Jets Open Mini-Camp

Hey everyone. Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days. Have been busy with work and preparing my trip out to California, where I will be spending four months studying and interning in the fall. Should be a great time.

There are several stories around the area today including two big rivalry series kicking off tonight in baseball. However, I'll focus this post on the Jets beginning their three-day mandatory mini-camp at their training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey today.

All the big guns were accounted for, as expected. Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens both threw the ball fairly well today. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington were both there, despite their contract issues (which Leon spoke about), and Rex Ryan once again made his voice heard.

In terms of the first issue, the quarterback competition with Sanchez and Clemens continued to heat up. Both had some good throws in practice, the only blip was an interception thrown by Sanchez to Eric Smith. Either way, after practice, both quarterbacks made it known to the media that this was a competition between the QBs and not a controversy.

My Take: Both players respect each other and are helping each other become better through this. However, it is not like one has a clear edge over the other and that other QB is trying to take the spot. Clemens and Sanchez each have an equal chance of making the team and it should be interesting to see who comes out on top. If one thing's for sure, it's that whoever is the quarterback to start the season will have earned it, as Ryan said afterwards.

In terms of the contract issues, Washington spoke about his situation to reporters after practice. The bottom line with him is that he wants "fair market value." In other words, he demands a contract that is similar to other playmaking runningbacks like Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles (roughly $6 million). He wouldn't state whether or not he would be at training camp later on or any other plans. He preached his desire for a better contract but also that he loves playing for the Jets and wants to stay there.

My Take: Washington is only making $535,000 this year, and no doubt is a better player than that on the market. I understand his desires to make more money. However, when it comes down to what is best for him and the team, it is best for him to take the field all summer, even if the dispute is still going on. He is an important part of the team's offense and is a player who could become important for the Jets or other teams in the future. Holding out does not bode well for his image. You can be upset but don't stop playing because of it.

Finally, Rex Ryan spoke out again, referencing comments made by Channing Crowder of the Dolphins. Crowder claimed that Ryan was getting too excited about his team and that Ryan was the "OTA Super Bowl winner." Ryan fired back today saying that you do win games in June by the preparation that you do during the summer months. He also noted that he will not apologize for any comments he made, including his famous "I'm not here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings" statement.

My Take: Ryan shouldn't have to take back or apologize for anything he said. Yes, he is a first-year head coach who has not proven that he can be successful in that position yet. However, he has a lot of confidence, which any coach should in his team, and is making his feelings known that he isn't intimidated by the Patriots or anyone else. I see nothing wrong with being excited for what your team can do in June, agree that it's important to prepare well for the season in the summer, and think that Ryan has the ability and the team to be successful.

Checking in with the Jets

Haven't had a football related blog since my triumphant return, so I thought I'd catch you all up on some happenings around the Jets. They are currently taking part in OTAs (organized team activities) and have made headlines recently regarding the players in attendance.

News continues to revolve around quarterback Mark Sanchez and whether or not he'll be the starter this year. My guess is not right away, as I feel Kellen Clemens has the experience, and Sanchez might need some more time. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sanchez start later in the season.

As for players who have missed time at OTAs, the two stand-outs would be runningbacks Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. Both are unhappy with their current contracts. Jones is set to receive $900,000 this year, but wants more after he was the AFC's leading rusher last season. As for Washington, he's due just $535,000, and wants money similar to that of Darren Sproles and Maurice Jones-Drew (around $6 or 7 million).

Jones sat out all of the voluntary offseason workouts, but returned on Wednesday, May 27th. As for his back-up, Washington also sat out for a while from OTAs, and finally returned yesterday to the practice facility in Florham Park, NJ. According to Washington's agent, the return was "a move of good faith."

It appears unlikely either will get a big increase. Jones has received a lot already from his first two years of his four-year contract and is continuing to age (over 30). Washington could be either an unrestricted or restricted free agent after the season, depending on whether the league develops a new Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2009 season. The team doesn't want to pay him a lot of he would be unrestricted, and rightfully so.

Either way, both are back working out with the team, both are in great shape as always, and will look to lead a run-heavy offense this season under the direction of new Head Coach Rex Ryan and either Clemens or Sanchez under center.

