjustment period," head coach Rex Ryan said.

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Associated Press

Santonio Holmes

But while the Jets wait for Sanchez to blossom, they have been willing to sacrifice some of the comfort that he might have developed had he spent his entire three-year career with the same receivers. Instead, they've elected to try to increase their talent supply at the position, hoping that even the short-term addition of highly skilled receivers will accelerate Sanchez's improvement—which is a common trade-off when team-building in the NFL.

"You try to get the best players, and continuity will take care of itself," said former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, who now analyzes the league for CBS. "Continuity is worthless if the guys aren't any good. What good is it if the guy's there every day and he can't get open?"

Getty Images

Jerricho Cotchery

It's easy to pinpoint the moment that the Jets' wide-receiver turnstile started swinging: Oct. 4, 2009, the fourth week of Ryan's and Sanchez's first season. Chansi Stuckey and Jerricho Cotchery started that day in a 24-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints that dropped the Jets' record to 3-1 and accented one of the team's primary weaknesses on offense. The pair combined for five catches; actually, Cotchery had all five. "They didn't have any speed at the receiver position," Casserly said, and the pair's inability to beat tight man-to-man coverage was clearly apparent.

Later that week, the Jets traded two players (including Stuckey) and two draft picks to the Cleveland Browns for Edwards, whose production had fallen off since his breakout season in 2007 when he piled up 1,289 receiving yards.

Since then, the Jets have sought "the right players at the right price," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. In 2010, they traded a fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh for Holmes, the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLIII. Then this year, they allowed Edwards to sign a free-agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers and inked Burress to a one-year contract after he had served 20 months in prison for gun possession. They released Cotchery before this season, confident that Kerley, a fifth-round pick from TCU, could replace him as slot receiver.

"In a perfect world, you would have your team, and it would be set in stone for three years, and we'd kick our feet up on the desk and watch Mark get better," Tannenbaum said. "The reality is there's going to be a transient nature to it. But the point is very well taken: Is it sustainable to keep 'renting' these players?"

Edwards (who has played in four games) and Cotchery (who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers) have just 14 combined receptions this season. Kerley alone has 13, so it's difficult to argue that their departures have damaged the Jets' offense. Tannenbaum also noted that the franchise has seen and will see fewer changes at other offensive positions during Sanchez's career: Running back Shonn Greene and tight end Dustin Keller, each of whom has been with the Jets at least as long as Sanchez has, are signed through next season, and the team's top seven offensive linemen are under contract for 2012.

As quantified by conventional statistics, Sanchez's play has improved, steadily if marginally, since the beginning of his rookie season. His receivers, meanwhile, have experienced fits and starts of production. Only after Burress's three-TD performance against San Diego on Oct. 23 did Sanchez say, "We're finally starting to hit our groove." In 2010, Holmes didn't surpass 100 receiving yards until his fourth game and didn't score a touchdown until his fifth, and he has caught just 25 passes through eight games this season. When asked last week whether he was happy with his role on the team, Holmes dodged the question, telling reporters: "We're here winning ballgames right now."

That mini-kerfuffle, of course, raised a more disconcerting possibility for the Jets: that Sanchez never develops a lasting rapport with any of his receivers. To Casserly, that prospect is unlikely, though he did say that Sanchez lacks the innate skill set that Giants quarterback Eli Manning possesses.

"There's a clear difference in talent level between the two of them," he said, "but I think Sanchez has done a lot of good things. People have to remember: This kid's only in his third year. If I was the Jets and I had him, I'd be happy. And if you don't have him, where are you?"

Write to Mike Sielski at mike.sielski@wsj.com

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Passing to a Revolving Door

Has the Jets' Ever-Changing Corps of Wide Receivers Stunted Sanchez's Growth?

By MIKE SIELSKI

Associated Press

Mark Sanchez has thrown to several receivers in his short career.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—Since drafting Mark Sanchez in 2009, the Jets have committed themselves to riding out all the growing pains that accompany starting such a young quarterback. At first glance, though, they seem to have a funny way of showing their support for him.

New York Jets/Getty Images

Derrick Mason

If a quarterback's maturation depends at all on his cultivating synchronicity with the men who catch his passes, one could argue that the Jets' constant turnover at wide receiver already might have stunted Sanchez's progress. Over Sanchez's three seasons with them, the Jets have made a habit of bringing in veteran wideouts with just one or two years remaining on their contracts: Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, Derrick Mason. Two of those four receivers (Edwards and Mason) no longer play for the team. One of them, Mason, was with the Jets for just three months before they traded him. And among the four, only Holmes has received a multi-year deal since joining the organization.

The average NFL wide receiver has 2.72 years of tenure with his current team, according to Stats LLC, and none of the top three wideouts now on the Jets' roster—Holmes, Burress and rookie Jeremy Kerley—has been with them longer than a year and a half.

"Obviously, you bring in somebody new to your system, there is an adjustment period," head coach Rex Ryan said.

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Associated Press

Santonio Holmes

But while the Jets wait for Sanchez to blossom, they have been willing to sacrifice some of the comfort that he might have developed had he spent his entire three-year career with the same receivers. Instead, they've elected to try to increase their talent supply at the position, hoping that even the short-term addition of highly skilled receivers will accelerate Sanchez's improvement—which is a common trade-off when team-building in the NFL.

"You try to get the best players, and continuity will take care of itself," said former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, who now analyzes the league for CBS. "Continuity is worthless if the guys aren't any good. What good is it if the guy's there every day and he can't get open?"

Getty Images

Jerricho Cotchery

It's easy to pinpoint the moment that the Jets' wide-receiver turnstile started swinging: Oct. 4, 2009, the fourth week of Ryan's and Sanchez's first season. Chansi Stuckey and Jerricho Cotchery started that day in a 24-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints that dropped the Jets' record to 3-1 and accented one of the team's primary weaknesses on offense. The pair combined for five catches; actually, Cotchery had all five. "They didn't have any speed at the receiver position," Casserly said, and the pair's inability to beat tight man-to-man coverage was clearly apparent.

Later that week, the Jets traded two players (including Stuckey) and two draft picks to the Cleveland Browns for Edwards, whose production had fallen off since his breakout season in 2007 when he piled up 1,289 receiving yards.

Since then, the Jets have sought "the right players at the right price," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. In 2010, they traded a fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh for Holmes, the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLIII. Then this year, they allowed Edwards to sign a free-agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers and inked Burress to a one-year contract after he had served 20 months in prison for gun possession. They released Cotchery before this season, confident that Kerley, a fifth-round pick from TCU, could replace him as slot receiver.

