NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Jets place Colon on IR, activate Milliner from short-term IR (Dennis Waszak)... 2 NEWSDAY... 3 Jets place Willie Colon on season-ending injured reserve (Kimberley A. Martin)... 3 Jets, Todd Bowles focus on winning, not Rex Ryan's stunts (Kimberley A. Martin)... 3 THE RECORD... 4 Jets: A look at Bills matchup (J.P. Pelzman)... 4 Jets ready to do battle with Rex Ryan's Bills (J.P. Pelzman)... 5 Jets lineman Willie Colon out for rest of season (J.P. Pelzman)... 7 NEW YORK TIMES... 7 Foundation of Jets Defense Is Sagging (Ben Shpigel)... 7 ESPN NEW YORK... 9 Jets activate Dee Milliner, place Willie Colon on IR (Rich Cimini)... 9 Jets quarterbacks recite poetry (their own) before they read defenses (Rich Cimini) New York Jets overcome quarterback tumult, ready for playoff run (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST Jets are frauds if Rex hype distracts from beating Bills (Steve Serby) Jets suffer shocking O-line loss, then activate a forgotten player (Brian Costello) Rex s Bills vs. Jets: Storylines galore and the winner will be (Brian Costello) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Sammy Watkins vs. Darrelle Revis: Buffalo Bills-Jets matchups to watch (Dom Consentino) Jets' Willie Colon, NFL future in doubt, now faces age-old question: 'Who are you after this?' (Darryl Slater) NFL power rankings roundup: Jets back in Top 10 after beating Jacksonville Jaguars? (Dom Cosentino) Antonio Cromartie, Calvin Pryor, LeSean McCoy Buffalo Bills-Jets final injury report (Darryl Slater) Jets activate Dee Milliner, place Willie Colon on injured reserve (Darryl Slater) Jets' safety spot, crushed by injuries, has cerebral Marcus Gilchrist as last man standing (Darryl Slater) Jets' Ryan Quigley named AFC Special Teams Player of Week (Darryl Slater) Jets' Sheldon Richardson on Missouri protests: 'Football team runs the school' (Dom Cosentino) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets ground attack has been running the wrong way (Manish Mehta) Jets' Sheldon Richardson still has plenty of love for former coach Rex Ryan (Seth Walder) Willie Colon out for season as Jets activate CB Dee Milliner from short-term IR (Seth Walder) P a g e

2 WALL STREET JOURNAL Jets and Bills Aren t Getting Much Bang for Their Blitz (Michael Salfino) METRO NEW YORK things to watch for as the Jets and Bills face off Thursday night (Kristian Dyer) WEDNESDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets place Colon on IR, activate Milliner from short-term IR (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) The New York Jets are dealing with a stunning shake-up on their offensive line. Right guard Willie Colon was placed on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday with chronic knee problems, creating a roster spot for the Jets to activate cornerback Dee Milliner from short-term IR. The 32-year-old Colon missed last Sunday's game against Jacksonville and was uncertain to play against Buffalo on Thursday night. He will be replaced by Brian Winters, a third-round pick in 2013 who started against the Jaguars and will likely be the team's right guard the rest of the season. Colon spoke last week about how rest is the best thing for his knees, so it wasn't a surprise when he was inactive Sunday with the Jets facing two games in five days. The thought was Colon could get a few extra days off and be ready for the game against the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. But Colon was limited at the team's walkthrough Monday and didn't practice Tuesday, prompting coach Todd Bowles to say he was pessimistic about the offensive lineman's chances of playing. "His knee was still sore, so we didn't even bring him out," Bowles said Tuesday. Colon started every game the last two seasons after signing with the Jets in 2013, and was brought back during the offseason. He won the job with a strong summer, beating out several other candidates. But he sprained his right knee against Philadelphia in Week 3 and missed New York's game against Miami in London the following week. He returned for the next game and played in three straight before sitting out Sunday. Colon has played in 100 regular-season games; he spent his first six NFL seasons with Pittsburgh after being a fourth-round pick out of Hofstra in But the latest injury setback could signal the end of a solid career. The Jets needed to clear a roster spot for Milliner, who needed surgery after injuring a tendon in his right wrist during training camp. If New York didn't activate him Wednesday, he would have been placed on season-ending IR. Winters started 12 games at left guard in 2013, and six at the position last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Milliner will give the Jets' banged-up secondary a boost, especially with cornerback Antonio Cromartie doubtful to play Thursday with an injured left thigh. Fellow cornerback Buster Skrine is also questionable with shoulder and hand injuries. 2 P a g e

