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    Ravens' Rex Ryan impresses in interview with New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday January 12, 2009, 8:37 PM

    Rex Ryan

    There was never a question as to whether Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan could coach. The question was: Could he interview?

    Ryan, the son of former NFL tough-guy coach Buddy Ryan, is an old-fashioned football coach, and maybe a little rough around the edges. He's a bit overweight, chews tobacco and is often unshaven during the season.

    There was a concern that Ryan might bomb in his interview with the Jets. Owner Woody Johnson is concerned with style as well as substance and it was thought Ryan might not be polished enough for Johnson.

    Last season Ryan interviewed for the Dolphins, Falcons and Ravens head-coaching jobs. One of the criticisms of him was that he didn't interview well.

    Continue reading "Ravens' Rex Ryan impresses in interview with New York Jets" »


    Baltimore Ravens' Rex Ryan new front-runner for New York Jets coaching job

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday January 12, 2009, 12:02 AM

    Rex Ryan

    The Jets have a new front-runner in their search for a head coach.

    Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum met with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan for five hours Sunday in Baltimore and the two sides hit it off in a big way, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting.

    That person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak for Ryan or the Jets.

    Continue reading "Baltimore Ravens' Rex Ryan new front-runner for New York Jets coaching job" »


    Ex-Jets QB Chad Pennington impressed by coaching candidate Rex Ryan

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday January 08, 2009, 10:21 PM

    Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, a candidate for the Jets' head coaching job, got a recommendation from old friend Chad Pennington.
    NOTEBOOK

    Representatives from the Jets, who flew to Arizona Thursday to interview Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm, will speak with Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks Friday at the team's Florham Park complex.

    But another candidate who might be on the horizon -- Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan -- got a favorable review from an interesting source.

    Former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington gave his take on Ryan, who could interview with the Jets as early as Sunday.

    Continue reading "Ex-Jets QB Chad Pennington impressed by coaching candidate Rex Ryan" »

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    Bill Cowher is high on New York Jets head coach candidate Russ Grimm

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday January 07, 2009, 9:08 PM

    Bill Cowher may be a bit biased but he believes Russ Grimm, one of his assistants for eight seasons, has the right stuff to be an NFL head coach.

    Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will fly to Arizona Thursday to interview the Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line coach.

    "I think he's a guy the players will relate to," Cowher said on WFAN radio on Tuesday. "I think he has a great understanding of the offense and I think he has enough of an understanding of the defensive side."

    Continue reading "Bill Cowher is high on New York Jets head coach candidate Russ Grimm" »

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    Ron Meeks, not Brian Billick, next candidate for New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday January 06, 2009, 9:21 PM

    Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski met with the Jets Tuesday about their head coaching position.

    Perhaps there's nothing to it, just a matter of logistics and availability. The Jets are scheduled to meet with Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks on Friday at the team's Florham Park facility but have yet to set up an interview with former Ravens head coach Brian Billick, according to a person with knowledge of the coaching search.

    That person spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he's not authorized to speak for the Jets about their search for a replacement for Eric Mangini.

    Continue reading "Ron Meeks, not Brian Billick, next candidate for New York Jets" »

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    New York Jets to interview Arizona Cardinals assistant Russ Grimm for head coaching position

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday January 05, 2009, 9:30 PM

    Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm

    The Jets have asked for and received permission to speak with Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, and owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will fly out to the desert and interview him on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the team's coaching search.

    The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak for the team.

    Grimm, a long-time Steelers assistant in his second season with Arizona, will a finalist for the Steelers job that went to Mike Tomlin two seasons ago.

    Continue reading "New York Jets to interview Arizona Cardinals assistant Russ Grimm for head coaching position" »

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    As planned, New York Jets, Steve Spagnuolo meet

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday January 03, 2009, 8:33 PM

    Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was interviewed by the New York Jets on Saturday at their pracitice facility in Florham Park, NJ.

    NOTEBOOK

    The Jets interviewed the Giants' Steve Spagnuolo at their Florham Park facility Saturday as the search for a new head coach continued.

    Spagnuolo, the Giants' defensive coordinator the past two seasons, is the hot name among young assistant coaches. He interviewed with the Lions and Browns on Thursday and was scheduled to meet with the Broncos last night.

    According to a person close to the search, Spagnuolo arrived at the Jets' complex around midday and stayed several hours, meeting with general manager Mike Tannenbaum and several front office personnel.

    Continue reading "As planned, New York Jets, Steve Spagnuolo meet" »

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    Mike Shanahan is out of the running as New York Jets coach

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Friday January 02, 2009, 8:35 PM

    Mike Shanahan has let the Jets know he is not interested in taking the job as their head coach.

    Mike Shanahan is the second veteran coach to take himself out of the running for the Jets' vacant head coaching job, according to someone with knowledge of the team's coaching search.

    That person requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak publicly.

    Three days after Bill Cowher bowed out, the former Denver Broncos coach sent word to the Jets that he's not interested. The team had held discussions regarding Shanahan and planned to bring him in for an interview if he were interested.

    Meanwhile, Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski is the latest name to surface and is expected to interview with the Jets next week, according to a second person also not at liberty to speak publicly.

    The Jets wouldn't confirm or deny Jagodzinski is coming in for an interview.

    Continue reading "Mike Shanahan is out of the running as New York Jets coach" »


    New York Jets wouldn't mind if Brett Favre decides to retire

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday January 01, 2009, 7:58 PM

    Brett Favre (l.) and Thomas Jones celebrated a Jets TD on Sunday, but Jones said this week that Favre should have been benched, and Jets management won't mind if Favre retires.
    As the Jets continue to compile a list and schedule interviews for their vacant head-coaching job, there are some in the organization who might not mind having to find a new quarterback as well.

    Nobody associated with the Jets is pressing Brett Favre to make a decision on his future, in part because they don't want to be seen as the team that ran a future Hall of Fame quarterback out of town.

    But there are those, including owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who privately indicated they might be okay with any decision Favre makes -- despite Johnson's and Tannenbaum's public pleas for Favre to return next season.

    Continue reading "New York Jets wouldn't mind if Brett Favre decides to retire" »

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    New York Jets will contact Mike Shanahan about their coaching vacancy

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday January 01, 2009, 7:48 PM

    The Jets plan to reach out to ex-Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, to see if he's interested in their vacant head coaching position.
    The Jets plan to contact former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, according to a person with knowledge of the team's coaching search. That person requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak for the organization. "The Jets will reach out to Shanahan to find out what his interest is," said the person. "But it's not like he's a shoo-in if he's interested."

    The Jets will begin the interview process Friday with in-house candidates Brian Schottenheimer and Bill Callahan.

    Continue reading "New York Jets will contact Mike Shanahan about their coaching vacancy" »

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    Bill Cowher no longer a candidate for New York Jets' coaching job

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 30, 2008, 9:09 PM

    Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher has taken himself out of the running for the Jets coaching job.

    The Jets' courtship of Bill Cowher lasted only a few hours Tuesday before he took himself out of the running for the team's vacant head coaching job.

