NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS September 19, 2014 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Jets' Vick says Goodell doing 'great job' (Dennis Waszak)... 2 No practice for Jets' Decker, Milliner limited (Dennis Waszak)... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Michael Vick on Roger Goodell: 'I think he's doing a great job' (Kimberley Martin)... 4 Rex Ryan hopes Eric Decker can practice by Saturday (Kimberley Martin)... 5 Santonio Holmes downplays return to face Jets (Santosh Venkataraman)... 5 Michael Vick a QB at heart but doesn't mind limited role (Kimberley Martin)... 6 THE RECORD... 8 Jets QB Michael Vick says Roger Goodell doing a great job (J.P. Pelzman)... 8 Jets notes: Eric Decker, Dee Milliner sit out practice (J.P. Pelzman)... 9 STAR-LEDGER Tajh Boyd, Rex Ryan's hand-picked draft choice, joins start-up league called FXFL (Darryl Slater) Michael Vick defends Roger Goodell on domestic violence issues: 'Give him a chance to get it right' (Darryl Slater) Q&A with Bears beat reporter: What is Alshon Jeffery's secret to having such good hands? (Darryl Slater) Jets-Bears injuries: Rex Ryan says Dee Milliner will play, barring setback; Eric Decker's status unclear (Darryl Slater) How can the Jets simulate the height of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery in practice? (Darryl Slater) NEW YORK POST Michael Vick: Too many wildcat plays disrupts offensive flow (Brian Costello) Jets must bring out worst of Cutler (Brian Lewis) Jets need Geno to rekindle prime-time Atlanta magic (Brian Costello) Michael Vick backs Roger Goodell: Doing a great job (Brian Costello) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Rex Ryan: On national TV, NY Jets will no longer show cracks (Seth Walder) History shows NY Jets can make a three-man backfield work (Manish Mehta) Dee Milliner should play, but Eric Decker's status is up in air for NY Jets (Seth Walder) Michael Vick says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doing a great job with Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice scandal (Manish Mehta) NEW YORK TIMES Bears Receivers Pose Problems, So Jets Reserves Do Best Impersonations (Ben Shpigel) ESPN NEW YORK P a g e

2 Pryor: Let's see if Cutler can take a few hits (Rich Cimini) Vick on his role: 'Five plays too many' (Rich Cimini) Jets' Richardson hit with fine (Jane McManus) Vick says Goodell 'doing a great job' (Rich Cimini) NJ.COM Rex Ryan not concerned about Geno Smith's turnovers so far (Dom Cosentino) Eric Decker still sidelined at Jets practice; Dee Milliner in full pads (Dom Cosentino) biggest gut-punch losses for Jets in Rex Ryan era (Dom Cosentino) METRO NEW YORK Jets starting to see fruit of Mike Tannenbaum s draft classes (Kristian Dyer) Eric Decker unlikely to play against Bears: Source (Kristian Dyer) THURSDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets' Vick says Goodell doing 'great job' (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Michael Vick fully supports the man who gave him a second chance in the NFL. The New York Jets quarterback defended NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell while the league and its teams have come under heavy criticism during the past two weeks over how they are dealing with several players facing domestic violence allegations. "I think he's doing a great job," Vick said after practice Thursday. "I think some situations are more complicated than others. You're not going to get it right all the time on the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we have never dealt with before in the NFL from a PR standpoint, just from a situational standpoint. "It's kind of new to everybody. That's why we're all talking about it right now." Goodell has remained mostly silent during the last two weeks as the NFL has dealt with perhaps its most brutal stretch ever, starting last week when video surfaced that showed former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City, New Jersey, elevator. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on felony child-abuse charges and deactivated by the team. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was also removed from the active roster until his domestic violence case is settled. He appealed a ruling in July when he was convicted of assault on a female and communicating threats. On Wednesday, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on aggravated assault charges and deactivated after police said he head-butted his wife and broke her nose after she refused his sexual advances, and punched her in the face the next day. "There's a lot going on and there's a lot of issues that are taking place and I think in due time, they'll all be cleaned up," Vick said. "But it's kind of hard right now. Hopefully, everything will resume (to) normal in 2 P a g e

3 the next couple of months. We just can't continue to keep feeding into it. Every day, there's a new story that's being written about and being talked about. We don't seem to let it go." The pressure has increased during the last several days from lawmakers, sponsors and fans who have taken issue with whether the NFL is acting swiftly enough to investigate or discipline players. "Nobody's perfect," Vick said. "Nobody can make the correct decisions right then and there on the spot when faced with all forms of adversity." Vick dealt directly with Goodell when he was suspended in 2007 and reinstated after serving nearly two years in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring. "You've got to give the man a chance," Vick said of Goodell. "You've got to give everybody a chance to get it right. You see that the other teams that are dealing with it now are making the right decisions based on what's happened in weeks prior. You've got to give people a chance, man. "You're not going to get it right all the time the first time." Despite the tumultuous time in the league, Jets coach Rex Ryan doesn't think it's getting tougher to deal with players' off-field conduct. He said the team regularly brings in specialists to speak to players about a variety of issues, to try to educate them before they face any problems. "How different was it from 15 years ago or whatever? I'm not sure it was a whole lot different," Ryan said. "It just seems like it's out there front and center now, some of these issues." No practice for Jets' Decker, Milliner limited (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Eric Decker might be able to play without practicing as long as his hamstring lets him. The New York Jets wide receiver sat out Thursday, leaving his status uncertain for the team's game against the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Decker is dealing with tightness in his right hamstring after he aggravated an injury from training camp in the Jets' loss to the Packers on Sunday. While coach Rex Ryan would prefer to see Decker practice before the game, not doing so wouldn't prevent the Jets' top receiver from playing against the Bears. "He's a veteran player and things, but obviously you would like to have him test it a little bit," Ryan said. "I'm not going to just say he has to be out on Saturday, but that is what you would like. You would like to see him do some things, really for his own mentality, for his own mindset that, 'Yeah, I can do this, I feel fine.'" Top cornerback Dee Milliner was limited at practice, and Ryan said he looked "OK" as he recovers from a high ankle sprain that hasn't fully healed. Milliner missed the season opener, but played at Green Bay in a limited role. He might be able to do the same against the Bears, coming off the bench to help take on Chicago's receiving duo of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. 3 P a g e