3 Bowles acknowledged Tuesday that with Marcus Gilchrist and Rontez Miles the only healthy safeties on the roster, he could move some of the cornerbacks into that role in spot duty. While Milliner wouldn't be in that mix, he could end up seeing lots of time opposite Darrelle Revis at cornerback. Milliner was the Jets' first-round pick out of Alabama in 2013, but he has played in only 16 games because of various injuries. Three separate injuries a high ankle sprain, an injured quadriceps and a torn Achilles tendon limited him to just three games last season. NOTES: Safeties Dion Bailey and Calvin Pryor, both dealing with high ankle sprains, are out against Buffalo. RB Bilal Powell, also dealing with an ankle injury, was limited at practice and was doubtful for the game. WRs Eric Decker (knee) and Brandon Marshall (toe, ankle) were both full participants for the second straight day and will play. NEWSDAY Jets place Willie Colon on season-ending injured reserve (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday On the eve of their prime-time game against Rex Ryan and the Bills, the Jets announced a surprising roster move: They placed guard Willie Colon on injured reserve and activated third-year cornerback Dee Milliner from short-term IR. Milliner's return couldn't have come at a better time for the Jets, who are dealing with numerous injuries at cornerback. Antonio Cromartie (deep thigh bruise) is doubtful to play Thursday night, and Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand) is severely banged up. Milliner hasn't been able to stay healthy during his brief NFL career. The ninth overall pick in 2013 underwent wrist surgery in August (his seventh procedure) and has played in only 16 games, registering three interceptions and 21 passes defensed. Colon, 32, a Bronx native and a Hofstra alumnus, has dealt with chronic knee pain during his three seasons with the Jets, but the team never indicated how serious this injury was. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery before training camp and sprained an MCL in the Week 3 loss to the Eagles. He missed the next game against the Dolphins and also sat out last week's game against the Jaguars. On Monday, Todd Bowles said he was "pessimistic'' about Colon's chances to play against the Bills. Now his season is over, and quite possibly his career. A Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, Colon will be replaced by Brian Winters. Quigley wins award.ryan Quigley was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time after he served as the Jets' emergency kicker last week. He's the first player to punt at least nine times and convert four PATs in the same game since 1966 (Danny Villanueva, Cowboys). Jets, Todd Bowles focus on winning, not Rex Ryan's stunts (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday 3 P a g e

4 The Big Top is back. Rex Ryan managed to steal the spotlight for Thursday night's game between the Jets and his new team, the Buffalo Bills. But his circus sideshow -- wearing a Clemson helmet as a prop at a news conference and making quarterback-punching linebacker IK Enemkpali a co-captain -- has little to do with anyone other than Ryan. The Jets weren't the least bit fazed by his distractions or the hype. Through it all, Todd Bowles' team has been focused on getting a win. And, to the Jets, it's irrelevant that it will have to come at the expense of their former coach. It's a big game, against an AFC East opponent, with millions watching. That's more than enough incentive for a team still searching for its identity and a winning streak. "We're trying to win two games in four days. It's not facing him, it's facing the Bills,'' Bowles said Sunday after a win over the Jaguars. "They're a division rival and we're trying to win the game.'' Not surprisingly, his message has stayed consistent. Bowles refused to get sucked into the Ryan-driven story lines and kept the focus on football. "They've got a lot of talent at a lot of skill positions,'' Bowles said of the 4-4 Bills. "They're big and tough up front on both sides of the ball. It's going to be a tough ballgame.'' Ryan, who spent six seasons with the Jets before being fired last Dec. 29, also had high praise for his opponent. Asked about the Jets' defense, he said: "Well, it looks pretty darn good. You know we had guys that fought their tails off. But when you add a talent like a [Darrelle] Revis, [Antonio] Cromartie, the [Marcus] Gilchrist kid, that's a little different. "The front is absolutely playing at a huge level. I think 'Snacks', wow, is he playing great. They got the young kid in there playing really well, too, Leonard Williams. It's a short list if they're not the best defense in the league.'' But injuries, and not Ryan's defensive scheming, could be the biggest obstacle for the Jets (5-3). Guard Willie Colon (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, safeties Calvin Pryor and Dion Bailey (high ankle sprains) are out, and Cromartie (deep thigh bruise) and running back Bilal Powell are doubtful. Nickel corner Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand) is questionable. If the Jets expect to win, they'll need a big game from featured back Chris Ivory, who is averaging fewer than 25 rushing yards in the last three games. The Jaguars held him to only 26 yards on 23 carries, although he did score twice from a yard out. "Teams make adjustments,'' Ivory said. "And I think that's what we're seeing. Eventually, we'll have some of those big runs.'' Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who again will be playing with a torn ligament in his left thumb, said the offense is "searching for answers a little bit'' but believes their rushing attack "is going to get back on track.'' THE RECORD Jets: A look at Bills matchup (J.P. Pelzman) The Record 4 P a g e

5 Bills (4-4) at Jets (5-3) At MetLife Stadium Today, 8:25 p.m. TV: CBS, NFL Network Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7 Line: Jets by 2 1/2 What s at stake Jets: The Jets can put some distance between themselves and the rest of the AFC East teams not named the Patriots. A victory would give them sole possession of second place and at least a two-game lead over the Bills and Miami, (3-5), which visits Philadelphia on Sunday. Bills: Buffalo coach Rex Ryan says this game isn t about him. He probably won t feel that way if the Bills win, because a victory would mean a triumphant return for Ryan to East Rutherford after he was fired by the Jets last Dec. 29. A victory also would pull Buffalo into a second-place tie in the AFC East and give the Bills a leg up on the Jets in terms of a potential tiebreaker at the end of the season. Key matchup Jets CB Darrelle Revis vs. Bills WR Sammy Watkins. Watkins has missed three games because of injury, but returned from a sprained ankle Sunday and had eight receptions for 168 yards in a victory over Miami. Revis has been giving a little more cushion to speedy receivers, but the superstar corner usually comes up quickly and makes the tackle. Watkins had five catches for 84 yards in two games against New England and Revis last season. How they ll win Jets: Perhaps this is the week that struggling RB Chris Ivory finally gets back on track. After a fast start, Ivory has averaged only 1.5 yards per carry in the last three games as teams have stacked the box. The Jets will need QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to make some plays against Buffalo s 24th-ranked pass defense. Fitzpatrick, a 60.3 percent career passer, has completed only 48.3 percent in nine games against Ryan s defenses. The Jets defense needs to keep Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor in the pocket. Bills: Taylor has rushed for more than 40 yards in a game four times this season, and his dual-threat ability could be a good counterpunch to the blitz-happy Jets. RB LeSean McCoy, who had 112 yards rushing against Miami on Sunday, is the type of back the Jets normally stout run defense often has trouble against. He has the ability to get to the outside and the Jets often are vulnerable on the perimeter. The often leaky pass defense cannot allow Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker to have productive games. Marshall likely will see plenty of double-teams. Jets ready to do battle with Rex Ryan's Bills (J.P. Pelzman) The Record 5 P a g e

