THURSDAY 8/17 - JETS ARTICLES

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http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/mangini__crennel_still_friends_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

MANGINI, CRENNEL STILL FRIENDS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

August 17, 2006 -- JET NOTES

Eric Mangini is extremely close with Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, so you had to wonder if the voided trade between the Jets and Browns for running back Lee Suggs created any uncomfortable moments.

"I talked to (Crennel) yesterday; I talked to him this morning, I talk to him a lot," Mangini said. "He and I are great friends. I love him as a guy. I think he is a tremendous football coach. We will talk a lot this year, and we will talk for years to come. He and I have a great friendship and great communication. I look forward to those conversations.

"We did discuss this (voided trade), yes. There has never been awkwardness in our relationship. He is a good guy and there was no awkwardness."

Mangini said "I agree 100 percent" with Cleveland GM Phil Savage's statement disputing the Jets' findings in failing Suggs in a physical.

"Teams do have different opinions," he said. "What we do here is what we think is best for the New York Jets, and that is what we should do."

*

Nose tackle Grady Jackson visited the Jets yesterday and was due to visit the Giants today. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said "nothing was imminent" with regard to signing Jackson.

*

Mangini showed the players some clips from past games revealing how great effort on a play can change the entire game.

One of those was a 1981 game between the Cowboys and Falcons.

"I showed them the Joel Williams play in the '81 playoff game, Atlanta vs. Dallas, where he almost sacked Danny White," Mangini said. "The hit involves Preston Pearson. Joel Williams pursues Pearson 45 yards down the field and strips the ball out. Atlanta ends up losing the game, but it is a close game. He gave them the opportunity to keep that game as close as it was."

In that game clip, young Jets WR Reggie Newhouse saw his father, Robert, who played for the Cowboys.

"I actually caught a glimpse of his number in there," Reggie Newhouse said.

Reggie Newhouse was about 11 months old when that game was played. Mangini was 11 years old.

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Strait isn't twisted after canceled deal DB laughs off trade to Browns that wasn't; Suggs criticizes Jets

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Writer

August 17, 2006

The only running back the Jets wound up getting was Derrick Strait, who came running back to Long Island.

In a turnaround that was bizarre even for NFL trades, the Jets sent Strait to the Browns Monday for what amounted to a few hours. The swap called for Lee Suggs to fill a void in the Jets' backfield, but when Suggs flunked his physical, the deal was nixed.

Strait, a cornerback, was returned to the Jets, and yesterday he was on the practice field at Hofstra. "The ol' 'Never mind!' " guard Pete Kendall said.

Rather than have it linger as an awkward situation, returning to a team that a day earlier found him superfluous, Strait said he and his teammates saw the humor in the un-deal. Strait griped he had to buy a tube of toothpaste because he couldn't bring any on the flight to Cleveland, and said he had already become excited about the prospect of paying less in taxes in Ohio.

"It was kind of shocking, but it's part of the job," Strait said of his odd adventure. "Everybody knows that the NFL is a business, so you have to roll with the punches."

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said undoing the trade after Suggs failed his physical was like "unscrambling an egg." Strait was the yolk.

"I really admire how Derrick has handled things," Tannenbaum said.

In Ohio, a "shocked" Suggs complained about how the Jets handled the situation, saying they never gave him a reason why he flunked the exam. Suggs told The Associated Press the team had one of its interns inform him he failed as he was being driven back to his dorm room at Hofstra. "No coach told me, no GM told me," Suggs said.

With Strait back, that means the Jets have not addressed their most pressing offensive need. Tannenbaum said the Jets can claim a player through waivers, pick up a vested veteran who automatically becomes a free agent if cut by his team, or make a trade. He said he is "comfortable with where we are from a cap situation" and if a veteran were cut, the Jets would be competitive in that market.

With teams required to trim rosters to 65 by Aug. 30, and the Jets' desire to improve at running back obvious and vulnerable to exploitation in a trade, the Jets appear likely to get a back who was cut by someone else.

"We could be sitting here in three weeks and I could tell you we took advantage of all of those three avenues and we feel great about it, or we could be sitting here in three weeks and we haven't taken advantage of any of those opportunities if they don't present themselves," Tannenbaum said.

Tannenbaum said the Jets are looking to improve at all positions, but it is clear running back will have priority.