4 "Well, yeah, if he is as good as he was last week, then, yeah, absolutely," Ryan said of Milliner. "We will determine that later in the week. Unless we feel great about it, he feels great and everything else, then we're not going to put him in there (for) 100 percent of the snaps." Ryan, however, also wouldn't completely rule out Milliner being able to start. Backup linebackers Nick Bellore (hip) and A.J. Edds (hamstring) didn't practice, leaving the Jets thin at inside linebacker behind starters David Harris and Demario Davis. Ryan joked that safety Dawan Landry might have to wear "linebacker pads" before adding, "We'll figure it out." Running back Chris Johnson (ankle), right guard Willie Colon (calf) and center Nick Mangold (shoulder) were all limited, but expected to be fine for the game. NEWSDAY Michael Vick on Roger Goodell: 'I think he's doing a great job' (Kimberley Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Roger Goodell has a friend in Michael Vick. The Jets quarterback expressed support Thursday for the NFL commissioner, who some believe should be fired in the wake of several domestic violence incidents involving players and the league's handling of some of those cases. "I think he's doing a great job,'' Vick said. "I think some situations are more complicated than others. You're not going to get it right all the time, the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we've never dealt with before in the NFL, from a PR standpoint. It's kind of new to everybody. That's why we're talking about it right now.'' On the heels of Ray Rice's indefinite suspension for assault of his then-fiancee and Adrian Peterson's child abuse case, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer, 27, was arrested Wednesday on aggravated assault charges after he head-butted and punched his wife and threw a shoe at their 17-month-old son in July, police said. Goodell first came under fire this month when TMZ.com released a video of Rice punching Janay Palmer in the elevator of an Atlantic City hotel in February. Though the league initially suspended Rice for two games for his domestic violence charge -- a punishment that many thought, at the time, wasn't severe enough -- Goodell suspended the Ravens running back indefinitely on Sept. 8. And since then, the NFL has drawn negative attention for its handling of the cases involving Peterson and Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy. "It's kind of hard right now,'' Vick said, referring to the state of the NFL. "Hopefully, everything will resume normally in the next couple of months. We just can't continue to feed into it. Every day there's a new story being written about and being talked about. We don't seem to let it go.'' Vick, of course, is no stranger to league punishment. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in 2007 because of his involvement in a dogfighting ring and was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison. Goodell lifted Vick's suspension in 2009, allowing him to resume his football career. 4 P a g e

5 Vick said the recent decisions by the Vikings, Panthers and Cardinals to take Peterson, Hardy and Dwyer, respectively, off the active roster is proof that Goodell is doing the right thing. "You've got to give the man a chance,'' Vick said. "You've got to give everybody a chance to get it right. "You're not always going to get it right the first time.'' Rex Ryan hopes Eric Decker can practice by Saturday (Kimberley Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - At the very least, Rex Ryan hopes his No. 1 receiver can participate in team drills by Saturday. Eric Decker, the Jets' top free-agent acquisition during the offseason, did not practice Thursday for a second straight day. And it's unclear whether his hamstring will keep him out of Monday night's game or render him ineffective against the Bears. "He is a veteran player and things, but obviously you would like to have him test it a little bit,'' Ryan said. "I'm not going to just say he has to be out on Saturday, but that is what you would like. You would like to see him do some things, really for his own mentality, for his own mind-set that, 'Yeah, I can do this, I feel fine.' '' Ge-TO? Geno Smith has two interceptions and a fumble in two games, but Ryan said he's not concerned about his quarterback's turnover pace. "I think you never dismiss them, but sometimes those happen,'' he said. "I think he has done a good job of protecting the football overall.'' Smith's interception against the Packers was aided by left guard Brian Winters, who missed a block, and tight end Zach Sudfeld, who failed to fight for the football. And for the second straight week, an interception of a pass by Smith led to an opponent's TD. "Again, you try to do your best to eliminate things,'' Ryan said. "The thing I have been proud of is his presence in the pocket, the way he puts the ball on his front shoulder when he moves... You probably wish you had one or two throws back. Overall, I have been happy with the way he has handled it.'' Jet streams Coud Dee Milliner come off the bench against the Bears? "That is probably a possibility,'' Ryan said. "But to say that he's definitely not going to start, I'm not there yet.'' Milliner (ankle) was limited, along with Willie Colon (calf), Nick Mangold (shoulder) and Chris Johnson (ankle)... Nick Bellore (hip) and A.J. Edds (hamstring) did not practice... Bears DE Jared Allen (back) and WR Brandon Marshall (ankle) were among those who didn't practice. Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) was limited... Sixth-rounder Tajh Boyd was signed by the Florida Blacktip of the FXFL. Santonio Holmes downplays return to face Jets (Santosh Venkataraman) Newsday 5 P a g e