6 Rex Ryan insisted that Thursday s game against the Jets wasn t highlighted on his calendar. At no point was I like, Oh, I have this one circled, the Buffalo coach said Tuesday. Everybody knows me, I circle the Patriots [games]. That s what I do. OK, but keep in mind Ryan has acting credits to his name, including an Adam Sandler movie. The former Jets coach at least admitted that, one way or another, he intends to reveal his true emotions once his homecoming at MetLife Stadium is over. It s hard to say. I m not sure, Ryan said when asked what his emotions will be when he walks into the building that was his home field for six seasons while coaching the Jets. I know we ve got a huge game in front of us and that s really where my focus is going to be. And I ve said all along, after the game I ll be able to tell you exactly how I was feeling. The many subplots involving Ryan have been the focal points entering this game, including his questionable decision to name IK Enemkpali as a game captain for his team. But if you peel back all the psychological drama, you might notice this is a huge game for both teams in terms of the standings, too. Both the Jets (5-3) and the Bills (4-4) can improve their playoff chances with a victory, as well as get a leg up on second place in the AFC East behind streaking New England. It s a big division game for us, cornerback Darrelle Revis said. We ve got to get this one. Our mind-set is it s another game on the schedule that we need badly to place us in the division where we want to be. I think our guys understand that it s a division rival, said Jets coach Todd Bowles, who, predictably, hasn t gotten caught up trying to match Ryan s act. We know it s a Thursday night game. We re the only game playing. We re trying to become 6-3, they re trying to be 5-4. We understand the importance of the game. Ryan s history with the Jets could be a potential factor tonight, given that he has behind-the-scenes knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of numerous players on the roster. I m not sure, Ryan said when asked if that could be a benefit to the Bills in this matchup. I mean I do know them and I know the guys that they brought in, such as Revis. But here s the thing I know, [they have] great players, he said. So the talent, that s the biggest thing. I think it makes it interesting, Bowles said, in the fact that he was here and they know him and he knows them. But, other than that, strategically, no, it won t make a difference. Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is 1-6 as a starter against Ryan s defenses with 12 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, including one game against Baltimore when Ryan was its defensive coordinator. Fitzpatrick went 1-4 against the Jets as a starter with Buffalo from , when current Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was Buffalo s coach. He s always a tough defense to go against and he does a great job, Fitzpatrick said of Ryan. They re very creative in their schemes and what they do. I m just going to rely on my experience, not just in the games I ve played against him before, but everything that I ve learned the last few years and how I ve grown as a player. But he added, We ve got a much different team here. The scheme is similar in that it s Chan s offense, but we ve got a different set of personnel and we like to the run the ball. It is a much different offense in that regard. I think I m a much better player than I was four years ago. 6 P a g e

7 Obviously both teams are trying to get to the playoffs, Ryan said. So this is absolutely huge. It would be a gigantic win. But obviously we ve got a ton of work to do before that s a possibility. And if the Bills win tonight, Ryan s post-game news conference figures to be must-see television. If the Jets win, Bowles is unlikely to make any proclamations. But his team will be one step closer to its goal. COLON OUT, MILLINER IN: The Jets placed RG Willie Colon on injured reserve because of a chronic right knee injury and activated CB Dee Milliner from the short-term IR. Milliner is expected to play because the Jets likely won t have the services of CB Antonio Cromartie (quadriceps). Jets lineman Willie Colon out for rest of season (J.P. Pelzman) The Record Willie Colon s season is over. The Jets placed the veteran right guard on injured reserve Wednesday to make room for third-year cornerback Dee Milliner, who was activated from short-term injured reserve. Colon has been plagued by chronic pain in his right knee and already had missed two games, including the Jets win over Jacksonville on Sunday. He had not practiced this week as the Jets prepared for their Thursday night game at home against Buffalo. Third-year pro Brian Winters again will start in Colon's place. Milliner suffered a wrist injury early in training camp and was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. The Jets had until 4 p.m. Wednesday to put him on the active roster, or he would revert to season-ending IR despite the fact he has recovered from the injury. The Jets could use Milliner against the Bills, considering that veteran corner Antonio Cromartie (quadriceps) is not expected to play. Marcus Williams likely will start if Cromartie doesn t play, but Milliner could be used in sub packages. NEW YORK TIMES Foundation of Jets Defense Is Sagging (Ben Shpigel) New York Times FLORHAM PARK, N.J. Once, there was a house. The caretaker loved the house loved it more than any other area of his property and he bragged about it, even as it lapsed into disrepair. But after living there for six years, he got transferred and was forced to sell. The next tenants invested a small fortune in remodeling and vowed to make it sparkle again, which it did. The house was the envy of the entire neighborhood until powerful storms tore up the roof, blew out a few windows and knocked a tree into the kitchen. 7 P a g e

