Best NY Jets Player posted by Brad Coole

I was having a debate with a friend of mine about the best player of different NFL teams. It was agreed on big names like Aikman and Smith for the Cowboys or Jim Brown for Cleveland but when it came to talking about the NY Jets we started bumping heads. I will not even mention the person he picked as the best Jet but he said I was a lunatic to think Namath was! Now anyone who knows anything about NY Jets football knows that Namath is legendary. The man is a hall of famer...4 x AFL star...a pro bowl selection...3 x 1st team AFL star team...NEED I GO ON!! Am I crazy to think he is the best NY Jets?Continue reading "Best NY Jets Player"

Who wants Plaxico Burress? posted by Matthew McCabe

Plaxico Burress has avoided a decision in the justice system, for now, but will a decision on his playing future soon be reached? Burress and his agent Drew Rosenhaus have stated that he is in good shape and ready to play in the NFL this coming season after recovering from his self inflicted gun shot wound last fall. With jail time on the back burner for now, Burress seems free to rejoin an NFL team and resume his career, but does anyone want to sign him? More importantly, should anyone sign him?

Rumor has it that among a handful of teams, the New York Jets and Chicago Bears have expressed the most interest in Burress' services. Both teams could use Burress' experience and ability. The Bears have long been lacking a reliable, go to WR to help but some teeth in their offensive scheme. The Jets even more so could benefit from Burress as he would not only be able to stretch the field but would be a fantastic target for rookie Mark Sanchez if, or more accurately when, he becomes the Jets starter. The bigger question is, should either of these teams, or any other even consider giving Burress a contract.

Yes, Burress is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but it doesn't look good for him. New York's law is clear, jail time is the punishment for illegal possession of firearms. While Burress was the only "victim" in this crime, other people could have been injured when his gun went off accidentally. Like it or not, Burress broke the law and deserves to face the punishment. His status as a star athlete shouldn't shield him from facing justice.

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More and more money, but for what? posted by Matthew McCabe

Over the last two years America has slowly sunk into an economic mess. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and their self-esteem as they find it harder and harder to make ends meet. It appears however that not everybody is suffering. As college educated people lose jobs they've held for years, and recent college graduates struggle to find any job at all, there are some signing on the dotted line for millions that haven't earned a dime of what they are being given. America's two largest, and most arguably most popular, professional sports leagues are doing nothing to curtail ballooning salaries for top rated rookies who haven't even set foot on the field to prove they are worthy of a contract.

Immediately people are going to disagree and say these kids spent one, two, three, or four (though most don't spend four) years in college as student-athletes waiting for this opportunity. Surely then, that time has earned them a good wage in the professional ranks, but how so? How does performing exceptionally in college prove you are worth anything in the professional ranks? If you ask most athletes and analysts, they will tell you that in no sport are the college ranks anywhere near the intensity of the professional leagues. Given that knowledge, it should be easy to realize then that everything earned in college gets you nothing but attention before your professional career. Accomplishments in an admittedly lesser league (or level of play) don't prove you are capable of success on the prime time stage.

If that isn't enough to convince you, than perhaps you need a history lesson. The history of draft night is littered with failures and wasted money. Yes, a select few do go on to justify the ridiculous contract signed when they were 22 yrs old, but most do not. Without naming every failure, a few stick out as perfect examples. QBs Todd Marinovich and Akili Smith were tremendous collegiate athletes, but terrible failures at the professional ranks. Marinovich couldn't handle the demands of the NFL in comparison to NCAA football and Smith looked lost trying to figure out professional defenses. QBs aren't the only ones, RBs have been taken high in the draft only to fail miserably, Ki-Jana Carter being the best example. Carter helped propel his Penn State team to a 12-0 record in 1994. After being picked #1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals however, Carter tore his ACL in his first preseason game and never recovered. Carter finished his NFL career with 1,144 rushing yards and 20 TDs.

