NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

September 26, 2014

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Jets' Decker 'planning' to play vs. Lions (Dennis Waszak) ......................................................................................... 2

Jets' tall task: defending Lions' Megatron (Dennis Waszak)...................................................................................... 3

Lions-Jets Capsule ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Marty Mornhinweg: I asked too much of Geno Smith (Kimberley Martin) .............................................................. 5

Eric Decker believes he'll play Sunday against Lions (Kimberley Martin) ................................................................. 6

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Jets notes: Keeping quiet about special teams (J.P. Lezman) ................................................................................... 7

Jets' Marty Mornhinweg: Don't blame Geno Smith (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................................... 8

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 9

CJ: Jets best option is to ‘run’ over opponents (Kevin Kernan) ................................................................................. 9

Slew of injuries ‘frustrating’ for Jets’ Milliner (Brian Costello) ................................................................................ 10

Mornhinweg: I put too much on Geno’s plate (Brian Costello) .............................................................................. 11

Eric Decker plans on giving hamstring another go (Brian Costello) ........................................................................ 12

Lions’ Calvin Johnson can’t wait to face Jets secondary (Brian Lewis) .................................................................... 13

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 14

NY Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg accepts blame for some — not all — of Geno Smith's miscues (Seth Walder) .......................................................................................................................................................... 14

NY Jets must protect Eric Decker and his hamstring by being in caution mode (Manish Mehta) .......................... 15

NY Jets' Willie Colon is set for Lions’ guy named Ndamukong Suh (Seth Walder) .................................................. 16

NJ ADVANCED MEDIA .......................................................................................................................................... 17

Chris Johnson wants more carries for himself and Chris Ivory, but grasps why that hasn't happened (Darryl Slater) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Jets won't say whether Jalen Saunders will return punts again Sunday (Dom Cosentino) ..................................... 19

Eric Decker, Nick Mangold, Muhammad Wilkerson return to Jets practice; Dee Milliner still sits (Dom Cosentino) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

Detroit Lions: A quick scouting report on the Jets' Week 4 opponent (Dom Cosentino) ....................................... 20

Eric Decker expects to play for Jets against Lions, but ... (Dom Coesntino) ............................................................ 21

Willie Colon on facing Ndamukong Suh: 'I'll never back down from a fight' (Darryl Slater) ................................... 22

Jets-Lions injury report: Calvin Johnson does not practice for second straight day (Dom Cosentino) ................... 23

Marty Mornhinweg: Geno Smith will 'be just fine,' but 'has been too loose' with taking care of ball (Darryl Slater) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 24

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Rex Ryan not optimistic Dee Milliner will be able to play for Jets Sunday (Dom Cosentino) .................................. 27

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 27

Willie Colon on Suh: 'One of the best' (Rich Cimini)................................................................................................ 27

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 28

Eric Decker making progress in attempt to return from hamstring injury (Kristian Dyer) ...................................... 28

THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRASACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 29

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets' Decker 'planning' to play vs. Lions (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 25, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/jets-decker-planning-play-vs-lions

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Eric Decker is ready to play again. The New York Jets wide receiver hopes his ailing right hamstring allows him to.

Decker sat out practice for the second straight day Thursday with tightness in his leg, but is optimistic about his chances of playing against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"I'm planning on getting out there," Decker said. "I can't promise anything, but obviously I'm leaning on the positive side that I'm definitely going to be out there."

Decker was limited Monday night against Chicago because of the injury, which occurred in Week 2 at Green Bay. He was a game-time decision, and could be in a similar situation this weekend.

Decker had one catch for 19 yards against the Bears before pulling himself out of the game. He says he couldn't get his leg loose enough, so he and the Jets were smart to not push it.

"I've got no regrets," Decker said of playing Monday night. "As a competitor, it's hard to be out. I thought through last week, how I felt (Monday) pregame, I could get some snaps in. I knew I wasn't going to play the whole game. I knew I could do a little bit, at least, to help. That's all I could do was 15, 16 snaps, whatever it was."

Decker, second on the team with 10 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, acknowledged that there's some concern about waiting until he's feeling 100 percent healthy. That was something he considered Monday night.

"If I sat out, would it be better today? I don't know," he said. "But I do know that I wasn't going to push it past the point where I'm going to make it worse. When I woke up Tuesday morning, I didn't feel worse than I felt Monday after the Green Bay game. So I knew I was smart about it.

"I'm just going to gauge how I feel. If I can mentally get through the game and feel OK, then I'm going to do that."

Dealing with a soft-tissue injury is something new for Decker, who first hurt the hamstring during training camp and aggravated it against the Packers.

"It's kind of a pain in the butt," he said. "You've really got to kind of gauge it. Everyone's different with how they recover and how bad the pull is or strain or whatever they diagnose it as. For me, it's just kind of feeling it out and pushing it to the point where I know my body well enough to where it's, 'OK, that's good pain and that's bad pain.' So, just being smart about it."

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Meanwhile, top cornerback Dee Milliner didn't practice because of a quadriceps injury that sidelined him for the game against the Bears. Coach Rex Ryan said it "probably doesn't look good" for Milliner to play against the Lions.

Wide receiver David Nelson was also sidelined for the second straight day because of an illness. Ryan said the team sent him home before practice.

Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson (knee), center Nick Mangold (shoulder) and right guard Willie Colon (calf) were all limited, but are expected to play.

Backup center Dalton Freeman injured a knee during practice, which was held in the indoor facility because of storms. Ryan had no immediate update on the severity, but said Colon and rookie Dakota Dozier could snap in place of Freeman if Mangold is sidelined at any point.

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Jets' tall task: defending Lions' Megatron (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 25, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/jets-tall-task-defending-lions-megatron

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Calvin Johnson is looming for the New York Jets' still-shaky secondary.

The Detroit Lions wide receiver is a tall task, in more ways than one, and Rex Ryan knows it.

"I'm a football historian, but I don't think I've seen (anyone like him)," the Jets coach said. "I've gone against him a couple times, but no. Brandon Marshall is as close as it gets, I think, but he's even a little bigger and little faster."

Johnson is 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds with a rare combination of size, speed and game-changing athletic ability. With his dominant receiving skills, he can toy with helpless defenders — towering over many of them.

"They're a threat," defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said of tall receivers. "Who can get up that high? Just because I could dunk a basketball didn't mean I could get up that high. It's about the challenge in the red zone, the fade route, the seam route and him just throwing the ball up and you can't physically get up there."

Johnson didn't practice for two straight days with an ankle injury, leaving his status uncertain for the Lions' game against the Jets on Sunday. But the Jets are fully expecting to see Johnson on the field, and lots of him.

Thurman can relate firsthand to what the Jets' defense is preparing for. He faced a guy during his playing days who was Megatron long before Johnson: Harold Carmichael, a 6-8, 225-pounder who caught 590 passes and 79 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons, including 13 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It's very difficult to defend," Thurman said. "Have you ever played basketball and you've been down under the basket and the guy's taller than you and he just posts you and they lob the ball up there and you're sitting there, you're kind of jumping and swinging at the ball?

"That's kind of how it is if you are a defender."

Thurman was listed at 5-11 during his eight seasons as a playmaking cornerback and safety with the Dallas Cowboys from 1978-85. He permanently etched himself on the list of villains in Eagles fans' minds when he plowed into Carmichael during a game in 1980. Thurman knocked Carmichael from the game with an aggressive — but legal — hit that ended his then-record 127-game streak of catching at least one pass.

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Sure, that's one way to neutralize a big-time pass-catching threat. But the Jets are planning to have to defend him for four quarters, and they might need to get creative.

"We'll just run base defense," Ryan said with a big grin. "That's our story. We're just going to play him in man, straight-up man. We actually did that a couple years ago."

Yep, and it worked. Then again, it was Darrelle Revis who helped limit Johnson to one catch for 13 yards back in 2010.

"It was duly noted," Ryan said, "that he was pretty good."

There's no Revis this time, of course. Top cornerback Dee Milliner appears likely to miss his second straight game with a quadriceps injury. That means converted safety Antonio Allen and Darrin Walls will see a lot of Johnson on Sunday.

Allen, whom Thurman confirmed will stick at cornerback the rest of the season, has dealt with tall tight ends such as New England's Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham as a safety in man-to-man coverage in previous seasons.

"He's much faster than probably any of those guys I've been against," Allen said. "He's probably the best receiver in the league, hands down. I've got to do the best job I can to stop him from catching the ball and just limit him to the things they want."

Johnson has 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns through three games, and might be looking forward to this matchup, sore ankle and all. He needs one game of 200 or more yards receiving to break a tie with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most in NFL history with six — and he's going up against a defense that allowed the Packers' Jordy Nelson 209 yards receiving in Week 2.

Johnson said there was "no doubt" he gets excited seeing the good games other receivers have had against the Jets. He's also expecting, from New York's tendency to blitz, the rare opportunity to predominantly face man-to-man coverage on Sunday.

Ryan laughed when he was told of Johnson's comments.

