Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2011
AFC East Radio Preview
As most of you know I have a segment on 89.5 FM every Sunday. Here's the show for this week, previewing the AFC East...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Revis's 8th Ranking On Top 100 List Major Mistake By Players
As an attempted respite from the nonstop drama of the NFL lockout, the NFL Network just concluded the players' ranking of the best 100 players in the NFL, a symbolic drink of water to the NFL fan dying of thirst in the lockout desert. While the list has certainly sparked debate among NFL fans with its hits and misses -- and there are many of both on the list -- for the Jets fan it is not the names of the players on the list that sparks outrage, but rather a single person that was undervalued. While the players piled on admiration for Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, and Ray Lewis, the biggest names on defense over the past decade, they didn’t share the same love for our very own Darrelle Revis. Revis was selected eighth behind not just the three players mentioned, but also Andre Johnson, and Adrian Peterson. For Revis to be selected at this spot is a shame, as it doesn’t reflect what Revis is: the best defensive player in the NFL today.Saturday, February 5, 2011
Dallas Too Cold? Let's Do New York!
The Super Bowl is on the line. The kicker stands ready to kick the field goal to either win the game or lose it. The crowd stands breathless, waiting to see if the Super Bowl will end 5-3 or 6-5. It's snowing again at New Meadowlands Stadium, more than a foot now, and the temperature has dipped below 15 degrees. The snap, spot, and the hold is botched in the snow, game over. While this is the NFL's worst nightmare it could very well be a reality since the 2014 Super Bowl will be played in East Rutherford New Jersey, in February, at night. Considering the Winter that the tri-state area has had this year, it is mind boggling to consider that a Super Bowl will be played here. Here's why this is a bad idea...
It Is Bone Chillingly Cold At New Meadowlands Stadium In February
The weather tonight at 6 p.m. at the home of Super Bowl 48 is a balmy 38 degrees, windchill 33, with a 90% chance of rain. Are you ready for some football!?!? While the organizers of Super Bowl 48 will tell fans to "Bring your coats" they are dreaming. Having been to dozens of Jets games in January they should be telling fans "Bring your under armour, turtleneck, long sleeve shirt, fleece jacket, winter coat, ski mask, winter hat, 2 pairs of gloves, long johns, sweatpants, winter pants, 2 pairs of wool socks, and winter boots. Considering what it costs to go to the Super Bowl it is ridiculous to pay that money and freeze, outside.
The Weather, And The Stadium Will Affect Play
Even if it doesn't snow the elements will still have a major role in the game. Just as the old stadium was New Meadowlands Stadium is a proverbial wind tunnel. At times kicking and punting can be downright impossible, I wouldn't feel confident in any kick over 45 yards. This isn't what the Super Bowl should be about. It should be two great teams, with an even playing field playing for the Lombardi trophy. Playing at New Meadowlands Stadium is advantageous to teams with strong running games, as throwing can be very difficult with the intense cold and wind. The team that wins the coin toss will have a huge advantage since they could possibly determine whether the kick to win the Super Bowl will be going into a 25 MPH wind, or against it. That's unfair.
The weather tonight at 6 p.m. at the home of Super Bowl 48 is a balmy 38 degrees, windchill 33, with a 90% chance of rain. Are you ready for some football!?!? While the organizers of Super Bowl 48 will tell fans to "Bring your coats" they are dreaming. Having been to dozens of Jets games in January they should be telling fans "Bring your under armour, turtleneck, long sleeve shirt, fleece jacket, winter coat, ski mask, winter hat, 2 pairs of gloves, long johns, sweatpants, winter pants, 2 pairs of wool socks, and winter boots. Considering what it costs to go to the Super Bowl it is ridiculous to pay that money and freeze, outside.
