NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS December 20, 2014 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Jets' Ryan on sense of humor: 'I'm not dead yet' (Dennis Waszak)... 2 Playing Patriots still special for Ryan, Jets (Dennis Waszak)... 3 Jets' Rontez Miles has emergency surgery on leg (Dennis Waszak)... 5 NEWSDAY... 5 Rex Ryan remains lighthearted despite his job situation (Jim Baumbach)... 5 THE RECORD... 6 Jets Muhammad Wilkerson not giving up on the season (Jeff Roberts)... 6 Jets notes: Rex Ryan said, 'I'm not dead yet.' (Jeff Roberts)... 7 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA... 8 Jets safety Rontez Miles suffers season-ending shin injury two days after promotion from practice squad (Darryl Slater)... 8 Even with his Jets at 3-11, Rex Ryan says, 'I'm not dead yet (Darryl Slater)... 9 NFL Mock Draft 2015: Jets will pick Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, says Sports Illustrated (Darryl Slater) Jets' Rex Ryan on relationship with Patriots' Bill Belichick: 'It's the opposite of what people think' (Dom Cosentino) Jets' Michael Vick on Jameis Winston: 'The future of the NFL,' will be 'hard' for him to thrive in New York (Darryl Slater) Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey receives modest fine for punching Jets' Geno Smith (Darryl Slater) Why did Jets safety Rontez Miles need emergency leg surgery? (Darryl Slater) Why did Jets safety Rontez Miles need emergency leg surgery? (Darryl Slater) Jets' John Idzik has a supporter in Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, per report (Dom Cosentino) Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson (toe) has better chance of playing vs. New England Patriots, but will he? (Darryl Slater) NEW YORK POST Deep-seated hate gives Jets chance to spoil Patriots season (Justin Terranova) Jets, Harvin brace for the return of Revis Island (George Willis) Calvin Pace drools over great Brady, Patriots: Tip your cap (Bart Hubbuch) Rex Ryan now quoting Monty Python for self inspiration (Bart Hubbuch) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Rex Ryan stays positive despite uncertain future with NY Jets: I m not dead yet (Justin Tasch) P a g e

2 Rex Ryan laughs at ex-ny Jets CB Josh Thomas' criticism of coaches (Justin Tasch) NEW YORK TIMES New England Patriots at New York Jets Preview (Benjamin Hoffman) WALL STREET JOURNAL Patriots Game Is the Jets Super Bowl (Stu Woo) ESPN NEW YORK Belichick's exit? Jets' worst day, ever (Ian O Conner) THURSDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets' Ryan on sense of humor: 'I'm not dead yet' (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 20, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Rex Ryan's sense of humor is still going strong. Despite a 3-11 record and facing an uncertain future, the New York Jets coach has kept the one-liners and self-deprecating jokes coming. He refuses to pout, even if Sunday's game against the New England Patriots might be his last at home with the team. "I'm just going to be myself," he said Friday. "I'm not dead yet. I'm always going to be me and that's just my personality. That's just who I am every day. Regardless of the good times, the bad times, or whatever, I think I'm consistent that way." Ryan has been in relatively good spirits this week, cracking jokes about himself, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That's all while possibly facing his final days with a franchise he's led for the last six seasons. "No, I haven't thought about that at all," Ryan said. "I thought you were going to ask me what I thought of Belichick." Ryan famously declared soon after he was hired by the Jets in 2009 that he didn't come to New York to kiss the Patriots coach's rings. Under Ryan, the Jets are 4-8 against Belichick, including a playoff victory during the 2010 season, but the Patriots have won the AFC East title every year during that span. So, for Ryan, mission not accomplished. But just because he has tried and mostly failed to beat Belichick, that doesn't mean he dislikes the Patriots coach. "I probably think he's a lot better coach than he thinks I am, I think that's safe to say," a smiling Ryan said. "We'd like everybody to think that we don't like each other, but that's not the facts. He's not somebody that you can hang out with or something like that, at least I don't. We're cordial. Anytime we see each other off the field or we talk to each other, it's just the opposite of what people think." Ryan is nowhere near the brash, no-holds-barred guy whose daily press conferences were filled with bold statements and wild guarantees. He toned that down a bit in the last few years when he learned that it was negatively affecting his players. But Ryan has managed to be loose during tense times, particularly this season. His players noticed that effort, and it's endeared him over the years. 2 P a g e