    Early in the day, Cowher had agreed to talk to the club about the opening created when the Jets fired Eric Mangini on Monday morning. But by late Tuesday night, the team was informed that Cowher wasn't interested.

    "After reaching out to coach Cowher's representatives, we were informed (Tuesday night) that he's not a candidate for the position," the Jets said in a statement just after 11 p.m.

    With Cowher no longer a candidate, the Jets will turn their attention to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who is scheduled to meet with them on Saturday. Current Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer also will get a shot in the coming days.

    Continue reading "Bill Cowher no longer a candidate for New York Jets' coaching job" »

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    New York Jets' Brett Favre won't need major surgery on shoulder

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 30, 2008, 7:36 PM

    Jets quarterback Brett Favre won't need major surgery to fix a torn biceps tendon in his shoulder.

    Brett Favre underwent an MRI today which revealed a torn biceps tendon and some calcification in the area but he would need only arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury, according to a report by ESPN.com.

    The report said Favre could avoid arthroscopic surgery if he decides to play next season.

    Favre, 39, complained of pain in his right shoulder in recent weeks and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday. Instead, he underwent the exam today and the damage was revealed. It's believed Favre had an MRI earlier in the season when he complained of pain and it came back negative.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Brett Favre won't need major surgery on shoulder" »

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    New York Jets reach out to Spagnuolo, Cowher after firing Mangini

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 29, 2008, 9:19 PM

    Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is a hot commodity among teams looking for a new head coach.

    Perhaps with an eye on several hot head coaching candidates, the Jets acted quickly in parting ways with coach Eric Mangini Monday, less than 24 hours after owner Woody Johnson said the club would hold meetings this week to discuss Mangini's fate.

    Continue reading "New York Jets reach out to Spagnuolo, Cowher after firing Mangini" »

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    The New York Jets' other big decision: Favre

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 29, 2008, 8:32 PM

    Jets quarterback Brett Favre yanks off his chin strap in disgust after throwing an interception late in the second half Sunday.
    Two months ago Eric Mangini named his son Zach Brett. Do you think he might want to change it now?

    While the Jets decided to fire Mangini Monday after three seasons, team owner Woody Johnson made a plea to have 39-year-old quarterback Brett Favre return next season despite an error-laden, uneven performance down the stretch that was as indicative of the Jets' collapse as anything else.

    "I hope so," Johnson said Monday when asked if he expected Favre back for a second season with the Jets.

    Continue reading "The New York Jets' other big decision: Favre" »

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    New York Jets may be looking for experienced coach

    by Paul Needell/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 29, 2008, 8:18 PM

    Now that first-time head coach Eric Mangini has been whacked, the Jets could well look at candidates with experience:

    Continue reading "New York Jets may be looking for experienced coach" »


    For NFL coaches, first time's a charm -- sometimes

    by Star-Ledger Staff
    Monday December 29, 2008, 8:13 PM

    The past three offseasons have seen a flurry of first-time head coaches hired -- meaning fewer retreads are appearing. The reviews are mixed:

    Continue reading "For NFL coaches, first time's a charm -- sometimes" »

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    New York Jets need a map to know where they're going

    by Steve Politi/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 29, 2008, 7:49 PM

    Jets owner Woody Johnson, left, and GM Mike Tannenbaum contemplate the team's future after announcing the firing of coach Eric Mangini Monday.
    Woody Johnson did his best to look like a decisive owner Monday. He stepped to the podium at 10 a.m. on the dot to announce the firing of his head coach, and did so less than 15 hours after the season had ended.

    He insisted the "decision tree" had been growing for some time, and gave the impression that he was the one who got the shovel, dug the hole and planted the thing. Johnson cast himself as the decider in kicking Eric Mangini to the curb, which raises the obvious question:

    Who will Brett Favre pick as head coach?

    Continue reading "New York Jets need a map to know where they're going" »


    Jets suffer fitting end as franchise adds collapse to long list of woes

    by Steve Politi/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 28, 2008, 11:50 PM

    This hit on Brett Favre on the last play of the loss to the Dolphins seemed to symbolize the Jets' demise.

    Even if you're a Jets fan -- and if you are, our deepest condolences -- you had to admit the ending was perfect.

    There was Brett Favre, exactly 99 yards away from a miracle touchdown that still could not save this cursed franchise, getting hit so hard as he tried to lateral the football that he probably had to count his teeth when he walked to the sidelines.

    Favre arrived as a confident quarterback with Hall of Fame credentials. He crawls into the offseason and probably into retirement as a limp-armed, lead-footed, mistake-prone loser.

    But hey, he should keep his chin up. He was not the first player or coach who could not save the Jets, and certainly won't be the last.

    Continue reading "Jets suffer fitting end as franchise adds collapse to long list of woes" »


    New York Jets' Coles looking for long-term deal

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 28, 2008, 11:34 PM

    Laveranues Coles stayed healthy and quiet this season, two things that should garner him a chance to revisit his contract.

    NOTEBOOK

    With all the talk of who will still be with the Jets next season, wide receiver Laveranues Coles refused to address his future after the Jets' 24-17 loss to the Dolphins.

    Coles, who lobbied for a new contract last offseason and was instead guaranteed the final two years of his contract at $11 million, still wants a long-term deal and he'll likely talk to the club in the coming weeks.

    "That's not something that prudent now," said Coles, who had four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown Sunday. "We just lost a ballgame."

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Coles looking for long-term deal" »


    New York Jets' Favre noncommittal about future following 24-17 loss to Dolphins

    by Dan Graziano/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 28, 2008, 9:41 PM

    Brett Favre didn't have many answers in his postgame press conference Sunday.

    If you were expecting an answer this early, in the moments that followed the too-early end of the Jets' season, then you weren't paying attention all summer. When it comes to retirement, Brett Favre likes to take his time, think things over ... maybe even change his mind a time or two.

    "I know this -- you never know," the 39-year-old quarterback said Sunday night. "Am I old and washed up? Maybe so. If that's the case, when it's time for me to maybe do something else. But I'm going to take some time and think about things."

    The first thing Favre's going to have to think about is the MRI exam he has scheduled for Monday on his sore right shoulder. Favre hinted that a diagnosis requiring surgery might make him more likely to retire than to try to come back. And at various points in the past weeks, he has sounded like a man headed for retirement.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Favre noncommittal about future following 24-17 loss to Dolphins" »


    New York Jets face Dolphins team revitalized by Porter defense

    by Michael J. Fensom/The Star-Ledger
    Friday December 26, 2008, 8:52 PM

    Miami's Joey Porter is a Pro Bowl starter this season -- his 17.5 sacks are second in the NFL.

    The sudden rise of the Dolphins has been the subject of much analysis and speculation. After nearly finishing without a win last season, the Dolphins are on the verge of a division title, which they can clinch with a win Sunday against the Jets.

    Some feel the presence of Chad Pennington, the former Jet, has reinvigorated the Dolphins on the field and in the locker room. Others say that another former Jet, vice president of football operations Bill Parcells, has redefined the football culture in Miami and set the team on its winning course.

    Coach Tony Sparano, a virtual unknown before taking the Dolphins job despite 10 years as an NFL assistant, deserves much of the credit, too.

