NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS October 4, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Early wake-up call Sunday for Dolphins, Jets in London (Steven Wine)... 2 Jets' Lattimore doubtful, Reilly upgraded to questionable... 3 NEWSDAY... 3 Protecting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from hits is key to his success (Bob Glauber)... 3 Jets facing a desperate Dolphins team in London (Kimberley A. Martin)... 5 THE RECORD... 6 Jets vs. Dolphins matchup (J.P. Pelzman)... 6 Will jetting to London prove to be a good trip for Jets? (J.P. Pelzman)... 7 NEW YORK TIMES... 8 Jets vs. Dolphins Matchup (Ben Shpigel)... 8 Jets Cornerback Puts His Scrappiness to Work (Tom Pedulla)... 9 ESPN NEW YORK Jets' players say they're happy to be in London... yes, even Calvin Pace (Rich Cimini) It's tempting, but Brandon Marshall will pass on London antique shopping (Rich Cimini) Time for Jets to send reeling Dolphins into a London fog (Rich Cimini) Big-play rookie receiver Devin Smith the wild card for Jets' offense (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST How Jets silent assassin bails out conservative Fitzpatrick (Mark Cannizzaro) Ryan Fitzpatrick has to let it fly and Bowles knows it (Brian Costello) Jets bizarre week may end with pushing Dolphins to fire coach (Brian Costello) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets vs. Miami Dolphins 4 downs interview: Nick Mangold on traveling to London (Dom Consentino) Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick 'looking forward to trying to squish the fish' in London vs. Miami Dolphins (Darryl Slater) 20 4 things Jets must do to beat Miami Dolphins (Dom Cosentino) How has Jets' Brandon Marshall performed vs. Miami Dolphins, his former team? (Darryl Slater) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS As Jets get set to play Dolphins in London, Todd Bowles chimes in on playoff prospects (Manish Mehta) Jets WR Brandon Marshall's got game, but he could use some help (Seth Walder) METRO NEW YORK things to watch for as Jets face Dolphins in London (start, TV time, channel) (Kristian Dyer) Jets kicker Nick Folk will have to deal with notorious Wembley turf (Kristian Dyer) P a g e

2 SATURDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Early wake-up call Sunday for Dolphins, Jets in London (Steven Wine) Associated Press Thoughts turned to childhood as the Miami Dolphins reminisced about the last time they played a football game at 9:30 in the morning. Jarvis Landry said he was 11, and his team won. Reshad Jones said he was a 6-year-old in Pop Warner. And Brent Grimes? "I don't think I ever did it," Grimes said. "It'll be a little weird." The alarm will sound early Sunday for the Dolphins, and not just because they kick off against the New York Jets in London at 2:30 p.m. local time, which is 9:30 a.m. in Miami and New York. With a 1-2 record and three consecutive lackluster performances, the Dolphins desperately need to get going. "We feel the urgency," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "We're at a critical point in our season." Here are things to know about the 100th meeting in a rivalry that enters its 50th season: EARLY START: Both teams have spent months planning for the challenges of a game five time zones to the east. The Jets (2-1) retained a sleep therapist to help players adjust. They were given light-blocking glasses and a Litebook to provide additional light in the early morning. "I think a lot of (these) things are odd because you don't do it on a normal basis," tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson said. "You don't normally wear blue blockers or have (artificial) sunlight while you are eating breakfast. But we don't normally play in London." The Dolphins had the longer flight 8½ hours and players wore compression sleeves on the plane. They're taking a two-game losing streak to London for the second year in a row. In 2014 they came home rejuvenated by a victory over Oakland. "Looks like history is trying to repeat itself," Jones said. It should be noted, however, that the 2014 game kicked off at 6 p.m. London time. SLOW STARTS: The early start is a particular concern for the Dolphins because they haven't been ready at the beginning of their first three games. In the opening quarter they've been outscored 27-3 and outgained Last week they gave up 270 yards in the first half of a loss to the Buffalo Bills. "We've got to play a 60-minute football game," Philbin said. "We really haven't done that." TAKING IT AWAY: New York's formula for success has been to cause a league-high 11 turnovers. The Jets had five takeaways in each of their two victories, but just one in last week's loss to Philadelphia. They were focused this week on getting back to making things tough on offenses by taking the ball away from them. 2 P a g e

