Know Your Enemy: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens began their season by defeating last year's AFC champion Steelers 35-7. They followed that with a loss to the Titans 26-13. Last week, they defeated the Rams by a score of 37-7.

Offensively, the Ravens rank 13th in passing yardage and 7th in rushing. Ray Rice has rushed for 231 yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. His best game was Week 1 when he rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. He also had four catches for 42 yards and a receiving touchdown. Against the Rams, Rice ran for 81 yards on nine carries.

The team had 553 yards of total offense last week, a franchise record. Joe Flacco threw for a career high 389 yards. On the season, Flacco has thrown for 810 yards and completed 54.5 percent of his passes. His quarterback rating of 91.9 is good for 12th in the league. The team's leading receiver is Anquan Boldin with 14 catches for 194 yards. Last year, Boldin burned the Jets for seven catches and 110 yards in Baltimore's 10-9 season opening win.

The strength of the Ravens is their defense, anchored by middle linebacker Ray Lewis, and featuring defensive lineman Haloti Ngata and safety Ed Reed. This season, the Ravens are fifth in rushing defense, allowing 84 yards of rushing offense per game. That's an impressive statistic when you consider that the Ravens have faced Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson, three talented runningbacks.

Know Your Enemy: Oakland Raiders

A 4^th and 1 touchdown pass by Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter of last week’s game against Buffalo is all that stands between the Raiders and a 2-0 start.

Oakland led 21-3 at halftime. The Bills would then score a touchdown on all of their second half possessions.  The Raiders surrendered 481 yards of total offense as well as 34 first downs. Buffalo’s Fred Jackson rushed for 117 yards against the Raiders, a week after holding Denver to only 38 yards of rushing offense en route to a 23-20 win.

Hue Jackson is in his first season as head coach. He joined the Raiders coaching staff in 2010 as offensive coordinator after serving in Baltimore as quarterbacks coach. The Raiders finished 10^th in the league in total offense and 2^nd in rushing offense. Darren McFadden rushed for 1,157 yards and an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. Tight End Zach Miller was the leading receiver with 60 receptions for 685 yards.

The defense finished 11^th in total yards allowed and 2^nd in passing defense. A big part of that was cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha who left Oakland to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Raiders defensive line is led by Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly.

The Jets last faced the Raiders in 2009. The Jets won that game 38-0. What’s most remembered about that day was the sight of Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sideline.

In Injury News, Raiders tight end Kevin Boss will be making his season debut. He had missed the previous two games because of injury to his left knee.

Dustin Keller In The Wall Steet Journal

Dustin Keller gets a write-up in the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP02338d2ed8024d99b44fdcc1b38397c7.html

The Takeaway: Week 2

The only place where the Jets are perfect is in the standings. Despite their 2-0 start, the team has issues in a number of areas. These issues, and how they are dealt with, will likely determine the course of their season. There is no bigger area of concern than on their offensive line, which has been exactly that.

For the second consecutive week right tackle Wayne Hunter had a tough game. According to Pro Football Focus, Hunter surrendered one hit and three pressures. This is actually an improvement over Week 1 against the Cowboys when he was beaten badly by DeMarcus Ware. In that game, Hunter allowed one sack and six pressures. Now that All-Pro Nick Mangold will miss at least two games with a high ankle sprain, the line will come under even more scrutiny. It doesn't help that they will have to face teams with strong defensive lines in Oakland, Baltimore and New England.

While the offensive line has struggled, the running attack has been non-existant. Shonn Greene is averaging 2.9 yards per carry. In two games he has carried the ball a total of 25 times. However, because the offensive line has struggled, it's hard to place all of the blame on Greene. It also didn't help that the Jets were playing from behind against the Cowboys for much of that game and were not able to set the tempo they wanted.

The success of Week 2 has to be attributed to the defense. They beat a team, and a quarterback, that they were supposed to. Antonio Cromartie had two interceptions and also had a good opening kickoff return to set the Jets up for their first score. Good for Muhammad Wilkerson getting a sack and a safety. He was more productive in one game than Vernon Gholston was his entire time here.

Know Your Enemy: Jacksonville Jaguars

2010 was the season that slipped away for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Heading into Week 15, the Jaguars were 8-5, winners of five of their last six, and in position to win a division title for the first time since 1999. The Jaguars needed to defeat the Indianapolis Colts to clinch their division. A win would have given them a season sweep of the Colts, a team they had defeated only five times in 17 previous matchups.

Indianapolis would win 34-24. The following week against the Washington Redskins, the team was without star running back Maurice Jones-Drew who was sidelined with a knee injury. Quarterback David Garrard threw an interception in overtime which led to a 20-17 Redskins victory. In the final game of the season against the Houston Texans, Arian Foster shredded the Jacksonville defense for 180 yards in a 34-17 Houston victory. The Jaguars missed the postseason for the third straight year, and speculation abounded as to whether Jack Del Rio would continue as head coach.

Del Rio would keep his job but Garrard would not. The Jaguars would draft Blaine Gabbert out of Missouri in the first round and Luke McCown was named the starter. Garrard was cut five days before the start of the season.  One area in need of an overhaul was on defense. Jacksonville finished 22^nd in rushing defense and 28^th in pass defense. To that end, the Jaguars signed defensive end Matt Roth, linebackers Paul Posluszny and Clint Session, safety Dawan Landry and former Jets cornerback Drew Coleman.

The Jaguars are coming off a 16-14 victory against the Tennessee Titans.  McCown completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards. Jones-Drew carried 24 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson only carried the ball nine times for 24 yards. Despite the win, the Jaguars are troubled by injuries, most notably tight end Marcedes Lewis who missed the second half with calf trouble and is out for the game against the Jets. Defensive end Aaron Kampman (knee) and cornerback Derek Cox (chest) are also out.

Wide receiver Jason Hill is also listed as doubtful. The receiver with 55 career catches is in the news after making comments that suggested that the Jets, especially Darrelle Revis, were overhyped.

Recent history has shown the Jaguars to be a tough opponent for the Jets. Their last matchup was on November 15, 2009. Jones-Drew rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown. He would have had a second, but stopped short of the end zone to convert a first down and allow the clock to run down, setting up a last second field goal by Josh Scobee from 21 yards out to defeat New York 24-22. It was Jacksonville’s third consecutive win against New York.

