Jets News 12-20

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NY Jets coach Rex Ryan praises reeling NY Giants in anticipation of Big Blue Christmas

Ryan's bluster goes outside the lines, seeks to best Yankees

BY Manish Mehta

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Monday, December 19 2011, 10:38 PM

Julio Cortez/AP

The Giants and Jets meet in the preseason, but this time it's for real.

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The morning after his team was thoroughly embarrassed by the Eagles, Rex Ryan morphed into Don King, promoting the Jets-Giants showdown on Christmas Eve like it was going to be shown on pay-per-view. Ryan moved on quickly from Gang Green’s 45-19 meltdown in Philadelphia on Sunday and ratcheted up the rhetoric for the impending matchup against the team that shares MetLife Stadium with the Jets. Ryan was his typical confident self on a conference call, with no less than a dozen headline-worthy one-liners.

“I never came here to be little brother to anybody,” Ryan said. “So, it’s on.”

He reiterated several tenets from the book he released last offseason, leaving little doubt that he wasn’t going to settle for being the second-most important football team in town. He also had the self-awareness to realize that much of the chatter involving the two New York teams comes from one source.

“Sure there's a lot of talk back and forth, most of it driven by me,” Ryan said. “But you know what?

I’ll stand by everything I’ve ever said. I didn't come here to be anybody's little brother. I came here to win... and to take over not just this city... but also this league. I haven’t accomplished that yet. Saturday, I think, will go a long way (toward) doing that. We have to win this game. We have to get into the playoffs.”

The 8-6 Jets currently hold the tiebreaker over the 8-6 Bengals for the final wild-card spot by virtue of a better strength of victory. Although it’s not guaranteed, it would be a virtual mathematical certainty that Ryan’s team would make the playoffs for the third consecutive season if they beat the Giants on Saturday and the Dolphins on New Year’s Day.

“If we handle our business (and) we win these next two games, we’re in the playoffs,” Ryan said. “And that's all that matters.”

The Jets technically aren’t in a must-win situation against the Giants. Gang Green can make the playoffs if it splits its final two games, but more complicated tie-breaker scenarios will likely come into play. Ryan wasn’t concerned about any of those alternate scenarios on Monday, hyping the Giants game like only he can. He called Tom Coughlin “one of the great coaches in the history of the sport” and praised the Giants for being “an excellent football team.

“But I think we’re better,” he added.

It was vintage Ryan. His bluster even crossed sports.

“There’s no way I’m going to be second fiddle,” he said. ‘If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don’t want to be second fiddle to them.”

So, naturally, he felt that he has the top football team in town.

“Certainly we were the best team the last two years: We made the playoffs,” Ryan said. “To say a team is better than you that never made the playoffs is ridiculous. Clearly, we were the better team my first two years here. We get to prove it on Saturday who the best team is this year. Quite honestly, both of us are having disappointing years. . . . Whoever (wins) this game is clearly the best team in New York.”

http://twitter.com/TheJetsStream

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-praises-reeling-giants-anticipation-big-blue-christmas-article-1.994199#ixzz1h5B2eOxK

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Rex Ryan says NY Jets have clearly been better than NY Giants over last 2 seasons, can prove it on Christmas Eve

Calls Tom Coughlin one of the great coaches in NFL history

BY Manish Mehta

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Originally Published: Monday, December 19 2011, 12:28 PM

Updated: Monday, December 19 2011, 12:54 PM

Rob Carr/Getty ImagesJets coach Rex Ryan says the Giants and his Jets have both been disappointing this season but insists that Gang Green is the better squad.

The morning after the Jets were throttled by the Eagles, Rex Ryan went into overdrive and hyped up this week’s game against the Giants. It’s a virtual must win for both teams. (Both can still technically make the playoffs if they lose on Saturday).

Here are Ryan’s greatest hits from his conference call on Monday:

"Sure there's a lot of talk back and forth, most of it driven by me. But you know what, I’ll stand by everything I’ve ever said. I didn’t come here to be anybody’s little brother. I came here to win…. And to take over not just this city, even though it’s the city to take over, but also this league. I haven’t accomplished that yet. Saturday, I think, will go a long way (toward) doing that. We have to win this game. We have to get into the playoffs.”

“Certainly we were the best team the last two years. We made the playoffs… To say a team is better than you that never made the playoffs is ridiculous. Clearly we were the better team my first two years here. We get to prove it on Saturday who the best team is this year. Quite honestly, both of us are having disappointing years…. Whoever (wins) this game is clearly the best team in New York.”

"I never came here to be little brother to anyone. So, it’s on….. There’s no way I’m going to be second fiddle. If we were playing the NY Yankees, I don’t want to be second fiddle to them."

"I recognize that they’re an excellent football team. But I think we’re better."

On Tom Coughlin: "This is one of the great coaches in the history of the sport."

On Jets’ fans keeping their tickets instead of selling them during the holiday season: "I hope Jet fans keep their ticket... but I understand... if price is right, I’m sure it’s going to be tough to not let those things go"

On making the postseason: "If we handle our business – we win these next two games — we’re in the playoffs. And that’s all that matters."

This news was first reported in The Jets Stream.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-ny-jets-better-ny-giants-2-seasons-prove-christmas-eve-article-1.993868#ixzz1h5Be4t9U

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NY Jets running back and kick returner Joe McKnight could miss showdown with NY Giants with injured shoulder

Injury news better for RB Shonn Green

BY Manish Mehta

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Originally Published: Monday, December 19 2011, 10:49 PM

Updated: Monday, December 19 2011, 10:49 PM

Lee S. Weissman for New York Daily News

Jets' Joe McKnight could be grounded for game against Giants with dislocated shoulder.

The Jets may be without running back/kick returner Joe McKnight for Saturday’s game against the Giants.

Rex Ryan confirmed a Daily News report on Monday that McKnight had suffered a separated right

shoulder in the Jets’ 45-19 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. The news is more promising for featured back Shonn Greene. The bruising back tore a tendon in his finger but is expected to play on Saturday, according to sources.

GROUND TO COVER

Ryan admitted that he’ll make some adjustments after the Eagles’ wide receivers apparently were identifying the Jets’ coverages before the snap. “That doesn’t generally happen with our defense,” Ryan said. “We'll certainly try to change that this week. Having Eli (Manning) and company over there, you don’t want them to know exactly what you’re in, so we’ll certainly look at that.”

ALL’S FORGIVEN

Ryan spoke to Santonio Holmes about the wide receiver’s unsportsmanlike penalty after his touchdown. Holmes was flagged for taunting after placing the ball on the ground and putting his foot on it to mock the Eagles. The Jets were down 28-10 at the time and Holmes had committed two costly mistakes that led to 14 Eagles points in the first quarter

“He apologized for that to me,” Ryan said on Monday. “I’ll say this about Santonio and every other player on this team, they have my 100% support. . . . Obviously, you wish that thing never happened. I don’t think it will happen again, but again, I have his back, he has mine and this whole team is that way. . . . We know it was a mistake and we’ll learn from it.”

HUNTER MISFIRES

Ryan deflected the blame from right tackle Wayne Hunter after the Jets’ offensive line allowed four sacks on Sunday. Eagles defensive end Jason Babin had three of them and appeared to beat Hunter soundly several times. Mark Sanchez had to be helped off the field by center Nick Mangold after taking one hard shot in the second half. Ryan confirmed on Monday that Sanchez would be fine and start on Saturday.

“To just say it’s Wayne Hunter, I think isn’t fair,” Ryan said. “The score got out of hand and that’s quite honestly any pass rusher’s dream scenario. So it doesn’t matter who you’re up against, they’re just teeing off, rushing the passer and we can’t allow the game to get in that kind of situation.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-jets-running-back-kick-returner-joe-mcknight-showdown-ny-giants-injured-shoulder-article-1.994213#ixzz1h5C9xfCq

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Playing-time breakdown

December, 19, 2011

Dec 19

11:30

PM ET

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By Rich Cimini

Look on the bright side of the blowout loss: Individual reps were down, saving wear and tear on the starters' bodies for this Saturday's showdown against the Giants. Here's the unofficial snap counts (press-box view, allow small margin for error):

RUNNING BACKS

Shonn Greene ... 32/60 snaps

John Conner ... 26

LaDainian Tomlinson ... 20

Joe McKnight ... 7

TIGHT ENDS

Dustin Keller ... 43/60

Matt Mulligan ... 21

Vlad Ducasse ... 7

Josh Baker ... 4

WIDE RECEIVERS

Santonio Holmes ... 50/60

Plaxico Burress ... 42

Jeremy Kerley ... 28

Patrick Turner ... 8

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Jets team up with LeGrand for charity

December, 19, 2011

Dec 19

10:18

PM ET

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Jets linebacker Bart Scott held a charity go-kart event Monday to help benefit his foundation and Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers player paralyzed in a game last year.

