NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS October 24, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 No more Rex, but Jets-Patriots rivalry is still hot (Jimmy Golen)... 2 Jets' Skrine (concussion) likely to play vs. Patriots (Dennis Waszak)... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Jets see Ryan Fitzpatrick as game manager, just what they needed (Kimberley A. Martin)... 4 Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick wears his wedding ring during games (Kimberley A. Martin)... 5 Brandon Marshall on Jets' work ethic: 'This is why this team is special' (Greg Logan)... 6 Still going through concussion protocol, Jets' Buster Skrine listed as probable vs. Patriots (Greg Logan)... 7 THE RECORD... 8 Jets CB Buster Skrine back on the field (Jeff Roberts)... 8 Brandon Marshall on Jets: This "team is special" (Jeff Roberts)... 9 Ivory making most of more opportunities (Jeff Roberts) ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall 'shocked' first time he faced Patriots CB Malcolm Butler (Rich Cimini) Jets nickel back Buster Skrine (concussion) probable vs. Patriots (Rich Cimini) Crunching numbers for an inside look at Jets-Patriots matchup (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST Patriots salivating over Jets risk-taking weakness (Mark Cannizzaro) One question mark that could derail Chris Ivory s dream season (Brian Lewis) Brandon Marshall can t get over how special Jets are (Brian Lewis) Jets much-needed Tom Brady defender looks OK to play (Brian Lewis) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets are tied for NFL's healthiest team, per ESPN (Dom Cosentino) Can Jets' Buster Skrine handle New England Patriots' Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola? (Darryl Slater) Jets' Brandon Marshall was 'shocked' by New England Patriots' Malcolm Butler in game last year (Darryl Slater) Buster Skrine feels 'fine to play' in Jets-New England Patriots (Dom Cosentino) It looks like Jets' Buster Skrine (concussion) might play Sunday at New England Patriots (Darryl Slater) key Jets matchups vs. New England Patriots, including Darrelle Revis vs. Tom Brady (Darryl Slater) Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts on Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick: 'There's no drama' (Dom Cosentino) Jets special teams coach takes blame for blocked punt vs. Washington Redskins (Dom Cosentino) Brandon Marshall on Jets' strong locker room chemistry: 'It's something I've never been a part of' (Darryl Slater) P a g e

2 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets WR Brandon Marshall impressed by Patriots Super Bowl star Malcolm Butler (Kevin Armstrong) METRO NEW YORK things to watch for as Jets take on Patriots (Kristian Dyer) FRIDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS No more Rex, but Jets-Patriots rivalry is still hot (Jimmy Golen) Associated Press October 24, FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Darrelle Revis switched sides in the rivalry between the Patriots and Jets and helped New England win a Super Bowl in his only season there. Then he switched back. Again manning the defensive backfield for New York, where he played the first six years of his career, Revis has helped bolster a defense that is No. 1 in the league. And for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has faced Revis in both practice and games, there's no question which he preferred. "He's been an incredible playmaker since he's been in the league," Brady said this week as the Patriots (5-0) prepared for the Jets (4-1). "I got a firsthand look at that last year every day in practice, and it was great to have him play a part here. But he moved on, so now he's our competition again." Revis made the Pro Bowl four straight years before missing most of the 2012 season with a torn ACL. The Jets traded the cornerback to Tampa Bay that offseason, and after one season with the Buccaneers in which he returned to Pro Bowl form but won only four games he signed with the Patriots. For a team that resists big-name and big-money free agents, the signing was a departure one that paid off. Revis solidified the secondary and helped New England win its fourth championship, intercepting Andrew Luck in the AFC title game and then adding a sack of Russell Wilson in the Super Bowl. "When you don't coach a guy, you don't just have that day-to-day relationship with him. You just see him the times you compete against him," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He was a pleasure to coach and really has a great understanding, instinctiveness to the game, studies his opponents well, always well prepared, very professional. Obviously, he's a great player." New York and Boston have been rivals for more than a century not just in football, and not just in sports. But the NFL "border wars" that flared up between Belichick and mentor Bill Parcells had cooled before Rex Ryan took over the Jets. Still, he couldn't make much of a dent in a Patriots reign that has earned them 11 AFC East titles in 12 years. Revis switching sides might not be enough to change that, but with a victory the Jets would tie New England atop the division. Here are some more things to look for in Sunday's game: SMALL TALK: Ryan arrived in New York vowing to challenge the Patriots' supremacy. Though the Jets did reach the conference championship game in back-to-back seasons ( ), they only went through the Patriots once and never won a division title. 2 P a g e

