JETS ARTICLES - WED 11/15

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/471514p-396797c.html

Leon and Topps pointing fingers

Leon Washington's performance on the field has been a pleasant surprise for the Jets this season - but the running back's trading card is strictly for the birds.

Washington's 2006 Bowman Signs of the Future autographed card features the rookie looking like he's flipping two middle fingers at fans and collectors. The naughty portrait has left manufacturer Topps red-faced - and jacked up the value of the card by more than 1,000%.

"I have no idea how this got past Topps," said David Lee, editor of Beckett Football, a football card magazine. "I know those guys look at a ton of images. Maybe this one just slipped past them."

Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi declined to discuss it, but the company issued a statement:

"In no way does Topps condone this type of behavior to be photographed for its trading cards and is deeply embarrassed that this photograph was not deleted in the early stages of the editing process," the statement said.

Jets spokesman Ron Colangelo said Washington told him he was trying to form two E's to honor Eastside, his old neighborhood in Jacksonville.

Michael O'Keeffe

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/471513p-396796c.html

Broadway Jets

Eric is Super to Joe

By RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Joe Namath has a new book along with fresh outlook on life and Jets.

The Jets' bandwagon is filling up with Johnny-come-lately fans, but their most famous follower has been a believer since Day 1. Let's call him a Joey-come-early.

Joe Namath, that is.

The legendary quarterback fell for Eric Mangini's team in September. In the opening-day win over the Titans, Namath was struck by the new approach - an efficient, no-huddle offense. In the Week 2 loss to the Patriots, he was impressed by the attitude, how they nearly fought back from a 24-point deficit.

Attitude and approach. Those qualities have Broadway Joe believing anything is possible if the Jets continue to follow Mangini's lead.

"They're for real," Namath told the Daily News yesterday. "They've proven they can win on the road (3-2), which is the toughest thing to do. I think they're convincing themselves - and this is the key - that they haven't played their best football yet, not by any stretch."

Namath, 63, living in Florida, still bleeds Green. He watches every game, hoping against hope the Jets can do what he did nearly 38 years ago - play in the Super Bowl.

"They're definitely headed in the right direction, there's no doubt," Namath said. "They're establishing an attitude, and I like it. To me, it may have started (in Week 2). By God, they hung in there and had a chance to win at the end."

Now the Jets are in a three-way tie for the final wild-card berth in the AFC.

"Wild card? (Shoot), they're only a game out of first," said Namath, sounding as frisky as ever.

The most famous Jet of them all, who is promoting his new book, entitled, "Namath," offered his opinion on all things Jets:

On the impact of the upset in New England: "Now they know they can beat anybody - or at least they're establishing that kind of attitude. You have to win the tough games against the people in your own backyard to have an honest confidence."

On Mangini's rise from public-relations intern to head coach in 11 years: "Rarely does that happen without talent and leadership. He's obviously the real deal. You can't B.S. that many people that work with you."

On Chad Pennington's return from two shoulder surgeries: "Because of the medical history of people with that injury, he had to be considered a major question mark, but the animal that is trying (to come back) has to be a consideration, too. Obviously, Chad has something special in his makeup, a great determination."

On the lack of injuries: "Maybe Lady Luck is making up for the last several years, all the way back to when Vinny (Testaverde) tore his Achilles in the opener."

On Curtis Martin's legacy: "I've always admired him tremendously, even when he was wearing the other colors (the Patriots). He's a Western Pennsylvania guy, and that makes me feel especially good. It gives me goose bumps to know where he came from, and how beautifully he's carried himself."

Namath has experienced quite a life, too, and much of it is detailed in his family-oriented book, which includes a DVD of highlights and interviews. Unfortunately, he doesn't provide any juicy tidbits on his private life ("And there was a lot of private life," he cracked), but he suspects he will write a kiss-and-tell book in the future.

Namath does address his drinking problem in the book, and he proudly reported yesterday that his sobriety has reached 1,037 days. He started Jan. 12, 2003. He picked Jan. 12 because it's a special anniversary.

"Guess what happened Jan. 12?" Namath asked.

Any Jets fan who doesn't recognize that date isn't a Jets fan.

Coles gets some of next year's Green

Taking advantage of salary-cap room before it dries up at the end of the season, the Jets restructured the contract of WR Laveranues Coles last week, the Daily News has learned.

They took $1 million from his 2007 base pay and moved it into this year, doubling Coles' salary over the second half of the season. It was a smart bookkeeping move by GM Mike Tannenbaum. The length of his contract hasn't changed; he's signed through 2009.

