Looking Back, and Looking Forward

Final Thoughts on Last Week’s Game:

Positives:

1)      Mark Sanchez’s short-term memory: Following a shaky interception, Mark Sanchez seemed unfazed and quickly bounced back to a solid game. Granted that the pass to LT took an unfortunate bounce, it was still a questionable throw to make into tight coverage, and definitely a bad start for the sophomore. Sanchez, however, made like a goldfish in forgetting his first toss and quickly passed past his opening hiccup.

2)      Nick Folk (er, kind of): Folk made some decent-distance field goals, but didn’t connect on his final attempt. Tough to say anything definitive with regards to whether or not he’ll be the consistent Pro Bowl kicker he once was. What was impressive, however, came by way of his kickoffs. He had plenty of leg, and consistently booted them to the goal line to make for tough returns for the opposing team. I’m going to call a “to-be-continued” on this one.

3)      The snap count: Sanchez says he’s been working on his snap counts with graybeard Mark Brunell, and the work seemed evident in the game. The Jets seemed to have the early jump at the line, and often had the Giants defensive linemen jumping early. It even had the Jets jumping early a few times (see below).

4)      Mr. Clemens: Kellen Clemens looked like more than a guy fighting for a roster spot as a third-string QB- he looked like a legitimate back-up. With Mark Brunell already dubbed the Sanchez’s back-up, however, look for Clemens to be rewarded in one of two ways: either a roster spot with Gang Green, or a shiny new contract… with another club. There’s been speculation that the Jets are showcasing him as trade bait, and it’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he gets in the game tonight versus the Panthers.

Negatives:

1)      Jets back-up secondary: While there is typically too much made of Revis’s absence, it’s hard to deny the rather sound logic that many pointed to after the Jets’ secondary allowed the Giants to Cruz to victory: with Revis on the field, the depth chart gains a little… depth. Each corner would have been one notch lower, and we may have even been able to see an interesting Wilson-Cruz battle royale. Instead, we got to see Marquice Cole, Drew Coleman, and Dwight Lowery get burned for big TDs. (Although Lowery had great coverage and got a hand to the face as he slipped while giving up the first of Cruz’s three touchdowns.

2)      Penalties, penalties, penalties: Just ask Mark Gastineau about how much a penalty can hurt a team. The Jets shot themselves in the foot a few times in last week’s game, including a negated LaDainian Tomlinson touchdown run.

3)      Joe McKnight ≠ Leon Washington: At least not yet. The quick RB looked like a timid player, and took run plays designed for the inside to the outside before seeing daylight, usually a no-no in the NFL. He had one nice stiff arm, and he certainly looks explosive; hopefully Anthony Lynn can get this guy on track to get at least somewhat close to Leon’s playmaking ability.

What to Look for in Tonight’s Game:

1)   The Jets coaching staff had some serious work to do this past week. Look for improvements to be made with regards to penalty and the Jets’ back-ups. Any more big pass plays, and cries for Revis will only get louder.

2)   *Prediction Alert*: Larry Taylor will take one to the house tonight. The 5’6”, 177 lbs. Connecticut alum was impressive in the first game, and looks to be the leader in the competition for return man. He’s explosive, quick, and, in my opinion, has big play potential. (Guess I screwed that one up- he wasn’t even in the poll.)

3)   “The primary target is the quarterback’s mind.” So proclaims defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The Jets brought the heat in the first game, and I don’t expect them to stop this game. I’ll be looking to see how well Vernon Gholston and other questioned back-ups bring the heat tonight.

4)   Since age 24, Antonio Cromartie is averaging more kids per year (3.5) than interception per year (2.5). Hopefully his hands will show up tonight in hopes that he bumps up the latter of the two during the regular season- he (along with the rest of the starters) will probably only have the first quarter to show off the athletic ability that his coaches have been raving about. 

***

 

I went to the famous (infamous?) Roscoe Diner the other day. Feeling much like the Jets, Revis was nowhere to be found.

Stay Tuned.

Big Blue v. Gang Green

Fat Francesa opened his talk show today with this: “Tonight, the Jets and Giants will square off in The New Giants Stadium.” Let the banter begin.

Move over big blue, Gang Green is coming to town.

With the Jets hogging the limelight this summer, it would be an understatement to say that tonight’s preseason game will pack a little more punch than usual for a preseason opener. Of all the Jets’ preseason openers, this might be one of the more memorable ones. (The game will be the first in The New Meadowlands Stadium, and will feature the Jets Ring of Honor induction ceremony at halftime.) 