    All three factors have played a large part in the Dolphins' success in 2008, but a mostly underrated aspect has been Joey Porter, whose transformation after a disappointing, substandard 2007 season has epitomized the Dolphins' turnaround.

    Continue reading "New York Jets face Dolphins team revitalized by Porter defense" »


    Wildcat offense is actually a form of the single wing, with deep Jersey roots

    by David Waldstein/The Star-Ledger
    Friday December 26, 2008, 11:08 AM

    Miami RB Ronnie Brown takes the snap in the Dolphins' version of the Wildcat offense. The formation resembles the single wing, a dominant offense in the 1930s and '40s.
    Like most NFL fans, Billy Granville heard all the hype about the Dolphins' Wildcat offense back in September. So as an ex-NFL player, he was naturally curious to see exactly what it was all about.

    When the former Lawrenceville School star and Bengals linebacker finally saw replays of Miami running back Ronnie Brown taking a direct snap, spinning to his left, faking a handoff to Ricky Williams and then running up the gut for a touchdown, Granville first smiled to himself.

    Continue reading "Wildcat offense is actually a form of the single wing, with deep Jersey roots" »

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    New York Jets' Favre hinting at retirement

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 24, 2008, 9:32 PM

    Brett Favre's throwing shoulder is aching, and he's hinting that his career - like the Jets' season - may come to a close this weekend.

    Four days away from the biggest game of the season, Brett Favre sounded nostalgic, beaten up -- hinting at a possible shoulder injury-- tired and almost resigned to the fact the Jets blew their shot at the playoffs.

    If the end for Favre isn't Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Giants Stadium, it may be soon thereafter.

    Favre said he'll meet with general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini soon after the season because he doesn't want things to drag on and get ugly, as they did last season in Green Bay.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Favre hinting at retirement" »

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    Former New York Jets QB Pennington isn't seeking vengeance

    by Israel Gutierrez/For The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 24, 2008, 9:28 PM

    Former Jets QB Chad Pennington says he's all business about this weekend's matchup against his old team.
    DAVIE, Fla. -- Chad Pennington had his choice of targets, be it his Jets replacement who leads the league in interceptions, his former head coach whose job appears in jeopardy without him, or the entire Jets organization for releasing him so unceremoniously.

    Pennington's choice was the equivalent of a check-down pass, claiming that Sunday's regular-season finale didn't elicit any additional emotions despite all that's at stake and the obvious irony involved in the matchup.

    Continue reading "Former New York Jets QB Pennington isn't seeking vengeance" »

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    New York Jets coach Mangini won't fault move to get Favre

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 23, 2008, 8:14 PM

    When Brett Favre and Eric Mangini conferred on Favre's second day in Jets camp in August, optimism was high that Favre could be a difference-maker.

    In August, the Brett Favre-for-Chad Pennington swap seemed like a no-brainer and a big bonanza for the Jets on and off the field. A record 10,500 fans showed up for Favre's training camp debut, his No. 4 jersey was a must-have, PSLs for the new stadium were a hot item and the long ball was supposed to be back in the Jets offense.

    Four and a half months later, the trade for Favre and release of Pennington isn't looking as good. And Pennington can get the final say with a victory on Sunday at Giants Stadium that would eliminate any chance of the Jets reaching the playoffs.

    Even so, Jets coach Eric Mangini, who lobbied hard to get Favre, isn't about to second-guess the decision even if the Dolphins end the Jets' playoff hopes.

    Continue reading "New York Jets coach Mangini won't fault move to get Favre" »


    Dave Hutchinson With the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 23, 2008, 7:23 PM

    Shaun Ellis claims the snow-throwing was "all in fun."

    ELLIS FINED FOR SNOW-THROWING INCIDENT

    Defensive end Shaun Ellis was fined $10,000 by the league for throwing a chunk of snow in retaliation at fans following the Jets' 13-3 loss to the Seahawks in snowy Seattle on Sunday.

    It's the second time in a month that Ellis has been fined. The team fined him following his arrest on marijuana possession during a traffic stop Nov. 29. He's facing a possible suspension from the league next season.

    After the Seahawks game, the Jets were pelted with snowballs by fans as they walked off the field and Ellis responded in kind. The incident was taped by a fan and posted on YouTube. The video had 370,795 hits as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson With the New York Jets" »


    New York Jets' Coles happy as old pal Pennington finds success in Miami

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 22, 2008, 8:47 PM

    Laveranues Coles, shown with Chad Pennington in 2005, says his buddy got "dogged out" by the New York media.

    Jets WR Laveranues Coles, who took the release of quarterback Chad Pennington hard during training camp, says he's happy for his good friend. Now Miami's quarterback, Pennington, who spent his first eight seasons with the Jets, has completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,453 yards, 17 touchdowns, just seven interceptions and a 96.4 passer rating this season. His Dolphins and the Patriots are tied for first place in the AFC East at 10-5.

    The Jets (9-6) and Dolphins meet on Sunday at Giants Stadium in a showdown with playoffs implications.

    "He's so happy and excited that people down there truly care about him and appreciate the player he is," Coles said. "At this point in his career, he's happy and enjoying the moment. I don't think Chad will want to win this game any more than he wanted to win the first game (a 20-14 Jets win in Miami).

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Coles happy as old pal Pennington finds success in Miami" »


    New York Jets must beat Miami, then hope for the best

    by Brendan Prunty/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 22, 2008, 8:36 PM

    The Jets don't want a picture like this -- Brett Favre floundering in the Seattle snow -- to be the lasting image of their season.

    Eric Mangini's plane was sitting on the runway at the Seattle airport Sunday evening for what must have seemed like an eternity -- the team's departure delayed while the aircraft was being de-iced.

    So the Jets coach began the frustrating review process of looking at the game tape from his team's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks, knowing that about the only thing that had gone right on another lost trip to the West Coast was that he hadn't lost his luggage.

    But watching the loss must have further cemented the notion that even if the Jets win Sunday afternoon against the Miami Dolphins, it might not matter. The Jets, regardless of their performance this weekend, cannot determine whether their season will include a trip to the playoffs -- a fact that was no less bothersome Monday.

    Continue reading "New York Jets must beat Miami, then hope for the best" »


    New York Jets' Mangini blocks out job fears with playoff hopes in jeopardy

    by Brendan Prunty/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 22, 2008, 7:42 PM

    The Jets dismissed the notion they will be playing for Eric Mangini's job on Sunday.

    NOTEBOOK

    Despite the Jets' complete reversal of fortune over the past month, coach Eric Mangini doesn't need to hear a vote of confidence from the team's ownership.

    When asked Monday if he would like to hear support from team owner Woody Johnson, Mangini replied: "No."

    "What I'm looking for is to give the players a good plan to beat Miami," he continued. "That's what I'm looking for. That's what I want to do. That's what our focus is going to be on. That (a vote of confidence) isn't a focal point of mine at all."

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Mangini blocks out job fears with playoff hopes in jeopardy" »


    Jets: Things you may have missed

    by Star-Ledger Staff
    Monday December 22, 2008, 12:52 AM

    DID YOU NOTICE?

