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New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum held a news conference Thursday to review their season and look ahead to 2010.

Tannenbaum covered a lot of ground. He said he expects running back Thomas Jones and safety Kerry Rhodes to return next season. Tannenbaum also announced the club would tender quarterback Kellen Clemens, running back Leon Washington and receiver Braylon Edwards, all restricted free agents, and hold onto disappointing outside linebacker Vernon Gholston.

Here are some highlights from the Q&A session:

On Jones' future

"We expect T.J. to be back. There are some economic issues that obviously have to be looked at over the next month, but we hope that he is back. He's done a lot for our team, both on and off the field. [Jets head coach Rex Ryan] has talked about what he's done from a leadership standpoint. We look at his production, and it's really remarkable, but it's a testament to T.J."

On Rhodes' future

"We expect him to be back. Unless something changes, he will be back. I'm sure we'll have more discussions with Rex and some of the coaches where hopefully the level of consistency for both him and us is there throughout the 2010 season. ... We need to have a good off season and Kerry is one of those players who could really benefit from a very productive 2010, starting in March with the offseason, so a lot of the discussions are really non contractual, non economical."

On free-agency restrictions from finishing in the final four

"We will try to get you some more details, but the long and short of it is unrestricted free agents, we can't sign one until we would lose one, and, again, that's someone whose contract expires and they have been in the league for six or more seasons. If a player gets cut by another team, they become a free agent and we would be able to sign them. We would also be able to sign a restricted free agent that was tendered by another team and, obviously, trades are another possibility. We cannot sign an unrestricted free agent, one whose contract expires, until one of our unrestricted free agents signs with another team."

On how knee surgery could hinder Mark Sanchez's development

"You don't want to have anybody miss any time, especially a young quarterback, but we'll balance that with a medical procedure that may give him more stability in there and give him a chance to play without any worry about that whatsoever. Those are fair points and those are the judgment calls we have to make and really like look at what's going to give him the best chance to be successful over the whole season."

On the backup quarterback situation

"If another team [comes] along and is interested in Kellen, we will certainly evaluate that. When we traded for Kevin O'Connell that was certainly a thought in my mind. We may not have Kellen forever. That was something that [former Green Bay Packers GM] Ron Wolf always talked to me about. Get a quarterback every year. I like to deal from a position of strength when it comes to that depth. Would we bring in a veteran? Sure, that's something we would consider, but I like Kevin O'Connell. I like Erik Ainge, and we'll see what happens with Kellen."

On Gholston's lack of production so far

"He has not played as well as he has hoped or we would have hoped. The attributes of why we drafted him is what gives me hope there, which is really a great work ethic. He's 23 years old, and this is going to be an important offseason for him."

Brian Schottenheimer's prospects for being a head coach never have been higher.

The New York Jets' offensive coordinator has been mentioned for top jobs before, but he always sounded like more of an afterthought. The timing seems right this time, and buzz is building about him becoming the Buffalo Bills' head coach.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan saw this coming a year ago. One of the first and wisest moves Ryan made after beating out Schottenheimer for Eric Mangini's vacancy was convincing him to stick around. Ryan soon predicted Schottenheimer would be a head coach in 2010.

The Jets granted the Bills permission to interview Schottenheimer this week. On Tuesday morning, we talked about Schottenheimer's candidacy during a segment for the "The Howard Simon Show" on Buffalo sports radio station WGR.

One of the topics we emphasized was Schottenheimer's diverse quarterback portfolio. The Bills have mammoth question marks at quarterback, but Schottenheimer has worked with about every type you can imagine: gunslingers, game managers, grizzled veterans, rookies. And he's won with all of them. Most impressive are the names of the young gems he has helped polish over the past eight years.

For Bills fans who are curious, I wanted to provide a rundown of starting quarterbacks Schottenheimer has been associated with as a player, quarterbacks coach or coordinator.

As a player at Florida

• Backup to Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel

Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach

• Tony Banks
• Jeff George

San Diego Chargers quarterbacks coach

• Drew Brees
• Doug Flutie
• Philip Rivers

New York Jets offensive coordinator

• Chad Pennington
• Kellen Clemens
• Brett Favre
• Mark Sanchez

The revelatory moment for New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer left him dumbfounded for a moment.