Scott, along with teammates including Mark Sanchez, Antonio Cromartie and David Harris, drove go-karts with teams of fans at Pole Position Raceway on Monday night and helped raise more than $25,000 for the "A Son Never Forgets Foundation." LeGrand, injured against Army last season, was the guest of honor.

LeGrand, who has made remarkable strides in his recovery, says he sat up for 35 seconds Monday with a therapist supporting his pelvis.

Scott established his foundation in 2006 after assisting his cousin, who was paralyzed in a shooting. Scott says this was the first time he held a charity event.

- Associated Press

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Game review: Hide your eyes

December, 19, 2011

Dec 19

9:38

PM ET

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By Rich Cimini

Before we get to the film breakdown, a couple of thoughts:

1. The troubling thing about Mark Sanchez's right-arm/neck injury is that he didn't take a direct hit to the arm on the play, which tells me it may have been a pre-existing condition. There was very little impact from DE Jason Babin, yet his arm went dead after releasing the pass and he went to the ground like a tree falling in the forest. Even CBS analyst Rich Gannon wondered aloud how Sanchez could get hurt on that play. He got smacked in the facemask by Babin's helmet, so maybe that triggered something. It has all the signs of a pinched nerve, but Rex Ryan was evasive Monday. Okay, enough of the amateur-doctor hour.

2. Advice to Santonio Holmes on his next trip to the end zone: Act like you've been there before.

TIGHT-END ISSUES: The safeties always take the brunt of the criticism when a tight end has a big game, but in the case of Brent Celek's monster game, it was a team effort on the part of the Jets. CB Antonio Cromartie had man-to-man coverage on Celek's 26-yard TD reception. LBs Bart Scott and David Harris had coverages responsibilities on other completions. On his 73-yarder, Celek put a double move on Harris and cut across the middle, with S Eric Smith trailing. It was hard to pinpoint the guiltiest party, but it looked like there was a whole lot of bad going on.

CHASING A VICK-TORY: The Jets' pass rush was undisciplined at times, but QB Michael Vick made a handful of plays no other quarterback in the league could make. CB Kyle Wilson and LB Calvin Pace whiffed on potential sacks, costing the Jets a total of 40 yards on those two plays. At times, the Jets looked like they were playing tag, blindfolded.

It's almost impossible to sack Vick with a four-man rush, based on this season's stats, but the Jets sent four rushers on 15 of Vick's 25 dropbacks, unofficially (not counting spikes). He tore them apart, completing 11 of 14 for 138 yards and a TD (Celek), plus a nine-yard scramble. Their five-man rush wasn't any better; he went 4-for-6 for 126 yards and an INT (a Hail Mary at the end of the first half).

I'm surprised they didn't use a spy more often on Vick. Early on, I saw S Brodney Pool spying on one play, but it wasn't common. On Vick's 11-yard TD, the Jets rushed only three and left a gaping hole on the right side of their defense. Vick showed his remarkable speed and beat Wilson to the pylon with some serious after-burners.

VERTICAL VICK: The Jets entered the game allowing a league-low 37.7 completion percentage on passes of 11+ yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information. No matter. Vick completed 10 of 14 (71.4 percent) passes for 251 yards of that distance, accounting for 91.6 percent of his passing yardage. The Jets entered the game allowing a league-low 37.7 completion percentage to opposing passers on throws of that distance.

Sorry, but you can't blame all that on the absence of injured S Jim Leonhard. There was plenty of blame to go around, everything from the pass rush to the play calling.

SWING AND A MISS: Conservatively, the Jets missed nine tackles, by my count. The worst sequence came on LeSean McCoy's 33-yard TD run. Scott knifed into the backfield, but missed him four yards behind the line. DE Muhammad Wilkerson had a shot behind the line, but he, too, came up empty, one of three misses by the rookie.

On McCoy's nine-yard TD run, he made a great cutback to the Jets' backside. Harris and Scott overpursued to the front side and were caught out of position. On McCoy's 1-yard TD run, Pace couldn't get off a block by Celek, allowing him to get to the outside.

BAD PASS PRO: Look, we all know RT Wayne Hunter (two sacks allowed) had a poor game, but let's give some credit to the Eagles. They did a nice job of scheming for the Jets. In the first 13 games, the Eagles were one of the most conservative pass-rushing teams in the league, usually relying on their front four. But they changed it up, using more five-man rushes than usual. They changed fronts, using two down linemen on occasions, and also caused confusion with stunts.

The Jets blamed it on being in too many third-and-long situations, but only two of the four sacks came on obvious passing downs.

There were some nice moments for the offensive line. Sanchez was afforded terrific protection on his 41-yard pass to TE Dustin Keller (great catch) and his 25-yard TD pass to Holmes. On the TD, Hunter did a nice job of riding Babin out of the play. It was a seeing-eye throw by Sanchez, who threaded it between two defenders. I'm still trying to figure out why the Eagles put a LB and S on Holmes.

ODDS AND ENDS: Sanchez completed only seven passes to WRs, including just one to Plaxico Burress. In the previous game, he had only three. What gives? ... LB Aaron Maybin spent more time behind Vick than in front of him. He constantly took himself out of the play with wide rushes ... Clearly, the Eagles did a good scouting of scouting the Jets and we ready for those screen passes.

PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE: Celek had the same amount of receiving yardage (156) as the Chiefs' Tyler Palko had passing yardage the previous week against the Jets.

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McKnight has separated shoulder

December, 19, 2011

Dec 19

5:55

PM ET

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By Rich Cimini

RB/KR Joe McKnight is a question mark for Saturday's game because of a separated right shoulder, Rex Ryan confirmed Monday on his weekly spot on 1050 ESPN New York.

Complicating the matter is that McKnight's injury is on the same side as his hyperextended elbow, which caused him to miss one game.

"We'll have to see how he is through the week to see if he can play Saturday," Ryan said on The Michael Kay Show. "I'm not real sure."

It's unclear when McKnight suffered the injury, but he played into the fourth quarter Sunday against the Eagles. The New York Daily News first reported the injury. If McKnight can't play, Antonio Cromartie will return kickoffs. Cromartie had five of the six kickoff returns on Sunday.

Ryan said he expects RB Shonn Greene to be fine. After the game, Greene said "a tendon or something popped" in his pinkie finger.

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Vlad Ducasse finally stepping up for Jets

In just his second year in the league, lineman Vlad Ducasse has already been labeled a bust by Jets fans. The second-round pick in last spring’s NFL Draft, he made just two appearances last year, both in blowout wins over Buffalo. Much was expected of his development heading into this season.

But when right tackle Damien Woody retired, the Jets signed Wayne Hunter to a long-term deal, surprisingly relegating Ducasse to a reserve role. Then some rough games to start this season, including a number of false start penalties, seemed to reemphasize the bust label. But over the past three games, Ducasse has been more involved in the Jets offense.

“They’ve been trying to add me and kept the jumbo package a little bit more. Pretty much giving defenses a new look,” Ducasse said. “Kind of the same thing as Rob Turner last year, Wayne Hunter too.”

Ducasse is now checking in as an eligible receiver for run plays, utilizing his versatility as a blocking tight end. It is a bit of a transition for Ducasse, but as he was originally drafted with the idea of playing right tackle, it is a good way to get him on the field and add some blocking help for what has been a very average rush offense. The learning curve is there for a player who emigrated with his family from Haiti during his teenage years and began playing football after his freshman year of high school.

He has become the pet project of Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan and the extra snaps this year are a way to get him into the game and continue his maturation.

“I see it in a positive way. I’ve been coming in doing what I’m supposed to do. I’m coming in here, working hard and doing the right thing. They want me to be on the field, so that’s good,” Ducasse said.

“From Day 1, [Callahan]’s been on me to work — every day. He tells me to keep doing what I’m doing, to keep progressing. He wants me to get more involved and get better obviously, but he’s been great to encourage me that I’ve gotten where I’m at.”

There was an adjustment from playing at UMass in the FCS, a step down from the major college programs who all neglected to recruit him out high school. But as he spends time with Callahan and sees an increased role in the Jets’ “jumbo package,” Ducasse continues to mature. Even away from the field and the weight room, this is a different player and person than last year.

He is more vocal with his teammates, laughing and carrying on where he once sat silently in front of his locker watching his fellow Jets interact. English is a second language for Ducasse, but one that he is increasingly becoming more confident with each day. That fluency is spilling onto the field too.