"I'm crazy," the coach said, "but I'm not that crazy."

Thurman acknowledged that defensive backs can play press coverage against Johnson, but it's not easy.

"You have to pick your spots," he said. "I think you can jam him at times and re-route him. But you can't do it consistently. You have to change up how you face this guy."

So, there's a good chance Ryan and Thurman are still drawing up plans at this very moment, trying to shut down Megatron.

"There's nothing he can't do," Thurman said, "so the challenge of it is huge."

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Lions-Jets Capsule Associated Press September 25, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/lions-jets-capsule

DETROIT (2-1) at NEW YORK JETS (1-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

OPENING LINE — Pick-em

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RECORD VS. SPREAD — Detroit 2-1, New York 1-2

SERIES RECORD — Series tied 6-6

LAST MEETING — Jets beat Lions 23-20 in OT, Nov. 7, 2010

LAST WEEK — Lions beat Packers 19-7; Jets lost to Bears 27-19

AP PRO32 RANKING — Lions No. 10, Jets No. 21

LIONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (11), RUSH (25), PASS (6).

LIONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (2), PASS (3).

JETS OFFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (2), PASS (18).

JETS DEFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (1), PASS (9).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Matchup of top two overall defenses in NFL, based on yardage allowed. ... Lions have not allowed opposing rusher to gain more than 80 yards through first three games. ... WR Calvin Johnson needs one game of 200 or more yards receiving to break tie with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for most in NFL history with six. Johnson has at least one 200-yard game in each of past three seasons, and he's going up against Jets defense that allowed Packers' Jordy Nelson 209 yards receiving in Week 2. ... QB Matthew Stafford has 112 touchdown passes, seven from passing Hall of Famer Bobby Layne for most in franchise history. ... Ndamukong Suh has 28 1/2 career sacks and needs just one more to break Shaun Rogers' team record for sacks by a DT. ... LB Stephen Tulloch was lost for season last weekend after tearing ACL in left knee after celebrating a sack. ... In second game of consecutive home games as Jets coach, Rex Ryan is 9-2. ... With four sacks for second straight game, Jets increased season total to 10 sacks, matching Jacksonville and Washington for most in NFL. ... Jets have allowed just 35 yards per game on 14 carries per game to opposing running backs. Their average of 2.50 yards per carry allowed to opposing running backs would rank first when compared to top-five rushing defenses since NFL merger. ... QB Geno Smith coming off shaky game in which he threw two INTs, including one returned for TD on first pass. Despite five turnovers in three games, Ryan sticking with Smith over Michael Vick and says team believes in second-year QB. Smith leads NFL QBs with seven rushing TDs since start of last season. ... RB Chris Ivory had career highs with four catches and 52 yards receiving vs. Bears. Leads team with 189 yards rushing on 33 carries. ... WR Eric Decker's status uncertain with balky right hamstring that limited him to one catch for 19 yards vs. Bears. ... LB Demario Davis leads Jets with 21 tackles and has 2 1/2 sacks in past two games. ... DE Muhammad Wilkerson had 1 1/2 sacks against Chicago.

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NEWSDAY

Marty Mornhinweg: I asked too much of Geno Smith (Kimberley Martin) Newsday September 25, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/marty-mornhinweg-i-asked-too-much-of-geno-smith-1.9410751

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Marty Mornhinweg shouldered the blame for the Jets' red-zone issues and Geno Smith's struggles near the goal line in Monday night's loss to the Bears.

"I'm just simply putting too much on the young quarterback that's developing,'' the offensive coordinator said Thursday. "I just relied a little too much on him [in the red zone].

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"And there will be a time -- hopefully very quickly -- where we can do that. But that game, looking back on it, I put just a little too much on his plate there, and I could have helped him a couple different ways.''

Mornhinweg wouldn't get into the specifics of how he could have helped Smith more, but he maintained he has "great confidence'' in him.

But he quickly added: "Maybe I had a little too much confidence last week.''

While fans and analysts have called for backup Michael Vick to replace Smith, who has four interceptions and two fumbles in three games, Mornhinweg explained the importance of patience. He also stated the obvious about the Jets' organizational goals this season.

"Look, we're right in the middle of developing a young quarterback,'' he said, adding that he wouldn't consider starting Vick. " . . . We're going to go through some ups and downs now. And when you go through a little dip, you've got to motor through it now. You've got to be pretty tough mentally. And we all have to do that together now.''

But the team is in a precarious position. After losing two straight, the Jets (1-2) are in must-win mode heading into Sunday's game against the Lions. And the longer it takes Smith to navigate the NFL learning curve, the worse it might be for their chances of making the playoffs.

But Mornhinweg stood firm, reiterating the organization's ultimate goal.

"We need to develop Geno,'' he said. "Listen, Geno is going to be just fine. Lookit, to be great, in many cases, you've got to go through some failures. And sometimes, it's on Monday night.''

After Smith threw a pick-6 on the second play from scrimmage, he responded by completing 14 of 18 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. But trailing 24-13 in the third quarter and on the Bears' 18-yard line, he lofted a first-down pass that was picked off in the end zone.

Mornhinweg never has been one to regret play calls, but he admitted that like Smith, he has to do a better job in the red zone. "We need to run the football better down there,'' he said. "It's just that simple.''

The Jets had 114 rushing yards, but on their final drive, they had six pass attempts -- and no running plays -- from the Bears' 20.

Smith, however, isn't absolved of blame. He had 26 completions and 43 pass attempts, both career highs, for 316 yards and a touchdown, but turnovers are "an issue,'' Mornhinweg said.

"Good quarterbacks take care of the ball,'' he said. "He simply has been too loose there.''

Nevertheless, he said he's confident Smith will improve, and Mornhinweg has no plans of disrupting his development -- for Vick or anyone else.

"Sometimes you have to go through some bad stuff to be great,'' Mornhinweg said. "So we're right in the middle of that process. And that learning curve . . . we all want it now. Now! But we just have to step back and look at the big picture.''

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Eric Decker believes he'll play Sunday against Lions (Kimberley Martin) Newsday September 25, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/eric-decker-believes-he-ll-play-sunday-against-lions-1.9407587

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Eric Decker plans to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

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He thinks.

"I'm planning on getting out there. I can't promise anything, but obviously I'm leaning on the positive side that I'm definitely going to be out there," the Jets wide receiver said Thursday after a second straight day of not practicing.

The right hamstring he aggravated Monday night against the Bears has forced him to be a bystander for much of the week, either on the sideline or in the trainers' area. But although he didn't practice Wednesday, Decker did participate in position drills and he said he expects to practice Friday.

"Hamstring's feeling better," he said. "I said from the beginning of the week right after the game, I was going to take it day by day and today felt better than yesterday . . . So, I'm happy with my progression and happy with where I'm at right now."

And, like his coach Rex Ryan, Decker said he's "got no regrets" about playing Monday night.

"As a competitor, it's hard to be out," said the receiver, who played only 12 snaps and caught one pass for 19 yards against the Bears before aggravating the injury. "I thought through last week, how I felt pregame, I could get some snaps in. I knew I wasn't going to play the whole game. I knew I could do a little bit, at least, to help . . . I just took myself out, Coach took me out, so nothing would get worse."

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THE RECORD

Jets notes: Keeping quiet about special teams (J.P. Lezman) The Record September 26, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets/jets-notes-keeping-quiet-about-special-teams-1.1096863

Trying to keep mum

The Jets did their best Thursday not to give Sunday’s opponent, the Detroit Lions, any information on some of their key special-teams people.

Neither coach Rex Ryan nor special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey would say whether rookie Jalen Saunders will resume his role as the team’s primary punt returner. Saunders was removed after misplaying a first-quarter punt Monday against Chicago. The Bears recovered at the Jets’ 40 and soon scored their second touchdown of the game.

"We watched him all week in practice," McGaughey said of Saunders. "We’ve watched other guys and we just have to make a decision at the end of the week who we’re going to go with."

Those other guys include veteran wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, who took over Saunders’ role Monday, and Walter Powell, a wideout who was claimed off waivers from Arizona earlier this month. He has yet to be active for a game.

McGaughey also refused to say who will replace Ellis Lankster, who was released Tuesday, as one of the Jets’ gunners on punt coverage.

Megatron update

Superstar Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice for a second straight day Thursday because of an ankle injury he suffered in the Lions’ victory over Green Bay on Sunday. If he does play Sunday against the Jets, it’s possible that his snaps could be limited.

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As for the Jets, cornerback Dee Milliner (quadriceps) again sat out and isn’t expected to play. Center Nick Mangold (shoulder) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (knee) both returned to practice Thursday and are expected to play.

Mangold’s backup, Dalton Freeman, suffered a knee injury during practice and was unable to finish, Ryan said. Also, wide receiver David Nelson (illness) missed practice for a second straight day. Ryan said he was sent home before practice.

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Jets' Marty Mornhinweg: Don't blame Geno Smith (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 25, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/mornhinweg-geno-not-to-blame-1.1096866

FLORHAM PARK — There may be a quarterback controversy outside the Jets’ complex here. But inside the building, not so much, judging by offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s remarks Thursday.

