NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

September 11, 2015

1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

McCown, Fitzpatrick the latest QBs to start for Browns, Jets (Dennis Waszak) ........................................................ 2

So far, rookie Leonard Williams everything Jets hoped for (Dennis Waszak) ........................................................... 3

Jets' Marshall: Race comments 'had nothing to do with judge' (Dennis Waszak) .................................................... 5

Oh snap! Life of an NFL long snapper a pressure-packed gig (Dennis Waszak) ........................................................ 6

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

What's new? With the Jets, plenty (Kimberley A. Martin) ........................................................................................ 8

Jets' Damon Harrison still in disbelief over Tyler Sash's death (Kimberley A. Martin) .............................................. 9

Rookie Leonard Williams picks No. 92 to salute Shaun Ellis (Brian Heyman) ......................................................... 10

Jets scouting report as 2015 NFL season begins (Kimberley A. Martin) .................................................................. 11

Will Mo Wilkerson get paid like Bills' Marcell Dareus? (Kimberley A. Martin) ....................................................... 12

Jets defensive players have great expectations (Kimberley A. Martin) .................................................................. 13

THE RECORD ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

Jets’ 5 keys to the season (J.P. Pelzman) ................................................................................................................. 14

‘Big Cat’ set to roll for Jets (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................................................................... 14

Jets notes: Brandon Marshall clarifies comments (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................................... 16

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 16

For Jets’ Todd Bowles, a Lifetime of Calmly Facing Challenges (Ben Shpigel) ......................................................... 16

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 21

Marshall stands by race-related comments, says not about judge (Rich Cimini) ................................................... 21

Leonard Williams hopes to be latest impressive Jets pass-rusher (Ohm Youngmisuk) .......................................... 22

Jets DE Mo Wilkerson: 'We can have the No. 1 defense in the league' (Rich Cimini) ............................................. 23

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 24

One conversation has Phil Simms ‘extremely intrigued’ with Todd Bowles (Justin Terranova) ............................. 24

Brandon Marshall makes Deflategate clarification (Brian Costello)........................................................................ 25

‘Beast’ Leonard Williams about to prove he was draft’s best player (Steve Serby) ................................................ 26

Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson unlikely to reach deal: source (Brian Costello) .......................................................... 28

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 29

Jets' Darrelle Revis has put New England Patriots in his rear-view mirror (Dom Consentino) ............................... 29

Jets' Mo Wilkerson says Leonard Williams gets to 'prove it' against star tackle Joe Thomas in debut (Darryl Slater) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Devin Smith won't play for Jets against Cleveland Browns, but he's getting better (Dom Cosentino) ................... 30

Daily Clips Cont.

2 | P a g e

Muhammad Wilkerson: Jets 'can be the No. 1 defense in this league' (Dom Cosentino) ...................................... 31

How does the new Jets Cash program work for fans at MetLife Stadium? Here's a quick guide (Darryl Slater ..... 32

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 33

Jets WR Brandon Marshall clarifies Deflategate race remarks, says they weren't aimed at judge Richard Berman (Kevin Armstrong) ................................................................................................................................................... 33

Not so fast: Jets offense can get up to speed (Manish Mehta) ............................................................................... 34

Jets, originally called the Titans, play first ever game at Polo Grounds in 1960 (Dick Young) ............................... 35

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 37

Brandon Marshall addresses the controversy surrounding his Inside the NFL comments (Kristian Dyer) ............. 37

In quarterback change, Jets receivers must adjust to new style (Kristian Dyer) ..................................................... 38

Jets didn't know what they had in Amaro, but do in Enunwa (Kristian Dyer) ......................................................... 39

THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 40

ASSOCIATED PRESS

McCown, Fitzpatrick the latest QBs to start for Browns, Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 10, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/mccown-fitzpatrick-latest-qbs-start-browns-jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The quarterback carousel takes another spin on Sunday for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.

Both franchises will add another name to their lengthy lists of signal callers in a matchup of well-traveled veterans at MetLife Stadium when the Browns' Josh McCown and the Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick make their regular-season debuts for their new teams.

The 36-year-old McCown is with his ninth NFL franchise after signing a three-year deal with the Browns in March as a free agent.

"We're confident with Josh," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "He's come in and been everything we thought he would be, and then some."

He'll also be the 23rd quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999, a stretch that includes Tim Couch, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel — who's expected to serve as the backup Sunday after dealing with a sore elbow the past few weeks.

McCown went 1-10 as a starter for Tampa Bay last season, and he'll be hoping to help the Browns turn around their opening-day fortunes. Cleveland has lost 10 straight openers and is 1-15 in Week 1 since the team's expansion return in 1999. One positive: The Browns are 3-0 against the Jets all-time in opening-day matchups.

"It's our job to put him in situations where he can thrive and I think that's true with any team, but especially true for us," Pettine said of McCown. "To me, he's only going to be as good as his supporting cast."

The Jets acquired Fitzpatrick from Houston in March to serve as insurance for starter Geno Smith. It looks like a stroke of genius, or luck, by general manager Mike Maccagnan after Smith was lost for at least the

Daily Clips Cont.

3 | P a g e

first four weeks of the season when he had his jaw broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali last month.

So, instead of Smith, Fitzpatrick will make the start just nine months after breaking his left leg in a game for the Texans.

"Getting reps in practice and having a few weeks under my belt now and being able to work with our guys, that certainly helps," Fitzpatrick said. "It helps with everything, the timing, the communication, all that stuff."

Fitzpatrick will also have the distinction of being the 28th quarterback to start for the Jets since Joe Namath's last game for the franchise in 1976. That's a list that frustrated Jets fans can recite by heart, from Richard Todd to Ken O'Brien to Glenn Foley to Chad Pennington to Mark Sanchez.

Here are some other things to know about the season opener between the Browns and Jets:

SUPER BOWLES: Coach Todd Bowles will make his regular-season debut for the Jets, who fired Rex Ryan in December after six years and hired the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year after two terrific years as Arizona's defensive coordinator. It won't be Bowles' head coaching debut, though. He went 2-1 as Miami's interim coach in 2011, when the Dolphins fired Tony Sparano.

PETTINE'S RETURN: After serving as Ryan's defensive coordinator from 2009-12, Pettine took the same position with Buffalo in 2013 as faced the Jets twice that season, going 1-1. But, this is the first time he'll come to MetLife Stadium as an opposing head coach.

"There's a couple of us that were there, so it'll be interesting," said Pettine, entering his second season with the Browns. "I have great memories — not all great — but for the most part, great memories of New York and my time there."

REVIS ISLAND — THE SEQUEL: After the Jets' secondary was a glaring weakness last season, Maccagnan went out and made a splash by revamping the cornerback and safety spots. No move was bigger than bringing Darrelle Revis back, instantly giving Bowles a shutdown cornerback and welcoming home a franchise great. Revis played for New York from 2007-12 before a bitter contract dispute led to the Jets trading him to Tampa Bay. He signed with New England last year and helped lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory, but is now back where it all began for him.

BROWNS BACKFIELD: Cleveland parted ways with Terrance West, the team's leading rusher last season, when it traded him to Tennessee last week. Isaiah Crowell is expected to be the Browns' lead back with rookie Duke Johnson having a prominent role in new coordinator John DeFilippo's system.

Johnson is back after recovering from his first career concussion while trying to catch a pass on Aug. 29 against Tampa Bay.

MARSHALL PLAN: The Jets' trade for Brandon Marshall in March gave them a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, providing Eric Decker with the perfect complement in new coordinator Chan Gailey's offense. Marshall has pronounced himself healthy after an injury-filled season in Chicago that ended his streak of five straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving. He could draw Browns cornerback Joe Haden on Sunday, making for a marquee matchup to watch.

Back_to_Top

So far, rookie Leonard Williams everything Jets hoped for (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 10, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/so-far-rookie-leonard-williams-everything-jets-hoped

Daily Clips Cont.

4 | P a g e

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Leonard Williams is a large man with huge hair and enormous expectations.

Well, that's no big deal for the New York Jets rookie defensive end.

The No. 6 overall pick has been in the spotlight for years, anchoring USC's defense while beefing up a football resume that had some believing he was the best overall talent in the draft this year. Williams is all set for his NFL regular-season debut, the capper to a life-changing last few months.

"I thought I was going to be feeling a lot more anxiety and stuff right now, but I feel the preseason definitely calmed that down for me," Williams said Thursday. "It gave me a good feel for going against other competition in the NFL besides just my teammates. I feel like preseason prepared me well for this."

Williams has had a solid summer for the Jets, impressing his coaches and teammates. He walked into a situation in which New York's defensive line was already loaded, so he doesn't have to be a savior.

"Leonard is everything we thought he would be coming out," defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. "Hardworking guy and extremely talented."

The Jets just want him to be a playmaking complement to defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and nose tackle Damon Harrison while fellow end Sheldon Richardson is suspended the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

"Leonard came in and what impressed us early on was that his mental (approach) was very good," coach Todd Bowles said. "He asks a lot of questions, and that's rare for a rookie coming in like that."

The 6-foot-5, 302-pound Williams is a physical presence, and his puffed-out lion-like mane — he's nicknamed "Big Cat" — catches your eye whenever he walks into the locker room. Out on the field, he was a force in college, regularly disrupting opponents' backfield and getting up close and personal with quarterbacks as he drove them into the turf.

After a quiet first preseason game with the Jets, Williams had a breakout performance against Atlanta with 1 1/2 sacks, including a safety.

"The first game, I was saying that I felt like I wasn't getting enough snaps and I felt like I wasn't making any tackles or plays," Williams said. "So being able to get some stats in the game after that, like some tackles, it definitely boosted my confidence a little bit and showed me that I could do this at the next level."

Williams injured a muscle behind his knee during the Jets' third preseason game against the Giants, but expects to be a full-go for the season opener against Cleveland on Sunday.

"There's still a little bit of pain and it was really sore the day after our first practice Monday," Williams said. "I'm feeling more comfortable on it now."

Since being drafted, the 21-year-old Williams has moved to New Jersey, gotten his driver's license, and gone through his first NFL training camp.

The next milestone will be Sunday against the Browns, when Williams expects to feel a few butterflies before the game.

"I'm pretty sure I will," he said, relating it to his first college game against Hawaii in 2012. "It goes away after the first play."

Williams is also sporting a new jersey number these days, switching on Monday from No. 62 to No. 92. He wore No. 94 at USC, but that number belongs to Harrison. So, Williams had to wait until final roster cuts to get something in the 90s.

Daily Clips Cont.

5 | P a g e

He had three options: 92, 93 and 95. Williams went for the number that former Pro Bowl defensive end Shaun Ellis once wore for the Jets during an 11-year career with the franchise.

"I knew of him before," Williams said, "and after the numbers were available, a lot of people were telling me, 'You know, Shaun Ellis' name was 'Big Katt,' too,' so I started looking up his highlights and stuff like that."

So, what did he think?

"I think he's nasty, as you should be as a defensive lineman, and I felt he just gets after it," Williams said. "So I hope I can honor him."

Williams is working at staying consistent, and being a guy who Bowles and Rodgers can rely on to get to the quarterback when needed and stop the run at other times.

"I guess I've always kind of been under pressure ever since I got to college," Williams said. "I'm used to playing under pressure now. It's kind of something that drives me instead of hinders me."

Back_to_Top

Jets' Marshall: Race comments 'had nothing to do with judge' (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 10, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-marshall-race-comments-had-nothing-do-judge

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Brandon Marshall will continue to offer his opinions on NFL issues in his TV gig, and the New York Jets wide receiver stands by his latest comments.

Marshall made headlines Tuesday night on Showtime's "Inside The NFL" when he said that many NFL players believe that white players are treated differently by the league when it comes to discipline. Marshall was asked about his comments Thursday, and clarified that he wasn't referring specifically to the federal judge who dropped Tom Brady's four-game suspension following the "Deflategate" scandal with New England.

"It had nothing to do with the judge," Marshall said. "I was just saying what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players. It had nothing to do with the case. It was just our approach."

Marshall, a regular analyst on the show, had said he spoke to a number of players of different races in some NFL locker rooms. In those discussions, he came to the conclusion that there are lots of NFL players "that believe that white players, specifically at the quarterback position, are treated differently."

He declined to take any further questions Thursday about those comments.

"The only thing I will say about what whole deal is," Marshall said, "I think we all know, whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics, it's uncomfortable and it can be tough at times."

Jets coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that he has no problem with Marshall speaking his mind, but wants his players to be careful when doing so.

"I think his opinion is well-warranted in what he said," Bowles said. "I'm sure you have cases back when I played. I've seen some things just as he's seen some things, but I'm not on that platform, he is, and he's got to be smarter."

The 31-year-old Marshall is in his second season on "Inside The NFL," and said he values his role on the show of being able to provide players' perspectives on NFL issues.

Daily Clips Cont.

