Cimini: ESPN Rankings: Lucky No. 7 For Jets

[flgreen]

ESPN rankings: Lucky No. 7 for Jets

July, 26, 2010 Jul 26

12:04

PM ET

By Rich Cimini

The first pre-camp ESPN power rankings are out, and the New York Jets hold the No. 7 spot. Initial thoughts?

Fair.

Unlike other news organizations, one of which rated the Jets as the top team in the league, this poll reflects the Jets' performance in 2009 (9-7, AFC Championship Game) and takes into account their presumed improvement with all the high-profile additions. At this point, when we don't know if the paper talent will translate into a cohesive team on the field, it's absurd to put them at or near the top. The seven-to-10 range sounds about right.

Here are the rankings:

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Dallas Cowboys

5. Baltimore Ravens

6.Green Bay Packers

7. New York Jets

8. Atlanta Falcons

9. New England Patriots

10. San Diego Chargers

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. San Francisco 49ers

13. Miami Dolphins

14. Houston Texans

15. Arizona Cardinals

16. New York Giants

17. Philadelphia Eagles

18. Tennessee Titans

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

20. Washington Redskins

21. Chicago Bears

22. Carolina Panthers

23. Denver Broncos

24. Oakland Raiders

25. Seattle Seahawks

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Cleveland Browns

29. Detroit Lions

30. Tampa Bay Bucs

31. Buffalo Bills

32. St. Louis Rams

[khesanh]

ESPN rankings: Lucky No. 7 for Jets

July, 26, 2010 Jul 26

12:04

PM ET

By Rich Cimini

The first pre-camp ESPN power rankings are out, and the New York Jets hold the No. 7 spot. Initial thoughts?

Fair.

Unlike other news organizations, one of which rated the Jets as the top team in the league, this poll reflects the Jets' performance in 2009 (9-7, AFC Championship Game) and takes into account their presumed improvement with all the high-profile additions. At this point, when we don't know if the paper talent will translate into a cohesive team on the field, it's absurd to put them at or near the top. The seven-to-10 range sounds about right.

Here are the rankings:

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Dallas Cowboys

5. Baltimore Ravens

6.Green Bay Packers

7. New York Jets

8. Atlanta Falcons

9. New England Patriots

10. San Diego Chargers

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. San Francisco 49ers

13. Miami Dolphins

14. Houston Texans

15. Arizona Cardinals

16. New York Giants

17. Philadelphia Eagles

18. Tennessee Titans

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

20. Washington Redskins

21. Chicago Bears

22. Carolina Panthers

23. Denver Broncos

24. Oakland Raiders

25. Seattle Seahawks

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Cleveland Browns

29. Detroit Lions

30. Tampa Bay Bucs

31. Buffalo Bills

32. St. Louis Rams

I look at it like this they think we are the 3rd best AFC team

[JMJ]

You could easily make the argument that they should be ahead of the Packers and Ravens.

[Vudu]

Why are we behind the Ravens?

[Jetsfan80]

Why are we behind the Ravens?

They had a terrific draft, and you have to believe Ray Rice is going to have an absolute MONSTER year. Plus, its Joe Flacco's 3rd season, so he should be poised to become a top 10 or 12 QB at this point. And like always their defense is deadly.

[124]

Makes total sense that two teams who lost in the Divisional round and another who lost in the Wild Card around are ahead of us.

It makes the same sense of putting Indianapolis ahead of the defending champion Saints, who they lost to, and who has lost NOBODY of importance. Perfect sense!

[Vudu]

They had a terrific draft, and you have to believe Ray Rice is going to have an absolute MONSTER year. Plus, its Joe Flacco's 3rd season, so he should be poised to become a top 10 or 12 QB at this point. And like always their defense is deadly.

Ray Rice is a really cool guy. Went to a BBQ in New Rochelle and he was there. Told him I was a JETS fan and he laughed & said he's hope we're ready . Really small though, Im taller than Ray Rice.

[shawn306]

They had a terrific draft, and you have to believe Ray Rice is going to have an absolute MONSTER year. Plus, its Joe Flacco's 3rd season, so he should be poised to become a top 10 or 12 QB at this point. And like always their defense is deadly.