6 LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Santonio Holmes insisted Thursday that he hasn't even thought about returning to MetLife Stadium to face the Jets Monday night. "I'm here now, my focus is to help the Chicago Bears make plays and win ballgames, not really focusing on any other team,'' he said. Holmes didn't open up about his checkered Jets tenure, which ended after four seasons when he was released in March. When asked about his controversial 2011 season, he said, "I don't remember 2011.'' Jets fans undoubtedly recall how he was benched after arguing in the huddle late in a Week 17 loss to the Dolphins that eliminated the Jets from playoff contention. Holmes didn't want to discuss the negative parts of his time with the Jets. "Right now there really aren't any [emotions],'' he said. "Be ready, do my job, make some plays for this team and come home with a 'W'.'' With a high-powered Bears offense that features targets in Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and former Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, Holmes hasn't had many chances to make plays, with only four receptions through two games. Holmes did have good things to say about Rex Ryan and Geno Smith, however. Injuries short-circuited his last two seasons with the Jets, and last year he played 11 games and caught 23 passes for 456 yards and one touchdown from Smith, whom he praised highly. "He did exactly what the coaches wanted him to do, minus the few turnovers and mistakes,'' Holmes said. "But that's what young quarterbacks who want to be great try, to make as many plays as they can, and sometimes things happen. "But as far as what he's done, he's definitely grown into that starting role. He's taken on that leadership role very well.'' Ryan praised Holmes earlier this week, and the ninth-year pro had nothing negative to say about his former coach. "As far as him being the head coach, he's a great guy,'' Holmes said. "He accepted me through all the trials and tribulations, gave me an opportunity to be a great player for him, and I really thank him for it.'' He said he informed Bears coaches about what to expect from the Jets' defense. "No matter who is on the field, they can play any coverage versus any personnel on offense,'' Holmes said. "I think that in turn makes it difficult who to block and what guys cover that.'' Holmes said he hasn't talked to any of his former teammates in the buildup to the game. He also said he wouldn't go out of his way to shake hands with them before kickoff. He said the reception he'll get from the fans isn't a concern. "It was four great years,'' Holmes said. "I'm a Chicago Bear now.'' Michael Vick a QB at heart but doesn't mind limited role (Kimberley Martin) Newsday 6 P a g e

7 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - At his core, Michael Vick is a quarterback. No matter how many trick plays he's used in, no matter how many times he's inserted as a slot receiver, he's a signal caller through and through. The Vick Experiment has produced little in the way of results for the Jets, but they're optimistic that production from their backup is on the horizon. "At the end of the day, I'm a full-time quarterback. I do that because it's football and I love to play the game and I like having success,'' Vick said Thursday, referring to his roles in gadget plays designed by coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. "So hopefully, one of these days, one of those plays will work.'' But so far, they haven't. Vick has attempted only one pass (an incompletion to Eric Decker in Week 1) and was sacked Sunday in Green Bay. But believe it or not, he said he isn't looking for a bigger role at quarterback. Asked if he would prefer to have a series all to himself, Vick didn't hesitate in saying no. "Nah, we're not going to get into that. I wouldn't want to do that,'' he said. "That disrupts timing. It disrupts the flow of the game, the flow of the quarterback.'' Vick did say quarterbacking a series of plays would help his timing "because you would get into a flow. But this isn't college. You don't rotate quarterbacks in and out. You don't substitute one guy for another for one series. That's kind of petty. You want your quarterback to stay in a consistent flow and you don't want to interrupt anything.'' Told that "once upon a time" the Jets rotated quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, Vick smiled and said: "That was once upon a time. Not in today's time.'' Last week, Mornhinweg acknowledged rhythm issues for the offense could arise when inserting Vick. But he stressed that Vick's skill set is an asset he can't ignore. "There are some great positives of utilizing a man like Mike Vick because he's so skilled,'' Mornhinweg said. "Why wouldn't you want to use a capable player that you have available? That's just me and the way we operate.'' Vick was in for one play on the Jets' final drive in Green Bay -- at quarterback. With Geno Smith lined up at wide receiver, Vick scrambled to his left but quickly was sacked by linebacker Clay Matthews. "I know we haven't had a whole lot of success with him, per se," Rex Ryan said. "I think it does keep a defense off balance a little bit, and hopefully we'll get this thing rolling a little bit.'' Vick said his one or two plays a game aren't disrupting Smith now. "It's a play to come in and be effective, try to help the team get a couple yards,'' Vick said. "We're not always trying to go for the home run. Just trying to help keep the chains moving and that's pretty much it.'' But while Vick remains a quarterback at heart, there's still a part of him that's dying to make a Brandon Marshall-type catch this season. "One day I'll catch a pass. One day I'll catch a pass. Hopefully,'' he said, flashing another smile. 7 P a g e