6 | P a g e

"I think it's very intriguing for the average fan to get an inside look into what the players are thinking," he said. "Get an inside look at what's going on in the locker room."

Marshall doesn't want to criticize his team during the TV discussions — or, other teams, and potentially antagonize opponents. But all bets are off when he retires from playing.

"Whew!" he said, smiling "A lot of headlines!"

Back_to_Top

Oh snap! Life of an NFL long snapper a pressure-packed gig (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 11, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/oh-snap-life-nfl-long-snapper-pressure-packed-gig

NEW YORK (AP) — As the family legend goes, Tanner Purdum was about 3 when he reached down and grabbed a football, crouched and launched it between his legs for the first time.

The ball didn't travel very far, but a long snapper was born.

"For me, I could do that before I could even throw," said Purdum, entering his sixth season with the New York Jets. "Whenever I could do it without falling on my head."

Purdum has followed in a long line of long snappers. His father, a football coach, did it in college. So did his grandfather. His uncles can snap, and so can his sisters.

"It's one of those things," Purdum said with a smile, "that we can all just bring out of the bag of tricks that we can do that other people can't."

Sure, snapping a football looks simple enough, with videos of players zipping footballs through tires and into trash cans or other targets all over the Internet. Long snapping camps have also cropped up around the country, run by current and former pros. But the amount of speed and precision that goes into being a good long snapper might be one of the most underrated and pressure-packed gigs in all of sports.

Some call it a skill, while others consider it an absolute art.

"It's about 50-50," said Tennessee's Beau Brinkley, entering his fourth NFL season. "I look at it as an art just because of the complexity as well as the simplicity."

NFL teams frequently had players pull double-duty in the past, using an offensive lineman, linebacker or tight end. Today, the role is considered so highly specialized that every team dedicates a roster spot to a player whose primary job is to solely snap the football and help on punt coverage.

"Sometimes guys will look over and say: 'What did you do at practice today?'" said the Giants' Zak DeOssie, in his ninth season. "Then they turn on the film and see me turn around like a crazed animal on punts."

The job requirements include being able to fire a spiral to the punter 15 yards away — 7 or 8 yards to the holder on field goals — between 0.7 and 0.8 seconds.

A long snapper stands with his feet wider than his shoulders, with one of his hands on the laces of the football as if he's going to throw a pass between his legs. The other hand helps guide the ball.

"In college, if you didn't have the laces right, if it wasn't perfect, it was OK as long as the ball is on the spot," said Minnesota's Kevin McDermott, who beat out 12-year veteran Cullen Loeffler for the job this summer. "In the pros, if the ball is an inch too low or high or to the side, you're going to get someone telling you that needs to be better."

Daily Clips Cont.

7 | P a g e

A snapper's body weight rests on the balls of his feet, giving him balance and power. He looks back through his legs at the punter or field-goal holder and straightens his legs as he jumps back to launch the football.

"You've got to do the exact same thing every time," Buffalo's Garrison Sanborn said. "I always use the pendulum theory. You throw that thing this way, and everything's going to scatter. It's got to be in line every single time. Finish with your hands straight through."

Oh, and then you need to block, especially on a field goal, when a long snapper has big, snarling defensive linemen across from him.

"Basically, take a 300-pound bat and slap it across your head and shoulders as soon as you snap the ball," Purdum said. "That's what it's like."

Long snappers are among the lower-paid players in the league, but it's not too shabby a living, either. Brinkley signed a 5-year, $5.75 million deal with the Titans during the offseason, making him one of 14 long snappers in the league with an average annual salary of at least $1 million. Three of the 32 snappers are rookies — Cleveland's Charley Hughlett, Kansas City's James Winchester and New England's Joe Cardona — and their average salaries are about $522,000.

Long snappers are rarely recognized in public.

"I don't think anybody cares to know about long snappers," said Miami's John Denney, entering his 11th NFL season. "There's no glory in long snapping."

DeOssie, whose father Steve was also a long-time NFL long snapper, says he could write a book on the subject.

"No one would read it except for the 31 other guys out there," he joked. "Maybe, not even that."

The job is one of the most tenuous in sports because each snap needs to be perfect. One mistake can make a player infamous.

Trey Junkin spent a 19-year NFL career as a reliable snapper. He was signed out of retirement by the Giants. A botched a snap on a field goal that could have won a 2003 wild-card playoff game against San Francisco changed Junkin's reputation forever.

"If you don't know who I am, I've done a really good job," Purdum said. "If you know who I am, it's been a bad day for me."

Long snappers are used to all the jokes that come with playing the position, the wisecracks about having it easier than everyone else.

"I just say I'm sorry I picked a position a little bit easier than yours," Purdum said. "I thought about it a little longer and I thought the benefits were a little bit better. Until you can come out and do my job, you don't get to say anything."

Denney is 36 and Miami's longest-tenured player, and has no plans on snapping that streak anytime soon.

"The secret is out: It's the best job in sports," Denney said. "I'll milk this cow as long as I can."

___

AP Pro Football Writer Teresa Walker and AP Sports Writers Tom Canavan, Schuyler Dixon, Josh Dubow, Jon Krawczynski and Steven Wine contributed.

Back_to_Top

NEWSDAY

Daily Clips Cont.

8 | P a g e

What's new? With the Jets, plenty (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/what-s-new-with-the-jets-plenty-1.10821059

New coach. New general manager. But is it a new day in Florham Park?

After four straight non-winning seasons, a revamped roster and retooled front office have injected new life into the Jets' facility. But it remains to be seen if the team's confidence is justified.

First-time general manager Mike Maccagnan spent $127 million in the first three days of free agency to rebuild his weak secondary and used a late-round draft pick to acquire playmaker Brandon Marshall. But the team still is heading into Sunday's opener against the Browns with a backup quarterback holding the reins of its offense -- all because former Jet Ikemefuna Enemkpali couldn't control his temper.

The broken jaw Geno Smith suffered at the hands of Enemkpali sent the Jets scrambling for a solution to their quarterback conundrum. But the players insist "The Punch" has actually brought the team closer. And now they're circling the wagons around Ryan Fitzpatrick, defending the much-traveled quarterback against the dreaded game-manager label.

"We're starting a No. 2 quarterback who's been a No. 1 for a lot of teams," right guard Willie Colon said. "How he operates and the energy that he gives off makes us feel like we can go out and do our job. Fitz is great, man."

Even Marshall, Smith's offseason roommate, had high praise for the Harvard-educated Fitzpatrick. "Everyone has something special about them. You just have to find it," he told Newsday. "He really is talented with his arm and running outside the pocket. But the thing that makes him special is his wit and his football IQ. It's off the charts."

Second-year safety Calvin Pryor shared similar sentiments, adding that the Jets' former No. 2 quarterback is fully capable of remaining their starter for the season. "If Fitzpatrick can get it rolling, I'm pretty sure Coach is going to keep him," he said.

The events of the past month -- including Sheldon Richardson's four-game suspension and subsequent arrest in Missouri -- could have caused Todd Bowles' locker room to unravel. Instead, it's had the opposite effect. That's because the first-year coach remains unflappable in the face of a crisis.

During his stint as the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator in 2013-14, Bowles and head coach Bruce Arians weathered the loss of several key defensive starters during the offseason, only to lose their No. 1 and 2 quarterbacks en route to making the playoffs.

Asked about the Jets' quarterback carousel, Antonio Cromartie just laughed. "Coming from Arizona?" asked the cornerback, who spent the 2014 season with the Cardinals. "I'm being dead serious, though. B.A.'s biggest thing was always 'the next man up.' And it's the same thing here. It has to be. It don't matter what goes on."

Despite all of the off-field drama, these players believe in one another and their playoff potential. But even though they have "big-picture thoughts," Marshall said, he and his teammates are heeding Bowles' advice to focus on the here and now.

The 2015 Jets not only say they're hungry, they maintain that they're far more prepared to be successful than last year's roster put together by former coach Rex Ryan and former general manager John Idzik.

Daily Clips Cont.

9 | P a g e

What's different? "Everything,'' Pryor told Newsday. "From the coaching staff to the players we brought in. We brought a lot more experience in, as well as two of the best corners in the league [Darrelle Revis and Cromartie]. I think the weaknesses that we had last year, we filled those spots."

Weaknesses?

"Just the team chemistry and everybody not being on the same page," said the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2014. "And we lacked experience. We had a very young team last year. So we filled those spots and we've got more of a playoff-caliber team now."

Colon agreed that having more of a veteran presence in the locker room bodes well for the Jets' success. But he said the true motivator is last year's record.

"Once you go 4-12, you never want to go back again," said the Bronx-born Hofstra product. "That was a wake-up call. If we don't practice a lot better, if we don't go about our business a lot better, we're going to end up back there.''

Back_to_Top

Jets' Damon Harrison still in disbelief over Tyler Sash's death (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-damon-harrison-still-in-disbelief-over-tyler-sash-s-death-1.10827754

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - "Tyler's gone."

Damon Harrison clutched the phone to his ear, still unable to process what he had just heard.

"I was like, 'What are you talking about? Stop lying,' " the Jets nose tackle told Newsday after practice Wednesday, recalling the moment he learned from one of Tyler Sash's closest friends that their buddy was dead.

Sash, a former star at Iowa and Super Bowl champion with the Giants, was found dead Tuesday in an apartment in his hometown of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

He was 27.

"Everybody that's there [in Iowa] started calling me to tell me," said Harrison, who played college football at William Penn, located in Oskaloosa.

They knew each other long before either of them made it to the NFL, and Harrison said he attended Sash's celebrity golf tournament in his hometown every year.

Just two weeks ago, the pair chatted on Facebook. And now, Harrison is in disbelief.

"He was still young," he said. "There's some speculation of some stuff [regarding the cause of death], but we don't know."

According to reports, the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner said in a statement Wednesday that the autopsy revealed "no acute trauma" and that "the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation and additional laboratory testing."

In 2014, Sash was arrested in Iowa after leading officers on a four-block chase with a motorized scooter before running into a wooded area, The Associated Press reported. He was shocked with a stun gun after he refused to be handcuffed and later was convicted of public intoxication and fined $65.

Daily Clips Cont.

10 | P a g e

Though Sash was a star safety at Iowa and went on to become a sixth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2011 and a Super Bowl champion, he remained humble and connected to his community, Harrison said.

"He was a good dude, man. He had a good heart," Harrison said. "Any time he had anything going, he would always invite the local kids from William Penn to come hang out at his house; just take a load off and relax. He was a real cool dude . . . He still showed love to his hometown and the people that he knew. He didn't change one bit."

Back_to_Top

Rookie Leonard Williams picks No. 92 to salute Shaun Ellis (Brian Heyman) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/rookie-leonard-williams-picks-no-92-to-salute-shaun-ellis-1.10830606

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The preseason was over for the Jets, and it had come down to a numbers game for Leonard Williams.

The "Big Cat'' had a chance to trade in his No. 62 on Monday for something more fitting on a defensive end -- 92, 93 or 95.

He had heard of Shaun Ellis, a defensive end who wore 92 through the 2010 season after the Jets drafted him 12th overall in 2000. After the available numbers became known, several people told Williams about Ellis' similar nickname, "Big Katt.''

"I started looking up his highlights,'' Williams said after Thursday's practice. "So I definitely wanted to do it because of him. I think he's nasty, as he should be as a defensive lineman, and I feel like he just gets after it. So I hope I can honor him.''

The Jets need the new 92 to honor the old 92 with his play right away. When they kick off the season Sunday against the Browns at MetLife Stadium, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft will be starting at right end. Williams will replace Sheldon Richardson, suspended for four games after failing multiple marijuana tests and possibly longer after being charged with resisting arrest and various traffic violations in July.

"Leonard is everything we thought he would be coming out,'' defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. "He's a hard worker, a guy that's extremely talented.''

Williams immediately showed that he had a good mind inside that helmet, too. "He understood his assignments,'' coach Todd Bowles said. "He asked a lot of questions, and that's rare for a rookie coming in like that to ask those type of questions and then not mess them up when he got in there.''

The two-time USC All-American could see a lot of Cleveland's five-time All-Pro left tackle, Joe Thomas, and he said there "definitely'' will be some pains in the grow-as-a-pro process.

"It's something new, so I can't go in too prepared,'' Williams said. "I feel comfortable, obviously, but there are always going to be some bumps and bruises going throughout the season.''

There also are the literal bumps and bruises. Williams strained a muscle behind his right knee/upper calf Aug. 29 against the Giants.

"There's still a little bit of pain,'' he said. "It was really sore the day after our first practice Monday. That was my first practice back. But I'm feeling more comfortable on it now.''

Back_to_Top

Daily Clips Cont.

