Jets News 9-1

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Confusion abounds regarding suspension rules

Posted by Mike Florio on September 1, 2010 6:46 AM ET

The two men directly involved in one of the greatest pass plays in recent NFL history, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Homes, will serve four-game suspensions to start the 2010 season.

And there's some confusion regarding the things that can and can't be done once their suspensions begin.

On Tuesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan explained that Holmes, who was traded to New York by the Steelers for a fifth-round pick, would be communicating on a daily basis with quarterback Mark Sanchez via Skype, a computer-based video communication device. Asked whether this approach complied with the terms of Holmes' suspension, Ryan said (per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com), "Well, I hope so. Let's hold off on that for now. Let's make a phone call real quick."

A league spokesman later told Cimini that the rules were changed "several years ago" to permit players with suspensions of less than one year "to be at the team facility and participate in team activities other than practice, at the club's discretion."

We're still waiting to hear from the league office regarding the question we posed last night as to the contours of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's suspension under the Personal Conduct Policy. Based on Roethlisberger's recent interview with Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, it sounds as if Big Ben plans to steer clear of the Steelers' facility during his suspension, since he said nothing about attending meetings or otherwise hanging out with his teammates.

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Good news on Pace lowers Jets' interest in Thomas

Jets BlogBy BART HUBBUCH

Last Updated: 7:30 AM, September 1, 2010

Posted: 3:11 AM, September 1, 2010

Comments: 0 More Print The Jets' interest in Adalius Thomas went on the back burner after they learned outside linebacker Calvin Pace could be back as soon as Week 2.

Pace, who suffered a broken right foot in the second half last week against the Redskins, had surgery Monday night that was successful enough for Jets coach Rex Ryan to change his tune.

Pace -- the Jets' sack leader last season -- had been expected to miss four to six weeks, but Ryan said yesterday the timetable was tightened because of how well the procedure went.

NFL BLITZ CHAT REWIND

Ryan now is willing to rule Pace out only for the Sept. 13 season-opener against the Ravens. Week 2 at home against the Patriots, Ryan added, is now a possibility.

"The doctors seem to think the surgery was really successful," Ryan said yesterday. "He's going to definitely miss the first week, but we'll see about the second week -- I'm not sure."

The upbeat prognosis on Pace explains why the Jets' interest in Thomas as a pass-rush replacement had cooled significantly as of yesterday afternoon.

The Jets and Thomas already were at a standoff because vested veterans are guaranteed their full salary if they are on a roster in Week 1.

The Jets don't want to pay the former Raven and Patriot that amount -- at least $860,000 because Thomas is a 10-year veteran. Instead, the Jets want him to join them instead in Week 2, when his salary would not be guaranteed.

Thomas has balked, prompting Ryan to say yesterday that the sides are in "wait mode." The Jets aren't waiting idly at outside linebacker, though, claiming former Canadian Football League star Ricky Foley off waivers from the Seahawks late yesterday.

Foley likely did not arrive in time to play at all in the Jets' preseason finale tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Eagles

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/change_of_pace_on_adalius_xiaHgv4MM9juZDb9Kf3ZTJ?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0yHhUxap8

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New York Jets restructure Kellen Clemens contract, make him third-string QB behind Brunell, Sanchez

BY Kevin Armstrong

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, September 1st 2010, 4:00 AM

Sipkin/NewsNew York Jets QB Kellen Clemens (above) takes a pay cut to remain on the roster as a third stringer behind Mark Brunell and starter Mark Sanchez. Related NewsKellen's Jets beat up on BucsSmith: Jets take Ryan's plan and run with itMistakes cost Jets three crucial field goalsBackup QB Clemens signs tender with JetsKellen signs qualifier, awaits fateClemens resigned to No. 3 QB role

Kellen Clemens can stay, for now, but he had to take a pay cut to do so.

Clemens, 27, a one-time starter with the Jets, restructured his contract to take a pay cut for this season and saddle in as the third-string quarterback on the depth charts. With the Jets acquiring Mark Brunell to be Mark Sanchez's backup in the offseason, Clemens is still getting acclimated with the new role.

"We talked about it and everyone was open and honest," Clemens said Tuesday following practice. "I wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page."

He had inked the new deal hours earlier. "It was really close to (Nick) Mangold's and slightly less," Clemens said, deadpanning a reference to the starting center's seven-year extension for up to $55 million. Clemens has started nine games in his four seasons, including eight in 2007. He has thrown for five TDs and 11 INTs in his career.

Clemens smiled as he received questions about his reduced role. Once a starter under previous coach Eric Mangini, he has backed up Chad Pennington, Brett Favre and Sanchez, all in succession. It was not how he imagined his career taking its course. "There have been a lot of 'character-building opportunities,'" Clemens said.

The Jets shopped Clemens during the preseason, and allowed him to look for a job that would be more to his liking. To the Jets, the situation was simple: his previously scheduled salary of $1.1 million would have made him more costly than Brunell. Clemens said several teams were interested in making him their No. 2. "From his skill, from the type of player he is, we were not looking to cut him," Ryan said. "I also did tell him if he could get a starting role that I would not stand in his way."

Given that information, Clemens faced a stark reality in negotiating a new deal. "If I didn't they were going to cut me," Clemens said of taking the pay cut.

His signing made way for the waiving of Kevin O'Connell, a reserve QB the Jets acquired last season. O'Connell struggled in three preseason games, connecting on eight of 16 passes. Ryan allowed that Clemens clearly outplayed O'Connell.

"It's going to give this young man an opportunity because there are some teams looking for quarterbacks," Ryan said.

On Monday, Clemens was given a supportive statement from Ryan when the coach said, "I would say he has a pretty strong chance of making this team."

