Life of a True NYJets Fan

If 75 Yards Means A "Bad" Game For Revis, I'll Take It.

2011-11-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

If giving up eight catches for 75 yards means Darrelle Revis had a bad day, then please sign him up as a New York Jet for another 10 years

Waking up today to fan’s reactions to Revis’ performance yesterday is quite entertaining, and yet another reminder of how fickle the New York Jets fan base can really be at times.

Yesterday’s win against the Buffalo Bills wasn’t a pretty one by any measure, and you certainly won’t find me giving any player credit unless it’s deserved. I’ll admit that halfway through the game yesterday I even commented on Stevie Johnson’s performance. Why wouldn’t I? I saw one too many completions to a receiver covered by the best cornerback in the game. It’s not common to see a wide receiver catch anything but air when put on Revis Island.

Today, amidst a sea of predictable overreaction, I watched the game again and took a little closer look at Revis’ performance, took it for what it was, and haven’t for one second questioned the rare talent and skill we’ve all know he has.

If you found yourself sitting in front of the computer last night, voting Kyle Arrington into the ProBowl, putting your #24 jersey up for sale on eBay and making ridiculous comments like “Revis is awful”, “He’s been exposed” and “It looked like Revis didn’t even want to play today”……. well this one is for you.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is as accurate a quarterback as Stevie Johnson is a great route runner. Eight catches for 75 yards and 3 yard touchdown really sounds a lot worse then it is. Most other teams stay up all night praying that they had a secondary that could perform that well against a starting wide receiver.

Johnson’s receptions for the most part were under 10 yards. He was effective on making a few quick moves on Revis off the line and getting open for a quick pass. Any defensive back will tell you that it’s hard to defend a slant-a-thon like we witnessed yesterday.

Jets fans complain every week about poor safety play yet never take the time to consider that Revis may actually feel the same way. I’m not sure how much Revis actually trusts Brodney Pool and Eric Smith. All reasons why he played man coverage, gave Johnson a lot of cushion and kept the play in front of him the entire game.

In my opinion, Revis knows how fast Johnson is, and this was his way of making sure that he didn’t get beat over the top. When you can’t trust your safeties to be there, you don’t compromise your coverage, you don’t jump short throws, and you let Fitzy make a few short completions.

Looking at the game and the Stevie Johnson touchdown more closely definitely shows that there was some miscommunication between Revis and Pool. Revis backed off, expecting inside help and like so many other times this season it wasn’t there.

No excuses need to made for his performance yesterday, nor should any credit be taken away from Fitzpatrick and Johnson’s effectiveness against him. The fact is, Jets fans have been spoiled with wide receivers completely disappearing on Revis Island, and have set new standards for what is considered a good or bad performance.

Like I said before, I’ll take the guy whose “bad day” only costs the team 75 yards and one touchdown any day of the week and be grateful.

And in case you didn't hear..... NEWSFLASH: Darrelle Revis is human.

Oprah: The One Person I Hate More Than Even Tom Brady.

2011-05-25T20:29:00.006-04:00

I can only make fun of Tom Brady "weeee-ing" like a school girl down a water slide for so long. Thanks to the NFL lockout there isn't much else to share my strong opinions on these days, so I decided to share my "Why I Think Oprah Is A Phony Fake Bitch" story with everyone. Enjoy!

(*patient names changed for confidentiality)

While it may be hard to believe, I don't just spend my days ranting and raving about football and the New York Jets. If there's one thing I'm passionate about it's my career.

I'm an Occupational Therapist specializing in Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke. I love my job, I help people to move again, perform everyday functions and get their lives back. Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you that my patients mean the world to me. I share their goals and devote myself to see them improve.

About 6 years ago now I had the "pleasure" of treating Luther Vandross. Luther had suffered a major stroke and needed intensive therapy. We treated him for months and progress was slow and steady. Interesting enough, the stories getting out to public and the media were that he was doing much better than he actually was. To this day I'm not sure why.

A few months into his therapy I found out that Oprah was coming to tape a full segment on Luther's recovery. It was going to be Luther's first interview since his stroke. You would have thought the President was coming.....but come to think of it Oprah probably sees herself as more of a VIP anyway.

The Daytime Diva had many demands, they got more ludicrous by the day. I got my first taste of what this Oprah woman was really about when she demanded that only "good looking patients" be used in the background as they filmed her walking around the therapy gym with Luther.

I'm sorry Oprah, but my 28 year-old patient that got hit by a drunk driver really can't help if he's missing part of his skull and isn't looking like a Gucci model at the moment, but let me find you someone who is.

Two of my patients - Jenn & Beth were asked to be apart of the taping.

Now, there are some patients who you never ever forget. Their stories can hit a soft spot with me when I thought I lost the capability to have that happen anymore. Jenn and Beth were prime examples of this.

Jenn had a sudden brain hemorrhage while in Biology class at Rutgers and hadn't been home in 3 years still needing daily therapy. She was still learning how to navigate her power wheelchair with minimal hand function. Her optimism after all she had gone through was contagious.

Beth was enjoying life as a new mom when she got in a tragic car accident. She had spent years away from her family recovering from her brain injury. Betsey's family couldn't afford to bring her home to their 3rd floor apartment nor make the necessary modifications to accommodate her power wheelchair.

These two young ladies taught me more than I can even begin to describe in this post.

Jenn & Beth were ecstatic when they heard about the opportunity to be a part of the Oprah segment. They couldn't wait. They loved Oprah, looked up to her. It was great to see them have something to smile and get excited about.

Together they decided to write Oprah a letter. They showed it to me and my colleagues. Basically they told Oprah their stories and said they would be honored to meet her and shake her hand. They asked for nothing else but the opportunity to meet her even if just for one minute.

I immediately thought it was a great idea. I mean everyone knew Oprah was this giving, unselfish, philanthropist right? She loved changing people's lives for the better. I thought that she would read these stories, meet the girls and maybe help get them home to their families.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Oprah stormed in as usual the morning of the taping. Jenn & Beth were on their therapy mats as instructed. They asked that we give Oprah their letters so that they wouldn't bother her.

I'll never forget my colleague handing Oprah the letters and pointing out the girls. My jaw dropped as Oprah said "No! I don't have any time for this shit" as she skimmed their letters.

She tossed them away and went on about making her demands. She never once looked in their direction or spoke one-single word to them. She cared so much about Luther, yet never shook any of our hands for our work with him.

I stood there in shock and before I knew it the words "Wow, you are one selfish bitch" were coming out of my mouth. She turned in my direction but just huffed off acting like the Diva she is.

Let's just say the rest of the day wasn't pleasant. I take it personal when you mistreat one of my patients. I took no part in the taping and let it be known that the "Most Powerful Woman" on TV was a fraud.

Jenn & Beth were upset, but also now knew that everything that Oprah says and does behind the camera are lies. It was clear to all of us that in Oprah's eyes, no kind act was worth doing if there weren't two-million viewers watching it. I have no problem letting the world know that in my eyes her philanthropy is nothing but bullshit.

Oprah had a tough childhood? Boo-effing-hoo. These two girls will never live a normal life again and only asked for a handshake. Her fat ass never worked as hard as they did to get to the point that they were at.

Those who perform small random acts of kindness are the ones I admire and remember. They're the ones who really make a difference in this world.

Oprah? She just filled the 4pm spot on ABC.

In a nutshell ........ Enjoy your retirement wench.

DeMaurice Smith: "Voice of the Players"......or not.

2011-05-17T14:27:00.001-04:00

There’s nothing better than sitting back and watching a “fresh approach” to something go horribly wrong.

Unfortunately, this new way of doing things, otherwise known as DeMaurice Smith, is directly impacting me -- an NFL fan who thoroughly enjoys the sport 365 days a year.

In 2009, upon the sudden passing of Gene Upshaw, Smith was elected president of the NFLPA. It was seen as a surprise by many, a solution to the union’s sudden need for a change.

So much for that change being positive.

What the NFLPA got was a Washington-based attorney, a trial lawyer who represented Fortune 500 companies, rubbed elbows with President Barack Obama, and knows his way around Capitol Hill with his eyes closed. What they didn’t get was someone who had even the slightest clue about the world of the NFL, let alone the mind of a professional football player.

It was obvious that his business experience trumped his football experience. Unfortunately for players and fans the ramifications of his hiring are being showcased loud and clear right now.

Surprisingly enough, I’ve stayed fairly quiet regarding my opinions on the current lockout. I’ve kept an optimistic view that the two parties shared one common goal: to get back to playing football. But after seeing Smith’s comments Monday it’s clear to me that this poor excuse for a leader is largely responsible for the lack of football in my life.

Someone might want to warn Mr. Smith that it’s really not a wise choice to get in the way of me and my football.

Smith is out of his league. Last I checked he’s no labor attorney. He’s a trial lawyer with no labor law experience whatsoever. If Upshaw could walk out of his grave right now I bet he would. Upshaw had a great relationship with NFL owners and commissioner at the time Paul Tagliabue. Don’t think for one second that the efforts put into establishing that relationship weren’t a key reason why the last labor fight was a short, less dramatic one.

The NFLPA is now in more of a mess than their “fearless” leader even cares to realize. It’s obvious that Smith cares more about good sound bites and extra face time on national television then actually facing the reality of the situation at hand. The man wants to make his mark in NFL history and he thinks that trudging this matter in courtroom after courtroom is the way to do it. I don’t need law experience to know that new collective bargaining agreements don’t get done in courtrooms.

Smith needs to stop making things personal. Enough already with the redundant, arrogant and hard-balled rhetoric that has completely undermined any efforts to reach a new deal. Cut the asinine “This is war” comments and go back to Capitol Hill where you belong.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the players, themselves, are questioning whether this man has their best interests in mind, but it’s too late now.

So, to quote the man of the hour himself: “Congratulations,” DeMaurice. You are singlehandedly turning off many fans that were once favoring the side of the players and have ruined what was once one of the best player/owner relationships in all sports.

Unfortunately, I’m not holding my breath for a new deal anytime soon -- that is as long as I continue to see your mug behind that podium

How the NFL Lock-Out Potentially Helps the New York Jets in the 2011 Draft.

2011-04-26T09:30:00.002-04:00

Believe it or not, the NFL lockout in one very small way has actually helped some teams, including the New York Jets.

Maybe I’m suffering from a chocolate bunny overdose, or desperately trying to find something good in a time of such turmoil in the NFL. Either way, this is a scenario we as fans cannot afford to ignore.

It’s a pretty easy concept when you think about it.

It’s finally draft week, and not too much has changed. There will still be three days, seven rounds and a green room filled with anxious soon-to-be NFL players at Radio City Music Hall.

This year is first time in NFL history that the draft will be held before free agency. An offseason with no trades and no free agent signings has taken away one of the primary ways that teams fill their needs for the upcoming (knock on wood) season. The only avenue teams currently have is to wager parts of their futures on the unproven.

The lockout has done wonders for hockey and basketball fans, but it has also benefited some college prospects, too, namely quarterbacks. There are only six or so teams desperate for a quarterback and approximately five more that are in the market for one.

In any other year a handful of these teams would have already signed players like Marc Bulger, Donovan McNabb or Alex Smith, leaving their draft picks to fill other holes. But without the freedom to sign veteran players, these QB-needy teams will be stretching to grab the next Mark Sanchez as early as possible. I mean why wouldn’t they? Last I checked a quarterback is one of the more necessary parts of a football team.

Or in the case of this bizarre NFL offseason, desperate times should call for desperate measures.

Players who in any other year would be drafted during the second round are going to be celebrating Thursday night. “Over-drafting” and “quarterback” are two words that will go hand-in-hand this year. Players will be drafted higher due to need, not talent. It’s notion that you won’t hear the Kaepernicks, Malletts and Daltons of the world complaining about.

What does this mean for the Jets?

I wouldn’t expect Mike T. -- aka “the Draft King” -- to move up unless there is a player available that Rex & Co. simply cannot live without. The more quarterbacks drafted early in the first round will mean more players dropping down, giving the Jets more options with the 30th selection.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

By the middle of Round 1, I fully expect to see greedy teams starting to make some moves. Bidding wars and trades will start to come fast and furious in an attempt to put war rooms in their places.

Get used to that little bell sound and team logos changing on the screen quickly as moves are made, or, more specifically, quarterbacks are selected.

The Jets aren’t the only team looking for the next great pass rusher this week. Fourteen teams run a 3-4 defense and four of those teams will be drafting alongside the Jets in the last seven picks of the first round. If you’re a Jets fan, the hope is more teams move into this slot to grab a quarterback.

If the infamous draft pick hoarder, Bill Belichick, takes the bait from a team like Denver or San Francisco and moves out of the 17th or 28th spot it will only help the Jets.

