Santonio Holmes: ‘I can’t throw it to myself’

Whenever Santonio Holmes meets with the media, there’s a good chance his soundbite will become a major headline.

Thursday proved to be no exception.

In his first interaction with reporters since last Sunday’s stinker of a game against the Titans — one catch for 25 yards — the Jets’ mercurial receiver failed to take any blame.

“I can’t throw it to myself and catch it, otherwise I would,” Holmes said, via the New York Daily News. “I played 49 plays, and all I know is I had one catch. That’s all I can attest for.”

Adding injury to insult, Holmes injured his hamstring during the game and is expected to miss a few weeks. An official prognosis, Dr. Holmes?

IMPACT ROOKIES FOR 2013 NFL SEASON-AFC EAST

This doesn't look like it's going to be a banner year in the AFC east, but really, can anyone remember a year where at least one of these teams didn't stink?

On the bright side, the Bills and Dolphins look to be taking steps in the right direction and their fandoms have hope again. 

The Pats are going to be interesting, as they look like they are going to have to learn on their running game heavier than they did in past years.  That's not really a bad thing when you were known for passing last year and ended up with the #7 rushing attack in the league.

but, enough about last year...the question, which rookies are going to help out the most on their teams?

here we go, the AFC EAST Impact Rookies.

Hartline: We don’t want New York fans at Sun Life Stadium

At least once a year, when the Jets come to town, there’s an influx of opposing attendees that infiltrate Sun Life Stadium.

Brian Hartline is hoping to put an end to that.

Taking part in a teleconference with fans Tuesday, the Dolphins receiver said the team is sick of seeing New York fans in its house.

Geno Smith was scolded for playoff proclamation

Geno Smith has been a quick study when it comes to learning how to handle the intense media presence that envelopes the New York Jets.

Smith provided a shining example of how not to deal with the media during the week preceding the 2013 NFL draft.

So much so that his mouth and the fingers that typed some ill-advised Tweets may have cost him first-round money. 

On Sunday, he spoke with SiriusXM Radio, via ESPN, about getting a talking to about his choice of words moments after being drafted by the Jets in the second-round.

“I’ve already gotten in trouble for saying some things about playoffs and things, which I don’t regret,” Smith said.

“I don’t think I’ll go as far as being as bold as Joe was.”

Joe being Joe Namath, the iconic Jets quarterback that infamously guaranteed and delivered upon a promise to beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Namath’s swagger eventually rubbed off on current Jets coach Rex Ryan who promised multiple Super Bowls only to fall short.

Ryan has since backed away from making pre-season guarantees.

Geno Smith is a youngster that publicly got off on the wrong foot.

He stated that he has come to grips with how the publishing world operates.

Rex Ryan Says Geno Smith Is No Diva With Jets

Geno Smith is in image repair mode right now, and part of that is showing football people that he is a hard worker and a leader.

Smith had his first minicamp practice as the Jets quarterback yesterday, and wanted to let people he was working hard. Geno seems to have a fan in Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

Smith was asked about reports regarding Smith being a diva, and according to Pro Football Talk, Rex Ryan sees no diva with the Jets.

“Maybe I don’t know what diva behavior looks like, but he certainly didn’t do it here,” Ryan said after Smith had his first rookie minicamp practice today. “He’s a football player that you can tell loved the game, very knowledgeable about his system. I never saw that at all.”

Bank Robber Hits 5 Manhattan Banks in 1 Hour Wearing Jets jersey

Even when the New York Jets aren’t trying to attract the ridiculous headlines, they do.

According to story via NBC New York, today a bank robber hit five Manhattan banks in the span of an hour while wearing a none other than a Jets jersey.

The robber began his spree just before 1 p.m., at a Chase bank on Broadway on the Upper West Side. About 20 minutes later, he hit another Chase bank nearby.

He moved on to a Capital One bank in Midtown on 57th Street about 15 minutes later, and then a Bank of America down the block just seven minutes after that.

About 20 minutes after that, he hit a Capital One bank on Fifth Avenue, police say.

EJ Manuel Says The Eagles “Want Him Pretty Bad”

EJ Manuel is either an extremely confident quarterback, he knows something, or he’s just crazy.   While NFL Play 60 event in Chelsea Waterside Park on Wednesday, Manuel let it be known that the “Philadelphia Eagles want him pretty bad” according to CSN Philly.

speaking to reporters at an

“But I think it’s just a matter of who takes me first, because I know the Eagles may want me, theCleveland Browns may want me, the Buffalo Bills and the Jets,” he said. “I think those are all sequential picks, you know what I mean, within those top 13 picks or whatever. I’m just hoping one team loves me, because really, that’s all you need, one team to fall in love with you.”

Oh and about that confidence, Manuel doesn’t lack it at all.

Tavon Austin: “Rex Ryan Has A Plan For Me”

West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin is the talk of the NFL Draft, and I can only wonder if he’d be the #1 pick if he was a bit taller.

Austin still is coveted, and one place draft experts see him going is to the Jets at #9 if he’s still on the board. 

Austin while in New York participating in an NFL 60 event, admitted that Jets head coach Rex Ryan “has a plan for how to use him” according to the Star Ledger.