When relayed the update on his status, Clemens said, "Score! That's a heck of a lot better than it could have been."

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Jets' David Clowney needs to step up

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

BY J.P. PELZMAN

The Record

STAFF WRITER

FLORHAM PARK — Before the Jets left SUNY Cortland in mid-August, special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff was asked about the chances of third-year wide receiver David Clowney making the roster.

The always-interesting Westhoff produced one of the best quotes of training camp. That is, in the printable division, anyway, when he noted that a person "could float to the moon on the [roster] bubble Clowney is on."

And judging by coach Rex Ryan's comments Tuesday, Clowney and his NFL future still seem to be hanging in midair as the Jets ready for the preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday. NFL teams must trim their roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players by Saturday.

Clowney "needs to be a dominant [special] teams guy," Ryan said when asked about him. "That [roster] spot is there. We need [him] to step up and take it. That's what I'm looking forward to seeing."

Despite his blazing speed, Clowney has had trouble getting on the field on offense in his first two NFL seasons. And after the Jets didn't re-sign special teams ace Wallace Wright during the off-season, they looked to Clowney to fill Wright's role as a gunner on kickoff and punt coverage units. (Wright signed with Carolina, but was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a shoulder injury.)

Ryan also recalled last year's preseason finale against Philadelphia, when he re-inserted Clowney into the game in the second half and he immediately ran a go route for a touchdown.

"That's what I'm looking for," Ryan said, referring to the speed Clowney (6-0, 187 pounds) used as a receiver and wants to see him use on specials. "There's no way he should be able to get blocked in single press on the punt team. ... He's way too big, fast and physical."

Clowney's cause should have been helped by the fact that the Jets cut three wideouts earlier this week, including veteran Laveranues Coles. But Clowney said that didn't matter to him.

"I'm not focused on that," he said. "I'll just keep going out there and playing football. ... I believe I'm going to be here. I have no reason to not think so, if I continue to keep playing like I have been."

As for Thursday's game, he said, "I'm just going to go out there and play football like I've been doing the last few years, preseason or regular season and whatever happens, happens. ... I'm just waiting on my chance to get the ball in the game and make something happen."

Clowney certainly had one of the busiest off-seasons of any Jet, as he went on relief missions to Haiti in March (after the January earthquake) and to Ghana in July. He went to Haiti with teammates James Ihedigbo and Vernon Gholston and former Jet Ahmad Carroll, and to Ghana with new teammate Santonio Holmes.

"It was the experience of a lifetime," he said of the two trips. "It makes you appreciate [America] a lot more. ... Going over there, seeing how some people live over there and realizing how spoiled our country is, it just makes you realize how fortunate we are. ... They're over there fighting about food and every day we throw millions of pounds of food away as a country."

When asked to compare the two countries, Clowney noted: "The way people in Haiti were living after the earthquake, that's the way people in Ghana were already living. That's natural for them. Africa is living like that without an earthquake. You've got mud huts and straw roofs."

FLORHAM PARK — Before the Jets left SUNY Cortland in mid-August, special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff was asked about the chances of third-year wide receiver David Clowney making the roster.

The always-interesting Westhoff produced one of the best quotes of training camp. That is, in the printable division, anyway, when he noted that a person "could float to the moon on the [roster] bubble Clowney is on."

And judging by coach Rex Ryan's comments Tuesday, Clowney and his NFL future still seem to be hanging in midair as the Jets ready for the preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday. NFL teams must trim their roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players by Saturday.

Clowney "needs to be a dominant [special] teams guy," Ryan said when asked about him. "That [roster] spot is there. We need [him] to step up and take it. That's what I'm looking forward to seeing."

Despite his blazing speed, Clowney has had trouble getting on the field on offense in his first two NFL seasons. And after the Jets didn't re-sign special teams ace Wallace Wright during the off-season, they looked to Clowney to fill Wright's role as a gunner on kickoff and punt coverage units. (Wright signed with Carolina, but was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a shoulder injury.)

Ryan also recalled last year's preseason finale against Philadelphia, when he re-inserted Clowney into the game in the second half and he immediately ran a go route for a touchdown.

"That's what I'm looking for," Ryan said, referring to the speed Clowney (6-0, 187 pounds) used as a receiver and wants to see him use on specials. "There's no way he should be able to get blocked in single press on the punt team. ... He's way too big, fast and physical."

Clowney's cause should have been helped by the fact that the Jets cut three wideouts earlier this week, including veteran Laveranues Coles. But Clowney said that didn't matter to him.

"I'm not focused on that," he said. "I'll just keep going out there and playing football. ... I believe I'm going to be here. I have no reason to not think so, if I continue to keep playing like I have been."

As for Thursday's game, he said, "I'm just going to go out there and play football like I've been doing the last few years, preseason or regular season and whatever happens, happens. ... I'm just waiting on my chance to get the ball in the game and make something happen."

Clowney certainly had one of the busiest off-seasons of any Jet, as he went on relief missions to Haiti in March (after the January earthquake) and to Ghana in July. He went to Haiti with teammates James Ihedigbo and Vernon Gholston and former Jet Ahmad Carroll, and to Ghana with new teammate Santonio Holmes.

"It was the experience of a lifetime," he said of the two trips. "It makes you appreciate [America] a lot more. ... Going over there, seeing how some people live over there and realizing how spoiled our country is, it just makes you realize how fortunate we are. ... They're over there fighting about food and every day we throw millions of pounds of food away as a country."

When asked to compare the two countries, Clowney noted: "The way people in Haiti were living after the earthquake, that's the way people in Ghana were already living. That's natural for them. Africa is living like that without an earthquake. You've got mud huts and straw roofs."