3 Under new coach Todd Bowles, the Jets have taken a quieter approach. "It's as big as you want it to be," Revis said. "For us, it's still early in the season. We're still trying to get better and better each week. It is a big game because it is a conference game, but at the same time, it's still early in the season.... Whoever's on the schedule that week, that's who we've got to play." IVORY SHINES: Jets running back Chris Ivory is off to the best start of his NFL career. He's coming off his first back-to-back 100 yards rushing performances, and his 312 yards rushing combined over the last two games are the most by a Jets player since Thomas Jones had 331 in Ivory leads the NFL with 115 yards per game, ranks second with 5.54 yards per carry, and is third in overall rushing with 460 yards despite missing one game with a quadriceps injury and having a bye-week break. "It's a great scheme and they're doing a hell of a job up front," Ivory said. "I'm being very patient, probably the most patient I've been throughout my career." MARSHALL LAW: Brandon Marshall has 100 or more yards receiving in four straight games, becoming the Jets' first player to accomplish the feat since Hall of Famer Don Maynard in 1968 and the third overall. He has 37 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns, the last score stunning quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick when Marshall made a terrific fingertips catch just off his shoe tops on a poor throw and then scooted down the sideline for a 35-yard TD. "How he caught it, I don't know," Fitzpatrick said. "How he turned it in to a touchdown, I really don't know. That's one of those where you're very thankful that Brandon is my teammate and very thankful for the opportunity to get to throw to him." EX-PATS: In addition to Revis, wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins and running back Stevan Ridley could play against their former teammates in New England. Thompkins was promoted this week from the Jets' practice squad. He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and also spent time with the Raiders last year before spending this summer with New England again. Ridley, who practiced for the first time this season on Wednesday, is making a return from torn knee ligaments suffered last year with the Patriots. He's on the physically unable to perform list, and the Jets wanted to see how he got through the week before deciding whether to activate him. Jets' Skrine (concussion) likely to play vs. Patriots (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Jets will likely have cornerback Buster Skrine back in their secondary against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Skrine was listed as probable on the Jets' injury report Friday despite being limited at practice while recovering from a concussion. He suffered a head injury last Sunday against Washington and is going through the NFL's concussion protocol. Skrine said he needed to pass two more tests Friday before being officially cleared. "I do feel fine to play," he said after practice. 3 P a g e

4 Skrine would play an important role in the Jets' scheme against the Patriots, particularly defending tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman on short pass plays. "This is a big game, a division game," Skrine said, "so just being able to come back if I get to come back, I want to help the team any way I can." Backup running back Bilal Powell (ankle) has been ruled out. That could create an opportunity for Stevan Ridley, who could make his season debut after tearing two knee ligaments more than a year ago while with the Patriots. Ridley is currently on the physically unable to perform list, and coach Todd Bowles said the team would make a decision on him either later Friday or Saturday. "He's not going to get tested until he gets hit, until he makes cuts, makes blocks and those kinds of things and gets in football shape," Bowles said. "It's just a matter of how we see him in the game plan and what we think he can and can't do." Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett is doubtful with a knee injury that sidelined him for the game against the Redskins. Starting right guard Willie Colon is questionable, also with a sore knee, but will play. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall (calf) and Eric Decker (knee) were limited Friday, but there was no concern about their availability. Fellow receiver Chris Owusu is expected to make his return after missing the last three games following arthroscopic knee surgery. Also listed as probable: quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (right elbow), nose tackle Damon Harrison (finger), cornerback Marcus Williams (hamstring), safety Dion Bailey (elbow) and linebacker Quinton Coples (elbow). NEWSDAY Jets see Ryan Fitzpatrick as game manager, just what they needed (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday Tom Brady is a man on a mission. It's unclear whom he's trying to make a statement to -- his DeflateGate detractors or Father Time. But the 38-year-old is on a tear, throwing 14 touchdown passes and only one interception in five games. And with Brady leading the way, the New England Patriots have steamrolled the competition en route to a 5-0 start. Brady is a quarterback with a killer instinct, one whose poise under pressure is matched only by his accuracy. And Ryan Fitzpatrick? Well, he's a different story. "He's a game manager," Jets linebacker Quinton Coples said matter-of-factly. Sunday's AFC East showdown between the Jets (4-1) and the defending Super Bowl champions will pit a future Hall of Famer against a journeyman backup-turned-starter. But by no means do the Jets believe they're at a disadvantage. "Nobody has the advantage until the end of the fourth quarter when it says who wins," Coples said. 4 P a g e