3 New York has seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions, and also is first in the NFL in red-zone defense by allowing just one TD in six opposing possessions inside the 20-yard line. APPLYING PRESSURE: Even with the addition of $114 million tackle Ndamukong Suh, Miami's defensive front has been less than stout. The Dolphins have one sack in 94 pass plays, worst in the NFL. They've been outrushed , also last in the league. New York's pass protection has been solid, with Ryan Fitzpatrick sacked only twice in 118 pass plays. STICKING WITH FITZ: The Jets have no quarterback controversy yet. Coach Todd Bowles made it clear the starting job still belongs to Fitzpatrick, even though Geno Smith has been fully cleared to play after missing several weeks when his jaw was broken by a punch from thenteammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali. Fitzpatrick has six TD passes, but also five interceptions in three games with three of the picks coming last week against Philadelphia. If Fitzpatrick struggles again, Bowles might have a lot to consider as the Jets head into the bye-week break. "There's a lot of things from my performance that I just need to continue to get better at," Fitzpatrick said. "Learn from it, but have to move on to next week and a new opponent and all the challenges that are going to come with traveling to London." Jets' Lattimore doubtful, Reilly upgraded to questionable Associated Press LONDON (AP) New York Jets backup linebacker Jamari Lattimore is being evaluated for a concussion and is listed as doubtful to play in the team's game against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. The Jets announced Saturday after the team's walkthrough that Lattimore has a head injury, but did not say when it occurred. New York held a full practice Friday at the London Irish RFC grounds. Linebacker Trevor Reilly also has been upgraded from out to questionable for the game Sunday. Reilly missed the Jets' game against Philadelphia last Sunday with a badly infected finger. Guard Willie Colon (knee), tight end Jeff Cumberland (concussion), wide receiver Chris Owusu (knee) and cornerback Darrin Walls (hamstring) remain out. Wide receiver Eric Decker (sprained knee) is a game-time decision. NEWSDAY Protecting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from hits is key to his success (Bob Glauber) Newsday Chan Gailey has a pretty good idea about what the problem has been with Ryan Fitzpatrick. 3 P a g e

4 Actually, the Jets' offensive coordinator is convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt about what the issue has been. Fitzpatrick has had a tendency at various points of his career to start a season off extremely well, only to see his performance drop off. It happened in Buffalo in 2011, when Fitzpatrick started the season off so well that the Bills rewarded him with a monstrous contract in October. But then the bottom fell out, and Fitzpatrick was relieved of his duties as the starter by the end of the following season. It happened again last season with the Texans. Fitzpatrick won the starting job in training camp and got off to a 3-1 start for first-year coach Bill O'Brien. But by early November, after a series of average performances by Fitzpatrick, O'Brien had turned to Ryan Mallett as his starter. So what was behind the drop-offs? "I know why it happened," said Gailey, who was the Bills' head coach when Fitzpatrick was the Buffalo starter. And the reason? "Just taking hits," Gailey said. He may have a point. Check out Fitzpatrick's stat line in 2011, and you see he was sacked only three times in his first five games. The Bills went 4-1 in that span, with Fitzpatrick throwing 10 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. But in his next 11 games, he was sacked 19 times and threw 14 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions as Buffalo went 2-9. When the Texans started off 2-0 last year, Fitzpatrick wasn't sacked, threw three touchdown passes and produced passer ratings of more than in both games. In his next two games, he was sacked a combined five times and had two touchdown passes and five picks. Cause and effect? There's not a sliver of doubt in Gailey's mind. "As long as we can keep him upright and not take a bunch of hits," Gailey said, "I think he'll be just fine for the long haul." It has been a strikingly similar start for Fitzpatrick in what turned into an unexpected role as the Jets' starter this season. Taking over the No. 1 job after Geno Smith was punched by linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali in training camp, Fitzpatrick was almost flawless in his first two games. In wins over the Browns and Colts, he had a combined four touchdown passes and two interceptions, and was sacked once. Pass protection wasn't so much the issue in last week's loss to the Eagles, although the Eagles consistently pressured Fitzpatrick, especially when the Jets fell behind He wound up throwing a career-high 58 passes, had three interceptions and said afterward that throwing so often certainly is not the ideal formula for success. It didn't help that the Jets were without bruising tailback Chris Ivory and No. 2 wide receiver Eric Decker. Now it's on to the Dolphins in London, as Fitzpatrick looks to rebound from last week's poor showing. Ivory is expected to play and Decker might return. The Dolphins' defense has been a major disappointment -- the team has only one sack this season -- but Fitzpatrick takes nothing for granted against a team coming off a home loss to the Bills. "Historically, look at the guys that they have up front and the way they performed," said Fitzpatrick, referring to a front that includes Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake. "They create some matchup problems for you. I'm not sitting here looking at that saying, 'Boy, I'm going to be able to sit back there all day and throw.' They've got a lot of talented guys up front that can rush the passer." 4 P a g e

5 But if his offensive coordinator is correct in his assessment of Fitzpatrick's past issues, and if the Jets' offensive line gives him adequate time to find his receivers, there's no reason he can't rebound with another solid performance. With Smith healthy again and ready for duty if needed, Fitzpatrick will need to remain solid to continue as the starter. It's pretty much a weekly referendum for Fitzpatrick, who has been told by coach Todd Bowles that he will remain the starter. But that is not an open-ended assurance, especially in a league in which impatience with quarterback play has never been more pronounced. Unless you are a franchise-caliber quarterback, job security usually lasts only as long as you produce. Jets facing a desperate Dolphins team in London (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday LONDON - By no means are the Jets in "panic mode," said Brandon Marshall. But the same can't be said for his former team. While the Jets are building something with first-year coach Todd Bowles, the Miami Dolphins -- who face the Jets on Sunday at Wembley Stadium -- could be looking to cut bait with Joe Philbin, their coach since The stakes certainly are high for the Dolphins, who haven't made the playoffs since Making matters worse for Philbin is that his team is 1-2 despite high-priced offseason acquisitions such as Ndamukong Suh and draft picks DeVante Parker and Jordan Phillips. And last week's defeat at the hands of Rex Ryan's Buffalo Bills -- coupled with the Dolphins' Week 2 road loss to the Jaguars -- indicated that something is amiss in Miami. According to an NFL.com report, the Dolphins' front office is considering "shaking up their coaching staff" if the team loses Sunday. And former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum -- now the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations -- will be at the center of the decision-making process. The game between the AFC East rivals will be played in a neutral site more than 3,500 miles away from MetLife Stadium. It technically is a "home" game for Miami, which boasts a large following in the United Kingdom. But Marshall doesn't think it'll feel like a typical road game for the Jets (2-1). "Although it's their home game, it's still not the same as playing in Miami," said the wide receiver, who played for the Dolphins from "It's not an advantage for us, but if I was a Dolphin player, I would be a little disappointed.'' "It's neutral," cornerback Darrelle Revis said of the location. "It can play into our hands, especially not going down to Miami and playing them... I can't just sit there and say it's an advantage to us. It could be an advantage for them, too, because we're not playing at MetLife Stadium. It's not a home game for us, either. It's going to be a challenge for both squads." Like the Dolphins, the Jets have much to prove. They were flying high after a 2-0 start, but last week's loss to the Eagles brought them back down to Earth. And as confident as they are, they said Sunday's outcome will speak volumes about who they are as a team. 5 P a g e