8 The Jets defense is that house. Rex Ryan once owned it. Now it belongs to Todd Bowles, who has watched the foundation sink and sag for the last three weeks. A loss in New England, where the Jets were overwhelmed by Tom Brady, preceded a debacle in Oakland, which gave way to a victory Sunday against the Jaguars, which might have featured the team s most disheartening defensive performance of the season. Twice against Jacksonville, the Jets allowed touchdowns toward the end of a half, on quick drives that faced little resistance. The second time, the Jets held a lead before Blake Bortles completed passes of 23, 29 and 20 yards. Within 25 seconds, the Jaguars had scored. Even though the Jets won, 28-23, they allowed 11 plays of more than 20 yards. If that seems like a lot, it is. Across the Jets first five games, they allowed 13 such plays. In their last three games, they have given up 22, including six of their eight longest passes. The biggest thing is the missed tackles and busted assignments that we can t have, Bowles said. That, we have to shore up. From the Jets perspective, their deficiencies are overblown. Brady shredded them the way he shreds everyone else, they said. And besides, he passed 54 times that day; he was bound to throw for more than 300 yards. In Oakland, the Jets lacked energy from the outset and missed more than 20 tackles, according to their statistics. Against Jacksonville, Bowles said, there were three broken plays. When asked, Bowles said he was not concerned about his defense. But it is troubling how the long gains have come during close games (New England), in the first half (Oakland) and when the Jets were trying to secure a victory (Jacksonville) not when they were leading by a wide margin and the other team resorted to passing in an attempt to catch up. As a secondary, cornerback Marcus Williams said, it s not what you want to do. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was blocked by Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman on Oct. 25. The Jets committed tens of millions of dollars to defensive backs, including Revis, in free agency. Credit Winslow Townson/Associated Press Williams was a holdover from the Ryan regime, but in free agency, General Manager Mike Maccagnan committed $149 million to luring cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie, Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine, and safety Marcus Gilchrist. Among that group, Revis and Gilchrist have been the most reliable. Skrine, after a strong start, has struggled when playing pass coverage the past few games. Cromartie gave up a deep touchdown in the Jets opener, a moment that presaged his problems against Oakland and Jacksonville. If we saw him as struggling, then you can always make a change, roll up, help the guy coveragewise, defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said of Cromartie last week. He added: In our hearts of hearts, we don t believe he s struggling. The Jets believe they fixed their problem with missed tackles, but the mental mistakes endure. One of the most notable was safety Dion Bailey s error on the Patriots critical 3rd-and-17 conversion in the fourth quarter that facilitated their go-ahead touchdown. Of course, Bailey will not be playing against Buffalo on Thursday night. He has a high ankle sprain, the same injury that has sidelined Calvin Pryor the last two games and will again this week, compromising the Jets depth at safety. Get the big sports news, highlights and analysis from Times journalists, with distinctive takes on games and some behind-the-scenes surprises, delivered to your inbox every week. 8 P a g e

9 At cornerback, Dee Milliner returns from injured reserve, but Cromartie is officially listed as doubtful with a deep thigh bruise. That further dilutes the secondary of a defense that has given up more than 1,000 passing yards in the last three games. The Jets have allowed three consecutive 300-yard passing games for the first time since 1986, according to Pro-Football-Reference. The culprits 29 years ago were a future Hall of Famer and two young quarterbacks, same as this season. Instead of Dan Marino, Jack Trudeau and David Archer, the Jets were burned by Brady, Derek Carr and Bortles. Every game can t be a perfect game, Skrine said. The past two games, we haven t played the way we wanted to play, but we don t plan on that happening again this season. A few strong passing teams loom New England, the Giants and Dallas, if Tony Romo has returned by then but the Bills are not one of them. Led by LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams, who each ran for more than 100 yards in last week s victory against Miami, Buffalo ranks third in the N.F.L. in rushing. But the Jets are wary of Tyrod Taylor s ability to throw deep balls, and Sammy Watkins s ability to catch them. Unlike Ryan, who always knew (and cared about) where the Jets ranked defensively, Bowles said last month that statistics did not matter. When asked what he valued, though, he mentioned red-zone defense, in which the Jets rank second; third-down conversion percentage (12th), takeaways (third) and run defense (first). In all those categories, the Jets are superior to Buffalo, whose coach holds the defense of his former team in high esteem. It looks pretty darn good, Ryan said. Of course it does. He used to live there. Now he hopes to add to the wreckage. ESPN NEW YORK Jets activate Dee Milliner, place Willie Colon on IR (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York On the eve of facing the Buffalo Bills, the New York Jets made two significant roster moves, activating cornerback Dee Milliner from short-term injured reserve on Wednesday and placing starting right guard Willie Colon on IR. The Jets need cornerback help because Antonio Cromartie officially is listed as doubtful. Cromartie, who suffered a deep thigh bruise Sunday, missed three straight days of practice. The nine-year veteran never has missed a game due to injury, but his Iron Man streak likely will end. Cromartie will be replaced in the starting lineup by Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams. Skrine is questionable with shoulder and hand injuries, but he's expected to play. The Jets had until 4 p.m. to make a decision on Milliner, who would've gone on season-ending IR if they hadn't activated him. Chances are, they would've made the move anyway, but Cromartie's injury situation made it a no-brainer. 9 P a g e