The Weather, And The Stadium Will Affect Play
Even if it doesn't snow the elements will still have a major role in the game. Just as the old stadium was New Meadowlands Stadium is a proverbial wind tunnel. At times kicking and punting can be downright impossible, I wouldn't feel confident in any kick over 45 yards. This isn't what the Super Bowl should be about. It should be two great teams, with an even playing field playing for the Lombardi trophy. Playing at New Meadowlands Stadium is advantageous to teams with strong running games, as throwing can be very difficult with the intense cold and wind. The team that wins the coin toss will have a huge advantage since they could possibly determine whether the kick to win the Super Bowl will be going into a 25 MPH wind, or against it. That's unfair.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Optimist Prime: A Look at the Jets Free Agents
Despite his Jets failing him once again in the AFC Championship Game, Russell is back with another Optimist Prime post on his team. Even though there's a Super Bowl still to be played, Russell is looking ahead to the off-season and free agency. Here is how he sees the Jets off-season shaping out:
-----------------------
It has been a tough week for Optimist Prime. He took the jets loss in the AFC championship game hard, not leaving his room and feasting on gallons of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream. While he’s put on some pounds Optimist is, well, optimistic about the Jets chances next year, but it will be a tough offseason for sure. The Jets have 18 total free agents, and will need many of them back if they want to make another run at the Lombardi trophy. Here’s a list of the free agents…
Now there are a couple of variables in determining how many of these players the Jets will be able to keep. The new collective bargaining agreement will put a salary cap in place and owners have already said that it will be lower than the one that was in place prior to this year (in 2007 it was around $127 million). This will make it tougher for the Jets to re-sign all of their important pieces especially if Holmes, Edwards, Harris and Cromartie all ask for big money.
Also under old CBA rules a team that makes it to a championship game must release a player in order to sign a free agent. The final four teams will not be permitted to negotiate or sign any unrestricted free agent to a player contract unless he is cut from his team or originally belonged to the team that is trying to sign (or re-sign) him.
With this in mind here is a rundown of who the Jets must keep, and who they can let go…
 |
| Tough decisions coming for Mike Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson (Star-Ledger) |
It has been a tough week for Optimist Prime. He took the jets loss in the AFC championship game hard, not leaving his room and feasting on gallons of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream. While he’s put on some pounds Optimist is, well, optimistic about the Jets chances next year, but it will be a tough offseason for sure. The Jets have 18 total free agents, and will need many of them back if they want to make another run at the Lombardi trophy. Here’s a list of the free agents…
UNRESTRICTED | RESTRICTED (If There is A Salary Cap This Season) |
Shaun Ellis | David Harris |
Steve Weatherford | Nick Folk |
Brodney Pool | James Ihedigbo |
Tony Richardson | Robert Turner |
Braylon Edwards | |
Santonio Holmes | |
Wayne Hunter | |
Trevor Pryce | |
Antonio Cromartie | |
Lance Laury | |
Eric Smith | |
Brad Smith | |
Drew Coleman | |
Kellen Clemens |
Also under old CBA rules a team that makes it to a championship game must release a player in order to sign a free agent. The final four teams will not be permitted to negotiate or sign any unrestricted free agent to a player contract unless he is cut from his team or originally belonged to the team that is trying to sign (or re-sign) him.
With this in mind here is a rundown of who the Jets must keep, and who they can let go…
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wide Right!! Happy Belated 20th Anniversary, Giants Fans
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding next weekend's Super Bowl, I think it's a great time to reflect on our own Super Bowl history here in New York.
Yesterday was the 20th Anniversary of Super Bowl XXV, in which the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills by a score of 20-19. I distinctly remember watching this game because it's my very first memory of seeing pro football. My dad and I ordered a pizza and watched the game, start to finish, just the two of us. No girls allowed!
But getting back to the game itself, this remains the only Super Bowl ever decided by one point. Scott Norwood blew it wide-right and thus began a string a four straight Super Bowl losses for the Bills. Norwood's big miss also inspired the plot of Ace Ventura, in the form of a soccer-style kicker named Ray Finkle. Hopefully Frank Reich remembered to keep the laces out...
Anyway, since the Giants missed the playoffs and because Jets fans are surely still reeling from their second consecutive loss in the AFC Championship Game (but who's counting?), here's a chance to relive the sweet, sweet feeling of Super Bowl victory:
Yesterday was the 20th Anniversary of Super Bowl XXV, in which the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills by a score of 20-19. I distinctly remember watching this game because it's my very first memory of seeing pro football. My dad and I ordered a pizza and watched the game, start to finish, just the two of us. No girls allowed!