“Last year, I was a rookie [and] I was trying to get adjusted a lot. This is a good locker room and all, but just my personality, if I don’t feel comfortable, it can be tough,” Ducasse said. “But now, I’m more comfortable and talking more in here, but on the field in practice too and games. I just feel more comfortable right now with this team, and I think I’m showing that on the field now.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Rex Now says he doesn't want to be second fiddle to the Yankees. I am a Yankees Fan.

I love the Jets...but this guy is way out of line. Second fiddle to the Yanks...Everyone takes second fiddle to the Yanks, can someone in the Jets Front Office put some duct tape on his fat head mouth...Rex some words of advice...STFU and get your team ready to play on Saturday ok.

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NY Giants and NY Jets have nothing to boast about heading into Christmas Eve showdown

Gagging, not bragging rights, at stake

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Originally Published: Monday, December 19 2011, 9:07 PM

Updated: Tuesday, December 20 2011, 12:50 AM

Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News

Mark Sanchez and Jets have little to brag about following Sunday's debacle in Philly.

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The only good news for our two overrated and underachieving football teams is that one of them will get a win on Saturday, one of them will continue to believe it can make the playoffs and then make a run. But the real fact of this game, at least off what we have seen from the Giants and Jets so far, is that the only championship for which either one of them will compete this season is the championship of each other. Two teams that played dead on Sunday try to show some life at MetLife Stadium on Christmas Eve.

At the same time they try to answer a question that all New York and Jersey football fans have right now, whether they root for the Giants or Jets:

Is this all you guys got?

“Quite honestly both of us are having disappointing seasons,” Rex Ryan said in his conference call Monday and really could have stopped right there, but he’s Rex, after all, and stopping right there would have been like stopping after one bag of potato chips. Or one Super Bowl prediction. His team was supposed to fight for first place in the AFC East and he had them in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, you bet, and now they all fight for the sixth playoff spot out of six in their conference.

So Ryan kept going Monday, talking about how his team has been better than the Giants the last couple of years, as if that is part of the conversation right now, or anybody but Rex himself cares. Really he just needs for the Jets to be better on Saturday, maybe even give their fans the one game they’ve been waiting for all season, the one that actually makes them look as good as the coach always says they are.

Even Ryan can’t possibly think, off the way his team has played this season, both sides of the ball, that somehow the Jets will turn into world beaters in the playoffs again. Because if there is a single area of football where he genuinely thinks his team is better this year than last, he ought to send up a flare.

Ryan was probably just doing some chirping on the Giants Monday as a way of changing the subject from Eagles 45, Jets 19, making the subject anything but that.

He sure was right, though, about how both teams have disappointed, right through Sunday’s games. The only win either of our teams have worth talking about against a team worth talking about is the game the Giants got off the Patriots in Foxboro, Eli Manning taking his team down the field at the end, the last time the Patriots lost against anybody.

Other than that, both the Giants and Jets have nice comeback wins over the Cowboys, an over-hyped team with an 8-6 record like the Jets’ record. At least the Giants got them last Sunday night, and on the road. The Jets got that game off the Cowboys at MetLife three months ago.

The Giants were 6-2 not so long ago, looking swell, now are 7-7 and hanging on for dear life in a soft NFC East. Fourteen games for them and 14 for the Jets and just one win against an elite team between them. The Jets have lost twice to the Patriots, got their hats handed to them by the Ravens on Sunday night football. The best win they have had lately was against a Chargers team in the process of losing six games in a row. Maybe in a week that started with silliness from the Jets coach about winning the “town” from the Giants — East Rutherford? — they think they can still brag on a couple of wins against the incredible shrinking Buffalo Bills.

But then the coach always thinks he is speaking in a language that can only be described as “back page.” After a Sunday when both the Jets and Giants backed up the way they did.

The Jets were trying to make it four wins in a row, the Giants were trying to build on that comeback against the Cowboys. Neither of them bothered to show up. Mark Sanchez couldn’t get to 200 passing yards for the third week in a row, Santonio Holmes acted like a bonehead during and after the game, Rex’s defense looked like the most overrated part of a currently overrated team.

The Jets didn’t protect their own quarterback, couldn’t do anything to stop the other team’s quarterback, turned the ball over, saw Holmes celebrate the way he did down 28-10. The Giants were no better. Their coach showed up for his postgame interview and talked about how he “expected more” out of his team.

You think?

At least nobody could accuse Ryan’s team or Tom Coughlin’s team of doing anything to over-hype Giants vs. Jets. Neither one of these teams has a losing record, though the Giants could sure get there by about 4:30 on Saturday afternoon. They both just looked like complete losers in Week 15.

The Giants can still get games off the Jets and Cowboys and win the NFC East with 9-7. The Jets can get to 10-6 by beating the Giants on Saturday and then beating the Dolphins on the road, on the last Sunday of the regular season. The Jets, who always seem to get a lot of help at this time of year, might even find a way to get into the playoffs with a 9-7 record of their own.

“I want to be the best team in football, not just the best team in this city,” Ryan said Monday. “But we’ll start by being the best in this city.”

Somebody has to be.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/giants-jets-boast-heading-christmas-eve-showdown-article-1.994157#ixzz1h5FbCklB

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Former Giants tell Rex to 'keep his mouth shut'

Giants Blog

Last Updated: 8:37 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 2:18 AM, December 20, 2011

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George Willis

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Blog: By George

For more than two years, Giants both past and present have heard Jets coach Rex Ryan talk about how his team was going to take over their stadium, their city and their tradition. They heard it again yesterday when Ryan declared, “we’re the better team,” and that he has no intentions of playing “second fiddle” to the Giants.

But to former Giants who wear Super Bowl rings, it’s all hot air because Ryan won’t be wearing a helmet or shoulder pads Saturday when the Giants and Jets clash at MetLife Stadium, and he has yet to come through on any of his Super Bowl guarantees.

AP

OTTIS DOESN’T LOVE IT: Former Giants running back Ottis Anderson, who was MVP of Super Bowl XXV (above) knows what it means to win a championship and says neither Jets coach Rex Ryan nor the 7-7 Giants has any reason to brag going into Saturday’s all-important clash.

“Stop it, Rex. Stop. You’re not playing,” was the message from former Giants running back and Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson. “You’re not tackling anybody or throwing passes or running routes. All he’s doing is writing a check his players have to cash.”

Stephen Baker, a wide receiver on the Giants’ 1990 Super Bowl team, said this: “[Ryan’s] still talking all that noise? Until Rex actually does something, he should stop making those comments. Granted they made it to the [AFC] Championship. But they haven’t crossed that hurdle yet. Until they do he should keep his mouth shut.”

Any bravado seems a bit silly with both teams coming off brutal losses. The Jets might have played their worst game of the season in losing 45-19 at Philadelphia on Sunday, while the Giants were pitiful in losing 23-10 to the Redskins at MetLife. It makes Anderson wonder what Giants team will show up on Saturday.

“They should be ashamed of themselves,” he said of the loss to the Redskins. “They’re a better team than that. It comes down to pride and what the word ‘Giants’ means on your chest and on your helmet, what it represents. It means a lot more than what they’re showing on the field.”

Leonard Marshall won two Super Bowls (1986, 1990) with the Giants, but played the 1993 season with the Jets. He understands Ryan’s need to talk up his team at the Giants’ expense.

“When you’ve been the stepchild for so long and you have a chance to shine, you’re going to shine as much as you can,” Marshall said. “But if his football team doesn’t respond to all the chatter, that’s when you have a problem. Maybe his team understands our coach has gone out on a limb and we have to deliver.”

Marshall doesn’t give the Giants much of a chance Saturday if their defense doesn’t improve enough to make things easier for Eli Manning.

“He can’t go out there and rush the passer and tackle people,” Marshall said. “Nor can he cover folks. The Giants’ [pass] coverage has been horrible.”

Former Giants tight end Howard Cross, now a radio broadcaster, isn’t impressed by either team.

“Right now both teams have so many holes,” Cross said. “I can’t believe Rex is talking because they just got hammered by the Eagles. Not just beat, but hammered.”

The Giants don’t have any room to boast either.

“The greatest issue with the Giants is there’s no accountability except for the coach [Tom Coughlin],” Cross said. “I just don’t see it. No one is taking responsibility for what’s going on the field. Michael Strahan was a voice, but when Strahan left, they never found the next guy to have that voice.”

While Ryan said Saturday’s game will be for “bragging rights,” Anderson believes it will take more than one game for the Jets to be equal to the Giants.

“When I walk into the Giants facility I see three Super Bowl trophies,” Anderson said. “When you walk into the Jets facility, I see one with a lot of dust on it. As an organization, we don’t talk and we don’t boast. We play between the lines. That’s why we have the reputation that we have. We don’t talk about it. We do it.”

