Monthly Archives: March 2010
Today at 3:00 P.M. the NFL announced the preseason schedule for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Below, you will find the Jets opponents during these four weeks. You can view the schdule in its entirety here.
Week 1: New York Giants at New York Jets
Week 2: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
Week 3: Washington Redskins at New York Jets
Week 4: New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles
According to a source close to Leon Washington that talked exclusively to TheJetsBlog.com, it’s time to clear out some of the tangled web the Jets front office has tried to weave during the Leon Washington contract standoff. Webs that apparently began as early as last summer with a tone-setting August Daily News report that the Jets had “a $5million-a-year offer on the table, [with] $10 million in guarantees” waiting for the Jets running back to sign.
It was left to the public assume the running back walked away from the deal. According to TJB’s source, this report was untrue. The team offered under half of what they told the Daily News they did.
No contract even close to those figures was offered by the team to Leon Washington’s camp.
Instead, the source contends that “”the Jets … offered $2.4 million. Leon is worth way more than that.” In addition to the $2.4 million offer by the Jets there was no bonus or guarantees that kicked in until at least next year.
As it stands now, assuming Washington signs his tender sheet from the Jets, the fifth year player will make just under $1.8 million in his fifth season via his second round tender.
“Trust me, if the Jets would have offered him the [reportedly leaked $5.0 million offer] he would have been signed,” the source stated. “But they didn’t.”
Due to the untimely CBA-RFA restrictions for Washington along with his season ending injury, his contract status with the team have made headlines again due to the team’s surprising second round tender, agent Alvin Keels’s public assertions that there are other teams interested in adding Leon, and Leon’s absence from the team’s voluntary workouts that started last week in Florham Park.
The source also said that at least two other teams are “interested” in Washington.
Beyond the money, the source contends that the false report about the dollar figures offered by the Jets last summer was a move by the Jets front office to curry favor with fans, effectively driving doubt between fans and Washington should a future separation occur due to contractual differences. In other words, the preemptive leak would cover the Jets from a public relations standpoint with their fanbase in a botched negotiation with one of the faces of the franchise.
“The Jets released [the false contract] to get fans against him in case he goes to another team and does well,” said the source.
As for Rex Ryan’s public statements last week not knowing why Leon wasn’t at the facility for workouts, the source also claimed that the Jets running back “spoke with them everyday” and that team shouldn’t be surprised at his absence, especially since the team pays the bill for his off-site workouts.
The Jets front office was asked for comment, but as of the posting of this article have not made a statement.
As the Jets journey towards the draft in April, we here at TJB will be taking a look into prospects that could be on the Jets draft board. Today we will be taking a look at: UCLA product, Brian Price [via Michael M.]
Projected Round: First
Measurables: Stands at 6’2. Weighs in at 300 lbs.
Positives: Price is a dominant pass rusher who has a wide variety of moves that he can utilize to get pressure in the back field. His motor is constantly on the move. Price can trip up a RB from behind and has no issue running in the tackle box. He can get off the ball quickly and recognize plays equally fast. Although he isn’t a space eater like Big Jenks, he will make plays in the backfield. He has a big and powerful upper body accompanied by great tackling techniques. Price can be moved around on defense due to his athleticism.
Negatives: Price lacks a lot of strength in the lower half of his body and accounts for many of his drawbacks. He fails to shed blocks well and he will often remain locked in with a blocker if he doesn’t get the initial advantage (by using his quickness).
The Bottom Line: While Price may not be a huge space eater like Jenkins or “Mount” Cody, he will certainly put forth the effort to stop the offense. He seems like a Rex Ryan guy to me and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tanny display some interest in Price on draft day.
Price Highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irQMYESMEaY
REMINDER: I just want to remind everyone who would like to see a particular player analyzed that you have until April 4, 2010 to submit your requests. If you have sent along a PW and have yet to see it, I’m in the process of getting it up on the site so no worries. Remember to send any requests or feedback to: tjb.weeks@yahoo.com.
Tagged Draft Prospect, Prospect Watch |As the Jets journey towards the draft in April, we here at TJB will be taking a look into prospects that could be on the Jets draft board. Today we will be taking a look at: Ohio State product, Doug Worthington [via ron2473000]
Projected Round: Seventh or UDFA
Measurables: Stands at 6’5. Weighs in at 292 lbs.
Positives: Worthington was productive during the three years he started at Ohio. He is a good run stopper who understands the angles needed to restrict running paths. He is versatile and may be better suited as a DE in the 3-4. He is a good bull rusher off the edge. Worthington is a hard worker and a leader on the field.
Negatives: Worthington could add on some bulk to his frame, he needs to expand his pass rush abilities. He can be pushed away from the ball and isn’t much of an anchor like Big Jenks. He can struggle to disengage with his man and does not have great range in pursuit. He has a very sloppy technique and can tire easily.