But getting back to the game itself, this remains the only Super Bowl ever decided by one point. Scott Norwood blew it wide-right and thus began a string a four straight Super Bowl losses for the Bills. Norwood's big miss also inspired the plot of Ace Ventura, in the form of a soccer-style kicker named Ray Finkle. Hopefully Frank Reich remembered to keep the laces out...
Anyway, since the Giants missed the playoffs and because Jets fans are surely still reeling from their second consecutive loss in the AFC Championship Game (but who's counting?), here's a chance to relive the sweet, sweet feeling of Super Bowl victory:
Sunday, January 23, 2011
NYaT Roundtable: AFC Championship Picks
Yesterday we gave our AFC Championship picks and today we're going to pick the AFC Championship game. The Jets and Steelers also played once this season with that game being taken by the Jets. Tonight is the rematch in Pittsburgh, but this time with Troy Polamalu in uniform. Will that make a difference? Let's see what our roundtable had to say:
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers favored by 3.5)
Russell: First of all I'd like to welcome everybody back onto the Jets bandwagon, and I'd like to add that more people will be joining us after the Jets beat the Steelers on Sunday. The Jets are soaring after the incredible win against the Patsies and fly in to Pittsburgh to face a team that is very similar to the Jets. Both teams have solid receivers, and running backs and while the Steelers have an advantage at QB, defense wins championships and the Jets D is better then the Steelers O. It will be hard to score points for both sides, but I look for the Jets to win a low scoring battle where Sanchez and the offense will make enough plays to win. Also the football Gods wouldn't tease me by having the Jets go to the AFC championship game 2 years in a row and lose both games, right? Jets
Ben P: If it's any comfort to Jets fans, I've picked against them in the two previous playoff rounds as well. The Jets have played and won two very emotional games. First they beat the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year and then they played their big bad bully of a division rival. Will they have anything left this week? The Jets were able to beat the Steelers earlier this year, but in that game the Steelers were without Polamalu and the Jets scored on a kickoff return and had a safety (fluky much). The Steelers will be able to shut down the Jets running game and force Sanchez to beat them. Sanchez was great last week, but the Steelers will put more pressure on him than the Pats did and will be able to do a better job exposing the loss of Damien Woody at Right Tackle. The Jets Defense has played well against the passing offenses of the Colts and Pats, but the Steelers have a wealth of speed at the receiver position that those other teams didn't. There are few schemes that can slow down Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. It'll be cold in Pittsburgh. Coach Ryan better make sure his players bring an extra pair of socks. Steelers
Sarah: Steelers/Pats - Oh wait, the Pats aren't in? THE JETS WON LAST WEEK? I abstain. No pick.
Jay: While I refuse to compare the Jets' run this year to the Giants' road winning streak leading up to Super Bowl 42, I have to hand it to Rex Ryan and his team. They have defeated Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the road in back-to-back weeks. No easy task. Now all they have to do is finish the job in Pittsburgh against two-time SB champ Ben Roethlisberger. BFD. I actually think the Jets can do it. The key is winning the battle for time of possession by controlling the ball on the ground. If the offensive can eliminate turnovers and Greene/LT can consistently gain yardage, I think the Jets will win. But like the cliche goes, you can't stop Roethlisberger, you can only hope to contain him. Making sure Big Ben doesn't burn them will be the Jets' second key. If they can do that, I think the Jets win in a close game. Jets
Elissa: Jets and Steelers are a toss up b/c of their great defenses. I think Big Ben will give the Jets D more problems than Brady did last week b/c he doesn't go down as easy, but I think if the Jets don't turn the ball over (just like their play last week) they'll beat out the Steelers. Jets
Andrew: The Jets built their team this past off-season to beat the Colts--and they did so. Rex Ryan came in as Jets coach and said the goal was to beat the Patriots--and they did so. You wonder after two emotional wins if the Jets can get back up for yet another game? I'm not so sure they can. They played their championship game last week. They've beaten two teams with great offenses. Now they'll have to find a way to beat one with a great defense. I don't think it'll be so easy for the Jets. Mark Sanchez has been great so far but both the Pats and the Colts rank near the bottom half of the league on defense while the Steelers are probably the best. Sanchez has had success because of the threat of the run game. I don't think the Jets will have the same success running the ball in this game. The Jets have been great on the road but I fear their season will end once again in the AFC Championship game. Steelers
 |
| Can Sanchez lead the Jets to the Super Bowl this time around? (Reuters) |
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers favored by 3.5)