5 "It's one thing if we have a quarterback who's throwing eight picks a game or something reckless. Then yes, you can call it that," added right guard Willie Colon. "But Fitz is always prepared, he knows where he's going with the ball, he's able to put us in good positions, he knows what he needs to do in hurry-up situations. "I think he's just the ultimate game manager, which a lot of good quarterbacks are." That label often is viewed as an insult, but Colon said it's anything but that when applied to Fitzpatrick. "People take it as somebody that's limited. And I don't think people feel like that toward Fitz at all," the Hofstra alum said. "I think if you look at what we've been through the last few years and to where we're at now, I don't understand how you can take it as a slight." Though Fitzpatrick has made his share of mistakes on the field, he's impressed as the Jets' starter. He had a Total Quarterback Rating of 91.4 against Miami and 99.0 against Washington in back-to-back weeks, and according to ESPN.com, he's on pace for the best Total QBR of any Jets quarterback in the 10 seasons of QBR data. The most troubling statistic, however, is his seven interceptions. Only Peyton Manning (10), Matthew Stafford (nine), Sam Bradford (nine) and Kirk Cousins (eight) have more. But in Fitzpatrick, the Jets have found a veteran who understands "what this team is about," Colon said. "We're going to run the ball, we're going to be physical, we're going to let the defense ride, and all we've got to do is just keep the game in a manageable position, and things are going to work out." Fitzpatrick, 32, has plenty of familiarity with Brady given his four seasons in Buffalo. "He does a great job," Fitzpatrick said. "He's just so efficient out there and he's fun to watch just because of how in command he is of that offense and of the game." But on Sunday, he won't be worried about what Brady is doing. "My focus is playing against the Patriots' defense," Fitzpatrick said. "When we're on the sideline, I'm looking at the books and the pictures trying to get my guys set and then we're going out there for another series. That's how we kind of treat every game." Colon credits Brady as a talented and fierce competitor, but he is quick to highlight Fitzpatrick's intangibles. "You can't put them in the same category just because of what Tom's been able to accomplish. But we believe in Fitz and we know that he's going to go out there and fight his tail off, just like we are," Colon said. "When he's leading a block to try to spring Chris [Ivory], you don't necessarily see Tom do that all the time. When you see Fitz scrambling for a run, most people yell 'slide,' and he's fighting for the extra yard... And not to say anything toward Tom in that regard. But we have a quarterback that you can tell his sense of urgency is high in how he plays. He wants to be out there, he fights, he scraps. If anything, he motivates us to kind of get everything going." So, no, the Jets don't feel at a disadvantage with Fitzpatrick. Nor are they surprised that he's helped them start off 4-1. "He beat our defense before when he was with the Bills," Coples said, smiling. "So there wasn't any surprise as far as how he's handled the situation and the success he's having. He gets the job done." Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick wears his wedding ring during games (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday 5 P a g e

6 October 24, 2015 Plenty of NFL players are happily married, but most take off their wedding rings for games. Not Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has worn his ring every day -- even game day -- since marrying Liza Barber on June 24, 2006 "It's a personal thing, but I don't feel the need to have to take it off," said Fitzpatrick, who faces the Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. "I feel like when I took my vows that it symbolized something." Fitzpatrick said he occasionally gets grief from teammates. "Some guys get mad at me because I get them in trouble because their wives say, 'Why don't you wear your ring?' '' he said. Fitzpatrick said playing quarterback allows him to wear the ring with minimal physical risk. "If I was catching the ball or using my hands every play, I wouldn't be able to wear it," said Fitzpatrick, who does handle the ball on every play. "I just think the position that I play, I can get away with it." Brandon Marshall on Jets' work ethic: 'This is why this team is special' (Greg Logan) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - On his way to the locker room to meet with the media Friday, Brandon Marshall noticed linebacker Demario Davis wearing an oxygen mask while pumping away on a stationary bike, getting in a final bit of conditioning before Sunday's game against the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. It struck Marshall that Davis' commitment is the norm for a Jets team off to a 4-1 start under new coach Todd Bowles. "The first thought that came to my mind was: 'This is why this team is special,' " Marshall said. "There's a lot of guys doing that stuff, a little extra here, super-focused. There's just a great spirit in this locker room. It's something I've never been a part of where you have so many guys moving in the same direction." The Jets are Marshall's fourth team in 10 NFL seasons. The wide receiver said he's been part of teams that were "fragmented" and conceded he contributed to that at times, such as when he had a contract problem in Denver that he said he handled poorly. But Marshall is mature enough now to appreciate the opportunity the Jets have carved out for themselves. "We have guys in this locker room that really get it," he said. "Even the attitude at practice. I love seeing guys make a mistake and throw their helmet on the ground, show that they care. It's a special locker room." Bowles has set the tone with a low-key, minimalist approach that stands in stark contrast with his flamboyant predecessor, Rex Ryan, who turned the week of Patriots games into trash-talking crusades. But in Marshall's view, it also stems from the character of the players the Jets have brought in, especially veteran leaders such as defensive back Darrelle Revis. 6 P a g e

