Bingo. Here's the way I see it. If the guy has straightened out his mental issues, of which he's had many in his pro career, then he's an asset. If not, he's a free agent. If he plays to the level he's capable of though, we have a really, really good linebacker corps this year. You can't have too much depth. --------------------- As for Nugent, his missing field goals isn't the only reason (and isn't even the major reason) I call him a bust. He's a placekicker. That means that when the ball is sitting stationary on the field, he's supposed to be able to kick the shit out of it. He doesn't. Ever. People can talk all they want about how he improved last year but he didn't. I talked about it over and over, but no one ever wanted to hear it. He kicked it farther on kickoffs last year, but he also kicked them lower at the same time. He has no hang time on his kicks. If you kick it to the 30 high, or to the 10 on a line drive, it's going to result in the returner making good starting field position. The Jets don't get into good enough field position to give him the chance to kick field goals, so I don't worry as much about his ability to hit them. At the same time, a lot of the reason for their field position is him. I dislike Nugent. I have all along. I hope this new guy beats him out and can actually make kickoffs. Buh-bye Nooge.
OTA: Clemens Throws, Keller Catches Published: Thu, May 29, 2008 - 1:40pm EST By Randy Lange Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J. File Under: Chad Pennington, Eric Mangini, Brad Smith, Bryan Thomas, Mike Nugent, Kellen Clemens, Kerry Rhodes, David Clowney, Tony Richardson, Dustin Keller change font email article 05/29 ? Due to the press of business, I'm combining today's Radar reports on head coach Eric Mangini's news conference and the OTA practice that followed and just concluded. Practice first. It was another sunny, blue-skied, cool, breezy day on Long Island, a weather report underscored by the musical choice by Brian Mulligan ? I like to call him Dr. Br? ? of U2's "Beautiful Day" blaring out of the loudspeakers as the Jets' offense and defense battled in a game-situation practice. The line of scrimmage was moved from the opponents' 40-yard line to the 30 to the 2, then back to the 5, 15, 35 and 45 as Kellen Clemens and Chad Pennington tried to find the holes in the defense's very off coverage during last-minute- and last-play-of-the-game situations. And one of the stars of the day was rookie TE Dustin Keller. Clemens dropped back from the 15 and scrambled before hitting the Purdue first-rounder as he came back toward the goal line. Keller came down with the ball, the official looked closely to make sure Keller didn't catch the ball at the one-inch line, then signaled: Touchdown! Keller also handled a throw over the middle from Brett Ratliff and turned it upfield on his YAC, and later snagged another throw from Clemens heading toward the sideline. Clemens also hit WR David Clowney for a TD dropping back from the 2, jump-passing under pressure and putting just enough cushion to get it over LBs Eric Barton and David Bowens to the fast first-year man. And on a Hail Mary situation, RB Jesse Chatman got loose in the end zone and caught Clemens' throw just off the grass. Another close look from the official, another TD call, and Chatman ran back upfield with the ball laughing lustily. Some nice defensive plays were to be had as well. Justin Miller ? who suddenly has been getting reps with the first defense following his long rehab from last season's Game 2 injury ? was in tight coverage when Laveranues Coles couldn't come down with a Chad Pennington pass in the corner of the end zone. S Kerry Rhodes actually had to bat down a Hail Mary in the end zone twice, once when he leaped to knock it to the ground, then again when it ricocheted off a nearby body. S James Ihedigbo also skied to bat down a last-second pass. For today's Pretty Play nomination, it was Clowney running down the sideline with CB Drew Coleman stride for stride. Clemens aired it out, both players leaped ? and Coleman broke it up. Then the two got up, bumped fists and headed back to their huddles. LB Marques Murrell is also showing up, on some pass rushes and on one punt rush of Ben Graham. WR Chansi Stuckey made one nice catch of a sling from Clemens, then just couldn't bring in another hot potato on a diving try from No. 11. Then to end practice, Stuckey and FA Nate Lyles collided as both went for the ball. Stuckey remained on the field for a few minutes before bouncing up. Mike Nugent's field goal tries in the breeze came in mid-practice rather than at the end. He scuffled, going 1-for-4, but his make was his longest try, this one from 55 yards, just as his long of 58 yesterday was also good. Mr. Richardson's Neighborhood At his news conference, Mangini fielded questions on a range of topics. Ageless Tony Richardson was one subject. "I wanted to bring in a contemporary," the 37-year-old coach said of the fullback who was born less than a year later in 1971. "We graduated the same year, we relate to the same songs, he's someone to hang out with personally. "You can't find anybody that says a negative thing about the guy. When you last as long as he's lasted, it's because he's a great example of what it means to be a professional. I like the way he consistently gets his block, the way he consistently executes his assignments. He may not always be blowing somebody off the ball, but he's there and it's taken care of." Mangini also talked about OLB Bryan Thomas, but I'll bring you those quotes and exclusive quotes from BT after today's practice in a news story that will be going up later this afternoon. The coach also confirmed that Brad Smith "is working through some things with his back," which has kept the versatile third-year man limited during these OTAs. "It's an ongoing process of rehab and when he's ready to go, he'll be back out there." We'll see if Smith is ready to go next Thursday, which is the start of the three-day full-squad minicamp and the next practice allowing media availability. Faneca Stories Dennis Waszak of The Associated Press and J.P. Pelzman, who has ably replaced me on the Jets beat at The Record, both executed excellent stories on guard Alan Faneca and the outstanding career he's put together despite battling epilepsy since high school. You can check out the AP story here and the Record story here.