"Based on what we had seen from Cedric [Houston], from Derrick [blaylock], from Leon [Washington], we felt that if we had a chance to add somebody of Lee's caliber, it would add competition and depth to the running back position," he said.

The Jets were lucky not to burn bridges with Strait, and no kicks flew on the way out in either direction. Coach Eric Mangini said he spoke with Strait before the deal. "I think he has responded well and really made strides," Mangini said of Strait's performance, including a move from his usual cornerback spot to starting safety in Friday's preseason opener at Tampa Bay.

"It was an opportunity for both teams to get something to improve, so you can't be mad at that," Strait said. "It's the same guys, my same locker, my same number. Everything's the same."

For now.

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http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/strait_back_to_work_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

STRAIT BACK TO WORK

By MARK CANNIZZARO

August 17, 2006 -- Derrick Strait already had begun his new life. He had a new playbook and was sitting in a meeting with his new coaches comfortably wearing Cleveland Browns garb when he was told he had to leave.

Strait, who had been traded by the Jets to the Browns for running back Lee Suggs, wondered, "Now what?"

The Jets failed Suggs in their medical physical, thus voiding the deal and making Strait the Jets' property again.

Someone might as well have told Strait as they were escorting him out of that team meeting, "Forget this day ever happened."

To which Strait would say, "Forget what day?"

Awkward stuff, this professional sports racket. Tuesday, Strait was in Cleveland learning a new system; yesterday he was on the practice field with his former and current teammates wearing Jets' green and white.

"That was a unique situation right there," Pete Kendall said. "The way I look at it is, you don't get a good player without giving up a good player, and Derrick has been a good player for us.

"I'm sure the decision to trade him wasn't an easy one. Certainly, we're glad to have him back."

Kendall joked that Strait got "the old 'never mind.' "

Strait, who's been used at both cornerback and safety this camp, said the scenario was not an awkward or uncomfortable one.

"Not from me because it's the same guys, my same locker, my same number, everything's the same," Strait said. "That's just how I look at. I left (New York) maybe like 6 (Monday) and got there (Cleveland) at like 8. I met all the coaches, took a physical and all that, and then had meetings in the morning like a regular day and then just found out the news again at like 1:30 and left at like maybe 3:30 and got back here at 5:15 (Tuesday).

"It was a pretty busy 24 hours, but other than that it was cool. Of course, I was looking forward to an opportunity, but things didn't work out, so I just got to come back and keeping playing hard here and help my team.

"They told me it was just an opportunity for both teams," Strait went on. "They needed cornerbacks and we needed a running back, so it was the best move for both teams." Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, for one, was impressed with Strait's bounce-back ability.

"It's a tough business," Tannenbaum said. "I admire how Derrick handled it. Derrick has had a good camp. His versatility will serve us and him well."

Eric Mangini also was complimentary of Strait.

"He's responded well and really made great strides," Mangini said. "We are happy that he is back and I look forward to seeing him practice again. I know he is looking forward to being back and working. Derrick is a guy who I have always had good conversations with in terms of the progress that he is making.

"I will definitely talk to Derrick at some point. I think that he understands how I feel. I made it very clear when we talked initially that sometimes this is the nature of the business. He understands that as well. We all understand the nature of what we are involved in."

Strait, who got more time at safety in yesterday's practice in place of Erik Coleman (appendix out), said, "It was kind of shocking, but you know it's part of the job. It's a business. Everybody knows the NFL is a business so you have to roll with the punches."

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/444069p-374009c.html

DB goes Strait back to Hofstra

Derrick Strait had his hands on a Cleveland Browns playbook two days ago. Unfortunately for the Jets, who play at Cleveland on Oct. 29, Strait didn't have much time to study it.

Strait was in his first team meeting with the Browns on Tuesday when he was pulled out and told the trade that sent him to Cleveland was off after running back Lee Suggs failed his Jets physical. Yesterday, he was back on the field at Hofstra, practicing for his upcoming season in green, not brown.

Though the situation had the potential to be awkward for Strait, a third-year defensive back, his teammates made him feel comfortable by joking with him.

"They said a couple of things but it was all in fun," Strait said."I took it as a business decision that was good for both teams. It was kind of strange but it's part of the job."

