Coles Wins AFC Offensive Player Of Month

New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. Coles’ 331 yards receiving are the most by a Jets’ receiver through the first three games of a season since Hall of Famer receiver Don Maynard totaled 356 yards in 1968.

Coles, in his seventh-year out of Florida State, leads the NFL with 24 receptions as the Jets have compiled a 2-1 record, good for a first place tie in the AFC East.

Sandler A Jets Fan

Look at The Hoff hangin out w/ Adam Sandler in his Vilma jersey !

They said we had no chance. We couldn't go into Buffalo and win. The Buffalo pass rush would be too much for the young Jets offensive line.

Well, ya know what? We WON. We are 2-0 on the road and 2-1 overall and tied with New England for 1st Place in the division. So, how do you like them apples.

Let's start with the offensive line. They may not be making any holes for the running backs but they sure protected Pennington yesterday. The crew that had 7 sacks the prior week got ZERO vs the Jets line yesterday. I still am concerned with the running game and am NOT a fan of Running Back By Committee. Pick a running back and stay with one. Running backs need to get into a groove and when they are not in every play, they can't get into that groove. There were a few positives. The 4th and 1 QB sneak by Chad gaining about 4 yards on a second effort instead of just the one yard needed. Then, another 3rd down situation and Leon Washington had a great run only to be called back by an illegal man down field penality. Still, it was a nice run.

The throwing game was not as good as it was the past two weeks but Chad lead the team to scores when it was needed. It was very nice to see a Tight End catch a TD as that has been very rare in these parts the last 10 or so years. You have to love the tandem of Cotchery and Coles. They may not have had any long catches but they made the catches that were thrown to them.

As for the defense, yeah, they made us sweat a bit down the stretch when it became a 1 score game but that wouldn't be the Jets not to make you sweat it out a bit. I'm not a fan of the 3-4 as we don't get much pass rush unless we have a CB Blitz and the LBs are so far off the line that the oppossing running back runs for about 6 yards before we can even attempt to tackle him. But, I love the play of Kerry Rhodes. He's turning out to be a great mid-round draft pick with his forced fumbles yesterday. I was a bit disappointed in Vilma not scooping up the ball and running for a TD on a fumble but at least he picked up the ball and was able to change the battle for field position. And how about Victor Hobson getting a defensive TD even though his foot went out of bounds on the 2 yard line. The officials totally missed that one but it's nice to have the ball bounce in our direction once in a while.

So, who would have thought that we'd be 2-1 and a few less mistakes last week and we could have beaten New England Are we a good team? That remains to be seen. But will we be one of the worst teams in the league as many predicted, I believe the answer to that is NO.

Mangini Bowl I

The Rivalry continues. First it was Parcells and the Tuna Bowl. Then, it became Belechick Bowl. Now, what do you call the Mangini / Belechick rivalry with the Jets vs. Patriots? So, much has happened between these two franchises expecially if you throw in the Curtis Martin factor when Parcells stole him from New England. Now, it's a new Era of the Rivalry and as it stood, New Englad has won the last 6 meetings between thesse two teams.

I wasn't expecting much going into the game but the way the Patriots looked last week, maybe we would be able to play a close game and have it come down to the end. It was nice winning the first game of the year so at least there was so optimism knowing we couldn't be 0-2 by the end of the day.

The first half was pretty rough. I liked the fact that the Patriots started with the ball and we were able to hold them to 3 and out on the first drive of the game. However, all of the Jets drives stalled at mid-field. Here are some things that pissed me off during the game:

- Graham's punt that went 9 yards setting up the Patriots for an extra touchdown right before the half.
- The 3 - 4 defense getting NO pass rush except for the Kerry Rhodes Sack / forced fumbled when plowing Brady.
- The offensive line protecting Chad OK but making NO holes for the running game. How can we not get 3 inches on a 4th down on their own 46 resulting in a change of possession and a Patriots TD.
- The running game. We are in serious need of a running back. Do we even have a running game? 51 total rushing yards is an embarrassment. And what is worse is that the Jets had ZERO rushing first downs !
- The use of Time-Outs. There was one play were we were on Defense and there was NO way that Brady was going to get the ball snapped and WE wound up calling the timeout.
- The secondary could NEVER come up big on 3rd downs. Brady would always get the first down and keep those long drives alive.
- Poor play calling on the drive we wound up kicking a field goal. What were they doing having Chad run a QB sneak for 3 yards?