3 "Man, he's the ultimate players' coach," said wide receiver Percy Harvin, who joined the Jets in a trade in October. "He's always going to go to bat for you and he always has your back. He keeps it real. If you ask him a question, he's going to give you the answer. If he don't have it, he's going to find a resource to get it for you." Harvin said he "definitely" thinks Jets players could appeal to owner Woody Johnson and the front office to keep Ryan beyond this season. "But I don't even think that's necessary," said Harvin, adding he could have called it a season two weeks ago instead of aggressively working back from a severely sprained ankle. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is also trying to get back on the field after missing three games with turf toe. "Guys will run through the wall for Rex," Harvin said. "When you've got a players' coach, and do things the way he does it, your team is going to be all in." And, if this is Ryan's last home game with the Jets, beating the Patriots would be a satisfying ending for the players and coach. "Definitely," linebacker Calvin Pace said. "Best way to go out if that's the case." NOTES: Ryan said claims by former CB Josh Thomas, now with Detroit, that he didn't receive enough coaching while with the Jets were "humorous." Thomas was waived Tuesday after limited action. "I never heard it ever in my life," Ryan said. "I've been coaching a long time, and not just about me or anybody else. That's a new one."... Pace on the Jets' showdowns with the Patriots in the seven years he's been with New York: "It's been a pleasure to play against them, man. I think they bring the best out of us, and I'd like to think they'd say the same thing." Playing Patriots still special for Ryan, Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 20, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Rex Ryan still isn't backing down. Sure, his future with the New York Jets appears dim. But the coach is conceding nothing, and that means he has every intention of beating the New England Patriots on Sunday. And, no, he wouldn't take back his statement shortly after he was hired in 2009 that he didn't come to New York to kiss Bill Belichick's rings. "Oh, hell no, because I never came here to do that," Ryan said. "I came here to kick his butt." That hasn't exactly been the case, though, with the Patriots winning eight of the 12 meetings between the teams since Ryan was hired including six of the past seven. "Obviously, I haven't been very successful at it, but that list is long," Ryan said. "I'm not just the only name on that list. I might be the only one that had the guts to say something about it, but that's how I am. That's how I feel this week, too. No different than any other time I've been here." The Jets (3-11) are struggling through a miserable season, one that very well could cost Ryan and general manager John Idzik their jobs. The showdown Sunday at MetLife Stadium could mark Ryan's last home game as the Jets' coach, and it seems somewhat fitting that it comes against the rival Patriots (11-3). 3 P a g e

4 "I can sit back and say, 'Well, it's not (special). It's just another opponent," Ryan said. "But, no, it is because obviously, they've won six division championships in a row, so that's the one to beat. I don't care what our record is now.... Believe me, they're not looking at us as a 3-11 team, I can promise you." The Jets nearly pulled off an upset victory at New England in October, but Chris Jones blocked Nick Folk's 58-yard field goal attempt on the last play to preserve a win for the Patriots. "It's a great rivalry," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "We've always had some pretty interesting games against them. A lot of them have come down to the wire, especially recently." Here are a few things to know about the Jets' home finale against the Patriots: PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Patriots wrapped up their 11th division title in 12 years last week, but still have lots to play for. New England can clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with a victory over the Jets, who are looking for their first winning streak of the season. The Patriots can also clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and if Denver loses to Cincinnati. REVIS' RETURN: Darrelle Revis used to call the Meadowlands home. Now, he's the enemy. The star cornerback is playing against the Jets in New Jersey for the first time as a member of the Patriots, the team he learned to despise during his first six NFL seasons with New York. He returned last year, but as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This homecoming will likely be a bit different considering the uniform he now wears. "I really haven't been paying attention to those guys," Revis insisted. "We have things that we have to focus on here and that's all I've been trying to do." FRUSTRATED FANS: Jets fans disappointed with their team's dire situation are expected to make their presence seen with yellow "penalty flags" aimed at the front office. One fan site has been distributing about 10,000 yellow towels at area bars for fans to bring to the home finale, urging owner Woody Johnson to fire Idzik, along with team president Neil Glat and senior personnel executive Terry Bradway. A banner-toting plane reminding people of the "penalty flag day" circled above the practice field at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, for several minutes Wednesday. BRADY'S DOMINANCE: The last guy the Jets probably want to see is Brady, who seems to have their number. The Patriots quarterback holds a 19-5 regular-season record 20-6 overall as a starter against New York. In his past six games facing the Jets, Brady has thrown 12 touchdown passes and just one interception. His only loss to New York in that span came in October 2013, when he threw that one pick in a overtime defeat at MetLife Stadium. "It's a good challenge for us," Brady said. "We lost going into the Meadowlands last year, so we're anticipating getting their best game." FLAG FOOTBALL: The Patriots already have exceeded their output from all of last season in one category. Their 110 penalties are 35 more than they were assessed in 2013 and are fifth-most in the NFL this season. Part of that is the officials' increased emphasis on defensive holding and pass interference. "It has to stop," special teams captain Matthew Slater said. "At some point, it's going to come back to bite us if we don't start playing with a little more discipline." 4 P a g e