The Giants haven’t done much of anything lately. Neither have the Jets.

george.willis@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/too_much_talk_V0c42gmUkx4z1ImogEfZYM#ixzz1h5G4FZ8u

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Big Blue must find way to silence Ryan

Giants Blog

Last Updated: 5:14 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 2:20 AM, December 20, 2011

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Steve Serby

Over the past XLV years, we have seen a New York-New York Super Bowl only in our dreams, and you’d really have to let the imagination run wilder than Joe Namath in the ’60s or Lawrence Taylor in the ’80s if you can somehow envision Rex Ryan or Tom Coughlin hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of Super Bowl XLVI.

“I didn’t come here to be anybody’s little brother,” Rex Ryan was reminding everyone again yesterday. “I came here to win ... and to take over not just this city, even though it’s the city to take over, but also this league.”

In other words, he didn’t come here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings nor did he come here to kiss Tom Coughlin’s ring.

For three years now, the Giants have listened to Ryan ridicule them as the Jets’ little brothers, have watched helplessly as the Jets have gotten to the last two AFC Championship Games and seized the backpages of the tabloids and internet blogs and talk-radio airwaves while they groomed their hunting beards. Ryan hasn’t taken over the league, but in four days, on Christmas Eve, he gets the Giants directly in front of him for real for the first time, gets his first chance to bully his so-called little brother right out of the playoffs and crown himself the Ryan King of the city.

“I recognize that they’re an excellent football team,” Ryan said.

“But I think we’re better.”

Let the war of words begin:

“I know we’re the better team,” Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said on a conference call. “We just have to go out and prove it.”

Coughlin’s “talk is cheap, play the game” mantra will be an underdog this week.

For three years now, Ryan has been little more than a thorn in the Giants’ Big Blue paw, often a source of entertainment and amusement to them, except , of course, when Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips went on Miami radio and professed a desire to play for him.

“I’m not worried about anything anybody says,” Kiwanuka said, “especially somebody that’s not gonna have pads on.”

Just then, a voice belonging to media relations czar Pat Hanlon jokingly interjected “That’s not padding?”

In truth, the Giants’ marriage of convenience with the Jets, their sharing of MetLife Stadium, has been more of an irritant to them. From 1984 to 2009, after the Jets left Shea Stadium, they were veritable nomads, forced to look up at a big, bold GIANTS STADIUM sign whenever they walked inside for a home game. To the Giants, it is still Giants Stadium, and will always be Giants Stadium.

Whatever they choose to call it, that stadium will be electrified Saturday at 1 p.m., because the Giants and Jets, in their 11 previous regular-season collisions, have never played a game of this magnitude, with the stakes so high. For both franchises.

But more so for the Giants.

Mostly because their season is on the line, if not their coach’s job.

But also because their honor is on the line.

The Giants can’t clinch a playoff berth by beating the Jets.

But what they can do is paint the Empire State Building blue and they can stuff a Big Blue Christmas stocking in Ryan’s big mouth.

If you don’t think they would love to do that, think again.

“I’m not gonna go get every quote Rex Ryan is saying and take it to heart,” Eli Manning said. “Some guys will respond to it, but it’s not gonna be me.”

If the prospect of missing the playoffs for a third straight season isn’t enough to scare the 7-7 Giants straight, then a fear of losing to the 8-6 Jets ought to be.

“It’s not so much about the Jets, it’s about our season,” Eli Manning said.

But it is also about the Jets.

“If you see them having success, it makes things worse,” Manning also said.

In April, this was Justin Tuck responding to Ryan’s not-so-brotherly trash talk in his book, “Play Like You Mean It”:

“The last time I checked, I have a Super Bowl ring and he doesn’t, so if he’s proud of coming up short, I guess he should be proud of that.”

Ryan does have a Super Bowl ring — as an assistant on Brian Billick’s Super Bowl XXXV Ravens team that obliterated ... the Giants.

Ryan yesterday said, “Clearly, we were the better team my first two years here.”

And: “There is no way I’m gonna be second fiddle.”

Message for the New York Football Giants: If he fiddles, you burn. For four long years.

steve.serby@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/big_blue_must_find_way_to_silence_NSd2tKgRDgZCUJTl4tUkaP#ixzz1h5GiNAgn

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Cocky Jets coach has message for Giants: ‘We’re better’

Giants Blog

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Last Updated: 8:17 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 2:22 AM, December 20, 2011

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Rex Ryan likes to talk about winning Super Bowl championships, but this week he is focused on winning the city championship.

The Jets and Giants meet Saturday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, and the Jets coach wasted no time launching the trash talk.

“I recognize that they’re an excellent football team, but I think we’re better,” Ryan said on a conference call.

Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka fired back during his conference call with the media.

“I know we’re the better team,” Kiwanuka said. “We just have to go out and prove it.”

Neither team looks too terrific at the moment. Both are coming off embarrassing losses on Sunday. The Jets got stomped by the Eagles 45-19 to fall to 8-6 and make Saturday’s game even bigger because of the playoff implications.

The Giants, too, are in must-win mode, after getting hammered, 23-10 by the lowly Redskins.

Ryan tried to move past the Eagles loss yesterday, calling it a “horrible performance.” But that loss did nothing to humble Ryan, who came out firing when asked about his crosstown rivals. Ryan wrote in his book “Play Like You Mean It” that the Jets were the “big brothers” to the Giants in New York.

He did not back down from that.

“Quite honestly, I never came here to be little brother to anybody,” Ryan said. “So, it’s on.”

There is more riding on this game than just bragging rights. The Jets are tied with the Bengals for the final AFC playoff berth. If they win the last two games, they should make the playoffs. They hold a strength-of-victory tiebreaker edge over the Bengals, although that could change depending on results in the next two weeks.

The Giants can win the NFC East title with victories in their final two games.

Ryan has guided the Jets to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons here, taking them to the AFC Championship Game in both years. That was something Ryan was sure to point out yesterday as he compared the Jets and the Giants.

“Certainly, we were the better team the first two years,” Ryan said. “We made the playoffs and went to the (AFC) championship game. To say a team’s better than you that never made the playoffs is ridiculous. Clearly, we were the better team my first two years. We get to prove it Saturday who the best team is this year.”

The Giants are the team with the tradition — founded in 1925, 35 years before the birth of the Jets.

They have won three Super Bowl titles since the Jets won their one and only in 1968. When Ryan arrived in 2009, he tried to change the culture of the Jets franchise and part of that, in his mind, is clearly overcoming the Giants.

“There’s a lot of talk going back and forth, most of it driven by me,” Ryan said. “But I’ll stand by anything I’ve ever said. I didn’t come here to be anybody’s little brother. I came here to win, to be looked at that way and to take over not just this city, even though it’s the city to take over, but also this league. I haven’t accomplished that yet. Saturday, I think, will go a long way to doing that.

“We have to win this game, we have to get in the playoffs, and the Giants have to do the same. So it’s going to be huge.”

Ryan did speak highly of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, calling him “one of the great coaches in the history of the sport.” He also lauded defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and quarterback Eli Manning.

Even though he respects the Giants, Ryan made it clear he feels the Jets are superior to them.

“There’s no way I’m going to be second fiddle,” he said. “If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don’t want to be second fiddle to them.”

brian.costello@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/oh_brother_rex_7Ff2qZEPyfV3tDaWgYrz1I#ixzz1h5HRtpb7

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Jets report card

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Record

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Rushing offense: B-minus

The Jets finished with only 3.5 yards per carry, but Shonn Greene had another good game, with 73 yards on 18 carries. However, he had only 25 yards on the ground after halftime as the Jets had to abandon the run for the most part because of their huge deficit. QB Mark Sanchez lost a fumble on what appeared to be a busted play. He may have been looking to hand off to LaDainian Tomlinson, but Tomlinson wasn't there.

Passing offense: D

Yes, Sanchez threw for two touchdowns, a needle-threader to a well-covered Santonio Holmes and a fade to a diving Plaxico Burress, but also was picked off twice and sacked four times. Sanchez's first interception occurred when Holmes appeared to try to run before he caught the ball, and CB Asante Samuel grabbed the carom. Holmes also lost a fumble that was returned for a TD by DE Juqua Parker. DE Jason Babin beat RT Wayne Hunter for three sacks.

Rushing defense: F

LeSean McCoy ran for three touchdowns, including a 33-yard cutback to daylight, and finished with 102 yards on 18 rushes as he consistently was able to get to the outside. Michael Vick's 11-yard second-quarter scramble was his first rushing touchdown of the season. The only bright spot was when DE Mike DeVito, returning to action after missing two games with a knee injury, stripped McCoy on one run and S Brodney Pool's 33-yard fumble return led to a FG.

