LaDainian Tomlinson: Time is now for Jets to overtake Patriots

[Gas2No99]

LaDainian Tomlinson: Time is now for Jets to overtake Patriots

 

 

11:47 AM ET

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  Dick ChitmingiESPN Staff Writer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:

1. It's all about Fitz: Future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson made a one-day visit to the Jets last week as part of his training-camp tour for the NFL Network, and his biggest takeaway was this: The Jets are ripe to overtake the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

"If there's ever a year to knock off the Patriots, it has to be this year for the Jets or for somebody else to win this division," Tomlinson told me. "It has to be the Jets. When you think about it, they have enough experience on both sides of the ball. If Ryan [Fitzpatrick] can play at the level he played last year -- and maybe just a little bit more -- they should do it. They should do it. He's had his best years under [offensive coordinator] Chan Gailey. That's why I'm so optimistic."

Tomlinson might be a little biased because he played for the Jets (2010-11) and we know he's not exactly a huge fan of the Patriots, but I think he makes a valid point in regard to the sense of urgency. The Jets are a seasoned team with a starting quarterback on a one-year contract, so their window could be closing. Tom Brady is on the shelf for the first four games, having finally surrendered to the Deflategate lawyers.

You'd like to say the Jets will capitalize on their big chance, but their early schedule is daunting. Five of their first six opponents made the playoffs last season and the sixth team -- the Buffalo Bills -- has won five straight over the Jets.

2. Intense rivalry: This Brandon Marshall-Darrelle Revis thing goes back a ways. In 2011, Revis was covering Marshall (when he was with the Miami Dolphins) when Revis made one of the biggest plays of his career -- a 100-yard interception return on Monday Night Football. There was contact at the goal line, with Revis grabbing Marshall's jersey, but there was no penalty flag. Even Jon Gruden, on the ESPN telecast, said there should've been pass interference.

The rivalry continued last summer in training camp. They engaged in spirited one-on-one battles, but nothing approached what happened on Friday.

"Last year we got really close to that line of super-duper competitiveness," Marshall said. "Today we crossed that line, but that's part of camp."

It was an alpha-male practice, with two highly-competitive stars trying to outdo the other. The positive: They raised the intensity level of the entire team. The negative: They lost their cool, and players who lose it in practice are more likely to lose it in a game, hurting the team. The unknown: I wonder how Revis really feels about Marshall going to the media with a play-by-play of the spat. Revis declined to talk about it until Saturday, trying to dismiss it as "just football."

Brandon Marshall has been known to have a short fuse in his career, so his two outbursts so far in camp are worth a notation. Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

3. History repeating? Marshall, known as a hot head early in his career, has put himself under the microscope with two emotional outbursts in a four-day span -- his angry punt and the Revis altercation. It's too early to draw conclusions, but it's worth a notation.

4. Best brawl ever: In December 2002, the Jets had an all-out brawl in practice that involved at least 10 players. I was on the sideline and witnessed the entire scrum. School children happened to be visiting practice that day, as did a police officer. He was there to investigate an incident in which a player (Jumbo Elliott) was accused of assaulting a limo driver who was dressed like Santa Claus.

I'm not making this up.

5. The Quiet man: There hasn't been much buzz about Ryan Clady in camp, and that's a good thing from the team's perspective. After sitting out the 2015 season after knee surgery, the former Denver Broncos star is healthy and staying active.

"I've been getting a lot of reps, a little more than I originally thought," he said with a laugh. "But I'm good with it. [The knee] is feeling good. No setbacks or anything."

6. All-Florham Park: There have been a few early standouts in camp who I'd like to see in a game before buying in. Tight end Jace Amaro has made some nice catches, displaying body control and arm extension, but he needs to show up in a game. The same holds true for right tackle Brent Qvale (subbing for the injured Breno Giacomini) and these rookies: linebacker Jordan Jenkins, wide receiver Jalin Marshall, cornerback Juston Burris and kicker Ross Martin.

7. Hall call for Klecko? The Pro Football Hall of Fame will name one senior nominee later this month, and former Jets great Joe Klecko certainly deserves strong consideration. Hall of Famer John Hannah, a former Patriot who battled Klecko in the trenches, told Talk of Fame Radio that Klecko would be his choice if he had the power to induct one player.

"Everybody asks me who’s the best I ever played against,” Hannah said. “Well, if you’re talking about maybe the best pass-rushers I ever played against, the best pass-rushers were Alan Page and Randy White, bar none. If you ask me who were the best run guys, I would tell you ‘Refrigerator’ Perry and [Ernie] Holmes from Pittsburgh because they’re so just daggone big, it’s like trying to move a house.

“But if you’re talking about an all-around player – pass, run, the whole thing – the kind that was never going to quit, there are two guys who come to mind. One’s in the Hall of Fame, and that’s Howie Long. And the second one is Joe Klecko. He’s an all-day sucker. He came at you all the time.”