Isaiah Trufant Is the Subject of AP Article

The Associated Press wrote an article about Isaiah Trufant after he returned Joe McKnight's blocked punt for a game-tying touchdown. Click to read more.

Takeaway: Week 1

In any sport, but especially football, a win is a win. How you won is irrelevant. The New York Jets did not play spectacularly well against the Cowboys in Week 1, but when they needed to make plays they were able to do so. The Cowboys were not. For that reason alone, the Jets deserved to win that game.

If you’re a Jets fan, I think you give Wayne Hunter a pass for right now. I know some people are getting on him for how he played against DeMarcus Ware, but he is facing a perennial Pro Bowl linebacker with a knack for making any offensive lineman look helpless. Unfortunately for Hunter, his bad game was on Sunday night before a national audience. His situation reminds me very much of Matt Slauson’s last year. Slauson had a rough beginning replacing the departed Alan Faneca but would go on to do a credible job and find his way.    

Rich Cimini had a piece on ESPNY NY saying that the Jets can’t throw the ball 44 times a game often because they would then be putting their quarterback at risk for injury. To be fair, people were getting on offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after last year’s opener for conservative playcalling against the Baltimore Ravens. The guy can’t make anybody happy. The Jets had to throw the ball against the Cowboys because the run game wasn’t working. It also didn’t help that the Jets were playing catch-up from the start of the game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jets surrendered 326 passing yards. I look for that number to go down next week against Jacksonville. Luke McCown is not Tony Romo. The Jets were able to stop the run allowing Dallas only 64 rushing yards. That number could go up with Maurice-Jones Drew coming to town.

To sum up, a win is a win and the Jets should be very happy they survived this game.  

Greg Prato Book Signing

I recently did an interview with author Greg Prato about his book Sack Exchange. Greg will be doing a book signing at Book Revue in Huntington, NY. Wesley Walker will be in attendance as well. Click on the link for more information: http://www.bookrevue.com/GregPratoWesleyWalker.html

Here's a video of him being interviewed by Long Island's TV 55.

Know Your Enemy: Dallas Cowboys

What little hope the Dallas Cowboys had at resurrecting their 2010 season ended on a Monday night in Week 7 when quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone at Cowboys Stadium against the New York Giants. The Cowboys came into the game 1-4 and would lose the next three before Wade Phillips was fired and Jason Garrett was promoted to head coach. Coaching changes continued into the offseason as Rob Ryan was brought in from Cleveland to be defensive coordinator.

On the offensive side of the ball, Dallas shook things up by cutting three of their long time offensive lineman; guard Leonard Davis, center Andre Gurode, and tackle Marc Colombo.  In their stead, the Cowboys will be featuring two rookies in guard Bill Nagy and Tyron Thomas. Replacing Gurode will be Phil Costa who has only one year of NFL experience. The Cowboys believe their offensive line will be better this year and will improve upon a season in which they allowed their quarterbacks to be sacked 31 times, tied for 11^th in the league. One concern has been injuries. As of Sunday night at 6PM, Costa and Thomas are listed as questionable for the game with knee problems.

While losing Romo definitely affected the team, the 23^rd ranked defense was a big reason why Dallas finished 6-10. Only the Denver Broncos (29.4) allowed more points per game than the Cowboys (27.2), despite players that include Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware and Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who recently agreed to a five-year contract extension. The secondary will be without cornerback Terence Newman who has a groin injury. Mike Jenkins, the other starting cornerback, is listed as questionable due to neck issues.  

The last time Dallas faced New York was Thanksgiving of 2007. The Cowboys defeated the Jets 34-3. Romo completed 21 of 28 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Marion Barber rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Newman returned an interception 50 yards for a TD.

Never Forget

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I’d much rather be talking about football today.

I’d much rather be thinking about how the Jets will exploit the injured secondary of the Dallas Cowboys than thinking about September 11^th. But I can’t do that. This day conjures up such a wide range of emotions for me that I apologize in advance if I screw this up. Over 3,000 people died on this day 10 years ago, but one especially remains in my memory.

Her name was Giovanna "Gennie" Gambale.  She was a native of Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. She went to elementary school at PS 58. She was born on July 5^th. I tell you all this because she and I have all these three things in common. I never met her, I don’t know her family, but on this day I feel a great loss.

I tried to find out about her through newspapers and other research. One blog entitled “purple fish guts” did an outstanding tribute to her. They make mention of a Newsday article written about her. I came to find out she was a Mets fan and loved the game of baseball:

"Gennie knew her baseball." Studying strategies, trades and team management in her spare time, Giovanna Gambale had an in-depth knowledge of the game, her father said. The 27-year-old vice president of conferences and events for eSpeed seldom lost debates with family members who were Yankee fans and taught some of the men in her family a few things about baseball."She wasn't a casual fan," her father said, as he remembered listening to the outrage in his oldest daughter's voice after a Mets loss or a bad trade.

As a Yankees fan, I’m sure we would have found things to argue about. I’m also positive that I would have looked forward to those debates.

When I think of September 11, 2001, I remember this as being the only day I ever saw my father cry, the tightest my mother ever held me, and Giovanna "Gennie" Gambale. For weeks and months after, I saw her picture everywhere I went. I feel such sadness that she was taken from this earth far too soon. 10 years later, I remember her face as if it were seeing for the first time.

I know this is supposed to be a football blog, but it’s almost impossible not to acknowledge the devastation of this day. In the grand scheme of things, whether or not Mark Sanchez becomes a facsimile of Peyton Manning is irrelevant. A football game will be played tonight, but the greatest victory will not be achieved by the Jets or Cowboys, but by the millions of people who are alive and continue to exemplify the resolve of this great country.

My family will watch the game. My mother and I will root for the Jets. My father will root for the Cowboys. We will mock him for this, but we will take comfort in the fact that he is here and that we are together. We will also mourn those who are not.

An Interview With Greg Prato: Part 2

How much did the strike of 1987 hurt the Jets?