    Dwight Lowery hasn't gotten much attention -- at least not the good kind -- for the majority of his rookie season, and is often pointed to when discussions about the Jets' woes in pass defense are mentioned. However, Lowery delivered a pair of big plays Sunday. First, he poked the ball out of Seattle tight end Will Heller's arms and Darrelle Revis recovered the fumble. And on the Seahawks' next possession, Lowery was in on the collision that shook the ball loose from Leonard Weaver. The Jets recovered that fumble inside their own 5-yard line. ... The game ended poorly for Brett Favre, but he pulled a move on the Jets' first drive that is becoming a snow-game staple for him. He shoveled an impromptu pass on the run to Laveranues Coles for a 5-yard gain. In the Packers' playoff victory against the Seahawks last year in the Green Bay snow, Favre also threw a makeshift pass -- an underhanded toss -- on the run. ... The prerequisite mention of Favre's 41 fourth-quarter comebacks was immediately followed by the future Hall of Famer being thrown for a 6-yard loss by Darryl Tapp. ... Something for CBS and the other networks to consider: When the field is so snow-covered that you can't even see the numbers, it wouldn't be bad to figure out a way to keep the field position on the screen in some sort of prominent way.

    THE NUMBER

    163 total net yards for the Jets on their final 10 drives of the game. This, after covering 78 yards on their opening possession, which resulted in a field goal.


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    Delay of game penalty proved costly for the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 21, 2008, 10:53 PM

    Jets kicker Jay Feely had a 45-yard field goal wiped out by a penalty, then was upset the Jets passed on trying a 50-yarder.
    NOTEBOOK

    SEATTLE -- There are some penalties that are understandable -- an occasional offside, a pass interference to save a touchdown, a false start.

    A delay of game that erased a 45-yard field goal in a tight game? But that's what happened to the Jets in yesterday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks at Qwest Field.

    Continue reading "Delay of game penalty proved costly for the New York Jets" »

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    Loss puts New York Jets' season on verge of a collapse

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 21, 2008, 10:38 PM

    Laveranues Coles can't hold on to last-gasp, fourth down pass from Brett Favre, as Seattle's Kelly Jennings breaks the play up.
    SEATTLE -- After starting 8-3 and appearing to be a shoo-in for the playoffs, the Jets are on the verge of adding another unthinkable chapter to their dark history.

    Needing to win their final two games to guarantee a playoff berth, the Jets are now begging for help following a crushing 13-3 defeat to the lowly Seattle Seahawks Sunday at snowy Qwest Field that left their postseason hopes on life support.

    Continue reading "Loss puts New York Jets' season on verge of a collapse" »

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    New York Jets' Favre can't connect with his receivers

    by Todd Dybas/For the Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 21, 2008, 9:55 PM

    This Brett Favre pass, while under pressure from Seahawks' Rocky Bernard, was intercepted by Seahawks' Josh Wilson.
    SEATTLE -- Hands on his hips, Brett Favre stared at the jumbo screen in Qwest Field looking for an explanation.

    Favre had just heaved the ball down the middle on fourth-and-3, Laveranues Coles streaking up the field with just more than two minutes remaining.

    The Jets' Pro Bowl quarterback needed a second look because he ended up planted in the snow by the Seahawks' Brandon Mebane while the ball flew. Favre would learn the pass was broken up by Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant, Coles having a momentary chance to pull it in. The quarterback undid his chin strap and trudged to the sideline, head down.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Favre can't connect with his receivers" »

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    Jets-Seahawks: The Breakdown

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 20, 2008, 5:49 PM

    Seattle coach Mike Holmgren will walk off the field Sunday for the final time before taking a one-year sabbatical from football.

    WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

    QB Brett Favre is stumbling to the finish line. After posting a quarterback rating of 117.7, 119.4 and 103.6 in a three-game stretch -- all wins, he has slipped to 60.9, 60.8 and 61.4 in the past three games. And his interception total is a league-high 17.

    With their short passing game no longer a secret, Favre did stretch the field a bit against the Bills last week. WR Laveranues Coles caught five passes for 82 yards against Buffalo, but all of them came in the first half. Favre had four passes of 20 yards or more but completed just five of 13 passes for 58 yards in the second half.

    Continue reading "Jets-Seahawks: The Breakdown" »


    Pressure is on New York Jets coach Mangini to deliver a playoff berth

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 20, 2008, 5:40 PM

    Nick Mangold, Thomas Jones, and Brett Favre, from left, are three of the Jets' seven Pro Bowlers this year.

    Jets coach Eric Mangini knew the question was coming and had one of his signature canned answers ready.

    On Wednesday, a day after the Jets placed an NFL-high and franchise-record seven players on the AFC Pro Bowl squad, he was asked if that added to the pressure of making the playoffs.

    Mangini smiled and said it's just more ammunition for his critics if the Jets don't make the postseason.

    "It's right on down the line," he said. "The free agents (we signed), Brett Favre, the new facility, (Patriots quarterback) Tom Brady going down, points (the Jets have scored) in the season. That question consistently gets asked.

    Continue reading "Pressure is on New York Jets coach Mangini to deliver a playoff berth" »


    New York Jets practice in snow to prepare for Seattle

    by Colin Stephenson/The Star-Ledger
    Friday December 19, 2008, 7:18 PM

    The Jets have dealt with snow conditions before -- their game against Pittsburgh at Giants Stadium in December 2003 being a prime example.

    Eric Mangini is well aware that his team is 0-3 this season in games played on the West Coast, and the Jets coach has been trying hard to figure out how to change that.

    He had the team practice later than usual Thursday and Friday, with the three-hour time difference in mind, and initially, he wanted to fly to Seattle today, instead of Friday. However, the airline wouldn't accommodate his wishes because of the ongoing weather problems.

    But the one thing no one can control -- snow -- may have done more to change the Jets' routine than anything Mangini could have done.

    Continue reading "New York Jets practice in snow to prepare for Seattle" »


    Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday December 18, 2008, 9:37 PM

    New York Jets first round draft pick Vernon Gholston, is likey to sit again in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

    GHOLSTON LIKELY TO SIT AGAIN SUNDAY

    Rookie LB Vernon Gholston, who was inactive last week for the first time, is expected to be inactive again Sunday and perhaps the rest of the season.

    "I think he's made some strides over the past couple of weeks but some other guys have made some strides, too," said coach Eric Mangini, who hasn't hidden his displeasure with Gholston. "Some guys have made some real strides on special teams. That's the first place where he's impacted."

    Gholston, drafted sixth overall, has a five-year, $32 million deal that includes $21 million guaranteed. He has been a major disappointment with just five tackles in 13 games. He has 11 special-team tackles.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets" »


    Jones enjoying best season of his career

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday December 18, 2008, 8:42 PM

    Thomas Jones of the Jets tries to move the ball against the Buffalo Bills last week. Tuesday, Jones earned the first Pro Bowl berth of his nine-year career.
    It has been quite a year, and perhaps an even better week, for Jets running back Thomas Jones.