It was in the second half of the team's Week 16 road game against the Indianapolis Colts. Schottenheimer was trying to navigate his rookie quarterback to a desperately needed victory and keep the Jets' playoff hopes beating.

Mark Sanchez was playing decently. Schottenheimer pounded the run, but Sanchez managed to complete nine straight passes and 10 of 11 from the first quarter into the third. Then Sanchez misfired on four consecutive throws. He came off the field for a punt.

"He came over to the sideline and said something to me he's never said to me before," Schottenheimer told me Sunday. "He said 'Hey, how about giving me something easy so I can get a completion and get back on a streak?'

"And I thought, 'Wow.' I just stopped. It kind of floored me. I was, like, 'Absolutely!'"

Sanchez, by Jove, had gotten it. Schottenheimer interpreted the quick exchange as an indicator Sanchez finally had absorbed the team concept and no longer was hell bent on trying to win the game on every play.

"I've seen a transformation," Schottenheimer said.

Sanchez has been a different quarterback the past few weeks. The Jets seemingly were doomed less than a month ago because of his reckless play, but he gathered himself. The Jets won their last two regular-season games to slip into the playoffs.

On Saturday, they eliminated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-14. Sanchez completed 12 of 15 attempts for 182 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. The Jets will play the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in Qualcomm Stadium.

"The light did kind of come on," said Schottenheimer, whose play calling has been virtuosic. "That takes all of us while to realize I'm a part of the process and not the only thing involved."

How do you get through to a hotshot rookie who experienced greatness at USC, won his first three NFL games and was asked to send his cleats to the Pro Football Hall of Fame while still only 22 years old?

"A lot of things came fast and easy to the guy," Schottenheimer said. "He had to get knocked down a little bit."


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CINCINNATI -- The New York Jets are no fluke.

Cincinnati Bengals fans tried to justify away what happened in the season finale as the result of circumstances. The Bengals didn't need to win that game. The Bengals rested their players. The Bengals didn't want to show any of their cards heading into the playoffs.

Now they can show their cards to their caddies and their cruise captains because the Jets sent them on vacation for the next few months.

The Jets might've gotten lucky by slipping into the playoffs with a lot of outside help, but they showed they belonged by eliminating the AFC North champs 24-14 in Paul Brown Stadium.

Six days after the Jets shredded the Bengals at the Meadowlands, they did it again in Cincinnati.

The Jets outplayed them at almost every position. Behind an offensive line that boasts three Pro Bowlers, a trio of players with a combined four seasons of NFL experience led the way.

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was impressive. He threw only three incomplete passes on 15 attempts for 182 yards and one touchdown.

Rookie running back Shonn Greene ran 21 times for 135 yards and a touchdown.

On each of those scores, second-year tight end Dustin Keller played a significant role. He caught Sanchez's bootleg toss and rumbled 45 yards into the end zone with a few Bengals on his back. He made the pivotal block to spring Greene on his 39-yard run.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was the lesser USC quarterback. He was 18-36 for 146 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Factor in the sacks, and the Bengals finished with 111 net passing yards.

But Chad Ochocinco did catch a pass. Two, actually, for 28 yards. I'm sure Darrelle Revis will get over it.

An uncapped year in 2010 would affect 212 players who ordinarily would have become unrestricted free agents, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Players can't become unrestricted free agents in an uncapped year unless they have six years of NFL experience. The usual minimum is four years.

NFC South dean Pat Yasinskas obtained the list, which includes 19 from the AFC East. The New York Jets have the most with eight.

Buffalo Bills

• Linebacker Keith Ellison
• Quarterback Gibran Hamdan
• Guard Richie Incognito
• Tight end Joel Klopfenstein
• Strong safety George Wilson
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Miami Dolphins

• Running back Ronnie Brown
• Tight end Anthony Fasano

New England Patriots

• Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
• Guard Logan Mankins
• Outside linebacker Pierre Woods

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Cornerback Drew Coleman
• Wide receiver Braylon Edwards
• Defensive tackle Howard Green
• Tackle Wayne Hunter
• Wide receiver Brad Smith
• Safety Eric Smith
• Running back Leon Washington

Soon enough, Rex Ryan will have been correct.

