TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Jets' QB looks to finally pass Friday, August 17, 2007 By J.P. PELZMAN STAFF WRITER The tongue-in-cheek question was posed to coach Eric Mangini just before he finished his Wednesday news conference. Will we see Chad Pennington throw a pass this week? "I don't know," Mangini said with one of his trademark wry smiles. "I think it's a possibility." It was not a possibility last week, at least according to the Jets' game plan. In two series, Pennington didn't throw a pass as the Jets rushed nine times. Mangini didn't say why he chose this tactic, although perhaps it had something to do with the damp conditions and/or the presence of former Jets' sackmeister John Abraham on Atlanta's defensive line. Whatever the reason, even Pennington couldn't deny that it was a bit strange. "It was definitely a different challenge for me," he said, "trying to get ready mentally and making sure that I was focused and into the game. That was the hardest thing, knowing that I had to go in and hand the ball off. What I tried to do was be sharp mentally with our runs, and trying to get us into good runs if we had a run that didn't look so good. So I just tried to do my best with that, knowing I couldn't pass the ball." Pennington said of preseason games: "What you try to do is try to take what you do on the practice field and apply it to the game and see where you need to get better and where you need to clean some things up and tighten up some things. So your preseason games are always a fun time to go out there and mix it up." The reins figure to be slightly looser tonight, especially considering that the Jets will be without starting running back Thomas Jones (calf), who hasn't practiced since being injured Sunday. Danny Ware, a rookie free agent from Georgia, led the Jets with 48 yards on 12 carries against the Falcons. The Jets won't want to overwork backup Leon Washington, so look for Ware and other backs to get some carries. "Thomas just has to focus on himself," Pennington said, "and get back as quickly as possible. Other guys have opportunities now to make their case and show what they can do for our football team. That's the beauty of football. It's a team game and we're all in this together, and when something like this happens, when an injury happens, you have to make sure everybody else steps up and we're all accountable to each other." "You just wait until your number is called," Ware said. "Whenever they tell you to go in, you just go in. There's really no kind of approach to it. You've got to go out there full speed every time." Also in that mix for the third running back spot are Alvin Banks, a rookie free agent from James Madison, and Tony Hollings, who played for the Texans in 2003 and 2004 and was most recently in NFL Europa this spring. BRIEFS: Former Jets quarterback Brooks Bollinger is expected to play the second quarter for the Vikings after Tarvaris Jackson plays the first. ... Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, a St. Joseph grad, had one of Minnesota's three sacks in a 13-10 loss to St. Louis last week. ... Former Ramapo College basketball player Todd Lowber, trying to make the Vikings as a wide receiver, played against the Rams but had no receptions. Three things to watch in the Jets' preseason game against Minnesota tonight: 1. Chad should throw. Chad Pennington attempted no passes in two series last week, so he should at least get a chance to establish some timing with his receivers. 2. Getting defensive. The first-team defense needs to improve after allowing an 82-yard scoring drive to Atlanta and Joey Harrington last week. 3. Audition at running back. With Thomas Jones sidelined and Leon Washington entrenched as the backup, rookies Danny Ware and Alvin Banks likely will get a chance to prove themselves. -- J.P. Pelzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Jets may pass on running BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Friday, August 17th 2007, 4:00 AM After scoring 31 points in last week's preseason opener, the Jets hope to continue their offensive growth tonight against the Vikings at the Meadowlands. The starters might even do something radical, like try a forward pass. "I don't know," Eric Mangini deadpanned. "I think it's a possibility." QB Chad Pennington was in for only two series (10 plays) last week, and he didn't attempt a single pass, as the Jets focused on the Thomas Jones-led running game. Jones (strained calf) won't play tonight, leaving Leon Washington as the only proven runner in an extremely thin backfield. "Hopefully, we ...throw it around a little bit," WR Jerricho Cotchery said. Cotchery took last week's no-pass performance as a compliment. "I think the coaches have a comfort level with the quarterbacks and receivers," he said. "We still have work to do, but I think that definitely played into it." DOUBLE DEALING: Darrelle Revis' new contract essentially is two deals in one. It's a six-year, $30 million package that voids to four years if he reaches 35% playing time this season or 45% in any of the next three. If it voids, the Jets can't use the franchise or transition tag on him, according to a clause in the contract. If they want to keep him off the free-agent market, they'd have to buy back the last two years at $5 million in 2011 and $9 million in 2012. The