Mornhinweg, speaking to reporters for the first time since Geno Smith’s uneven, two-interception performance in a loss to Chicago on Monday, squarely put the blame on himself for Smith’s struggles in the red zone. One of Smith’s two picks came on first down from the Bears’ 18.

"I am just simply putting too much on the young quarterback that’s developing," Mornhinweg said.

"I am putting just a little bit too much on his plate."

And the Jets’ offensive guru also indicated he isn’t ready to pass that plate to backup Michael Vick anytime soon.

When asked if the Jets might use Vick at quarterback, Mornhinweg said, "we are right in the middle of developing a young quarterback now. … We are going to go through some ups and downs now."

Smith has five turnovers in the first three games of the season.

"You have to be pretty tough mentally, and we all have to do that together," Mornhinweg added. "We need to develop Geno. Listen, Geno is going to be just fine. We are going to go through some ups and downs. We have to motor through the dips. To be great in many cases, you have to go through some failures."

Some of Smith’s failures against the Bears could have been avoided if the Jets had stuck with their trademark running game. Instead, Mornhinweg called only six running plays in 16 snaps in the red zone, putting more of the load on Smith. Especially surprising was the fact the Jets didn’t run the ball at all after Greg Salas’ 51-yard catch-and-run got them to the Chicago 20 on their final possessions. The Jets had two timeouts with 1:41 left, yet didn’t run the ball once.

"I just relied a little too much on Smith" in the red zone, Mornhinweg said, "and there will be a time, hopefully very quickly, where we can do that."

It also would be a help to Smith if wide receiver Eric Decker can play against Detroit on Sunday. Decker suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of the loss at Green Bay on Sept. 14, but felt no pain while warming up Monday night. He made one reception for 19 yards but had to remove himself after only 12 plays because the muscle had tightened up again.

Decker said he is optimistic about playing against the Lions, even though he missed practice Thursday for a second consecutive day.

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"I’m planning on getting out there," Decker said. "I can’t promise anything, but obviously I’m leaning on the positive side that I’m definitely going to be out there."

"I’ve got no regrets," Decker said of playing against the Bears. "As a competitor, it’s hard to be out. I thought through last week, how I felt [in the] pre-game, I could get some snaps in. I knew I wasn’t going to play the whole game. I knew I could do a little bit, at least, to help. That’s all I could do was 15, 16 snaps, whatever it was [12 actually].

"When I woke up Tuesday morning," Decker added, "I didn’t feel worse than I felt Monday after the Green Bay game. So I knew I was smart about it. … I’m just going to gauge how I feel. If I can mentally get through the game and feel OK, then I’m going to do that."

Decker has 10 receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown despite his playing time being very limited in the last two games.

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NEW YORK POST

CJ: Jets best option is to ‘run’ over opponents (Kevin Kernan) New York Post September 25, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/09/25/cj-jets-best-option-is-to-run-over-opponents/

Chris Johnson wants the ball more.

Not only for himself, but fellow running back Chris Ivory as well.

More carries will equal more success for the 1-2 Jets. The Jets have put too much on quarterback Geno Smith’s plate, expecting far too much from the young quarterback, especially in the red zone.

Smith, who has been a turnover machine, needs a little bit less on his shoulders and more of the burden put on veteran teammates.

“Chris Ivory and I really haven’t had the opportunity to run the ball a lot,’’ Johnson said Thursday as the Jets prepared for Sunday’s matchup at MetLife Stadium against the 2-1 Lions. “We’ve done pretty well with the opportunities that have been given to us.’’

Asked if he wanted more chances to run the ball, Johnson plowed straight ahead: “Yeah, of course.’’

He said he would like to see the Jets run it 35-40 times a game, “to give us both the opportunity to run the ball hard and make plays and try to put our offense on our back.

“Me and Chris both envisioned getting more carries,’’ he said.

Jets running backs carried the ball a measly 22 times in the 27-19 loss to the Bears on Monday night and were basically an afterthought in the red zone.

Johnson is averaging 11.6 carries per game this season. Over his previous five seasons he averaged 18.6. Ivory has averaged 11 carries per game and has 190 yards (5.8) to Johnson’s 123 (3.5).

Johnson not only wants the ball more, he knows he needs to do more to help Smith.

“I like what I see out of Geno so far, a confident guy, putting the ball where he needs to put it. Every young player is going to make a couple of mistakes, but us as veteran players around him,’’ Johnson said, “we have to step up and make the plays to help him out. I had a swing pass the other night, if I had caught the ball I would have had a big play on that, I dropped the ball.’’

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Johnson said game situations have dictated the amount of carries. He understands that, but the bottom line is he knows the Jets must run the ball more and get back to their pound and ground roots even though it will not be easy against a front seven like the Lions.

“It’s going to be very tough, they got a very good front seven, they get a lot of penetration, but if we execute we’ll be all right,’’ Johnson said. “We’ve been put in situations where we have had to throw the ball. It’s a long season. And we know it will get better and better as the year goes along.

“It’s just a scenario that teams go through,’’ Johnson added.

He has not talked to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg about the situation.

Johnson said it still is early and it is not the time “right now to go in there and talk to Marty and tell him what he needs to do.’’

Too often in the red zone the Jets have given up on the run too quickly.

Johnson said he believes in his team and realizes, minus some key mistakes, things could be different.

“Nobody really envisioned going into a game getting 10-12 carries,” he said. “That’s not the game plan; the game plan is for us to run the ball.”

There is a feel to the game, and Johnson said with so few carries that makes it difficult.

“A running back needs to get in a rhythm and continue to get carries back to back,’’ he said. “In preseason it worked out well for us. I feel that if we get in the right situation we can start turning some of these games around. I think there is going to be an opportunity to pound the football.

“We’re very close. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be 3-0.’’

Ground and pound, score in the red zone, limit the Geno Turnover Machine and the Jets will be right where they need to be come Sunday night.

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Slew of injuries ‘frustrating’ for Jets’ Milliner (Brian Costello) New York Post September 25, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/09/25/slew-of-injuries-frustrating-for-jets-milliner/

Dee Milliner spent Wednesday’s practice on a stationary bike — a sight that has gotten all too familiar for the Jets and the cornerback.

Milliner has missed two of the first three games this season, and no one sounds optimistic about him playing Sunday against the Lions. He suffered an injury to his right quadriceps in practice last week as he was just getting over a high left ankle sprain.

The mounting injuries have Milliner and coach Rex Ryan frustrated.

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t [some frustration],” Ryan said. “There is because you know the guy is an outstanding athlete and a guy I think is going to be an outstanding player. It just seems like little things. Those things happen. It’s certainly not his fault. Unfortunately, sometimes those things happen.”

The latest injury occurred in practice last Thursday when Milliner was backpedaling in coverage. He felt the quad tighten up on him and has not practiced since. Milliner said he understands Ryan’s frustration.

“He’s just like me,” Milliner said. “He wants me to be out on the field. I want to be out on the field. To come back from my ankle and have another thing happen, it’s just gets frustrating and irritating at times.”

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DE Muhammad Wilkerson did not practice after injuring his knee at the end of Monday’s game. Wilkerson did not sound concerned, though. He said it is just a bruise and that he will be fine.

Lions star WR Calvin Johnson missed practice with an ankle injury. Johnson tweaked the ankle at the end of their game with the Packers this week, but told reporters it was not a big deal. It is the first practice he has missed this year.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring) did not practice. Ryan said he is hopeful Decker can play this week. Decker played just 12 snaps in Monday’s game after getting cleared to play just before kickoff.

“He’s a durable guy,” Ryan said. “ I think he’s going to do whatever it takes to play. I’m confident, I’m hopeful that he’ll play. We’ll see as it goes during the week. This past week it wasn’t until right at the end that he felt good enough to play.”

C Nick Mangold (shoulder) also missed practice, but said his injury is nothing serious and he will play. … WR David Nelson (illness) was not at practice. …. G Willie Colon (calf) was limited. … The Jets signed CB LeQuan Lewis from their practice squad. They have one open roster spot after releasing CB Ellis Lankster. They also signed cornerback Marcus Williams to the practice squad.

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Mornhinweg: I put too much on Geno’s plate (Brian Costello) New York Post September 25, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/09/25/mornhinweg-i-put-too-much-on-genos-plate/

It certainly does not sound like Michael Vick is going to be the starting quarterback for the Jets anytime soon.

Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was asked Thursday whether the team needs to consider going to Vick after Geno Smith struggled Monday night, and Mornhinweg said no, that the team has to live with Smith’s growing pains.

“We’re right in the middle of developing a young quarterback,” Mornhinweg said. “We’ve discussed this. We’re going to go through some ups and downs now. When you go through a little dip, you’ve got to motor through it now.”

Mornhinweg acknowledged it is a tough balance to strike between wanting to win now and still developing Smith for the future.

He said the Jets have to be patient with Smith, a sign the Jets are not considering making the change to Vick even if Smith’s struggles continue.