"In a perfect world, you would have your team, and it would be set in stone for three years, and we'd kick our feet up on the desk and watch Mark get better," Tannenbaum said. "The reality is there's going to be a transient nature to it. But the point is very well taken: Is it sustainable to keep 'renting' these players?"

Edwards (who has played in four games) and Cotchery (who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers) have just 14 combined receptions this season. Kerley alone has 13, so it's difficult to argue that their departures have damaged the Jets' offense. Tannenbaum also noted that the franchise has seen and will see fewer changes at other offensive positions during Sanchez's career: Running back Shonn Greene and tight end Dustin Keller, each of whom has been with the Jets at least as long as Sanchez has, are signed through next season, and the team's top seven offensive linemen are under contract for 2012.

As quantified by conventional statistics, Sanchez's play has improved, steadily if marginally, since the beginning of his rookie season. His receivers, meanwhile, have experienced fits and starts of production. Only after Burress's three-TD performance against San Diego on Oct. 23 did Sanchez say, "We're finally starting to hit our groove." In 2010, Holmes didn't surpass 100 receiving yards until his fourth game and didn't score a touchdown until his fifth, and he has caught just 25 passes through eight games this season. When asked last week whether he was happy with his role on the team, Holmes dodged the question, telling reporters: "We're here winning ballgames right now."

That mini-kerfuffle, of course, raised a more disconcerting possibility for the Jets: that Sanchez never develops a lasting rapport with any of his receivers. To Casserly, that prospect is unlikely, though he did say that Sanchez lacks the innate skill set that Giants quarterback Eli Manning possesses.

"There's a clear difference in talent level between the two of them," he said, "but I think Sanchez has done a lot of good things. People have to remember: This kid's only in his third year. If I was the Jets and I had him, I'd be happy. And if you don't have him, where are you?"

Write to Mike Sielski at mike.sielski@wsj.com

Been saying it for months. Glad someone in the media finally mentions it.

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Patriots Make Revis Human

The Jets' Cornerback Has Not Dominated New England; Welker's Big Impact

By CHRIS HERRING

Jets coach Rex Ryan has often lavished praise on Darrelle Revis, his star cornerback, saying he believes the defensive back will go down as the greatest player in the history of the franchise.

Enlarge Image

Getty Images

New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker hauls in a long catch past Darrelle Revis during the third quarter of their Week 5 matchup.

Against the franchise's greatest rival, though, Revis's star hasn't shined quite as brightly.

The Patriots—who will match up with the Jets in a clash between division-leading clubs this Sunday night—have seemingly found a way to limit the All-Pro corner's impact in games.

Statistically, Revis has been only slightly better than average against New England since he came into the NFL in 2007. New England quarterbacks have posted a 72.6 rating over that five-year span when targeting Revis, according to Stats LLC.

While that number is not bad by anyone's standards, it's unusually mortal for Revis. It's considerably higher than the 53.1 he's allowed over his career and it's nowhere near as good as the league-leading and other-worldly 12.1 rating he's allowed this season, according to analysis site

Pro Football Focus.

Part of the Patriots' success against Revis likely stems from the fact that they have an unconventional No. 1 receiver. Unlike most teams' top targets, New England's Wes Welker plays mostly in the slot position.

That often forces Revis, if he's defending Welker, to position himself in the middle of the field rather than near the sideline, where he almost always lines up to cover other top receivers.

Ryan acknowledged it's probably easier and more natural for Revis and other corners to cover receivers who play to the outside.

"In the slot, it's harder to get your hands on [those receivers]. There is more area for them to escape in, and all that kind of stuff," said Ryan, who often likes to move his corners onto different wideouts from one play to the next. "But Revis is pretty darn good [defending the slot receiver] as well."

Indeed, Revis has held his own for the most part when matched up with Welker, according to Stats.

He's been targeted 11 times through seven contests and allowed just six catches. But one of those catches, a 73-yarder that led to a key touchdown last month, played an enormous role in the Patriots' 30-21 over the Jets last month.

Despite Welker's limited success head-to-head against Revis, he's still been a thorn in New York's side—perhaps because Ryan opts against putting Revis on Welker each play (to be sure, Revis often covered New England's Randy Moss from 2007 until last year). Welker has more catches (seven) and receiving yards per game (88.1) against the Jets than any other player since the Jets drafted Revis five years ago, according to Stats.

The fact that he's posted such numbers has been a boon for the Pats, as they seem to have found a formula to be able to throw on the Jets without having to take shots at their most dangerous defensive player. Sometimes that's a function of setting multiple crossing routes that essentially serve as a screen to free up Welker.

Other times, according to New York defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the Patriots are simply taking advantage of the fact that they're blessed with five players—including tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowksi and running back Danny Woodhead—who challenge Revis and the rest of the secondary.

"There's a potential mismatch at every spot," he said. "They're so good at identifying, scanning the field, saying, 'OK, where's my mismatch? There it is.' And [Tom] Brady is the best at exploiting it."

The Welker matchup could be more difficult for Revis because slot receivers are used to more contact at the line than outside wideouts are. They often have to fight through linebackers and players that have considerable size advantages to get into their routes.

"As a slot guy, you look forward to when a No. 1 corner has to cover you, because it's so much different," said Jeremy Kerley, the Jets' rookie slot man. "When you get a corner who's used to playing 10 yards off someone as opposed to three yards—like they have to in the slot—it's a big transition for them."

Revis said the biggest challenge with defending the Patriots both personally and as a unit, is their athletes.

"They just have a lot of personnel groupings and they mix guys up well. In some formations, [the tight end] Hernandez might be lined up as a receiver," Revis said. "You've got to figure the puzzle out. And as a secondary, we've been watching film all week, trying to figure out that puzzle."

New York's Nemesis

Since Darrelle Revis has been with the Jets, here are the opposing receivers with the highest yards per game average against New York. Player Y/G G TD Catches Wes Welker 88.1 8 3 56 Brandon Marshall 86.5 4 2 23 Anquan Boldin 85.7 3 1 18 Jason Witten 82.0 2 1 10 Todd Heap 74.0 2 1 13 Aaron Hernandez 69.3 3 1 14 Chris Chambers 64.0 2 1 7 Randy Moss 60.9 8 5 34 Eddie Royal 60.6 2 1 8 Miles Austin 60.0 2 1 7

Source: Stats LLC

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Rex Ryan likens Jets-Patriots to Ali-Frazier

Published: Friday, November 11, 2011, 2:16 PM Updated: Friday, November 11, 2011, 2:19 PM

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

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William Perlman/The Star-LedgerRex Ryan said the Jets and Patriots have a lot of "great fights," except for last year's "Monday Night Massacre."

