NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

October 8, 2014

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Table of Contents

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Geno Smith missing meeting not the reason Jets lost, Wilkerson says (Kimberley Martin) ..................................... 1

Rex Ryan doesn't welcome advice from Herm Edwards (Kimberley Martin) ........................................................... 3

Rex Ryan predicts Jets turnaround, backs Geno Smith (Kimberley Martin) ............................................................. 3

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Jets-Broncos breakdown (J.P. Pelzman) .................................................................................................................... 5

Pelzman on the Jets beat: Time to go with Michael Vick (J.P. Pelzman) ................................................................... 5

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA .............................................................................................................................................. 7

What they're saying: Against Jets, how will Broncos account for Montee Ball's absence? (Darryl Slater) ............... 7

Rex Ryan lashes out at Herm Edwards over criticism about not benching Geno Smith (Darryl Slater) .................... 7

Rex Ryan disagrees with Demario Davis, spoke to the linebacker about his practice comments (Darryl Slater) ..... 8

Rex Ryan suggests what Geno Smith can do to help himself. Why isn't Smith doing it? (Dom Cosentino) .............. 9

Rex Ryan jokes about Jets having to poison Peyton Manning's food (Dom Cosentino) ......................................... 10

Rex Ryan: Jets will be 'far from an embarrassment' at end of season (Dom Cosentino) ........................................ 11

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 11

The QB and coaching possibilities for Jets next season (Bart Hubbuch) ................................................................. 12

Rex Ryan knows ax is coming if he doesn’t turn Jets around (Howie Kussoy) ........................................................ 12

Idzik taking shots, but plenty of fault to go around (Brian Costello) ....................................................................... 13

Rex fires back at Herm: ‘I don’t care to be compared to him’ (Brian Costello) ....................................................... 15

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 16

NFL power rankings: NY Jets sinking down to the level of the Jaguars and Raiders while the NFC East is on the rise (Hank Gola) ....................................................................................................................................................... 16

Son of Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg involved in fight with Florida Gators teammate: report (Seth Walder) .......................................................................................................................................................... 17

NY Jets QB Geno Smith’s no-show sits well (Seth Walder) ..................................................................................... 17

Embattled Rex Ryan fires back at Herm Edwards after former NY Jets coach says he should've benched Geno Smith (Seth Walder) ................................................................................................................................................ 18

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Rex Ryan acknowledges job on line (Rich Cimini) ................................................................................................... 20

TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 21

NEWSDAY

Geno Smith missing meeting not the reason Jets lost, Wilkerson says (Kimberley Martin) Newsday

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October 7, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/geno-smith-missing-meeting-not-the-reason-jets-lost-wilkerson-says-1.9476489

While outrage exists outside of One Jets Drive over Geno Smith's time-zone mix-up over the weekend, Muhammad Wilkerson said Jets players aren't upset about their quarterback missing a pre-game meeting Saturday night in San Diego.

"It was a mistake on his behalf. And things like that happen," Wilkerson, the Jets' defensive leader, said Tuesday during his weekly WFAN radio spot. "He got mixed up with the times. That's something we can't say that was what caused us to lose the game. You've just got to focus on the game. That was a mistake by him, like I said, and that's not like Geno to be late for anything. So that has nothing do with anything."

While the Jets were in a mandatory pre-game team meeting Saturday night in San Diego, Smith was at the movies. He called it an "honest mistake" and said his absence was due to confusion over a three-hour time zone change. He arrived five or 10 minutes after the team meeting ended, but he was able to review the first 15 plays with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and watch video with quarterbacks coach David Lee in separate meetings.

"I just felt really bad," Smith said on a Monday conference call, the day after the Jets (1-4) were embarrassed 31-0 by the Chargers (4-1). "I let a lot of people down, and that's definitely not in my character to not be on time for a meeting."

It wasn't until 30 minutes into the film - after he had left the movie theater to call a teammate -- that the Jets' starting quarterback realized he had confused East and West coast times when looking at the meeting schedule.

Though Smith wasn't the only player who arrived late to the meeting, head coach Rex Ryan came under fire for starting the struggling quarterback against the Chargers. But Wilkerson said players weren't upset that Smith wasn't benched to start the game.

Ryan wouldn't identify the other players who were tardy.

While the spotlight continues to shine brightly on Smith - who was fined $12,000 last week for cursing at a heckling fan - Sunday's loss showed there is a lot wrong with the 2014 Jets. But Wilkerson remains confident that he and his teammates can save their season.

"No, I'm not worried at all," he said. "We're going through adversity. We can put our heads in between our legs right now and lose the rest of this season, or we can keep coming in each and every day to work hard. And look forward to one of these Sundays, everything will roll our way ... and we'll start getting these Ws. We still got a whole bunch of games in front of us. Now is not the time to crack and turn our backs toward each other or start pointing the finger."

After Sunday's loss, linebacker Demario Davis told reporters "we're not practicing like a championship football team," adding that he doesn't see "a lot of guys putting a lot of effort into film study."

Wilkerson on Tuesday called the Jets' shutout performance "terrible," but said he doesn't see an issue with the team's weekly preparation.

"Well, I think we do a good job of practicing during the week," he said. "And, like I said after the game Sunday, we're professionals. This is our job. So as far as watching film, you get paid to play football and that's your job to watch film. So if guys are not doing their jobs, they're not watching film, obviously it'll show that they're not in-tune to what's going on come game time. But I think we do a good job throughout the week of practicing and preparing."

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Wilkerson also defended his head coach by saying Ryan had the team fully prepared for their latest road game.

"We were prepared. It's just, at the end of the day, it's just a matter of us executing. We've got to make plays," the former first-round pick said. "They made plays and we didn't.

"Nine times out of 10, any team, if you lose in all three phases then you're going to lose the game. So we've got to do a better job of executing and somehow working out our game plan to make it work for us."

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Rex Ryan doesn't welcome advice from Herm Edwards (Kimberley Martin) Newsday October 7, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-doesn-t-welcome-advice-from-herm-edwards-1.9478158

The last person Rex Ryan wants to take coaching advice from is Herm Edwards.

Ryan bristled Tuesday during an ESPN New York radio spot when host Michael Kay informed him that Edwards, a former Jets coach, and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young disagreed with the Jets' decision to play Geno Smith on Sunday in San Diego after the quarterback missed a team meeting the night before.

"If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again, then he can do exactly what he wants," Ryan said. "I'm going to run this team the way I see fit -- not how Steve Young sees fit, not how Herm Edwards [sees fit]."

Edwards, the former head coach-turned-ESPN analyst who was fired after the Jets finished 4-12 in 2005, said on ESPN New York radio that Ryan should have benched all of the players who missed the meeting because they were at the movies after mixing up the three-hour time zone difference.

But Ryan wasn't in the mood to hear the opinion of Edwards, who led the Jets to a 39-41 overall record from 2001-05 and the Kansas City Chiefs to a 15-33 finish over the next three seasons.

"No offense, I don't care to be compared to him, anyway," Ryan said.

Ryan said the hype surrounding the incident is somewhat overblown because it was only a 10-minute meeting and not "a two-hour meeting."

