Jets Blogs

Preview: Jets Should Fly High in Miami

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:48 GMT

When the 08 schedule came out and opening week saw the Jets flying to Miami in week one to play the Dolphins, not many thought anything of it. What can change in four months. Now on Sunday at Dolphin Stadium, the matchup between the Fins and Jets have about as many interesting storylines as any in the league, mostly surrounding two QB's that have changed zip codes.

The Brett Favre era in New York starts. Named an offensive captain earlier in the week, Favre runs the show for an offense that looks like its reloaded with an O-line that spent a lot of money upgrading in the offseason, and skill players looking to rebound off poor 2007 outings. That O-line has to protect Favre, and open holes for RB Thomas Jones and then the play-action that makes Favre successful will work.

While the Jets were 4-12 a season ago, they did score 31 and 40 points in their two outings against them last season, meaning it was one team their offense found success against. Now though Miami has a new coach and a new look, and the defense will look to pressure Favre and hold Jones in check. Channing Crowder at middle linebacker and nose tackle Jason Ferguson are two players who key the defense, and they need big games to stop Favre and the Jets offense.

On offense for Miami, Chad Pennington brings in a veteran influence under center, and with it should provide the offense with a spark of its own. Miami has a lot of young players on both sides of the ball, but on offense they have to learn how to win, and with it Pennington is the key to teaching them that. He'll need youngsters on the line Jake Long and Donald Thomas, both rookies, to step up and protect him.

They will attack the Jets defense with the running game, led by the reborn again Ricky Williams, who rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries this preseason. He takes over the #1 spot from Ronnie Brown, and should get plenty of chances to prove himself again. Look for second-year WR Ted Ginn Jr. to also get chances to make plays in the open field. He's another key to an offense that needs early success to hang with New York.

The Jets have won four in a row and seven of eight vs the Dolphins, and while Miami is going to be better this season, Favre and co. will come out Miami with a week one win.

Morency Visits, Jets Inquire About Wilson

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:37 GMT

The Jets recently worked out free agent runningback Vernand Morency earlier this week.

Morency, 28, was a third-round pick by the Texans in the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent a year and change in Houston before heading to Green Bay. His best season came in 2006 recording 434 yards on 96 rushes with two touchdowns. The Jets currently have two runningbacks on the roster.

The Jets also recently placed a call to defensive back Eugene Wilson, but apparently, there doesn't seem to be anything going on.

Wilson, 28, was cut by the Buccaneers on Sunday. He was a second-round pick by the Patriots in 2003 and spent the last five seasons with them. Over his five-year tenure in New England, he recorded 254 tackles, 28 pass deflections and 10 interceptions in 62 games.

Jets Have Named Their Captains

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:23 GMT

Eric Mangini has announced the team captains for the 2008 season. The players voted on the captains and here is how it went down…

Offense: Brett Favre and Alan Faneca
Defense: Kerry Rhodes and Shaun Ellis
Special Teams: David Bowens and Leon Washington

Practice Squad Announced

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:22 GMT

The New York Jets have assigned eight players to their practice Squad. The group consists of 2 WR, 2 OL, 1 RB, 1 DE,1 LB, and 1 DB.

Your 2008 Practice Squad:
WR Larry Brackins
RB Jehuu Caulcrick
OL Stanley Daniels
DB James Ihedigbo
OL Matt McChesney
DE Ropati Pitoitua
WR Paul Raymond
LB Brandon Renkart

So…Practice Squad?

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:23 GMT

A couple of tidbits here.

The Jets have not yet announced who will join their practice squad, but a couple of guys who were rumored to join are no longer available.

Offensive tackle Nate Garner, who was the Jets seventh-round pick from this year's draft, was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins. The Jets also put a claim in on offensive guard Andy Alleman, who was the Saints third-round pick from 2007, but was waived this preseason. However, the Dolphins were awarded Andy Alleman as they also put in a claim, but were higher on the waiver wire list.

Also, rookie center Kyle DeVan, who was cut by the team yesterday, was told to stay in New York until noon (of today).

Lastly, former Jets tight end Jason Pociask was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, according to Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News. Pociask had to be a tough cut after a very nice preseason, but the Jets have great depth at the position and can't afford to carry five tight ends on the roster.

Expect an announcement to come soon regarding the Jets practice squad members.