It seems like whenever there is a strike it seems to separate a team.  That specific strike they (the owners) forced players to cross the strike, so the player that was hard up for money really had no choice but to cross it. I know that Gastineau rubbed some people the wrong way, but then again Klecko eventually also crossed the line too. You can’t just say that it was Mark who did that. I can kind of see both sides. I can see that players should stand together, but I’m also not standing in a person’s shoes when they have to pay bills and rent and everything. I can kind of see both sides, but I think that strike was the final nail in the coffin because the Jets never had success again in the 80’s after that.

Do you think Gastineau was looking for a way out when Brigitte Nielson got sick and he then retired?

It’s kind of hard to tell with Mark exactly what was going on. I can’t speak for him, but it was really just a shame because if he didn’t step away when he did, there’s not a doubt in my mind that he would also be in the Hall of Fame. He pretty much shot himself in the foot by doing that. I guess he wasn’t thinking clearly or maybe he was too caught up in the Hollywood glitz at the time. It’s hard for me to say if that’s why he stepped away, but it was not a very good move on his part because it cost him going to the Hall of Fame.

As a Jets fan, what player did you most want to talk to?

Probably Klecko and Gastineau; I got some pretty cool information from Wesley Walker and Richard Todd. Bobby Jackson had some very cool things to say. Greg Buttle had some cool stories to tell. As a fan of the Jets back then, I can’t really say that I had one specific favorite player. I liked the Jets as a team and it was cool speaking to all the players and hearing their memories. It was also interesting to see what they are doing today. There’s a chapter in the book which talks about what all the Jets players are doing now and it’s a wide range.

Were there players, coaches and other figures that were hesitant about the book? Did you have to earn their trust?

I have to say that all the players were a great help. I think by speaking to me, they could tell I was a fan.  I’ve written for sites like Rolling Stone so I could give them links to my previous writing and I’ve also done books, so I could also send them links to some of my books so they could see that I was in fact, a writer.  I wouldn’t say that they were hesitant. Most of them were pretty forthcoming with their stories. I was definitely pleasantly surprised that everyone was very kind and very forthcoming and suggesting some other people I should speak to for the book and forwarding all their contact info. It was a very good process from beginning to end.

Were there times where you struggled between being a fan and being a journalist?

As a fan I always look at the Dolphins as kind of evil. There’s a team that prevented the Jets from getting to the Super Bowl. Speaking to our good friend A.J. Duhe was kind of weird, but he turned out to be a very fun guy. The same could be said for Bob Baumhower who was very kind and very cool. What’s interesting is that both Dolphins and Jets players back then were actually friends, which I didn’t know and couldn’t even fathom. But when you think about it, a lot of these players went to college together, and they’re friends at that point and then they’re drafted by different teams. It was definitely interesting to hear from those Dolphins players and hear their perspective on what it was like playing against the Jets back then.

Was that the most surprising thing you learned during the interview process?

That was surprising. There was also the story about Joe Walton taking over the team and how some players weren’t that big of a fan of how he was going about things. Greg Buttle tells some funny stories where he’s pretty honest about things that supposedly went on that he thought weren’t very good.  There’s also a chapter about steroids in which some players admit that there was steroid use, some of them say there wasn’t. You’re not too sure who to believe. There are also two chapters where I asked everyone who was their toughest team and who were their toughest players to play against and it was interesting to hear who they picked.

Who were some of your favorite interviews?

Greg Buttle had some really great stories; some of the stories he tells about when Joe Walton took over the team are pretty funny. Wesley Walker I felt was pretty honest. He also told some pretty cool stories on what the team was like and how some people got along and some people didn’t and how the team split up after a while. It was also interesting to hear Gastineau’s view on things. He hasn’t really been interviewed much on everything that happened. As a fan, it was interesting to hear him go on record about his viewpoints and what exactly happened.

Are there differences between covering music and covering sports?

With my books in the past, the same with this book, I start out with a set list of questions on a piece of paper. As the book progresses with more and more interviews I do, by about midway through I’m not even looking at the piece of paper. I pretty much have the questions stored in my brain at that point. Of course I’m talking about sports instead of rock music. It wasn’t that drastically different. The subject matter was different but it was the same stuff I usually follow for an interview.

What do you like about the Oral History format?

What I like most about the format is, before I was even a writer, the thing I liked when reading magazine articles were the Q & A setups, because then you’re really getting the story straight from the horse’s mouth. The problem I have with a lot of books is that you’re having an author tell you his or her viewpoint of what exactly happened. If the author wasn’t there then I’m not the biggest fan of hearing what someone’s take is on something. I’d rather get it straight from the people that were actually there.  That’s what I like about the oral history format.  That’s what I’ve used a lot for my previous books.

I did a book about the grunge bands like Soundgarden and Nirvana called “Grunge is Dead” and that is the same setup. It’s definitely a setup that I use for the majority of my books because I think the reader can get the closest to the actual story as possible without actually being there.

Do you see yourself as a journalist or a historian? Do you see yourself as both or do you identify with one more than the other?

Of the books I’ve done so far, I can honestly say I was a fan of all the subjects I’ve written about. I’m probably a fan foremost and then a writer or I’m just a very lucky fan who is able to speak to all his favorite players and musicians as well.

What do you hope people get out of this book?

It’d be good if in the future when people talk about great Jets teams that they start including the ’82 team a little bit more because they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game and also because of the fact that when I interviewed players from the Dolphins and other teams from that era they all said how certain Jets were feared. Whenever you speak of great Jets teams, you definitely have to include the ’81 and ’82 team.

Are there any other projects you’re currently working on?

Right now, I have a couple of projects that I can’t quite confirm just yet. Earlier in the year I did a book about the early days of MTV called “MTV Ruled the World” for which I interviewed members of “The Police,” “Judas Priest,” “Rush,” “Public Enemy,” “Heart,” and also some of the people that started the channel as well as some of the former VJ’s.  That’s one of my more recent books and that is also in the Oral History format. You can get that through Lulu.com. If you go to Lulu.com and search for Greg Prato, you’ll find several books that I did for them.

Do you think Rex Ryan’s Jets can top the Jets of the 1980’s as a book topic?

(Laughs) I would say yes, but I certainly hope that unlike the Jets of the 80’s that the Jets of today finally go to the Super Bowl and do finally win it.

