NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS. June 3, 2015 Table of Contents

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS June 3, 2015 Table of Contents NEWSDAY... 1 Antonio Cromartie says Richard Sherman isn t in Darrelle Revis class as a cornerback (Kimberley A. Martin)... 1 Willie Colon: Geno Smith must make high-powered Jets crash proof (Kimberley A. Martin)... 2 ESPN NEW YORK... 3 Cromartie: Richard Sherman product of scheme, star supporting cast (Rich Cimini)... 3 Colon: Jets need QB Smith on top of his game (Rich Cimini)... 4 Jets LB Erin Henderson, clean and sober, aims for comeback player award (Rich Cimini)... 4 NEW YORK POST... 6 Geno Smith warning in Jets locker room: Don t wreck us now (Bart Hubbuch)... 6 Cromartie: This is why Sherman doesn t compare to Revis (Bart Hubbuch)... 6 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA... 7 Jets Willie Colon says fans shouldn t put timeline on futures of Nick Mangold, D Brickashaw Ferguson (Darryl Slater)... 7 Antonio Cromartie on Dee Milliner as Jets draft bust: I don t believe that (Dom Cosentino)... 8 Jets OTAs: What to watch for, what to expect during final week (Darryl Slater)... 9 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Antonio Cromartie rips Richard Sherman, says he s not a top NFL cornerback (Seth Walder) METRO NEW YORK Charley Casserly chats with Metro about Jets offseason (Kristian Dyer) TUESDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS NEWSDAY Antonio Cromartie says Richard Sherman isn t in Darrelle Revis class as a cornerback (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday Darrelle Revis versus Richard Sherman? That's not even a fair fight, according to Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie, who returned to the Jets this offseason along with Revis, said there shouldn't be any debate over who's the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL -- and it's not Sherman. While the Seahawks cornerback often boasts about being the best at his position, Cromartie said Revis is unequivocally better. 1 P a g e

2 "Go play in a defense where you don't have two All-Pro safeties," Cromartie said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, in reference to Sherman playing with Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. "That's what I would tell him. "I would tell him, go follow the No. 1 receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game and see what you can do. Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career. I've done that. [Cardinals cornerback] Patrick Peterson has done it. [Browns cornerback] Joe Haden has done it. "He's the only defensive back that hasn't," Cromartie said of Sherman, a three-time All-Pro selection and former Super Bowl champion. "If you want to label yourself as the No. 1 corner or the best corner in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team. "His whole thing about, 'Well, we don't have to do that, I've got my trust in the other corner on the other side.' That's not the point. If you're going to consider yourself the best, the best do what the best do. And they follow around the best." Revis, 29, signed a five-year, $70-million contract to return to the Jets in March after helping the New England Patriots defeat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Willie Colon: Geno Smith must make high-powered Jets crash proof (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday The Jets pulled out all the stops this offseason, upgrading their depleted secondary, adding playmakers to their receiving corps, and delivering depth to their offensive and defensive lines. But all those roster moves won't translate into wins if quarterback Geno Smith doesn't handle his business. "We bought the Porsche, we've given him the keys, he can't crash it," veteran guard Willie Colon said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Known for his tell-it-like-it-is style, Colon didn't mince words when it came to assessing Smith's performance as the Jets' offensive leader. "Geno's career right now is extremely turbulent," he said of the third-year quarterback, who became the starter as a rookie in 2013 when Mark Sanchez suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 3 of the preseason against the Giants. "He was never ready to be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets. When Mark went down, he was thrown into the fire and he was forced to cook." Smith is as a starter with 25 touchdowns, 34 interceptions and a.575 completion percentage. He also has the second-lowest QBR (35.7) since 2010 among quarterbacks with a minimum of 30 games. Only former Jet Tim Tebow (33.4) is worse. Nevertheless, Smith is the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. "Everybody knows in this league, to be a quarterback, which is the No. 1 position on the field, it's a maturation period you have to go through," said Colon, a Bronx native and Hofstra alum. "And it takes the mental, the physical and everything that goes along with it to be the best, or even be in the top 10, if you will. 2 P a g e

