JETS ARTICLES - WED 11/1

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-sphow014955770nov01,0,6798660.column?coll=ny-jets-print

Curtis faces hardest call

Johnette Howard

SPORTS COLUMNIST

November 1, 2006

Training camp churned by, then eight regular-season games came and went, and Jets running back Curtis Martin still wasn't back. Long ago, it started to seem as if Martin wasn't just working to step onto an NFL field again. He's been working through the emotions of accepting that his knee won't let him play anymore. Forced retirement has been in relentless pursuit of Martin for months now, breathing down his neck like a hot draft from hell. And consciously or not, Martin seems to have needed this time he's spent underground to prove to himself that it really is over for him at the age of 33.

A deadline of sorts is bearing down on Martin Tuesday, though Martin himself has never said he's retiring. Yesterday, he actually showed up for the shooting of the Jets' team picture and sat in the front row, though he hasn't practiced once this season or played a single down. But in yesterday's edition of the Newark Star-Ledger, an unnamed Jets teammate was quoted giving the most definitive statement yet about Martin's future, saying: "He told me that he's done."

The report cited three other unnamed team sources, and went on to describe how Martin has decreased his rehab and workout schedule in recent weeks - this though Jets coach Eric Mangini said otherwise last week, and again in his regularly scheduled news conference yesterday.

The Jets' sensitive treatment of Martin is admirable. They have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to make room for him on the active roster and a return to practice, or put him on the season-ending injured reserve list. Martin's teammates respect him so much, they continue to maintain a generous conspiracy of silence around him and they don't much care how silly it looks when one of them says, as quarterback Chad Pennington did yesterday, that Martin reports to work every day but "I haven't had a lot of conversations with him. [Just] a few. He's always there in meetings. We still talk a little bit of football and things like that. I'm just totally unaware of the situation."

Considering Pennington's famous fastidiousness, and the fact he was on the precipice of an unwanted retirement himself this winter after two shoulder surgeries, that demurral is hard to believe.

But you also can't blame him. Martin is now trying to pull off the last great end-around of his career, and it has to be poignant to watch. Friends such as former Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown say they totally understand how Martin is loath to give in. It's perfectly in character for him.

When Martin spoke to reporters last week for the first and only time since training camp, he said that he thought his enormous will would pull him through the debilitating injury to his right knee that snapped his streak of 119 straight starts last season, then didn't respond well to surgery after he played on anyway for another 10 weeks. At first Martin told himself this challenge wasn't any more daunting than all the other games or grueling training workouts or grievous injuries he always plowed through when he didn't think he could go on. But last week he made a rare concession: This is different.

"That's the hardest part," Martin said. "I just can't will myself to do things right now."

Brown, who famously walked away from his Hall of Fame football career at age 30 and never looked back, can relate. He says steel mind-sets and old habits die hard. Most great NFL players are extremists when it comes to pain and self-denial, and Martin and Brown are more extreme than most. Brown, who turned 70 in February, is 40 years removed from his NFL career, yet he says he gave up drinking alcohol recently "for the discipline. Just to show myself I can."

"Curtis and I have never talked about his retirement," Brown added. "The way I remember him is when he came out to California two years ago and was running those stairs, saying he wanted to get in the best shape of his career. Then he went out and had one of his best seasons."

Martin led the NFL in rushing in that fall of 2004. His streak of 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons is matched only by Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

"Curtis is just an exceptional person who's used to doing exceptional things," Brown said.

Then he paused.

"I didn't know it had gotten to this. I better give him a call."

[Sperm Edwards]

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JETS CHALK TALK

Middle school report card

Tom Rock

November 1, 2006

Halfway through the regular season and heading into a bye week, the ledger on the Jets is balanced. Four wins and four losses, after going 2-2 in the preseason. Taking into account all 12 games, the Jets are 3-3 at home and 3-3 on the road. Even their turnover differential is indifferent: 14 takeaways and 14 giveaways.

"We're even across the board," quarterback Chad Pennington said, "and what that shows is inconsistency."

