JETS ARTICLES - TUE 12/26

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http://jets.lohudblogs.com/2006/12/26/jets-13-dolphins-10-late-thoughts-from-an-early-morning/

Jets 13, Dolphins 10: Late thoughts from an early morning

December 26

Got a few minutes before I board my flight here at West Palm Beach Airport so let

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http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=v0000msgn20061226T050358762&newsgroup=ap.sportsml.columnist.article&sports=american-football&team=Jets&league=nfl

Jets close in on playoff berth with Monday night win

Dec 26, 2006

BOX SCORE

MIAMI (AP) -- The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, and small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left Monday night.

A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with an ugly but crucial comeback victory.

New York overcame steady rain, a sputtering offense and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win 13-10.

All of the points came in the final 17:25. Miami kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left, but on the Jets' next play, Leon Washington caught a short pass from Chad Pennington and broke loose for a 64-yard gain.

Four plays later, Nugent kicked a 30-yarder. That meant the Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game Sunday.

For the Dolphins (6-9), the defeat ensures the first losing season for Nick Saban in his 13 years as a college and NFL coach. Miami was eliminated from the playoff race a week ago.

The rain resulted in a succession of errant and dropped passes -- and 18 punts. A mishandled snap spoiled a field goal try by New York. Dolphins cornerback Eddie Jackson left the game with a knee injury when he stumbled and fell on the slippery field without being hit.

When the Dolphins' scoreless streak reached six quarters in a row, Cleo Lemon replaced Joey Harrington at quarterback to start the second half. A third-year pro, Lemon threw his first NFL touchdown pass and finished 11-for-16 for 104 yards.

Teammate Ronnie Brown, back in the lineup after missing three games with a hand injury, rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries.

But in the fourth quarter, the Jets answered scores by Miami with scoring drives of 80 and 68 yards.

After Lemon hit Randy McMichael on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Dolphins ahead 7-3, New York regained the lead on Pennington's 31-yard scoring pass to Jerricho Cotchery with 7:51 to go.

Cotchery was initially ruled down at the 1-yard line, but the Jets challenged the spot, and following a review the play was ruled a touchdown.

A funny bounce then produced the game's only turnover -- and the tying field goal for Miami.

A short punt by the Dolphins took a backward hop before deflecting off the arm of Jets blocker Brad Kassell, and Miami's John Denney recovered at the Jets 42. Eight plays later, Olindo Mare kicked a 25-yard field goal with 2:09 left.

The game was an announced sellout, but because of the Christmas holiday, the bad weather and the Dolphins' disappointing season, the stadium was less than half full at the start.

The small crowd roared in the second quarter when Miami's defense delivered crunching blows on successive plays. First, Michael Lehan leveled running back Leon Washington, and on the next play Zach Thomas broke up a pass intended for Laveranues Coles, who briefly left the game to recover from the collision.

For much of the game, the best plays for the Jets were scrambles by Pennington, who twice ran for first downs. His 15-yard gain in the third quarter sparked the game's first scoring drive, which produced a 22-yard field goal by Nugent.

Pennington finished 14-for-29 for 237 yards

The Jets mounted the best threat in a scoreless first half, driving 67 yards to the Miami 16. But when New York lined up for a 34-yard field goal try, the perfect snap slipped through the hands of holder Ben Graham and hit him in the helmet, giving the Dolphins possession.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://thejetsblog.com/?p=1666

Season

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/sports/football/26jets.html?ref=football

December 26, 2006

Jets 13, Dolphins 10

Jets Endure Dolphins

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/sports/football/26green.html?ref=football

December 26, 2006

A Rare Bad Day in Miami for Coles

By DAVID PICKER

MIAMI, Dec. 25 — As far as the Miami Dolphins were concerned, Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles had been like kryptonite. Every time Coles faced them, he seemed to find a weakness in their defense.

When the Dolphins played the Jets in October, Coles scored two touchdowns and caught five passes for 106 yards, helping the Jets gain a 20-17 victory. Nine of Coles’s 31 career touchdowns have come against the Dolphins.

So before Monday night’s 13-10 Jets victory in Miami, big things were expected from Coles, who was recently voted by his teammates as the Jets’ most valuable player this season.

But during the first half, it became clear that Coles would not have another Superman-like game against the Dolphins. Chad Pennington threw to him a handful of times, but the Dolphins’ defense hit him hard and often, limiting his production.

“We knew coming in here it was going to be a tough football game,” Coles said. “They talked about trying to spoil it for us all week.”

Coles said he knew the Jets were “in for a fight.”

“They gave us everything that they had in them,” he said. “Fortunate enough, we were able to get out of here with a victory.”

On the Jets’ second possession of the game, Dolphins safety Travares Tillman hit Coles as he was making a catch, jarring the ball loose for an incompletion. Renaldo Hill did the same to Coles early in the second quarter.

As bruising as those hits were, Coles sprang up. That was not the case about eight and a half minutes before halftime, when Pennington threw a short pass to Coles on third and 11 at the Jets’ 32. Coles had possession of the ball for what looked to be a first down. But linebacker Zach Thomas hit Coles from behind, forcing a punt.

After the play, Coles lay face down on the soggy grass, where he remained for a few minutes. He was examined by the trainers as Pennington knelt beside him, making it seem for a moment as if Coles were seriously injured.

He was not. He sustained a laceration on his chin and missed the Jets’ last two possessions of the second quarter. But he started the second half.

“To be honest, I don’t even remember it,” Coles, both of his biceps red with scratches, said of Thomas’s hit.

Coles said he was woozy for the rest of the game but that nothing could have prevented him from returning. He finished with two catches for 9 yards.

In some ways, Thomas is to the Jets what Coles is to the Dolphins. Running back Curtis Martin injured his knee in the second game of last season when he was hit by Thomas. Martin eventually missed the last four games of the season and had to have surgery on the knee. He did not play this season.

Coles’s ill feelings toward the Dolphins began at the end of his senior season at Florida State.

“I’ve always kind of had a grudge against Miami, since before I was drafted in the league,” Coles said Wednesday. “I went to the Senior Bowl. Basically I was trying to get drafted at the time, and I asked the guys if they’d let me take that little test they had over at the Senior Bowl, and they told me no. And the first thing that popped into my head was, you’ll regret treating me this way.”

The Jets drafted Coles in the third round of the 2000 N.F.L. draft, with the 78th pick over all, and he has been one of the most prolific receivers in franchise history.

The bad blood between Coles and the Dolphins resurfaced recently.

After the Jets’ victory against Miami on Oct. 15, Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday said he thought Miami was the better team. Asked about Holliday’s comments during a teleconference with members of the Miami news media last week, Coles said: “I’ll be honest. I don’t even know who Vonnie Holliday is.”

That might not have been true, but Miami’s defensive backs and linebackers began the game with an intensity they have not usually shown against Coles. There seemed to be at least two players near him every time Pennington looked his way.

The Dolphins knew Coles was hurting. After catching 12 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-13 victory against the Minnesota Vikings, Coles hurt his ribs going for a 13th reception.

Pennington threw to Coles in the end zone late in the third quarter, but the pass sailed out of bounds. After that, he seemed to favor other receivers. Perhaps he did not want Coles to be injured again. Or maybe the figurative kryptonite was just wearing off.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.jetnation.com/?p=786

Jets Top Dolphins 13-10

The Jets kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Dolphins in Miami on Christmas night. If the Jets beat Oakland next week at home, they advance to the playoffs. In what was widely considered to be a rebuilding year, the importance of this accomplishment can not be minimized.

The Jets battled all night long. They fought the rain and a stingy Miami defense. The game was scoreless at half and it was a battle of the punters. Going into the 4th quarter, the Jets led 3-0. The Dolphins scored twice in the 4th quarter after benching Joey Harrington at the half. Cleo Lemon did a better job of moving the Dolphins as the Jets found facing adversity. As Coach Mangini has preached all year though, the Jets did not blink. They fought back and tied the game and then went ahead with seconds remaining in regulation. Mike Nugent kicked a 30 yard field goal to put the Jets ahead for good.

Chad Pennington (237 yards, 1 TD) seemed to struggle early but managed to move the ball when the Jets needed to. Leon Washington has a big night going over 100 yards receiving. The biggest play of his career was when he took a screen pass 64 yards to setup the game winning field goal.

The defense made it all possible. Jonathan Vilma had a stong game and record 9 tackles as did Eric Coleman. The defense also had 3 sacks and did not let Miami move the ball consistently (10 punts).

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/116711310425520.xml&coll=1

Jets: Morning after

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

BY BRENDAN PRUNTY

OVERVIEW

If you're a fan of defensive football, you got a nice Christmas present last night. It was sloppy at first, as the game began in a driving rain storm, and it seemed as if someone was getting hit hard on nearly every play.

But it turned out well for the Jets, who can make the playoffs with a win on Sunday over the 2-13 Oakland Raiders. This was a big night for the Jets, who went down to Miami, in front of a hostile crowd, on "Monday Night Football" and picked up a huge win.

Mike Nugent, who has now made 15 consecutive field-goal attempts, nailed a 30-yard game-winner for the win.

Q&A

-- Can Jets fans thank Santa for Leon Washington?

You better believe it. With a 64-yard pass and run to Washington, the Jets were able to maneuver for the game-winning field goal. In fact, the screen play to Washington was the Jets' second-longest pass play of the season. The rookie out of Florida State has been one of the team's big surprises this season. He is elusive and seems to come up with a big play whenever the Jets need it most. The Jets might have a steal on their hands with this fourth-round draft pick.

-- Can the Jets fix that run defense?

If the Jets want to have any shot at the playoffs -- or make some noise if they reach the postseason -- they're going to have to solidify that run defense. Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown became the seventh back to rush for more than 100 yards against the Jets this season. With teams like San Diego, Cincinnati, Baltimore and New England possibly waiting for the Jets in the postseason, they'll have to get something going in terms of shutting down the run.

-- What happened to the precise Chad Pennington from last week?

After a slow start last night, the Jets quarterback rebounded nicely in the fourth quarter, engineering an important touchdown drive. But Pennington was 14-for-29, throwing for 237 yards. Since he doesn't have the arm strength, Pennington has been so successful this season by making smart decisions and taking care of the football. While he didn't turn the ball over, he did make some puzzling throws that were nearly picked off.

-- So what's up next?

A shot at the playoffs. If the Jets win Sunday, they're in. If they lose to the Raiders, well, let's just say it will be a disappointing winter for Jets fans.

DID YOU NOTICE?

The Jets might want to shore up that holder spot before they get to next week. Current holder, punter Ben Graham, botched another snap, costing the Jets a field goal in the first quarter. It was the second straight week he has botched a snap that cost the Jets a field goal. ... Miami RB Ronnie Brown had 80 total yards at halftime. The Jets as a team had only 93. ... Jets WR Laveranues Coles made his 95th consecutive start, the longest streak among all NFL wide receivers. ... Mike Nugent's field goal in the third quarter was his 14th straight. He added his 15th with the game-winner. ... Miami backup quarterback Cleo Lemon relieved Joey Harrington in the second half, eventually throwing his first NFL TD pass to TE Randy McMichael. ... Eric Mangini became the first coach to appear on "Monday Night Football" that was born after the program started. The Jets coach was born in 1971. MNF started in 1970. ... Last night's game was only the 14th ever on Christmas Day.

NEXT WEEK

vs OAKLAND

SUNDAY, 1:00 p.m., GIANTS STADIUM, Ch. 2

LAST MEETING: Jets, 26-10, on Dec. 11, 2005

WHY THIS IS A GOOD MATCHUP FOR THE JETS: Umm ... it's the Raiders. Their best player wants to be traded trade. Their QB situation is shaky at best. Their No. 1 running back is out for the year. Did we miss anything else? Oh yeah, they're 2-13.

WHY THIS ISN'T A GOOD MATCHUP FOR THE JETS: Surprisingly, Oakland has a pretty stingy run defense. They could give the Jets some fits.

