Jets News 8-5 Fri

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Bryce Petty (remember him?) showing he belongs in Jets' QB mix
7:41 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Friday's wake-up call, Day 9 of New York Jets training camp:

What's happening: They're on the field at 1:50 p.m. Tired of practice? So are the players, who have four more practices before the first preseason game.

What's hot: After a sluggish start to camp, second-year quarterback Bryce Petty gained momentum with a strong finish on Thursday. It came after an 0-for-6 outing on Wednesday, and a similarly poor start on Thursday. Suddenly, Petty perked up and finished with three touchdown passes, capitalizing on extra reps because of a rest day for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Petty was 5-for-12, including a well-thrown deep ball to Jalin Marshall that went for 80 yards. "He made some good throws, he made some mistakes," said coach Todd Bowles, adding that Petty's decision-making is improving. Can Petty keep it going on Friday? He probably won't get as many chances, as Fitzpatrick is expected to return. Nevertheless, he needed a big day for his confidence. ... Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg (3-for-5, one interception) were the last two players on the field on Thursday, working on mechanics and talking through some plays. In a way, they're competitors, but this showed good teamwork. ... Rookie kicker Ross Martin, coming off another strong practice, is poised to give Nick Folk a run for his money. ... Some of the lower draft picks, namely cornerback Juston Burris (fourth round) and wide receiver Charone Peake, are starting to make plays. Peake made a fantastic one-handed catch along the sideline on Thursday. Burris made the interception that led to Fitzpatrick's buzz cut.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-j...emember-him-showing-he-belongs-in-jets-qb-mix

 

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Eyes on Punter Lachlan Edwards
Posted 1 hour ago

Ethan Greenberg
Newyorkjets.com Contributor
Seventh-Round Pick Aiming for Consistency Throughout Camp


As it stands, Lachlan Edwards is the only punter on the roster and it’s a role he’s fully embracing.
“Everyone is relying on me now, which is what it’s going to be like every fourth down from here on out and I like that feeling,” the rookie said. “And it’s good because I’m getting all the reps now. Even with Tanner [Purdum], he’s snapping to the same guy every time. With holding, all the kickers are going to get the same hold, so I think it’s good for everyone that I’m getting more reps.”

Holding is not foreign territory for the Sam Houston State product. In college, the Jets’ seventh-round pick (No. 235 overall) lived with the SHSU kicker and they would work on holds while working out. Edwards began building chemistry with veteran kicker Nick Folk when they spent two weeks together in San Diego following minicamp, participating in ex-NFL kicker John Carney’s “Launching Pad.”

“It’s for kickers, punters and snappers to go and have a friendly competition and workout throughout the week,” Edwards said. “I was out there with Nick Folk, Mike Nugent and a few others. There were a lot of guys out there.”

In the spring, the 6’4”, 209-pound Edwards pointed to his hang time as one of his strengths, posting gross averages of 41.5, 44.1 and 42.3 the past three years. In training camp, he’s shown off the boot, booming a few balls more than 70 yards. The Aussie knows he has the leg to be successful, but his primary focus is consistency.

“Coming into the NFL, it’s just consistency from here on out until the end of my career,” Edwards said. “When I hit my ball, it’s gone, but I’m trying to get my missed hits to still be good balls. That’s really what I’ve been trying to work on. It’s just small things from here on out like making sure my steps are consistent every time, adjusting to a different snap and making sure my drop is the same every time.”

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/art...-Edwards/66ff6087-9cc3-4c81-a0b2-6e9af0f5a023

 

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BGA: Scouting RB Matthew Tucker
By Bent | 8:00AM

On Thursday, the Jets announced that they had signed former Eagles running back Matthew Tucker. I've been conducting research and watching game footage to try and assess what he brings to the table.

The 25-year-old Tucker is listed at 6-foot-1, 227 pounds, and was undrafted out of TCU in 2013. The Eagles signed him and he was with them until this February, having spent most of the time on the practice squad or the non-football injury list. Tucker was on the active roster for two games as a rookie but did not play on offense. He rushed for 214 yards and six touchdowns in seven preseason games over his first two years.

Note: Some stats from this article are exclusively provided by Pro Football Focus.

Who is Matthew Tucker?

In college, Tucker played four seasons with the Horned Frogs, racking up over 2,600 rushing yards at more than five yards per carry and rushing for 33 touchdowns. He added 29 receptions for 262 yards and a score.

During his career, Tucker set at least one career-high in each of his seasons with 10 catches as a freshman, 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, 709 rushing yards as a junior and a 6.4 yards per carry average as a senior. That senior year was ultimately a disappointment for him though, as he finally got a chance to be the main starter, only to be slowed down by injuries.

Tucker went undrafted and signed with the Eagles, spending most of his rookie year on the practice squad, although he did spend some time on the active roster. In his second season, he had a much more productive preseason, but failed to make the team and again ended up on the practice squad. Then, last season, he was released with an injury designation before preseason began but then was reinstated to the non-football injury list and remained on it all season. He was released from the list and his contract in February.

The Jets signed Tucker just one day after they brought in Terry Williams at running back and then released him a day later. They need cover because Khiry Robinson is on the PUP list and Matt Forte and Bernard Pierce have missed practices.

Measurables/Athleticism

Tucker has good size and therefore seems like a better fit than Williams who, despite being listed as slightly bigger when added to the Jets official roster, was only 5-8, 191 at his pro day a few months ago. With Pierce out, the Jets need someone with more size and power, since the other backups they have -- Romar Morris and Dominique Williams - are smaller scat-back types.

At the combine, Tucker put up decent numbers, but didn't do the shuttle runs due to a hamstring injury. He improved upon his 40-yard dash time slightly at the his pro day, but was unable to improve his jumps and fared poorly in the shuttle runs.