"We're happy that he's back and practicing again and he's happy to be back," coach Eric Mangini said.

GM Mike Tannenbaum stood behind the Jets' decision to fail Suggs, who has a history of injuries. "It was a very thorough process," Tannenbaum said. "It was multiple exams. It was multiple hours."

Tannenbaum didn't rule out the possibility the Jets would make another trade for a running back, or a player at any other position.

Julian Garcia

Originally published on August 17, 2006

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Return for Coles

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Writer

August 17, 2006

The Jets are big on simulations, but Laveranues Coles won't have to imagine the experience of walking into FedEx Field before Saturday's preseason game against the Redskins.

Coles signed with the 'Skins before the 2003 season, then was traded back to the Jets for WR Santana Moss before last season. Coles said he is looking forward to seeing friends on and off the field on this trip.

Asked if he'll have any extra hop when he takes on the team that threw millions of dollars at him and then traded him away, Coles answered with a question of his own.

"Have you ever watched me play before?" he asked. "Then you know it'll be different."

On the nose?

The Jets brought NT Grady Jackson in for a conversation yesterday, one that his representatives said went "pretty good."

The Jets are looking for depth at nose tackle, and Jackson, who has played with the Raiders, Saints and Packers, could assist there. The Jets weren't biting at Jackson yet - "nothing imminent" is what GM Mike Tannenbaum said - so Jackson was shopping himself to other teams. According to his agent, Angelo Wright, after meeting with the Jets, Jackson went up the Thruway to Albany to meet with Giants officials.

Nose tackle is an under-appreciated but important position in the 3-4 defense the Jets are installing. They began training camp with Dewayne Robertson at the position, but he has been moving along the front line, toggling with former Steeler Kimo von Oelhoffen over center. The Jets began camp with NT backups Sione Pouha and Monsanto Pope, but Pouha injured his knee and required surgery and Pope left after a few days.

Jet streams

Chad Pennington threw one of the longest passes of camp, about 40 yards in the air to Justin McCareins, who slipped behind David Barrett ... Reggie Newhouse made a strong, one-handed catch over the middle, snapping the ball away from Jovon Johnson after rookie Kellen Clemens threw it behind him.

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Coles: Old team is not under my Skin

By JULIAN GARCIA

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Even though Laveranues Coles' two seasons in Washington came to an ugly end, the wide receiver says he won't have negative thoughts about his former team when the Jets take on the Redskins in a preseason game on Saturday.

"It's just like having a relationship with a woman," Coles said. "When you break up with her, you remember the good times."

Not that there wouldn't be plenty of bad times to recall if Coles took that route.

After playing the first three years of his career with the Jets, Coles signed with the Redskins as a free agent before the 2003 season. He caught 82 passes for 1,204 yards and six touchdowns in his first year before falling off to 950 yards and one TD in 2004, despite catching eight more balls.

Things got really interesting following that season. After meeting with Joe Gibbs to discuss his role, Coles and the coach agreed the receiver needed to move on. According to Coles, the Redskins agreed to release him if he was willing to give back a portion of his $13 million signing bonus.

When news of that alleged offer leaked, the Redskins denied they had agreed to release Coles, who did not want to be traded. He wanted to become a free agent.

Washington eventually traded Coles to the Jets for Santana Moss, but not before Coles had a conversation with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder that didn't go too well. Though Coles didn't speak specifically about it yesterday, at the time he said Snyder threatened to blackball him, saying: "He was going to mail me a television because that was the closest I would get to an NFL team. 'Because I'm an owner I can make your life a living hell.'"

The closest Coles came to referring to that situation yesterday was when he said, "I've always forgiven but I've never forgotten."

Coles didn't mention Snyder by name but said he still has relationships with some players on the Redskins. As for how much his messy divorce with the Redskins will motivate him Saturday night, Coles said he has too many other things to worry about, like making it through training camp and finding continuity with his teammates, including four quarterbacks competing for the starting job.

If Saturday's game were a regular-season one, it might be a different story, Coles admitted. "You know it would be different," he said. "(The Redskins) have moved on and I've moved on."

The Redskins got the better end of the deal last season. Coles caught 73 balls for 845 yards and five touchdowns while Moss caught 84 for 1,483 yards and nine TDs. He was one of the NFL's most explosive receivers.