10 Milliner, the ninth overall pick in 2013, underwent wrist surgery in the preseason. The former starter, plagued by injuries in his first two seasons, was projected at the start of training camp as the No. 4 corner in the Jets' new-look secondary, but he could have a larger role than anticipated. Brian Winters will replace Colon in the lineup. Winters has 20 career starts, but only two at right guard -- both this season. Colon's season is over, and quite possibly his career. The 32-year-old lineman, who missed the last game, has been dealing with chronic knee issues. He sprained an MCL in Week 3 and had been fighting to stay on the field. As expected, the Jets ruled out strong safeties Calvin Pryor and Dion Bailey, both of whom are recovering from high-ankle sprains. They could start Williams, who struggled two weeks ago at safety, or Rontez Miles, just up from the practice squad. Center Nick Mangold, who couldn't finish last week's game because of a lingering neck injury, is probable for Thursday night. Injuries have created a roster crunch as the Jets (5-3) head into the second half of the season. On Tuesday, they put longtime kicker Nick Folk (quadriceps strain) on IR because they couldn't carry two kickers. They signed Randy Bullock as his replacement. "There are a lot of moving parts, obviously," coach Todd Bowles said. "We have to sort through it and make the best decisions." Jets quarterbacks recite poetry (their own) before they read defenses (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York A few minutes before they take the field to face the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, the New York Jets' three quarterbacks will huddle in the tunnel at MetLife Stadium. They won't talk X's and O's. They won't butt helmets or high-five. They will conduct a poetry reading. It won't be Shakespeare or Frost. On this particular night, it will be Petty. Rookie Bryce Petty will have written a short poem for the occasion and he will recite it, with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith repeating each line. This is how the Jets' quarterbacks go into each game. Before prime time, it's rhyme time. "It's just a few goofy lines," Fitzpatrick said. "Usually, you'll include where we're playing or the quarterback we're playing against, something goofy. It's a fun thing to do before the game to keep it loose." It's probably safe to assume Petty's poem will include a Rex Ryan mention. He could go in another direction, but it might be tough to find something that rhymes with "Enemkpali." Maybe he'll channel some Walt Whitman, working in a reference to "O Captain! My Captain!" Fitzpatrick hatched the new tradition. It's something he picked up in 2007, when he joined the Cincinnati Bengals. Back then, the poems were limited to a couple of lines, but he has expanded them through his travels during the years. 10 P a g e

11 Petty did the honors last Sunday before the Jets beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he's up again. That's how it works. Fitzpatrick is the Jets' poet laureate, proving a guy with an economics degree from Harvard is capable of turning a phrase. He has the ability to rhyme well and think fast, and he showed it last month. He forgot to prepare a poem before facing the Miami Dolphins in London, but he whipped up a beauty while walking on the ramp toward the tunnel. "He put out one of the best ones we had all year," Petty said. "It was sweet, almost like a rap. He's so witty. It takes me 20 minutes to think of something that rhymes and he can do it on the spot. "It's funny because it gets us loose and it gets us laughing. It gets us psyched up for the game." Petty declined to reveal his pre-jacksonville poem, except to say it was "fantastic." Smith's poetry reading two weeks ago in Oakland, California, got some play because Fitzpatrick was mic'd up by NFL Films. The NFL tweeted out a 15-second sound bite, with Smith reciting his lines. Unfortunately, it got cut off, but we heard this much: Come on, Jets, let's have a day Although our game is in the bay We'll win this game, we'll get this dub (W)... We don't know how it ends, but we know how the game went. What's a good rhyme for "thumb"? New York Jets overcome quarterback tumult, ready for playoff run (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York November 11, A look at the highs and lows from the first half of the season for the New York Jets (5-3) and what to expect in the second half: Midseason MVP: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Since replacing an injured Geno Smith in the preseason, Fitzpatrick has provided grown-up leadership and playoff-caliber quarterback play. His Total QBR is 76.7, which ranks third in the NFL. He doesn't have a big arm and he's not the most accurate passer, but he makes quick decisions and feeds the ball to his playmakers. It's a point-guard mentality. The Jets haven't had a quarterback with this much savvy since Brett Favre (2008). Fitzpatrick has won the trust of his teammates, eliminating a potential quarterback controversy. He probably will have surgery on his left thumb before the end of the season, perhaps as soon as Friday, raising questions about the potential impact over the final seven games. Best moment: In his Jets debut, Brandon Marshall made a heads-up play in response to a Week 1 interception. It happened so quickly, and it changed the game even though it was only the second quarter. He ripped the ball out of the hands of Cleveland Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, who was covering him. One play later, the Jets scored to take control of the game. It was the spark they needed in Todd Bowles' first game as the head coach. It also was Marshall's "Welcome to New York" moment. Worst moment: There have been a few (Marshall's ill-advised lateral in Week 3 and his killer drop against the New England Patriots in Week 7), but it's hard to ignore the Smith-IK Enemkpali altercation in August. Enemkpali punched Smith in the face, breaking his jaw and putting the presumptive starting quarterback 11 P a g e