"He wasn't trying to skip out on anything," Ryan said. "This young man does just the opposite. He's here before anybody else in different meetings. He just made a mistake and that's the way it is . . . To say that he should be suspended, I wouldn't do that with any player."

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Rex Ryan predicts Jets turnaround, backs Geno Smith (Kimberley Martin) Newsday October 7, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-predicts-jets-turnaround-backs-geno-smith-1.9478067

Rex Ryan is no dummy.

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He understands he won't be the Jets coach for much longer if his 1-4 team can't find a way to save its season. But he remains the ultimate optimist and a believer in struggling quarterback Geno Smith and the long-term vision of general manager John Idzik.

That's why Ryan is convinced he'll find a way.

And if he doesn't . . .

"If we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here. I know I won't,'' he said Tuesday during an ESPN New York radio interview. "But I believe this team is going to right itself and we'll find a way. I believe that.

"I've been around this league a long time. I know what happens if you don't win. I see that, but I'm not afraid of that. I think this team's going to win.''

Four straight losses have the Jets on the doorstep of irrelevancy in the AFC, and their schedule doesn't get easier with Peyton Manning and the 3-1 Broncos coming to town Sunday, followed by a trip to Foxborough four days later to face the Patriots and Tom Brady.

"It doesn't get much tougher than that,'' Ryan said. "But we're not conceding anything.''

On Saturday night, Smith and some teammates missed a team meeting in San Diego because they said they were confused by the three-hour time zone difference and were at the movies. The following day, the entire team failed to show up in a 31-0 loss to the Chargers.

Ryan said he understands why the Jets are viewed as dysfunctional, but he promised his team will be "more than competitive'' against the Broncos and Patriots, and that they will be much improved by season's end.

"It's going to be far from an embarrassment when the season is over,'' he said. "Have we played our best yet? No. We haven't. But we're getting ready to. That's the way I feel. I think at the end of the day, everything's going to work out and this team is going to be one that the fans can be proud of.''

Despite having more than $20 million in available salary-cap space -- and plenty of roster holes, especially at cornerback -- Ryan said he believes he has "plenty of talent.'' He also stressed that his relationship with Idzik is "good'' and not just about business.

Although Ryan admitted he's not involved in the "financial part'' of building the roster, he did say his opinions "are recognized.''

"There's a plan in place and we've just got to be patient. This is built on long-term success,'' he said, noting that he and Idzik are "in it together.''

But ESPN host Michael Kay quickly reminded Ryan he could be fired if he takes full responsibility for the state of the Jets.

"Well, you know what? I'm not afraid of it,'' he said. "Obviously, I get it. We're 1-4, and if the season would end today, then you're probably dead on. There's no 'probably' about it.''

Some question whether Smith, who also was fined $12,000 last week for cursing at a fan, has the talent and mental fortitude to handle the pressure of playing in the New York market. But Ryan remains undeterred in his decision to keep him as his starter.

"I definitely believe in Geno Smith,'' he said. "I see things that a lot of fans and people outside this building don't see. I see the work ethic, I see when he's in here at 8 o'clock in the morning on his day off and bringing like six or seven guys with him. I see those types of things.

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"The commitment's there from a preparation standpoint. I think he has ability, and I think it's only a matter of time before we start to see his play pick up, and our play pick up.''

But to play better, the Jets must start practicing better. After Sunday's loss, linebacker Demario Davis said guys aren't practicing like a "championship team.'' Ryan disagreed, saying he was "shocked by those comments.''

"I think this team prepares great,'' said Ryan, who said he spoke to Davis Tuesday about his remarks. "I will agree that the results haven't been where we want them to be. But I like the way this team practices.''

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THE RECORD

Jets-Broncos breakdown (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 7, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-broncos-breakdown-1.1104422

Broncos (3-1) at Jets (1-4)

At MetLife Stadium

Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV: CBS

Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7

Early line: Broncos by 8

Only once have the Jets been a bigger underdog at home during the Rex Ryan era. On Oct. 8, 2012, Houston came to North Jersey as a 9 1/2-point favorite and won, 23-17. Denver blew out previously unbeaten Arizona, 41-20, on Sunday. QB Peyton Manning had four TD passes and two interceptions in that game, and has 12 TD throws and three picks for the season. The Jets made a fruitless run at free agent Manning in March 2012 before he signed with the Broncos. This will be his first game against the Jets since then.

In the spotlight

Jets QB Geno Smith. Coach Rex Ryan is staying with Smith as his starter, even after an embarrassing eight-day span in which Smith cursed at a heckling fan, missed a team meeting because he was at a movie, and was "pathetic" (his assessment) against the Chargers. The home crowd is running out of patience with Smith.

Game plan

Ryan should scrap the defensive plan he used against San Diego’s Philip Rivers, because Rivers’ quick release often made the Jets pay when they blitzed. Manning also has that ability, although he had a rough day in his previous visit to MetLife Stadium in February. But the Jets don’t have personnel in the secondary of the same caliber as Seattle.

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Pelzman on the Jets beat: Time to go with Michael Vick (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 7, 2014

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http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/time-for-jets-to-go-with-vick-1.1104448

Less than a half-hour had passed since the Jets’ debacle in San Diego on Sunday, but Rex Ryan already had named Geno Smith his starting quarterback for the upcoming game. He did that despite Smith being totally ineffective, despite Smith having been benched at halftime and despite Smith having missed a team meeting the day before.

But Ryan’s decision probably wasn’t surprising to Jets fans. With apologies to Geno, they’ve seen this movie before.

Coddling the starting quarterback is not a new thing in Ryan’s tenure. For four years, the Jets lived with the constant ups and downs of Mark Sanchez. It wasn’t until halftime of Sanchez’s 65th game as a starter that Ryan finally told him to take a seat because he wasn’t playing well.

Until he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in August 2013, Sanchez missed only two starts as a Jet, and one was for health reasons. Then-general manager Mike Tannenbaum never brought in a backup quarterback who truly could challenge Sanchez, whose job security was never in doubt until the last month of his fourth NFL season.

Yet Sanchez kept making one crucial mistake after another, despite his hard work on the practice field and in the film room. So finally, the Jets gave up on the fifth-overall selection in the 2009 draft.

It seemed the Jets were determined not to make the same mistake with Smith when they signed the still-electric Michael Vick as a free agent in March. But general manager John Idzik then ran a sham competition in which second-year pro Smith had been preordained the winner before Vick ever took the field.

At least Sanchez never cursed out a fan or missed a meeting, two things Smith did in a seven-day span last week. Yet Smith’s job security seems as strong as ever.

But what about Ryan’s stock?

The sixth-year head coach admitted Tuesday on ESPN New York Radio 98.7 that he knows his job is on the line. The Jets are 1-4 and facing high-powered Denver and rejuvenated New England in a span of five days next week.

"[If] we don’t get this thing on the right track, I don’t think for a minute I’ll be here," Ryan said. "But I believe this team will right itself and we’ll find a way."

A better, more focused quarterback might provide a better path to that miraculous turnaround Ryan keeps promising. Smith clearly is distracted, so it’s head-scratching that Ryan is staying with him instead of turning to Vick to start against the Broncos.

Then again, perhaps it’s Idzik pulling those strings, given the cryptic comments that come from Ryan every time he’s asked who makes the Jets’ personnel decisions leading up to game day. Whatever the case, it’s obvious the Jets learned little from their poor handling of Sanchez.