price in 2012 can go as high as $15 million, depending on a sliding scale. Revis will make $16 million over the first four years, including $11 million in guarantees. The Jets held their ground and landed a six-year deal, but unless Revis is an injury-prone bust, they almost certainly will wind up paying out at least $30 million over six years - a huge sum for the 14th overall choice. The former Pitt CB isn't expected to play tonight. He will practice Sunday for the first time. INJURY WATCH: CB/PR Justin Miller (hamstring), FB Stacy Tutt (foot), S Eric Smith (leg) and CB Drew Coleman (knee) are not expected to play. ... Mangini declined to reveal his quarterback rotation. Tarvaris Jackson is expected to start for the Vikings, followed by ex-Jet Brooks Bollinger.... Disgruntled LG Pete Kendall likely will get some time again with the starters. He also could see work as the backup center. He still may end up being an opening-day starter at guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Frisky Frisman is catching on BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Friday, August 17th 2007, 4:00 AM If the Jets' roster spots were decided by a Punt, Pass & Kick competition, Frisman Jackson would be a lock. Jackson is a veteran wide receiver, a Browns castoff, but he may have the strongest arm on the team. In Cleveland, he used to win money by betting teammates he could throw the ball at least 80 yards in the air. Challenged recently by some of his current teammates, Jackson, a former college quarterback, came up a little short - only 78 yards. On most teams, Jackson would be a rarity. But not on the Jets, who have a penchant for collecting ex-passers at wide receiver. Jackson, Brad Smith and rookie Chansi Stuckey all started out as quarterbacks, and now they're competing for the fourth and fifth receiver spots on the roster - an intriguing competition that continues tonight against the Vikings at Giants Stadium. That trend is no accident. "We like players that have experience playing quarterback," said offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, himself a former college quarterback. The reason, Schottenheimer explained, is because they want smart players who understand the concepts of a passing offense. A quarterback background isn't an absolute must - Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Justin McCareins never played the position - but the Jets believe it helps the development of young players. If nothing else, it helps them to read defenses. Smith's place on the team is secure - he's back to playing some quarterback - but the others, along with Wallace Wright, are battling for a job or two. The wild card is veteran Tim Dwight, still not practicing because of a foot injury from last season. The early surprise is Stuckey, a seventh-round pick from Clemson who fell in the draft because of a broken foot. He has impressed on the practice field, and in last week's opener, he caught three passes for 20 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown from Kellen Clemens. Don't be surprised if he gets some work tonight with the regulars. "Stuck has really taken advantage of the opportunities we've given him," Schottenheimer said. "He's very smart, and that's one of the first things you notice about him. ...That, along with his quickness, makes him pretty tough to compete with." Stuckey was a high school quarterback in Georgia, a receiver by the time he got to Clemson. Smith was a record-setting quarterback at Missouri, a prolific two-way threat, but he was drafted last year as a receiver. These days, he's doing a little bit of everything. Jackson was a quarterback at Northern Illinois, where he teamed with McCareins. In fact, McCareins caught his first college touchdown pass from Jackson, a bomb in a 73-7 loss to Kansas State in 1998. "He has an NFL arm," McCareins said of his longtime friend. "He's accurate and he can launch it a mile. I really thought the coaches were nuts for moving him." Actually, Jackson switched to receiver after transferring to Western Illinois. He was told he'd have a better chance in the NFL at receiver. He still wasn't drafted, but he signed with Cleveland, where he made 40 receptions from 2002 to 2005. He also attempted three passes (all incompletions) as the "Hail Mary" quarterback. At 6-3, Jackson is the biggest of the bunch, providing a different dimension for the Jets. He helped his chances in the opener with a 20-yard circus catch. "I'm hungry. I want to play," said Jackson, who sat out last season after being cut by the Browns. "Every day I try to show these coaches I can play football, that I can be a success at this level." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 from Rich Cimini's blog..