Braylon wrote a long blog post yesterday...

[SenorGato]

Monday night was definitely our toughest game of the season. Even though it was our third loss, it was the first one where the game wasn't close. They embarrassed us on purpose. But that's football. It's a rivalry.

We probably would have done the same thing. We have a good feeling we'll see them again. We can't let that happen again.

That loss also finally gave the New York media something to talk about.

With most teams, reporters are always asking Why'd you lose these games? Why'd you win those ones? What's going on with the quarterbacks? But when you're 9-2 (like we were) with two close losses, it's a different story. Even with Monday's loss, we don't have any real controversies to discuss. The reporters are getting tired of the same things, and are always saying, 'Braylon, just give me something.' I don't mind the media trying to find a story, so long as we're doing what we're supposed to be doing on and off the field. That's the key. When you're playing well, the media starts looking for trouble outside of football. That's why you need to keep it professional and take care of business off the field.

It's interesting when people ask me how I feel about my own season. I'm right in the middle of the pack of league leaders in terms of yards and touchdowns, but at the same time I'm contributing to a winning team. I felt as though I don't have hardly any drops this season, which is huge for a wide receiver. I have one fumble. I've been blocking well and it's taken some note. I've been a team guy and I think that's all you can really ask for. Am I doing whatever the team is asking me to do? When I'm getting chances, am I making those plays for the team? With regard to that, this is definitely my strongest season as a full-time player in the NFL.

Obviously I went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and had great stats, but I don't think the all-around game-play level was there that year.

I'd like to weigh in on some of my teammates, something I haven't done at length since the preseason:

I'll start with Mark. He's still young (he just turned 24), and he has that California laid-back, funny guy type of attitude—a surfer-type mentality, which is cool. More importantly, this year he's taken that second step and even third step into becoming more professional as it relates to football—studying his playbook more, watching more film, calling guys and saying, 'This is what I need out of you this week.' In the playoffs last year I think he learned what it would take to be a Super Bowl champion and to be that All-Pro caliber quarterback. He's implemented that attitude this season.

His attitude and his presence have changed this year, and that's why we've been able to pull games out in the clutch. At this point last year, we wouldn't have been able to pull them out with our athletic ability because it all stems from Number 6. He still gets in his practical jokes in, but he's found that fine line in terms of being serious and knowing when it's time to focus on the details.

One of the things that I'm sure has helped Mark—I think it's helped everyone—is LT's presence. Not only is he a Hall-of-Fame caliber running back, but he doesn't carry himself in a brash way. He's not like 'Oh I'm going to the Hall of Fame, I don't have to pay attention to detail.'

Instead, it's 'What do I need to learn on this play? What is my adjustment?' He asks questions in meetings that are good for the young guys like Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight and John Conner to see. He's always up for practice too. Nobody is always ready to practice; anybody who says they are is lying. No matter who it is, from Jerry Rice to Barry Sanders, everybody has those days where it's: 'My neck hurts from the game' or 'I have a sore hamstring.' But he still has that energy every day that makes you say 'This guy is going to bring it today, so I need to bring it today.'

Santonio and I have forged a pretty great relationship, too. The funny thing is I actually met Santonio back when he was a freshman at Ohio State. I was good friends with Drew Carter and Michael Jenkins when they were there, and once I went out with them and met Santonio. He was this Belle Glade, Florida freshman who was supposed to be the heir apparent as an Ohio State wide receiver. He was just cool. Fast forward to now, and I just love playing with him. We just want to show people we're ballplayers, we're good ballplayers, and we love to do this. It gives Mark a chance to throw to two guys who aren't selfish, and there is a fine line between being selfish and competitive. Obviously I want to make the play, so when it's Tone, it's never 'Oh man I'm mad at Tone because he made that play.' It's like 'Okay Tone, I got the next one.' So it's a little competition between us. Competition makes the team better. When you've got two guys going at it like we are, that's a recipe for winning.