Usage

Unsurprisingly, the Eagles only used Tucker as a conventional back in preseason. Not much game-planning goes on in preseason, so the Eagles stuck with a relatively straight-forward hurry-up offense rather than mixing formations around.

Running Ability

Tucker is a smooth runner and has a good burst. What stands out is that he doesn't dance around in the backfield and decisively gets his momentum moving upfield once a lane develops.

While Tucker doesn't consistently break a lot of tackles or create yards after contact, there were some good examples of him finishing runs strong and driving the pile and he does run with some power. He's also not regarded as having breakaway speed, or the kind of speed to get around the edge, but there was one first down run where he got to the outside.

There was a definite difference between the 2013 preseason, where he averaged about 3.5 yards a carry and the 2014 preseason, where he averaged more than five. In 2013, most of his best runs came up the middle, whereas in 2014 his longest runs all came on stretch plays on the outside.

Pass Protection

Tucker stayed in to block from time to time during preseason action but only for a few snaps per appearance. He whiffed on one blitz pick-up against the Jets but the pass was thrown quickly so pressure was not registered.

Receiving Threat

Tucker wasn't particularly productive as a receiver in college but did catch four passes for 52 yards in preseason action with the Eagles. Three were on catches in the flat, including one where he slipped a tackle downfield to gain 18. The other saw him all alone on the outside for an easy first down.

Hands/Fumbles

Tucker didn't drop any passes in preseason action, but he was only targeted a handful of times. He did show good hands on a successful two-point conversion where he was initially wide open in the flat, but had to hang on despite a big hit.

He had two fumbles in preseason, one of which saw him lose the ball as he was falling,The other one was caused by the ground, but still counted because he wasn't down by contact, having slipped in the backfield and then collided with a teammate as he fell.

Short Yardage

Tucker showed promise in short-yardage situations. His six preseason touchdowns all came from within the 5-yard line, including four from the . He also crashed over on a two-point conversion. He wasn't automatic, though, as he got stuffed a few times, but uses his size well to drive the pile and fall forward to break the plane.

Special Teams

Tucker doesn't have any kick return experience but showed some potential in kick coverage by getting in on three special teams tackles in 2014 preseason action , including one on Saalim Hakim near the 20-yard line. He had one penalty, breaking too soon on an onside kick attempt.

In regular season action in 2013, he was on the field for punts and kickoffs for a handful of plays and made no significant contributions.

Instincts

Tucker displays good vision and patience as a runner and is impressively decisive. I didn't see him leave many yards on the field or make any mental mistakes, although perhaps the lost fumble where he wasn't contacted by a defender was avoidable.

Injuries

Tucker was plagued by an ankle injury throughout his senior year, which probably robbed him of the chance at being drafted. Since being in the NFL, he has had a few minor concerns, with the non-football injury keeping him out of action all last season.

Scheme Fit

The Eagles hurry-up spread offense wouldn't outwardly seem to have too much in common with Chan Gailey's system, but the Jets apparently used more four-wideout personnel packages than any team in the NFL last year so perhaps there are more similarities than you'd think.

The Eagles rely heavily on zone blocking, which the Jets use to a lesser extent, so Tucker would be familiar with those aspects. Ironically, the book on him was that he's not a natural cut-back runner, so perhaps he was never an ideal fit for them anyway and could work out better in the Jets' system.

Attitude/Demeanor

There don't seem to be any major off-field concerns with Tucker, although there have to be some work ethic or durability concerns from the time he has spent on the non-football injury list. At the combine, he pulled a hamstring, then as a rookie, he failed his conditioning test on his first day of camp and was added to the non-football injury list for the first few days. He also missed all of last season with a non-football injury.

Conclusions

Coming in at such a late stage, Tucker is obviously an extreme longshot and probably nothing more than a camp body. However, if the current injury issues persist, then he will continue to get reps and could have a chance to turn some heads.

It's interesting to compare him with Terry Williams, who the team brought in ahead of him and then dumped for Tucker the next day. Williams was a small-school prospect, who hadn't even been on a 90-man roster before Wednesday. As noted above Tucker seems to be a more useful fit at the moment anyway, given his skill set and how that replaces some of the players who are unavailable at this time.

As the Williams signing showed, a signing at this stage could be a very short-term deal. However, Tucker is a player Eagles fans had high hopes for at one point so perhaps this is a good opportunity where there are reps available and he can use this to make an impression.

https://www.sny.tv/jets/news/bga-scouting-rb-matthew-tucker/193744438

 

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8 Practice Observations: 8/4
Posted 15 hours ago

Eric Allen
Sr. Reporter/Director, Internet Programming
Email @eallenjets On the Inside
Jets Rest Four Vets, Petty Gets Hot in the Sun



Offense POD: Throughout his collegiate career at Baylor, Bryce Petty was known for his long ball accuracy. And while there have been flashes of that in Florham Park, Petty delivered one of his pretties tosses as a Jet today. After WR Jalin Marshall got a step on fellow rookie Juston Burris, Petty dropped in a perfect ball into the Ohio State product’s hands. Marshall finished the play and the scoring connection covered 80 yards. He plays faster than the 4.6 he was timed at during the Combine.

Defense POD: On the first play of team, Geno Smith threw a quick pass up the sideline to Jalin Marshall. But Darrelle Revis, who worked more in team today that at any point in camp, did not give up an inch and got his hands on the ball for a PD. The read was vintage Revis as he diagnosed quickly and attacked with the deflection.

A Dazzling Catch: Charone Peake has been quiet early, but he made plenty of noise with a one-handed reception this afternoon. With Juston Burris draped all over him, Peake was able to get his outstretched hand on a Petty ball and bring it into his body before securing both of his feet inbounds. That was the kind of catch that might give the young player confidence as he moves forward.