For more information on Greg Prato, click on the following link:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/gregprato

An Interview With Greg Prato: Part 1

Greg Prato has written for Rolling Stone Magazine and All Music Guide. He's written books about the early years of MTV, Kiss drummer Eric Carr and Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon. He is also a huge Jets fan. His lastest book is Sack Exchange: The Definitive Oral History of the 1980's New York Jets. I conducted a phone interview and we touched on various topics of the Jets of those years. Here is Part 1 of that interview.

What was it about this era of Jets football that made you want to cover it?

Well, I first became a Jets fan around 1981. That’s when I started following football, so I followed the Jets pretty much throughout the 80’s. I was definitely heartbroken when they left Shea Stadium because I’m from Long Island so that was kind of sad when that happened, but I couldn’t stop watching the Jets.

As I explain in the book, it was around that time 1981, 1982 that I started following sports. The Jets in football, the Mets in baseball and the Islanders in hockey and in the 80’s the Mets and Islanders managed to come through with either Stanley Cups or World Series wins, but the Jets came close several times but never could finish the deal and I was always curious as a fan what exactly prevented them whether it would be the Mud Bowl against the Dolphins or the roughing the passer penalty against the Browns in ‘86-’87. So I just figured I’d put together a book.

Up till now I’ve pretty much have done rock music writing. I write for Rolling Stone and All Music Guide and I’ve done a bunch of books about rock music and I figured ‘Why not take a break from rock writing and do a book about the Jets?’ so that’s how Sack Exchange came about.

Why do you think this era isn’t remembered more?

It’s kind of difficult to say why this era doesn’t get talked about too much. Probably the most obvious thing is that they never got to a Super Bowl. If they did there’d probably be more talk about it, but it’s difficult to say why because the Sack Exchange was definitely one of the most feared defenses at the time. I interviewed a few quarterbacks from some other teams from the time and they both go on record saying the Jets were a much feared team at the time.

I wouldn’t say they are completely forgotten.  I think fans of the Jets remember the Sack Exchange but maybe people outside of New York may have forgotten a little bit about them.

How much does the legacy of Joe Namath permeate Jets history, especially the 1980’s?

I think the legacy of Namath continues right up until today for the simple fact that he’s the only Jets quarterback to have been to the Super Bowl with the Jets also and won it, besides of course guaranteeing it. It’s a pretty important part. After he retired in ’77 supposedly didn’t have a whole lot to do with the Jets and it wasn’t until a Monday Night game in 1984 that he came to Giants Stadium. They retired his number and I think that was when he started to get more involved with the Jets.

With this book, while the focus is the 80’s, I wanted to tell a bit of the backstory.  There’s a long chapter about how the Jets came into being in the 60’s, a bit of Super Bowl III and also what went wrong in the early 70’s.  The book picks up from 1976 until 1989 and we go year-by-year explaining the late 70’s how that shaped the 80’s teams and each year in the 80’s what exactly happened.

How important were the years 1976-1980 in shaping the Jets of the 1980’s?

It was very important because each one of those years they had very important draft picks coming in, including Marvin Powell, Chris Ward, Wesley Walker, Richard Todd, Greg Buttle and then Marty Lyons and Joe Klecko. Almost every single year there was a very important piece to the puzzle that would eventually become a major part of those early to mid-80’s teams that had success in the playoffs. Although they didn’t have a winning season in those years, they had a couple of .500 seasons in ’78 and ’79. If maybe one or two plays went their way they probably could have gotten into the playoffs one of those years. The late 70’s was definitely an important building block for the teams that would find success in the 80’s for the Jets.

Which Jet was more important in the leading the charge back to respectability and almost winning a Super Bowl?

It’s hard to pinpoint just to one. I think that the Jets of the 80’s were definitely more of a team. I think a lot of people would point to Joe Klecko because I think he was the leader of the defense, although if you talk to Mark Gastineau he may think he was the leader and some people would say he was the leader. But it seems like Joe Klecko was probably the most feared out there on the field. He was also the most respected in the locker room. That said, you could also make a case for Joe Fields, who was their center. He was called “The General” on the field because he was calling a lot of plays. He was also a pretty big part, obviously Gastineau, just because he was racking up all those sacks. They were definitely a team, but if you had to pick one, I’d probably go with Klecko.

How much do you think playing in Namath’s shadow affected Richard Todd?

I think it definitely affected him and also as you learn in the book, one contributing factor to some of Richard Todd’s struggles was that for a period of time in the late 70’s and early 80’s, pretty much until Joe Walton became the offensive coordinator, almost every single year Richard Todd had a different offensive coordinator.  That definitely rattles a quarterback, especially a quarterback who’s young and trying to develop and is also developing in the shadow of Namath.

I know Todd mostly gets the short end of the stick with people just remembering the Mud Bowl and his bad season in 1983, but he was definitely a huge part of why the Jets had success in ‘81 and also ’82. He was also a huge part for those two playoff wins in the 1982 playoffs against the Bengals and also against the Raiders. He played well in both those games and it was a huge touchdown to Wesley Walker in that game against the Raiders that pretty much sealed it for the Jets and made them win that game.

Bobby Jackson said that if Matt Robinson were quarterback, he’d have a Super Bowl ring. Do you think Matt Robinson was the more popular choice?

It seemed like it was pretty much split between the fans wanting Robinson and the fans wanting Todd. I think it was just a matter of which quarterback was playing better at the time. But it definitely would have been interesting to see what would have happened with Robinson if he didn’t get hurt. What happened was he said he was injured one way and it turned out he got injured horsing around with a player wrestling or something like that, and then he wound up lying to Walt Michaels who was the coach at the time, and then he found out what happened. Robinson wound up never playing again for the Jets and wound up getting traded.

It was a pretty interesting quote because when Robinson played was actually prior to me becoming a fan of the Jets. I actually had to go back to YouTube and dig up some old clips of him playing. He definitely seemed like he could have been a great quarterback for the Jets. That said, Todd also had has good points too and also had his good games. It’s always kind of hard to tell exactly what would have happened if Robinson didn’t get injured.

What do you think made Walt Michaels so revered by the players?