The Jets still have more than $4 million in 2006 cap room, according to an NFL source.

After the season, they will look to lock up WR Jerricho Cotchery to a long-term contract. He's signed through 2007, but is due to make only $460,000 in his final year. As one of the Jets' fast-rising players, he deserves a big payday.

CHAD CHANGE: Chad Pennington took a staggering $6 million pay cut in the offseason, but he's still going to end up as one of the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks this year.

He has recouped most of the $6 million in playing-time incentives, and he would secure the last chunk by playing a complete game Sunday against the Bears. Total 2006 compensation: $9million. He's due to make "only" $3.9million in '07, including a $2 million roster bonus due in March....Owner Woody Johnson is so into his team that he stood in the driving rain last Wednesday to watch practice. ... Opposing scouts are raving about rookie C Nick Mangold.... The Jets have 19 offensive touchdowns, only two shy of last season's total.

The defensive players loved that Bob Sutton didn't turn gun shy after Pats RB Corey Dillon beat a blitz for a 50-yard run. ... FB B.J. Askew is steadily improving as a blocker.

[Sperm Edwards]

Mangini a Candidate for Coach of the Week

Published: 11-14-06

By Eric Allen

Eric Allen is the editor of newyorkjets.com.

Article Permalink: http://www.newyorkjets.com/articles/mangini-a-candidate-for-coach-of-the-week

New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini is a candidate for Motorola’s NFL Coach of the Week Award. Mangini, who spent the previous six seasons as a defensive assistant with the Patriots, returned to New England on Sunday and led the Green & White to a 17-14 upset.

“It's important because the win was against an opponent that had a winning record and it had been challenging for us in the past to beat them, so that's good,” Mangini said.

The Jets, who were a 10-point underdog against the Patriots, won the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle against their AFC East rivals. It was the team’s first win this season against an opponent with a winning record and stopped a seven-game slide against the Pats. In the winning locker room, a number of Jets talked about the importance of getting a win for Mangini against his former employer.

“He would not want me saying this, but you kind of want it a little bit extra for the coach,” said veteran receiver Laveranues Coles of Mangini. “You know how much hard work and time he put into it. We just wanted to step up and play harder for him.”

The Jets stepped up during periods of rain on a field of divots at Gillette Stadium. Last Wednesday, Mangini had his team practice outside for more than two hours in a driving rain. The Jets have kept their practice bubble vacant for all but one practice this season.

“I think Coach Mangini prepared us well on Wednesday for this whole thing,” said running back Kevan Barlow, who ran 17 times for a season-high 75 yards against the Pats and scored his sixth rushing touchdown. “We played this game on Wednesday at practice, because it was raining just like this.”

Jerricho Cotchery, a third-year wideout from N.C. State, echoed Barlow’s sentiments. Cotchery led the Jets in receiving Sunday and his 22-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the game’s deciding score.

“We practiced on a similar field also," said Cotchery. "All of those situations that occurred today, we have been practicing.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jets came on blitz after blitz and left Tom Brady beaten up. The Jets sacked Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, four times and ended the game in fitting fashion as Shaun Ellis drilled the Pats quarterback.

“The coaching staff did a great job. I think this was one of the best game plans we have had the whole year,” said defensive lineman Bobby Hamilton of the defensive game plan. “We have a lot of talent on the defense and we just have to go out there and play together.”

Fans can vote on NFL.com for the head coach whose game plan played the greatest role in his team's victory. Voting will take place from Tuesday morning through noon EST on Friday to determine the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon on NFL.com. In January, voting will be held on NFL.com to determine the Motorola NFL Coach of the Year.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spjchalk154976883nov15,0,4612941.column?coll=ny-jets-print

JETS CHALKTALK

Belichick's style rubbed off on Mangini

Tom Rock

November 15, 2006

With the Jets' locker room still glowing in the moments following Sunday's 17-14 victory over the Patriots, some players expressed their desire to win the game for coach Eric Mangini. They had been tuned into the chilly feud between their rookie leader and Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and they knew how much Mangini wanted to win in his return to Foxborough.

"He wouldn't want me saying this, but you kind of want it a little bit extra for the coach," said wide receiver Laveranues Coles, one of the few Jets players who has sometimes expressed a dissenting opinion to Mangini's throughout the year. "You know how much hard work and time he put in. We just wanted to step up and play harder for him."

