AFC East: Ron Jaworski

ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski knows who he likes in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. "Jaws" told radio station 97.5 in Philadelphia that the New York Jets would be the best fit for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

"I think it's best for Peyton to go and play on a team that can compete for a Super Bowl," Jaworski explained. "A team that might be a quarterback away from elevating that team to Super Bowl status, and I think that would be a win-win situation."

When asked to pick a team, Jaworski said, “The New York Jets. I love [Jets quarterback] Mark Sanchez, and there are 25 other quarterbacks in this league that I would take Peyton Manning over. There's a turf war in New York. The Giants just won the Super Bowl. The Jets are fighting for every inch of space they can get in the newspaper. How do you get that inch? How do you get the headlines? You sign Peyton Manning."

This sounds decent in theory, but Jaworski has overlooked several key factors.

For starters, New York currently has little cap room to make an acquisition like Manning. The Jets would have to cut a lot of veterans to make enough space to fit the perennial Pro Bowler on the roster. Second, the Jets have said publicly that Sanchez is their quarterback next season. If New York goes after Manning, that would look very disingenuous towards Sanchez.

Probably two-thirds of the league would like to have a healthy Peyton Manning at quarterback. But there's only a few teams -- the Dolphins, Cardinals, Redskins, Seahawks -- with a legitimate shot to pull it off.

The Jets are not one of those teams.

Gruden: Vikes 'acquire fear' with Moss

October, 11, 2010
10/11/10
3:51
PM ET
The "Monday Night Football" crew looks ahead to the Minnesota Vikings versus the New York Jets at the Meadowlands.

Jon Gruden: "When you get Randy Moss, you acquire fear. Defenses are bothered by where he is. They know exactly where he is at all times. This guy's commanded specialty coverage his entire career."

Ron Jaworski: "Speaking of fear right now, Santonio Holmes comes back for the Jets, suspended for four games ... He will strike fear into the secondary of the Minnesota Vikings. Now, you combine that with Braylon Edwards, another deep threat, Dustin Keller having a terrific season at tight end and, oh, by the way, LaDainian Tomlinson's there, having another great year. A lot of weapons for Mark Sanchez."

'MNF' gang predicts AFC East wins, losses

August, 30, 2010
8/30/10
12:16
PM ET
In a video segment called "More or Less," the Monday night crew gives some predictions for the AFC East.

Will the New York Jets win more or less than 10 games?

Jon Gruden says more: "Too many high-profile, great players. And if they don't win more than 10 games, they got a lot of explaining to do."

Ron Jaworski says more: "I'm with you. I think they'll win more than 10 games. I really like the acquisition of Santonio Holmes. Mark Sanchez now has that go-to receiver that can give him the explosive plays."

Will the New England Patriots win more or less than 10 games?

Gruden predicts 10 on the dot: "That's the number. Tom Brady is going to win 10 with any team. I thin they got a lot of young guys that have to step up quick, and it's not going to be easy."

Jaworski says less: "When you see this football team, they're going through a transition right now. You have Tom Brady. You have some mixing of the offensive line, per se. They've got to find themselves a couple young tight ends. It's going to take some time to assimilate those young guys in the offense."

Will the Miami Dolphins win more or less than nine games?

Jaworski predicts exactly nine: "That could really elevate if Chad Henne comes through. There's some weapons on that football team right now. Brandon Marshall gives Henne that go-to receiver every quarterback loves to have."

Gruden says less: "I like the acquisitions of [Karlos] Dansby and Marshall. Little bit less than nine. The young quarterback's got to play in a tough division."

Will the Buffalo Bills win more or less than five games?

Jaworski says less: "Chan Gailey needs a little bit of time to get his type of players in that organizations."

Gruden technically doesn't give a prediction: "They're just not as good as these other teams in this league is how I see it, Jaws. C.J. Spiller, though, he's the best player in this year's draft."

video

Video: Jets-Giants 'MNF' preview

August, 16, 2010
8/16/10
11:45
AM ET
The "Monday Night Football" crew previews the New York Jets and New York Giants preseason opener in the unmarked Meadowlands stadium.

It will be our first look at a bunch of high-profile newcomers in green and white, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Santonio Holmes, outside linebacker Jason Taylor and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Game analysts Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden focused on how much the starting quarterbacks might be chased around.

