Jets Blogs

Pace Suspended Four Games by the NFL for Violating NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:07 GMT

The Jets were dealt a harsh blow Thursday as DE/LB Calvin Pace was sat down four games by the league for testing positive for a banned substance. Here's the story from Scout.com on the suspension:

New York Jets DE/OLB Calvin Pace has been suspended without pay for the team’s first four regular-season games of 2009 for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, the league announced on Thursday.

Pace's suspension begins on Saturday, September 5. He is eligible to return to the Jets’ active roster on Monday, October 5 following the team’s October 4 game against the New Orleans Saints. Pace is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

Pace, who signed a six-year, $42 million deal with the Jets back in March of 2008, will lose four game checks totaling $176,470 (four-seventeenths of his base salary). Pace's base salary for 2009 is just $750,000, but a league source said he carries a salary cap number over $7 million.

“This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the League’s policy. I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the League’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl,” Pace said in reaction to his four-game suspension.

Pace, who turns 29 in October, was originally selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was a major disappointment for the Cardinals until the final season of his rookie deal when he played mostly outside linebacker. His breakout season in 2007 yielded him the huge free agent contract detailed above from the Jets.

With Pace out four games, pressure will be on second-year DE/OLB Vernon Gholston to make a strong contribution especially early in the season. Unfortunately, the former 2008 first-round pick only participated in roughly 16 percent of the defensive snaps last season and posted just 13 combined tackles along with zero sacks.

Mawae's View

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:45 GMT

Former Jets center and current NFLPA President, Kevin Mawae was previously against the large contracts rookies signed but now his heart has changed and Kevin is even congratulating Mark Sanchez on his ‘phat' contract.

“I looked Mark Sanchez in the face the other day and said ‘congratulations, man. More power to you’. It’s the nature of the game. They’re fortunate enough to be in it at a time when the game is making that much money where I guy can come out and get a contract that guarantees him $30 million dollars. I’m not going to hate him for that, and I’m not going to hate the system for it.

“Rookie salaries only comprise four percent of the salary cap so it’s not like every guy is making that kind of money and they’re taking it from the veteran players. The reality is no team spent up to the entire cap last year. God bless the rookies coming out, they deserve it.”

That's a pretty swift change but Mawae does make some solid points, the teams didn't go over the cap and being that the rookie salary makes up a small percent of the cap means a less of a hit to the FO's pocket. Of course being a second rounder can do that to you I suppose.

Well … CRAP

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:11 GMT

I've got to say, that the Calvin Pace suspension really sucks. Here's some of my thoughts about what it means to the Jets in 2009.

It's Final — If you look at the team's statement they are not going to fight it at this point. If they did it was already done behind closed doors. Don't look for any appeals here, Pace won't be playing until the Miami game, it's that simple.

It's Not Clear What He Took — He mentions that it was an over-the-counter supplement, but it boggles my mind how multi-million dollar athletes don't have someone who checks this stuff for them. The team has at least two strength & conditioning coaches, and probably has a dietician, not to mention the rest of the medical staff. You'd imagine that the team even pays someone to help players with this sort of stuff. It disappoints me that they don't take advantage of those resources, it basically seems like wasted money and wasted games now.

It Makes a Big Difference On Defense — Now granted, Kris Jenkins wasn't there too, but think back to 2006 & 2007 when Victor Hobson was playing over his head as an OLB. Now granted, Vernon Gholston has much more upside than Hobson, and Jammal Westermann might have had a good spring, but there's no one on the team who can step in and fill Pace's shoes to the degree which Pace played last season. The team is going to have to scheme around this, and I won't be suprised if there are a lot of four man fronts.

It Comes During A Tough Part of the Season — When you look at the four games he's missing (@HOU, NE, TEN, @NO) three of those teams have the potential to be top offenses this season. Pace can put up decent numbers, but it's also what he means off the ball, on setting the edge against a blocker that makes a big difference durig the course of the game. The Jets were able to neutralize RB Chris Johnson last season in the Tennessee game, and part of that was the work of guys like Pace to not allow him to turn the corner. Losing

It Doesn't Make Much of a Cap Difference — You'd think with his big contract, this would at least be a “bright side” situation. But the second year of Pace's deal had a huge option bonus, but very little base pay. Pace was slated to make $750,000 for the season, so even if it represents a cap savings (I can't imagine why it wouldn't) the Jets only save about $176,000 on their cap.