6 "Finally, we're facing some adversity," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who committed three of their four turnovers against Philly. "... So I think we'll find out a lot about our team this week.'' "Division games are huge," added receiver Eric Decker, whose availability will be a game-time decision because of a knee sprain. "This will be a crucial one for us. Miami's defense is stellar. We got a challenge. It's always nice to get on the winning side of division games. That's usually the determining factor of making the playoffs or not... winning your division. So this is a good start for us. I think we're ready." Playing in London puts a unique spin on a game between division rivals. "It should be exciting," Bowles said. "There will be a big crowd on hand, a lot of people. I don't know who's rooting for who yet -- we'll see how many Jets fans and Dolphins fans will be here -- but it should be an exciting game." When a British reporter asked why English fans should root for the Jets, Bowles smiled and said: "Because they like us? We play good football, we play smart football. We have to give them a chance to root for us." Revis said it will be "an honor" to play in front of an expected sellout crowd of 90,000 fans at Wembley. But at kickoff, it'll be all about business. "We both lost last week," he said. "It's a new week. We try to prepare the best way we can and try to beat our opponent. We'll see how the outcome is on Sunday." Asked about the Dolphins' level of desperation, Marshall replied: "We're not in panic mode or anything, but we lost last week, too. You have two teams that are coming in and that are hungry. We don't like to lose." THE RECORD Jets vs. Dolphins matchup (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 4, Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2) At Wembley Stadium, London; Today, 9:30 a.m. TV: Ch. 2; Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7; Line: Jets by 1 1/2 What s at stake Jets: The Jets are trying to prove the superiority of American toilet paper, after toting 350 rolls of the stuff across the pond so as to not have to deal with the British version. OK, their real objective is to bounce back from a loss to Philadelphia and improve to 3-1 before coming back home for their bye week. Dolphins: Miami is trying to avoid a 1-3 start that surely would increase the heat on embattled fourthyear coach Joe Philbin, whose job security is rumored to be in question. It also would be a good springboard for the Dolphins into their bye week. Miami won here last season, beating Oakland, and thus many of their players are familiar with this venue. Key matchup Jets CB Buster Skrine vs. Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry. Landry has 24 receptions for 230 yards already this season and has been the most consistent weapon in Miami s mostly lackluster offense. Although he lines up outside occasionally, he is in the slot more often, and thus figures to be Skrine s responsibility most of 6 P a g e

7 the time. Skrine has been solid thus far in his first year with the Jets, but this will be his toughest challenge yet. How they ll win Jets: The Jets offense should be buoyed by the return of RB Chris Ivory (quadriceps), who sat out the loss to Philadelphia. They would get even more assistance if WR Eric Decker (knee) can come back. He also missed the loss to the Eagles and his potential availability today will be determined during warm-ups. If he can play, his presence underneath would help give more opportunities to WR Brandon Marshall and deep threat Devin Smith. The defense must take advantage of the expected absence of Miami LT Branden Albert (hamstring). Dolphins: Miami must run the ball effectively to keep the Jets blitzers from keying on QB Ryan Tannehill, who was sacked twice and hit eight other times by Buffalo s aggressive D a week ago. Newcomer Jonas Gray, who had 49 yards on nine carries against the Bills, could help. It will be interesting to see if Tannehill tests Darrelle Revis, who isn t 100 percent. Ndamukong Suh and Co. will try to exploit RG Brian Winters, who will be starting in place of Willie Colon (knee). Will jetting to London prove to be a good trip for Jets? (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 4, The Jets made headlines in England when it was revealed that they brought their own toilet paper to London, apparently not trusting the bathroom tissue found in Great Britain. Today they ll see if they can flush a disappointing loss to Philadelphia a week ago. The Jets game against Miami today at Wembley Stadium marks the franchise s first regular-season contest overseas. "It s been good for the guys to come to another country and play," coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday after the team practiced at a rugby facility outside of London. "It s been real good for them from a fanfare standpoint and from a media standpoint. Hopefully, while they take it all in they can focus on the game." Of course, that is what really matters about this unusual trip, although the bathroom tissue issue has provided a strange sidelight to the game. The New York Times quoted a Jets staffer saying the team brought 350 rolls of toilet paper on the trip, one of several amenities packed to help make the transition easier for the players. The Jets decision to bring in their own toilet paper may have, uh, rubbed some Brits the wrong way, but veteran linebacker Calvin Pace believes it shows how the Jets do things the right way. "We re the best organization in football, man," Pace told reporters Friday after practice. "Sometimes you guys [media] write articles about us that don t say that, but this place, they ll do anything for you. "I mean, who brings toilet paper?," Pace added. "Little things like that make your trip easier. It s a good thing for us. If it helps us win, I m all for it." Perhaps the most interesting thing is that the often-curmudgeonly Pace actually raved about the idea of playing a game in England, despite the disruption to the normal routine. 7 P a g e