Add to that they added Boldin to their WR corps as well.

The Ravens and the Colts right now should be 1 and 2 in the AFC going into the season.

[tommccabe]

My favorite part about the rankings are the comments with each selection on the ESPN site: http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

7. Jets - With 12 Pro Bowl position players, the Jets are loaded to challenge the Pats. (Clayton)

9. Patriots - Who keeps the Patriots ahead of every other AFC East team? Tom Brady. (Clayton)

Looks like someone at ESPN failed math if the #9 team is ahead of the #7 team.

[Jetsfan80]

My favorite part about the rankings are the comments with each selection on the ESPN site: http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

7. Jets - With 12 Pro Bowl position players, the Jets are loaded to challenge the Pats. (Clayton)

9. Patriots - Who keeps the Patriots ahead of every other AFC East team? Tom Brady. (Clayton)

Looks like someone at ESPN failed math if the #9 team is ahead of the #7 team.

Clayton just thinks we joined the AFC North.

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

They had a terrific draft, and you have to believe Ray Rice is going to have an absolute MONSTER year. Plus, its Joe Flacco's 3rd season, so he should be poised to become a top 10 or 12 QB at this point. And like always their defense is deadly.

I don't know about their secondary though. Outside of Reed, who's probably gonna start the season on the PUP, their secondary isn't anything above average.

[Jetsfan80]

I don't know about their secondary though. Outside of Reed, who's probably gonna start the season on the PUP, their secondary isn't anything above average.

Losing Jim Leonhard was a big reason for that.

[Larz]

can't argue, I think this is about right

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

Losing Jim Leonhard was a big reason for that.

Agreed, Leonhard has looked pretty damn good for us. But as far as their corners go, their all pretty average.

[Jets 0-16]

The jets are probably the 20th best team as of right now

[Larz]

My favorite part about the rankings are the comments with each selection on the ESPN site: http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

7. Jets - With 12 Pro Bowl position players, the Jets are loaded to challenge the Pats. (Clayton)

9. Patriots - Who keeps the Patriots ahead of every other AFC East team? Tom Brady. (Clayton)

Looks like someone at ESPN failed math if the #9 team is ahead of the #7 team.

I think the ratings are done on an overall average of the writers, I bet clayton had the pats ahead of the jets on his list

[Jetsfan80]

The jets are probably the 20th best team as of right now

# 1 defense (improved) + # 1 running game (about the same as '09) + Santonio Holmes + year under the belt of Mark Sanchez = 20th. Got it.

[Matt39]

Ray Rice is a really cool guy. Went to a BBQ in New Rochelle and he was there. Told him I was a JETS fan and he laughed & said he's hope we're ready . Really small though, Im taller than Ray Rice.

Not to pat myself on the back or anything....but I was dead on with Rice being a beast at this level and McFadden being a bust.

Go me.

[AVM]

# 1 defense (improved) + # 1 running game (about the same as '09) + Santonio Holmes + year under the belt of Mark Sanchez = 20th. Got it.

Remember when the trolls always marked us as 32, or 33 behind USC (ah, the old days)...

Good times.

[billybroome]

Why are we behind the Ravens?

Why are the Bengals rated behind the Ravens? We whipped their asses twice last year with a weak WR crew, and nothing at the TE position.

[Bruce Banner]

Why are the Bengals rated behind the Ravens? We whipped their asses twice last year with a weak WR crew, and nothing at the TE position.

The most likely reason is people don't believe in the organization and figure a good year for the Bengals is a fluke.

A purely football related reason would be that a big part of what made the Bengals good last year was Cedric Benson finally playing well. But most people figure he will screw up like usual.

[penguini 15]

Not to pat myself on the back or anything....but I was dead on with Rice being a beast at this level and McFadden being a bust.

Go me.

If McFadden was a Jet, he'd be a star, no questions asked. Anyone that goes to the Raiders becomes a bust.

[villain_the_foe]

I dont agree with the Packers and Ravens ahead of the Jets.

Ray Rice is a beast...especially catching the ball out of the backfield,but with a 2nd year Greene behind the best oline in the game along with Holmes to accompany Cotch and Bray (not to mention the D) I have to say that the Jets are slightly ahead. I think we'll be playing the ravens for week 1 as well as in the AFC championship anyway.