Coles had his best season in 2002 - the season before he became a free agent - when he caught 89 passes for 1,264 yards and five TDs. He knows it may be tough for him to reach that level this season, considering the Jets' quarterback situation and the fact that their backfield is in shambles.

Originally published on August 17, 2006

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Bob Glauber

FOOTBALL

By not fighting switch, Vilma plugs into 3-4

August 17, 2006

Another brutal 2

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The Red Zone

Quick hits from around training camp

TOM ROCK; ASSOCIATED PRESS

August 17, 2006

JETS: Hustle never gets old, not even after 25 years

As a way of illustrating the importance of effort, coach Eric Mangini dug deep into the film vault and came up with a play from the January 1981 playoff game between the Cowboys and Falcons to show the team.

The play involved Atlanta's Joel Williams missing a sack on Danny White, then hustling after the play to strip the ball 45 yards down the field.

For many players, the grainy images may not have connected. Many were not born when the play took place, and even Mangini was only 11 at the time. But for one Jet, it was like an old family movie.

"Yeah, I caught a glimpse of his jersey number," said Jets receiver Reggie Newhouse, whose father, Robert Newhouse, was a fullback for the Cowboys from 1972-83.

Bottom line

Mangini didn't announce the starting quarterback for Friday's preseason opener until the night before. Don't expect him to come to a conclusion any faster when determining his passing rotation for Saturday's game.

- TOM ROCK

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http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1155793903254210.xml&coll=1

Jets GM poised to upgrade team

Thursday, August 17, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- During a state-of-the-team address yesterday at training camp, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said he's confident he'll be able to improve the team before the Sept. 10 opener at Tennessee and laid out three ways in which he can do it.

Tannenbaum, speaking to the media for the first time since the start of training camp in late July, also said the Jets will give running back Curtis Martin every opportunity to return this season. Martin, 33, is on the physically unable to perform list following an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in December.

Although Tannenbaum didn't say so, obtaining a running back likely tops his priority list. The backs on his radar include T.J. Duckett (Falcons), Ron Dayne (Broncos), Michael Turner (Chargers) and Kevan Barlow (49ers).

Acquiring a nose tackle is next on the agenda and the Jets had veteran Grady Jackson in for a visit yesterday.

Possible trade bait is veteran wide receiver Justin McCareins, who remains in coach Eric Mangini's doghouse and has fallen to the second team behind Jerricho Cotchery. The Jets remain deep in the secondary as well after the trade that sent cornerback Derrick Strait to Cleveland was voided when running back Lee Suggs failed his physical.

"We've been talking to a lot of teams about a lot of different positions," said Tannenbaum. "I don't want to comment on any particular speculation except to say that I'm on the phone a lot and once in a while it's to Michelle (his wife, who recently gave birth to a baby boy)."

Tannenbaum, in his first season as GM, explained that in the month of August there are three ways to improve your team: waiver-wire claims, signing a vested veteran who is waived in training camp, or making a trade.

As for a waiver-wire claim, the Jets are fourth in line to claim a player by virtue of their 4-12 finish last season and have a chance to pick up a fairly good player as teams make their final cuts.

Any vested veteran cut in training camp doesn't have to go through waivers and can sign with any team. Tannenbaum said the Jets are in good shape salary cap-wise to sign such a veteran.

Finally, the Jets can make a player-for-player trade, as they attempted to do with Cleveland for Suggs, or can trade draft picks for a player. Tannenbaum pointed out that the Jets have four picks -- a first, two seconds and a third -- on the first day of the 2007 draft.

"Organizationally I feel good about our preparation relative to those three mechanisms to improve our team," Tannenbaum said. "If any of those three scenarios present themselves to us I feel good that we can react accordingly and improve the team."

Tannenbaum dodged a question about whether he regretted not drafting a running back higher, especially after Martin advised the team to strongly consider taking one in the early rounds because he was concerned about his ability to play this season.

The Jets didn't draft a running back until the fourth round, when they selected Florida State's Leon Washington, who is a small, situational back. As a result, the Jets find themselves scrambling to find a back in the third week of training camp as Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and Washington have yet to step up.

"I wouldn't characterize it as scrambling," Tannenbaum said.

That, however, is exactly what it is. Martin is currently rehabbing his knee and someone with knowledge of his condition said he won't be ready for the opener. The hope is that he'll be ready at some point in the season.