3 "Now Geno, with that said, has made his mistakes. He said some things where you look at him like, 'What are you talking about?' But I think that's all about his maturation period... We bought the Porsche, we've given him the keys, he can't crash it. "Bottom line, he can't crash it. We need him to be on top of his game. We're doing everything we can as an offensive line to make him comfortable back there." Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is the Jets' No. 2 quarterback, though he's still not 100-percent healthy after breaking his leg in mid-december. He participated in team drills for the first time last Wednesday and lacked velocity on his throws. The Jets have four quarterbacks -- Smith, Fitzpatrick, fourth-round pick Bryce Petty and free agent Jake Heaps -- on their roster following the release of third-stringer Matt Simms last week. ESPN NEW YORK Cromartie: Richard Sherman product of scheme, star supporting cast (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York Richard Sherman or Darrelle Revis? It's no contest, according to New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who said Tuesday that Sherman doesn't deserve to be mentioned with the top corners in the NFL. Cromartie suggested that Sherman -- a three-time All-Pro selection for the Seattle Seahawks -- is a product of his scheme and a superior supporting cast. "Go play in a defense where you don't have two All-Pro safeties," Cromartie said in an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio, referring to Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. "That's what I would tell him. "Go follow the No. 1 receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game and let's see what you can do," Cromartie continued. "Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career. I've done that. Patrick Peterson has done it. Joe Haden has done it. [Sherman] is the only defensive back that hasn't." That Cromartie defended Revis, with whom he reunited after two years apart, came as no surprise. But, in the process, he was critical of Sherman, who typically stays on one side of the field in the Seattle defense. "If you want to label yourself as the No. 1 corner, the best corner in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team," Cromartie said. Save for one season in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' zone-based scheme, Revis has covered the No. 1 receiver for most of his career with the Jets and New England Patriots. "His [response] will be, 'We don't have to do that, I have my trust in the other corner on the other side,'" Cromartie said of Sherman. "That's not the point. If you're going to consider yourself the best, do what the best do. They follow around the best." Revis, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract to return to the Jets, was an All-Pro selection last season. 3 P a g e

4 Colon: Jets need QB Smith on top of his game (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York Guard Willie Colon, one of the veteran leaders on the New York Jets, delivered a not-to-subtle message Tuesday to quarterback Geno Smith: Don't screw up, kid. "We bought the Porsche, we've given him the keys, he can't crash it," Colon said in an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio. "Bottom line, he can't crash it. We need him to be on top of his game. We're doing everything we can as an offensive line to make him comfortable back there." Instead of replacing Smith in the offseason, the Jets' new regime tried to improve his supporting cast. The biggest move was trading for former Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall. It doesn't put them in the category of an elite sports car -- after all, they finished 28th in scoring -- but it will be their most talented group of skill-position players since Smith arrived in After watching Smith endure two seasons of sometimes severe growing pains, Colon expects to see a more mature quarterback in "Geno's career right now is extremely turbulent," Colon said. "He was never ready to be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets. When Mark (Sanchez) went down (in 2013), he was thrown into the fire and he was forced to cook. "Everybody knows in this league, to be a quarterback, which is the No. 1 position on the field, it's a maturation period you have to go through. It takes the mental, the physical and everything that goes along with it to be the best or even be in the top 10, if you will. "Now Geno, with that said, has made his mistakes. He said some things where you look at him like, 'What are you talking about?' But I think that's all about his maturation period." The Jets are coming off a 4-12 season, but they were one of the most active teams in the offseason. They have a new coach, Todd Bowles, and confidence is high. The big question is Smith, who is only as a starter with 34 interceptions. Nevertheless, Smith is the presumptive starter. He will go into training camp as the No. 1 quarterback and will receive the majority of the first-team reps. Bowles said last week it's "his job to lose." The backup is journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom the Jets acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans. Jets LB Erin Henderson, clean and sober, aims for comeback player award (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Erin Henderson's worst day was Jan. 1, It also was his best day. He spent the night in a holding cell at the Carver County courthouse in suburban Minneapolis, where he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession following a single-car crash -- his second arrest in a six-week span. Happy bleeping New Year. 4 P a g e