11 | P a g e

Jets scouting report as 2015 NFL season begins (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-scouting-report-as-2015-nfl-season-begins-1.10828118

QUARTERBACK

Geno Smith was a question mark even before his jaw was broken. The Jets have given the keys to the "Ferrari" to Ryan Fitzpatrick, a reliable and proven game manager. If the 11-year veteran struggles, Todd Bowles might have to go back to Smith. Would that be a good thing? Only time will tell. The Jets drafted rookie Bryce Petty to be a third-string quarterback, and that's where he should stay.

GRADE: D

RUNNING BACK

The running game will fuel the offense. Chris Ivory is a beast, the underrated Bilal Powell is versatile, and don't overlook Zac Stacy. The former Ram came to camp with a chip on his shoulder and was determined to make the 53-man roster. Former Patriot Stevan Ridley (ACL) is on the PUP list, meaning he'll miss the first six weeks.

GRADE: B

WIDE RECEIVER

With a versatile possession guy in Eric Decker and 6-4, 230-pound playmaker Brandon Marshall, the quarterbacks shouldn't have trouble finding an open man. Rookie speedster Devin Smith (ribs) will be a big part of the offense when he returns. Little-known Quincy Enunwa has impressed and fifth-year slot receiver Jeremy Kerley is a proven veteran, though it's unclear how big a role he'll have.

GRADE: B+

TIGHT END

Second-year man Jace Amaro (shoulder) was expected to have a big role in Chan Gailey's offense, but he's on injured reserve. Six-year veteran Jeff Cumberland has never been a big threat and is not a good blocker. Kellen Davis (6-7, 265) is purely a blocker.

GRADE: D

OFFENSIVE LINE

Center Nick Mangold is still at the top of his game and Freeport product D'Brickashaw Ferguson is durable; he hasn't missed a game in nine seasons. But there are issues. Willie Colon entered camp competing for his right guard spot and easily earned the job, but the Hofstra product has a penchant for penalties. Bruno Giacomini and James Carpenter have been inconsistent at times.

GRADE: C+

DEFENSIVE LINE

Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison. It doesn't get much better than that. Unfortunately for the Jets, they'll be without Richardson, a 2014 Pro Bowler, for the first four games because of a suspension. Williams seems ready to handle the extra load, but the Jets need a

Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

stronger pass-rush presence. With a big year, Wilkerson could make a stronger case for a long-term contract extension.

GRADE: B+

LINEBACKER

Underrated Davis Harris led the team in tackles again last season with 124 and Calvin Pace has 15 sacks in the past two seasons (only 11/2 fewer than Wilkerson). Former first-rounder Quinton Coples has a knack for wrapping up quarterbacks but has failed to live up to the hype since 2012. Trevor Reilly has emerged and rookie Lorenzo Mauldin has the physical gifts to be a disruptive presence. Former third-round pick Demario Davis had a quiet camp and preseason, but this is a big year for him. Adding another pass rusher would help.

GRADE: C

SECONDARY

The reunion of "Batman and Robin" bodes well for Bowles. Darrelle Revis is arguably the NFL's best cornerback and Antonio Cromartie is no slouch either. Buster Skrine may be small, but he's scrappy and physical. (Expect him to get flagged a lot because of it.) Now that he's back at strong safety, Calvin Pryor needs to step up. Marcus Gilchrist is versatile, plus several backups are battle-tested after being thrown into the fire in 2014.

GRADE: B+

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Folk -- aka "Folk Hero'' -- is 302-for-302 on extra points. One thing to watch: PATs now are 33 yards instead of 20 (Folk has missed only two in his career, both coming in the preseason). Ryan Quigley is serviceable as a punter, but the Jets could look to upgrade. Kerley doesn't provide much of a return on punt duty, but Chris Owusu brings speed on kicks.

GRADE: C

Back_to_Top

Will Mo Wilkerson get paid like Bills' Marcell Dareus? (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/will-mo-wilkerson-get-paid-like-bills-marcell-dareus-1.10830239

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Don't think the Jets' defensive line didn't notice Marcell Dareus' new deal.

"Trust me, we all know what he got,'' Leger Douzable told Newsday Thursday, in reference to the six-year, $108-million contract extension the Bills gave their star defensive tackle. "He deserves it. He's a good player. Yeah, that boy got paid.''

According to NFL.com, Dareus' deal includes $42.9 million guaranteed -- more than quarterbacks Russell Wilson ($31.7 million) and Cam Newton ($31 million).

"Any time there's a big contract in the NFL, somebody might lie to you and say they don't pay attention to it. But we all know when somebody gets paid,'' Douzable said, laughing.

Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

A short time later, Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson addressed his own stalled contract talks and Dareus' deal. "I wasn't aware of that, but congrats to him,'' Wilkerson said of Dareus, who was selected third overall in 2011, when Wilkerson was taken at No. 30 by the Jets.

Wilkerson, who will earn $6.969 million this season, has been seeking a long-term extension since last season. He was hopeful this offseason that an agreement would be reached by Week 1.

"You can just talk to the people upstairs and my agent,'' he said of the ongoing negotiations.

Asked if he's frustrated to see another defensive lineman get paid before him, Wilkerson said: "Like I said, I'm happy that he got rewarded with his contract.'

Douzable is holding out hope Wilkerson gets paid, too.

"I would say yes, but being in this business for eight years, no. Nothing surprises me,'' Douzable said. "I've seen guys work their butt off and not getting paid and end up having to leave. I hope that doesn't happen with him. I hope he gets paid. He wants to be a Jet. And he deserves to be a Jet for a long time.''

Jet streams

G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder) and WR Devin Smith (ribs) were limited in practice . . . Special teams coordinator Bobby April said Chris Owusu still is the leading kick-return candidate and that Jeremy Kerley will return punts.

Back_to_Top

Jets defensive players have great expectations (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 10, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-defensive-players-have-great-expectations-1.10830279

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The bold predictions and routine chirping have been exorcised from the building. But even so, Jets defensive players have high expectations for themselves heading into the season.

"I believe we can be as good as we want," defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said Thursday, three days before the Jets' Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. "We can be great. We can be the No. 1 defense in this league. We've just got to come in each and every week improving and do our jobs every Sunday."

"This defense should be a playoff defense," added cornerback Buster Skrine, who played the previous four seasons with the Browns. "The defense should get us in the playoffs. We have the defense to do it. We've got a lot of talent on this defense. It's just about all coming together."

The Jets have reason for optimism. New general manager Mike Maccagnan almost broke the bank upgrading his secondary, signing former Jets Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie plus newcomers Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist. The Jets also landed the top-rated defensive player in this year's draft, USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

In a few days, fans will get to see just how good coach Todd Bowles' new defense is. But unlike predecessor Rex Ryan, the first-time head coach isn't focused on statistical benchmarks for the unit or interested in making bold predictions.

Asked how good the defense can be, Bowles said matter-of-factly: "We don't try to be good. We try to make plays and we try to stop people. We don't put any tags on ourselves. We're trying to do whatever we can do to win the ballgame."

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

Like his teammates, Gilchrist believes "the sky's the limit" for this group.

"If you look at paper, offensively and defensively, I'm banking on [making the] playoffs," he said. "But I've been playing for a while now and I played on talented teams in San Diego and I only made the playoffs once. So we just have to keep building as a team and the better we get collectively, not just one group, I think that'll tell the tale."

Back_to_Top

THE RECORD

Jets’ 5 keys to the season (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 11, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-5-keys-to-the-season-1.1407865

Jets’ 5 keys to season

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010. The new regime of general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles is trying to end that streak of futility. Here are five factors that will be crucial to the Jets’ chances of having a bounce-back season:

1. Dominate on defense

Even without standout DE Sheldon Richardson for four games (or more) because of NFL discipline, this defense has the potential to be excellent with stars such as CB Darrelle Revis and DE Muhammad Wilkerson. There were some preseason hiccups for the starting defense, however.

2. Take care of the ball

QB Geno Smith had 41 turnovers over the past two seasons, and the Jets believed he was ready to cut down on the miscues. Now that task falls to Ryan Fitzpatrick, at least while Smith continues his rehab from a fractured jaw. If Fitzpatrick can be an efficient game manager, the defense should give the Jets a chance to win some low-scoring contests.

3. Learn on the job

Bowles has displayed a firm hand thus far in dealing with several distractions, and he also must be that way on game days. Predecessor Rex Ryan’s sidelines often were chaotic — remember Richardson’s ill-fated timeout at Green Bay last season? — and a more businesslike atmosphere will help in making proper in-game decisions.

4. Marshall plan

The Jets often struggled in the red zone in recent years, and 6-foot-4 WR Brandon Marshall figures to be a big help in that area. A pass doesn’t always have to be perfect if the talented, physical Marshall is isolated on a smaller defender.

5. Be special

Given the likelihood of close games, the Jets will need kicker Nick Folk to be as clutch as he has in the past. It also would help if punter Ryan Quigley becomes more consistent, which would help the Jets win field-position battles.

Back_to_Top

‘Big Cat’ set to roll for Jets (J.P. Pelzman)

Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

The Record September 11, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/big-cat-set-to-roll-1.1407878

FLORHAM PARK – When high school star Leonard Williams committed to USC in February 2012, he was rated the 50th best senior in the country by ESPN.

So, yeah, he is used to dealing with high expectations.

"I guess I’m kind of used to playing under pressure now," Williams said Thursday, referring to the fact he faced pressure as a highly touted true freshman with the Trojans in 2012. "That’s something that drives me instead of hindering me."

It certainly didn’t bother him at USC, where he was named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, and then earned All-Pac-12 and All-America honors in each of the next two seasons. He came out early for the 2015 NFL Draft, where the Jets made him the sixth overall selection. Williams will make his NFL debut when the Jets host Cleveland on Sunday.

"I’m really excited and I feel prepared," Williams said. "I thought I was going to be feeling a lot more anxiety right now. But I think the preseason calmed that down for me. It gave me a good feel for going against other competition in the NFL besides just my teammates. I feel like preseason definitely prepared me well for this."

Williams was considered by some experts the best talent in the draft, and the Jets believe the 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive end can be a mainstay for them for years to come. And thus far, they’ve seen nothing that would change that opinion.

"Leonard is everything we thought he would be," defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. "The thing that really stands out is [he’s] picked up the system really well, and going into a D-line group that’s had a bunch of talented guys in there, he meshed with them really well. … Where Leonard is from Day One [in the spring] to where he is now, we’re very pleased."

"Leonard came in, and what impressed us early on," coach Todd Bowles said, "was that his mental [approach] was very good. He learned the playbook, he understands his assignments, [and] he asks a lot of questions, and that’s rare for a rookie coming in like that."

Williams didn’t play football until he was a freshman in high school because he was too big to play in Pop Warner. He said his late entrance into the sport "made me be open to a lot of [different] techniques, and stuff like that. Going into [the NFL], I know that these guys have been doing it a long time, so they obviously know the ins and outs of the game."

Williams struggled in the preseason opener at Detroit but was impressive eight days later against Atlanta, recording 1.5 sacks, including a safety. He exited the third preseason game against the Giants with a knee injury, but returned to practice this week and will be under no limitations Sunday in terms of the amount of plays he may see.

Still, Bowles knows it won’t be easy for Williams, despite his talent and his work ethic.

"You expect him to learn from his mistakes," Bowles said. "He’s going to see a lot of different blocking schemes that he hasn’t seen, so that’s going to be part of the growing [pains]. The biggest thing is, how fast can he learn and correct those mistakes and then get better from there? You kind of temper expectations because you know he is going to have to go through some growing pains."

Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

"I don’t really have statistical goals" for the season, Williams said. Instead, he will measure himself by "earning the respect of my teammates and coaches and just being on the field and being where I’m supposed to be. If I’m [supposed to be] in the B-gap, I’m going to make sure I stay in the B-gap."

Williams, who is nicknamed "Big Cat," changed his number this week from 62 to 92, the same as that of former Jets standout Shaun Ellis — nicknamed "Big Katt." He wants the similarities to continue.

"I hope I can honor him," Williams said.

Back_to_Top

Jets notes: Brandon Marshall clarifies comments (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 11, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-brandon-marshall-clarifies-comments-1.1407814

Marshall clarifies comments

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall caused a stir on Showtime's "Inside The NFL" on Tuesday when he spoke about Deflategate and said many players believe white players are treated differently by the league when it comes to discipline.

He clarified that he wasn't referring to the decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, who overturned Tom Brady's four-game suspension.

"It had nothing to do with the judge," Marshall said. "I was just saying what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players. It had nothing to do with the [Brady] case."

Marshall, who is in his second year as a regular analyst on the show, said Tuesday that he had spoken to numerous NFL players of different races about the issue. But he declined to respond to any further questions about his comments.

"The only thing I will say about that whole deal is," Marshall said, "I think we all know, whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics, it's uncomfortable and it can be tough at times."

As for his role on the show, Marshall said, "I think it's very intriguing for the average fan to get an inside look into what the players are thinking. Get an inside look at what's going on in the locker room."

Wilkerson confident about defense

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was asked how good the Jets' defense can be this season.