Rex Ryan used a boxing analogy to capture the intensity of the rivalry between the Jets and Patriots: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier.

"It ought to be a great game," the Jets coach said at his press conference today. "It’s almost like Ali-Frazier, one of those type of things."

Ryan said he remembered the trio of fights between the boxers from his childhood. Asked why he chose that analogy, Ryan said, "I just brought it up."

"Those were great fights," Ryan said. "I remember that growing up and things, so hopefully this can be that kind of game and hopefully we end up on top. Whether we’re Ali or Frazier, I don’t know."

Ryan said Jets-Patriots games have been "great fights" as well.

"The only one that was horrible was that Monday night massacre where we got knocked out, in the first round," Ryan said. "But usually that’s, you have two good teams going at it."

The Jets have been somewhat quiet this week, staying away from the trash talk that has come out of Florham Park in years past. Outside linebacker Calvin Pace did refer to the Patriots as the "evil Empire."

"Yeah, why not?" Ryan said with a shrug.

Pace said he actually wanted the Patriots to beat the Giants "so hopefully they'd be looking past us." Instead, New England's loss dropped them into a three-way tie with the Bills and Jets atop the AFC East and handed them their second straight loss.

"They’ve just been so good for so long that people can’t fathom that they could lose two games in a row," Pace said. "We just have to carry it on, get them a third loss."

Pace emphasized the importance of pressuring Tom Brady, as the Steelers and Giants did in their wins against New England.

"You’ve got to figure, the patriots since the first Super Bowl until now, they have been good for a long time, and they’ve had guys in place for a long time, to where to a certain degree I think (Brady) is surprised he gets hit," Pace said. "I would, if I’d been clean for 10 years, and I’m picking myself up like, 'Man, I ain't been hit this much.' I think teams have done a good job of kind of taking what we've done, as far as taking his timing away from him and hitting him."

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Why Patriots will win the AFC East

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

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By James Walker

Greg M. Cooper/US PresswireWhy will the Patriots win the AFC East? It starts with their Super Bowl winning quarterback.

Here's an opening statement you can take to the bank: The New England Patriots will win the AFC East.

I've mostly stayed away from predictions all season. But so many people are jumping off the New England bandwagon, I thought I would offer this one-time public service announcement.

The changing of the guard hasn't happened yet in the AFC East. This is still the "Belichick and Brady" division.

Many are fooled by New England's rare, two-game losing streak. But many will feel foolish in January when the Patriots are back atop the AFC East, fulfilling preseason expectations.

New England (5-3), the Buffalo Bills (5-3) and New York Jets (5-3) are in a three-way tie for first place. Most are picking the Jets. Some like the Bills. But too many are writing off the Patriots.

Here are several reasons why that is a big mistake:

1. Quarterback Tom Brady

Quarterbacking is king in the NFL. The Patriots have Tom Brady on their sideline. The Jets and Bills do not.

The quarterback gap is extremely wide in the AFC East. Brady is in that elite first tier, and everyone else is at least a couple notches lower. That favors New England over a 16-game season.

Brady hasn't played up to his usual elite status the past two weeks. But that won't last. He will get in rhythm again, and it could start as early as this weekend against the Jets.

Brady is the biggest factor separating New England from the AFC East pack. He's thrown for 2,703 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and has a 100.0 passer rating. Mark Sanchez proved earlier this season he cannot carry the Jets on his back by throwing 40 times a game. Fitzpatrick is very streaky and still has a lot to prove, especially when talking about winning division titles and leading Buffalo to the postseason.

Which quarterback do you trust most over a 16-game season: The future Hall of Famer with three Super Bowl rings, Sanchez or Fitzpatrick? It’s not even close.

As long as Brady is healthy and productive, the Patriots will win their division.

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Jason Bridge/US PRESSWIRESince 2003, Bill Belichick's Patriots are 53-11 in the second half of the regular season.

2. Easy schedule

Here is a little-known fact: New England has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL.

ESPN.com's NFC West blogger Mike Sando recalculated the strength of schedule at midseason. The Patriots' opposing win percentage in the final eight games is .369.

After Sunday's game against New York, the Patriots play six of their final seven against teams without winning records. The Buffalo Bills are the only remaining opponent with a winning record -- and the Patriots will get that rematch at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots' other six opponents -- Indianapolis, Miami, Denver, Washington, Kansas City and Philadelphia -- are a combined 14-35. New England has a great chance to get hot and win most (or all) of these games.

In contrast, Buffalo has four tough road games remaining against the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Patriots and Jets. The Bills will be underdogs in all of those games. The Jets still have the Patriots, Bills, Eagles and Giants on their schedule.

3. Coach Bill Belichick

The Patriots have the best and most accomplished head coach in the NFL. Bill Belichick will right the ship in the second half. He always does.

Since 2003, Belichick's Patriots are an amazing 53-11 in the second half of the regular season. This includes three 8-0 runs in 2003, 2007 and 2010.

Belichick's championship résumé speaks for itself. His only losing season was in 2000 -- the first year he joined the Patriots. Belichick led New England to the playoffs eight times and will do it again this season.

The Patriots have not lost three straight under Belichick since 2002. That streak is in danger this weekend against the Jets. But this is not a must-win for New England, which has a cakewalk schedule after this week.

New England also beat the Jets, 30-21, in Week 5. Therefore, the tiebreaker would still be up for grabs if both teams finished with the same record at the end of the regular season.

4. The defense will improve

The Patriots are ranked dead last in total defense. There's nowhere to go but up.

New England went 5-3 in the first half of the season with one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Patriots nearly went 6-2 had their defense not allowed a late, game-winning drive last week by quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants.

The Patriots are struggling with their transition to more of a 4-3 scheme. Belichick's specialty is coaching defense, and he will eventually get this group to improve.

New England doesn't need a top-10 defense. This team relies on its offense, which is ranked second in the NFL. If the Patriots' defense can get anywhere near the top 20, New England will be hard to beat.

Regardless of what happens against the Jets on Sunday, there's no reason the Patriots cannot win another six games in the second half and finish with an 11-5 record.

That will be enough for the Patriots to win the AFC East.

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Why Patriots will win the AFC East

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

3:00

PM ET

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• Print
  
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By James Walker

Greg M. Cooper/US PresswireWhy will the Patriots win the AFC East? It starts with their Super Bowl winning quarterback.