RB Chatman Suspended First Four Games for Violating the League Abuse Policy

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:32 GMT

RB Jesse Chatman will watch the first four games, as the league Saturday suspended him without pay for violating the league’s steroids and related-substances policy. “It’s always disappointing, but it’s a program that the league has set up and something that I understand and Jesse understands the consequences of,” coach Eric Mangini said. “Jesse has had a very good training camp and really punctuated it with his game against the Eagles. He’s disappointed and so am I, but I look forward to him being able to come back and contribute.”

The agent for Chatman, Brett Tessler, said that his client never tested positive for a steroid or any other performance-enhancing drug. “Near the end of last season, the league claimed he had a diuretic in his system that they said could also be used as a masking agent,” Tessler said. “After Jesse spent great time and money defending his innocence, the league made its final ruling and now he has no choice but to look ahead to Week 5.”

Jets Make Final Cuts, Chatman Suspended Four Games

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:16 GMT

The Jets have announced their cuts to get down to the required 53-man roster for the upcoming season.

RB Jehuu Caulcrick, TE Jason Pociask, TE A.J. Schable, WR David Ball, WR Larry Brackins, WR Paul Raymond, OL Jacob Bender, OL Stanley Daniels, OL Kyle DeVan, OL Nate Garner, OL Matt McChesney, DL Thomas Johnson, DL Bryan Mattison, DL Ropati Pitoitua, LB Blair Phillips, LB Brandon Renkart, DB Rudy Burgess, DB James Ihedigbo, DB Cameron Worrell, LB Matt Chatham, DB Hank Poteat

The Jets also announced that the NFL has suspended runningback Jesse Chatman without pay for the team’s first four regular-season games of 2008 for violating the NFL Policy on Steroids and Related Substances.

With all of these roster moves, the Jets current roster now looks like this:

Jets Release 18 Players to Get Roster Down to 53

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:03 GMT

The Jets today released the following: LB Matt Chatham. WR David Ball, OL Jacob Bender, WR Larry Brackins, DB Rudy Burgess, RB Jehuu Caulcrick, OL Stanley Daniels, OL Nate Garner, DB James Ihedigbo, DL Thomas Johnson, DL Bryan Mattison, OL Matt McChesney, LB Blair Phillips, DL Ropati Pitoitua, TE Jason Pociask, WR Paul Raymond, LB Brandon Renkart, and TE A.J. Schable. The team also put safety Cameron Worrell on injured reserve.

Jet Back Ups and Bubble Players finish off Eagles 27-20

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:21 GMT

This was a big yawn of a game. Going into tonights fourth pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jet fans knew they would play it safe and sit the starters as the official season starts next week. Know Eric Mangini and his staff will spend endless hours making some of the toughest decisions of 2008. Who will make the 53 man roster? What pieces fit the puzzle right? Who is healthy and ready to play now?

Decisions Decisions Decisions…..

Jesse Chatman made a case for himself last night with a 180 total yard performance (rush 29 for 93 rec 6 for 87) which included the winning touchdown. Fifth round draft pick Erik Ainge had a statically a good night going 10 for 16 for 131 yards with a TD but was sacked 3 times for minus 23 yards. Undrafted rookie Brett Ratcliff (the other white meat) most likely has the number three QB job; Ainge will get invited to the practice squad. (good thing I told my brother Ken to sell his football cards 10 days ago). Ainge didn’t help himself coming into camp with hand issues. Maybe the time running the practice team will give him some hope for 2009.

Defensively, former first round pick of the Green Bay Packers Ahmad Carroll had 5 tackles and a fumble recovery in his final trial to make the team.

Hank Poteat (the waiver wire on and off defensive back) had 3 tackles and an interception returned for 32 yards.

Besides that this game was played conservatively as both teams and coaches I am sure wanted to avoid injuries and not tip there hands for next week.

Interesting to see Dustin Keller did not get the night off. Understandable he is a rookie and getting more looks in a live game is nice, but burn out is also a thing to consider. Rookie skill players more times then not burn out later in the season as the drooling NFL schedule has 4 pre-season and 16 regular season games.

Strap it up and get ready Jet Fans!!! The season is finally here. The NFL franchise that made the most noise during the off season finally gets the chance to see the dividends. Like years past the most action came during the off season rather then on the field during the regular season. This Jet team is built for now and Eric Mangini must deliver.