It'd be nice to think of the Jets in those terms, as a close-knit family that pulls together when one of its members needs it most. But although Mangini has the respect of the team - and the success of the game plan against the Patriots certainly continued that path - he is far from making friends. According to several people familiar with the team, Mangini has not only brought Belichick's attention to detail and defensive theories to the Jets but also his coolness toward players and emotional distance.

Although some players said yes, they were giving a little extra for Mangini's cause on Sunday, others dodged the question. Quarterback Chad Pennington was asked if the coach's situation provided any extra motivation. "I think we all have our own reasons for why we wanted to beat New England," he said. "Eric has his reasons, I have my reasons, and we have ours as a team."

Several players have complained about the lack of positive feedback they receive from the head coach and have been shocked by the emotional gap between the team and Mangini. It's a disconnect that even Mangini acknowledges to some degree.

"As a position coach, you spend the most time with a player," he said Monday. "As a coordinator, you spend time with all the different players but you don't have that concentrated time. As a head coach, you're spread even wider. Probably a position coach would have the most contact and the strongest relationship [with players]."

Perhaps that's why Mangini refers to New England as "the other place" but is not shy about dropping the names of the players he grew close to in his six years on the coaching staff there. He spoke glowingly of Rodney Harrison last week and has been effusive in praising Tom Brady, Troy Brown and Tedy Bruschi throughout the season.

His relationship with Belichick may be icy, but Mangini made it a point to say hello to some Patriots players before Sunday's game. About the only Jets player who receives a steady dose of Mangini love is one who has not played a snap this season. Then again, Curtis Martin was a Jet when Mangini was here as a grunt assistant under Bill Parcells in 1998 and '99.

Mangini distanced himself from the emotional weight of the few player quotes about winning for him on Sunday, focusing on the practical. "It's always nice that they would say that," he said. "If it helps us win, I hope they say it every week."

Mangini may be emulating Belichick's distant style, but he should be careful not to absorb his callous personality. That doesn't seem to be his nature. There have been glimpses of Mangini's human side: He walked off the field Sunday with an arm around Dewayne Robertson and was choked up during his postgame address.

His mentor would no doubt see those as weaknesses not befitting an NFL head coach.

STORYLINES

Déj ... vu

The Bears are likely to have a sense of "been there, done that" when they face the Jets Sunday. It'll be the second consecutive game for Chicago at the Meadowlands, following Sunday night's 38-20 win over the Giants. Although it is uncommon for a visiting team to play back-to-back regular-season games at Giants Stadium, it's happened before. In 1999, the Redskins beat the Giants, then the Jets. In 1993, the Colts beat the Jets and lost to the Giants the next week. "Playing in the same stadium two weeks in a row, at least we don't have to wonder where we're going or what the locker room looks like and things like that," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.

And the band played on

If the Jets' defense looked like a new unit on Sunday, well, that's because it was. The Jets not only fixed those run fits that had it foundering at the bottom of the league rankings but also turned up the intensity with more aggressive blitzes, even after they got caught on one for Corey Dillon's 50-yard run. "The key thing with any type of pressure is if you're going to take the chance, then you need to be sound so that you don't get beat," coach Eric Mangini said. "The saying is 'Somebody's band is going to play,' like in college if they score a touchdown or you get a sack. So we just want to make sure that our band plays more than their band."

Fuzzy connection

The chemistry between Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles was clear through the first six games of the season, when the quarterback and receiver were putting up numbers (38 receptions, 14.1-yard average, three TDs) reminiscent of their breakout 2002 season together. In the last three games, their production not only has been cut in half (7.5 yards per catch) but they also have appeared to be out of step, with Pennington overthrowing his favorite target several times and misreading routes on others. Coles is still a timely weapon - three of his five receptions Sunday were for first downs - but the magic that once bonded the two players seems to be wearing off.

STATLINES

Only eight teams in the AFC have a winning record through nine games, which puts the 5-4 Jets in the middle of a run for the playoffs. They may even have the easiest path there and are the only winning team that does not have to go head-to-head against any of the other seven (only the Bears on Sunday remain as an above-.500 opponent). Here are the eight winning teams in the conference and the combined records of their seven remaining opponents:

Team Record Remaining Opp. Pct. Opp. With

Opp. Record winning records

Ravens* 7-2 26-37 .413 2

Jets 5-4 27-38 .429 1

Patriots* 6-3 27-36 .429 2

Colts* 9-0 27-36 .429 3

Chargers* 7-2 31-32 .492 4

Chiefs 5-4 33-30 .524 4

Jaguars 5-4 34-39 .540 4

Broncos* 7-2 34-29 .540 4

*Leads or is tied for the lead in their division

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11152006/sports/jets/jet_propelled_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

JET PROPELLED

By MARK CANNIZZARO

November 15, 2006 -- WHEN Eric Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum loitered around that old copy machine in Cleveland nicknamed "The Queen Mary," they dreamed of days like this.