Russell: First of all I'd like to welcome everybody back onto the Jets bandwagon, and I'd like to add that more people will be joining us after the Jets beat the Steelers on Sunday. The Jets are soaring after the incredible win against the Patsies and fly in to Pittsburgh to face a team that is very similar to the Jets. Both teams have solid receivers, and running backs and while the Steelers have an advantage at QB, defense wins championships and the Jets D is better then the Steelers O. It will be hard to score points for both sides, but I look for the Jets to win a low scoring battle where Sanchez and the offense will make enough plays to win. Also the football Gods wouldn't tease me by having the Jets go to the AFC championship game 2 years in a row and lose both games, right? Jets
Ben P: If it's any comfort to Jets fans, I've picked against them in the two previous playoff rounds as well. The Jets have played and won two very emotional games. First they beat the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year and then they played their big bad bully of a division rival. Will they have anything left this week? The Jets were able to beat the Steelers earlier this year, but in that game the Steelers were without Polamalu and the Jets scored on a kickoff return and had a safety (fluky much). The Steelers will be able to shut down the Jets running game and force Sanchez to beat them. Sanchez was great last week, but the Steelers will put more pressure on him than the Pats did and will be able to do a better job exposing the loss of Damien Woody at Right Tackle. The Jets Defense has played well against the passing offenses of the Colts and Pats, but the Steelers have a wealth of speed at the receiver position that those other teams didn't. There are few schemes that can slow down Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. It'll be cold in Pittsburgh. Coach Ryan better make sure his players bring an extra pair of socks. Steelers
Sarah: Steelers/Pats - Oh wait, the Pats aren't in? THE JETS WON LAST WEEK? I abstain. No pick.
Jay: While I refuse to compare the Jets' run this year to the Giants' road winning streak leading up to Super Bowl 42, I have to hand it to Rex Ryan and his team. They have defeated Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the road in back-to-back weeks. No easy task. Now all they have to do is finish the job in Pittsburgh against two-time SB champ Ben Roethlisberger. BFD. I actually think the Jets can do it. The key is winning the battle for time of possession by controlling the ball on the ground. If the offensive can eliminate turnovers and Greene/LT can consistently gain yardage, I think the Jets will win. But like the cliche goes, you can't stop Roethlisberger, you can only hope to contain him. Making sure Big Ben doesn't burn them will be the Jets' second key. If they can do that, I think the Jets win in a close game. Jets
Elissa: Jets and Steelers are a toss up b/c of their great defenses. I think Big Ben will give the Jets D more problems than Brady did last week b/c he doesn't go down as easy, but I think if the Jets don't turn the ball over (just like their play last week) they'll beat out the Steelers. Jets
Andrew: The Jets built their team this past off-season to beat the Colts--and they did so. Rex Ryan came in as Jets coach and said the goal was to beat the Patriots--and they did so. You wonder after two emotional wins if the Jets can get back up for yet another game? I'm not so sure they can. They played their championship game last week. They've beaten two teams with great offenses. Now they'll have to find a way to beat one with a great defense. I don't think it'll be so easy for the Jets. Mark Sanchez has been great so far but both the Pats and the Colts rank near the bottom half of the league on defense while the Steelers are probably the best. Sanchez has had success because of the threat of the run game. I don't think the Jets will have the same success running the ball in this game. The Jets have been great on the road but I fear their season will end once again in the AFC Championship game. Steelers
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Optimist Prime: Why the Jets Will Beat the Steelers
We'll get to the NYaT roundtable picks later but for now we need to go back to Russell who predicted the Jets would beat the Colts and the Pats. Now he says that they will beat Big Ben and the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Tell 'em why, Russell:
---------------------------
It’s been a fun week for Jets fans. From the incredible win against the Patriots to Bart Scott’s “ANYBODY CAN BE BEAT” interview, excitement is running high as the Jets are once again playing for a berth in the Big Game. This time the Jets fly into Pittsburgh to face a team very similar to themselves, and with the punishing defenses on both sides it should be close. Well Optimist Prime is back again and (real shocker here) says the Jets will beat the Steelers and advance to their Second Super Bowl. Here’s why…
The Jets Will Be Able To Ground And Pound Them
Defensively Pittsburgh only gave up an average of 62.8 yards on the ground during the regular season. That being said the Jets running game has been brilliant so far in the Playoffs, rushing for 152 yards against the Colts and 119 against New England. The Jets can rely on one of the best running back tandems in the NFL with Shonne Greene and LT. The backs play with different styles, which definitely helps the Jets, as they can go from the run you over to get the extra yard style of Greene to the shifty Tomlinson, and frustrate the Steelers defense with long drives. The Jets were able to rush for 106 yards the last time they played Pittsburgh and if they can run the ball successfully they’ll be in good shape.
