Monthly Archives: March 2007
A player from my alma mater, James Madision (2004 Div I-AA Champs, whoo!!) Defensive Tackle Corey Davis has worked out for the Jets, Rams and Dolphins, but also for bunch of other teams. For a little more information about his career, see here on Rookiepedia.
Davis worked out for nine NFL scouts … during JMU’s pro day last Thursday. But the 6-foot-3, 323-pound Hampton native strained his left hamstring while running a 40-yard dash and was somewhat limited the rest of the day, though he did do a pair of agility drills and some one-on-one work with fellow senior Mike Parham.
Davis already had an individual workout with the Jets.
Considered to be a late rounder or, more likely undrafted, I have to admit, I would love it if a JMUer went on to play for the Jets!
Thanks to you, the readers of TJB, this week I got the chance to spend 15 minutes on the phone with for the Jets’ Safety, Kerry Rhodes. Mentioning Rhodes’ name among Jets fans generally causes a mix of elation, pride and even a certain smugness (we got him *when* in the draft?!) as if he’s our little secret. After his second season though, people everywhere have taken notice of the former collegiate Quarterback from Louisville who loves to roam the Jets secondary. Names like Peter King, Dr. Z and other national writers are starting to take notice of Rhodes, who doesn’t seem to mind the attention that much. Away from football, Rhodes has been known to rub shoulders with some A-List company like Jamie Foxx and Michelle Williams.
Since my celebrity experiences are pretty limited (see my Seth Myers incident for reference) and I have to admit, I was very excited, but a bit nervous about the call. Once connected with him, it’s easy to see why the Jets were so excited when they drafted him. Kerry was patient, well spoken and is driven to succeed in football and life. Beyond that, it’s clear that Kerry has fun side to him, with a tendency to crack little jokes or use comedic inflexion. The 15 minutes went fast, during which time I think I broke down into only one “you … are … AWESOME!!” type moment.
Again, a BIG THANK YOU to the ladies of IdealPR for all their help in making this happen. Although I didn’t get a chance to ask him, also check out Kerry Rhodes’ RHODES Foundation PDF for more information on his charitable work.
To read the interview with Kerry, check after the jump.
The biggest issue that was discussed this year at the owners’ meetings, had to be the conduct of NFL players.
Here are some other items that were discussed during the time at the Arizona Biltmore, from a bit of a Jets’ slant.
General & Competition Committee Rulings:
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Instant replay is now considered a permanent fixture, with all stadiums to be updated with high definition equipment. Only the Cards and Bengals voted against the measure. Some stadiums that are planning on getting new facilities (like the Meadowlands, I believe) are exempt. Now if they could have overturned the Chris Baker catch in Cleveland…
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Now Schottenheimer has an additional chance during our 2007 SuperBowl run in the playoffs to interview for head coaching jobs (a la Ron Rivera). An agreement now opens a second window in the “bye” week before a Super Bowl for a return interview.
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No headset for Vilma. A proposal to allow a defensive signal caller to have a speaker in their helmet like a QB was rejected.
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The NFL decided against a change to the overtime rules to move the opening kickoff of overtime from the 30- to the 35-yard line. Rich McKay tabled the discussion. There might be more talk in May but there will be no vote at the time.
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Owners voted 26-5 that players can (and will) be penalized 5 yards for spiking the ball in the field of play.. I am curious how the “field of play” is defined. I do hate it when players do that on their own 40 yard line, but is it a penalty after a TD? I would guess not.
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Chicago had proposed expanding the game-day roster from 45 to 47 was defeated by a close margin, 17-15. Anthony Schlegel will still have to suffer in silence.
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The creepiest sounding penalty “illegal touching” will no longer be called when a QB hits an O-Lineman with a pass, but if the lineman makes an attempt to catch the ball, then it can be called.
Rules that the Officiating Crews will be told to note as a “point of emphasis” in 2007:
- In 2007, officials should not call roughing-the-passer penalties when the defender’s arms are extended but makes minimal contact with the QB. The sentiment is that there was too much protection of QBs in 2006 … but you don’t have to tell a Jets fan about that!!