“Sometimes you have to go through some bad stuff to be great,” Mornhinweg said. “We’re right in the middle of that process and that learning curve. We all want it now, but we just have to step back and look at the big picture. We’re going to go through some ups and downs and he’ll have some fabulous games where he does the right thing.”

Smith had two brutal interceptions in Monday’s 27-19 loss to the Bears, one of them coming in the red zone — where the Jets scored just one touchdown in six trips.

Mornhinweg took the blame for the red zone struggles, saying he put too much on Smith and should have run the ball more.

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“I just relied a little too much on him,” Mornhinweg said. “There will be a time, hopefully very quickly, that we can do that. But that game I thought, looking back on it, that I put just a little too much on his plate and I could have helped him a couple of different ways.”

Mornhinweg said Smith played “beautifully” for 90 percent of the game against the Bears, but tried too hard on a handful of plays.

The Jets were confident this summer Smith had gotten over the turnover woes that plagued him as a rookie, when he had 21 interceptions and four fumbles. Through three games, though, Smith already has five turnovers.

“This is an issue now,” Mornhinweg said. “There’s no question about that. Good quarterbacks take care of the ball. That’s not to say that great quarterbacks aren’t going to have some bad games, but [they] consistently take care of the football. We have discussed that and we emphasize it daily. He simply has been too loose there. It’s that simple. So, that needs to be corrected. Geno is a tough guy mentally now. I suspect that he’ll continue a little progression there and get better at that.”

Never one to go into too much detail, Mornhinweg did not want to explain exactly how he put too much on Smith on Monday night, but repeatedly said it.

After the Green Bay loss and the timeout fiasco, Mornhinweg said he needed to trust Smith more. This week, it sounds like he thinks he should trust Smith less.

“I have great confidence in Geno,” Mornhinweg said. “Maybe I have a little bit too much confidence in that last week and put a little bit too much on his plate.”

As upset as Mornhinweg sounded with how the Bears game went, it is clear he is willing to live with Smith’s mistakes.

“To be great in many cases you’ve got to go through some failures,” Mornhinweg said. “Sometimes it’s on Monday night. Last year he had a great Monday night game [in Atlanta]. Shoot, last year he brought us from behind four or five times in the fourth quarter. Shoot, we’re 0-for right now. We’re 0-for-2. The more that young players are in those situations, typically the better they’re going to do. You’ve got to motor through. That’s where we’re at.”

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Eric Decker plans on giving hamstring another go (Brian Costello) New York Post September 25, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/09/25/eric-decker-plans-on-giving-hamstring-another-go/

Jets wide receiver Eric Decker did not practice again Thursday, but sounds optimistic about playing Sunday against the Lions.

Decker is nursing a right hamstring injury that has bothered him during the past two games. He did individual drills Thursday, but did not participate in any team drills.

“I’m planning on getting out there,” Decker said about Sunday. “I can’t promise anything. Obviously, I’m leaning on the positive side that I’m definitely going to be out there.”

The hamstring problem originally arose during training camp and then flared up two weeks ago in the loss to the Packers. He did very little in practice last week, but played Monday night against the Bears. Decker lasted just 12 snaps, though, before feeling soreness in the hamstring again.

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Some have questioned whether it was wise for Decker to play instead of just resting. He said he has no regrets.

“If I sat out, would it be better today? I don’t know,” Decker said. “I do know I wasn’t going to push it past the point where I was going to make it worse. When I woke up Tuesday morning I didn’t feel worse than I did the Monday after the Green Bay game. I think I was smart about it. I’m just going to gauge how I feel. If I can mentally get through a game and feel OK, I’m going to do that.”

Decker said he expects to practice Friday.

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Lions’ Calvin Johnson can’t wait to face Jets secondary (Brian Lewis) New York Post September 25, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/09/25/lions-calvin-johnson-cant-wait-to-face-jets-secondary/

After seeing what Jordy Nelson did to the Jets’ secondary in Week 2 and watching Alshon Jeffery’s follow-up act on Monday night, Calvin Johnson admits he’s licking his chops at the thought of getting single coverage Sunday against the Jets.

“No doubt,’’ Johnson said Wednesday. “I definitely look forward to the opportunity to get single-high coverage out there.’’

Johnson is perhaps the most unique physical specimen to ever play wideout in the NFL. The All-Pro known as Megatron is fourth in the NFL with 329 receiving yards on 19 catches, and — after constantly finding himself doubled and zoned — is salivating at the notion of finally seeing single coverage from the Jets.

“We expect to get some of that because of the blitzes they bring all the time,’’ said Johnson, confident he can’t be covered one-on-one. “That’s my mindset.’’

Though Johnson said he considers himself uncoverable one-on-one, as late Alabama coach Bear Bryant said, “It ain’t bragging if it’s true.’’

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Johnson should feel like he can beat any single coverage, because he can — but insists Johnson shouldn’t expect to see it.

“Well, he’s right,’’ Ryan said. “But he’s not going to get that. I’m crazy, but I’m not that crazy.’’

Converted safety Antonio Allen — one of the corners who would have to deal with Johnson — said he will be alone on Johnson “from time to time,’’ and the Lions star should feel he can beat his man. But Allen said he’s just as confident.

“He should feel that way,” Allen said. “He’s been in the league eight, nine years, hasn’t been stopped in one-on-one coverage. Sometimes cover-two isn’t going to stop him.

“I feel the same way. I don’t feel like anybody’s going to catch a ball. I feel that way about every single receiver in the league.’’

With Dee Milliner (quadriceps) and Dexter McDougle (ACL) both out, Gang Green have used Allen and career backup Darrin Walls at corner. Playing a lot of single high the last two weeks — with one safety deep, the other closer to the line and the corners in man-to-man coverage — the Jets gave up 209 yards to Nelson in Week 2 and 105 to Jeffery on Monday. Next up is Johnson, more accomplished than either.

“We’re excited to play against him as well. He’s the best receiver in the game — there’s no bigger challenge than that,. We’ll see what we’ve got,’’ said Walls, who couldn’t think of a wideout to compare

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to Johnson. “No one, really. He’s as big as any receiver, he’s as fast as any receiver. … I can’t compare him to anyone I’ve played before.’’

With size (6-foot-5, 239 pounds), speed (a 4.35 40-yard dash) and leaping ability, even Ryan couldn’t think of a comparable receiver.

“No,’’ Ryan said. “And I’m a football historian but I don’t think I’ve seen [anybody like him]. I’ve gone against him a couple times, but no. Brandon Marshall’s probably about as close as it gets, but [Johnson] is even a little bigger and a little faster.’’

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

NY Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg accepts blame for some — not all — of Geno Smith's miscues (Seth Walder) New York Daily News September 26, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-offensive-coordinator-marty-mornhinweg-accepts-blame-geno-smith-miscues-article-1.1953465

Marty Mornhinweg is preaching patience.

The offensive coordinator isn’t hiding from the fact that Geno Smith is scuffling — heck, he took blame for part of it — but thinks it is too soon to consider a move at the position. After Smith’s two costly interceptions in Monday’s 27-19 loss to the Bears, there have been some calls for the Jets to turn to backup Mike Vick.

“Oh no,” Mornhinweg said about whether he would consider starting Vick right now. “Look, we’re right in the middle of developing a young quarterback now.”

Mornhinweg, who is normally very cautious about revealing anything about the team, did not let Smith escape unscathed from his press conference Thursday without some criticism for the quarterback’s five turnovers in three games. The coordinator had expressed confidence before the season that Smith would take better care of the football, something that has not happened so far.

“This is an issue now. There’s no question about that. Good quarterbacks take care of the ball,” Mornhinweg said. “He simply has been too loose there.”

But he also pinned some of the blame for Monday on himself. Two games ago, Mornhinweg didn’t trust Smith enough to make an adjustment, which ultimately led to the timeout fiasco that erased a game-tying touchdown against the Packers. Facing the Bears he made another mistake: relying on Smith too much.

“I’m just simply putting too much on the young quarterback that’s developing, putting just a little bit too much on his plate there,” Mornhinweg said. “I’m talking specifically in the red zone. I just relied a little too much on him.”

Mornhinweg wouldn’t divulge exactly what he relied on Smith so heavily for, but it isn’t a good sign that Smith was in over his head in the red zone. Though only a second-year player, it’s also Smith’s second year in the system and he has been taking on increased responsibilities in the offense.

The Jets were a pathetic 1-for-6 on touchdowns in the red zone last week and will have to improve come Sunday against the Lions. Mornhinweg also criticized the effort of the team team’s run game – which otherwise has performed admirably this season — in the red zone.

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Mornhinweg also cautioned that even if a quarterback were to improve in his second season, he wouldn’t be perfect.

“To be great in many cases you’ve got to go through some failures,” Mornhinweg said, “and sometimes it’s on Monday night.”

Mornhinweg wasn’t alone in not wanting to overreact to the two-pick performance against Chicago: earlier in the week Rex Ryan offered public support for the young quarterback on two separate occasions. Smith himself said he does not believe he is on the hot seat.