5 Jets' Rontez Miles has emergency surgery on leg (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 19, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) New York Jets backup safety Rontez Miles had emergency leg surgery Thursday night after he was injured in practice. The team confirmed Friday that Miles, promoted from the practice squad this week, injured his right shin area when he got tangled with a teammate. Coach Rex Ryan says it appeared to be just a bruise, but team doctors determined it was more serious as the pain increased throughout the day. Neither Ryan nor the Jets could immediately confirm the exact nature of the injury, but the coach said the pressure in Miles' leg "kept getting worse and worse and worse." His symptoms appear similar to compartment syndrome, which usually results from bleeding or swelling after an injury and causes pressure in the injured area and impedes blood flow. NEWSDAY Rex Ryan remains lighthearted despite his job situation (Jim Baumbach) Newsday December 20, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan insists the uncertainty regarding whether Sunday's game against the Patriots represents his final home game as coach of the Jets is not on his mind. "No, I haven't thought about that at all," he said Friday. Instead, the Jets' sixth-year coach said he's trying to do what he's always done best -- keep the atmosphere as light and collegial as possible. There obviously is no playbook for an NFL coach on how to handle oneself at a time like this. The Jets have been out of the playoff hunt for months, and it feels -- at least to people outside of the Jets' offices -- as if Ryan's fate has been all but determined for quite a while, too. Already this week, former Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis -- a Ryan favorite -- called it "kind of sad for the position that Rex is in right now." And Friday, longtime Jets linebacker Calvin Pace, whose days with the Jets predate Ryan's, said he thinks it will be "emotional," at least at the start of the Patriots game, because of Ryan's precarious status. But Ryan has not let his uncertain status affect his folksy public persona. Asked Friday how he's been able to keep a lighthearted mentality throughout this mess of a season, Ryan said: "I'm just going to be myself. I'm not dead yet. I'm always going to be me and that's just my personality. That's just who I am every day." Ryan even got a good laugh Friday during his post-practice news conference when he responded to some criticism lobbed his way by one of his former players. Cornerback Josh Thomas, whom the Jets cut earlier this week a day after he lost his playbook, signed with the Lions and told Detroit reporters that he "wasn't 5 P a g e

6 getting the attention necessary" from Jets coaches. He added, "It became where I was there as a player and wanting and desiring some feedback that wasn't given." Ryan didn't need to have those words relayed to him. When they were brought up, he looked down but couldn't hold back his smile. When he looked up, he threw his arms up and laughed. "Obviously the young man has a right to his opinion and things, but that's funny," Ryan said. "I've never heard it ever in my life and I've been coaching a long time -- not about me or anybody else. That's a new one." If this is Ryan's final home game with the Jets, it's almost fitting that it comes against the Patriots, continuing a rivalry Ryan always enjoyed stoking with public barbs. But on Friday he kept the jokes at his own expense. Asked about his relationship with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Ryan said, "I probably think he's a lot better coach than he thinks I am, I think it's safe to say." Notes & quotes: Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (left big toe) is questionable and expects it to be a game-time decision. "It still hurts," he said. "I mean, it's getting a little better each and every day, but it's still bothering me on the field."... Ryan said safety Rontez Miles had emergency surgery Thursday night after suffering what appeared to be a bruised shin in practice... Willie Colon was fined $8,268 for his involvement in last week's brawl in Nashville. THE RECORD Jets Muhammad Wilkerson not giving up on the season (Jeff Roberts) The Record December 20, FLORHAM PARK The words came out in a series of soft, clipped grunts. Muhammad Wilkerson was short on complete sentences and even shorter on insight Friday as he sat at his locker, his back facing reporters. The tone of his voice even, but terse gave the not-so-subtle hint of continued frustration. The defensive lineman is tired of talking about his injured left big toe. He's tired of talking about when, or even if, he will return this season, sidelined the past three games with turf toe. Wilkerson is questionable for Sunday when the Jets host the playoff-bound New England Patriots at MetLife as the two bitter rivals again are headed in different directions. Discomfort continues to linger for Wilkerson, despite trying a second specialized cleat. The pain simply won't go away. "It still hurts," said Wilkerson, who again was limited in practice. "I mean it's getting a little better each and every day. But it's still bothering me out there on the field." The new shoe hasn't helped as much as you hoped? "Ah, no." This is not how the season was supposed to end. 6 P a g e