8 "That's a quarterback's dream: to be on the edge, one-on-one, with a defensive back who really can't cover.'' THE RECORD Jets QB Michael Vick says Roger Goodell doing a great job (J.P. Pelzman) The Record FLORHAM PARK Five years ago, Roger Goodell gave Michael Vick a chance to resurrect his NFL career. And on Thursday, Vick made it clear he believes Goodell now deserves the benefit of the doubt. The Jets backup quarterback defended the embattled NFL commissioner while speaking with reporters. Goodell has come under fire recently for his lack of visibility during the multiple scandals involving violent criminal behavior and allegations of the same by NFL players, and for his handling of players involved in domestic-violence cases particularly that of Ray Rice. I think he s doing a great job, Vick said of Goodell. I think some situations are more complicated than others. You re not going to get it right all the time the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we have never dealt with before in the NFL, from a [public relations] standpoint, just from a situational standpoint. It s kind of new to everybody, so that s why we re all talking about it right now. Vick, of course, has dealt with Goodell on a personal level, and has a very good reason to be supportive of the commissioner. The two had plenty of contact after Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges in August 2007 for his part in a dog-fighting ring. Vick eventually served 21 months in prison and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell before being reinstated by him following a face-to-face meeting Sept. 3, Goodell suspended Vick for the first two games that season, and the quarterback returned to action on Sept. 27, 2009, for Philadelphia against Kansas City. Vick spent five seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Jets in March as a free agent. Nobody s perfect, Vick added, and nobody can make the correct decisions right then and there on the spot, when faced with all forms of adversity. So you ve got to give a man a chance. You ve got to give [Goodell] a chance to get it right. You see that the other teams that are dealing with it now are making the right decisions based on what s happened in weeks prior. You ve got to give people a chance, man. Vick also was asked about what he thinks of the numerous recent scandals that have severely tarnished the image of the league, and again expressed confidence that Goodell will rise to the occasion. I try to just continue to focus on football, he said. It s kind of hard right now. Hopefully everything will resume [as] normal in the next couple months. We just can t continue to keep feeding into it. Every day, it s a new story that s being written about, being talked about. We don t seem to let it go. It ll all be handled. That s what you have the commissioner for. You ve got to let a guy handle it. If you keep talking about it, it s going to continue to be an issue. BRIEFS: In cameo appearances in the Jets first two games, Vick is 0-for-1 passing and has been sacked once. Yet he said he wouldn t want to play a whole series because it would interfere with starter Geno Smith s rhythm. 8 P a g e

9 That disrupts the timing, he said. That disrupts the flow of the game. This isn t college. You don t rotate quarterbacks; substitute one guy for another for a series. You want your quarterback to stay in a consistent flow. Vick has been on the field for five plays, including lining up as a wideout. Would he like to catch a pass? That s a quarterback s dream, he said with a smile. I ll be on the edge with a [defensive back] who really can t cover me. WR Eric Decker sat out practice for the second straight day after tweaking his right hamstring during the loss to Green Bay on Sunday. CB Dee Milliner (ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis, but coach Rex Ryan wasn t ready to say if he will play against visiting Chicago on Monday. Both of the team s backup inside linebackers, Nick Bellore (hip) and A.J. Edds (hamstring), sat out practice. Jets notes: Eric Decker, Dee Milliner sit out practice (J.P. Pelzman) The Record Decker, Milliner sit out Wide receiver Eric Decker and cornerback Dee Milliner missed practice Wednesday after leaving Sunday s loss to Green Bay because of physical issues. Decker left the game after injuring his right hamstring in the third quarter. It s the same hamstring he had problems with during training camp. Decker said the hamstring isn t torn and no MRI exam is necessary. "I would love to play, so I m just making sure that we take the right steps," Decker said. "Don t do too much, but do enough to feel it out and make a decision once that day rolls around." Decker leads the Jets in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (137). He had his first touchdown catch as a Jet on Sunday, and the passing game struggled after he exited. "I just have to do a better job of listening to my body," he said. "With hamstrings, I have to make sure my glutes are good, my quads are good, everything around the hamstring muscle is good to go. That s on me as far as listening to my body and doing the correct things." Milliner played Sunday after missing the season opener because of a high-ankle sprain suffered Aug. 10. He removed himself in the third quarter. Coach Rex Ryan first expressed confidence that both would be ready for Monday s game against visiting Chicago before tempering that statement. "We ll see how they progress," Ryan said. "We re confident that they ll be ready. We know that they re going to work to get out there. Briefs 9 P a g e