Both were in the embryonic stages of their NFL careers. Both had big-time aspirations. Both had long-term visions that belied their youth and inexperience.

Now, at a combined age of 71, six years older than Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs alone (Mangini is 35, Tannenbaum 36), both are the architects of the Jets.

And, in a matter of months, which have included the hiring of a new staff of assistant coaches, a near-complete turnover of the roster, and a highly successful draft, the two rookies have the Jets immersed in a real, honest-to-goodness chase for an AFC playoff berth.

Few Jets fans, even the most positive, could have imagined this kind of success so early, with a pivotal home game against the 8-1 Bears looming Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Yet there are the Jets at 5-4, nine games into the season and already with one more victory than they had in 16 games last year.

It all started with Woody Johnson's hiring of Mangini and the elevation of Tannenbaum to GM.

To be sure, there was some derisive snickering in certain corners of the NFL's good-ol'-boy network when the two neophytes were put in position to run the Jets. No one's snickering now. Certainly not Bill Belichick in New England, where his Patriots, mired in a self-doubting two-game losing streak, now own a mere one-game lead on Mangini's Jets in the AFC East.

Tannenbaum, though he deflects credit for pushing Mangini as the next Jets coach, knew Mangini better than anyone and said he knew a long time ago, dating back to those moments hanging out at the Queen Mary, that Mangini would be a head coach.

"It didn't take long to look at Eric and say, boy, this guy is going to be a head coach, with the way he carried himself and took such great notes," Tannenbaum said yesterday. "Even when he came to the Jets (in 1997 as a quality control coach), there were a lot of great people in the building and Eric distinguished himself back then. Everything he was responsible for was thorough and buttoned up."

Mangini has been distinguishing himself since the moment Belichick brought him into the NFL in Cleveland.

In 2000, as defensive backs coach for the Patriots, Tannenbaum said Mangini's position players chipped in and bought him a Rolex watch to show their appreciation for the hard work he put in for them.

His current Jets players feel the same way. It's not necessarily the two nights a week Mangini crashes overnight on the couch in his office, but the depth of preparation he brings to them in meetings.

"When he walks into a room his players know he's done his homework and he's prepared," Tannenbaum said.

You want prepared?

Last Wednesday, with rain pouring down, Mangini eschewed use of the indoor bubble for practice and held the session outside because the early weather report was calling for rain in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday.

Not a single player groaned about it. Only guard Pete Kendall joked that, because Mangini never uses the bubble, the Jets "should rent it out for functions."

As it turned out, it poured rain during the game Sunday. The Jets didn't fumble once; the Patriots fumbled twice and lost one of them.

"We played this game on Wednesday," running back Kevan Barlow said after the 17-14 win over the Patriots. "Coach Eric had us practicing in this weather Wednesday and that prepared us for this. I don't know what the weather was up here or what [the Patriots] did, but I think that was an advantage for us."

That's what Mangini is all about: Attacking an opponent's weaknesses and creating advantages for his team. He learned that from the best: Belichick.

Now the apprentice is nipping at the mentor's heels, and that can't be a comfortable feeling for Belichick.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/116356896190560.xml&coll=1

Tannenbaum walks a (very) fine line

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

When running back Curtis Martin approached the Jets before the draft last April and urged them to select a running back high because his surgically-repaired right knee wasn't responding, GM Mike Tannenbaum had a decision to make.

Should he use one of his two first-round picks to draft a running back or stick with the orginal plan to fortify the offensive line? The Jets had had their eye on LT D' Brickashaw Ferguson (fourth overall) all along, but what to do with their second first-round pick (29th overall) was the question.

Tannenbaum apparently figured he could get a running back somewhere down the line and set his sights on C Nick Mangold at 29.

The decision to bypass a running back (the Jets could've traded up to get Laurence Maroney, who went to the Patriots at 21) and select Mangold has turned out to be brilliant and one that has helped lay the foundation of the organization for the next decade.

Left tackle and center are perhaps the two most important positions on a football team, this side of the quarterback. A good offensive line can cover up a lot of mistakes elsewhere.