"I believe we can be as good as we want," he replied. "We can be great. We can be the No. 1 defense in this league. We've just got to come in each and every week improving and do our jobs every Sunday."

Wilkerson wouldn't comment on his contract situation. He has been seeking a long-term extension from the Jets for several months. Buffalo re-signed star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus on Thursday to a contract reportedly worth $108 million over six years, including a $42.9 million signing bonus.

"I wasn't aware of that, but congrats to him," Wilkerson said.

NEW YORK TIMES

For Jets’ Todd Bowles, a Lifetime of Calmly Facing Challenges (Ben Shpigel) New York Times September 11, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

17 | P a g e

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/sports/football/for-jets-todd-bowles-a-lifetime-of-calmly-facing-challenges.html?_r=0

The day Todd Bowles was almost attacked while coming home from football practice, he was 8, maybe 9.

The boys were older and bigger, he said, and they had chains. When they jumped in front of Bowles in Elizabeth, N.J., his friends scattered, but he could not. Left to fend for himself, Bowles escaped when someone yelled at the boys to stop, and the police escorted him home.

No one in his family wanted him to go play again the next day, but he did anyway. He left the apartment carrying a baseball bat, just in case, and took the same route to the field and the same route back.

More than a decade later, when Bowles was a student at Temple, he was accosted again. Walking with his girlfriend in West Philadelphia, Bowles was approached by a man, he said, eager to pick a fight. So Bowles obliged.

Upon returning to his dormitory that night, Bowles told his friends what had happened. At the end of the story, he laughed.

“He’s like, ‘Come on, man, my neighborhood is tougher than this. I can’t believe this guy tried me,’” said the former N.F.L. running back Paul Palmer, who played with Bowles at Temple. “Todd may be quiet, but he sure as hell ain’t passive.”

This reserved but steely side of Bowles has pervaded his first eight months coaching the Jets. Faced with the hurly-burly of their tabloid existence, Bowles has projected a calm but firm demeanor throughout a turbulent summer, reshaping their identity by leaving no doubt as to who was running the team.

His emotions churned when told of two drug suspensions, the resisting-arrest charge that surfaced hours after the team’s first training-camp practice and the altercation that left the presumptive starting quarterback with a broken jaw.

But Bowles quelled his frustration and assessed each situation, just as he learned to do growing up in a housing project rife with crime and drug abuse, or by decoding offensive formations in a nanosecond as an N.F.L. free safety, or by devising such hellacious defensive game plans that mentors wondered how a modest man could unleash such fury on the field.

Billy Nagy, one of Bowles’s former football coaches at Elizabeth High, said that when he watches Bowles’s news conferences, he is reminded of the mature guy who played for him 35 years ago – same confidence, same composure.

Rodney Carter, one of Bowles’s lifelong friends, said: “In all my time knowing him, nothing’s ever really gotten to Todd. He was always in control. You know that commercial, ‘Never let them see you sweat?’ That’s him.”

Instead of submitting to the temptations that suffused Pioneer Homes, Bowles, 51, inherited his resolve from his mother, who, after divorcing his father, raised four children while juggling jobs as a librarian and pharmaceutical lab assistant. He did not smoke or drink or do drugs. His lone vice, friends say, is Chips Ahoy cookies, which he would bring to restaurants and eat, complemented by two glasses of milk.

Bowles abides by the adage, “He who hesitates will be left,” spoken by Flip Wilson’s character in the 1974 comedy “Uptown Saturday Night.” The portrait of him that emerges from interviews with nearly 30 people who know him well is of a man who has been preparing most of his life for this moment: his first game as a noninterim N.F.L. head coach, Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

He has the can’t-surprise-me mettle of someone who not only witnessed a murder outside a pizza parlor but also had to adapt after being elevated twice during a season to replace fired coaches. He has the

Daily Clips Cont.

18 | P a g e

humility of an eight-year N.F.L. veteran who arrived at his first training camp scrapping for a roster spot and wound up retiring a Super Bowl champion. He has the credibility to relate to the emotions and insecurities that can undulate through a locker room.

“He’s like the quiet storm,” said Kenny Bowles, one of Todd’s two older brothers. “If you don’t watch out for him, he’s coming. Trust me, he’s coming.”

Taking After His Mother

The day Todd Bowles’s best friend died, he was 45. His mother, Joan, succumbed to cancer in 2009. Among the four children, Kenny said, it is Todd, the youngest, who most takes after her.

Just as his mother expected fastidiousness from her children, who were tasked with laying out their clothes every night before bed, Bowles is so neat that in college he would fold his laundry before placing it in the hamper. And just as she would hum along to the doo-wop or Motown hits that wafted through the apartment, Bowles mastered the Temptations’ dance moves and fell asleep to a rhythm-and-blues radio station.

Joan Bowles had a rule: homework before sports. And Bowles loved sports, especially baseball (the Yankees, in particular) and football, which he and his friends would play at Jackson Park or Brophy Field or in one of the courtyards at the projects.

If he were playing quarterback, Bowles pretended he was Bert Jones. Running back? Chuck Foreman. His neighborhood teemed with great athletes, so Bowles had to prove himself daily.

“You got better,” Bowles said, “or you got beat down.”

By the 10th grade, he pitched for the varsity team, fooling base runners with a lethal pickoff move. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he played running back and tight end, cornerback and safety, thriving in the aggressive defense and nurturing environment of a new coach, Don Somma.

The day Somma accepted the job, he heard “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead on his car radio. That song became the team’s anthem, commemorated by T-shirts. He preached unity and respect and accountability. Players vacationed with coaches at the Jersey Shore and dressed up to dine with them at fancy restaurants.

A chart near the entrance of the weight room listed players’ grades and attendance, and their performance in each affected their standing on the depth chart. Not once, Somma said, did he have to worry about Bowles.

When scholarship offers arrived, with Bowles choosing Temple over Rutgers, the community rejoiced.

“He was the first guy that I could actually touch who was going to go to college,” said Anthony Rose, who grew up with Bowles in Pioneer Homes. “I said, ‘Whoa, if Todd can do this, then I can, too.’”

Overcoming a Wrist Injury

The day Todd Bowles was told he would never play football again, he was 21.

Summer practice at Temple had just ended, or so thought Bowles, a fifth-year senior. His coach, Bruce Arians, demanded one final goal-line session. Leaping to knock down the ball, Bowles did not hit anybody, or anything.

Extending his left hand – his dominant hand – to break his fall, Bowles landed on his wrist, rolling on top of it. He dislocated six bones and had three pins inserted.

Doctors informed him that he would develop arthritis later in life. They also said his career was over.

Daily Clips Cont.

19 | P a g e

Bowles, who taught himself to write with his right hand, thought otherwise. He missed the first half of the season and returned wearing a cast that looked like a club.

When he attended the N.F.L. scouting combine, Bowles could not bench-press or perform a push-up.

“Who’s going to want a one-arm safety?” he said.

Washington did, though not enough to spend one of its 11 draft picks on him. Bowles opted to sign with Washington because, at the time, the team had few safeties.

From the outset, Bowles impressed the coaching staff with his toughness and intelligence. Washington deployed multiple defensive schemes, and Bowles had to learn all of them, as well as the responsibilities for all 11 players.

In Richie Petitbon’s system, the free safety was tasked with relaying the defensive call in the huddle and then making any changes at the line of scrimmage. His teammates could afford flashes of mental paralysis, but Bowles could not.

“One thing about football players, you really can’t fool them,” Petitbon said. “They know who’s good and who’s bad, and Todd was flawless.”

Brad Edwards, who played two seasons with him in Washington, said Bowles would regularly question the team’s defensive strategy in position meetings, telling the position coach Emmitt Thomas how a particular call left the defense vulnerable.

“There was always pushing in his mind,” said Thomas, who now coaches the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary. “He was always a step ahead of defensive signals we were calling, wondering, ‘If we were doing this, what’s the counterpunch?’ He could almost feel it coming.”

Even as Bowles revealed an early penchant for dropping interceptions – doctors later discovered weakness in his left eye that affected his depth perception – coaches valued his acumen. At one point he started 65 consecutive games over five seasons with the Redskins before leaving for San Francisco, where he spent one year before finishing his career in Washington.

Bowles maximized his physical ability but recognized his football mortality. All that hitting – at practice daily, on special teams, on defense – produced nagging injuries. He was beat up. He started slowing down. He was 30.

“Usually when a coach tells you to run through a brick wall, you run through a brick wall,” Bowles said. “When you start counting the bricks, it’s time to retire. I started counting the bricks.”

Answering a Plea

The day Todd Bowles did what he never thought he would do and became a coach, he was 33. Thomas, his former position coach, advised him to take two years off from football, to see if he missed it.

Bowles spent those first two years of retirement owning a gym and a construction company, relishing how time away from football had helped his body heal. He then worked another two years as a scout for the Green Bay Packers.

Then came a plea from his former Washington teammate Doug Williams, who had been hired at Morehouse. Williams knew he wanted Bowles to run his defense.

The team practiced in a park, about five miles from campus, and the coaches lined the field with chalk themselves.

Daily Clips Cont.

20 | P a g e

“Like a penny with a hole in it,” Bowles said. “But we had fun. That taught me how to coach because there was nothing there. You got to learn how to coach. You got to learn people.”

Williams said: “You’re dealing with a lot of young African-American kids coming from single-parent homes that were looking for direction. We got the best out of those kids because of Todd Bowles. He understood who he was dealing with because he knew how.”

Bowles accompanied Williams to Grambling a year later, then after two seasons bolted to the N.F.L. in 2000 to coach the Jets’ secondary. When Coach Al Groh took the job at Virginia, Bowles headed to Cleveland, where, in charge of the Browns’ nickel packages, he engendered tremendous loyalty from the defensive backs.

When Bowles diagramed schemes on the overhead projector, Earl Little, a safety on those teams, would tell himself, “this is definitely going to work.” As the players stretched during practice, Bowles would pepper them with sports or movie trivia. He developed relationships through deep conversations about family. He further earned their trust by analyzing opponents’ offensive tendencies so thoroughly that he could predict interceptions before they happened.

Leading up to Cleveland’s second game against Cincinnati in 2001, Bowles told the team’s nickel corner, Daylon McCutcheon, that if he ran to a certain spot on the field when the Bengals’ receivers ran a double dig, he would turn around and see the ball coming.

“It happened just like he said,” said McCutcheon, now the Jets’ assistant secondary coach.

During Bowles’s four seasons in Cleveland, the Browns intercepted 80 passes – including 33 in 2001, which remains the most in a single season since 1997. He would stalk the sideline looking for offensive tells, creeping onto the field in games against Pittsburgh, for instance, to remind players that the versatile receiver Antwaan Randle El was a threat to throw on a reverse.

“When we went into a game,” the former Cleveland safety Robert Griffith said, “it was us and Todd.”

By then, Bowles ranked among the league’s sharpest young defensive minds, adapting his philosophy from Petitbon, who said he believed that the best way to beat the opposing quarterback is having him sit most of the time.

As Bowles’s profile soared, he zipped to Dallas, where for three years he tutored the Cowboys’ secondary, and then to Miami, where he finished his fourth and final year by going 2-1 as interim coach after Tony Sparano was fired.

“When he took over, there was no rah-rah speech or fancy Power Point presentation,” said Jets receiver Brandon Marshall, who played two seasons in Miami when Bowles was there. “He just treats guys like men and expects you to do your job. He holds you accountable.”

The tumult in Miami prepared Bowles for his lone season in Philadelphia, in 2012, when Coach Andy Reid dealt with the specter of being fired while still grieving the death of a son from a drug overdose.

Reid’s strength awed Bowles, who, in less dire circumstances two years later, projected the same unflappability last season to the Cardinals’ defense.

After losing critical players to injury (Darnell Dockett and John Abraham) and suspension (Daryl Washington), Bowles demanded more from those who remained. On third downs, he sent out seven or eight defensive backs. Arizona, which finished 11-5, ranked fifth in scoring defense.

“Todd understands that everything is not a crisis,” said Cardinals secondary coach Nick Rapone, who was Bowles’s position coach at Temple. “He will not panic, I’ll tell you. He has a plan for everything, believe me.”

Daily Clips Cont.

21 | P a g e

A Shared History

The day Todd Bowles was hired to coach the Jets, he was 51. It was Jan. 13, and he was picked up at Newark Liberty International Airport by an intern and the team’s new general manager, Mike Maccagnan.

On the ride to the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, they passed signs for Elizabeth, and Maccagnan and Bowles chatted about their shared history. The two Garden State natives crossed paths 30 years back at Redskins camp, though they did not realize it until then.

Maccagnan at one point asked Bowles his playing weight. About 205, Bowles said. How about now, Maccagnan asked. About 250, Bowles said.

“I remember you were much smaller,” Maccagnan told him.

The men laughed.