However, there were a few things to be excited about.

- Chad had his 2nd straight 300+ yard game.
- Jets scored 17 unanswered points after falling behind by 24 ponts.
- C&C Factory - Coles & Cotchery, both went over 100 yards receiving and each had an incredible touchdown.
- Nugent made his 41 yard field goal and didn't miss an extra point.
- Love the useage of the hurry up offense. This will get much better once we have a running game.
Well, 1-1 is much better than 0-2 so let's beat the Bills next week and get on the winning end again !

When You're A Jet, You're A Jet All The Way

Guest Writer: Rick Harrison

My name is Rick Harrison, and I am a Jets fan. In a dark and dangerous world, there are certainly worse things to be. Tom Arnold, for one.

But as another season starts -- teasing only the foolish with a pubescent coaching staff and a win against the feeble Tennessee Titans -- now is as good a time as any to examine the masochistic joys of living under a green and white cloud with a lining black as soot.

I've been going to Jets games since I was 4 years old and mostly interested in the pretzels and ice cream served at Shea Stadium. Those were the days. A jumbo pretzel hardly ever disappointed like the team on the field.

My dad would grease the ticket guy with $1, and I'd sit on his lap (my dad, not the ticket guy). As I grew older, I learned to love the Jets despite their regular disappointments. I imagine this is how Paris Hilton's parents feel about their daughter.

Oh, there were many brilliant, shining moments. I saw the 51-45 aerial shootout against Miami in 1986. The raucous home divisional playoff win against Jacksonville in 1998. The fourth quarter 23-point ""Miracle at the Meadowlands'' comeback in 2000. I rooted for the worthy Wesley Walker, Al Toon, Mickey Shuler, Lance Mehl, Joe Klecko, Freeman McNeil and Wayne Chrebet.

But then I witnessed a potential division lead shot through the heart with a Dan Marino fake spike. Watched as Dennis Byrd lay temporarily paralyzed. Caught Joe Walton picking his nose on TV and listened as Richie Kotite treated his team of losers like gentlemen. Saw Mark Gastineau commit a personal foul against Cleveland in a 1986 divisional playoff game on fourth and 26 that allowed Cleveland to tie the game and win in double overtime. Squirmed through the multiple concussions and premature retirement of our most prolific receiver. Twice. Sat motionless watching the 1982 AFC Championship Game as A.J. Duhe trucked his way through the Miami mud toward the endzone. Twice. In 1998, I saw a 10-point lead crumble just 30 minutes
and 30 years from another shot at a Super Bowl. And I saw the best coach we would ever have skip town on his first day to build a dynasty in New England.

In my 27 or so years as a sentient fan, the Jets starting quarterbacks have included the likes of Bubby Brister, Browning Nagle, Glenn Foley, Tony Eason, Rick Mirer, Ray Lucas and Quincy Carter. The only thing these guys should have been starting was a list of alternate career choices. And the Jets choices on draft day are most remembered for the boos they generated among the New York crowd.

It says something about Jets fans that we have embraced ""Gang Green'' as our team nickname. Because there's nothing better to describe the squad than the bacterial decay of body tissue requiring amputation.

But I'll still be out there tomorrow with my dad and brother, my friends and girlfriend, grilling meats and tossing a ball in anticipation of anything to cheer about. There is something hopelessly hopeful and unintentionally cruel about cursing your children with the Jets in a town that demands winners. But I've never blamed my dad. When I was born, Joe Namath still glowed from his league-shaking Super Bowl III victory and wobbled his way through games on crippled knees. Traces of magic could shoot from his arm.

My brother should know better. He brought his 8-month-old daughter to a preseason tailgate outfitted in a pink Jets shirt and sucking on a Jets pacifier. The looming tragedy of this young life made me want to call Child Protective Services.

Luckily she's way too young at the moment to comprehend complex shapes and actions, much less the certain disaster of another Jets season. So until she's sitting on her dad's lap in the new Meadowlands stadium, I'm glad she's clueless and happy sucking on that pacifier.