The Bottom Line: I wouldn’t mind adding Worthington especially if he goes undrafted in order to add some depth the defensive line. It would also give him a chance to work with Ryan in order to find his path and make the necessary adjustments so that if he needed to step in, the defense wouldn’t suffer a setback.
Worthington Highlights:
Keep and eye out for #84. Around the 4:52 mark you’ll see him tip a pass that is intercepted.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIBd1lg2KNg
REMINDER: I just want to remind everyone who would like to see a particular player analyzed that you have until April 4, 2010 to submit your requests. If you have sent along a PW and have yet to see it, I’m in the process of getting it up on the site so no worries. Remember to send any requests or feedback to: tjb.weeks@yahoo.com.
Tagged Draft Prospect, Prospect Watch |
Classic “upside” WR Marcus Easley from UConn
Thanks to the fine work of you readers, we’re starting to collect quite a little menagerie of players who have been noted as making visits or spending time with the Jets. Most notably, I honestly could not have done this work without the help of longtime commenter Steiny. Please give him a polite golf clap in the comments for his efforts.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
CB Ray Fisher (Indiana) 5-10, 185,
Projection: 5-7 Description: Former WR with just one year of CB skills. Also can KR/PR. Raw talent, but talented.
CB Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest) 5-11, 191, 4.37 40yd dash
Projection: 2-3 Description: Has a meeting set up with the Jets, had an impressive 3.98 short shuttle on his pro day. Good in coverage whether man or zone, excellent athlete who plays larger than his size. Can be too aggressive at times, needs to improve his footwork and isn’t projected as an NFL “playmaker” according to some scouts.
- The Jets donated hats to a wonderful cause.
- Tannenbaum thinks LT has tread on those tires yet.
- The Langer writes about D-Wood’s move to Sirius.
- Jersey’s best hair band is looking to add shows in the new stadium.
- Tebow hit the Nawth End with Belichick! Wikkid pissah!!!
- McNabb is the new Dangerfield.
President of HBO Ross Greenburg talked with Darren Smith in San Diego about the choice of Rex Ryan for Hard Knocks and what it took to convince Mike Tannenbaum.
On why Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum hesitated with the decision:
“We’ve been close for a long time and I think he needed to hear not from me but from other GM”s, Coaches, and people in the league that it wasn’t a distraction. He did his due diligence and homework and talked to people around the league to get their take on how intrusive this could be. Once he was satisfied that it was not and in fact picked up the pace of practice because players had to be focused ’cause cameras were always on them, then he was confident that he should actually give it the green light and he did.”
I’m still curious to know what Tannenbaum really thinks about this, but I’m sure Woody leaned on him to agree to this.
Stanford running back Toby Gerhart is running drills today for Jets coach Anthony Lynn, writes Daily News‘ Rich Cimini with a hat tip to the National Football Post.
Gerhart was one of the biggest names in college football last season, winning the Doak Walker Award and finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist. At 6-1, 235, Gerhart has fullback size, although he wants to remain a running back.
The Jets need to take a long-term view of their fullback position. Incumbent Tony Richardson, 38, re-signed for one year after another solid season, but this almost certainly will be his final season. The Jets don’t use the fullback a ton (Richardson played in about 50% of the offensive snaps last season), but it would be a good idea to start planning for the future.
The organization likes Jason Davis (5-10, 242), who spent last season on the practice squad, but Gerhart would be more of a sure thing. He’s projected as a second-day pick (second or third round), and would bring versatility because of his running skills.
Can Gerhart, a player who Cimini writes “wants to remain a running back,” be expected to develop his instincts as a fullback well enough to warrant an early-round pick? The Jets’ backfield is fairly crowded, so using a projected second- or third-round pick for a hybrid runner/blocker sounds like more of a luxury pick than anything.
Take a look at E. Week’s “Prospect Watch” on Toby Gerhart from last month for more background info. Highlight video after the jump.
The folks at EA Sports are giving fans a chance to vote on which teams are featured in this summer’s Madden 11 demo. Voters have the option to recreate the Saints-Colts Super Bowl, or take control of the teams in the AFC and NFC Championship rounds.
Currently, the Jets-Colts pairing has received 20% of the votes, lagging behind the Saints-Colts Super Bowl (37%) and Vikings-Saints NFC Championship (42%).
EA Sports will announce the winners on April 22, so that gives you Madden-loving Jets’ fans a little more than three weeks to help Gang Green make the results interesting.
Thanks to PastaPadre.com — a fantastic blog dedicated to sports-related gaming news — for the heads up.
UPDATE: Through word-of-mouth and the phenomenal efforts of some dedicated fans (looking at you, KentuckyJetFan) the Jets have a fairly strong lead (49% of the votes against 24% and 25%) with the polls closing in about nine days.