On the other hand, if players the Jets are targeting get taken right before they are scheduled to select, Tannenbaum may begin fielding offers in preparation to make moves himself. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if the Tennessee Titans or Denver Broncos trade into the Jets spot to grab a QB, leaving the Jets with a second round pick and an additional third.

If not, and the Jets trade down for extra picks in round three or later, Tannenbaum would put his talents to use and find a way to trade some of those and land a spot back up in the second round.

The possibilities are endless, making it one of the best and worst parts of the draft.

Any situation that makes a draft unpredictable, with the potential for lots of movement, usually means good things for the Jets. That’s precisely what could begin to happen on Thursday night.

One thing is highly recommended: don’t walk away from the television or channel surf for too long because anything – and I mean anything -- can happen.

And usually does.

The No Fun League Strikes Again

2011-03-22T17:06:00.000-04:00

Anyone new to American sports would think that football was a relatively new sport created in the 1980’s. With all the recent implementation of new rules and changes to existing ones, one would never believe the sport has been around since 1879.

First the infamous “Tuck Rule” in 2002 thanks to my favorite ponytail wearing quarterback. Then came the changes to the overtime rules after old man Favre suffered a dreadful NFC Championship game loss in overtime.

As if the current news regarding the NFL couldn’t be annoying enough, today’s biggest story aside from Bill Belichick sleeping through breakfast involved yet another rule change.

Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reports:

“NFL kickoffs will take place at the 35-yard line -- not the 30 -- under a modified kickoff proposal passed by the league's owners at the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, according to a league source. The proposal keeps touchbacks at the 20 and continues to allow the two-man blocking wedge.”

Saying that Devin Hester should be on suicide watch may be a little bit extreme, but this rule change most definitely has an effect on an important aspect of the game.

Fans can definitely expect to see a lot more touchbacks than previously. In 2010, 927 kicks landed in the end zone or farther. 509 of them were returned, and 416 were touchbacks. There’s no question that with the implementation of the new rules, the percentage of touchbacks will increase greatly giving kickers the advantage, and will take away the threat from kick return specialists.

In 2010, players like Josh Cribbs, DeSean Jackson, Leon Washington, Brad Smith racked up 23 touchdowns all from kick returns. It’s one of the most exciting yet overlooked parts of the game.

What Jets fan didn’t love shouting “Leee-onnnn” at every kick-off? Or used to sit at the edge of their seat waiting for Chad Morton to return yet another one in the end zone?

Let’s face it, a kick-off return for a touchdown can sometimes be the most memorable play of a game.

Last year, kickers like Sebastian Janikowski would routinely kick the ball one to two yards into the endzone with a good possibility of it being returned.

Ed Hochuli will be swinging his arms at his sides a plenty this year because that same kick will be six to seven yards deep with players kneeling in the end zone for yet another touchback.

Excuse me while I yawn.

The fact is players get paid millions because they are most dangerous at returning kick-offs and getting great field position for their team.

Leon Washington should be thanking his lucky stars he signed his new contract or else he’d be seeing his value drop like Darren Sproles and Brad Smith are as we speak. It’s even safe to say that players may no longer be drafted purely because of their great return abilities.

So who benefits?

Aging kickers like Ryan Longwell and Adam Vinatieri do. These guys have accuracy and no longer have to worry about losing some leg strength. A kicker’s accuracy will be valued more than a big leg.

Of course as I type I have to think about Nick Folk. I don’t consider him a big-legged kicker or a very accurate one. In fact he’s really just a pain in my…….I digress.

I expect to see teams treat kick-offs like punts. Special teams coaches will use sky kicks and emphasize hang-time. Kickers will get air under the ball for a 5 second hang time, let the coverage team get under it and force the returner to call a fair catch inside his own 10 yard line……..or else he’ll get killed.

No fun for Brad Smith and when you think about it even less fun for players like Lance Laury, Jamaal Westermann and John Conner who are dying to get their hands on the little fast men. They can’t even line up at the 20 yard line anymore and only have five yards from the kick off to get a running start.

Aside from the Rutgers tragedy, I personally can only recall news of two concussions suffered last year during kick-off returns.

I’m all for the NFL Competition Committee implementing rules that will increase players’ safety, but this newest rule could potentially effect an entire phase of a team’s offense.

When the league implemented increased fines and punishment for “big hits” they weren’t necessarily changing the game, but rather sending a message to the players. In the end, the players could still play the game the way they always have.

The new kick-off rules are different in that they actually change how the game is played, no matter how slightly.

My new optimistic side says hey….it’s better than having them take away kick-offs completely.

Vikings, Packers and Lions fans will sleep better tonight.

Who knows? Maybe now my nightmares of there ever being another Ted Ginn Jr in the AFC East will finally end too.

Beating the Patriots: The Aftermath Part Deux

2011-01-24T13:07:00.000-05:00

Jets fans need something to make them smile this morning - I think I may have found a temporary solution for that.

Patriots fan Will DiTullio made good on Part 2 of his bet......watch the video below and enjoy!

Big thanks to Will for being a stand-up Patriots fan, and more importantly to Butch Stearns and Phil DiMartino of the Pulse Network for letting us have some fun with this!

P.S - Technically Will didn't get the Firemen to do the actual J-E-T-S chant.....but we'll let it slide!

Beating the Patriots: The Aftermath

2011-01-21T12:26:00.002-05:00

This time last week I was a guest on "The Sports Buzz" with host Butch Stearns and the New England Patriots fan that we all love to hate .......Will DiTullio (@WAD1980).

We discussed the upcoming Jets vs Patriots playoff game in detail and let's just say these two New England fans were riding high on their December win, current winning streak and were very confident about the upcoming game.

At the end of the show Will & I, with the help of Butch made some bets. I was fully prepared to pay up should the Jets lose. What could possibly be worse than wearing a pink Wild for Woodhead shirt?

If you're like me, you are still reliving the 28-21 Jets win........so yes it's now time for Patriots fan Will to pay up!

Part one of the bet was that Will needed to write a letter to Jets fans telling us all why we are the best. So scroll down and enjoy it, it's not often we get to see a Patriots fan praise the New York Jets!

(stay tuned for Part Two - this one you will NOT want to miss!)

Dear NY Jets and their Fan base

For 11 years, I have watched Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots outwit, outlast and outplay the New York Jets and the rest of the NFL. Over that time period, the Patriots have played in 4 Super Bowls (winning 3 of them), 5 AFC Championship Games and finished 1st in the AFC East 8 out of the 11 years. I was convinced that the only way to win in the NFL was to believe the mantra "In Bill We Trust". I WAS WRONG!

On Sunday, you walked into Gillette Stadium and dominated the New England Patriots, beating the #1 seed in the AFC 28-21. The Patriots were outplayed and out coached in all 3 phases of the game. The Patriots looked lost and confused all game long. They simply had no response to a brilliant defensive game plan devised by your coach Rex Ryan and his staff.

Rex Ryan promised 2 years ago that he was not hired to "kiss Bill Belichick's rings", instead he was brought in to find a way to beat your hated rival. Rex has delivered. You now boast a 3-2 record against the Patriots since Ryan took over in 2009 and have played in 2 consecutive AFC Championship Games. Over this time period, you are 4-1 in the playoffs (all 4 wins coming on the road) whereas the Patriots have lost 2 consecutive home playoff games.

Prior to Sunday's Divisional Round match up, you bragged and boasted about how you were ready to erase the memory of a 45-3 drubbing you suffered at the hands of the Patriots in early December. Experts and fans of the Patriots laughed and joked at this thought. How in the world would you overcome a 42 point defeat, especially since the Patriots were sporting an 8 game winning streak and playing their best football at the end of the regular season? You did! You ran the ball down the Patriots' throats, Mark Sanchez made all the clutch throws and your defense covered the Patriots' wide receivers even when they were going to the restroom. In the past, when a player from an opposing team took aim at a member of the Patriots (see Freddie Mitchell and Anthony Smith), "humble pie" was served the following Sunday. This was not the case this time. You backed up your talk and humbled your arch rivals in front of their home crowd.

Rex has changed the culture of the New York Jets in 2 short seasons. Observers of the NFL now believe that "Belichick's Way" isn't the only way to be successful. Experts question if the NFL's model franchise still resides in Foxboro. The defeat on Sunday has people in Boston questioning Belichick's philosophy and Brady's ability to succeed under pressure like he once did. In the past, you were defined by the phrase "same old Jets" but this phrase no longer applies. You have proven that you can succeed when the pressure is turned up, and recent history says the Patriots cannot. Brash is now in.

Jets Nation is a loyal, passionate and knowledgeable fan base. You have suffered for 42 years. The proverbial monkey was lifted from your back on Sunday evening when you beat the heavily favored New England Patriots. You are 2 wins away from wiping away years of disappointment. Best of luck, you deserve it! I have learned that Bill's Way is not the only way.

From a Humbled Patriots Fan
Will

The Official Unofficial Jets Pro-Bowl Ballot

2011-01-14T14:48:00.000-05:00

While it pains me to face reality, the regular season is now over and the Jets are well into the playoffs (thank you sweet baby Jesus)

Thinking back and reflecting on the on this season, the Jets have had their fair share of injuries. Luckily, most have been minor enough where a player was only out of commission for a week or two.

As a result, this year more than previous ones, the Jets "back ups" have had more opportunities to fill in during these times and step up. I credit a lot of these "back up" players for helping the team end the season 11-5, and gaining them a spot in a AFC Divisional Playoff game.

I think these players deserve some recognition.....(and for the sake of Patriots fans on Twitter, I also think Jets fans need something to keep them busy)

These players unfortunately don't get to see their name on the Pro Bowl roster, and in turn the fans don't get to show them our thanks for stepping up when we needed them.

Below is the "Official Unofficial Jets Pro Bowl Ballot"

Vote for the players that you think deserve some praise for stepping up, filling in, and bringing it when they had their chance.

You can vote for more than one player per category, and vote as often as you'd like.

On Wednesday January 19th, we'll see who won in each category and find some way to let them know how much the fans appreciate them. It's not a trip to Hawaii, but a nice thank you never hurt.

So vote and let's go get a goddamn snack....Chowder sounds pretty good right now :)

Taking on Patriots Nation on Sports Buzz with Butch Stearns

2010-12-01T21:23:00.000-05:00

Football fans from NJ all the way to Maine are patiently waiting, counting the hours until the "Battle of 9-2's" takes place on Monday night between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

The intensity is building and what better way to put that emotion to use than to defend the Jets against a Patriots die-hard fan.

Today I was given the opportunity to be a guest on Butch Stearns show "Sports Buzz" on The Pulse Network.

The Boston radio host and former Fox 25 sports anchor was kind enough to let myself and the infamous Patriots die-hard Will DiTullio (@WAD1980) duel it out on his show.

There's nothing better than having the opportunity to stand-up for the Jets.....especially against Chowder head New England fans.

A big thanks to Butch (@ButchStearns) and The Pulse Network for having me on......and to Will (@WAD1980) for making it happen.

I made a bet at the end of the show that I would wear a PINK Danny Woodhead jersey if the Patriots win on Monday Night!
We all know how I feel about pink jerseys....and Danny Woodhead, so let's hope the Jets go up to Foxboro and get it done :)

Enjoy!

What I'm Thankful For.....Jets Style

2010-11-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

It's Thanksgiving....as I reflect on all the things I'm thankful for, some of these things come to mind:

I’m thankful that John Conner hasn’t put any teammates in a coma during special teams drills.

I’m thankful that Jenn Sterger is no longer a part of the Jets, and that Mark Brunell doesn’t have the need to discover the world of picture messaging.

I’m thankful that Nick Folk is over his temporary amnesia and now remembers that he plays for the Jets…….not the Browns.

I’m thankful that Chansi Stuckey still loves the Jets.

I’m thankful that Brian Schottenheimer finally found some of the playbooks he lost while on summer vacation this offseason. He’s still searching for the “Ground & Pound” one I hear.

I’m thankful for Mike Tannenbaum’s mother, for teaching him the art of bargain shopping at a very young age.

I’m thankful that Renaldo Hill missed the “Don’t grab a receiver’s face mask on 4^th and 6 with 3:55 left on the clock” chapter during Football 101.

I’m thankful that Ray Lewis has found a second career in acting by riding a jet-powered Raven for an Old Spice commercial.

I’m thankful for loud mouth low-class Miami Dolphin fans, without them my trash talking skills would be sub par.

I’m thankful for Tom Brady and his selfless volunteer work with the Best Buddies program…..if only every volunteer could be thanked with a $97,000 Audi.

I’m thankful for Richard Seymour, for stepping up and taking action in the name of drunk girls in nightclub bathrooms across the United States.