The rookie coach mistakenly said the New York Jets had been eliminated from the playoff race Sunday after crumbling to the Atlanta Falcons. Turns out, there still is a mathematical ray of hope.

For now.

The Jets sacrificed a season that appeared destined for the playoffs. They rank No. 1 in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense. They lead the NFL in rushing offense.

That sort of formula should have clinched a postseason berth by now.

Problem is, Mark Sanchez is part of the equation, too.

But was the Jets' decision to start Sanchez straight out of college complete rubbish?

The Jets threw away their season, but maybe it will have been worth it in the long run.

"When you're going to develop an outstanding quarterback, you're just going to have to bite the bullet and not look back," former St. Louis Rams head coach and offensive guru Mike Martz said.

The dilemma when it comes to rookie quarterbacks is whether it's more beneficial to put them in the huddle or to let them watch from the sidelines for a season.

"In the big picture, it's all a step in the right direction," said former Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien, who didn't take a snap his entire rookie season in 1983. "The best way to learn is to play."

That theory is not absolute.

"Some guys, like Peyton Manning or Troy Aikman, take that first-year beating, and it makes them better for the long run," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson said. "Some guys are not mentally strong enough to overcome a terrible rookie year, and the confidence can be shot."

The Jets seemed like geniuses three weeks into the season. They were 3-0, and Sanchez was performing beyond his years. The former University of Southern California star played as though he'd been in the league two or three years already, apparently turning what Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco achieved last year into a trend.

Since then, Sanchez's season has been spotted by a series of youthful indiscretions that ranged from immature (scarfing down a hot dog during a game) to reckless (injuring his knee while diving head-first three days after New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi taught him how to slide).

The hot start is a distant memory. Entering Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Jets are 7-7 and on the fringes of the playoff race.

The recurring theme, however, will be those interceptions. They came in big bunches. Three, four, sometimes five at a time.

Sanchez has thrown at least three interceptions in four of his 13 starts. The Jets went 0-4 in those games, losing by an average of 9.3 points. They dropped two of them at the Meadowlands by a field goal.

"There are times when he's looked great against complex schemes," said Jon Ritchie, an analyst for ESPN's "First Take" and former Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles fullback, "and there are times when he's looked confused out there. That's what everyone expected."

USC coach Pete Carroll was labeled a unappreciative whiner when Sanchez decided he would forego his senior season and enter the draft.

Carroll claimed Sanchez wasn't ready. Sanchez started one full season, and while he posted remarkable numbers, he would head to the NFL with only 16 collegiate starts. The learning curve would be one harsh arc.

The Jets traded up to draft Sanchez fifth overall and make him the face of the franchise. He would have to fall flat on his facemask to not win the job from veteran Kellen Clemens in training camp. Sanchez signed a five-year contract, which also escalated his timetable. Six years is the common length of a highly drafted quarterback's first deal.

"It's a tough situation for anybody to come in right out of college, where you didn't play much, and plug in," O'Brien said. "It just takes time."

What has been troubling about Sanchez's development is that Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have needed to simplify it as the season has progressed. Ryan, who is dyslexic, applied one his own comprehension tricks and color-coded Sanchez's play-calling wristband to underscore the importance of ball security.

"He doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes or getting better in any way," Williamson said. "He still really doesn't understand coverages or the speed of the game at this level. He isn't seeing things clearly and is either very rushed or too slow in everything he does."

Martz and O'Brien insisted Sanchez will come around.

Martz stressed the importance of the Jets acquiring more help for Sanchez at receiver and spending a lot of time working together during his first full NFL offseason. Dropping top receiver Braylon Edwards into Sanchez' lap in Week 5 didn't do him any favors.

"There's a little bit of a disconnect with them, which is understandable," said Martz, who 10 years ago in St. Louis ran the record-setting offense dubbed "The Greatest Show on Turf."

"That rapport and that chemistry, it takes a long time to develop. I don't think people realize how difficult that is. There's thousands of throws that need to happen."