So it won’t be as amped as Monday, the 13^th of September, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be exciting to watch. Here’s what to watch for in tonight’s game:

Will injuries of yore reappear or be forgotten? Jenkins’ knee will catch a glimpse of game-time action in the first quarter, assuming the defensive centerpiece plays no further than the first 15 minutes. We’ve seen his knee survive some full-contact goal line drills, but now he’ll face the truest test. Cromartie, too, seems to have hushed those who questioned the disappearance of a nagging hip injury, but we’ll see just how smooth his backpedals and breaks are in game-time speed. Finally, it’s been easy to forget that Mark Sanchez is coming off of a major off-season knee surgery with all the reassurance players, coaches, and journalists have been dishing out; the deepest sigh of relief will come tonight if Sanchez gets up from some gasp-inducing hits. Look for players to be extra-cautious with the rainy forecast.

Who will stand out among the various players battling for starting positions? Matt Slauson and Vlad Ducasse. Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson. Tony Richardson and The Terminator. We’ve read about players pushing one another and battling for the top spot. Now we’ll see who goes out and earns the top spots. Just one preseason game isn’t enough to jump to conclusions, but it certainly could be enough to give certain players the upper hand in these position battles. Keep an eye on how Rex Ryan balances his urge to show off questioned veterans with his tendency to rest the older guys’ legs.

Who will shine in the last three quarters of this football game? Let’s not forget that this game is mostly about the guys trying to make the team. Despite all the hype and headliners about the starters, this is the time for the guys behind the scenes to shine. With the skies looking like they did during the 40-day flood, expect there to be the opportunity for big plays… and big mistakes. For guys like Woodhead and McKnight, I’d recommend holding onto the ball very, very tightly.

I’ll be looking forward to tonight, with my DVR set. Can’t wait to see some of the new faces under the bright, green lights.

Stay tuned. 

Full of Fullbacks?

At the fullback position, the Jets have more than a competition: they have a dilemma.

Incumbent Tony Richardson is being pushed – to the limit – by rookie John Conner. The rookie has impressed so many (coach Rex Ryan included) that one has to wonder if Richardson’s job is at risk. Although one roster spot is generally reserved for the fullback position, which would set up the mentor Richardson and the mentored Conner on a crash course with one another, this is the season to make the rare exception and keep two spots open for the fullback position. Tony Richardson’s résumé, toughness, and intangibles are too invaluable for this team to be without. The one-man convoy has blocked for the likes of Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, and Adrian Peterson, three backs whose names you may have heard at one point or another. On top of that, Richardson is a locker room presence and looked up to by many players, including the young Conner. Conner may not boast the same experience, but he’s certainly a keeper as well. His mantra: “If it’s moving, hit it.” Conner has a get-out-of-my-way mentality, which is fitting, to say the least, for a fullback. He will be an asset now and in the future when the 38-year-old Richardson’s time is done. 

Says Rex Ryan: “John Conner, one day is going to be a big-time fullback in this league.”

If he really thinks so, it’s the right move to keep both of these guys.

Let’s see how each shows up in tonight’s New York battle.

***

All of this is bad news for fullback Jason Davis, who will likely face being cut because of the overwhelming competition. The 26-year-old Davis has shown much promise in training camp following his brief stints with Oakland and Chicago, but his play has tapered recently. This likely spells doom for Davis, but he will make a nice pickup for another team looking for a fullback.

Stay tuned.

Hard-Knocks Highlights

Last night, those who sat down to watch “Hard Knocks” were given an insider’s view into Jets’ training camp. The hour-long episode consisted of surprising subplots, laughable moments, on-field gems, and plenty of Rexisms. Here is just a sprinkling of the highlights from the series premiere:

1) Sanchez’s one-handed catch: The guy’s got a set of hands. I’m not one to get all too excited about one or two impressive catches, but Sanchez had me sold. Let’s dial up a few quarterback throwbacks or prepare some Smith-to-Sanchez wildcat pass options as part of our trick play packages.

2) Jenkins’ post-scrimmage chatter to Damien Woody and the rest of the offense: “That’s called gettin’ your ass whooped! Sit down!” If Jenkins’ knee holds up as well as his trash talk, he should be more than ready for the wear and tear of a complete NFL season.