The Jets have turned the tightrope of mediocrity as broad as a superhighway. So far, some of the questions that swirled around preseason have been answered while others linger. But it's time to break out the grade book for a look at where the Jets stand, position-by-position:

QUARTERBACK

After throwing for a combined 625 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in the first two games, Pennington has cooled off with 933 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions in the last six. Two of them, losses at Jacksonville and Cleveland, set career lows in passer rating. While he has lent an important cerebral element to the no-huddle offense, he has been oddly unpredictable.

GRADE: C-plus

RUNNING BACKS

The Jets have tried a slew of players with mixed results this season, from the ineffective Derrick Blaylock to the briefly effective but injured Cedric Houston. Leon Washington has had some breakout performances, but has yet to prove he can handle every-down responsibilities. Averaging 112 rushing yards per game, the Jets have crawled from the bottom of the league to 14th.

GRADE: D

WIDE RECEIVERS

The salvation of the offense, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery have become not only playmakers but leaders on the team. Their rugged touchdown runs after catches have provided some of the best plays of the season and they have both been solid run-blockers. Coles is fifth in the NFL with 606 receiving yards and third with 46 grabs. Together they give the Jets the ability to score from anywhere on the field, even if it's a seldom-used scenario. The depth at the position is the only question. GRADE: A-minus

TIGHT ENDS

Chris Baker has become one of Pennington's top emergency outlets, and his 15 receptions are just three shy of his career high. Baker and Sean Ryan have also done well blocking, and Baker in particular has become an aid in pass protection, often stationing himself at the hip of rookie left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson against the more ferocious rushers.

GRADE: B

OFFENSIVE LINE

A rather pleasant surprise considering the pair of rookies in Ferguson and center Nick Mangold who have taken every snap so far this season. While they have not always played like Pro Bowlers, Nick and Brick improve weekly and are rarely overmatched on consecutive plays. The return of guard Pete Kendall from an early-season hamstring injury helped the unit come together.

GRADE: C-minus

DEFENSIVE LINE

Talent put to poor use in a new scheme as the Jets are 29th against the run and have a combined three sacks - the same number as safety Kerry Rhodes has. The front line has barely been a speed bump for opposing running backs. Dewayne Robertson has made progress in technique at nose guard, but that's not the position for him.

GRADE: F

LINEBACKERS

Jonathan Vilma leads the NFL in tackles, but he has been handcuffed as an impact player by the 3-4 system. Converted end Bryan Thomas has been a surprise and thrived at one of the outside positions. Victor Hobson has shown a nose for the ball with three turnovers. GRADE: C

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Some of the best plays by the secondary have come on blitzes (see: Kerry Rhodes), but the Jets rarely use that strategy. Andre Dyson has been a decent free- agent pickup, but the young duo of Justin Miller and Drew Coleman has shown it can be beaten. The Jets are 22nd in passing yardage but have 10 interceptions. If the Jets could ever stop the run, the unit would likely be even more exposed. GRADE: D-plus

SPECIAL TEAMS

Justin Miller has become an elite kickoff returner in the NFL with two touchdowns (one more than the rest of the league). Mike Nugent shook off his opening-game flops to become a steady kicker within his range, but his short kickoffs are something the Jets might need to address as the season goes on. Punter Ben Graham hasn't been consistent, but when he is on, he's spectacular. Brad Smith has become a strong special-teams tackler.

GRADE: B

COACHING STAFF

Rookie Eric Mangini has infused the franchise with his philosophies and no-nonsense rules. After an arduous training camp, it was important for the Jets to get off to a good start and see the potential payoff from the hard work, and they did. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has used a flexible playbook, drawing on strengths of players as well as the versatility afforded by players such as Washington and Brad Smith, though the penchant to dazzle sometimes pops up when the Jets should dig in. Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton has a tougher job cramming the 4-3 players into the 3-4 scheme. He is super-conservative in calling blitzes, even though the Jets have had success when sending linebackers and safeties after the quarterbacks.

Head Coach: B-minus

Off. Coordinator: C-plus

Def. Coordinator: D.