It seemed like a lot of players respected him because he backed the players. He also was very loyal to them. He also seemed to be a man of his word as well, so I think the players really rallied around him. I believe a few of the people I interviewed even compare him to Rex Ryan. Also the fact that he was a former player himself, the players probably respected that a lot.

As a fan looking back, I think that’s definitely one of the biggest mistakes the Jets ever made was getting rid of him when they did. A lot of the players I spoke to in the book said that if Walt Michaels wasn’t fired after that 1982 season, there’s not a doubt in their mind that there would have been a Super Bowl appearance by the Jets in the next few years. Him leaving just put the whole team in turmoil and although Joe Walton was a great offensive coordinator, he never really made the transition to a great head coach. I think that was what probably prevented the Jets from finally getting over the hump and finally making it to the Super Bowl.

How was Joe Walton different from Michaels?

I believe it was Bobby Jackson who said that Walt Michaels had the players’ backs whereas Joe Walton didn’t.  I can’t say personally because I obviously wasn’t there, but it seems like that was pretty much the consensus from the players. Richard Todd talks about it in the book and that he pretty much agrees with what Bobby Jackson said that he didn’t really back the players much. That said, Joe Walton did have his successful years with the Jets like the 1986 season when they almost went to the AFC Championship Game. I’m sure there are also players who would probably praise Joe Walton. I guess it’s pretty much up to the player, but that was pretty much what was said, that Walt Michaels backed the players a little bit better.

How close was the Sack Exchange off the field?

It seems like Gastineau wasn’t that close with Klecko or Lyons and Klecko and Lyons were good friends. Gastineau says that Abdul Salaam was one of his best friends on the team. I think it was Gastineau who says that he gets along a lot better now with Klecko and Lyons, like when they meet up for reunion events. It seemed like at the time that Gastineau’s sack dancing and everything rubbed Klecko completely the wrong way. It seems like now they can get along a little bit better.  Maybe they don’t have to see each other every day and work side by side; they can just get together as friends.

Who do you think is the best player that never got or continues to not get the recognition he deserves?

Joe Klecko. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame and there’s even a chapter in the book where people go on record saying there’s not a doubt in their minds that he should be in the Hall of Fame. For this book, I interviewed players from the Dolphins, Bills and Patriots and all of them say the same thing; they don’t understand why Klecko’s not in the Hall of Fame. He was completely feared. None of the other players on the Dolphins or any of the other teams the Jets faced looked particularly forward to playing against Klecko.

I interviewed Randy Rasmussen who also played for the Jets. He also said that practicing against Klecko was the hardest player he ever had to face on the field. He said he was happy that he never had to play against him in an actual game. So Klecko would be my choice.

To find out more about the work of Greg Prato, please click on the following link: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/gregprato

Part 2 of the interview will be released tomorrow. Stay Tuned!

The Takeaway

So the Jets are now 1-1 on this preseason after a 27-7 victory against the Bengals. Cincinnati has been outscored 61-10 in two games. Though it’s only the preseason, it looks like it is going to be a long year in the Queen City.

Mark Sanchez completed 12 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown pass was to Santonio Holmes on, what else, a slant pattern. Plaxico Burress playing in his first game had three catches for 66 yards and an over-the-shoulder grab for a touchdown. Again, it’s the preseason, and the Bengals aren’t very good. However, for a guy who hasn’t played in more than two years, his stat line was impressive.

Will the real Nick Folk please stand up? He missed from 43 yards, made it from 50 and had an out-of-bounds penalty on a kickoff. Nick Novak made his only field goal attempt from 30 yards.

Andy Dalton did not have a good game finishing 8 of 19 with two interceptions. It didn’t matter what defense was out there for the Jets, they played well. Even Aaron Maybin got into the action with a sack and forced fumble. I could be wrong, but I don’t ever recall Vernon Gholston doing any of that in a preseason game. 

Off The Presses

With Shonn Greene out, Jets turn to LaDainian Tomlinson. (NY Daily News)

Injuries keeping Derrick Mason and Mark Brunell out of practice. (NY Post)

Jeff Cumberland joining Dustin Keller in double tight-end formation. (Star-Ledger)

Mark Sanchez is maturing as a leader. (ESPN)

Off The Presses

Shonn Greene's sore foot. (Sporting News)

John Connor as the new starting fullback. (Star-Ledger)

New Meadowlands Stadium will be known as MetLife Stadium. (NY Post)

The Jets' pipeline of punters. (NY Times)

Off The Presses

Concerns mounting for Rex Ryan. (NY Daily News)

Jets to sign Aaron Maybin. (NY Daily News)

Patriots ready for a rematch with Jets. (NY Post)

Ravens owner explained why he didn't pick Rex Ryan as head coach. (NFL News)

Robert Turner Out 8-10 Weeks, Joe McKnight Suffers Concussion

Robert Turner, the Jets versatile offensive lineman has suffered a broken leg and will require surgery, reports the New York Daily News. He will be out an estimated eight to ten weeks. It's also being reported that Joe McKnight suffered a concussion.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Jets are $9.4 million under the cap. If the Jets feel they have to go out and get some help, it looks like they have the resources to do so.

Off The Presses

Greg McElroy shows some toughness. (Star-Ledger)

Winners & Losers (NY Post)

Rex v. Sanchez grabs headlines. (FOX Sports Houston)

The Takeaway: Week 1 Preseason

1)      Losing Robert Turner for any length of time will hurt this team.

He is the jack-of-all-trades on the offensive line. He can fill in at either position and for a team already struggling with O-Line depth, his loss could prove devastating. Vlad Ducasse did not look ready for prime time as Greg McElroy got hit a few times in the second corner, eventually fumbling the football on a sack and setting up a Texan touchdown. Robby Felix did a solid job, but he’s the third-string center. Do you really trust him to protect Mark Sanchez?

       2)      Mark Sanchez looked OK for the one quarter he played.

Coming into the game, there was talk about how the offense would look considering their struggles in practice. Sanchez would finish with six completions in seven attempts for 43 yards and threw a nice pass to Santonio Holmes running the slant route. He didn’t really air it out, but he was efficient in his passes.

       3)      Ignoring touchbacks, the Jets brought out the ball.