7 "It's a special thing to see guys here at 5 o'clock in the morning, beating coaches in," Marshall said. "I'm just proud to be a part of it... No one is running around talking about taking over the world. Everyone is just talking about doing their job and being mindful of the moment. It's inspiring." Marshall has led by example. His streak of four straight 100-yard receiving performances is only the third time in club history that has happened. Hall of Famer Don Maynard did it in 1968 and Super Bowl III champion teammate George Sauer did it in "When you talk about Jets history, I'm grateful and I'm thankful, but the only thing I really care about is if we're putting our team in a position to win," Marshall said. "My only goal this year is to be the hardestworking guy on the field every day." Still going through concussion protocol, Jets' Buster Skrine listed as probable vs. Patriots (Greg Logan) Newsday One possible explanation for Washington gaining a three-point halftime lead over the Jets last Sunday before losing, 34-20, was the loss of nickel cornerback Buster Skrine to a first-quarter concussion. But hey, it was the Redskins, and the Jets got by with backup Dexter McDougle. Facing the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots at Gillette Stadium this Sunday is a far more complicated problem, which is why the Jets were heartened to see Skrine practice Friday on a limited basis for the second straight day. Although he still had two more steps to complete in the concussion protocol, Skrine is listed as probable and is expected to play against Tom Brady and Co. "I've been running around the past two days," Skrine said. "I feel good... My second year, I got a concussion in Dallas, and I came back the next game. I knew what it was all about. I was just going to make sure my head was good so I can come back." Asked if it's a risk to return so quickly, Skrine smiled and said, "No risk, no risk." Trying to contain a multi-faceted pass attack that features slot receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Dion Lewis is risky business no matter how you slice it, but the degree of difficulty would go up without Skrine's availability, especially to cover Edelman in the slot. "He carries a fire about himself," Skrine said of Edelman. "I like the way he plays. He's a real shifty guy. He has a lot of misdirection routes, and he can go deep. He's a complete receiver. That's why he's their No. 1 receiver. I've got a lot of respect for him. "It's going to be a good challenge for them, too, against our defense. It's the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense." The Jets are first in the NFL in total defense, allowing yards per game, and the Patriots rank second in total offense (422.4). In terms of scoring, the Jets allow the fewest points in the NFL (15.0) and the Pats score the most (36.6). After getting banged by Washington receiver Pierre Garçon and having his head knocked awkwardly to the left, Skrine immediately knew he had suffered a concussion. 7 P a g e

8 Describing the symptoms, Skrine said, "Everything is just real cloudy, the game is real cloudy. I couldn't register what play was being called, so I came out." Skrine worried that he might miss the New England game. "Yeah, I didn't know if I was going to play or not," he said. "I was just hoping every time I woke up I felt better. I felt better on Tuesday, so I came in and we started going through the protocol." "If he's healthy," Jets coach Todd Bowles said, "we're happy to have Buster." THE RECORD Jets CB Buster Skrine back on the field (Jeff Roberts) The Record October 24, FLORHAM PARK The fog was the worst of it. Buster Skrine felt like he was caught in one after the hit. His mind was "real cloudy." And he could not keep track of the play calls coming in from the sideline. Skrine had collided with Pierre Garcon in last week's victory over Washington, and the Redskins receiver hit him in the head, snapping it violently to the left. Skrine knew immediately that he had suffered a concussion. "Everything was just real cloudy," he said. "The game was real cloudy." But just five days later, he was on the practice field Friday and without the red, no-contact jersey he wore a day earlier. He is listed as probable for Sunday in exactly the game he was given a $25 million contract this off-season to play: to cover slot receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in a showdown for first place in the AFC East at archival New England. Skrine, 26, would not say whether he expects to often cover Edelman (40 receptions, 449 yards, four touchdowns), the Patriots' top receiver. But the 5-foot-9, 185-pound cornerback was brought in to shut down players such as Edelman, Amendola and tight end Rob Gronkowski on short pass plays. "This is a big game, a division game," Skrine said, "so just being able to come back if I get to come back, I want to help the team any way I can." Coach Todd Bowles for one, is happy to see him return. "It's big because he is one of our good players," he said. The Jets (4-1) and their No. 1-ranked defense (269.2 yards allowed per game) face the Patriots (5-0) and their No. 2-ranked offense (422.4). Skrine held his own with Edelman and Amendola in 2013 when the Patriots beat the Browns, for whom he played from 2011 to 2014, "He's just a complete receiver," Skrine said of Edelman. "That's why he's their No. 1 receiver." 8 P a g e

9 Skrine was not fully cleared to play as of early Friday afternoon. He still needed to pass two more neurological tests to finish the NFL concussion protocol. But he expects to be ready Sunday. Skrine initially was worried he would have to sit out the game. "I was just hoping every time I woke up I felt better," he said. "It's a special group, man," the 10-year veteran said. "Even watching film, even the attitude. I love seeing guys make a mistake and throw their helmet on the ground and get kind of [angry] and show that they care." Marshall admits he was a locker room issue earlier in his career. "I think the first year in Miami, I didn't get it," said Marshall, 31. "I didn't understand it. I mean, my heart was in the right place. I was super-immature." IVORY IN BETTER PLACE: Chris Ivory admitted Friday that he was upset he did not receive more carries under former coach Rex Ryan in his first two Jets seasons. Brandon Marshall on Jets: This "team is special" (Jeff Roberts) The Record FLORHAM PARK The oxygen mask covered Demario Davis face as he pedaled along. The linebacker was working out on a stationary bike, squeezing in a little extra work at the Jets practice facility on a Friday before a big game. Maybe it was not an unusual sight in a football training room. But it was a sign that this Jets team is special, receiver Brandon Marshall said. The first thought that came to my mind was, This is why this team is special, the 10-year veteran said. There s a lot of guys doing that stuff, where it s a little extra here, or superfocused there. There s just a great spirit in this locker room. It s something I ve never been a part of, where you have so many guys moving in the same direction. The Jets (4-1) are enjoying their best season since their runs to the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and But they face a test Sunday in New England when they play archival New England (5-0) for first place in the AFC East. Marshall, 31, thinks this team is different from the three others he has played on. It s a special group, man, he said. Even watching film, even the attitude. I love seeing guys make a mistake and throw their helmet on the ground and get kind of [angry] and show that they care. This is a special locker room. Marshall (37 catches, 511 yards, four touchdowns) admits he himself was a locker room issue earlier in his career. I think the first year in Miami, I didn t get it, said Marshall, who has produced four straight 100-yard receiving performances the first Jets receiver to do that since Hall of Famer Don Maynard in I didn t understand it. I mean my heart was in the right place. The second year in Miami is when I had that transformation and really understood it. Anything before then I was super-immature. 9 P a g e