OVERALL

Perhaps the worst thing about the first eight games was the heightened expectation that came from the possibility of winning five games before the break. The players recoiled at the idea of rebuilding this season, but it's pretty clear that's exactly what is happening. Even-steven is better than many thought the Jets would be at this point during preseason, and their four wins equal the number of games won last year when the year began with Super Bowl hype. GRADE: C

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/467130p-393132c.html

Curtis runs out of time

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006

The Jets knew this day was coming. Deep down, Curtis Martin probably knew it, too, but the future Hall of Famer kept fighting anyway, hoping against hope that he would make it back this season.

He won't.

Martin, finally surrendering to his surgically repaired right knee, has decided to end his comeback attempt for 2006, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday.

"He's not coming back," said the source, adding that the announcement will be made today at Weeb Ewbank Hall.

Although Martin, 33, isn't expected to announce his retirement at this point, it's highly unlikely he will play again. He certainly won't be back with the Jets, who are trying to rebuild with younger players under new coach Eric Mangini.

The official end to Martin's season comes only a few days before a league-imposed deadline. If a player on the physically-unable-to-perform list doesn't start practicing by Nov. 7, he is ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.

Martin was eligible to begin practicing two weeks ago, but his target date was pushed back twice. Out of respect for Martin, the Jets were willing to let it play out until next week.

Publicly, Mangini refused to count out Martin, even saying early yesterday, "There has been no decision." But, after meeting with doctors and team officials, Martin decided there was no point in prolonging the inevitable.

Martin apparently is concerned about long-term damage to his knee.

"It's almost to the point where he'd be risking his future," one team source said.

Martin has a bone-on-bone condition and, according to a person with knowledge of the injury, another undisclosed problem within the joint that could worsen on a football field. He underwent surgery last December. At the time, it was termed a relatively minor arthroscopic procedure, but it's believed that more damage was subsequently discovered.

It became very apparent two weeks ago that Martin was leaning toward not playing.

In a candid interview at his locker, Martin revealed for the first time that retirement was a possibility, admitting he needed the extra time to make "a wiser decision."

"The hardest part ... is that I can't just will myself to do things right now," said Martin.

Battling long odds, Martin worked out nearly every day at the facility, attending most meetings.

"Every morning, there's Curtis, second row from the end, four or five seats in," said Mangini, referring to his team meetings in the auditorium.

This decision has been weighing on Martin for months. Seeking advice a few days before training camp, he took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Dallas, where he spent a day huddling with his football "godfather," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells.

There were strong indications in the preseason that Martin wasn't expected back. The Jets traded for veteran back Kevan Barlow and they renegotiated Martin's contract.

He signed a "split" contract, common for players with major injuries, and he accepted a huge pay cut, from $2.5 million to $810,000 - or $450,000 if he didn't play at all.

Though no one admitted it publicly, some players anticipated this outcome.

"He still can't run," said one player, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "I know in his heart he wants to play, but he just can't do it."

Said guard Pete Kendall: "We all face this at some point in our career. Curtis has had a great career. I'm certainly not going to second-guess him, whatever his decision might be."

Martin will leave the Jets as their all-time leading rusher. He will leave the NFL as a fourth-leading rusher in the history of the league.

Canton beckons.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/467136p-393137c.html

Parcells: Don't cry for Martin

By Gary Myers

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006

Curtis Martin never has to step on the field again to secure his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or in Bill Parcells' heart.

If Martin's damaged knee means he is done, and that's how it's looked since training camp in late July, Parcells said he won't be sad that it has to end this way for one of his all-time favorites. Martin has done so much in his career and Parcells says he is such a "very, very special, special, special guy," that he can't find a reason to have any remorse if Martin can't play anymore.

"He doesn't deserve a funeral," Parcells said. "He deserves a parade."

Parcells was in a good mood yesterday after the Cowboys' victory in Carolina on Sunday night saved their season. But he's always upbeat when he talks about Martin anyway.

"I can only tell you, he's one of those players who inspires you as a coach. He really does," he said from his office. "From the first day I ever met him, he wanted everything I ever had. I knew he was going to put it to use. He wanted to know what to do to be successful. 'Give me what you got, coach, I'm taking it,' he said. He's a great kid. He's a wonderful person. I can't tell you enough about him."

Martin's bone-on-bone condition in his right knee put him on the physically-unable-to-perform list when the Jets reported to camp. He hasn't practiced, other than very limited work in a mini-camp, since he had surgery last December. Martin is expected to announce today that he's abandoned his attempt to play this year, but he's not yet ready to retire. But that seems to be a formality that will come after the season.