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Good news on Pace lowers Jets' interest in Thomas

Jets BlogBy BART HUBBUCH

Last Updated: 7:30 AM, September 1, 2010

Posted: 3:11 AM, September 1, 2010

Comments: 0 More Print The Jets' interest in Adalius Thomas went on the back burner after they learned outside linebacker Calvin Pace could be back as soon as Week 2.

Pace, who suffered a broken right foot in the second half last week against the Redskins, had surgery Monday night that was successful enough for Jets coach Rex Ryan to change his tune.

Pace -- the Jets' sack leader last season -- had been expected to miss four to six weeks, but Ryan said yesterday the timetable was tightened because of how well the procedure went.

NFL BLITZ CHAT REWIND

Ryan now is willing to rule Pace out only for the Sept. 13 season-opener against the Ravens. Week 2 at home against the Patriots, Ryan added, is now a possibility.

"The doctors seem to think the surgery was really successful," Ryan said yesterday. "He's going to definitely miss the first week, but we'll see about the second week -- I'm not sure."

The upbeat prognosis on Pace explains why the Jets' interest in Thomas as a pass-rush replacement had cooled significantly as of yesterday afternoon.

The Jets and Thomas already were at a standoff because vested veterans are guaranteed their full salary if they are on a roster in Week 1.

The Jets don't want to pay the former Raven and Patriot that amount -- at least $860,000 because Thomas is a 10-year veteran. Instead, the Jets want him to join them instead in Week 2, when his salary would not be guaranteed.

Thomas has balked, prompting Ryan to say yesterday that the sides are in "wait mode." The Jets aren't waiting idly at outside linebacker, though, claiming former Canadian Football League star Ricky Foley off waivers from the Seahawks late yesterday.

Foley likely did not arrive in time to play at all in the Jets' preseason finale tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Eagles

Read more: http://www.nypost.co...=#ixzz0yHhUxap8

This is great news!!!

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Hesitation to sign players could hurt in long run

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Record

After the Jets released veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles on Sunday, coach Rex Ryan said it was a "real possibility" Coles could be re-signed in the future. And Ryan had an even more more interesting answer that day when asked about free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas, who was on the Jets’ radar after Calvin Pace suffered a broken bone in his right foot Friday. Ryan coached Thomas when both were in Baltimore.

"If we’re going to do it, we’d rather do it sooner than later," Ryan said when asked about potentially signing Thomas. "But there are still some other things involved, other factors involved, and things like that. Sometimes what really makes sense might not make sense to the organization, so we’ll see."

Reading between the lines in both cases, the sticking point is that an NFL player’s contract is automatically guaranteed for the whole season once he’s on the 53-man roster for the regular-season opener, in this case, Sept. 13 at home against Baltimore. And for both players, there is no guarantee the Jets would want them to hang around for 16 games.

Coles, who already has had two tours of duty with the Jets, was looked upon as depth during the four-game absence of the suspended Santonio Holmes to start the season. Likewise, Thomas could help out with Pace sidelined.

But Coles told the Star-Ledger that he didn’t want to be a "journeyman" and he might not want to re-sign after Week 1. And because the unsigned Thomas hasn’t been in an NFL camp all spring and summer, he could’ve used this week and next week to get up to speed.

So treating the first game as different from the other 15 could prove harmful in the long run. When the Jets qualified for the AFC playoffs last season at 9-7, Houston was one of the other 9-7 teams they edged in a tiebreaker. How did they do that? Because of their 24-7 manhandling of the Texans on opening day.

Every game does count.

E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com

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Darrelle Revis agents Neil Schwartz, Jon Feinsod deny report of their paying Vincent Jackson

BY Kevin Armstrong

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, September 1st 2010, 4:00 AM

Laberge/GettyNeil Schwartz and Jon Feinsod, agents for New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis (r.), are denying a San Diego Union-Tribune report that they are backing Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (l.) financially. Related NewsMission 3: Jets 'D' must come up bigA matchup to watch: Jackson vs. RevisL.T.: Chargers held me backMyers: Misfits may try Ryan's patience2010 NFL draft: Analysis of the first roundDraft insider: Ben nearly a Giant mistake

Darrelle Revis' agents, Neil Schwartz and Jon Feinsod, are in the news again, but it is not for any meeting at the Roscoe Diner.

A lawyer for the agents is demanding a retraction from the San Diego Union-Tribune regarding an Aug. 24 report concerning the holdout of another client, the Chargers' Vincent Jackson.

Attorney Howard Weitzman told the News that a paragraph in the article, reported by Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee, was both incorrect and damaging to Jackson and his agents.

"We are asking for a retraction, a correction and an apology for part of the article," Weitzman said. "They never even called to fact-check it. Not to Jon nor Neil.

"I would like to think the ballclub is not involved, but I can't pinpoint why this would happen."

Union-Tribune Editor-in-Chief Jeff Light was unavailable for comment.

The paragraph in question says, "League and sources in the agent community have confirmed that his (Jackson's) ability to forego a salary is due to the financial backing of Schwartz and Feinsod, with the understanding the agents will be paid back after Jackson receives the mega contract they are seeking."

Schwartz and Feinsod have been silent on the Revis negotiations since they and the Jets agreed to a mutual media blackout in mid-August.

The Daily News reported the Jets and Revis are $40 million apart on a contract, and with the opener just 13 days away, the possibility of Revis missing that game grows stronger by the day.

CROMARTIE HURTING

Rex Ryan continued to share his injury list, which he is not mandated to do until the regular season. One name, in particular, stood out: Antonio Cromartie (hip).

In the locker room, the cornerback, who was acquired from San Diego in the offseason, applied an ice pack to his right hip.

