By Ken Berger
I can't imagine how the players feel. It's only been three full days and five practices, and already it feels like I've been here for a month.
Mangini certainly is sending a message with the length and structure of his practices. They're supposed to last about 2 hours, 15 minutes, but if he's not satisfied with the results, they go longer. He hasn't been satisfied yet, as the average length has been 2 hours, 30 minutes.
I'm just a lowly beat writer trying to make a living, and I got here at 8:30 yesterday morning and didn't leave the complex until 8:45 p.m. There was cold fettuccine waiting for me when I arrived, and I pounced on it because from the look in my sister-in-law's eyes, she was contemplating a fourth plate as I walked through the door.
A word to the whiner police: I am not bringing you this online diary-type information by way of complaining. I love my job. I'd rather be a sports writer than anything else in the world. I've seen how some fans are bludgeoning Cimini for offering personal observations from camp on his blog. These people don't know what a blog is supposed to be. IT IS AN ONLINE DIARY! Yes, I am going to give you the hard news, developments, and football observations of the day. But camp is too long and tedious to be serious all the time. So I hate it when one of the beat writers has taken the time to share his experiences covering the team in a blog, and the only thanks he gets is ridicule.
But enough about that. I'm just trying to strike a balance between sheer information and giving you a feel for what it's like to cover the team. Isn't that what people want?
Here's what you need to know from Mangini's morning presser:
* Defensive lineman Monsanto Pope has left camp for "personal reasons." I'd hate to speculate publicly on what they are, because football players are people with families and problems like the rest of us. But I will say that Mangini's camp is not for everybody.
* Punter D.J. Fitzpatrick and receiver Phil Silva were released. The team signed C.J. Fayton, a 6-2, 205-pound receiver who played at Tennessee and spent some time with the Bears, and receiver Chris Baker, who played at Rutgers and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in May. Now the Jets have two Chris Bakers. "That'll create some confusion in the meeting room," Mangini said.
* Erik Coleman (illness) and Sione Pouha, who hurt his right leg in practice Sunday, will not practice today. There will be no further elaboration on Pouha's injury, although it would appear not to be serious since he tried to return to practice afterward.
Lastly, the players are not scheduled for a day off -- ever. This Sunday had been an open date on the schedule distributed to the media, but it has been confirmed that the team will have a second practice at Giants Stadium -- closed to the public -- that day.
"When we get to the point where we've made the progress that we need to make, then we’ll have a day off," Mangini said.
Until then, I've installed an alarm system on the fridge, wherein sit the leftovers.
Comments (10)
Your sister-in-law must really appreciate that fourth plate comment. :-) So, will there be any price to pay for that remark at home?
isn't our coach a little overweight.great example
what a waste chad has become.he can't throw 25 years.when will the jets face reality
Ken,
First off, get your facts straight. Noone bludgeoned Cimini about his blog other than when he said he was going to talk football and then gave some stupid anectdote about how a coffee incident highlighted how the Jets brass was cracking down on the media. No Jet fan gives two cr*ps about how the media is being treated. I agree with Pennington that you guys feel entitled and could give two cr*ps if you were denied access somewhere. If there's a choice between kissing the a*ses of the press and going 4-12 and shutting them out and going 5-11 I'll take the latter. Why don't you guys write an article about how Herm was talking to the press for 3 hours a day last year instead of focusing on the team -- how did the friendly press attitude last year translate on the field?
You guys just don't get it.
Jeff I
Ken, I really think that Managini's methods will work. As I am writing this Herm Edwards is on ESPN News. Did you know thwy practice in River Falls, WI and not in Missouri? Probably Herms bad idea.
Herm again reiterated that you can't practice too hard in training camp because you need fresh players.
I think the hardest we practiced last year was against the Giants. And we got flack for that, but the players never brought that attitude into the regular season.
So maybe Mnagini is right, that we need to practice at the highest level all day everyday to be successful.
Oh and another Herm chuckler. He just said that he is straight forward and that with him there is no grey area. Funny stuff. If there is no grey area with him then why haven't we heard him speak of his departure.
The new regime is far different, and its going to be much better for us fans. Plus it makes your job harder, which I love.
Enjoy the cold pasta.
I appreciate the personal comments, Ken.
I just wish there'd be more about the team, and not so many related to Mangini being tough on the players, or the media.
We know it's hot. We know he's made things tougher for the media. And we know he's all business.
If ya don't mind a retro question... have you ever asked Mangini about his thinking related to the media lockdown?
To him, what's the point?
What are the advantages?
You can tell him I asked ;)
Keep cool... burf
A couple of thoughts, Ken.
If the beat writers don't want people taking shots at what they write in their diaries they should KEEP THEM PRIVATE. Any 12 year old girl can tell you that.
And while it's certainly fair to allow all of you to occasionally mention the difficulties you encounter while doing your job, the Greek chorus we fans have had to witness from the "pens" of the Jets beat writers is rather comical.
But what gets me is that it seems none of you saw this coming, if we're to believe the blogs and columns we've seen so far. It's as if it never occurred to any of you that access was going to be very limited at training camp this year. In anticipating the reaction of the NY media to Camp Mangini, I had expected a couple of guys, at least, to react with a matter-of-fact approach and offer up comments like, 'as expected, our access was greatly reduced' or 'no surprise, the players/coaches weren't available for comment'. But instead, there seems to be an epidemic of female undergarments gathering in uncomfortable places amongst every one of you. That's disappointing.
My hope is that most...or at least some...of you will accept the new constraints and move on, doing the best you can with the freedom and access you still have. But I have no doubt that a couple will frequently mention the access issue--especially as this team adapts to the contrast between the Edwards way and the Mangini way, and loses more than they win. And I can think of one large instance where a particular beat writer will probably mention his difficulties in every piece he writes--no matter how much the Mangini regime ends up winning.
Nobody's interested in your thoughts, JF58.
Your *kind* isn't welcomed here!!
Hope all be well, hombre ;)
Ah, burf, I see you're trying to use Mr. B as your personal reporter. You movie types are all alike.
Hey, if it works, have him ask Mangini why he hasn't cut Justin McTimberlake's sorry association with the club.
All is what it is, amigo.
I am a Jets fan. That is short for fanatic. Therefore do not take it to heart that i rip anyone for getting in the way of the tidbits from camp that i get from your blogs, including the bloggers. If you want a hug or a shoulder to cry on, Herm's available in KC. Suck it up it's still preseason, it'll get a lot ruder.
How are the "other" running backs doing? Anyone standing out of the pack yet? Because if not i too may be crying like a small child by opening day.
P.S.: We do appreciate you and the blog. Just walk it off.