3) An Inside Look at Mike Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson: In addition to their philosophizing about how even NFL agents are human beings, the cameras offered some interesting snippets of the two with their negotiating game-faces on. (It was reassuring to hear that Tannenbaum has had at least one “non-negative” conversation with Neil Schwartz.) It will be interesting to see how the show’s producers continue to develop this story on future episodes, especially if things get nasty and Tannenbaum seeks a bit more censorship. 

4) Rex Ryan’s Mouth: We knew it was coming, and it still managed to shock the world. Quite frankly, I’m shocked by those who were appalled by his language. Fat Francesa went so far as to say that Rex was clearly just screaming and cursing for the audience’s consumption, and that Tom Coughlin would never do such a thing, especially in front of a camera. When a caller noted that Coughlin isn’t exactly shy with words when he’s screaming at players during nationally televised Monday Night Football games, Fat Francesa promptly disconnected the caller (but not before the caller murmured “I hate you.”). Fat Francesa and anyone else who is horrified by coaches’ passion clearly haven’t played a game of football in their life; if they had, they would know that fiery speeches and open language are part of the reality of coaching football- which is exactly what “Hard Knocks” is meant to depict. 

5) The Fullback Competition: And my, oh my, what a competition it is. Jason Davis and John Conner (a.k.a. The Terminator) are shaping as two very solid fullbacks, and they’re not even the starters. Tony Richardson finally got some credit and was given his own segment in which Brian Schottenheimer dubbed him an “instrumental” part of last year’s success, and deservedly so. With Richardson likely to see lots of rest in the preseason games, it will be interesting to see how the improved wayfarer and the rookie out of Kentucky play in their Monday night preseason debut with the Jets.

6) Rex Ryan and Co.: Forget Café Lex, try Café Rex. The coaching staff seems to be getting along just fine with the players, and Ryan proved to be a “Hard Knocks” star (no surprise there). On top of fining fellow coaches for shirtlessness and tanning oil, Ryan seems to demand trust from his players by being honest (sometimes too honest, at least for Aaron Kia: “That 76 is awful. Oh my god is he bad.”), and knows how to motivate his players in ways other than passionate speeches- he gave LaDanian Tomlinson a bundle of all the negative articles that had been written about the former San Diego Charger… I’m looking forward to next week’s segment on the antithesis of “player’s best-friend,” the revered Mike Westhoff.

The production of “Hard Knocks” seems to be shaping up just fine. Let’s hope the Jets do, too.

Stay tuned.

It's the Hard-Knock Life

Perhaps the one thing that Annie and Jets fans share in common is that they’re both accustomed to the hard-knock life. Jets fans have been living it since that fateful 12^th day of January in 1969, when Broadway Joe delivered.

Tonight, Jets fans will have a taste of the slightly different Hard Knocks life.

With HBO’s premier of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets” set for 10:00 p.m. ET tonight (encore at 11:00), you can bet more than a few crazed Jets fans will be tuning into the action.

What exactly does the show add to the hungry Jets fan’s pre-season appetite?

For one thing, it’s going to add one big scoop to a bowl already overflowing with green and white hype.

Here are just a few of the subplots I’ll be following on “Hard Knocks”:

The Darrelle Revis Hold Out: Subplot? Try super-plot. The hold out will be a sell out for HBO. It may be cliché, but this is a situation that’s impossible not to follow at this point. Negotiations seem to have temporarily gone awry, to say the least. Woody’s Johnson’s prospectus has gone from gleeful to grim, and there seems to be a lot of green in between when it comes to the two parties agreeing upon a new deal. More importantly, however, how will this negotiating scuffle influence on-field matters? For one thing, it will be interesting to see how the Jets deal with the hold out personnel-wise. Cromartie and Wilson are chalked up as the starters for Monday’s preseason opener against the Giants (following Lowery’s charitable step down from the competition); the two have been impressive, but how will the duo fare in a game situation, albeit a preseason one? Wilson will have to grow up, and fast. The learning curve will have to straighten to a line if Wilson is to thrive while Revis is out during the preseason… and perhaps beyond. The rookie from Boise State will now be learning both the nickel back position and the outside corner position concurrently, and if it proves to be too much, his starting roles at each position could be coterminous. DB coach Dennis Thurman isn’t too worried: "He's got to step into that huddle and get the job done. Our anticipation is that he'll be where he needs to be when it's time to play." With no shortage of coverage players, it will be interesting to see how Thurman and the rest of the coaching staff handle the personnel situation, both on and off the field.