Passing defense: F

TE Brent Celek devastated the Jets over the middle, with a 26-yard score and a 73-yard marathon to set up another TD. Vick had plenty of open receivers to throw to. In fact, S Eric Smith said afterward that Eagles receivers were calling out the Jets' coverage schemes. David Harris' second-quarter interception of Vick came on a meaningless heave on the last play before halftime, and the three garbage-time sacks of backup Vince Young also didn't matter.

Special teams: B

Reserve CB Ellis Lankster recovered a botched punt return and a fumbled kickoff return, the latter of which led to the first Jets touchdown. P T.J. Conley had a sub-par day with a net average of 37.8 yards on five punts, and K Nick Folk was 2-for-2 on FG attempts, connecting from 39 and 28 yards. The Jets stifled the Eagles' return game. CB Antonio Cromartie had a 42-yard kickoff return and averaged 29.2 yards on five runbacks.

Coaching: F

The Jets came up flat in what they considered a must-win situation, and the blame for that must fall on coach Rex Ryan. But he wasn't the only one to blame. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's unit again looked disjointed and confused without S Jim Leonhard, the secondary's signal caller, much like last year. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer probably went away from the run too early after the Jets' offensive line was blowing the Eagles off the ball early on the Jets' first possession.

— J.P. Pelzman

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Humbled Giants safety Rolle won't address Jets

Giants Blog

By PAUL SCHWARTZ

Last Updated: 8:29 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 2:42 AM, December 20, 2011

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Antrel Rolle’s mouth provided extra motivation to the Redskins, but the talkative Giants safety promised not to give the Jets any bulletin-board material leading up to Saturday’s showdown.

Asked yesterday on his weekly radio spot on WFAN how many times out of 100 he believes the Giants would beat the Jets, Rolle chuckled and said, “I really think I’m done answering that question. Washington made me put my foot in my mouth in that question. I think I still have it in there.’’

Following the season-opening loss to the Redskins, Rolle said the Giants would beat the Redskins 95 out of 100 times. Asked last week to clarify that remark, Rolle said the Giants would beat the Redskins 99 out of 100 times. Naturally, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan made sure his team was aware of Rolle’s comment, and quarterback Rex Grossman said they took the slight as a sign of disrespect.

“Definitely,’’ Grossman said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I mean, how can you take that comment any other way? I mean, 99 out of 100 times they are going to beat us? And we beat them two in a row this year? I’m not going to the casino with him anytime soon.’’

Informed the Redskins used his words at motivation, Rolle said, “As well as they should be. That’s not going to take away anything in what I feel. Words mean nothing, actions definitely speak louder than words and they were the better team in 2011.’’

But Rolle said he stood by his pre-game comments.

“No, I don’t go back on anything I say,” he said. “If it makes them step up and fight harder, then you know what? We need to step up and need to fight harder.’’

Rolle attempted to clear up comments he made immediately after Sunday’s 23-10 loss to the Redskins that players with nicks and bruises need to fight through and get out on the practice field. Rolle made sure not to single anyone out — he praised Justin Tuck’s performance despite missed practice time — but some reports linked Rolle’s words to Tuck or Ahmad Bradshaw, both of whom missed practice time during the week leading up to Redskins game.

“First of all, my comments weren’t directed to anyone in particular,’’ Rolle said. “I know the media, as always, is trying to pinpoint one of my guys — Justin Tuck. When I said what I said I didn’t pinpoint anybody’s name. My point was if we’re going to make the run we need to make, we need to have everyone on board.

“If it’s nicks or bruises, we have to learn how to push through it. ... Legitimate injuries are legitimate injuries. I’m not saying be Superman. I’m saying if you can give us a little bit more, give us a little bit more.’’

Tuck, speaking on WFAN, said “If it was directed at me, whatever.’’

“I’ve talked to ‘Trell, and we’re on the same page,’’ added the defensive end.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/rolle_no_jet_fuel_3NyBKc4M6QhpzbSK0YdPUI#ixzz1h5IUOyXV

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Jets QB feeling fine after Eagles beating

Jets Blog

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Last Updated: 8:29 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 2:02 AM, December 20, 2011

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Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had some late-night plans to get to last night, but it’s not what you might expect.

Sanchez planned on going to the Jets’ training center in Florham Park last night after participating in a charity go-kart race for teammate Bart Scott’s foundation at Pole Position Raceway in Jersey City.

“There’s plenty of tape to watch and not enough time in the day to do it,” said Sanchez as he begins his preparation for Saturday’s game with the Giants. “That’s just how we like it. We’ll be ready to play.”

Sanchez said he is OK after taking some big hits in Sunday’s 45-19 loss to the Eagles. In the third quarter, trainers worked on Sanchez’s neck, but the quarterback said he plans on taking all the reps in practice this week.

Neil Miller

READY TO ROLL: Mark Sanchez may have been beaten up by the Eagles, but he said he will practice all week and be under center on Saturday.

“I’m feeling good,” Sanchez said. “I’ll practice all week and get treatment as the week goes, but I feel good.”

Sanchez joined a number of his teammates to support Scott and his foundation at the event. Scott has become a go-kart enthusiast and has hooked some of his teammates. Last night, they had former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand as their guest of honor.

The Jets still were trying to shake off the effects of Sunday’s blowout loss.

“We just ran into a buzz saw,” Scott said. “That’s a good, high-powered football team. You can’t have the mistakes that we made. We can’t turn the ball over, we can’t have blown assignments. You can’t allow [Michael] Vick to sit back there and not get pressure on him.

“They did a good job, we tried to rally back. We just dug ourselves into too big a hole.”

Sanchez said the Jets will be focused this week with their playoff lives hanging in the balance.

“It’s important for both sides,” Sanchez said. “Our playoff picture is still bright. Our future is bright.

These next two weeks are huge. This is a short week, Christmas, there’s a lot going on with the holidays and family. There’s plenty of distractions.

“We just need to stay focused and really zero in on some of the mistakes we made [sunday] and understand we can’t play like that and expect to win. ... We’re going to have to play a lot better. And we will.”

brian.costello@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/no_pain_in_the_neck_FaTCbqH7EhpOFVJ8NFI9jL#ixzz1h5IykQCV

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Jets coach offers support to Holmes

Jets Blog

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Last Updated: 8:29 AM, December 20, 2011

Posted: 1:57 AM, December 20, 2011

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JETS NOTES

Jets coach Rex Ryan said he has Santonio Holmes’ back after the wide receiver committed a bone-headed penalty in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.

Holmes drew a taunting penalty after scoring a touchdown to cut the Eagles lead to 28-9. He put his foot on the football and flapped his arms like a bird. Ryan said Holmes apologized for his actions.

“I’ll say this about Santonio and every other player on this team, they have my 100 percent support,” Ryan said on a conference call. “We’re in this thing together.

“Are we perfect? No, none of us are perfect. I’m just saying that, obviously, you wish that thing never happened. I don’t think it will happen again, but again, I have his back, he has mine and this whole team is that way. We just have to come out and fight for each other. We know it was a mistake, and we’ll learn from it.”

Holmes also had a fumble and had a ball bounce off his hands for an interception. Ryan named Holmes a team captain this year, making his penalty even more glaring.

* Running back/kick returner Joe McKnight separated his right shoulder in Sunday’s loss. It is not known what his status is for Saturday’s game with the Giants, but it seems unlikely he would be able to play.

McKnight returned Sunday after missing a game with a hyperextended right elbow.

* Safety Eric Smith said the Eagles were calling out Jets defensive coverages before the snap.

That is shocking considering Ryan’s reputation for disguising his defense calls.

“It tells me that we’ve got to do a better job,” Ryan said. “I think when you look at the way the league is, there’s a lot of tells on most teams. Quite honestly, we knew what they were doing on third down, but it never mattered. That happens a little more than you think. But it generally doesn’t happen with our defense. We’ll certainly try to change that this week.”

brian.costello@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/ryan_offers_support_in_holmes_flap_5C62leJXhH2XWeSIfnykON#ixzz1h5JOBEdQ

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Politi: Jets and Giants to meet in uniquely meaningful game for rivalry

Published: Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 3:57 AM

By Steve Politi/Star-Ledger Columnist

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William Perlman/The Star-LedgerJets coach Rex Ryan has already claimed that Saturday's game against the Giants will be for bragging rights.

Rex Ryan got it started as usual Monday, ignoring the fact that his team and the Giants were outscored by a combined 68-29 margin Sunday. “I recognize that they’re an excellent football team, but I think we’re better,” the Jets head coach said, which isn’t exactly setting the bar very high.

Then Deon Grant took the chest pounding a step further. “I’d be dumb and stupid to say any team (in the NFL) is better than us,” the Giants safety said while delivering holiday meals to the elderly — a comment so crazy we can only hope the recipients asked for a food taster before eating.