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Vets Rest: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and LB David Harris all got a rest day. Geno Smith was back with the first team offense and WR coach Karl Dorrell continued to work players through the rotation. Despite one drop, Jalin Marshall had himself a very productive session and continues to state his case.

Late Petty Fireworks: In two late-game situations, Petty got the offense on the scoreboard. After he threw a rope to WR Titus Davis for a score, he let Romar Morris do most of the work on today’s final play as the North Carolina product raced 60 yards to pay dirt.





Defensive Superlatives: DE Julien Obioha, a rookie from Texas A&M, recorded his second takeaway of camp. Not only did Obioha knock down a Christian Hackenberg pass, but he had the presence of mind to stay with the ball and collect the interception. Never quitting after a Kenbrell Thompkins reception, CB Dee Milliner tracked the wideout down from behind, knocked it loose and got on the change.

Forté Likely Out vs. Jags: As our Randy Lange (http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/art...S-Opener/2872e253-dc3b-4ed9-8833-822f7ffd8e56) wrote, veteran RB Matt Forté (hamstring) will likely sit out the Jets’ preseason opener vs. the Jaguars next Thursday.

PUP List: RT Breno Giacomini (back), RB Khiry Robinson (leg), WR Devin Smith (knee) & DL Muhammad Wilkerson (leg).

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/art...tions-84/f134ba59-975e-43ec-b121-61031194ca3c

 

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Bowles: 'Safe to Say' Forté Will Miss PS Opener
Posted 16 hours ago

Randy Lange
Senior Reporter, newyorkjets.com
@rlangejets
Coach Says Jets RB 'Not in Jeopardy' of Missing RS Time but Will Likely Sit Out Jaguars on Aug. 11


Todd Bowles usually doesn't put timetables on his injured players' return. But with the first preseason game against Jacksonville looming just a week away, he felt confident enough to say today that Matt Forté, the Jets' featured runner, will probably be a no-go for the Jaguars.

"With the injured guys, you hope they're OK," Bowles said about whether Forté's sore hamstring would affect his availability for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener vs. Cincinnati. "I'm not a doctor. I can't sit there and say he'll be OK or not OK. Right now he's not in jeopardy of missing any time, but we'll see as the days go by."

But as for missing the Jags, Bowles, said, "Yeah, that's safe to say."




As for his other aching veterans, he said CB Darrelle Revis (wrist) "ran better today" and "looked OK overall." As for DE Muhammad Wilkerson (leg) being available for any preseason games, he said, "I'm going to wait and see what they tell me. Obviously, I don't have any gauge on injuries one way or the other. You're hopeful he's there, but if not, we have to play."

Wilkerson dropped into the media tent after today's seventh practice of training camp to say his leg injury is making progress and he's able to run and cut on it.

Does he need any preseason snaps to get ready for the Bengals?

"It's still a process for me," he said. "I'm just going to keep working hard, rehabbing the leg and doing whatever the trainers and head coach have got for me."

But that doesn't mean Mo is happy to watch the Green & White defense from the sideline.

"The D-line is working hard every day. it can be great as long as we keep pushing each other," he said. "I'm liking what I'm seeing. I can't wait to get out there with my brothers."

 

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Injured RB Matt Forte expected to miss Jets' preseason opener
6:01 PM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Matt Forte's preseason debut with the New York Jets will have to wait until at least the second game.

The 30-year-old running back, one of the team's big offseason acquisitions, still hasn't practiced because of a pulled hamstring and is expected to miss the Aug. 11 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Get the latest NFL injury news
NFLWho's out? Who's good to go? Who's questionable? We've got all the latest injury news from around the NFL. Injury Wire
"Yeah, it's safe to say [that]," coach Todd Bowles said Thursday after practice.

Forte suffered the injury while training before camp started and has yet to participate in team drills. On Tuesday, he did light positional work, fueling optimism, but he spent the last two days as a spectator.

Bowles downplayed the injury, saying the plan is to bring him along deliberately. He doesn't expect Forte to miss the Sept. 11 season opener.

"Right now, he's not in jeopardy of missing any time, but we'll see as the days go by," Bowles said.

As a veteran player, Forte doesn't need a heavy load of reps in camp to get ready for the season, so sitting out the first preseason game isn't a huge deal. If he also misses the second game, it might be time for concern.

In other injury news, cornerback Darrelle Revis (wrist) saw an increased workload in practice, as he took part in a bulk of the team reps. He took a handful of reps Tuesday, then sat out Wednesday.

"He ran better today," Bowles said. "He has to get in a little football shape the next couple of days. It was OK overall."

Backup linebacker Mike Catapano, who underwent foot surgery last season, is back at practice. Cornerback Dexter McDougle (hamstring) remained on the sideline. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, still on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a broken leg, reiterated that he expects to be ready for the season opener. Wilkerson wouldn't give a timetable for his return -- neither would Bowles -- but it wouldn't be a surprise if he misses the first two preseason games.

In practice, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker had the day off, allowing some of the second-stringers to get added reps. Geno Smith (11-for-19) ran the starting offense and was solid. The story of the day was No. 3 quarterback Bryce Petty (5-for-12), who threw three touchdowns after a sloppy start. He hit rookie Jalin Marshall for an 80-yard score.

This is a big camp for Petty, whose performance could determine whether the Jets carry three or four quarterbacks. Bowles said Petty has been "up and down. ... He's getting more consistent in the things he's doing."

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-j...forte-expected-to-miss-jets-pre-season-opener

 

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LaDainian Tomlinson sees himself in Jets' new RB Matt Forte
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Manish Mehta
MANISH MEHTA
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 11:38 PM
LaDainian Tomlinson looked at Matt Forte and instantly understood.

Six years ago, one of the greatest running backs in history felt the same blend of anger, anxiety and disbelief bubbling underneath the surface as the only team he had every played for delivered this sobering message: We don’t want you anymore.

