Jets new&notes: Sheldon is Replaceable

[Gas2No99]

Jets star Sheldon Richardson learns a hard lesson: Everybody is replaceable

Dick Semen-i, ESPN Staff Writer

A look at what's going on around the New York Jets, the bye-week version:

1. Slice of humble pie: Sheldon Richardson will practice Monday for the first time since his four-game drug suspension ended, and the hope within the organization is that he learned some humility during his absence. Any person who has read Richardson's quotes over the past two years knows he has a high opinion of himself. No doubt, he's a terrific talent, but the Jets proved during his suspension that no single player is greater than the team. Not only did they survive his suspension, but they thrived, soaring to the top of the defensive rankings (No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 3 in yards allowed). It sounded like coachspeak when Todd Bowles said in July, "We're prepared to win without him," but he turned out to be right. The Jets experienced life sans Richardson, and it wasn't terrible, thanks to solid work by rookie Leonard Williams. For Richardson's sake, you hope it registers.

Even without star pass-rusher Sheldon Richardson, the Jets' defense was one of the NFL's best during the season's first four weeks. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

2. Geno the bench warmer: You never say "never" because things can change quickly in the NFL, but it looks like Geno Smith could spend the rest of the season on the bench. The Jets are 3-1 under Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has won over the locker room with his workmanlike play and mature approach. He's had some hiccups (six interceptions) and a few near-picks, but a walk on the Fitzpatrick Tightrope is better than a wild ride on the Geno Coaster. In the offseason, they should look to trade Smith if they can find a team willing to give up a late-round draft pick.

3. Missing ingredient: I'm surprised offensive coordinator Chan Gailey hasn't used more play-action passing, considering the success of the ground game. They've attempted only 18 play-action passes, 22nd in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Granted, Fitzpatrick hasn't been tearing it up (9-for-18, 90 yards, one interception), but play-action is something that should create more space in the passing lanes, especially over the linebackers.

4. David a Goliath: I find this rather stunning. David Harris already has missed more defensive snaps (25) than he did in the previous three seasons combined (13), according to Pro Football Focus. That's not a knock on the veteran linebacker, just an illustration of his durability. He missed the last 17 snaps last Sunday, suffering an apparent quadriceps strain while rushing the passer. It looked like a non-contact injury. Harris told me after the game that he'd be fine.

5. Willie on the mend: The Jets are targeting this week as the return for right guard Willie Colon, according to a source. Colon missed last week's game because of a sprained MCL in his non-surgically repaired knee. His replacement, Brian Winters, did a credible job against the Miami Dolphins. He held his own against Ndamukong Suh, but he also had two penalties and allowed a team-high four quarterback hurries, per PFF. No, Colon won't be Wally Pipp-ed.

6. On the soap box: IK Enemkpali's punch out of Smith was pretty big sports news in August, but it has transcended football. How do we know this? Televangelist Joel Osteen referred to the incident in a recent sermon, entitled, "Keep strife out of your life." (Check the 28-minute mark.) No kidding.

"Sometimes we argue over petty things that, in the big picture, don't really matter," Osteen preached to a large crowd. "You may have seen in the news, a professional football player punched his teammate -- the quarterback -- and broke his jaw. He was upset because he had purchased a $600 ticket for the quarterback to come to his event and the quarterback wasn't able to make it. Instead of handling it the right way, he let his emotions take over and led to this fight. When the coaches found out, he was immediately dismissed from the team. He lost his multi-million dollar contract. He let a $600 offense cost him several million dollars."

Uh, not exactly. Enemkpali jeopardized a potential $1.8 million in non-guaranteed earnings (the final three years of his rookie contract), but he was rescued by former Jets coach Rex Ryan. As a result, he lost only $120,000 in wages during his four-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. But, hey, why let the facts get in the way of a good sermon?

(A hat tip for Twitter follower Chris Taylor for the link.)

7. Oldies, but goodies: After four weeks, Adrian Peterson is the NFL's leading rusher. At 30, he's trying to become the first Tricenarian in more than a decade to win the rushing crown. The last to do it? It was former Jets great Curtis Martin, who won the title in 2004 at age 31. He once referred to Peterson as "the most gifted back I've ever seen."

8. Running for a cause: Former defensive lineman Paul Frase, one of the good guys from a not-so-good period in Jets history (1988-1994), will run Sunday in the Chicago Marathon. Frase, 50, is running to raise money for Myotubular Myopathy (MTM) -- the rare genetic disorder that claimed his son, Joshua, at the age of 15 in 2010. Godspeed, Paul.

9. Been a long time: At 3-1, the Jets are two games over .500 for the first time since Week 16 of the 2011 season -- 54 games ago. That's an eternity in the NFL.

10. The final word: The toilet-paper story from London probably garnered far too many headlines on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but, hey, who doesn't love a funny potty pun? The last word on this particular subject comes from right tackle Breno Giacomini, who was asked after the game about the 350 rolls of toilet paper that were packed by the Jets.

"I probably used two rolls," he said.

In only three days?

"Hey, man, quick metabolism."

And a quick wit.