Joe Klecko's Hall of Fame candidacy got a boost from former Patriots great John Hannah. Manny Rubio/USA Today Sports

8. Coulda been a Jet: Most people know the story about how the Jets almost drafted Brett Favre in 1991. He's not the only member of this year's Hall of Fame class that almost landed with the Jets. In 1997, they owned the No. 1 pick, but Bill Parcells wanted to rebuild the roster by accumulating picks, so he traded the pick to the St. Louis Rams, who selected Orlando Pace. Parcells traded down again, parlaying the No. 1 overall choice into five picks.

Only two of the five became quality NFL players -- James Farrior (first round) and Jason Ferguson (seventh). Pace became an all-time great. Sometimes quantity-over-quality isn't the best way.

9. Memories of Brett: David Harris was a young pup in 2008, when Favre was traded to the Jets. Despite a disappointing finish, Harris has fond memories of the old gunslinger.

"Everything you think a quarterback should be, he embodied," Harris said. "It was a pleasure just to play with him for that one season. He loved football and he was fun to be around. I mean, he played until he was 41. Who does that?"

10. Greene giant: Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Greene probably doesn't resonate in the New York market, but I have a personal memory that I'd like to share. Several hours after covering the 1995 AFC Championship Game, I was waiting for a taxi at the security gate at Three Rivers Stadium when I saw Greene return with a couple of friends. He went down the tunnel and walked the field in the dark. The next day, as the Steelers began their Super Bowl preparations, I asked him about his late-night stroll in the stadium. He said he wanted to savor the moment in what turned out to be his final game in Pittsburgh. Pretty cool.

[k-met57]

I agree. The offense is hitting on all cylinders with Fitz Marshall and Decker. The young studs on D are coming into their own. Even with a tough schedule we should be a playoff team unless injuries hit.

[Shadetree]

Don't want to hijack the thread, but the best part of that article was the hope that joe Klecko has an outside shot at the HOF.

i've said it before, and I'll say it again...I will NEVER set foot in that building until Joe Klecko is enshrined. Thank you, John Hannah.

[Shadetree]

Back to the thread...I LOVE Tomlinson because I know he hates the Patriots. Haha. 

Lets worry about the Bengals first, though. I have faith that Bowles has the team focused on a strong start. Start strong and let the chips fall where they may.

[joewilly12]

Agree the Patriots arent the team they once were we are bigger faster and stronger the 2016 Jets are the sleeper team in the AFC 

[Hael]

I would phrase it differently.  After the 2015 spending spree, we bought a 2 year playoff window before cap hell would kill us.  Last year we messed up and now we have a little bit less talented of a team, and a little bit of a harder schedule, but conversely we still have a chance this year with the additional time under the new offense.

The flip side is that this is really the last chance before a rebuilding year with a new qb.  

[Larz]

HELL YEAH MOTHER****ERS

[k-met57]

I would phrase it differently.  After the 2015 spending spree, we bought a 2 year playoff window before cap hell would kill us.  Last year we messed up and now we have a little bit less talented of a team, and a little bit of a harder schedule, but conversely we still have a chance this year with the additional time under the new offense.

The flip side is that this is really the last chance before a rebuilding year with a new qb.  

We have 4k in dead money next year. Cap hell?

[Hael]

I mean you will have the tail end of big contracts with Revis, Marshall, Decker.  That you have to pay Richardson somehow, that you'll have to likely cut Mangold and Others on the ol to free cap space

In 2015 all of those contracts for the majority of the jets stars were well under market value and pushed into the future.  It opened a window, but well it means you don't have very much room to maneuver just like this offseason and you will tend to lose more talent than you gain.

[k-met57]

I dont agree. We can restructure a good portion of the players that we want to keep. Ones we dont will hopefully we replaced with younger players. Thats how good teams operate. The definition of cap hell is pushing money out into the future I.e. mortgaging your future to "win now". The jets have dong the opposite as indicated by 4k dead money next year.

[Lupz27]

Lol if Fitzpatrick plays at the same level as last year the Jets will go 6-10.

[AFJF]

I always pencil the Pats in for 10 wins...12 if they're coming off of a penalty for cheating.

I don't see the Jets winning 13 games.

[Tinstar]

The Jets won the AFC East once when Brady was the QB and went to those 2 AFC East Championship games during the tenure of the man who would be king at any cost. It is not an impossible mission, but to make that call behind a QB who has never taken a team to the playoffs with the gauntlet of games we start the season playing is un-wised .

 

[slats]

4 hours ago, k-met57 said:

We have 4k in dead money next year. Cap hell?

I don't know who your source is, but the Jets have $5M in dead cap space next year from Ryan Fitzpatrick's contract, alone. 