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Patriots Have Reason to Fear Rex Ryan's Defense posted by Mike Dussault

It's still only June, not even five months since Rex Ryan was hired as the newest head coach of the New York Jets, and he's already been stirring up drama in the AFC East.

First came Bart Scott, the Inside Linebacker Ryan brought with him from Baltimore, proclaiming the Jets to have a  new "swagger-licious" attitude. Practices were now fun and vocal, a swift departure from how things were run under Eric Mangini. After just a few OTA practices, the Jets already had a new confidence under Ryan.

Then came Ryan stating he  wasn't there to kiss Bill Belichick's rings, a statement that the even-keeled Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss  found to be in a disrespectful tone.

Miami's Channing Crowder took on Ryan's comments that the Jets would contend for a Super Bowl, saying Ryan was  "going absolutely nuts".

Ryan didn't hesitate to shoot back at Crowder, without even being prompted to by reporters, welcoming the back and forth and saying he wasn't afraid to  "ruffle some feathers".

All in all, this off-season has been a far cry from business as usual in the AFC East, and we all have Rex Ryan to thank. Usually the pinnacle of controversy was the Patriots signing a former Jet or vice versa.

Even as a Patriots fan, I'm enjoying the chatter. It's a breath of fresh air and a nice switch from the current boring norm of head coaches not saying anything that could be used as "bulletin board" material. Plus it's building the anticipation for the Jets-Patriots week two clash even more than before.

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Brett Favre -- Green Bay & America's Favorite Washed-Up Lovable Loser posted by Dustin

Today wasn’t anything particularly special.  I woke up at 8:00a.m., a full hour after my alarm went off, not awesome.  Turned on the TV to see more Brett Favre.  His face, his grizzle and red jersey.  It seems that all the footage of Brett playing in Packer colors has been wiped off the face of the earth.  

ESPN only shows his New York Jets attire.  Which is accurate of Brett Favre but, I don’t like or respect Favre because of his last outing in the NFL.  I respect him because of his years in Green Bay.  The city of Green Bay that without Football, would be valued at about 25 cents.  Brett Favre though makes that city something of an icon.  An icon for what America could turn into if we follow tired and old tactics.  

Brett didn’t lead the Packers to one Superbowl in his last decade with the team.  He hardly had them competing for a few years.  Once and awhile yes, his team would be amazing, spectacular and regarded as an elite team.  Then people would start asking, do you think the Packers can make it this year?  Brett’s still got some left, don’t cha think?

No, here is the truth: Brett Favre isn’t going to win a Superbowl again, ever.  He isn’t equipped mentally or physically.  The game has changed around Brett.  He forced the game to change.  Defenses had to be faster, smarter and more aggressive.  If he was the best player for years and years it seemed the analysts knew why.  He was erratic never playing the same type of game.  

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Minnesota Vikings Want Brett Favre To Coach Tavaris and Win a Superbowl posted by Dustin

Brett Favre where do we begin.  This is an open letter to you and all of your concerns.  Stop you incessant pursuit to dominate your old team.  It isn’t likable, pretty or even expected that a man of caliber would stoop to such depths.  No playing campaign with the Minnesota Vikings will validate your 16 year career with the Green Bay Packers.  Unless you join the Vikings and go undefeated for the next two seasons, the Packers are never going to believe they made the wrong decision.

No one wants you on their team except the Minnesota Vikings.  As an organization, we want you only because it would fulfill a team goal of demoralizing the Packers.  Vikings fans do not even have expectations yet about the outcome of the game.  October 5th, 2009 will be important to both teams regardless of the starting Quarterback.  I hope with baited breath that Favre decides to attend the game, in the stands.  The first time I will have a true man-respect for Brett Favre again.  

Signing with the New York Jets didn’t give you any credibility. I would have rather seen Brett Favre retire and wait a year then join the Vikings.  Then he would have a full year to rest his late-thirties body.  We don’t think about it but twenty-somethings bounce back the next day with bumps and bruises.  Brett Favre takes the bruises from the first practice till Christmas.  Till Christmas because his teams will not make it to the playoffs anytime soon.  

