AFC East: Robert Turner

Early look at Jets free agency

February, 8, 2012
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The New York Jets have a lot of questions entering free agency. They have a lengthy list of names about to hit the market, spelled out clearly by Brian McIntyre of the well-respected Mac's Football blog.

Here's the list:

Restricted
Unrestricted
Analysis: There are not many "must-haves" on this list. The Jets already are strapped for salary-cap space and had locker-room issues. I expect plenty of turnover in free agency. Big names like Tomlinson and Burress are not expected to return on offense, and injuries suffered by Leonhard (knee) and Thomas (Achilles tendon) will hurt their chances to come back on the defense. If I had to pick two players from this unrestricted group who could return, it would be Folk and Pouha. But both would have to be at the right price. In terms of restricted players, I think Maybin is a guy the Jets will keep. They found a niche for him in New York and gave him a chance to jumpstart his career. Maybin also was one of the team's best pass-rushers last season.

AFC East links: Jets take chance on Maybin

August, 18, 2011
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Buffalo Bills

The Bills are negotiating a potential contract extension for defensive lineman Kyle Williams, who had 5.5 sacks and 77 tackles last season.

Count special-teams coach Bruce DeHaven among those who expect a major impact from the new rule that requires kickoffs to be taken from the 35-yard line instead of the 30. "Everybody I hear is talking about how there's going to be more touchbacks because they're kicking from the 35. The thing I don't hear people talking about is how much further down the field the coverage team is going to be when you're trying to bring the ball out," DeHaven said.

Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush is out to prove he can do something he has never really done before: be a featured back in the NFL.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Dave Hyde takes a look at the journey Bryan Cox took to get back to Miami, this time as a pass-rushing coach.

New England Patriots

Could this be Wes Welker's last season in New England?

Even reigning MVPs get frustrated. At one point Wednesday, Tom Brady grew so disappointed with a red zone drill that he punted the ball into the stands.

New York Jets

Injury updates: Offensive lineman Robert Turner broke his right leg in the preseason game against the Texans and the injury will require surgery. Running back Joe McKnight got a concussion in the Texans game.


Bills first-round bust Aaron Maybin gets a second chance with the Jets.

Mark Sanchez doesn't need to worry about fighting Rex Ryan -- he needs to fight inconsistency in his play, writes the Star-Ledger's Steve Politi.

Whatever they're worth: Jets tender nine

March, 1, 2011
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The New York Jets have placed restricted free-agent tenders on nine of their free agents.

Now we need to find out if those tenders are worth anything.

First, here's the rundown, with the draft compensation or considerations they'll receive if signed by another team:
ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini points out these tenders might not mean one iota under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Many of these players -- Holmes and Cromartie included -- could be unrestricted free agents under the new CBA. That means the club can't use tenders, and those players would be bound for the open market.

The Jets already used their franchise tag on linebacker David Harris.

Halftime notes from Jets-Patriots III

January, 16, 2011
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Halftime observations from Gillette Stadium, where the New York Jets lead the New England Patriots 14-3:
  • The Jets have taken it to the Patriots so far. Tom Brady has been under pressure, and even when he has time he's misfiring. The Patriots might be starting to come unglued. Pro Bowl left guard Logan Mankins was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct right before halftime for shoving a Jets player.
  • Patriots head coach Bill Belichick benched receiver Wes Welker for the first offensive series. We can only assume it was because because Welker made 11 foot-related comments in a nine-minute news conference Thursday. Welker beat cornerback Darrelle Revis for a 10-yard gain early on the fourth play of the second drive.
  • Brady's attempts streak without an interception technically still is intact and will resume when the Patriots open the 2011 regular season. But on his fifth pass, Jets linebacker David Harris returned an interception 58 yards to the Patriots' 12-yard line.
  • That interception should have given the Jets an even larger lead. But their offense lost 8 yards on the next two plays and were forced to try a field goal. Nick Folk's 30-yard attempt was wide left, preventing the Jets from taking a 3-0 lead.
  • The Jets put together a drive that must have felt mentally satisfying and took a 7-3 lead with 10:24 left in the second quarter. Braylon Edwards made another great sideline catch for a 37-yard gain to the Patriots' 8-yard line. Two plays later, LaDainian Tomlinson made a difficult catch and ran into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
  • Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has been creative. Option quarterback Brad Smith was deactivated because of a leg injury, but that didn't stop the Jets from trying to dazzle the Patriots. They ran a reverse with Joe McKnight. Backup guard Robert Turner reported as an eligible receiver and on one play went in motion and actually ran a route. Tomlinson has been in the Wildcat.
  • The Jets have sacked Brady three times. Defensive end Shaun Ellis collected a pair on the Patriots' second drive, including one on third down deep in Jets territory to force a Shayne Graham field goal. Defensive back Drew Coleman was untouched on another third-down sack in the second quarter.