Jaworski: "You look at Rex Ryan's foundation. It's about defensive pressure. The Jets blitzed 57 percent of the time in passing plays, the most of any team in the NFL. And when they bring that pressure it comes from a safety, from a corner. They like to get those quick, speedy guys after the quarterback. So this is a preseason game, but I will guarantee you this: Rex Ryan will get after Eli Manning and try to get hits on him."

Gruden: "You know, when people blitz my quarterback in a preseason game, I turn the heat up on theirs. Look for Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants to let loose the steam that's back in their scheme. Osi Umenyiora's back. Justin Tuck, and their first-round pick, Jason Pierre-Paul, is an impressive guy. 'Watch out Mark Sanchez. We're bringing it back to you.'"

Video: Pro Bowl preview

January, 31, 2010
1/31/10
11:34
AM ET

ESPN's broadcast crew previews Sunday night's Pro Bowl in Sun Life Stadium.

Video: 'MNF' crew on Patriots loss

December, 1, 2009
12/01/09
10:31
AM ET
video
The "Monday Night Football" crew breaks down the New Orleans Saints' 38-17 dismantling of the New England Patriots in the Superdome and where the AFC East leaders go from here.

New Orleans on edge for epic showdown

November, 30, 2009
11/30/09
11:23
AM ET
NEW ORLEANS -- There's a crackle in the air.

I've been in downtown New Orleans since Saturday afternoon, and the anticipation for Monday night's blockbuster between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints reminds me of the edginess that would encroach upon Las Vegas in the incandescent hours before a Mike Tyson fight.

All eyes will be fixed on the Superdome to see a monster game on the national stage. Two elite quarterbacks, an offensive guru against a defensive mastermind, a potential Super Bowl preview and the pursuit of perfection.

"The magnitude of this game is huge," said "Monday Night Football" analyst Jon Gruden. "Bragging rights are important, and all your peers are watching, and you know that.

[+] Enlarge
Tom Brady
AP Photo/Tony GutierrezTom Brady and the Patriots return to the Superdome Monday for the first time since Super Bowl XXXVI.
"The Patriots don't want anyone to go 16-0 but them. There's going to be incentive for them to win this game. For the Saints, why wouldn't you want to take out the New England Patriots on national TV to increase your credibility and maintain home-field advantage? They are hard to beat in that dome and home-field advantage for them in the NFC is huge."

While the Patriots' prime-time game against the Indianapolis Colts a couple of weeks ago had a special feel about it, this one seems more enormous.

Maybe it's the crowd that started gathering here two days ago for the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern in the Superdome -- some locals told me the traffic was on par with a Super Bowl -- or the passionate college fans who were sent into as tizzy over LSU's overtime victory over Arkansas on Saturday night.

Out in the French Quarter for Sunday's games, bar patrons could be heard screaming down Bourbon Street every time the Houston Texans made a play to threaten local boy Peyton Manning and the Colts' pursuit of perfection. Even hometown heroes rate second to the Saints.

All of that, however, was the undercard for Monday night's main event.

The Patriots and Saints were Gruden's preseason choices to meet in the next Super Bowl.

The last time the Patriots played in the Superdome was when they shut down the "Greatest Show on Turf" to win their first Super Bowl.

What has Ron Jaworski impatiently rubbing his hands together are the explosive offenses. Tom Brady and Drew Brees might exchange haymakers like Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks did in the "Battle of New Orleans" 31 years ago.

Jaworski, Gruden's press box mate, foresees a game that could generate more than 80 points.

"They are clearly elite teams," Jaworski said. "Both have explosive players on offense, solid running games, and I think it's going to be a very high-scoring game. It's not very often that you look at a game and say it's going to be in the 40s, but with these two offenses right now, this one could be that kind of game."

Each team has problems on defense. The Saints' secondary is dented. Jaworski expects Brady to spread the field to force the Saints to "to bring [their] fourth- and fifth-best corners on the field. That is not a good sign when you have Tom Brady coming in with a plethora of receivers and tight ends."

Jaworski called the Patriots' defense "inconsistent" and doesn't detect them "working in harmony like you are used to seeing." Brees' ability to scan the field quickly, recognize a weakness and deliver a pinpoint pass should do some damage. The Saints offer a much more talented and diverse backfield than what the Patriots faced in Indianapolis.