The value of Ferguson and Mangold, who are good friends, was never more evident than in Sunday's 17-14 victory over the Patriots.

Ferguson did a solid job on Pats Pro Bowl DE Richard Seymour (two tackles) and Mangold handled massive NT Vince Wilfork (three tackles). Quarterback Chad Pennington was sacked only once and the Jets ran for 117 yards.

In fact, there is a feeling in the organization that Mangold is playing better than Ferguson at this point. Coach Eric Mangini praised Mangold on Monday when asked who has stood out along the offensive line.

"They (the offensive line) have been getting better and better each week,'' Pennington said. "Our younger guys aren't playing like younger guys.''

Tannenbaum, who has been accused of being strictly a salary cap guy and not a keen judge of talent, has made several smart moves thus far to help make the Jets (5-4) surprisingly competitive this season.

He traded for RB Kevin Barlow, signed CB Andre Dyson and RT Anthony Clement as free agents, drafted RB Leon Washington and QB/WR Brad Smith, both in the fourth round, and signed several role players who have been contributors.

There have been mistakes, however. Giving 35-year-old DE/NT Kimo von Oelhoffen a $3.2 million signing bonus was one, as was the selection of LB Anthony Schlegel in the third round.

Even so, Tannenbaum and Mangini, has the Jets headed upward.

Next Opponent

Da Bears (8-1) are coming off a 38-20 victory over the Giants and are the first team since the Redskins to play back-to-back road games at Giants Stadium.

QB Rex Grossman (16 career starts) bounced back from a poor start vs. the Giants to complete 17 of his last 24 passes, including three TDs, in the win. He has a 57.2 completion percentage, 17 TDs and 11 INTs this season. He has been sacked just 11 times.

WRs Muhsin Muhammad (41 catches, 566 yards, 4TD) and Bernard Berrian (27-495-4) key the passing game. RB Cedric Benson (drafted 4th overall in 2005) has been a disappointment with 69 carries for 215 yards and three TDs.

MLB Brian Urlacher (76 tackles) and DT Tommie Harris (five sacks), both Pro Bowlers, lead the Bears' top-ranked defense (250.4 yards per game). The Bears, however, have allowed three straight 100-yard rushers, including the Giants' Tiki Barber (141 yards on 19 carries).

Rookie DE Mark Anderson, a fifth-round pick out of Alabama, has a team-high 7.5 sacks and the Bears' 23 sacks are tied for 9th in the NFL.

Rookie KR Devin Hester, who returned a missed FG an NFL-record 108 yards for a TD, also has two TDs on punt returns this season. K Robbie Gould has been perfect (23-of-23 in FGs and 29 straight PATs).

Story line

The Jets are knocking on the playoff door after an unlikely victory over the Patriots in Foxboro and are looking to build on that win.

It'll be interesting to see if Mangini comes at the Bears with a totally different game plan, a la Bill Belichick, who never uses the same modus operanti from week to week.

More money

Look for the Jets to begin discussing a long-term deal with third-year WR Jerricho Cotchery. He has one more year left on his contract. ... DE/LB Bryan Thomas, who becomes an unrestricted free agent following the season, is also in line for a new deal. ...

Injuries

Jets -- RB Cedric Houston (knee) and CB David Barrett (ankle).

Bears -- S Mike Brown (torn Lisfranic ligament) is out. WR Bernard Berrian (ribs), CB Dante Wesley (knee) and LB Leon Joe (hamstring).

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/sports/football/14jets.html

Jets

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show_permalink/robertson-named-afc-defensive-player-of-the-week

Robertson Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Published: 11-14-06

By Eric Allen

Eric Allen is the editor of newyorkjets.com.

Article Permalink: http://www.newyorkjets.com/articles/robertson-named-afc-defensive-player-of-the-week

New York Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson has been named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. Robertson, a 6’1”, 317-pound defensive lineman, collected six tackles and a sack in the club’s Week 10 win over New England.

Robertson, now in his fourth season with the Green and White, leads all Jets defensive linemen with 38 tackles (26 solo stops). He earned Defensive Player of the Week honors from the coaching staff after registering six tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in New York's home win over Miami on October 15. In a new defensive system headed by both head coach Eric Mangini and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, Robertson has played both inside at tackle and outside at end.

“I like Dewayne being able to move to both those spots because as the nose you can shade him or you can bring him over. You can slide him over to the other side to build an even front,” Mangini said last week. “At end, you can play him in a standard technique or bring him down. That is why during the preseason he did so much work at the different areas.”