PREDICTION

Jets 21, Raiders 6

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/12/26/a1c_fins_1226.html

Kicked aside: Dolphins lose as New York remains in playoff pursuit

By Greg A. Bedard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

MIAMI GARDENS — Despite a national stage on Christmas night, the 82nd meeting in the series between the Dolphins and New York Jets was likely its most forgettable for three quarters.

But the fourth quarter more than made up for it.

Partly because of the soggy conditions - rain fell for much of the game - the teams combined for just one field goal (by the Jets) in the first 45 minutes.

However, they scored a total of 20 points in a back-and-forth last quarter.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the Jets scored the final points - a 30-yard field-goal by Mike Nugent with 10 seconds left - to win 13-10.

"We tied the game up," said Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. "The defense let the team down. It's as simple as that."

The victory gave the Jets (9-6) a series sweep of the Dolphins (6-9) and strengthened their playoff hopes.

The Jets can clinch a wild-card berth Sunday by beating or tying Oakland in East Rutherford, N.J.

The loss assured the Dolphins, who finish with a 4:15 p.m. game Sunday in Indianapolis, of a losing record for the second time in three years. It is the first losing season for coach Nick Saban on any level.

"It's obviously disappointing," said Saban, who pulled quarterback Joey Harrington at halftime. "People ask, 'What are you going to do now that you're out of the playoffs?' The competitive character that our players displayed was outstanding in my eyes."

After the Dolphins tied the score at 10 with 2:09 left Monday, the Jets came up with a big play.

Quarterback Chad Pennington, operating from his own 20, faked a screen to the left and came back to the right side, where he dumped the ball to rookie running back Leon Washington.

The former Florida State standout zigzagged virtually untouched for 64 yards down to the Dolphins' 16-yard line with 1:54 remaining. Four plays later, Nugent won the game.

"It still don't know what happened," defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. "We were in a defense that was probably not the best defense we could have been in for that play, but we still have to make the tackle. A 15-, 20-yard gain turned out to be, what, a 60-yard gain? You can't have that."

Washington had 161 all-purpose yards.

The Jets needed the last-minute drive because their second special-teams error of the game gave the Dolphins life.

The Dolphins were trailing 10-7 and were forced to punt with 6:54 left. The punt from the Dolphins' 30 was short and bounced back towards the Dolphins - and off the back of Jets linebacker Brad Kassell, who didn't see the ball because he was blocking on the play.

The Dolphins recovered at the Jets' 42-yard line and converted the turnover into a 25-yard field goal by Olindo Mare that tied the score at 10.

The Dolphins opened the final quarter by marching 73 yards in seven plays to take a 7-3 lead with 13:34 left when quarterback Cleo Lemon hit tight end Randy McMichael on a 7-yard touchdown pass.

Lemon, who was 5-of-5 on the drive for 56 yards, started the second half in place of Harrington, who was ineffective for the second consecutive game. Harrington accumulated a 0.0 passer rating in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He completed 7 of 15 passed for 42 yards against the Jets for a rating of 53.5.

"It was tough," Harrington said of the benching. "I thought I played all right."

Lemon finished the game 11 of 16 for 104 yards and the one touchdown. His rating was 107.3.

"We decided to go with Cleo to see if he could give us a little bit of a spark with his mobility," Saban said. "I thought he did a decent job of moving the team."

Saban said a decision on Sunday's starter hasn't been reached but added, "We'll probably end up playing both of them."

After the Dolphins took the lead, the Jets quickly answered, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. That gave the Jets a 10-7 lead with 8:07 remaining.

The Dolphins' offense, which was coming off a 21-0 blanking by the Bills, got a significant boost from the return of running back Ronnie Brown.

Brown had missed the previous three games after breaking his left hand against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. With a pad protecting the five pins that were inserted into his hand, Brown rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries in the first half on his way to a 110-yard performance on 18 carries.

I think Ronnie Brown's presence was a real asset in the game," Saban said.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/12/26/a6c_fins_candy_1226.html

Quick hits: Dolphins vs. Jets

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

VIEWS FROM THE PRESS BOX:

• Christmas showers left many seats empty on a 71-degree night, which must have brought a hearty ho-ho-ho from 'MNF' viewers around the country.

• No franchise ever fully appreciates a guy like Richmond Webb until he is gone.

• Thumbs up for Ronnie Brown. His legs looked refreshed after three weeks on the injured list.

• Shades of Garo Yepremian when 5-foot-9 Jets kicker Mike Nugent picked up a fumble and got smeared.

• Buckets of rain and plenty of crushing hits, including one by Zach Thomas, but no turnovers in the first half. Amazing.

• Marcus Vick missed a good opportunity to make an impression at wide receiver in his NFL debut. Vick finished with no receptions.

• Chad Pennington never had any zip on the ball, which means he must have had no grip on it, either.

MATCHUP OF THE NIGHT:

DE Jason Taylor vs. Jets tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson

Taylor beat Ferguson and knocked down RB Kevan Barlow for a 4-yard loss in the first quarter.

Taylor blew past Ferguson again in the second quarter to sack Chad Pennington, forcing the Jets into a third-and-long situation.

Ferguson caught a break when Taylor left the game in the third quarter with an eye injury and missed a few possessions.

Taylor, who has been having one of his best seasons and is a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors, finished the game with three tackles — including the sack — and Ferguson, a talented rookie, got his second lesson on what it's like to go up against one of the best in the game.

SURGING

Ronnie Brown, RB

In his first action since breaking his left hand on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, Brown gained 110 yards on 18 carries.

Donnie Jones, P

Established a new career high with 10 punts. Despite the poor conditions, Jones averaged 42.7 yards per punt, including a long of 52.

SINKING

Rex Hadnot, C

His unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty in the second quarter, combined with Joey Harrington's penalty for intentional grounding on third-and-1, cost Miami 25 yards.

Chris Chambers, WR

Chambers, who had no receptions last week in the Dolphins' 21-0 loss to Buffalo, followed that up with a one-catch night for 16 yards against the Jets.

BY THE NUMBERS:

2 - Plays the Dolphins ran from Jets territory in the first quarter.

8 - Passes intercepted by the Dolphins this season, the second-lowest total in the NFL

21.2 - Average first-half total points in Dolphins-Jets games from 2003 through 2005. In their two matchups this season, the teams combined for just three first-half points.

43 - Victories for the Jets in their all-time series against the Dolphins. Miami has won 39 times and there has been one tie.

45.28 - Time it took for the Dolphins to break into the red zone, courtesy of Cleo Lemon's 20-yard pass to TE Randy McMichael in the fourth quarter.

49.1 - Combined first-half passer ratings of Dolphins' Joey Harrington and Jets' Chad Pennington.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-spdolspec26dec26,0,5551444.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front

Washington's big play sets up winning field goal for the Jets

By Alex Marvez

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

December 26, 2006

MIAMI GARDENS · The smallest offensive player on the New York Jets' roster provided the big play that sunk the Dolphins.

A 64-yard gain by rookie running back Leon Washington set up a 30-yard Mike Nugent field goal with 10 seconds remaining, giving New York a 13-10 victory Monday night at Dolphin Stadium.

The 5-foot-8, 202-pound Washington caught a short screen pass from quarterback Chad Pennington and avoided tackle attempts by defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina and strong safety Yeremiah Bell. Washington motored down the sideline before being tripped by free safety Renaldo Hill at the Dolphins' 16-yard line. The Jets then ran down the clock before Nugent made his second field goal of the game.

"It's sad, they run a screen play for however many yards as they did," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "It was obviously a play that was not meant to go that far. We had chances at it."

The score ruined a solid second-half performance by quarterback Cleo Lemon, who replaced an ineffective Joey Harrington for a second consecutive game. Lemon directed the Dolphins to two scores, including a 25-yard field goal by kicker Olindo Mare that tied the score at 10-10 with 2:09 remaining.

Although he didn't announce a starter for Sunday's season finale at Indianapolis, coach Nick Saban said Harrington and Lemon would probably both play. Saban used the word "decent" to describe the play of both Harrington (7 of 15 passing for 42 yards) and Lemon (11 of 16 for 104 yards).

The Jets (9-6) can clinch a wild-card berth by winning Sunday's game against visiting Oakland (2-13). The Dolphins (6-9) play at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis after the NFL changed the kickoff time from 1 p.m. The Colts (11-4) need a victory over the Dolphins combined with a loss by Baltimore (12-3) to visiting Buffalo (7-8) for a first-round playoff bye.

New York pulled ahead 10-7 with 8:04 remaining on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who slipped behind Bell's coverage to make the catch. Originally called down inside the Dolphins' 1-yard line, referee Gerald Austin ruled that Cotchery had scored after the Jets submitted an instant replay challenge.

Despite struggling with velocity on many of his throws, Pennington kept the 11-play, 80-yard drive alive with clutch passing. Pennington completed a 12-yard pass to Brad Smith on a third-and-8 and Washington turned a short throw into a 20-yard gain on a third-and-10. The Dolphins (6-9) also hurt themselves when cornerback Michael Lehan, who was forced into action because of a shoulder injury suffered by starter Andre' Goodman, dropped what should have been an interception.

Lemon, who opened the second half under center, threw his first career NFL touchdown with 13:26 remaining when connecting with tight end Randy McMichael for a 7-yard score that gave the Dolphins a 7-3 lead. The play, which saw McMichael catch Lemon's pass at the Jets' 2 and shed a tackle attempt by free safety Kerry Rhodes, also ended a Dolphins' scoreless streak that spanned 1:21:30 from the fourth quarter of a 21-0 shutout victory over New England on Dec. 10.

Harrington said it was "tough" getting yanked for the second half but that he respected Saban's decision. Harrington also was benched for almost all of the fourth quarter in a 21-0 loss to Buffalo eight days earlier after posting a quarterback rating of 0.0.

"It was tough in that first half," Harrington said. "The score indicated that. It was 0-0 at halftime. But the fact was we weren't scoring any points. That facilitated the change."

Fortunately for the Dolphins, Pennington wasn't faring much better than Harrington. The Jets did move into position for a 34-yard Nugent field-goal attempt late in the first quarter. But the rain that began pelting Dolphin Stadium before kickoff and continued throughout the game helped ruin the kick when James Dearth's long snap slipped through the hands of holder Ben Graham.

That was the only scoring threat for either team in a first-half featuring 12 punts (six apiece).

"They made the plays they had to make at the critical times," said Saban, who is now guaranteed his first losing season in 13 seasons as a college and NFL head coach.

"That was the difference in the game."

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/16318156.htm

JETS | CHAD PENNINGTON

Quarterback overcomes slow start

BY PETE PELEGRIN

ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com

New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington has heard his share of criticism before. His arm was too weak, some said, especially after he battled a torn right rotator cuff the past two seasons.

Yet, the Jets quarterback persevered, and now he has his team on the verge of making the playoffs.

On Monday night against the Dolphins, just like he did this offseason, Pennington battled through adversity to lift the Jets to a 13-10 win.

Now at 9-6, a win at home against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday would clinch a wild-card berth for the Jets. Pennington, who finished 14 of 29 for 237 yards and one touchdown, had a rough start to Monday's pivotal game, but he rallied in the second half to efficiently lead New York's two scoring drives.

''It was a typical Jets-Dolphins game that always comes down to the last drive,'' Pennington said. ``We knew it was going to be a full 15-round fight going in to play this ball club.''

On the Jets' first scoring drive that led to a 22-yard Mike Nugent field goal, Pennington adeptly scrambled for 15 yards on third-and-5 when it appeared he was going to be sacked.

Then on the ensuing New York drive, Pennington was 5 of 8 for 80 yards. His final completion of the possession was a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery to put the Jets ahead 10-7.

''The Dolphins did nothing special against us,'' Cotchery said. ``We just kept battling. In the first half we didn't make plays for [Pennington], and he couldn't get into rhythm. But you saw what we did in the second half.''

