Jump to content

Jets News Friday


flgreen

Recommended Posts

Jets' Sanchez champing at the bit

Jets Blog

By MARK CANNIZZARO

Last Updated: 6:17 AM, June 11, 2010

Posted: 2:30 AM, June 11, 2010

You could hardly tell by Mark Sanchez's body language yesterday that this was merely an organized team activity (OTA) practice, a voluntary session more than a month and a half away from the start of Jets training camp and some three months before the season begins.

Sanchez was bouncing around, encouraging his receivers and linemen before and after plays, looking like there was nothing in the world more important.

That's because this week's final two OTAs, as well as next week's three-day minicamp, is a reward for the grind of rehab Sanchez has endured since February surgery to fix the patellar tendon in his left knee.

On Tuesday, Sanchez worked a full practice without limitations for the first time since surgery. He said he felt "awesome" on Wednesday, a critical indication that he's back.

Sanchez next week will conduct the mandatory minicamp and then, in July before training camp begins, he'll have his receivers out to his home in California for a week of passing, catching and camaraderie.

Sanchez said yesterday, during which he completed 7 of 14 passes in the 11-on-11 drills and moved without pain or restriction, "felt almost like a game."

He said his knee "feels better than it ever has," adding, "This is what [the doctors] promised. They said it would feel better than it's ever felt and they were right on."

Since the moment he began to rehab, Sanchez's goal was to be able to participate fully in next week's minicamp. By everyone's account he's ahead of schedule.

"It's huge; important to get out there," Sanchez said. "That minicamp is important. It's as close to [training] camp and as close to a game as we get in the summer. It's a big step -- for the rehab process personally, psychologically, physically and for the team to see how hard I worked this offseason and let them know I wasn't going to miss it."

Everyone around Sanchez has talked about how much further along he is compared to his rookie year last season.

"You got a great understanding of how much he's learned in the offseason," center Nick Mangold said. "He has much more confidence, a much more in-depth understanding. I think that's a product of him being limited physically [in the offseason] and learning more."

Sanchez said, "I just feel so much more comfortable. My comfort level is so high. I feel good and ready to go mentally, whereas last year my head was spinning trying to remember stuff."

Coach Rex Ryan said he's fired up "to see how far Mark has come."

Ryan said when Sanchez is running around in the pocket or sprinting down the field to encourage one of his receivers after a big catch "you don't worry about him."

"That's how confident we are right now where Mark is," Ryan said. "I feel super about him. He's our leader."

Sanchez, who wore only elastic wraps, not braces, on his knees in practice, conceded the balky left knee, which was injured before his senior season at Southern Cal, "was just something that was on my mind, always thinking about it last year and at USC."

"It was something that was in the back of my mind and [now] it's just solid," he said.

After next week's minicamp, which is the final time the entire team will be together until training camp begins on Aug. 1, Sanchez will host his own voluntary minicamp in Southern California to continue to build chemistry.

"It's done, all good to go," he said. "We want to keep it as private as possible. It's just out guys and we're doing our own thing, getting some good work in on the field and making sure these guys have some fun off the field, building that camaraderie.

"Then, when those AFC Championship games come and it's loud, you trust that guy next to you. We've hung out together, we've gone to eat. When we get into games it's second nature, we're brothers."

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/sanchez_champing_at_the_bit_3UKdhRfmfqEUOu6UTczdAO?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0qXzjTMjc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Darrelle Revis defends his effort to get Asomugha money

Posted by Mike Florio on June 11, 2010 12:16 AM ET

A week after abruptly bailing on the team's voluntary offseason workouts, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis met the media.

And while the Jets didn't send out a partial transcript of the star cornerback's remarks, the team has posted at its website video of his remarks. (Rosenthal posted a short item Thursday afternoon regarding the situation; I've opted to be a bit longer-winded now.)

Revis acknowledged that his absence directly arose from the fact that he has yet to get a new contract. "I've got two proposals," he said. "The second one, the number has went up."

Still, he said it's not enough to get a deal done. And it's now clear that "enough" will be the money paid to Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (i.e., $15.1 million per year), plus at least one dollar.

Asked whether the economy should factor into his demands, Revis was calm be resolute. "That has nothing to do with football right now," he said. "You're talking about a whole different subject. . . . This is an uncapped year this year. Did you know that?"

Revis pointed out that other players have received new deals. "Patrick Willis got paid," Revis said. "A couple of other people got paid. The Jets need to pay their guys."

He mentioned himself, center Nick Mangold, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and linebacker David Harris as players whom the Jets need to take care of.

As to his own situation, Revis said he was prepared to continue to play under the terms of his contract, until the Jets raised the possibility of an extension. "They came to [me] and said, 'We want to do a long-term deal.' So that's on them," Revis said. "And now we're here in June."

Revis spoke vaguely regarding the possible consequences of not getting a new deal, saying only that there will be "changes" if it doesn't happen. He won't be holding out of the team's mandatory minicamp, possibly due to concerns that the $20 million in guaranteed money he's due to earn in 2011 and 2012 would no longer be guaranteed if he fails to show up for a mandatory team practice or function.

Asked about this specific tweak in his deal, Revis acknowledged the existence of the term in his deal. "That's something me and my team have to talk about," Revis said. "About letting that money go and fighting for something bigger, or playing it safe and going to training camp."

Calling his 2009 season "crazy," he said he has a lot of leverage in pursuit of an attempt to get the money he "deserve." He said he's fighting, not in a hateful way but because it's the nature of the business.

Still, he raised the possibility of not reporting to training camp -- along with the possibility of skipping the first game of the season, a Monday nighter in which the Jets will christen their new stadium against the Ravens.

Asked again about the connection between the economy and his demands, Revis was blunt. "The NFL is making money," he said, more than once.

And Revis once again proved that coaches and G.M.'s should watch what they say when lavishing praise on a player. "If you come out in the paper and say that I'm the best defensive player in the league and the best cornerback," Revis said, "why not try to fight for being the highest-paid cornerback?"

You've convinced us, Darrelle. Now you only need to convince the Jets, who surely wish in hindsight they'd never said a damn thing about extending your deal. Or about how great of a player you are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...