10 Ryan said he doesn t believe his team is undisciplined after a game in which they committed seven penalties for 82 yards and DE Muhammad Wilkerson was ejected for fighting. Ryan also said he wouldn t change the "dynamics" of his game-day sideline despite the ill-advised timeout called against the Packers. STAR-LEDGER Tajh Boyd, Rex Ryan's hand-picked draft choice, joins start-up league called FXFL (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger FLORHAM PARK -- Quarterback Tajh Boyd will play his first season of professional football this fall, but not where he would have preferred. Boyd, who enjoyed a prolific carer at Clemson, was picked by the Jets in the sixth round of this year's draft. The Jets usually let head coach Rex Ryan make one personal, hand-picked selection in every draft. This year, Ryan went with Boyd, who played with Ryan's son Seth at Clemson, where Seth is a walk-on wide receiver. Following his junior season, 2012, Boyd was considered a potential first-round draft pick. But after he returned for his senior year, and sputtered in some of his pre-draft auditions, Boyd's stock plummeted. During the Jets' training camp, he never even contended with Matt Simms in the competition to become the team's No. 3 quarterback. The Jets released Boyd during final cuts -- a move that surprised nobody, considering how unimpressive he looked in camp, even as Boyd maintained an admirably upbeat public demeanor throughout all of his struggles. On Thursday, Boyd surfaced again. The Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL for short, but not affiliated with Vince McMahon) announced on its Twitter page that Boyd had signed with the Florida Blacktips, a Miami-based team that plays at Florida International University's Stadium. This is the first season of the FXFL, which eventually wants to develop a partnership with the NFL, similar to the NBA Developmental League. The league has four teams this year. The others are in Brooklyn, Boston and Omaha, Neb. On Saturday, Boyd worked out for the Giants, but they opted not to sign him. Boyd's new team begins its season Oct. 8 at home against the Brooklyn Bolts -- the league's very first game. Each team in the FXFL plays six games this season. Boyd will return to the New York area on Nov. 7, to face the Bolts. And, again, one more reminder: This gentleman is not involved in this start-up football league, though he does give one heck of an opening night intro: Michael Vick defends Roger Goodell on domestic violence issues: 'Give him a chance to get it right' (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger 10 P a g e

11 ce_issue_give_him_a_chance_to_get_it_right.html FLORHAM PARK Michael Vick, the Jets celebrity backup quarterback, defended NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, amid criticism Goodell has faced about his handling of recent domestic violence issues involving the league s players. I think he s doing a great job, Vick said. I think some situations are more complicated than others. You re not going to get it right all the time the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we have never dealt with before in the NFL, from a PR standpoint, just from a situational standpoint. It s kind of new to everybody, so that s why we re all talking about it right now. So it has to be dealt with. Nobody is perfect and nobody can make the correct decisions right then and there on the spot, when faced with all forms of adversity. So you ve got to give a man a chance. You ve got to give him a chance to get it right. You see that the other teams that are dealing with it now are making the right decisions based on what s happened in weeks prior. You ve got to give people a chance, man. You re not going to get it right all the time the first time. Vick and Goodell go way back. Goodell has been the commissioner since just before the 2006 season. One of the first scandals he encountered involved Vick running a dog-fighting ring. An investigation into Vick s actions began in April The scandal raged throughout that summer, and resulted in Vick spending 548 days in federal prison. Vick was reinstated to the NFL by Goodell in the summer of After missing two seasons, Vick returned with the Eagles in He played for them for five seasons. This is his first year with the Jets. Because of his experiences both in the NFL and away from it, Vick, 34, has a unique veteran perspective on issues like the one the NFL is currently facing, with domestic violence, and the league s handling of it (or lack thereof). Vick believes that, in due time, Goodell will make things right. I try to just continue to focus on football, Vick said. It s a lot going on. It s a lot of issues that are taking place. It s kind of hard right now. Hopefully everything will resume (as) normal in the next couple months. We just can t continue to feed into it. Every day, it s a new story that s being written about, being talked about. We don t seem to let it go. It ll all be handled. That s what you have the commissioner for. You ve got to let a guy handle it. If you keep talking about it, it s going to continue to be an issue. The Jets have a domestic violence case of their own. It involves practice squad wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, a rookie who was arrested Aug. 31 for an incident involving a woman. Enunwa allegedly "knowingly and recklessly" caused "bodily injury to another, specifically by grabbing the victim by her ankle and pulling her off a bed and causing her to strike and injure both her head and finger," according to the court documents. Enunwa and the Jets have declined to comment on the specifics of the incident. Enunwa continues to practice with the team. Because he is on the practice squad, he is ineligible to play in games. As part of the NFL's new domestic violence policy, it is investigating Enunwa. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of domestic violence simple assault and is due back in court Oct. 1. Q&A with Bears beat reporter: What is Alshon Jeffery's secret to having such good hands? (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger 11 P a g e