On the game-winning drive, Pennington got a little boost to his stats when running back Leon Washington caught a screen pass and maneuvered 64 yards down field to place the Jets in position for the deciding field goal. Washington finished with 108 receiving yards.

''We haven't been running many screens in our offense, but our receivers and offensive line gave a great illusion of us not running a screen on that play,'' Pennington said.

Pennington entered Monday's game with an 81.3 quarterback rating, 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Not impressive numbers but part of the reason the Jets added depth at quarterback with several offseason moves. As Pennington recovered from surgery and rehab, New York management brought in Patrick Ramsey, a former Redskins first-round pick, in the offseason to challenge Pennington.

Then the Jets selected Kellen Clemens out of Oregon in the second round of the draft.

At the start of Monday night's game, the situation looked bleak for Pennington.

Going against the Dolphins -- the NFL's third ranked defense -- and facing a consistent rain didn't make it any easier for the former first-round selection out of Marshall in 2000.

In the slippery conditions, Pennington could not get a secure grip on the football and waffled a few passes over the heads of Jets receivers and underthrew other attempts.

''The ball was really heavy and slippery in the first half,'' Jets receiver Lavernues Coles said.

``In the second half the rain eased up a little bit, our offensive line gave Chad time and he made all the right reads.''

On one series, Pennington overthrew an open Coles on third-and-12.

On a slant to Cotchery, Pennington's pass looked to be intended more for Dolphins cornerback Travis Daniels than Cotchery.

''The offense was a little bit off a couple of inches in the first half,'' Pennington said. ``We were just off from making some big plays and putting some points on the board.''

He finished the first half 5 of 14 for just 41 yards.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spwatch265029171dec26,0,7442507.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists

Jennings working to overcome illness

Neil Best

SPORTS WATCH

December 26, 2006

Dave Jennings noticed it before you did.

Of course, after 19 years as the gold standard of local radio football analysts, he knew at times he has not sounded quite right because of the effects of his ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease.

"This year is the first year that I have had, I don't want to say problems, but I've noticed, just as you've noticed, that sometimes you have to put more punch into it," Jennings said before Sunday's game against the Saints.

To that end, Jennings has been "working on it. I've got a voice coach and she's worked with me to get my vocals a little more punched in there."

Jennings, 54, has suffered symptoms of the disease for more than a decade but went public only last year.

The good news is that after 14 years with the Jets before they fired him and five with the Giants, who quickly snapped him up in 2002, listeners know to focus on the content rather than the delivery.

And there has been much to discuss lately, most of it bad, for Jennings and his partners, Bob Papa and Dick Lynch.

The assumption when the Jets let Jennings go was that his understated but pointed analysis might have worn thin, but the Giants long have had relatively thick skins when it comes to bad news.

"I think what it is is that the Giants respect their fan base," Papa said. "We don't go crazy on the air, but we're seeing what the fans see."

Jennings said the team never has "said a word, which I appreciate," about his criticism.

Not that Jennings rips for the sake of ripping, but telling it like it is can be awkward for a home radio team. He remembers saying the Giants "quit" a few years back and wondering whether there would be repercussions. There weren't.

Jennings provides a welcome balance for the quirky, corny Lynch, whom Jennings acknowledged is "a character. But sometimes you need characters."

As long as his body holds up, Jennings hopes to continue. Papa said his partner still has the energy and that "his mind is as sharp as ever."

But Papa added that late in night games, he senses the physical toll on Jennings, who after calling the game must work crowded, chaotic locker rooms.

That is what Jennings will be doing late Saturday night in Landover, Md., in what might be the Giants' final game of the season. There is nowhere he would rather be.

Get flexible scheduling info out earlier, please

As we've said from the start, the NFL's flexible scheduling is a net positive for the league and fans who watch on TV, but it can be cruelly unfair to ticket-holders.

To lessen that burden, the league should offer information about possible time switches (or lack thereof) as soon as possible.

Take this Sunday's Jets-Raiders game. Turns out fans needn't have worried about the game being moved on short notice to 4:15 or 8:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

The Raiders clearly are not ready for prime time, so that was out.

What about 4:15? That couldn't happen, because the Broncos are maxed out on prime-time appearances and couldn't move, and the Raiders can't play at the same time as the 49ers, who face Denver.

Voila. Jets fans will have plenty of time either to celebrate or drown their sorrows.

It would have been even better, though, if the league had publicly eliminated the 4:15 possibility as soon as possible, especially given the holiday complications involved.

Sound bites

Kudos to ESPN's "Sports Reporters" on Sunday, which offered a needed dose of reality and perspective to the worshipful coverage of Bob Knight on "SportsCenter" lately ... The NFL Network's Adam Schefter, a former Broncos beat writer, continues to take shots from Raiders Nation for his report that Art Shell will be fired. Fox's Howie Long accused him of getting third-hand information out of Denver. Host Joe Buck said, "Who's Adam Schefter?" ... Fox's Troy Aikman during Sunday's Giants flop: "You wonder if the players even want to go to the playoffs, because it certainly doesn't look that way." ... Mike Ditka yesterday on ESPN accused Eli Manning of not studying enough and said, "If he's going to be a franchise player, then he better buy a franchise." ... Producer Doug Safchik opened yesterday's "Mike'd Up" direct from Mike Francesa's foyer, with a Sopranos-like drive-by tour of Manhasset, and closed it with the host holding his twin toddlers. They're cute.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/116711550793090.xml&coll=1

Jets: Land a big one

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

MIAMI -- One more win and the Jets are in.

The Jets, who have been road warriors all season, traveled to Miami and gave their long-suffering fans the one Christmas present they really wanted, a 13-10 victory over the archrival Dolphins in a steady, sometimes driving rain at half-empty Dolphins Stadium last night.

Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to play was the margin of victory.

The Jets (9-6) can nail down a wild-card playoff berth with a win over the Raiders (2-13) on New Year's Eve at Giants Stadium.

"We knew coming in here it was going to be a tough game," Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles said. "They talked all week about spoiling it for us. They gave us everything we could handle."

"This was our Christmas present to ourselves," Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis said. "We worked hard all week. We knew it was going to be a dogfight and we hung in there. We knew if we won this game it would set us up for next week. It feels good to control our own destiny."

The victory raised the Jets' road record to 6-2, the second-best road mark in franchise history behind a 7-1 mark in 2001. It was their fourth consecutive road win this season.

After the Dolphins tied the game, 10-10, on a 25-yard field goal by Olindo Mare with 2:09 left, the Jets took possession at their 20-yard line. On first down, rookie running back Leon Washington raced 64 yards with a screen pass from quarterback Chad Pennington, eluding several defenders.

The drive stalled at the Dolphins' 12-yard line after three straight runs by Kevan Barlow, but set up Nugent for the game-winning kick.

"I run off instinct," Washington said. "I did my best to make guys miss and I was fortunate. We came in at halftime (the game was tied 0-0) and we knew somebody had to make a play."

It was Nugent's second field goal of the game and his 15th straight this season.

"I tried to tell myself this kick was no different," said Nugent, who hit the first game-winning kick of his career. "I just was excited for the offense to move the ball down the field like that."

The play took the goat horns off linebacker Brad Kassel, who helped set up the Dolphins' game-tying field goal when he was hit by the ball on a punt with roughly six minutes to play and the Dolphins recovered.

The game was a defensive struggle in part because of stellar efforts by both units and the wet conditions. Miami entered the game with the NFL's third-ranked defense. The Jets defense has been on the rise.

"I'm just so proud of the way the guys played," coach Eric Mangini said. "The conditions were tough, the team was tough and it's a tough place to play. We faced a lot of adversity. It was all of us working together."

Nugent finally broke the stalemate when he booted a 22-yard field goal with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter to give the Jets a 3-0 lead. The score capped a 57-yard drive that was keyed by a 28-yard pass interference call on Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell against wide receiver Justin McCareins.

Miami took the lead, 7-3, on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cleo Lemon to tight end Randy McMichael with 13:26 left to play in the game. Lemon replaced an ineffective Joey Harrington to start the second half.

Pennington (14-of-29 for 237 yards, one TD, no INTs), who had a rough first half, suddenly found his rhythm on the ensuing possession. He finished an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to give the Jets a 10-7 lead with 8:04 left in the game.

On the drive, Pennington completed five of eight passes for 80 yards. The Jets lost yardage on one play.

The first half ended in a scoreless tie as both defenses played well. It marked the second time this season the Jets have been involved in such a game. The other was against the Bears in Week 11.

A botched hold by Ben Graham on a 33-yard field-goal attempt by Nugent killed the Jets' only chance for a first-half score. The snap by James Dearth was good but the ball was likely slippery.

Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas led the Dolphins, while Jonathan Vilma played one of his best halves of football this season, finishing with seven tackles in the first two quarters.

Pennington hit just 5 of 14 passes for 41 yards and was under duress much of the half and received little help for the running game. The Jets rushed for just 60 yards on 17 carries, with veteran Kevan Barlow gaining just 16 yards on seven carries as the primary backs in place of the injured Cedric Houston (calf). The Jets ran for just 95 yards total for the game.

The Jets got a scare late in the second quarter when Coles, who took several tough hits in the first half, was nearly decapitated by Thomas on a pass over the middle. Coles laid on the field for several minutes before walking off. He returned in the second half.

The Dolphins moved the ball behind the running of Ronnie Brown, who had 65 yards on 10 carries in the first half and finished with 110 yards on 18 carries. But Harrington (7 of 15, 42 yards) couldn't get the passing game off the ground. He was benched at the start of the second half for Lemon.

For the Dolphins (6-9), the defeat ensures the first losing season for Nick Saban in his 13 years as a college and NFL coach. Miami was eliminated from the playoff race a week ago.

"When it came to it, we just fell apart on defense," Thomas said. "And they made great plays when they had to."

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/116711558293090.xml&coll=1

Jets notebook: Washington runs the show

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

MIAMI -- It was first down at the Jets' 20 yard line with 2:09 remaining in the game. The play called was a screen pass to RB Leon Washington.

Washington caught the ball on the right side of the field, just beyond where the offensive tackle lines up -- and it was off to the races. The rookie shifted into overdrive and the Dolphins didn't have a chance as his 64-yard catch and run set up Mike Nugent's game-winning 30-yarder with 10 seconds to play to give the Jets a 13-10 victory over the Dolphins last night.

"They were in coverage," quarterback Chad Pennington said. "We haven't been known to run very many screens. Our linemen and wide receivers did a great job to give the illusion of a regular play. Leon did a great job after that."

Indeed.

Washington, a fourth-round pick the Jets received from the Chiefs for allowing them to hire coach Herman Edwards, caught four passes for 108 yards, including a 28-yard shovel pass.

Rookie LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson held his own against Dolphins Pro Bowl DE Jason Taylor, holding him to three tackles, including a sack.

"I can't say it was a perfect game," Ferguson said. "Every game is a fight. I go out there and try to play a good game and give my team a chance to win."

LB Jonathan Vilma had a team-high tying nine tackles and played one of his best games of the season as the Jets held the Dolphins to just 1 of 13 on third-down conversions. S Erik Coleman added nine tackles and LB Victor Hobson had his career-high sixth sack.

WR Justin McCareins caught two passes for 47 yards, including a 42-yarder, and drew a key pass interference call to set up Nugent's first field goal, a 22-yarder with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

WR Laveranues Coles bruised his chin late in the second quarter on a vicious hit by Dolphins LB Zach Thomas on a pass over the middle and CB Andre Dyson injured his knee in the second half.

Coles returned after halftime and said after the game he didn't even remember what happened. He appeared fine. Dyson, however, didn't return to the game and his status is unknown.

Jets G Pete Kendall, the team's resident comic, was asked about playing on Christmas night.