With regard to off-the-field stuff, my foundation is doing holiday things in New York for the first time. Last year I was new to the team, so I was really getting a hold on being a Jet—the living situation, playbook and all that. Now that I'm settled, I'm doing as much I can in the community. The foundation is giving away 500 toys at the Ronald McDonald house and we're adopting 10 families—providing kids with clothes, toys, food, gift cards. In addition to these New York events, I'm playing Santa for the Advanced 100 kids. That's always there lying in the wings, my Advanced 100 scholarship kids in Cleveland. As much as has been said about my Cleveland career and the supposed war between me and the city of Cleveland, I think it goes to show you what's really important to me. The war between Cleveland and I was never personal; it was just bickering back and forth between fan and player. Here I am, still trying to help educate the kids in the city of Cleveland, providing for them and allowing for them to go to college. I can't wait for them to do the same when they grow up.

— Braylon Edwards

http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/1...#ixzz17inxX3dJ

So basically everything is honky dory, and the mediaz is out to getz them.

[Bergen Jet]

What did you expect him to say?

[THE ILK]

What did you expect him to say?

Schotty sucks.

[Bergen Jet]

Schotty sucks.

That is understood at this point... No need for Braylon to point out the obvious.

[4HCrew]

Interesting info on LT...it seems like everyone on the Jets loves LaDainian

[Bergen Jet]

Interesting info on LT...it seems like everyone on the Jets loves LaDainian

Which makes me wonder what actually happened in SD.

[4HCrew]

Which makes me wonder what actually happened in SD.

yeah no kidding..a couple of weeks ago at Santonio's event Bart Scott raved about LT and his leadership. Maybe he stepped on Rivers toes?

[Bergen Jet]

yeah no kidding..a couple of weeks ago at Santonio's event Bart Scott raved about LT and his leadership. Maybe he stepped on Rivers toes?

Rivers just strikes me as a whiney little bitch. He is the franchise right at this moment so LT was going to lose any dispute with Rivers.

[#27TheDominator]

I don't think any of those guys ever said anything bad about Tomlinson. They (Gates & Rivers) basically just said that they deferred to him. That may have become a problem when he was no longer, cut and dried, the best player on the O. They said they felt able to cut loose with him gone. I never heard any actual complaints. That was all inferred.

[Bergen Jet]

I don't think any of those guys ever said anything bad about Tomlinson. They (Gates & Rivers) basically just said that they deferred to him. That may have become a problem when he was no longer, cut and dried, the best player on the O. They said they felt able to cut loose with him gone. I never heard any actual complaints. That was all inferred.

Didn't Gates insinuate that LT thought he was bigger than the team which would lead me to believe that they felt he wasn't the best teammate out there...

[#27TheDominator]

Didn't Gates insinuate that LT thought he was bigger than the team which would lead me to believe that they felt he wasn't the best teammate out there...

The answer to that is a distinct maybe. The quote was:

“Sometimes you would get the sense that people felt bigger than the team,” he said. “Not to say it was an issue, but we know it’s not an issue for sure now.”

A few people mentioned that Tomlinson was kind of set apart. He was an institution in SD and an all-time great. The aura that he had there is going to be different than the on in NY where he is a mid-level moderately priced #2 back.

[HessStation]

That was a good read. I don't mind these guys opening up when they're being sincere.

Oh yeah Shotty sucks.

[THE ILK]

That is understood at this point... No need for Braylon to point out the obvious.

Yes, except if you're Gato.

[NJ]

Good read. It somewhat confirms there are still small pieces of the ME FIRST Braylon that came here from Cleveland, but what a change in a little over a year. This guy is growing up and learning what life is about. He leaves it all on the field as a Jet - I don't really care what he did before.

Oh ... Schottenheimer's kid really sucks as an OC

[T0mShane]

Call me a skeptic, but that thing reads like the cover letter for the résumé he's planning on sending to every other team in the league when he hits free agency.

[Smashmouth]

Interesting info on LT...it seems like everyone on the Jets loves LaDainian

They love him because they respect him and his leadership abilities something the idiots in San Diego obviously didnt think was Important.

[Smashmouth]

Almost forgot

sh*tty SUCKS

[T0mShane]

They love him because they respect him and his leadership abilities something the idiots in San Diego obviously didnt think was Important.