This, unfortunately, has been the essence of Jets-Giants. They talk like two boxers who have spent a lifetime exchanging blows, when in reality, they’ve never had a meaningful fight.

Until now, that is.

You are forgiven for tuning out Saturday after the matching humiliations this weekend. One of these two teams — likely the winner of this game — will make the playoffs, but neither one is any good.

Still, when it comes to this corner of the NFL, what we’re about to see is unprecedented. Never, in a half-century of shared existence, have the Jets and the Giants played this late in the season when both teams had something at stake.

<img alt="Giants Grant.JPG" height="386" width="380" />William Perlman/The Star-Ledger"I'd be dumb and stupid to say any team (in the NFL) is better than us," Giants safety Deon Grant said.

This is, by far, the meekest rivalry between teams in the market. The Rangers and the Devils have met in the playoffs five times, including one of the most epic hockey postseason series in the 1994 conference finals. The Yankees and the Mets might yawn about their annual six Subway Series meetings now, but 11 years ago, they played in the World Series.

Even Nets-Knicks was bitter enough for the team on this side of the Hudson (for now) to put the giant mural of their owner on enemy turf, even if their on-the-court matchups haven’t mattered in years.

The Giants and Jets? They have played just 11 times since 1970, with the Giants holding a 7-4 edge. Not once, in any of those meetings, have both teams entered the game with a winning record.

The closest was 1988, when a 7-7-1 Jets team knocked the 10-5 Giants out of the postseason in the final week of the season. Since then, it’s been a string of meaningless games, most early in the season, with the Giants winning four in a row.

This is unique.

“I don’t think you need any more to understand how important the game is to both teams,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “If you play it in the parking lot for what’s at stake, both teams will realize it.”

Ryan talked a lot about bragging rights, insisting again that he “never came here to be little brother to anybody.” Ryan, like a Three-card Monte dealer, is hoping everyone will spend enough time focused on what he’s saying instead of how his team is playing. But hey, it’s good copy.

“There’s no way I’m going to be second fiddle,” he said. “If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don’t want to be second fiddle to them. I want to be the best team in football, not just be the best team in this city. But we’ll start by being the best team in the city.”

One game doesn’t settle that. Bragging rights will mean little to Jets fans who haven’t seen a trophy added to their case since 1969, or to Giants fans infuriated with the latest swoon.

But at least the matchup on Christmas Eve matters. It is not a true elimination game — somehow, both teams can still limp into the playoffs with a loss and lots of help — but it might be the closest we’ve had at the end of the regular season since Bobby Thomson shocked the Dodgers in 1951.

This isn’t nearly historic, but it is unique. It matters. After all these years, the Giants and Jets can stop flapping their lips and actually play a meaningful football game against each other.

Steve Politi: spoliti@starledger.com; Twitter.com/StevePoliti

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Bart Scott says Jets-Giants game will be playoff atmosphere

Published: Monday, December 19, 2011, 8:38 PM Updated: Monday, December 19, 2011, 9:29 PM

By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger

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William Perlman/The Star-LedgerLinebacker Bart Scott helped raise between $25,000-30,000 for physical rehabilitation centers in Jersey City tonight.

Bart Scott said that with the Jets, the talk of an inter-city rivalry will take a back seat this week.

"It's not even about that right now," Scott said at his charity event in Jersey City. “It was already going to be a big game. We share the stadium, we share the same city. This is as close as you can get to a playoff game without actually being called a playoff game. Essentially you lose now, you’re going to go home."

“I don’t think it’s a hatred, we have a tremendous amount of respect for them. It’s not pure hatred, they’re not a divisional foe.”

Scott's event, held at the Pole Position Raceway in Jersey City, helped raise between $25,000 and $30,000 for physical rehabilitation centers across the country as a part of Scott's "A Son Never Forgets Foundation." More than a dozen Jets players, including Plaxico Burress, Dustin Keller, Eric Smith, Aaron Maybin and Shonn Greene were in attendance.

The money raised will also benefit Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers football player who was paralyzed last season in a game against Army. LeGrand served as Scott's guest of honor for the evening.

"It's a great opportunity to give back, support my charity and raise money for the Bart Scott foundation," Scott said. "I'm just trying to do something positive, this is my first event ever, normally I just raise funds on my own but my wife kind of inspired me to come out and do something in the city since we decided to make New Jersey and New York our home permanently."

Scott said he's been taking his teammates to the track in Jersey City since training camp last year.

Among some of the highlights was seeing Vlad Ducasse -- who just recently received a driver's license -- crash his Go-Kart through one of the barriers along the track.

When they return to the facility tomorrow, though, it will be with the intent of leaving Sunday's 45-19 loss behind them. Scott said the Jets were caught up in the same bizarre circumstances as so many other teams were during a weekend dotted with upsets, that he wasn't sure "if it was a full moon the night before or something in the Kool Aid."

"We just ran into a buzz saw," Scott said. "That’s a good, high-powered football team. You can’t have the mistakes that we made. We can’t turn the ball over, we can’t have blown assignments. You can’t allow (Michael) Vick to sit back there and not get pressure on him. They did a good, we tried to rally back. We just dug ourselves into too big a hole.”

The glaring realization, of course, was that during such an unpredictable Sunday, the Jets lost the opportunity to gain ground.

"We did lose an opportunity to separate ourselves,” Scott said. “Whoever loses the game this week is pretty much done.”

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Jets coach Rex Ryan fires first salvo against Giants ahead of in-state battle

Published: Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 3:31 AM

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

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Rob Carr/Getty ImagesJets coach Rex Ryan fired the first shot this week leading up to the Saturday's game against the Giants.

Rex Ryan wasted no time Monday morning professing that his team is better than the Giants, not the “little brother” or “second fiddle” anywhere or at any time, even if the Jets were playing the Yankees.

The coach’s bluster came as no surprise, and it took the focus off Sunday’s embarrassing 45-19 loss to Philadelphia.

“From this press conference on, it’s going to be behind us,” Ryan said on a conference call with reporters. “I can’t dwell on it. Not going to dwell on it.”

Mathematically, the Jets do not technically control their playoff destiny anymore, though they will likely qualify if they win out. But who was that team at Lincoln Financial Field? And are the Jets better than that?

Ryan called the Jets’ showing Sunday the worst in his tenure — with the exception of last season’s 45-3 loss at New England. The Jets rebounded from that game to make a run to the AFC

Championship Game, but not before laying a stinker against Miami the following week.

This year, the Jets don’t have the wiggle room for back-to-back losses, thus Ryan’s eagerness to move on from the “horrible performance.” Linebacker Bart Scott said the Jets simply “ran into a buzzsaw.”

“We had a setback, but when we look up, it seemed like the rest of the NFL had a setback,” Scott said Monday night at a charity go-kart fundraiser for his foundation. “If it was a full moon the night before, something in the Kool-Aid. It was one of those days. The only thing that did happen well for us is that all the other teams lost as well (but) we did lose an opportunity to separate ourselves. Whoever loses the game this week is pretty much done.”

That’s not entirely true. The Jets would put themselves in a tougher spot with a loss to their in-state rivals, but there are still scenarios in which they could make the playoffs with a 9-7 record. In the race for the second wild-card spot, the Jets and Bengals each have an 8-6 record with two games to go, while the Raiders, Titans and Chargers are all at 7-7.

But the Jets can’t bank on a complicated set of tiebreakers falling into place. Safety Eric Smith called this week’s game against the Giants a “must-win,” and Ryan said its intensity is on par with a playoff game, because the Jets could miss the playoffs if they don’t win.

Ryan seemed to dismiss the Eagles loss as an aberration as the Jets try to brush themselves off for the Giants and the Dolphins. He said the Jets were thrown off by mistakes, but he believes in the talent on the team, both coaches and players.

Ryan said it would be unfair to pin blame for the four sacks on right tackle Wayne Hunter, despite his struggles blocking NFL sack leader Jason Babin. And the loss of safety Jim Leonhard to a torn patellar tendon last week did not account for 45 points by the opponent in Ryan’s book — or 156 receiving yards by Brent Celek, the tight end Ryan called “probably a little bit better than average.”

What can they learn from? Smith’s disclosure that the Eagles receivers were calling out the Jets’ coverages as they lined up was disconcerting, and Ryan said they must do a better job to avoid that against the Giants.

“Certainly, we have to look at things: what we’re doing, how we’re tipping our hand if that’s the case at all, but we have to play better,” Ryan said. “We have to play more physically, more aggressively and we have to do a better job as coaches of putting our guys in positions to be successful. That starts with me, and as soon as we’re out of this press conference, we can go about doing that.”

Ryan cited an old phrase: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Can the Jets seize theirs?