"I clearly understand how the lights come on (in his home), but my kids still think you just flip a switch," he said with his dry sense humor. "This is my job and we're hardly the only people who have to work on Christmas, so I'm not spending a lot of time feeling sorry for myself."

As expected, RB Cedric Houston (calf) was among the inactives. Houston had been the Jets leading rusher over the past three games. ... Rookie Kellen Clemens was the third QB. ... Dolphins starting WR Marty Booker (sprained ankle), who has a team-high 701 yards receiving and a team-best six TDs, was inactive. ... The Dolphins lost backup CB Eddie Jackson to a knee injury in the second quarter and he didn't return.

Daunte Culpepper, the Dolphins injured quarterback, was upset last night by comments made by Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, an on-air guest in the ESPN booth. Culpepper, watching from his suite at Dolphin Stadium heard Young say that Culpepper needed a better work ethic. That he needed to stop missing meetings.

"I don't miss meetings," said Culpepper, as he waited to confront Young outside the ESPN broadcast booth. "I'm working so hard to get back right now, and I don't need to hear someone who doesn't even know me say I'm missing meeting and I need to work harder."

Culpepper left his suite and confronted Young, who came out of the broadcast booth. When the discussion ended Young apologized about the comments. Young said he had heard from others that Culpepper was missing meetings, but he shouldn't have made the comments on the air."

Young arranged for ESPN analyst Joe Theismann to correct the error on the air.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2708323

Washington delivers biggest play of young career

By David Brousseau

Special to ESPN.com

MIAMI -- Nothing could ever top the double overtime playoff epic between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs 35 years ago this Christmas.

Monday night's rain-soaked AFC East tilt with the New York Jets won't be remembered fondly in Dolphins' lore. But for the Jets, their gritty 13-10 victory was another important step in what has become a season to remember.

Mike Nugent kicked a winning, 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, meaning a victory next Sunday at home over the Oakland Raiders would put the Jets into the playoffs as a wild card.

It was the Jets' (9-6) fourth consecutive victory on the road this season and seventh straight win against the Dolphins (6-9) in prime time.

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

After struggling for most of the game, Chad Pennington made some plays in crunch time.

"The offense did an unbelievable job getting the ball downfield," Nugent said. "I tried to tell myself this field goal is no different. I was excited that the offense did a great job getting the ball down the field."

New York rookie running back Leon Washington capped his 108-yard receiving effort by racing 64 yards on a screenplay that put the Jets into field goal range at the Dolphins' 16. It came on the first play from scrimmage following Olindo Mare's 25-yard field that tied the score at 10 with 2:13 left.

"I kind of run off instincts," Washington said. "We hadn't really completed a long screen play all year long. It was good to go out there and make a play.

"We caught them in a blitz and I was fortunate that Chad [Pennington] got the ball off and the line did a great job blocking downfield."

"Collectively it was a full team effort," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "That last play was the biggest of Leon's young career and Mike's kick at the end was huge."

Pennington, who finished 237 yards to give him a career high of 3,195 yards for the season, was impressed by Washington's late-game heroics.

"What can you say about Leon Washington?" Pennington said. "The guy is unbelievable in space. He had two game-changing plays."

The Jets snapped the doldrums of a scoreless yawner on a Nugent 22-yard field goal with 2:25 left in the third quarter. It capped a 56-yard, seven-play drive aided by a pass interference penalty that put the ball at the Miami 11.

Oddly enough, Nugent's chip shot awakened the offenses of both teams.

Miami drove 73 yards on seven plays on its ensuing possession, scoring on a Cleo Lemon seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Randy McMichael for a 7-3 Dolphins lead. It was Lemon's first touchdown pass of his three-year NFL career. He had replaced starter Joey Harrington to start the second half.

Harrington had a dismal first-half, completing 7 of 15 attempts for 42 yards. Lemon, who was 11-of-16 for 104 yards, was 5-of-5 for 55 yards in the scoring drive.

Pennington answered for New York, driving the Jets 80 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown, the final 32 yards on a completion to Jerricho Cotchery for the score to regain the lead at 10-7.

The Dolphins capitalized on a Jets turnover when Donnie Jones' punt hit the back of linebacker Brad Kassell with John Denney recovering the ball at the New York 35. Eight plays later Mare tied it.

Dolphins coach Nick Saban opted for the field goal rather than attempting to go for a first down on a fourth-and-one at the New York 7-yard line.

"I think if you go for it on fourth and one you put the game in jeopardy with one play," Saban said. "To tie it up, to go in, play good defense, get them stopped, they've got to do a lot of executing to get down the field in two minutes to kick a field goal.

"I had confidence in our defense could get them stopped."

The combined offense distributed in the final quarter, 227 yards and 20 pointsl, was a far cry from the first half that had more punts (12) than first downs (10).

The Jets were poised to take a late first-quarter lead, but wet conditions favored the Dolphins on Nugent's 33-yard field goal attempt. The snap from center slipped through holder Ben Graham's hands, botching the scoring opportunity.

One of the few bright spots for Miami was running back Ronnie Brown, who returned from a hand injury and rushed for 110 yards on 17 carries.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/12/26/c5c_fins_bar1_1226.html

Inspired by Ali-Frazier fight, Jets get big win

By Rochelle E.B. Gilken

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

MIAMI GARDENS — If this game were a boxing match, the New York Jets would be the unlikely contender trying to get past an old rival for a title shot.

That's what they had to do Monday night. It was a prime-time struggle, a defensive standoff, the win coming down to the last few punches in the last round.

And the Jets pulled out the victory in the final few seconds of Game 15, with a 30-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead with only 10 seconds left on the clock.

The victory lets the 9-6 Jets control their post-season hopes. They can secure a wild-card berth with a victory or tie Sunday against Oakland at the Meadowlands.

With a loss, they would have needed a lot of help to get in.

It was a critical game and coach Eric Mangini wanted the team to be ready for a long battle. For inspiration, he showed them a boxing match, just as he does before every game. This time it was the first of the three epic fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, won by Frazier by decision.

"It came down to Frazier's left in the 15th. It really sealed it for him. That was the type of game we expected," Mangini said. "When adversity strikes, we had to compete, smile at it and move forward."

He also said Joe Frazier recorded an inspirational message for the team about "his fight and the approach we need to take." Mangini said he didn't know whether Frazier was a Jets fan, but added that he presumes everyone is, deep down.

Even though the Jets didn't look like a championship team against a Dolphins squad simply trying to be a spoiler, the players liked the fight analogy.

"It was a great fight," receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "Their defense was very good. We knew they were going to come out swinging the entire game. We knew we (were) going to have to fight back and keep fighting back and in the end we (were) able to make some plays."

For a defensive struggle, the Jets produced only one sack and no turnovers. The offense had 324 net yards, but 64 of them came off a Leon Washington reception on that last drive, and the team was scoreless until the end of the third quarter. If it was a fight, it would've been a boring one with two opponents trading a couple shots most of the night.

But Mangini said he's proud how the team kept fighting.

"It panned out basically the same way (as the fight) - who wanted it more," said linebacker Jonathan Vilma. "Frazier ended up winning and held the title. We don't have the title. Hopefully we will."

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/12/nfl-coachoftheyear-candidates261206.html

Surprise rookies lead NFL Coach of the Year candidates

By Connor J. Byrne on December 26, 2006 02:12 AM

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Through 16 weeks of the 2006 NFL regular season, there have been a number of surprise teams that have emerged and, against plenty of odds, taken the field and competed to unexpected levels. For the most part, these teams weren't supposed to be contenders this year. As most can attest to, behind every successful franchise is a bright head coach who knows how to get the best out of his players. There have been no exceptions this season.

The following are the top five candidates for the NFL Coach of the Year award, which will be handed out at the close of the regular season.

No. 5: Brian Billick, Baltimore Ravens .

Already a one-time Super Bowl champion, Billick's wise decision making has played a key role in the Ravens' outstanding 12-3 season. Finally armed with a quarterback in the form of Steve McNair, this offensive guru took the play calling away from best friend and former O-coordinator Jim Fassel, and Baltimore has gone 8-1 since. The Ravens will definitely be in the championship mix come late January.

No. 4: Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles .

Once the Eagles dropped to 5-6 in the ultra-competitive NFC East, it appeared their season was all but over - especially after Donovan McNabb tore his ACL. However, the experienced Reid rallied his troops, turning to backup Jeff Garcia. Since Garcia's debut in the starting lineup, the Eagles' game plan has been outstanding every week. Thanks in large part to the intelligence and poise of Reid, Philadelphia has won four straight and clinched a playoff spot. Shockingly, an NFC East title is still very much in reach for Reid, who coaches a team that, despite being a powerhouse just a few years ago, was basically forgotten entering the year.

No. 3: Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans .

Even though he has spent most of the season as a lame-duck coach sans a contract, Fisher helped take his upstart Titans from an 0-5 start to an 8-7 mark right now. He was smart enough to hold back rookie quarterback Vince Young for the first few weeks of the season, allowing the first-round pick to further his knowledge of Tennessee's playbook. Of course, now that he's used to the NFL, Young has won six straight at the helm, and the Titans are very much alive for the playoffs. Fisher, certainly one of the best coaches in football, just had his $5.4 million contract option picked up, meaning he'll continue his lengthy tenure in Nashville. Smart move, Titans.

No. 2: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints .

No doubt the popular pick for the best coach honor, Payton has revived a Hurricane Katrina-ravaged city, restoring newfound hope to New Orleans, which is still getting back on its feet. At 10-5, Payton's lovable Saints have already clinched a first-round bye in the postseason and an NFC South championship. If Payton does end up winning the award, it would be well deserved. The league simply wouldn't go wrong by having this classy, offensive-minded leader as its top coach for the year.

No. 1: Eric Mangini, New York Jets .

Weren't the Jets supposed to finish around 2-14 this season? The youngest head coach in the NFL, the 35-year-old Mangini, never got that memo. In spite of having one of the league's lowest talent pools on both sides of the ball, Mangini's Jets are on the verge of a postseason berth; in fact, if they knock off Oakland in Week 17, the Jets will earn a wild-card spot. The rookie sideline general, who spent a few years coaching American football in Australia and another couple as a Bill Belichick assistant with the Patriots, is the best choice for coach of the year honor. Possessing a 9-6 record with this no-name New York team is a major accomplishment. Don't sleep on the Jets, because they could take some teams down in the playoffs next month.

Honorable mentions: Marty Schottenheimer (San Diego Chargers , 13-2); Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears , 13-2); Mike Shanahan (Denver Broncos , 9-6).

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262006/sports/jets/green_light_for_playoffs_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

GREEN LIGHT FOR PLAYOFFS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

December 26, 2006 -- MIAMI - Now for the Jets, their wonderfully unexpected green-and-white magic carpet ride through the 2006 season has come to this: Win and they're in.

The Jets' gritty 13-10 triumph over the Dolphins last night on a rain-soaked Dolphins Stadium field has placed them in this wildly tantalizing position: If they beat the 2-13 Raiders on Sunday at Giants Stadium in the regular-season finale, they qualify for the playoffs as a wild card. The Jets, now 9-6 and a year removed from their dismal 4-12 2005 season, had to work for this one.

"I haven't been to the playoffs yet, but this seemed like what a playoff environment would feel like," safety Kerry Rhodes said.

"They wanted to send us home," defensive end Shaun Ellis said of the determined Dolphins.

"It's one of those gritty, tough, resilient types of games you need to have at this time of year," linebacker Matt Chatham said. "That team poured everything they had into this game. Those guys wanted to have this game very badly. And to be able to take those punches and still come out on top is important."

The Dolphins' defense gave little up all night, stifling Chad Pennington (14-of-29, 237 yards, 1 TD) and the Jets' passing game.

In the end, though, it was a scintillating 64-yard catch-and-run play by rookie running back Leon Washington (four catches, 108 yards) that set up the biggest Jets victory of the Eric Mangini era.