12 on the shelf for two months. Some might argue it was a "good" thing because it allowed Fitzpatrick to take over, but it was an ugly and embarrassing incident that cast an unflattering light on the franchise. It also may have forever altered Smith's career. Reason to be optimistic: Statistically, the Jets have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. That, coupled with a watered-down AFC, should put them in prime position to claim a wild card. They face only three upper-tier quarterbacks over the final eight games -- Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Tom Brady. Only one opponent (Patriots) has a scoring defense ranked in the top 10. It would be a bitter disappointment if the Jets miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year. Key to second half: The Jets need to put out an APB for their running game. In the last two games, Chris Ivory has been limited to 43 yards on 38 attempts -- a stunning and historic fall-off. Injuries to center Nick Mangold and right guard Willie Colon, coupled with a lack of quality depth, have contributed to the decline. Ivory also could be wearing down, which means the coaching staff needs to integrate Stevan Ridley into the second-half plan. The Jets aren t built to survive without a running attack. Their blueprint is centered on pounding the rock and creating turnovers on defense. If they deviate from the formula, forget about the playoffs. NEW YORK POST Jets are frauds if Rex hype distracts from beating Bills (Steve Serby) New York Post All of it is noise, and all of it must be ignored, and none of it will mean a thing if the Jets are for real. Over these three intense hours Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, Rex Ryan won t be lining up in a threepoint stance looking to tug on Ryan Fitzpatrick s beard. He won t be blocking for Tyrod Taylor, or running a slant on Revis Island. He won t be confused by anyone with Vince Lombardi on the sideline. Shame on the Jets if they fall into the trap of being distracted by the relentless Rexmania buildup. Rex making IK Enemkpali coin toss captain wasn t solely another example of a moth drawn to the media light. It was undoubtedly also a calculated master stroke designed in part to take the pressure off his team for a game with Tyrannosaurus Rex wild-card playoff implications for both the Jets and Bills. The message to the Jets is this: Win this game. No Rexcuses. It s what teams with tunnel-vision focus, mental toughness, discipline and professionalism do. It s the kind of team Todd Bowles has been trying to build since the day he walked through Woody Johnson s door to sit in Ryan s old seat. This is the kind of game that playoff contenders win and pretenders lose. You don t allow a Rex Ryan to march into your building and beat you. The AFC playoff picture we can safely award the AFC East to the Patriots shows the 5-3 Jets with the inside wild-card track on the 5-4 Steelers, 4-4 Raiders and 4-4 Bills. But the Jets have lost to the Raiders and cannot afford a loss to the Bills now. 12 P a g e

13 Under Ryan, the Bills have been prone to emotional highs and lows that have resulted in a disturbing amount of untimely penalties. The unflappable, even-keeled Bowles will demand poise in the noise. It helps that he has the more mature team. Bowles has the more experienced quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has the more experienced wide receivers. He has Darrelle Revis to shadow Sammy Watkins. He has the more experienced offensive line, where despite Willie Colon s absence, the best news for him and the Jets is Nick Mangold will play. Mangold is at the center of the effectiveness of Chris Ivory s running game. Mangold s return from the neck injury that sidelined him in Oakland and impaired him against the Jaguars, combined with the absence of Bills interior menace Kyle Williams (knee), is an under-the-radar plus for the Jets. It is no coincidence Ivory s yards per carry has suffered lately. Mangold and Fitzpatrick have developed the kind of chemistry you want and need between your center and quarterback. Mangold and Iron Man left tackle D Brickashaw Ferguson are underappreciated as the kind of indispensable, dependable rocks on the Jets offensive line since 2006 that Eli Manning has been behind center for the Giants since The atmosphere will be crazed at MetLife Stadium Ryan s return plus the Thursday Night primetime television audience. There will be an unmistakable buzz even before Ryan emerges from the tunnel. It will have the feel of a heavyweight championship fight when Enemkpali marches to midfield for the coin toss. Ryan, as always, relishes his lightning rod status. I think he ll get cheered he didn t quit on us, they fired him, Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly said. He brought a lot of joy to the city, and they went to two back-to-back conference championship games, and he was always good with the media and good with the fans, so I think they ll cheer him. Sheldon Richardson predicted: Mixed feelings, probably. Most fans loved him. He was always loved by his team, most definitely. It just didn t pan out. We just didn t make plays. Quinton Coples said: Every coach wants to win, and if you don t win, you get fired. So I don t think he s gonna get any hard feelings or they re gonna throw bottles at him or nothing like that. Everybody understands it s a business. I can t say what they re gonna do. Ryan s impact on most Jets rex-cluding Calvin Pryor and several others was profound. They smile fondly at the recollection of their favorite Rex memory. Us being the spoiler, beating Miami [2013 finale] in Miami, Richardson said. And then just him being him in the locker room and stuff like that, and in the meeting rooms and stuff, just some stuff you can t say on a microphone. Revis remembered: It s probably the first day he got hired [in 2009] when he walked in the building. He was on a mission as a head coach to win, and win right now, and win big, and that s what he said in his press conference. Only a weaker team would succumb to Rexmania. Bowles doesn t want to hear any Rexcuses. He s done a phenomenal job just making it about football, he s done that all year, Geno Smith said. It s only about football, it s only about this team, it s only about us getting better. This game, obviously, is gonna be a big game, it s a Thursday nighter, a rivalry, got new jerseys. I mean, everything that you can possibly imagine is gonna make it a big game. But we re practicing with the right mentality, and we ve gotta make sure that we re ready to play. Our goal is to win the game, not to get in a fight, or give hugs or anything like that, Reilly said. I m sure Rex feels the same way. His goal is to win a football game, whether it s win by 20 or win by one point, all that matters is you want to win the game. 13 P a g e