“It was very comfortable,” Maccagnan said.

Whenever Bowles interviewed for head-coaching positions in the past – in Detroit, Denver, Dallas and elsewhere – but did not get the job, Bowles did not sulk, friends said. They picked someone else, he would tell them, so let’s get back to work. This time, though, he had a feeling.

After a three-hour conversation with Maccagnan that focused on football, Bowles left the room. The owner, Woody Johnson, spoke briefly with Maccagnan, who gave his full endorsement.

“He’s not trying to copy somebody else,” Maccagnan said. “He’s his own man.”

Then Johnson extended Bowles the offer.

When Anthony Young, his former teammate and roommate at Temple, visited Bowles at training camp recently, he thought of Joan, who didn’t like to travel. How close she would have been to MetLife Stadium, where Bowles will guide the Jets in the first stage of their quest to make the postseason again.

Since taking over, Bowles has not visited Elizabeth much. His close friends and family are gone, and he barely recognizes his old neighborhood. Except, that is, for the White Castle, which he meant to patronize in June, when he spoke at the high school’s graduation.

He intends to be here for a while, so next time, Bowles said. Next time.

Back_to_Top

ESPN NEW YORK

Marshall stands by race-related comments, says not about judge (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 10, 2015

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/13625356/brandon-marshall-new-york-jets-race-remarks-not-judge-richard-m-berman

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall didn't back down Thursday from the race-related comments he made earlier in the week on Showtime's "Inside the NFL," but he made one clarification.

Marshall said he wasn't referring to the federal judge in the Tom Brady case when he suggested during the show the NFL gives preferential treatment to white players when meting out discipline.

Daily Clips Cont.

22 | P a g e

"It had nothing to do with the judge," Marshall said, referring to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman, who nullified Brady's four-game suspension. "I was just saying what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players. It had nothing to do with the case. It was just our approach.

"The only thing I will say about what whole deal is, I think we all know ... whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics, it's uncomfortable and it can be tough at times."

Marshall declined to take additional questions regarding the comments he made as a studio analyst on the weekly show. He made those remarks in the context of a discussion about Brady and Deflategate.

He also wouldn't say whether he has the same opinion of the unnamed players whose sentiments he shared on the show, where he said, "There are a lot of players out there that believe white players -- specifically, at the quarterback position -- are treated differently."

Marshall acknowledged he's trying to maintain a delicate balance, providing provocative content for viewers while not upsetting his teammates. On Wednesday, coach Todd Bowles said he had no problem with Marshall's expressing his opinions, but he cautioned the outspoken receiver to "be smarter" when discussing hot-button issues in a public forum.

"As an active player, it is tough because you can't talk about your own team," Marshall said. "At the same time, it's tough talking about other teams, you know what I mean? That's why I sit in the seat I sit in -- the players' perspective.

"But when I retire ... whew! A lot of headlines."

Marshall, 31, entering his 10th season, has fit in nicely with the Jets, according to coaches. His reputation for being a difficult player to coach hasn't manifested itself, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said.

"He didn't walk in here and say, 'This is how I'm going to do it,'" Gailey said. "He was willing to listen to what we're trying to do, offensively, and talking about some new ways to do things. That's appreciated from a guy in my position because I've had guys that aren't that way. That has been a great, pleasant surprise."

Back_to_Top

Leonard Williams hopes to be latest impressive Jets pass-rusher (Ohm Youngmisuk) ESPN New York September 10, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54014/leonard-williams-readies-for-debut-and-hopes-to-be-latest-impressive-jets-pass-rusher

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. –- Rookie Leonard Williams recently introduced himself to one of the most famous pass-rushers to wear a New York Jets uniform.

"Yeah, I met 'Gus-tineau,'" Williams said.

The rookie was quickly corrected with how Mark Gastineau's name is pronounced. So far, that might be the only thing the first-round pick has seriously messed up at in his short but promising career.

Jets coaches and players were quick to praise Williams on Thursday, days before he makes the first start of his career at defensive end against the Cleveland Browns.

"Leonard is everything we thought he would be coming out," said defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. "Hardworking guy and extremely talented. The thing that really stands out is that he kind of picked up the system really well and going into a D-line group that has had a bunch of talented guys in there, he has kind of meshed with them really well.

Daily Clips Cont.

23 | P a g e

"The chemistry of that room is really outstanding. But from where Leonard is from Day 1 to where he is now, we are very pleased."

The sixth overall pick was supposed to be a luxury for the defensive-line heavy Jets. But with Sheldon Richardson getting ready to serve a four-game suspension, Williams was pressed into action early and he's responded thus far.

The first thing you may notice about Williams is his 6-foot-5, 302-pound frame. His athleticism has stood out as well. But Jets coaches have been perhaps most impressed with his mental approach.

"Leonard came in and what impressed us early on is his mental is very good," head coach Todd Bowles said. "He learned the playbook. He understands his assignments and he asks a lot of questions. That is rare for a rookie coming in like that to ask those types of questions and then not mess them up when he gets in there.

"He's always been a hard worker. He comes out every day. You know what you are getting with him. He is going to play hard and play fast and he is going to know what he's doing."

During the preseason, Williams had six tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Of course, Bowles knows that there will be a learning curve full of highs and lows for Williams like any other rookie. He will face blocking schemes and techniques that he has never seen before.

Right away, Williams will be put to the test as he could see plenty of eight-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas on Sunday.

Bowles knows he and everybody else will have to temper expectations for Williams early on.

"You expect him to learn from his mistakes," Bowles said. "He is going to see a lot of different blocking schemes that he hasn't seen. That will be part of it, the growing. The biggest thing is how fast can he learn and correct those mistakes and get better from there. You kind of temper expectations because you know he is going to have to go through some growing pains."

One thing is certain, Williams isn't shy about asking veterans and coaches any questions he may have. He has leaned on nose tackle Damon Harrison for guidance quite a bit already in part because he says he didn't start playing football until high school.

Here he is now, preparing for his first NFL game. The rookie goes into the season opener studying as much as he can and feeling a bit healthier after dealing with some pain behind his knee above his calf.

"I feel like the biggest improvement is staying consistent," Williams said of what he improved on in camp. "And I showed I can get to the quarterback some plays and I showed I can stop the run some plays. But being the most consistent is what I am working on the most."

As for that "Gus-tineau" guy, Williams said he didn't have much time to chat with the popular former Jet pass-rusher. But judging by what Jets coaches are saying about him, Williams will certainly ask Gastineau more questions the next time they meet.

And he will definitely get Gastineau's last name right too.

"He is a pretty good guy," Williams said of Gastineau. "He is always laughing every time he comes to practice because he is always saying that guys are so much bigger now than they used to be."

Few as big as the Jets' newest pass rushing prodigy.

Back_to_Top

Jets DE Mo Wilkerson: 'We can have the No. 1 defense in the league' (Rich Cimini)

Daily Clips Cont.

24 | P a g e

ESPN New York September 10, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54023/jets-de-mo-wilkerson-we-can-have-the-no-1-defense-in-the-league

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- After six months of hype, the New York Jets' vaunted defense is on the verge of its highly anticipated debut. Inside the locker room, the mood ranges from cautious optimism to raw confidence.

A sampling of the latter from Thursday:

"It's kind of crazy how good we can be," Stephen Bowen said. "That remains to be seen, but we have a lot of talent at every position."

Muhammad Wilkerson said, "I believe we can be as good as we want to be. We can be great. We can have the No. 1 defense in the league. We've just got to come in each and every week improving and do our jobs every Sunday."

And this from Buster Skrine: "This defense should be a playoff defense. This defense should get us in the playoffs. I mean, we have the defense to do it. We've got a lot of talent. It's all about coming together."

New general manager Mike Maccagnan devoted most of his salary-cap room in the offseason to bolstering a defense that already had a solid foundation. He re-signed David Harris; signed free agents Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Marcus Gilchrist and Skrine; and drafted Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick.

Total price tag: $96 million in guaranteed money.

For that kind of dough, they should be the Steel Curtain.

The Jets should handle the first test. After all, the Cleveland Browns don't threaten with much firepower, not with Josh McCown throwing to Brian Hartline. They have a terrific offensive line, but it's hard to imagine the Jets getting pushed around up front, even with rookie Williams replacing the suspended Sheldon Richardson.

Schematically, the Jets didn't show much in the preseason, so Sunday will be the first true glimpse of a Todd Bowles-coached defense. Look for pressure, lots of pressure. In two seasons as the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator, Bowles had the highest blitz percentage in the league (47 percent of dropbacks), according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Jets, under Rex Ryan, finished at 31 percent.

Naturally, Bowles isn't feeding the hype machine with Rex Ryan-like hyperbole. Asked how good they can be on defense, Bowles said, "We don't try to be good. We try to make plays and we try to stop people, but we don't put tags on ourselves. We try to do what we need to do to win games."

It would help if his defense matches the hype.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK POST

One conversation has Phil Simms ‘extremely intrigued’ with Todd Bowles (Justin Terranova) New York Post September 10, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/09/10/one-conversation-has-phil-simms-extremely-intrigued-with-todd-bowles/

Daily Clips Cont.

25 | P a g e

Phil Simms had one discussion with new Jets coach Todd Bowles when Bowles was defensive coordinator for the Cardinals, but that’s all it took.

“I just remember thinking that was one interesting conversation, like really interesting,” said Simms, the CBS analyst and former Giants quarterback.

“I was extremely intrigued, like, ‘Oh, my God, when this guy is a head coach watch out.’ He is an aggressive, confident thinker. That’s the best way to put it.”

Bowles will get his first chance to prove Simms right in his head coaching debut Sunday when the Jets face the Browns at MetLife Stadium. The pressure of meaningful games might not seem like much considering the offseason of controversy Bowles has endured, between the Geno Smith punch and Sheldon Richardson’s suspension plus arrest.

Former Steelers coach and current CBS studio analyst Bill Cowher was impressed with how Bowles handled the Smith situation and said he can relate to what Bowles is going through now.

Cowher replaced the legendary Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh, while Bowles is taking over for Rex Ryan, who has a legendary personality.

“I think the most important thing is just be yourself, you can’t be anybody else,” Cowher said. “He knows the culture he’s trying to create. It does take time to develop trust, … I like the makeup and dynamic they have between GM [Mike Maccagnan], coach and staff. Now, let’s get some players. They have a solid foundation in place, and it will take time to translate with a sense of trust and culture.”

While Bowles readies for his first season, Tom Coughlin enters his 12th as the Giants coach against the Cowboys on Sunday night. Coughlin has two Super Bowls on his resume, but has missed the playoffs three straight seasons and has replaced his offensive and defensive coordinator in the past two offseasons to fix glaring deficiencies.

“One of the toughest things is to understand that you have to make changes in your coaching staff,” said Cowher, who spent 15 years as Steelers coach.

“And that’s not always the easiest thing to do, to say you are not getting this done when you may not have the best players. Sometimes you have to do to that as a head coach, you have to shake things up. I like that Tom is loyal, but he is not afraid to make changes. One thing about Tom Coughlin: You know what you are going to get day in and day out.”

But is this his last chance to fix the Giants? This is the third season in which Coughlin’s job in New York has felt in jeopardy. The previous two times he has responded with surprising title runs. One this year would be a shock, as well, with a questionable defense under Steve Spagnuolo, who returned to the Giants this offseason to replace Perry Fewell.

“It’s safe to say there’s a lot of stuff going on with the New York Giants. How’s the defense going to play? What about the linebackers? What about the offensive line? And old Tom Coughlin,” Simms said.

“I’ve been around him enough to know that his energy and desire to win are like it always is. I don’t think it’s a distraction for the team. If you are on the team you understand the situation you’re in. It’s a big year for a lot of people.”

Back_to_Top

Brandon Marshall makes Deflategate clarification (Brian Costello) New York Post September 11, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

26 | P a g e

http://nypost.com/2015/09/11/brandon-marshall-makes-deflategate-clarification/

Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall stood by what he said on “Inside the NFL” this week, but did clarify one thing Thursday.

Marshall said he was not speaking about Judge Richard Berman’s decision to overturn the suspension of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady when he said a lot of players believe race plays a role in how the NFL hands out discipline.

“It had nothing to do with the judge,” Marshall said. “It was just what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players and it had nothing to do with the case. It was just our approach.”

Coach Todd Bowles said Marshall needs to be “smarter” when he is talking about certain subjects. Marshall seemed to get the coach’s point.

“Whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics publicly, it’s uncomfortable and it can be tough at times,” Marshall said. “It’s just one of those things where sometimes you’ve got to deal with it and move forward.”

There has been talk the Jets would use running back Chris Ivory as a workhorse back this season, but offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said Thursday you can expect to see a rotation in the backfield, with Ivory getting the bulk of the work.

“It’s hard for one guy to be a three-down back for an entire season,” Gailey said. “I think you have to get other guys ready and I think you have to play other guys. But we all know what Chris means to our football team. He’s going to get the load for sure.”

Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy are the other running backs on the roster.

LG James Carpenter (back), RG Willie Colon (knee), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder) and WR Devin Smith (ribs) were all limited in practice Thursday. All but Smith are expected to play Sunday. … Special teams coach Bobby April said Jeremy Kerle y will return punts on Sunday. April said Chris Owusu is the leading candidate to return kickoffs, but it sounds like there is a question whether he’ll be active for the game. If he is not, Powell and Stacy are the other choices.

Back_to_Top

‘Beast’ Leonard Williams about to prove he was draft’s best player (Steve Serby) New York Post September 10, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/09/10/beast-leonard-williams-about-to-prove-he-was-drafts-best-player/

It is too premature, and unrealistic, to expect a star to be born when the 2015 Jets open their season Sunday against the Browns. But Leonard “Big Cat” Williams has the purrfect message for Jets fans who may be concerned that he has to fill Sheldon Richardson’s suspended shoes.

“I would say I’ll understand why some fans will be concerned because he’s been here and he’s shown that he can do it already at the next level and I’m a rookie coming in and have to step in for him now,” Big Cat said. “But … I just want to, I don’t know, just tell them to watch this Sunday and I’ll show them that they can be confident in me.”

What the men who coach him and play with him have learned is, indeed, there is no reason for anyone to worry about Big Cat Williams.

Daily Clips Cont.

27 | P a g e

“I guess I’ve kind of always been under pressure ever since I got to college [USC], so I guess I’m kind of used to playing under pressure now,” Williams said. “That’s kinda something that drives me instead of hinders me.”

He is as advertised, the best player in the draft — 6-foot-5, 302 pounds of speed, power and ambition.

“He’s a beast,” Calvin Pryor said.

A beast New York won’t scare.

“What I learned is they got some diehard fans and high expectations, and they basically don’t want you to do anything wrong, everything right, which is not possible because we’re human,” Williams said. “But at the same time, I’m gonna put in the best effort to make our fans excited about the season.”

Unless you are J.J. Watt, there will be growing pains.

“He’s gonna see a lot of different blocking schemes that he hasn’t seen, so that’s gonna be part of the growing, but the biggest thing is how fast can he learn and correct those mistakes and then get better from there?” coach Todd Bowles said. “So you kind of temper expectations because you know he’s gonna have to go through some growing pains.”

Big Cat is no diva. He recognizes as much.

“I feel comfortable, obviously, but there’s always gonna be some bumps and bruises going throughout the season,” he said. “There’s gonna be some adversity I’m gonna have to go through at some point, and just being strong enough to get past those points.”

The fact that he’s an inquisitive sponge helps immeasurably.

“He asked a lot of questions and that’s rare for a rookie coming in like that to ask those type of questions and then not mess ’em up when he got in there,” Bowles said. “He’s always been a hard worker, he comes out every day, you know what you’re getting in, he’s gonna play hard, he’s gonna play fast and he’s gonna know what he’s doing.”

When Big Cat has questions, often it is Damon Harrison who has the answers for him.

“That’s a big guy, but he moves extremely well,” Harrison said. “He does a lot of things that I wish I could do. If you just watched his footwork, man, the way that he moves and still goes forward, which is big in this defense, getting penetration, getting up-field and still being able to shift his feet. It’s Big Cat.”

It’s Big Cat who knows his place.

“He’ll be the Little Kitty until the end of the year,” Harrison said jokingly.

Williams, who wore 62 in preseason, chose 92 over 93 and 95 because that was former Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis’ number. Williams checked out some tapes of Ellis.

“I think he’s nasty — as you should be as a defensive lineman,” Williams said. “I feel like he just gets after it. … I hope I can honor him.”

Williams has overcome a calf/knee injury and said he is 100 percent ready to go.

“I feel like [Wednesday] I was kind of babying it in practice, and I could tell on film, but [Thursday] I felt really good,” he said.

Just in time for Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas.

“Honestly, you try to play everybody the same, and I don’t want to hype anybody up, or hype anybody down,” Williams said.

Daily Clips Cont.

28 | P a g e

Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers can’t help but hype Big Cat up.

“You have a guy who can play first, second and third down,” Rodgers said.

Big Cat recalled his USC opener when he was truly Little Kitty.

“I remember we played Hawaii and it was just sold out, and that was my first time ever in a big stage like that ’cause coming straight out of high school you don’t have a crowd like that,” he said. “It was just crazy getting thrown out there the first time, and I just had butterflies. … It goes away after the first play.”

Catch a rising star.

Back_to_Top

Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson unlikely to reach deal: source (Brian Costello) New York Post September 10, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/09/10/jets-muhammad-wilkerson-unlikely-to-reach-deal-source/

As players around the NFL sign contract extensions, things are looking bleak for Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.

A source said there is little optimism a deal will get done by Sunday’s season opener, despite both sides wanting to work one out.

Wilkerson plans on tabling talks once Sunday comes and not revisiting them until after the season, a source said.

Wilkerson has been seeking a new contract for more than a year now. He is in the fifth year of his rookie deal, which will pay him $6.97 million this season.

Wilkerson had no desire to speak about his contract situation with reporters on Thursday.

“You can just talk to the people upstairs and my agent,” Wilkerson said.

The Bills’ Marcell Dareus became the latest defensive lineman from the 2011 draft class to land a big contract Thursday. He and the Bills agreed to a six-year extension that will pay him $108 million over seven years with $60 million in guaranteed money, according to reports.

“I’m happy that he got rewarded with his contract,” Wilkerson said.

It is not known exactly how much Wilkerson is looking for or what the Jets are offering. ESPN reported there is talk Wilkerson is asking for J.J. Watt money, but a source said that is untrue. Watt, who signed a six-year, $110 million extension last year, is considered the best 3-4 defensive end in football, if not the best defensive player in the game.

Dareus is not a direct comparison to Wilkerson because he is more of a 4-3 defensive tackle, but he still merits a long look when determining Wilkerson’s value because they both play on the defensive line. Wilkerson does move inside sometimes, playing nose tackle in the Jets’ sub packages. Dareus was the No. 3 overall pick in 2011. Wilkerson was taken with the 30th pick by the Jets.

Dareus has a few more sacks than Wilkerson (28 ½ to 24), but Wilkerson has more career tackles (236-201) and forced fumbles (7-2). Dareus has played in two more games than Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was on his way to a big 2014 season when he suffered a toe injury in late November. He missed the next three games and was not the same player when he returned for the final two games.

Daily Clips Cont.

29 | P a g e

The Jets can use the franchise tag on Wilkerson this winter if they do not reach a long-term deal by then. That seems more likely by the day.

Back_to_Top

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets' Darrelle Revis has put New England Patriots in his rear-view mirror (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media September 10, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/darrelle_revis_has_put_new_england_patriots_in_his.html#incart_river_mobileshort

FLORHAM PARK — Deflategate? Thursday night's NFL kickoff season opener? Tom Brady's overturned suspension?

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis might have won a Super Bowl with the Patriots last season, but that was then. There's no point in asking Revis about anything involving the Patriots anymore.

On Wednesday, here's what Revis had to say about a federal judge's nullification of the four-game suspension that Brady, the Pats' quarterback, got for Deflategate: "No reaction."

On whether he would watch Thursday night's game, which pits the Patriots against the Steelers to kick off the 2015 NFL season: "Who's playing?"

And when told the Pats would be unveiling a banner before the game to commemorate their Super Bowl XLIX title, Revis said, "Yeah, I saw that. I was part of it."

But he's not a part of the Patriots anymore, and he clearly doesn't want to pay them any mind, at least with any public comments.

Revis accepted $39 million in guaranteed money to leave the Pats and to return to Florham Park, where he had previously played for six seasons. He talked about Brady's suspension after it was handed down, and he's had some things to say about the Pats not letting his mother claim his Super Bowl ring on his behalf.

But with the Jets set to open their season on Sunday against the Browns, Revis appears to have put all that behind him. As far as he's concerned, he and the Pats both got what they wanted last year. And that was then.

Back_to_Top

Jets' Mo Wilkerson says Leonard Williams gets to 'prove it' against star tackle Joe Thomas in debut (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media September 10, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/leonard_williams_browns_jets_joe_thomas_wilkerson.html#incart_river_mobileshort

FLORHAM PARK — In his NFL regular season debut, Sunday against the Browns, Jets rookie defensive end Leonard Williams gets to face one of the league's best offensive linemen — Browns left tackle Joe Thomas.

So much for Williams getting to ease into this whole NFL thing.

Daily Clips Cont.

30 | P a g e

Thomas, a 30-year-old ninth-year pro, has made the Pro Bowl every season of his career. He is a five-time first-team All-Pro, including each of the past two seasons. Thomas surrendered just two sacks last season, and two in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus.

"That's what this business is about," Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said of Williams facing Thomas in his debut. "You're going up against the best each and every week. I mean, he's a first-round pick, so why not prove it to all the world, why he was a first-round pick?"

Williams, of course, fell into the Jets' lap at the No. 6 overall pick this year.

Why won't Wilkerson face Thomas in this game? Wilkerson explained he usually lines up on the left side of the Jets' defensive line, across from the right tackle.

"I might not see him too much," Wilkerson said of Thomas. "I might see him a couple plays in nickel or something, but I won't be lining up on him [for the most part]. ... He's just a savvy veteran, and he has great technique."

Jets coach Todd Bowles wouldn't tip his hand Wednesday about whether Wilkerson or Williams (who is playing in place of the suspended Sheldon Richardson) would line up across from Thomas.

"Depending on the game, they could switch [sides of the line during the game], or they could stay [on one side for the entire game]," Bowles said of his ends.

Bowles said Thomas "rarely gets beat" and is "just one of those rare tackles. To find a left tackle like that is hard. We're just going to play our defense and whoever lines up over there, lines up over there. We're not trying to match or un-match [Thomas]. He's going to be a tough task for anybody."

Wilkerson knows that. The last time the Jets faced the Browns, in 2013, Wilkerson said he lined up across from Thomas, who has started every game for the Browns at left tackle since they drafted him third overall in 2007 — 128 games in all.

Wilkerson had one sack and four quarterback hurries that day. But according to PFF, Thomas in that game surrendered no sacks, one quarterback hit, and two hurries.

Wilkerson plans to give Williams some tips about Thomas.

"We all talk about tips and [offensive linemen's] giveaways with the coaches and amongst ourselves," Wilkerson said. "If he stays with us [the other Jets defensive linemen], he's going to do fine. He comes in with a positive attitude, ready to learn. He's willing to learn. He showed flashes that he can play at this level in the preseason. So we know what to expect and he knows what to expect."

Earlier this week, Jets defensive line coach Pepper Johnson said he had some understandable concerns about Williams entering Week 1, if only because of his inexperience. Wilkerson, for his part, sounded optimistic about Williams' debut.

"Nah, I don't have any concerns," Wilkerson said. "Any problems that he has, he always talks to myself or Snacks [nose tackle Damon Harrison] or somebody, if he's got a question. We're always talking to him."

Back_to_Top

Devin Smith won't play for Jets against Cleveland Browns, but he's getting better (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media September 10, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/devin_smith_wont_play_for_jets_against_cleveland_b.html#incart_river_mobileshort

Daily Clips Cont.

31 | P a g e

FLORHAM PARK — Devin Smith officially was limited during practice on Wednesday, and head coach Todd Bowles ruled him out for the Jets' season opener Sunday against the Browns.

But Smith, a rookie wide receiver and the Jets' second-round draft pick, is making progress in his recovery from broken ribs and a punctured lung.

"They've got me doing a little more than I've done in previous weeks, to see where I'm at," Smith told NJ Advance Media this week.

"Before I was doing just straight individual [drills]. That's really just [getting tempo with] my routes, going through some of the drills that our receivers coach [Karl] Dorrell has us doing."

But Smith also acknowledged that "the injury is still there," and that he still experiences pain "from time to time," which is why Bowles said Smith wouldn't play against the Browns.

"They're not hitting him [yet]," Bowles said.

(An aside: Smith switched his jersey number on Wednesday from 84 to 19. Now you know.)

Though Smith is expected to be the Jets' field-stretching deep threat, they still have five other available receivers in Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, Quincy Enunwa, and Chris Owusu.

Smith has been out since breaking his ribs and puncturing a lung while making a catch on July 31. The initial prognosis was that he'd be back by the end of training camp. But the Jets obviously want to be cautious.

"This week, I'm started doing a little more with the team" in drills, Smith said. "So I plug in a little with the scout team, and also with the first-team offense. Mixing myself in and just getting those reps, and kind of gauging to see where I'm at."

Back_to_Top

Muhammad Wilkerson: Jets 'can be the No. 1 defense in this league' (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media September 10, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/muhammad_wilkerson_jets_can_be_the_no_1_defense_in.html#incart_river_mobileshort

FLORHAM PARK — Now that the regular season is finally here, the Jets' confidence in their rebuilt defense is starting to percolate.