The Washington play - "the biggest of his career," Mangini said - came on the first play after the Dolphins had tied the game at 10-10 on an Olindo Mare 25-yard field goal with 2:09 remaining.

"They had a good play call," Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. "Leon Washington is still running . . . great back. Give the Jets credit. They are a great team."

The Washington play led to a game-winning 30-yard field goal by Mike Nugent with 10 seconds to play - the first game-winner of Nugent's career.

A short time earlier, the Jets looked as if they had the game in hand after a marvelously thrown touch pass over the top by Pennington to Jerricho Cotchery for 32 yards and a touchdown gave them a 10-7 lead with 7:51 remaining. Cotchery beat the Dolphins' Renaldo Hill up the middle of the field and made an incredible stumble-and-reach over the goal line for the Jets' only touchdown of the game but perhaps their biggest of the season.

The ruling on the field initially had Cotchery down at the 1-yard line, but the replay showed the ball crossed the goal line before Cotchery's knee hit the ground. The Jets challenged the ruling and won.

"I knew I was in," Cotchery said. "I looked down and I had blue chalk on my leg, so I knew I came down in the end zone."

The Jets' score came as an immediate answer to a Dolphins' touchdown that gave them a 7-3 lead with 13:26 remaining in the game.

On that play, Miami backup QB Cleo Lemon, who replaced starter Joey Harrington after an ineffective first half (7-15, 42 yards), connected with TE Randy McMichael on a seven-yard scoring pass.

After the Jets scored and held the Dolphins on downs, they gave Miami unexpected life when a Ben Graham punt bounced off the arm of the Jets' Brad Kassell and was recovered by Miami's John Denny with 6:54 remaining in regulation.

That gave the Dolphins the ball at the Jets' 42. Eight plays later, the Dolphins tied the game at 10-10 with the Mare field goal.

With the win, the Jets' playoff scenario stacks up like this: If they beat the Raiders, they're in with no help.

"I'm so proud of the way the guys played," Mangini said. "This was a tough place to play and a tough team. We faced adversity throughout the game."

And survived it. Now it's on to a win-and-they're-in home game Sunday.

"It's going to be electric," Rhodes said.

"It's going to be bananas," Ellis echoed.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

Jets 13 Dolphins 10

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262006/sports/jets/smokin_joe_stirs_jets_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

SMOKIN' JOE STIRS JETS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

December 26, 2006 -- MIAMI - The Jets figured to come out smokin' for last night's crucial showdown against the Dolphins.

And they did, beating their hated rivals 13-10 in one of the hardest-hitting games of the year.

The Post learned exclusively that, hours before his players took the field, coach Eric Mangini carted out his heaviest motivational artillery yet this year.

There, in living video color before the players' eyes as they sat in on their final meeting at the team hotel around midday, was "Smokin' " Joe Frazier delivering a special, personalized message to them.

The former heavyweight champ, who taped the message during the week for Mangini, wore a green-and-white Jets cap on the video.

"He told us to stick to the game plan, fight for each other and have each others' backs and we'll win," defensive end Shaun Ellis said. "That's what he said, and that's what we did. That's exactly how the game played out, like a heavyweight fight."

The message from Frazier accompanied Mangini showing the players a tape of the first Frazier fight against Muhammad Ali, won by Frazier on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden.

Said Jets safety Kerry Rhodes: "It was similar to this game. Both fighters stood toe to toe, which we did. It's kind of eerie how the boxing matches [Mangini] has shown have been so relevant to each of our games."

It was the 12th time this season Mangini has shown a significant fight to his players before a regular-season game. The Jets have won nine of the 12 games.

Linebacker Matt Chatham called the Frazier message "awesome," adding, "My expectation level is through the roof now."

The pregame fight showings, along with some talks by well-known trainer Teddy Atlas and the special messages from the likes of Frazier and Aaron Pryor have had a profound effect on the Jets.

"We continue to fight, just like the boxing matches we watch," linebacker Bryan Thomas said. "We never quit."

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262006/sports/jets/washington_shows_his_big_play_ability_jets_mike_vaccaro.htm

WASHINGTON SHOWS HIS BIG PLAY ABILITY

By MIKE VACCARO

December 26, 2006 -- MIAMI - At first, all the Jets were hoping for was something quick, something short, something that maybe would get the Dolphins spinning on their heels a little bit. All the momentum was gone, along with two second-half leads, and while there were a few thousand Jets fans scattered among the remnants of the 73,500 who spent Christmas night inside Dolphins Stadium, it was hard to hear any of them.

"We needed something positive right away," is how Chad Pennington put it.

It goes against every cynical fiber of a Jets fan's soul to conjure something positive at a moment like this. Maybe 15 minutes earlier, Pennington had completed a spine-tingling 32-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery that had given the Jets a 10-7 lead. The Jets defense responded with a three-and-out, and then Miami punter Donnie Jones had lofted a wounded quail of a ball that was going to set the Jets up beautifully at midfield, a perfect place to try and drain the clock and nudge themselves one step closer to the most improbable playoff berth in franchise history.

Then it happened, of course. If you have followed the Jets for a reasonable amount of time, you know that "it" can be anything: a bad interception, a costly fumble, a fake spike, a horrible penalty. "It" takes many forms, and only seems to strike when it can deliver the most devastating kind of wallop, often in the most unlikely place.

This time, "it" found Brad Kassell, a backup linebacker, who was trying to mind his own business, trying to stay out of the way, but when "it" looks for you, you could turn invisible and it'll find you. "It" found Kassell now. The awful punt took a dreadful bounce, right up against Kassell's leg. Miami's John Denney pounced on the ball. Eight plays later, the game was tied at 10, the Jets wore the hollow-eyed look of pickpocket victims, and Dolphins Stadium was alive for the first time all night.

"We needed something positive right away." That's what Pennington had said. There were two minutes and nine seconds left in regulation; 2:09 to try and avoid overtime and try to squeeze out a win that nudge the Jets to the postseason doorstep. The call that came in was a screen. Something quick. Something short. Maybe something positive.

Leon Washington would get the ball, if he was open. One thing entered his mind: "We haven't broken a long one off that play all year long." Then one other thought arrived: "This would be an awfully good time for that to happen."

At first, it seemed a wasted play: There was a tangle of Dolphins surrounding Washington, who stepped here, stepped there, and saw a sliver of daylight. He chased after the sliver.

"Once there was breathing room," he said, "I thought we might have something."

It took awhile for everyone else to notice. Washington didn't really have to break tackles as much as he had to avoid shadows, and pursuing ghosts. He juked a few times. He jived a little. Dolphins seemed to scatter. A short pickup was suddenly a nice little first-down gain, and Washington was still on his feet. Soon, the nice little gain was a Big Play.

And he was still on his feet.

On the sidelines, Jets coach Eric Mangini remained stoic watching all of this, but his mind was singing a different melody altogether. "Keep going!" he shouted silently.

Washington kept going. He was still on his feet. The Big Play was now something else. It was a huge play, a game-altering play, a season-shifting play. Thirty yards downfield, then 40, and 50, and 60.

Dolphins Stadium sounded as if someone had tapped a mute button, save for those several thousand Jets fans who suddenly rose to their feet.

Fifteen seconds after Nick Mangold had started everything by snapping the ball to Pennington, it finally ended when Renaldo Hill finally tackled Washington. Fifteen seconds. Sixty-four yards. A game that looked blown was about to be won, and Mike Nugent's field goal made it official, 13-10, three running plays later. A season that seemed to be slipping away now sits one victory away from bleeding into January.

"Someone needed to make a big play tonight," Washington said, and a giddy community of Jets fans is beginning to understand something: These Jets expect a Jet to make those big plays now. And the longer this wonderful football season lasts, so does everyone else.

[Sperm Edwards]

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2003494833_nflmiami26.html

Crucial kick move Jets one step closer to playoffs

MIAMI — The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, but small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left Monday night.

A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with a crucial 13-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

"It was all about chipping away and waiting for our moment," Jets coach Eric Mangini said.

Miami had kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left. But the Jets' Leon Washington took a short pass from Chad Pennington 64 yards on the next play, and Nugent later kicked a 30-yarder. The Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game Sunday.

"We like controlling our own destiny and not having to rely on someone else to help us," defensive end Shaun Ellis said.

The rain resulted in a succession of errant and dropped passes — and 18 punts. A mishandled snap spoiled a field goal try by New York. Dolphins cornerback Eddie Jackson left the game with a knee injury when he stumbled and fell on the slippery field without being hit.

But in the fourth quarter, the Jets answered scores by Miami with drives of 80 and 68 yards.

"We didn't knock them out, but we might have scored a technical knockout," New York linebacker Jonathan Vilma said.

After Cleo Lemon hit Randy McMichael on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Dolphins (6-9) ahead 7-3, New York regained the lead on Pennington's 31-yard scoring pass to Jerricho Cotchery with 7:51 to go.

Cotchery was initially ruled down at the 1-yard line, but the Jets challenged the spot, and following a review the play was ruled a touchdown.

"When it came to it, we just fell apart on defense," Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. "And they made great plays when they had to."

A funny bounce then produced the game's only turnover — and the tying field goal for Miami.

A short punt by the Dolphins took a backward hop before deflecting off the arm of Jets blocker Brad Kassell, and Miami's John Denney recovered at the Jets 42. Eight plays later, Olindo Mare kicked a 25-yard field goal.

Note

• Dolphins QB Daunte Culpepper trekked from his suite to the ESPN broadcast booth to dispute allegations made on air by Hall of Famer Steve Young that Culpepper needed a better work ethic and to stop missing team meetings. "That's not who I am," Culpepper said. "I'm working so hard to get back right now, and I don't need to hear someone who doesn't even know me say I'm missing meetings and I need to work harder." Young and Culpepper talked in a corner for about five minutes. Afterward, Young said of his comments, "I was wrong."

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spglaub265029210dec26,0,2596204.column?coll=ny-jets-print

No day at beach

Bob Glauber

FOOTBALL

December 26, 2006

MIAMI -- Somewhere in Foxboro, Mass., last night, Bill Belichick sat back in his easy chair and thought to himself, "See what I mean?"

Belichick had been here two weeks earlier to play the Dolphins in a game that looked like a cinch. The Patriots were streaking toward another AFC East title; the Dolphins still were cleaning up the mess of their mishandled quarterback situation from the first half of the season. But Belichick walked out of Dolphin Stadium shaking his head in disgust after a 21-0 loss to a Dolphins team that had little to play for other than late-season pride.

On a rain-soaked field in South Florida, the Jets met similar resistance in their march toward what they hope will be a postseason run. For almost three full quarters, the Jets could do no better than the Patriots. The Dolphins' defense continually stifled them just as they did Tom Brady.

The Dolphins may be out of it, but they certainly are making life hell for their AFC East playoff wannabes. The Patriots survived their upset loss and have secured the AFC East title and thus a playoff berth. And the Jets survived their bout with Miami, pulling off a stunning 13-10 victory that put them one step closer to securing a playoff berth.

Entering the season, this was the kind of fight we expected from the Dolphins, especially after their improved performance under Nick Saban last year. They just had that look of a team ready to make a move, as long as they straightened out their quarterback situation.

Well, Saban figured he had, acquiring Daunte Culpepper in an offseason trade with the Vikings. Culpepper had made what appeared to be a spectacular recovery from a devastating knee injury in October 2005, when he tore three knee ligaments and suffered a dislocated kneecap.

Turned out Culpepper wasn't ready after all, and by the time Saban pulled the plug on him nearly halfway through the season, it was too late for the Dolphins to make a complete recovery of their own.

Given the manic nature of this year's NFL playoff races, which have been as mystifying and unpredictable as ever, the twists and turns of last night's game should have come as no surprise. It has been downright maddening to try to figure what will happen next, and Jets-Dolphins was entirely true to form.