Also Tuesday, Ryan bristled at comments made by former Jets coach Herm Edwards, an ESPN analyst, who said Smith should have been benched against the Chargers for being at the multiplex instead of the team hotel.

"If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again, then he can do exactly what he wants," Ryan said. "No offense, but I don’t care to be compared to [Edwards] anyway."

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Nor should he be compared. Consider that in 2002, Edwards benched a struggling Vinny Testaverde when the Jets were 1-3, and inserted Chad Pennington at quarterback. Pennington helped lead the Jets to an 8-4 finish and an improbable AFC East title, their most recent division crown.

Ryan might want to make a similar change, before his address does.

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

What they're saying: Against Jets, how will Broncos account for Montee Ball's absence? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/broncos-jets_what_theyre_saying.html

After a 1-4 start, four straight losses for the first time under coach Rex Ryan, and a 31-0 embarrassment at San Diego on Sunday to cap it all off, the Jets get the pleasure this week of welcoming a one Peyton Manning to MetLife Stadium.

The last time Manning played in this building, he and the Broncos got shredded by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, 43-8. You're kidding yourself if you don't think that game will be on Manning's always motivated mind, at least to some degree, as he prepares for this trip.

The Broncos this season are humming along at 3-1. Their only loss was that fantastic Week 3 overtime game in Seattle, which the Seahawks won 26-20. Last week, coming off their bye, the Broncos hammered the Cardinals 41-20 in Denver. This week will be Denver's second road trip of the season.

Denver is now 29-7 in the regular season -- and 31-9 overall -- since Manning became its quarterback in 2011. The Broncos went 13-3 in each of the past two seasons.

This year, the Broncos are sixth in the NFL with 396.5 yards gained per game, fourth with 29 points scored per game, 14th with 346.8 yards allowed per game, and 16th with 21.8 points allowed per game.

Manning is still Manning. He is completing 66.5 percent of his passes, for 323.3 yards per game, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. In his 36 regular season games since he became Denver's quarterback, Manning has combined to complete 68.2 percent, for an average of 317.5 yards, 104 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He's a fair player.

So, yeah, this is going to be a stern test for the Jets' defense, which allowed 439 yards against the Chargers (the fifth-most of the Ryan Era), and got carved up by quarterback Philip Rivers, to the tune of 288 passing yards. Denver throws the ball 39.5 times per game -- fifth-most the NFL. The Jets' secondary better buckle up.

But the Broncos won't have their top running back, Montee Ball, for several weeks, because of a groin injury sustained against the Cardinals. Ball leads the Broncos with 55 rushes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Listed behind him on the depth chart are Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson, who have 17 and 11 carries in 2014, respectively.

Still, the Jets are widely expected to lose this game. The betting line, which clearly installed Denver as the favorite, opened at 4.5. It has since ballooned to 8, and 8.5 in some places.

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Rex Ryan lashes out at Herm Edwards over criticism about not benching Geno Smith (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media

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October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/rex_ryan_lashes_out_at_herm_edwards_over_criticism_about_not_benching_geno_smith.html

Jets coach Rex Ryan lashed out on Tuesday at criticism he received for not suspending quarterback Geno Smith, after Smith accidentally missed a team meeting on the eve of Sunday’s 31-0 loss at San Diego.

Appearing on ESPN New York radio, Ryan was asked about former Jets coach Herm Edwards and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young – both now analysts for ESPN – knocking Ryan’s decision to not sit Smith on Sunday.

Ryan has said Smith will face internal punishment, and will receive no special treatment. While Ryan didn’t specify how Smith would be punished, the Jets likely will fine him. The NFL fined Smith $12,000 because he cursed at a fan after the Jets’ Week 4 home loss to the Lions. Then came the debacle in San Diego, where Smith was at the movies during a meeting, because he got confused about the time.

Immediately after the San Diego game, Ryan said Smith would start this coming Sunday at home against Denver.

When Ryan was asked Tuesday about what Edwards and Young said, he chafed at other people opining about how he should run his team. Edwards flat-out said that Ryan should have benched the entire group of players who missed Saturday's meetings while at the movies with Smith.

“That meeting, I think it’s kind of been overshot,” Ryan said. “That was literally a 10-minute meeting. It wasn’t that he missed a two-hour meeting or something like that. It was kind of a 10-minute meeting. The reason he missed, it was an honest mistake. Did he cover all the material (after the fact)? Absolutely. He got all that stuff in. If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again, then he can do exactly what he wants. I’m going to run this team the way I see fit, not how Steve Young sees fit, not how Herm Edwards (sees fit). No offense, but I don’t care to be compared to him anyway.”

That was a direct shot at Edwards, who coached the Jets from 2001-05 and led them to three playoff appearances, but never to the AFC Championship Game – a level Ryan reached in both of his first two seasons with the Jets, 2009 and 2010.

Edwards went 39-41 in five regular seasons with the Jets. Ryan went 42-38 in his first five years with the team, and is now 1-4 this season, reeling from his first four-game losing streak as a head coach. So Ryan’s regular-season record with the Jets is now 43-42. Edwards has not coached since 2008, his third and final season with the Chiefs.

Ryan has long been known as a players’ coach, but he insisted Tuesday that this does not mean he goes easy on his players when they screw up.

“The reason that I’m considered a players’ coaches is because I actually care about my players – period,” Ryan said. “It’s no other reason. That’s it. I care about them. I recognize that, guess what, they’re not perfect, and I’m certainly not perfect – not by a long stretch. Maybe I’m forgiving more of things than others, because I certainly am not perfect. At the end of the day, I’m going to do what I believe is best for this football team and this organization. Am I hard on my team? I absolutely am. But I don’t have to do it in a public spectrum or anything else to show you how tough I am. I don’t need to do that.”

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Rex Ryan disagrees with Demario Davis, spoke to the linebacker about his practice comments (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media

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October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/rex_ryan_disagrees_with_demario_davis_spoke_to_the_linebacker_about_his_practice_comments.html

After Sunday’s 31-0 loss at San Diego, weak-side linebacker Demario Davis, one of the team’s defensive leaders, offered some pointed comments about the way the Jets have practiced lately.

While criticizing his own preparation and play, Davis said, “I know we’re not practicing like a championship football team, and I take responsibility for that, because I expect guys to do what I do. If we’re not giving effort in practice, that means I’m not giving effort in practice.”

Jets coach Rex Ryan addressed those comments Tuesday during an interview on ESPN New York radio.

“I disagree,” said Ryan, whose team is 1-4, with four straight losses. “I think sometimes, after an emotional game, you’d have to ask Demario about his specific comments, but I disagree. I think this team prepares great. I will agree that results haven’t been what we want them to be. Absolutely, I’d agree with that. But I like the way this team practices. I like the way this team prepares. With that, I will disagree with Demario. But again, he certainly has the right to his opinion and that’s fine. I was shocked by those comments, because of the simple fact that I have been part of championship teams and I’ve seen this team work.”

Ryan said he spoke to Davis on Tuesday about his comments. Ryan said he was not angry with Davis, but declined to detail the nature of their conversation.