For more Jets coverage, follow Jenny Vrentas on Twitter at twitter.com/Jennyvrentas

Jenny Vrentas: jvrentas@starledger.com

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Morning take: Patriots control AFC

December, 20, 2011

Dec 20

8:00

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By James Walker

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday morning in the AFC East:

• The road to the Super Bowl could go through New England (11-3) in the AFC after the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) lost to the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football."
  

Morning take: This was a great weekend for the Patriots. Baltimore and Pittsburgh both relinquished the top seed, while the Jets lost and helped clinch the AFC East for the Patriots.

• New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka says they are better than the Jets.
  

Morning take: Well, Rex Ryan feels the same way about the Jets. I like the fact that both teams have so much on the line in this game. The loser probably stays home for the postseason.

• The Miami Dolphins' secondary is finishing the season strong.
  

Morning take: Miami's secondary is forcing turnovers and shutting down receivers. Vontae Davis also is developing into a legit No. 1 corner before our eyes.

• Should the Buffalo Bills bring receiver Steve Johnson back?
  

Morning take: This is a constant topic in Buffalo. The Bills want Johnson and he wants to stay in Buffalo. But, as usual, it will come down to money.

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Jets’ Joe McKnight Uncertain With Separated Right Shoulder

December 20, 2011 9:04 AM

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(credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) – Jets running back/kick returner Joe McKnight has a separated right shoulder and his status for Saturday’s game against the Giants is uncertain.

Coach Rex Ryan confirmed the injury Monday, adding that “we’ll see” if McKnight can play.

It was not known when McKnight, who leads the NFL in kickoff return average, was injured in the Jets’ 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. He played into the fourth quarter, but is also still healing from a hyperextended right elbow that sidelined him for a game.

McKnight, attending teammate Bart Scott’s charity go-kart event at Pole Position Raceway on Monday night, said through a team spokesman that he preferred to not address the injury at that time because he was there with family for the event. His arm wasn’t in a sling or appear noticeably hindered.

The New York Daily News first reported the injury Monday.

McKnight is the team’s third-string running back, but as a kickoff returner he is averaging 32.3 yards a return, best in the league, and has a 107-yard touchdown. This is McKnight’s second pro season.

Starting running back Shonn Greene injured his left pinkie during the game, and it was wrapped Monday night, but he said it was fine.

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Ryan's fiery talk takes heat off Jets

Updated: Dec 19, 2011 10:15 PM

By BOB GLAUBER

Multiple Page View

The last time Rex Ryan suffered a loss this embarrassing, he took his Jets on an unscheduled early-morning visit to the practice field, gathered them around a hole in the ground off to the side, placed a football in a hole and shoveled piles of dirt on top.

This was three days after the Jets were humiliated, 45-3, by the Patriots on Dec. 6, 2010, in Foxboro. The Patriots thrashed the Jets so badly that Ryan felt the need to bury the loss and move on by putting one of the game balls in the ground.

Yesterday, he engaged in a slightly more conventional means of moving past the hurt from a 45-19 loss in Philadelphia. He picked up the telephone and opened his yap the way only he can.

In a 20-minute conference call with reporters, Ryan pronounced an end to any self-loathing over what happened Sunday and delivered the first trash-talking salvos in advance of the biggest Jets- Giants regular-season game in history.

"I never came here to be little brother to anybody," Ryan said. "It's on. We said it in the preseason that it's going to be a knock-down, drag-out . . . From this conference [call] on, [the Eagles' loss] is going to be behind us."

Ryan, who talks smack like no other coach in NFL history, was at it again, pumping up Saturday's nearly-do-or-die game against the Giants. By so doing, he engaged in yet another purposeful psychological misdirection for a group of players badly in need of an attitude adjustment after their Philly flop.

If you don't think Ryan deliberately put the spotlight on himself to take the pressure off his players, you haven't been paying attention. He only hopes it works as well as it has in the past.

Last year's ball-burying ceremony, for example, didn't have an immediate effect because the Jets then lost at home to Miami. But they came up huge on the road against Pittsburgh a week later and wound up making it to the AFC Championship Game for a second straight year.

He was back to the bully pulpit Monday. "I'm sure there's a lot of talk going back and forth, most of it driven by me," Ryan said. " . . . I didn't come here to be anybody's little brother. I came here to win, and to take over not just this city . . . but also this league. I haven't accomplished that yet. Saturday will go a long way toward doing that."

Ryan also said there's no doubt the Jets have been better than the Giants since his arrival before the 2009 season.

"Certainly we were the better team the first two years," he said. "We made the playoffs, went to the [conference] championship game. To say that a team is better than you that never went to the playoffs is ridiculous."

Ryan didn't take any direct shots at Giants coach Tom Coughlin , but he didn't shy away from the topic. "He's one of the best coaches in the history of the sport, and I've got a ton of respect for Tom Coughlin," he said. "My job is to go out and beat him this week, and that's what I'm planning on doing."

The trash talk continued, with the Ryan hype machine in full throat. "There's no way I'm going to be second fiddle," he said. "If we were playing the New York Yankees , I don't want to be second fiddle to them . . . I want to be the best team in football, not just be the best team in this city, but we'll start by being the best team in this city."

Ryan got Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to bite, as he cracked, "I'm not worried about anything anybody says, especially somebody who's not going to have pads on."

Eli Manning didn't respond. Nor did Coughlin. But rest assured the war of words will escalate as the week goes on.

Vintage Rex. And if you don't think there's some value to it, ask yourself this: After reading the aforementioned smack-talking quotes about Saturday's game, are you still thinking about what happened against the Eagles on Sunday?

. . . Didn't think so.

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&C Morning Show: Predictably, It’s Rex Who Begins The Trash Talking

December 20, 2011 6:15 AM

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(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

From Boomer & Carton

With Saturday fast approaching and the Giants and Jets preparing for their Christmas Eve showdown, Rex Ryan began the trash talking yesterday by declaring his Gang Green the better team, pointing to the Jets’ success since he arrived in 2009 (two AFC Championship Game appearances) compared to that of the Giants during the same time period.

Let the fun begin. Craig decided to fan the flames by instructing Giants fan to put Rex’s comments in to their pipes and smoke it (metaphorically speaking). Needless to say Craig loves when his head coach is talking trash, because it indicates that ‘Rex is being Rex,’ and Craig likes when ‘Rex is Rex.’

Boomer knows what it’s like preparing for a big game under the New York spotlight and he admitted to liking what Rex said if for no other reason than it gives Craig and him something to talk about. As for the action on the field, Boomer wouldn’t tip his hand just yet, but as for his radio partner, it’s clear Rex’s little pep-talk was effective because he is all over the Green & White.

Veering off path a bit, Boomer revealed that he briefly played the clarinet when he was a young man. Turns out, young Booms (he had not transformed into the Blonde Bomber) suffered from chapped lips, so the windwood musical instrument experimental stage of his childhood was unfortunately cut short.

From there the guys talked the excessive celebrations in the NFL and whether or not there is a place for them in the league…

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Rex backs Holmes after his apology

Originally published: December 19, 2011 10:21 PM

Updated: December 19, 2011 10:30 PM

By MARCUS HENRY marcus.henry@newsday.com

Photo credit: Getty Images | Santonio Holmes, left, celebrates with Matt Slauson after catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez during the second quarter. (Dec. 18, 2011)

JERSEY CITY -- Jets coach Rex Ryan stands by his players.

Even in the wake of criticism of Santonio Holmes for his excessive-celebration penalty in Sunday's 45-19 loss to the Eagles, Ryan has remained steadfast in support of his best receiver.

"Santonio and I talk all the time," Ryan said Monday on a conference call. "He apologized for that to me. I'll say this about Santonio and every other player on this team, they have my 100-percent support. We're in this thing together."

With the Jets down 28-3, Holmes caught a 25-yard touchdown pass. He then put one foot on the ball, flapped his arms like an eagle and was flagged for using the ball as a prop.

"Are we perfect? No, none of us are perfect. I'm just saying you wish that thing never happened," Ryan said. "I don't think it will happen again, but again, I have his back, he has mine, and this whole team is that way."

On a day when Ryan made his rounds with the media and defended Holmes, at least 15 Jets took time out from football to support linebacker Bart Scott at his "Can't Wait Grand Prix" fundraiser at Pole Position Raceway. Nearly 300 people attended and at least $25,000 was raised, according to spokeswoman Rosemary O'Brien.

Part of the proceeds, which go directly to Scott's "A Son Never Forgets Foundation," will be funneled to former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand to assist in his recovery from a spinal injury suffered in 2010 in a game against Army.

The players on hand did their best not to think about losing to the Eagles or Saturday's game against the Giants.