Keyshawn Johnson Thinks The Jets Should Trade Darrelle Revis

Keyshawn Johnson has made a nice transition from former NFL player to quality NFL analyst, so when he speaks, he’s usually knowledgeable about the situation.

Johnson was speaking to Newsday about the franchise that drafted him, and said he would advice the New York Jets to trade Darrelle Revis right now, and get some value back in return.

“I think it’s a smart move if they do move him and get value,” the former Jets receiver said. “He’s not going to win any games for you. He’s a defensive back who will shut down the [opponents'] top receiver, but the ball is not in his hands. The Jets need more than a top corner. They need some pieces. If he gives them the value to get those pieces, then move him.”

Is Revis Taking the Business Side of the NFL Too Personally?

Darrelle Revis was interview by Andrea Kremer yesterday on the NFL Network during NFL Total Access and there are two major reactions coming of Revis’ words.  The first camp is calling this no big deal, and that the quotes were made to seem bigger than they really were.  The other camp says that Revis should be quiet.

Revis’ main gripe in the interview was how he was speechless when the trade rumors came out of John Idzik’s first day as the New GM.  He said he didn’t receive a call from anyone in the organization.

The two most important takeaways from Darrelle Revis‘ interview with Andrea Kremer of the NFL Network:
1. The Jets’ star cornerback indicated he has talked to Rex Ryan since the trade rumors surfaced, and he said the coach wants him to remain a Jet. That’s more than Ryan gave us Jan. 24, the day of John Idzik’s introductory news conference, when everybody in the organization was in non-committal mode on Revis.

2. Revis is trying to paint owner Woody Johnson as the bad guy, suggesting Johnson doesn’t want to pay what he feels he’s worth. Make no mistake, there will be a lot of posturing from both sides as this story heats up over the next few weeks. via Cimi ESPN

I think Darrelle is taking this too personally.  Every single player on the Jets should not feel like they are safe, including Revis himself.  This is clearly an organization that has to do some major soul searching, and if there is a leak out there (which happens all the time to the Jets), you have to take a breath and let it play out.

Rob Ryan keeps up family tradition of oversell, under-deliver

Rob Ryan was fired by the Dallas Cowboys after a second consecutive 8-8 season, and after another year of his defense being incapable of holding onto a lead when handed to them. Of course, he considers himself a scapegoat and is (genuinely, I believe) shocked that Jerry Jones gave him the boot, according to Dan Hanzus of ESPN:

“Oh yeah, look, I was a little shocked,” Ryan told ESPNDallas.com after watching a Dallas Mavericks-Golden State Warriors game on Saturday night. “I knew they had to do something after an 8-8 season. They choose me to be the guy, sure.”

Translation: Jerry Jones was looking for a scapegoat and I was his choice.
“Better coaches than me have been fired,” Ryan said. “Just not many.”

Shortly after being fired, while on vacation with his wife, Ryan boasted he would have a job in “five minutes.” Now, we get this }not many coaches better than me” line.

Last week, Ryan was offered the St. Louis Rams job. Apparently, however, Jeff Fisher sobered up just in time to realize what a colossal mistake adding the flamboyant, over-cusser to his staff would be and withdrew the proposal, leaving Ryan still unemployed.

Cromartie Thinks Sanchez Needs A Better Supporting Cast

As the Jets try to clean up their mess, the one consistent question that remains is what will the team do about Mark Sanchez.

Many pundits assume he’ll only be on the roster because of his guaranteed $8.5 million salary this season.  Many expect him to get competition.

One of his teammates who’s supported him since the beginning of this mess, Antonio Cromartie, thinks Sanchez will be fine if he just gets more offensive help.

Mark Sanchez Seeks Out Jeff Garcia To Learn Mornhinweg’s Offense

Jets quarterback Mark  Sanchez may be down to his final shot as a starter in the league, and he’s doing his due diligence in learning all he can about his new offensive system.

Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News is reporting that Sanchez has sought out and will pick the brain of

Jeff Garcia who flourished in new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s new west coast offense.

Sanchez and Garcia have spoken and will get together for some classwork and on field tutoring.

“It’s great,” Sanchez told The News. “Jeff sounds like one of those guys that keeps his old playbook and is still really into it. He really speaks the language of that West Coast offense. It’s nice to hear the schematic side, but also to hear what people think about (Mornhinweg).”

Report: Rex Ryan Doesn’t Want To Trade Revis

Well yesterday we reported the Jets were exploring or looking at scenarios involving the trading of Darrelle Revis.    This morning Pro Football Talk via a source is reporting that Rex Ryan would prefer to Keep Revis.

Per a league source, Ryan doesn’t want to trade Revis.  And that’s hardly a surprise.  Ryan has raved about Revis for years, and Ryan played a key role in breaking the impasse that led to the four-year contract that suddenly has Johnson reportedly “pessimistic” about keeping Revis in 2014 and beyond.
Without Revis, Ryan will make a lame duck look like Sthuper Duck.  Without Revis, Ryan will be far less likely to put together the kind of season that allows him to keep his job.  Without Revis, Woody Johnson might as well just fire Ryan now.