Just when it looked as if the Jets would actually secure the victory after an impressive touchdown drive for a 10-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter, a Same Old Jets moment reared its ugly head. On a Dolphins punt, the ball deflected off the Jets' Brad Kassell's elbow and was recovered by Miami.

Crazy stuff. Then again, if you'd been told in August that the Jets would be playing the Dolphins on Christmas night in a game rife with playoff implications, you'd have thought the prognosticator was silly, if not downright delusional.

But credit the Jets' gritty performances throughout coach Eric Mangini's rookie season for getting them this far. Mangini's steady hand has gotten the Jets further than anyone imagined. Except perhaps Mangini himself.

But even the coach has to be somewhat surprised by the resilience of his team, which entered last night's game with its playoff fate in its own hands. Beat the Dolphins and Raiders in their last two, and they'd be assured of a wild-card spot.

Unlike their co-tenants at Giants Stadium, the Jets play a disciplined brand of football that keeps them in just about every game, with very few exceptions. They play smart, they don't take dumb penalties, and they answer difficult situations with poise.

"When we've had a setback, we've been able to respond in a positive manner," Pennington had said. "To me, that's part of being a professional. You hit some adversity, you just try to focus on the next game. Our coaching staff has done a great job of teaching us how to do that. Don't get too high and don't get too low."

How better to explain the Jets' gutsy drive after the Dolphins tied it at 10 after the punt hit Kassell. Leon Washington caught a short pass and ran 64 yards to the 16 with 1:54 to play to set up Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds left.

It was a massive play by Washington, the kind that often defines seasons. Unlike Belichick's own nightmare in Miami, the Jets survived their scare and came out on top.

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JETS 13, DOLPHINS 10

Magic number: 1

Another win and Jets will make playoffs after Nugent FG tops Miami

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Correspondent

December 26, 2006

MIAMI -- The Jets took a huge statistical step toward clinching a playoff berth last night, but their image as a playoff contender may have suffered. The Jets did not appear to be a team poised for a January push for most of last night's critical game against the Dolphins, who had nothing to play for but a chance to watch their bitter AFC rivals squirm in the South Florida rain.

But the Jets' offense that was stagnant for the first half orchestrated three scoring drives when it was most crucial, the last of which led to a Mike Nugent 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds left for an unconvincing 13-10 win.

The Jets (9-6) will earn an AFC wild card if they can beat the 2-13 Raiders Sunday. They can also advance if they lose, but would need help.

The Dolphins (6-9) tied the score at 10 with 2:09 left on a drive that began after a punt took a backward bounce and clipped the left elbow of the Jets' Brad Kassell, who was blocking for a possible return. That gave the ball back to the Dolphins, who inched inside the 10 and knotted it on Olindo Mare's 25-yard field goal.

On the Jets' next play, Chad Pennington dumped a short pass to running back Leon Washington, who used a series of cutbacks and moves that even baffled lead blocker Stacy Tutt for a 64-yard gain to Miami's 16. After three running plays, Nugent kicked the first winning field goal of his two-season career.

After a miserable first half by both teams, the Jets struck first for a 3-0 lead. The Dolphins, playing with backup quarterback Cleo Lemon the entire second half, answered with a 73-yard, seven-play drive that produced the game's first touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Lemon to Randy McMichael. The tight end was hit by Jets safety Kerry Rhodes at the 3, but was able to escape the tackle and lunge into the end zone.

The Jets then used an 80-yard, 11-play drive to take a 10-7 advantage, the last yard of which was courtesy of a challenge by Eric Mangini. Pennington threw a long pass to Jerricho Cotchery over the middle and the receiver appeared to skid into the end zone after contact. Officials originally ruled him down at the 1, but that was overturned and the Jets were given the TD, which wound up being a 32-yarder midway through the fourth quarter.

That the central character in the Jets' first half was Ben Graham speaks to the ineptitude. Graham not only punted six times in the scoreless half, but he also had a snap slip through his fingers while trying to hold for a potential 34-yard field-goal attempt late in the first quarter. James Dearth's snap was slightly high - at Graham's eye level - but the former Australian Football League star could not grip the slick, rain-soaked football. It squirted off his helmet and was picked up by kicker Nugent, which did little more than prevent a turnover and gave the Dolphins the ball on downs.

Graham also had difficulty on a field-goal try last week against the Vikings, having the ball spin out from under his hold.

The drive leading up to the field-goal attempt was the only bright spot in an offensively challenged first half. The Jets went 67 yards on 13 plays, converting three third downs and making the largest gain of the first half, a 28-yard shovel pass and run from Pennington to Washington on third-and-8.

When the Jets next found their way into the red zone, courtesy of a 28-yard pass interference penalty on a deep ball intended for Justin McCareins, Graham held for a 22-yard field-goal try with gloves on, placing it perfectly for Nugent and giving the Jets a 3-0 lead with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

Jets receiver Laveranues Coles was playing with a target where his number 87 is usually printed. After saying he'd never heard of Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday during the week, the Dolphins nearly wiped his entire memory clean with a series of hits that sent messages and prevented big gains. Coles was hit over the middle by Travares Tillman in the first quarter, took a hit from Renaldo Hill along the sideline in the second quarter, and was knocked out of the game for a pair of offensive series when Zack Thomas drilled him over the middle late in the second quarter.

Coles lay face-down on the soggy sod for a few moments after the Thomas hit, eventually was helped to his feet and examined by team doctors on the sideline. He did not come back into the game until the second half, despite some pleading with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on the final drive of the half. He played the second half but finished the game with only two catches for 9 yards.

POSTSEASON PICTURE

WAYS THE JETS CAN GET IN:

Win against the Raiders

Or

One of the following:

Bengals lose to Steelers and Jaguars to Chiefs

Bengals lose to Steelers and Titans beat Patriots

Broncos lose to 49ers, Jaguars lose to Kansas City

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JETS NOTEBOOK

With Houston out, Barlow returns

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Correspondent

December 26, 2006

MIAMI -- For the first time in a month, Kevan Barlow was in uniform and on the field for the Jets. The running back was sidelined the previous three games by coach Eric Mangini and had not played since Nov. 26. Last night, with unofficial starting running back Cedric Houston out with a calf injury, Barlow was activated and gained 36 yards on 18 carries.

Houston, who averaged slightly more than 20 carries per game while Barlow was shelved, injured his calf late in the game against the Vikings last Sunday. He was limited in practice during the week and listed as questionable. He missed five games earlier in the season after a knee injury against the Colts.

Barlow made it clear he was disappointed not to be playing, but he also reiterated his desire to stay with the Jets next season. The Jets obtained him late in training camp in a trade with the 49ers. Barlow had said he was using his time off to bone up on the playbook and rehab his left knee, which underwent an arthroscopic procedure last offseason. He said he felt as if he were playing "on one leg" this season.

Taylor cracks Brick

Sixteen weeks into an NFL season, it's hard to consider any player who has been on the field as often as left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson a rookie. Yet Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor made Ferguson look as confused as he was the first day of training camp, using his speed to get around the No. 4 overall draft pick and cornerstone of the Jets' future offensive line.

Taylor, who has made his distaste for the Jets very clear in his 10-season career, beat Ferguson for two significant plays. The first was an outside rush that resulted in a 4-yard loss on a run by Barlow. The second was a sack of Chad Pennington for a loss of 8. Taylor also pressured Pennington on the third play of the game, ripping the hand-warmer from the quarterback's waist and flinging it into the air.

Jet streams

The 0-0 halftime score was the second of the season for the Jets, who were scoreless with the Bears for the first 30 minutes. The Jets have had four scoreless first quarters ... In the first half there were 12 punts.

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Vilma takes aim at perfection

BY TOM ROCK

Newsday Staff Correspondent

December 26, 2006

MIAMI -- There were a lot of forgettable plays from the 2005 season, but one sticks out in Jonathan Vilma's mind as his least favorite. It was the Jets' only defensive snap of the year in which he was not on the field.

"It was against Carolina," Vilma recalled a few days ago. "I made the tackle and John Abraham's helmet hit me right on the forearm. I paused and I guess they thought I was down. I had to go out for that play. That got me mad."

So mad that he's trying for his perfect attendance mark this season. Through the first 14 games, Vilma was on the field for every defensive play, including two special-teams plays that were recorded as defensive snaps. His streak continued in last night's 13-10 victory over the Dolphins.

"You're always looking for that ability to play every single play, to be a three-down player," Jets coach Eric Mangini said, noting that with his special-teams contributions, Vilma is a four-down player. "He's the same at practice. You have to yank him off the field to get somebody else some work. That's just how he's built. He likes being out there."

While Vilma's contributions have been consistent, they've also been hard to spot. Playing in the 3-4 defense, Vilma said he can't turn to a stat package and tell whether he had a good game. His quiet steadiness continued last night.

"Last year I could go by tackles or tackles I should have made," he said. "When I'd get into a zone, I'd end up with 16 or 17 tackles, maybe a forced fumble. Now in this defense, it's not necessarily how many tackles I have."

Vilma said he judges his performances now on subtleties, such as stopping runs from cutting back against the initial flow. He said he is more critical of his games than anyone. When he didn't like his tackling in the game against the Texans, he focused on it the following week in practice and said he felt an improvement against the Packers in the next game. Against the Lions he was disappointed with his pass coverage. That became a point of emphasis against Cleveland.

"The perfect game? It never happens," Vilma said. "But you can strive for it, try to get as close to it as possible."

While the other linebackers rotate in and out, the one constant has been Vilma. He's the one who keeps tabs on all the other players, pointing them in the proper direction on blitzes and making sure all of the gaps and potential receivers are covered. He doesn't have the glamour plays, but he is the most indispensable player on the Jets' defense.

If Vilma ever needs to come out, Mangini said there are a number of players who would step in to take over the on-field directing, including fellow inside linebackers Eric Barton and Brad Kassell or safeties Kerry Rhodes, Erik Coleman or Eric Smith.

In other words, he's hoping it doesn't come down to that.

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Jets one win away from playoffs

By Andrew Gross

The Journal News

(Original Publication: December 26, 2006)

MIAMI - On a rainy, humid night, the Jets nearly had control of their playoff destiny slip away. Instead, they are now one victory away from going to the postseason.

"This is our Christmas present to ourselves," Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis said.

The Jets defeated Miami 13-10 last night at Dolphins Stadium when Mike Nugent kicked a 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining. The Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card berth with a win over the Raiders Sunday at the Meadowlands.

Even if they lose to the 2-13 Raiders, the Jets can enter the playoffs under any one of three scenarios: the Steelers beat the Bengals and the Jaguars either lose to or tie the Chiefs, the Bengals either lose or tie and the Titans beat the Patriots or the Broncos lose to the 49ers and the Jaguars lose.

"It's a 16-week season - we've still got a ballgame to play," said Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who took a hard hit from Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas in the second quarter and was mostly used as a decoy when he returned in the second half. "If we take it for granted, we can slip up."

The teams struggled to a scoreless first half and a 3-0 Jets lead entering the fourth quarter. But the winning drive was set up by Chad Pennington's screen to rookie running back Leon Washington that went for 64 yards to the Dolphins 16-yard line.

"That was the biggest play of his young career," Jets coach Eric Mangini said.

The Jets' running game was hurt with Cedric Houston sidelined with a calf injury. Washington rushed six times for 26 yards but made four catches for 108 yards, also gaining 28 yards on a shovel pass from Pennington.

Pennington completed 14 of 29 passes for 237 yards and a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery to give the Jets a 10-7 lead with 8:04 left in the fourth quarter.

At first, it was ruled Cotchery was down at the Dolphins' 1-yard line, but Mangini successfully challenged the call.

"I knew I was in once I looked down in the end zone," said Cotchery, who made four catches for 50 yards. "But once the refs said I was down, I was just wondering, 'How can I not be in?' I looked at my leg, and it was full of blue paint."

However, Olindo Mare tied the score with a 25-yard field goal with 2:09 remaining after a Jets' special teams gaffe.

