"The Flight Boys"

Article in today's Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/11/jets_wide_receivers_a_flight_t.html


Jets Wide Receivers A Flight To Behold
Published: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 5:00 AM


Santonio Holmes shuffled through the clothing hangers in his locker until he pulled out a crisp white T-shirt.

Pictured on the back were three green airplanes, one prominently in front of the other two. On the wing was his number, 10. On the other two planes were the numbers 17 and 89 — Braylon Edwards’ and Jerricho Cotchery’s, respectively.

On the front was the new nickname they’d given themselves that inspired the design, and one that accompanies an on-field gesture in which they run around, arms spread wide, tilting side to side, mimicking aircrafts.

“It’s the ‘Flight Boys’ in the building,” Holmes said.

The impetus for the new moniker corresponds with an ascendancy in the passing game over the past few weeks. Against Houston on Sunday, the Jets had their second-highest passing total of the season with 298 yards. After not eclipsing the 200-yard mark from Week 4 to Week 6, the Jets have not had a game since with fewer than 240 passing yards.

Coming up on a beleaguered Bengals secondary Thursday — Cincinnati ranks 18th in the NFL, and four members of its secondary went down with an injury on Sunday — the “Flight Boys” (likely without Cotchery) are looking to continue on the tear they’ve been on.

Over the past four games, Holmes has 359 yards, Edwards has 255 and Cotchery has 161, missing the last game against Houston with a slightly torn groin. They now rank in the top 10 in 20-plus- and 40-plus-yard catches in the NFL.

“It’s been obvious,” Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “Guys have been sharp on their routes, I’ve been doing my best to give them a chance to make plays. We have all done a good job of that, tightening up protection, you know, quickening up the routes, getting the ball out as fast as possible. We’re very proud and confident going into this game.”

Last Sunday, the Texans secondary — ranked last in pass defense — fell victim to two members of the Flight Boys tearing through one man-on match-up after the next. Quick slants by Holmes jarred his defender out of position and created easy targets for Sanchez.

Edwards was able to find enough space in the zone to make plays long, while also using the quick-step slant to punch in a short-yardage touchdown of his own.

All this, leading up to an opponent that surrendered 316 yards and four touchdowns just a week ago to the basement dwelling Bills.

While teams continue to stack the box and slow the Jets’ fourth-ranked rushing offense, Holmes expects the Flight Boys to continue to extend their grip on games to make the passing offense a more prominent fixture.

He expects them to wear their T-shirts, and continue sprinting around the field after touchdowns with their bodies contorted into upper-case T’s.

Holmes said he doesn’t care if it’s taken as overly brash. That could be the point.

“It represents the team, we’re the Jets,” Holmes said. “We just want to show off a little after scoring a touchdown.”