Special K and the Special Teams: Rex Ryan thinks that Mike Westhoff (recently signed to a one-year extension), one of the greatest special teams coaches of all time, will be a star on “Hard Knocks.” The Coach with a Cane, whose subtle limp doesn’t match his not-so-subtle temper, will be key in grooming newcomers Tanner Purdum (LS) and Nick Folk (K). The preseason may be meaningless in the record books, but for these two the preseason will be quite meaningful- both will need to prove that they are reliable at getting the job the done, and when the cameras turn on this Monday night, they better be ready. Westhoff will also be narrowing down his candidates for kick/punt returners as the preseason goes on, so look for big preseason returns to yield returns on the depth chart. (See poll below.)

Communication: Communication and interaction is the heart of drama, and there will certainly be a healthy heartbeat tonight on HBO. The coach-player dynamic will be the crux of the “Hard Knock” series, and the plotline boasts plenty of interesting characters. Rex Ryan seems to be a player favorite if you play for him, and a fan favorite if you root for him. Otherwise, the man’s got a target on his back. Just ask Wes Welker. On-field communication is noteworthy as well. On offense, Sanchez hopefully won’t be subject to the kindergarten-esque traffic light play-calling (green means go, yellow means caution, etc.). Defensive communication is even more crucial. Salary is low for David Harris, but expectations are high. Especially with the absence of co-pilot Darrelle Revis, look for Harris to be taking on a lot more of the barking this preseason. With new faces in new places, communication will be an essential part of this defense’s success, and the foundation for Ryan’s scheme-happy defensive unit.

“Tomorrow” is another one of Annie’s tunes that Jets fans are all too familiar with- they’ve been singing it each ring-less off-season since 1969. Last year, the Jets faithful began singing later than usual following a playoff run deep into January, but began singing nonetheless:

 “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya’ tomorrow- you’re always a day away.”  

For the Jets, tomorrow is this season, and HBO couldn’t be happier.  

Stay tuned. 

If Preseason Promise Goes M.I.A., Jets Could Look More Like Paper Planes

On paper, the Jets are a force to be reckoned with. They've got talent, depth, and a mindset that is anything but timid. Aggressive off-season moves added talented newcomers to an already impressive roster. On paper, the Jets boast established and burgeoning success.

But the game isn't played on paper.

The Jets will be more like paper airplanes if autumn winds plunder summer's promise. After all, the autumn wind is a raider.

Even after only a few training camp sessions, it's tough not to jump onto the bandwagon of optimism. The receiving core has made some dazzling grabs, Sanchez says he's feeling great following off-season surgery, and Antonio "The Spider" Cromartie has drawn comparisons to... himself, in 2007 Pro Bowl form.

And yet, despite all this, it won't be until the regular season that we'll have our true answers to these lingering questions:

Will Antonio Cromartie be back to 2007 form, or at least close to it? Sure, Cromartie's impressed in practices and been Sanchez's main bugaboo, but is he really primed to return to 2007 form? Not many corners in this league are 6' 2" while still boasting his athleticism and speed. The corner back says he's happy to be back in a system built around man-to-man coverage, where he'll be able to engage receivers more frequently, an ability he said was downplayed in San Diego's more recent zone coverage schemes. But with more physicality in store and the need to break quickly out of a backpedal to lock onto receivers, will Cromartie's hip hold up? Cromartie's hip is supposedly a non-issue, but he has already had to sit a few reps out with hip-related "soreness." With Revis opposite him, and teams aware of his recent underproduction, expect Cromartie to be tested early and often. I'm looking for big things from The Spider this season, and I don't think I'll be disappointed.

Will Nick Folk make Feely's departure bittersweet, or just bitter? Excuse me for being fixated on the issue, but it's amazing just how whimsical the media can be. Nick Folk is officially off Rex Ryan's bad list, but do a few good practices really translate to proven reliability? Greg Buttle also hopped on the bandwagon, recently proclaiming: "I want to be put on record. Nick Folk is nothing to worry about." I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mr. Buttle, but I completely disagree with him writing this off as a non-issue. A few flawless (or near flawless) preseason games, and then I'll (cautiously) join the Nick Folk kool-aid party... after a few solid regular season games, I'll officially deem this "nothing to worry about." It's questionable to deem this a non-issue when we all know how the media and fanbase will react the second he misses a preseason or regular season gimme attempt. Nick Folk isn't off the hook just yet- as a matter of fact, he's nowhere near that point yet. When 2010 = 2007 for Folk, this issue can truly be put to rest.  