10 But he believes he is in a special place now. He sees star Darrelle Revis hanging out with practice squad players. He sees guys at the facility at 5 a.m., meeting with coaches. And he sees no egos or anyone playing the supserstar card. It s a tone that begins with coach Todd Bowles, but was instilled in his teammates long before now, according to Marshall. "I ve been a part of some teams where we were very fragmented," the five-time Pro Bowler said. "And I'm one in the past, that early on in my career especially in Denver with a contract situation, I handled it the wrong way. Marshall was not quite ready to profess that the Jets are a playoff team just yet. And he said he has played on other teams with good chemistry, specifically the 2012 Chicago Bears team he played with that included Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers. Ivory making most of more opportunities (Jeff Roberts) The Record FLORHAM PARK A short pause gave way to a little laugh. It was Chris Ivory s way of making it clear he did not want to answer the question. But after a few moments, the Jets running back responded as gently as he could. Yeah, he was miffed that he did not receive more carries in his first two seasons with the team, despite averaging 4.6 and 4.1 yards per rush respectively. But it wasn t something that really weighed on my mind, cause we was more about winning but we were having problems with that, Ivory said of a season. [But] it s a new year now so, new regime with a new coaching staff. Ivory did not seem angry at former coach Rex Ryan or offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Nor did he belabor the point. Instead, he was more interested in talking about his new off-season workouts, which he credited with helping his improved play this season. Ivory has become the focal point of the offense as the Jets (4-1) head to Gillette Stadium on Sunday to face their archival New England Patriots (5-0) in a battle for first place in the AFC East. But the 6-foot, 226-pound Ivory is not surprised by his hot start (460 rushing yards, four touchdowns, 5.5 yards per carry in four games), which twice led teammate Brandon Marshall in recent days to declare him the best running back in the NFL. I started pretty good last year, said Ivory, who the Jets acquired from the Saints for a fourth-round draft pick in a 2013 trade. The carries, I just wasn t getting as many opportunities. But I m not really surprised. It s something I expect. Ivory changed his off-season workouts, switching to athletic trainer James Cooper in Houston. Although he has worked with Cooper in the past, he had not done so for the six weeks to two months that he did this off-season. 10 P a g e

11 The workouts included everything: Endurance, sprinting, just those type of things. And it incorporated football drills, Ivory said. The track work was a change from his previous regimen, which involved treadmill and sand exercises. Now Ivory feels faster to the edge and just a lot healthier. He admitted he wore down last year (821 yards in 16 games), and late in the season he didn t feel this comfortable. But it is not something he is concerned about in And he remains a bruising back at heart, which he feels on Mondays. He is usually sore for about three days after each game. It kind of depends on the game, how much we re running inside and how many hits I take, he said. Then he smiled. But that was a question he did mind answering. ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall 'shocked' first time he faced Patriots CB Malcolm Butler (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Everybody knows the name of Malcolm Butler, the New England Patriots' Super Bowl hero. That wasn't the case last Oct. 26, when he saw mop-up duty in a blowout win over the Chicago Bears. He played only 15 snaps, but he broke up two passes and made an impression on one of the Bears' receivers, Brandon Marshall. "He came in and did a great job vs. Alshon [Jeffery] on a couple of plays in that game," Marshall said Friday. "I was a little shocked. I was like, 'This kid can play a little bit.' I overlooked him when he was standing in front of me. He made a few plays and I'm like, 'This kid can be special.' Malcolm Butler has gone from Super Bowl hero to No. 1 cornerback, but there have been a few growing pains. Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY SportsNobody knew about Butler until the Super Bowl, when he clinched the Patriots' victory by intercepting Russell Wilson 's pass at the goal line in the final seconds. Because of offseason upheaval -- the Patriots said goodbye to Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner -- Butler has become the Patriots' No. 1 cornerback. He plays both sides in their defense, so you'll probably see many Butler-Marshall matchups when the New York Jets meet the Patriots on Sunday. "He's feisty," Marshall said. "He reminds me a lot of Buster [Skrine]. It's going to be tough to make plays on him. He has tremendous makeup speed, and he competes. He's tough." Maybe so, but he's still a former undrafted player from West Alabama. Statistically, Butler isn't having a great year. He already has allowed four touchdown passes and a 119 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus. If he covers Marshall, the Patriots probably will roll coverage to his side, providing deep help. If it's single coverage -- Butler vs. Marshall -- the Jets would be very happy. 11 P a g e