"I figured I'd float it out there, ‘Now they need Revis more than ever,' " Ryan said. "Cromartie missed two plays of team period."

Ryan seemed nonchalant about the announcement, but safety Brodney Pool (sprained ankle) missed his third consecutive practice. He will be among the starters who sit the whole game against the Eagles Thursday night anyway. Whether or not he will be around for the opener is unknown.

Other injuries: S Don Warren (concussion), LB Kenwin Cummings (shoulder), G Charlie Tanner (knee) and LB Josh Mauga (concussion) sat during practice.

DANNY ON THE SPOT

If you have waterbug Danny Woodhead in your 53-man roster pool, things are looking bright. The 5-foot-9 force is ready to survive the weekend's cuts. "The more I'm around Woodhead, the more I'm like, ‘Is this in pen yet?' . . . It's hard not to pull for that dude."

HUSH HUSH

Ryan confessed that cutting Kevin O'Connell Tuesday instead of later meant that the quarterback would not have any details related to the Jets' preparations to share with a team, such as the Ravens, who might sign him simply to gather information from him. . . . Jets claimed LB Ricky Foley off waivers from the Seahawks.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/09/01/2010-09-01_darrelle_revis_agents_neil_schwartz_jon_feinsod_deny_report_of_their_paying_vinc.html?r=sports%2Ffootball%2Fjets&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fjets+%28Sports%2FFootball%2FJets%29#ixzz0yHjmhgSx

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September 1, 2010, 6:00 am Special Teams a Bright Spot for Jets

By KRISTIAN R. DYER

Lost amid Darrelle Revis’s holdout and Mark Sanchez’s struggles, the Jets’ special teams have been the team’s lone consistent bright spot this summer, forcing at least one turnover in all three preseason games.

Yes, it’s only the preseason, but five turnovers in three games is an impressive start. The unit, which was rather ordinary last year, was buoyed in the off-season with the free-agent signing of Lance Laury. Two weeks ago, Laury pounced on a punt that bounced off the leg of Jordan Pugh for one of the unit’s three turnovers in the game. He is regarded as one of the best special teams players in the league, with a nose for the ball.

“This is a good unit, a very good and aggressive group,” Laury said. “The potential is there for us to be among the best in the league.”

Laury said that special teams is a “good way into the team for many young players,” but said that the unit has pride in itself that extends beyond being an entry point to play on Sundays. There is a camaraderie, Laury says, to be the best. He said that the special-teams coach Mike Westhoff wouldn’t have it any other way.

But that doesn’t mean that the players on the unit don’t see it as a good way to stake a claim to a spot in the two-deep.

In the preseason opener against the Giants three weeks ago, linebacker Kenwin Cummings led the team with seven tackles, and has totaled 13 tackles through three games for the highest tally on the Jets. Cummings has also been a strong contributor on special teams, and he acknowledges that strong play on the unit can help him make an impression for the linebacker rotation.

“I think when coaches look at it, they see you as someone who can make plays,” Cummings said. “Someone who gets after the ball and isn’t afraid to get physical. I don’t know if they look at it and say, ‘He just did that,’ so that translates to him being able to do that at linebacker or some other position. I do think that it helps show that you are an athlete and can play football.”

Cummings was on the active roster for the Jets during the second half of the 2009 season but didn’t see any snaps. Special teams can help him change that this year as he looks to prove that he can be a reliable and sure linebacker.

It also doesn’t hurt that he has a coach in Westhoff who is known for his work ethic.

Laury said: “He is a perfectionist. I’m not saying we don’t have fun with him – we do – but he demands the best from us. And he wants us to be the best unit, so if we need to do it again, you can be sure that we will be doing it again…and again…and again.”

At Carolina during the preseason, Chauncey Washington forced a fumble during a punt. Washington’s role on the punt was simple containment, but he got in the right place at the right time to deliver a hit and jar the ball loose. Washington, who is fighting for a roster spot, then was inserted into the game as a running back, and carried the ball several times.

“I don’t think it was a reward for making the play,” Washington said. “But I’m sure it didn’t hurt either.”

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Jets notes: Kellen Clemens stays

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Last updated: Wednesday September 1, 2010, 2:11 AM

BY J.P. PELZMAN

The Record

STAFF WRITER

Clemens sticks

The Jets waived Kevin O'Connell on Tuesday, which means fifth-year pro Kellen Clemens is the winner of the battle for the No. 3 quarterback spot.

Clemens, in his fifth season, signed a $1.176 million tender as a restricted free agent, but admitted signing a new one-year contract Tuesday morning in which he took a pay cut. The veteran minimum salary for a player of Clemens' NFL experience is $635,000.

"I feel good with where I'm at," said Clemens.

"The only way Kellen Clemens was not going to be on this team was if somebody was going to give him a chance to be a starting quarterback," Ryan said. "That's the way the roster thing was. That's the truth. Well, that would be a way, obviously, that he would be cut if he doesn't take it. Absolutely, because you can't have all of your quarterbacks at X-amount of dollars."

Clemens and second-stringer Mark Brunell will play at Philadelphia on Thursday, with starter Mark Sanchez resting.

Ryan said O'Connell was waived because the Jets are beginning to install their game plan for the season opener against Baltimore on Sept. 13 and "we don't need that information going out. It also gives him an opportunity because there are some teams looking for a quarterback."

Briefs

Mark Sanchez, offensive coordinator? Well, maybe for a little while Thursday, as Ryan said he wants the second-year quarterback to call some of the plays against the Eagles. "I'm hoping that he sees the big picture," said Ryan. ... Ryan said linebacker Calvin Pace's foot surgery Monday was "really successful" and that he hasn't given up hope of him playing in the season's second game. ... The Jets claimed linebacker Ricky Foley, a former CFL star, off waivers from Seattle.