Josh Alper writes an interesting and well thought out reaction column to Greg Bishop’s feature on Woody Johnson from the New York Times on Saturday.
The final reason, one that probably ties all the others together, is the pecking order of New York’s football teams. The Jets hate the idea that they fall behind the Giants, but facts are facts and the Giants are the top dog in the region. Like any business that is trying to take on an established leader in their industry, the Jets have to make choices that differentiate themselves in a meaningful way because they can’t compete with a brand that is already so well established.
They’re doing an awfully good job of it. The Jets have made bolder personnel moves over the last few seasons, they’ve spent more time making themselves a niche on the back pages and they’ve made it very clear that they see themselves as brasher, younger and fresher than the Giants. It’s not a better way of doing business, per se, but it is a different way of business and it has gone a long way toward erasing the stigma of being the poor stepbrother in the New York football world.
Plenty of people will argue that it is all style and no substance. They wouldn’t be wrong, unless they were claiming that style doesn’t matter at all. It doesn’t make up for winning, of course, but there’s only so much control an owner can have over that part of things. Image, on the other hand, is right in Johnson’s wheelhouse and he’s made a very clear choice about what he wants the Jets to represent in New York.
Move over Anthony Bourdain, Dustin Keller is going to write a monthly column on Fifth Down about one of his favorite things away from the field. FOOD. This month? The New York restaurant that is synonymous with Keller’s appetite. Luger’s.
There’s one thing Peter Luger Steakhouse is really known for: the Porterhouse steak.
I usually start with the extra thick bacon and sliced tomato, which are amazing together, and some cocktail shrimp.
Then comes their porterhouse – I’ve yet to find a better one. When they bring it to your table, it’s already cut into several long pieces, and their signature sauce that comes with it is amazing. There’s just something about it that’s hard to explain. It’s kind of tangy with a kick of horseradish. It gets your attention right away and compliments the taste of the steak. Usually, I eat some of the steak with the sauce, and some bites without. It’s like calling an audible at the line before each bite. I normally don’t like steak sauces, but it’s different at Peter Luger’s. You’re cheating yourself if you don’t at least try it.
…
Something else I like about Peter Luger’s is just the overall feel of the restaurant. It’s the friendliest environment, and regardless of your wait (which is never long), time passes fast because of great conversation with the waiters, managers, and bartenders that are passing by.
If you’ve been to Luger’s and never had the bacon, you need to slap yourself right now. Seriously. Luger’s is the kind of place where the waitstaff does this for a living, and they are PROUD of their work. The first time I ever went to Luger’s, a friend of mine casually mentioned he’d think the steak would go even better with fresh horseradish. A waiter passing by behind us overheard his remark (though we didn’t know it), and returned in less than five minutes with the desired ingredient. It’s old school like that.
My limited two cents of other places in that area? Just down the street from Luger’s are two interesting yet totally Williamsburg cliched (but great) restaurants. The uber-pretentiously named Diner, which I quite enjoyed for breakfast, and then it’s sibling restaurant, Marlow & Sons, which is a great place to get ancient or oddball cocktails if you have a long wait for your table at Luger’s. Radegast also is a great German style beirgarten with those authentic liter glasses that are oh-so-easy to have creep up on you … not that I’d know anything about that, though …
As the Jets journey towards the draft in April, we here at TJB will be taking a look into prospects that could be on the Jets draft board. Today we will be taking a look at: LSU product, Brandon LaFell
Projected Round: Second
Measurables: Stands at 6’3. Weighs in at 211 lbs.
Positives: LaFell can reach his top speed immediately and shows good acceleration in space. He is very agile and maintains excellent balance. He will put in the effort to block for his teammates. He can be very quick on wet surfaces and make the tough catches. He is willing to go over the middle to make the catch and will focus on the ball and only the ball when it comes his way. He is very tough to jam at the line and has the ideal size and strength that you would look for in a receiver. LaFell will fight for extra yards after the catch and can be very useful on screen plays. He is one of the best route runners of his class.
Negatives: LaFell possess average speed which doesn’t allow him to maintain seperation (though he will get initial seperation). Although he has good hands, he needs to learn to keep the ball truly secure as it comes in contact with him. LaFell needs to learn to time his jumps better.
The Bottom Line: While there are a few other guys I would consider taking before LaFell, he is just another example of how deep this draft is. If the Jets other options are gone, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them look into LaFell who would be a nice slot receiver.
LaFell Highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtix6FfAKuA
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYCjP8cqe1w
REMINDER: I just want to remind everyone who would like to see a particular player analyzed that you have until April 4, 2010 to submit your requests. If you have sent along a PW and have yet to see it, I’m in the process of getting it up on the site so no worries. Remember to send any requests or feedback to: tjb.weeks@yahoo.com.
Tagged Draft Prospect, Prospect Watch | ← Older posts