Coming into the final preseason game of Week 1 much had been made about the NFL’s new rule that kickoffs will take place from the 35 yard line. There had been a much higher rate of touchbacks in the preseason this year as compared to last year. That didn’t seem to stop the Jets from bringing the ball out.  It didn’t matter if it was Jeremy Kerley, Joe McKnight or Dan DePalma, they were going to run it. Will this continue into the regular season?

       4)      The kicking battle continues.

Nick Folk was 2 of 2 in field goals, making them from 33 and 40 yards out respectively. Nick Novak made his only attempt from 35. Novak has had a great camp, but I like Folk. I know he was shaky at times last year, but he did come through in the playoffs against Indianapolis.

      5)      I do not envy Rex Ryan’s headset.

The last image I have of the 2010 season is Rex Ryan smashing his headset on the field in Pittsburgh. It almost seems fitting that my first image of 2011 should be Ryan smashing his headset on the field for having 12 men on the field in a preseason game. Ah yes, football is officially back.

Know Your Enemy

When the Texans played the Jets in Week 11, they were ranked 31^st in total defense and 32^nd in pass defense. These were two statistics that would prove fateful as Mark Sanchez drove the Jets down the field in the final minute, culminating in a Santonio Holmes touchdown with 10 seconds left to give New York a 30-27 victory.

Houston finished 6-10 and went into the offseason looking to make changes to the defense.  They would go across state lines by signing former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips as coordinator. They also signed talented cornerback Jonathan Joseph from Cincinnati and brought in safety Daneal Manning from Chicago and All-Pro defensive end Mario Williams was moved from to outside linebacker in Houston’s new 3-4 alignment.

Houston’s strength lies in their offense which finished third in total yards. Signed as an undrafted free agent, running back Arian Foster would go from the practice squad to the Pro Bowl leading the NFL in rushing yards. In addition to a great running game, the Texans boasted the fourth best passing offense in football. Matt Schaub threw for over 4000 yards, 1200 of which went to Andre Johnson.

For the game tonight, head coach Gary Kubiak said the starters on defense would play only 10-12 plays. Also, look for running backs Derrick Ward and Chris Ogbonnaya to get the carries on offense as the rest of Houston’s running backs are battling injuries.

Two years ago, Houston finished 9-7 and was seen by many to be a team on the rise. They regressed last season and are looking to bounce back this year but their schedule presents a tough challenge. Three of their first four games are against teams with prolific passing attacks: Indianapolis, New Orleans and Pittsburgh. These games will be a barometer as to how improved the defense, especially the pass defense, really is.  

Off The Presses

Mike Devito and Sione Pouha are now leaders on the defensive line.  (Star-Ledger)

Jerricho Cotchery didn't fit in with the Jets. (Star-Ledger)

Mark Sanchez wanted to fight Rex Ryan. (NY Post)

Watch the rookies in tonight's game. (Wall Street Journal)

Is Mike Tannebaum planning another move. (ESPN NY)

Jeremy Kerley Profile in Star-Ledger

Great story about Jeremy Kerley in today's Star-Ledger. I think this exchange between Kerley and Mike Westhoff sums up why everybody is excited about this guy.

“Is your picture ever going to be up there?” Westhoff demanded, pointing at enlarged prints of his most dangerous special-teams aces in 10 seasons with the Jets. “We’ve had seven return guys here that finished in the top one, two or three in the NFL.” “I can be No. 8,” the rookie coolly responded.

Off The Presses

Santonio Holmes named one of five captains. (NY Daily News)

Jets' offense continues to have its struggles. (NY Post)

Scotty McKnight becoming a Twitter target (NY Post)

Are the Jets becoming a more aggressive offense? (NY Times)

Off The Presses

Nick Mangold to play Monday night. (NY Daily News)

Jets' offense looks sloppy in practice. (NY Post)

Three things learned on Friday. (ESPN NY)

Chris Stewart: Lawyer. Lineman.

Here's an article I found on Chris Stewart. He's currently in Jets camp looking to make the team as an offensive lineman but also attending Notre Dame Law School.

Thoughts On The Week That Was

I have never been happier to watch a preseason game as I was last night. OK it was just the Broncos and Cowboys, but for the first time in a long while, the only battle fans had to concern themselves with was the one on the field and not in the courtroom. It was also a reminder that the best football is yet to come.

To me, the real preseason debut is seeing the Jets play Houston next Monday night. It’ll be Jets fans' first look at the team since the AFC Championship Game. I’m geared up to see how Wilkerson and Ellis look on the defense, but I’m especially excited to see what if any impact Tom Moore has already had on the offense. One thing I wasn’t looking forward to was seeing Plaxico Burress on the field.

Since he rolled his ankle last week, the Jets haven’t been using him much in practice. However, Rex Ryan continued to say that the plan was to have him in the preseason opener. I disagreed with this because if he wasn’t practice ready, he’s most certainly not game ready. The last thing you want during preseason is an injury to your number 2 receiver. Along with getting the team acclimated, the number one goal of preseason is to come out of it with your top players injury-free.

That’s why I was glad to learn today that Burress will not play in the game. There’s plenty of time between now and Week 1 to get healthy and ready to go. There’s no need to risk it. I’m sure Burress wants to get on the field as badly as anybody. Fortunately, it’s only one game in a season of many.

Off The Presses

Plaxico Burress again limited during practice. (NY Daily News)

Dustin Keller can be the Jets' Dallas Clark. (NY Post)

Mike Westhoff dealing with personnel changes on special teams. (Star-Ledger)

Jets games to be broadcast on radio in Los Angeles. (Sacramento Bee)

The key to the Jets' pass rush is Rex Ryan. (ESPN NY)

Chris Bryan looking to make the team. (ESPN NY)

Scary Moment At Practice

Jets' All-Pro Center Nick Mangold was down for several moments after Shonn Greene dove over a pile. Mangold did get up and walk off the field with trainers beside him.

UPDATE 5:53 PM: Nick Mangold is OK after suffering a burner during practice reports Jenny Vrentas. X-Rays were negative.

Cotchery To Sign With Pittsburgh

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year contract with Jerricho Cotchery. More information can be found in the article here.

