Rookie Keller making big impact- Saturday, November 22, 2008 BY TARA SULLIVAN--STAFF WRITER FLORHAM PARK ? When rookie tight end Dustin Keller led the Jets in receiving two games ago against St. Louis, veteran quarterback Brett Favre later revealed his postgame message to his young teammate. "I told him after the game in the locker room, 'I wish I would have had you a few years back,' " Favre said. That is high praise coming from Favre, whose Hall of Fame career has been built on the hands of his tight ends. But the confidence Favre is gaining in Keller is obvious in more than just his words. In an encore to outdo the blowout of the hapless Rams (in which Keller made six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown), the first-round draft pick had a team-high eight catches for 87 yards in the overtime victory over the rival Patriots. No catch was bigger than the 16-yarder he made on the third play of overtime, which turned a third-and-15 into a first down en route to the game-winning kick. The play was one Favre specifically requested be included in the game plan and is indicative of his growing trust in Keller. "It's always good to have the quarterback counting on you and having faith in you because it's not something that's given, but something that's earned," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "Dustin has earned Brett's respect." Keller is beginning to show more of his feisty personality on the field, imitating an official's first-down signal on a few occasions. Favre deserves some credit. "It was huge for me to have a guy of Brett's caliber say that about me ? a big confidence booster," Keller said after practice Friday. "It couldn't have come from a better guy." The Jets traded up to make Keller their second first-round pick (30th overall), and at the time, they didn't have Favre. But the late trade for the future Hall of Famer only brightened Keller's outlook for an impact rookie season. At least, that's what teammate and fellow tight end Bubba Franks told him. Franks spent eight years with Favre in Green Bay and caught 29 touchdowns from him. "Bubba told us to get ready, that the ball is coming fast and the ball is coming our way. A lot," Keller said. "I was definitely prepared and excited for the opportunity." As the Jets head to Tennessee today to take on the undefeated Titans on Sunday afternoon, Favre will be facing one of the league's best defenses. In the face of pressure from DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, both playing at Pro Bowl levels, Favre just might need the quick release to his tight ends. And Keller has the confidence to be there. "I feel like [whomever] I'm lined up against, I have a mismatch, but I think if you don't have that mentality, you're already a failure, Keller said. AINGE SUSPENDED: Jets No. 4 QB Erik Ainge was suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL Policy on Steroids and Related Substances, the league announced Friday. Ainge's suspension begins immediately. Though the league said he will be eligible to rejoin the team Dec. 15, Ainge is on injured reserve with a foot injury. LAW IN ORDER: CB Ty Law is heading into his second game in his second stint as a Jet and Mangini said Friday that he's "completely comfortable" with Law being his starter. Law indicated this week that he would get the nod over struggling rookie Dwight Lowery. "He's the head coach, so if he feels comfortable, that's a compliment," Law said. "I'm a role player, so even if I did start I'm quite sure they are going to relieve me at times so I can catch up and get my legs under me. I'm just happy to be here. If I'm starting, I'm starting. If not, I'll be ready when they tell me to go. Lowery had started every game, but Law took 57 snaps on defense against New England. "He was pretty sore after that ? it was good we had the break we did," Mangini said, referring to the time off after the Thursday night game. E-mail: sullivan@northjersey.com
and remember, the g-girls were picking after us in the draft and had just launched shockey, so you have to figure there was a lot of "oh shit" in the g-girls war room when we moved up to grab keller. can you imagine the g-girls offense with both jacobs AND keller running wild? they'd ALMOST be as good as the jets. that's scary.
good point mangini and tann has really made some great moves to build this team.gotta think the move to get keller was one of their best.
you sure have apoint. Jacobs is terrific and with Keller alongside of him, it would be great! It is greater that we have Keller though.
Well, they always say hindsight is 20/20, but I think we really stuck it to the Giants and the Saints with our move back into the first. The Giants, I'm sure, would have loved to get there hands on Keller, but I'm sure they're happy enough that Kenny Philips fell to them. The Saints on the other hand, made one of the worst trades in recent history to pick up a head-case tight end with 30 catches, 262 yards and zero touchdowns in one of the most pass-oriented offenses in the league. It looks like the defense-starved Saints are going to be obliged to re-sign Jonathan Vilma (score!) which means the Shockster cost them a 2010 first round pick. If they had just held firm, they probably wouldn't have minded tossing Green Bay a third or fourth rounder to move up 10 spots and grab Keller. We all expected Keller to outproduce Shockey next year and down the line, but he's doing it already! The only thing that could make this trade more hysterical is if Drew Brees gets IR'ed early next season (knock on wood, that guy's the man) and the Saints/Giants wind up with the number one overall pick in 2010. What a shitty situation to put yourself in as a general manager! You make a great trade for a franchise middle linebacker that cost you a fourth rounder who would definitely be worth a second round pick to lock up. But in order to do so, you have to solidify a terrible trade by increasing the cost of Jeremy Shockey. Alas, I digest... Keller is the man. (So is Mike Tannenbaum!)
Tanny continues his genius.... gotta love smart GM moves.... if Gholston is his only present blemish, that could turn out to be a good pick later on, that is one hell of a GM.
This kid is looking awesome. When the hell was the last time we had a serious threat at TE? Not in my memory. Looks like an amazing move they made.