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Interesting that Sanchez will be calling some of the plays against the Eagles

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CROMARTIE HURTING

Rex Ryan continued to share his injury list, which he is not mandated to do until the regular season. One name, in particular, stood out: Antonio Cromartie (hip).

In the locker room, the cornerback, who was acquired from San Diego in the offseason, applied an ice pack to his right hip.

"I figured I'd float it out there, ‘Now they need Revis more than ever,' " Ryan said. "Cromartie missed two plays of team period."

Ryan seemed nonchalant about the announcement, but safety Brodney Pool (sprained ankle) missed his third consecutive practice. He will be among the starters who sit the whole game against the Eagles Thursday night anyway. Whether or not he will be around for the opener is unknown.

I've read elsewhere that Pool might be in danger of missing the opener, Pace is definitely out, and now Cro?

Not good. Let's hope it's nothing.

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Transcript: Head Coach Rex Ryan, 8.31

By Bassett on 01. Sep, 2010

Opening comments…

These are the guys that were held out: Kenwin Cumming, shoulder; Calvin Pace, foot. He had the surgery. He’s doing good. Charlie Tanner, Donovan Warren, Josh Mauga, Brodney Pool (did not practice). Brodney has an ankle (injury). Josh with the head (injury), Donovan with the head (injury) and Charlie Tanner, knee. It says questionable, but (Damien Woody) will not play, low back. Shaun Ellis, it says probable, but obviously Shaun’s not playing either. None of those guys that I mentioned are going to play in the game. Also, (Antonio) Cromartie had a little hip thing so he missed two plays of team (drills). That’ll be a big story. I figured I’d float it out there, “Now they need (Darrelle) Revis more than ever. Cromartie missed two plays of team period.” I’ll just give you guys that little tidbit. I know the way it is, “Hold up. Let me go report that quick. Cromartie misses team period.” Don’t let the truth get in the way (laughing).

(We) had Summit High School out here today putting in plays. We had (Summit Head Coach) John Liberato, the defending state champs. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that before (smiling), but they’re the defending state champs. Every grade was undefeated last year. That’s varsity, JV and the freshman team, which Seth (Ryan), of course, was one of the main men on. It was good to see those guys out there. It always takes you back. At least it does for me. Back to when I was a high school kid wearing the jersey, thinking you look cool – excuse me, knowing you look cool (laughter). That was part of it. They look pretty good. Jimmy Leonhard had a big question for Seth. He’s wearing number 20. I don’t understand it. Is it Kyle Wilson? Is it Ed Reed? I don’t know, but he’s wearing jersey number 20. I think Seth told Jimmy a lie that 36 was not available (laughter). It was very questionable why he chose that jersey.

On number 85 on the Summit High School team looking like a good prospect…

I think he is a prospect. I’m not allowed to talk about other prospects other than my kid (laughter). That is funny when you look at them. It’s like, ‘Man, I wish we were playing those guys.’ I thought the same thing last week when the little Pop Warner guys were on the sideline. I’m like, ‘How bad would the score be?’ (laughter). Redskins? Them? Let’s play these guys. I don’t think they want to do that.

On if he thinks the Ravens will be a little better than Summit High School…

I don’t know. They were undefeated and I think the Ravens are undefeated. I’ve been reading the stuff. They’re clicking on all cylinders. We get to play them soon enough (smiling).

On if there is an update on Calvin Pace…

The trainers will tell you he’s going to be out the season and then when he comes back much earlier, they look like heroes (smiling). He’s doing really well with it. We don’t really know exactly when he’s going to come back with his injury, but the doctors seem to think the surgery was really successful. They were excited about the surgery. Now, we all know how that goes though. Anytime you have surgery and you come out, it was successful. We’ll see how it happens. No infections. A lot of things go into it, but we feel confident. He’s definitely going to miss the first week. We’ll see about the second week. I’m not sure.

On how different Baltimore’s defense is from when he was the defensive coordinator…

They’re not as good (laughter). Plain and simple. They’re pretty darn good, though. They are special. There’s no question about it.

On if it helps the offense that they go against a similar defense every day in practice…

No doubt. Absolutely. They’ll throw in different wrinkles just like we will. The two teams are very similar to each other. (We) are both physical football teams. Both teams like to run the football. They probably throw it more than we do. (We’re) two defenses built on the ability to stop the run and get after the quarterback and challenge him mentally, as well as physically, and have passionate players. (The defenses are) carbon copies of each other, except I feel our defense is better and I’m sure they think theirs is better.

On if placing Pace on the physically unable to perform list is an option…

Oh, no. We don’t want to do that. I would say that is definitely not an option. He is going to be back before that.

On why Kevin O’Connell was waived today and not earlier…

I think we’re getting close to Baltimore, quite honestly. With the more things we put in, we don’t need that information going out. I think that’s one way of doing it. It gives him an opportunity (because) there are some teams looking for quarterbacks. It’s going to give this young man an opportunity to catch on with somebody and try to beat it to the punch. If there’s somebody looking for a quarterback, bring this guy in and see what he’s got.

On what didn’t click for O’Connell…

I don’t know. I was high on him. He’s a big, smart, athletic guy. At the end of the day, we went with Kellen (Clemens), who may not be as tall or pretty, but he outplayed him. That’s why, quite honestly, we went with Kellen.

On what the move means for the game on Thursday…

It’s going to be (Mark) Brunell and Kellen back there.