Word. It was never gonna be Rivers' huddle while LT was there. It's gotta be tough for an unproven guy to take over completely when there's an established leader already staring him in the face. I'd imagine that's why the Jets rushed Thomas Jones out of town, too. Obviously TJ isn't LT, but he supposedly had a lot to say in that locker room.

[Sperm Edwards]

I don't think any of those guys ever said anything bad about Tomlinson. They (Gates & Rivers) basically just said that they deferred to him. That may have become a problem when he was no longer, cut and dried, the best player on the O. They said they felt able to cut loose with him gone. I never heard any actual complaints. That was all inferred.

Yeah, but while most of the inflammatory comments were the writers' editorial inferences (rather than direct quotes which danced around it), in the coming days after their comments they never backed off anything or tried to reiterate a friendlier-stance on their post-LT feelings. My guess - and it's only a guess - is that there's more than just the words themselves. Namely, an interviewer can see the faces their making and the tone in their voices that someone simply reading quotes on paper cannot.

[Larz]

pretty soon, maybe 3 years, we'll be getting more and more of our info from players own blogs

sure, they don't ask themselves the tough questions, but those questions are usually only designed to stir up trouble anyway like , "how does it feel losing like that ?"

andf that's fine with me

[Integrity28]

Wow... I hadn't thought of this until just now, but....

SCHOTTY SUCKS

[#27TheDominator]

Yeah, but while most of the inflammatory comments were the writers' editorial inferences (rather than direct quotes which danced around it), in the coming days after their comments they never backed off anything or tried to reiterate a friendlier-stance on their post-LT feelings. My guess - and it's only a guess - is that there's more than just the words themselves. Namely, an interviewer can see the faces their making and the tone in their voices that someone simply reading quotes on paper cannot.

As I said, I think it has more to do with the fact that he was an institution in SD. He can do and say all the right things, but his rep is always hanging in the air. I also took their comments to place some blame on the coaches for deferring to Tomlinson more than Tomlinson doing anything to be a bad teammate. Sometimes it's easier to deal with a guy being an overtly bad teammate. You can ignore "Manny being Manny" as long as he produces, but you can't necessarily do that with guys like Tomlinson and Martin.

[GimmeShelter]

Typical clean up and repair the image for next contract blog. I like Edwards though and hope we keep him. He doe scare me in that I belive he will kill us with a bad drop/holding penalty or personal foul at the worst time.

[Sperm Edwards]

As I said, I think it has more to do with the fact that he was an institution in SD. He can do and say all the right things, but his rep is always hanging in the air. I also took their comments to place some blame on the coaches for deferring to Tomlinson more than Tomlinson doing anything to be a bad teammate. Sometimes it's easier to deal with a guy being an overtly bad teammate. You can ignore "Manny being Manny" as long as he produces, but you can't necessarily do that with guys like Tomlinson and Martin.

I can. But that's another story.

[Falcon63]

Good read. It somewhat confirms there are still small pieces of the ME FIRST Braylon that came here from Cleveland

What are you talking about?

[#27TheDominator]

I can. But that's another story.

Sure. You or I could, but pussies like Rivers, Gates and Pennington? Not so much.

[serphnx]

As I said, I think it has more to do with the fact that he was an institution in SD. He can do and say all the right things, but his rep is always hanging in the air. I also took their comments to place some blame on the coaches for deferring to Tomlinson more than Tomlinson doing anything to be a bad teammate. Sometimes it's easier to deal with a guy being an overtly bad teammate. You can ignore "Manny being Manny" as long as he produces, but you can't necessarily do that with guys like Tomlinson and Martin.

Favre was an institution, a bigger one, in Green Bay than LT2 was in San Diego. Favre went so far as to openly betray the team and they had an heir apparent that had been waiting in the wings for years and played at pretty much a Pro Bowl level right away.

Yet nobody in the franchise or fanbase said anything really about Favre.

I think the Chargers are just a mess. And it comes from the leader of the team, Rivers. Rivers is a whiney, immature, loser. I don't know if he will ever grow up, but people are always busy trying to make excuses for him. We also know Norv isn't going to discipline his players and focus them either.

I am rooting for the Raiders to win that division, and I spent 3 years living in San Diego and wound up following that team. I even trained with some of the guys on that team (they are mostly gone now though). I just don't like that team though.