Here's an opening statement you can take to the bank: The New England Patriots will win the AFC East.

I've mostly stayed away from predictions all season. But so many people are jumping off the New England bandwagon, I thought I would offer this one-time public service announcement.

The changing of the guard hasn't happened yet in the AFC East. This is still the "Belichick and Brady" division.

Many are fooled by New England's rare, two-game losing streak. But many will feel foolish in January when the Patriots are back atop the AFC East, fulfilling preseason expectations.

New England (5-3), the Buffalo Bills (5-3) and New York Jets (5-3) are in a three-way tie for first place. Most are picking the Jets. Some like the Bills. But too many are writing off the Patriots.

Here are several reasons why that is a big mistake:

1. Quarterback Tom Brady

Quarterbacking is king in the NFL. The Patriots have Tom Brady on their sideline. The Jets and Bills do not.

The quarterback gap is extremely wide in the AFC East. Brady is in that elite first tier, and everyone else is at least a couple notches lower. That favors New England over a 16-game season.

Brady hasn't played up to his usual elite status the past two weeks. But that won't last. He will get in rhythm again, and it could start as early as this weekend against the Jets.

Brady is the biggest factor separating New England from the AFC East pack. He's thrown for 2,703 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and has a 100.0 passer rating. Mark Sanchez proved earlier this season he cannot carry the Jets on his back by throwing 40 times a game. Fitzpatrick is very streaky and still has a lot to prove, especially when talking about winning division titles and leading Buffalo to the postseason.

Which quarterback do you trust most over a 16-game season: The future Hall of Famer with three Super Bowl rings, Sanchez or Fitzpatrick? It’s not even close.

As long as Brady is healthy and productive, the Patriots will win their division.

[+] Enlarge

Jason Bridge/US PRESSWIRESince 2003, Bill Belichick's Patriots are 53-11 in the second half of the regular season.

2. Easy schedule

Here is a little-known fact: New England has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL.

ESPN.com's NFC West blogger Mike Sando recalculated the strength of schedule at midseason. The Patriots' opposing win percentage in the final eight games is .369.

After Sunday's game against New York, the Patriots play six of their final seven against teams without winning records. The Buffalo Bills are the only remaining opponent with a winning record -- and the Patriots will get that rematch at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots' other six opponents -- Indianapolis, Miami, Denver, Washington, Kansas City and Philadelphia -- are a combined 14-35. New England has a great chance to get hot and win most (or all) of these games.

In contrast, Buffalo has four tough road games remaining against the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Patriots and Jets. The Bills will be underdogs in all of those games. The Jets still have the Patriots, Bills, Eagles and Giants on their schedule.

3. Coach Bill Belichick

The Patriots have the best and most accomplished head coach in the NFL. Bill Belichick will right the ship in the second half. He always does.

Since 2003, Belichick's Patriots are an amazing 53-11 in the second half of the regular season. This includes three 8-0 runs in 2003, 2007 and 2010.

Belichick's championship résumé speaks for itself. His only losing season was in 2000 -- the first year he joined the Patriots. Belichick led New England to the playoffs eight times and will do it again this season.

The Patriots have not lost three straight under Belichick since 2002. That streak is in danger this weekend against the Jets. But this is not a must-win for New England, which has a cakewalk schedule after this week.

New England also beat the Jets, 30-21, in Week 5. Therefore, the tiebreaker would still be up for grabs if both teams finished with the same record at the end of the regular season.

4. The defense will improve

The Patriots are ranked dead last in total defense. There's nowhere to go but up.

New England went 5-3 in the first half of the season with one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Patriots nearly went 6-2 had their defense not allowed a late, game-winning drive last week by quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants.

The Patriots are struggling with their transition to more of a 4-3 scheme. Belichick's specialty is coaching defense, and he will eventually get this group to improve.

New England doesn't need a top-10 defense. This team relies on its offense, which is ranked second in the NFL. If the Patriots' defense can get anywhere near the top 20, New England will be hard to beat.

Regardless of what happens against the Jets on Sunday, there's no reason the Patriots cannot win another six games in the second half and finish with an 11-5 record.

That will be enough for the Patriots to win the AFC East.

Gee. I wonder if Walker is a Pats fan?

I wonder if he will write as long an article Monday explaining what a numbskull he is is the Jets win?

Some how doubt if

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Final Word: AFC East

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

1:30

PM ET

By James Walker

Here are five nuggets of knowledge about Week 10:

Battle in the trenches: If you're looking for a big-time matchup in Sunday's AFC East grudge match, look no further than the battle between New York Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and New England Patriots Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. These are two of the best at their positions, and both have a lot of respect for one another. It's no secret the Jets want to ground-and-pound New England's struggling defense. The winner of the Mangold-Wilfork matchup will have a lot of say in who wins this game.

[+] Enlarge

Richard Mackson/US PresswireJets running back Shonn Greene is averaging 4.82 yards per carry over the past two games.

Greene picking up steam: One of the biggest reasons for the Jets' turnaround is the increased production of starting tailback Shonn Greene. The third-year player has 188 rushing yards in New York's past two games, wins against the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He averaged 4.82 yards per carry in those games, well above his season average of 3.8 yards. Greene, a power back, is known for having his best games late in the season. The Jets hope he turns it on again in November and December to help New York make a playoff run.

Another week, another Ryan: The Bills get another tall task in facing Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His twin brother, Rex Ryan, gave Buffalo's offense fits last week in a 27-11 trouncing by the Jets. Dallas also runs a 3-4 scheme with some similar concepts. The goal for the Cowboys is to pressure and confuse the quarterback. That happened last week to Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He had his worst game of the season against the Jets' defense, throwing for 191 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Homecoming for Jackson, Nelson: It will be a homecoming in Texas for two of the Bills' key players. Tailback Fred Jackson grew up a Cowboys fan and was raised in Arlington, Texas, where Dallas' new mega stadium was built. Jackson is excited to return home and play against his childhood team. Bills receiver David Nelson grew up Dallas. And here is an interesting wrinkle: Nelson's girlfriend is a Cowboys cheerleader.

Bringing life to Sun Life Stadium: Will the Miami Dolphins finally win a home game? Miami is 1-12 in its past 13 games at Sun Life Stadium and hasn't won at home since Nov. 14, 2010. The Dolphins (1-7) have a winnable game Sunday against the struggling Washington Redskins (3-5). Miami plays three of its next four at home and has a chance to gather some momentum.