Even before Sunday’s dominating performance, the Jets were pleased with the progress Robertson had displayed throughout the season.

“He has made great strides inside, and I think he does a nice job at end, and he's learning about those blocking schemes more as we go, too,” Mangini said.

Ironically enough, the Jets play host to the Chicago Bears Sunday at the Meadowlands. Robertson was selected by the Jets in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. The pick was obtained from Chicago in exchange for the Jets’ two first round draft selections (#13) and (#22) and the club’s fourth round selection (#116 overall). The Bears eventually used that 22nd selection to grab Florida quarterback Rex Grossman and he has been behind center during Chicago’s 8-1 start.

The Jets blitzed early and often at Gillette Stadium in their 17-14 victory over the Patriots, recording four sacks of quarterback Tom Brady and forcing two turnovers. Robertson and his teammates would like to repeat that performance against Grossman. Chicago is in the midst of a three-game road swing and will wrap up its scheduling oddity next week in New England against the Patriots. Meanwhile the 5-4 Jets are on a two-game homestand that will include a visit from the Texans next Sunday.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://blogs.trb.com/sports/football/jets/blog/2006/11/turf_war.html

Turf War

By Tom Rock

The Patriots apparently took the loss to the Jets so hard, they’re tearing their place apart! Actually, they’re installing FieldTurf and removing the muddy sod that has given the team trouble for years. It’s hard enough to grow a lawn in the northeast during November, nevermind one that is 120-yards long. I guess the cost of green paint for the middle of that quagmire (a word we writers rely on for describing anything muddy) began to overwhelm the cost of putting down the artificial stuff.

At least the Patriots did the Jets the favor of waiting until today to sign Vinny Testaverde. ESPNews is reporting that ol’ No. 16 has signed with the Patriots, a sight that likely would have been hard for fans to stomach in last week’s game. Vinny will be the Crash Davis to a struggling Tom (Nuke LaLoosh) Brady, providing a shoulder to cry on and a brain to pick on the sideline.

I was crunching some numbers for tomorrow’s paper and came up with some interesting stats. The Ravens have the easiest remaining schedule of the eight AFC teams with a winning record, but the Jets are very close and face only one winning team the rest of the season. In fact, after they face Chicago on Sunday, it’s losers from there out. If you figure that the Pats, Colts and Ravens win their divisions and the second-place team between the Chargers and Broncos in the west will get a wild card, that leaves the Jets, Jags and Chiefs for that final spot. Both Jacksonville and KC play four teams with a winning record (including facing each other in the final game of the season). Jacksonville’s remaining opponents have the highest winning percentage of the eight contenders, .540.

Just a warm thought to share on a chilly November night.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/SPORTS01/611150374/1108

Jets building foundation beyond this season

By Andrew Gross

The Journal News

(Original Publication: November 15, 2006)

As general manager, Mike Tannenbaum has the responsibility of looking at a bigger picture than the week-to-week existence of the Jets' coaching staff and players.

So while he adheres to the organizational mantra that the only important game is the next one - in this case, Sunday against the Bears - Tannenbaum would not discount the suggestion that this past Sunday's 17-14 win at New England may have larger implications for the franchise, particularly when it comes to the free-agent market.

"That's an organization we admire and ultimately we need to beat," said the 37-year-old Tannenbaum, in his first season as general manager but 10th with the franchise. "It was a good win for the organization and it does help validate what you're doing and emphasize the good things. But in this league, it's week to week, and now it's on to Chicago."

In short, the win over the Patriots solidified the image of the Jets as an organization headed in the right direction under Tannenbaum and 35-year-old rookie coach Eric Mangini. And that's bound to attract players.

Given that the team is comfortably under this year's salary cap of around $102 million - Tannenbaum would not give specific figures but did not dispute the Jets are several million dollars beneath the figure - and that the cap is expected to rise to about $107 million next season, the Jets are well placed to be active.

"I'm pleased we're headed in the right direction," Tannenbaum said. "We want to give ourselves a chance to win each and every year so we don't want, from a cap or personnel standpoint, to try to load up for any particular year."

The game plan is to have as many pieces as possible in place before the 2007 NFL draft in April. That means making quick decisions on which players the Jets do not wish to retain and which players they wish to pursue.

Among the Jets' upcoming free agents are linebacker Bryan Thomas, right tackle Anthony Clement and fullback B.J. Askew. Thomas is quietly having a solid season and is likely the only candidate for a franchise or transition tag.

