Danny Woodhead en route to a TD in the last preseason game.

In today’s NFL, it’s not often that you hear many positive and uplifting stories. The news is often cluttered with Revi$$$$$ and his holdout, Big Ben illegally touching young women, substance abuse, etc etc. But there are certain aspects of the NFL that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Like when a player who with virtually no shot on the roster continually impresses and earns a spot on the team. Not by fame or luck, but by work ethic. Danny Woodhead is such a player. And while it still remains to be seen whether Woodhead will make this season’s 53 man roster, although many reports say he will, he has definitely been an inspiration along the way.

Listed at 5’6″ and a GENEROUS 200 pounds, Danny Woodhead doesn’t resemble the physical makeup of today’s NFL running backs such as Thomas Jones, but he does have the heart necessary to make it in this league. The kid didn’t even get a D-1 scholarship coming out of high school, his only offer was to walk on as a kick returner at Nebraska. He reminds me a ton of NYJ starting safety Jim Leonhard, who was also a non-scholarship player out of high school and an undrafted free agent. I don’t know that Danny will ever have the impact on the Jets that Leonhard can, but I believe that Woodhead can contribute not only on special teams this season, but on offense as well if given the opportunity. Hell, I’d much rather have him taking hand offs then the wasted draft pick Joe McKnight. McKnight is another issue, which I won’t even get into right now, as I feel he’s just a lazy piece of wasted talent.

I guess all I’m saying here is Danny Woodhead can straight up ball. If he makes the 53 man roster (Which he will), I’ll have a Danny Woodhead JJF t-shirt made for you readers!

Here’s a little tribute video to D.Wood from last years preseason. Warning, the music sucks, I’d mute it.

FB Jason Davis couldn't survive the last round of cuts.. Best of luck to him.

After yesterdays final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jets are finalizing the roster by cutting it down to 53 men. So far the players who have been cut are: (via Manish Mehta)

Fullback Jason Davis is the first to get the ax this morning, according to a source. Not a big surprise after Rex Ryan said he’d keep veteran Tony Richardson and rookie John Conner. Davis, who was solid in the offseason, will surely land on his feet on another team.

Wide Receiver Larry Taylor was also cut, according to a source. Taylor, of course, was battling David Clowney for the final WR spot. Although I haven’t received official word yet, it appears now that Clowney will make the roster. The coaches believe he can be a solid gunner on special teams with his size and speed. Again, it’s not official yet. But all signs point in that direction right now.

Rex Ryan said last night that rookie LB Josh Mauga & S Don Warren weren’t going to make the roster. Both had been plagued by concussions in camp and the preseason.

LB Brashton Satele, who was injured for much of camp and preseason, was cut, per a source.

A few more predictable cuts, per sources: LB Tim Knicky, C Robby Felix and safety Emanuel Cook, who had an INT last night, and recently signed safety Keith Fitzhugh also got the ax.

Source tells me that DTs Martin Tevaseu and DT Ty Steinkuhler are goners too.

LB Boris Lee and DE Jason Lamb were just informed that they’ve been waived.

OL Chet Teofilo (who?!) has been confirmed as a cut as well.

Just confirmed that LB Ricky Foley, a former CFL standout that was claimed off waivers from Seattle this week, was let go.

That makes 15 cuts thus far. Jets need to make six more to get down the appropriate number. They will have 53 players plus Holmes.

John Connor is going to be a stud in this league. I don’t care that the fullback position is outdated in today’s NFL, I don’t care that he’s too reckless with his body, I don’t care about any of it. John Connor is going to be fun to watch for years to come.

UPDATE: I couldn’t just sit here and not provide Jets Fans with an awesome shirt to commemorate our new favorite player. I present to you, “Terminate and Destroy”. Click on the image below to go to the Jersey Jets Fan Apparel Shop. Get ‘em while they’re hot!!!

LT should be all smiles after showing flashes of brilliance this offseason.