The coordinator, facing the team this week that he once coached, is still optimistic on Smith.

“When you go through a little dip you’ve got to motor through it now,” Mornhinweg said. “Listen, Geno’s going to be just fine.”

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NY Jets must protect Eric Decker and his hamstring by being in caution mode (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News September 26, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-protect-eric-decker-hamstring-caution-mode-article-1.1953450

Eric Decker did very little in practice Thursday, which was about as surprising as discovering a dart board with a picture of Bill Belichick as the bull’s-eye in the Jets’ coaching offices a few years ago (really).

Decker, after all, is still dealing with a hamstring injury after the Jets’ brain trust trotted him out there in the Jets’ loss to the Bears on Monday. Decker predictably didn’t last long. He played a grand total of 12 snaps, hauling in one catch for 19 yards, before calling it a night.

“If I sat out, would it be better today?” Decker said on Thursday. “I don’t know. But I do know that I wasn’t going to push it past the point where I’m going to make it worse.”

Decker maintained that he didn’t suffer a setback, but he missed practice Wednesday and did light individual work that included no change-of-direction work beyond 15 yards on Thursday.

Decker is wired like most good players who want to fight through annoying injuries to help, but the Jets should protect their wide receiver from himself and rest him for at least another week. The potential short-term gain by playing him against the Lions doesn’t warrant the potential long-term risk of missing a few weeks.

Rex Ryan said he was “hopeful” that the team’s top free-agent signing this offseason will be ready. Decker didn’t make any promises, but plans to be out there this weekend.

The organization already erred by rushing back Dee Milliner from a high ankle sprain a couple weeks ago. The team’s top cornerback pulled himself out of that game in Week 2 and is now dealing with a quad injury that will likely keep him on the shelf for a second consecutive game.

The Jets can’t afford for Decker to aggravate his hamstring and miss extended time. Playing Decker against the Bears was a mistake even if Ryan maintains that he has no regrets.

“It’s easy to look back now and (say), ‘Oh, he tweaked his hamstring again,’ ” Ryan said. “Let’s see how it affects him moving forward. If he was out for five weeks, then absolutely you’d regret it. But I don’t think that’s going to be the case.”

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Ryan, of course, doesn’t know. Nobody, including Decker, truly knows how much time, if any, he’ll miss. Hamstrings have derailed plenty of players’ seasons in the past. They’re silent killers in the NFL. They linger.

Although Decker, who expects to practice Friday, is right that nobody knows his body better than he does, he has no history of dealing with the most maddening soft-tissue injury of them all. Hamstrings pull, catch and tighten without warning.

Decker initially suffered the injury in training camp, which prompted him to miss the second preseason game against the Bengals. He aggravated it in Week 2 at Lambeau Field before admitting that the issue had lingered for the better part of a month.

He missed three consecutive practices last week before participating in a limited fashion last Saturday. The cautious approach — giving him Monday night off — would have been the wisest one, but Decker convinced the decision-makers that he was ready to go.

The Jets should have waited until Decker was 100% healed rather than adopt a limited-play time plan that didn’t make much sense. The best prescription would have been rest.

“As a competitor,” Decker said, “it’s hard to be out.”

Decker has only missed one game due to injury in his five-year career — a sprained MCL kept him out of the Broncos’ 2011 divisional playoff loss to the Patriots — so the Jets should have expected that he’d lobby to play in his first prime-time game with his new team.

To complicate matters, he has a short week to prepare for the Lions.

Decker was effective in the first two games with nine receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown, but Ryan & Co. need to resist the urge to play him unless he’s running without restrictions.

Geno Smith, frankly, needs him.

The temptation to play Decker against the Lions is great for an offense lacking playmakers, but the long-term risk far outweighs the reward.

He belonged on the sidelines on Monday night.

He might belong there again on Sunday.

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NY Jets' Willie Colon is set for Lions’ guy named Ndamukong Suh (Seth Walder) New York Daily News September 25, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-willie-colon-set-lions-guy-named-ndamukong-suh-article-1.1953468

Willie Colon is gearing up for a battle with a heavyweight.

The Jets right guard is expecting Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to line up over him on most snaps in Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium, which should set up for quite a show.

“I’m never going to back down from a fight,” Colon said. “I’m pretty sure he’s the same way, and we’ll handle all that Sunday.”

“He’s a menace,” Colon added. “It’s going to be a war.”

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Suh’s reputation precedes him, and Colon has been known to be a hothead when blocking in the trenches. The guard sarcastically described his personality as “docile, calm, collected” on Thursday.

Along with Nick Fairley and Ziggy Ansah, who pose a threat as well, Suh is just one of the players the Jets’ offensive line is going to have to control. “(They are) probably one of the best defenses that we’ll play all year and they’re doing it at a high level and we’ve got to bring it,” Colon said

PAINTED INTO A CORNER

Antonio Allen’s move to cornerback was initially just an experiment, but now it looks like the former safety has a new home. The Jets (1-2) moved him in training camp after several injuries, and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said Allen will remain at cornerback for the rest of the season.

“I don’t see how we can go back,” Thurman said. “That’s when you get in trouble, when you start taking a guy and saying, ‘OK, you’re at safety, now we’re going to move you to corner. Oh, now let’s move you back.’ We can’t do that to him.”

STAYING POSITIVE

Eric Decker (hamstring) ran some routes in positional drills in practice Thursday, but was listed as a non-participant in practice. Rex Ryan offered little about Decker’s status for Sunday against Detroit, but the wideout is confident he’ll play.

“I’m planning on getting out there,” Decker said. “I can’t promise anything, but obviously I’m leaning on the positive side that I'm definitely going to be out there.”

. . . It sounds like CB Dee Milliner (quad) will likely miss another game. “I’d say it probably doesn’t look real good,” Ryan said. Milliner has played in only one game so far this season (at Green Bay) and had to leave early due to tightness in his left ankle. . . . Lions WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) did not practice for the second day in a row. His status is unclear, and if he were to miss the game, it would be a huge break for the Jets. . . . C Dalton Freeman suffered a knee injury in practice, Ryan said.

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NJ ADVANCED MEDIA

Chris Johnson wants more carries for himself and Chris Ivory, but grasps why that hasn't happened (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/chris_johnson_wants_more_carries_for_himself_and_chris_ivory_but_understands_why_that_hasnt_happened.html

FLORHAM PARK – Chris Johnson is used to carrying the ball about 17 times per game. Over his final three seasons in Tennessee, that is the number of carries he averaged. He knew he probably would not average that many carries this season with the Jets. But he expected more than what he’s gotten through three games – 13, 12 and 10 carries.

Not that the Jets’ other primary running back, Chris Ivory, is getting many more. Ivory has 33 carries to Johnson’s 35. Ivory’s per game carry totals: 10, 13 and 10.

The Jets have actually run the ball quite well this season. They are averaging 157.3 rushing yards per game, second in the NFL, largely because they ran for 212 in the opener against the Raiders. This week, the Jets face a Lions defense that ranks second in the league in rushing defense (63.7 yards per game allowed),

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behind only the Jets, but is lacking middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, who is out for the year with a knee injury.

It’s not like the Jets haven’t run the ball at all this year. They rank fourth in the NFL in rushing attempts, with 97, compared to 104 passing attempts. Last year, they ran the ball 13 more times than they threw it. So they are still basically a 50/50 run/pass team.

While Johnson would like to see more opportunities for him and Ivory to carry the ball, he understands why it hasn’t happened.

The Jets ran 34 times against the Raiders – 10 by quarterback Geno Smith, who has 20 total runs this year – while passing 29 times. But the Jets led that game from the very end of the first half on.

In the Week 2 loss at Green Bay, the Jets ran 22 times in the first half and passed 14. They led 21-16 at halftime, after being up 21-3 early in the second quarter. The game tightened in the second half, when the Jets lost their best receiver, Eric Decker, to a hamstring injury, which let the Packers stack the box to stop the run. In the second half at Green Bay, the Jets ran the ball 15 times and threw it 18 times.

The Jets played from behind the entire game in Monday night’s loss to Chicago. They trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, 17-6 in the second, 17-13 at halftime and 24-13 early in the third quarter. Their first-half run/pass split was 13/21. In the second half, it was 13/22. Ivory and Johnson both ended the game with 10 carries.

“Of course we want to run the ball more times and get into where we run the ball 35, 40 times a game and give us both the opportunity to get a chance to run the ball hard,” Johnson said of himself and Ivory. “I know we both envisioned probably getting more carries, not just us both getting 10, 12 apiece. Probably more than that. A lot of times, you’ve got to go how the game goes, and we’ve been put in situations where we’ve had to throw the ball.”

Through three games, Johnson has not been incredibly productive. He is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, with a long of 11. Ivory is averaging 5.7, but if you take out his 71-yard touchdown run, he is averaging 3.7 yards on his other carries.