Sanchez Can Win The Game Too
Sanchez played one of his best games as a pro from the second quarter on of last weeks win in New England. Sanchez passed for 3 touchdowns and 194 yards, and will pick up where he left off this week. Mark has handled blitzing, aggressive defenses like the Steelers pretty well and with the Jets all-pro offensive line he won’t be under siege by the likes of James Harrison. The Steelers defense has actually been pretty average against the pass; they’re twelfth in the league in passing yards against. Joe Flacco was able to shred the Steelers secondary for much of the first half, and if Sanchez can play like Flacco for four quarters not two, the Jets have a good chance at winning.
 |
| The Empire State Building has been lit up in the Jets green and white |
It’s been a fun week for Jets fans. From the incredible win against the Patriots to Bart Scott’s “ANYBODY CAN BE BEAT” interview, excitement is running high as the Jets are once again playing for a berth in the Big Game. This time the Jets fly into Pittsburgh to face a team very similar to themselves, and with the punishing defenses on both sides it should be close. Well Optimist Prime is back again and (real shocker here) says the Jets will beat the Steelers and advance to their Second Super Bowl. Here’s why…
The Jets Will Be Able To Ground And Pound Them
Defensively Pittsburgh only gave up an average of 62.8 yards on the ground during the regular season. That being said the Jets running game has been brilliant so far in the Playoffs, rushing for 152 yards against the Colts and 119 against New England. The Jets can rely on one of the best running back tandems in the NFL with Shonne Greene and LT. The backs play with different styles, which definitely helps the Jets, as they can go from the run you over to get the extra yard style of Greene to the shifty Tomlinson, and frustrate the Steelers defense with long drives. The Jets were able to rush for 106 yards the last time they played Pittsburgh and if they can run the ball successfully they’ll be in good shape.
Sanchez Can Win The Game Too
Sanchez played one of his best games as a pro from the second quarter on of last weeks win in New England. Sanchez passed for 3 touchdowns and 194 yards, and will pick up where he left off this week. Mark has handled blitzing, aggressive defenses like the Steelers pretty well and with the Jets all-pro offensive line he won’t be under siege by the likes of James Harrison. The Steelers defense has actually been pretty average against the pass; they’re twelfth in the league in passing yards against. Joe Flacco was able to shred the Steelers secondary for much of the first half, and if Sanchez can play like Flacco for four quarters not two, the Jets have a good chance at winning.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Guest Post: Why The Jets Will Beat The Patriots
Maybe we'll call him Optimist Prime for the Jets season: Russell is back for another guest post and he thinks the Jets will prevail on Sunday unlike the rest of our panel. For his last guest post before he becomes a full-time writer (and congrats to Russell on that!), here's Russell Simon back to tell us why the New York Jets will repeat their early-season performance and prevail against the Patriots in Foxboro on Sunday.