5 For years, Henderson controlled his drinking, winning a starting job in the Minnesota Vikings' linebacking corps even though he sometimes showed up for practice with a screaming hangover. But now, after another misstep, his career was in shambles. So was his life. "I'd never been to prison before," he recalled last week. "I sat there that night... you're in there by yourself and you have a lot of time to think about things and figure out which direction you want to go. Coach [Leslie] Frazier always used to tell us, 'Tell me your vision, and I'll show your future.' "That night, I decided to change my vision." Henderson was released the next day at 2 p.m. By 4, he was packing for a trip to the Hazelden rehab center in St. Paul, prepared to confront his demons. That second arrest, he said, was a life-changing blessing. That was 17 months ago. Now he's a member of the New York Jets, trying to capitalize on a second chance -- maybe his last chance. After a year out of football, Henderson signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract ($745,000) in April, with not a penny guaranteed. He's hardly a sure thing to make the Jets' 53-man roster, but his body feels refreshed and his mind is right -- so he believes. He's so confident in his recovery that his goal is to challenge for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. "I have it in my mind to become one of the comeback players or at least be in the conversation," he said. "I think it's an interesting story and I think there are a lot of people out there who are suffering from similar things and maybe I can be an inspiration to them." Henderson beat the odds once before, making the Vikings' roster as an undrafted free agent in He worked his way up to a starting job, but everything unraveled at the end of the 2013 season. After the second arrest, he was released by the Vikings. He received a four-game suspension by the league, which he served in 2014 as an unemployed linebacker. "I waited until I was 27 years old to get into trouble," he said. "I was in a bad place mentally and I didn't necessarily know the best ways to handle it, so I went back to doing what I do best, the way I knew how to deal with it the best." Drinking, he meant. Henderson has described himself as a recovering alcoholic. He declined to get into specifics, but he painted a quick picture of his upbringing, saying, "I was taught at a very young age, that's how you handle your issues and your problems." Clearly, that wasn't working, so he checked into rehab. One of his visitors was former Vikings teammate Greg Jennings, who became one of Henderson's biggest supporters. They engaged in brutally honest discussions in which Jennings shared personal feelings about his own fears and struggles. That transparency, he believes, may have helped Henderson unburden himself. "When I saw him at his lowest was when I went to visit him the first time," Jennings said after a practice with his new team, the Miami Dolphins. "It was simply because you never expect anyone to see you in a state like that. You have to accept the fact that you're coping with an issue you couldn't overcome, you couldn't grab and take hold of. It was like he was exposing himself in a vulnerable state. A lot of men, specifically, have a hard time doing that." After rehab, Henderson auditioned for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he failed to land a contract for He stayed in shape, taking a hot yoga class, and filled his empty Sundays by 5 P a g e

6 engaging in an American pastime: He occupied his man cave, watching the NFL RedZone channel. He enjoyed the down time with his family, but he longed to resume his career. "I knew I wasn't ready to walk away from the game," he said. "I was just hoping the game wasn't ready to be done with me." The Jets offered him a contract after a thorough check into his background. Their conclusion: Henderson is a good man who lost his way for a couple of bad months. The Jets asked him what he saw in the mirror, and his answer went something like this: "I see someone who can do pretty much anything he wants to do in life if he just decides to get out of his own way." Henderson didn't make any excuses for his transgressions. "I've always found ways to hold myself back and to not allow my