7 Wilkerson, 25, will complete his rookie contract next season (the Jets picked up his fifth-year option in the spring, guaranteeing him $6.96 million in 2015). He is coming off a 2013 season in which he established himself as one of the league's best defensive linemen (a career-high 10 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and 63 tackles). Pro Football Focus, an analytic website, rated him as the NFL's second-best 3-4 defensive lineman in 2012 behind J.J. Watt. Last season, it ranked him No. 8. But this year could end with him missing the final five games; the dismissal of Rex Ryan, the only coach he has played for as a pro; and more upheaval as he seeks a long-term deal (the Jets could slap the franchise tag on him for 2016). Wilkerson does not want to be a 6-foot-4, 315-pound man undone by a sore big toe on a team limping to the finish of an 11-, 12- or 13-loss season. He will test it before Sunday's game and find out himself if he can play. "I have no idea. We'll see," Wilkerson said. "If I can go, then I'll go. If I can't, then I can't go." It would have been easy for him to pack it in and shut himself down for the season. But because doctors told Wilkerson he cannot do further damage, he continues to push, even with only two games remaining in a lost season. "I'm the type of person that I don't like being in the training room, so I try to get back out there on the field," he said. That quiet determination has only earned him more respect in the locker room. "He easily could have hung it up with a severe turf toe," said Percy Harvin, himself limited by a sprained ankle. "He's trying to get back to action." Jets notes: Rex Ryan said, 'I'm not dead yet.' (Jeff Roberts) The Record December 20, Not dead yet Even with a 3-11 record and his dismissal widely expected at the end of the season, Rex Ryan will not lose his sense of humor. "I m just going to be myself. I m not dead yet," Ryan said. "I m always going to be me. That s just my personality. Regardless of the good times, the bad times, I think I m consistent that way." The potential final home game in Ryan s six-year tenure could come Sunday, as could his last meeting with Bill Belichick and the Patriots. "I haven t thought about that at all," he said, before cracking a joke about being asked about his relationship with Belichick twice by reporters. Emergency surgery S Rontez Miles, who was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad this week, is out after undergoing emergency surgery Thursday night on his lower leg. Miles was inadvertently kicked in the shin 7 P a g e

8 during Thursday s practice, and pressure continued to build as the day went on. He could miss the final two games. "I was shocked by it. It just sounded like a bruise, but apparently the pressure in it just kept getting worse and worse and worse," said Ryan. Harvin healing WR Percy Harvin s third-degree ankle sprain left him so sore last week before the flight to Tennessee that RT Breno Giacomini had to carry him up the stairs of the plane. "I had to jump on big Breno s back. He carried me up there," Harvin said with a smile. Harvin is "feeling a whole lot better" and is listed as probable despite playing a limited role in the victory over the Titans. He expects to be covered by former Jets All-Pro Darrelle Revis. WR Saalim Hakim (quadriceps) and S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder) are questionable. Briefs Ryan called former CB Josh Thomas contention that the Jets coaching staff did not adequately instruct him "kind of humorous to be honest with you. I don t know how to react to that." The Lions claimed Thomas off waivers on Wednesday, one day after the Jets cut him. RG Willie Colon was fined $8,268 for unnecessary roughness for his role in Sunday s brawl in Tennessee. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets safety Rontez Miles suffers season-ending shin injury two days after promotion from practice squad (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, now_out_for_year_with_injury.html Just two days after he was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, Jets safety Rontez Miles saw his season end at Thursday's practice. Miles sustained an unspecified injury that will require surgery, and he will miss the rest of the season, he wrote on his Facebook page. The announcement came as a surprise. Jets coach Rex Ryan had not mentioned Miles on Thurdsay among the players who were limited by injuries at practice. The Jets clarified Friday morning that Miles injured his shin area. Miles, a 2013 undrafted free agent, spent almost all of last season on the practice squad. He had spent all of this season on the practice squad. He was set to make his 2014 debut in Sunday's home game against the Patriots, and Ryan said Miles might even see action on defense, in addition to special teams. Last season, Miles played in one game, against the Saints. He received 15 snaps, all on special teams. So the timing of his injury is pretty horrible for him. This is what he wrote about it on his Facebook page Thursday night: 8 P a g e