Brett, the Vikings do not want you on the players roster.  We need a Quarterback, not the ‘Prince’ of Quarterbacks, the man formerly known as a Quarterback.  In the deepest sympathies, I understand, it isn’t easy to finish something you’ve sunk so much of your life into but, it is time.  The painter can’t paint with the same fever s/he did as one point in their life.  You need to realize that the fire inside doesn’t translate into the same snap of a wrist.  Now that fire would be best served on the coaching staff of the Minnesota Vikings.  

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The Play that Cost the 2008 Patriots the Playoffs posted by Mike Dussault

It would be easy to say that Tom Brady going down in Week One was the defining moment of the 2008 New England Patriots.

Sure, in many ways it was, but with Brady going down just twelve minutes into 2008 there was still a full season of football to be played. So, ultimately the 2008 Patriots were not defined by a lack of Tom Brady, they were defined by not being able to beat any of the elite teams they faced.

In a season where the AFC East was decided by the third tie-breaker (conference record) there were a handful of plays that, had they gone the other way, the Patriots would've been crowned division champs.

You never truly know that mistakes that will come back to haunt you when they happen. Some people may point to Jabar Gaffney's dropped touchdown pass or David Thomas' Unnecessary Roughness penalty against the Colts that cost the Pats at least a shot at overtime, and potentially a win, but there was another play that I believe was truly the difference in the 2008 Patriots season.

That play came in overtime against the New York Jets in Week 11.

Matt Cassel had threaded a touchdown pass to Randy Moss as time expired to force overtime. The Pats had amassed over 500 yards of offense and looked primed for a huge come-from-behind win. But, as fate would have it, the Jets won the coin toss and choose to receive the ball in overtime.

When the New York offense took the field on their 20-yard line it was impossible to know that the playoff fate of the Patriots hung in the balance.

On first down, Pierre Woods, in his first start filling in for an injured Adalius Thomas, sacked Brett Favre for a loss of 5-yards. Then Gary Guyton broke up a pass intended for Leon Washington on second down forcing the Jets into a 3rd-and-15 situation.

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Thank You, Rex Ryan posted by Mike Dussault

Rex Ryan was on WFAN yesterday and served up a bevy of quotes directed at Bill Belichick and the Pats, including a cryptic mention of a "message" that had already been sent to their AFC East foe.

While some Pats fans are amazed by the audacity of a first-year head coach making comments like this in June, we love it. Frankly there are not enough head coaches out there willing to put it out there like Rex Ryan does. Would I want the head coach of my own team doing this? Definitely not.

But without rivalries, sports are monumentally less interesting. There was always something special about when the Pats faced the Mangini Jets, and now there will be something special about when they face the Rex Jets. I'm bored with coaches like Tony Sparano and Dick Jauron, respectable coaches who do, or at least try to do, their talking on the field. Sure, I still enjoy the Pats' rivalry with their teams... well rivalry might be the wrong word for what the Pats have had with the Bills this decade, but the Dolphins have always given the Pats a good game (2007 not included).

Teams are so conscious of not giving opponents "bulletin board material" and while Ryan barely gave the Pats anything to get too huffy about, you can be sure that every Patriot player and coach are well aware this morning of what Ryan said.

Maybe the Jets defense will be as good as advertised. They certainly have a great deal of talent, and if Vernon Gholston comes around their pass rush could be fearsome. There's been a lot of talk about the Jets defense and "swagger" since Rex Ryan arrived.

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No Matter What Happens, Jets Fly High by Drafting Sanchez & Do NFL Owners Discriminate Against Hiring Veteran Coaches? posted by Colin Linneweber

No Matter What Happens, Jets Fly High by Drafting Sanchez 

The New York Jets selected former University of Southern California star quarterback Mark Sanchez Saturday after making a trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the 5th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

 

Sanchez, 22, a third-generation Mexican American who was named the 2009 Rose Bowl MVP, wowed Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer during a workout at his old high school last month and Gang Green's brass were determined to land the Trojans onetime signal-caller.