As Forte and Tomlinson sat in the NFL Network studios this offseason watching a video clip of a fantasy football “guru” discuss the declining skills of the newest Jets ball carrier, the tension was palpable.

“You should have seen his eyes,” Tomlinson told the Daily News Wednesday during Jets practice. “He’s like, ‘That’s what I’m talking about. It’s all those people that keep talking about what I can’t do. But we’ll see.’ … You know when a player is rubbed the wrong way. That day, that little video piece got underneath his skin.”

Jets new RB Matt Forte proceeding with caution
“He’s motivated like never before, because he feels like he’s been slighted, Chicago gave up on him and nobody believes in him anymore.”

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi
Matt Forte remains hungry while many are doubting him. (HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Tomlinson sees a bit of himself in Forte. It wasn’t long ago when critics pronounced him D.O.A. upon signing with the Jets in the twilight of a dynamic career that will land him in Canton next year.

One foolish headline writer probably giggled while crafting “LaDainian is LaDone” that summer. The joke, of course, was on him when a 31-year-old Tomlinson racked up 1,288 total yards with 52 receptions and six touchdowns to help the Jets reach a second consecutive AFC Championship game.

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since that day, but Forte has enough quality play left in his 30-year-old body to help his new team make a realistic run to the postseason.

Brandon Marshall losing his cool is exactly what Jets camp needs
His sliding ADP in fantasy football drafts notwithstanding, Forte remains a dual threat, a nuisance for defensive coordinators smart enough not to overlook one of the most versatile running backs of the past decade.


“He’s a mismatch whenever he walks out on the football field,” said Tomlinson, an NFL Network analyst. “Matt Forte will still be a mismatch when he comes out of the backfield (against) linebackers or safeties. He still will be a valuable asset in that way. Chan (Gailey) likes to run it too. I really think teams are going to have to pick their poison. Early on they’re going to say, ‘You know what? We’re not going to let these guys throw the football. We’re not going to let Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall beat us.’ So, they’re going to give Matt room to run. That’s why I think he’ll be successful.”

Mike Maccagnan would do back flips in the Flor-ham Park Starbucks parking lot if Forte duplicated Tomlinson’s 2010 production. Tomlinson was a transcendent talent, but he had much more mileage (888 more touches) when he came to the Jets than Forte, who didn’t practice Wednesday as he works his way back from a hamstring injury suffered in the run-up to training camp.

Forte, one of the most durable ball carriers since entering the league (eight missed games in eight seasons), will be an invaluable piece to the Jets’ offensive puzzle as long as the brain trust manages his touches. Tomlinson averaged 18 touches per game in his first season with the Jets.

Ryan Clady most important Jets player not named Ryan Fitzpatrick
“In Chan Gailey’s offense, I think he can be very productive,” Tomlinson said. “I’m talking 1,300 total yards. I think he’ll be a 1,000-yard rusher. They need him. When you look behind Matt Forte, there’s not much depth. There are question marks about the second guy. Can Bilal (Powell) handle that role or is he going to continue to be a third-down back? Because of that, I think Matt’s going to get plenty of opportunities.”



“When you have had success in this league and you know how to get it done, it doesn’t go downhill in just one year,” Tomlinson said. “It doesn’t happen like that.”

Forte is ticked off just like Tomlinson was six years ago, a proud proven player ready to show his critics that they have no idea what they’re talking about.


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...sees-jets-new-rb-matt-forte-article-1.2737774

 

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After NFL draft diss, Jets rookie wideout looks like a steal

By Zach Braziller August 3, 2016 | 10:16pm
Modal Trigger After NFL draft diss, Jets rookie wideout looks like a steal
Jalin Marshall Photo: Bill Kostroun
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Confidence isn’t a problem for Jalin Marshall. He’s got plenty of it, believing he belongs so much and talking so frequently about how he wants to help the Jets, it would seem he has no worries about making the team.

That’s why he left Ohio State following his red-shirt sophomore year. He felt he was ready for the NFL. But perhaps that’s why the draft was so important for the shifty and speedy wide receiver.

Nobody selected him.

“I think it was good for me,” Marshall said following practice Wednesday. “It allowed me to open my eyes, show me I got a long way to go. Ohio State, winning program, you feel like you’ve done something, but you get a reality check.”





The Jets called the 5-foot-10 Marshall during the fifth round. They wanted to bring him in as an undrafted free agent if he wasn’t selected. By the time the draft ended, Marshall was already a Jet, joining former Buckeyes teammates Darron Lee and Devin Smith.

In the early going of training camp, Marshall has shown, perhaps, he should have been selected. He hasn’t been treated like an undrafted free agent, getting first-team reps through the first six practices of training camp while also getting an extended look as a punt and kick returner. The torn ACL Smith suffered last December could help Marshall make the team, as the fifth receiver behind Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Kenbrell Thompkins and Quincy Enunwa.

“I feel like every day you got to come out here and prove you belong, prove you can help the team win,” Marshall said. “Everybody belongs here, but not everybody can help the team win. That’s something I would like to continue to prove.”

Still, coach Todd Bowles didn’t want to get carried away. For as well as Marshall has performed in the early going of training camp, it’s still only a handful of practices.

“[We] got to see him when the lights come on,” Bowles said. “He’s done some good things in practice so far. When the lights come on, some people shy away, some people step up. I’ll be eager to see him when we start playing [games].”

Marshall smiled when told of Bowles’ comment. At Ohio State, the lights are always on, he said. Marshall played big in some of the Buckeyes’ biggest games — he was a focal part of their 2014 national championship — and produced 13 touchdowns in two seasons while averaging 13.2 yards per catch and 37 receptions a season.

“I’ll keep working hard, and next week when they do turn the lights on,” he said, “I’ll be prepared to put on a show and prove myself.