Off The Presses

Sean Gilbert is working as a Jets coaching intern. (NY Daily News)

Vlad Ducasse is on the verge of breaking out. (Star-Ledger)

What to expect today in camp. (ESPN NY)

Jets Release Depth Chart

Here's the Depth Chart for the first preseason game against the Houston Texans. Courtesy of The Star-Ledger.

Off The Presses

Kyle Wilson looking to bounce back in his second season. (Metro)

Plaxico Burress not yet cleared for full practice. (ESPN NY)

The next step for the Jets is to win the division and get a home game in the playoffs. (NY Daily News)

Jets looking to replace Brad Smith in the Wildcat formation. (NY Post)

Mike Pettine still haunted by last year's AFC Championship Game. (NY Post)

Highlights From Today's Jets' Practice

Mark Sanchez begins the practice by connecting on a 35-yd TD to Derrick Mason. It wasn't a full practice, but any encouraging sign is appreciated.

Sanchez connects with Scotty McKnight on a nice grab.

Mr. DPR himself Jamaal Westerman made a nice play.

Eric Smith didn't make a pick but he got a good workout in anyway.

There's a bit of a scare as Antonio Cromartie tries to break up a pass and comes up limp but he's OK.

Sanchez connects with Mason on a long reception.

Nick Novak continues to show he has a leg and knows how to use it.

Brodney Pool picks Sanchez off.

Is Jerricho Cotchery Officially A Raven?

Bears Cancel Practice Over Field Conditions

Scott Van Pelt was talking about this today on his show. The Chicago Bears cancelled a practice at Soldier Field because the field wasn't in playing condition. Here's the article from Pro Football Talk.
If anybody thinks the Jets are inept, they should read this.

A Look Inside Jets' Indoor Practice Field



Krisitan Dyer with the photo

Jets Have $9 Million In Cap Room

Bart Hubbach of the NY Post tweeted this 40 minutes ago:

If they wouldn't spend the money on Ellis, what could or should they be using it for?

Off The Presses

Mark Sanchez and his receivers are rushing to develop chemistry before the season starts. (ESPN NY)

Sanchez surrounded by age and wisdom in Derrick Mason and Tom Moore. (NY Daily News)

Coaches wish Jerricho Cotchery well. (Star-Ledger)

Why Shaun Ellis Isn't a Jet

Jenny Vrentas just tweeted this article about a conference call with Shaun Ellis in which he explains why he left the Jets for the Patriots.

I felt the Jets lowballed him and should have offered him more, but definitely not $4 million. I understand why Ellis did what he did and no one can fault him. The Pats made him a much better offer than the Jets. He's 34 years old and nearing the end of his career. This is probably the last big paycheck he'll see. He had to do what was right for him and his family.

Highlights from Today's Jets Practice

During a drill, Plaxico Burress made a one-handed grab and stayed inbounds.

Derrick Mason made the first grab in 11-on-11 drills.

Jeremy Kerley continues to impress.

Darrelle Revis had a pick against Mark Sanchez. Sanchez would go 7-of-19 with an INT in drills.

On a side note, Mason was wearing pink cleats in honor of his mother who is going through a second bout with breast cancer. He plans to wear them for the remainder of the season.

Ellis Received Higher Offer from Patriots.

It was reported that Shaun Ellis received an offer in the neighborhood of four to five million dollars to sign with the New England Patriots, far exceeding the veteran's minimum offer the Jets made of $910K. Bart Scott admitted that "With a hard cap we could only do so much. We have a lot of needs that we needed to address."

Shaun Ellis was a big part of this team for many years. He deserved a higher offer for his years of service. I would have offered $2 million for one year out of respect for what he's done here.

Off The Presses

Plaxico Burress stepped onto the field in pads. (NY Daily News)

Derrick Mason saw the Jets as his best chance to win a Super Bowl. (Star-Ledger)

Jets sign Keith Zinger. (Star-Ledger)

Nick Folk vs. Nick Novak. (Star-Ledger)

Jets receving corps getting acquainted with the offense. (Star-Ledger)

Did the Jets do the right thing in allowing Shaun Ellis to go to New England? (ESPN NY)

Shannon Sharpe's Hall Of Fame Speech

This is an amazing speech.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

Plaxico Burress is in pads during practice! Thanks to Conor Orr for this picture.

Ellis To Sign With Patriots

Longtime Jet Shaun Ellis will sign with the New England Patriots reports Adam Schefter. Muhammad Wilkerson's job just got a lot tougher.

Off The Presses

Mark Sanchez is getting to know his receivers. (NY Daily News)

How Plaxico Burress became a Jet. (NY Post)

Q&A with Muhammad Wilkerson. (NY Post)

Calvin Pace's role in the pass rush. (Star-Ledger)

Measuring the financial impact of Jets & Giants holding camp in NJ, not NY. (Star-Ledger)

The impact of the NFL's new kickoff rule on kick returns. (NY Times)

Jim Leonhard's return to the field. (NY Times)

Derrick Mason Is Now A Jet

Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that WR Derrick Mason will be a member of the New York Jets. Mason took to Twitter to announce that he was joining the team. UPDATED: Here's the article from the NY Daily News.

Thoughts On the Week That Was

If there would be a theme of this week, it would be a changing of the guard. As camp begins for the New York Jets, this team faces a lot of questions. Perhaps the biggest question is whether they will be able to make up for the loss of such fan favorites and key cogs like Shaun Ellis, Jerricho Cotchery and Damien Woody.

This is not the first time the Jets have been faced with such a task. Last year, the departures of Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones brought the same concern. The Jets responded with an 11-5 record and a second consecutive appearance in the AFC Title Game. However, one can only wonder how long a team can go parting ways with strong locker room presences in favor of more talented but troubled individuals.

This is not to say all is bleak. While there may be a change in leadership, training camp also brings a sense of optimism. Many have been impressed with Jeremy Kerley, the fifth round pick out of TCU. Rex Ryan has had positive things to say about first-round draft choice Muhammad Wilkerson.  While these two may not be asked to carry the team, it looks as if they will have an integral role in the success or failure of this season.

Many columnists have come out this week and said that Ryan has to do a better job of coaching and getting his team ready, something that was lacking in the first half of last year’s AFC Championship against Pittsburgh. I believe no one knows that more than the man himself. He has certainly painted quite a target on his team’s back and he knows what the stakes are. The success he has had these past two seasons have earned him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his bluster.