    Tuesday, Jones earned the first Pro Bowl berth of his nine-year career -- recognition for his AFC-best 1,222 rushing yards and career-high and franchise-record 13 touchdowns. Thursday, he was voted the Jets' team MVP and the team's most inspirational player.

    "Definitely, I've been blessed this year," Jones said. "Yes, I would say it's one of the best seasons I've ever had."

    Jones' dream season -- he has scored at least one touchdown the past eight games -- continues this weekend at Seattle, when the Jets (9-5) hope to beat the Seahawks (3-11) and move one step closer to a playoff berth.

    It wasn't supposed to take this long for Jones to be recognized as one of the league's elite running backs after the Cardinals drafted him with the seventh pick overall out of Virginia.

    Continue reading "Jones enjoying best season of his career" »


    Colin Stephenson at New York Jets practice

    by Colin Stephenson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 17, 2008, 10:36 PM

    Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren embracing then-Packers quarterback Brett Favre after their NFL football game in Green Bay, Wisc, in January 2006.

    FAVRE GIVES CREDIT TO HOLMGREN

    Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay. On Sunday, they will stand on the same field for the last time as coach and quarterback when Favre and the Jets travel to Seattle to play Holmgren's Seahawks in what will be Holmgren's final home game as Seattle's coach.

    "I can honestly say I would not be here today if it were not for Mike Holmgren," Favre said Wednesday. "He and I worked together a long time ago, but the things he taught me really hit me a little bit later -- how much of a perfectionist he was, how hard he was on me ... he put me in a position to succeed. He allowed me to play, or use my abilities the best way possible to not only catapult me, but to help our team win."

    Continue reading "Colin Stephenson at New York Jets practice" »

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    New York Jets' big man on defense, Jenkins, hits big obstacle

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 17, 2008, 8:29 PM

    Jets Pro Bowl nose tackle Kris Jenkins knew this point in the season was coming, he just didn't know when. He knew the normal aches and pains, the constant double-teams from all angles and the adjustment of learning a new scheme would all come crashing down on him.

    Wednesday, Jenkins said that day has arrived and apologized for not being "Superman" and not being "100 percent perfect every time I go out there." But, he said, teams are game-planning him differently now that they've seen him in the 3-4 scheme.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' big man on defense, Jenkins, hits big obstacle" »

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    Favre may be old, but he's the man to guide New York Jets' playoff push

    by Steve Politi/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 17, 2008, 8:24 PM

    Jets quarterback Brett Favre may be showing his age, but Steve Politi says he's the right guy to lead Gang Green in their playoff pursuit.

    His press conferences are starting to feel like the keynote address at an AARP convention. His numbers are way down from last season, with the notable exception of his interceptions, and his famous shotgun of an arm is firing like a water pistol.

    The Jets are 9-5 and must win their final two games to guarantee a playoff berth, a telling stretch that will either validate their expensive offseason moves or send their head coach to Kinko's to get his resume ready. So who do they want at quarterback right now?

    C'mon. They want the old guy.

    They want Brett Favre.

    Continue reading "Favre may be old, but he's the man to guide New York Jets' playoff push" »


    For New York Jets, a win is a win

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 15, 2008, 8:18 PM

    Shaun Ellis, shown here recovering the fumble that led to the Jets' game-winning touchdown against the Bills, says the Jets have been rejuvenated by the scare Buffalo gave them.

    One day later, Eric Mangini best summed up his team's lucky bounce of a win over the Buffalo Bills.

    "I think at this point in the season the key thing is to get the win," the Jets coach said Monday. "It's not like the BCS. We don't get voted down for style points. We're in first place in the division. ... The win is the win is the win."

    That was the feeling among the Jets as they wiped their collective brows in relief after Sunday's wild, come-from-behind, 31-27 victory, a game in which defensive end Shaun Ellis scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard return of a fumble by Bills quarterback J.P. Losman. The fumble was forced on a strip/sack by safety Abram Elam with 1:54 left to play.

    Continue reading "For New York Jets, a win is a win" »


    Quick Takes from Jets-Bills

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 14, 2008, 9:28 PM

    DID YOU NOTICE?

    Rookie LB Vernon Gholston was inactive for the first time this season. Pretty compelling evidence that Eric Mangini & Co. aren't happy with the first-round pick, who hasn't done much of anything all year.

    After totaling just two catches in last week's loss at San Francisco, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery caught Brett Favre's first two passes of the game.

    Continue reading "Quick Takes from Jets-Bills" »


    Jones sets several franchise records in New York Jets' 31-27 victory over Bills

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 14, 2008, 9:17 PM

    Thomas Jones, celebrating his first-quarter touchdown against the Bills, leads the AFC in rushing with 1,215 yards.

    NOTEBOOK

    The Jets running game continues to chew up yardage as Thomas Jones set several franchise records Sunday and Leon Washington made yet another highlight-reel run.

    Jones, who rushed for just one touchdown last season, set team records with his career-high 13th rushing touchdown and 15th touchdown overall (two receiving) in Sunday's 31-27 victory over the Bills at Giants Stadium.

    Jones, a ninth-year pro, scored on a 2-yard run on the Jets' opening drive, marking the eighth consecutive game he scored a touchdown, another club record.

    Continue reading "Jones sets several franchise records in New York Jets' 31-27 victory over Bills" »


    New York Jets' Favre not concerned with stats as he gets older

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 14, 2008, 8:36 PM

    Brett Favre said his 27-yard run in the first quarter against the Bill 'probably shocked everyone.'

    Brett Favre was barefoot behind the podium, pointing the finger at himself, telling it like it is -- as usual -- in explaining that his numbers, frankly, don't mean much to him these days.

    Favre, a shell of his former gunslinging self in recent weeks, had an uneven performance in the Jets' 31-27 come-from-behind victory against the Bills Sunday.

    Favre, who hadn't thrown a touchdown in the two previous games, was hardly sharp. The future Hall of Famer completed 17 of 30 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

    "You get to a point as an older player where statistics don't matter quite as much as they used to," said Favre. "The one statistic that matters is wins and losses."

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Favre not concerned with stats as he gets older" »


    New York Jets' defense comes through when it matters at end of 31-27 victory over Bills

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 14, 2008, 7:42 PM

    This play -- in which the Bills' Fred Jackson, bottom left, dragged multiple Jets defenders over the goal line for a touchdown -- could have sent the Jets reeling.

    When Bills running back Fred Jackson dragged what seemed like the entire Jets active roster into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown late in the game, Darrelle Revis swears the Jets maligned defense wasn't deflated. No empty stares, no dispirited looks and certainly no finger pointing when it appeared that the troubled unit had hit rock bottom.

    "It's a play you don't want to see happen," Revis said of Jackson's 11-yard score that gave Buffalo a 27-24 lead with 5:30 left. "Once we got out there (again), we knew we had to stop them. There weren't stares like 'Oh, we're going to lose.' Everybody was focused on their job to get the win."