Johnson was asked if there is anything he can do better to gain more yards.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “It’s just a situation where we need more opportunities, and I feel like the more opportunities – not just for myself, but Chris, too – we’ll get back to where we were in preseason. It’s just the game situations that we’re in. We’re not getting a chance to actually do it. We’re not getting the opportunity for him to get 20 touches and me to get 20 touches and just get the running game going. If we’ve got a lead or the ball game is close, I think it’ll be an opportunity to do what the coaches want to do, and that’s actually pound the football.”

Johnson said it is “not the game plan” for him and Johnson to each get just 10 to 12 carries per game.

“The game plan is for us to run the ball a lot,” Johnson said, though he noted that in-game adjustments are required every Sunday.

On the Jets’ final drive against the Bears, they didn’t run the ball once when they reached the red zone. Geno Smith threw a 1-yard pass, an incomplete pass that did not officially count because of a holding penalty on the Bears, another incomplete pass, a 5-yard pass and two incomplete passes to close out the drive.

Six snaps, six passes, even though the Jets had two timeouts remaining when they reached the red zone and had first-and-10 on the 20 with 1:41 remaining. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said

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Thursday that he was displeased with how the Jets had run the ball in the red zone earlier in the game, but he also believes he probably relied too much on Smith in the red zone.

Still, Johnson has no plans to approach Mornhinweg about wanting to see the Jets run the ball more. He figures it will happen eventually.

“It’s still early,” Johnson said. “I know what Marty wants to do, and I know what this offense wants to do. We want to run the ball. I don’t think it’s time right now to go in there and talk to Marty and try to tell him what he needs to do.”

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Jets won't say whether Jalen Saunders will return punts again Sunday (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/jets_wont_say_whether_jalen_saunders_will_return_punts_sunday.html

FLORHAM PARK -- After he muffed one during the first quarter of Monday night's loss to the Bears, Jets rookie receiver Jalen Saunders was not used as a punt returner for the rest of the game.

On Thursday, head coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey declined to say whether Saunders would be back to returning punts on Sunday against the Lions.

"That's yet to be determined," Ryan said.

Veteran wideout Jeremy Kerley replaced Saunders as the return man on two subsequent punts against the Bears. McGaughey also floated wideout Walter Powell as an option.

"[Saunders] has a job to do, and his job is to catch the ball and make a play," McGaughey said. "But the first thing he has to do is catch the ball."

Saunders, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, fumbled near midfield after the Jets had pinned the Bears deep inside their own territory on Chicago's first possession. Thanks in no small part to a 33-yard pass interference on the next play from scrimmage, the Bears scored a touchdown three plays later to stake a 14-0 just five minutes into the game.

Saunders had mistakenly tried to catch the ball away from his body, as you can see in the photo above.

"He didn’t take an extra step," McGaughey said. "He’s trying to squat to catch the ball and you never want to squat to catch the ball. That’s kind of a returner faux pas, so to speak. You don’t ever want to let the ball get below your chest because it’s gaining momentum the closer it gets to the ground, so it’s a harder catch."

Saunders did play six offensive snaps against the Bears—his first offensive snaps of the season. He's averaging 4.3 yards on six punt returns this season, plus five fair catches.

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Eric Decker, Nick Mangold, Muhammad Wilkerson return to Jets practice; Dee Milliner still sits (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/eric_decker_nick_mangold_muhammad_wilkerson_return_to_jets_practice_dee_milliner_still_sits.html

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FLORHAM PARK -- A quick rundown of which injured Jets did what during the 30 minutes of Thursday's practice that was open to reporters. The Jets practiced indoors because it was raining:

• Wide receiver Eric Decker (hamstring) began practice in the rehab area but later joined his teammates for positional drills. While every other Jets player wore shorts, Decker was in track pants, no doubt to keep his aching warmer to prevent it from tightening up again. Decker had not practiced Wednesday. During drills on Thursday, he seemed to be moving with no noticeable difficulty.

• Cornerback Dee Milliner remained in the trainers' area and did not partake in positional drills. Milliner, who had a sustained a high ankle sprain during training camp, is now nursing a quadricep injury that caused him to miss Monday night's loss to the Bears.

• Wide receiver David Nelson, who did not practice Wednesday because of an illness, was not seen at practice Thursday, either.

• Center Nick Mangold (shoulder) did not go to the trainers' area Thursday and was in positional drills. Mangold had not practiced Wednesday, but he also didn't seem to be concerned about missing Sunday's game against the Lions.

• Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (knee bruise) and running back Chris Johnson (ankle) began practice in the rehab area before joining positional drills. Like Mangold, Wilkerson did not practice Wednesday but also seemed confident he'd be good to go come Sunday. Johnson had been a full practice participant on Wednesday.

• Right guard Willie Colon (calf) did positional drills after being limited at practice on Wednesday.

The Jets will release an official injury report later Thursday, and head coach Rex Ryan is expected to address the media at 2 p.m.

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Detroit Lions: A quick scouting report on the Jets' Week 4 opponent (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/jets-lions_out-of-town_links_here_comes_a_team_that_shut_down_the_packers.html

FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets have little time to get over the frustration of Monday night's loss to the Bears, when they moved the ball up and down the field and mostly played good defense, but still lost, primarily because of a rash of turnovers.

Up next are the Detroit Lions, who visit MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with kickoff at 1 p.m. Superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson gets much of the attention, but, as you'll see below, the Lions' defense has had much to do with their two wins in their first three games.

Last week, at home against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers—who had punched the Jets with 346 passing yards a week earlier, the Lions gave up just 162 yards passing. But the week before, in their lone road game—and lone loss—Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted a quarterback rating of 100.2 against them. So they're not invincible.

Some more quick details on the Lions:

Head coach: Jim Caldwell (first season; 28-23 career record)

2014 results (2-1):

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Giants, 35-14 (W)

at Panthers, 7-24 (L)

Packers, 19-7 (W)

Offense (NFL rank):

• Points: 20.3 (22nd)

• Total yards: 364.3 (11th)

• Passing yards: 277.3 (6th)

• Rushing yards: 87.0 (25th)

• Giveaways: 6 (26th)

• Offensive DVOA (per Pro Football Outsiders): 0.7% (17th)

Defense:

• Points: 15.0 (2nd)

• Total yards: 244.3 (2nd)

• Passing yards: 180.7 (3rd)

• Rushing yards: 63.7 (2nd)

• Takeaways: 3 (18th)

• Defensive DVOA (per Pro Football Outsiders): -24.7% (2nd)

Key players:

• QB Matt Stafford: 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 883 yards, 62.3% completions

• WR Calvin Johnson: 19 catches, 329 yards, 2 TDs

• DE Ezekiel Ansah: 7 tackles, 1 sack, 5 QB hits

• OLB DeAndre Levy: 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 3 passes defensed

• DT Ndamukong Suh: 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss,

• CB Darius Slay: 13 tackles, 4 passes defensed

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Eric Decker expects to play for Jets against Lions, but ... (Dom Coesntino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/eric_decker_expects_to_play_for_jets_against_lions_but.html

FLORHAM PARK -- Jets receiver Eric Decker did some positional drills at practice Thursday, but he will officially be listed as having not practiced because of the hamstring injury that's been bugging him for nearly two weeks.

After practice, Decker said the hamstring felt better than it did last week and earlier this week. He said he expects to practice Friday, and he's hopeful he can play Sunday, when the Jets host the Lions.

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Decker's just not certain he'll ready to play against Detroit.

"I'm planning on getting out there," Decker said. "I can't promise anything, but obviously, I'm leaning on the positive side that I'm definitely going to be out there.

Decker, who injured the hamstring during training camp then re-aggravated it Sept. 14 against the Packers, played 12 snaps and caught one pass in Monday night's loss to the Bears after testing the hamstring on the field a few hours before kickoff. He had no regrets about having played.

"I knew I wasn't going to play the whole game," he said. "I knew I could do a little bit at least to help. I just took myself out ... so nothing could be worse."

Decker had he had never had a soft-tissue type injury like this before he initially hurt the hamstring last month.

"For me, it's just kind of feeling it out, pushing it to the point where—I know my body well enough, where, OK, that's good pain, that's bad pain," he said. "Just being smart about it. But, I feel, overall, I feel we've done a good job with just progressing."

Is Decker concerned at all about waiting until he's 100 percent, so he won't be battling the hamstring issue for the rest of the season?

"Of course," he said. "I could have said that about [Monday night's game]. If I sat out, would it be better today? I don't know. But I do know that I wasn't going to push it past the point where I'm going to make it worse. When I woke up Tuesday morning, I didn't feel worse than I felt Monday after the Green Bay game. So I knew I was smart about it.

"I'm just going to gauge how I feel. If I can mentally get through the game, and feel OK, then I'm going to do that."

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Willie Colon on facing Ndamukong Suh: 'I'll never back down from a fight' (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/willie_colon_on_facing_ndamukong_suh.html

FLORHAM PARK – Since entering the NFL in 2010, as the second overall draft pick that year, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has developed a reputation for borderline dirty – and sometimes not-so-borderline dirty – play.

(Check out a compilation of Suh’s actions at the bottom of this post.)