- There will continue to be a point of emphasis on illegal contact made by defenders (pass interference).
Thanks to miketorse for sending on this information on the passing of former New York area sports broadcaster Jerry Girard.
“He was very popular with the viewers, very popular in the newsroom,” Karen Scott, news director for WPIX-TV Channel 11, said yesterday. “He was a hard worker, and he definitely knew his sports.”
Growing up, getting my sports fix on WPIX, Girard was a mainstay of my youth, so I am sorry to hear that a legend like Girard has now passed, he was 74.
- BT has been working to get better this offseason, by studying tape of himself, and working with a Martial Arts instructor who has worked with the Gracie brothers (of MMA fame).
- It occurred to me yesterday that the Jets now have a guy named D-Bo, on their roster … Deebo!(language… beware)
- Here’s an updated draft order for next month’s draft.
- Tom Rock states that the Jets were “aggressive” in bringing in David Bowens.
- David Harris, Josh Wilson, Leon Hall and Michael Bush are making visits to the Pats.
- 1992, worst draft ever?
- Jarrett ran a 4.62 at his Pro Day. Yee-ouch.
- A look at some guys who’s stock has risen due to workouts.
Sorry to divert from my tirade on Peter King and Guinness to actually talk about football.
Randy Lange writes about Matt Chatham’s contributions on and off the field on the Jets’ web site. Be sure to hit the multimedia player for some highlights as well.
Switching gears to the Draft, Ferragamo notes in the comments on the Bowens post that he “heard an interview on NFL radio with Penn State LB, Paul Posluszny and he said the only team he’s worked out with so far is the Jets.”
Oh reeeally?? That’s an interesting development!
Kiper’s perfectly styled coif seems to think that “Poz” is late first round material. He even has him going to the Giants at #20.
If you aren’t exactly sure who Paul Poslusky is, or have a say about him … you might want to check out Bent and my rather overambitious project a Wiki specifically aimed at Draft data, which is in Beta right now… which basically means “it’s not done yet, and that ugly image in the top left isn’t staying, so don’t mock us too hard.” I think this year we’ll get the kinks out, and hopefully it will become a self-sufficient well oiled machine over time. Check it out, but more on that later in the week.
I saw this today on Czabe.com and had a snicker about this. I have to admit, with my trip to Italy, I was focused on other things for a while, so I guess I didn’t see these. In sake of full disclosure, I will continue to read his column (he lost me with his [2004?] Plummer for MVP prediction) but I think things have just gone too far now in King’s 3/18 column.
One of the best discoveries of midlife: St. Patrick’s Day. Never thought I’d love Guinness, but it’s pretty close to the perfect beer.
Huh? Let me just say, my first beer as a legal adult was a Guinness. As a connoisseur of Beast, PBR and Icehouse to that point, I admit that I didn’t “get it” at the time, but in just three short years, I damn well learned to appreciate a nice pint. How can it take any adult male over 20 years to understand and appreciate Guinness!?! If I ever become a manager of anything, I am making my first interview question “do you like Guinness?” Czabe says it best here:
Now it’s okay to be a little “clueless” about some things (I know I am about a lot of them), but Guinness Beer, iPods, and “Saving Private Ryan!?”
What’s next? Will Peter King write about the joyful discovery of “lap dances, chewing gum, and American Idol?”
And once again, please remember: THIS GUY IS A GATEKEEPER TO THE HALL OF FAME! No wonder it took him almost as many years as it did to see Saving Private Ryan as it did to figure out Art Monk is INDEED a Hall-worthy wideout.
Pathetic.
Well said, Czabe.
Just a quick update to say that, thanks to the fine help of Neeta and Tamiko the fine ladies from Ideal PR, the Kerry Rhodes interview went down as planned yesterday. I will likely post it on Friday, pending my volunteering to send it to them for review (once I am done transcribing it) sometime today or tomorrow.
