Recapping the first week of OTA's

sunnygs97 · May 15, 2009

Cimini, NY Daily News:

Recapping the first week of OTAs
May 15, 2009

The first week of OTAs is in the books. A few thoughts and observations:

Everybody needs to relax on this Leon Washington situation. Believe me, this deal will get done. Prediction: Washington signs a long-term extension, averaging $4.5 million per year with $15 million in guarantees, by the start of the June 9 mandatory minicamp. Washington doesn't want to play for $535,000 in 2009 (nor should he), and the Jets want him around for a long time.

The Jets will look bad if they stretch this out too long. Over the last two offseasons, they've spent an enormous amount of money on other teams' players - free agents - and now it's time to do right by one of their own. Don't think for a second that some of the younger veterans on the team aren't watching closely to see how this plays out.

***

Speaking of Washington, indirectly, Vic Carucci of NFL.com has an interesting piece on how the new "wedge" rule on kickoff returns will effect the game. Blockings wedges with three or more players no longer are allowed. This could have a big impact on Washington, one of the top kick returners in the league.

***

Starting to get the feeling the Jets will stand pat at the wide-receiver position as they head into training camp. The Braylon Edwards and Anquan Boldin rumors persist, but do the Jets really want to trade a premium draft pick AND pay $8 million-a-year to a receiver? That doesn't seem like the Rex Ryan philosophy. The Jets will continue to monitor the Plaxico Burress situation, but let's be honest: Between likely jail time and a likely suspension from commissioner Roger Goodell, Burress probably will miss at least eight games.

***

The feeling in the locker room is that disgruntled RB Thomas Jones, unhappy with his contract, will show up for minicamp and training camp. Jones hasn't torched any bridges, a la Pete Kendall, which will make it easier for him to return.

Jones' base salary is a relatively modest $900,000, but NFL contracts should be judged on the first three years, and Jones will have made $14 million in the first three years of his current contract - a $4.7 million average. That's a fair wage for a back of Jones' ilk.

***

Offensive players were buzzing about the variety of fronts and blitz packages thrown at them by Rex Ryan's defense. Said RT Damien Woody: "I've never seen anything like it as long as I've been in the league ... They have looks you just don't see."

I can vouch for that. Even watching from above - the media perch in the fieldhouse - it's hard to make a pre-snap read, figuring out the defensive linemen from the linebackers. I can only imagine what it must look like at field level. It really is "organized chaos," as Ryan likes to say.

I asked LB Bart Scott for the secret recipe - i.e. what allows the defense to confuse the offense on such a consistent basis. Scott shifted into his melodramatic mode, speaking in a hushed tone.

"They don't know," he said, "because we don't know."

Scott spoke about how the defense is predicated on ad-libbing, giving players the freedom to adjust on the fly. He said they can make 10 defenses look like 30. Obviously, there's a structure, and players have certain responsibilities, but he said there's more disguising and more options available than in your basic defensive scheme. Although Scott disagreed, I suspect it may take time for the players to get comfortable with all the bells and whistles. For Scott, it's second nature because he grew up in this defense, having played for Ryan in Baltimore.

One thing was clear yesterday in practice: The offense was absolutely clueless in the two-minute drill. Kellen Clemens was the deer, and the headlights were shining right at him.

"I'm not in the head of the 'Mad Scientist' just yet,'" said Clemens, referring to Ryan.

Let's see how Mark Sanchez handles it next week, when the rookies report.

***

Speaking of Sanchez, he's graduating today from USC. On Monday, he'll trade his cap and gown for a helmet and a red jersey. I'd love to be there, chronicling his first practice with the veterans, but the Jets won't allow the media to watch. Thursday will remain the open day. Too bad.

***

Ryan didn't provide any details on Bubba Franks' knee injury, but my guess (and this is just a hunch) is that he underwent a recent scope. Remember, he did have knee problems in 2007. Ryan said Franks should be ready to go by training camp.

***

With Jones and Washington sitting out, the starting tailback is diminutive Danny Woodhead, the former Division II star from Chadron (Neb.) State. Ryan praised Woodhead, although that may not be a good thing. The last time he gushed about one of the unheralded running backs (Marcus Mason), the player ended up getting cut about a week later.

***

I'd like to welcome Newsday's new beat writer, Rod Boone. If his writing is as snappy as the name for his Jets blog ("Boone Docks"), he'll be a good read.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2009/05/recapping-the-first-week-of-ot.html#ixzz0FauQ4ICl&B
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Sinjz · May 15, 2009

Look at this back peddling cunt! Compare this 'article' to his "Top 10 reasons..." thing.

He's taking back the we'll be looking at Boldin and Burress again crap now. He's decided what the "Leon King", as he dubbed him, should get in a new contract, eventhough he says Leon may not be as effective a kick returner with the new rules. And he's even goes from saying the Jets will 'cave' on the Thomas Jones' contract situation to now saying Jones will probably show up because his contract is fair. THIS GUY SUCKS DONKEY DICK!

abyzmul · May 15, 2009

Cimini has to get you riled up to read his stuff. He's coping with a dying media outlet, poor fella needs to do something.

Recapping the first week of OTA's

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Recapping the first week of OTA's

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