    The defense responded with a flurry of big plays late in the game to save the Jets from a crippling defeat. Revis & Co. forced three turnovers in the final 2 minutes, 6 seconds -- including a game- and season-changer on Abram Elam's strip sack that led to Shaun Ellis' fumble recovery and 11-yard rumble for a touchdown.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' defense comes through when it matters at end of 31-27 victory over Bills" »


    New York Jets anxious to avoid the heartbreak of 1986

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 13, 2008, 6:42 PM

    Former Jets wide receiver Wesley Walker, above, thought his 1986 team was going to the Super Bowl.

    Former wide receiver Wesley Walker was a member of one of the Jets' most famous -- and infamous -- teams. After Joe Namath's Super Bowl III-winning team, perhaps no squad is the embodiment of the love-hate relationship long-suffering fans have with this snake-bitten franchise than the 1986 Jets.

    That year, the Jets won nine straight games and raced to a 10-1 start behind a solid defense and a big-play offense, sparked by Walker and fellow wideout Al Toon. Talk of the Super Bowl was loud and legit.

    Then, injuries to nose tackle Joe Klecko, defensive end Mark Gastineau and linebacker Lance Mehl hurt the defense. And the offense was slowed by nagging injuries along the offensive line.

    Continue reading "New York Jets anxious to avoid the heartbreak of 1986" »


    Jets-Bills: The Breakdown

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 13, 2008, 5:42 PM

    WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

    The Jets' short passing game no longer is a mystery. After averaging 33.8 points per game during their five-game winning streak, the Jets have averaged just 15.5 in two straight losses as opponents are playing more aggressive coverages, practically daring QB Brett Favre to beat them deep. Favre threw for just 137 yards last week vs. the 49ers, his lowest since 2004 (not counting games he didn't finish). WRs Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery combined for two catches for 15 yards. TE Dustin Keller, who had 27 catches the previous four games, had just two receptions for 14 yards.

    Continue reading "Jets-Bills: The Breakdown" »


    New York Jets secondary a big concern heading into game against Bills

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Friday December 12, 2008, 7:49 PM

    49ers wide receiver Bryant Johnson hauls in a touchdown pass next to Jets cornerback Dwight Lowery last week.

    Behold the magic of Jets defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. In the past few weeks, the Jets defense has gone David Blaine on the opposition, defying all logic by turning middling quarterbacks into stars.

    For Sutton's next trick, he'll try to turn this unit into an actual NFL-caliber defense as the Jets host the Bills Sunday to kick off a three-game sprint for the playoffs.

    Sure, Brett Favre & Co. has struggled too, but Sutton's group has pulled a disappearing act that would make David Copperfield envious.

    The pass defense? Take your pick of adjectives: Leaky, porous, abysmal, vulnerable.

    Continue reading "New York Jets secondary a big concern heading into game against Bills" »


    Opponents may have figured New York Jets' offense out

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday December 11, 2008, 9:12 PM

    Walt Harris of San Francisco intercepts this pass intended for Laveranues Coles, who says other teams seem to know what the Jets are doing on offense.
    Brett Favre said it with such defiance that you almost believed him: The Jets' malfunctions on offense the past few weeks are simply a "matter of execution."

    "People want to say, 'Well, they figured out (how to defend) the short passing game,'" the Jets quarterback said this week. "Or, 'The guys can't throw deep.' No one has figured anything out."

    But then, you look at the numbers.

    Continue reading "Opponents may have figured New York Jets' offense out" »

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    New York Jets: The day at practice

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday December 11, 2008, 7:39 PM

    Brad Smith's concussion has opened the door for David Clowney to be activated for the first time this season Sunday against Buffalo.
    CLOWNEY GETS TO PLAY SUNDAY


    Jets WR David Clowney has played Randy Moss, Anquan Boldin, Chad Johnson and Lee Evans, among others, on the scout team this season, helping the secondary prepare for an opponent's top receiver.

    This week, David Clowney is playing, well, David Clowney.

    With WR Brad Smith (concussion) out for Sunday's game against the Bills, the speedy Clowney will be activated for the first time this season, according to a person with knowledge of the team's thinking. He requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak for the club.

    Continue reading "New York Jets: The day at practice" »

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    Mangini shortens New York Jets' practices

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 10, 2008, 7:38 PM

    Jets coach Eric Mangini has decided to make practices shorter, according to several players.
    Jets coach Eric Mangini, a notorious stickler for long, physical practices, has cut practice short nearly a half-hour -- starting Wednesday -- in an effort to shake things up and snap his team out of a two-game losing streak, according to several players. The players, who saw the schedule prior to yesterday's practice, spoke on the condition of anonymity because Mangini hadn't publicly acknowledged the change in the practice routine, and they could be subject to reprimand under Mangini's rigid media policy. Continue reading "Mangini shortens New York Jets' practices" »

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    Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 09, 2008, 8:52 PM

    LOOKING BACK

    After averaging more than 33 points during their five-game winning streak, the Jets have scored just 15.5 points per game in two consecutive losses as opponents have figured out how to stop their short passing game.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets" »

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    Stumbling New York Jets still team to beat for AFC East title

    by Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 08, 2008, 9:10 PM

    Jets coach Eric Mangini says the team might need extra film study or conditioning sessions.

    When Jets linebacker David Bowens returned home after a long, quiet flight back from San Francisco, he stayed up until about 6 a.m. watching movies. While he was awake, his mind drifted to all the Januarys he has spent at his home in South Florida, grilling with his friends and wishing his team were in the playoffs.

    "We have the option of being at home barbecuing," Bowens said Monday, "or playing in those games."

    With three games to play, the 8-5 Jets are still the masters of their own fortunes: If they win out, they will earn a playoff berth as the AFC East champions. But after back-to-back losses, including a 24-14 setback Sunday against the 49ers, they are more a team that is reeling than surging toward a division title.

    Continue reading "Stumbling New York Jets still team to beat for AFC East title" »


    New York Jets' Coles showing signs of frustration

    by Dave Hutchinson
    Sunday December 07, 2008, 11:35 PM

    San Francisco 49ers cornerback Walt Harris, center, intercepts a pass intended for Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles (87).

    SAN FRANCISCO -- WR Laveranues Coles was held to just one catch for 5 yards in Sunday's 24-14 loss to the 49ers after having just two catches for 2 yards last week against the Broncos.

    "It's nothing I haven't seen," Coles said. "This is a copy-cat league. They did the same thing Denver did. We just struggled offensively and couldn't get anything going. That's the way the day went."

    Coles' partner, Jerricho Cotchery, was limited to one catch for 10 yards.

    Following the Denver game, Coles said the Broncos shadowed him with a cornerback and had safety help over the top, effectively double-teaming him.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Coles showing signs of frustration" »


    San Francisco's Shaun Hill keeps New York Jets grounded

    by Damin Esper/For the Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 07, 2008, 10:46 PM

    San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill throws a pass against the New York Jets in the first quarter at Candlestick Park.

    SAN FRANCISCO -- Shaun Hill entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, he didn't earn his first start until last year, his sixth season in the league, and was told this year in training camp that he wouldn't be competing for the San Francisco 49ers starting job.

    You would have never known to see him play against the Jets Sunday.

    Hill nimbly danced around in the pocket, keeping several plays alive, and finished the afternoon 28-of-39 for 285 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers 24-14 win at Candlestick Park. He was almost perfect managing the San Francisco offense, his lone mistake an interception by David Bowens.