“I think of all this as a dream come true, a blessing to me. Not everybody gets this opportunity, whether being drafted or undrafted. You still got to make the most of it.”

No matter what happens, Marshall doesn’t plan on forgetting the slights, how the entire league passed on him, all the criticism he heard for leaving school with years of eligibility left.

“I left school early, didn’t get drafted. A lot of people didn’t think I was going to make it. A lot of people didn’t think I would be here today,” he said. “So that’s just motivation to me, help this team win, and do the best I can be on this field.

“I got a chip on my shoulder. Everybody knows that.”

http://nypost.com/2016/08/03/after-nfl-draft-diss-rookie-wr-proving-a-threat-for-jets/

 

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Nick Mangold's daily routine to get ready for Jets training camp


Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on August 04, 2016 at 6:00 AM, updated August 04, 2016 at 8:10 AM






FLORHAM PARK- This isn't Nick Mangold's first rodeo.

Or second. Or third. Or fourth.

Eleven years the Jets' center has been playing in the NFL. And for 11 years, he's been one of the league's more durable players. Of 160 possible games, Mangold has started 156.

How the heck does his 32-year-old body handle the physical grind from August through January?

Simple. A whole lot of maintenance.


Jets Camp Day 6: 3 Stars
"You always feel your best the day before training camp," Mangold told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. "Then it's a slow grind to get back to that."

When Mangold first entered the league in 2006, his recuperation process was a bit different than it is now. He would practice for two or three hours, leave the field, shower, eat, "mess around" and then go to bed. It was that way for years. When he was younger, Mangold assumed it always would be. Then, in 2008, the Jets signed veteran guard Alan Faneca.

Mangold watched how Faneca, who was 31 at the time, rehabbed in between practices. It was then he realized his methodology wouldn't last forever.

"I figured that's where you eventually get to," Mangold said. "A couple years ago is when it happened to me. It gradually hits you. You start feeling a little sluggish, so you start to do something else. It just kind of builds from there."


Mangold's routine is now the same every day: He wakes up at 6:30 a.m. and heads to the Jets' practice facility. He stretches, lifts and works with the training staff to get ready for practice. After practice, he stretches some more, hits the cold tub, contrast tub, and recovery booth before evening meetings. Once that wraps up around 10 p.m., he rushes home to get as much sleep as possible. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

In total, Mangold estimates he spends about three hours rehabbing a day. That's not including off days, in which the itinerary includes massages, stretching, more cold tubs and staying off his feet as much as possible.

But even all those hours can't make Mangold completely whole again. When asked the next time he'll be 100 percent healthy, Mangold smiled.

"Next year," he said.

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

 

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This time, Sheldon Richardson’s life-altering event is a happy one: He’s a father
Updated August 4, 2016 5:11 PM
By Kimberley A. Martin kimberley.martin@newsday.com



FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sheldon Richardson cradled the baby in his arms and kissed her cheek.
There in the delivery room, the Jets defensive tackle’s life took another turn. But this time, Richardson was filled with indescribable joy.

Though he couldn’t put the moment into words, laying eyes on his daughter, Riley Rose Richardson, is a moment he’ll never forget.
“I was there,” he told Newsday. “I’m looking at her, looking at the surgery going on and I’m like, ‘You feel none of this? You have to feel this,’ ” he recalled, with a smile. “It was a crazy moment. But when I saw my daughter’s head pop out, it was just a humbling feeling.”
Richardson was excused from training camp starting on July 28 -- his daughter was born at 4:35 p.m. the same day -- and he missed the first four practices before returning to work on Tuesday.
He was determined to be there for his daughter’s birth. And nothing could have prepared him for the life-altering event.


“I told her, ‘I hate to tell you, but I’m your pops,’ ” he said laughingly. “And that was that, really. I just looked at her and kissed her on her cheek.”

Now that he’s back to work, he’s focused on helping the Jets’ defense dominate the competition. But in the midst of his excitement for the upcoming season, a cloud still hangs over Richardson.

The NFL suspended him for the Jets’ Sept. 11 opener against Cincinnati for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The one-game suspension was the result of his July 14, 2015, arrest following a high-speed chase with Missouri police. It was the second off-field infraction for the promising young defensive lineman.

Twelve days before his arrest, the league announced that Richardson would be suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season following a second failed drug test for marijuana.


During an interview with Newsday on Oct. 12 — the first day he was eligible to practice — Richardson said he had been dealing with depression after a close family friend was fatally shot in Missouri. At the time of the interview, he was seeing the team psychologist twice a week.


Now, the 25-year-old is adding fatherhood to his plate. But Richardson insisted he isn’t overwhelmed.

“I’ve been through major life stuff before,” said the lineman, who was the 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to the 2014 Pro Bowl as an alternate. “Yeah, it’s been a lot. It’s been a lot my past two years of life. But this right here is not a burden. It’s more of a blinder put on me. Focus more on myself and my family. I never looked at it as a bad thing.”

Earlier this week, he called his one-game suspension “a blessing” because the punishment could have been far worse. But in truth, Riley — “20 inches. Seven pounds. Eight ounces,” Richardson proudly detailed — is his ultimate blessing. And though his daughter will live in California with her mother, he said he’s determined to see her as often as he can.
Richardson also pointed out that he has plenty of experience with babies.

“My brothers were having theirs early on, when they were 19. I was in high school, so I was the one babysitting,” he said. “They were in college. So after school and football practices, I was watching them . . . I helped raise a few of them, so I’m used to it. Nothing new to me.”


He then joked: “It’s just my own. I can’t give her back after a while. Gotta keep it.”
Fatherhood is a new role for him, one that even he can’t believe he now shoulders — “I know, right? Crazy,” Richardson said, grinning again — but in between the playful banter, there’s a calmness and a sense that he is eager to embrace his latest responsibility.