"Even when you don't play well on Sundays and things don't go the way you want, we're still some of the luckiest people in the entire world," Mark Sanchez said. "Being able to step away for a few hours [and] benefit some people who are definitely in need is important to all of us."

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Rex backs Holmes after his apology

Originally published: December 19, 2011 10:21 PM

Updated: December 19, 2011 10:30 PM

By MARCUS HENRY marcus.henry@newsday.com

Photo credit: Getty Images | Santonio Holmes, left, celebrates with Matt Slauson after catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez during the second quarter. (Dec. 18, 2011)

JERSEY CITY -- Jets coach Rex Ryan stands by his players.

Even in the wake of criticism of Santonio Holmes for his excessive-celebration penalty in Sunday's 45-19 loss to the Eagles, Ryan has remained steadfast in support of his best receiver.

"Santonio and I talk all the time," Ryan said Monday on a conference call. "He apologized for that to me. I'll say this about Santonio and every other player on this team, they have my 100-percent support. We're in this thing together."

With the Jets down 28-3, Holmes caught a 25-yard touchdown pass. He then put one foot on the ball, flapped his arms like an eagle and was flagged for using the ball as a prop.

"Are we perfect? No, none of us are perfect. I'm just saying you wish that thing never happened," Ryan said. "I don't think it will happen again, but again, I have his back, he has mine, and this whole team is that way."

On a day when Ryan made his rounds with the media and defended Holmes, at least 15 Jets took time out from football to support linebacker Bart Scott at his "Can't Wait Grand Prix" fundraiser at Pole Position Raceway. Nearly 300 people attended and at least $25,000 was raised, according to spokeswoman Rosemary O'Brien.

Part of the proceeds, which go directly to Scott's "A Son Never Forgets Foundation," will be funneled to former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand to assist in his recovery from a spinal injury suffered in 2010 in a game against Army.

The players on hand did their best not to think about losing to the Eagles or Saturday's game against the Giants.

"Even when you don't play well on Sundays and things don't go the way you want, we're still some of the luckiest people in the entire world," Mark Sanchez said. "Being able to step away for a few hours [and] benefit some people who are definitely in need is important to all of us."

Rex's mouth doesn't bother me much, but I hate it when he defends players, like Holmes, and Hunter.

There has to be some accountability. I'll bet there are quite a few players on the team who aren't defending them. particularly Holmes. Hunter has an excuse.

He sucks

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NICOLE: Never Count Us Out

By New York Jets Flight Crew Cheerleader

Posted 10 minutes ago

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As fans, we know that no other team in the NFL has that Jets spark that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is just something about the hard-working team and prestigious organization that always attracts the spotlight.

We have come so unbelievably close to the big game two years in a row now. I can’t even explain the ride it’s been being aboard that journey. Our confidence has been criticized, but for three years now we have taken the hard road proving we have just what it takes to get to that championship game.

There have been ups and downs but we must remain positive that our boys will win out and take us into the postseason once again.

A football season is full of twists and turns. It is amazing from one week to the next how drastically the playoff picture changes. Who knew that this upcoming game against the Giants would be the biggest game yet this season? With both teams coming off a loss, they are each looking for a shot to redeem themselves.

This week for both NY teams, the survivor stays alive in the playoff race. The Giants are 7-7, second place in their division and looking to clinch the NFC East. Being two games out of a playoff spot, there is no doubt they are coming ready to play.

I know after a hard loss the Jets feel like they can't get back out there fast enough. They are anxious to move ahead and push forward. Aside from Sunday we had just come off a 3-game winning streak. It is clear that the potential to beat these teams is there. The running game has been crucial, and the O-line held it together.

Although we fell short in Philly, we need to keep focused on our strong points. We have to play well on both sides of the ball in order to keep up strength in all areas. We might get knocked down but never count us out. The New York Jets will find a way to fight even harder to get back on top. The goal is to get there — it doesn't matter how you do it, just get it done. One way or another at this point in the season, we are still holding our ticket into the postseason and we are going to fight our way through to get there.

We control our own destiny, and as I have said many times in the past, we have a duty to stand behind our team and help push them there. Let's make that stadium green as can be on Saturday!

The Giants may be playing on their home field, but let's make it known that MetLife Stadium is lit up green this Christmas eve and we all know that Jets fans are the loudest in the league!

I am really looking forward to the holiday game with my Flight Crew Family & we hope to see our fans dominating the stadium. We really can make a difference

Happy Holidays from all of the Flight Crew Cheerleaders!!

AND LET'S GO JETS!

— Love, Nicole

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December 19, 2011, 10:37 pm

Bleeding Green: Inspirational Beginnings

By BRIAN BASSETT

Brian Bassett is the founder of SNY’s The Jets Blog. You can follow him on Twitter at @Brian_Bassett. He and Ed Valentine of Big Blue View will be writing about the Jets and the Giants in the days leading up to the Giants-Jets game on Saturday. Leading off: Brian explains how he became a Jets fan.

In comic books, superheroes always seem to have tragic origins. I believe most sports fans can relate to that.

Cheering on a team when it is doing well and winning big games does not demonstrate loyalty. Instead, it is doing so during the lows that proves devotion.

I grew up in suburbs of New York, the product of an extended family of Giants fans. Until high school, football and the Jets were an afterthought. I was always pondering questions like: Why does my best friend imitate Ken O’Brien by taking a snap and immediately falling on his back? Why does Grandma’s coffee table have a Sports Illustrated with Lawrence Taylor and Mark Gastineau on the cover that is telling me that the Jets are second banana in the Big Apple?

It wasn’t until my father and godfather took me to my first N.F.L. game — between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jets at the Meadowlands on Nov. 29, 1992 — that a Jets-related question seemed truly urgent. It was: Is that player going to be O.K.? Like many around me that day, I was worried about Jets defensive lineman Dennis Byrd, who had collided with a teammate on an attempted sack and was not getting up. We were puzzled.

Minutes passed before Byrd was carried off the field on a stretcher. It wasn’t until later, on the ride home, that my dad and I heard that Byrd had injured his neck. It was feared that he would be paralyzed for life.

We prayed for Byrd while driving across the Tappan Zee Bridge. I tracked news of Byrd’s progress in the days and weeks that followed. Before I knew it, I had become a Jets fan, one who cheered when Byrd eventually walked again.

Tragedy marks the origins of superheroes and of fans. I’m a Jets fan because of a superhero named Dennis Byrd.

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Sanchez-Fitz-Moore Watch

December, 20, 2011

Dec 20

11:00

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By James Walker

The race for the No. 2 quarterback in the AFC East is heating up.

Here is our latest edition of the "Sanchez-Fitz-Moore Watch."

SanchezMark Sanchez, New York Jets

Result: L, 45-19 against Philadelphia

Stats: 15 of 26, 150 yards, two TDs, two INTs

QBR: 3.8

Analysis: Ok, let’s be honest. Sanchez was bad, but he wasn’t as awful as his QBR indicates. His pass protection was horrid. Sanchez was sacked four times and was running for his safety most of the game. He was hit often and was very slow to get up. Receiver Santonio Holmes fumbled once and dropped another pass that led to one of Sanchez’s two interceptions. But Sanchez failed to lift his team through adversity. He didn’t challenge the Philadelphia Eagles vertically and also added a fumble on a quarterback sneak.

Walker’s grade: D-

FitzpatrickRyan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Result: L, 30-23 against Miami

Stats: 31 of 47, 316 yards, two TDs, three INTs

QBR: 21.7

Analysis: Similar to Sanchez, Fitzpatrick is failing to carry his team through adversity. He is a complementary player who cannot lift his team when needed, and that’s a problem if he’s your face of the franchise and has a $59 million contract. Fitzpatrick had another clunker Sunday, throwing three interceptions that quickly put Buffalo behind. I will give Fitzpatrick credit for putting up numbers in the fourth quarter. But that’s only after Miami built a 30-13 lead and was trying to hold on.

Walker’s grade: D+

MooreMatt Moore, Miami Dolphins

Result: W, 30-23 against Buffalo

Stats: 10 of 20, 217 yards, two TDs

QBR: 75.5

Analysis: Moore continues to do his job in Miami. Moore manages the game, makes the throws he needs to make, and doesn’t turn over the football. That usually amounts to a win for the Dolphins. Moore threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a lot of help in the running game. Tailback Reggie Bush ran for 203 yards and a touchdown.

Walker’s grade: B+

This week’s winner: Matt Moore (three points)

Second place: Ryan Fitzpatrick (two points)

Third place: Mark Sanchez (one point)

Overall standings (fourth quarter)

1. (tie) Sanchez, Fitzpatrick and Moore (four points)

Things are heating up with the "Sanchez-Fitz-Moore Watch" with two games remaining. We will be back next week for another installment.