Woody's injury presents problems for Jets

January, 14, 2011
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How much will the loss of right tackle Damien Woody impact the New York Jets?

Experience is the most obvious subtraction. Woody just finished his 12th NFL season. He has two Super Bowl rings.

His replacement, seventh-year pro Wayne Hunter, had two career starts before December.

[+] Enlarge
Wayne Hunter
AP Photo/David DrapkinWith Wayne Hunter stepping into the starting lineup, the Jets' depth on the O-line is getting thin.
Hunter started the Jets' final three games while Woody rested a right knee injury for the playoffs. Woody started Saturday's first-round victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but he couldn't finish because of an Achilles injury that required surgery this week.

But Woody's season-ending injury might not be as troubling as the next one that befalls their offensive line.

I reached out to ESPN contributor and former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker for his thoughts on how problematic Woody's absence will be for the Jets in Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"In and of itself, Wayne Hunter probably will do fine," said Tucker, who played for the Patriots and Buffalo Bills during his seven-year career. "But my biggest concern is their depth."

The Jets' depth chart doesn't list anybody at tackle aside from Woody and Hunter. Backup guard Robert Turner played right tackle at New Mexico. Rookie backup guard Vladimir Ducasse was a tackle at Boston College, but he has been a disappointment at guard.

"What if somebody else gets hurt?" Tucker said. "Nobody thinks about that, but let me tell you, if Wayne Hunter goes down or [left tackle] D'Brickashaw Ferguson goes down in the first or second quarter, then that becomes a real issue and a real problem."

Hunter is a capable lineman. Jets head coach Rex Ryan called him "the best backup tackle in the league," a remark Tucker deemed "hyperbole on Rex's part." But Tucker did rate Hunter among the NFL's top 10 swing tackles.

"From a natural ability standpoint Wayne Hunter is off the charts," Tucker said.

Hunter has seen a lot of action in the Jets' jumbo and goal-line packages, frequently reporting as an eligible receiver because he's lined up on the outside of another tackle.

Tucker liked what he saw from Hunter against some solid defenses. Hunter started against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills last month.

But expect the Patriots to dial up some special plays to see if they can exploit Hunter's inexperience and get to quarterback Mark Sanchez. Hunter also might find himself lined up against Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who migrates along the line.

"The Patriots may try to test his football acumen, his football intelligence," Tucker said. "I would imagine Bill Belichick will test his faculties pretty early. There are things you can do, whether it's a stunt or a blitz, to see how comfortable he is picking up the right guy.

"Ninety-five percent of the time he'll be blocking either the defensive end or outside linebacker, although most teams with their pass protections tend to slide the protection to the left to protect the backside of the quarterback. Usually, the other team's best pass-rusher is on that side. So Wayne Hunter will have that guy one-on-one more often than the left tackle will. He'll be isolated."

Greetings from the Rogers Centre

December, 3, 2009
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TORONTO -- An hour before kickoff for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills at the Rogers Centre, and the atmosphere is almost as lively as a board meeting. What a comedown from the Superdome.

The inactive lists were just distributed with no surprises. Cornerback Terrence McGee is back after missing three games following minor knee surgery, but Reggie Corner will start on the left side anyway.

New York Jets inactive list

Buffalo Bills inactive list

No surprises on Jets-Bills injury report

December, 2, 2009
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With a game on Thursday night, the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills have released their final injury report.

Already ruled out for the Jets are cornerbacks Dwight Lowery (ankle) and Donald Strickland (concussion) and guard Robert Turner (knee). The Jets don't list any players as doubtful or questionable.

Listed as probable are quarterback Mark Sanchez (knee), left tackle D'Brickshaw Ferguson (hamstring), defensive end Shaun Ellis (knee), outside linebacker Calvin Pace (shoulder) and safeties Jim Leonhard (thumb) and Eric Smith (back). All six participated fully in Wednesday's practice.

For the Bills, left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), defensive tackle John McCargo (calf) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle) are out.

The only other Bills on the injury report are cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and safety Jairus Byrd (groin). Both are listed as questionable and were limited in Wednesday's practice.
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