But with his cap figure this season around $1.5 million, there's little chance the Jets would go that route and risk a bigger price tag, as they did last offseason with defensive end John Abraham, whom they eventually traded to the Falcons.

"I would hate to be going into the draft saying we have to get position X," Tannenbaum said. "When you do that, history shows you either reach for a guy or give up too much to go up and get a guy. So as much as possible, I want to go into the '07 draft having our roster set."

Tannenbaum said there's already a growing pile of draft-related scouting reports and tapes on his desk that he's had trouble finding time to review.

In many ways, the Jets are following the New England model. But given the current state of affairs between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Mangini and Tannenbaum - much of the rift reportedly stems from the Patriots filing a tampering charge against the Jets for their pursuit of ex-Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch - Tannenbaum is no longer comfortable with that comparison.

"I know it's been written quite a bit but really we're trying to be the Jets," said Tannenbaum, who cites former Jets coach Bill Parcells as a personal influence. "Obviously there's an influence from New England, but I'll tell you, there's been a lot of other good organizations. We're just trying to be the best we can be. Eric Mangini is going to be the best coach he can be. He's not going to try to be Bill Belichick."

On other topics, Tannenbaum said:

- Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, 32, has the attributes "to lead you to believe he'd go on to better things." Read: head coach.

- Having two new coordinators - Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton - worried him the most coming into the season.

- While acknowledging the Jets haven't been hit by a big, in-season injury, Tannenbaum believes the team has the depth to withstand some losses. "I think our depth is playing right now, across the board on both sides of the ball."

- Curtis Martin's future role in the organization - he's expected to retire - has yet to be decided.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMTk3NzgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

Roughing calls tough on Jets

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Phil Simms was asked Tuesday if the Jets-Patriots game was decent enough for him.

"Oh, my God, more than decent," Simms raved about the Jets' upset, which he analyzed for CBS. "I said late in the game that I thought the Jets' game plan was terrific on both sides of the ball, they played really well on both sides, they converted a lot of third downs -- and they were trying to hang on for a 17-14 victory."

Simms' point: "The NFL is brutal."

Jets' fans know other things that have been brutal this season: Some licks their linebackers have put on opposing quarterbacks, and the roughing-the-passer penalties that have resulted.

The last three have been crushers. At Jacksonville, referee Tony Corrente called two third-down roughings of Byron Leftwich: by Jonathan Vilma, which turned a probable field goal into an eventual touchdown; and Eric Barton, which saved the Jaguars from having to punt out of their end zone.

Vilma did not land on top of Leftwich and Barton made no helmet-to-helmet contact, as Corrente ruled they did.

Then Sunday came the costliest yet, when Victor Hobson's blitz-up-the-gut blasting of Tom Brady was called an "unnecessary tackle" by ref Peter Morelli, who took away Drew Coleman's interception return to the New England 40 and gave the Patriots a first-and-10 at the Jets' 31.

"That's something I can't really get into," Hobson said when asked what he thought of the penalty. "It was definitely a play that swung the momentum in the game."

Simms on the broadcast labeled it "a tough call," which it surely was. When Hobson first made contact, the ball had yet to leave Brady's hand. "To me," he said, "there was nothing [Hobson] could do there to avoid it. He's going so fast, you've got to let it go."

Two days later, Simms was not saying the Jets have been getting hosed, nor that the NFL is targeting them.

"I talk all the time to officials, to the league," he said. "It never occurred to me about the Jets, 'Hey, they're a little dirty.' Never."

But on the escalation of roughing calls in general, the once-Super Bowl-winning signal-caller isn't taking the side of his fellow Quarterback Club members.

"I want to say, 'Let's ease up,' " he said. "Just watching all the games this year, roughing the passer has been such a crucial call. Conservatively, it's probably determined the outcome of five games. And some of them are extremely debatable."

That has led Simms to a good-sense idea for the NFL's competition committee in the off-season.

"I'd say when the infraction is not a blatant attempt to be rough on the quarterback, it should be a choice between 5 and 15 yards, just like there is with running into the kicker," he said. "When you throw the flag on it, you'd have the chance to go, 'Let me think about this a few seconds. It didn't look malicious. OK, 5 instead of 15.' "

The real danger to Gang Green is not that they're becoming the NFL's bad boys of blitz. It's that with their sudden emphasis and effectiveness on pressuring the Pats and the league's hypersensitivity to QBs being rudely treated, there will be more opportunities to flag the Jets for good old-fashioned football hits.

