I know we’re all down today after last night’s game, but we should really be proud of where the Jets are right now. I’ve been a Jets fan for 30 years, and have never experienced a Jets team as competitive as the one they have now. Since Rex Ryan has been coach of the Jets, they have had two incredible seasons. Let's have a recap of some amazing stats from the last 2 years:

1) #1 overall D in 2009. #3 overall D in 2010.

2) TWICE as many (4) playoff victories as anyone in Jets history. This really epitomizes decades of futility for the team and heartbreak for the fans.

3) All 4 playoff victories on the road. Wins in CIN, SD, INDY, NE against probably 3 of the best QBs in the league. Sanchez tied for most road playoff victories in NFL HISTORY.

4) 2 years, 2 AFC Championship game berths.

5) #1 overall rushing offense in 2009, #4 overall rushing offense in 2010.

6) Mark Sanchez stats: Regular season 29TD, 33INT. Postseason 9TD, 3INT. For a second year QB, he is showing the growth we all expect and stepping up in the postseason when needed.

If this doesn't tell everyone that the Jets are a team to be reckoned with and are headed in the right direction under Rex's leadership, then you need your head examined. So for the last time this season, I will say: GO JETS!

Added to front page-JB

Last week, Dennis Byrd gave an inspirational speech to the team before the victory over the Pats, one that Bray called "the most inspirational message of my life".This week, Dennis Byrd will be an honorary captain on Sunday.

"This Sunday, Byrd will walk with the Jets players as their honorary captain for the coin toss before the AFC championship game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday night."

I think this is a great idea and should keep the Jets motivated to play at their highest level. It worked last week, let's hope his presence and inspiration works again...GO JETS!

You can read the whole story here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ap5LpKbYGn6rg8CkjkgJdqz2zr8F?slug=ap-jets-captainbyrd

When Rex was asked about Mike Tomlin, he said he had a great deal of respect for him and said Tomlin was one of his favorite coaches. Why? Rex told this gem from his days in Baltimore:

"Ryan said his respect for Tomlin stems from the 2007 season when the Steelers manhandled Baltimore, 38-7. In that game, Ryan said, Steelers fullback Carey Davis(notes) was talking trash with then-Ravens (and now Jets) linebacker Bart Scott. Tomlin heard it and sent Davis back into the game and ran an isolation play for him, setting up a physical, one-on-one confrontation with Scott.

“On the next play, Bart separated the kid’s shoulder,” Ryan said. “That’s one of my favorite stories.

“It told me a lot about Mike Tomlin, like, ‘You know what? OK, you’re running your mouth, go get him them.’ He’s kind of that kind of guy. He’s a man’s man and his team plays like that.”

To me, that's the kind of coach players want to play for, and that fans want to support. Glad we have a coach in the same mold leading the Jets.

You can read the whole story here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AuwNP4IDOUgxReBItOc7Ol5DubYF?slug=dw-jetsryanquiet011711

We all saw it...in fact, I think pieces of Wes Welker's helmet may still be orbiting Foxboro as we speak. Clearly a helmet-to-helmet hit (a crushing one at that), so it falls under the NFL's new "devastating hit" rule. My question is: what kind of fine do you think Smith is looking at? If you watch it in real time it doesn't look that bad, but if you watch it close up in slow motion, it looks a lot worse. I have no problem with the hit, and I hope the fine doesn't stop him from being an aggressive heavy hitter. GO JETS! ON TO PITTSBURGH AND THEIR HEAVY HITTERS!

I can't believe they are rolling this out in the playoffs. They should have used this for one week in the regular season to try it out before applying it to the biggest games of the year. The first game to go to OT will be VERY, VERY INTERESTING...and I hope it's not the Jets-Colts game!

Basically, it goes like this. First team to get the ball scores a TD, they win. Game over. If they score a FG, opposing team gets one possession. If they score a TD, they win. Game over. If they don't score, game over. If they score a FG to tie the score again, then sudden death rules apply. Interesting idea, poor time to test it out.