I’m thankful that Jim Schwartz forgot that his decision to have Drew Stanton run a bootleg on 3^rd and 6^th with under 2 minutes would end in a loss.

I’m thankful that Armando Salguero has finally seen the light and can admit that Mark Sanchez is a better quarterback than Chad Henne.

I’m thankful for Dorita Adams and Bart Capers for obviously never washing Bart Scott’s mouth out with soap and passing along the “Bad Ass” gene.

I’m thankful for the media for choosing to over hype Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards DUI incident and not the other 5+ NFL players arrested this season.

I’m thankful that LaDaninan Tomlinson discovered the fountain of youth. I hear that he’s taking Jason Taylor, Trevor Pryce and Shaun Ellis with him there this weekend.

I’m thankful for delusional New England Patriots fans for thinking Danny Woodhead is god’s gift to running backs…….I love anyone who can make me laugh.

I’m thankful for Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett…..for making the Dolphins organization even more of a joke than they already are.

I’m thankful for the NFL for manufacturing and selling Pink and Flirt Jerseys, making phony female fans even easier to spot.

and lastly…….I’m thankful for the New York Jets for providing me years of a roller coaster of emotions and something to look forward to every Sunday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all…………may the joy of 9-2 taste sweeter than pumpkin pie tonight!

A Matt Millen-less Hour....Sounds of the NY Jets

2010-11-24T22:38:00.000-05:00

It’s a well known fact that NFL announcers can make or break your Jets viewing experience.

This season Jets fans have had to sit through a variety of TV personalities. Some good, some bad, and some that make you want to press the mute button.

Let’s see……you’ve got the ever insightful Phil Simms, the hot-dog eating “I’m a funny guy” shtick of Tony Siragusa, the “tension you can cut with a knife moments” between Steve Young and a clueless Matt Millen, and of course always a healthy dose of Jim Nantz’s “Hello friends” that leaves you feeling the need take a shower.

An occasional “"When you look at Ryan Fitzpatrick you are looking at the Bills quarterback" type comment from Dan Dierdorf can leave you pondering how you ever survived the past 3 hours, yet 30 minutes listening to Gus Johnson will have you convinced the man could make a funeral fun.

Love them or hate them it’s all a matter of personal opinion. Either way, this weekend Jets fans are in for a nice treat.

The Jets aren’t only a team that is fun to watch. The success of HBO’s Hard Knocks and NFL Network’s Sound Fx featuring Rex Ryan have proven that this team is fun to “hear” too.

NFL Network has come through in a huge way and is going to give fans the up close and personal view of this dynamic team that all fans have been dying for.

Get your DVR’s ready - Hard Knocks “Game Style” is here.

During Thursday night’s Thanksgiving game between the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, many players and coaches will be miked up. On Saturday, November 27^th at 8:30pm, NFL Network will be airing an one-hour cut-down replay version of the game with nothing but the sounds recorded during the game.

“We’ve got 15 players and coaches miked during the game, including both coaches and all the coordinators and quarterbacks and middle linebackers.” says NFL Films President Steve Sabol. “ We’ll have 60 people shooting the game, which is more than we use for a Super Bowl, and then we’ll turn it around in 48 hours and show it to you through the eyes of the players. It’s something you won’t see anywhere else.”

This isn’t the first time the Jets will be playing a game with no announcers, back in 1980 it was done during a Jets vs Miami game. A definite must see for any Jets fan.

NFL Network couldn’t have picked a better game for this concept. Ochocinco, T.O, Revis, Cromartie, Rex Ryan and most importantly Bart Scott will alone provide more entertainment than one can even imagine.

A game full of nothing but the sound Rex dropping F-bombs, Bart talking trash, and the clash of helmets and pads from hard hitting Harris and Diggs…..now that is music to my ears.

NFL Network presents: SOUND FX: BENGALS @ JETS

When: Saturday November 27, 2010

Time: 8:30pm, 12:30am, 4:30am

Welcome to "AlCrotraz" Mr. Marshall

2010-09-21T21:17:00.000-04:00

Poor Brandon Marshall.

Over the summer Jets fans weren’t the only ones waiting and wishing Darrelle Revis would sign. It's true, Brandon Marshall was actually looking forward to playing against the stand-out cornerback when the Jets visited Miami on Sept. 26.

Unfortunately, Marshall’s trip to “Revis Island” has been postponed, but a consolation trip to “AlCrotraz” has been arranged instead.

But just when Jets fans started feeling confident about Antonio Cromartie, following his second-half shutdown of Randy Moss on Sunday, Chris Mortensen of ESPN had everyone pushing the panic button again with the following tweet:

Relax, everyone. Calm your fears and let’s look into the Cromartie/Marshall match-up a little deeper.

Mortensen’s tweet was 100 percent factually accurate, but there are a lot more details about Marshall’s record performance that day that Mort left out.

Sunday night will not be the first time the two players have met on the field. Counting their AFC West days, Cromartie and Marshall have been on the same field four times since 2008. Marshall played lights out against San Diego in September of that year, but to intimate that Cromartie was to blame for the 18-catch, 166-yard performance that day isn’t fair.

Somewhere Quentin Jammer is still hiding under the covers from the nightmare that was that game.

Like ESPN’s Tim Graham reported, Cromartie only defended Marshall on five of those 18 receptions, giving up 49 yards, including a 6-yard TD.

What’s even better? In three meetings since, Marshall recorded only three catches for 31 yards and got nowhere near the end zone.

Stats mean nothing right? There are many factors that can be argued regarding simple numbers so here are some more reasons to have some confidence that Cromartie can handle the big guy on Sunday:

1. Jay Cutler doesn’t wear teal and orange

It doesn’t take an NFL genius to realize that Chad Henne isn’t exactly Cutler. In two games the Chicago Bears quarterback has thrown more than 300 yards more than Henne. Cutler threw for 350 during Marshall’s big game in 2008.

For some reason I don’t think Henne will come close to that against the Jets’ defense.

2. Cromartie is out of the “zone.”

The one complaint Cromartie had about the Chargers was that they played too much zone coverage. Allowing separation and playing off the receiver against a wide receiver of Marshall’s caliber in a typical zone package isn’t so effective.

Unlike Moss, Marshall is a skilled route runner and doesn’t just rely on his straight-line speed to beat the secondary. He’ll beat you on a variety of short routes with his speed and cutting ability. Cromartie covering him man-to-man with safety help over the top should keep him in check the entire game.

3. Jim Leonhard and Brodney Pool easily beat Clinton Hart and Eric Weddle to take home the award for Best Supporting Cast

If Marshall beats Cromartie in double coverage, safeties can be relied upon to bring him down.

So enjoy your trip to AlCrotraz, Brandon.

Matching up with Marshall shouldn’t be a reason for Cromartie or to lose any sleep this week.

By the way, I hear Revis Island is a great place to visit in mid-December

Patience Is A Virtue - What Jets Fans Should Be Watching Today

2010-09-12T12:23:00.002-04:00

It was Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010. I remember turning off my television that night and saying good-bye to the New York Jets for the 2009 season.

If you’re like me, you woke up today more excited than ever that the day we’ve been waiting almost eight months for is finally here. Like the NFL Network commercial, I’ve got “high hopes” for this season and am chomping at the bit for the boys in green to finally take the field.

Patience is a virtue and today the patience of Jets fans will again be tested. Unlike the fans of 30 NFL teams, we must wait one more day.

Approximately 30 hours from now the Jets will finally take the field at the new Meadowlands Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.

But just in case you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth your while to watch football today, the answer is most definitely YES!

Looking back on the 2009 season, the one stat that still makes me cringe is the Jets’ 2-4 division record. Clearly, this cannot happen again this season.

Winning the AFC East isn’t a given. We think we already know the strengths and weaknesses of the 2010 Jets. Today is the day to watch the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and, yes, even the Buffalo Bills and begin to get a better picture of how they will matchup against Jets in weeks 2, 3, and 4.

The Jets aren’t the only team that made a lot of offseason changes. The AFC East as a whole has an entirely different look. The games today will give fans a better understanding of the Jets’ rivals and allow us to better predict if this team can improve its division record from a year ago.

So go ahead and DVR one game and watch another. Jets fans have a TON to pay attention to today.

New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals – 1:00pm EST

Are the New England Patriots a one-dimensional team? The Patriots are dealing with their own holdout this season. Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins won’t be on the field today. Can Dan Connelly effectively take his place? Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor didn’t exactly strike fear in the hearts of many defenses in the preseason and the absence of Mankins may carry that over to the regular season. Will the Patriots have to rely solely on their passing game and become a one-dimensional team? Will Tom Brady have the protection needed behind the current offensive line?

Can the Patriots youngins on defense get the job done? If you watch one thing this weekend it should be the Patriots’ defense. The one word to describe them is “youthful.” Expect them to be tested early and often. Their secondary – primarily rookie Devin McCourty and second-year CB Darius Butler -- will have their work cut out for them against Batman & Robin today.

Pass Rush issues: An effective pass rush hampered the Patriots last season. It should continue to be something to watch this season. There will be lots of pressure on rookie linebackers Brandon Spikes, and Jermaine Cunningham, who by the way was injured and hasn’t played this preseason. It shouldn’t take a genius to notice the pass rush may still be an issue.

Cedric Benson runs right: I’m expecting to see the right side of the Patriots’ defensive line be tested today. The Patriots will have two new starters when they take the field. Gerrard Warren and Marques Murrell will play their first games in red, white and blue uniforms and will have their work cut out for them against a strong Cincinnati offensive line. A “run Benson run” day could mean a “run Greene run” game next week, if you catch my drift.

Jermain Gresham: Why do you need to watch the Bengals rookie tight end? No, not because I’m infamously known for praising tight ends. You need to trust me, there is a method to my madness. Gresham is a dynamic tight end that runs routes like a wide receiver. He has quickly become one of Carson Palmer’s favorite targets. Expect the Patriots to play a cover-2 to take care of Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens down the sidelines. Can the Patriots linebackers cover Gresham? Remember the Jets have a certain No. 81-wearing tight end that gives linebackers nightmares as well.

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills – 1:00pm EST

Dolphins front seven: Will CJ Spiller run all over Miami? Out of seven players up front, defensive end Kendall Langford is the only player starting in the same spot as last year. The Miami defense, at least in the interim, is all about the line and linebackers.

Miami’s new middle men: The Bills defensive line (Stroud, Williams, and Edwards) are strong and will be facing Miami’s new interior line consisting of Berger, Incognito and Jerry. Can the new guys step up and help Brown and Williams put up big numbers today? For Jets fans, how this shakes out will give some perspective. A big rushing day by Miami today may mean a big rushing day for the Jets on Oct 3. Both the Jets’ interior O-line and D-line can take either of these teams.

What will Trent Edwards do? Edwards may not be the most dynamic quarterback but his performance today could expose a lot about a very young Miami secondary. With the Jets having in my opinion the best secondary in the league, a good performance by Edwards today is a win-win situation for the Jets for when they play the Dolphins.

Brandon Marshall: I’m going to be watching Brandon’s performance for one reason only. I know Darelle Revis can cover him and Antonio Cromartie will have no problem dealing with Hartline and Bess. Buffalo had the second-ranked pass defense last season (mainly because many teams just ran the ball against them in the third/fourth quarters). Brandon’s performance today will start to get my wheels turning as to how the Jets’ passing game will perform against him in three weeks.

C.J Spiller: Here’s a rookie I’m very excited to watch and really wish was not in the Jets’ division. I’ll be interested to see how he’s used. Will he get the ball as a receiver out of the backfield? Will we see him on the field with Lynch and used in the slot?

The “new” (and improved?) Miami Dolphins: Here’s a tidbit to keep in mind: Only six Dolphins players from last year are playing the same position this season. They have 10 players who have two years of experience or less.

So get your jersey ready, eat some wings, watch some football and keep the Jets in the back of your mind. Today you get to enjoy football without the roller coaster of emotions that will be here before you know it.

Tomorrow night is only hours away.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … and I love it.

Cure For Hard Knocks Induced Anxiety: Just Look At The Facts

2010-09-02T22:53:00.002-04:00

I’m no marketing whiz, but Pfizer should consider advertising Xanax throughout the tri-state area immediately following each episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed more simultaneous panic attacks than I did after Wednesday night’s episode.

About half way through the show my Twitter timeline was filled with ridiculous Jets fans.

Hysteria broke out. Take this tweet for example: “Slauson and Ducasse are going to get Sanchez killed.”

Tweets were coming a mile a minute. The same fans that cheered Vladimir on all preseason, basically giving him the starting left guard job, had changed their tune to something more like, “Ducasse can’t play for crap.”

I immediately thought to myself that these people need to get a hold of themselves.

And then it really began.