Way back on May 26th, I started a new weekly segment every Wednesday called Who’s Hot, Who’s Not. Great idea, only problem was, I only did it that week. Well, it’s back this week and here to stay. It’ll definitely get interesting as the season starts. Once the season starts the Jersey Jets Fan will also add a “Goat of the Week”. Now, down to business, this weeks Who’s Hot and Who’s Not.

Who’s Hot- LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene

LT and Shonn have shown us this preseason that no matter what the situation at quarterback is, the Jets will be able to run the ball. The RB duo will be deadly this season. Shonn Greene is the type of back who can wear down a defense to the point where LT can step in and gash a big gainer. LT has answered some doubts this preseason breaking some long runs off, including a 43 yarder against the ‘Skins. I hated who we let Thomas Jones go this off-season but I don’t think were going to miss a beat this year. We will continue to be the #1 defense in the NFL and the #1 running team, the difference in an average season and a Super Bowl will lie on the play of Mark Sanchez.

Who’s Not- Kellen Clemens

It’s hard to remember for some folks, but there was a time when Kellen Clemens was the up and coming QB that was being set up to take over the reigns from Chad Pennington. Well Chad came and went, as did Brett Favre, and finally Mark Sanchez. Kellen Clemens had some opportunities here and there as a starter but never a serious run. It appeared this preseason that Kellen’s run as Jet might be over with the acquisition of Father Time Brunell, however, Kellen has taken a pay cut in order to stay with the team. I commend Kellen on taking a pay-cut and taking a big slice of humble pie as he is buried in the depth chart. You do have to feel for Clemens as he seems like a great guy and a good teammate. He just doesn’t have the skill set to ever be a starter in the NFL, in my opinion

Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated broke down the AFC East in his 2010 Division Preview. Without much surprise, the New York Jets are predicted as the winners of the division. Reiter has the Jets finishing the regular season with an 11-5 record while the Patriots and Dolphins win 9 each, and the abysmal Bills scrap up 3 wins. I’d say Reiter’s AFC East division prediction is pretty solid. The Jets and Dolphins are the top two contenders in the division in my eyes, with the Pats hanging on by the shoulder of Tom Brady.

The article is spot on in regards to our strengths and weaknesses. The Jet run game will be just as strong as last year if Shonn Greene can stay healthy. I’m also expecting BIG things from LaDainian Tomlinson. He still has gas left in the tank and the motivation and drive to make big time plays this year. Our biggest weakness will be Mark Sanchez, no doubt in my mind. He is a developing quarterback and his level of play is due to his maturity. I do believe Sanchize will one day be a top NFL QB, but not this year, he still has a ways to go. It was painful to watch Sanchez throw 12 TD’s and 20 INT’s, but he’s 23 years old!

This season is an all out blitz for the Super Bowl. It all rides on the shoulders of #6 and his development as a QB. If Sanchez can’t get it done on offense, the team will crash and burn with all the expectation and hype.

The Jets are putting up 2,000 single game tickets per game starting today at 4:00 PM. All the tickets are upper level seats that were seats vacated because of ticket holders upgrading to the lower level, PSL’s, etc. The tickets are sold via Ticketmaster. It’s a decent opportunity for the average fan who doesn’t want to shell out the absurd PSL costs and purchase single game tickets.

In other news, Jersey Jets Fan is now a Stub Hub affiliate. If you ever buy tickets off of Stub Hub, make sure to go through JJF, same price for you, but the blog will earn a little commission on the side.

The start of regular season is right around the corner, which also means the start of the Fantasy Football season. The Jersey Jets Fan fantasy football league currently has 10 players with room for a few more spots. The top player will be receiving a Visa Gift Card and JJF tshirts will be awarded to top performers!

Its not too late to get in the league. Its a great time and league to play for those new to fantasy football, as there are NO ENTRY FEES. If your interested, comment the post with your name and email and ill send you the invite to the league.

 

 

For the 2nd season in a row, Pace will likely miss the opener.