12 With the Bears and Santonio Holmes (remember him?) preparing to visit MetLife Stadium on Monday night, we figured we would check in with one of the Bears' beat writers, to get the pulse of how things are unfolding this week -- and early this season -- in Chicago. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune was kind enough to answer the five questions we threw his way. You can read the Tribune's Bears coverage here. And if you want to follow Rich on Twitter, his handle Maybe he can even recommend a good steakhouse in Chicago, if you ask nicely. Now, on to the answers Rich provided to our questions about all things Bears: Q: Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery seems to have taken significant steps forward each year of his career. In what specific ways have you seen him progress, from year to year, to turn into the receiver he is now? Or do you think he showed up on Day 1 ready to contribute significantly in the NFL? A: Jeffery possessed quality physical tools when the Bears drafted him in the second round in two picks after the Jets selected WR Stephen Hill, as their fans know. General manager Phil Emery identified him as the best jump-ball catcher in that draft, a label Jeffery lived up to during his breakout 2013 season. His 2013 highlight reel includes touchdowns on contested throws against the Vikings, Browns and Cowboys, to name a few. Google them or YouTube them. (Here is the catch against the Vikings. Here is the catch against the Browns. And here is his catch versus the Cowboys.) They're impressive. Jeffery strengthens his hands and forearms by churning dried rice in buckets. Coincidentally, that's how I strengthen my typing fingers. Kidding aside, Jeffery had to progress through the same evolution that every rookie receiver does. As receivers coach Mike Groh explained it last season, Jeffery had to learn 1) what to do, 2) how to do it, and 3) why the Bears do it. That process was helped by veteran Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, who took Jeffery under his wing during the 2013 offseason. Marshall had Jeffery train with him at the facility he coowns in South Florida for two stints that lasted a total of three months. There, Jeffery refined his running technique so that he kept his chest forward and elbows closer to his body. That helped him be more efficient with his movements. Now, Jeffery helps balance coverages, preventing teams from focusing on Marshall. That has opened up the Bears' offense. We'll spend this week monitoring Jeffery's strained left hamstring. He obviously could not run at full speed against the 49ers, and he wasn't explosive. But he threatened the 49ers enough to draw multiple penalties that resulted in automatic first downs. For the masochistic Jets fans interested on learning more about Jeffery's breakout, I wrote this for the Tribune last October after he set the franchise single-game record for receiving yards. Q: Quarterback Jay Cutler is coming off two so-so years (19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2012, 19 touchdowns and 12 picks in 2013, though he did complete 63 percent of his passes in 2013). What's the feeling about Cutler around Chicago? How has he handled Marc Trestman's offense, now that he is in his second year with it? What have been some of Cutler's major adjustments to Trestman's system, compared to the Bears' previous offense? A: The general feeling about Cutler around Chicago is that he better ball out this season. He has everything a quarterback could ask for: a quality offensive-minded head coach and quarterbacks coach; a contract extension that includes $54 guaranteed over the first three seasons; two Pro Bowl receivers; a Pro Bowl running back; a 6-foot-6 athletic tight end, and, before injuries hit in Week 1, all five starters back on a capable offensive line. What more does he need to elevate his play? So now it's up to him to take advantage of the supporting cast and justify the organization's faith in him. 12 P a g e

13 Well, imagine the reaction here when he threw two picks in a season-opening overtime loss to the Bills. With the game tied in the fourth quarter and the Bears in Bills' territory, Cutler threw late back to the middle of the field on a third-and-1, and defensive tackle Kyle Williams intercepted it. The collective thinking in Chicago was that Cutler should be beyond such knuckle-headed, game-killing decisions at this point in his career. But he responded very well Sunday against the 49ers by completing 13 of 14 passes for 120 yards and three TDs in the second half of a stunning comeback win. So we'll see where the roller coaster continues against the Jets. Overall, Cutler trusts and respects Trestman and the scheme, which is an improvement on his relationship with past offensive coordinators. He also has taken ownership of the offense. He tells receivers how he wants routes to be run, and he's very detailed in giving that type of direction. Meanwhile, he continues to work on timing with his progressions. He likes to throw with trust in his receivers -- and his tall Pro Bowl receivers often reward that trust with contested catches -- but coaches are encouraging him to come off those reads and progress to higher-percentage checkdowns if the defense requires it. That's how he can extend drives and improve his completion percentage. So far, that's a work in progress. For more on Cutler's evolution and potential in Year 2 under Trestman, I suggest reading an excellent feature my colleague Dan Wiederer compiled for our season preview. He spoke to all the relevant people involved with the Bears' QB room about the elements in place for Cutler to succeed. Very insightful. It's pay-wall protected, but you can beat the pay wall by Googling the headline: "Inside the Bears' most important office: The QBs room." Q: Kyle Fuller looked quite impressive stepping in for the injured Charles Tillman at cornerback against the 49ers. What's your read on how ready Fuller is to excel on a regular basis? Obviously, he has ability, since he was drafted 14th overall. But are there some under-the-radar, less-obvious things the Bears' coaches have noticed about him, that make them encouraged about his potential? A: Fuller's readiness was evident in the first practice of training camp when he intercepted two passes. That pretty much answered the question. As camp went on, you could tell he belonged by how well he moved and how he physically matched up with Marshall and Jeffery. His two interceptions against the 49ers Sunday night are proof that he's capable of consistently making a positive impact. Both were examples of quality preparation and quality execution. On the first pick, he recognized a 3-by-1 formation from which the 49ers tended to throw to the single-receiver side. He was on that side covering Michael Crabtree, and he drove on the comeback route well enough to play the ball and eventually catch it. On the second interception, he had Crabtree on a short route near the left sideline, but he also was responsible for any vertical route nearby. As he described it, he felt the tight end go vertical, so he read Colin Kaepernick, dropped off Crabtree and undercut the deeper throw. Impressive stuff from a rookie in his second NFL game. The Bears loved his physicality at Virginia Tech, which he hasn't really had a chance to demonstrate in games so far. The Hokies played him in the box at times almost as a run-stopping safety/linebacker. That skill set and toughness should help the Bears' edge run defense, which struggled big-time last season. He's also humble, soft spoken and comes from a big football family. His brother, Corey, is a receiver for the Lions and has been active for the first two games this season. He'll still make mistakes. For example, his defensive holding penalty on third-and-15 against the 49ers extended a drive that resulted in a field goal. But there's a lot to like there. 13 P a g e