“I talk to any of my players that are here,” Ryan said. “I go through the training rooms and all that. To me, I have some real honest conversations with this young man. We have personal conversations as well. And this, it’ll be left between him and I, what was said.”

Veteran center Nick Mangold also said the Jets need to clean up some things in practice, as they try to rid themselves of mounting penalty problems.

The Jets drafted Davis in the third round in 2012. He started regularly for the first time last season. He has developed into one of the Jets’ most vocal leaders, as he alluded to in his comments Sunday, when he said he needed to work harder and set a better example for his teammates.

However the Jets do it – be it with better practice habits or smoke and mirrors in Sunday’s home game against Denver – they simply need a win at this point.

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Rex Ryan suggests what Geno Smith can do to help himself. Why isn't Smith doing it? (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/rex_ryan_suggests_what_geno_smith_can_do_to_help_himself_why_isnt_it_happening.html

At 1-4 and with the Broncos no doubt eager to knock at their door this Sunday, the Jets are pawing through the darkness while trying not to slip on that random roller skate one of the kids left on the floor in the middle of the living room.

But Monday, head coach Rex Ryan suggested one possible solution for the woes plaguing quarterback Geno Smith—and it's something that should have been obvious from the start of the season.

"I think one of the improvements he needs to make," Ryan said, "I think he needs to get back to using his legs."

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You think?

Jets quarterbacks coach David Lee said this back in June, citing it specifically as the reason Smith showed enough improvement at the end of last season for the team to stick with him as their starter even after they signed Michael Vick.

In the preseason, when the Geno Optimism reached its peak, it was because Smith was quick to take off and run when he saw the opportunity. The pattern continued in Week 1 against the Raiders, when Smith rushed 10 times for 38 yards and completed better than 80 percent of his passes.

Yes, I'm aware that was against the NFL's equivalent of a junior varsity franchise, but consider what Smith did in the first 20 minutes the following week against the Packers: Three rushes for 17 yards, plus a read-option pitch to wideout Jeremy Kerley that went for a 37-yard gain. Twenty minutes in, the Jets led 21-3.

In the 3½ games since? Smith has rushed a total of 12 times for 36 yards. And it's not like I haven't noticed this before.

Sunday against the Chargers, Smith's receivers struggled to get open. But rather than use the diamond/read-option package—which seems to have been shelved after it went nowhere once against the Lions—or throwing a screen, or a bubble screen, the Jets stuck with having Smith drop straight back again and again, and Smith rushed just one time for three yards. How much of that is Smith not deciding quickly enough to just tuck it and go?

Ryan is correct that Smith needs to get back to running, if for no other reason than to open the field for an offense that's practically begging teams to stack the box to contain it. As the Jets fumble around in search of a light switch, the real question is what took so long for Ryan and the coaches to notice something they've known about Smith for months.

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Rex Ryan jokes about Jets having to poison Peyton Manning's food (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/rex_ryan_jokes_about_jets_having_to_poison_peyton_mannings_food.html

At 1-4 after having lost four straight games, Jets head coach Rex Ryan is under fire for everything from his handling of quarterback Geno Smith to linebacker Demario Davis questioning the team's practice habits to—stop us if you've heard this one before—whether or not he'll still have his job next year.

To top it all off, Ryan's Jets get a visit this weekend from the Denver Broncos. Just what they need!

"I can just see Peyton Manning and those guys—I am sure their receivers and everybody else can’t wait to get on the bus to come here," Ryan told reporters on Monday.

On Tuesday, in an appearance on Michael Kay's and Don Lagreca's show on ESPN radio 98.7, Ryan was asked how the Jets—whose defense has given up four touchdown drives of 90 yards or more—plan to stop Manning.

"Well, I’m not going to say we’re going to poison his food or anything," Ryan began, "but that thing has crossed my mind."

There was a pause.

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"But, absolutely. This guy is ridiculous, how good he is," Ryan said. "His preparation's like nobody else in this league. And Brady's right there with him. It’s a little concerning. There’s no question. ... But again, we’ll step into that ring again and we’ll find out what happens."

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Rex Ryan: Jets will be 'far from an embarrassment' at end of season (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 7, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/10/rex_ryan_jets_will_be_far_from_an_embarrassment_at_end_of_season.html

Rex Ryan has admitted he was "humbled" by the "complete ass whipping" the Jets got Sunday, when they lost 31-0 to the Chargers to fall to 1-4, with the Broncos and Patriots next on the docket.

But if you were expecting Ryan to proceed with quiet humility into what could be the final 11 games of his tenure as the head coach at One Jets Drive, well, you don't know Rex Ryan.

"It’s going to be far from an embarrassment when the season is over," Ryan said Tuesday in an appearance on ESPN radio 98.7 with Michael Kay and Don Lagreca.

"That’s how I feel. Have we played our best yet? No, we haven’t. But we’re getting ready to. That’s the way I feel. I think at the end of the day, everything is going to work out and this team is going to be one that the fans can be proud of."

The Jets are in such disarray that their current predicament goes well beyond their four-game losing streak. Quarterback Geno Smith has flatlined behind a line that can't block and with receivers who can't get open. The defense, Ryan's calling card, can't get off the field on third down, nor can it stop a team when it needs to do so. Inside linebacker Demario Davis and center Nick Mangold have signaled the team isn't practicing as well as it should. They're the fifth-most penalized team in the league. Etc.

"Hey, I recognize what’s being said out there and all that, but I’m not afraid of it," Ryan said. "This race is far from being over. People are going to say what they say. That’s fine and dandy. But I have an opportunity to correct this and we’re going to. I believe in this team. I believe in everything about this organization. I just think it’s just a matter of time before we find our way."

Ryan also didn't shrink from a question about his job status, and the likelihood he won't have one after the season, barring some unforeseen turnaround. But it's going to take a heckuva lot more than jokes about poisoning Peyton Manning to make that happen.

"Obviously, I get it. We’re 1-4," Ryan said. "If the season would’ve ended today, then you’re probably dead-on. There’s no probably about it. But this season is far from over. I think we have to time to get this thing going.

"I’ve been around this league a long time. I know what happens if you don’t win. I see that. But again, I’m not afraid of it. I think this team is going to win."

Some of this is Ryan's typical bravado; he's perpetually optimistic whenever he gives any sort of public self-evaluation. Some of this is what anyone would hope a head coach would say with 11 games left in the season. Because if he doesn't believe, who will? But Ryan's been backed into a corner now. He can believe in a turnaround all he wants. What matters is whether that belief turns out to be correct.

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NEW YORK POST

Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

The QB and coaching possibilities for Jets next season (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post October 7, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/10/07/the-qb-and-coaching-possibilities-for-jets-next-season/

Who’s got next?

With it looking like the Jets will be in the market for a new starting quarterback and a new head coach for next season, Post NFL writer Bart Hubbuch breaks downs the top candidates:

Quarterback prospects

1. Marcus Mariota, Oregon: Might go No. 1 overall, so the Jets will have competition.

2. Brett Hundley, UCLA: Certainly looks the part physically, although his ability to be a pocket passer remains to be seen.