The Return

After a long time away from the blog to finish up schoolwork and get settled back at home, I have returned to revive this blog. I want to get back up and running, giving you all the best I have to offer regarding NY-area sports. For my first post, I want to look at all the of current head coaches/managers and take a look at who has done the best job. Few have been around for a while (Coughlin) while many are just getting started (Manuel, Tortorella, Gordon). However, let's take a look at what they've done so far, see who's done the best and worst job, and who has potential for future success:

Joe Girardi

Team: New York Yankees

Arrived: October 30, 2007 (hired by Yankees)

Record: 116-93

Playoffs: None

Overall Consensus: Girardi had big shoes to fill after Joe Torre left, and has been okay so far. The Yanks didn't make the playoffs in his first season, missing out on October baseball for the first time since 1993. In '09, the Yanks have shown some signs of life and increasing chemistry. He continues to make questionable decisions but overall has done a decent job. I think he'll continue to have success, find his way back into the playoffs, and has a chance at a championship. However, he won't have the same success that Torre did.

Jerry Manuel
Team: New York Mets

Arrived: June 17, 2008 (replaced Willie Randolph)
Record: 72-52
Playoffs: None
Overall Consensus: Manuel took over for Randolph midseason in '08 and helped stabilize a struggling Mets team, only to watch them collapse in September for a 2nd year in a row. The team removed his interim tag, and he's started 2009 off okay despite the team being riddled with injuries. It still seems like he has some relationship issues with players in the clubhouse, namely Jose Reyes, but overall he has held down the fort. If he's going to be successful, he needs to find a way to get the team focusing on the fundamentals of baseball (baserunning especially) and prevent another choke job late in the season. I think it's possible.

Tom Coughlin

Team: New York Giants
Arrived: January 6, 2004 (hired by Giants)
Record: 47-33
Playoffs: 4 times (Super Bowl Champs in 2008, lost NFC divisional game to Eagles in '09, lost NFC wild card games to Panthers and Eagles in '06 and '07, respectively)
Overall Consensus: Tom Coughlin has been around the longest among the NY sports coaches and has done a fine job. The team has made the playoffs in four out to his five seasons at the helm and has won a Super Bowl as well. Not much to complain about here. As long as he keeps the team in the playoffs, he has the talent on the roster to keep them mentioned in Super Bowl talks year after year.

Rex Ryan
Team: New York Jets
Arrived: January 21, 2009 (hired after Eric Mangini was fired)
Record: None, was with Ravens who were 5-11 in 2008
Playoffs: None, won Super Bowl in 2000 with Ravens as Defensive Line Coach
Overall Consensus: Eric Mangini didn't fulfill the dreams of Jets fans, and now, Rex Ryan has the chance to do that. He stresses defense, a major issue for the Jets last season, and brings in a lock-down package that has been lacking in recent years. He still has to figure out who will be the starting QB in 2009 (Kellen Clemens or Mark Sanchez) and who his wide receivers will be, but he has the foundation for a playoff team. He has the potential to succeed but needs to build up his offense a little more.

Mike D'Antoni
Team: New York Knicks
Arrived: May 10, 2008 (hired by Knicks)
Record: 32-50
Playoffs: None, made playoffs previous 4 seasons as Head Coach of the Suns
Overall Consensus: D'Antoni has a major, major task to try and build this Knicks team into a winner. The organization is banking on a big free agent signing in 2010 (namely, Lebron), but as of now, the team is very weak. They have some bright spots in David Lee and Nate Robinson, and showed brief success in 08-09, but not enough to warrant a playoff berth. I don't think he finishes his time in NY with an NBA title, but I do think if he's around after 2010, he can lead the team back to the playoffs.