At Least He Gets the Preseason — I'm glad that he can practice with the team, but I don't know whether they will or should give him first team reps. The team has to get ready for the start of the season, and Calvin Pace will eventually come in and help, but it's not until October. There's four very important games to worry about first, and maybe a baptism by fire is what Gholston needs at this point.

Time for Gholston to Sack (Exchange) Up — Players always talk about it, but as players are down the depth chart, they have to make the most of the opportunities given to them. For Vernon Gholston, this would be a great time to work even harder than he has before, want to make plays more than he ever has before. This is his chance to show the league that he belongs, and he's going to have some stiff opponents to do it against.

Calvin Pace Suspended Four Games for Dietary Supplement

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:13 GMT

Here's the statements on the news of Calvin Pace's suspension.

STATEMENT BY AN NFL SPOKESPERSON:

Calvin Pace of the New York Jets has been suspended without pay for the team's first four regular-season games of 2009 for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Pace's suspension begins on Saturday, September 5. He is eligible to return to the Jets' active roster on Monday, October 5 following the team's October 4 game against the New Orleans Saints.

Pace is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

STATEMENT FROM CALVIN PACE

This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the League's policy. I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the League's guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.

STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK JETS

We respect the League's decision and look forward to Calvin's return for our Monday Night game at Miami.

In Which I Look Like a Self-Loathing Jets Fan in ESPN The Mag (Which Sometimes I Am)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:48 GMT

One of my favorite movie lines of all time has to be in Ocean's Eleven, when Linus asks Rusty ‘Are you suicidal?' to which Rusty answers, ‘only in the mornings.'

I guess ESPN caught me in the morning.

ESPN the Mag has done their annual team fan experience rankings again and they asked yours truly to comment back in March. While the pall of Brett Favre still lingered over the team, and while the Ryan regime was underway, the sense of optimism was slowly growing. With what many consider a good draft, those concerns seem further behind.

Still ESPN asked me to comment on a few areas, most specifically stadium experience & affordability because of their poor ranking, my point was to emphasize the fans and tailgate experience as better than the in-stadium experience.

Here's the Jets Ranking in the Ultimate Standings, followed by my answer to ESPN.

Last Year's Rank: 105
Title Track: 91
Ownership: 78
Coaching: 45
Players: 68
Fan Relations: 81
Affordability: 115
Stadium Experience: 113
Bang for the Buck: 107

Tom Brady's downfall, coupled with a free agent frenzy and some Brett Favre magic, had metro fans dreaming of a Subway Super Bowl last season, or at least a playoff appearance. So pity the 82,540 per game who agonized through a 1-4 finish. Still, don't pin this sorry ranking entirely on No. 4's 22 INTs. Misery is part of the Jet fan's experience. “There's a reason why, historically, tailgating has been one of the most fun parts of my gameday experience,” says Brian Bassett of thejetsblog.com. “It has to do only with the fans and not the stadium or product on the field. Heading into the stadium and looking up at the name Giants Stadium doesn't start things off well; the hallways are dank and impassable, the food options are uninspired and overpriced and I've attended a lot more losses than wins during my tenure as a fan.” The new $1.6 billion joint stadium, due in 2010, should ease some of the pain, but the price of improvement will come out of fans pockets in the form of $7.75 brew and personally licensed seats (the first 620 chairs fetched $16 million). If that doesn't drive fans to summon their inner Bruce Banner, management offers financing options at 6.5% or 8%, a vig that Johnny Sack's crew would call cruel and unusual. Then again, if any fan base can handle cruel and unusual, it's this one.

Here was my total response.

Although the dread of PSLs hangs over many loyal fans who are season ticket holders, the new stadium will be a welcome change for a lot of reasons, but it's coming at a high price to fans.

The tide is turning, but there's a reason why historically tailgating has been one of the most fun parts of my game-day experience … mostly because it has only to do with the fans and not the stadium or product on the field. Heading into the stadium and looking up at the red or blue emblazoned name “Giants Stadium” doesn't start things off well; the hallways are dank and impassable, the food options are uninspired and overpriced and I've attended a lot more losses than wins during my tenure as a fan.

Yes, Favre crashed and burned as an experiment, but I applaud the team for giving it a try. I'm young, but I've never felt more electric energy and excitement at a Jets game than I did during the Jets first home game of 2008 against the Patriots.