Not everybody gets to walk away on their own terms like Tiki Barber plans to do after this season or Jim Brown and Barry Sanders did when they left, even though they had plenty of yards left in their legs. Martin has been so classy and not a moment of trouble for the Patriots and Jets, that he deserves to leave because he's had enough, not because his body stopped cooperating.

Martin should retire. The only thing missing from his career is a Super Bowl ring, which plenty of Hall of Famers don't have. There is no reason to risk injuring his knee any worse and affecting his quality of life.

He's the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history behind Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Sanders. Only Smith, Payton and Jerome Bettis carried the ball more in their career. Martin played in one Super Bowl with the Patriots and an AFC Championship Game with the Jets, and he and Sanders are the only players to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of their first 10 seasons. That's a pretty good career.

Parcells drafted Martin in the third round in 1995 and immediately put him to work. He enjoyed recalling the story of Martin's first preseason game.

"What I did to this kid?" Parcells laughed. "I didn't have anybody else (that season) and I knew he was going to have to play. I was jamming the gasoline in the tank. I was just force feeding him. I had been talking to him about stamina and telling him, 'You don't understand what it's like. You're going to be a target.' I gave it to him as many times as I could the first game. He was hyperventilating."

Parcells then looked at Martin and said, "I'm trying to teach you. You get it yet?"

Martin called Parcells before camp opened this summer and asked if they could get together. They usually do that in the offseason in New York, but didn't have the chance this year. So, Martin, who was in Florida, flew to Dallas and met with Parcells on July23. "He wasn't here to tell me anything," Parcells said. "He wasn't sure what was going to happen."

Parcells said the drive that makes guys like Martin great works "against them when they get older. They are are so competitive and so used to trying to prove people wrong...it's been ingrained in them to fight through mental barriers and the physical barriers that exist...A lot of them never lose that."

He signed Martin to a poison-pill loaded offer sheet in 1998 that the Patriots elected not to match and set Martin up financially for life. He always gave the Jets their money's worth. The Jets surrendered first- and third-round picks as compensation. Although it was controversial at the time, it turned out to be the best move Parcells made in his four years with the Jets. And Martin is right there, along with Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Keyshawn Johnson, Mark Bavaro, Carl Banks, Jim Burt and Maurice Carthon, on Parcells' list of players who "inspired" him to keep on coaching.

There's no doubt Martin makes it to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. "Are you kidding me?" Parcells said. "If he doesn't go in, who's going? Who would you want to put in there in front of him?"

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/467129p-393131c.html

Strength non-issue for Chad

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

When the quarterback with the second-highest completion percentage in NFL history hits only 11 of 28 passes in a game, as Chad Pennington did Sunday in Cleveland, it creates questions - especially since it was his second clunker in a four-week span.

Is something physically wrong with him? One NFL scout wonders if Pennington, who underwent a rigorous offseason program to rehab his twice-repaired throwing shoulder, is suffering from arm or shoulder fatigue.

Pennington said his arm is fine.

"Actually, I feel pretty good, arm-strength wise," he said yesterday, noting there were more overthrows than underthrows in Cleveland - his way of pointing out that strength isn't the issue.

Pennington said his performance will improve with better decision-making. That is supposed to be one of his strengths, but he's thrown six interceptions in the last four games, tying the worst four-game stretch of his career.

The entire passing game has fizzled. In Cleveland, Pennington completed throws to only four different players. At one point, he attempted 17 straight to the wideouts (the longest streak in his career), forgetting about the tight ends and backs. It was a dramatic change from the diverse attack that was unveiled at the start of the season.

"The chemistry between the quarterback and the receivers was really good, (and) we've kind of let that slip a little bit," Pennington admitted.

For Pennington, the bye week comes at an opportune time. He'll get a chance to rest his arm a bit, with Patrick Ramsey and Kellen Clemens expected to get more reps than usual. If Pennington has a bad game in New England, his job status almost certainly will become an issue.