 

The first major preseason injury for the Jets comes in the form of Calvin Pace and a broken foot. In the third quarter of the Redskins game, Pace took a shot from Stephon Heyer’s face mask to his foot which resulted in a broken foot. Pace will be receiving foot surgery from Dr. Robert Anderson, who has performed countless surgeries on other big time NFL players. The injury comes after Pace missed the first 4 games of last year for performance enhancing drugs. 

“Hopefully, it’ll be a somewhat speedy recovery,” Pace said Sunday. “I probably definitely will miss the first game, that’s safe to say, but beyond that, I don’t really have an idea.”

“I’m still upbeat, I really am,” Pace said. “Stuff happens in football. I’ll say this: It’s better to get injured playing rather than have to sit out four games because of a silly mistake as far as a supplement. It happens and I’m going to stay upbeat and cheer the guys on.” -SI.com

With Pace likely out, who will fill the spot? The probably option would be Jason Taylor, who is obviously on the downside of his career but hopefully has enough in the tank. My favorite choice to pick up the slack for Pace is Jamaal Westerman. Not only is Westerman an improving player but he also loves the Jersey Jets Fan, okay maybe not loves, but he did an interview with us. I think Jamaal has enough talent to fill in for Pace, however I don’t think he will be able to match Calvin’s production, but he’ll get the job done. 

Adalius Thomas is also another option to fill in the void at OLB. Thomas hasn’t produced in a few years and I’m not too high on seeing him in a Jets jersey. However, Rex Ryan probably wouldn’t mind reconnecting with his former star defender.

It was over before it even started. One of the most dependable receivers in Jets history, Laveranues Coles, has been cut today after his 3rd run with the team. 

Coles, who was entering his 11th season, signed a one-year contract with the team he began his career with in 2000. He signed with Washington after three seasons with New York, but was traded back to the Jets for Santana Moss two years later. Coles was allowed to become an unrestricted free agent last offseason, and signed with Cincinnati.

He struggled in his one season with the Bengals, who released him in March.

Coles has 674 catches for 8,609 yards and 49 touchdowns, and ranks fourth in Jets history – behind Don Maynard (627), Wayne Chrebet (580) and Al Toon (517) – with 459 catches.- SI.com

The move could spell the end of a solid career, although the Jets have expressed the possibility that Coles could be resigned after the regular season begins. It seems unlikely to me at this point that Coles will be a Jet again. There is the remote possibility that has been expressed, but even if he does come back, he will most likely be cut again after Santanio Holmes is finished with his suspension. 

Finishing out this round of cuts for the Jets were Aundrae Allison, Marcus Henry and Rodrique Wright. 

Henry was a sixth-round pick out of Kansas in 2008, and spent most of the last two seasons on the Jets’ practice squad.

Allison was claimed off waivers from Minnesota last summer, but missed the entire season after injuring his right knee in the preseason finale.

Wright was signed as a free agent in March after sitting out last year following three seasons with Miami.

So far this preseason, the Jets offense has looked down right abysmal with a few small exceptions. Sanchez looks much like the Sanchez of last years regular season, the offense can’t score a touchdown, Nick Folk can’t hit an extra point, and Revis is still no where to be seen. Jet nation is in chaos as fans everywhere are now doubting what once seemed a probable Super Bowl run. Well, I’m here to tell you something. 

RELAX JETS FANS, its only the damn preseason. Yes, Sanchez is playing like garbage, but it’s not time to press the panic button. For those of you who need reminding, Mark Sanchez is a developing second year quarterback. He played terribly for most of last season, pulling it together in the playoffs. We as Jets fans need to remember, Sanchez isn’t Peyton Manning, at least not yet. He is growing and improving everyday and working hard to do so. The preseason is a time to work out the kinks in the system, and familiarize yourself with new teammates. Shottenheimer hasn’t cracked open the playbook during the preseason yet and really let Sanchez sling it. 

It’s been painful to watch the Jets preseason performance so far, but what really matters is Monday Night vs the Ravens. That’s when poor performance is a cause for concern.