Playing Ainge Was A Mistake

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:28 GMT

If the Jets wanted any shot at retaining Erik Ainge for the practice squad, they made a huge mistake in playing him last night.

Ainge, a fifth-round draft pick by the Jets in this year's draft, now faces the possibility of being cut by the team after Brett Ratliff's recent surge through the depth chart. Ainge saw action for the first time in the NFL taking over at quarterback with about two minutes left in the second quarter. He finished the game and did a good job, going 10 for 16 in pass attempts for 131 yards with one touchdown pass and no interceptions.

By playing Ainge in last night's game, the Jets have now showcased Ainge for other teams if the team does intend to cut him. If the Jets chose not to play Ainge this preseason, there was a chance that the Jets would have been able to cut him and sign him to the practice squad without being claimed by another team.

It is uncommon for teams to carry four quarterbacks in a season, but maybe after all of this, the Jets will decide to carry four quarterbacks after all…

Lowery Could Start Against Miami

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:36 GMT

Dave Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger reports that 2008 fourth-round pick Dwight Lowery may replace Justin Miller as the starting cornerback opposite Darrelle Revis in week one against the Miami Dolphins.

In three preseason games, Lowery has a team-high 17 tackles, good for fifth in the NFL, with three passes defended and an interception.

“It's not daunting. I think your teammates depend on you. Regardless of who is in there, they expect you to contribute as if no one ever went down. I think that's the biggest thing I place upon myself. I don't want to let my teammates down.”

Hutchinson also says that tight ends Bubba Franks or Chris Baker could be on their way out. The Jets will have Baker, Franks, Dustin Keller, Jason Pociask and James Dearth all available. Keller and Dearth are perhaps the most safe. The Jets also seem to like Pociask a lot. Franks has already received $800,000 of his $1.6 million base salary. Baker could probably fetch the most in return as far as compensation.

Ranking The NFL's Backup Quarterbacks

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:56 GMT

Don Banks of SI.com takes a look at and ranks the backup quarterbacks in the NFL for each team. Coming in at number two may surprise some of you. Jets quarterback Brett Ratliff is on Banks list as the No. 2.

22. New York Jets: Brett Ratliff — The “other” Brett on the Jets' roster has clearly out-performed Kellen Clemens this preseason, throwing for 451 yards in his three preseason games while getting lots of snaps with the second-team offense. But there's still some question whether New York head coach Eric Mangini will relegate Clemens, a 2006 second-round pick, to the No. 3 role? It could be that Clemens would get the first call if the Jets just need a game or two of relief in place of Brett Favre. Anything longer and New York would turn to Ratliff.

Interesting to say the least. I find it hard to believe that Mangini would go as far as moving Clemens down to the No. 3 role once again after rising from No. 3 to No. 1 over the past two years. Ratliff currently ranks second in the NFL during preseason in passing yards with 451, tied for second with three passing touchdowns, ranks fifth in completion percentage with a 67.4%, first in yards per game at 150.3.

Favre Likely to Sit in Preseason Finale vs Eagles

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:07 GMT

Despite not having a ton of time to get on the same page with his offensive players, it appears that Brett Favre is going to sit back and relax and not play in the Jets preseason finale at Philadelphia. Coach Eric Mangini said today that he is leaning towards sitting Favre - “It would be safe to say that I’m leaning toward that.” Favre said before that he wanted to play, but then said if not, he won't be too upset. The important thing is that the QB is ready to go September 7th vs the Dolphins in Miami, not a meaningless preseason game vs the Eagles.

Jets Make Some Cuts

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:49 GMT

The New York Jets have announced that they have released RB Musa Smith, S Ron Girault, RB Rodney Kinlaw and OT Thaddeus Coleman today to get the roster down to the mandatory 75-player limit by 4:00 p.m. ET today.

Starting CB Miller Suffers Dislocated Toe; to Miss 1-3 Weeks

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:38 GMT

NJ.com is reporting that starting right corner Justin Miller will miss one to three weeks with a dislocated toe on his left foot. The story goes that Miller could be sidelined for the opener on September 7th at Miami. Miller has had a tough last year, as he missed most of last season with a knee injury. He was having a good camp according to reports, but got hurt in the second quarter of Saturday's win over the Giants. He limped off the field, and then was carted into the locker room and didn't return.