Pre-Season Game Times Announced

Posted on May 9th, 2008 by Bassett

The NFL announced the game times for the pre-season this week. Here are the times for the Jets games:

Thursday August 7th — Jets at Browns 7:30 ET
Saturday August 16th — Redskins at Jets 7:30 ET
Saturday August 23rd — Giants at Jets 7:00 ET
Thursday Aug 28th — Jets at Eagles 6:30 ET

It’s my understanding that they will all be covered on WCBS in the New York area. In years past, games may be available for rebroadcast on NFLN.

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Daily Links: The End of Spygate?

Posted on May 9th, 2008 by Bassett

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Audible: What’s Your Expectation for 2008?

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Bassett

We haven’t done an Audible post in a while, but for those those who aren’t familiar, it’s basically your chance to share your thoughts on a specific topic.

With the draft in the rear-view mirror, the big offseason changes are in the rear-view mirror. We’re pulling together some thoughts in a new series of posts you’ll see here in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, what do you think of the new team? Are you excited about the defense? Will the offense be better than it was last year? Why specifically?

What are your [REALISTIC] expectations for the Jets in 2008?

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Link: Four Downs AFC East Post Draft Edition

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Bassett

Football Outsiders has put up their Four Downs post for the AFC East. TJB commenter Sean McCormick (seanmac) takes a long look at how the AFC East looks coming out of the Draft, and

On the pick of Vernon Gholston, McCormick has this to say.

No player split opinion like the Ohio State pass rushing terror. Several analysts, including our own Michael David Smith, considered Gholston the best prospect in the draft. Others looked at his 37 tackles on the season and his tendency to disappear not just from play-to-play but from game-to-game and labeled Gholston another Mike Mamula, an undeserving player translating a huge combine performance into a big payday. Ohio State’s scheme is built around freeing up the linebackers at the expense of the defensive line (which is why James Laurinaitas will be joining A.J. Hawk as a top five selection next year), and the Jets think that Gholston will have more consistent impact in a scheme that lets him pin his ears back and chase the quarterback.

As I’ve already said, Gholston is like sushi, people love him or hate him. I’m still dissecting some tape from Ohio State’s games last year, and all I’ll say for now is that although Laurunaitas looked really impressive, but I didn’t see him getting double and even triple teamed like his friend did in the games I watched.

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Victor Hobson’s Transition to New England

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Bassett

Mike Reiss writes in the Boston Globe that Victor Hobson will be making a transition to the inside in New England.

At 6 feet, 252 pounds, Hobson might have been miscast on the outside in New York. Although it’s early, he’s excited about the challenge of learning the ropes on the inside.

“I just think it looks like more of a natural fit for me,” he said. “That’s not to say that I can’t play outside, but I think this is a great opportunity for me. Whatever it is, I’m willing to step up and perform the role the coaches think is best.”

That includes special teams, which Hobson figures will help solidify his place on the team, as “Coach [Bill] Belichick has already made it known that it’s very important.”

I think Reiss has it right that Hobson was in the wrong role, but I don’t think it was a situation where Mangini had it wrong and “miscast” him … Hobson was the best the Jets had in-house and they had to make due until such a time as they could get better edge-setters and pass rushers for their scheme.

Hobson was just too short and slow to effectively play outside in a 3-4. Height is key for blocking passing lanes as well as keeping rangy Offensive Tackles at bay. Couple that with being too slow to get around those tackles, and his bookend OLB has a harder time getting free (see Bryan Thomas, 2007) to sack the Quarterback. Letting Hobson go if they didn’t want to move him inside was the right move, as was bringing in players to compete for those starting spots outside.

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The Thursday Top 10: No Respect

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by R_in_CT

rodneyd.jpgWhy are the Jets held in such low regard, almost universally? I understand respect is earned, but shouldn’t that be true of disrespect, too?

For the past decade, they have been one of the more competitive teams in the NFL. They don’t run up the score on hapless opponents, their players aren’t “bad guys” or criminals. I mean, outside of Adrian Jones getting busted for DUI and Justin Miller’s recent incident — which he was cleared of — name the last Jets player to run afoul of the law? The team hasn’t had a current player busted for steroids or HGH (see New England or San Diego), nor have there been any loudmouth self-promoting jerks like T.O. or Chad Johnson on the roster since Keyshawn was shipped out of town eight years ago. And before him, you have to go back to Mark Gastineau for a player that other fans could universally agree on as someone they hated.