Now, things are changed, there's a new coach with a new approach and fans are feeling a lot more optimistic about this new team in their soon to be finished new home.

Daily Links: Tweet This

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:05 GMT

A case of who do you hate more? Jason Taylor or Belichick.
A [playful] war of words between Chansi Stuckey and Dustin Keller on Twitter turns out to be pretty hilarious.
Chris Pine of JetNation is here to convince everyone that the Jets have a wide receiver “Hiding in Plain Sight.” I didn't realize the USA Network comes to us now.
With other concerns on the FO's mind, have they sidelined the idea of helping out the DE's?
T.O. and Krupta are friends again. Aww… Jeez.
We shouldn't “sleep on” Stuckey.
How can the war be won? In the trenches or “getting 3-4 happy.”
Joe Caporoso takes a look at the Jets tight ends.
The New England Patriots are once again topping the AFC East in the Ultimate Standings report. *Rolls eyes*

Recently Acquired Guard Mike Fladell Waived

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:49 GMT

The career of guard Mike Fladell lasted an entire two days with the Jets. The team claimed him on Monday, and waived him today after he failed his physical. He was claimed off waivers from the Giants. Fladell now will go through the waivers process again, and i no team makes a claim on him this time around, he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

Well That Didn't Take Long

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:11 GMT

The Jets announced that they have waived G Mike Fladell after he failed his physical. Fladell was signed earlier this week, on June 29.

With a full starting lineup, and decent (though largely untested) backups, Fladell was a long-shot to make the 53 man roster, but he was an interesting prospect for the Jets all the same. The Jets are always looking for project O-linemen, but have had trouble finding developmental players that project into players, the only recent exception being Brandon Moore.

QB Sanchez Thinks He’ll Win the Starting Job

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:38 GMT

The Mark Sanchez-Kellen Clemens Jets QB battle that is set for training camp is expected to be one of the better QB battles to watch this summer. Sanchez was the 5th overall pick, and there has not been buzz about a New York Jets QB since the team took Ken O'Brien in the first round years ago (unless you count last year's Brett Favre saga).

With that, the two have been back and forth during early minicamps, and it appears that Clemens had the early advantage. Sanchez will have plenty of chances though during training camp and preseason games to win the job, and when he talked to NFL.com earlier today, he said he feels he'll be that opening day starter.

Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez said he feels very good about how he performed in offseason workouts and that he has positioned himself well to earn the starting job. Sanchez is competing with Kellen Clemens for the Jets starting QB spot and earlier this offseason head coach Rex Ryan said it's a “dogfight” between the two. “Clemens and Sanchez are really battling,” Ryan said. “I knew it was going to be a dogfight and right now, you can tell it really is. We probably won’t know until … whenever it becomes obvious, that’s when we’ll make the decision.

Inside Out: David Harris

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:27 GMT

Height: 6-2 Weight: 243
Age: 25 Born: January 21, 1984
College: Michigan
Experience: 3rd Season

2008 Season - After the blow of losing Jonathan Vilma to a season ending injury in 2007, rookie David Harris stepped in and mopped up for the rest of the season playing extremely well. With high expectations in 2008 and a new DT in front of him, the bar was high and while Harris did well, he was injured during the course of the season, allowing him to only play in 11 games. Harris' impact plays were disappointing in 2008, but part of it has to be due to the time away, coupled with the scheme using him more often as a TED than a MIKE, much like his new ILB partner, Bart Scott

Strengths - Harris is a physical player with great quickness, agility and balance. Harris is an instinctual player and reactions well as a play develops. His hard-hitting style and solid form tackling combine well to make him a promising player. Harris can shed blockers and works well in traffic. He is a solid blitz defender with great power to collapse the pocket and showed surprising agility to slip potential blockers.

Weaknesses - Harris doesn't have great speed over distance and can be a liability in man coverage schemes. Harris has struggled to stay healthy during his short pro career, so it's hard to know whether he can be reliable moving forward to play a sixteen game season.

Analysis - When healthy, Harris is one of the league's best ILBs. Harris has the size and speed to play either TED or MIKE role in a 3-4, which will allow for Ryan and Pettine to work in a few wrinkles that were lacking during the last few years in Baltimore, in deference to Ray Lewis' decline. Harris can rush the passer, can take on blockers, can tackle ballcarriers, but as noted isn't particularly strong in isolated coverage. That would be one part of his game that would be wise for him to work on, to make him a complete player.