Sanchez has been one of the NFL's worst play-action passers. He ranks 27th in the NFL with a 58.8 play-action passer rating, completing 52 percent of his throws with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

"It's just a matter of repetition," O'Brien said. "It's a lot more beneficial to watching yourself on film and having recall of which decisions to make. You can figure out 'This is what I did last time and I was knucklehead. Let's forget about that.'

"You store it all away. Your mind becomes a vault. You have to click through all those pictures, that video game in your head and dial in that right formula the next time you come across it."

As for the toll a disappointing first season can have, jangled confidence shouldn't be an issue with Sanchez. His leadership intangibles might be what carry him.

"The good players, they have such a deep-seated belief in themselves that they might be shaken a bit," Martz said, "but they just can't be moved off the mark. He's got too much going."

Teammates recognize that. Ritchie, who went to the playoffs with Rich Gannon and Donovan McNabb, noted the guys in the locker room are willing to forgive mistakes and weigh the future benefits when they see a young quarterback committing himself at the facility, whether it be on the practice field or in the film room.

"Guys know that he's putting in all the time in and that he is sacrificing to do everything that he can to get better," Ritchie said. "He's a guy you love to have on your team and will be much improved. That rookie wall hits everyone, and you come to the conclusion that he's hit that.

"But a guy that has such an unbelievable attitude, positivity surround him all the time, can lead a group of men who have been playing in the league just with his sheer charisma. That played into their decision and I can't fault them there."

So don't be so anxious about throwing away this season, Jets fans.

When we look back on 2009, Sanchez will have junked the Jets' chance to make the playoffs. But Sanchez's long-term future might turn out to be worth forfeiting the postseason.

"He'll be so much better next year," Martz said. "It was absolutely the right thing to do. That team will evolve with him."

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

1. Rex Ryan, Jets coach: Everybody in the stadium knew Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez was the target on that fateful fourth-and-goal play with 1:38 left, but Ryan's defense still couldn't stop it. Moments later, Ryan blew up at referee Ron Winter, then walked into his postgame news conference and declared his team has been eliminated from the playoff hunt. Except they haven't been.

2. Chad Henne, Dolphins quarterback: Henne threw for a career-high 349 yards and guided the Dolphins to a 15-point, fourth-quarter rally and forced overtime in Nashville. But he threw the last of his three interceptions three plays into sudden death, frittering the hallowed first possession. The Titans kicked the winning field goal four plays later.

3. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback: A game away because of a knee injury didn't seem to help Sanchez settle down. The rookie came back Sunday and threw three interceptions, his fourth game with at least three in 13 NFL starts. His 20 interceptions are second in the league. He ranks 29th in passer rating.

Rising

1. Randy Moss, Patriots receiver: Under fire for perceived lollygagging, Moss had a strong game against the Bills. Tom Brady threw for just 115 yards, but Moss generated 113 yards and scored a touchdown. He finished with a game-high five receptions for 70 yards and drew another 43 yards on a Bills pass interference near the goal line.

2. Patriots pass rush: Without nose tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive ends Ty Warren and Myron Pryor, the Patriots rung up a season-high six sacks. Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain recorded three of them. Bills quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards both suffered ankle injuries.

3. Fred Jackson, Bills running back: Jackson, the supposed backup to Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch, is 189 yards from the coveted 1,000-yard milestone. Not bad for an undrafted Division III player who came up through the arena bush leagues. Jackson rushed 15 times for 80 yards against the Patriots. He also caught four passes for 32 yards and returned four kickoffs for 108 yards.

The New York Jets blew it.

They led the Atlanta Falcons by four points for over 46 minutes Sunday at the Meadowlands and hadn't allowed a touchdown in 33 possessions, the NFL's longest streak.

On fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez connected for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 to play. The game now on the line, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw his third interception to seal a 10-7 defeat.

What a heartbreaker. On a day the Miami Dolphins lost, the Jets could have climbed into the driver's seat. Instead, they are one of five teams at 7-7, and based on all of the various tiebreakers, they have the longest shot to earn a wild-card bid.