"I believe we can be as good as we want," said defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. "We can be great. We can be the No. 1 defense in this league. We've just got to come in each and every week improving and do our jobs every Sunday."

The long-awaited debut of the Jets' defense comes Sunday against the Browns at 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium. It will feature all those new accessories in the secondary—cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, nickel corner Buster Skrine, free safety Marcus Gilchrist—plus first-round pick Leonard Williams, a defensive end who will step right into a starting role thanks to Sheldon Richardson's four-game suspension.

And with Todd Bowles, the Jets' have a defensive-minded head coach whose aggressive style is tailor-made to the personnel they now have. According to "Football Outsiders 2015 Almanac," Bowles' defense in Arizona last year rushed four defenders just 47.4 percent of all dropbacks, which ranked 31st in the league. But the Cardinals also blitzed defensive backs on 20 percent of all dropbacks—No. 1 in the NFL.

Daily Clips Cont.

32 | P a g e

So: Bowles is going to be aggressive. And unlike the last two seasons, when the Jets ranked 31st (2014) and 32nd (2014) in takeaways, Bowles has the talent to execute that type of strategy.

Not that Bowles wanted to boast or anything (unlike *cough* Rex Ryan *cough*).

"We don't put tags on ourselves," Bowles said.

Skrine, who will face his former team on Sunday, took Wilkerson's words a step further.

"This defense should be a playoff defense," Skrine said. "The defense should get us in the playoffs. We have the defense to it. We've got a lot of talent on this defense. It's just about all coming together."

Said Cromartie, who played with Bowles last year with the Cardinals but is back with the Jets, for whom he played from 2010-13: "I think I'm more excited this year than I [have been] probably my whole career."

Gilchrist said "the sky's the limit," but he also tempered that a bit by saying, "We've got to put all the pieces together. You can't just show up and go off the names."

Cromartie acknowledged that "on paper we look good," but he also said he didn't know how good the defense could be.

"I couldn't tell you how good we're going to be," Cromartie said. "I think, for us, we're only concerned with the left column, for wins and losses, and that's it."

Back_to_Top

How does the new Jets Cash program work for fans at MetLife Stadium? Here's a quick guide (Darryl Slater NJ Advance Media September 11, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/how_does_the_new_jets_cash_program_work_heres_a_qu.html#incart_river

Last season, the Jets introduced a program called Jets Rewards.

You might recall that, back then, we offered you a guide to how it works.

This season, the Jets are rolling out a new phase of the Jets Rewards program, just in time for Sunday's season opener against the Browns at MetLife Stadium.

It's called Jets Cash.

And once again, we'll give you a quick guide to how it works:

So what is Jets Cash? Jets Rewards members can load money onto their Jets Rewards cards, via the rewards program's portal (click here for that). That loaded money is known as Jets Cash. It's your own money, transferred via a credit or debit card, onto your Jets Rewards card, through that portal. Marty McFly would love this stuff.

Do I need to get another card? No, all your Jets Cash goes onto the Jets Rewards card that you already have. So you don't need to worry about your wallet turning into George Costanza's.

What can I do with Jets Cash? You can use it at concession stands and retail locations throughout MetLife Stadium. So you can buy anything from nachos to a Brandon Marshall jersey — and everything in between.

What if I don't want to keep reloading the card? There's a simple solution. Jets Cash has an optional auto-reload feature that makes sure your card balance never runs out. If you choose this feature, your card will

Daily Clips Cont.

33 | P a g e

reload every time the balance drops below a certain number — like an E-ZPass. Except drinking beer at a football game with your friends is more fun than rolling through a toll booth.

How much does it cost to enroll in the Jets Cash program? Zero dollars. But it is optional. You don't have to enroll in this program just because you're a Jets Rewards remember. But you need to be a Jets Rewards member if you want to enroll.

So what's the advantage to participating? Why not just use my credit card at MetLife Stadium? Free Jets Cash to spend at the stadium. That's the advantage. This free Jets Cash is called Bonus Bucks. The Jets will put $20 worth on your Jets Rewards card just for enrolling in this program (one $20 welcome gift per Jets Rewards account). If you're a MasterCard user (credit or debit card), then MasterCard will give you an additional $20 welcome gift for enrolling in Jets Cash. Just make sure you load up your Jets Cash balance with that MasterCard. And if you decide to do the auto reload thing with a MasterCard, you get 5 percent of the auto reload amount as a bonus.

How can I manage my account? At that portal we mentioned up top. Here's the link again. Anything connected to your Jets Rewards account — tickets, points, rewards, Jets Cash — happens at the portal. So bookmark that link, gang.

How do I actually use Jets Cash at games? When you're at the cash register, with those nachos or that Marshall jersey in hand, just look for the "tap here to pay" signs. Follow those instructions. It's as simple as that.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets WR Brandon Marshall clarifies Deflategate race remarks, says they weren't aimed at judge Richard Berman (Kevin Armstrong) New York Daily News September 10, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-wr-brandon-marshall-clarifies-deflategate-race-remarks-article-1.2356358

Jets wideout Brandon Marshall stood by his race-related comments regarding the nullification of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension, but he also offered one clarification Thursday afternoon.

Marshall maintained that he was not referring to U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman when he suggested that the NFL gives preferential treatment to white players when meting out discipline. Marshall initially offered his thoughts on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” and insisted that he was comfortable delving into topics that other current players might steer away from to avoid controversy.

“It had nothing to do with the judge,” Marshall said. “I was just saying what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players. It had nothing to do with the case. It was just our approach.”

“The only thing I will say about that whole deal is, I think we all know . . . whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics, it’s uncomfortable and it can be tough at times.”

On the show, during a discussion about Brady and the fallout from Deflategate, Marshall said, “There are a lot of players out there that believe white players — specifically, at the quarterback position — are treated differently.” He also broached “the race card.”

Aside from the judge clarification, Marshall declined to talk about the topic when pressed by reporters at his locker.

Daily Clips Cont.

34 | P a g e

“I’m ready to move onto football,” he said.

Marshall, 31, now in his 10th season, joined the Jets in the offseason, and is expected to be a top target heading into Sunday’s opener against the Browns. He was part of the same show last season while playing with the Chicago Bears and noted that he is a veteran of the television world. Jets coach Todd Bowles spoke with Marshall following this week’s comments and cautioned that Marshall needed to be “smarter” in addressing some issues. Bowles called the remarks “well-warranted.”

Marshall made clear that he was fine, no matter the backlash or attention that his statements draw.

“I’m OK with being uncomfortable,” Marshall said. “I actually do better in uncomfortable situations. That’s just where I come from. I’ve always strived in those situations.”

His performance on the field has been solid throughout the last month. He welcomed the challenge of going up against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis on a daily basis and will run routes opposite wideout Eric Decker in a developing offense. Marshall appeared to be developing rhythm with Geno Smith before the quarterback was sidelined due to a broken jaw. He will have to be on the same page as Ryan Fitzpatrick when he battles Browns cornerback Joe Haden. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey commended Marshall for his approach.

“He didn’t walk in here and say, ‘This is how I’m going to do it,’” Gailey said. “He was willing to listen to what we’re trying to do, offensively, and talking about some new ways to do things. That’s appreciated from a guy in my position because I’ve had guys that aren’t that way. That has been a great, pleasant surprise.”

Marshall believes his experience — he’s with his fourth team — gives him a unique perspective.

Marshall also made clear his words would make waves once he retired and no longer cared about how they could be construed

“When I retire . . . whew!” he said. “A lot of headlines.”

MO MONEY

Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson boasted that his group “could be the No. 1 defense in the league,” but he said there was no progress on a new contract extension for him. A source close to the situation told The News that there is no hard deadline to get a deal done by Sunday.

Back_to_Top

Not so fast: Jets offense can get up to speed (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News September 10, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-not-fast-jets-o-speed-article-1.2356400

It’s a long shot that Chan Gailey and Ryan Fitzpatrick have been serenading strangers with The Righteous Brothers on One Jets Drive, but it’s impossible to rule out both of them slipping on aviator shades in search of the missing piece on offense.

The Jets, after all, have the need for speed.

For all the wrinkles that Gailey has installed this offseason to diversify his scheme, there’s no substitute for good old-fashioned velocity.

The Jets have a few quality pieces around Fitzpatrick, but there’s a glaring lack of speed to stress defenses through the air. A couple of broken ribs and a partially punctured lung sidelined second-round speedster

Daily Clips Cont.

35 | P a g e

Devin Smith, who averaged 20.7 yards per catch in college, for more than a month and will keep the receiver out of the season opener against the Browns on Sunday.

“It’s important to have guys that either that can run by or that have the ball skills to jump up and make a catch to get those chunk plays every now and again,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s important for every offense and something we’re going to try to continue to get better at. You have to be able to take the top off a defense.”

There’s obvious value to having a speed component, but there are myths that must be debunked.

Straight-line deep speed isn’t nearly enough to solve all the problems. There’s a reason the league isn’t littered with Usain Bolts. A fast 40-yard dash guarantees nothing on fall Sundays.

“It’s dangerous if a guy can do more than stretch the field,” Todd Bowles said of defending speedsters. “If he can run the intermediate routes and he’s got good hands, can block and run the shallow routes and catch screens, it makes him dangerous. If he’s just a deep guy, then it doesn’t bother the (defensive) game plan at all. But if he has another skill set in addition to that, then you’re going to have to pay attention to him a little more.”

Translation: One-trick ponies don’t scare anyone.

Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are hardly burners, but both consistently threaten defenses with their brains. Bowles maintains that the real battle between a receiver and cornerback occurs within the first five yards of the line of the scrimmage.

If the receiver is re-routed after the snap, his ability to stretch the field will be significantly compromised. If the defensive back can’t successfully cut off the receiver’s intended path, he’s just begging to get beat deep or flagged for pass interference while scrambling to catch up.

Marshall has carved out a difference-making career by winning the physical battle at the line of scrimmage and the mental one for 60 minutes, so he isn’t afraid to proclaim that “just having a fast guy is overrated.”

“I don’t think you have to be fast to go deep,” Marshall said. “You have to do a great job of making sure your deep routes complement your shorter routes. The release I give on a slant route is going to set up my go route in the second quarter. So if you watch how I play, a lot of the stuff looks the same. I’m just trying to get the DB to stutter his feet just for a second to get that inch that I need.”

You don’t need a track and field Olympic medalist to thrive on Sundays. Tom Brady dinked and dunked his way to a championship last season. The Seahawks leaned on a nasty running game and nastier defense to reach the mountaintop a year earlier. In some ways, speed is a luxury more than a necessity. Gailey’s spreads offenses in Buffalo ranked 22nd, 20th and 24th in completions of 40 or more yards. Under Gailey, the Bills never had more than eight 40-plus yard plays through the air.

“I think if the guy’s smart, then he’ll have a chance,” Marshall said. “There’s a lot of guys out there that understand the game and leverage . . . and understand how to use their body to get open. All you need is an inch in this league.”

Smith will provide a valuable dimension when he returns, but Gailey’s offense won’t be paralyzed without it.

Speed isn’t a panacea.

Back_to_Top

Jets, originally called the Titans, play first ever game at Polo Grounds in 1960 (Dick Young) New York Daily News

Daily Clips Cont.

36 | P a g e

September 11, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/titans-defeat-bills-jets-1960-article-1.2352377

(Originally published by the Daily News on September 12, 1960. This story was written by Dick Young.)

Some 10,000 people and a very wet relative of Hurricane Donna were at the Polo Grounds yesterday as the Titan missile blasted off with a whomping 27-3 triumph. It wasn't much of a day, and therefore not much of a crowd, but Al Dorow seemed oblivious to it all.

The tremendous Titan quarterback flipped and flittered over and through the Buffalo Bills for two TDs. He also, at one stage, called for silence when you could hear raindrop. He was as funny as he was terrific.

Dorow didn't enter the game till the second quarter - shortly after a 15-yard Titan field goal by Bill Shockley balanced the 35-yard placement Darrell Harper had toed for the Bills in the early moments. Dick Jamieson had been the starting quarterback for New York's new AFL team. Though he seemed capable of throwing the ball accurately during the driving rain that saturated the first period, the Titan receivers had extreme difficulty latching onto it.

Then came "rainproof" Dorow, along with running backs Blanche Martin and Ted Wegert- and the Titans zoomed off the pad. Martin and Wegert crunched for short yardage, then Dorow flipped 20 to Don Maynard, who zoomed up through the low ceiling to make a tremendous grab.

You remember Maynard; he's the guy who couldn't catch a football with the Giants as a punt receiver. Now, he's an offensive end, or what amounts to a flanker in the Titan backfield - and he catches almost everything thrown his way. He picked off four goodies this day, for a pickup of 116 yards.