Use in the New Scheme - I do think that there's a fair amount of flip flopping that Scott and Harris can do, in terms of TED-MIKE responsibilities, but I do wonder whether Bart Scott's huge contract will factor into how Ryan and Pettine scheme. Harris is currently on a rather meager rookie deal, while Scott's is worth $48 million over six years. The MIKE is the one who is more valuable to a team, while the TED is the tougher, cheaper player, at least traditionally. I do think there will be division of labor, but I don't imagine it will be 50/50. The team will work together though, to confuse offensive lines, and stop would be runners very well. With a good inside tandem, good pressure creators on the outside, and at least solid linemen in front of Harris and Scott, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ryan scheme 5-10 sacks this season between the two of them.

Other Inside Out Posts: Kris Jenkins, Shaun Ellis, Marques Douglas,Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas, Bart Scott

Link: Running Backs Rankings

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:48 GMT

FoxSports has ranked running back groupings around the league, and the Jets land at #10.

If GM Mike Tannenbaum can satisfy both of his veteran backs, the Jets should have quite the running game for QB Mark Sanchez to potentially lean on as a rookie. Jones is hanging his helmet on the fact that he led the AFC in rushing (1,312 yards, fifth overall in NFL) and scored a career-high 13 rushing TDs. What he also likely realizes is that he's a dinosaur in RB years (age 31) and the Jets just drafted Shonn Greene in April as his eventual replacement. Jones' tag-team partner and return star Leon Washington is also vying for a new deal and considering a camp holdout. If the money issues are worked out, the pair along with Greene and veteran fullback Tony Richardson should give the Jets a top-10 running game.

Daily Links: The Lighter Side of Sports

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:00 GMT

An interview with another member of the Flight Crew, Justine who hates it when the toilet seat is up.
The AFC Wars continue except now everyone can blame it on Sanchez.
Mark Sanchez has already set his sights for the starting job but will the FO see it his way come September?
The New England Patriots have gotten a discount while everyone else in the AFC East is paying out millions.
Randy Lange knows how to use witty titles and this time he continues his series on the AFC East with Special Teams — more specifically Roscoe Parrish.
Sanchez holds an edge over Stafford & Freeman. O RLY?
Ready… set … HATE.
Grab your time machines, it's time to review the past.
Thomas Jones is back granting interviews after getting into a 'snit' about his contract. Oh and bonus: Jenn Sterger.
First Michael Vick was going to the Patriots now he might be going to the Dolphins. Let me guess next on the List of Maybe's is the Broncos.
While others were baffled by the Fins taking Patrick Turner, Mark Sanchez puts in a good word for his former teammate.
Sanchez & Stafford help each other adjust.

Film Room: Pennington's Turn

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:18 GMT

Move over Mark Sanchez, that Chad Pennington is soooo hot right now.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Our thanks to Peter for sending this in.

Four-Way Battle Ready to Go Down for #2 WR Spot

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:05 GMT

From: Fox Sports

Jets WRs Brad Smith, Chansi Stuckey, Wallace Wright and David Clowney all are vying to replace Laveranues Coles, departed to Cincinnati as a free agent, but there was no clear leader as the spring ended. The versatility of college quarterback Smith makes him a natural for offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's gadget plays, while Stuckey is a terrific target as a slot receiver. Clowney has speed but had problems hanging on to passes during the spring, while Wright came on strong during mandatory minicamp.

Kenwin Cummings Talks About Staying Sharp

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:50 GMT

ILB Kenwin Cummings talked to his hometown newspaper about what it's like to stay sharp and fighting to keep a spot on an NFL roster.

“You can never take a step back from anything,” said Cummings, a graduate of Purnell Swett High School. “Some of the older guys might have their spot and sometimes they might want you to go easy. But, you have to just go hard against everybody. Every-day. Sometimes you have to be the bad guy. The guy no one likes on the field … If you're not hungry, you won't make it in the NFL,” he said. “There's constantly guys trying to take your spot. It's a battle every single day. The coaching staff is always looking to replace you with someone better.”

I like Cummings, but there's going to be a real fight for the the depth positions at linebacker, between guys like Izzo, Murrell, Trusnik, Renkart, Westermann and Cummings. I'm curious to see who would emerge. In my mind, Izzo who is really only valuable on special teams and is an aging player, would gum up the situation for a lot of promising young players should he make the final roster.