John Tortorella
Team: New York Rangers
Arrived: February 23, 2009 (hired by Rangers after firing Tom Renney)
Record: 12-7-2
Playoffs: Once in 2008-09, Rangers lost to Capitals in 1st Round
Overall Consensus: He was brought in after Tom Renney was let go to lead the Rangers into the playoffs, and he accomplished that. After blowing a 3-1 series lead, it is now his job to help restructure the team to his liking and use a full season to build a team that can go deep into the playoffs. He has a good style of play that's aggressive and stresses scoring, but lacks a big-time scorer. If he can nab someone like Ilya Kovalchuk, the Rangers have a great mix of young and old talent that can lead to success. He can have a temper though, and he needs to learn to keep his cool. No more squirting water on fans behind the bench! I say he brings the Rangers back to the playoffs, but won't win a Stanley Cup during his time at The Garden.

Scott Gordon
Team: New York Islanders
Arrived: August 12, 2008 (hired by Islanders after firing Ted Nolan)
Record: 26-45-9
Playoffs: None
Overall Consensus: Just like D'Antoni, he has a tall task to take this team of youngsters and bring them to the playoffs and beyond. The Islanders are the joke of the league and will not get any true, proven talent as long as they are playing at Nassau Coliseum. Until they get their new arena, IF they get a new arena, they will continue to struggle because simply, no one wants to play there and fans don't want to go and watch. I don't see a bright future for Gordon and the Islanders, and I think he's gone before the end of the upcoming season.

That does it for this debate. I left out Lawrence Frank (Nets) and Brent Sutter (Devils) since they're mostly NJ. However, Frank had some early success with the Nets but has struggled since, and Sutter has helped the Devils continue making the playoffs and will do so with the teams he keeps producing. Let me know your thoughts on all of the coaches.

In addition, since baseball is in high swing, I will try and do some liveblogging later on tonight with the Yanks at Cleveland and the Mets hosting the Marlins. I will especially be active with this when the Yanks and Mets play each other in June. Until then, I plan on being more active once again!

Jets Stacking Up on Defense

It has been a pretty tremendous couple of days if you are a New York Jets fan. The team, which clearly had huge holes on the defensive end all of last season, has bolstered their roster since signing former-Ravens Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan. After nabbing former-Raven Bart Scott and trading for former-Eagle Lito Sheppard, the Jets added Jim Leonhard, another Raven from last season, to their secondary today. All-in-all, Jets fans have to be happy with all three signings.

Leonhard agreed to a three-year deal on Tuesday. He has the tools to be a good safety and will start alongside Kerry Rhodes. That's a pretty good safety combo. Leonhard hasn't been the most consistent starter, but last year was a big player late in the season for the Ravens. He is familiar with Ryan's defense and that will likely help him in his transition to New York.

The Jets traded for Sheppard and only gave up a couple draft picks. Sheppard is a very good cornerback and will slot in nicely with rising star Darrelle Revis in the secondary. Sheppard wanted out of Philly for a while, and now he gets the chance for a fresh start. The Jets corners and safeties had big problems last year, especially in the second half, covering receivers and making big plays. Sheppard is the type of playmaking corner that can improve these problems.

Finally, Bart Scott was brought in to help the linebacking core with a 6-year, $48 million deal. While his numbers have decreased slightly over the last two seasons, he is a solid blitzer and will be the true fixture in the center of the Jets' defense. He'll likely start as a middle-linebacker with David Harris to give the Jets another solid combo at that position. He has the familiarity with Rex Ryan which is another added bonus and will no doubt be the go-to guy on the Jets defense.

Jets fans should celebrate these signings, but there are still a few question marks with the team. Is Kellen Clemens really going to be the quarterback? Can Leon Washington be a solid enough back behind Thomas Jones or do the Jets relegate him to the kick returner role and get another RB? Another wide receiver to replace Laveranues Coles? And is the defensive line good enough to put pressure on the opposing QB? They certainly weren't last year.

My predictions: Clemens is the QB, Jets get another RB but Leon starts the season as the #2, They absolutely get another wide-out, and I think the D-Line stays the same as the linebackers and even safeties will do a lot of blitzing this season. But then again, that's just my take. Let me know what you think!!

Rex Ryan Goes to the Jets

Well, that certainly happened in a flash.

Not even a full day after the Ravens lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, Baltimore's Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan has agreed to become the next Head Coach of the New York Jets. Ryan's deal is said to be a four year contract, similar to the one Steve Spagnuolo got from the Rams to coach there. That deal was worth $11.5-million.