Forced to punt, the Dolphins (6-9) regained control of the ball at the Jets' 42-yard line with 6:54 to go when the Jets' Brad Kassel had the ball bounce against him and with Miami's John Denney recovering it.

But the Jets held on a third-and-13 from their own 19 as Cleo Lemon completed a 12-yard pass to Sammy Morris before Ellis tackled him.

"That was big," said Ellis, who had five tackles. "That was a big momentum boost because we knew we couldn't give up a touchdown."

The Dolphins had taken a 7-3 lead on Lemon's first career touchdown pass, a 7-yard completion to tight end Randy McMichael with 13:26 left in the fourth quarter.

The Jets took a 3-0 lead on Nugent's 22-yard field goal with 2:25 to go in the third quarter. Pennington, who struggled with his accuracy all game, salvaged the seven-play, 56-yard drive with a 15-yard scramble to the Dolphins' 39-yard line off a third-and-four.

The ball moved to the Dolphins 11 on the next play when safety Yeremiah Bell was called for pass interference against Justin McCareins.

Joey Harrington went 7 for 15 for 42 yards in the first half before Lemon replaced him to start the second half.

"They went a little bit more of a mobile offense instead of the basic dropback," said Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who tied for a team-high nine tackles with safety Erik Coleman. "They started booting, rolling out, started doing some different things with him and it threw us off a little bit. He made some plays, but then we were able to come back."

Then again, nobody expected any differently against the Dolphins, the Jets' longtime AFC East rivals.

"It always comes down to the last drive," Pennington said. "No matter what the records are."

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Jets' Barlow gets second chance

By Andrew Gross

The Journal News

(Original Publication: December 26, 2006)

MIAMI - Kevan Barlow stood in the victorious Jets locker room last week in Minnesota, slightly downcast, eye black still on. The sixth-year veteran was not used to inactivity.

But Barlow could not capitalize on his second chance last night as he got the bulk of the Jets' carries in a 13-10 win over the Dolphins at Dolphins Stadium.

Barlow gained 36 yards on 18 carries, with a long run of six yards, as he was active for the first time since Nov. 26 with second-year back Cedric Houston unable to play because of a calf injury.

"Obviously I want to be out there playing and helping these guys win games and competing," said Barlow, who now has 370 yards and six touchdowns on 131 carries in 12 games. "I took advantage of the time off. Mentally, I'm trying to grasp the offense and learn a lot of things. I think I have."

Barlow had 75 yards on 17 carries in a 17-14 win at New England Nov. 12 but had just seven yards on 12 carries in his next two games before being inactive the last three games.

Houston's emergence as the team's lead back played a key role in Barlow's demotion. Houston has led the Jets in rushing in three of the last five games and gained 53 yards on 21 carries against the Vikings before hurting himself.

Fight night: The Jets' pregame fight of the week was Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier I, their 1971 bout at Madison Square Garden that Frazier won in 15 rounds.

"We knew coming in the Dolphins were going to play extremely hard," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "We expected this game to go back and forth and when adversity strikes, we had to compete, smile at it and move forward."

Ali, of course, came back to win his next two bouts against Frazier.

The backup plan: The frequency of the impact plays Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma has made this season has decreased.

Still, he's invaluable since he calls the defensive signals and is responsible for positioning all his teammates. Plus, he rarely is off the field, even playing occasionally on special teams. The question, then, is who could replace him as the defensive quarterback.

"Everybody, the linebackers," Mangini said. "Usually it's been the inside linebackers and the safeties. All those guys have worked through, whether it's Eric Barton, Brad Kassell, Kerry Rhodes, Erik Coleman or Eric Smith."

Honored: Former Dolphins offensive tackle Richmond Webb, a seven-time All-Pro selection between 1990-2000, was inducted into the team's Honor Roll last night.

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Jets one win from playoffs after big plays spear Fish

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

MIAMI -- It wasn't always pretty – unless you're a fan of stifling defense. It was often soaking wet. It was very careful. It was full of punts.

For much of Christmas night, it was virtually point-less.

But for the Jets, the point was to just win, baby. And they did exactly that by 13-10 over their old AFC East foes, the Dolphins. And now in their first season under Eric Mangini, they will play for their fourth playoff berth in six years.

The Jets (9-6) overcame adversity and the Dolphins (6-9) on the strength of two more highlight-video catches, one by wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and the second by rookie running back Leon Washington, plus the first winning field goal of kicker Mike Nugent's career to post their latest Monday Night Miracle.

A home win over the hapless Raiders on Sunday will clinch the playoff berth that very few outside the Jets thought possible back in September, or July, or February when Mangini took over the team.

"There were a lot of things we had to overcome, and we did it together,'' Mangini said. "I'm proud of them.''

Cotchery's heroics came when he took Chad Pennington's blitz-beating post pass 32 yards over safety Yeremiah Bell with 8:04 to play, giving the Jets a 10-7 lead.

Then after Olindo Mare's tying 25-yard field goal, Washington – dashing and darting with a reception like he hadn't done since Game 3 at Buffalo – took a screen from Pennington this way and that for 64 yards to the Dolphins' 16, setting up Nugent's field goal from 30 yards with 10 seconds to play.

"We came in at halftime and we knew someone had to make a play,'' Washington said. "Fortunately I was the one who made it.''

Cotchery's TD was more remarkable because it was originally ruled a 31-yard catch to the Jets' 1. But Mangini threw his red flag on the field for a replay challenge, and referee Gerry Austin reversed the ruling when he saw Cotchery, despite heading down, keep every body part except his feet off the ground until he stretched the ball over the goal line.

"Yeah, I knew I was in,'' Cotchery said. "I had paint on my knee. I knew it had to come from somewhere.''

The Jets, who came into the night in control of their playoff destiny after Jacksonville lost to New England on Sunday, battled the Dolphins scoreless for 42:35 until Nugent hit a 22-yard field goal late in the third quarter.

Then Gang Green had to overcome some rocky moments surrounding Cotchery's catch.

The defense gave up a 7-yard touchdown pass from backup Cleo Lemon, who replaced the ineffective Joey Harrington in the second half, to tight end Randy McMichael, who was stopped by safety Kerry Rhodes at the Jets' 3 but broke the tackle for the score with 13:26 to play to cap a 73-yard drive.

Then after the catch, the Jets forced a Miami punt but the short kick bounced off the Jets' Brad Kassell and was recovered by the Dolphins' John Denney at the Jets' 42.

Lemon drove the hosts to the Jets' 7 before Olindo Mare's 25-yard field goal tied it at 10 with 2:09 to play.

But Mangini has preached defeating adversity all year and the Jets bought into it big-time on this holiday night.

The result, besides the playoff ramifications, was that they improved their road record to 6-2, the second-best in franchise history behind Herm Edwards' first Jets team in 2001, which went 7-1.

The Dolphins tried to rain on the Jets' parade, and that wasn't just a figure of speech. A downpour began 90 minutes before opening kickoff, then tapered off to a steady rain that slowed both teams' offensive performance throughout the first half.

It also contributed to a second botched field goal hold in two games by Australian Ben Graham.

The Jets had the best drive of the opening period, moving from their 17 to the Miami 16 with the aid of three third-down conversions. The biggest: Pennington's shovel pass – some call it a "Utah draw" – to Washington, who took the ball 28 yards to the Dolphins' 21.

But Pennington couldn't find Cotchery, possibly interfered with by Bell, in the end zone, so Nugent came out for a 34-yard field goal.

Except he never got the kick off. Graham, who couldn't place down a high but manageable snap from James Dearth at Minnesota, couldn't come up with an accurately snapped but rain-slicked football and again Nugent couldn't get a kick off.

The home team tried to apply a momentum shift midway through the second quarter with two big hits on successive plays. First a floating outlet pass to Washington was greeted by backup corner Michael Lehan's hard tackle for a yard loss.

Then Pennington appeared to find Laveranues Coles for a first-down reception – until Coles found linebacker Zach Thomas in his grille. Thomas crushed Coles, knocked the ball loose for an incompletion, and sent Coles from the game. He stayed on the sideline and was being fitted with his helmet by trainers, but he didn't return in the half.

E-mail: lange@northjersey.com

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Jets' rookies contributing, thanks to their versatility

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

MIAMI -- One year ago, Brad Smith, Stacy Tutt and Wallace Wright didn't know each other, except as fairly bright lights in the 2005 college football universe.

Slowly but surely, their stars have aligned. The three Jets offensive rookies, all in uniform for the Christmas night game at Miami, have formed a triangle that represents one of the pillars upon which first-year coach Eric Mangini has rebuilt the Jets far faster than many thought possible: the principle of versatility.

The triangle's first two sides joined when Tutt, the Richmond quarterback, and Wright, the North Carolina wide receiver, began working out together after the college season.

"We have the same agent, Ron Del Duca," Tutt said. "We used to go to Virginia Beach a few weekends a month and do speed programs there."

"We didn't really talk about much then," Wright said. "We were just trying to help each other get on somebody's roster."

Even though Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum already had targeted Smith, Missouri's four-year starting QB, and ultimately drafted him in the fourth round, they were enamored of Tutt's multiplicity as well.

He was a three-year starter, bigger at 233 pounds than Smith's 210 but similarly productive for the Spiders as Smith for the Tigers. He interviewed with Mangini at the combine workouts in a suit and tie, part of the positive impression that prompted the Jets to sign him after the draft.

Soon he was lining up at, of all places, fullback.

"If I went to the CFL, I'd probably be playing quarterback – probably in any other league except this one," Tutt said. "But I wanted to be here. I knew I'd have to change positions, but I didn't care. I played other positions before. To have the opportunity to play in this league is a privilege. I wanted to make the most of it."

It didn't hurt Tutt's transition that Wright, his good friend by then, signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent three days after Tutt.

"Us getting opportunities in the same place? That's insane," Wright said. "Things work out like that sometimes."

Through the summer, Smith unveiled his skill and athleticism at wide receiver, running back, even quarterback. Tutt and Wright showed flashes, were final cuts, then were signed to the Jets' practice squad.

That was when Wright started showing his flexibility. Like a Troy Brown in training, during the first three months of the season he was turned from a wideout into a cornerback.

"I'm athletic, but playing defense at this level? That never popped into my head," Wright said. "They put me out there for a while, and I was able to run plays and learn technique. I've still got a lot more things to work on. But now I'm back in the receiver meeting room."

That's because when Tim Dwight went on injured reserve, the Jets needed a wide receiver, not to mention a special-teams demon, so Wright returned to wideout. And suddenly, when No. 16, Smith, was flying down under kicks, he was being joined by No. 15, Wright, who had three tackles at Minnesota.

"Wallace gets down there – he's moving," said Smith, high praise from the player some consider to be the fastest current Jet.

Tutt wasn't far behind his roomie. Activated for his first pro game vs. the Vikings, he was on the field for six offensive plays and threw an impressive block that sprung Cedric Houston for that unexpected 6-yard rushing touchdown vs. the NFL's No. 1 run defense.

The multifaceted Smith has bonded with the other two sides of the triangle.

"Wallace and I went through two-a-days together," he said. "Being the two rookie wide receivers, we're learning together."

And during warm-ups, Smith and Tutt will find themselves reverting to their previous lives as QBs.

"Brad and me, we toss the ball sometimes. It's like being a kid again," Tutt said. "That's the connection we have, knowing a lot of guys don't make that change to another position."

Then when they're done soft-tossing, Tutt said, "It's back to our other positions."

Those positions that Mangini and his staff have determined will give the Jets the best chance to win.

E-mail: lange@northjersey.com

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-jetsid26dec26,0,5375493.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front

Pennington pilots Jet rally in 4th

By Craig Barnes

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

December 26, 2006

MIAMI GARDENS · The Jets refuse to give up control of their playoff destiny.

They needed gloves to get control of it for the first time on Monday night, and they had to answer twice in the fourth quarter to beat the Dolphins 13-10.