Jets kicker Jay Feely, having a great season up until Sunday, missed three field goals inside 40 yards. Kellen Clemens botched a hold and another was blocked. Feely flat-out missed one.

Sanchez started after missing a game with a knee injury. He went 18-of-32 for 226 yards and one touchdown -- a 65-yard beauty to Braylon Edwards.

But those interceptions ... It was his fourth game this year with at least three.

The Falcons took away the NFL's top rushing offense. Thomas Jones had 19 attempts for 52 yards. Shonn Greene ran eight times for 30 yards.

ESPN's Rachel Nichols reports New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has named Mark Sanchez the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Meadowlands. Sanchez missed last week's game with a knee injury.

Let's say your afternoon options are down to sorting your sock drawer, rinsing out your disposable coffee filters or waxing your mustache.

I might have another alternative for you to consider.

At 3 p.m., you could drop by my (supposed-to-be) weekly AFC East chat.

I know it doesn't sound like much, and you'd have to be really desperate, but if you give it a whirl I guarantee to hold your attention for at least a minute and 15 seconds. Maybe even two minutes if we hit on a particularly hot topic.

Here are a few things we might get to:

• Bills receivers Terrell Owens and Lee Evans getting vertical against the Patriots' susceptible secondary.
• Ricky Williams' outstanding season at 32 years old.
• The whereabouts of the guy who used to scream at us to buy sports memorabilia on those home-shopping shows.
• Why Bill Belichick resorted to smack talk in defending Randy Moss.
• Whether Kellen Clemens gives the Jets a better shot to make the playoffs than Mark Sanchez.
• "Christmas Vacation" as the greatest yuletide movie ever produced.
• The Salsa Granny.
• If Vernon Gholston will be known as the last person to disappear at the Meadowlands.
• The Dolphins' and Jets' chances of making the playoffs after the Jaguars' loss Thursday night.

So what do you have to lose? You can alphabetize your electronica CDs tomorrow.

Tuesday night on ESPNEWS, anchor Ducis Rodgers and I discussed a variety of AFC East topics, including how Mark Sanchez sunk the New York Jets for 2009, Ricky Williams' noteworthy season, Randy Moss' recent troubles and the division's playoff picture.

How much differently would the New York Jets' season have gone if they'd gone with a competent veteran quarterback instead of erratic rookie Mark Sanchez?

We woke up Monday morning to see the Jets ranked first in the NFL in rushing offense, first in total defense and first in passing defense.

That would appear to be a winning formula. Yet the Jets are on the outer fringes of the AFC playoff race. They're tied with the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens at 7-6, but all three of them have tiebreaker advantages over the Jets and easier remaining schedules.

The Jets probably won't make the playoffs, and when they look back on it, the reason will be their decision to start Sanchez all year rather than have him serve as an apprentice.

Maybe one day he'll prove to be worthy of his "Sanchise" moniker, but he killed them in 2009.

The Jets didn't need a superstar. All they needed was someone who wasn't capable of throwing four or five interceptions a game. Behind workhorse back Thomas Jones, the Jets are averaging 169.1 rushing yards a game. They're limiting opponents to 264.7 total yards and 160.4 passing yards a game. The Jets rank 27th in team passer rating at 62.4.

Sanchez, during that repugnant stretch in which the Jets lost six out of seven games in October and November, threw six touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. Take away one of those games -- say, the five-interception performance in a sudden-death loss to the Buffalo Bills at the Meadowlands -- and the Jets are in control of their own destiny.

I'm not convinced Kellen Clemens, who started Sunday's blowout over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of Sanchez's knee injury, would have been the answer. Clemens would love to be considered an average NFL quarterback.

But what if the Jets had signed somebody such as Jeff Garcia or somehow convinced Brett Favre to give it another whirl?

The New York Jets took care of business.

No surprises or tragedies befelled them Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets wiped their cleats on the doormat opponents, 26-3 and left Raymond James Stadium still in the playoff mix.

The Jets have won three straight games and are 7-6, their first winning record since Week 7. They have a rugged stretch ahead of them, finishing the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals.

But to be alive in mid-December is better than being left for dead in November, which the Jets had been after losing six out of seven games.