14 Revis, asked if he would say hi before the game to Ryan, said: This is not buddy-buddy. We re trying to win a game, he s trying to win a game. He s a head coach, it s his job to get his team ready to win. On our side, we have to handle our business to make sure we re ready to win also. Win this game. No Rexcuses.? Jets suffer shocking O-line loss, then activate a forgotten player (Brian Costello) New York Post The Jets unveiled some surprising injury news Wednesday afternoon when they placed veteran guard Willie Colon on season-ending injured reserve. Colon, 32, who has battled knee issues for several years, sprained his left knee in the Jets Week 3 loss to the Eagles. He missed one game, but then returned for the next three before missing last week s game against the Jaguars. Brian Winters will replace him as the starting right guard. The Jets cleared a roster spot by putting Colon on IR and were able to activate cornerback Dee Milliner to take the spot. Milliner had been on short-term IR to start the season after having right wrist surgery during training camp. Milliner, a first-round pick in 2013, has been a disappointment so far in his injury-filled career. It is unclear what Milliner s role will be Thursday night against the Bills. The Jets could be without starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie, but coach Todd Bowles indicated Marcus Williams would start in Cromartie s place. The loss of Colon is going to further hurt the Jets struggling run game. Colon was a strong run blocker and a valuable leader in the locker room. He has spent the past three seasons with the Jets after beginning his career with the Steelers. The Jets have given up 1,008 passing yards over their past three games as the Patriots, Raiders and Jaguars all picked on their much-hyped secondary. What the heck is going on with the Jets pass defense? They were different, Bowles said of each game. We had three busted plays [against the Jaguars] that went for a ton of yards. That can t happen. The Raiders were missed tackles, and before that New England threw the ball about 50-something times, which that can nickel-and-dime you and get you up to 300. But, we have to make our share of plays. The biggest thing is the missed tackles and busted assignments that we can t have, that we have to shore up. The Jaguars hit seven plays of more than 25 yards, six of them through the air. I thought there were some busted coverages, Bowles said. I thought we played well through spurts and I thought we gave up some plays at the end of the half and at the end of the game that weren t very good. Punter Ryan Quigley was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after doing both punting and place-kicking duties in Sunday s win over the Jaguars. Quigley kicked four extra points after Nick Folk injured his quadriceps in pregame warm-ups. He had five punts inside the 20, but also had two punts of around 30 yards. 14 P a g e

15 He is the first NFL player to punt at least nine times and convert four PATs since the Cowboys Danny Villanueva on Dec. 4, 1966 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Jets may sign safety Ronald Martin off the practice squad Thursday. They only have two healthy safeties at the moment. Teams can sign players the day of the game when they play on Thursday. Rex s Bills vs. Jets: Storylines galore and the winner will be (Brian Costello) New York Post After 10 months of anticipation and three days of playoff-like buildup, Rex Ryan s return to MetLife Stadium is finally here. Ryan, who coached the Jets for six seasons, will be on the opposing sideline Thursday night in the red, white and blue of the Bills in a huge AFC East matchup. The talk all week has been about Ryan s return, making it easy to overlook how big of a game this is in the standings for both teams. The 5-3 Jets and 4-4 Bills most likely won t catch the Patriots for the division title, but both figure to be in the AFC wild-card mix. Ryan downplayed his personal feelings this week, choosing to focus on what this win would mean for his team. It d be huge, Ryan said. It would definitely be huge for us because it s a big game. Obviously we want to stay in the thick of things and that s what makes this thing such a big game. Obviously both teams are trying to get to the playoffs, it s been a long time for both franchises and we re a game behind the Jets. So this is absolutely huge. It would be a gigantic win. Of course, that does not mean the drama of Rex returning won t be a big deal Thursday night. His every move is sure to be chronicled from which Jets players he greets to how the fans act toward him. Ryan made the coin toss a sidebar by naming former Jet IK Enemkpali as a game captain. Enemkpali became the story of the week as many people viewed it as disrespectful of Ryan to honor Enemkpali, who was cut by the Jets in August after breaking quarterback Geno Smith s jaw. Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall said none of this will matter when the teams take the field. It s just football, Marshall said. It s not a soap opera. It s not TMZ. This is just football. It should be a fascinating game with the Bills getting healthier and the Jets dealing with a rash of injuries. The Jets have injury concerns on the offensive line and in the secondary, two areas the Bills could exploit. The Bills offense is filled with playmakers, headlined by Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy and led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Obviously, they re tough, Jets coach Todd Bowles said. They re talented, they ve got a lot of talent at a lot of skill positions. They re big and tough up front on both sides of the ball. It s going to be a tough ball game. Marquee matchup Bills WR Sammy Watkins vs. Jets CB Darrelle Revis The second-year Buffalo star had his best game as a pro last week, torching the Dolphins for 168 receiving yards and a touchdown. Now, he gets to challenge Revis, who some feel has slipped a bit. 15 P a g e

