http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/440315p-370938c.html New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com For Jets, backup RB plan Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 The Jets are exploring the running-back market, according to sources, an indication the club might not think Curtis Martin will be ready for the opener, if at all. Martin, on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a lingering knee injury, hasn't been on the practice field since training camp opened. Martin, 33, has said he wants to play this season, but there are growing indications he might not fit in the Jets' plans. The organization has tremendous respect for Martin's ability to recover from injuries, and the physically-unable-to-perform designation could be its way of giving him one last chance to get healthy. At the same time, the front office is scouring the league, investigating options. Two veteran backs could end up on the trading block - Chris Brown (Titans) and Thomas Jones (Bears). Brown already has formally requested a trade, but it was denied by Tennessee management. Jones could be expendable because of Chicago's big investment in former No. 1 pick Cedric Benson. Chances are, the Jets will wait a game or two before doing anything, giving them a chance to evaluate Cedric Houston, Derrick Blaylock and rookie Leon Washington. By then, they also could have a better handle on Martin's condition. Coach Eric Mangini has refused to put a timetable on Martin, saying the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher will practice when he's "physically able." If Martin isn't activated by the end of the preseason, the Jets can put him on the regular-season PUP list, requiring him to sit out the first six weeks. NIGHT MOVES: Because of the intense heat, Mangini changed yesterday's practice time from 2p.m. to 5:45. "I wasn't too disappointed," TE Chris Baker said. Today, the Jets have two sessions, but the afternoon practice is closed to the public. GUARD DUTY: G Pete Kendall hurt his left arm in practice and didn't return. Doug Neinhuis and Norm Katnick split the first-team reps in Kendall's spot. The club didn't provide an update on Kendall. ...WR Dante Ridgeway may have suffered a significant knee injury. He tried to walk off the field after getting hurt, but crumpled to the ground. ... SS Erik Coleman (flu), CB David Barrett (leg) and NT Sione Pouha (knee) didn't practice. Coleman has missed five straight days with what one source described as a "flu virus." The Jets haven't provided any details. ... Rookie WR Brad Smith, the former Missouri quarterback, made a circus catch for a touchdown, grabbing a deflected pass as he fell to the ground. Rich Cimini
I love Curtis Martin, but if we were to get a chance to get Thomas Jones I'd be all for it. Now that I said that; Get Healthy Curtis!!
Am I the only one who is amazed when players catch the flu in AUGUST? How many friends, colleagues, enemies of yours ever come down with the flu outside of flu season? Every celebrity and star athlete, at some point in their careers, catches the flu in the heat of the summer- meanwhile, in my 32 years on this planet I can't recall anyone I know doing the same. Flu schmoo. I say it's crabs flaring up again.
We have to give Curtis every shot we can to get healthy. Not only for the team (if he can), but to satisfy the insurance policy Curtis funds for the team that says if he needs to retire due to an injury, the policy pays the JETS (not Curtis) the amount of his remaining pro-rated bonus. Why is this good? Then his pro-rated bonus does NOT go onto our cap, and we're cap free.
The way I see it, Teague getting hurt was a plus. Now he'll be on the bench when he comes back, where he's useful because of his versitility, and not on the field where he's a trainwreck.
Leon Washington has impressed with his speed and decisiveness, but he's too small to play every down...
It's pretty common for athletes to get sick more often b/c there body fat percentage is so low. This was a common occurence for me in college, the trainer said I was dipping below the safe amount of body fat and stressed that I start hitting the buffets before it affects my immune system. Can't really explain why it happens to actors, but as for athletes that's the reason they get sick.
eeew, no thomas jones. hes drastically overrated. last yr was the 1st yr of six in his career over 1,000 yards, and thats due to playing on a team with no passing game that basically relied on defense to win games. dudes pretty much halfway through his career, we'd be better off just keeping the 3 we have now and addressing RB in the draft. hes just a former top 10 pick who shows flashes outside of mediocrity. id honestly rather just have them draft another RB next yr. new regime fresh blood, not other teams cast-offs.
Not true, I have gotten the "flu" many times in the summer. Pretty much most Saturdays and sometime Sundays :drunk:
am i the only one that would take thomas jones over chris brown.. brown may be younger but jones is a hell of a player
They said the same thing about Warrick Dunn...ahem 10 years ago..... If Curtis does retire do the Jets even waste any time before retiring his number? :martin:
Hey I'm fresh back from a game of Madden. I'll have you know that I was able to trade Justin McCarrins and a 5th round pick to the Dolphins, in exchange for Ronnie Brown and a 7th rounder! Tannenbaum get this done!
First of all, they had better not just decide that they don;t want Curtis to play even if he does get healthy. They only was he should be finished is if he cannot fully recover from the surgery. Secondly, I am pretty sure I read on NFL.com recently that the Bears have said that Jones is not on the block. I would rather have him than Brown if it came down to it.
I like Jones a lot too. He was very highly regarded coming out of Virginia, and he's still only 27. He had over 1300 yards in just 15 games last season and for a few others he was hurt but he still carried the load and played extremely well for a guy who was not 100%. 9 touchdowns too.