There's just too much of that kind of thing on the field.

Jets To Appear On Extreme Makeover Home Edition

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has become one of the most popular television shows in America. On Sunday night, ABC will air two special pre-season episodes which will include appearances by two Jets - cornerback David Barrett and offensive lineman Adrian Jones – helping out the Llanes family of Bergenfield, New Jersey.

This will complete a perfect viewing Sunday for Jets’ fans as they’ll watch the Green & White take on the Patriots at 4:15 p.m. Then they’ll have the opportunity to switch over to ABC for two hours of Extreme Makeover, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Extreme Makeover design team traveled to Bergenfield to build a brand new renovated home in seven days for a deserving family of six who have overcome some difficult disabilities

In this episode, the design team, scores of volunteers and local builder Pinnacle Communities build a high-tech home that will help this very unique and loving family! During construction, the family goes on vacation to Walt Disney World. In addition, movie trailer voiceover artist Don Lafontaine assists in narrating for the blind during the build. New York Jets David Barrett and Adrian Jones helped out using their muscle and quickness. The players also become certified in the craft of "Origami". Legendary soul gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama perform.

Mangini Asks Belichick For Help

Eric Mangini Asks Bill Belichick for Help Developing a Gameplan for New England
From: The Sports Pickle

Faced with a tough game this Sunday against the reigning AFC East division champions, rookie New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini called his former boss, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, this morning for some pointers on developing a gameplan for New England.

"I respect Coach Belichick so much," said Mangini. "He is my hero and I owe my whole career to him. Everything I try to do as a head coach is modeled exactly after Coach Belichick, and I want to continue to use him and his vast football knowledge as a resource."

Mangini, one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history at age 35, came to the Jets in the offseason after six seasons under Belichick in New England and three with him on the Jets’ staff from 1997-1999.

"I’m not going to pretend that the Jets would have hired me without my close association to Bill Belichick," said Mangini. "They’re dying for a coach like him, a virtual clone, and I’m the closest thing available. How I dress, how I talk, how I structure practices, how I conduct press conferences – I try to be just like him in each and everything I do. In fact, the first thing I say when I wake up each morning is: ‘What can I do today to be more like the great Bill Belichick?’

And today I answered: ‘Find out how he would take on the New England Patriots this Sunday.’"

Belichick said he was more than happy to help out his former assistant.

"The guy totally creeps me out. He’s practically a stalker," Belichick said. "I don’t think he has had an original thought or idea in his entire life. If he wasn’t in football and trying to be exactly like me, I’m sure he would be in some cult somewhere with his testicles in a jar on a shelf. After I promoted him to defensive coordinator last year, he got even creepier and started referring to me all the time as ‘Master Bill’ with a wide-eyed, insane look on his face. I started to worry he was going to come into my office naked one night and make a pass at me. He probably would have if I hadn’t started locking my office door behind me."

Mangini says Belichick gave him some outstanding advice on facing the Patriots.

"Gold. What he gave me is pure gold," said Mangini. "He told me to double and triple team their receivers because they have tons of good ones and will try to pass the ball the whole game. And he also suggested I should have Chad Pennington pass a lot because he says there’s no way his great game in Week 1 was a fluke. With that advice, I don’t see how we can lose."

Chad Wins AFC Offensive Player Of Week #1

New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini announced Wednesday that quarterback Chad Pennington was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week. Pennington was brilliant Sunday, completing 24 of 33 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets’ 23-16 season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans. For his performance, Pennington is also a candidate for NFL FedEx Player of the Week.

Back In Time

Look at the league leaders after week #1. Looks like we've gone back in time by 5 years !

The Force Is Strong With Mangini

A new coaching era began on Sunday and we have a head coach with a perfect record. His true test comes Sunday vs. New England that all of a sudden looks like a beatable team after struggling with Buffalo. Let's hope the force is strong with Mr. Mangini and the Gang Green.