On if there is anything positive Mark Sanchez can learn from watching on the sidelines on Thursday…

We’re going to have him call plays this time. I think that will give him a different dynamic, to quote Brian Billick, which we use for everything. It doesn’t make sense here, but we’ll throw it out there.

On if having players calling plays is something he normally does…

We used to do it with the defense all the time (in Baltimore). We’d have Ed Reed call them. We’d have Ray (Lewis) call them. Ray always pressured. Ed always covered (laughter). That’s the way that would go most of the time.

On if Sanchez is going to call passing plays the entire time…

We’re going to have to definitely say we’re limiting your passing game. There’s no question. I think everybody wants to get this game over with (joking). I mean, everybody wants to see us run the ball (laughter). We’ll see how that goes.

On if Sanchez will call all the plays…

No. We’ll see how it goes. The first time we ever did it with Ray and Ed, because they thought they were defensive coordinators, we actually let them call a series. We were playing the Redskins and we let them call a series when they were on the field. The team was no huddling. It was a Chinese fire drill (laughter). It was hilarious. They kept looking over. We were like, ‘No, you’ve got it.’ I just sat there like this because they were all questioning me like they always do, ‘No, no. You got it. Go ahead.’ It was brutal. They finally came back and they went right down the field and scored on us. They came back and said, “That’s it. You call it.” I was like, ‘Are you sure? You really want to? Ok.’ I had them admit it wasn’t as easy as they thought. After they did that we called (the plays) and, of course, Washington went down and scored again (laughter).

On if Sanchez will want to start calling his own plays if he does a good job…

Let’s switch Sanchez and Schotty (Brian Schottenheimer). We all saw Schotty play quarterback (laughter). Let’s not go for that deal.

On how he felt about Hard Knocks showing the depth chart on the last episode…

That was interesting because when someone said there was an ‘X’ by Kellen, maybe we should have looked at that board a little closer. I don’t know if someone put that in there. The only way Kellen Clemens was going to not be on this team was if someone was going to give him a chance to be a starting quarterback. (Only then) I would have traded him. I told Kellen that before. If he had a chance to start, I would do the right thing for him and give him that opportunity to be a starter. He was going to be on this football team. He was playing too well. That’s unfortunate. I don’t put the ‘X’s by guys, so I know that wasn’t my handwriting.

On if Hard Knocks crossed the line by showing the depth chart…

Each office has those charts. You can see it every time. By no means does that (show) who (will be on) the final roster. There are names in different order, a lot of times, I know on my board, I just list the guys in no particular order. I’ll list the particular order when it is time to do that. Somebody told me there was an ‘X’ by (Clemens’ name) or I read it, I never picked that up when I watched it. The board, at that time, doesn’t really mean who’s here or who’s gone. We’ll go over numbers. The ‘X’ could have been he’s on the team. I don’t even know. At that time, I know we were looking at how many quarterbacks you keep, so three, how many offensive linemen, right down the line. We were trying to get our numbers. In that particular episode, I remember saying that we still had room for good players. It’s not set in stone. We might be the only team in the league ever to have two fullbacks and four tight ends. If that’s the case, then so be it. Keep the best guys.

On what roster spots are open before Thursday’s game against Philadelphia

Quite honestly, just a football player spot. Can this dude help us? Is he a good football player? That’s what we’re looking at. Danny Woodhead. The more I’m around Woodhead, the more I’m like, ‘Is this in pencil or is this in pen yet?’ That’s how I look at it. The kid is a player. We throw him out there at wideout (and) today he’s killing us. (That’s) two days in a row. He can play running back, wideout and special teams. Maybe there are particular roles that he can’t be or shouldn’t be on special teams. Mike (Westhoff) and I were talking. He goes, “I screwed up Rex. I shouldn’t have had Danny in that role, but I see him and he can be a factor in this role and that role.” First of all, I was taken aback when he did say (Westhoff) made a mistake (laughter). That’s what shocked me initially, but it was good. (With) Danny, it’s hard not to pull for that dude.

On telling Kellen Clemens that he would have to take a pay cut or be released…

Well that’s because of the way the roster thing was. That’s the truth. Obviously, he’d be cut if he doesn’t take it, absolutely because you can’t have all your quarterbacks and X amount of dollars. You know what I mean? That was the issue. From his skill, from the type of player he is, we were not looking to cut Kellen. No question, we were not looking to do that. I also did tell him if he could get a starting role that I would not stand in his way.

On if there is an update with regards to Adalius Thomas…

No, I think we’re on the wait mode right now. Let’s see how we get through this game and let’s take a good look at our roster and evaluate it. We’re not going to do anything right now anyway.

On Kyle Wilson…

(He’s) got to play 100 percent of the snaps on defense, so that’s the way it looks right now to me. That could change. Then, he’s going to play a ton of the snaps on defense and be a punt returner. That’s a very valuable guy. Like I said, he’s so good, my kid took his number. We all know it was Ed (Reed) (smiling).

On John Conner…

The Terminator. He’s beaten up almost everybody we’ve got on the team. That’s good news (and) bad news. We’ve still got guys that are still on this (injury) list here, and not being able to practice because he’s knocked them out. You look at him. All the films will show that not only is he punishing people as a fullback on offense, but he’s doing it on (special) teams as well. Last week, Westy (Mike Westhoff) comes up and he says, “I’m going to put him on the punt return team.” Now, Conner is not the ideal guy on a punt return team, but all he did was bury the wing two times in a row. One time he put him on his back about 15 yards down the field on Joe (McKnight’s) long return. Another time he had the guy back as far and Joe, I think, was shocked (because) he signaled fair catch. Westy is still trying to get over it. This guy is a player and he’s going out there and smashing people. Will he throw and miss a couple? Throw a no-hitter? Every once in a while, but if you get in his way, this guy, he’s punished people.