life to shine as bright as possible," he said. "I just got tired of it. I figured it was time to do something different and let people see who I really am and see the impact I can make on the world." Henderson said he's clean and sober, insisting he has "the tools in my pocket" to maintain a healthy lifestyle. On the field, he's a "high IQ football player," according to Jennings. He's getting plenty of practice reps, trying to win a backup job. Opening day is Sept. 13, when the Jets host the Cleveland Browns. If Henderson is there, it will be his new best day. NEW YORK POST Geno Smith warning in Jets locker room: Don t wreck us now (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post Geno Smith s teammates aren t pulling any punches with their third-year starting quarterback. Veteran guard Willie Colon told SiriusXM radio Tuesday the Jets are Smith s team for better or worse and warned him not to crash them this season. Geno has made his mistakes, Colon said. He s said some things where you look at him like, What are you talking about? But I think that s all about his maturation period. And I think right now we bought the Porsche. We ve given him the keys. He can t crash it. Bottom line. He can t crash it. With veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick still rehabilitating a leg injury and Bryce Petty and Jake Heaps still just rookies, Smith will enter training camp and most likely the season as Gang Green s starter. That s a role Colon admitted Smith wasn t ready for as a rookie himself in He was never ready to be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets, Colon said. When Mark Sanchez went down, he was thrown into the fire and he was forced to cook. Everybody knows in this league, to be a quarterback, which is the No. 1 position on the field, it s a maturation period you have to go through. And it takes the mental, the physical, and everything to go along with it, to be the best, or even be in the top 10. Cromartie: This is why Sherman doesn t compare to Revis (Bart Hubbuch) 6 P a g e

7 New York Post Antonio Cromartie weighed in on the Darrelle Revis-Richard Sherman best cornerback in football debate Tuesday, and Cromartie s opinion wasn t exactly a surprise. Newly reunited as a Jet with Revis, Cromartie told SiriusXM radio that Revis is still the league s top cover man and said Sherman is riding the coattails of a stacked Seahawks secondary. I would have to tell him, Go play in a defense where you don t have two All-Pro safeties,' Cromartie said, referring to Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. That s what I would tell him. I would tell him, Go follow the No. 1 receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game, let s see what you can do. Cromartie said Revis and other top cornerbacks a group he modestly said includes himself haven t had the benefit of such a strong supporting cast at safety but excelled in spite of that. Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career, Cromartie said, referring to covering the top receiver without All-Pro safety help. I ve done that, Patrick Peterson has done it, Joe Haden has done it. [Sherman is] the only defensive back who hasn t. So there s no point in critiquing him. If you want to label yourself as the No. 1, the best cornerback in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team. His whole thing will be, Well, we don t have to do that. I got my trust in the other corner on the other side. That s not the point. If you want to consider yourself the best, the best do what the best do and they follow around the best. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets Willie Colon says fans shouldn t put timeline on futures of Nick Mangold, D Brickashaw Ferguson (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media MOUNT LAUREL Willie Colon, Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson aren't old guys. They're 32, 31 and 31 years old, respectively. But by NFL standards, they are considered aging veterans, three offensive line starters who are clearly closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. All three players were drafted in 2006, so this is Year 10 for them. Mangold will be the Jets' starting center once again, while Ferguson will start at left tackle. Colon, the starting right guard the past two seasons, will fight for a roster spot during training camp. Colon is well aware of the perception that the three players are in the twilight of their careers. But he chafes at people outside the Jets' facility putting timelines on how many years they have left in the NFL. "I think what frustrates me about that question is that people put a timeline on your career," Colon said Tuesday during the NFL's broadcast boot camp at NFL Films headquarters. "I've read reports and I've gotten things about: 'Oh, Willie, you're barely holding on.' Fine. Since you stepped in this league, it's always your job to prove the naysayers wrong. I don't take offense to it, because it's life in the NFL. The older you get, there's always a younger, stronger, better guy that's nipping at your heels. It's for you to be better as you get older and find your lane amongst that way. I can't put a timeline on Nick and Brick. 7 P a g e