When it came down to it, I thought the best candidates for the Jets job (once Cowher took himself out and Shanahan wanted to go on vacation) were Spagnuolo and Ryan. I liked Spags' recent success with the Giants and how he won over a lot of respect from his defense. However, it showed this year that without Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, the defense struggled late in the season and in the playoffs.

Rex Ryan was the easier option because he ran a 3-4 in Baltimore already and the Jets had been running the 3-4 since Eric Mangini came to town. Ryan has also been the forefront of the Ravens' success because their defense has been one of the stingiest in the NFL. The team has been one of the top teams defensively year after year and Ryan's aggressive style is something the Jets needed after this past season's collapse.

The biggest thing with Ryan was that he was also an Assistant Head Coach to John Harbaugh. Now, that's not necessarily experience as a Head Coach, but I'm sure it helped better prepare him for what he'll face as a head honcho. Being in New York is definitely a tough place to be a head coach. This past year, Willie Randolph, Eric Mangini, Ted Nolan, and Isiah Thomas all lost their jobs. Ryan's seat will be hot from the start, especially with the quarterback situation so cloudy. He'll need to take a team with significant talent and mold it into a true playoff team and Super Bowl contender. It may not happen in Year 1, but I think he can definitely take this team deep!

First Post (Updated)

Alright, so for my first post, I'm gonna focus on a game I attended today that was quite the good time. The site was the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY where #8 Syracuse hosted #12 Notre Dame in a huge Big East match-up. Not only was the place amped up for the implications of a win here, but 30,021 people filled the Dome to watch this game. It wasn't the biggest crowd ever at the place, but my goodness, 30,000+ people to watch a basketball game?! That's impressive! It's hard to think how loud Madison Square Garden can get when there's a sold-out crowd of 19,763 and then you add another 10,000+ to that to get the size of the dome!

Syracuse dominated ND 93-74 and the place was rocking from start to finish. I give the 'Cuse a lot of credit. After a sloppy showing against Georgetown earlier in the week, they came out and exploited the Irish from start to finish and got help all around. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson both played strong and dominated Luke Harangody down low. Kyle McAlarney was solid for the Irish, but Johnny Flynn played great once again as well.

My game ball goes to Jim Boeheim, the Orange Head Coach, however. Twice late the game, the Irish were threatening to tie the score, and Boeheim called much needed time outs. After both stoppages, Syracuse came out flying and dominated Notre Dame, energizing the crowd and separating the two teams once again. Great job by Syracuse, who I would not be shocked to see beat Pitt on the road Monday night. Still not likely, but I wouldn't be as surprised!

Other Tidbits:
For you football fans, the Giants lost defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to the Rams today. Now, we'll see if the G-men D can still be as good as they were. The pass rush was pretty abysmal against the Eagles and it showed how much Osi and Strahan meant to that team. As for Jets fans, it seems pretty obvious Rex Ryan will follow Eric Mangini's reign in New York. He's a fine choice, especially with how good the Ravens have looked. He could be hired as early as Monday if Baltimore loses to the Steelers tomorrow.


And finally, Knicks lottery pick Danilo Gallinari took the floor tonight against the 76ers at MSG, his first action since October 31st, which coincidentally was also against Philly (a 116-87 road loss in which he had 2 points in just under 8 minutes). The Italian had 6 points in 15:14, shooting 2 of 4 from the field with both baskets coming from downtown. Good start for him. For the Knicks' sake, I hope he starts doing well. This team could surely use something positive to build on and look forward to!

One other thing, you really gotta feel bad for the Islanders. They sign Wade Dubielewicz to play goal for them with Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald already out with injuries. However, a rule said he must go through waivers first, and of course, he gets picked up by the Blue Jackets to back up Steve Mason. Tough break for Dubie who wanted to go back to the Isles, and even worse for the team, who had to recall Peter Mannino to back-up Yann Danis. Can things get worse for this franchise? Maybe they should move to Kansas City after all!

That's all folks. Until Tomorrow!