-----------------------------------------
The Jets will beat the Patriots on Sunday…While most of you probably think that’s the funniest joke you’ve heard all day, the Jets do have a shot--believe it or not--of winning. Last week I said the Jets would establish the ground and pound, and beat Indy. We all know how that turned out, and now they return for some payback…and this is how they’ll get it:
Keep Brady On The Bench
For the Jets to win they will have to go on the same type of drives they did in the second half against the Colts. The Jets had touchdown drives of 9:48 and 9:59 last week and it must be more of the same if the Jets will win. The Jets used the ground-and-pound to go on mind numbingly slow drives in the second half. On the first drive of the second half, Sanchez threw twice, and it has become clear that LT, Shonne Greene , and the offensive line will win it for the Jets--not Mark Sanchez. Both running backs carried the ball nearly 20 times and they will have to go on the slow drives, eat up tons of clock, and get into the endzone to beat the Pats.
Do Not Have Any Defensive Lapses
And we're looking at you, Antonio Cromartie. Garcon burned Cromartie for the Colts first touchdown on a hideous defensive lapse, and the Jets can’t have any repeats of that on Sunday if they want to win. Cromartie put the target on his back by saying about Tom Brady what Jets fans have been saying about him for years, and with whoever Tevis is covering (probably Welker vacationing on Revis Island) all the pressure will be on Cromartie to step up. Other then Revis, Brady will target the Jets secondary just as he did in the 45-3 bloodbath when he passed for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Jets can’t have any defensive lapses that go for big yards for the Pats and it's up to the secondary to keep the Jets in it.
 |
| Mark Sanchez is licking his chops for a rematch with the Pats (NYT) |
The Jets will beat the Patriots on Sunday…While most of you probably think that’s the funniest joke you’ve heard all day, the Jets do have a shot--believe it or not--of winning. Last week I said the Jets would establish the ground and pound, and beat Indy. We all know how that turned out, and now they return for some payback…and this is how they’ll get it:
Keep Brady On The Bench
For the Jets to win they will have to go on the same type of drives they did in the second half against the Colts. The Jets had touchdown drives of 9:48 and 9:59 last week and it must be more of the same if the Jets will win. The Jets used the ground-and-pound to go on mind numbingly slow drives in the second half. On the first drive of the second half, Sanchez threw twice, and it has become clear that LT, Shonne Greene , and the offensive line will win it for the Jets--not Mark Sanchez. Both running backs carried the ball nearly 20 times and they will have to go on the slow drives, eat up tons of clock, and get into the endzone to beat the Pats.
Do Not Have Any Defensive Lapses
And we're looking at you, Antonio Cromartie. Garcon burned Cromartie for the Colts first touchdown on a hideous defensive lapse, and the Jets can’t have any repeats of that on Sunday if they want to win. Cromartie put the target on his back by saying about Tom Brady what Jets fans have been saying about him for years, and with whoever Tevis is covering (probably Welker vacationing on Revis Island) all the pressure will be on Cromartie to step up. Other then Revis, Brady will target the Jets secondary just as he did in the 45-3 bloodbath when he passed for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Jets can’t have any defensive lapses that go for big yards for the Pats and it's up to the secondary to keep the Jets in it.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Jets' War of Words
With all the media attention and fighting words hurled up and down I-95 this past week, you'd think there is a prize fight scheduled for this Sunday in Foxboro. There isn't, but let's pretend for a second that there is. In the green corner, wearing the black sweater vest and white mock turtleneck, is the boisterous, big mouthed, super heavyweight REX RYAN!!! In the blue corner, wearing the wrinkled, cut off, dirty sweatshirt stolen from a bum on the street, is the scowling, cheating, welterweight BILL BELICHICK!!! This bout is going to get nasty.On Monday, Ryan threw the first blow: "This is about Bill Belichick versus Rex Ryan. There's no question, it's personal. It's about him against myself. That’s what it’s going to come down to." The instant Ryan said those words, Jets fans got bombarded with harsh criticism from Pats fans: “How dare your coach call out the legend that is Bill Belichick?” “Does Ryan really think this game is about him versus Belichick?” “Doesn’t he know the players will win or lose this game, not the coaches? What an idiot!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