If the Jets are to go anywhere this season, Mark Sanchez will be the key. In his past two postseason appearances, he has defeated Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Jet fans are now looking to see if he can do that during the regular season. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, but it is time to be more consistent.

As the first week of training camp concludes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Whoever suits up for the Green and White this season, the expectations remain what they have been these past two seasons. Fortunately, there has been no change in that philosophy.

Off The Presses

LaDainian Tomlinson says he wants to play football beyond this season. (NY Daily News)

Damien Woody announces his retirement. (NY Daily News)

Steve Serby says Mark Sanchez must embrace his new leadership role. (NY Post)

Mark Sanchez expected to break out this year. (NFL Website)

Rex Ryan is looking to Santonio Holmes as well as other players to lead. (Star-Ledger)

Jeremy Kerley continues to impress. (ESPN New York)

Jerricho Cotchery Contacted by Tennessee

There is no word yet on whether Derrick Mason has accepted the Jets offer. Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Titans have reached out to Free Agent WR Jerricho Cotchery.

Pats Sign A Defensive Lineman Not Named Shaun Ellis

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston.com is reporting that the New England Patriots have signed former Bears and Texans defensive end Mark Anderson. Anderson's best season was in 2006 with Chicago when he was credited with 12 sacks.

Roster Moves Announced By Jets

Off The Presses

Gary Myers has a column in today's NY Daily News in which he ponders if the Jets did the right thing by bringing in Plaxico Burress at the expense of Jerricho Cotchery. Burress was supposed to make his debut yesterday but instead rolled his ankle. Manish Mehta has more on Cotchery's release and Bob Raissman has a piece about the detractors of Rex Ryan.

Steve Politi has a piece in The Star-Ledger about Jerricho Cotchery. Jenny Vrentas also has a piece about the absence of Cotchery and the sudden concern over the receiving corps.

George Vecsey has a piece in the NY Times about Burress.

Steve Serby has a story in the NY Post in which he speaks of the Jets' high expectations.

Moving away from the receivers, Clark Judge of CBS Sports.com writes that for the Jets to have a successful season, Mark Sanchez will have to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility.

Braylon Edwards Is Moving On

Adam Schefter is reporting that Braylon Edwards has reached an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year contract.

Jerricho Cotchery Asked For Trade or Release

Jenny Vrentas tweeted that Jerricho Cotchery asked for trade or release. Rex Ryan said that he tried to convince Cotchery to stay.

Ellis Worked Out By Patriots

Defensive Lineman Shaun Ellis was worked out by the New England Patriots today, reports ESPN Boston.

Players With New Contracts Beginning to Practice

Jerricho Cotchery Released

Derrick Mason Passes Physical

The Terminator Strikes

Jets Vote To Ratify CBA

The league year can officially begin for the Jets as the players have voted to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Here's the tweet from Mark Brunell.

Jerricho Cotchery Expects to Be Released

The title says it all. In a report from the Star-Ledger, WR Jerricho Cotchery says he expects to be released and says that a change of scenery would be a good thing for him.
               
"No question, yeah," Cotchery told The Star-Ledger. "I don’t want to get into specific details, but I have. I have. I have, to be honest. I don’t know how to say it."

Off The Presses

Braylon Edwards looks to be in trouble again. (NY Daily News)

Shonn Greene will see his workload increase. (NY Daily News)

Steve Serby writes about Jim Leonhard's return to action. (NY Post)

Brodney Pool Returns to Jets

While Jets fans await word on the possible return of Shaun Ellis, The Star-Ledger is reporting that the team will re-sign Brodney Pool, adding more depth at the safety position.

Jenny Vrentas and Conor Orr Talk Jets

The Star-Ledger's Jets beat reporters discuss the events surrounding Day 3 of Jets Training Camp.

Derrick Mason In? Jerricho Cotchery Out?

In a move that could spell the end of Jerricho Cotchery's time with the Jets,and all but assures Braylon Edwards won't be back, it was reported late Wednesday that the Jets are bringing Derrick Mason in for a physical and could be signed by the end of the week.

Jets Offer Veteran's Minimum To Shaun Ellis

It was reported by ESPN New York that the Jets have reached out to Shaun Ellis and offered him a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum at $910,000. There is no word yet as to whether Ellis has accepted the offer. According to Ellis's agent Mitch Frankel, Ellis "wants nothing more" to finish his career as a Jet.

Greene Ready For Bigger Role In Offense

The-Star Ledger has an article featuring Shonn Greene expecting to carry more responsibility on the running game this season. From all reports, it sounds like Greene is ready to go.

Hunter Is Starting Tackle, Pace Is On Pace, Braylon Returning?

Multiple tweets went out today confirming that Wayne Hunter is Ryan's choice to start at Right Tackle this season. Vlad Ducasse will be backup to Hunter.

It was also reported that Calvin Pace's foot was only 20% healthy by the end of last season. Ryan expects a healthy Pace to have a double-digit sack year. Manish Mehta quotes Ryan as saying Pace has "potential 10-sack ability."

Jenny Vrentas tweeted that Ryan said of Braylon Edwards "If Braylon wants to come back for what we can pay him, come on back." Ryan also didn't rule out the possibility of James Ihedigbo and Brodney Pool returning.

Off The Presses

Mike Vaccaro echoes the sentiments of Ian O'Connor that Rex Ryan has to do a better job as coach this season. (NY Post)

Ben Shpigel has a story in the NY Times about Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine's challenge to make the Jets a more dominant defense. There's an interesting stat in the article. "According to game charting by Football Outsiders, the Jets’ third-down defense was the worst in the NFL last season — after being the best in 2009. Their downfall was not preventing conversions so much as preventing explosive plays; they allowed 22 plays of at least 20 yards on third down, three more than any other team." 

   

Training Camp: Day 2

Congratulations to David Harris. The linebacker has signed a four-year, $36 million contract with $29.5 million guaranteed according to Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News.

The Jets have signed safety DaJuan Morgan. Jenny Vrentas of the Star-Ledger writes that Morgan will provide depth at the position as Jim Leonhard comes back from injury and Eric Smith waits till August 4th to practice.