He isn’t yet sure how Riley will change him, but he knows she will. For the better.
“Time will tell all,” Richardson said. “I’m going to be a good dad though. Most definitely, I’m going to be a good dad.”



http://www.newsday.com/sports/footb...event-is-a-happy-one-he-s-a-father-1.12133480

 

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Jets' Erin Henderson feeling comfortable, sexy as new starter






FLORHAM PARK — Jets inside linebacker Erin Henderson had just spent a few minutes, after Wednesday's practice, discussing how he's getting into a rhythm with the guy who starts next to him, David Harris.

Henderson had offered some insights into the process of being a new starter with the Jets, as he replaces Demario Davis, who signed with the Browns.


Jets camp Day 6: 3 takeaways
At the end of the interview, Henderson was asked if there's anything pertinent about his progression that he wanted to add. He paused.

"I'm probably one of the sexier guys on the team," he told NJ Advance Media.

Then he smiled and jogged away.

Well, OK then.

It's clear Henderson, a ninth-year veteran, is feeling comfortable and confident (or at least in a jovial mood) as he prepares to start for the first time since 2013 with the Vikings. Henderson was a backup last season, his first with the Jets.

There are things that he and Harris — the Jets' longtime middle linebacker — still must work on, as they establish chemistry.

"Our blitz packages," Henderson said. "Just working on our timing and different things like that. Mentally, I think we're starting to get on the same waves. From there, it's just understanding the timing of some of the things that need to get done when it comes to our blitz scheme and our blitz packages, and just understanding disguises. I think that's the next step for us."



The Jets' linebackers struggled in coverage last season, but Henderson likes where the group is headed right now.

"We're getting better," Henderson said. "We're trying some different techniques out right now. Practice is about trying to figure out what you can do and what you can't do, what situations you can put yourself in and still be successful."




Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

 

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What must Darron Lee do to get more action at Jets camp?


on August 04, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated August 04, 2016 at 7:32 AM




FLORHAM PARK — The Jets are still very early in training camp, six practices in, so there is plenty of time for inside linebacker Darron Lee to carve out a role during his rookie season.

Lee was the Jets' first-round draft pick this year, and so far in camp, he hasn't gotten any reps with the starting base or nickel defense units. Erin Henderson has a firm grasp on the starting job next to middle linebacker David Harris.


Jets camp Day 6: 3 takeaways
But how might Lee fit in as a sub packages player early this season?

That remains unclear. Yet coach Todd Bowles made it clear after Wednesday's practice that Lee is still very much in the Jets' plans.

"He's making great progress," Bowles said. "We're not looking at him for just the nickel. He has got to learn his linebacker stuff, too, on first, second down.

"We said Erin was the starter going in. You've got to take somebody's spot, more or less, if they have a spot. So he's working at it right now, and we've got four [preseason] games to see how he progresses."

Ranking top 20 most important Jets for 2016
Ranking top 20 most important Jets for 2016
Who is the most important?

Henderson, while competing with Lee, is more than happy to mentor him. And Henderson isn't concerned at all about Lee's demeanor, while the rookie works exclusively with the backups during 11-on-11 periods. Henderson noticed Lee's professional, personable demeanor from the moment he arrived in Florham Park.

"Look at him right now, and tell me if he's still keeping that demeanor," Henderson told NJ Advance Media after Wednesday's practice.

Henderson gestured toward Lee, who was carrying veteran players' pads off the field — a standard rookie task.

"He's right there," Henderson said. "Just dropped off all our pads. He understands. He's a good kid. He doesn't ask any questions as far, 'Why do I have to do this?' He does what we ask him to do. That's why I don't have a problem with helping him in any way, shape, or form."

Henderson, though, must look out for himself first, rather than assess what's up with Lee's progress toward a potentially bigger role.

"It's training camp," Henderson said. "I don't really have that kind of time right now. It's go time for me, as well. I have to be responsible for myself and make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Any questions he asks, I still answer them for him. I still help him. I watch, I pay attention, and I'm always here for him. But I definitely have to worry about me and myself first.

"I'm diagnosing my game and trying to figure out what I need to do in order to stay on the field. You're trying to figure out how to get D. Lee on the field. And I'm trying to figure out how to stay on the field. You see what I'm saying? I've just got to continue to do my part, to try to keep him at bay, and help him out to the best of my ability when he needs it. My main competition is me. My main focus is me."

Henderson was good-natured about all of these questions, not upset. He has done everything, so far, to maintain a firm grasp on his starting job. Surely, he knows he is in good position on this defense. But he also gets that a first-round pick is his understudy, even if that first-round pick has yet to emerge as a major factor.


http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/20...t_more_action_at_jets.html#incart_river_index

 

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Jets CB Darrelle Revis discusses possibility of moving to safety in future

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has been selected to seven Pro Bowls. Tom Pennington/Getty Images
11:04 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Darrelle Revis apparently has considered his own mortality as a cornerback.

The New York Jets' star, usually sensitive to questions about whether his game is declining, sounded open Thursday to the possibility of moving to safety in the future. He made an unsolicited comment in an interview with WFAN radio.

Some perspective: Revis, who turned 31 last month, is one of the most accomplished cornerbacks of this generation -- a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. This wasn't the first time he publicly discussed the notion of switching positions.

In an interview last week with ESPN New York 98.7 FM, Revis was asked about safety and he said, "It's something I'd want to gravitate to. It's definitely a conversation."

Revis told co-hosts Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton that he still can play corner "at a high level," but he added: "There's probably a conversation in the future regarding me maybe moving my position, maybe to safety or doing some other things."

General manager Mike Maccagnan, speaking later on WFAN, said, "Darrelle is a pro. He understands himself. Those are questions far down the road." Maccagnan added that "it's not outside the realm of possibility," noting that other star cornerbacks have made successful conversions to safety.