Rex Ryan Says His Guaranteed Salary Won’t Dictate If Sanchez Starts

Jets head coach Rex Ryan returned from his celebrated vacation to face the New York media and answer questions about his future and that of the team.

Ryan was asked about quarterback Mark Sanchez and his guaranteed $8.5 million dollar salary.  Ryan gave Sanchez no vote of confidence, and according to the New York Daily News, let it be known that Sanchez’s salary will not dictate whether or not he starts.

“Money, the financial part of it….will not have any of the considerations for it,” Ryan said. “We’ll play the player that fits what we do best. What we believes gives us the best chance.”
“We have to get an offensive coordinator in place, then we’ll address it from there,” Ryan said. “Obviously, the situation, whoever the offensive coordinator is, his system, there’s going to be a lot of things that go into it.”

Jets linebacker allegedly assaulted wife with kitchen chair

Heading into the offseason as a 33-year-old on his last legs, Bryan Thomas already had a slim chance of finding significant work in 2013.

Those odds could further be diminished.

The Daily Record reports that Thomas was arrested back in October for assaulting his wife and illicit drug possession.

Ashton Whittington Suing Braylon Edwards For Child Support

I never met a girl named Ashton before, so at first I was like why is a guy asking Braylon Edwards for child support?

But as you can see Ms. Whittington is a very pretty young lady and a fashion blogger as well. 

According to the New York Post, she and Braylon got together around 2010 and now they have an 18 month old child since Braylon didn’t got to Walgreens and get an $8 box of condoms.

Chip's All In: Where Will Kelly Land?

We've all heard the rumors, perhaps a few of us have even come to terms with the possibility existing that Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly may not be on the sidelines for the 2012-13 season.
If that is in fact the case, it would be a sad reality for the #5 ranked Ducks, (11-1, 8-1 Pac12) who came within a missed field goal of a second consecutive berth in the PAC-12 championship game, and with a win in that contest, an all but guaranteed spot in the BCS National Championship Game, their would-be second such trip in the last three years.

In four years at the helm of Oregon's high octane football program, Kelly has led the Ducks to four straight BCS bowls, including this year's berth in the Fiesta Bowl against #6 Kansas State. Four BCS berths in four years, an unprecedented run, given that the team had only been to one (2002 Fiesta) since the BCS came along in 1998. While Kelly's BCS record is not great (1-2), his regular season record (45-7, 33-3 Pac-12) is outstanding, and portrays his ability to improvise and adapt to the opponent no matter which players he has at his disposal, always giving the best in the nation a shot, if not an outright defeat.

Based on his merits, Kelly has more than earned the title of college football's hottest commodity, with NFL teams salivating at the chance to sign him in the offseason. Kelly very nearly signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, citing “unfinished business” as his reason to stay. Even with his biggest goal and the likely source of his “unfinished business” (a national title) still left undone, and out of reach this season, the rumor mill churns on, placing Kelly in a few different spots, and all of them are likely to appeal in their own ways.

In the spirit of a BCS playoff system (which we needed this year and for the last many, many years) let's take a look at the four most likely teams to pursue Kelly in the offseason, and which one would be the best fit.

Chad Henne was recruited by Tony Sparano for the Jets

Quarterback Chad Henne is enjoying a career resurgence as the new lead-man for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If you let him tell it, regardless of how the chips would have fallen, he would have seen the field this year as he was heavily recruited by the New York Jets to back-up Mark Sanchez.

“Well, [offensive coordinator] Tony [Sparano] called me as soon as free agency opened,’’ Henne told the New York Post.

“Obviously Mark signed his contract before that, but they still were interested and wanted to get me in on a visit.

“But I had two visits already lined up, here at Jacksonville and also in Seattle, so New York kinda would’ve been my third opportunity. But it just didn’t work out. It was more coach Sparano and his offense feeling comfortable with me running that more than anything. Whether it worked out or not, it is what it is.’’

Henne is preparing to face Sparano and the Jets on Sunday and he’s aware that whether it is he or anyone else, a backup’s number can be called at any moment.

Mark Sanchez Replaced: New York Jets Beat Arizona Cardinals, 7-6

Mark Sanchez was replaced, Greg McElroy threw a touchdown pass and the New York Jets won an ugly 7-6 gam over the Arizona Cardinals. It was an eventful day at MetLife Stadium, and it was facilitated by perhaps the most intriguing Jets player, Tim Tebow, being inactive for the contest.

The New York Jets offense was dreadful for the entire first half, as well as the portion of the third quarter that Mark Sanchez played. Rex Ryan finally pulled the plug on Mark Sanchez, and with Tim Tebow inactive he turned to Greg McElroy. The stadium cheered when Greg McElroy began to warm up on the sidelines and completely erupted when he entered the game. Greg McElroy engineered the best drive of the game for either side, finishing it off with a one yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Jets a 7-3 lead. The Jets ended up holding on, 7-6, and escaping with a win.

Now the Jets have a new quarterback controversy. Forget the issue of Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez.

Who starts this week, Greg McElroy or Mark Sanchez?