3. Jameis Winston, Florida State: Undisciplined and too much off-field baggage, but boy, is he talented.

4. Trade: The free-agent crop next winter is horrendous (think: Blaine Gabbert), but the Jets could look into a deal for Matt Barkley or — dare we say it? — Johnny Manziel.

5. Connor Cook, Michigan State: A bit of a dark horse, although QBs from this school seem to be playing pretty well in the NFL these days.

Coaching prospects

1. Jim Harbaugh, 49ers head coach: Lots of people around the league think he’s certain to leave the 49ers. But would Woody Johnson get into a bidding war?

2. Greg Roman, 49ers offensive coordinator: If you can’t get Harbaugh, Harbaugh’s highly respected play-caller wouldn’t be a bad backup plan.

3. Adam Gase, Broncos offensive coordinator: Lots of buzz, but your grandmother could look good calling plays for Peyton Manning.

4. David Shaw, Stanford head coach: Harbaugh’s successor is smart and always seems to be in demand in the NFL.

5. Pep Hamilton, Colts offensive coordinator: He gets a lot of grief from Colts fans for his sometimes-wacky play calling, but Hamilton is well thought of in league circles.

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Rex Ryan knows ax is coming if he doesn’t turn Jets around (Howie Kussoy) New York Post October 7, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/10/07/rex-ryan-knows-axe-is-coming-if-he-doesnt-turn-jets-around/

The embattled Jets coach acknowledged Tuesday he most likely will be fired if the Jets don’t turn the season around. At 1-4, it looks bleak.

“You’re right, if that’s the case and we don’t get this thing on the right track, I don’t think for a minute I’ll be here [in 2015],” Ryan said on ESPN Radio. “I know I won’t, but I believe this team will right itself and we’ll find a way.”

Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

The Jets are reeling after getting blown out Sunday by the Chargers, 31-0, their fourth-straight loss. Add on to that the controversy surrounding Geno Smith’s love of cinema, and things are getting a little tight around One Jets Drive.

Ryan is in his sixth year as the Jets coach. He has a career 43-42 record, plus 4-2 in the playoffs. But the Jets have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

After beating the Raiders to open the season, the Jets lost three close games before Sunday’s embarrassment. Ryan knows that his team’s showing so far would put him on the unemployment line.

“If the season ended today, you’re probably dead on,” he said. “There’s no ‘probably’ about it. But the season is far from over and I think we have time to get this going.”

Ryan reiterated his remarks made following Sunday’s game he believes the Jets’ roster has enough good players.

“I think we have plenty of talent,” Ryan said. “I take responsibility. This is my football team and I will take complete responsibility of the record of this team and of everything that happens with this team. It’s on my shoulders. I know what’s being said out there and I’m not afraid of it.”

Ryan picked a strange spot for inspiration. He pointed to the Patriots, who were blown out by the Chiefs then rebounded to beat the Bengals on Sunday night. Is Ryan counting on Smith to pull a Tom Brady?

“All you have to do is look at New England the week before — they got blown out and righted the ship,” Ryan said. “This will be the same thing. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s this week.”

Jets linebacker Demario Davis questioned the team’s practice habits after Sunday’s game. Ryan said he was shocked to hear those comments and spoke to Davis about them Tuesday.

“You’d have to ask Demario about his specific comments, but I disagree. I think this team prepares great,” Ryan said.

Now the Jets turn their attention to Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Despite all the speculation about his job status, Ryan has retained his sense of humor.

Asked what he could do to stop Manning, Ryan joked, “I’m not going to say we’re going to poison his food or anything, but that has crossed my mind.”

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Idzik taking shots, but plenty of fault to go around (Brian Costello) New York Post October 7, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/10/07/idzik-taking-shots-but-plenty-of-fault-to-go-around/

When I saw Jets general manager John Idzik in the press box on Sunday, I wanted to check his back for a string. After all, he is the newest piñata in town.

Idzik seems to be getting the blame for everything that is wrong with the Jets. I fully expect to hear next that he drove Geno Smith to the movies on Saturday afternoon.

Though Idzik deserves criticism for not addressing the cornerback position well this offseason, this 1-4 mess is not all on him. There is plenty of blame to go around for what is transpiring — and guys who have been around longer than Idzik and Smith should be the first ones we look at.

Let’s start at the top.

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

Owner Woody Johnson interrupted his Aspen skiing vacation on Dec. 31, 2012, to fly back to New Jersey and fire general manager Mike Tannenbaum. That day he also met with coach Rex Ryan in Ryan’s office. The two men sat at a round conference table in the middle of the room and Johnson informed Ryan that he was keeping him as the head coach. Three weeks later, Idzik was hired and one of the most uncomfortable arranged marriages was made.

The Jets offices are divided by floor. The bottom floor of the Florham Park headquarters is where the coaches’ offices are — along with the locker room, trainers’ room and meeting rooms. The second floor is where the executives are, along with marketing, business, media relations and other departments not directly related to football. Since Johnson’s decision to keep Ryan and hire Idzik, it has felt like those two floors were operating under different missions.

Upstairs, Idzik and Co. set out to change the culture of the Jets. They made it clear there would be no quick fixes. Idzik’s plan is to build through the draft, add low-priced free agents to fill some holes and one or two top free agents a year. The plan is one many good teams follow. The key to the execution is being able to identify talent. The early returns for Idzik have not been great, but it only has been 20 months since he took the job. He deserves more time before we declare him an incompetent judge of talent.

Downstairs, the coaches have been worried about their jobs for two years now. Ryan received an extension after last season, but it only contained guaranteed money through 2015, meaning he could be fired after this year with little financial repercussions.

Johnson put his team in this sort of limbo with the decision to fire Tannenbaum and keep Ryan. He should have fired both and started over at the end of the 2012 season or kept both for one more year to see if they could right the ship. A compelling argument could be made for either.

Instead, now you have Ryan in his sixth season fighting for his coaching life while Johnson and Idzik are preaching patience as they slowly build a roster. Fans (and probably Ryan) see $24 million in cap space and scream about the holes on the 2014 roster. Idzik sees the $24 million and knows he will have that next year to give Muhammad Wilkerson an extension, possibly bring back Jeremy Kerley and David Harris on mid-level deals and then spend on one or two top-tier free agents. If Idzik had a second-year coach working for him, it would be an easier plan to accept.

That brings us to Ryan.

Everyone seems to want to excuse Ryan because of a lack of talent. But this defense has eight first-round picks on it. The defensive line may be the best in football. And it is easy to prematurely rip apart Idzik’s drafts, but the foundation of this team should have arrived before 2013. Under Tannenbaum, Ryan had plenty of say over personnel and he made his share of mistakes evaluating talent. Don’t forget the Jets selected a cornerback in the first round in 2010, but Kyle Wilson is unreliable, which helped create the void at the position. There are no players on this team from the 2008 or 2009 drafts. Wilson is the only one left from 2010 (John Conner just returned last week, but was gone for two years).

Ryan’s teams seem to have the same problems every year. He has not developed a quarterback, or really any offensive players. The offense has not had an identity since 2010, vacillating between Ground and Pound and relying on the pass. The defense disappears when it matters most. They commit stupid penalties.

All of this falls on Ryan.

So, take your swings at the Idzik piñata this week. It’s all the rage. But save a couple of swipes for Johnson and Ryan, too.