"(Martin) is working hard to get back as quickly as possible and we're going to give him every opportunity to do that," Tannenbaum said.

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Jackson pays visit to Jets and Giants

Thursday, August 17, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Veteran nose tackle Grady Jackson received a two-for-one special yesterday when he visited the Jets in the morning and the Giants in the afternoon. He didn't reach a deal with either team.

Jackson's agent, Angelo Wright, said his client is in no hurry to sign and wants to find Jackson the right situation at the right price. Wright said Jackson -- who is 6-2 and 355 pounds -- is still a quality player at 33 years old and he wants to be fairly compensated.

As for the Jets, Wright said the morning visit went well. The Jets, who gave Jackson a physical and brief workout, desperately need a run-stuffing nose tackle in the middle of their new 3-4 defense to make plays and protect Pro Bowl inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

"We bring guys in all the time," said Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum. "We had a nice visit with Grady. We'll continue to bring players in. There's nothing imminent there."

Currently, Dewayne Robertson and Kimo von Oelhoffen are rotating at nose tackle and neither is the prototype for the position that would require a constant double team, as would Jackson.

After meeting with Jackson, the Giants plan to host 13-year veteran Brentson Buckner this week. Buckner's agent, George Mavrikes, said his client is scheduled to arrive in East Rutherford tomorrow.

Buckner began his career with the Steelers and had stints with the Chiefs, Bengals and 49ers before finally landing with the Panthers in 2001. He was released by Carolina in March.

Both Jackson and Buckner have a history with current Giants defensive assistants. Jackson played under defensive line coach Mike Waufle for four seasons in Oakland, and Buckner was with Pittsburgh while defensive coordinator Tim Lewis was the Steelers' secondary coach.

The Giants have been looking for help at nose tackle since the first day of free agency, when they lost Kendrick Clancy to the Cardinals even though they thought they had a deal in place. They spoke with the agents for Buckner and Jackson in the spring, but did not pursue either player aggressively, perhaps knowing both would be available now.

The Giants gave Fred Robbins a chance to win the starting spot at nose tackle at the start of camp, but he was unimpressive in last week's preseason game against the Ravens.

[Sperm Edwards]

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The day at camp

Thursday, August 17, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

B.J. Askew sees the early writings on the greaseboard. He has taken note of the fact that the Jets claimed FB Jamar Martin off waivers last weekend and have rookie free agent Stacy Tutt getting reps with the first team this week.

Askew, a fourth-year pro, has inherited the starting job by default but has had a relatively quiet training camp and the Jets are exploring their options.

"Really, all of that stuff is the nature of the beast," said Askew, a 6-3, 233-pounder with untapped potential. "I'm just focused on me. I just want to get out there and have fun and do what I love doing, which is playing football. All the other stuff, I try not to get involved with anymore."

Competition for the starting fullback is as wide open as any position on the team after the Jets decided not to re-sign veteran Jerald Sowell during the off-season. In the past, the position has been more of a receiver than blocker, but now it appears to have morphed into more of a blocker.

Last season, Askew caused a stir when he said he preferred to play halfback rather than fullback after rushing for 54 yards on nine carries in his first career start in a Week 14 victory over the Raiders.

At Michigan, Askew played halfback initially but was moved to fullback his senior year because he was needed there. Now he insists he'll play wherever he's told: fullback, halfback, H-back, defensive back. It doesn't matter.

"First and foremost, I'm a football player," said Askew, who has 57 career special teams tackles. "I love to be on the field, be it fullback, tailback or whatever. That's how I feel about it."

As Askew enters the season, he realizes he must put up or pack up. If a player hasn't carved his niche by his third or fourth year, he usually won't carve one at all.

"It's definitely time," said Askew, who has rushed for 91 yards on 21 carries in 42 career games. "You have to put up. You have to get out there and give everything you've got and that's why I have the mind-set that I have. Whatever Coach asks me to do, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability."

WHO'S HOT

DE Trevor Johnson had an interception and batted down a pass. ... WR Justin McCareins made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch on a deep ball from Chad Pennington. ... LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson continues to impress in pass-blocking drills. ... QB Patrick Ramsey hit WR Tim Dwight on a deep ball down the seam. ... WR Reggie Newhouse is on a roll. ... DE Val Barnaby (Rutgers) had a nifty interception.