Overall the past ten years, the team that’s on the field has been a hardworking, blue collar bunch of boy scouts who have rarely quit, even in the face of losing seasons. Yet it seems as though “the Jets” are a punchline to some joke I just don’t get. National sportswriters are always quick to relegate them to the dregs of the NFL — even in 2006, when they went 10-6, it was “a fluke,” the team “overachieved,” they got to the top because of “a soft schedule.” Anything other than, “Hey, maybe, for one year, they were actually one of the better teams in the NFL.”

Okay, no one likes a whiner, right? They want a winner. I get it — really. Win a Super Bowl and the respect will come. But if you’ve rooted for this team for any amount of time, you know that it somehow goes deeper than that . . . and even if we win . . . even if we play so far above our heads that our noses bleed for a week to ten days . . . even if God in Heaven above comes down and points his hand at our side of the field . . . even if every man woman and child held hands together and prayed for us to win . . . it just wouldn’t matter . . . because all the really good looking girls would still go out with the guys from New England because they’re . . . just not us.

Sigh.

All right, my tongue is obviously planted in my cheek here, but let’s have a little fun and examine –

The Top 10 Reasons Why It Seems The Jets Get No Respect

10. “Same old Jets” - If you haven’t noticed, there are very few people in the world capable of independent original thought. Just look at Hollywood — Iron Man, Indiana Jones 4, Speed Racer, Alvin and The Chipmunks [*shudder*] — if they can’t copy it from a comic book or an old TV show, or squeeze out a sequel of from an existing franchise, then it’s not getting to the Big Screen. (Although I did really enjoy Iron Man.) Never mind that in the last decade the Jets have been 82-78 (an over .500 record = winning franchise) with five playoff appearances — it’s same ol’ refrain and rerun when it comes to the Jets, even though a team like Carolina (who has been 77-83 with two playoff appearances in the same decade) gets a free pass. It’s been 13 years since Rich Kotite, 14 since The Fake Spike, 25 since the Mud Bowl, but yet it all still lingers like a fart in a shiny iron suit . . .

Read more…

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Jets To Get Roughly $5 Million To Sign Rookies

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Mack Rosenberg

It has been determined by John Clayton of ESPN that the Jets will get exactly $4,903,030 to sign all of their rookies this year. Every team has a different rookie cap. Herm Edwards will have the most money to spend, as his Chiefs got over $8 million to spend, what with their two first round picks, and four more of those came in the top 100 overall.

So will 5 million bucks be enough for the Jets to sign all of the rookies they have coming out of rookie minicamp? We’ll have to wait and see if they decide to dump some more UDFA’s as I assume the draftees will the be the first ones in line to receive contracts. How many players do you think the Jets will have to release? Also, you can name some notable ones you think will be released in the comments (i.e. Danny Woodhead).

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Daily Links: Most Improved

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Bassett

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Woody Hosting McCain Fundraiser in DC

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett

Look who’s hosting a big fundraiser tonight in DC likely to raise over $7 million for John McCain?  Why it’s Jets owner Robert Wood Johnson IV!

Check out the honored guest list, competitor and Dolphins co-owner Wayne Huizenga is even on board!

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Link: The Completion King

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett

Toni Monkovic over at the Fifth Down has some interesting data on Pennington

Among N.F.L. quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts, no one has ever had a better completion percentage than Chad Pennington.

That’s some serious company Pennington has kept — granted, it is one aspect of a multi-faceted role like Quarterback. All the same, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; to us it doesn’t matter so much as to who will be throwing passes in the pocket for the Jets in 2008, it’s just that someone will be throwing passes without getting dumped on their keister on every passing play in 2008. That’s some serious improvement already.

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Film Room: Chris Baker Interview 5/6/2008

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett


Chris Baker was on SNY’s Wheelhouse yesterday with Custer, BT and Scott Ferrall and he talked about his status with the team, how he feels about the situation and his hope for a resolution.We still hope the situation will get resolved, but Baker hasn’t played his hand well, as you can read about from an NFL Insider on Cimini’s blog.

He quotes being the third highest paid Tight End on the team, but wasn’t that of his own doing? He signed a deal and should honor it. I understand that the Jets bumped forward some money, but he clearly spent and forgot about his signing bonus that would basically make his contract come in line with the others.

The most telling part of the interview comes right at the end, asked by Brian Custer when specifically he was told about a new deal with the Jets. Baker states that open-ended promises were made at the signing of the deal (back in 2006), but doesn’t say that the Jets were telling him he was going to have his contract re-done at any time last season.