 

"We saw the great feet, we saw the poise and how confident he was," said Ryan of the 2008 First Team All-Pac 10 nomination who played 16 games as a Trojan in Coach Pete Carroll's sophisticated, pro-style offense. "Brian put him through every route known to man and he passed every throw with flying colors. We knew right then this is the guy we wanted."

 

In order to attain the 5th pick, New York traded Cleveland their first and second round choices (17 and 52) and starting defensive end Kenyon Coleman, promising quarterback Brett Ratliffe and productive safety Abram Elam.

 

Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted it was peculiar to forge a deal with Browns coach Eric Mangini only months after he handed the famous whistleblower his deserved pink slip.

 

"It is ironic, but we also looked at it as an opportunity," Tannenbaum remarked of brokering a deal with the coaching “genius” who faltered on the sidelines in Gotham.

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Chicago Bears Draft Day Two: Angelo Finally Gets Busy posted by Joe Anello

With nine picks in the final six rounds, the Chicago Bears addressed their most pressing areas of need. Wide receiver, the defensive line, and safety were all points of focus for the Bears, who used six of their nine selections in those areas. It was a solid draft if nothing else, getting value late in the draft.

Round 3
Jarron Gilbert DT San Jose State 6’5” 288lbs
Gilbert projects to be an eventual starter at tackle for Chicago and could play on the outside, given that they could lose 3 ends in free agency this next off-season. This year he’ll see most of his use as a alongside Tommie Harris, threatening oft-injured Dusty Dvoracek’s roster spot. Gilbert is known for his “pool jump” found here, where he jumps from inside an in-ground pool to the surrounding pavement. Its impressive, to say the least, but he won’t be jumping any pools in the NFL.

Juaquin Iglesias WR Oklahoma 6’1” 210lbs
Iglesias is the most likely draftee to make an immediate impact this season. He is said to be a polished route-runner with great hands, so the Bears were smart in using their compensatory pick on him. Lose one wide receiver, use the pick gained from his loss on a wide receiver. That makes sense to me. Look for Iglesias to challenge for at least the third wide-out position.

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Stafford, Sanchez help each other prep (AP)

Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez are set to become rich beyond comprehension long before throwing their first official NFL pass. The quarterbacks will be anointed as saviors -- Stafford for a Detroit team that went winless in 2008, and Sanchez for a New York Jets club that hasn't tasted the Super Bowl in 40 years. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Jets to wear corporate patch on practice jerseys

The New York Jets are taking advantage of a new NFL rule this summer that will allow them to place a corporate logo on their practice jerseys as a source of additional revenue.The rule allows teams to sell sponsorships on their practice jerseys, and the patches can be no larger than 3 1/2-by-4 1/2 inches. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NFL

Jets coach Ryan acknowledges dyslexia (AP)

Words have always been Rex Ryan's biggest challenge. Not so much saying them, of course. The New York Jets' loquacious rookie coach has no trouble speaking his mind. Reading and writing, though, have made Ryan cringe since grade school. That's the effect dyslexia can have, even on the most confident of NFL coaches. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Favre may return if arm is healthy (AP)

Brett Favre will know in several weeks whether his surgically repaired arm will allow him to come out of retirement again. The quarterback made his first public comments since retiring from the New York Jets in February in an interview Monday night on "Joe Buck Live." He said the only team he has spoken to is the Minnesota Vikings -- and that they would be a perfect fit because he's... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Favre says he might come out of retirement again

Brett Favre says he is considering coming out of retirement for a second time and the only team he has talked to about a return to the NFL is the Minnesota Vikings.Favre appeared on the new HBO show "Joe Buck Live" in his first public appearance since retiring from the New York Jets in February.The three-time NFL MVP said Monday night he had surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago on his throwing arm. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NFL