(this may or may not have been posted already) The Lowdown on Revis' Six-Year Deal Okay, here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Jets will get better idea of how team's shaping up in tonight's game vs. Vikings By ANDREW GROSS THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: August 17, 2007) HEMPSTEAD - By this time next week, things will be significantly different for the Jets. Training camp will be over and the first round of cuts will have been made. As such, tonight's preseason game against the Vikings at the Meadowlands represents a key steppingstone as the Jets transition to the next phase of their preseason preparation. Kickoff is at 8. "You start to see where you're at," linebacker Victor Hobson said. "People are playing longer, more downs. Each week is a chance to see where your team is going, if you're progressing each week or staying the same. If you're staying the same or you're getting worse." Though Jets coach Eric Mangini would not specifically detail how long his starters would play, typically the first team will play a good portion of the first half in the second preseason game. The Jets' first team essentially played the first quarter in this past Friday's 31-16 win over the Falcons in the preseason opener. Atlanta was playing its first game under new coach Bobby Petrino, and the Jets did minimal scout-team work in preparation. This week has been different, with the Jets starting their on-field game preparation during Tuesday's practice. "The first game, especially against a team with a new coach, you don't know exactly what to do, so you don't prepare as much," tight end Chris Baker said. "The second and third game, you start to prepare more and really get into game mode. There's more emphasis on offense and defense this week." All of which makes the veteran starters happy - they can start to see the finish line to the drudgery of training camp. "The second game is a little more realistic because we're going to play a little more and be a little more into it," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "Whenever you're in the preseason, you're trying to get other guys looked at. But when you're a regular player you want to get some actual time in there to see how you stack up against their best, too." However, running back Thomas Jones is one veteran likely to miss out on the fun. The team's key offseason acquisition injured his right calf Sunday and there's a good chance the Jets will prudently rest him the remaining three preseason games. That will give Mangini a chance tonight to get a long look at undrafted free agents Danny Ware and Alvin Banks, who are competing for the third spot on the depth chart behind Jones and second-year pro Leon Washington. Ware led the Jets with 48 yards on 12 carries against the Falcons, including a 26-yard run off left tackle to start the Jets' first drive in the fourth quarter. Banks, a 22-year-old out of James Madison, had 11 yards on five carries. "It never becomes personal. We knew coming into it it'd be like this," said Ware, a 22-year-old Georgia product. "We push each other a lot. If he breaks a long run, I've got to try to break a long run. If not, I've got to try and break two or three long runs. It's just friendly competition." Notes: There are no plans for any major changes to the complicated parking procedures at the Meadowlands, which has lost many spots due to mall and stadium construction. However, there will be more signs posted tonight informing drivers where to park. Many drivers showed up at the Meadowlands for last week's preseason opener only to be surprised to find they needed to go to an off-site parking lot in Lyndhurst. Reach Andrew Gross at apgross@lohud.com. When: Tonight, 8 Where: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. TV/radio: Fox/ESPN 1050, WABC 770 Outlook: Jets quarterback Chad Pennington might play much of the first half and actually attempt a pass. The rest of the quarterback rotation has not been disclosed, but if the Jets are ever going to take an in-game look at ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo, this would be the week. ... Defensive end Michael Haynes, who missed last season with a bad back, will continue his comeback efforts after his batted ball led to cornerback Drew Coleman's interception in last week's 31-16 preseason win over the Falcons. ... Ex-Jet quarterback Brooks Bollinger should see significant time for the Vikings, as he is expected to back up Tarvaris Jackson this season. Andrew Gross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007 N.F.L. Roundup The Jets and the Giants Borrow $1.3 Billion for Their New Stadium By BLOOMBERG NEWS The Jets and the Giants yesterday completed a $1.3 billion financing agreement to build an 84,000-seat stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The stadium will be the most expensive ever built in the United States, topping the $1 billion the Dallas Cowboys said they are spending on their new arena in Arlington, Tex. As part of the deal, the Jets borrowed $650 million from Citigroup and the Royal Bank of Canada, while the Giants got the same amount from Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, the Jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007 A Jets Coach Who Is Able to Bend but Not Break By KAREN CROUSE Suzy Allman for The New York Times Mike Westhoff, the special teams coordinator for the Jets, has had eight operations performed on his left leg since 1988, when a tumor was discovered on his femur. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Aug. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Washington Gives Jets Plenty of Options BY MICHAEL DAVID SMITH August 17, 2007 Al Pereira / Getty Although Leon Washington will be behind Thomas Jones on the Jets' depth chart, he will be useful off the bench as a runner, returner, and receiver. When the Jets take the field at the Meadowlands tonight against the Minnesota Vikings, Leon Washington will start at running back. That's a role Washington became accustomed to as a rookie last season, but it's not the role the Jets envision for him this year. Thomas Jones, who the Jets acquired in a March trade, will sit out tonight with a calf injury, but when the regular season begins, Jones is the starter. But although Washington has been demoted from starting eight games in 2006 to likely starting none in 2007, he could be even more important to the Jets this season than he was last year. And the way the Jets hope to use him could make Washington one of the NFL's most versatile players. If the Jets fully exploit Washington's many talents this season, a typical game would include Washington getting about 10 handoffs in relief of Jones as well as four or five passes thrown his way and a lot of playing time on special teams. In the Jets' preseason game last week, Washington got plenty of work even though he sat out all of the fourth quarter and most of the third: He had nine rushing attempts, a reception, a punt return, and two kickoff returns, one of which he took back 86 yards for the Jets' biggest highlight in their 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 TONIGHT Friday, August 17, 2007 Vikings at JETS 8, Ch. 5 Five questions facing the Jets as they enter their second preseason game. WHO WILL STEP UP WITH THOMAS JONES INJURED? RB Leon Washington will get the start, but the Jets are looking for a third back, and rookie free agent Danny Ware could be their guy. He's having a strong camp and broke off a nifty 26-yard run against the Falcons last week. Rookie free agent Alvin Banks and veteran Tony Hollings are also in the mix. WILL QB CHAD PENNINGTON THROW A PASS? Pennington didn't attempt a pass in two series against Atlanta. The Jets said they wanted to concentrate on their running game. Pennington will almost certainly be given the green light tonight and has plenty of targets with a strong receiving corps and TE Chris Baker. CAN CB MANNY COLLINS SEIZE THE MOMENT? Collins, the rookie free agent from Rutgers, has caught the Jets' attention with his competitiveness, tight coverage and ability to be a quick study after coming in late. With CB Justin Miller (hamstring) and Drew Coleman (bruised bone in knee) sidelined, this could be Collins' chance to perhaps earn a spot on the practice squad. WILL WE SEE DARRELLE REVIS? No. The rookie CB is "swimming" in his playbook, according to coach Eric Mangini. He'll practice on Sunday when the Jets return to work at training camp. WILL ANYONE STEP UP ON DEFENSE? The first-team defense turned in a lackluster effort against the Falcons, allowing an 82-yard drive with S Kerry Rhodes being beaten twice on seam routes by QB Joey Harrington. Atlanta scored on a 10-yard run up the middle of the defense. There's still a lot of work to do in year two of the 3-4 scheme. -- Dave Hutchinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Revis signs deal with voidable years Friday, August 17, 2007 Jets rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis signed a six-year deal that could be worth as much as $36 million and includes $11 million guaranteed, his agent, Neil Schwartz, confirmed yesterday. Revis can get out of the deal after four years, and the Jets can buy back the final two years for between $14 million and $20 million, depending on the incentives Revis reaches in the first four seasons. The deal is the first done by Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum with voidable years. He locked Revis up for the final two years if he's a top cornerback or can part ways with him after four years if he doesn't pan out. For that, Tannenbaum relented on the club's long-standing policy against giving contracts with voidable years. Revis' contract can be voided after four years if he appears in 35 percent of the defensive plays this season or 45 percent of the plays in one of the next three seasons. -- Dave Hutchinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Wolverines at front of Jets' defense pack Friday, August 17, 2007 BY M.A. MEHTA Star-Ledger Staff HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- David Harris tiptoed around Victor Hobson all those years ago like an awe-struck teenager meeting his idol for the first time. Hobson was the face of the Michigan defense, an NFL player-in-waiting. Harris was a freshman nobody hoping to carve a path for himself. "I really didn't talk to him that much," Harris said earlier this week after Jets practice. "I was a little intimidated by him. Growing up in high school, watching him on TV... I mean, he's Victor Hobson." The Jets reunited the pair of former Wolverine linebackers when they moved up 16 spots in the second round to grab Harris with the 47th overall pick in this year's draft. The club hopes the 6-2, 243-pound Harris, a second-team All-American and Butkus Award semifinalist last season, can make a smooth transition from middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme to one of the inside spots in their 3-4 base defense. Harris, who has taken most of the second-team reps behind veteran starters Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton, will get another chance to impress when the Jets host the Vikings tonight in their second preseason game. Coach Eric Mangini has already seen plenty of progress from the rookie. "He's a fluid