FURTHER REVIEW: The club received feedback from the league office on Chris Baker's controversial non-touchdown. Mangini refused to divulge the league's opinion. .. ,The team is taking "almost a training-camp mentality" in the bye week, Mangini said. They're practicing in full pads, addressing problem areas from the first eight games.

[Sperm Edwards]

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No review is wrong call

Chris Baker of the Jets appeared to make a spectacular game-tying touchdown catch in the final minute against Cleveland. He caught the ball in the air and was pushed out of bounds by defenders. But he was inbounds in the air and would have likely come down inbounds. The officials ruled no catch, and the Jets lost 20-13. The play isn't reviewable, so there was no chance to overturn it. If the NFL is to have instant replay - and the league might as well throw it out because it causes as many controversies as it settles - that play should be reviewable.

[Sperm Edwards]

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Jets are missing the connection

By ANDREW GROSS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original Publication: November 1, 2006)

HEMPSTEAD — It's called the "me-to-you factor," the trust and chemistry between Chad Pennington and his receivers. And the Jets' quarterback admits it's gone missing.

"It hasn't been as consistent as it was earlier in the season," Pennington said yesterday as the 4-4 Jets conducted one of two practices during their bye week. "I don't know if that was because we really tried to hone in on our running game and make a conscious effort there and also make a conscious effort of getting off to a faster start."

After starting the season with back-to-back 300-yard performances, the first time in his career he had accomplished that feat, Pennington has thrown for 200 yards just once in the last six games. His 108 yards and two interceptions in an 11-for-28 performance in Sunday's 20-13 loss at Cleveland gave him a season-low 21.1 quarterback rating.

First-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer brought the me-to-you terminology from San Diego and has stressed it, particularly lately. Pennington and his receivers have spent extra time before, during and after practice trying to recapture their early chemistry.

"I think we're putting too much emphasis on it," said wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who had four catches for 40 yards Sunday and has always shared a special on-field bond with Pennington. "The first couple of weeks, we just went out and kind of played. We had a couple of games we missed a little bit here and there. Then all of a sudden we need to find the 'me and you factor.' When you start pushing for certain things, you ain't doing nothing but adding pressure to something that doesn't need pressure added to it."

Essentially, stop all that extra practice.

"It ain't helped none, so maybe we should go back to doing what we did before," Coles said.

However, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who has led the team in receptions the past two games, believes the opposite, that even more practice is necessary.

"As receivers, we haven't been on the same page," Cotchery said. "Sometimes you're on the same page so much you feel you're always going to be on the same page. It doesn't stay like that. We've got to continue to work on those things."

Pennington also said he needed to do a better job of distributing the ball rather than concentrating on his receivers. Tight end Chris Baker would like to be a bigger part of the offensive scheme.

But there are not likely to be more passes to the running backs, who are mostly being used to protect Pennington.

"Not to say that we shouldn't do it or we don't want to do it, it's just not the thing we need to do to give ourselves a chance to win," rookie running back Leon Washington said. "We're trying to focus on pass protection, obviously that's an area we needed to improve on."

Notes: Jets coach Eric Mangini denied a published report stating Curtis Martin has told some teammates he's decided to retire. "There has been no decision," said Mangini, adding Martin was still attending team meetings. "I can only go by our conversations, and I talk to Curtis pretty regularly." The Jets have until Tuesday to decide whether to allow Martin to practice. If not, his season, and likely his career, will be over. ... The Jets apparently will not receive an apology from the NFL regarding Baker being ruled out of bounds instead of being forced out of bounds, negating a potential game-tying touchdown in the final minute Sunday. Judgment calls are not eligible for review, but Mangini, while accepting the ruling, said Monday he hoped the league's competition committee would consider allowing such plays to be reviewed. It doesn't seem like the league is on the same page. "The competition committee has looked at the issue of making those reviewable and concluded that replays should stay focused on objective facts," NFL spokesman Steve Alic said.

[Sperm Edwards]

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Martin mystery growing

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

The rack of green jerseys seemed to have been rolled into the middle of the locker room from Seventh Avenue. They looked crisp and new on their hangers, although upon closer inspection, the stains and scuffs of game action slowly appeared.

The jerseys were arranged in numerical order. And yes, No. 28 was there. Curtis Martin did don his trademark number for the Jets' official team photo taken Monday.