8 "I take offense when... Don't put a timeline on me. When it's time, it's time. The front office is going to make that decision, or my body is just not going to hold on. I think that's just the evolution of the game." Colon pointed out that Mangold and Ferguson "are still running good," and that Mangold was a Pro Bowler last season for the sixth time, while Ferguson was a Pro Bowl alternate, albeit a fifth alternate. Colon didn't have a superb 2014 season, but he managed to remain healthy all year for the first time since "I, for the grace of God, finished a year [healthy]," Colon said. "We're all still up and running. I think any time you put yourself in a front office role [and put a timetable on your future], you've already counted yourself out. The best thing you can do as a player is just be a player, and get better at what you do. "I think some people are like, 'Well, they're going to be 10 years in, so we should start looking [to replace them].' Sure, that's your opinion. It's our job to go out there and kick butt and maybe go a little bit more. And if we don't, then that's just the game." Colon is a prideful person, but he recognizes the reality of his current situation. If the Jets cut him this summer, it might be the end of his football career. He knows broadcasting might soon be in his future, so that's why he's attending the boot camp this week. The Jets have four younger guards who will be in the mix in the right guard competition: Brian Winters (third-year pro), Oday Aboushi (third year), Dakota Dozier (second year) and, probably to a lesser degree, Jarvis Harrison (rookie) Mangold's and Ferguson's jobs are secure for But Mangold has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after this season. The final year of his deal is His salary cap figures the next two seasons are scheduled to be $8.6 million and $9.075 million. Though he has continued to play well late in his career, the Jets can cut him at any point after this season, and not face a salary cap hit. Ferguson also has two years left on his contract after He is scheduled to carry hefty cap numbers in 2016 and 2017 $ million and $ million. The Jets would have to absorb dead money figures if they cut him before either of those seasons, but they would be just $5.014 million and $1.282 million, respectively. Ferguson isn't the player he once was. (He made the Pro Bowl from ) But he is still a solid, durable tackle. Last season, Pro Football Focus rated him 35th among all offensive tackles in the league, including 30th as a pass blocker and 64th as a run blocker. Moreover, Ferguson has played and started all 144 games in his career. Mangold's number is 141. He missed two games in 2011 and one last year. Those are remarkable statistics for offensive linemen. At some point, the Jets will have to consider life after Mangold and Ferguson. But Colon doesn't think anybody should rush that process, especially not people outside the Jets' front office. Antonio Cromartie on Dee Milliner as Jets draft bust: I don t believe that (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media MOUNT LAUREL Want to write off cornerback Dee Milliner after two injury-plagued seasons with the Jets? Antonio Cromartie would like to remind you of his own beginnings as an NFL corner. 8 P a g e

9 "I was the 18th pick in the first round, and I felt like I had a lot pushing me to come in and be a starter," Cromartie said, referring to his entry into the NFL with the Chargers back in "But [then-chargers head coach] Marty Schottenheimer was, like, 'Cro, we're not looking for you to start. I just want you to come in, learn the defense, get comfortable, and go out and play football.' " It proved to be a valuable apprenticeship, one that acclimated Cromartie to the demands of being an NFL player, both on and off the field. It's also the sort of learning experience that Milliner, taken No. 9 overall two years ago, just after Darrelle Revis was traded away, never got. But the Jets now have Revis back. They brought back Cromartie, who teamed with Milliner in 2013 before spending last season with the Cardinals, to man the other corner spot. And Buster Skrine is holding things down at nickel corner. Which means Milliner, who hasn't yet done full-team drills at organized team activities as he recovers from a torn Achilles, doesn't have to be the guy. Which, Cromartie told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday at a broadcast boot camp at NFL Films, is the perfect spot for him. Cromartie didn't start any games as a rookie. And in his second year, he only made eight starts. He needed that time, he said, to learn and to grow. Now, that time is for Milliner. "I think, right now, this gives Dee that opportunity to come in and just get comfortable, get all the way healthy, and just go play football