guy for a guy that is stout," Mangini said. "We're putting him in positions where he's got to make a lot of calls and do a lot of things very similar to what he did in college, but it's now working with a new group, a new scheme and new adjustments. I thought he did a pretty good job considering how early we are in the process." Hobson, coming off a career season in coach Mangini's system, is already a mainstay at one of the two outside linebacker spots. The five-year pro insists that he hasn't imparted too much wisdom on his former college teammate, but he's certainly kept a watchful eye over him. "He's a young Wolverine so you got to look out for him -- make sure he's all right," Hobson said. "I'm there for him if he needs me, but he's doing fine. He's coming out and working hard every day and getting better. That's all you can ask for." Linebackers coach Jim Herrmann, of course, has been familiar with Hobson and Harris for years, having coached them in Ann Arbor while serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers guru at the Big Ten school. "It's kind of neat because I can bust them a little bit," Herrmann cracked. "Because I got some things on them they may not want the other guys to know." All joking aside, the Michigan duo will likely play a pivotal role as the defense tries to improve in its second season in the 3-4 scheme. The Jets could use Harris' run-stuffing ability to improve their 24th-ranked rush defense that surrendered 130.3 yards per game last season. Hobson was one of the few linebackers that thrived in Mangini's new system, collecting career-highs in tackles (100) and sacks (six). He participated in legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas' weekly classes as part of his off-season training program designed to take his game to a higher plane. "It helps a lot with coordination, footwork, hand-eye movement -- just overall conditioning," Hobson admitted. "It's a great sport that I feel helped me out a lot. I actually spar now and then. It's a whole different world, a whole different level of conditioning. It's one-on-one, so you have nobody to blame but yourself for the mistakes you make." Harris has spent much of his off-season and camp pouring through the playbook, bent on grasping the intricacies of the 3-4 scheme as thoroughly and quickly as possible. After practice, he makes sure to squeeze in some extra studying back at his dorm. For now, though, the rookie must abide by the rules laid down by the veterans. The Jets have kept the rookie pranks to a minimum, but Harris still needs to carry one of the veteran's helmets and shoulder pads off the field after every practice. "And starting (yesterday)," Harris said, shaking his head, "I got to buy all the linebackers lunch." M.A. Mehta may be reached at mmehta@starledger.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Vikes' Bollinger Returns to His Former Home Office Published: 08-17-07 By Eric Allen Senior Managing Editor For the first time in his NFL career, Brooks Bollinger will walk into the Meadowlands this evening as a visitor. Bollinger, who spent his first three seasons with the Jets, has entered his second season with the Vikings. The teams meet tonight in a nationally televised Preseason Week Two matchup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick34125 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 MDS reminded me of a couple of interesting points about Leon Washington. Last year at this time he was the 4th string running back behind Derrick Blaylock, Kevan Barlow, and Cedric Houston (wow it was that bad). And Leon was the 4th round compensation pick from KC for Herman Edwards. sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffyD Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Washington Gives Jets Plenty of Options BY MICHAEL DAVID SMITH August 17, 2007 Al Pereira / Getty Although Leon Washington will be behind Thomas Jones on the Jets' depth chart, he will be useful off the bench as a runner, returner, and receiver. When the Jets take the field at the Meadowlands tonight against the Minnesota Vikings, Leon Washington will start at running back. That's a role Washington became accustomed to as a rookie last season, but it's not the role the Jets envision for him this year. Thomas Jones, who the Jets acquired in a March trade, will sit out tonight with a calf injury, but when the regular season begins, Jones is the starter. But although Washington has been demoted from starting eight games in 2006 to likely starting none in 2007, he could be even more important to the Jets this season than he was last year. And the way the Jets hope to use him could make Washington one of the NFL's most versatile players. If the Jets fully exploit Washington's many talents this season, a typical game would include Washington getting about 10 handoffs in relief of Jones as well as four or five passes thrown his way and a lot of playing time on special teams. In the Jets' preseason game last week, Washington got plenty of work even though he sat out all of the fourth quarter and most of the third: He had nine rushing attempts, a reception, a punt return, and two kickoff returns, one of which he took back 86 yards for the Jets' biggest highlight in their 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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