On if he’s worried about Conner taking guys out on the team…

Well, not in a live contact drill. That’s part of it, but usually you never have to worry about an offensive player taking out a defensive player on an isolation block. That just shows you the kind of guy he is. The Terminator hits people. That’s what he does. I never thought I’d see him knock out a linebacker (Josh Mauga) on an isolation block. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. I never have. I saw Lorenzo Neal cave in Kelly Gregg’s facemask on a wham block one time, but Kelly made the tackle. But this, I’ve never seen a guy get knocked cold like that. Not on an iso block.

On what Sanchez will learn from calling plays…

Just to understand that there are reasons why we get into to play-calling. What are you trying to accomplish here? What mode are you in? Is it red, yellow (or) green? What are we trying to do in this game? I’m hoping that he sees the big picture and let him have at it.

On how long Sanchez will call plays…

We’ll see. I’ll ask Schotty (Brian Schottenheimer) what he wants to do. I just like the idea. I haven’t even told him yet. I just want him to go. ‘Ok kid. Here you go.’ I want to see what he looks like (and) see if he gives me the Ed Reed look. I do think you can get a lot out of it. I will say this, after that first experience that Ed (Reed) and Ray (Lewis) had, I think they had a bigger appreciation of what you do as a coach. The other thing is the next year they couldn’t wait for the same opportunity like, “I’ll show you. I got it. Give me the paper. I’m ready. All I need is the paper. If you would have gone out there with the game plan, and would have gave me this, I could have gotten it done.” I’m like, ‘Ok, here you go, alright kid,’ and there he’d go. We had one of them signal (and) one of them give the play. It was good. We did it for different guys. Last year, I think in this game I had (Jeff) Weeks call part of it and my kid was the guy that was signaling. I want him to be a great coach one day. Weeks too (laughter). I was really talking about my son, but I think Weeks needs it also (laughing).

On if Santonio Holmes will play as much as Calvin Pace did last season in the final preseason game…

I look at the situation the exact same way. Calvin was killing people in that last preseason game (laughing). He was going against guys who aren’t playing in the league anymore. I still want him to. I even told the whole team, ‘We get to see Tone (Holmes) play.’ He was smiling. He doesn’t care. He loves playing. Tone will go out there and play against anyone. I do want to extend him and get him playing because we’re not going to have him for four weeks. We’re going to send him off and we have a great little thing we’re going to do. I’m excited about the plan we have for Tone and how he’s going to work. With him, here’s his thing, “I’m going to be in the best shape of my life.” He’s already got that plan. He already has that mentality of, “I’m going to get better. I want to help my team this way because when I come back, I’m going to be in ridiculous shape.” He knows. He already told his teammates, “Hang in there. Hang in there for four weeks and then help’s on its way.”

On if he thought David Clowney would be further along in his development…

You’d like to see that. With that great speed, you want to get that speed on the field. At times, this guy’s flashed some big-play ability. We haven’t really seen it like we did last preseason and the preseason before I got here. (We’re) just waiting to see how that works. We were laughing about it last year when we played Philly in that last game. I said, ‘Hold up. They’re blitzing everybody. Where’s Clowney?’ He hadn’t played for two quarters. I said, ‘Can you run right now? Can you run a nine-route for a touchdown?’ He said, “I haven’t played for two quarters, but ok.” I’m like, ‘Get ready.’ We put him in there and he went right by the guy for a touchdown. Come on, let’s see it. That’s what I’m looking for. There’s no way he should be able to get blocked in single press on the punt team. There’s no way that should be possible. He’s way too fast, big and physical. He needs to be a dominant (special) teams guy. That spot is there. We need you to step up and take it. That’s what I’m looking forward to seeing.

On Holmes’ plan during his suspension…

The plan is the conditioning and doing other things for his benefit off-the-field. He’s going to be involved. He’s already talked about skyping with Mark (Sanchez) everyday about going over the offensive plays.

On if Holmes is allowed to skype with Sanchez…

Well, I hope so. Let’s hold off on that for now (laughter). Let’s make a phone call real quick.

On Holmes not being able to contact the coaches…

We have no contact with him (laughter).

[Sperm Edwards]

"It's going to give this young man an opportunity because there are some teams looking for quarterbacks," Ryan said.

I love it when teams (and the Jets aren't unique in spreading this garbage) make it out like they're doing a 3rd-string player a friggin' favor by cutting him.

[LWC611]

Interesting that Sanchez will be calling some of the plays against the Eagles

The Jets need to be concerned about Snachez making plays....... Dude has not looked good in preseason....

[SMC]

I love it when teams (and the Jets aren't unique in spreading this garbage) make it out like they're doing a 3rd-string player a friggin' favor by cutting him.

"Son, we're cutting you because you suck. But this gives other teams the opportunity to reach the same conclusion on you. So good luck!"

[stoicsentry]

About Cro, I don't think "ice pack" tells you much, not enough to be concerned about.

[flgreen]

Jets say extra tix for first two home games sold out »

By Kevin Armstrong

As of Tuesday night, the Jets announced that the roughly 2,000 seats from the New Meadowlands Stadium's upper bowl put on sale earlier in the day were sold out for the first two home games. Those contests -- against Baltimore in the opener on September 13 and the Patriots September 19 -- are expected to be two of the most anticipated home games this season

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2010/09/jets-say-extra-tix-for-first-t.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fblogs%2Fjets+%28Blogs%2FThe+Jet+Stream%29#ixzz0yIntZUcP

[flgreen]

Hip injury returns for Antonio Cromartie

Posted by Mike Florio on September 1, 2010 1:08 PM ET

In 2007, former Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie put together a Pro Bowl season. In 2008, he regressed -- due in large part to a hip injury that the team allegedly understated.

