Erik Boland: Inside the Jets

By Tom Rock

The Arizona Cardinals announced Richie Anderson as their new tight ends coach today, leaving yet another subtle hole on the Jets coaching staff. Separately these departures may not mean much – Corwin Brown left as a defensive backs coach earlier this month to become defensive coordinator at Notre Dame – but it’ll be interesting to see how the team’s personality changes with the departure of all those Parcells/Belichick Guys. Apparently those are also Ken Whisenhunt Guys as well, as there’s also some noise that Bryan Cox will be on his way to Arizona and Maurice Carthon, also of that tree, was hired as a running backs coach.

Just a little something from the files of Police Squad -- looks like Nugent and Mangold will have another Buckeye to pal around with:

The New York Jets announced they have signed G Adrien Clarke to a Reserve/Future contract. The announcement was made by General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. Clarke, originally a seventh round pick from Ohio State in 2004 NFL Draft, started four games for the Eagles at left guard in 2005, appearing in a total of 13 games. Clarke started 43 games at Ohio State and was a key member of the Buckeyes’ offensive line during their 2002 National Championship run. Clarke is the eighth player the Jets have signed to a Reserve/Future contract. The other signed players are: DE Darrell Adams, CB Alphonso Hodge, WR Frisman Jackson, TE Joe Kowalewski, DT Keyonta Marshall, DT Matt McChesney and DT Zarnell Fitch.

By Tom Rock

Eric Mangini was named AFC Coach of the Year in the NFL 101 Awards. Well, who else could it have been, Art Shell? Sean Payton, who won the AP Coach of the Year Award (the REAL Coach of the Year Award), picked up the NFC honor in this round of Hosannas. So it’s a little diluted, but it’s nice to see some recognition for what was, after all, a terrific rookie season for Mangini.

As for a guy who is about a decade older than Mangini, I had an interesting chat with Patriots back-up QB Vinny Testaverde today. Basically ol’ Vinny said he’s having a great time riding the Patriots and looking forward to his first Super Bowl. He said he always watched the game at home and imagined what it would be like to be part of the hoopla and hysteria of a championship game. Now he’s a win away from experiencing it, even though it’s not as a starting quarterback.

If anyone can relate to Peyton Manning’s thirst to reach the Super Bowl, it’s Testaverde. In the list of QBs with the most career starts without a Super Bowl appearance, Manning is No. 2 (275) and Vinny is No. 3 (270).

By Tom Rock

Greetings from what many of you will consider enemy territory – Foxborough!

Well, technically I’m in Providence now. But I was over at the Blade (or the Razor, they really need to come up with a good nickname for Gillette Stadium) for the press festivities this afternoon leading up to the AFC championship game. It’s been a while since I posted, and I promised intermittent updates, so I thought this would be a good time to do so. Vinny and Ray Mickens say Hi!

My thoughts on Schottenheimer staying with the Jets are that the Jets will be lucky to get another year out of him as an OC. Most of the job openings this season were pretty mundane, with only the Dolphins and Steelers positions that could be considered want-able. I mean, I’d rather write for the Pennysaver than coach the Raiders. But next year, there could be some big-time openings. Among those already on the hot seat for 2007 could be Joe Gibbs in Washington, Tom Coughlin with the Giants and Jon Gruden with the Bucs (not to mention Papa Schotty, who is apparently coming back to San Diego next year). Add to that speculation that Bill Parcells could call it a career in Big D after ’07 (assuming he sticks around for ’07) and rumors about Bill Belichick’s contract with the Pats coming to an end, and there could be some sweet, high-profile jobs available at this time next year.

I haven’t spoken to Brian about it yet, but I think he has an eye on the future of the coaching carousel (anticipation -- a good skill for an OC or HC!) and can foresee better opportunities with better franchises. The Dolphins may have a lovely complex in sunny South Florida, and Wayne’s private jet may take your breath away, but at the end of the day the next Dolphins coach will have Cleo Lemon as his best option at QB and an aging defense that may have hit its peak this season.

On another note, Ferguson and Mangold were both named to the NFL All-Rookie team. Mangold was a no-brainer, but I was a little surprised by Ferguson. He may have received the honor more on reputation than performance. I thought Chargers LT Marcus McNeill had a better season out of the blocks. Then again, I’m looking at McNeill from a continent away and I’m sure the same flaws I saw in Ferguson throughout the season don’t show up on McNeill from that distance.

I’ll try to post again before the AFC title game, then a couple times during Super Bowl week in Miami.

By the way, we're closing in on 1000 comments on the blog. Bells and whistles for the one who reaches a grand!

By Tom Rock

A hundred bucks, cash or check. That’s how much it costs the players to buy their helmet after the season. Most of the guys did just that, but there were a few helmets that were left dangling on locker hooks as the last of the Jets made their way out of the locker room.