Here are the 5 things the Jets need to do to be successful in the postseason (in my opinion, but in no particular order):

1) Find their pass rush. This defense is predicated on blitzing with LBs and/or safeties, getting pressure on the opposing QB, and forcing mistakes. They have been largely ineffective in these areas, especially against good teams like ones they might face in the playoffs. They are 11th in the league in sacks, and dead LAST in INTs. This must change if the Jets are to move on.

2) Find a way to cover TEs and RBs in pass coverage. Considering it looks like the first two opponents would be the Chiefs and Pats (assuming they beat the Chiefs), I'm trying to figure out how the Jets are going to stop the other teams weapons. Namely, how do they stop Pope/Moeaki and Charles in the Chiefs passing game, and how do you stop the Pats "spread-it-around" style? I think both these teams could give the Jets fits unless the LBs and CBs (not named Revis or Cromartie) step it up in coverage.

3) Run to set up the pass, and control the clock. It seems to me that the Jets have gotten away from this philosophy a little bit at times this season. It's time for the O-line and RBs to assert themselves and return to a "ground and pound" mentality. The best way to keep the other teams at bay is to keep their offense on the sidelines with a ball-control offense of your own.

4) Limit Sanchez's mistakes. Be efficient , don't try to do too much, and don't force it when it's not there. Can't believe I'm going to say this, but the play calling the last couple of weeks has been better and put Sanchez in position to be more successful and mistake-free. If Schotty and Sanchez don't try to outsmart themselves, good things will happen.

5) Finish drives with TDs, not FGs. The Jets are 10-1 when they score double digits, 0-4 when they don't. Nick Folk has been...well, Nick Folk. They won't be winning games 12-9 in the playoffs against these teams, and do we really want the game on the line and Folk lining up for a potential tying or winning FG? I'm already cringing at the thought.

Feel free to add anything I've missed, have a Happy New Year, and of course....GO JETS!!!!!!!

The top game of the week is obviously the Pats-Jets, but now that I've got your attention, here are a couple other games I'm really interested to see this week.

1) Pittsburgh @ Tennessee

Pittsburgh defense tries to stop the best RB in the NFL in Chris Johnson. Will Tennessee make a run this year, or was last week just a reflection of playing the Raiders...the equivalent of a bye week? That alone makes this game interesting. Throw in the fact that this is only Dixon's third start, and I suspect that he will have to have a mistake-free game for the Steelers to win. I don't see that happening. Titans win in a squeaker.

2) Baltimore @ Cincy

We all know what happened with the Ravens and Bengals last week. Is there really that great a divide among these teams, especially considering that the Bengals swept Bmore last year and won the division? My answer: yes, there is. Bengals are in a similar position as the Jets, a playoff team from a year ago, a very disappointing Week1 that has their fans on edge, and here comes a heated division game that should be fun to watch. Got your popcorn ready? I did, but Ray Lewis ate it all. Ravens roll.

3) NY Giants @ Indy

Ah yes, the "Manning Face" game. How could anybody not be interested in watching which Manning brother leaves with a smile while the other pouts? Could the Colts really start 0-2 after toying with a perfect season just a year ago? How big a loss is Bob Sanders, and can the Giants take advantage? Yes they can, but big brother just has too many weapons for the Giants to keep up. The Peytons win by about 10.

Another Revis holdout could be coming in two years Posted by Mike Florio on September 11, 2010 5:37 PM ET With Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis set to earn $32.5 million in 2010 and 2011 combined and then only (only?) $13.5 million in 2012 and 2013 combined, we firmly believe that Revis will be holding out again two years from now, absent a true retirement contract from the Jets.

Asked by King whether Revis could hold out again after the first two years of the deal, Revis said, "That's a great question.  If I continue to play ball like I usually do, we'll probably be back at that same position we were this year."

Article from Mike Florio, quoting Peter King

Are you kidding me?!?! People actually think that the team is more important to Revis than getting paid? Not so much. Enjoy the next 2 years gentlemen, because Revis is history if he pulls this garbage again with 5 years left on his contract.

*Added to front page by DW

I just read his article about his predictions for the 2010 season. You can find the full article here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/schragers-week-1-nfl-cheat-sheet?gt1=39002

Some things jumped out at me.