8 "It s cool, man," Pace said Friday. "London is a city I ve always wanted to see and experience. We re here now, let s make the most of it. You have an opportunity to play a game. Me, personally, I like it better than being down in hot, humid Miami, so I m happy with it." And lest you think Pace merely is being politically correct, keep in mind that he certainly isn t a favorite of the Cortland (N.Y.) Chamber of Commerce, considering that he routinely complained vehemently about the experience of being at SUNY Cortland when the Jets spent five training camps there during the Rex Ryan era. Still, all the pomp and circumstance aside, the Jets must handle the distractions of such a trip and be ready to play today against a desperate division rival. Miami s blowout loss to Buffalo a week ago has revived the rumors that coach Joe Philbin is on the hot seat. "It s a tough adjustment," Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of the trip, "but like we ve said all week, both teams are having to deal with the adjustment. And so we re kind of on an even playing field there, but it s been a fun trip so far and hopefully we can kind of catch up on our sleep." "We re trying to be as normal as possible," Bowles said. "[Miami] took the same trip, so everything is equal on both sides. We just have to play our game. We re not going to use traveling or [lack of] sleep as an excuse. We have to show up and play." BRIEFS: The Jets announced after their walkthrough Saturday that LB James Lattimore was added to the injury report. He is being evaluated for a concussion and is listed as doubtful. He is a key-special teams player. Also, LB Trevor Reilly (finger infection) was upgraded from doubtful to questionable. NEW YORK TIMES Jets vs. Dolphins Matchup (Ben Shpigel) New York Times Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2) At Wembley Stadium, London 9:30 a.m., CBS Matchup to Watch: Brian Winters vs. Ndamukong Suh For his first career start at right guard, Winters, filling in for the injured Willie Colon, is tasked with blocking Suh, one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the league. Suh has no sacks yet this season, but the Jets understand his ability. Winters cannot afford to make mistakes against Suh. Asked how to slow Suh, Coach Todd Bowles quipped, Him not playing. Asked what advice he would give Winters, Bowles said, Just eat your Wheaties. Number to watch: 47 According to the Pro Football Focus website, that is how many combined sacks, hurries and quarterback hits the Dolphins have allowed, the second most in the N.F.L. through Week 3. Miami s suspect passblocking efficiency was exposed last week against Buffalo, and the Jets could smother Miami quarterback 8 P a g e

9 Ryan Tannehill unless his offensive line makes adjustments. The poor blocking extends to the running game: The Dolphins are allowing twice as many rushing yards (145) as they gain themselves (72.7). RELATED COVERAGE Jets cornerback Dexter McDougle had to sit out his rookie season because of a knee injury.jets Cornerback Puts His Scrappiness to WorkOCT. 3, 2015 With his league-leading 291 yards rushing, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, left, is feeling very confident these days.n.f.l. Week 4 Previews and PicksOCT. 1, 2015 Larry Fitzgerald has averaged 21.1 standard fantasy points per game, the second most in fantasy football.fantasy Football Week 4: Rankings and Matchup AnalysisOCT. 1, 2015 Quotation of the Week: I think we feel the urgency and understand that we re at a critical point in our season. Miami quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL, whose Dolphins have lost their last two games. Jets Cornerback Puts His Scrappiness to Work (Tom Pedulla) New York Times FLORHAM PARK, N.J. Dexter McDougle, in his second year at cornerback with the Jets, enters Sunday s game against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London with one special-teams tackle. That is a seemingly meaningless statistic but not to McDougle. After losing most of his senior season at Maryland to a severe shoulder injury and all of his rookie year to a knee injury, it means everything to McDougle merely to play again. Definitely, when it is taken away from you, you realize how special the game is, how fast it can go, so you make the most of it while you re out there, he said. McDougle finds himself well down the depth chart at what became a position of enormous strength for the team. Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan spent heavily to reacquire the star cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. He also signed defensive back Buster Skrine as a free agent. But McDougle s relentlessness and his rugged style of play for a 5-foot-10, 195-pound cornerback are making a strong impression on Todd Bowles, the Jets first-year coach. Dex is a tough, scrappy corner, Bowles said. He s becoming a technician. Before, he was playing with a lot of physical tools and not a lot of mental. And now he s starting to put the mental with the physical. I think Dex has a bright future. Bobby April, the special-teams coordinator, noted that the time lost to injury was costly because it kept McDougle, 24, from gaining valuable experience. April compared McDougle to a highly regarded but raw baseball prospect who must survive in the major leagues without an ideal foundation. He probably could see more pitches; he could see more plays to be in position to make tackles in space, April said. But I see him as a quality player. When McDougle is not looking to survive in the helter-skelter world of special teams, he is soaking up knowledge from Revis and Cromartie. 9 P a g e