That didn’t go well

Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

I surrender. I give up. You win, Giants fans.

I stupidly wrote the Jets had regained control of the town after the Giants looked terrible against the Lions in Week 1 and the Jets showed promise against the Raiders. The headline was: “Why the Jets are clearly the best team in New York.”

Clearly, I was wrong.

Giants fans have reminded me of that column over the past 10 days by filling up my inbox and my Twitter mentions. WFAN host Joe Benigno seems to feel I have more to do with the Jets’ four-game losing streak than Geno Smith does.

When I look back on it, I made two terrible miscalculations. Smith looked like an improved quarterback through training camp and even in that Raiders game when he completed 82 percent of his passes. Since then, it has been a weekly regression.

On the flip side, Eli Manning had a terrible preseason and looked lost against the Lions. Since then, it has been a weekly progression.

The other mistake I made was believing Tom Coughlin would not be able to turn the Giants around. Coughlin did a masterful job of steering the Giants through crisis mode … again. On the other side of town, Rex Ryan has not figured out a way to quiet the storm around the Jets … again.

So, I’m out of the comparison business. I’ll go back to covering the Jets and let Paul Schwartz handle the Giants.

Now, with Matt Harvey back I really think the Mets could take over the town next year …

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Rex fires back at Herm: ‘I don’t care to be compared to him’ (Brian Costello) New York Post October 7, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/10/07/rex-fires-back-at-herm-i-dont-care-to-be-compared-to-him/

On top of how poorly the Jets have played, coach Rex Ryan is drawing criticism for how he handled quarterback Geno Smith missing a meeting Saturday night.

Smith got confused about what time the meeting was scheduled. Ryan did not bench the struggling QB, starting him Sunday in San Diego and naming him the starter this week against the Broncos, despite being replaced by Michael Vick at halftime of the Chargers’ rout.

Herm Edwards, the Jets coach from 2001-05 and now an ESPN analyst, was among those critical of Ryan, saying Smith should have been “holding a clipboard” Sunday against the Chargers after missing the meeting.

Ryan didn’t take kindly to the criticism.

“If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again then he can do exactly what he wants,” Ryan said. “No offense, but I don’t care to be compared to him anyway.”

Ryan said he understands why the fans are frustrated and why he has become a target for criticism.

“I get it,” he said. “When you’re 1-4, this is what happens, especially in this market. But I believe in my heart this team is going to be far from an embarrassment when the season is over.”

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Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

NFL power rankings: NY Jets sinking down to the level of the Jaguars and Raiders while the NFC East is on the rise (Hank Gola) New York Daily News October 7, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-power-rankings-jets-sink-level-jaguars-raiders-article-1.1965882

Five weeks into an NFL season of surprises, the biggest one may be the play of the NFC East. No one expected much from any of the teams before the season began, based on last year, but the division looks stronger than most and the Daily News power rankings reflect that.

Now that we’ve moved the Giants up eight spots into No. 13, the only division that has more teams that high is the NFC West, led by the No. 1 Seahawks. The Cowboys, who look for real, are up five spots into fifth, the Eagles, who keep winning ugly, are right behind them while the Giants, who could very well be the best team of the three in two weeks’ time, continue to climb.

The AFC West is another power division, with two of the top three teams; the Broncos at No. 2 and the Chargers at No. 3.

As for the Jets, who have the misfortune of playing those teams back-to-back, the bottom’s the limit. After Sunday’s timeless defeat in San Diego, we’ve dropped them to 30th, ahead of only the winless Jaguars and Raiders, the only team they’ve managed to defeat.

NFL's Best Week 5 Who do you think is the NFL's best team this week? Seattle Seahawks Denver Broncos San Diego Chargers San Francisco 49ers Other.

It’s a jumble so feel free to disagree:

1. (Last week 1) Seahawks (3-1): Sloppy win as Russell Wilson shows off his legs.

2. (2) Broncos (3-1): This next trip to MetLife should be a bit easier.

3. (5) Chargers (4-1): Philip Rivers for MVP.

4. (8) 49ers (3-2): Harbaugh goes George Patton: “My destiny lies between these walls with these men.”

5. (10) Cowboys (4-1): The Cowboys showing grit over glitz? Does Jerry know about this?

6. (9) Eagles (4-1): Survive and advance. That’s all they’re doing now.

7. (4) Cardinals (3-1): They’ll have to survive a bunch of injuries.

8. (16) Packers (3-2): With defense improving, they’re looking dangerous.

9. (15) Patriots (3-2): All it took was one game for all to be right again.

10. (3) Bengals (3-1): Stage fright. Again.

11. (11) Colts (3-2): Down on their Luck, defense steps it up

12. (6) Lions (3-2): A bad loss, any way you slice it.

13. (21) GIANTS (3-2): Can control NFC East with Eagles and Cowboys in back-to-back weeks.

14. (7) Ravens (3-2): Offense blaming themselves.

15. (13) Panthers (3-2): Still the best team in the division because they’re the toughest.

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17 | P a g e

16. (18) Bills (3-2): They should have carried Alex Henery off the field.

17. (14) Steelers (3-2): Still looking for an identity.

18. (20) Chiefs (2-3): Late INT ruins Alex Smith’s return. Harbaugh has last snicker.

19. (22) Texans (3-2): Struggling offense can’t get going. Not surprising with Fitzpatrick at QB.

20. (25) Saints (2-3): Season saved but Rob Ryan’s defense stinks.

21. (19) Browns (2-3): Hoyer now 5-2 as a starter, including two game-winning 2:00 drills. Johnny Manziel will be sitting for a while.

22. (17) Bears (2-3): Classically underachieving.

23. (12) Falcons (2-3): They lost this one in the red zone.

24. (23) Dolphins (2-2): Is there a more non-descript team in the league?

25. (24) Vikings (2-3): They need Teddy Ballgame in there.

26. (27) Rams (1-3): Staying competitive at least.

27. (28) Bucs (1-4): Really Lovie, 15 penalties?

28. (29) Washington (1-4): Better compete level, for what it’s worth.

29. (30) Titans (1-4): Lost their poise along with the big lead.

30. (26) JETS (1-4): Talk about a bad movie. It’s another horror show with Peyton starring.

31. (32) Jaguars (0-5): Rookie mistake by Bortles spoils upset bid.

32. (31) Raiders (0-4): Good week. They didn’t lose. Let Sparano Ball begin.

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Son of Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg involved in fight with Florida Gators teammate: report (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 7, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-cut-cro-reunion-article-1.1715921

Marty Mornhinweg's son, Florida quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg, was involved in an altercation with a teammate, police say. The Gainesville Sun reported Tuesday that police received a complaint that the son of the Jets' offensive coordinator and Gators defensive lineman Gerald Willis got into a fight outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium about 7 p.m. on Monday. Both players declined to press charges against the other.

According to ESPN, Mornhinweg told police the argument was regarding cleats and the police report said the QB had sustained "small lacerations on his lower lip."

Mornhinweg, a backup, played in three games for the Gators last season, all losses.

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NY Jets QB Geno Smith’s no-show sits well (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 7, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-qb-geno-smith-no-show-sits-article-1.1966823

Daily Clips Cont.