Kevin Armstrong of the New York Daily News reports that Cromartie was icing his hip after practice on Tuesday, and that coach Rex Ryan downplayed the condition in his daily press conference.

"I figured I'd float it out there, 'Now they need Revis more than ever,'" Ryan said. "Cromartie missed two plays of team period."

During the offseason, Cromartie missed some reps during minicamp practices due to a "fatigued" hip. But it was the left hip, not the right hip.

This time, it's the right hip. And it's the right hip that was fractured in 2008.

There's already speculation and conjecture that the condition from two years ago has returned. And, of course, Ryan would have to be coy about it, because if there's any truth to it Revis' leverage goes up even more.

Meanwhile, some league insiders are wondering why Ryan hasn't used his enormous pile of political capital within the organization to press for the team to agree to Revis' demands. It's possible that he's tried, and that he's simply gotten nowhere with it. It's also possible that he's not willing to burn up any capital to get Revis in the fold, if he realizes that he'll need all of it and more if the home run that Buddy's bambino is predicting ends up being a slow roller to the pitcher's mound.

Finally, we continue to be amused by the persistent reporting from one specific reporter at one specific organization that the Jets and Revis are making progress and continue to be close on a deal. The report is incorrect. There was no meeting last Tuesday (as the reporter reported, citing apparently the same single source), and no progress has been made. The two sides aren't talking. Indeed, there's nothing to talk about. The deal will get done when someone caves. And so it appears that the reporter in question will continue to say "it's coming" until it happens, and then he'll claim that he was right all along.

We'll leave it at that for now, since we don't want to be accused of getting anyone else suspended this week -- and we don't want to give the reporter any additional exposure for reporting something that is flat-out incorrect.

That said, a deal could get done tomorrow. But it won't be due to any meetings that didn't happen last week or any negotiations that haven't occurred. It'll happen if the team or Revis cries "Uncle," which if it's Revis who does it, the "Uncle" could be followed by "Sean."

[flgreen]

Amidst the Pack of ‘Backers, Satele Believes

Posted by Randy Lange on September 1, 2010 – 2:57 pm

Today was a quiet day at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. The players were off to the annual Kickoff Luncheon at Cipriani Wall Street today, and then after some team-building activities it was on by bus to Center City, Philadelphia, tonight.

Then comes a long day’s journey into night as many of the Jets on the back end of the 75-player roster will be playing Thursday night against the Eagles at the Linc for a roster spot this season and maybe for their pro careers. It can be a time of nervous introspection or even fear of the unknown.

Unless you’re Brashton Satele. If the free agent rookie linebacker’s got butterflies heading into this important game for him, he’s netted them up and mounted them in his collection book.

“Never. It’s never going to be the end,” Satele said plainly when I asked him if he contemplated if football would be over for him if he’s waived by Saturday morning. “I’m going to try my best to get where I want to be. I believe you become what you believe. Whatever you want to be, you just have to believe it and you become it. Nothing in life comes easy, so you just have to keep fighting for what you want.”

Such quiet, unshakable belief has always fascinated me as I’ve covered the NFL for more decades than I care to admit. Where did Brashton’s conviction come from?

“From my church, Pastor Art Sepulveda,” he said. “He’s the owner of Word of Life Academy in Hawaii. He installed that into me a long time ago. I took that going from high school to college and from college to here.”

Satele’s in an odd position because while every free agent has a story for why he wasn’t drafted, the University of Hawaii product has an especially painful tale. Head coach Rex Ryan said up at SUNY Cortland that Brashton’s “one of those under-the-radar guys who showed up and is doing a great job for us.”

But on an edition of “Hard Knocks,” the defensive coaches were overheard saying “the kid’s hurt all the time.” Satele heard that observation and he just wants to remind that there have been two injuries he’s had to fight through.

One was the torn shoulder muscle at Hawaii. He played with it all junior season but didn’t get it surgically repaired until he retore it last summer before his senior season. So he went from a lower-round draft pick off of 32 value boards.

Then came day 3 of camp, when he left practice with an ankle injury.

“I’m still waiting for it to get 100 percent so I can show my full ability,” he said. “It’s frustrating because it’s kind of aching and sore but there’s nothing I can do about it. No one in footballs 100 percent. I just have to push through it.”

Despite having that stacked against him, he went out for the entire fourth quarter of the Redskins preseason game and made a pair of solo tackles on defense.

“That was my first game since December ’08,” he said with a smile. “So it was exciting. It was good to finally get out there and go full-speed.”

Because of the injuries to Satele, Josh Mauga and Calvin Pace, the Jets have brought in a passel of ‘backers recently, such as Boris Lee, Tim Knicky and Tuesday’s waiver pickup of Ricky Foley, a 12-sack man in the CFL last year. Add in guys with experience like Lance Laury and Kenwin Cummings and Cory Reamer and the depth chart is looking like a bus station at the moment. Some are more suited for outside than inside work, but all want jobs and most are not guaranteed anything other than an opportunity some time Thursday night in the south section of the City of Brotherly Love.

That’s all Satele wants.

“I’m just ready to go out there,” he said, “to do my best and show the coaches what they want to see. I just want to be explosive, physical. I want to be myself out there.”

[Jetsfan80]

I love it when teams (and the Jets aren't unique in spreading this garbage) make it out like they're doing a 3rd-string player a friggin' favor by cutting him.

At the very least, though, Rex seems to be involved in giving the kid this BS in person more often than not. When the Bengals were on Hard Knocks, they were having assistants to the assistant coaches cutting guys in hallways.