9 Gods plan is Gods plan and I would be a fool to forsaken him!! Today at practice I got hurt and will miss the rest of the season!! I'm very upset and hurt!! But I believe Gods plan and he will place me back to where i was before the injury!! Just want to thank my family and friend for the support! And my FANS sorry I let y'all down guys! Gods my witness ima come back stronger and faster and make up for the lost time!!!! Much love y'all surgery went well #freedom #ganggreen Miles was promoted to the active roster Tuesday, as the Jets released cornerback Josh Thomas, whose playbook was stolen. Ryan said Thomas having his playbook stolen had nothing to do with the release, and that it had a lot to do with Miles's performance in practice. "Last year, he did a great job on scout team," Ryan said of Miles. "Doing the same thing this year. We think we can use him as a special teams contributor and maybe give him a little role on defense as well. He's the guy that deserves it. Just the type of work ethic he has, I thought he really earned it. So when we made that decision, a lot of it was based on Rontez Miles." Now that the Jets have a spot available on the active roster, don't expect them to turn back to Thomas. For one, the Lions scooped him up after the Jets cut him. And two, Thomas spent his first day with the Lions basically ripping the Jets' coaches, who he said never coached him. Even with his Jets at 3-11, Rex Ryan says, 'I'm not dead yet (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, FLORHAM PARK -- If you've noticed one thing about Rex Ryan in recent weeks, it's that he doesn't sound or act like a coach whose team is 3-11, as his Jets are. Ryan likely has just two games left in his six-year tenure as the Jets' coach -- Sunday at home against the Patriots, and then a trip to Miami. Even as the Jets' season has continued to spiral this month, Ryan maintained his usual jovial, loose disposition. This week, heading into a game he desperately wants to win, Ryan managed to crack jokes about Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. How has Ryan remained to stay so upbeat? "I'm just going to be myself," Ryan said. "I'm not dead yet. But I'm always going to be me. That's just my personality. That's just who I am every day. Regardless of the good times, the bad times or whatever, I think I'm consistent that way." About two months ago, Ryan used basically the same line to describe his team, which was 1-5 at the time, having lost five straight games. "We might be counted out," Ryan said then. "We're not dead." Of course, the Jets were never able to resurrect their season. After beating Oakland in the opener, they dropped eight straight games. Before last week's win at the Titans, the Jets had lost 11 of their previous 12 games. And now, Ryan is inching closer to being fired. But you wouldn't know it by talking to him. 9 P a g e

10 NFL Mock Draft 2015: Jets will pick Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, says Sports Illustrated (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, _quarterback_jameis_winston_by_sports_illust.html FLORHAM PARK -- The NFL season is winding down, which means mock draft season is getting into full swing. We've already presented you with a few of these mock drafts. Back in October -- yes, October -- Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com projected the Jets would pick Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. Then came the projection from Tony Pauline (of DraftInsider.net) that the Jets would opt for Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. This week, ESPN's Todd McShay echoed Pauline's projection of Cooper to the Jets. Earlier this month, Brugler changed course and went with Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory for the Jets' first-round selection. Brugler then put out another mock draft, more recently this month, and stuck with Gregory to the Jets. Got all that? Good, because it's only going to change a couple dozen times before the actual draft, April 30 to May 2 in Chicago. Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke chimed in with his own mock draft Thursday, and once again, Winston goes to the Jets. Burke based his projections on the current draft order, which will change. Here's how he projected the top six picks in the draft: 1. Tampa Bay: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon 2. Tennessee: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska 3. Jacksonville: DT Leonard Williams, Southern California 4. Oakland: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama 5. Washington: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa 6. Jets: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State And here's what Burke wrote about the pick: The other shoe drops. There would be understandable angst among Jets fans with this one, given the apparent misfire on Geno Smith two years ago, coupled with Winston's infamous off-field antics. The talent is unmistakable, however, even if Winston will have to become a better decision-maker (an allcompassing critique). He could be the franchise quarterback the Jets have been seeking. In his first projection, last month, Burke had the Jets picking second and selecting Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who almost certainly will now be gone before the Jets pick. The Jets have plenty of needs entering this offseason, and quarterback is chief among them. Unless, of course, you count their upcoming search for a new head coach or perhaps even a new general manager, too. At this point, Winston and Mariota are not considered immediate-impact, franchise-changing quarterbacks. But that doesn't mean they can't develop into productive players. 10 P a g e