"Things are fully in our control," coach Eric Mangini said, "but we had to overcome a lot to get it there."

With the victory, the 9-6 Jets can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Oakland next week. If they lose, they also would be in with Cincinnati and Jacksonville losses, a Cincinnati loss and Tennessee win, or Denver and Jacksonville losses.

Quarterback Chad Pennington hit a 64-yard slip screen to running back Leon Washington on the game's final drive to set up Mike Nugent's winning 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds left.

"It is the same type of play that I ran a lot at Florida State," said Washington who had four catches for 108 yards and six rushes for 26 yards. "I have always been confident of my ability in space."

The field goal was redemption for Nugent, whose 34-yard, first-quarter effort was botched when holder Ben Graham, working in a heavy downpour, botched a snap for the second straight week.

"As you reach the end of the season and the end of games in the NFL, you are faced with a lot of big kicks," Nugent said. "We didn't get the one early, but we got the one that counted."

The Dolphins led briefly on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Cleo Lemon to Randy McMichael, Lemon's first in the NFL, but the Jets answered right back in the fourth quarter when Pennington drove the Jets down and finished things off with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery for a 10-7 lead with 7:58 to play.

"The offense had to step it up a couple of times in the fourth quarter," Pennington said, "but in a game of tough conditions, it was important we got to that point without giving up the football to their defense."

After the Jets held Lemon and the Dolphins to a three-and-out the ensuing series, Dolphin Donnie Jones' punt hit Jets linebacker Brad Kassell in the back of the arm with 6:54 left, and Dolphins snapper John Denney recovered the ball at the New York 42.

That was was converted to a 25-yard Olindo Mare to make it 10-all.

With the win, the Jets sweep the Dolphins and have won 14 of the last 18 games between the two.

"We missed the field goal and had the punt bounce off our guy," Mangini said. "We faced a lot of adversity, but we responded collectively just as we have all season."

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwNDUwODAmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

Houston out of the action

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

MIAMI -- Eric Mangini made official what he had telegraphed all week when running back Cedric Houston was deactivated for the Dolphins game on Monday night.

Houston, who said the Vikings were "probably the hardest-hitting time I've faced" in his two Jets seasons, came out of that game with a souvenir, a strained calf muscle, that kept him out of Wednesday's practice and limited him the other three workdays.

It's been a roller-coaster ride for Houston, who was a coach's-decision deactivation in the first two games of the season, then spent five games on the inactive list from a hyperextended knee. Even though he has yet to get a start in the Mangini regime, Houston was the Jets' leading rusher in three of the previous five games.

Point-less trivia

The Jets' and Dolphins' scoreless first half was simultaneously a familiar occurrence and yet a rare one.

It was the second scoreless half the Jets played this season, following up on their 10-0 Game 10 loss to the Bears.

But it was only the ninth scoreless half in Jets history and only the second since 1990. The Jets' record in the previous eight 0-0 draws was a not optimistic 1-7. The only win was by 20-10 over Buffalo in 1974.

Pushing the envelope

The Dolphins no doubt gave referee Gerry Austin some advisories on looking closely for offensive pass interference by the Jets' wide receivers after they watched Laveranues Coles and Justin McCareins extend their hands on long pass plays against the Vikings.

Some would consider what the Jets did similar to NBA hand-checking, but CBS analyst Dan Dierdorf made the opposite point after Coles' 21-yard touchdown catch against Fred Smoot and McCareins extended his arm on an incompletion.

"I know one thing," Dierdorf said. "When the officials head inside at halftime, they may be getting a phone call from [NFL director of officials] Mike Pereira that says, 'Hey, maybe we ought to pay a little closer attention down the sideline on whether there are any potential pushoffs or not.' "

Briefs

The Jets learned during the game that their regular-season finale Sunday against the Raiders will remain a 1 p.m. kickoff. ... Joe Namath and Dan Marino, two former QB greats, were at Dolphin Stadium for the game.

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/16318271.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_football

A fitting result for the Dolphins

By Greg Cote

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

MIAMI - It isn't much consolation, anyway, trying to play spoiler at the end of a season already spoiled. It is a sad, better-than-nothing consolation you were after, the last and lowest kind available. It would have provided not nearly enough to fill the emptiness still there.

So the New York Jets beat the Dolphins here Monday night, 13-10, denying the home team and Dolfans the chance to deny their rivals a playoff spot, but it didn't matter much in a Miami season that has stopped mattering and, in the end, if anything, the result was just fitting, that's all.

The Dolphins and their fans would lay a decent claim to leading the NFL in disappointment this season, so why should Miami being denied a gift on Christmas night surprise anybody?

SAME OLD STORY

How could the final home game of a season such as this end any other way than with Dolphins fans trudging chin-down from the park to wonder (again) what went wrong? What fell short?

It was too little offense (again), a 10th time in 15 games Miami did not top 17 points.

It was stout defense bedeviled by the usual one or two killing big plays allowed (again).

It was the Dolphins simply not being good enough (again), as the season record sank to 6-9 in a fifth straight season out of the playoffs.

This is not to suggest there is no God or Santa Claus, by the way. It is to suggest that neither God nor Santa seemed to like Miami very much this year, evidently. Or lately, for that matter.

There wasn't going to be any successful dressing up of this game in festive terms, no matter the calendar, no matter the cheerleaders in their Santa suits.

It was largely a meaningless game, nearly as pointless as the 0-0 score deep into the third quarter, except, ultimately, as a potential visceral victory for Dolfans over hated Jets fans who would lead the global economy if obnoxiousness were currency. Instead, it was a sixth consecutive prime-time victory by the Jets over Miami.

Of course, the result mattered to the Jets, the victory greasing their path to the playoffs. But the Jets are not our concern here.

For the Dolphins, win or lose, the soundtrack for this evening was closer to what Elvis Presley was briefly heard singing across Dolphin Stadium loudspeakers between the first and second quarters:

Blue Christmas.

Blue season, it has been, and one that even a victory Monday would not have made all that much brighter. All a victory would have done is set up the next sad consolation: possibly still finishing .500, a nonaccomplishment that, in the franchise's better days, would have been its own ignominy.

The night had the visual look of an August exhibition, from the steady sheet of rain that emptied all of those thousands of orange seats, to Cleo Lemon beginning the second half at quarterback. A pregame electrical malfunction that doused the banks of end-zone lights lent a more literal feeling of gloom.

A festival of punts arose from domineering defenses repeatedly stymieing offenses that moved the ball like two teams of men attempting to push a boulder uphill.

The loss perfectly represented a season when none of the wishes came true. Those Super Bowl predictions by major publications lied.

So, because of injury, did the promise of Daunte Culpepper's arrival.

The hope inspired by Nick Saban's arrival as coach? That's on hold, in that mediocre space between satisfaction and disappointment where you find a not-quite-two-year record of 15-16.

NOTHING TO CHEER

No franchise in the NFL celebrates its history as fervently as the Dolphins, keeping alive a receding past in the recent absence of anything more current worth cheering.

Sad to note we got another reminder on Christmas night: The team with the storied past has no present.

Dan Marino's and Don Shula's statues greet stadium visitors, frozen reminders of halcyon days. On Monday, Marino and fellow former stars Dick Anderson, Mark Duper and Nat Moore were honorary captains, and Richmond Webb, the stalwart former tackle, was inducted onto the team's Honor Roll.

Also, Monday happened to be the 35th anniversary of "The Longest Game," Miami's epic 1971 playoff victory at Kansas City. More old glory. Always, old glory.

When is this club going to give its fans something new to cheer?

Five years out of the playoff is an NFL eternity. Now the team completes a season 1-5 against teams from its own division, all three of whom are younger overall.

"We gave this season away," superb defender Jason Taylor said in the buildup to this game. "We threw it away."

It was mindful of hearing founding club owner Joe Robbie, many years ago, lamenting that his franchise was "wasting the Marino years."

Now the same thing is happening with the Taylor and Zach Thomas years.

Maybe it will be different next season, of course. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Meantime:

Blue Christmas. Blue season.

[Sperm Edwards]

Jets return home with fate in their hands

By Tim Smith

New York Daily News

(MCT)

MIAMI - Eric Mangini dusted off another boxing classic for his team - Ali-Frazier I at Madison Square Garden - to inspire Gang Green for its playoff primer against the Dolphins on Monday night.

Frazier won a 15-round war that night at the Garden in 1971. And Monday night the Jets felt just like Frazier as they slugged it out over four quarters with the tenacious Dolphins before walking away with a 13-10 victory that was secured on a 30-yard field goal by Mike Nugent With 10 seconds to play.

Mangini said Frazier even taped a message for the players, telling them they would have to work together and will themselves to victory against the Dolphins, who were playing the role of spoiler. Words of wisdom from Smokin' Joe for the Smokin' Jets.

The Jets (9-6) are fully in control of their playoff fate - with only Oakland, a 2-13 punching bag (Mangini might want to provide the cautionary tale of Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas), standing in the way. They will get to take their best shot at the Raiders before a home crowd on Sunday.

"I hope it will be like Green Bay in 2002," quarterback Chad Pennington said. "The electricity in that stadium with the Jets fans was unbelievable. What we have to do is respond to that excitement and put together a good football game."

The Jets put themselves on the threshold of the playoffs under the most extreme conditions imaginable. A steady rain often came down in buckets, making it difficult to get anything going on offense in the first half. It was scoreless at halftime and the Jets did not look anything like a playoff team and certainly not one that would frighten anyone in the postseason.

And for the second time in two weeks, their best receiver, Laveranues Coles, was laid out on the field after a big hit. Last week in Minnesota, Coles was sandwiched between two defenders attempting to catch a high pass and injured his back. This time, he was leveled by Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas on a crushing hit after trying to snag one of Pennington's passes late in the second quarter. Coles lay motionless for a few minutes before being helped off the field by Jets trainers.

Maybe the hit he took Monday night was retribution from the Dolphins, who took offense to an offhand comment that Coles made during a conference call with the Miami media last week. Someone asked Coles if he was offended by comments by Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday, who implied that the Jets weren't any good. Coles replied that he didn't know who Vonnie Holliday was, had never heard of him.

Thomas made sure that Coles knew who he was. But from the look of the lick that Thomas put on Coles, he might not have remembered much from the night.

Coles, who had a cut under his chin, was still groggy after the game, a result of the hit. It seemed that he had suffered a concussion because he couldn't remember certain things from before the game. If Coles were a boxer, people would say he has a good chin. And like a boxer who refuses to stay down for the count, Coles wouldn't let the coaches keep him out of the game. He is the heart and soul of the Jets' offense.

"To be truthful, I'm one of those guys who feels like if I can walk I can play," Coles said. "The coaches knew I was still groggy, so they didn't call any plays for me."

If they would have tried to hide his helmet to keep him out of the game, Coles said they would have had a fight worthy of Ali-Frazier I on their hands.

Pennington was grateful for Coles' effort, even though he couldn't really count on him to make big plays.

"What he did was give us some stability in our personnel groups," Pennington said. "We were able to stay normal even though he wasn't able to make big plays for us."

Instead, the Jets were able to get production from other members of the offense - a 32-yard touchdown reception by receiver Jerricho Cotchery and a 64-yard run on a screen pass by running back Leon Washington that set up Nugent's winning field goal.

Now the Jets are 9-6, heading home for a chance to make the playoffs. It will be another week and another fight tape from the Mangini film vault.

[Green DNA]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262006/sports/jets/green_light_for_playoffs_jets_mark_cannizzaro.htm

GREEN LIGHT FOR PLAYOFFS

By MARK CANNIZZARO

After the Jets scored and held the Dolphins on downs, they gave Miami unexpected life when a Ben Graham punt bounced off the arm of the Jets' Brad Kassell and was recovered by Miami's John Denny with 6:54 remaining in regulation.

Dear Mark,

Pay more attention to the game and not the free press box buffet. Ben Graham does not punt for the Dolphins.