10 These are good guys to learn from, some of the best to ever play, McDougle said. I m using that to my advantage in the meeting room and on the practice field. He added, When my name is called, I will be ready. The former Jets general manager John Idzik and the former coach Rex Ryan took McDougle in the third round of last year s draft based on the promise he showed on film and the way he responded to a shoulder injury that cost him the final nine games of his senior season. In a game against Connecticut, one in which he had already made two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, a fired-up McDougle smashed a ball-carrier he estimated was 60 pounds heavier. He fractured his scapula and dislocated his shoulder. McDougle, at first believing the problem was limited to a dislocation, begged trainers to pop his shoulder back into place so he could return to the field and to a season that was critical to proving himself as an N.F.L. prospect. He had already gained attention by making 71 tackles, with a team-leading 58 unassisted tackles, as a junior. Doctors told him the combination of injuries was most commonly found in car wrecks. McDougle so impressed Maryland coaches by continuing to attend practice, watch film and help his teammates that they presented him with the inaugural Dexter McDougle Ultimate Team Player Award to close his collegiate career. McDougle was impressing the Jets coaching staff as a rookie last year when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee before the season. He was working one-on-one against a receiver in a red-zone drill on Aug. 10 when he went to jump for the ball. I didn t even get off the ground, he said. He crumpled to the turf. Oh God, you ve got to be kidding me, he was overheard saying as the medical staff examined him. His body told him the season was lost to a freakish noncontact injury before the doctors could. Still, McDougle was as devoted to putting the knee injury behind him as he was the shoulder injury. He displayed the grit, the resilience, that he said his father, Dexter, instilled in him the first day he played in a youth league in Woodbridge, Va. The younger McDougle made his debut at running back. On his first carry, he was leveled. On his second, he cut the corner and glanced back to see every defender in hot pursuit. He wanted none of it. He chucked the ball to the sidelines and sought refuge in the stands. McDougles don t quit, his father said, scolding him. The elder McDougle sought to reinforce the point and toughen his son, then about 7, when they returned home. I had this guy about 10 years old and I told him, I want you to hit him every time I throw him the ball, the elder McDougle said. We did it about six times, and this kid would run over him. The seventh time I threw it to him, he plowed the guy over and said, I want to play football again. Some may wince at that scene. McDougle views it as a moment that helped him cope with setbacks that broke him physically and tested him emotionally. I ll always remember that day, he said. Since that day, I always strived to be the best. ESPN NEW YORK Jets' players say they're happy to be in London... yes, even Calvin Pace (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York 10 P a g e

11 LONDON -- Welcome to the British version of the New York Jets' The player whose opinion carries the most weight, in my opinion, is Calvin Pace. The veteran linebacker is the Jets' resident curmudgeon, which means he complains about a lot of things -- everything from the rigors of training camp to Roger Goodell's sweeping authority. Pace wasn't one of the players who spoke at the formal news conference after practice, but he spoke to reporters on the side and -- surprise -- he didn't bemoan the long flight, the five-hour time change or anything. Here's Pace: "It's cool, man. London's a city I always wanted to see and experience. We're here now. Let's make the most of it. You have an opportunity to play a game. I think it will be a fun experience. Me, personally, I like it better than being down in hot, humid Miami. I'm happy with it." So there you have it. If Pace likes it, I'm guessing most players feel the same way. The flight took six hours, 15 minutes, which is roughly the same amount of time from New York to San Diego. The issue is the time change -- five time zones. That can be rough. Darrelle Revis said at the news conference, "It's tough, it's tough. We had the flight last night. [We're] just getting over here and trying to get acclimated." Revis, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Mangold and Brandon Marshall spoke at the news conference and, for the most part, they seemed to embrace the idea of playing here in London. The game will be sold out, with officials saying it could draw more than 80,000. The atmosphere should be pretty cool, although it's worth noting the Miami Dolphins have a strong following here. The Jets' faithful probably will be outnumbered. The Jets will have had 48 hours to get right before kickoff. The bottom line is, it doesn't matter if they're excited or not. They're here to play a football game, an important game -- their first division game. The Dolphins, whose flight was about eight hours, are dealing with the same circumstances. There's no whining in football, especially about sleep. Jets linebacker Erin Henderson, who played over here two years ago as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, made an interesting comment to me the other day. He said professional athletes have a unique body clock; it tells them when it's time to perform. I'd like to think he's right. It's tempting, but Brandon Marshall will pass on London antique shopping (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York P a g e