1. Whether with Jason Campbell or Bruce Gradkowski under center, the Oakland Raiders are playoff-bound for the first time since 2002.

I know a lot of people think the Raiders will be improved (hard not to improve over last year), but the Raiders as a playoff team? To use a Corso-ism: "Not so fast my friend". The Chargers are still the best team in this division, and too many teams with more talent above them for them to make the playoffs this year.

2. The New York Jets, everybody’s favorite to win the Super Bowl in July, start the season off with back-to-back losses at home to Baltimore and New England and ultimately fail to make the playoffs.

He just made my "columnists I hate" list with this prediction!

4. Rex Grossman starts more games than Donovan McNabb in Washington and plays as well, if not better, than Kevin Kolb in Philadelphia.

Do I even need to comment on this one? I think milk just spurted out of my nose when I read this.

8. Both receivers named Mike Williams — the rookie on the Bucs and one-time Lions draft bust now on the Seahawks — have big years for their respective teams, proving their respective critics wrong.

How can the Bucs WIlliams have critics before he even plays a down in the NFL? As for the Hawks Williams, he's got a lot to prove to me before I remove the "bust" label.

10. Everybody’s darlings, the Houston Texans, fail to qualify for the postseason for the ninth straight year.

I think this is the year they get in as a WC team.

Now on to his prediction for Monday's game:

Monday, 7 p.m. ET:

Baltimore at New York Jets: Michael Strahan said it best Monday night when he tweeted to his 7 billion or so followers, “An HBO Show Doesn’t Make You #1!” He’s right. Nor does Darrelle Revis, John Conner, or a wide angle shot of Woody Johnson, Rex Ryan, Mike Tannenbaum, and Braylon Edwards side-by-side-by-side-by-side jogging in unison on treadmills. Super Bowls are won on the field, and for as impressive as last season’s playoff run was, the 2009 Jets were still a 9-7 team helped out by two squads giving them games in Weeks 16 and 17, Mark Sanchez still threw 8 more interceptions than touchdowns, and ... well, HBO shows don’t make you No. 1  All the Jets hype is great for New York and I’m glad the same women that loved Carrie and Miranda on HBO now know Tony Richardson’s name. But I’ll take the Ravens on Monday night. Unlike the Jets, Flacco and the Baltimore offense actually looked good over the past few weeks.

The Pick: Ravens 31, Jets 17

If the Jets give up 31 points at home to open the new stadium, I'd be stunned. I expect a hard fought, low-scoring affair that is won by a late sack, strip, and fumble return TD by Gholston Folk FG. Jets 17, Ravens 14.

The New York Jets have claimed wide receiver Patrick Turner(notes) off waivers from the Miami Dolphins, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

The Dolphins cut the former third-round draft pick from USC on Saturday

Turner played in two games last season and didn't register a catch.

At USC, Turner was productive with 138 career receptions for 1,752 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Turner has excellent size for a possesion wide receiver at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds.

At worst, maybe a little inside info on the Dolphins?

Add Dan Wetzel to the list of columnists jumping off the Jets ship:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AhJdkCWlsrT3qNHdg6eNc8s5nYcB?slug=dw-jetscowboys083110

First off, I say GREAT! Just another hater now, and as Jets fans we are all used to that. But let's look at some of his comments more closely.

Then there are the Jets, who still are without Revis, keep racking up injuries (the latest: Calvin Pace(notes)) and have watched quarterback Mark Sanchez(notes) seemingly regress by the series from his decent rookie campaign?

What mounting injuries is he referring to, other than Pitoitua's knee injury? I'm pretty sure Cro is okay considering Rex was cracking jokes about it today. I would like to see Revis show up, but they can still be a solid unit without him. Whether they are the #1 or #5 defense in the league, it should still be good enough to get them where they want to go.

Then there is Sanchez, who has borne little resemblance to the confident rookie who put together some strong play down the stretch, particularly in leading the Jets to the AFC title game. The sophomore slump isn’t a new phenomenon, and in reality, it’s not like Sanchez was some wunderkind. He struggled at times last season, too.