We still think that Baker has a place on this team and that he would greatly benefit the Jets game, so one would hope that the situation is resolved. All the same, Tannenbaum takes the “we don’t negotiate with terrorists” stance when it comes to holdouts. Baker has to be the first to make the move towards reconciliation, and make it known that he’s doing so with the intent of gaining a new contract. What seems more likely though is that Baker will return, Pete Kendall style, just to avoid penalties.

At that point it might be too late.

For more videos on all things New York sports, check out SNY.tv.

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Re-signing of Poteat Ensures Secondary Stability

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Mack Rosenberg

As reported, the Jets re-signed Hank Poteat yesterday to a one year deal.

I think it was a move that had to be made, considering the Jets didn’t do much in the draft to address the corners and safeties.  The Jets did get Dwight Lowery, but I think you have to feel a little bit safer as a Jet fan knowing Poteat will return for the club in 2008.

His career high 45 tackle performance last year was one that was in the shadows of what Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes did, but among the Jets backups (guys like David Barrett, Justin Miller, and Andre Woolfolk) I think Poteat has the best potential to make an impact this year, as he did last year starting nine games but still playing in all of them. There is clearly more stability and more of a safer feeling in this unit now that Poteat is back.  With more pressure up front, a corner like Poteat will get some relief and will help to cover up his imperfections.

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Jets Flight Crew Would Give Drag Queens a Fair Chance

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett

I realize writing this on the web could be opening Pandora’s box for the Jets, but … since Buzz Bissinger (no matter how many apologies he makes) thinks we bloggers are dedicated (NSFW language) to “cruelty” and “journalistic dishonesty” … might as well play the part … here goes.

In a rather innocuous interview by WNYC (public radio) that turned somewhat for the strange, it would seem that the Director of the Jets Flight Crew has a somewhat open-minded policy when it comes to those who would try out for the Flight Crew:

REPORTER: She says they’re looking for “goodwill ambassadors” and people fans can relate to:

GARVEY: We don’t have any strict requirements - no weight or height requirements - we have all different girls on the team and all different girls looking to try out…”

REPORTER: There’s not the kind of human variety you might find in a supermarket checkout line - the largest body is about a size “6″ -and there are no male cheerleader wannabe’s.

GARVEY: we haven’t had any men apply… we are looking for young women.

REPORTER: If there was a mind blowing drag queen?

GARVEY: I guess everyone deserves a fair chance - so that would be my attitude.

Umm … OK. Well it IS public radio and the audtions WERE in Chelsea … what do you expect?

As I think about it, Ms. Garvey dealt with the situation with aplomb. If I’m trying to put myself into Ms. Garvey’s shoes … oh wait … that would make ME a drag queen …

In truth, it’s clear from the audio that the question was a joke, but it’s good to hear that Garvey has the same open-mindedness it would take to fill her roster, much like Coach Eric Mangini & GM Mike Tannenbaum’s “land of opportunity” when it comes to drafted or undrafted players …

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Hank Poteat’s Signing Brings Some Questions

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Bassett

The Jets made a move yesterday to re-sign Corner Hank Poteat, the hold-the-fort veteran who started nine games for the Jets in 2007. Poteat had the first two interceptions of his nine year career in 2007, was a free agent who hadn’t seen a lot of interest from other teams since free agency began. It was rumored that Poteat was told by the Jets that they wanted him to return, but that they needed to find the money to do so, so it would take time.

Pushing Dewayne Robertson’s $11.6 million cap figure off the books via trade, the move actually freed $8 million in space for the team. Poteat signed a one year, veteran minimum ($730,000) deal yesterday with a small signing bonus (unknown), so imagine that the deal was around one million in total.

Poteat provides the requisite depth that the team needs at corner going into camp, but the signing doesn’t adequately address one of the team’s holes on the roster, a clear cut second corner to play opposite Darrelle Revis for 2008. Of the players on the team, there’s one thing that is clear … the job is up for grabs.

Here’s a list of who might be in the running for the job:

Read more…

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Jets Resign Hank Poteat

Posted on May 6th, 2008 by Mack Rosenberg

The Jets have re-signed cornerback Hank Poteat. It’s going to be a one year deal. Can’t seem to find any other terms of it, but we should know more in the coming days. Feel free to post your opinions on the matter in the comments, as I will have mine up by tomorrow!

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