Don's grab of Dorow's first flip put the ball on the Buffalo 18. Dorow then faded back for another pass, saw no eligible receiver, and took off. Carrying the ball in his big right paw, like a dangling loaf of bread, Al skirted the side, weaved through three converging defenders at the 10, and finally was sat on at the 4 - still holding the ball, in full view, with one hand. He must have had the football's lacing wrapped around his wrist.

Two cracks by Martin picked up only two, and when Dorow missed connections on a short flip, coach Sammy Baugh sent his field-goal combo onto the field. But Dorow, with eight years of NFL and Canadian pro experience to back him up, waved him, just beyond the little red the boys off. He was going for the solid lead - and personally.

Dorow called his own number. He faked a handoff up the middle, slapped the ball against his right thigh, and took off with a deep are around the left side. When he got to the 1, there was the hulking form of Billy Atkins, the 'Bills' defensive halfback. Atkins hit Dorow straight up and stopped him, but Al had second effort. He lunged over Atkins, hurling the upper part of his body over the goal as the two men crumpled to the ground. Up went the ref's hands ground. Up went the ref's hands in a TD signal and New York led, 10-3, as Shockley toed the first of three conversions.

Moments later, the Titans had the ball back. Buffalo's Wray Carlton, hit hard on the first play after kickoff, fumbled and Nick Mumley recovered for the Titans. Again Dorow cranked up. He flipped a screen to Wegert, who pumped to the Bills' 40 only to have a clip set the ball back to New York's 45. Dorow then heaved to Maynard, who clutched it on the Bills' 35, just inside the side stripe, and tip-toed five more yards before tilting out.

Dorow hit Maynard to the 15 on the next play, then faded back to look for another chum to play catch with. He saw nobody, so he took off around right end, twisting and cutting into the corner until they planted flag for another TD. If there had been a crowd, it would have roared.

Daily Clips Cont.

37 | P a g e

Dorow's two TDs came precisely two minutes apart; two minutes of tremendous football that blew the game open. There was to be a 29-yard field goal by Shockley in the third, but no other TD till the waning moments when Jamieson pitched the Titans downfield and hit Art Powell in the pit of his leaping stomach at the goal line - just five seconds from the gun.

After the game, newsmen questioned Dorow about his apparently risky method of lugging the ball. He grinned. "I didn't realize I was still doing that," he said. "Biggie Munn used to bawl me out all the time for doing that at Michigan."

Sammy Baugh was too happy to bawl out anyone.

Extra points: fine halftime show under adverse mucky conditions staged by The Cabaleros, championship American Legion drum - and - buglers from Hawthorne, N.J…. Andy Picard's Swinging Titans, a jivy 20 piece outfit, supplied the spot music. They played "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More" several times, but they were as wrong as the weatherman who had predicted "fair and mild" for the day…. Reifsnyder did some strong passer-rushing…. Bills were hurt by first-quarter injuries to quarterback Tommy O'Connell and halfback Richie Lucas.

Back_to_Top

METRO NEW YORK

Brandon Marshall addresses the controversy surrounding his Inside the NFL comments (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 10, 2015

http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/brandon-marshall-addresses-the-controversy-surrounding-his-inside-the-nfl-comments/zsJoij---eJLelkF15WEkY/

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brandon Marshall explained his controversial comments from this week's episode of "Inside the NFL" on Thursday. On the show that aired earlier this week on Showtime, Marshall, who is the only current player on the popular show, said that there is a view around the league that "white players" and quarterbacks are treated differently by the NFL in terms of suspensions and league rulings. His reporting was founded on conversations he says he's had with players from around the league.

At no point did Marshall say this was his belief, just a belief he feels is held based on his research after multiple conversations with players from different locker rooms.

"It had nothing to do with the judge, it's what I thought was the opinion of a bunch of players. It had nothing to do with the case, it was just our approach," Marshall said on Thursday. "The only thing I'll say about that whole deal, I think we all know, especially you guys more than anybody else, whenever you talk about race, whenever you talk about religion and politics publicly, it's uncomfortable and can be tough at times. It's just one of those things where sometimes, you have to deal with it and move forward."

His comments raised eyebrows, something he clearly has a propensity to doing throughout his career as an analyst, which includes local television work as well as at Showtime. On Wednesday, Jets head coach Todd Bowles said he hopes his players will be "smarter" with their words so as not to create a distraction.

Marshall and Bowles spoke about his comments on Wednesday before practice.

"My priority is football, outside of my faith and family that comes first. Second is football and it's a big second. I'm studying the field, still trying to learn and get better. The thing I try to remember is that my seat on that show is to give the player's perspective. I'm not a 10-year vet where I can sit up there and analyze things and be as witty as Boomer and Phil. So for me, I try to sit in that seat as a player. I think it's

Daily Clips Cont.

38 | P a g e

really intriguing as an average fan to have an inside look as to what the players are thinking, getting an inside look into the locker room," Marshall said.

"The other thing I'm thinking is 'Will this affect my team?' There are some hot topics and big issues that get thrown out there but that's the thing I'm thinking about."

Back_to_Top

In quarterback change, Jets receivers must adjust to new style (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 10, 2015

http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/in-quarterback-change-jets-receivers-must-adjust-to-new-style/zsJoik---Xea0j0XChLLZA/

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When IK Enemkpali sucker-punched Geno Smith last month, breaking the New York Jets quarterback's jaw, he not only got himself kicked off the team but he changed the trajectory of the team's offense.

In Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Jets have a quarterback with far more experience – and it can be argued success - in the NFL than Smith. He's also a quarterback who has had success in this same offense run by offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

In 2011 when Gailey was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Fitzpatrick was his quarterback. That season, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,832 yards, a number that would be third best in Jets franchise history for a single season. But while Fitzpatrick has had success in Gailey's offense, he delivers the ball differently than Smith.

It has nothing to do with arm strength, a battle that Smith with a cannon of an arm will win every time, but more on their mechanics. Smith throws the ball over the top while Fitzpatrick varies his delivery. This can lead to a number of batted down balls, as was the case in the second game of preseason against the Atlanta Falcons. But it also means that wide receivers need to adjust to how the ball is being slung.

"They both throw good balls. Sometimes [Fitzpatrick] gets creative and throws from the side. They both have great accuracy, good ball placement," wide receiver Eric Decker told Metro. "I think maybe ball placement or where you have to look. Geno comes over the top with all his balls; Fitz can come from the top, the side sometimes. You need to know where to look to get the ball."

Brian Schottenheimer. Tony Sparano. Marty Mornhinweg (for two years). All reputable offensive coordinators and all who failed with the Jets, failing to lead the unit to even a level of respectability. Since the 2010 season when the Jets had the No. 11 offense in the league, the team has been bottom-third in total offense every season since.

Enter Gailey who, through the working of a sucker-punch, now has Fitzpatrick as his quarterback again. He and his room of wide receivers have had a month now to try and piece together some cohesion with Fitzpatrick after Smith took the bulk of first team reps for much of the offseason.

"I think that process evolves every day, every practice that process evolves. And it has to. And it has to evolve all the way through," Gailey said on Thursday. "You can't quit evolving and getting to know each other from Game 1 to Game 19. You can't. You've got to evolve the whole time; getting to know each other better, getting a feel for each other better."

He admits that there are some changes to the offense as they shift towards Fitzpatrick being the starter...for now.

Daily Clips Cont.

39 | P a g e

With more reps, Decker says, comes a better understanding of how a quarterback throws the ball. This means that the wide receiver is spending extra time on the practice field with his new (perhaps temporary) starting quarterback, getting a rhythm and understanding for how they can and will connect.

He will grab Fitzpatrick after practice and run through a route that doesn't seem to be clicking, working on some minor detail of some sort.

Catching the ball is the obvious bread and butter of a wide receiver's weekly paycheck and it is something that Decker, the Jets marquee free agent signing from last offseason, takes seriously.

Decker plays catch with tennis balls during the offseason - "I think the big part of drops in the NFL are your eyes, not your hands. I have that problem sometimes, looking up-field. It's a good way of getting the habit of tracking the ball before you make a move."

All of which leads Decker to stay after practice with Fitzpatrick to build familiarity with his placement and his mechanics.

But there are also little things that come into play from the quarterback's personal style and penchant for throwing the football. Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, who caught for Geno Smith the past two years and is now acclimating to Fitzpatrick for at least the short-term, said that he is impressed with the accuracy of both his quarterbacks - "catching from Geno and catching from Ryan, I don't think it's a big deal." But he's seeing some subtle differences.

"One thing about Ryan is he has a great touch on his ball, especially if a guy is coming across the middle of the field, running a thousand miles an hour, it can get hard to catch that ball. He does a good job of putting it on you, letting you be able to run with the ball," Kerley told Metro.

"I think Geno is doing a lot better job of doing that. When I first got with him, it was something that – not that I questioned – but it was something you can tell he could get better at. Now you can tell he's come a long way. You can tell his balls have a beautiful touch to it."

Back_to_Top

Jets didn't know what they had in Amaro, but do in Enunwa (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 10, 2015

http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/jets-didn-t-know-what-they-had-in-amaro-but-do-in-enunwa/zsJoik---OZTDbYSnYn5Go/

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- On Sunday in their season opener against the Cleveland Browns, in all likelihood the New York Jets will have only two tight ends on their gameday roster. It would have been three if tight end Jace Amaro wasn't out for the season, but apparently the Jets will never know what they're missing if he was able to play. Shots fired.

The team's second round pick a season ago, Amaro is shelved for the rest of the season following shoulder surgery last week. After leading all rookie tight ends in receptions last year, Amaro was thought to be a major part of the team's depth chart. His career seemed to be pointed in the right direction

Instead, he struggled to see the field even in training camp.

"By the time we didn't have Jace, we were still in the evaluation process with everybody," offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said on Thursday. This is Gailey's first year with the Jets. "I don't know that we know what's gone to be honest with you."

Daily Clips Cont.

40 | P a g e

Apparently the Jets knew enough though to make Amaro third on their depth chart prior to the first game of preseason.

In his place, it looks like wide receiver Quincy Enunwa will benefit by getting more snaps. The Jets will likely use Eneunwa and his big frame in a role in the passing offense similar to that of a tight end. But in terms of a blocking capacity, that role will likely fall to Jeff Cumberland or Kellen Davis, who is an excellent blocker.

"You have to use Quincy in a lot of different ways. He has some speed, he has some wide receiver skills," Gailey said. "We won't ask him to do any in-line blocking but we might ask him to do a lot of other things that tight ends do from time-to-time."

Enunwa was a sixth round pick of the Jets last year.

Back_to_Top

THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL American League

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Acquired LHP Daniel Coulombe from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations. Placed RHP Evan Scribner on the 60-day DL.

National League

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Fired general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.. Named assistant general manager Scott Proefrock interim general manager.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association

BROOKLYN NETS — Signed G/F Dahntay Jones.

NEW YORK KNICKS — Signed F Darion Atkins and G-F Wesley Saunders.

FOOTBALL National Football League

ARIZONA CARDINALS — Placed TE Ifeanyi Momah on injured reserve. Signed TE Joseph Fauria. Placed OT Rob Crisp on the practice squad/injured list. Re-signed G Anthony Steen to the practice squad.

BUFFALO BILLS — Signed DT Marcell Dareus to a six-year contract extension. Signed TE Nick O'Leary to the practice squad. Released DE Cedric Reed from the practice squad.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Agreed to trems with LB Luke Kuechly to a five-year contract extension.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Claimed RB Robert Turbin off waivers from Seattle. Waived WR Terrelle Pryor.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Placed C John Sullivan on injured reserve-return. Signed WR Jarius Wright to a contract extension.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Signed WR Myles White to the practice squad. Released LB Cole Farrand from the practice squad.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS — Re-signed TE John Phillips. Waived T Tyreek Burwell.

Canadian Football League

CFL — Fined Calgary's Rob Cote an undisclosed amount for offensive and inappropriate comments towards an opponent prior to kickoff of a Sept. 7 game against Edmonton. Fined Montreal's Gabriel Knapton an undisclosed amount for hitting B.C. Lion Andrew Harris while leading with his head in a Sept.

Daily Clips Cont.

41 | P a g e

3 game. Fined Winnipeg's Sukh Chungh and Jamaal Westerman undisclosed amounts for unnecessary roughness in a Sept. 6 game against Saskatchewan.

HOCKEY National Hockey League

ARIZONA COYOTES — Acquired D Stefan Elliott from Colorado for D Brandon Gormley.

BUFFALO SABRES — Signed D Cody Franson to a two-year contract.

CALGARY FLAMES — Agreed to terms with F Micheal Ferland on a two-year contract.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Signed D David Schlemko to a one-year contract.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS — Signed C Mathew Barzal to a three-year, entry-level contract.

COLLEGE

NCAA — Promoted David Schnase to vice president of academic and membership affairs.

BROWN — Named Shane Lynch women

Back_to_Top