12 LONDON -- If Brandon Marshall weren't here to play a football game -- if he had a bunch of free time on Saturday -- he knows exactly where he'd be. Buckingham Palace? Nope. Big Ben? Nice, but no. He'd be at Portobello Market, a popular antique festival in London. "I m an antique guy. I collect antiques," the New York Jets wide receiver explained Friday. "So every time I get a chance, I m always looking over there. It s cool. You guys should do it if you have free time. It s like a festival. Marshall came clean, admitting this is only his third time in London, but he evidently knows a thing or two about antiques. Portobello bills itself as the world's largest antique marketplace. Marshall said he collects old bags. I have a 1940 doctor s bag," he said. "That s pretty cool. So that s my thing now, collecting bags, antique bags. I ve got an 1800s bag. Some cool stuff. As tempting as it might be, Marshall won't shop the streets of Portobello. "I want to go, but I will not go," he said. "I just want to be at my best for Sunday. If it was a regular week or something, I definitely would go for like an hour. It s pretty cool. I m telling you, you should go. They only do it on Saturdays. Time for Jets to send reeling Dolphins into a London fog (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York LONDON -- The New York Jets should be wide awake, feeling good from head to tush for their first regularseason game outside North America. Now all they have to do is beat the Miami Dolphins to make their trip to London a smashing success. From a logistical standpoint, the Jets spent 10 months preparing. They consulted with a sleep therapist to help cope with the five-hour time change, they brought their own chef and, making sure they covered their butts, they packed 350 rolls of toilet paper. In case you didn't know, the toilet paper is thinner in England. The Jets' prep team wanted the players to experience the comforts of home. "There's a little bit of adversity for both teams, as far as not having the comfort of a normal home or road game," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said Friday upon the team's arrival in London. "But I think we've got a really good team and we're really excited about the way we started with the two wins and, finally, we're facing some adversity after the loss last game. So I think we'll find out a lot about our team this week." In the end, the game won't be decided by happy bottoms or jet lag. Football is football, regardless of where it's played. This is the Jets' first division game -- the 100th meeting in this storied rivalry -- and they don't want to go into the bye week on a two-game losing streak. The Dolphins (1-2) already have dropped two in a row. Set your alarms early, folks, because game time at Wembley Stadium is 9:30 a.m. ET, tying the record for the earliest kickoff in NFL history. The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons also kicked off at that time last year at Wembley. 12 P a g e

13 Some of the top storylines: 1. The Dolphins are a mess: The Jets can crush the Dolphins' spirit by jumping to an early lead. Why not? Everybody does it. The Dolphins have faced 10-0, 17-6 and 27-0 deficits in their first three games, raising serious questions about coach Joe Philbin's game preparation -- or lack thereof. Philbin is in trouble. If the Dolphins get embarrassed by their AFC East rival, a coaching change isn't out of the realm of possibility. Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is running the Dolphins, and he has no loyalty to Philbin. 2. Battle of the Ryans: Fitzpatrick and Ryan Tannehill are looking to rebound after suffering threeinterception performances last week. Fitzpatrick will be helped by the return of Chris Ivory, who should spark the running game if he's 100 percent. The big question surrounds wide receiver Eric Decker (knee), who is questionable. His presence would add balance to the passing attack, and we know he likes facing the Dolphins. He almost broke a team record last season in Miami, racking up 221 receiving yards in the final game. Look for the Jets to attack the right side of the Dolphins' defense, noticeably weaker than the left. Defensively, the Jets are supremely confident in their ability to defend Tannehill. They see him as a talented passer who gets happy feet when he feels pressure, and they should be able to generate heat against a suspect offensive line. Muhammad Wilkerson should have a monster game against replacement left tackle Jason Fox. 3. Hidden edges: Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers spent the previous seven seasons on the Dolphins' staff. He tried to downplay it, but that's an advantage for the Jets. He knows their personnel and their offense. Truth be told, everybody on the defense should have a good feel for Miami's system. The Jets faced a version of it last week in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor is a former Chip Kelly assistant, and he runs a similar up-tempo style. As linebacker Calvin Pace said, "Give kudos to the schedule maker for helping us out with that one." 4. Dearth of playmakers: Considering the travel and the struggles of both offenses, this figures to be an ugly, low-scoring game. It could be decided by a play or two on either side of the ball. Which playmaker will step up? No one on the Dolphins' offense scares the Jets, and the only players they're concerned about on the Miami defense are Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake and Brent Grimes, who plays the left side exclusively. The Dolphins have some talent, but they're not playing as a team. The Jets have played well in 10 of 12 quarters this season, buying into Todd Bowles' program. Unless something wacky happens, they should win. Big-play rookie receiver Devin Smith the wild card for Jets' offense (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York LONDON -- A look at what s going on around the New York Jets (our early version of Sunday notes): 1. Smitty to the rescue: The Jets drafted Devin Smith with the 37th overall pick because they believe he can be an all-round receiver, not just a deep threat. They need it to happen sooner than later because, on an offense filled with veteran skill-position players, the dynamic Smith is the X Factor. He has what they need -- explosiveness. The quicker he demonstrates it, the better chance they have of becoming more than just a grind-it-out, workmanlike offense. Smith wasn't given much of a chance to show his full skill set last week in his NFL debut. Yes, he was targeted nine times, but the average target distance in air yards was pretty much a replay of his 13 P a g e