12 Jets nickel back Buster Skrine (concussion) probable vs. Patriots (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- It looks like the New York Jets will have Buster Skrine on Sunday against the New England Patriots -- good news for a secondary poised to face Tom Brady. Skrine, who suffered a concussion last Sunday, said he felt "fine" after practicing fully on Friday, sans the red/no-contact jersey. Even though he still hadn't been officially cleared, the Jets' valuable nickel back was listed as probable for Sunday. His status was uncertain early in the week. At cornerback, the Jets should be at full strength, always an important thing when you're facing Brady. Marcus Williams, who missed last week with a pulled hamstring, is probable. He could get on the field if they go to a dime package against the Patriots. In the slot, Skrine could draw Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola. The Jets also could decide to use Darrelle Revis on Edelman. "He's a complete receiver," Skrine said of Edelman. "That's why he's their No. 1 receiver. I have a lot of respect for him, but it'll be a good challenge for them, too because of our defense. It's the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense." That it is, at least in terms of scoring. The Jets (4-1) don't have any major injury questions going into the game. Running back Bilal Powell (sprained ankle) was ruled out, which came as no surprise. He didn't practice this week. Guard Willie Colon (knee) was listed as questionable, but he's expected to play. The only mystery surrounds running back Stevan Ridley, currently on the physically-unable-to-perform list. After three practices with Ridley, Todd Bowles remained non-committal on whether to add him to the roster this week. If they remove him from the PUP list, they'd have to make a corresponding move. "He looks OK," Bowles said of Ridley, who hasn't played in a game since last October. "I mean, we're not in pads this week, so it's hard to tell. He ran around and bounced around.... He's running around pretty good." Ridley, nearly a year removed from major knee surgery, would be the No. 3 back, behind Chris Ivory and Zac Stacy. On Thursday, Ridley sounded optimistic about his chances of facing his former team in his Jets' debut. Crunching numbers for an inside look at Jets-Patriots matchup (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The folks at ESPN Stats & Information culled many interesting factoids about the New York Jets and their matchup Sunday against the New England Patriots. Enjoy: 1. The Jets blitz more than any team in the NFL (47.6 percent of dropbacks), while Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is tied for sixth in completion percentage against the blitz (69.2). 12 P a g e

13 2. The Jets are the best defense on passes outside the hash marks (Total QBR: 28.0), a direct result of improved cornerback play with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Meanwhile, Brady is terrific outside the hashmarks Total QBR. 3. Ryan Fitzpatrick is on pace for the best Total QBR by a Jets quarterback in the 10 seasons of QBR data. He's had back-to-back games with a Total QBR above 90. No Jets quarterback has ever posted three straight games over Fitzpatrick's shortcomings are interceptions and long passes. With seven picks, he has the fourthhighest interception rate in the league (4.1). He's only 3-for-24 on pass attempts of at least 20 yards in the air, the lowest percentage in the league. 5. Brandon Marshall s 511 receiving yards are the most through five games by a Jets player since Don Maynard in The most through six games is 662 (Maynard, 1967). 6. Chris Ivory leads the NFL in rushing yards per game (115.5). He averages 2.81 yards after contact per rush, the second-highest mark. He has run for at least 100 yards in two of his four meetings against the Patriots. 7. The Patriots are the only team with a third-down conversion percentage above 50 percent (50.9), and they're second in red-zone efficiency (73.9 percent). Their three turnovers are tied for the fewest. 8. New England is 18-4 in October games since 2010, including seven wins in a row. NEW YORK POST Patriots salivating over Jets risk-taking weakness (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post October 24, FOXBOROUGH, Mass. This is what the Patriots defensive players see when they look across the line of scrimmage at Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick: Opportunity. They see opportunity for interceptions. Why? Fitzpatrick, throughout his career, has been prone to turning the ball over and he has an awful history against Bill Belichick s New England defense. In seven career games against Belichick s Patriots, Fitzpatrick is 1-6 and has thrown 17 interceptions to go with 13 touchdowns. He s thrown at least one pick every time he s faced the Patriots and two or more in five of those games. The Patriots are seventh in the league in turnover differential this season at plus-4. And only four teams have thrown more interceptions than the seven Fitzpatrick has thrown this season. The Patriots defensive players and coaches said all the right things about Fitzpatrick this week during the run-up to Sunday s Jets-Patriots showdown at Gillette Stadium. They were respectful and complimentary, exactly as Belichick instructs them to be. But reading between the lines tells you they believe they can force Fitzpartrick into some game-altering interceptions. 13 P a g e