    Continue reading "San Francisco's Shaun Hill keeps New York Jets grounded" »


    New York Jets' 24-14 loss to San Francisco drops them into three-way tie atop AFC East

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday December 07, 2008, 10:02 PM

    Brett Favre, right, says he doesn't sense desperation in the wake of the loss to the 49ers.

    Two weeks ago, the Jets were 8-3 and wondering if they were indeed the class of the conference.

    This morning, they're wondering if they are still the class of their division.

    After averaging more than 33 points per game during a five-game winning streak, the Jets suddenly can't find the end zone. After sacking quarterbacks at a dizzying rate, the Jets suddenly need Mapquest to find them. After playing mistake-free football, the Jets are shooting themselves in the foot.

    And after dominating the time of possession battle, the Jets can't make a third-down conversion.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' 24-14 loss to San Francisco drops them into three-way tie atop AFC East" »


    New York Jets offseason moves paying huge dividends

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 06, 2008, 8:28 PM

    The Jets' acquisitions of Alan Faneca and Brett Favre weren't without risks.

    Wide receiver David Clowney was sitting at his locker stall in the Jets' sparkling new facility in Florham Park recently when veteran left guard Alan Faneca walked by.

    Clowney, whose locker is stationed in the corner of the huge, oval-shaped room, had a wad of tape in his hands the size of a golf ball.

    "Alan," he shouted, "alley-oop."

    Clowney tossed the tape to Faneca as if it was a basketball. As Faneca passed a trash can, he caught it and quickly flipped the tape into the waste-basket from behind his back. Two points.

    Continue reading "New York Jets offseason moves paying huge dividends" »


    New York Jets' Ellis facing suspension after season ends

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 06, 2008, 8:17 PM

    Shaun Ellis, center, possessed less than 50 grams of marijuana when he was arrested.

    NOTEBOOK

    Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis is facing a probable suspension from the NFL for his arrest last Saturday morning in Morris County for possession of marijuana, but it won't come until after the regular season and playoffs, according to a high-ranking NFL official.

    The official spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak on the matter.

    The Jets have already fined Ellis an undisclosed amount but didn't suspend him. Now, the case will go through the legal system. When that process is completed, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will review the case and decide on the appropriate punishment.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Ellis facing suspension after season ends" »


    Jets-49ers: The Breakdown

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday December 06, 2008, 5:27 PM

    San Francisco coach Mike Singletary, above, once spoke to Eric Mangini's high school class.

    WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

    QB Brett Favre, who struggled last week in the rain, should find the conditions more favorable Sunday in the Bay Area. He completed 23 of 43 passes for 247 yards, no TDs and an interception against Denver and was outgunned by Jay Cutler. TE Dustin Keller continues to be a major factor with 27 catches for 313 yards and a TD in the past four games. WR Laveranues Coles was held to just two catches for 2 yards as he was double-teamed all game by the Broncos.

    RB Thomas Jones is having a Pro Bowl year, leading the AFC in rushing with 1,088 yards and a career-high 11 TDs, one short of Curtis Martin's franchise record. Most of his big runs have come behind RG Brandon Moore and RT Damien Woody. He scored on a career-long TD run of 59 yards vs. Denver running behind Moore and Woody. The underrated Moore is also having a Pro Bowl-like year but doesn't have the name recognition to get the votes.

    Continue reading "Jets-49ers: The Breakdown" »


    New York Jets quietly punished contrite Ellis following marijuana arrest

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Friday December 05, 2008, 7:21 PM

    Shaun Ellis says he's always tried to carry himself as a 'stand-up guy.'

    Jets coach Eric Mangini was in full-blown damage control mode Friday after defensive end Shaun Ellis' recent arrest turned an otherwise distraction-free season into a headache.

    Ellis, the defensive co-captain and team leader in sacks, accepted responsibility Friday for his arrest last Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses.

    Mangini said the team took "appropriate internal disciplinary action" before last week's game against the Broncos, but didn't delve into specifics. Ellis played last week, practiced this week and will play Sunday in San Francisco against the 49ers.

    Continue reading "New York Jets quietly punished contrite Ellis following marijuana arrest" »


    Defensive backs are concern for New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 03, 2008, 7:34 PM

    The Jets and defensive back Kerry Rhodes have had their hands full recently defending against the Patriots' and Broncos receivers, and the Niners present yet another challenge.
    The Jets' embattled secondary must look like red meat to a starving man these days. And if the unit doesn't right itself soon, the Jets could make a quick exit from the playoffs -- provided they qualify -- with possible first-round opponents like the pass-happy Colts, Broncos, and even the Patriots looming.

    The Jets have the NFL's 30th-ranked pass defense, having allowed a stunning 249.2 yards per game, a number that has only grown the past three weeks as Matt Cassell of the Patriots and Jay Cutler of the Broncos each threw for more than 350 yards. Outside of cornerback Darrelle Revis, no one is making plays consistently.

    Continue reading "Defensive backs are concern for New York Jets" »

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    M.A. Mehta with the New York Jets

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday December 03, 2008, 7:26 PM

    RETURN OF HARRIS WILL AID DEFENSE

    Coach Eric Mangini didn't make any definitive statement, but it appears that the Jets' slumping defense may receive a much-needed boost with the return of inside linebacker David Harris this week.

    Harris, sidelined for five games following groin surgery, is likely to play and may start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

    Continue reading "M.A. Mehta with the New York Jets" »

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    Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Tuesday December 02, 2008, 9:05 PM

    LOOKING BACK

    Perhaps the most alarming thing about the Jets' loss to the Broncos was that coach Eric Mangini saw it coming after a lackluster week of practice. That is probably why he's so upset with his team. For just the second time this season -- the San Diego game was the other -- the Jets defense was a no-show.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets" »

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    New York Jets bemoan missed opportunities

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 01, 2008, 9:42 PM

    Shaun Ellis, left, and Eric Barton of the Jets walk off the field after the Denver Broncos scored in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at Giants Stadium.
    As the Jets sorted through the wreckage of their 34-17 loss to the Broncos one day later, they lamented the fact that with a win they could've had a virtual stranglehold on the AFC East title -- a two-game lead with four to play.

    Instead, the Jets (8-4) hold a one-game lead over the Patriots and Dolphins in the division, with the loss to Denver taking some of the luster off their back-to-back victories at New England and Tennessee.

    Furthermore, the Jets' chances of getting a first-round bye also took a hit. The top two seeds in each conference get a bye. The Titans (11-1) and Steelers (9-3), who thumped the Patriots, 33-10, on Sunday, currently sit atop the AFC.

    Continue reading "New York Jets bemoan missed opportunities" »

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    Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Monday December 01, 2008, 9:35 PM

    The No. 6 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Vernon Gholston has yet to have a breakthrough game for the Jets.
    ROOKIE CAN'T TACKLE KEY ASSIGNMENT

    On Sunday, the Jets needed rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston's pass-rush ability in the worst way. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler repeatedly scrambled to make plays and the Jets couldn't lay a hand on him.