Thanks to a dominant defense and running back Thomas Jones, the Jets got along just fine without rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens completed 12 of 23 attempts for 111 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions.

Jones ran 24 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

But most impressive was the defense, which forced the Buccaneers three and out on their first seven possessions. The Buccaneers didn't gain a first down until the third quarter and finished with six first downs.

The Buccaneers gained 124 yards from scrimmage, 43 yards rushing and 81 yards passing.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Since the AFC East has four games going simultaneously, here are some quick halftime thoughts from around the division:

First of all, I might be in the wrong stadium. The real news will take place in Gillette Stadium if the New England Patriots don't get their act together against the Carolina Panthers. The score is tied at 7, but the Patriots have looked homely. Tom Brady has an interception. Randy Moss lost a fumble. Do you think Bill Belichick has Charlie Weis' updated résumé on file?

The Miami Dolphins appear to be in control against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins lead 14-7 and should be up by at least 10, but receiver Davone Bess fumbled on a reverse at the Jaguars' 33-yard line right before intermission.

The Dolphins are running and throwing effectively. Ricky Williams has rushed 15 times for 42 yards and a touchdown. Chad Henne, who also has a touchdown run, has completed 14 of 16 attempts -- 13 in a row -- for 146 yards and no interceptions.

The New York Jets are cruising against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 19-0. Jay Feely already has four field goals in his hometown. Rex Ryan was wise not to push rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez back too soon from a knee injury because Kellen Clemens hasn't had to do anything. Clemens is 7-of-16 for 52 yards. But Thomas Jones has 12 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets are getting it done in their last cushy game before a brutal finish against the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets and Dolphins are tied at 6-6, one game behind the Jaguars. If these scores hold up, then we're going to have some fun the rest of December.

And in Kansas City, the Buffalo Bills are up 10-3 in a game that's irrelevant other than establishing the top 10 draft order. Terrell Owens has a 9-yard touchdown reception.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 14:

The New England Patriots' locker room will determine the course of the AFC East. It won't matter how hot the New York Jets or Miami Dolphins get over the final month if the Patriots can pull themselves together. I'm not convinced that's going to happen with a young roster and so much missing leadership. Too many players who weren't around for the glory years haven't experienced the payoff to Bill Belichick's methods. Instead, they see two fourth-down coaching decisions that might have cost them victories and four starters sent home for showing up late to a meeting because of the weather.

It's possible no ground could be gained in the AFC East on Sunday. All four AFC East clubs are playing teams outside the division and conceivably could go 4-0. The Dolphins can strike a resounding blow in the wild-card race by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, who currently are sixth in the conference standings. But even if the Dolphins win, chances are they won't alter the division picture. They probably won't catch the Patriots, who host the 5-7 Carolina Panthers, or separate from the Jets, who visit the 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tony Sparano deserves consideration for coach of the year -- again. Sparano was jobbed out of last season's awards because most folks credited Bill Parcells first and everybody else second for the Dolphins' spectacular turnaround from one victory to the AFC East title. Sparano has his Dolphins at .500, but they have remained highly competitive without last year's MVP runner-up (Chad Pennington), their star running back (Ronnie Brown), 3-4 nose tackle (Jason Ferguson) and No. 1 cornerback (Will Allen). This year's effort might be more impressive.

Sunday might be Kellen Clemens' last stand to show he can be a starter. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has stressed for months he believes rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez gives them the best chance to win. Sunday's game at Tampa Bay is a must-win. But Sanchez's knee injury is forcing Ryan to insert Clemens, a 2006 second-round draft choice who has had his chances but could never persuade the Jets to trust him with the job. Clemens won't win over the Jets on Sunday, but it's an audition for 2010 that he can't afford to fail.

The only way Terrell Owens comes back to Buffalo is if he has no other options. Owens has been diplomatic when responding to questions about whether he'd like to remain with the Buffalo Bills. He's not going to openly dismiss a locale that gave him a key to the city before he played a down. But it's clear in Owens' answers he's not enamored with the organization. If he has any chance to join a playoff-caliber team, he will leap at it. So enjoy your last four games of mirth, Bills fans.