18 | P a g e

No one knows better than the head coach of the Jets that mistakes happen, and that’s the tact Rex Ryan is taking with Geno Smith’s missed-meeting fiasco.

The Daily News first reported late Sunday that Smith missed a team meeting on Saturday, the night before the Jets’ 31-0 loss to the Chargers. Smith said he mixed up the time with the team being on the West Coast and that he was “at the movies” with poor cell reception. That landed him on The News’ back page under the headline, “Gone Guy.”

Ryan didn’t bench Smith, and said he wouldn’t have benched any other player in the same circumstance.

“To say that he should be suspended or whatever, I wouldn’t do that for any player,” Ryan said in a radio spot Tuesday on ESPN 98.7. “Mistakes happen.”

There could still be internal discipline for Smith, like there may be for the QB cursing out a fan last week, but Ryan won’t reveal what that would be.

“Was it important? Of course it’s important as was every meeting,” Ryan said. “It’s not something that’s swept under the carpet. It’ll be dealt with.”

On Monday, Smith said he felt “really bad” about the error. Though he wasn’t benched for missing the meeting, he was at halftime after a poor performance.

IDZIK MUM: The Jets are imploding and have some glaring problems on their roster, but don’t expect GM John Idzik to talk about it until the bye week (Week 11), when he usually speaks to the media. Idzik, in the city Tuesday night on the eve of the owners’ meeting, essentially declined to comment when approached. Asked if Smith’s job was in jeopardy, Idzik said, “We’ll save that for when I’m back in Florham Park.”

Idzik also wouldn’t say whether Jets ownership supports Roger Goodell, although team owner Woody Johnson spoke positively about the NFL commissioner last week.

TRAINED EYE: After Sunday’s loss, linebacker Demario Davis criticized the Jets’ training habits, saying the team was not practicing like a championship-caliber squad. That was news to Ryan, apparently, as the coach disagreed with his player on Tuesday.

“I was shocked by those comments,” Ryan said.

Ryan said he spoke to Davis about the remarks but would not reveal the nature of the conversation.

The coach noted that he has been a part of a championship team before — he was the defensive line coach for the 2000 Ravens — so he has seen a Super Bowl team practice.

“I like the ways this team practices, I like the way this team prepares,” Ryan said.

JETTING IN: The Jets signed CB Dashaun Phillips to their practice squad and released CB LeQuan Lewis from their practice squad. The team also worked out its former CB Aaron Berry, according to a source.

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Embattled Rex Ryan fires back at Herm Edwards after former NY Jets coach says he should've benched Geno Smith (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 7, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/rex-ryan-fires-back-herm-edwards-ex-jets-coach-benched-geno-smith-article-1.1966807

When it comes to battling with former Jets coach Herm Edwards, Rex Ryan is playing to win the game.

Daily Clips Cont.

19 | P a g e

The latest Jets coach on the hot seat got into a war of words with the ESPN analyst — who was traded away from the Jets for a draft pick — and it was more entertaining and intense than Gang Green’s 31-0 loss Sunday in San Diego.

Edwards, appearing on Mike Lupica’s radio show Tuesday on ESPN 98.7, said he thought Ryan should have benched Geno Smith for missing a team meeting on Saturday night before Sunday’s debacle.

A few hours later on the same radio station, Ryan, taking a page from his early days at the helm of the Jets, fired back.

“If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again, then he can do exactly what he wants,” Ryan said on “The Michael Kay Show.”

But he wasn’t done, adding this zinger: “No offense, but I don’t care to be compared to him anyway.”

Ouch.

Actually, the two are quite comparable. In five seasons with the Jets, Edwards made the playoffs three times, winning the team’s only division title (2002) since Bill Parcells did it in 1998. Edwards went 39-41 in the regular season while Ryan is 43-42 with two playoff appearances.

Both have had more success in press conferences than on the field, with Edwards coining his famous “play to win the game” speech in 2002 and Ryan breaking into his “not going to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings” rap. Ryan also appears to be on his way to joining Edwards on the long list of coaches who have failed to get the Jets to a Super Bowl.

Despite Ryan’s sharp words on the radio, Edwards told the Daily News that the comments didn’t bother him.

“He’s exactly right,” Edwards said via phone. “He shouldn’t worry about my opinion. There’s no doubt about it.”

Ryan actually has more to worry about. His team is reeling at 1-4, and the coach wasn’t afraid to admit that his job is on the line. The boisterous Ryan escaped getting canned at the end of 2013, after three straight playoff-less seasons, but is now in more danger than ever of being fired.

“We’re 1-4. If the season were to end today, then you’re probably dead on,” Ryan said about losing his job. “There’s no probably about it.”

There has been heavy criticism of general manager John Idzik’s inability to get the right players on the field, but Ryan has vehemently rejected the notion that his team lacks the talent he needs to get wins. “There’s a plan in place and we’ve just got to be patient,” Ryan said.

The problem for him is that he really can’t afford to be patient. For all the talk about sustainable success, which Ryan parroted Tuesday, that plan likely would not include Ryan if he can’t win games in the short term. And he knows it.

“If that’s the case and we don’t get this thing on the right track, I don’t think for a minute I’ll be here,” Ryan said. “No, I know I won’t.”

Despite that, Ryan insisted that Idzik and he are “in the foxhole together. We’ve got a lot of dirt thrown on us right now.”

Nevertheless, the coach was quick to distance himself from Idzik in one respect: the payroll. With the Jets having more than $20 million in unused cap space and more than enough holes, the GM has come under fire for failing to spend on another cornerback or receiver in free agency.

Daily Clips Cont.

20 | P a g e

“I don’t get involved in the financial part of it,” Ryan said.

It’s no surprise that Ryan is insisting that the Jets will get better, even if their chances of doing anything meaningful this season are fading fast.

“This team is going to be far from an embarrassment when the season’s over,” he said. “At the end of the day, maybe I’ll be proven right.”

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ESPN NEW YORK

Rex Ryan acknowledges job on line (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 7, 2014

http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/11660308/rex-ryan-new-york-jets-acknowledges-job-line?ex_cid=espnapi_public

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan put himself on the firing line Tuesday, saying he expects to lose his job if the season doesn't get turned around.

"You're right, if that's the case and we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here," Ryan said in his weekly spot on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show." "I know I won't, but I believe this team will right itself and we'll find a way."

It looks bleak.

The Jets (1-4) have a four-game losing streak, the longest of the Ryan era. They're coming off a 31-0 debacle against the San Diego Chargers, and they face the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots in a span of five days.

Ryan acknowledged he'd be fired based on the five-game performance.

"If the season ended today, you're probably dead on," he said. "There's no 'probably' about it. But the season is far from over and I think we have time to get this going."

Ryan received a contract extension after last season's 8-8 finish, but the deal is fully guaranteed only through 2015. His 2016 salary is based heavily on incentives, so there's little that would prevent owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik from firing him.

Ryan's career record is 43-42, plus a 4-2 mark in the playoffs. He hasn't made the playoffs since 2010.

Johnson said last week that Ryan and the team have "fallen short," but he expressed optimism, noting that the team was competitive in every loss. Obviously, that changed in San Diego.

The ever-optimistic Ryan, in a defiant mood, said he expects to emulate the Patriots with how well they responded after their embarrassing Week 4 loss in Kansas City.