WHO'S NOT

The entire secondary was repeatedly beaten on medium-range and deep balls.

GETTING IT STRAIT

DerrickStrait returned to practice wearing his familiar No. 20 jersey and starting at safety. GM Mike Tannenbaum said he admired the way Strait and his agent, Michael Lartigue, handled the situation of Strait's trade to the Browns and subsequent return to the Jets when RB Lee Suggs failed his physical. ... Coach Eric Mangini said he spoke with Browns coach Romeo Crennel yesterday morning and there are no hard feelings over the voiding of the trade. The pair are longtime friends.

INJURY REPORT

Safeties Erik Coleman (appendectomy), Jamie Thompson (knee) and Mondoe Davis (undisclosed), CB Drew Coleman (knee), WR Dante Ridgeway (knee) and G Isaac Snell (knee) didn't practice.

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Jets' Houston trying to make an impression

By ANDREW GROSS

agross@lohud.com

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: August 17, 2006)

HEMPSTEAD — Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum met with the media yesterday for the first time since training camp opened to share his side of Tuesday's aborted trade for the Cleveland Browns' Lee Suggs, voided after Suggs failed his physical. So the Jets' search for running-back help continues.

About 45 minutes earlier, second-year pro Cedric Houston walked off the practice field at Hofstra with a confidence gained from starting the last four games last season after Curtis Martin injured his right knee and a clean bill of health now that his hyperthyroid condition has been taken care of.

He'd like to show the Jets that the answer they're looking for is right in front of them.

"I think it was a great learning experience for me last year, knowing I could get out there and make something happen,'' said the 6-foot, 220-pound Houston, who gained 302 yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries. "I definitely think I can be an every-down back. I think I can start in this league.''

Houston, sixth-year pro Derrick Blaylock and rookie Leon Washington are the camp contenders. But Tannenbaum said he's constantly looking to upgrade at any position and that he's been talking to his peers "quite a bit.''

He also said that Dr. Elliot Pellman, the chairman of the Jets' medical department, made the determination Suggs had failed the team's physical. Both Cleveland GM Phil Savage — who once shared an office with Tannenbaum — and Browns coach Romeo Crennel — who talks with his buddy, Jets coach Eric Mangini, frequently — disagreed with the Jets' evaluation.

"We had to do what was best for us,'' Tannenbaum said. "I can't worry about what other people think. We work in good faith.''

Tannenbaum refused to comment on specific players, but the Tennessee Titans' Chris Brown, who is seeking a trade as he enters the final year of his deal, is clearly on the Jets' radar.

"We stand by our request for a trade but (Titans GM) Floyd Reese has denied that request,'' said Brown's agent, Wynn Silberman. "It still looks to us like the Jets would be a good fit for Chris.''

The Jets have also inquired about Atlanta's T.J. Duckett.

"Based on what we have seen from Cedric, from Derrick, from Leon, we felt like if we had a chance to add someone of Lee's caliber, then that would add some competition and depth at that position,'' Tannenbaum said.

Tannenbaum's problem is that Brown or Duckett would come at a greater cost than cornerback Derrick Strait, who was dealt for Suggs.

Reese is seeking both a cornerback and a second-round pick for Brown.

Meanwhile, Strait returned to practice yesterday. He left for Cleveland Monday evening, checked into a hotel (minus his toothpaste, which he had to throw out at the airport), met with the Browns' coaches and attended team meetings Tuesday morning.

He was pulled from a meeting around 1:30, told Suggs had failed the physical, got on a plane, and was back in New York by 5:15 p.m.

"It's basically just being back out there on the field with the same guys, with the same defense, so it wasn't too awkward,'' Strait said. "You know, it was kind of shocking but it's part of the job, it's a business. Everybody knows the NFL is a business, so you have to roll with the punches.''

Which is what Houston is doing. He repeated the company line Tuesday that competition was good for the team.

Houston was not overly impressive in his preseason debut, gaining 17 yards on five carries in a 16-3 loss at Tampa Bay Friday night.

But Mangini had good things to say about Houston.