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The Jets Look to Punch the Pats Into Oblivion

• By Will Leitch
  

Old pals.

The AFC is a strange place this year. The Colts are winless. The Chargers have lost four in a row.

Only the Steelers and the Ravens remain among traditional AFC powers. And the Patriots look more wobbly than they have in nearly a decade. The Jets can put their boot on their throat this weekend, in the most satisfying way possible: By pushing them around.

The Patriots and Jets have as important of a non-playoff meeting as they've had during Rex Ryan's tenure on Sunday night, with the whole world watching. It's the ideal time for a Patriots team that is reeling to reassert some control over their season. But for the Jets, who finally rediscovered their mojo last week against Buffalo, it's a chance to take control of the AFC East by doing what they do best: Knocking teams over and stepping on their unmentionables.

“Watching the film, you see how teams are trying to play ’em physical,” Darrelle Revis said Thursday. “You see the Steelers knocking around Wes Welker. And it’s a copycat league.”

We mentioned earlier this week how, if the Jets can win this Sunday, the schedule is clear for them not only to win the AFC East, but maybe beat the NFC East at the end of the season and end up with a top seed in the conference as a whole. And, all told, even if the Jets lose this week, they're in excellent position for a playoff spot, thanks to that schedule. But that would put them back as a number five or number six seed — the same position they've been in for the last two years.

The Jets and their fans are thinking bigger than that. They're thinking the next logical step: an AFC East title, a home playoff game and, mostly, the end of the Patriots' Belichickian–Bradyian stranglehold. The Jets played the best game of their season last week. If they can repeat at home Sunday night, they'll be the new powerhouse in the AFC East. Rex Ryan has been waiting a long time for Sunday night. Now's his chance to make it all happen.

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Jets leave trash-talk at home

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

3:39

PM ET

By Mike Mazzeo

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace looks at the New England Patriots the way the Boston Red Sox look at the New York Yankees.

“This is us versus the ‘Evil Empire,’ I like to call them,” Pace said.

Surprisingly, that’s been the extent of the trash-talking this week between the bitter rivals leading up to their pivotal AFC East clash on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.

But why? Where has all the trash-talk gone?

“I think the time for trash-talking kind of snuck up on us, we didn’t really have time to get our material together,” Pace said Friday. “We didn’t have any clever, witty stuff to say to them this time around, but they’re not really a talkative bunch like that.”

The Jets are, though, right? They’ve rediscovered their identity as a Ground & Pound offense during their current three-game winning streak, but have they lost their bravado in the process?

“Maybe [we've] got the muzzle on Bart [Scott] this year,” Pace joked. “‘Can’t Wait!’ and the airplanes flying around [we] did last year was so classic. Hopefully we can play it on the jumbotron or something. Seriously, I just think it’s a significant game, and I just think it’s time to play. Enough goes in to trying to prepare for them and and trying to scheme them that trash-talking just wasn’t of that much importance this week.”

Even for coach Rex Ryan. No shots fired at Tom Brady or Bill Belichick. Nothing.

“I don’t know. We’re relaxed, focused, loose. But we know what’s at stake,” Ryan said. “We know how big this game is. We’re excited about it. We’re ready for it. And we know they’re gonna be ready for it. It ought to be a great game, almost like Ali-Frazier. We’re excited that it’s in our building. We’re not banking on that being the difference, but it may very well be the difference.”

Both teams are tied with Buffalo for the division lead at 5-3. The Jets are soaring, while the Patriots are in a rut. New England has lost two straight, and is in danger of dropping three in a row for the first time since 2002.

Perhaps the Jets just don’t want to add any unnecessary fuel to the Patriots’ fire. After all, they’d rather not be part of another “Monday Night Massacre.”

There are already one too many game balls buried under the team’s practice field, and the Jets don’t feel like holding another funeral.

“We’ve been in that situation this year, we’ve lost three in a row. And when you get to that situation in your season, you kind of got to look at yourself and say I’m not doing this right,” Pace said. “I’m pretty sure we’re gonna get their best effort.”

Pace said he actually wanted the Patriots to beat the Giants so that they’d look past the Jets.

Oh well.

“You look at some of the best rivalries in football. You look at Baltimore-Steelers. That’s like Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti. Somebody’s gonna come out bloody, and they’re gonna beat themselves to a pulp,” Pace said. “I think our games are a bit more a chess match. In terms of flipping field position and forcing turnovers. And then it comes down to the last drive, and somebody’s gotta make a play.”

Ryan sees it differently. He sees Muhammad Ali in one corner and Joe Frazier in the other. Two heavyweights slugging it out in the ring.

“Those were great fights,” Ryan said of why he made the comparison, picking out the “Thrilla in Manila” and their classic bout at Madison Square Garden. “I remember them growing up and things. Hopefully, this can be that kind of game, and hopefully we’ll end up on top. Whether we’re Ali-Frazier, I don’t know.”

As for New England being the Evil Empire, Ryan said, “Yeah. Why not.”

Guess the Jets just want their play to do the talking this week. Boring? Or smart?

“We stay true to who we are,” defensive end Sione Pouha said. “I’m not sure what kind of talking you guys are expecting. We’re still the same Jets, yesterday, today and forever. Whether we talk or we don’t talk, we’re still the same guys. We talk when we need to talk and that’s how we feel, so that’s it.”

[Bleedin Green]

Gee. I wonder if Walker is a Pats fan?

I wonder if he will write as long an article Monday explaining what a numbskull he is is the Jets win?

Some how doubt if

While I certainly don't think it's outrageous to think the Pats can take the division, that article was a steaming pile of crap. It was pretty much one point after another of "becuz!" Brady's play will improve... because it will improve. Belichick will "right the ship"... because he will. The defense will get better... because it will. There's actually no argument given whatsoever to support these points whatsoever, other than the fact that all three are presently at or around their worst, so they must be destined to excel back to their glory days of 7 years past. Give me a break.

The ONLY point made that had any sort of support to it was the strength of the schedule, but even that argument was complete crap considering when comparing the schedules he counted the Eagles as an easy game for the Pats and a tough one for the Jets, dismissed the Bills team that beat the Pats already because they get them at home, and listed that same Bills team the Jets beat on the road as a tough opponent when playing them at home. Oh, and let's not forget, while talking about the Pats schedule only after playing the Jets, he was sure to list the Pats amongst the Jets oh-so-difficult opponents down the stretch. Not to mention he said the tiebreaker would still be up for grabs even if the Jets win this week due to the Pats taking the first game, yet completely ignores the fact that the Jets would own the better division record, as well as overall record after that. That means the Pats would need not just any old loss by the Jets, but a loss to either the one-win Phins or at home to a Bills team they already beat.