14 Other than the obligatory, He s really smart because he went to Harvard notations, the recurring theme in what Patriots players and coaches had to say about Fitzpatrick was about how he likes to throw the ball up to his receivers and let them make plays on the ball. Translation: Opportunity for interceptions. We ve got to be ready for those situations, Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. When you ve got a quarterback that s willing to take chances, it can go two ways either an ESPN Top-10 play with them catching the ball or you making a play and getting an interception or knocking the ball away. We know he s a very smart quarterback as far as reading coverages and knowing where he wants to go with the ball, and once he makes up his mind, he s trying to make a play and get it to his guy. We ve got to be ready for that. We ve been talking all week even though a guy is covered doesn t mean the ball s not coming. Translation: Opportunity for interceptions. He gives his receivers a chance to make plays, Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan said. He trusts his guys. He trusts his go-to guys and gives them a chance by putting the ball up for them. Some of those [throws] are going to be interceptions and some of those are going to be touchdowns. Belichick called Fitzpatrick a really smart player, adding, I don t particularly think you re going to fool this guy too much. They put a lot on him in terms of running the offense. Belichick s plan Sunday will be to ensure as much as possible is put on Fitzpatrick, to force him into trying to beat the New England defense with his arm, not the Jets potent running game. Belichick clearly would rather take his chances having Fitzpatrick trying to force passes into receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker than having to slow down the runaway train that is running back Chris Ivory at the moment. He gives his big receivers chances to make plays on balls, Belichick said. He ll throw it in there and those guys will get it. He throws into some tight coverage situations, but he s got big receivers like Marshall and Decker and gives them a chance to make a play on the ball. Translation: Opportunity for interceptions. Our goal in every game is not to turn it over, to be efficient on offense, third downs, red zone and all that stuff, Fitzpatrick said. The goals aren t going to change at all. We know that there is probably less margin for error versus a team like this, just because of how talented they are. I ve tried to throw [the ball] into tight windows and it has gotten intercepted, too. I just have to be smart with what I m doing and where I m going and just continue to get those good plays and try to limit the bad ones and do the best I can in doing that. One question mark that could derail Chris Ivory s dream season (Brian Lewis) New York Post October 24, Jets running back Chris Ivory has never shouldered this kind of workload, and has no idea if he can for a whole season. But he s happy to try. He would have done it last year, and he will try to do it now for as long as his body will allow. 14 P a g e

15 Ivory has carried 83 times for 460 yards and four touchdowns in just four games, far outstripping any pace he ever has set. Durability was always a concern when he played in New Orleans, and he never has averaged more than 13.2 carries per game (a number he averaged in 2011, when he played just six games) or totaled more than 198 in a season (a number he hit last year, when he admittedly wore down). It came to a time, yeah, where I didn t feel this comfortable, as healthy [last year], Ivory said. Ivory is on pace for 311 carries, raising the question of whether his body will hold up into November and December. Right now, it really didn t cross my mind, Ivory said. If it s going to happen, it s going to happen. But even if my body does feel like it s wearing down, I m just going to keep going, just keep going hard. In my head, not too much is going to really slow me down, unless it s something that I really can t push through. Ivory is fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry (5.5). The offense goes through Chris Ivory, Brandon Marshall said. It s likely a situation Ivory wouldn t have minded even last year. He said he was mildly miffed at not getting more carries, but took great pains to point out that was more a function of seeing the Jets struggle to win. It wasn t something that really weighed on my mind because it was more about winning, but we were having problems with [rushing attempt totals], Ivory said. It s a new year now so, new regime with a new coaching staff and everything. So we re on to a new season and starting off well. And we look to continue to finish that throughout the regular season. Ivory, who now weighs 226 pounds, changed up his offseason training regimen. He spent two months in Houston working with athletic trainer James Cooper, doing more track work that included endurance and sprinting. I didn t do as much track work in the past. I did more before I was working with a guy in Florida I did more treadmill workouts and sand workouts. But this was the first year I did a lot more track workouts, said Ivory, adding he feels faster to the edge now. I feel like it, yeah. And just a lot healthier. Staying healthy will be the key. Ivory suffered knee, head, shoulder and leg injuries in 2010 that cost him game time, and then missed 10 games the next year to a foot injury and more time to a groin injury. But the new, improved Ivory had Patriots coach Bill Belichick throwing verbal bouquets Friday. Ivory does a good job. He s fast, he s got good speed, he can get the ball outside, he s a very powerful downhill runner and he s got good vision, Belichick said. He makes guys miss, too he s not just all power. He s got a lot of power, but he s got good speed, good quickness and good vision, too. He uses his blockers well. He s a good back. Brandon Marshall can t get over how special Jets are (Brian Lewis) New York Post October 24, Jets receiver Brandon Marshall has been in NFL locker rooms that were fragmented, and even owned up to doing some of the fragmenting. That probably partly explains why he spent Friday raving over the chemistry in the Jets locker room, a team-first, all-in attitude he said he never has experienced before. 15 P a g e