"I like the way he is able to maintain his balance on contact,'' Mangini said. "I have seen a lot of physical runners that carry the ball quite a bit. (New England's) Corey Dillon is a physical runner, (retired Pittsburgh back) Jerome Bettis, guys like that who have carried the load for your teams. Being physical is a positive thing, forcing the defense to deal with that.''

Still, Mangini and Tannenbaum can't be completely convinced.

Otherwise, the search would not go on.

Camping out

Eye-opener: To make a point about the importance of effort, Jets coach Eric Mangini showed his team a clip from the Dallas Cowboys' 30-27 playoff win at Atlanta on Jan. 4, 1981. Why? Because on one play, Falcons linebacker Joel Williams nearly sacked quarterback Danny White, then tracked down receiver Preston Pearson 45 yards downfield and stripped him of the ball. At the time, Mangini was an 11-year-old Cowboys fan. Interestingly, Robert Newhouse, the father of Jets' third-year WR Reggie Newhouse, was the Cowboys' fullback that day. The younger Newhouse said he saw a glimpse of his father's No. 44 in the video.

Rookie watch: It was a tough day for CB Jovon Johnson, an undrafted free agent out of Iowa who first signed with the Jets Aug. 1, was waived three days later, then was re-signed Monday. First, Newhouse grabbed a bullet pass from rookie QB Kellen Clemens away from Johnson for a 20-yard gain over the middle, then WR Justin McCareins beat Johnson along the right sideline to catch a 40-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Ramsey.

Training room: S Jamie Thompson (leg), CB Drew Coleman (leg), S Erik Coleman (appendix), WR Dante Ridgeway (leg), G Isaac Snell (leg) and RB Curtis Martin (knee) remain sidelined.

Camp visitors: Yesterday marked the Suffern Midget Mounties' turn to be the Jets' guests as 38 children ages 7-12 watched practice from the sidelines. It was the second straight year the Pop Warner program has come to Hofstra. In addition, they played at the Meadowlands during halftime of the Jets' 14-12 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 9, 2005. Even though Mangini has replaced Herman Edwards as coach, 10-year-old Tom Sharp of Airmont did not find yesterday's practice too different from those of the previous year. "Not really, it's just the players,'' said Sharp, a quarterback. "I'm just learning a lot of new stuff.'' The fun part, of course, was the 10-minute autograph session once practice ended. Dan Destefano, 11, of Suffern, was a little disappointed that Martin wouldn't be around but still enjoyed the experience. "You get to see all the players because I'm a Jets fan,'' said Destefano, a linebacker/running back. "You get to figure out how the NFL players do stuff.''

Competition: DE Grady Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 345-pound free agent who has battled weight problems in his nine-year career, met with team officials yesterday as the Jets continued their search for a nose guard. Fourth-year pro Dewayne Robertson was penciled in as the starter and took some snaps there yesterday, but he is better suited to rush at an angle, rather than head-on with the center. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said there was "nothing imminent'' regarding Jackson, who has played for Oakland, New Orleans and Green Bay the past three seasons.

Andrew Gross

[JetCane]

DE Val Barnaby (Rutgers) had a nifty interception.

He must be the guy wearing #75 I was asking about.

[BwanaZulia]

Don't you mean THURSDAY 8/17?

BZ

[Sperm Edwards]

Don't you mean THURSDAY 8/17?

BZ

Yes. That is what I mean.

[mbn007]

Think Newhouse will stick as the #5 W/R?

[vinnys025]

Think Newhouse will stick as the #5 W/R?

Yes, I think so.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://jets.lohudblogs.com/2006/08/17/a-heartwarming-tale/

A heartwarming tale

There are some happy Jets right now, thanking kicker Mike Nugent for the cancellation of tonight’s meetings.

Actually, it’s kind of a cool story.

It begins Wednesday.

Rookie quarterback Kellen Clemens and second-year center Norm Katnik have been having lots of trouble with their snaps lately. So much so that Mangini, who plays everything close to the vest, made a point of bringing up his dissatisfaction in his Tuesday press conference.

Wednesday, Clemens and Katnik were sent out in full pads 30 minutes before practice was to begin to work on their snaps. Mangini had scheduled that day’s practice as one in which the players would not be wearing their full pads – it’s called practicing in shells. It was shaping up as a full practice’s worth of punishment to Clemens and Katnik.

But Clemens and Katnik’s teammates decided – on their own, we’re told – that if those two had to practice in full pads, the whole team would.