14 Ohio State days. That won't work, not with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Fitzpatrick can do a lot of nice things, but throwing the deep ball isn't one of them. He has attempted 19 passes of at least 20 yards (second-most in the league), but the aggressive mentality has resulted in a league-high three interceptions and only two completions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Smith is playing catch-up because he missed nearly two months with fractured ribs, so this is his training camp, essentially. You can't expect overnight success, but he needs to grow into a prominent role to give the offense more versatility. Don't be surprised if his breakout game happens Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Their No. 2 cornerback is Brice McCain, who was awful last week. He will be targeted -- a lot. 2. No need to panic, but... : New general manager Mike Maccagnan filled a lot of needs in the offseason, but he failed to acquire a change-of-pace running back -- and it s starting to show up. He re-signed Bilal Powell and added Zac Stacy and Stevan Ridley to the stable, joining Chris Ivory. They have similar skill sets. As Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said, "The running backs are straight, downhill guys." In fact, only 14 of their 72 designed rushes have gone outside the tackles, per ESPN Stats. The once-vaunted running game is off to a sluggish start, and this is one of the reasons why. 3. At home in London: Not many NFL executives can travel to Great Britain and say, "This is where it all started." Maccagnan can. His first front-office position came in 1991 when he was the director of player personnel for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. It was a memorable year, as London won the inaugural World Bowl. 4. The Buddy Bowl: Sunday s game will be a special reunion for linebacker Erin Henderson, whose close friend and former Minnesota Vikings teammate Greg Jennings will be playing for the Dolphins. Jennings was a pillar of strength for Henderson last year. Henderson was in alcohol rehab after an arrest, trying to get his life together and wondering if he d ever play again. Jennings visited him in rehab and attended therapy sessions. They did a lot of praying together. "He was a big help for me in a rough time -- a real rough patch in my life," Henderson told me. "He was there for me, a shoulder I could lean on. The fact that he didn t have to be there made it that much more special for me. He took time out of his schedule and away from his family to show he cared about me and my well being." That's a cool story. 5. Plugging a leak: It s too early to draw any definitive conclusions, but has anybody noticed the Jets aren t getting torched by tight ends? This was a major issue last season, as they allowed a league-high 14 touchdowns to tight ends. They also were the only team not to intercept a pass on a tight-end target. After three games, they have allowed only five catches and no touchdowns. Granted, they haven t faced any Pro Bowlers -- Rob Gronkowski is looming in three weeks -- but let s give credit where it s due. Some of it goes to Calvin Pryor, who believes his pass coverage has improved because he s getting more chances to play his natural position, strong safety. "It has a lot to do with me being down in the box," he told me. "Whatever you saw last year is going to be totally different than what you see this year." Pryor and fellow safety Marcus Gilchrist have one interception apiece, but they came on passes to wide receivers. 6. The Miami Jets: Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum isn t the only ex-jets executive working for the Miami Dolphins. Their front office also includes former Jets president Matt Higgins (vice chairman) and ex-cap specialist Dawn Aponte (executive vice president/football administration). Wait, there's another. 14 P a g e

15 A few months ago, Tannenbaum hired his former boss, Terry Bradway, as Miami s college scout for the Northeast region. Bradway spent 14 years with the Jets, first as the GM and later as a top scout. His run came to an abrupt end last January, when he was fired by new GM Mike Maccagnan. He was on the job for, oh, about a minute before he sent Bradway packing. It was the start of a front office/scouting overhaul by Maccagnan. 7. Unbreakable (well, almost): Willie Colon is one tough dude. He twisted his right knee on the first play of last week s game -- his non-surgically repaired knee -- but he stayed in the game, fighting through the pain. At the end of the first half, it became too much. He didn t have enough strength in his knee to plant his leg on a bull rush by Philadelphia linebacker Vinny Curry. Colon got pushed backward into Fitzpatrick, bear-hugging Curry in an attempt to protect his quarterback. That s when he knew it was time to get out. Colon (sprained MCL) is expected to miss two to three weeks. They will miss his nastiness Sunday against Suh. 8. Money ball: Two of the most expensive free agents from last offseason are playing in this game -- Suh (six years, $114 million) and Darrelle Revis (five years, $70 million). They will make a combined $42.5 million in Consider: The entire Miami Marlins baseball team has a $62.2 million payroll. Wow. 9. Shopping for Martellus? I received a couple of questions on Twitter about the possibility of trading for Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett. The rebuilding Bears are having a fire sale and the Jets are hurting at tight end, but I don't see it happening. Bennett isn't cheap ($4.9 million this year, $5.1 million next year) and the tight-end position doesn't have a prominent role in Chan Gailey's offense. It's wishful thinking. 10. Film critic: Calvin Pace couldn't sleep on the six-hour flight to London, so he watched a movie, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2." He wasn't impressed. "My kids rave about that movie, so I was like, 'Let me check it out,'" he said. "It wasn t bad, you know what I m saying? The first one was better, though." NEW YORK POST How Jets silent assassin bails out conservative Fitzpatrick (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post A week removed from their humbling, back-to-reality home loss to the Eagles, the Jets have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to play their next game at Wembley Stadium in London. It is there, at the iconic European football venue, where the Jets hope to rediscover their swagger Sunday when they play a 9:30 a.m. Eastern time game against the division-rival Dolphins. The key ingredient to the swagger the Jets brought to their first two games en route to a feel-good 2-0 start under new coach Todd Bowles had to do with one particular player: Running back Chris Ivory. Ivory makes the Jets offense go. He gives the offense its personality. Not coincidentally, Ivory did not play in last Sunday s loss to the Eagles, a game in which they fell behind, 24-0, in the first half. 15 P a g e