Can LaDanian Tomlinson emerge from shadows of his former self? Notice a common theme? For some Jets players, it's about rewinding the clock before moving forward. It certainly doesn't appear that the Jets will be expecting Tomlinson to carry the Jets running game, but that doesn't mean he won't be an important part of the offense. He gives Sanchez the quick outlet option that the sophomore quarterback really only had for the first six weeks of last year's season before Leon Washington went down with a gruesome compound leg fracture. With the physical Shonn Greene presumably getting touches ahead of him, it will also be interesting to see how Tomlinson fills in when Greene inevitably gets banged up. If Tomlinson can live up to even vestiges of his career's prime, the Jets could have a traumatizing tandem in their running game.

Let's hope paper doesn't fold in the regular season.

Stay tuned.

Second to None

Training camp isn’t all about the marquee players and front-page storylines. 

For starters, training camp isn’t all about the starters. 

The Jets are as deep as Dikembe Mutombo’s voice in some positions, but as slim as the Giants’ playoff hopes in others. With backups being called to duty so often and so suddenly in the NFL, sometimes the battles behind the frontlines are just as intriguing as those on the frontlines. Training camp gives the fan daily snippets of these positional battles, which are sometimes forgotten amidst the juicier headlines. Here are a few “second-teamers” I’ll be eyeing as training camp goes on…

John Conner: So maybe two days of Rex Ryan’s hyperbolic praise is nothing to get excited about, but it was enough for me. The Kentucky Bulldozer wowed coaches by making a habit of knocking the wind out of some Jets linebackers, not to mention some exceptional blocking on the kick return team. I’m expecting big things from the rookie, even if it’s not this year. He’s got one of the best ahead of him in Tony Richardson, whose middle name might as well be “Underappreciated.” Seriously. This guy has worked his tail off with incredible results for the halfbacks behind him, and I would deem him one of the most underrated/underappreciated players in the league. Richardson was a huge piece of the Jets’ first-in-the-league rushing attack, but it was ironically the oft-underappreciated (but equally deserving) offensive line who stole the limelight. If Conner absorbs everything Richardson has to offer, the young man will be well on his way to fullback stardom, if such a thing exists.

    

Dwight Lowery: Revis Island on one side, AlCROtraz on the other, Leonhard and Pool holding down the last line of defense, and Wilson in on nickel packages- end of story, right? Not necessarily. Don’t be surprised if the talented Dwight Lowery makes more-than-occasional appearances on the Jets defensive ranks, especially with Rex Ryan’s myriad of defensive schemes and alignments. The San Jose State alum was by no means a no-name last year (21 tackles, 3 INTs, and 9 passes defended in the 13 games he played in, 5 of which he started), and just because the Jets have added three DBs in Antonio Cromartie, Brodney Pool, and the untested Kyle Wilson, don’t expect Lowery’s role to be drastically diminished. The guy is a playmaker (he also had 5 forced fumbles in 2008), and could very well see significant playing time if AlCROtraz starts letting prisoners escape or if Pool is plagued by more concussion woes. Lowery is a versatile player whose efforts may be somewhat underappreciated, but in Rex Ryan we trust- to plug in players where he knows they can make plays. Certainly, the Jets are anything but limited at the DB position, but with Lowery experienced both as a cornerback and safety, I’ll go out on a limb and say he has a few more game-breaking plays than he’s being written off for.  

The Defensive Line Back-Ups: That’s right, the whole bunch of ‘em. In a Jets season that promises to be one of two things – extremely fulfilling or extremely disappointing – the defensive pass rush will be key. Go ask any great defense how they did without a pass rush, and they’ll tell you that no one called them great in the first place. With a Jets front that promises to have multiple looks and will be constantly be under fire to get to the quarterback, the “second-teamers” will quite often be making trips to the frontlines. Regardless of the rotation, how players like Vernon Gholston, Sione Pouha, and Mike Devito team up with wily veterans Shaun Ellis and Kris Jenkins will be key.    

***

Folk seems to have overcome some OTA hiccups, going 7-for-8 yesterday and 5-for-5 this morning on field goals. Unfortunately, the hiccups aren’t a one-time deal, so it’ll be interesting to see if Folk can keep up the promising results.