[Lupz27]

12 minutes ago, slats said:

I don't know who your source is, but the Jets have $5M in dead cap space next year from Ryan Fitzpatrick's contract, alone. 

Man what a spineless move that was to give into that loser, typical Woody Johnson thou.  Now he already has us 5 mill deep next year, and the masses will want him back after he wins us like 6 of the last 8 games to get us to 8-8, and the terrible start will be an after thought to the blind fans.

[Big Blocker]

Comparing this year's roster with last is a bit premature now.  Some starting jobs are still somewhat up for grabs, like I'd like to see Breno lose his job.  But we pretty much know what the team will look like.

I don't see how someone can claim that last year's roster was better than this year's.  The 4 major departures are Ivory, Ferguson, Henderson and Cromartie.  Cro was hurt and his play hurt the team.  I am not confident that the combo of Williams and Skrines will be better, though, although some seem to assume they will be.  But they likely won't be worse, so there's that.  And just possibly Milliner will contribute when he didn't last year.

Ferguson was in decline, anyway, and Clady so far looks healthy and may even be an improvement at LT.

Henderson's departure likely will not hurt at all with McClendon stepping in, Richardson only missing one game instead of 4, Williams a year older and Wilkerson still improving as a player, I think.

And as much as I loved Ivory's play for the Jets, it looks like Forte may be an improvement.

Meanwhile the Jets will quite simply have to get better production in the passing game from both TE and 3rd wideout, since both were basically non-factors last year.  And it is also reasonable to expect better play from the linebacker corps.  The CS last year was new to the team with a rookie HC.  It is also reasonable to expect them to perform better this year.

Add it all up and I think this will be a better team than last year's, not worse.

[BigRy56]

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO! THE PIG IS RIPE!

[Jetlag]

12 minutes ago, BigRy56 said:

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO! THE PIG IS RIPE!

God dammit beat to the punch.

[MaxAF]

I see a much improved team this year. Mc Clendon could equal the loss of Snacks, Leo in his 2nd year should be better, LBs faster and improved Mauldin I'm expecting to break out this year, Skrine has played the outside at Cleveland and he will be busy on the other side of Revis but OK, hopefully Jets will get some production from Milliner. Offensively Enunwa should have a breakout season, came on strong at the end of the season last year, hopefully get some production from Amaro, do or die for him, not to mention Marshall and Decker and hopefully some help at #3 receiver whoever it is, Clady will hold the line if he stays healthy, Forte and Powell should open up a new dimension  and keep the opposing D's on their heels with goods hands for the quick outs, Fitz seems confident and works the best with Chan, a punter that can actually punt more than 30-40 yds and some new return threats and a new ST coach should shore up the ST. Tough schedule for sure but this could be the year. Pats are always very good but could be ripe for the picking especially if Garapolopogus struggles in the first few games. Definitely better than last year's Jets. Really hope they go 2-0 against Toe sucker and at least split 1-1 with the Pats.

[peebag]

2 hours ago, BigRy56 said:

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO! THE PIG IS RIPE!

Let's make ribs!

[drdetroit]

We're a better team than the patriots this year

[rillo]

? ?

[drdetroit]

1 hour ago, MaxAF said:

I see a much improved team this year. Mc Clendon could equal the loss of Snacks, Leo in his 2nd year should be better, LBs faster and improved Mauldin I'm expecting to break out this year, Skrine has played the outside at Cleveland and he will be busy on the other side of Revis but OK, hopefully Jets will get some production from Milliner. Offensively Enunwa should have a breakout season, came on strong at the end of the season last year, hopefully get some production from Amaro, do or die for him, not to mention Marshall and Decker and hopefully some help at #3 receiver whoever it is, Clady will hold the line if he stays healthy, Forte and Powell should open up a new dimension  and keep the opposing D's on their heels with goods hands for the quick outs, Fitz seems confident and works the best with Chan, a punter that can actually punt more than 30-40 yds and some new return threats and a new ST coach should shore up the ST. Tough schedule for sure but this could be the year. Pats are always very good but could be ripe for the picking especially if Garapolopogus struggles in the first few games. Definitely better than last year's Jets. Really hope they go 2-0 against Toe sucker and at least split 1-1 with the Pats.

The OL scares me but I think going 5 wide a lot will help us out plus Geno is there on the bench if Fitz gets killed

[Jet Nut]

22 hours ago, Hael said:

I would phrase it differently.  After the 2015 spending spree, we bought a 2 year playoff window before cap hell would kill us.  Last year we messed up and now we have a little bit less talented of a team, and a little bit of a harder schedule, but conversely we still have a chance this year with the additional time under the new offense.

The flip side is that this is really the last chance before a rebuilding year with a new qb.  

I don't see the team as less talented than last years team. 

PAnd I don't see why some cry we're a year from cap hell pretty much every time we sign a FA.  

No cap hell or a rebuild anytime soon.