In typical Jets fan fashion, the lamenting the loss of Alan Faneca comments couldn’t be contained any longer. Once again the overreaction gene that seemingly every Jets fan is born with reared its ugly face.

Consider this your brown paper bag and relax.

Hard Knocks is a television show. It’s meant to draw viewers in and make them worry. I really would hope that anyone that calls themselves a true fan of the team would take the events highlighted in the show with a grain of salt.

A big part of the storyline Wednesday night was the battle between Ducasse and Slauson for the spot protecting Sanchez’s blind side. It only took three clips of both guys’ missed blocks in the Washington game to send Jets nation to the ledge.

To start with, jumping ship on two young and very skilled players and instead mourning the loss of a rapidly declining veteran is just plain silly.

Faneca was a great player, a productive run blocker, and a locker room leader. But the fact is he was rapidly declining. His pass blocking skills were inadequate at best. Go back and watch film of last season. Faneca’s problems in pass protection were easily hidden sandwiched between a Pro Bowl Center in Nick Mangold and big boy tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

I don’t know about you but I don’t exactly miss a player when a respected writer covering his new team refers to him as “a declining player that cannot protect well,” as was the case recently during Arizona Cardinals camp.

I can’t help but want to call some fans hypocrites, the same fans who have been crying for the Jets to give Darrelle Revis all the money in the world, as well as sign Mangold and linebacker David Harris, are the same ones bashing the organization for saving money by letting Faneca go.

Let’s all go back to that November game against Miami. The Jets are down 5 with three minutes remaining, but marched all the way down to the Dolphins’ 10. Randy Starks then sacked Sanchez for a seven-yard loss on third down and the Jets went on to suffer their second loss to their hated AFC East rivals of the season.

Let’s just say that if Hard Knocks was aired after that clip, Jets fans would’ve been begging for Faneca to be cut.

The bottom line is Jets fans need to show a big dose of patience to get through the Slausson/Ducasse growing pains.

Ducasse has improved more physically than mentally in the short time he’s been here. Please remember he played tackle at UMass and is transitioning to guard. Isn’t it a little much to ask that he be at the same level as a 12-year veteran who has made countless trips to Hawaii?

If you want to complain about someone, Slauson deserves some criticism. He played behind Faneca for a year and has played four full seasons under coach Bill Callahan. Slauson is more familiar with the position and needs to step up big time. I truly believe he will.

It’s an anxiety filled year for all of us. But rethinking every decision made this offseason without looking at the big picture is just plain ridiculous. At some point you have to see the moves for what they truly are. As a fan of the team you owe it to them to take more into consideration than just some edited Hard Knocks clips.

It's a good thing HBO didn’t show Damien Woody backpedaling and losing his balance during the Washington game. My guess is the vast majority of you would immediately want to see him getting his walking papers as well.

Take a deep breath, people. Believe it or not, there are still 16 games to play.

State of the Jets Union v1.0 - Cortland

2010-08-21T19:39:00.003-04:00

Black Escalades, silver Range Rovers, black Mercedes were all blended together in the parking lot behind the practice field at SUNY Cortland. Standing out amid them all was a new silver 2010 6.2L V8 Chevy Camaro SS with 20-inch wheels.

I was standing there admiring its beauty when the Jets' very own Calvin Pace climbed into the driver’s side.

Yes, this year’s training camp was to be different from the others -- just like everything else about this season.

I spent three days up in Cortland this year and experienced the Jets in an entirely different way than ever before. It was an up close and personal, behind the scenes view of my favorite team.

It may have been the most difficult training camp I’ve ever watched, but I mean that in a positive way. It was a busy offseason for this team and unlike previous years there were a ton of unfamiliar faces. Fans all had their noses in their newspapers trying to figure out who was wearing No. 56 this time around.

There were so many players to watch, to evaluate and yet so little time to do it effectively.

I could sit here and write about Santonio Holmes’ great one-handed catch, or the fact that Jason Taylor is now a Jet, and that LaDainian Tomlinson still has a great set of legs, but if you’ve read my blog before you know that’s not my style.

The players I had my eye on were the ones we’ll hopefully hear about a lot in the upcoming weeks, the ones who will play their hearts out this month, trying to prove that they deserve the chance to “play like a Jet” for real.

They're the players who will show their skills to try and make us forget some of the players we lost. When all is said and done come September, they hope to gain our trust and prove that they are just as capable as those no longer dressed in green.

Fast forward to present day. Camp is over and one preseason game is in the book. Here are some of my observations on players and position battles, scenarios that have yet to play out but should be intense all the way through.

The Bosom Buddies

Vladimir Ducasse and Matt Slauson were inseparable at camp. Everywhere I looked the two of them were together, walking off the field towards media tents, stretching before practice and even signing autographs side by side. During special teams practice I was five feet from them. Slauson demonstrated some blocking techniques while Vlad listened intently and tried to duplicate the drill.

It’s obvious that these two guys are ready to compete and learn from each other. While it looks like Slauson has the edge to replace the departed Alan Faneca, it will be interesting to see how this competition ultimately plays out.

Very Keller-esque

If you’ve seen footage of camp you may have noticed the tall guy wearing No. 86 participating in tight end drills. Jeff Cumberland caught my eye. Maybe it’s because I always keep a close eye on tight end talent considering the Jets had suffered from mediocre talent at the position until Dustin Keller arrived a few years ago.

Cumberland impressed me. At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, it wasn’t his brute strength or hands that stood out. It was, instead, his speed. Throughout camp he has shown the potential to be a nice pass-catching option. The wide receiver-turned-tight end made some nice grabs in traffic, including one play where he and Kevin O’Connell connected on a deep out pattern.

With a similar skill set as Keller it’s no wonder people are taking notice. Unfortunately, the Jets usually only carry three tight ends on the roster, including one spot for the long snapper. It’ll be interesting to see Cumberland’s physical side and blocking abilities in the upcoming weeks.

Life goes on without the “Diva”

From what I’ve seen, the Jets do not need Kerry Rhodes.

I’m actually very surprised that throughout the first few weeks of camp more attention has not been placed on the performance of the Jets’ safeties. Specifically, I was keeping my eyes on the guys we don’t hear too much about, including the so-called battle for starting free safety spot, which hasn’t been much of a battle.

Brodney Pool got most of the reps with the first teamers, yet it has been hard to find any reports in the mainstream media on anything he’s done. But I saw him. He showed some big hitting ability. I remember one play in particular where he stopped bulldozer Shonn Green right in his tracks.

If you remember, I’ve always lauded the merits of Eric Smith. His hard-hitting ways have been just as strong as ever. He’ll be a force to be reckoned with on special teams and will provide great depth even as a back-up behind Leonhard and Pool.

I do regret not getting a better look at Donovan “The Steal” Warren. He came into camp with high expectations, though mostly from Michigan Wolverine fans. On one deep pass to Keller, Warren closed in on coverage and got a nod of approval from yours truly.

Emanuel Cook is another safety who is back for a second chance with the Jets. Cook had an interception and some batted down passes during the days I was in Cortland and may be worth keeping an eye on in the upcoming preseason games as well. With Warren having limited playing time due a concussion, this may be Cook’s opportunity to state his case.

Westerman & Laury

These were two players on defense that I took notice of during the green and white scrimmage and on special teams in the first preseason game against the Giants.

Jamal Westerman's speed seems to have improved from last season and Lance Laury will definitely fit right in to coach Mike Westhoff's "throw a crushingblock" mentality.

A Little LT

Of all the new faces, Larry Taylor stood out to me the most.

Known as “Little LT,” so as not to confuse him with the Jets’ “LT” or that other guy that goes by the same name, the 5-6 former UConn Husky had me pulling for him throughout my time at camp.

After a stint with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, Taylor could very well fill the kick returner void that was left when Leon Washington packed his bags for Seattle.

I see Taylor and I think of Darren Sproles. He’s “vertically challenged,” which means a low center of gravity, which means he’s more difficult to tackle.

If he gets into the open field he’s gone.

Can he break tackles? Probably not, but he’ll makes cuts, stops, spins, change direction on a dime and throw in some juke moves before being taken down. If you’re not careful you may think you’re watching someone play Madden when you watch film of this guy.

He can catch the ball, too. Throughout camp he routinely had the ball, even catching a 50-yard strike from O’Connell.

I’m really pulling for him to make the roster. With Leon gone, the kick returner spot is really up for grabs, even though the Jets will take plenty a look at Brad Smith and rookie Kyle Wilson. There’s no reason why Taylor can’t win this job.

Keep an eye out for him. Wallace Wright used to be my boy wearing No. 15, but not anymore. Taylor is just a shorter, faster version and possibly a great football player in the making.

And last but certainly not least....

The Terminator

If you follow the Jets, then there's not much I need to say about John Conner.

If you recall, one of my biggest concerns this preseason was the lack of a young fullback to learn from the Master Tony Richardson himself.

When the Jets drafted John Conner, I watched some of his highlights from Kentucky and immediately had a huge grin on my face.

This was the guy to calm my worries.

I had the opportunity to meet him after camp this year, I said to him:

"So John listen, I've been searching for the right guy to take TRich's throne...and I'm happy to say.....I pick you" (as I hit him on the shoulder pads).

If you don't know about him remember Rex's quote: "The “The thing I like about Conner is that you don't have to see him play, you can hear him.."

The Green-Eyed Monster

2010-06-01T10:44:00.003-04:00

Life must be pretty boring over in the 305, especially in terms of sports these days. I always thought that Miami was a happening place with tons of stuff to do. Looks like I must be wrong.

If you didn’t already know, the best place to get up to the minute Jets news is no longer our local NY publications. Sure they are still giving us fans tidbits of information from minicamp and all, but there’s a new “honorary” Jets beat writer in town – the ever so talented Armando Salguero .

Who ever would have thought that the Miami Herald would have more stories on the Jets than the Daily News?

It all began two weeks ago when I was made aware of Armando’s newest column where he states that the Miami Dolphins and Jets are similarly matched despite offseason boasts.

It took me a long time to read this poor excuse for an article because I had to keep picking myself up off the floor from laughing so hard. It became obvious that this poor man had to have some kind of mental illness to explain these delusions of grandeur regarding the Miami Dolphins.

Without rehashing the entire article, it is pretty clear that this so-called “journalist” with vast experience is a complete moron. I would love for Mr. Salguero to tell me how many 1,000 yard rushers Lousaka Polite has blocked for that would make him “Tony Richardson’s equal”.

His comparisons of the teams were so unprofessionally biased you would think some bandwagon uneducated fan wrote them. On second thought, is there actually such a thing as a die-hard educated Miami fan?

Just when the tears from hysterical laughter began to dry from reading Armando’s first article, a second one pops up. Right smack in the middle of Dolphins minicamp no less. Was it about Brandon Marshall’s hip? Or about the team’s need for a second wide receiver? Why of course not! Good ol Armando out does himself and decides to let everyone know that the Miami Dolphins are not concerned with the Jets offseason moves. (funny you could have fooled me)

There could be only one explanation as to why a beat writer for an opposing team would spend so much time and energy on the Jets. Some people are calling it jealousy – but I think “envy” describes it much more accurately.

Aristotle himself defines envy as “the pain caused by the good fortune of others”. Put yourself in Armando’s shoes for a second. It must be so hard to sit and write about a team as boring as the Dolphins. I mean how many times can you write about players being arrested without being bored to tears?

It reminds me of high school. The people you talk the most shit about are the ones you are envious of. Armando’s biggest contradiction to his article’s last title was obvious just by the fact that he published such a piece of crap. If the Dolphins weren’t concerned with the Jets moves, they wouldn’t be talking about it….over and over and over again.

Newsflash Armando: The world doesn’t revolve around the Miami Dolphins.

Take your skirt off and stop making everything about you and your team. Yes the Jets are confident, strive to have a winning team, and have goals to make it to Dallas this year. Have they ever once uttered the word “Miami”? They couldn’t care less about what the Dolphins are doing, and their actions prove that.

I respect fans and journalists who are able to talk about their team's weaknesses in addition to their strengths. It's obvious that Armando is incapable of such things. As a fan I will admit to clear advantages that other teams may have on the Jets, except of course when it's written by someone who obviously knows less about my team than my dog does.

Through the power of Twitter I've let Armando know my thoughts on his recent columns. Of course now I'm dealing with classy Miami fans questioning my football knowledge. I wouldn't expect anything different from such an astute fan base, and being referred to as a "cheerleader" is quite hilarious.

It looks like Jets Nation will all know Armando's name after his latest comment regarding Rex's recent weight loss. Yesterday he was on sports radio and challenged Jets fans to call in and defend their team on air. He even tweeted that should I call in, saying he'd "be happy to correct the errors of my ways". As if I'd waste my time on a gorgeous day off to speak to Mando-Man. I'd find it much more stimulating discussing football with a brick wall.