to the best of his ability, without thinking," Cromartie said. Unlike Cromartie, Milliner started 12 games as a rookie; he took his lumps and wound up getting benched three times. Last season, Milliner battled injuries in training camp and played in just three games before an Achilles tear ended his season. "It's not a point of saying, 'He's a first-round bust,' because I don't believe that," Cromartie said. "He shows a lot of potential in what he can do, when he's healthy." Head coach Todd Bowles, who remains high on Milliner, has stressed that Milliner has to get healthy. Milliner's roster spot is by no means guaranteed. But if he can get healthy, he has a chance to prove he belongs, without the added pressure of doing everything all at once. "Dee can play," Cromartie said. "That's something that he has to figure out himself, and come in into the system, and say, 'I'm ready to go, I'm healthy, I'm going to be ready to go when training camp gets here, and I need to show everyone that I can come in and play with the best of them.' " Jets OTAs: What to watch for, what to expect during final week (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media ml The Jets resume Phase 3 of their offseason program on Tuesday with their final week of organized team activities. This week, they have four sessions, Nos. 7 through 10, with media access available for Wednesday's practice only. So that's when Darryl Slater and I will be out at One Jets Drive. Head coach Todd Bowles has repeatedly stressed how early this is, not the least because there's no contact permitted, which makes it difficult to judge much of what players can do. But that's not to say there won't be some evaluating going on, which Bowles has also articulated. 9 P a g e

10 Come Wednesday, here's where the focus will be for Darryl and me, which is a rhyme I just cooked up right now. How about that? What to watch The quarterbacks. Always the quarterbacks with the Jets, no? But especially now, with Geno Smith being the No. 1 guy heading into training camp, Ryan Fitzpatrick working his way back from a leg injury, and Bryce Petty and Jake Heaps working on the second field with the younger group. Smith was bad last week. But it's early, and he's learning a new offense. Will there be any noticeable improvement? Who's there? Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who's under contract for 2015 but wants a longterm deal, likely won't be there. And fellow defensive end Sheldon Richardson has been at the offseason program at times, though not always, and not when the media's been present. Other players have been in and out, depending on what they're up to; cornerback Antonio Cromartie, defensive end Leger Douzable, and guard Willie Colon are expected to miss Tuesday's session because they'll be at NFL Films for a broadcasting boot camp thing. But, again, OTAs are voluntary. The offensive line. The Jets have been mixing and matching their backup linemen, with guards Brian Winters and Dakota Dozier taking reps at center last week. But what about the backup tackle spots, since those seem to be up for grabs behind starters D'Brickashaw Ferguon and Breno Giacomini? Injuries. Common training-area story lines this offseason have been cornerback Dee Milliner's Achilles, running back Stevan Ridley's knee, safety Marcus Gilchrist's shoulder, linebacker Joe Mays' knee, Colon's knee, After the Jets wrap up OTAs on Friday, they next have a minicamp slated for next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Those three sessions are the first mandatory practices of the offseason. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Antonio Cromartie rips Richard Sherman, says he s not a top NFL cornerback (Seth Walder) New York Daily News Antonio Cromartie is still waiting to be impressed by Richard Sherman. Cromartie ripped the Seahawks' corner on Tuesday, saying Sherman doesn't face the challenges that other elite cornerbacks in the league do. "I would tell him 'go play in a defense where you don't have two all-pro safeties,'" Cromartie said on SiriusXM Radio. "Go follow the No. 1 receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game, let's see what you can do." "Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career. I've done that. Patrick Peterson has done it. Joe Haden has done it. He's the only defensive back that hasn't," Cromartie added. "You want to label yourself as the No. 1 corner, the best corner in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team." Sherman typically stays on one side of the field, rather than following the top opposing wideout. 10 P a g e