16 Revis will have to be on top of his game because the Jets are hurting elsewhere in the secondary with safeties Calvin Pryor and Dion Bailey out and cornerback Antonio Cromartie unlikely to play. Revis was complimentary of Watkins when asked what challenges he presents. Every challenge in the book. He s one of the young stars in the league, Revis said. He makes a lot of plays. He s their No. 1 threat. He catches a lot of deep balls down the field. [Tyrod] Taylor has a great arm on the deep ball and they look for Sammy down the field. It s definitely going to be a challenge. Watkins said he is eager for the challenge of facing Revis. I look forward to it, Watkins told reporters in Buffalo. I understand it s going to be a hard matchup. He s going to be shadowing me probably everywhere. As a top receiver as a receiver who wants to be noticed as a top receiver you definitely want to go against those type of guys. I know it s going to probably be the hardest challenge of my career, season, every year. 4 downs Nick-ed up The Jets have injuries all over their lineup, but the most concerning is at center with Nick Mangold, who has a neck injury. Mangold tried to play Sunday against the Jaguars, but left the game in the first half. The Jets running game basically stops when Mangold walks off the field. Though he will start Thursday, there is no guarantee he will finish. Mangold said it is impossible to replicate in practice the stress on his neck a game causes. It s got to be in full-game situation and that s tough to replicate once you re out of training camp pretty much, Mangold said. You just go out there with high hopes and the way things have been going, it shouldn t be a worry. Making matters worse for the Jets is the absence of right guard Willie Colon, who was put on seasonending injured reserve Wednesday with a knee injury. Brian Winters is expected to start in place of Colon. Secondary issues The Jets are also really banged up in their defensive backfield, and that could burn them against Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy. Calvin Pryor and Dion Bailey are both out, meaning Rontez Miles likely will start at safety. Miles was just signed off the practice squad last week. It also is possible the Jets could sign safety Ronald Martin off the practice squad before Thursday s game. At cornerback, Antonio Cromartie is expected to miss the game, which will force Marcus Williams into the starting lineup most likely. They also could move Buster Skrine to the outside. No. 1 vs. No. 2 Any Jets fan knows Rex Ryan s formula is running the ball on offense and stopping the run on defense. He must be loving his rushing attack this season, which is ranked No. 2 in the NFL at yards per game. McCoy leads the way with 416 rushing yards on 94 carries and two touchdowns. Karlos Williams, the team s fifth-round draft choice this year, has been impressive as well, with 336 yards and five scores on 41 carries. Facing Ryan s rushing attack, though, is the Jets defensive front he helped create. The Jets are No. 1 in the NFL against the run, allowing 80.6 yards per game. Ryan drafted Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson and coached Damon Harrison from an undrafted free agent to a star NFL nose tackle. Ryan won t be happy to see them again. 16 P a g e

17 Fitz s revenge While all the attention has been on Ryan facing his former team, it is also a reunion for Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for the Bills from It is not the first time Fitzpatrick has faced them. He led the Texans to a win over the Bills last year, something he called an emotional win this week. Any time you play against a team that told you you re not good enough, that carries some extra weight, Fitzpatrick said. So this one will definitely carry extra weight for me. But that being said, the farther we re removed from that, the more the faces have changed. I don t know as many guys on the team anymore. Costello s call This looks like a dangerous game for the Jets, but I think they ride the emotion of a fired up home crowd and the offense finds some holes in Rex Ryan s defense and Ryan leaves MetLife a loser. Jets 30, Bills 21 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Sammy Watkins vs. Darrelle Revis: Buffalo Bills-Jets matchups to watch (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media FLORHAM PARK The Jets (5-3) host the Bills (4-4) on Thursday at 8:25 p.m. at MetLife Stadium. Here's a look at three matchups that could affect the outcome: Jets CB Darrelle Revis vs. Bills WR Sammy Watkins Watkins, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, smoked the Jets for 157 receiving yards on just three catches in last year's game at MetLife Stadium. And he's coming off his best game of this season eight catches on eight targets for 168 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. But now he gets Revis, who is not in decline, and even though the Jets' defense got tagged for 338 passing yards Sunday against the Jaguars, Revis only gave up two catches on seven targets for 50 yards, per Pro Football Focus. Jets C Nick Mangold/LG James Carpenter vs. Bills DT Marcell Dareus Teams are stacking the box to stop the Jets' rushing attack, and now the Jets get to face Dareus, one of the league's best interior defensive linemen. Mangold will play despite a neck injury. But the Jets frequently went heavy against the Jaguars, using tackle Brent Qvale as an eligible tight end 17 times. Their best bet to neutralize Dareus seems to be to spread the Bills out with extra receivers and quick passes. And the Bills rank just 26th in run defense DVOA, per Football Outsiders. Using the spread to set up the run can work. Jets WR Eric Decker vs. Bills CB Nickell Robey This has the potential to be a mismatch. Decker, working mostly out of the slot this season, has using his precision route running to pile up 36 catches, 472 yards, and six touchdowns. If the Bills choose to cover him with Robey, their usual slot corner, it could be a mismatch: Quarterbacks have a rating of 91.7 when targeting Robey, and nearly 70 percent of all passes thrown at him have been caught, according to Pro Football Focus. 17 P a g e