Like a small gnat that doesn't go away, he also posted the following yesterday. Providing his Miami readers with a link to the TheJetsBlog and asking them enlighten us with their knowledge (can you smell my sarcasm?)

"But Jets fans are starting to bug me. I always wondered why Dolphins fans and Jets fans always seemed to get into fights at games. I think I get it now. Some of those folks are annoying.

Some of that annoying point of view can be found right here on a Jets blog. I encourage you to go to that blog and give those folks your view how the Dolphins match up with their team, how Tony Sparano matches up with Rex Ryan, how this blog matches up with that one."

If anything else, I thank Armando from the bottom of my heart for providing Jets fans with some entertainment during this quiet time in the off season.

I feel bad knowing that Armando lies in bed every night looking at the posters on his wall of Jane McManus, Rich Cimini and Manish Mehta, wishing more than anything he could become them one day and cover the New York Jets.

Miami fans even dislike him and all prefer writer Jason Cole over him any day. I'd be upset too if I found out one of our beat writers was caught high-fiving a colleague after our team lost and were out of the playoffs!

My advice to Jets fans: Enjoy it. It's not often that our team is so feared by our rivals that we can hear their knees shaking miles and miles away. I really am looking forward to hearing what Armando's next column regarding the Jets will be about. I hear he's going to break down our draft picks next, and possibly cover training camp in Cortland as well. I mean why not right?

Face it Armando, the Jets aren't going anywhere and they sure as hell aren't going to turn into quiet scared jealous little school girls like a certain team who wears teal & orange. When you decided to write about the Jets (multiple times) you should have been prepared to look like the fool that you are.

I've decided to be the bigger person and think I'll send Mr. Salguero a little gift to show my appreciation for his cluelessness - I'll even sign it for free ;)

Day 1 OTAs: Photos of the Day

2010-05-17T21:04:00.002-04:00

Day one of the New York Jets OTAs is officially in the books. While there is no media availability until Thursday - based on some players tweets, it seems like the players are just as excited to get this season started.

Highlight of the day: hearing that Mark Sanchez was on the field participating in some light drills.

Here are some pictures from today's practice - I specifically chose our new additions in their Jets Green as my favorite photos of the day. Out of 50 shots - not one of Mr. Taylor in his #95 jersey - he must have had dance practice today.

(pictures courtesy of www.newyorkjets.com)

...And It Begins

2010-05-16T19:32:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks have been close to unbearable for Jets fans. I mean how many times can you get excited about Mark Sanchez jogging on a treadmill?

No worries friends, this week we are one step closer to seeing our brand spanking new and improved "Version 2.Rex Jets" take the field. The beginning of a season to remember is finally upon us.

Tomorrow is the first day of OTA's (organized team activities) - basically a really long way of saying "practice starts tomorrow". For the first time this season the 2009 Jets + a ton of off-season acquisitions + a bunch of wide-eyed rookies will come together as a team to start working towards one common goal - a trip to Dallas.

OTA schedule :

May 17-18, May 20, May 24-25, May 27, June 2-3, June 8, June 10

Minicamp: June 14-16

It's an exciting time as the team has seen many changes and additions that have left many fans full of questions. The team is finally going to begin the process of becoming one, and we will hopefully begin to see some hints of what this team is all about.

The time is here to see if Cromartie, Holmes, Taylor, Tomlinson and Pool can pull of wearing Jets Green.

I'm looking forward to hearing more Jets news in the upcoming days. With so much speculation on whether these off season moves were the wrong or right ones, I'm ready to see some action.

So here's to a preseason full of health, happy contracts, no blackouts, no hold-outs, and no rookies losing their lunch :)

The "real" LilMiss

2010-05-09T20:01:00.001-04:00

There's no question about it...

When I said I was a Jets fan since I was a little girl, I meant it!

Our New Home

2010-05-08T21:53:00.002-04:00

A new tradition begins. I said good-bye to my "home" of 22 years on a cold cold January night. I called it a "bittersweet Sunday" - I was sad for a tradition to end, yet delighted to celebrate the night with a win that brought the Jets to the playoffs.

I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the Jets new home today, to see the place where my new tradition will begin. Just driving on the Meadowlands campus made me nostalgic. The old stadium is about half way torn down and the familiarity of the place is going away beam by beam.

The "new Jets Stadium" is a work of art. There's still a lot of finish work to be done, but you can see from the pictures what an upgrade this is to the old stadium.

What was most noticeable to me was the complete absence of color. Everything is shades of silver, chrome, gray - keeping it neutral to either team. I cannot wait to see it ready for game day, to see all the LED lights do their job and turn the entire place green.

I couldn't be happier with our seats. The view is more than I ever could have asked for. As I sat in them and looked out on the field I tried to picture the Jets playing there. It was a little harder than I thought, but only because it all still feels so new.

It was a great day and I'm still smiling about it all. If I thought I was going through Jets withdrawal before, I'm most definitely feeling the symptoms now! This summer can't get here quick enough!

Here are some pictures from the demolition of the old stadium:

Our new home:

View facing the opposing bench:

   Jets sideline:

View standing above tunnel where Jets will run out:

Down the visitor's sideline:

Unfortunately the Mexico vs Ecuador soccer game last
night left the place a mess:

No more red seats!

Best upgrade ever - TAYLOR HAM FTW! Only in NJ!

......and finally - the view from our new seats! I can't wait to meet everyone in Sec 129!

I hear Fireman Ed is somewhere close by too!

The New York Jets select...

2010-04-22T10:14:00.006-04:00

The Jets have found a way to keep draft junkies on their toes this off season. With the new additions of Cromartie, Tomlinson, Pool, Holmes and Taylor there are few holes that need to be filled on this team. The reality is no one really can predict what will happen when the 29^th pick of the draft is announced tonight.

So after much thought, speculation and arguing with myself (come on you all know you do it too).   I’m making a bold prediction:

   The New York Jets will draft a cornerback within the first two rounds.

Now that you’re done saying “this girl doesn’t know what she’s talking about” … let’s take a look at why I think a new CB will be drafted in the next two days.

It’s a well known fact that the more cornerbacks you have the better off a team will be. Cornerbacks are the equivalent to pitchers in baseball. You can never have enough good ones. The evolution of the passing game makes this fact even more true. Mike Tannenbaum himself admitted “Rex loves corners”. Rex is one of the defensive coaches that believe the mantra that you can never have enough depth at that position.

Cornerbacks get injured all the time due to the speed at which they play and the constant cutting they have to do to be effective on their feet. The Jets felt the impact of injuries last season most at this valuable position. Aside from Revis, there were many games in which two of the Jets cornerbacks were sidelined with injuries.

So let’s recap our current CB situation: Strickland and Sheppard are gone. Their names were on the injury list most of last season anyway so good ridden. The Jets made a great move by acquiring ProBowler CB Antonio Cromartie. With him opposite Revis, I can confidently say the Jets have the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.

Despite this, they still lack depth. Our only other CB’s on the current roster are Dwight Lowery, Drew Coleman, and Marquice Cole. Without going into the specifics of each player, it’s obvious that this position could use some more talent.

Still don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at last season. We know that NFL teams are going towards more of a pass-oriented system. With that being said, it’s not rare to see up to four corners on the field at the same time. The Jets need to be prepared to face those 3 or 4 wide receiver sets that more and more teams are using. The Colts are a perfect example. Think back to the AFC Championship game and tell me that having more talented depth at the cornerback position wouldn’t have helped us win that game.

In thinking about next year’s regular season games, Baltimore and New England (pending Welker’s return) are three games in which cornerback talent and depth play a key role in winning these games.

This year’s draft class has some great cornerback talent. The latest Top 5 draft rankings at this position are:
   1.       Joe Haden – Florida
   2.       Kyle Wilson – Boise State
   3.       Devin McCourty – Rutgers
   4.       Kareem Jackson – Alabama
   5.       Patrick Robinson – Florida State

I think 3-4 cornerbacks could be drafted in the first round.   Leaving a lot of talent to be picked up in the second round as well.   While I’d be more than happy to see any of the names listed above fall to the Jets, I'd be ecstatic to see local Rutgers boy Devin McCourty become one of our very own. Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest) and Perrish Cox (Oklahoma) are two picks that would also make me very happy to see wearing Jets Green.

In a few hours we’ll see if my prediction is right.    I do think Mike T will also address depth at the OLB/DE spot and we could very well hear Jerry Hughes or Jared Odrick’s names from the podium.

This year proves to be an exciting draft.

Trade up, trade down, or stay at #29…..it will be a great draft that will only add to our trip to Dallas next season.

For a fith-round pick....and two water coolers

2010-04-12T09:49:00.002-04:00

Many fans across Jets nation are waking up to some good news this morning. Yes it's true – Mike Tannenbaum the trade king himself has done it again. Santonio Holmes is now a New York Jet. The trade news broke late last night. The Jets have acquired the Superbowl MVP in exchange for their fifth-round pick in this year’s draft….and two water coolers.

This is a great move by the Jets. I’ve been a huge fan of Santonio since he entered the league in 2006. The 26 year old former first-round draft pick, has 3,835 receiving yards since entering the league 4 years ago. The guy’s a playmaker period.

While most Jets fans couldn’t be more happy about this trade, the haters from the “teams in blue” started coming out of the woodwork quickly spewing their jealous hate.

Congratulations to Giants and Patriots fans for passing elementary mathematics. Yes you are correct: 16 – 4 = 12. The notion that an organization would stay away from stealing a player like Holmes simply because of a pending four-game suspension is ludicrous.

The Jets have a decent receiving corps without Holmes. They made it to the AFC Championship game without him. This four game suspension will not make or break this deal. It’s a win-win situation really; the Jets have had far worse “busts” over the years. This low-risk, high-reward move by Tannenbaum is one of the best this off-season by far.

Some say Holmes is the next Ricky Williams of the NFL? I hardly think so. He violated the substance abuse policy, that’s all. The domestic violence charges from 2006 were dropped. The latest “glass” incident is a mess of a case and charges have yet to be filed. It’s your typical gold digger making an accusation to make some quick money.

Spare me.

Up until this month, Santonio Holmes was not a name thrown into the mix as one of the “bad guys” in the NFL. I could name players on one hand that have had more serious off-field “issues” than he has. I’ve been quick to say that I don’t want players who are cancers to the team on the Jets. In my eyes, albeit no angel, Santonio Holmes is not one of them.

I’ll take Holmes’ harmless stupidity any day of the week. He’s an angel compared to Brandon Marshall. No training camp hissy fits, no DUI, no multiple arrests for domestic disputes, no altercations leading to a murder. He’s no Randy “I’ll play when I want to” Moss, or Chad “I punched my coach” Johnson. They exemplify the type of players you should worry about.

Drug use is Holmes’ crime of choice, the same situation our beloved Shaun Ellis was in not too long ago.

Some Steelers fans are mourning their loss by the famous “his off-field issues were a distraction to the team” excuse. Yes, his distractions hurt the team so badly that he ended up making one of the greatest catches in SuperBowl history. If the Steelers were worried about distractions they should look at their very own starting QB. Now that’s what I call a distraction.

The Steelers didn’t let go of Holmes because of a four game suspension. They aren’t making a statement about what they stand for. History has shown that Dan Rooney is all about football and nothing else. Did he allow Jerome Bettis to walk after being accused of forcing a girl to perform sexual acts? Nope, he extended his contract. Did he fire Bill Cowher after his alleged affair with his secretary? Nope, he extended his contract too.

Be happy Jets fans and be prepared to defend all the hate. It’s been a long time since teams considered the Jets as a threat, so embrace it and get ready for one hell of a season to come!

The Unsung Hero

2010-03-08T23:56:00.000-05:00

It’s been a busy week in Jets land. I’ve been glued to ESPN, hanging on Adam Schefter’s every word waiting to see what moves will be made this off season. I’ll be the first to admit that never in a million years did I expect the Jets running back corps to be the object of so much potential change.

All this movement has sparked many discussions and debate regarding the merits of players like Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. With all this talk revolving around the Jets running game, Jets fans have let me down by not ever worrying about one key component to its success – Tony Richardson, until today.

Richardson has been on the top of my list of Jets players that must be back next year. Each and every discussion regarding the success of the Jets rushing attack should always include his name. While the cohesiveness of our offensive line has led to great success, his contributions must be noted as well.

The fullback is by far one of the most undervalued positions on a football team. Some refer to them as “football’s forgotten position”. Unfortunately, the fullback position has diminished in importance over the past few decades as modern offenses such as the spread offense have become popular.

That being said, traditional fullbacks in the NFL are some of the fiercest and most physical players in the game. They are physical lead blockers who specialize in paving the way on power runs. The Jets are lucky to have one of the league’s best fullback take the field for them week after week.