"If you like quarterbacking and you like offense, you want to record this one," Jaworski said. "It could be one for the ages."

Jaworski: Buffalo's no-huddle 'a big mistake'

September, 11, 2009
9/11/09
2:44
PM ET

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham


Ron Jaworski was a guest on Friday's edition of "Mike & Mike in the Morning" to preview Monday night's game between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.

The suburban Buffalo native had some strong words about his hometown team's insistence upon using the no-huddle offense, shared some insightful observations about Tom Brady's knee and talked up New York Jets rookie Mark Sanchez.

On whether the Bills have the weapons to run the no-huddle:

"They have the weapons. I don't think they have the ability. I'm not going to knock what they're trying to do ... I guess I am. Now you're going to get me lathered up.

"You got five offensive linemen. You're starting two rookies at guards. To me, you want to have guys in the huddle and call the play so there's communication. You walk to the line of scrimmage; 'Hey, here's what we're going to do when we get this front.' You plan as you go to the line of scrimmage. Now you're in the no-huddle. Trent Edwards is at the line of scrimmage, calling plays. There's very little time to react, to communicate.

"What I saw out of the Buffalo Bills in the preseason was a total lack of communication offensively. Yeah, the no-huddle sounds good when you got a 10-year veteran like Jim Kelly and veterans like Andre Reed and Kent Hull at the center position, all those wily, old veteran players, running a no-huddle offense. It's a lot easier than when you have a bunch of rookies and inexperienced guys.

"I think they're making a big mistake running the no-huddle."

On Brady's return from reconstructive knee surgery:

"When the pocket is clean and there's no bodies around you, there was a good step. There was a good transfer of weight, and all the mechanics were fine. But when there were people around him, you could tell he favored that left knee a little bit and favored that left leg. I saw a little breakdown of mechanics. That'll only come with confidence that the leg is solid and the offensive line can keep him clean."

On what he expects from Sanchez:

"I think Sanchez will play well. If there is a quarterback that has a chance to come out of the season maybe like a Matt Ryan, maybe like a Joe Flacco, it would be Sanchez. I think [Detroit Lions rookie Matthew] Stafford is going to be in for a long season. He just doesn't have many weapons around him.

"When you look at the Jets, Rex Ryan is going to have that defense playing. They're going to play solid defense. The Jets arguably have the best offensive line in football, very athletic, very strong. They do a terrific job. ... You got Thomas Jones in the backfield. You got a team that can run the football.

"They're not going to ask mark Sanchez to win the football game. They're going to say 'Don't lose it. We'll run the ball.' As Rex Ryan said, 'We'll probably have more rushes than any team in the NFL this year.' So they're going to run the football, play defense and let the quarterback -- hate to say it -- manage the game."

Bills, Patriots will learn what they have right away

March, 23, 2009
3/23/09
10:27
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Much will be revealed on the first Monday night of the 2009 NFL season.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady should be dropping back to pass on his surgically rebuilt left knee. Terrell Owens will be running routes in a Buffalo Bills uniform for the first time.

There won't be much of a feeling out process for the original AFL rivals when they meet Sept. 14 in Gillette Stadium.

The NFL on Monday announced the Bills will visit the Patriots as part of the AFL's golden anniversary in the first game of a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader. The second game features the San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders.

But the Patriots and Bills will be the matchup fans get geeked about.

"This game is going to have a lot of drama and marquee value," said "Monday Night Football" analyst Ron Jaworski. "This will be a very special game."

Fans don't have to hail from Patriot Nation to be interested in how Brady will look in his first action since crumpling to the Gillette Stadium turf on Opening Day one year earlier.

We might get a general idea during the preseason how well Brady's knee has recovered from multiple surgeries, but nobody really will know until the all-world quarterback faces genuine game action.

"There are a lot of questions surrounding his injury and the infections," Jaworski said, "but the fact the Patriots traded Matt Cassel ensures that this game will be Tom Brady's coming out party.

"When you come back from an injury of the magnitude Tom suffered, you can practice all you want, run all you want, drill all you want. But there's nothing like live contact. He'll be anxious to take a couple shots and think 'Whew, OK. Now that's behind me.' "

The Bills quickly will find out whether they're ready to compete in the AFC East. They are coming off three straight 7-9 seasons, but have shown desperation in signing Owens.

(Read full post)

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