11 "His whole thing would be 'well we don't have to do that. I've got my trust in the other corner on the other side.' That's not the point," Cromartie said. "If you want to consider yourself the best, the best do what the best do. They follow around the best." Cromartie said Revis was the best cornerback in the league. Sherman has previously proclaimed himself the league's top corner. In 2013, Sherman and Revis sparred on Twitter in a debate over who was better. Cromartie was participating in the NFL's broadcasting bootcamp and was speaking alongside teammate Willie Colon, who had his own noteworthy comments on the Jets. Colon, in fact, told his own quarterback, Geno Smith, to step it up. The Jets spent the offseason building a behemoth of a defense and improving their roster to the point where they could be a playoff contender. But they still have a large, looming question mark at quarterback, and if Smith doesn't improve, he could single-handedly derail their 2015 season. "We bought the Porsche," Colon said. "We've given him the keys. He can't crash it. Bottom line, he can't crash it. We need him to be on top of his game." No pressure, Geno. Smith has started 29 games in his first two seasons without a lot of success. The Jets are in games that Smith has started and he has a career QB rating of Smith actually started his first week in the pros, thanks to Mark Sanchez suffering a season-ending injury in the 2013 preseason. "Geno's career right now is extremely turbulent. He was never ready to be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets," Colon said. "When Mark went down, he was thrown into the fire, and he was forced to cook. Everybody knows in this league, to be a quarterback, which is the number one position on the field, it's a maturation period you have to go through." It sounded more like Colon meant Smith was not ready in 2013 rather than he was never ready. "Now Geno, with that said, has made his mistakes. He's said some things where you look at him like, 'What are you talking about?' But I think that's all about his maturation period. Though there's been some confusion about whether or not the Jets will have a quarterback competition during training camp, it's become pretty clear that Smith is the heavy favorite to open the season as the starter in Week 1. Muhammad Wilkerson is still waiting to get paid, and he apparently noticed when yet another defensive lineman received a long-term deal. After the Saints reportedly agreed to a deal that is worth up to $60 million over five years with Cameron Jordan, Wilkerson tweeted, "Yup I see how this works." The star defensive lineman has been missing from OTAs in hopes of securing the big contract he has been waiting for. METRO NEW YORK Charley Casserly chats with Metro about Jets offseason (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York LGC8mPqRxRhmU/ 11 P a g e

12 Turns out that New York Jets fans aren't the only ones brimming with optimism about their team's offseason, which included some big-time free agent signings and a tremendous haul in the NFL Draft. Legendary NFL executive Charley Casserly, the man who spearheaded the search committee for the team's vacant general manager and head coach positions earlier this year, is impressed with how the team has been reshaped. It was Casserly, a former general manager and league executive who now is a beloved analyst on the NFL Network, who along with former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who were charged by Jets ownership to help the team following the firing of general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan. The search resulted in owner Woody Johnson bringing on board Mike Maccagnan as general manager and head coach Todd Bowles to turn around a team that has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons. Casserly's boys did pretty well. With plenty of room under the salary cap, the Jets went out and spent a pretty penny, bringing in Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie (both former Jets) as well as trading for an elite wide receiver in Brandon Marshall. All of which says nothing about a draft that was widely hailed as fruitful. And Casserly is impressed with how his hires have handled their first five months on the job. I think it was one of the best in the league. When you look at the team, clearly the secondary was a major problem. I think they did as much as they could do to improve that secondary in the offseason. When you look around, I think they got better at every position group and I think that's hard to do in an offseason, Casserly told Metro. Clearly, quarterback is still the biggest issue but there wasn't a solution to the quarterback. So they brought in [Ryan] Fitzpatrick who improves them. They brought in [Bryce] Petty whose a guy you can work with in the future; you'll see how he develops in a year. They improved the running back position, bringing in [Stevan] Ridley, bringing in [Zac] Stacy from the Rams. The offensive line, brought in [James] Carpenter and [Jarvis] Harrison that improves them there. Wide receiver, [Brandon] Marshall and [Devin] Smith, that's a big upgrade there getting those two guys. Leonard Williams is the best player in the draft along the defensive line. The nose tackle, he'll be an interesting guy. They improved the depth at the linebacker position. [Lorenzo] Maudlin gives them a guy to develop outside. I think they got better