14 Q: A casual observer would look at the Bears' first two games (loss to the Bills, win at the 49ers) and see that the Bears out-gained the Bills , and were out-gained by the 49ers Quite the statistical oddity. Can you shed some light on how and why the Bears looked so different from Week 1 to 2, against a lower-caliber opponent and then one of the NFL's best teams? In short: Which Bears team is the real Bears team? A: Turnovers outweighed the yardage in both of those games. The Bears had a minus-2 turnover differential in the Week 1 loss to the Bills, and they were plus-4 in the win over the 49ers. So which version is the real Bears team? To answer that in the context of turnovers, you have to start with Cutler. He proved in Week 1 that he's still capable of making baffling decisions, so that lifeline is out there for the Jets on Monday night. Pressure Cutler and his mechanics can break down. Also, the Bears' offense relies on precise timing, and that includes Cutler's footwork. Disrupt the timing of routes or Cutler's ability to set in the pocket, and the Jets' maligned secondary would have a chance to cash in. But Cutler was nearly perfect in the second half against the 49ers. So he's still inconsistent enough to keep it interesting each week. Defensively, Fuller's two interceptions were a revelation. And Chris Conte's diving interception was as athletic a play as you'll ever see in the NFL. If you haven't seen it, find it online and check out his range, speed and extension. (Here it is.) The Bears defense's hallmark for years was turnovers, and it's something second-year coordinator Mel Tucker continues to preach -- just as every coordinator does. The key, really, is how the Bears' improved defensive line pairs with a secondary that has the freedom to play with vision in Cover 2 and Cover 3. Defensive end Willie Young has excelled through two games getting to the quarterback, outshining Jared Allen, even. Fuller and Conte have showed their ability to play the ball, and cornerback Tim Jennings has proven his ability over the years. If Geno Smith is in a giving mood, the Bears will be more than capable of taking. Q: Everybody around the Jets is quite familiar with the duality of Santonio Holmes -- what a talented receiver he can be, and what a malcontent he can act like at times. How is he fitting in with the Bears, both on and off the field? What's your sense for how the Bears envision his role in their offense? How concerned were they with his reputation when they signed him? Oh, and have you noticed those crazy red contact lenses that he wears? A: Jets fans might not believe it, but Holmes has been a model citizen since signing on Aug. 16. Of course, that makes sense for a player who wasn't flooded by interest from teams as he sat out the offseason. The Bears signed him on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 16, and by that afternoon he was running routes with Cutler on an off day. The Bears see in him some explosiveness and ability to gain yards after the catch, which isn't exactly where Marshall and Jeffery excel. The Bears want him to be their No. 3 receiver, especially while second-year WR Marquess Wilson recovers from a broken collarbone on short-term injured reserve. The problem is that Holmes still is learning the playbook. On the killer Week 1 interception that Cutler threw on third-and-1, Holmes was supposed to release on a pass route as Cutler ran a bootleg. Holmes, however, stayed in to block, and that took away one of Cutler's play-side options. The next day, Trestman was candid in his explanation of the play, and he publicized Holmes' error. I was interested to see how Holmes would react because not all players are used to a coach as open with the public as Trestman is. But it never was an issue for Holmes, who reiterated his need to keep studying. He handled it like a pro. 14 P a g e

15 I should also mention that Holmes is the Bears' punt returner. They're still looking to replace Devin Hester, who wasn't re-signed because the Bears didn't want to meet his financial demands. The result of that decision has been a rotating cast of kickoff and punt returners. As for Holmes's red contacts, I have not seen them. But I feel like I would have if he were still wearing them because he has been approachable and cooperative with the media. I'll have to check into that! Jets-Bears injuries: Rex Ryan says Dee Milliner will play, barring setback; Eric Decker's status unclear (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger ml FLORHAM PARK There was no change Thursday in the status of two important, injured Jets as the team prepares for Monday night s home game against the Bears. Wide receiver Eric Decker, who sustained a right hamstring injury in Sunday s loss at Green Bay, did not practice for the second straight day. Cornerback Dee Milliner, who aggravated his high left ankle sprain a bit against the Packers, was limited again Thursday. Because the Jets have an extra day to prepare for this game, Thursday s practice was really like the normal Wednesday the first day teams must release an injury report. The Jets and Bears will release their final injury reports Saturday. It is likely Milliner will play Monday, unless he has a setback. Decker s status is more uncertain, though Ryan said Wednesday that the team s trainers seemed pretty confident that Decker would be able to face the Bears. Ryan indicated that he could play Decker in the game even if he does not practice at all this week. But ideally, Ryan would like to see Decker get some practice work in. He s a veteran player, but obviously, you d like to have him test it a little bit, Ryan said. I m not going to just say he has to be out on Saturday (participating in practice), but that s what you d like, to see him do some things. Really, for his own mentality, his own mindset, that: Yeah, I can do this, and I feel fine. Ryan said Milliner looked OK on Thursday while doing probably about the same amount of activity as he did Wednesday, when Milliner said he got some work during team periods. Milliner didn t start at Green Bay, and played 40 of 71 snaps. He said Wednesday that he was experiencing no tightness in his ankle. Though Ryan said Milliner looked OK on Thursday, he added that Milliner s ankle sprain has never looked 100 percent. The Jets determined that he was healthy enough to play against the Packers in a limited capacity, making his 2014 debut. At this point, Ryan expects Milliner to again be limited this week. But presuming Milliner s health does not change before Monday, he is going to be on the field against the Bears, Ryan said. If he s as good as he was last week, then, yeah, absolutely, Ryan said. We ll determine that later in the week. Unless we feel great about it, and he feels great, then we re not going to put him in there 100 percent of the snaps. 15 P a g e