16 Ivory, who sat out with a quadriceps injury, will play Sunday. Bowles took a calculated risk last Sunday by sitting Ivory, who was cleared by doctors to play and in uniform, with hopes that the week without contact would help him in the long term. In the short term, it backfired, with Ivory replacements Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy combining for just 34 yards on 12 carries. The offense in general was anemic. So the Jets hope his return Sunday marks the return of their offensive punch. Ivory is not the best back in the NFL, but he brings something beyond yards that many of the other top runners do not. It is his violent running style that energizes the offensive line, forces opposing defenders to shy away from the contact he administers and most importantly he usually gives quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick second-and-manageable downs with which to work. I call him the Predator from Alien vs. Predator, because he looks like the Predator with those dreadlocks, Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly said. I ve been calling him Predator now for two years. I don t know if he likes it, but I ve been calling him that. Ivory s reaction? He smiles, but he s very reserved, Reilly said. He s the silent assassin. Ivory is not an attention-seeker. He prefers not to speak to reporters. Often in these cases, a player might be shy in public but communicative with his own teammates inside the locker room. Not the case with Ivory. He s somewhat of a mystery to even his teammates. You hear stories about [Seahawks running back] Marshawn Lynch being like that, Reilly said. Chris is the same guy to everyone. As long as he is the same guy Sunday on the Wembley pitch against the Dolphins the guy who rushed for 148 yards, a 4.4-yard average and two TDs in the first two games. The Jets are a different team when Ivory is bounding of their backfield with abandon. He s a threat that a guy that other teams are worried about and rightfully so, in my opinion, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. Reilly, when standing on the sideline watching his team s offense operate, notices teams bracing for the Predator. At the end of games, it s like body blows, Reilly said. When you get to the fourth quarter, the players are like, I don t want another dose of that helmet or shoulder. As much a weapon as he is late in games with the Jets trying to protect a lead, Ivory s effectiveness on early downs early in games cannot be overstated. The thing with Chris is he s a forward-leaning runner, meaning worst-case he s going to get one yard, Reilly said. When you look at offenses, it s, What do you do on first down? That usually dictates what you re going to do on offense. If you can get to second-and-6 or second-and-5, you ve got a great chance. This kind of production on first downs is vital to the Jets offense, because Fitzpatrick is not a down-field thrower. According to ProFootballFocus, Fitzpatrick is 3-of-20 for 85 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions on passes of 20 or more yards down the field. That includes 0-of-8 last week. Coaches and players almost always walk on eggshells when asked about the impact of a missing starter, because they re fearful of disrespecting that starter s backup. This is how the Jets have been since after last week s game. 16 P a g e

17 It limits you some, was about as bold as Gailey wanted to go. It makes a difference. If it didn t make a difference, the other guys would be starting. Ryan Fitzpatrick has to let it fly and Bowles knows it (Brian Costello) New York Post LONDON The Jets are struggling to go deep this season. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is just 3-for-20 on passes of 20 yards or more in the team s first three games, according to Pro Football Focus. It has been a struggle to stretch defenses for the Jets. I don t even look at that. You can paint stats a lot of different ways, Fitzpatrick said. Like I said a couple of games ago, some are just throwing the ball away, but we ve definitely got to get better at that. That s an area of emphasis, making sure we re taking chunks in the passing game. Against the Eagles, Fitzpatrick went 0-for-8 on with an interception with the deep ball. Some of the balls were underthrown badly, raising questions about Fitzpatrick s arm strength, something that has been questioned throughout his career. Ryan can throw the deep ball, coach Todd Bowles said. The Jets have operated mostly as a short-passing team. Fitzpatrick is averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. That number was 4.9 last week. Some of it depends on the game plan and what we think or what we want to get accomplished going in, Fitzpatrick said. Some of it was throwing 58 passes and kind of in the second half there getting away from the game plan and just trying to make stuff up on the fly. We ve got to start hitting those and throwing it down the field more. Rookie receiver Devin Smith returned to the lineup last week after missing the first two games with broken ribs. The Jets drafted him in the second round for his ability to stretch defenses, so as he and Fitzpatrick get more comfortable together the deep passing should improve. Bowles said he knows the Jets are going to face stacked boxes until they show they can go deep. I hope we do face a lot at the line of scrimmage, Bowles said. That will give us more of an opportunity for deep balls. It s the first time we ve really tried to get them over the top. You ve got to throw them no matter what just to back teams up, because we run the ball pretty good and to back them up off of you, you ve got to throw them. Whether we complete them or not, it s not necessary, it s the fact that we can throw them. Jets LB Calvin Pace said he sees signs of improvement in Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. I think the offense is kind of tailor-made for him, Pace said. The guy is an athletic guy. He played receiver in college. He has a good arm. He s dangerous when he gets out of the pocket. It just seems like he s a little more comfortable, watching film, with the throws he s making. He s not making a lot of mistakes. My job is to just make his day uncomfortable, hit him, get him off his spot. The Jets made two changes to their injury report Saturday. LB Trevor Reilly (finger) was upgraded to questionable. LB Jamari Lattimore was added with a head injury. He is being evaluated for a concussion. The Jets did not say how he suffered the injury. 17 P a g e