If you get a copy of that photo, hold onto it. It may be the last time Martin wears his game jersey as an NFL player.

Coach Eric Mangini on Tuesday didn't agree with some portions of a published story in which Martin had told some teammates his season and his career were over. But the situation just feels as if Martin is going out not with a bang but with a whimper, the opposite of his fellow New York market featured back and McDonald's pitchman, Tiki Barber.

In fact, Barber told David Letterman on Monday night he's retiring in part because he doesn't want to go through what Martin is going through.

Yet what exactly is Martin going through? No one professes to know, or if anyone does, he speaks in anonymous whispers.

"Curt's a strange man," said one Jets insider. "I love him and he's great, but he's different. He's so quiet, and you never really know totally what he's thinking."

Mangini didn't exactly shoot down reports that Martin's career is over, but he said as of today, they aren't true.

"There has been no decision," Mangini said. "I can only go by our conversations. I talk to Curtis pretty regularly."

The coach disagreed Martin has become less involved with the team lately.

"Curtis has been here every single day except when I've personally excused him. Those have been few and far between," he said. "Every morning I look out, there's Curtis, second row from the end, four or five seats in."

Mangini's strongest statement was about whether Martin has told him he's just not ready to go, almost 11 months after his arthroscopic right knee surgery.

"If that were the case," Mangini said, "I know we would've probably taken a different course of action."

Martin has shown he's a special case for Mangini, who has analytically benched veterans and cut players, all in the name of "what's best for the team."

The plan remains, although not etched in stone, for No. 28 to begin practicing again a week from today. He'll then have three weeks, nine practices, before the next deadline, to activate him or not.

The Jets and Martin may be engaged in wishful thinking. Unless serious injuries befall the tailback depth chart, he just isn't needed this season.

And if he can't even practice on an NFL level, then he and the doctors and trainers must pull the plug and announce that it's over.

But there is no basis to rip the Jets, unless they do something silly like cut a player to activate Martin so he can take a farewell jog in uniform around Giants Stadium this season. He'll get to do that soon enough, whenever Curtis Martin Day is scheduled.

It has cost the Jets little to keep Martin going, since his contract was heavily restructured in August. He has contributed off the field by counseling running backs Kevan Barlow and Leon Washington and even Brad Smith. He has earned his keep.

"It was definitely the right thing to do to bring him this far," the team insider said. "Whatever Curtis gets, he deserves. No question."

BRIEF: For the record, the official who tried to talk field judge Buddy Horton out of ruling that Chris Baker was not forced out on the final offensive play Sunday was line judge Mark Perlman.

E-mail: lange@northjersey.com

[Sperm Edwards]

http://jets.blogs.nj.com/default.asp?item=261817

Reports: Martin Done

Our own Dave Hutchinson broke the story today and the team will announce it some time in the next week, that Curtis is officially done. It means he will not play at all this season and that his career is almost certainly finished.

"He told me he's done," one player said. "He said he has bone-on-bone and he can't cut. Besides, he's not in any type of shape to play. The only way he would play is by some type of miracle.

"I think he's going to concentrate on his business opportunities. He feels he can make more money off the field than on it."

The unknown players' comment was reported in Hutchinson's piece today. He also reported that Martin, "Has slowed down his rehab considerably. At one time, he often was seen in the trainer's room. Now, he's hardly there."

This is hardly a shock to anyone, I've been waiting for Martin to make the announcement since the beginning of the season. Why the team felt it necessary to prolong it is beyond me. I know they wanted to give Curtis time to try and come back, but I doubt that was ever a real possibility. Even today, in fact, coach Eric Mangini continued to deny that a decision on Curtis has been made. Again I ask, why? What is the big secret here? Just let Curtis make it official and let the team get on with life after #28. Martin is a Hall of Fame back, it is time for him to start his new life after football.

Baker "No Catch" Still Hurts

Even though the Jets didn't play well at all this past Sunday, it still hurts every time I see a replay of the Chris Baker touchdown catch that wasn't. The team may not be replaying it in their mind, but I sure am! I just wonder how the heck the referees can make a call like that. It wasn't even close, there was no doubt at all that Baker would have had both feet in bounds when he came down. The game should have went to overtime with the Jets having all of the momentum! Instead, the team gets a loss that it has to deal with for 2 weeks. Only to have the season resume again against the the Patriots and then the Bears.