I'm not sure if this guy is really that stupid or just so desperate to convince himself that a Pats loss this weekend would mean absolutely nothing. Like I said, I don't think it's crazy to think the Pats may very well take the division again, but this reasoning sounds like nothing more than a desperate Pats fin trying to convince himself by any means possible.

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New York Jets

Key to stopping Brady? Pressure

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

4:04

PM ET

By Mike Mazzeo

Tom Brady hasn’t been as terrific as he usually is.

The Patriots quarterback comes into Sunday night’s matchup against the Jets tied for third in the league with 10 interceptions. He’s also been sacked 16 times for a total of 98 yards lost.

Calvin Pace said the key for the Jets’ defense in stopping Brady comes down to one word: pressure.

“You have to get a hand in his face and disrupt him,” Pace said Friday. “You’d think ‘Hey man, I wanna go out there and have three sacks, but in this game, a hit to his body, a hit to his face, you gotta have that.

“Teams have kind of done a good job like [we’ve done in the past] as far as taking his timing away from him and hitting him. Pittsburgh and the Giants, some of the things they’ve done have really worked. We gotta just carry that over and just start fast.”

Rex Ryan was asked if he’s seen Brady being hit more than in year’s past.

“I’m not real sure,” Ryan said. “He gets rid of the ball so fast that he makes his reads, he’ll stand in there and he’ll deliver the passes. I think what’s funny is that I love that Brady is struggling, based on what, every other quarterback in the league? I don’t think so. Based on that year he had last year, where that’s a once-in-a-lifetime year, he threw four picks and I don’t know how many touchdowns, a zillion I think. That’s going to be tough to match. He’s as good as it gets at quarterback right now.”

According to ESPN Stats & Info. (credit to Rich Cimini for using this in an earlier entry), nine of Brady’s 10 picks have come against rushes of four or fewer. It just so happens the Jets rushed four or less on 78 percent of the pass plays in the last two games against Brady.

Granted, this can only work if you actually get pressure the way the Giants did last week. Big Blue was able to confuse Brady by playing a variety of coverages and dropping extra defenders back, while forcing him to make quick throws under duress. The Giants wound up intercepting Brady twice, hitting him three times and sacking him twice in their 24-20 victory.

On Sunday night, Gang Green will try to do the same.

• On Thursday, Wayne Hunter, Sione Pouha and Antonio Cromartie all showed up on the injury report with finger injuries.

Hunter’s was the most serious. He dislocated a finger on his left hand in the Chargers win three weeks ago. He’s been testing out some different splints, but says it’s not a concern. It’s the first time Hunter has ever dislocated a finger before, in case you were curious.

Pouha said he injured his finger earlier this week, but it’s no big deal. He joked he did it thumb wrestling. Pouha could be a comedian. Seriously.

Cromartie said he injured his finger Thursday. He’s also okay.

• Mark Sanchez turned 25 on Friday, also known as 11/11/11. So what did Ryan get his quarterback for his birthday?

“I think my wife got him a scarf, you know the scarf look,” Ryan said. “I don’t know. I never thought it was good, but she thought it was cute.”

Sanchez is known to like the scarf look. He sported one during his post-game press conference in Buffalo.

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Pats Week Amps Up Maine Men DeVito, Mulligan

By Randy Lange

Posted 1 hour ago

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Patriots Week is always a special deal. And you can double that for the two guys from New England in the Jets locker room.

"For me it's an honor playing for the Jets, and it's a really cool experience being able to play against a team that's so coveted up there," said tight end Matt Mulligan. "The Patriots are looked at as like immortal."

"A regular NFL game, everybody's fired up. This week, Patriots Week, is so special, especially for me and Matt," said defensive tackle Mike DeVito. "It's always a huge game for us."

The two have been battling away at different obstacles to be in peak shape for Sunday night's latest Jets-Patriots armageddon at MetLife Stadium. DeVito has been fighting nonstop to return from two games on the sideline due to a knee injury suffered at practice last month. Mulligan has gotten flak for five penalties he's been flagged for in the past six games. But these guys are ready to rock and they'll take on the hurdles together.

"He'll come over and we'll pray together," DeVito said. "Anytime I have a problem, especially if there's stuff going on here, I'll go right to Matt. It's one thing to talk to your wife or your parents, but to talk to somebody who's your best friend going through it with you — he'll know what I'm feeling before I say anything."

If you sense that these big guys often located in the Jets' trenches are tight, you're onto it. It's not often in the NFL that two young men meet up in college, become best friends squared, go their separate ways to the pros, then wind up on the same team to take on the "immortal" rivals from their old neck of the woods.

"God's blessed us," Mulligan said. "We are legit best friends. Being on the Jets together, it's a crazy experience. It's a blessing."

Relationship Built on Strength

This pro football buddy story began, of all out-of-the-way places, along the I-95 "corridor" in southern Maine. That's where the University of Maine campus in Orono is located, about 15 minutes northeast of Bangor and 40 minutes south of Enfield. More on those towns shortly.

DeVito was born in New York into a family of metropolitan area Jets fans, but he grew up on Cape Cod. And when it came time for college, he became a Black Bear. He was definitely one of the big men on campus, especially in the weightroom, where he set a few school strength records while earning All-Atlantic 10 honors at nose tackle.

But then entered a strongman transfer who grew up in Enfield and was transferring in from Husson College in Bangor. They tell almost identical stories about first eyeballing each other during Maine's spring practices in 2006.

"Matt was standing on the sideline, this big Maine dude in a flannel jacket," DeVito recalled with a chuckle. "I said, 'Aw, man, this dude looks crazy.' He looked so tough. I'm trying to be 'the guy' on the team and I'm feeling maybe he's going to challenge me."

"The first time we really met was in the weightroom," Mulligan picked up the narrative. "At my school I was the strongest guy, but then when I got to Maine, Mike was the strongest. So it pushed us and we started to lift together."

DeVito said they realized they had so much in common: "We were best friends from the second we started hanging out." Mully moved into DeVito's offcampus apartment and they spent the '06 season together.

Then DeVito left school to join the Jets as an undrafted free agent after the 2007 draft, so Mulligan was on his own — until the next offseason, when DeVito returned to Orono to hang a little more.

Because he was a paid professional now, he insisted on picking up the breakfast tab almost every morning at Johnny's, a diner in town.