I'll say this, I'll put it out there that Greene will avg. atleast 5.0 YPC for the season.

[Jets 0-16]

19 teams that are better then the jets, in no order

Patriots

Colts

Ravens

Saints

Bengals

Dolphins

Vikings

Packers

Cowboys

Giants

Steelers

Eageles

Tenn

Texans

Falcons

Cards

Chargers

Denver

49ers

That list took no time to make, about 10-15 were easy and no brainers

I know some of them are a stretch, but there really is no reason to think that they wont be better than the jets..I mean, if we are already crowining the jets the best team in the nfl with no actual reason to back that claim up, then all these other teams can do the same thing.

[Klecko73isGod]

I love man ass.

WHAT?

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

19 teams that are better then the jets, in no order

That list took no time to make, about 10-15 were easy and no brainers

I know some of them are a stretch, but there really is no reason to think that they wont be better than the jets..I mean, if we are already crowining the jets the best team in the nfl with no actual reason to back that claim up, then all these other teams can do the same thing.

I'm guessing you forgot the fact that the jets were 30 minutes away from a Superbowl.

[Matt39]

19 teams that are better then the jets, in no order

Patriots

Colts

Ravens

Saints

Bengals

Dolphins

Vikings

Packers

Cowboys

Giants

Steelers

Eageles

Tenn

Texans

Falcons

Cards

Chargers

Denver

49ers

That list took no time to make, about 10-15 were easy and no brainers

I know some of them are a stretch, but there really is no reason to think that they wont be better than the jets..I mean, if we are already crowining the jets the best team in the nfl with no actual reason to back that claim up, then all these other teams can do the same thing.

Remember the Pats getting humiliated by the Ravens in the playoffs? Just wondering.

[slats]

I love the stupid Jets, and there are a lot of reasons for optimism this year, but I have the feeling that Vegas is going to make a ****load of money off of them this year.

Blah, blah, blah, the OL, blah, blah, the defense, blah, blah, blah...

It ALL comes down to Sanchez performing better than he did in the playoffs last season all season long. He needs to show that he can strap this team on his back and steal a win. He needs to dominate in the two-minute drill. Do any of you Super Bowl predictors have any faith in Sanchez in the two-minute offense today?

The Jets' dee is good, but it's not the 2000 Ravens or the '85 Bears. And the Jets' special teams are not nearly special enough to help that dee carry the whole team. Nothing like that Ravens team.

Sanchez needs to take a giant leap forward from last season for these dreams to become reality. A relative rarity for a second year QB.

I'm just glad to see a "power ranking" that has us out of the top four.

[jgb]

I love the stupid Jets, and there are a lot of reasons for optimism this year, but I have the feeling that Vegas is going to make a ****load of money off of them this year.

vegas doesn't gamble - you do. they equalize the money on both sides and take the 10% juice. they are brokers hooking up people who bet one way with those who bet the other and getting a 10% "finders fee" - nothing more. that's how it works. see those big buildings in the desert? they are built with what's called the "house edge" - in the sportsbook it's a guaranteed 10% if your oddsmaker is any good.

[Jets 0-16]

Remember the Pats getting humiliated by the Ravens in the playoffs? Just wondering.

Remember the jets beating two teams that laid down to get into the playoffs? just wondering.

[Matt39]

Remember the jets beating two teams that laid down to get into the playoffs? just wondering.

And then beat the same team on the road in the playoffs? That team?

That Patriots loss was on par with the Phins getting trounced by the Jaguars. Brady looked like he was done.

[ZachEY]

19 teams that are better then the jets, in no order

Patriots

Colts

Ravens

Saints

Bengals

Dolphins

Vikings

Packers

Cowboys

Giants

Steelers

Eageles

Tenn

Texans

Falcons

Cards

Chargers

Denver

49ers

that's not at all transparent.

[newjakecity]

Just out of curiousity, why are people responding to 0-16? The guy (or girl) is either a child that has free reign on his computer or is such an angry delusional homer that its not even worth trying to have a football discussion with him/her.