Rich Cimini of the Daily News may have referred to Tony Richardson as “ancient”, but after 16 years at such a brutal position, T.Rich still plays like a 25 year old. There are only 3 players left from the 1994 rookie class - Kevin Mawae, Issac Bruce……and Tony Richardson.

Surprisingly enough, T.Rich entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995 and played there for 11 years before joining the Vikings in 2006, and spending the last two seasons on the New York Jets.

He’s played an integral role in the careers of some of the most notable running backs in the game including Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson and Adrian Peterson. He has blocked for a 1,000 yd rusher seven times in five years. The most recent being in 2008 blocking for former Jet Thomas Jones.

The four-time Pro Bowler has been an emotional leader in the Jets locker room and has been an “unsung hero” in helping the Jets become the number one team in rushing this year.

While I’d love to have him continue to be our lead blocker for years to come, the reality is that Richardson’s retirement is looming in the near future. On an interview this January on a Kansas City based sports radio show, T.Rich was asked when the end of his football career would be. He responded “within the next 16 months”.

In my opinion, the Jets organization has not prepared well enough for this loss. Has Tannenbaum completely forgotten to take notice of Richardson’s impact on the team as well? History has proven that tailbacks often struggle when adjusting to a new fullback. Both Larry Johnson and Adrian Peterson both suffered decreases in their average YPC once they were no longer running behind Richardson.

Tannenbaum stated today “re-signing Tony Richardson is a priority” and I couldn’t agree more. Knowing that the veteran fullback wouldn’t be around forever you would think that they would have had a young player learn from T.Rich last season. All pre-season, through training camp, Richardson mentored Jehuu Caulcrick. Caulcrick never made the 53-man roster for reasons I still do not comprehend, and has now been signed to the San Francisco 49ers.

Jason Davis is the only other fullback on the Jets roster right now, and has been on the practice squad all season. Tannenbaum has spoken highly of Davis’ “physicality and upside” today, but no way no how is a young player who’s spent the majority of the past 4 years on different practice squads, remotely ready to take over the role of one of the league’s best fullbacks.

The Jets better hope and pray that T.Rich has one more season in him and need to make sure that he finishes his career wearing a Jets uniform. Our running game would not have had the success it did without the offensive linemen, or fullback we had last year. If the Jets want to repeat this success, they will need Richardson to block for Greene, Washington (fingers crossed) and whoever is named as Thomas Jones’ replacement.

Still having a hard time seeing his value to the team? I’ll leave you with this:

Remember the Jets vs. Chargers game when the Jets were faced with a 4^th-and-1 at the Chargers 29? Who landed the key block on that play that sealed the deal on the 17-14 victory?

You got it…..the one....the only .....#49 himself - Tony Richardson.

The Game of Risk: Leon Washington

2010-03-02T20:09:00.000-05:00

It’s been about a month since the NFL season has officially ended. Most of us have kept ourselves busy discussing free agents, trades, salaries, combine results, etc. Many of these post season discussions have revolved around the news of Thomas Jones being released by the Jets this week. In my opinion this is a huge move that can potentially disrupt the Jets ever potent running game. What hasn’t been discussed enough however and commands more attention, regards our “other” star running back – Leon Washington.

Rich Cimini of the Daily News reported late last week that although it was not yet official, Leon Washington, a restricted free agent, would be tendered at the 2^nd round level ( $1.759 mil )

Let’s take a quick moment to review what this all mean. Basically the Jets have until Thursday March 4^th to make this tender official. After that teams can sign Leon to an offer sheet and any of the following scenarios can occur:

1. If a team makes an unreasonable high offer:

The Jets decide not to match this offer and receive a 2^nd round pick in exchange for Leon

2. 2. If a team makes a reasonable offer:

The Jets decide to match the offer and keep Leon

3. 3. If no offer sheets are presented:

Jets keep Leon and pay him $1.8 million to play out the season

By tendering Leon at the second round level, the Jets have basically assured themselves that if they do end up losing him, they will be compensated for it. This move makes me believe that Tannenbaum does want to entertain offers. If he really wanted Leon to stick around he would have tendered him at a first round level or at least a first & third. No team would give up either of those picks for him and we’d be 100% positive Leon would be in a Jets uniform next year.

Most of Jets nation has found solace in the wake of Thomas Jones being released by banking on the fact that Leon will definitely be back next year. Can you be so sure of that?

Many say that no team would be willing to give up a second round draft pick for a running back coming off a season ending injury. Keep in mind though, Leon is ahead of his rehab schedule and in the world of sports medicine, it’s often easier to come back from a fracture as opposed to a ligament or tendon injury.

The New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs each have multiple second round draft picks. There is a lack of running back talent in this year’s draft, and I have to believe that one of these teams would be willing to give up one of their picks for an explosive change-of-pace back like Leon.

For these reasons and more I worry that Tannenbaum is taking a big risk with this move. The Jets led the league in rushing last season. Say all you want about having a dominant defense, this team would not have made it to the AFC Championship game without such a powerful ground and pound offense.

Is such a high risk worth disrupting the one strength our offense has? The Jets could potentially be left with only Shonn Greene. While I foresee Greene being a force to be reckoned with, he hasn’t proven that he can carry the load for an entire season yet.

The Jets have a small window of opportunity to fill in some missing pieces and get the Championship we all know they are capable of. The success of the team’s rushing attack is mainly due to the strength of our offensive line. With Alan Faneca & Damien Woody getting older, the Jets may have only a few years left to capitalize on such a cohesive unit.

March will no doubt be an exciting month with lots of potential moves to be made. While I know the saying is true, you don’t get anywhere in life without taking risks, I can’t help but think that if something isn’t broke then why fix it?

I hope that I am wrong…..that this risk will pay off and we’ll see Leon Washington back stronger than ever returning the first kick-off in the new stadium next season.

Hey Rex Hater....shut it!

2010-02-07T16:32:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was reading fellow Jets fan Jeff Capellini's (AKA The Green Lantern) sports blog. If you haven't checked it out - I highly recommend you do.

In a nutshell, it's a sports blog for sports fans...by sports fans. Read about everything from the Islanders, Yankees, lacrosse and even soccer all in one place.

The latest column was titled "Hey Rex - SHUT UP!". I read it and couldn't help but laugh. A great column written by a Giants fan on the reasons he hates our very own Rex Ryan.

Knowing me, I couldn't resist and not respond. I immediately asked Jeff if he'd allow me to submit and post a response.

Before you read below - Take a moment to read the original Jets-hater column here first:

"Hey Rex - SHUT UP" posted on The Green Lantern sports blog

Hope you all enjoy my response below (also at The Green Lantern Sports Blog):

When a Giants fan begins to advertise his or her hatred towards New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, there’s only one word that explains the justification:

jeal·ous 1. Fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position.

I’m sorry Giants fans, but it’s true. Jealousy is causing you to hate the primary reason the Jets found success this season. Ryan gives you nightmares. And as the definition states, you are afraid that for the first time your precious G-Men aren’t being talked about, and have lost the affection of football fans in New York.

I say be nervous. It's all happening right before your eyes.

Giants fans hate Ryan, but only because they wish they had a leader like him. Let’s be honest, Tom Coughlin is like your father; you’re always afraid to piss him off. Ryan is like your rebellious best friend, the guy your dad never wants you to hang around with.

Coaching is all about getting the most out of the talent you have on your team. It’s pretty obvious that Rex has clearly won that battle this year. Coughlin has a disciplined way about him, a style that can really wear on players. In large part, that's the reason why the Giants were non-competitive this season. They showed no fight. Coughlin, himself, admitted that his team suffered from a lack of leadership. If that’s the case, then as a Giants fan, you are complaining about the wrong coach.

Ryan is emotional and brash. He’s a breath of fresh air to an organization that has always had a losing mentality. He’s changing the Jets' culture as we speak. The players and fans are taking after their coach. The players believe in themselves as much as their coach always has, and look at the success that occurred as a result.

Rex does “talk a big game." It’s not bragging, it’s believing in your system and instilling confidence in your players. You say that “talk is cheap” and that Rex has to “win something to talk." Well, what more do you need to see? Have you not watched football since Week 17? The Jets were the team representing New York in the AFC Championship game while the Giants were at home perfecting their golf swing.

You can complain about his emotion and arrogance all you want. Giants fans should also be accused of being arrogant when they were 5-0 this season and predicting a SuperBowl win. Oh how quickly things change.

Stop acting like the Yankee fans of the 1980s. Poor us! Praise us for our past!

Your team lost this year and it was no one’s fault but their own. The Giants defense would be lucky to have someone like Rex to fire it up to play to its potential. The key to success for the Jets defense is that Ryan allows his players to be themselves. He’s a players' coach and his players want to win for him.

So yes, as a Giants fan you should be worried. You should hate Rex. He doesn’t care that the Giants have a more prestigious history. He made every Giants fan cringe when he suggested the new stadium be named “Jets Stadium."

The years of the Jets treating the Giants like a big brother have come to an end ... so deal with it.

Still Just A Dream...

2010-01-25T13:28:00.000-05:00

“I will survive.”

That was my motto Sunday. Win or lose, I promised myself I was going to walk away from the AFC Championship game with my head held high.

After watching the Jets lose, I stayed positive. I drank some more Kool-Aid and believed all the people saying to look forward to next year, that this team will be in the same spot again next season.

It all sounded great, and masked some of my wounds.

But …

Like a shot of cortisone, its effects wore off quickly. It’s the next day and I’m not feeling so happy after all.

The Jets have made me happier than ever this season. Like most fans, I have never been prouder to support this franchise. They have blown away my expectations and, yes, I am proud of their accomplishments.

But …

Despite these sentiments, the realist in me has taken over. I keep hearing over and over again to forget this loss, to be happy with their success, and look forward to a Super Bowl win next season.

Has Jets nation forgotten how difficult it is to get to this point in the season? Has everyone forgotten all the pieces that needed to fall into place to get us into the AFC Championship game?

I have been nothing but grateful for every win this season, every milestone met by this team. They are all moments that I have never taken for granted, because I know how infrequent they occur. If you know the NFL, you know that making it to the Super Bowl is not only about the talent on your team; at any given point matchups can be in your favor, things sometimes fall into place leaving some of the most talented teams sitting at home watching the playoffs continue.

I know this team is talented. The Jets deserved their spot in the playoffs and proved that to the world by beating the Chargers. I simply cannot forget how very close we were to saying goodbye to this team and this season a month ago.

This team does have a bright future. The hierarchy has constructed a roster that has the potential to go far for years.

But …

While all this is true, to say that the Jets will be in the same position next year just doesn’t make sense to me. There is simply no way to guarantee it.

As a Jets fan, above all things I’ve never felt excitement like I have this month. Do I cringe at the thought that it could be years before I feel that excitement again? Of course. Call me selfish or pessimistic, but winning felt so good I can get used to it. The problem is no one is assured anything in this world.

I’m excited about Mark Sanchez and the growth he’s shown this year. I know the return of Leon Washington and Kris Jenkins will only make this team better, and I couldn’t be happier to have a coach like Rex Ryan on my sideline.

But …

Isn’t that just stating the obvious?

What I really want is to be able to experience what was just 33 minutes away Sunday. I don’t want the feeling that the Jets owned New York for once to come to an end. I’m not okay with switching gears today to focus on the Yankees, as if their success makes this loss any easier. Maybe to some it does, but to me it’s no comparison.

It’s been a great ride, but I’m just frustrated it’s over. There’s no one to blame for the loss, and I wouldn’t even start to analyze the shoulda, woulda and couldas of the game because, like I said before, the Jets exceeded all expectations.

If you know me I’m a very honest person. I can’t pretend that knowing this team is talented is enough to make me go on smiling today. I’m looking forward to the draft and seeing what the off season brings. For now, I’m going to allow myself to be upset that my Miami trip is not happening.

The taste of victory became a drug to me. I had a little taste of it and now can’t seem to let it go.

I guess what I said at the start of the season still stands true … a girl can always dream.

Right?

A Game I'll Never Forget

2010-01-19T20:46:00.018-05:00

Somebody slap me because it still doesn't feel real! Yes it's true - our very own beloved New York Jets are moving on in the play-offs and will be playing for the AFC Championship this Sunday.

What a great experience it was to be in San Diego this weekend to witness the "lil Jets that could" beat the HEAVILY favored San Diego Chargers. No one believed it could happen, but our brute strength, street fighters taught the beach boys in a sandbox a lesson.

Like Drake says: "Like a sprained ankle, they ain't NOTHING to play with"!!

Charger fans may be one of the most fair weather fan groups I have ever encountered. They were threatened by Jets fans doing the Jets chant, booed LT when stopped at the line of scrimmage, and all left the stadium immediately after Shonne Green's TD late in the game!