That call wasn't just a "bad call", but it could have also changed the entire landscape of the Jets season. Going from 5-3 to 4-4, then playing two of the best teams in the league. Instead of possibly being 5-5 heading down the stretch, assuming the Jets lose to both the Pats and Bears. Now, the team is looking at 4-6 heading down the stretch, barring a MAJOR upset.

A horrible call, a huge difference in the prospect of a successful season.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1162359990294260.xml&coll=1

Jets: Happy returns making Miller a kick to watch

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Jets cornerback Justin Miller would do well on the hit television show "Dancing With The Stars." During training camp, when coach Eric Mangini would blast hip-hop music to simulate crowd noise, the free-spirited Miller was often seen showing off his newest nightclub moves during a spare moment.

But when it comes to returning kickoffs, Miller is all business. While many returners like to dance and dart their way upfield, Miller usually takes the shortest route to the end zone -- a straight line.

It's a no-nonsense style of running that has served the powerfully built, 5-10, 196-pound Miller well as he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season and is second in the NFL in kickoff returns with a 29.7-yard average.

His two touchdowns are also tops in the league, including a 99-yard return in last Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Browns.

"What I love about Justin is when he has the ball in his hands, he's fearless," Mangini said yesterday. "He's aggressive. He takes the fight to the kickoff team.

"The way he hits those seams -- and sometimes those seams are pretty small -- he hits them with such speed, such aggressiveness and such a level of intensity that those guys have to make a decision on whether or not they want to tackle him, especially those kickers. He's powerful for his size."

And fast.

"You kind of have to have that mentality," said Miller, who has 4.3 speed. "You can't be passive as a kick returner. The return team is coming downfield full speed and you have to come with the same energy they bring. Then, you have to have faith in your return team,"

Fellow return man Leon Washington often leads the way for Miller. He says he has the best seat in the house.

"It's fun watching him," Washington said. "I admire the way he runs. He runs hard and fast. He goes in there with a blind faith and trust in the kickoff return team."

Miller, a second-year pro who doubles as a cornerback, set a club record with his 103-yard kickoff return against the Colts in Week 4. He's one of only three players in Jets history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season. Chad Morton in 2002 (in one game) and Leon Burton in 1960 are the others.

As a rookie last season, Miller set a Jets single-season mark with 1,577 kickoff return yards on a franchise-best 60 attempts. He had one touchdown and averaged 26.3 yards per return.

"Sometimes you look back on some of your returns and you're like, 'How did I see that seam?' said Miller, who ran track briefly at Clemson. "But I give all the credit to my return team. They do a great job."

As a cornerback, Miller, a second-round pick, has been inconsistent. There's no question he has the raw talent -- and a toughness rarely found in a cornerback -- but his technique is lacking and sometimes he's too aggressive.

At times, it appears opponents target Miller because they don't want to test veteran Andre Dyson. Miller lost his starting job for three games after getting beat by Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a 15-yard reception to the 1-yard line that set up the winning touchdown with a minute to play. He regained the starter's job last week against Cleveland, a game in which he again had ups and downs.

"I think he's developing," said Mangini, adding that Miller is eager to learn and always asks questions. "I think he has really good natural ability in terms of a change of direction, speed, burst, strength, the ability to jam (a receiver) at the line of scrimmage. Like any young player, it has to be refined."

"It starts with technique," said Miller, who has 12 career starts but has yet to get his first interception. "I have to play smart and use my technique. I feel I can run with and cover anybody, but it all starts at the line of scrimmage, being smart and using good technique.

"This is the NFL. It's different than going from high school to college. You can do that on sheer talent. Now, you have to know what's going on. You have to know your opponents better than they know you."

Notes: Commenting on a report in Tuesday's Star-Ledger that RB Curtis Martin (knee) won't play this season, Mangini said no decision has been made.... QB Chad Pennington said that despite his poor performance against the Browns (11-of-28 for 108 yards, two INTs and a 21.1 passer rating, second-lowest in his career), his arm feels as strong as ever.