1-0

Wow, the Jets are 1-0. For a while it was looking like we were going to run away with the game. However, these are still the New York Jets. The last time they did something the EASY was was probably the 41-0 playoff game vs. the Colts and that was a rarity. It was nice to have a 16 point lead. However, a missed extra point and two missed field goals would have made it 23-0. Until yesterday, Nugent NEVER missed an extra point. I'm not sure if it was a different center snapping the ball of a flat out miss. Either way, it goes in the books as a missed extra point which would have put us up 17-0 if he had kicked the PAT. Not one of Nugent's best days and hopefully he got his bad game out of his system or he'll go down as a HUGE bust. There was a lot of positives in the game and you have to start with Chad. Coming off of his 2nd shoulder surgery and a competition in training camp for the starting job, he proved he was the right decision throwing for over 300 yards for the first time since 2002. And what was great was that there was NO interceptions. He didn't throw the ball with much zip but was accurate in some key down field throws. In addition, when the game was tied, he walked the team down the field for the clinching score. The fumble drove me NUTS giving them the ball basically in the endzone.

I also liked some of the coaching. In the first half, it was 2nd and 5 and we went to the hurry-up offense to throw the defense off guard. I liked seeing that. I also liked the 3 formation where we had three men in the backfield. That was very interesting to see. Our running game was NOT great but we had 2 rookies out there on the OL who are learning on the run and Pete Kendall was also out after getting injured so hopefully this aspect of the game gets better. Brad Smith is going to be a nice weapon to use this year. I can tell from they plays he was in for that the coaching staff is goning to have fun using this guy. Coles, McCarins, Baker, and Cotchery were all solid on the receiving end.

The defense concerned me a bit with the switch to the 3-4 which may not be suited for Mr.Vilma. We had minimal pass rush and the linebacking core have such a cushion that I was not happy with us stopping the running game. I really only fault the defense for the one TD as Chad gave them the other with the fumble but with the NFL being 50% stopping 2pt conversions, we gave up TWO of them which hurt. But hats off to Andre Dyson for snagging 2 interceptions including the first one of Vince Young's career.

Besides Nugent's terrible game, you have to love the Justin Miller 40 yard kick-off return that set up the winning TD drive.

This was one of the FEW winable games on the schedule. It should be interesting what we do next week vs. the Patriots. But, for now, we are in FIRST PLACE baby ! Woooooooooooooo !

Let's The Games Begin...

It should be an interesting year. The three key leaders on this team are younger than me. I just hope they can learn from this year and continue to build so we can have a solid team in 2008 !

Jets Show Off Florham Park Plan

- Jets want to build a 120,000-square-foot facility on a total of 26 acres.

- An indoor, regulation-sized football field will be enclosed in a 95-foot-tall structure -- enough breathing room for punters to get air.

- Adjacent to the facility will be four outdoor regulation-sized football fields, three grass and one with artificial turf.

Jets Final Cuts Are In

The Jets announced the cutting of 23 players to get down to the mandatory final roster number. Released were the following players:

OL Ed Blanton
OL Marko Cavka
OL Charles Missant
OL Steve Morley
OL Doug Nienhuis
OL Issac Snell
WR Reggie Newhouse
WR Dante Ridgeway
WR Sloan Thomas
TE Joel Dreessen
TE Joe Kowalewski
TE Walter Rasby
RB Stacy Tutt
DL Darrell Adams
DL Matt McChesney
DL Brennan Schmidt
LB Craig Bailey
LB Blake Costanzo
LB Darrell McClover
DB Andre Maddox
CB Ray Mickens
CB Hank Poteat
CB Jamie Thompson

The cutting of Mickens and Dressen come as a major surprise. I hope this staff knows what they are doing cause the prior staff didn't have a clue!

The Mangini Press Conferences

There is a funny cartoon on the Jets page in http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/

Chrebet Joins SNY

SportsNet New York (SNY), the television home of the New York Jets and the New York Mets, named former Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet as a contributing analyst for SNY’s Jets Post-Game Live! show. In addition to participating on Jets Post-Game Live! – which will air immediately after every Jets game – Chrebet will make his SNY debut this Sunday at 7pm on Inside Jets Training Camp.

Chrebet joins SNY’s growing panel of NFL on-air talent which includes former Jets QB Ray Lucas, former Jets LB Greg Buttle, SNY NFL Insider Adam Schein, GM Mike Tannenbaum and select Jets players.