To be able to cheer my team on during such an important game and shut all their cocky "bolt-cheering" mouths was something I'll never forget! Moments like that are what being a Jets fan to me is all about. The ups and downs are all worth it when you see the team believe in themselves as much as we all do.

So let's enjoy this victory, cherish it and remember it! One game at a time - the sky is the limit for this team!

Like I said before Jay-Z says it best: it's "On to the next one" for our Jets!!

Here are some pictures from the game....

"and I'm LilMissNYJet....You're a little b**** San Diego"

Great to see a TON of Green in the stands

Better Late Than Never

2010-01-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

Never in a million years would I think that with all the events that took place this season, I’d be on a plane to go watch the New York Jets play in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs. Most fans of any other team wouldn’t see it as a big deal, but having suffered with this team for years on end, it’s something to be excited about.

To say that this season has been like taking an emotional ride on a rollercoaster is an understatement. I haven’t remembered a season that has played and tugged on every emotion it possibly could in a long time. This year has been different from the very start.

The typical year of a Jets fan starts around February, when every few years we get to hear who the new coaching staff is (I’m hoping this cycle has come to an end for awhile). This year’s sense of hope started the very day Rex Ryan was named head coach. This was a guy football fans knew and loved. I still remember his press conference after taking the position. I couldn’t wait to see what this defensive mastermind could do to help my team.

Before you know it April comes around. Draft day is always stressful – you either leave Radio City Music Hall feeling hopeful or cursing the team yet again. Drafting Mark Sanchez this year only added to the excitement across Jet Nation. As the spring came, players start getting traded, being added to the roster. Jim Leonhard, Bart Scott – little by little this Jets team was starting to shape up on paper to be the team we always knew it could be.

It only got better from there. From mini camp came rumors of how powerful and physical this defense could be. At training camp the worries of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington not participating were settled, Mark Sanchez was named the starting QB and there was absolutely nothing to be pessimistic about this season. I remember feeling that for once – everything was falling into place for the Jets and wow it felt good.

We all know the ups and downs that occurred once the season started. Looking back on it now, I don’t fault any Jets fan for “drinking the Green Kool-Aid”. This team was something to be excited for, it had been a long time since decisions were made that made sense and made you feel like this team really was taking shape to be successful.

Excitement or angst, anger or doubt, betrayal or hope, you name it I felt it this season. Week to week I didn’t know what to hope for anymore. If you recall, I decided to stop caring about my emotions, stop analyzing why these things happen to the Jets and to just roll with the punches.

Well here we are. The last few weeks have made me prouder than ever to be a Jets fan. I’ve told many people I could really get used to this. It’s made me start to wonder if maybe the bad luck that has haunted this organization for so long is finally gone? I’ve always been a fan that avoids using the cowardly term “Same Old Jets”. It pleased me to ponder, has it finally made its last appearance?

I want to believe more than anything that this team has made a 360. That something clicked, a light bulb went off and they get it now. But has it really? Tomorrow’s game against the San Diego Chargers will answer that question for me, and I’m prepared to accept the reality either way. That change I saw back in April and May is finally showing itself now; it just took a few months to happen. 2009 has been the year for change in more ways than one. Better late than never right?

There’s nothing more I like than to witness the Jets win tomorrow and play for the AFC Championship. Should tomorrow be their last game I think I will still walk away pleased. The Jets have proven to me this year that they are capable of winning. They’ve shown us the potential the team has and let us see the talent we all knew was there.

As a fellow fan, my only words of advice would be to not jump too far ahead yet. Take each win one at a time this post season and enjoy it, cherish it and remember it because we know they are hard to come by. Let that excitement that usually only comes mid-spring to start a little earlier this year. This team finally has all the missing pieces it needs.

While it has been a rollercoaster ride of a season, it’s been a great one. I’d get back in line for more in a heartbeat.

After all, it just makes these milestones and wins are that much sweeter.

A "look" at the 2009 season

2010-01-06T23:15:00.008-05:00

They say that time flies when you're having fun. That's one way to describe the 2009 Jets season. It's been an interesting four months, full of events that no one could have predicted. As I reflected on the season, I thought it'd be interesting to see what the general consensus was of Jets fans. As a group, how would we summarize this past season.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. I've asked all my Twitter followers to send me your thoughts summarizing the 2009 season. The "word cloud" below is a result of all your feedback.

( For those of you not familiar with the concept, it's a visual representation of word frequency. The size of the word corresponds to the frequency that the word was used. The larger the word, the more times it was mentioned. )

Take a second to look at it - it really is a great summary of what many of you have described a "roller-coaster" ride of a season.

I'm ready for the ride to continue....are you?

(click on image to enlarge)

10 Reasons to Overlook What Will Be A Bittersweet Sunday

2009-12-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

They say December is the month of miracles and there is no one that believes that more than the New York Jets faithful right now.

For the past three weeks, the Jets have been the recipients of many early Christmas gifts. Just when you thought the playoffs were out of reach, the football gods became Jets fans.

While many of us felt that these December Jets wins were too little too late, AFC teams started to fall all over themselves.

The Dolphins, Jaguars, Broncos and Ravens have done just about everything they can to give the Jets a playoff berth.

Then, of course, there are the formerly undefeated Colts, the team that provided the ultimate doorway for the Jets to walk through toward the postseason.

Real quick on that game, I don’t care if Peyton or Archie Manning was playing quarterback; the Jets beat the Colts, still made all the plays they had to make. Yes, the naysayers busted out their soap boxes, but I say tough. The optimism meter is now spiking across Jets Nation.

So the outcome of this weekend’s game against the Bengals will determine if the Jets go to the playoffs. How fitting is it that it will also be the last professional football game played at Giants Stadium? Looking back over the years the Jets haven’t exactly had much success playing there. I wonder if the “Curse of Sonny Werblin” has had anything to do with it. Many Jets fans can’t wait to see the place torn down.

I mean, think about it: The Jets are just 102-104-1 all-time in the regular season at the “home” they commandeered in 1985.

David Abraham “Sonny” Werblin bought the AFL Titans of New York in 1963 and changed their name to the Jets. On the eve of 1968-69 Super Bowl-winning season Werblin’s very own money-hungry partners (Leon Hess included) forced him out of the organization. Some believe that because the Jets, for all intents and purposes, fired Sonny, a curse was bestowed upon the franchise.

Subsequently, in 1971 Sonny built the Meadowlands Sports Complex and, 14 years later, the Jets moved into Giants Stadium.

Since then, even though the sheer number of wins and playoff games suggest otherwise, it has been a place that has provided me many great memories. Throughout this season I have been dreading this last home game because, as a creature of habit, it’s hard to see the tradition of going to every home game, sitting in the same seats, and seeing the same familiar faces come to an end. While I'm excited for the Jets to have a new home, it will take a long time to develop the rapport with my section and the stadium the way I did over God knows how many years at the old place.

As I think about going out with the old and bringing in the new, there were certain games and moments at Giants Stadium that stand out in my mind.

These games were the ones that made me proudest to be a Jets fan. They are the moments that I remember being at my happiest, cheering as loud as I could for a team that has always had my full devotion, despite its penchant for letting people down. Please note: if you are looking for the 51-45 win over the Dolphins or the Al Toon-inspired 62-28 win over the Bucs, you won’t find them here. I was in diapers.

With that, I give you the greatest Jets moments I ever witnessed at Giants Stadium. Do you remember?:

Dec. 3, 2000: Jets 27, Colts 17

The Colts scored 17 unanswered points in second-half and led 20-17 in the fourth quarter, but Bryan Cox recovered a botched snap, setting up Curtis Martin’s TD run. Martin breaks single-game franchise rushing record with 203 yards.

Jan. 10, 1999: Jets 31, Jaguars 24

Make the red-letter day in modern Jets history. In the AFC divisional playoff, Keyshawn Johnson had a TD reception, TD run and went in as safety and added fumble recovery and interception as the Jets advanced to the conference championship game

Sept. 11, 2000: MNF: Jets 20, Patriots 19 “Tuna Helper Bowl”

The Jets trailed Pats 19-7 in the fourth quarter, but Wayne Chrebet caught two TD passes from Vinny Testaverde in the final 6:25. John Abraham & Shaun Ellis (both first-round picks as compensation for letting Bill Belichick leave to coach the Pats) combined on two sacks that ended the New England’s final drive. The Jets didn’t beat the Patriots at home for another nine years.

Nov. 18, 2007: Jets 19, Steelers 16 (OT)

The Jets were 2-7 and the stadium was filled with waving yellow towels. Gang Green ties the game with less than a minute left. Then in overtime, Leon Washington returned a punt 33 yards to set up Mike Nugent’s game-winning field goal.

Dec. 14, 2008: Jets 31, Bills 27

The Jets were down by 3 in the fourth, but with just under two minutes left Ellis picks up loose football after J.P. Losman fumbled, knocked down tacklers and rumbled into the end zone to give Jets the win. What followed was one of the loudest J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS chants ever.

Sept. 20, 2009: Jets 16, Patriots 9

Jets live up to their talk; Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan make their home debut. Sanchez to Keller in end zone in third quarter to give Jets 10-9 lead. Fans force Brady into consecutive delay of game penalties. Revis shuts down Moss, Feely hits 2 more FG’s – end of story.

(The next three games are what I call the “pinch-yourself-is-this-really-happening-games)

Sept. 28, 2008: Jets 56, Cardinals 35

Jets fans welcomed Brett Favre to his first home game and watched in amazement as the ageless one threw a career-high 6 TD passes in a lopsided win over the eventual NFC Super Bowl representatives.

Dec. 29, 2002: Jets 42, Packers 17

After 1-4 start, Herman Edwards and the Jets’ playoff hopes came down to the last game of season. The Jets needed the Patriots to beat the Dolphins at 1 p.m., which they did, and then the fans enjoyed a rare laugher as Gang Green beat the crap out of Favre and the cheeseheads to win the AFC East.

Jan. 4, 2003: Jets 41, Colts 0

(This is the game I learned it’s always important to send in your money for playoff tickets well in advance) Santana Moss, Chris Baker, Chad Morton, LaMont Jordan and Richie Anderson scored as Chad Pennington tied team record for TD passes in playoff game. To this day I’ve never seen fans happier after a playoff game.

Oct. 23, 2000: MNF: Jets 40, Dolphins 37 “Monday Night (Midnight) Miracle”

In a battle for first place, the Jets found themselves down 30-7 with 12 seconds left to go in the third quarter, but somehow put up 30 points in fourth. Jumbo Elliott’s touchdown with 42 secs left sent the game into OT. John Hall’s field goal at 1:22 a.m. sent Jets fans home smiling, and Dolphins fans to bed in tears.

This Sunday will definitely be bittersweet. The Jets control their own destiny and will have thousands of optimistic fans there supporting them in their playoff hunt and to help say goodbye to Giants Stadium. While I’ll be sad to see the end of a tradition, it could mark the beginning of a new era of Jets football -- one that hopefully features many more wins than losses.

Smitty gets the start

2009-11-25T10:58:00.004-05:00

With the Jets coming off their third straight loss, news of change has come from Florham Park, N.J. Earlier in the week, Rex Ryan announced that he would be taking a larger role in the Jets offense by increasing his participation in offensive meetings and on the practice field. Now, it appears he's going to send a message to his defense as well.

Early Wednesday morning, Jay Glazer, the Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com, reported on Twitter that Jets safety Kerry Rhodes would be benched against the Carolina Panthers this weekend and replaced by Eric Smith.

Many fans have been critical of Rhodes' lack of aggressiveness and play-making this season. Through 10 games, Rhodes' stats are all zeros except for 54 tackles (48 solo/6 assisted). After his spotty performance against the Patriots last week it is not too surprising that Ryan would make this move. Throughout the game Rhodes showed hesitation, dipping his shoulder, for instance, instead of full out tackling Wes Welker in the second quarter. Rhodes seemed to show up just a few seconds late on every play, let Laurence Maroney run all over him and his lack of big plays the previous weeks may have finally showed Ryan that a change needed to be made. We don't know for sure if this is the reason, but we'll hopefully know soon enough.

Not to worry though for Rhodes' replacement this week is Eric Smith, an exciting player out of Michigan State. Drafted in 2006, Smith has played a big role on special teams over the past four seasons. Last season, Smith was best known for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin, a devastating blow that left Larry Fitzgerald's sidekick sidelined for several weeks with multiple injuries, and cost Smith $5,000.

This spring at OTAs and mini camp, Smith caught Ryan's eye. After playing traditional safety under Eric Mangini, Smith was asked to take the role of a hybrid safety/linebacker, seeing much more movement around the field. After a disappointing performance to start mini camp and feeling he had lost his position to newly acquired Jim Leonhard, Smith came to the second mini camp ready to impress.