Revis showed some signs of slippage last season, but he was hampered by a painful wrist injury, it was revealed after the season. He had surgery in March to repair a torn tendon, acknowledging Thursday it affected his ability to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. He's still not 100 percent, as he continues the rehab process. He has played only a handful of snaps in training camp as part of his rehab regimen.

The Jets signed Revis to a five-year, $70 million contract, expecting him to be a shutdown corner. He's due to make $17 million this season, fully guaranteed. His salary dips to $13 million next year (only $6 million guaranteed), plus a $2 million roster bonus.

Revis' comment about moving to safety was a surprise, because he usually deflects questions about his 2015 performance -- or simply bristles. On Wednesday, he chided a reporter, saying, "Don't call me slow."

He wouldn't be the first great corner to make the change. Hall of Famer Rod Woodson did it, and so did future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson.

http://www.espn.com/blog/afceast/po...ons-possibility-of-moving-to-safety-in-future

 

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Jets rookie Burris got to buzz Fitzpatrick's hair after INT
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
— Aug. 4, 2016 5:41 PM EDT


New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leaves the field after practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Fitzpatrick's freshly cut hair is all the buzz at training camp. The bushy-bearded quarterback reported for training camp last week with a well-coiffed head of hair, sort of a puffed-up pompadour that had his teammates cracking jokes. Fitzpatrick showed up for practice Wednesday with a close-cropped hairstyle. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Juston Burris' first pro pick cost his quarterback his hair.

Ryan Fitzpatrick revealed in a radio interview Thursday morning that he needed to cut his "stupid" hair — a puffy pompadour — and made a bet with teammates that the next player to intercept him in practice would get to give him a "fresh summer 'do."

That player, Fitzpatrick told the "Boomer & Carton Show" on 101.9 WFAN, was Burris.

The fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina State grabbed a floating pass intended for Brandon Marshall on Tuesday and got his first interception of camp — and sealed the fate of Fitzpatrick's 'fro.

"It was right before practice started," Burris said after practice Thursday. "We were in stretch line and a couple of the vets made a bet with him, and I just so happened to get it. I was the one to do it."

After the interception, Burris went right to safety Rontez Miles, who had set up the bet with Fitzpatrick.

"We talked about it and we laughed about it," Burris said. "I honestly didn't think it really was going to happen, but they called me up in the team meeting (that night) and said I could do it."

So, Burris was given some clippers and started shaving through Fitzpatrick's fluffy locks.

"It was terrible, terrible. Bad," a smiling Burris said of his barber skills. "He had to go back over it. He had to do his own thing. I'm not good with clippers."

Burris said a few teammates were ticked off that he was the one to "win" the haircutting honors.

"Yeah, they were pretty mad, especially the guys on offense," he said, smiling. "They didn't want a rookie to cut their quarterback's hair. But, a bet is a bet."

So, within a few minutes, all that hair that had Jets camp buzzing was in clumps on the floor.

"It is gone, but I love his beard," Burris said. "He's got a nice beard. Yeah, I like the beard. He has a cool beard."

Burris has seen a lot of action on the field in camp and made a mostly solid impression — his haircutting skills aside, of course.

The 6-foot, 212-pound cornerback was a three-year starter at N.C. State who impressed Jets coach Todd Bowles with his press coverage, making things tough for wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and beyond. His athleticism could help him add depth at both cornerback and safety.

"The more reps I can get, the better I'll be," he said. "With this system and the way we practice, I'm getting a lot of reps. So, with every rep, you get better, so I'm trying to come out here every practice and get better and never take a step back."

The fact the interception came against the starting offense gave Burris a boost.

"It feels like you can make plays at this level," he said. "That's all I want to do. I've got that confidence that I can play at this level and that was just reassurance. It was just great to be able to make that play on the 1's."

And, Burris won't be switching from defensive back to barber any time soon.

"No," he said, smiling and shaking his head, "definitely not."

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

 

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Brett Favre's year with Jets: A dead goose, a bullhorn and a messy end
play
12:49 AM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brett Favre left a complicated legacy with the New York Jets.

His former teammates remember his boyish enthusiasm, his locker-room pranks and the magical right arm that infused hope into a success-starved organization. He made everybody laugh and made everybody believe, but the good times didn't last long and he blew out of town as soon as the season ended. In his wake, he embarrassed the organization with a sexting scandal that involved the team's game-day hostess.

Favre will be inducted Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, on the eight-year anniversary of his trade to the Jets, but you probably won't hear anything during the festivities about his one season with them. There are two jerseys in his Hall of Fame locker in Canton -- Green Bay Packers (naturally) and Minnesota Vikings. Yes, the Vikings -- his team for only two seasons. The Jets failed to make it into his locker, which isn't a surprise. Favre hasn't spoken much of them since he left, and they haven't celebrated him, either.

There's no special recognition of Favre at the Jets' facility, just the obligatory team-photo display and a mention on the team's Pro Bowl wall. He was the ultimate rental, a hired gunslinger who landed with the Jets because he had no other options. He teased the fan base with an 8-3 start, but his arm gave out and everything fell apart, creating just another "what might have been" chapter in Jets' history. They have been plenty of those, as you might know.


Brett Favre and the Jets were the talk of the league when they got off to an 8-3 start, but then Favre's arm gave out and everything fell apart. Al Bello/Getty Images
The Jets won't be represented in an official capacity at the induction ceremony. Again, no surprise. Favre is just a footnote in their history, a fun-loving, camouflage-wearing icon who collected $12 million for five months of work and broke their hearts in the end.

"I think we were a Super Bowl team, I really do," former tackle Damien Woody recalled this week. "That team, we were good enough to win a Super Bowl."

