Taylor Speaks, Folk Bombs---Cimini

[flgreen]

5:56

PM ET

Email Print Share

By Rich Cimini

The Jets' OTA practice was open Thursday to the media. Here's what we saw and heard:

1. Former Dolphins OLB Jason Tayor (off-season shoulder scope) was limited and didn't partcipate in any team drills. It could be that way for the remainder of OTA, although Taylor said he's confident he'll be ready to go by training camp.

2. It's too soon to say the Jets have a kicking crisis, but Rex Ryan admitted he's concerned. Former Cowboys PK Nick Folk, whom they're counting on to replace Jay Feely (Cards), was brutal. At one point, he missed three straight from about 40 yards. Said Ryan: "Yeah, it concerns me. We'd all feel a lot better if they decided to make a few." Folk, of course, was run out of Dallas last season because he imploded late in the season. That Feely decision could backfire on the Jets in a big way.

3. Rookie LG Vlad Ducasse (second-round pick) worked with the first-team offense, ahead of second-year LG Matt Slauson. Ryan praised Ducasse's performance, noting one block in particular. While pulling to the outside on a running play, Ducasse nailed S Jim Leonhard. "He surprised Jim and launched him about 20 yards," Ryan said. By rule, these practices are supposed to be non-contact. That remark may raise a few eyebrows.

4. Rookie RB Joe McKnight (fourth-round pick) was excused from practice. No, wise guys, it had nothing to do with an upset stomach. He was attending a rookie trading card event and received permission from the team to miss the workout.

5. C Nick Mangold (quadriceps) didn't participate in team drills. He took a shot to the quad by RB Shonn Greene. NT Kris Jenkins (knee) also sat out as a precaution.

6. As expected, Mark Sanchez led the starting offense in seven-on-seven drills, but he stepped aside for team drills. In 11-on-11, Kellen Clemens ran the show. Erik Ainge was next up, followed by Kevin O'Connell.

7. DE Shaun Ellis, who revealed last week that his desire for a contract extension was rebuffed by the front office, said he hasn't received any assurances from the organization that he'll be on the team in 2010. According to sources, the Jets, who dangled Ellis in trade talks before the draft, are planning to keep Ellis. The contract rejection, he said, gave him "an uneasy feeling. But now it's like, 'Whatever.'" Ellis (knee) was limited in team drills.

8. Weird scene: Jason Taylor and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who went head-to-head in many trench battles in the Jets-Dolphins series, are separated by only one locker. "It's a surreal experience," Ferguson said. Taylor admitted that he "was trying to abuse him as a rookie (in 2006)." Now, from all indications, they seem like happy teammates. It's still weird seeing Taylor in the Jets' locker room.

Taylor said he was a bit surprised that his new teammates have embraced him qo quickly. As for the fans, he said he hasn't come across any bitter Jets fans in public. Taylor said he loves the easygoing atmosphere fostered by Ryan, a stark contrast to the Bill Parcells rigidity in Miami.

"It's night and day," Taylor said. "Everything here is more relaxed. It's a whole different vibe -- the practices, the walk-throughs, the meetings. I don't want to call it relaxed like it's lackadaisical, but it's a little more positive and a little more calm."