The veterans folded their clothes into Louis Vuitton bags while some of the rookies shoved sneakers into black Hefty garbage bags. Pretty quickly, everyone was packed up and heading out the door. That’s the drama of clean-out-your-locker day.

Kerry Rhodes said it’s odd to look around the room, survey the faces and think to himself: He’s not coming back, that guy is gone, he might be back. Chris Baker agreed, joking that he looked to his left, looked to his right, and realized those guys might not be his teammates for the 2007 season.

A few veterans admitted that, Sunday’s loss aside, it’s a bit of a relief whenever a season comes to an end. It means time to spend with family, a chance to relax, and no worries about being fined for violating one of Eric’s Rules. There’s also an opportunity to rest the slew of injuries that have accumulated throughout the season. As Pete Kendall said, “Football is not what the doctor ordered.”

The mood was generally light, though. Optimism was the over-riding emotion, and there is definitely a sense that a new Jet era is dawning.

The interesting item from Mangini’s season-ender was that he would not anoint Chad Pennington as the starter going into next season. He was complimentary of Pennington, said he knew more about him than he did coming into this season, but said it is a philosophical decision to provide competition at all positions. Mangini also skirted some questions about whether the Jets can win a championship with Pennington at quarterback, and whether there would be an open competition if Tom Brady were the Jets QB. Welcome to the rebirth of the quarterback carousel.

I’ll be back from time to time to update the blog, especially around the draft and if/when the Jets cut Kevan Barlow and Derrick Blaylock (Mangini said today that, despite Barlow’s insistence that he is playing on one leg, the decision to bench him in five of the last six games was a coaching decision; he also said he saw some good things from all three running backs this year, meaning No. 4, Derrick Blaylock, is not long for this team). My guess is that there will be a significant turnover this season as Mangini and Tannenbaum start bringing in “their guys,” the first of which was Matt Chatham last year. At some point, that could also mean discussions with Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan if he is dumped under the new regime there, or Romeo Crennel if he is sacked by the Browns.

Enjoy the rest of the playoffs. Enjoy the off-season. Thanks for all of your input. Let me correct that. Thanks for most of your input. My first season was a blast, more fascinating that I thought it would be and – with 10 wins – certainly more fun to watch!

By Tom Rock

Just a quick info blast for those savvy readers waiting for such info before making their predictions before the deadline in about 40 minutes. CB Andre Dyson is ACTIVE, but that's no indicator of how much he will play. Mangold and Moore are ACTIVE and they'll be starting on the o-line. No other notable moves by the Jets to get to their 45. Blaylock and Barlow are inactive and so is Schlegel. Clemens is the No. 3 QB.

Rodney Harrison is INACTIVE for the Pats. Their third QB is some guy from Elmont.

By Tom Rock

So, you’ve read all of the analysis, watched all the breakdowns and listened to all the chatter. What do you think will happen in the Jets game on Sunday?

Let’s have some fun. Post your prediction for the final score as a comment here before the 1 p.m. on Sunday and we’ll see who gets the closest. If anyone can pick the score exactly right, I’ll give that person a chance to write a season-ending blog that will be posted on the site (after careful editing by our legal department, naturally – that means no cuss words! -- and some serious spell-checking).

In other words, if you pick the correct score – and winning team, of course – you can post a lengthy analysis on how this season went down for the Jets, what they should focus on during the offseason, and how things could be better or worse in 2007. I’ll do my own as well, so don’t think this is some scheme to get other people to do my work.

Family and friends who have been discouraged from posting here in the past are also welcome to join the contest. Even Glauber can give it a shot. If there are multiple winners, we can have multiple posts. The only thing you need to be sure of is that you put an accurate email address in the proper box when posting your submission. That’s how I’ll get in touch with you if you win.

Now, there’s a chance that the season-ending blog won’t run for a few weeks, wink wink. It might not even run until after the S.B. But I’ll start the ball rolling with my prediction and you are all welcome to follow suit.

Patriots 21, Jets 17

Not an embarrassment for the Jets, and not a happy-to-be-there, show-up-and-roll-over game either. A solid end to a solid season with plenty to take forward.

Let the great debate begin!

By Tom Rock

It’s official. As if there needed to be any sanctioned announcement around these parts. Chad Pennington was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year. After two shoulder surgeries, a four-way training camp competition, more doubters and skepticism than any quarterback in recent memory has had to endure, Pennington was the right recipient for the honor.

Jerricho Cotchery spoke about Chad’s leadership abilities, remembering his presence in the huddle against New England after he threw an interception in the November meeting. “He said ‘Forget that, look at this ground, the ball slipped out of my hands we’re gonna go down and score right now.’”

They went down and scored. And won the game.

Mangini continues to shine in front of an ever-growing media contingent. Today he had several sharp one-liners. When asked if Nick Mangold should have gotten more consideration for Rookie of the Year, he shrugged and said Mangold had won the Jets’ Center of the Year Award. When asked about the “handshakes” he shared with Bill Belichik after their two meetings during the regular season, he was even more charming (while digging at his former boss just a smidge). “I thought my handshake was strong. Firm. My dad always told me it’s important to have a good handshake and I try to be consistent with that. I’ve experimented with a couple other different kinds that haven’t worked for me.”