Not sure where to even start with this one. The confident rookie? Yeah, in the playoffs maybe. Mediocre (at best) up until then. He struggled at times last season? How about ALL season until the playoffs started? The fact is the Jets were a run-first team and will continue to be, so Sanchez doesn't have to put up Brees or Manning-type numbers for this team to be successful. Hell, the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer and the Giants won with Eli Manning. Are they SB caliber? We'll see. Are they a pretender? I don't think so.

The only bright spot on offense for the Jets last night was Ladainian Tomlinson. He clearly has something left in those old legs. He also isn't too concerned about the offensive struggles thus far.

“I think one thing people need to understand is we’ve been very vanilla this preseason,” said Tomlinson, who had 86 yards on 11 carries. “We won’t really gameplan until the season starts, so we’re doing fine.”

I wonder how much of this is fact, and how much of it is fiction. While I agree that every team holds a lot back in the preseason, it's plain to see that Sanchez is struggling with his reads, locking in on receivers, throwing more picks than TDs, and just not looking comfortable out there. It is also clear that the O-line has some question marks thus far, and that the pass rush from the front 7 has been mediocre (at best). Those are concerns that don't have anything to do with the gameplan. I hope he is right and I still expect great things from this team, but LDT has to take off his rosy glasses, or switch to a clear visor so he can see the same deficiencies that we all see. They have 2 weeks to fix it before the brutal start to their schedule.

I hate conspiracy theories, in fact I think 99.9% of them are absolutely ridiculous. That being said, does the potential signings of both Mangold and Revis in the span of a couple of days (assuming they are both true) smell a little fishy to anyone else? Let's lay out the facts:

The Jets are in the middle of a reality TV show. What would draw non-Jet (or non-football) fans to the show? DRAMA! In Week 1, it was Rex's f-bombs interlaced with Tanny telling Woody there is no way they are close to signing Revis. In Week 2, we had Cro naming off his laundry list of children, confirming that he was getting it on in every road game city during 2006-2007. What would make for a better Week 3 episode than the signing of Mangold and the return of Lord Revis? Crackback must be salivating just at the thought!

We have been discussing the Revis/Mangold/Harris situations so much that we drove ourselves and each other crazy. Everyone chose sides. Do you side with Revis or the FO? Do you respect Mangold and Harris more for showing up to camp, or are they being foolish and taking a huge gamble? etc,etc,etc...

I find it hard to believe that this whole thing was scripted from the start, it just seems a little odd to me that it is all coming together simultaneously, and just in time for Wednesday's new episode of Hard Knocks. Whether you believe any of this or not, let's just hope that both deals are a reality, no matter how they happened to be worked out!!!

Finally, where does this leave David Harris?...........

Assuming Revis continues to hold out, and based on last night's game and the departure of Leon Washington, it got me thinking: Who should be the Jets return man this year? It would probably be different guys for punts and kickoffs, but it is too difficult to add all the permutations of different combinations in a single poll. To make it simpler, if one guy was responsible for handling both duties, who would you prefer?

I'm tired of talking about a guy that isn't in camp, so let's talk about two that ARE in camp and in similar situations as the one that isn't.

David Harris was the Jets leading tackler last season, and is making an embarrassing $550,000 in the final year of his rookie contract. The Jets will most likely not offer him a deal until after the season. Here are David's comments in an article from the Grand Rapids Press:

“I'm being patient and just getting ready for football,” Harris said Friday while teaching fundamentals of the game to about 250 Grand Rapids Public Schools students at the annual All-Pro Football Camp at Houseman Field. “My agent will take care of everything else. I'll be at training camp on time.”

In the words of Jon Gruden...I LOVE THIS GUY!

Nick Mangold is one of the better young centers in the league, and is set to make $3.3 million in the final year of his rookie contract. The Jets will most likely not offer him a deal until after the season. Here are Nick's comments on NFL Network's Total Access about the possibility of him holding out :

"It doesn't seem to me to do any good to do it," said Mangold, who is entering a contract season. "So I'll be there with bells on."

In the words of Jon Gruden...I LOVE THIS GUY!

We are all Jets fans and usually err of the side of negativity, but let's focus on the positives and get ready for a great year and a thrilling Jet ride, whether it flies over Revis Island or not. GO JETS!