The season unraveled in the final month, as the Jets lost four of their last five games, costing coach Eric Mangini his job. Favre played hurt (a torn biceps tendon), but the organization covered it up, resulting in $125,000 in fines for failing to disclose an injury. If Favre had stayed healthy, the Jets were definitely good enough to make a Super Bowl run, especially with no Tom Brady in New England. Brady missed the year because of a knee injury.

It was a bitter ending, but none of the holdovers from the Favre year -- David Harris, Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis -- had anything negative to say about him.

"For me, it was amazing, just because I watched Brett as a kid," Mangold said. "I loved watching him play. To have him come in and play with him, it was an amazing experience."

Mangold was involved in one of the early Favre moments, when they botched a center-quarterback exchanged in practice and had to run a penalty lap before a few thousands fans at the Jets' old facility on Long Island. The crowd roared, which struck Mangold as odd because they were applauded for making a mistake. They became a YouTube sensation, back when YouTube was in its infancy.

Harris says he remembers walking to the first practice when Favre ran past him and "smacked me on my ass real hard." That was his first interaction with his new quarterback.

"That was just Brett -- playful, a good guy to be around," Harris said.

Brett Favre
Quarterback
6-2, 222
Southern Miss
1991, Atlanta Falcons; 1992-2007, Green Bay Packers; 2008, New York Jets; 2009-10, Minnesota Vikings

• First year of eligibility
• Three-time NFL MVP (one of two players with as many since the merger)
• All-time NFL leader in completions (6,300), attempts (10,169) and interceptions (336); ranks second in pass yards (71,838) and TDs (508)
• Eleven-time Pro Bowler
• Won Super Bowl XXXI following 1996 season
• One of 10 men to win NFL MVP and Super Bowl in same season
Revis says he never will forget the time Favre, an avid hunter, stashed a dead goose in someone's locker. That created quite a scene. Favre, a legendary prankster, kept a bullhorn in his locker and occasionally used it to scare unsuspecting teammates. One time, he got Kris Jenkins in the players' lounge, got him good. The 350-pound nose tackle was snoozing in a big chair when he was blasted by the bullhorn. He jumped out of the chair and cursed Favre, as several players doubled over in laughter.

"He changed the atmosphere in the building," Woody said. "Favre made it fun to come to work."

Woody still remembers the night of the trade. It happened on the eve of the preseason opener in Cleveland; the players were in the team hotel when they got wind of the news.

"Somebody said, 'We just traded for Favre,' and I was like, 'What the ... what the ... what the hell?' " Woody said. "We just traded for Brett Favre? It was almost like shock. People didn't believe it. Favre is our quarterback now? It was surreal. I didn't believe it until I saw him in the flesh. I was like, 'Man, this is going to be a wild ride.' And it was."

Owner Woody Johnson pushed for the trade because he spent big money that offseason and saw Favre as the final piece for a championship-caliber team. There were other reasons, too. Johnson wanted to upstage the New York Giants, who had won the Super Bowl only six months earlier. He figured Favre would be good for business, and business was important, especially with MetLife Stadium set to open in 2010. At first, Mangini was opposed to the idea, but he relented after being told he had no reason to worry about his job.

So much for that.

There were rumblings throughout the season about Favre, how he wasn't emotionally invested in the Jets, how he isolated himself from teammates. Mangold acknowledged that Favre didn't socialize with teammates outside the facility, but he attributed that to the difference in age. Favre was 39, several years older than his oldest teammates.


Things got messy after Favre left the Jets, when Deadspin reported that he allegedly texted objectionable photos of himself to game-day hostess Jenn Sterger. In 2010, the NFL investigated the matter, determining it had no proof that Favre sent the pictures. The league said he didn't violate the personal-conduct policy, but it fined him $50,000 for failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The sordid chapter will be part of Favre's legacy with the Jets -- that, and the arm trouble that contributed to the team's demise. It was a season of unfulfilled promise, although some players claim Favre's impact on the franchise carried over to the 2009 and 2010 playoff years.

In truth, it was a marriage of convenience. The Jets were desperate for a star of Favre's magnitude, and he used the Jets as a pit stop on the way to his preferred, post-Green Bay destination -- the Vikings.

For 11 weeks, though, there was no bigger story in the NFL than Favre and the Jets. Woody said his most vivid memory of Favre was the sound of his passes as those speeding bullets buzzed over the heads of the offensive linemen. It sounded like victory.

"It would be like, 'Whoosh!' You could actually hear it," Woody said.

The big man paused, smiling at the memories.

"Man, we had fun," he said. "Until he got hurt and things hit the fan."

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-j...-jets-a-dead-goose-a-bullhorn-and-a-messy-end

 

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By John B Aug 5, 2016, 10:00a
TWEET



Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As we approach the 2016 season, we are going to profile the players on the roster. Today we look at Trevor Reilly.

Name: Trevor Reilly

Number: 57

Year With Jets: 3rd

Projected Role: Competing for starting outside linebacker job/special teamer

His 2015: Reilly got an early look as a situational pass rusher, but he didn't impress enough to stay in the role. He only participated in 23 defensive snaps over the final 10 games of the season. He did display a high motor, which made him a fixture on special teams.

2016 will be a success if: Reilly can develop into any sort of useful pass rusher. The clock is ticking on his career. While Reilly might only be in his third season, he is already 28 years old, around his athletic peak. His only career sack was really an effort play, where he ran himself out of the play but saw hustle rewarded by not giving up and hitting Johnny Manziel. Since the team currently has no proven outside linebackers, Reilly could find himself in a starting role. As the most experienced player of the bunch, he could find himself the default starter if nobody else shines. That would likely be a disappointment for the Jets. If Reilly becomes good enough to be a situational pass rusher, it is a win, though.

Odds of making the roster: Probable (75%-99%)