Mangini was moved by the sentiment, seeing it as a big step forward in team building and teammate cohesion. So at the end of today’s practice, he announced to the team that if either one player from the offense or one player from defense could hit a field goal, the night meetings would be scrapped.

Clemens was up for first for the offense. He missed two tries.

Safety Kerry Rhodes then got a kick and also missed.

But the players appealed to Mangini for one more shot. So he said if Nugent could hit a 50-yarder, he would cancel the meetings.

Bam, through the uprights. Nugent’s the hero.

Now, whether this team bonding will translate into wins is up for debate. But the players do generally seem to like and respect each other. Through all the heat and six two-a-days since July 28, there has not been one training camp brawl. Not even a shoving match. The media hasn’t even witnessed sharp words being exchanged.

A joke could be made here about a team with no fight in it, but I don’t think that’s the case. Mangini is starting to show a heart to his players and to the media – his press conference today was engaging and full of personal questions that the coach actually answered.

Of course, the bottom line is victories and if he can’t prove to his players he can coach wins, they will slowly but surely shut him out. But today was a good sign for the team.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 17th, 2006 at 5:23 pm by Andrew Gross.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=255293

Ramsey: Washington is just another game

Associated Press

National Football League News Wire

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- There is one reason Jets quarterback Patrick Ramsey is looking forward to going back to Washington: to see his family.

There is no extra motivation to show the Redskins what they are missing. Nothing extra to prove. Ramsey said he is content with his new situation, battling for the starting job in New York and hoping to get more playing time when the teams meet in a preseason game Saturday.

"My only thoughts are when I get an opportunity to play, to play well," Ramsey said. "That's the honest truth. I know it's hard to believe. I did spend a lot of time there and I enjoyed my time there. I just want to go back there and help my team do well."

Ramsey has not seen his wife and baby daughter in nearly a month. They were spending time in his native Louisiana while Ramsey has been busy at training camp, but are coming to Washington for the game and then will settle with him in New York.

The Jets traded for Ramsey in March, giving up a sixth-round pick, so he could provide much-needed depth at quarterback. Ramsey spent four up-and-down years in Washington after being taken in the first round in 2002.

Last year, the Redskins brought Mark Brunell into camp to compete with Ramsey for the starting job. Ramsey won it, but got hurt in the opener and never got his job back.

Having decided to stick with Brunell, the Redskins traded Ramsey. Since then, he has been vying for the Jets starting job with Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens and Brooks Bollinger.

"I think Patrick needs to do what all these guys need to do," Mangini said. "They need to be consistent, and that is what we are looking for. As soon as one of them shows that they are the most consistent player and that they have earned that role, then we'll make a decision."

It seems Ramsey has had to prove himself worthy of being a starter since the moment he was drafted. In his rookie year, he started five games and threw for nine touchdowns, eight interceptions and 1,539 yards. He had a firm grip on the job in 2003, starting the first 11 games before injuring his foot and missing the rest of the year.

In 2004, Ramsey was a backup to start the season but started the final seven games. Still, he threw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10). He has never started every game for an entire season.

Still, Laveranues Coles -- who played with Ramsey in Washington before coming back to New York -- has seen some improvement.

"With every year you stay in this league you're going to get better and you're going to pick up on certain things," Coles said. "He's much improved, you can tell he was a good quarterback then, he's still a good quarterback now. With the knowledge he's gained of the game with his experience it's made him a lot better."

Ramsey is hoping get more playing time against the Redskins than he did in the opener last week in Tampa Bay. He was the third quarterback in the game behind Pennington and Clemens, and was in for one series, going 2-of-3 for 9 yards.

Part of the problem was the Jets had the ball only six times the entire game. Mangini wants to see more of Ramsey in a game situation, but didn't say how he will make that happen.

"The way I'm looking at it is when I go in there, I want to do well, help our team and go score," Ramsey said. "That's what it's about. That's why we're out here practicing. When we find out, that's when we start focusing on it."

Maybe he can put on a good show for his former fans. Ramsey insists he has nothing but good memories of Washington, and is treating Saturday's game the way he treats all others.

"You can take away from it what you want," he said. "I had a good time there."

[BwanaZulia]

Ok. It is Friday. Get to getting.

BZ