And if such a call costs the Jets an upset of, say, the Bears this weekend, that would be indecent.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show_permalink/no-p-word-for-jets-bears-are-like-smelling-salt

No "P" Word for Jets; Bears Are Like Smelling Salt

Published: 11-15-06

By Eric Allen

Eric Allen is the editor of newyorkjets.com.

Article Permalink: http://www.newyorkjets.com/articles/no-p-word-for-jets-bears-are-like-smelling-salt

The New York Jets still have seven games left on their 2006 regular season schedule. They continue to take a week-to-week approach under first-year head coach Eric Mangini and that plan won’t change. Late in Wednesday’s morning presser, a reporter asked Mangini if he wanted his players thinking and talking about the postseason.

“No. No. We don’t even use that P word,” Mangini said in reference to the playoffs. “It is progress and there was a P word (Patriots) from last week. Both those things are gone. No, no. I’m not even going to say it.”

Then another media member asked how Mangini would react if he saw one of his players talking about going to the playoffs.

“I think it’s so important for us all to focus on the same thing,” Mangini said.

And would there be repercussions if that occurred?

“I just think it’s so important for us all to focus on the same thing,” repeated Mangini as the Weeb Ewbank Hall press room broke into laughter.

Moments later, veteran guard Pete Kendall reminded everyone of the long season. Kendall, a veteran of 11 seasons, has played in 151 games as a pro.

"It is still way too early; we have seven games left," said Kendall in reference to the playoffs. "There are a lot of things beyond our control at this point. If we needed somebody to grab our attention, we certainly have got it."

The Jets, a team that remained in anonymity during the season’s first half, are now suddenly receiving national attention after their 17-14 upset of the Patriots. With the victory, the Jets moved their record to 5-4 and they trail New England by just a game in the AFC East. Is there any chance of an emotional letdown this week against the NFC North leaders?

“Like we talked about, there is a battle against human nature,” Mangini said. “But you throw on the Chicago tape and it’s like smelling salt. Put on any tape you want, put on any game you want, put on any phase you want, and you see how difficult they are across the board, you see how well-coached they are and how physical they are. It doesn’t take long to snap out of that when you turn on the tape.”

But even the Jets first-year head coach acknowledged his club’s most recent victory might have remained in their systems just a little bit longer than usual. Still Wednesday is moving day in the National Football League and the Jets have moved on to Week 11.

“It’s the five-second rule. Maybe it was the 10 or 15-second rule this past week,” Mangini said. “But you just have to move on.”

The Bears are a legitimate 8-1 team. They average 30 points per game and are surrendering just 13.3 points per outing, they own the NFL’s top-ranked defensive unit, rank first in the league in takeaways and their special teams units might be the best in the National Football League.

“Chicago is an outstanding team across the board – offense, defense and special teams,” Mangini said. “They are well-coached. On defense, they are incredibly opportunistic. They have the most takeaways in the league and the best giveaway, takeaway ratio.”

Quarterback Rex Grossman has had a good season despite two awful outings against Arizona and Miami. Grossman accounted for seven interceptions in those two games along with three fumbles. But his 83.6 passer rating ranks a couple points ahead of Chad Pennington and Grossman has thrown 17 touchdown passes including three last week against the Giants.

“I have watched a lot of tape and he has done a lot of good things on tape,” Mangini said of Grossman. “He is complimented by the running game and by the fact that he can generate plays with his feet and buy time. He can make all those throws and force it even into the tight coverage. There are a lot of things he forces you to defend and you better defend it well because he can put it in there.”

Notebook

During his opening remarks, Mangini formally announced that defensive lineman Dewayne Robertson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. “I think this is a tribute to the hard work he has done,” he said of Robertson. “We have talked a lot about his progress in the system and his progress personally in terms of his work ethic and the way that he studies and prepares. We are all really pleased for him.”... Rookie running back Leon Washington posed for a Bowman "Signs of the Future" trading card earlier this season, making an "E" with both of his hands. Unfortunately, some people thought Washington flashed an obscene gesture. The Jets leading rusher displayed the "E" because he is from the East Side of Jacksonville, Florida. “It was the East Side symbol that I took at the rookie premier earlier this year," Washington said. “I don’t think I’ll ever do that again because obviously it set off the wrong image to the fans and to the parents and stuff. I definitely want to apologize for that image but at the same time, there was no harm in that thing. It was basically having E’s upside down and it came off as looking like something totally different, but that’s not me. That is not my character.”