16 Ryan said Milliner again coming off the bench is probably a possibility. But to say that he s definitely not going to start, I m not there yet. Let s see how he works. Two backup linebackers Nick Bellore (hip) and A.J. Edds (hamstring) missed practice Thursday. Bellore is a valuable special teams contributor. Edds is listed as the backup weak-side linebacker, Bellore the backup middle linebacker. The starters at those positions, Demario Davis and David Harris, almost never leave the field during games. But Ryan would still like to have depth at those spots entering Monday night. When asked about Bellore, Ryan said, Certainly there s a chance that he won t go, because he never practiced today, even. So there s still that chance. And if Bellore can t play Monday? Well, I hope Edds can go, then, Ryan said. And if Edds can t go, then we ll give (safety Dawan) Landry some linebacker pads or something. We ll figure it out. Also limited at Thursday s practice were right guard Willie Colon (calf), running back Chris Johnson (ankle) and center Nick Mangold (shoulder). Backup safety Josh Bush (quadriceps) was a full participant. The injuries to Johnson and Mangold are new, but not concerning to Ryan. I think both guys will be fine, Ryan said. How can the Jets simulate the height of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery in practice? (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger hall_alshon_jeffery_in_practice.html When Jets rookie safety Calvin Pryor watches Bears wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery on film, he knows what he is seeing. And then he knows what his eyes are really telling him about the difficulties of defending these two guys. "It's definitely a tough challenge and difficult, because both of those guys, I think, are 6-3, but they play like they're like 6-6, 6-7," Pryor said. "It's a challenge. But as DBs, we have to be ready. We have to go attack them and just don't let them come down with balls." Jeffery is listed at 6-3 and 216 pounds, Marshall at 6-4 and 230 pounds. They are both in their third season with their Bears, and during that time, they have made their fair share of absurd catches. Marshall's most recent ridiculous grab came in Sunday night's win at San Francisco. In our Bears beat writer Q&A with the Chicago Tribune's Rich Campbell, he listed some of Jeffery's greatest hits, and detailed why Jeffery has such good hands. (Hint: It has to do with food.) In Monday night's Bears-Jets game, Pryor isn't going to play one-on-one outside coverage against Marshall and Jeffery, per se. Pryor has been playing a lot of deep middle safety in the Jets' first two games, so he certainly could find himself having coverage responsibilities. But the challenge of stopping Marshall and Jeffery off the line will fall to the Jets' cornerbacks -- Dee Milliner (still recovering from a high ankle sprain), Antonio Allen (a converted safety) and/or Darrin Walls (a career backup) Simulating Marshall and Jeffery in practice is difficult for the Jets. They don't exactly have scout-team receivers who look like those guys. The closest the Jets can come is practice squad receiver Quincy Enunwa (6-2, 225). 16 P a g e

17 The Jets have two tall starting outside receivers Eric Decker and 6-5 David Nelson -- but they have other things to do in practice besides simulate Marshall and Jeffery. Plus, Decker is nursing a hamstring injury sustained in Sunday's loss at Green Bay. The Jets' tight ends have good height Jeff Cumberland, 6-5 Jace Amaro and 6-7 Zach Sudfeld -- but they don't possess the speed of Marshall and Jeffery. Simulating Marshall and Jeffery in practice "is a challenge because you don t have guys that big," said Jets coach Rex Ryan. "I guess you can put our tight ends out there, but they (Marshall and Jeffery) generally run better than our guys. That is definitely a challenge. There is no question about it. I think the one kid (Marshall), there is only one of those in the league. Oh, I m sorry. Back-to-back weeks we have them. But that is rare, and to try to simulate a Brandon Marshall or Calvin Johnson, it's tough. There s no doubt." Next week, Johnson (6-5, 236) and the Lions visit the Jets. But first, Ryan must do anything he can to mimic the skills of Marshall and Jeffery this week in practice, with the players he has. "You try to simulate their style of play," Ryan said. "They can t give you the size, but maybe the way they run routes or different things." NEW YORK POST Michael Vick: Too many wildcat plays disrupts offensive flow (Brian Costello) New York Post Michael Vick has gotten just five snaps so far this season, and the backup Jets quarterback/wildcat specialist admits that may be too much. I think five might be too many, said Vick, only half-joking. Those five plays produced no yards, a sack and a red-zone fumble by Geno Smith. I know we haven t had a whole lot of success with him, coach Rex Ryan admitted. It does keep a defense off balance a bit and, hopefully, we ll get this thing rolling a little bit. Asked if he might benefit personally from getting an entire series instead of a lone play here or there, Vick suggested it doesn t help Smith and the offense might not benefit either. That disrupts timing of the quarterback, Vick said. This isn t college. You don t rotate quarterbacks, you don t substitute one guy for another for one series. That s kind of petty. At the same time you want your quarterback to stay in a consistent flow. You don t want to interrupt anything. CB Dee Milliner (high left ankle sprain) was limited Thursday in practice and WR Eric Decker (hamstring) didn t practice. If [Milliner] is as good as he was last week, then, yeah, absolutely, said Ryan, who was not as optimistic about Decker. He s a veteran player, but obviously you d like to have him test it a bit. I m not going to just say he has to be out on Saturday [practicing], but that s what you d like. DL Muhammad Wilkerson said he was fined for the unsportsmanlike conduct in Sunday s game that led to his ejection. DL Sheldon Richardson told ESPN he was also fined. The amounts were unknown. 17 P a g e