    Coach Eric Mangini turned to Gholston, drafted sixth overall, and got little.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets" »

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    Jones produces another big game for New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday November 30, 2008, 10:35 PM

    Thomas Jones was one of few bright spots for the Jets in their loss to Denver, running for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
    NOTEBOOK

    Jets running back Thomas Jones had yet another big day as he ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 carries in the Jets' 34-17 loss to the Broncos Sunday at Giants Stadium.

    Jones, the AFC's leading rusher, scored on a career-long touchdown run of 59 yards and scored on a 29-yarder on which he appeared to be down. Jones now has 1,088 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season.

    It's the fourth consecutive season he has rushed for 1,000 yards. His 11 rushing touchdowns are one shy of Curtis Martin's club record.

    Continue reading "Jones produces another big game for New York Jets" »

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    Broncos' Hillis runs rampant over New York Jets

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday November 30, 2008, 9:42 PM

    The Jets' defense had no answer for Denver's Peyton Hillis, as he became the first player this season to run for 100 yards against them.
    The fantasy geeks may have been on to him a couple weeks ago, but the Jets found out Sunday that Denver's fifth-string running back is pretty good.

    Fullback-turned-feature back Peyton Hillis went Star Trek on the Jets' stout run defense -- boldly going where no man had gone before. The Broncos' rookie became the first opposing player to top the 100-yard plateau in Denver's 34-17 win.

    Hillis, thrust into the starting role a few weeks ago thanks to a host of injuries in the backfield, had 22 carries for a career-high 129 yards and a touchdown, gashing the most formidable piece of the Jets defensive puzzle.

    Continue reading "Broncos' Hillis runs rampant over New York Jets" »

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    New York Jets defend questionable play calls after 34-17 loss to Broncos

    by Kevin Manahan/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday November 30, 2008, 9:42 PM

    Brett Favre did not have a good day -- here he walks off the field after fumbling the ball in the third quarter.

    Brett Favre sounded like a defense attorney with a client who had been caught standing over the body, clutching a kitchen knife, blood dripping off the edge. Try as he might to defend offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Favre had no shot at an acquittal.

    On critical third and fourth downs, needing only a yard, the Jets had opted to throw the ball. Call it pass, fail. And those plays, which the Jets failed to execute -- along with several other mistakes in judgment, lousy tackling and missed assignment -- dominoed into a 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday night in a rainstorm at Giants Stadium.

    The Jets, still polishing their nails after the blowout of the previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans, were victimized by big plays in the first half and trailed, 27-14, early in the third quarter.

    Continue reading "New York Jets defend questionable play calls after 34-17 loss to Broncos" »


    Quick takes from Jets-Broncos

    by M.A. Mehta/The Star-Ledger
    Sunday November 30, 2008, 9:26 PM

    DID YOU NOTICE?

    The Jets went three and out on their first drive to snap their streak of six consecutive games of scoring on their opening drive...

    Damien Woody recovered Thomas Jones' first-quarter fumble on the Jets 13-yard line...

    The Broncos appeared to catch a break on Vernon Fox's 23-yard fumble return for a TD in the first quarter. Jerricho Cotchery fumbled Brad Smith's flip on a reverse, but appeared to have control of the ball at the Jets 25-yard line when Wesley Woodyard landed on him and the ball squirted free. Officials ruled that Cotchery never had possession of the ball...

    Continue reading "Quick takes from Jets-Broncos" »

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    New York Jets' Jones pulls out some old tricks to keep young

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday November 29, 2008, 6:34 PM

    At age 30, the Jets' Thomas Jones is enjoying a career year, thanks to time spent in the weight room and the cold tub.
    If you're an NFL running back, age 30 qualifies you for an AARP card. The years of taking a physical beating and battling through injuries begin to rob you of your burst and bounce. Turning the corner is like running a marathon.

    But Jets running back Thomas Jones, who turned 30 in August, is just getting his second wind. He's defying the odds and running with the young pups at a time when most running backs are in the twilight of their careers.

    Jones, in his ninth season, leads the AFC in rushing and is fifth in the NFL with 950 yards rushing, along with nine touchdowns on 217 carries (4.4-yard average). He's on pace for a career high in rushing yards and his 11 total touchdowns (two receiving) are tied for fourth in the NFL.

    Continue reading "New York Jets' Jones pulls out some old tricks to keep young" »

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    Jets-Broncos: The Breakdown

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Saturday November 29, 2008, 6:18 PM

    Denver QB Jay Cutler is third in the NFL in passing yardage (3,036), which could be a problem for the Jets' secondary.
    WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

    QB Brett Favre has always been at his best when he's getting rid of the ball quickly, firing slants, working the tight end underneath and throwing an occasional deep ball, and that's exactly what the Jets have been doing the past three weeks.

    Favre has thrown just one interception in the past three games and is completing 77 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and the interception. Rookie TE Dustin Keller has emerged as Favre's go-to guy with 20 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown in the past three games.

    Continue reading "Jets-Broncos: The Breakdown" »


    New York Jets not giving up on big-play offense

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Friday November 28, 2008, 7:59 PM

    These two guys -- Brian Schottenheimer and Brett Favre -- still have something up their sleeve when it comes to opening up the passing game.

    Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer readily admits that quarterback Brett Favre has gone more to a short passing game in recent weeks, but he insists a post pattern to wide receiver Laveranues Coles -- even with safety help over the top -- is still in the playbook.

    Over the past four games, the Jets have gone to a short passing game that has produced five touchdowns and just two interceptions while averaging 35.2 points.

    Favre has completed 79 of 103 passes (76.6 percent) for 816 yards in those games. Just six completions have been for 20 or more yards.

    Continue reading "New York Jets not giving up on big-play offense" »


    Barton lines New York Jets with biz, banter

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Thursday November 27, 2008, 8:49 PM

    Eric Barton of the Jets keeps it light off the field, but is all business when he nears a quarterback, as the St. Louis Rams' Marc Bulger found out earlier this season.
    If there's a practical joke being played in the Jets' locker room, chances are linebacker Eric Barton's fingerprints are on it. The former Oakland Raiders bad boy, now in his fifth season with the Jets, loves life and his teammates.

    The other day, sporting a mohawk haircut -- he plans to get it cut -- Barton led the razzing of veteran fullback Tony Richardson, who had a 14-yard run against the Titans, his longest since 2002.

    During his interview, Barton exchanged one-liners with left guard Alan Faneca, whose locker stall is adjacent to his. Later, he posed for the cameras during practice.

    Continue reading "Barton lines New York Jets with biz, banter" »

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    Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets

    by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
    Wednesday November 26, 2008, 8:24 PM

    Fireman Ed gets a shout out from Jets NT Kris Jenkins.

    Star-Ledger Jets beat writer Dave Hutchinson gives us some insight from practice Wednesday:

    FAVRE SAYS GROUND GAME PASSES WITH FLYING COLORS

    Brett Favre has made his mark flinging the ball downfield, but he insists he has no problem with going to the short passing game that is driving the offense these days.

    Or running the football.

    Continue reading "Dave Hutchinson with the New York Jets" »


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