16 I ve been one, in the past, early on in my career especially in Denver, contract situation handled it the wrong way, Marshall said. We have guys in this locker room that really get it. That s the coolest thing about what we re doing. It s a special group, man. I love seeing guys make a mistake and throw their helmet on the ground or get pissed off, show that they care. That s across the board: Young guys, older guys, scout-team players. It s a special locker room. Marshall said when he got traded to Miami from Denver where he was suspended for the 2009 finale he didn t get it. I didn t understand, he said. My heart was in the right place. The second year in Miami is when I had that transformation and really understood it. But anything before then I was super-immature. Heart was in the right place but I didn t deal with things the right way. But Marshall said he sees things being done the right way from top to bottom, from a Pro Bowler such as Darrelle Revis taking every snap seriously and spending his time with practice squad players, to seeing linebacker Demario Davis wearing an oxygen mask Friday and riding a stationary bike to get extra conditioning. The first thought that came to my mind was This is why this team is special, Marshall said. There s a lot of guys doing that stuff. It s just a great spirit in this locker room. It s something I ve never been a part of, where you have so many guys moving in the same direction. That s hard to do in this day and age. I ve been a part of some teams where we were very fragmented. CB Marcus Williams, who missed the Washington game because of a hamstring injury, is probable. RG Willie Colon (knee) is questionable, but likely to suit up. Coach Todd Bowles said RB Bilal Powell (ankle) is out, but was noncommittal about activating RB Stevan Ridley (PUP). The Patriots love to play games with their injury report, but this time they actually have issues on their offensive line. With LT Marcus Cannon (who had been starting with Nate Solder out for the season) missing the last two practices because of a toe injury, they have moved RT Sebastian Vollmer to the left and promoted Cameron Fleming from the practice squad. You lose two players at any position, on any team, that s an issue. Two of anything with anybody, pick any team in the league, that would be an issue. Once you start getting into that area you ve got to start thinking about what s our emergency move, how do we get through this? coach Bill Belichick said Friday. It s not even so much who we play there, but now what you can actually do with that person there? How you d manage the game, what you d call if we got to that point? Third quarterback, third tight end, third right tackle, third defensive end, third safety, third anything. If you re going that far down the line, it d be an issue. Not saying you couldn t handle it, but it d be an issue, some more than others. Jets much-needed Tom Brady defender looks OK to play (Brian Lewis) New York Post The Jets threw a $25 million contract at cornerback Buster Skrine for games like Sunday s first-place battle in New England. And with Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola waiting at Gillette Stadium, Skrine expects to play against the Patriots despite last weekend s concussion. This is a big game, a division game, so just being able to come back if I get to come back, I want to help the team any way I can, Skrine said. 16 P a g e

17 Jets coach Todd Bowles said Skrine already one of the team s most vital defenders and among his favorite players will be listed as probable for Sunday s AFC East showdown. The slot cornerback himself said there s not much doubt he would suit up. Yeah, I do feel fine to play, said Skrine, who had two more neurological steps to take before clearing the NFL s mandatory concussion protocol. I ve been running around the past two days. I feel good. I ve got two more things I ve got to do before I can pass, so I m about to do that right after this. Tuesday I felt back to normal. But there are a lot of steps you have to take to be cleared. So two more steps and it s a go. Skrine suffered the concussion in a collision with Washington s Pierre Garçon. The game was real cloudy, I couldn t register what play was being called so I came out, said Skrine, initially worried he would miss the Patriots game. Yes, because you re kind of in a fog when you get a concussion. I didn t know if I was going to play or not. I was just hoping every time I woke up I felt better. I felt better on Tuesday, so I came in, told them I felt better and started going through protocol. After having to wear the red non-contact jersey on Thursday, Skrine shed the jersey Friday (he was listed as limited) and fully expects to suit up at Gillette Stadium. As long as nothing goes wrong, yes, he should be OK. It s big, because he s one of our good players, Bowles said of getting back a fit Skrine. Only if he s healthy. If he s healthy, we d love to him around. If he s not healthy, the other guys have to play. He can only hurt us if he s not healthy. If he s healthy and he has everything working, we d love to have him. The Jets can ill afford to not have him. They gave him a four-year deal largely to deal with the Patriots short passing game and bevy of slot threats. Edelman, New England s No. 1 receiver, has a team-high 40 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns, often working from the slot. Amendola (17 catches, 203 yards, one score) works almost exclusively in the middle of the field. While Skrine himself was coy about whether he or Darrelle Revis would be on Edelman ( Game plan, was his curt answer), he expressed a healthy amount of respect for the Patriots standout. One thing he does is he competes every play. He carries a fire about himself. I like the way he plays, Skrine said. He s a real shifty guy, he runs a lot of misdirection routes, he can go deep. He s just a complete receiver. That s why he s their No. 1 receiver, so I ve got a lot of respect for him. But it s going to be a good challenge for them, too, against our defense: No. 1 offense versus No. 1 defense. Assuming Skrine plays, it won t be the first time he has faced the Patriots slot duo. In 2013, he covered Edelman and Amendola one-on-one in what turned out to be a tough, loss. Now he s hoping his NFL-leading defense, allowing just 15.0 points per game, will have more success against a Patriots attack scoring a league-high I think everybody s really just looking at this game like a division game, Skrine said. They do have a good offense, and we just want to do well in this game. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets are tied for NFL's healthiest team, per ESPN (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 24, P a g e