I would like to hear more about Keller, but I hate reading this: "neither Pennington nor Kellen Clemens was particularly sharp."
how is that narrow-minded? Thomas admitted that he slacked off during practices last year. I absolute hate players that don't produce after they sign the "big" contract.... Besides...what does he need to learn or change? he's been in the league for 6 years!!! if he returns to form...great. But chances are, if he does it's because he's got some competition for his position...not because he had a miraculous "change of heart".
it's narrow-minded because you're saying since it hasn't happened by his sixth year, then it will never happen. "once an X, always an X" means things don't change, nothing progresses or regresses, and i don't agree with that. maybe his "change of heart" resulted from the fact that there's competition. so what? the change of heart is what matters, not how it's brought about.
Totally agree. It took Tiki Barber to retire and talk shit for Eli Manning to grow up, be a man, be a leader, and win. I don't think Giants fans give a damn how it happened. BTW: His first few years in the league he battled off-the-field issues. Maybe he needs medication? If so, someone might want to look into getting it done. The guy has the potential. We've seen it. Take advantage of that!
I'm sitting here thinking....if i admitted to my hockey coach that i wasn't giving 100% when I'm on the ice at all times...I'd be riding the pine till further notice. Bryan Thomas is a professional football player that gets a paycheque...change of heart or not..he should be giving 100% effort. that's the point i was trying to make. maybe he wasn't always a slackass...I'll stand corrected on that....but, when somebody admits they didn't give their all when they're paid to...that's a slackass in my books.
Maybe Eli was already grown up and the team just needed Tiki out of the way. Once Tiki was relegated to undermining his teammates and coaches from afar instead from inside the locker room, the whole team played better. Getting Shockey out of the way for the stretch run didn't hurt them, either. Classic case of addition by subtraction.
it would seem so, wouldn't it. But then again, I don't get paid what Bryan Thomas gets paid....so i think there's a little more urgency for Thomas to produce then myself. Plus I work in I.T....we're paid to sleep and be useless :wink:
if you have kids and feel this way about them i am very very sorry for them. you surely come off as a bit of a jerk in this post with the kid blasting and use of profanity.
I would think very little of Ellis if he missed his daughter's graduation.....I dont care if it's pre-school, elementary school, HS, college or whatever....Your kids come first before even footballl and if they don't then you have major issues!!
Thomas and Nugent--2 high draft picks by Birdbrain Boobway ...oh, didn't he also trade 3 picks for a guy named Robertson?
On Nugent... NOBODY wanted to take him at #45, we all knew it was a bad pick. But as a placekicker, he isn't bad. He has made almost 83% of his kicks, including a 54 yarder, not to mention he kicks in the Meadowlands. Nugent was a panic/dumb pick because of the Doug Brien collapse. But as a kicker, I like him, last year though he missed 7 FGs, he notched a career high in points despite a pathetic offense. Now, as for kickoffs...We all know his problems, and his leg hurts the defense when it comes to field position. But solely as a player, not accounting his draft position...I'd rate him a C-. B for placekicking, D- for kickoffs.
Absolutely fair grade, and very good evaluation. :beer: Honestly, if you discount his draft position, he probably even deserves a C without the minus. FGs aren't his problem. He can hit those most of the time. A few of his misses last year weren't as much his fault as they were poor snaps, or poor holds as well. But when he kicks the ball off a tee, it's just substandard.