Mangini also said that while Belichick has not been the supportive mentor most envisioned, largely because they coach in the same division, he has received acknowledgement and advice from other coaches including Bill Parcells, Charlie Weis, Kirk Ferentz, and Romeo Crennel. He said he even received a phone call from Lovie Smith this week wishing him well in the playoffs.

By Tom Rock

Heard a stat on the radio today that should make all Jets fans take hope: In the last two years, the road team has won six of the eight wild card playoff games. If that holds true, only one home team will win this year. So root for Seattle and Indy, because if they win the Jets have a statistically better chance of upsetting the Patriots!

Had a friendly chat with Mr. Bill today, referring of course to what Mangini called “the magic of the conference call.” Belichick said Mangini’s name, but not much else. At one point there was a six second delay between the end of a question about his relationship with Mangini and the beginning of his answer. Dave Hutchinson, the reporter who asked the question, waited as long as he could before saying “Hello?” to see if there was still a connection.

Belichick noted that he has never said anything negative about Mangini. When he was asked about his initial reaction to Eric’s hiring by the Jets, he noted that he has never said anything negative about Mangini. When asked about the less-than-emphatic handshakes, he noted that he has never said anything negative about Mangini.

On the flip side, Mangini poured his heart into singing Bill’s praises today, calling his a Hall of Famer and noting his excellent reputation for making game adjustments. I think Eric likes taking the high road in this little spat, and I think he knows that it drives Bill crazy.

Quick Andre Dyson update: the injured cornerback was dressed for practice and took part in some but not all of the drills. He did do some half-speed running. If the Jets win, I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes available to them for a second-round game.

Cutting this one short because of a nasty head cold. Hopefully I’ll be in game shape by Sunday.

By Tom Rock

Just a quick blog today. Without access to players or coaches, just wanted to make everyone aware of this item emailed to me by the Jets:

The New York Jets latest item up for auction to support the New York Jets Foundation is a Wild Card Playoff VIP Road Experience for four when the Jets travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots on January 7 at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The bidding closes on Wednesday, January 3 at 10 p.m. ET.

To participate, to: http://www.nflauction.nfl.com/ and click on the Jets logo.

The winning bidder will receive an exclusive VIP Road Experience which includes: Round trip transportation on Jets team flight (Dates & Times TBD); 2 double occupancy rooms in the team hotel; 4 tickets to the game; 4 pre-game field passes; Transportation on team bus to and from the team hotel, stadium and airport.

Happy bidding!

By Tom Rock

Someone asked Laveranues Coles if the Jets-Patriots dynamic is overplayed.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “but y’all are having fun doing it, so I don’t mind.”

That’s basically the story for the week. We, the media, will have fun stirring things up between the two bitter rivals (the teams) and two bitter rivals (the coaches) in a week-long, drum-banging preparation for Sunday’s AFC Wild Card Game in Foxborough. Are we having fun? Of course! Sportswriters love to read between the lines, and when it comes to Mangini and Belichick, it’s all about between the lines. That the Patriots were so infuriated over their Week 10 loss to the Jets that they literally tore the field up and installed a new FieldTurf system tells you all you need to know about where each side is coming from.

Just some housekeeping, as Mangini would put it. I was sitting at Gi@&%$ Stadium Sunday night convinced that the Jets were going to Indianapolis. I had even written an “About the Colts” story that was prepared to run. Unfortunately the Broncos soiled their sheets and I had to go back to re-write the Patriots package. At one point several of us were gathered around Steve Serby listening to him give us play-by-play off an Internet connection. We didn’t really know that the 49ers had won until Rich Cimini, on the phone with some people who were watching the game on TV, announced “It’s good!” on the winning field goal. A few minutes later we learned that the game would be at 1 p.m. Sunday (which, from a newspaper perspective, is about as good as it gets).

As for the Jets, well, they had very different ways of learning their playoff fate. Mangini insists he was playing with his sons when the Broncos game ended and Mike Tannenbaum called him with the updated itinerary. David Barrett said he called in to the Jets complex later in the evening to find out if he had to come to work on Monday (had the Jets played on Saturday, they would have been given the day off on Monday). Coles said he turned off the Broncos game when they had a lead and figured he was headed for Indy. It wasn’t until later in the evening, when he was watching TV, that he saw the brackets for the AFC Playoffs on the screen and realized he had to play the Patriots for the third time this year. And Chris Baker, a sports fan, spent his time actually watching the Broncos game, knowing full well that his week would depend on the outcome. “It was pretty cool,” he said.

There’ll be plenty to talk about this week, from expectations to denunciations to lack of communications. Have fun, Jets fans. I know I will.