"I'm a steak-and-eggs guy," DeVito said. "Matt's also steak-and-eggs, but then he'll get pancakes sometimes. He changes it up a little bit."

"Move Your Stuff into the House"

The two wild and crazy guys again parted ways as DeVito returned to the Jets and Mulligan began his pro odyssey, filling practice squad berths with the Dolphins and Titans but never making it to their active rosters. Then after final cuts in '09, the Rex Ryan Jets came calling. And after they called Mully, he called Mike.

"He said, 'Hey, you're not going to believe what's going to happen,' " DeVito said. "I didn't even answer that. I said, 'Just move your stuff into the house.' "

The two were roommates again, even after DeVito got married to his college sweetheart, Jessie, last year. Finally, 13 months ago, DeVito said so long but not goodbye to Mulligan, who found his own place near the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center but still drops in on the DeVitos for home-cooked dinner, oh, once a week or so.

But don't feel lonely for Matt, who just got engaged two weeks ago and is planning a February wedding.

"We pushed it back past the Super Bowl and the parade," Mully said with a smile. "It's all after that."

But first things first. The best friends are down here in the New York area girding for the big game ahead. DeVito today declared that his knee is "100 percent. I feel better than I did before it happened, from the treatment and the three weeks of rest." Mulligan is focused on having a muscular, flag-free game of blocking in the Jets' heavy packages and maybe even snagging a catch or two. And they'll be doing it against that rival that used to be one of their favorite teams back in college but now is the hated, heated rival.

"This is a totally different week," DeVito said. "Everything's so much more amped up."

Then come seven more regular-season games, hopefully two or three playoff games and Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis and a parade or two.

"

The Way Life Should Be"

However the Green & White's season ultimately ends, eventually the two Black Bears will find their way back to the Pine Tree State. The DeVitos will stop in Bangor, where Jessie's family lives. And then, for some "guy time," DeVito may drive up to Enfield, where he'll meet Matt again at Matt's parents' house, where they've bonded before.

"My parents have a lot of land there, so we'll ride four-wheelers all over the place and I have some guns and both of us like to shoot," Mulligan said.

"That's one of the reasons Jessie and I want to move back up there, because of the experience of living up there," said DeVito, who has been looking for land in Bangor to build their dream offseason home. Asked what about Maine draws him back there, he didn't hesitate.

"It's the way life should be," he said. "You go across that line and the anxiety and everything just all drops away. You're so relaxed, it's easy-going, nice people, all that outdoor stuff. My wife's got her family up there. And my best friend's up there."

Those are the main things. Enough said.

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Second Half of Mo’s Rookie Year Starts Sunday

Posted by Andrew LeRay on November 11, 2011 – 3:44 pm

Updated, 4 p.m. ET

At 5-3, the Jets are halfway through the 2011 campaign. The final eight games will determine the outcome of their season, and it starts with Sunday’s highly anticipated primetime matchup with the New England Patriots.

The halfway point also seems to be a good time to catch up with this year’s first-round draft pick, DL Muhammad Wilkerson. He has started every game in his rookie year, totaling 23 tackles, one sack that produced the safety vs. Jacksonville, and one pass defense. The transition from college to the NFL can be a galactic leap for some, but Wilkerson is becoming increasingly more comfortable in his role.

“For me, I’m trying to stay positive,” said Wilkerson. “I’ve been having ups and downs. I’m trying to stay focused on mentally preparing for what I need to do with my alignment and technique so I can finish this year strong.”

The numbers don’t jump off the page, but his impact cannot always be understood through statistics. While the Green & White rush defense struggled earlier in the season to contain the outside runs, a rallying cry of “Set the Edge” rang through the locker room. Wilkerson takes pride in that role.

“I have to make sure everything bounces inside to the great linebackers we have, or just letting Sione [Pouha] and [Mike] DeVito clean it up,” he said.

His job description is akin to that of a point guard, setting up his teammates to make the impact play. After a rough 60-minute stretch against the Pats in Week 5, Wilkerson and his linemates were challenged by head coach Rex Ryan this week.

“Looking back on the first time we played them, there were a lot of ups and downs in that game,” he said. “More downs than ups. We were watching a lot of that film this week, and you really don’t want to watch it, but we have to face the facts. We have to put that aside and show what we’re capable of doing.”

Speaking of capability, Wilkerson feels he still has plenty to prove over the final eight games:

“In every game, there are things that I do good, and some things that, not that I do bad, but that I can do better. I’m just trying to do everything to the best of my ability.”

The transition will continue, but he knows what lies ahead.

“Nothing is easy,” Wilkerson said. “I just take the coaching, and I’m learning. I’ll go from there.”

Wilson Making Strides

As a rookie, CB Kyle Wilson made the same transition that Wilkerson is making right now. Wilson’s struggles were well-documented, leading him to lose confidence and playing time. This year he’s a new player with a fresh outlook.

“Personally, I feel a lot better,” said Wilson. “Having last year to use as experience, I‘ve just been putting in a lot of work. I learn from the guys in the room that I’m working with, like Cro [Antonio Cromartie] and Darrelle [Revis] and continue to accept the coaching.”

“We liked Kyle when we took him,” said Ryan. “We thought he might have been the top corner in the draft when he came out. I’m not surprised at the kind of year he’s having. He’s having as good a year as any nickel in the league.”

It’s high praise for Wilson, who is arguably the most improved player on the Jets’ roster. After logging five tackles in increased action against the Buffalo Bills last week, it’s safe to say he will be on the field early and often against the pass-happy Pats.

Taming Tom

With New England having dropped their last two games, QB Tom Brady has found himself under the microscope.

“I love hearing that Tom Brady is struggling,” Ryan said sarcastically. “Based on what? Last year was a once-in-a-lifetime season — four picks, a zillion touchdowns. That’s going to be hard to match. He’s as good as it gets right now.”

As usual, the focus for the Jets defense will be on pressuring Brady, and taking him out of his comfort zone.

“If you can’t get pressure on Brady, you’re going to get destroyed,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to find ways of getting in there. Whether it’s a four-man rush or something creative, I don’t know. We have to get pressure on him.”

I

njury Update

TE Shawn Nelson (illness) and S Brodney Pool (knee) did not practice this afternoon and have been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

All the other injured Jets practiced full and are listed as probable for the game, including WR Plaxico Burress (back), DT Mike DeVito (knee), RB-KR Joe McKnight (toe) and CB Isaiah Trufant (hamstring). The Jets’ full injury report can be found here.