"They got blown out and they righted the ship," Ryan said. "This will be the same way. I wouldn't be surprised if it's this week against arguably as good a team as there is in the National Football League right now."

From the outside, the Jets look dysfunctional. Quarterback controversy aside, Ryan is under fire for the way he's handling Geno Smith, who missed a team meeting last Saturday night in San Diego. Smith's expected to be fined by the team, but his playing time won't be affected, according to Ryan.

Daily Clips Cont.

21 | P a g e

After the loss, linebacker Demario Davis raised eyebrows when he said the Jets "aren't practicing like a championship team." Ryan said he was "shocked" by the remarks.

"You'd have to ask Demario about his specific comments, but I disagree. I think this team prepares great," said Ryan, who spoke to Davis on Tuesday about the matter.

Ryan understands the crucible of New York, so he expects criticism.

"I get it," he said. "When you're 1-4, this is what happens, especially in this market. But I believe in my heart this team is going to be far from an embarrassment when the season is over."

Now the Jets have to figure out a way to beat Denver's Peyton Manning. In a moment of gallows humor, Ryan joked, "I'm not going to say we're going to poison his food or anything, but that has crossed my mind."

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TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

Associated Press October 7, 2014

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Tuesday-s-Sports-Transactions-5807691.php

BASEBALL

American League

LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Claimed OF Roger Kieschnick and OF Alredo Marte off outright waivers from Arizona. Designated OF Brennan Boesch and C John Buck for assignment.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Claimed RHP Bo Schultz off waivers from Arizona.

National League

ATLANTA BRAVBES — Named Gordon Blakeley and Roy clark special assistants to the general manager; Dave Trembley director, player development and Jonathan Schuerholz assistant director, player development. Promoted Brian Bridges to scouting director.

CINCINNATI REDS — Approved the sale of a minority interest in the club by The Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust to Frank Cohen.

Can-Am League

ROCKLAND BOULDERS — Exercised the 2015 contract options on INF Junior Arrojo and OF Antone DeJesus

TROIS-RIVIERES AIGLES — Released INF Pier-Olivier Dostaler.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Signed F Drew Gordon and G Malcolm Lee.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

ARIZONA CARDINALS — Placed P Dave Zastudil on injured reserve and LB Matt Shaughnessy on the injured reserve/return list. Signed P Drew Butler from the practice squad. Re-signed LB Marcus Benard. Signed QB Dennis Dixon to the practice squad.

Daily Clips Cont.

22 | P a g e

BUFFALO BILLS — Signed G William Campbell and DT Jeremy Towns to the practice squad. Released TE Jamie Childers and RB Lonnie Pryor from the practice squad.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Placed FB Richie Brockel on injured reserve. Signed CB James Dockery.

CHICAGO BEARS — Signed CB Al Louis-Jean from the practice squad. Signed LBs DeDe Lattimore and Terrell Manning to the practice squad. Waived DE David Bass and CB Isaiah Frey. Terminated the practice squad contracts of DE Roy Philon and WR Rashad Ross.

CINCINNATI BENGALS — Claimed LB Khairi Fortt off waivers from New Orleans. Placed LB Sean Porter on the injured reserve list.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DL A.J. Pataiali'i to the practice squad. Released LS Charley Hughlett from the practice squad.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed DE Joe Kruger to the practice squad.

HOUSTON TEXANS — Signed LB John Simon off Baltimore's practice squad. Placed LB Ricky Sapp on the injured reserve list. Signed LB Jason Ankrah to the practice squad. Released FB Toben Opurum from the practice squad.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed WR Donte Foster, QB Chandler Harnish and S Pierre Warren to the practice squad. Released QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson from practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Claimed LB Ray-Ray Armstrong off waivers from the St. Louis. Placed LB Kaluka Maiava on the injured reserve list.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed G Andrew Tiller to the practice squad. Waived OT John Fullington.

Canadian Football League

EDMONTON ESKIMOS — Signed QB Matt Scott to the practice roster.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Placed F Brandon Mashinter on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 1.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Placed C Brandon Dubinsky on injured reserve. Claimed RW Adam Cracknell off waivers from Los Angeles. Assigned F Jerry D'Amigo to Springfield (AHL).

DALLAS STARS — Placed D Sergei Gonchar on injured reserve. Designated F Rich Peverley injured non-roster player.

DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned D Xavier Ouellet and G Petr Mrazek to Grand Rapids (AHL).

FLORIDA PANTHERS — Announced D Shane O'Brien cleared waivers and assigned him to San Antonio (AHL).

MONTREAL CANADIENS — Assigned C Jacob de la Rose to Hamilton (AHL).

NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Placed F Matt Cullen and F Viktor Stalberg on injured reserve. Designated F Mike Fisher injured non-roster player.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Signed F Jordin Tootoo. Assigned D Peter Harrold, F Steve Bernier and F Cam Janssen to Albany (AHL).

NEW YORK RANGERS — Reassigned C Chris Mueller to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).

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WINNIPEG JETS — Reassigned G Peter Budaj to St. John's (AHL).

American Hockey League

HAMILTON BULLDOGS — Signed F Sahir Gill to a tryout contract and G Franky Palazzese to a one-year contract.

ECHL

ECHL — Approved the membership applications of the Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Missouri Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder for admission to the league.

ELMIRA JACKALS — Released F Patrick McCadden, D Tom Silber, D David Mead and G Joe Spagnoli from their tryout agreements

GWINNETT GLADIATORS — Signed F Will MacDonald. Signed F J.P. Labardo, F James McEwan, D Drew Baker, G Andrew Loewen and G Chris Kamal to tryout contracts.

IDAHO STEELHEADS — Announced G Henri Kiviaho was been assigned to the team by Dallas (NHL).

READING ROYALS — Announced the addition of F David Marshall and F Adam Hughesman.

SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS — Announced F Braden Pimm, D Garrett Haar and D Erik Burgdoerfer were assigned to the team by Hershey (AHL).

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

COLORADO MAMMOTH — Signed F Eli McLaughlin, D Robert Hope, G Alex Buque, D Zach Rogers, F DJ Giacobbo, M Terry Ellis and A Mike Crampton.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

COLUMBUS CREW — Signed F Kei Kamara.

National Women's Soccer League

SKY BLUE FC — Announced the retirement of G Jill Loyden.

COLLEGE

EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE — Announced Franklin Pierce, Gannon, U. of Indianapolis and Mercy have been accepted as full Division II members of the ECAC.

PAC-12 CONFERENCE — Reprimanded and fined Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre $10,000 for conduct toward the officials following the Buffaloes' loss to Oregon State on Oct. 4.

CUMBERLAND — Fired volleyball coach Brittany Harry. Named Ron Pavan interim volleyball coach.

HOBART — Named Craig Whipple volunteer assistant lacrosse coach.

KENTUCKY — Suspended freshman DE Lloyd Tubman indefinitely after he was arrested and charged with first-degree rape.

RADFORD — Named Haley Marvine women's lacrosse coach.

RANDOLPH-MACON — Announced the resignation of men's assistant basketball coach Jarell Christian to be a video analyst and assistant coach for Oklahoma City (NBADL).

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