Erik Boland: Inside the Jets

By Tom Rock

The Jets cut defensive end Eric Hicks who -- was it an award or a slap in the face? -- was named the practice player of the week after the win over the Dolphins. For a 10-year veteran to get that award must have caused steam to start spewing from Hicks' ears. Hicks was a pretty good player and a good guy who just never developed in the system. Too bad. Hope he lands someplace next year.

The team also cut Adrian Jones. Wrong one, I know you're thinking. They should have cut Adrien Clarke. Well, they spell their first names differently, so the pun doesn't work. Unless you say it out loud without writing it down. In that case, well done.

Jones was a starter for 16 games in 2005. He was penciled into the job last year but got beaten out by Anthony Clement and hasn't started since. He's been inactive the past six games, too, so he must have known this was coming. He was also arrested for drunk driving last year, an incident many (including me) would lead to immediate banishment by Mangini. I guess it just took a little longer than anticipated.

The Jets haven't announced any signings to fill the roster. They'll probably have former Patriots DL Kareem Brown pick up some of the slack from Hicks' departure. They don't have any d-linemen on the practice squad. They have Robert Turner and Clint Oldenberg, offensive linemen, on the practice squad, but they'll probably go in a different direction since calling a player up from the practice squad so the team has enough guys to practice doesn't make sense. Maybe a WR with Coles so iffy? Shaine Smith from Hofstra, anyone?