In the spirit of Channing Crowder, if the Jets were the OTA Super Bowl winners, then Smith was the MVP. In three days Smith had five interceptions, leaving Ryan stating "Ed Reed ... that's what that reminds me of." Linebacker Bart Scott, whose locker is next to Smith's, helped him with the new defense and noted Smith's performance, saying "He's making big plays. When you make big plays like that Rex will find a spot for you on the football field. It's testament to him, his work ethic and his play making ability."

This season, Smith earned the game ball in Week 3 against the Titans after recording his fourth career interception, six solo tackles and two passes defended. While playing primarily on special teams, he's recorded 30 tackles and one interception and blocked a punt against the Pats that turned into the Jets' first return TD of the season. For the most part, his statistics are not staggering by any stretch but he has one more pick than Rhodes and No. 25 has started at safety each and every week.

While I still believe that Rhodes is a talented player, I'm looking forward to seeing Smith back on the field with the defense this week. He is one player that gives his full effort on the field. His style of play gives you the feeling he's a "Rex Ryan kinda guy." He's shown some nice one-on-one pass rushing skills, is aggressive and makes plays. I think we could expect to see him up his game this weekend because no guy likes to see their name go down on the depth chart.

It's obvious that motivation and believing in your players' talent alone does not guarantee that they will motivate themselves. Ryan knows what his players are capable of and has given this defense every opportunity to showcase its talent. If this "benching" is truly due to lack of performance, we can only hope that it will be enough to wake up Rhodes and have him realize that no one gets to the Pro Bowl by sitting on the bench, even if you have 193,919 Twitter followers.

Growing Pains

2009-11-23T10:03:00.011-05:00

Last week’s loss to the Jaguars hurt. All week I was consumed with thoughts of disappointment in the Jets organization. Watching this team lose five of six left me with not only nothing to say, but also nothing to hope for.

As the week went on, I began to forgive and forget. I tried my hardest to find it in me to stay positive and tackle the Patrriots game with 100 percent of me supporting my team. While I knew that a win over the “vengeful” Patriots would be difficult, my real hope was that the Jets would play to their capabilities and showcase the talent that I know they have.

Well, the much-anticipated game has come and gone. An agonizing four hours have passed, and the Jets are now 4-6 and the notion of a playoff spot a fleeting memory. Disappointment is dead and gone, replaced by anger. After surviving many Jets losses through the years, I know how to take a loss. I can accept losses when the Jets lose to a team that is more talented. I can also accept losses that purely don’t make sense and just “happen," but what I refuse to take lightly is when the Jets lose a game purely because of poor coaching, poor preparation and self-inflicted mistakes, like they did Sunday in the 31-14 defeat.

It was inexplicably awful.

Yes, the Patriots that showed up Sunday were a very different team than the team the Jets faced in Week 2. Regardless, the Jets have the talent and skill to hang with them, or to at least avoid embarrassment. CBS analyst Jim Nantz was being kind at the end of the game when he stated “sometimes you’re just not better than the team you are playing against."

I simply do not agree.

Even the worst teams in the league will beat you when your quarterback has as many interceptions as completions in the first half, and finishes a game with five turnovers. Mark Sanchez has now tossed 16 picks, second most in the league.

As a rookie quarterback these mistakes are expected, and as fans we’re supposed to be tolerant. The rookie excuse works only for so long. At some point all the mistakes need to disappear and the learning curve has to shrink. To see the same mistakes week after week is not fair to the fans, not fair to the rest of the team and most importantly not fair to Sanchez.

With only 26 games -- counting college -- under his belt, how can we expect him to know what needs to be done in order to improve and progress? Every aspect of the Jets has had its ups and downs in this season, but you have to admit the team would be in the neighborhood of 7-3 if this rookie had played better. It’s the responsibility of the offensive coordinator to help his young QB develop.

Brian Schottenheimer has engineered basically a non-productive offense this season. He has shown that regardless of the talent level of his receiving corps and offensive line, he is incapable of calling the type of plays that, when executed properly, can turn into points. I’ve referred to Schottenheimer's play-calling numerous times as erratic and nonsensical. Forget the monotony of his neverending “run-run-pass” calls, his play-calling is nothing else but predictable.

Schottenheimer's occasional attempts at being “cute” always seem to be at critical points in a game. The last thing I want to see on 3^rd and 2 is a wildcat formation with Brad Smith taking the snap. Why give a fullback the ball in short yardage when that fullback hasn't touched the ball much in the game or is not agile enough to find a hole, to insure that the team gets that needed first down? It's as if the cocky Schotty takes over, like he's suddenly smarter than everyone else. The results don't justify the mindset. Where's the creativity? Why have Sanchez throw another pass just because he completed one on the previous play? The Jets are a run-oriented team, but why be so predictable when calling running plays?

Schottenheimer has shown he's incapable of helping a rookie QB thrive. His playbook is making this offense somewhat one-dimensional, and does not play to the strength of Sanchez. Anyone who looks at the history of the quarterbacks who have played under Schottenheimer will see that they have all been much more successful once they have left the organization. If that doesn't raise an eyebrow then I'm not sure what will.

There are many other areas on this team that need to be addressed, Schottenheimer is only a piece of the problem at this time. Defense has its own issues...but I'll leave that one for another post.

One main goal for the rest of this season should be to help develop Mark Sanchez, overcome these rookie mistakes and give him a chance for success next season. My hope is that the organization realizes this and supports him with the proper personnel needed before we find ourselves in the same predictament in 2010.

Acceptance is the hardest part...

2009-11-06T14:45:00.017-05:00

In a blink of an eye the season is now half over. But it feels like just yesterday that the Meadowlands was roaring, the ground shaking as the Jets pulled off a win over hated rival New England. Gang Green fans were so happy then.

But my how things have changed.

After three straight wins, the Jets have dropped four of their last five and the mood has definitely gone from optimism to that familiar notion of dread and despair. It’s like a relationship gone bad: you look back at the good times and say “remember when we
were happy?”

The past few weeks have been a brutal assault on the senses. I’ve gone through a plethora of emotions and have exhausted myself due to a constant struggle within.

Is this team going to make me sick in the final analysis or will I be pleasantly surprised? That, as usual with the Jets, is the million dollar question.

After the loss to Buffalo – one of the worst defeats in recent Jets history -- I fought to remain optimistic. I knew things were bad but still managed to find some solace. In my opinion, the win in Oakland was really a tease. I knew that to keep my sanity in the face of reality I had to look at the 38-0 victory as nothing more than the Jets beating up a franchise in more disarray than my favorite franchise. It was a game that reminded me what winning felt like, but also was a bit of a ruse. It gave us hope, but we all know that “hope” in Jets circles is often another way of saying false hope.

Then there was the much-ballyhooed rematch with the Dolphins last Sunday. All I wanted was for the positive momentum to continue, to taste sweet revenge against a team we should have spanked the first time around and prove to everyone that the Jets were not the same old hapless team we’ve seen far too many times to remember over the last few decades.

Well, as the Rolling Stones say, you can’t always get what you want. I stood there during the final drive of the game with my fingers and toes crossed, praying as hard as I could that I wouldn’t leave that stadium disappointed for the umpteenth time. My favorite player had just caught a ridiculous pass on fourth down to keep the drive alive and part of me thought a win might actually be in the cards.

But before I knew it I was standing there frozen staring at the empty end zone. Reality slowly crept in. Once again the Jets had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I couldn’t help myself. The meltdown ensued.

I’m glad the bye week is this week because I desperately needed a little break from the Jets. Entering this week all I could do was come up with countless reasons (a.k.a excuses) to convince myself that the Jets should in no way be in this predicament, sitting at .500 when they should be at worst 6-2. I literally have played every scenario out in my head and have found a way to find blame for every aspect of their play of late that has led to or directly caused a defeat.

I went from blaming Rex for going for the 2-point conversion in the third quarter of the loss to Miami, to finding fault in the fact that Carroll, Cole and Murrell weren’t on the field during Ginn’s ridiculous kickoff returns. I even, if only for a second, blamed the Jets front office for trading away special teams ace Jason Trusnik. Call it heat-of-the-moment reasoning. It took me a second to realize, of course, that I want Braylon Edwards on this team. Trusnik is just one guy. What happened to the other 10 clowns who couldn’t make a simple tackle?

I lost sleep as I analyzed the loss in my head and tried to make sense of Schottenheimer’s irrational play calling. If only we had run on that play and passed on the other one; If only Sanchez had gotten rid of the ball quicker; If only Jay had made that field goal.

Finally I came to the realization that I’m sick of it – all of it. I’m tired of making excuses for losses that are just plain inexcusable. There is no way to truly pinpoint why this season has gone south following such a start of promise. I wish there was an obvious reason for the team’s current slide, but you can’t fix something that’s not broken. The Jets should be better. They have stars all over the field. They have a coach that should be getting results.

Forget about the players needing the bye week to get their minds right and recover from various nicks and bruises. I’m the one who needs this week to get my head right. I guarantee you that the majority of the players aren’t beating themselves up trying to find the answer to what has gone wrong, so why should I?

Call me defeatist if you want, but I look at it more as being a realist.

The light has finally gone off after years of going through thick and thin with the Jets. There are no explanations, no easy answers. Wins and losses come in bunches and are often illogical. Statistics do not apply to this team. While nothing has changed with regards to my support and devotion to this team, the days of trying to make sense of things are over. I’ll let the little angel and devil on my shoulders duke it out on Sundays and decide whether optimism or pessimism wins. I’ll take each win and loss for what it is and always remind myself that there must be some master plan from up above for the Jets, some predetermined destiny that we just don’t know about yet.

I’ll keep the hope that someday – and who knows how far away that day is -- it will all make perfect sense.

So I’m going to enjoy what’s left of this bye week, as should all of you. Look on the bright side. The Jets can’t lose this week.

No matter how you spend the next few days, remember this: You have to savor the time off because next Sunday will be here before you know it.

The art of sarcasm - by Bart Scott

2009-11-06T14:39:00.002-05:00

Ask any of my friends or family members to describe me and one thing you’ll hear across the board is that I’m quite sarcastic and known to be quite passive-aggressive at times. This may help explain why I find Bart Scott’s personality so damn infectious. Sunday night after the Jets loss to Miami I sat in awe in front of my TV when I heard his comments during the post game press conference:

"They’re a great team," Scott said. "They’ll probably contend for the Super Bowl. They have a hellacious offense, great running backs, great quarterback, great tight ends. They're stacked across the board. I’m serious. They are great. “

"Like I said, they have a great team. They have a tremendous offense and they showed it today. They are Super Bowl contenders and they will probably take it all the way."

I couldn’t help but laugh and totally agree with Bart after hearing those comments. Not one ounce of me saw it as a stab at the Dolphins but more stating his obvious disappointment with his own team.

The fact is every player on the Jets defense should be angry and upset more than anyone about that loss. Three weeks ago on Monday Night Football, the Jets defense let the team down. They let the Dolphins run all over them, and take away the high status that this new defense had gained during the first three games of the season. Despite the offense being inconsistent that night, the game would have been won had the defense played with half the intensity they showed in the weeks before.

Last Sunday, the defense wanted nothing more than to come out and prove themselves. You know that Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine didn’t rest until they found a solution to stopping the infamous Wildcat. And what happened…..they did it. The defense did EXACTLY what they were supposed to do. They came out and completely stopped the Dolphins offense. They worked hard all four quarters to rectify what they had done three weeks ago. They learned from their mistakes and did what no other team has figured out how to do yet this season.

Despite their great performance, the Jets lost. It’s one of those losses that statistically just does not make sense. The offense was non-existent in the first half, with conservative play calling by Schotty to blame. Special teams let Tedd Ginn run right through them for 2 TD’s and in the end the Jets managed to lose a game that was theirs to win.

Every news clip and replay of that game should have centered around the Jets defense and how they were successful at stopping the Wildcat cold. Sports reporters should be praising the Jets D this week, but that’s not the case. Instead the only thing talked about is Ginn Jr and his record breaking returns. People criticize the Jets for talking too much, yet the only players talking are from the defense and they backed their words up! I’m all for not throwing your teammates under the bus after a loss, but you tell me how anyone on this defense could walk away without being angry?

Bart Scott and Darrelle Revis have every right to feel let down and to display some sarcasm, some passive aggressiveness towards their team and opponent. They showed up and did their job on Sunday. There’s nothing more that they could have done that would have won this game. I can only imagine how difficult it is to stay tight lipped after a game like that one. Leave it to Bart to find a creative way to get his true feelings across; he couldn’t have gotten his point across any clearer.

Stop your whining Dolphin fans, not every word spoken by Jets players is about you and your team.