The Patriots have declared LBs Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher out of the game. WR Wes Welker (rib) practiced full after two limited practices and is probable for the Jets. All 10 other injured Patriots were limited in today’s team drills and are questionable for the game: CB Kyle Arrington, S Patrick Chung, DE Shaun Ellis, RBs Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Gary Guyton and Jerod Mayo, WR Taylor Price, T Sebastian Vollmer and OL Ryan Wendell.

[JetsFanInDenver]

Pats Week Amps Up Maine Men DeVito, Mulligan

By Randy Lange

Posted 1 hour ago

Not sure if I should feel any comfort from this article.

It all hinges on the question : Does an amped up Mulligan commit more or less penalties ?

[JetsFanInDenver]

Angelica's Transition Game from Dance to Cheer

By Andrew LeRay

Posted 55 minutes ago

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This season we've seen the emergence of RB Joe McKnight as a multitalented threat. A tailback by trade, McKnight has adapted to his role as kickoff returner and has ascended to the top of the league in average yards per return. His instincts as a running back certainly helped ease the transition, as the two jobs require similar skill sets.

Rookie Flight Crew member Angelica can relate. She has used her skills as a dancer to segue into an opportunity to cheer for the Jets.

“The transition at first was difficult because I had to break some habits that I had as a dancer,” said Angelica, this week's Gameday Girl leading up to the Jets-Patriots game Sunday night. “I had to learn the style of a cheerleader because I had never done it.”

A lifelong dancer, she used her skills to secure a roster spot with the Flight Crew when she auditioned for the first time in April.

“During our training camp, I really used that time to work on my cheerleading style," she said. "The other girls have really helped me out a lot. I always solicit them for advice and help, and I copy their style. I try to make it look like I’ve been doing it forever.”

Now 20, Angelica lives on Long Island and works as a dance instructor. She is in her fourth year of teaching jazz, tap, ballet and hip-hop to girls from the ages of 8-13.

“I want to help them. Even if they don’t want a career in dance, I want to make this the best experience they can have," she said. "It makes me realize how much I love it. It brings dance to another level for me.”

In addition to helping her students, Angelica has found that her experiences as an instructor have helped her hone her own craft as well.

“You’re trying to make them the best dancers they can be," she said, "and you even see things in yourself that you can work on, things that you hadn’t thought about as a little girl and now you realize are really important.”

The opportunity for Angelica to blend her love of dance with a burgeoning interest in football was an easy decision. She had watched the game from a young age and became even more involved as she got older.

“I started to really enjoy it in high school. I was the team manager my senior year just for fun," she recalled. "I’ve been watching football for a while now, and watch it every Sunday when I don’t have a game. This year made me love it even more.”

In particular, Angelica points to her Flight Crew debut as the top moment of her season. Walking out onto the field at MetLife Stadium for the first time is an indelible image that will last her a lifetime.

“That feeling, I’ll probably never get that back," she said. "I remember thinking, everything I worked for in the summer is about to pay off. Looking to the left and the right at the other girls — all that excitement that we had — it was the best feeling in the world.”

Still a rookie, she has already adopted the mentality of a veteran, and hopes to bring her leadership to the Flight Crew in coming years.

“I feel like I’ve grown so much. I would love to help the rookies next year in their process on this team, to share with them everything that I know and that I’ve learned," Angelica said. "If I get the opportunity to do it again next year, I definitely would.”

We need more articles and images of her!

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Spikes, Fletcher out vs. Jets

November 11, 2011, 4:58 pm

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Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets.

While the Patriots got some good news with Patrick Chung's return to practice on Friday, they officially ruled out linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher for Sunday's game against the Jets.

Chung (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday. Wes Welker (rib) is listed as probable.

The Jets have just two players who did not participate in Friday's practice: TE Shawn Nelson and DB Brodney Pool. Both are questionable for Sunday.

Everyone else listed on the Jets injury report was a full participant in Friday's practice and is currently listed as probable for Sunday's game.

All Patriots players who were limited participants in Friday's Patriots practice are "questionable" for Sunday's game.

Here's the full practice report for Friday from the Patriots and Jets.

PATRIOTS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Brandon Spikes (knee), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb),

LIMITED PARTICIPATION: S Patrick Chung (foot), CB Kyle Arrington (foot), DE Shaun Ellis (rib), RB Kevin Faulk (knee), LB Gary Guyton (shoulder), WR Taylor Price (hamstring), WR Wes Welker (rib), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (toe), LB Jerod Mayo (knee), OT Sebastian Vollmer (back) OL Ryan Wendell (concussion).

JETS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DB Brodney Pool (knee), TE Shawn Nelson

FULL PARTICIPATION: DL Mike Devito (knee), DL Kendrick Ellis (ankle), RB Shonn Greene (head/groin), WR Santonio Holmes (foot), OL Nick Mangold (ankle), LB Calvin Pace (groin), OL Matt Slauson (neck), DB Isaiah Trufant (hamstring), WR Plaxico Burress (low back), RB Joe McKnight (toe), DL Marcus Dixon (shoulder), LB Josh Mauga (low back), CB Antonio Cromartie (finger), OL Wayne Hunter (finger), DL Sione Pouha (finger).

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Woody rips Patriots' defense

November, 11, 2011

Nov 11

6:45

PM ET

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By Mike Mazzeo

The Jets aren’t doing any talking, so one of their ex-players did it for them.

Former Jet and current ESPN NFL analyst Damien Woody blasted Bill Belichick’s Patriots, their porous defense and even worse personnel decisions.

“It’s about what have you done for me lately,” Woody said Friday on ESPN New York 1050’s “The Michael Kay Show.” “And if I’m in the Jets locker room, I’m like this: I could care less what [the Patriots] did in the early 2000s. Those teams are nothing like the team on tape right now. What you see on film is one of the worst defenses in the National Football League.”

The Patriots’ defense is currently ranked last in the league against the pass.

“That has to give you confidence that you can go out there and dominate those guys,” Woody said.

Woody said the reason the Patriots’ defense has been so abysmal is because they’re “playing scraps from other teams,” especially in the secondary.

He said the Patriots are clearly missing defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who they traded to Oakland in the offseason for a pair of No. 1 draft picks.

“You can’t sit here and tell me the Patriots aren’t missing a guy like that,” Woody said. “He makes all the difference.”

Woody wonders if Belichick is missing former player personnel executive Scott Pioli, who left New England to become the GM in Kansas City.

Woody called Sunday night’s matchup between the two rivals a must-win for the Jets given their aspirations of winning the AFC East and getting a couple home playoff games.

“They already lost up in New England, they need to get this one; they need a split with New England,” Woody said.