When it was pointed out to Jets right guard Willie Colon on Thursday that Suh tend to play chippy at times, Colon smiled knowingly.

“Really?” he said.

Colon, meanwhile, has developed a reputation over his nine-year career as …

“Docile, calm, collected,” Colon said, finishing the sentence in sarcastic fashion, because he is, of course, none of these things during games.

The matchup of two feisty personalities makes Sunday’s meeting of Suh and Colon, in the Lions-Jets Week 4 contest, all the more intriguing.

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“I’ll never back down from a fight,” Colon said. “I’m pretty sure he’s the same way. And we’ll handle all that Sunday.

“He’s probably one of the best guys in the league doing it, playing at a very high level. He’s a menace. I know the type of power he has. It’s going to be a war. He’s just a load. He’s a powerful guy. He just brings it. He’s a dominant ball player and you’ve got to respect it.”

Colon said the Lions move Suh all over their defensive line, but predominantly play him over the right guard, which means Colon and center Nick Mangold will have their hands full on Sunday. Suh has 28½ sacks in his career, including 5½ last year and one in three games this year. Suh is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All Pro (as a rookie and last year).

The Lions this season lead the NFL in total defense and are second behind the Jets in rushing defense. Colon called the Lions “probably one of the best defenses we’re going to play all year.”

Suh has faced the Jets once before, as a rookie in 2010. He finished that game with one quarterback hurry and just three tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, which gave him a minus-0.2 rating for the game, including minus-1.4 on pass rush. Mangold graded out at plus-2.1 that day, while right guard Brandon Moore got a minus-1.7, largely because of his run-blocking struggles. Mangold allowed no hurries in that game, on his way to being named a first-team All Pro for the second straight year.

Colon has never matched up against Suh, because Colon’s previous team, the Steelers, played the Lions in 2009 and 2013 – the year before Suh entered the league, and then in Colon’s first season with the Jets, last year.

As Mangold analyzed film of Suh this week, he noticed some differences from the rookie he faced in 2010.

“He seems focused,” Mangold said. “Before, it always seemed like he was just going a million miles an hour with no direction. Now that he’s got some experience under his belt, he now seems to have a much more concise plan, which I think makes him even more dangerous.”

Compounding matters for the Jets’ interior offensive line of Mangold, Colon and second-year left guard Brian Winters (who has yet to prove himself as a consistently successful NFL starter) is the fact that the Lions pair Suh with defensive tackle Nick Fairley. That is a lot of athleticism and size – Suh at 6-4 and 305 pounds, Fairley at 6-4 and 308 – for the Jets to handle. Colon said he sees many similarities between Suh and Fairley.

“Same type of guy, explosive,” Colon said. “I think (Fairley) doesn’t get enough credit. He’s very active. He’s a load. Both of those guys are monsters in the middle and deserve all the credit.”

These are not just two space-hogging defensive tackles, either. Fairley, a fourth-year pro, has 11½ sacks in his 28 games played over the past two years. The combination of size, strength and speed that both Suh and Fairley possess is a challenge for the Jets’ line.

“A lot of times, tackles will have two of those, but when you get all three, especially in two guys, it’s difficult,” Mangold said. “It’s tough to try to help out (in blocking). Usually, you have one guy who you can try to help on, but when you have two, it makes it tricky.”

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Jets-Lions injury report: Calvin Johnson does not practice for second straight day (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/jets-lions_injury_report_calvin_johnson_does_not_practice_for_second_straight_day.html

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FLORHAM PARK -- Calvin Johnson's ankle injury may be more serious than anyone imagined.

The Lions' star receiver did not practice for the second day in a row, which means his status will remain a storyline between now and Sunday's game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.

"Anytime that someone doesn't practice, and in particular when it's not just a day of rest, which we would indicate on the medical report, there's always some concern [he won't play]," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said, per MLive.com.

Johnson, who was injured during Sunday's win over the Packers, did tell MLive.com he hopes he can play Sunday.

Also on the Lions' injury report, safety Don Carey (hamstring), linebacker Travis Lewis (quad), and cornerback Cassius Vaughn (ankle) did not practice. The same was true of tight end Joseph Fauria, who injured an ankle at home Wednesday night.

"One of those innocent things, I guess, around the house," Caldwell said, per MLive.com. "Ended up misstepping and twisting his ankle."

Fauria has three catches for 49 yards this season. He's scheduled to undergo an MRI.

Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (biceps), fullback Montell Owens (hamstring), and tackle LaAdrian Waddle (calf) were limited. Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (knee), running back Joique Bell (knee), safety James Ihedigbo (neck), and defensive end George Johnson (groin) were full practice participants.

For the Jets, wide receiver Eric Decker (hamstring), cornerback Dee Milliner (quad), and wide receiver David Nelson (illness) all did not practice for a second straight day, though Decker did do some position drills during the brief portion of practice reporters were permitted to watch. Right guard Willie Colon (calf), center Nick Mangold (shoulder), and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (knee) were limited, and running back Chris Johnson (ankle) practiced in full.

Decker said after practice he hopes he can play Sunday.

Also for the Jets, backup center Dalton Freeman injured a knee and was not able to finish practice. Head coach Rex Ryan did not know the severity of the injury. Freeman is the only center on the roster behind Mangold, but Ryan said Colon and rookie guard/tackle Dakota Dozier could be called upon to play center if need be.

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Marty Mornhinweg: Geno Smith will 'be just fine,' but 'has been too loose' with taking care of ball (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/geno_smith_will_be_just_fine_says_marty_mornhinweg_but_he_has_been_too_loose_with_taking_care_of_bal.html

FLORHAM PARK – Marty Mornhinweg, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, stood by second-year quarterback Geno Smith on Thursday. But he made it clear that Smith must stop turning the ball over so much, and making foolish, game-changing decisions.

Through three games this season, the Jets are 1-2 and Smith has completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 237.7 yards per game, but also has four interceptions and a lost fumble, compared to three touchdown passes and a touchdown run.

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Through 19 career NFL games, Smith now has 25 interceptions and 30 turnovers. In Monday night’s loss to the Bears, he threw a pick six and an interception into the end zone on first-and-10 from the Bears’ 18, on a forced, off-balance throw – the sort of bad choice that plagued him last year as a rookie. Smith now has eight career multi-interception games. The Jets are 1-7 in those games.

But at this point, three games into Year 2, entering an important home game Sunday against the Lions, Mornhinweg is not considering replacing Smith with Michael Vick. Nor should he be considering this. Jets coach Rex Ryan also didn't want to go there on Wednesday.

“Oh, no,” Mornhinweg said of considering replacing Smith with Vick. “Look, we’re right in the middle of developing a young quarterback. I did that (benched Smith in favor of Matt Simms) last year for a half. Look it, we’re over that now. We’re moving. We’ve discussed this. We’re going to go through some ups and downs now. When you go through a little dip, you’ve got to motor through it, and you’ve got to be pretty tough mentally.”

Mornhinweg understands the Jets want to win games while helping Smith progress. But, he insisted, “We need to develop Geno. Listen, Geno is going to be just fine. To be great in many cases, you’ve got to go through some failures.”

All summer, the Jets’ coaches talked about how they believed Smith had moved on from his turnover problems of 2013. So far in 2014, they are still hamstringing him and this team. Mornhinweg did not deny that reality Thursday.

“This is an issue now,” Mornhinweg said. “There’s no question about that. Good quarterbacks take care of the ball. Great quarterbacks are going to have some bad games, but consistently take care of the football. We have discussed that and we emphasize it daily. He simply has been too loose there. It’s that simple. That needs to be corrected. Geno is a tough, tough guy mentally now. So I suspect that he’ll continue a little progression there and get better at that.”

The Jets were terrible in the red zone against the Bears, scoring a touchdown on just one of six trips inside the Bears’ 20. On the other five, they settled for three field goals, had Smith’s pick and turned the ball over on downs during their final possession of the night.

Part of the Jets’ problems in the red zone stemmed from how poorly they ran the ball, Mornhinweg said. But Mornhinweg also blamed himself for the red-zone issues, saying he relied too much on Smith in that area of the field – a telling sign that Mornhinweg is still waiting for Smith to blossom into a fully capable NFL starting quarterback.

“I’ve got to do a better job, certainly in the red zone,” Mornhinweg said. “Man alive. Certainly, knowing the outcome, I would have done it a little bit differently. I’m just simply putting too much on the young quarterback that is developing, putting just a little bit too much on his plate there (in the red zone). I just relied a little too much on him. There will be a time, hopefully very quickly, where we can do that. But that game, I thought, looking back on it, that I put just a little too much on his plate there, and I could’ve helped him a couple different ways. I’ve got to do a better job there.

“Ninety percent of that game, he played beautifully. There were a handful of plays where it was simply he tried to do too much. That (pick into the end zone) was one of those plays. It’s just that simple. You’ll get away with that one out of 15 times, let’s say. The other 14 times, bad stuff happens. We just have to get that squared away. I have great confidence in Geno. Maybe I had a little too much confidence that last week and put a little too much on his plate.”