in every area. Casserly, of course, is familiar with both of these key pieces of the Jets future. He was the general manager of the Washington Redskins when Bowles made the team as an undrafted rookie free agent and became a starter. And Maccagnan was a scout on that same team before joining Casserly when he was named the first general manager of the Houston Texans, taking roles in their scouting department. There isn't any particular pride that Casserly feels for either Bowles or Maccagnan based off of what, on paper, is an absolutely positive offseason. I don't look at it that way. I have confidence in both of them, I'm proud of what they've done, I'm proud of what they'll do in the future and I'm proud of what they've done with their careers, Casserly said. I was involved with them certainly in different points in their career and I'm not surprised that they've done well; I've expected them to do well. I'm proud of what they've done and I think they're going to do well there. 12 P a g e

13 TUESDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL Daily Clips Cont. Chicago Cubs - Recalled outfielder Matt Szczur from Iowa (PCL); optioned infielder/outfielder Mike Baxter to Iowa. Colorado Rockies - Recalled pitcher David Hale from Albuquerque (PCL). Detroit Tigers - Reinstated pitcher Alfredo Simon from the bereavement list; placed outfielder Rajai Davis on the paternity list; optioned pitcher Buck Farmer to Toledo (IL); purchased the contract of infielder Josh Wilson; recalled outfielder Daniel Fields from Toledo. Los Angeles Dodgers - Placed outfielder Scott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list; recalled pitchers Ian Thomas and Daniel Coulombe and outfielder Chris Heisey from Oklahoma City (PCL); selected the contract of pitcher Josh Ravin from Oklahoma City; optioned catcher Austin Barnes to Oklahoma City; designated pitcher David Huff for assignment. Miami Marlins - Recalled pitcher Kendry Flores from Jacksonville (Southern). Milwaukee Brewers - Claimed infielder Hernan Perez off waivers from the Detroit Tigers; designated infielder Elian Herrera for assignment. Oakland Athletics - Activated pitcher Eric O'Flaherty from the 15-day disabled list; optioned pitcher Angel Castro to Nashville (PCL). San Diego Padres - Activated infielder Yonder Alonso from the 15-day disabled list; optioned pitcher Cory Mazzoni to El Paso (PCL). Seattle Mariners - Recalled pitcher Mike Montgomery from Tacoma (PCL); optioned pitcher Mayckol Guaipe to Tacoma; activated pitcher Tyler Olson from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Tacoma. Tampa Bay Rays - Designated pitcher Ernesto Frieri for assignment; recalled outfielder Mikie Mahtook from Durham (IL). Texas Rangers - Selected the contract of third baseman Joey Gallo from Frisco (Texas); recalled outfielder Jake Smolinski from Round Rock (PCL); optioned pitcher Alex Claudio to Round Rock. Toronto Blue Jays - Activated catcher Dioner Navarro from the 15-day disabled list; optioned catcher Josh Thole to Buffalo (IL); recalled pitcher Scott Copeland from Buffalo. Washington Nationals - Recalled outfielder Matt den Dekker from Syracuse (IL). BASKETBALL Chicago Bulls - Named Fred Hoiberg head coach. Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) - Waived forwards Shae Kelley and Asia Taylor. FOOTBALL Atlanta Falcons - Signed linebacker Boris Anyama. British Columbia Lions (CFL) - Signed wide receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris. Buffalo Bills - Signed defensive end Michael Buchanan; waived punter Spencer Roth. 13 P a g e

14 Carolina Panthers - Signed quarterback Cam Newton to a five-year extension through the 2020 season; signed cornerback Jocquel Skinner; waived tight end Kevin Greene. Cleveland Browns - Awarded defensive lineman Tory Slater via waivers from the Seattle Seahawks; waived linebacker Rodman Noel. Dallas Cowboys - Signed linebacker Kyle Knox; released safety Keelan Johnson. Houston Texans - Signed nose tackle Brandon Deaderick and defensive end Jasper Coleman; waived running back Mack Brown. Indianapolis Colts - Signed defensive lineman Camaron Beard and tight end Sean McGrath; waived tight end Jean Sifrin and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz. New Orleans Saints - Signed defensive end Cameron Jordan to a five-year contract extension. St. Louis Rams - Named Jeff Garcia offensive assistant. Tennessee Titans - Agreed to terms with tight end Phillip Supernaw; waived defensive tackle Lucas Vincent. Washington Redskins - Signed nose tackle Jerrell Powe and tackle Willie Smith; waived tackle Tovar Allen. HOCKEY Montreal Canadiens - Agreed to terms on a six-year contract with defenseman Jeff Petry. New Jersey Devils - Named John Hynes head coach. Washington Capitals - Re-signed forward Garrett Mitchell to a two-year, two- way contract. COLLEGE Chattanooga - Announced a contract extension for women's basketball head coach Jim Foster through the season. Kennesaw State - Named Stephen Cox assistant men's basketball coach. 14 P a g e