***

Jets players and coaches got into a bit of a jawing match in this morning’s practice as tempers flared over a few Kenwin Cummings late hits. Whom all this made happier – Rex Ryan or Ross Greenburg – is still up for debate.

Stay tuned.

Despite Working Jets, Revis Island Flights Temporarily Postponed

The Jets Kool-Aid turned a little bit sour this weekend.
 
Darrelle Revis is officially a hold-out as of 5:30PM yesterday. The sky isn’t falling just yet, but it certainly will be in Jets Nation if something doesn’t get figured out soon. There’s been plenty of finger-pointing, but most would agree at this point that the Jets management has yet to act upon its words. Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets supposedly came forward yesterday with three different deals, but all three were rejected, preventing any type of 11th hour negotiation. The details of the proposals were not specified, but Tannenbaum made three offers that were each rejected: a long-term deal that would have made Revis a “Jet for life,” a short-term deal, and an in-person meeting with Revis’ agents. Perhaps at best this is a sign that the Jets management is finally starting to grind the gears on negotiating with Revis’ agents.
 
Obviously, the long-term offer and the short-term band-aid offer (reportedly around $5.3 million for next year with no fully guaranteed money) weren’t enough to heal the big boo-boo the Jets have opened up. The issue is one of total compensation, according to those close to the situation. At this point, the pressure falls squarely on the Jets to get this deal done. Jets management reached out to Revis over 6 months ago, not the other way around. Now, they’ve got to carry through on reworking the 25-year-old’s contract. Rex Ryan, not one to shy away from touting his players, exalted Revis as the “best corner I’ve ever been around”- and the truth is… he is. Just ask the fans and the media why this is the biggest story headed into training. (And where were all these people during last year’s AP Defensive Player of the Year voting?) I know it’s easier said than done, but let’s seal the deal with this guy, who’s still got his prime ahead of him in the years to come. For the next few days, all this means is that Lowery and Wilson, not Revis, will get reps opposite Cromartie in camp; if Revis isn’t suited up in a week or so (he forfeits a year of eligibility towards free agency if he’s still holding out on August 10), then expect the media frenzy to accumulate, and the questions to burn deeper.
 
***

With respect to Revis’ hold out, the media seems to be fixated on two points that are essentially moot:

1)      The Reallocation Rule: It is true that the Jets cannot fully guarantee money in a new contract against both skill and injury, but they could cover for this in bonuses. So at the end of the day when it comes down to compensation, the Reallocation Rule isn’t preventing any cash flow from Woody Johnson’s pocket.
2)      Daily Fines: Revis is being fined upwards of $16,000 each day he misses training camp. Big whoop. The whole point of him missing out is that he’ll eventually work out a deal that will cover this money. The urgency he’s giving to the situation by missing these days at training camp is a calculated risk. If things go the right way for Revis, which they most likely eventually will, these fines will be chump change in the rear view mirror.

Perhaps this tidbit sums up some the media’s fixation with infusing unnecessary and relatively irrelevant drama into the situation: “Tannenbaum said he hasn't spoken directly to Revis in several weeks. On July 14, he sent a text message to Revis, wishing him a happy birthday. Revis didn't respond.” Considering most people don’t respond to even their mothers’ text messages, I’m not reading too much into this one.

***

The Jets also signed expected starting nickel back Kyle Wilson to a 5-year, $13 million deal with over $7 in guarantees on Saturday. Wilson will certainly see more play-time with the number ones in camp while Revis holds out.

***

The Results of the Jets Weight-Loss Competition Are As Follows:

WINNER: Jenkins (-33.6 lbs. via Cookie Diet) (now at a svelte 359 lbs.)

2nd Place: Woody (-26.2 lbs. via Classic Diet) (now at 340 lbs.)

3rd Place: Ryan (-20 lbs. via Lap-Band Surgery “Efforts”) (now at an undisclosed weight)

Jenkins will have a donation made in his name. Ryan disputed the results on technicalities, claiming that his Lap-Band surgery weight-loss should have also counted towards the competition. 

***

Santonio Holmes will report to camp on Wednesday. His son, who has sickle cell anemia, was recently in the hospital. Kellen Clemens (calf) and Kris Jenkins (hamstring) were placed on the active-physically unable to perform list, but should be returning soon.

Stay tuned.