In short, Kerry was great fun to interview and was gracious in responding to my goofy questions, and your insightful ones. Just to give you a sense of what to look forward to, we discussed his movie career, film study with Jonathan Vilma, some of Louisville buddies draft chances, playing for Mangini, and plenty more.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and questions!
- PUNTER UPDATE!!! And he spells like Bent does!!
- Andrew Gross expands on a story he wrote about Kellen Clemens.
- Tom Rock posts his thoughts on the recent spate of DE signings by the Jets.
- Bobby Bullock (at a new address) chimes in with some thoughts about the Bowens signing.
- The Jets get no compensatory picks in this year’s draft.
- Takeo Spikes is out of the AFC East, now dealt to the Eagles.
- Gary Myers was in attendance at the owners’ meeting in Phoenix and got time to interview Mangini. Alas no questions about not drafting Matt Leinart.
- Cimini noted that Vilma arrived in Hempstead Tuesday, and that Curtis will retire on June 1.
- Are the Titans looking at picking another USC player to reunite with Norm Chow?
- God help Rick DiPietro. Dr. Pellman is looking after his skull too.
- This ESPN “On The Clock” article was mentioned here, definitely worth a look.
- According to Randy Lange, some Jets are now back in Hempstead for the offseason workouts.
Get the feeling that the Jets are serious about upgrading their defensive front seven? Former Dolphin DE David Bowens‘ agent confirmed today that he has signed with the Jets.
Harold Lewis said the 29-year-old Bowens signed a three-year deal with the Jets. He spent the previous six seasons in Miami and had 18 of his 26 career sacks while playing all 48 games over the past three seasons.
Lewis said Bowens was swayed by the presence of two of his favorite coaches, Jets linebackers coach Jim Herrmann, an assistant at Michigan when Bowens played there, and newly-hired Jets defensive line coach Dan Quinn, who held the same position with the Dolphins last season.
Obviously working with coaches he is familiar with will be good for his transition, Bowens wouldn’t have been brought in if Hermann and Quinn didn’t think highly of him.
This now makes the fifth (Hamilton, Haynes, Coleman, Wadsworth, now Bowens) DE Jets have signed in less than a month, but don’t be suprised if he is asked to relinquish duties on the line. Listed on NFL.com as 6’3″ 265, Bowens seems a bit small to play on the Jets’ 3-4 line, and might find more work with the Jets as a linebacker, potentially backing up Hobson and/or Thomas on the outside.
Scout.com has reported that the three year deal is worth $6.1 With a signing bonus of in $700,000 the first year and incentive clauses which can add an additional $2 million to the contract.
Although not a blockbuster contract, it’s clear that the Jets are planning on retaining Bowens for a few years, so his role will be a interesting storyline to watch this summer.
From looking back at anything we had written about Bowens here on TJB, here’s a quick scouting report. Also, I was interested to see that Bowens and Pennington know each other at least in passing, enough for him to have made this comment prior to the 2005 offseason at a charity bowling tourney.
The Jets added to their constantly expanding defensive end rotation by signing Andre Wadsworth to a free agent deal.
You may recall he was a former top three pick who hasn’t played for seven years due to injuries, but apparently showed up for a workout with the Jets in amazing shape. Here is where we discussed the potential move a while ago.
Once again, Kudos to Max at JetNation for breaking this story first. There should be some interesting stories to follow over the Summer.
Two “too good to be true” bits of news that we had to mention:
- Christmas came early! Joe THEEZ-man is out of the MNF booth!!! Although his leaving alone would be addition by subtraction, ESPN has decided to make a good move, by adding none other than Ron Jaworski, who we hope will bring some keen color analysis to the booth. We are sad that it means he will probably leave the NFL Live crew in-season, which we watch religiously.
- Laurence Maroney, featured running back for the bullies of the AFC East, has had some serious offseason surgery. Isn’t when these players are young supposed to be when they are *most* healthy?