Here is a look at what happened on every play the Jets ran in the red zone Monday:

FIRST TRIP

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1-10-16: Chris Ivory run for 1 yard

2-9-15: Smith takes sack for loss of 13 yards

3-22-28: Smith passes to Jeff Cumberland for 3 yards

4-19-25: Nick Folk kicks 43-yard field goal

SECOND TRIP

1-10-15: Ivory run for 2 yards

2-9-14: Smith passes to Cumberland for 4 yards

3-5-10: Smith incomplete pass for Cumberland

4-5-10: Folk kicks a 28-yard field goal

THIRD TRIP

3-5-19: Smith hits Jeremy Kerley for a 19-yard touchdown pass

FOURTH TRIP

1-10-18: Smith throws interception into the end zone

FIFTH TRIP

1-G-10: Ivory stopped for no gain

2-G-10: Smith passes to Ivory for 8 yards

3-6-2: Smith runs a draw up the middle, loses 2 yards

4-6-4: Folk kicks a 22-yard field goal

SIXTH TRIP

1-10-20: Smith passes to Bilal Powell for 1 yard

2-9-19: Smith throws an incomplete pass, Bears called for defensive hold, no play

1-10-14: Smith throws incomplete pass for Greg Salas

2-10-14: Smith passes to Powell for 5 yards

3-5-9: Smith throws incomplete pass for David Nelson

4-5-9: Smith throws incomplete pass for Kerley

So you can see what Mornhinweg’s point was about running in the red zone. The Jets led off three of their six trips with runs of zero, 1 and 2 yards. Smith, meanwhile, was 6-of-11 passing in the red zone for 40 yards, with a 19-yard touchdown and the pick. He also took that big sack for a loss of 13 and lost 2 yards on the draw run.

Those sorts of plays – the pick and the sack – are things Smith simply cannot do in the red zone. Mornhinweg knows it will take time for Smith to fully move past these problems. But at some point this season, Smith needs to show the Jets he is capable of quarterbacking them into the future, by significantly limiting his poor decisions. If not, they will have to reconsider whether they want to replace him.

“We’re right in the middle of that process, that learning curve,” Mornhinweg said. “We all want it now – now. But we just have to step back, look at the big picture, and we’re going to go through some ups and downs. He’ll have some fabulous games where he does the right thing. Look it, even the great

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quarterbacks are going to have a (bad) play or two, but it’s incomplete and it doesn’t blow up. That’s where we have to focus in on, that part of it, minimize the negative plays.”

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Rex Ryan not optimistic Dee Milliner will be able to play for Jets Sunday (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media September 25, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/rex_ryan_not_optimistic_dee_milliner_will_be_able_to_play_for_jets_sunday.html

FLORHAM PARK -- After Jets cornerback Dee Milliner did not practice again on Thursday because of a quad injury, head coach Rex Ryan signaled it was unlikely Milliner would be able to play Sunday against the Lions.

"He wasn't good enough o practice today," Ryan said, "so I'd say it probably doesn't look real good."

Milliner, a starter, last played against the Packers Sept. 14, when he pulled himself out of the game in the third quarter after experiencing some tightness in his left ankle, which he had sprained during training camp.

After being limited at practice early last week because of the ankle, Milliner developed the quad injury and did not practice Friday or Saturday. He also did not play in Monday night's loss to the Bears. Antonio Allen and Darrin Walls have been the Jets' starting corners since the beginning of the regular season.

Milliner, who battled injuries as a rookie early last season, told reporters on Wednesday he's frustrated by all the time he's missing.

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ESPN NEW YORK

Willie Colon on Suh: 'One of the best' (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 25, 2014

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/11588791/willie-colon-new-york-jets-said-ready-challenge-ndamukong-suh-detroit-lions?ex_cid=espnapi_public

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets guard Willie Colon, a heavily penalized player known for his chippy style, claimed Thursday he's ready for a 60-minute brawl with Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, whom he described as a "menace."

"I'll never back down from a fight," Colon said. "I'm pretty sure he's the same way. We'll handle all that Sunday."

Suh, who has accumulated more than $170,000 in fines in his career, was voted the dirtiest player in the NFL last year in a player survey conducted by the Sporting News.

Colon is no wallflower, either. He led the Jets in penalties last year -- he was ejected from one game for making contact with an official during a melee -- and he already has four penalties this season. The Bronx native owns a 2008 Dodge Ram truck with 40-inch tires and a front bumper that says, "Bronx Bully."

Colon versus Suh won't be a pillow fight, that's for sure.

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"He's probably one of the best guys in the league doing it," said Colon, who faced Suh once before as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. "He's a menace. I've played against him. I know the type of power he has. It's going to be a war.

"He's a load. He's a powerful guy. He just brings it. He's a dominant ballplayer. You have to respect it. It'll be a great challenge for me, Nick (Mangold) and (Brian) Winters" -- the Jets' center and left guard, respectively.

Led by their front four, the Lions (2-1) lead the NFL in total defense, one spot ahead of the Jets (1-2). The Jets' offensive linemen believe this could be their toughest challenge of the season. The Lions have three former first-round picks on their defensive line -- Suh, tackle Nick Fairley and end Ezekiel Ansah.

"You look at them, up and down the board, they really get after the passer and can stop the run at the same time -- a deadline combination," Mangold said. "(Suh and Fairley) have a combination of size, speed and strength. A lot of times, tackles will have two of those. When you have all three, it makes them different."

Colon said Suh and Fairley are "monsters in the middle." Fairley could be a major problem for Winters, who has struggled at times.

On Wednesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan compared Suh to Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Right tackle Breno Giacomini acknowledged the talent on the Lions' defensive line, but he wasn't about to concede anything.

"It's not about them, it's about us," Giacomini said. "If we beat them to the technique, we win."

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METRO NEW YORK

Eric Decker making progress in attempt to return from hamstring injury (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 25, 2014

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nfl/2014/09/25/eric-decker-making-progress-attempt-return-hamstring-injury/

Jets wide receiver Eric Decker was limited in practice on Thursday, a sign that perhaps his injured hamstring is finally getting better.

Decker, who left the Jets’ Monday night loss in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday but on Thursday he did some drills with the wide receivers. His return would be a huge boost for a rather ordinary passing offense.

Decker said “today felt better than yesterday” and seemed optimistic about playing Sunday night against the Lions.

“It felt good. It felt a lot better than last week. Felt a lot better than the beginning of this week,” Decker said. “I’m happy with my progression, happy with where I’m at right now. I’m planning on getting out there [Sunday]. I can’t promise anything but obviously I’m being on the positive side. I’ll be out there.”

He leads the team in receptions and receiving yards despite being hampered by the hamstring injury.

The not-so-encouraging news is about Dee Milliner, who did not practice on Thursday and head coach Rex Ryan sounded less than optimistic his top cornerback will play this weekend.

Milliner suffered a high ankle sprain that kept him out of three preseason games and the season opener against the Raiders. He played Week 2 at the Packers, but did not perform well, perhaps showing rust or

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perhaps showing his ankle injury wasn’t fully healed. Then that following week, the bad news brigade rolled on as he pulled his right quadriceps while running in practice. He was held out of the Monday night loss to the Bears and appears destined for yet another missed game this week.

The injury list got a bit longer on Thursday as center Dalton Freeman left practice early with a knee injury, according to head coach Rex Ryan. Freeman is the backup behind Nick Mangold.

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THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRASACTIONS

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Thursday-s-Sports-Transactions-5781412.php

BASEBALL

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Named Dave Stewart vice president and general manager and De Jon Watson senior vice president/baseball operations.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Added F Michael Beasley, G Patrick Christopher, G Luke Hancock, G Kalin Lucas, F Earl Clark and C Hassan Whiteside to their training camp roster.

SACRAMENTO KINGS_Waived G/F Alonzo Gee.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

CHICAGO BEARS — Signed LB Darryl Sharpton to a one-year contract. Reached an injury settlement with FB Tony Fiammetta.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

ARIZONA COYOTES — Sent G Brendan Burke and G Marek Langhamer to Medicine Hat (WHL); C Greg Carey, D Justin Hache, D Mark Louis, D James Melindy, D Patrick McNeill, D Evan Oberg and F Eric Selleck Portland (AHL).

NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Agreed to terms with D Ryan Ellis.

ECHL

UTAH GRIZZLIES — Signed D Marc Cantin.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

MLS — Suspended Chicago Fire MF Bakary Soumare for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for endangering the safety of an opponent.

COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON — Named Quinton Ferrell men's assistant basketball coach.

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CULVER-STOCKTON — Named Alan King cross country and track and field coach.

LA SALLE — Named Ken Slough athletic services manager.

SAINT JOSEPH'S — Named Colleen Dawson, Katie Gallagher, and Becky Lynch women's assistant lacrosse coaches.

SOUTH CAROLINA — Named Carl Paulson men's volunteer golf coach.

ST. ROSE — Named Jim Morrissey men's lacrosse coach.