11 One talent evaluator, former NFL personnel executive Greg Gabriel, is particularly down on Winston, saying in a critical scouting report that he wouldn't draft Winston in any round. The Jets are currently behind three potentially quarterback-needy teams in the draft order: Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington. But Burke projects that only Tampa Bay will pick a quarterback, Mariota, leaving Winston available for the Jets at No. 6. If the Jets lose to the Patriots on Sunday, they will lock themselves in for a top-six pick. But they have pretty much zero shot at climbing all the way to No. 1. There are a lot of what-ifs here, especially since the Jets might be overhauling their entire front office, along with their coaching staff. But it has been clear since midseason that the Jets would have to consider replacing Smith this offseason. And the upcoming free agent quarterback market is looking weak. Let's go ahead and assume the Jets do pick Winston. As Burke mentioned, this is a risky pick, because of Winston's history of making terrible off-field decisions. Beyond the absurd stuff, like yelling an obscene phrase in public and stealing crab legs, there is the very serious rape allegation against Winston. He was never charged, but authorities in Tallahassee, Fla., are widely considered to have botched the investigation. How would Winston fare in New York? Do the Jets want to a draft a quarterback badly enough to potentially find out the hard way? What do you think, folks? Leave your thoughts in the comments section down below. Jets' Rex Ryan on relationship with Patriots' Bill Belichick: 'It's the opposite of what people think' (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media December 19, e_opposite_of_what_people_think.html FLORHAM PARK The last Jets-Patriots game with Rex Ryan squaring off against Bill Belichick is likely going to be Sunday, so it's natural to wonder what the dynamic between the rival head coaches is really like. It's easy to have the impression that both men are icy toward each another, that the rivalry between the two teams is maybe best exemplified by Ryan's bombast and Belichick's icy reticence, a contrast that makes it difficult to imagine the two of them shooting the breeze while seated on adjacent bar stools. And while Ryan and Belichick aren't close enough to go grab a beer with each other, Ryan said they do get along and that there is a mutual respect. "We like everybody to think that we don't like each other, but that's not the facts," Ryan said Friday. "He's not somebody that you hang out with or something like that at least I don't. But we're cordial and things. "Anytime we see each other off the field, we talk to each other. It's just the opposite of what people think." New York Jets coach Rex Ryan famously said before his first year with the team, "I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings." As the Jets and Patriots prepare to play each other this Sunday, Ryan still feels the same way, saying, "I came here to kick his butt." (Video by John Munson NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) When he was hired in 2009, Ryan did make a point of publicly targeting Belichick, who had already won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, as who the Jets planned to beat. It hasn't quite worked out that way, 11 P a g e

12 of course: The Jets did win the one playoff matchup between the teams during Ryan's tenure, but the Jets since then have beaten the Pats just once and failed to make the playoffs at all. Ryan is highly likely to get fired once the season concludes one week from Sunday. Belichick and the Patriots, meanwhile, are their usual playoff-bound (if not also Super Bowl-bound) selves. Ryan noted that he's known Belichick for a lot longer than they've been matched up as rivals via Jets-Pats. Ryan's brother, Rob, the Saints' defensive coordinator, served as Belichick's linebackers coach with the Pats from , and the pair won two Super Bowls together. "I have a good relationship with him," Ryan said of Belichick. "Like I said, we're cordial. We're not best buddies. And if we see each other it's not like we avoid each other." Jets' Michael Vick on Jameis Winston: 'The future of the NFL,' will be 'hard' for him to thrive in New York (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, he_nfl_but_will_find_it_hard_to_thrive_in_ne.html FLORHAM PARK -- Back in 2001, when the Falcons drafted a 20-year-old dual-threat quarterback from Virginia Tech named Michael Vick first overall, many considered him a player who could change the face of professional football. To a degree, Vick did. Now, Vick is 34 and in the twilight of his career with the Jets. As next spring's draft nears, Vick sees another player as "the future of the NFL" -- Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, who might wind up with the Jets next season. But Vick admitted it will be "hard" for Winston to thrive in New York, especially if he is surrounded by other young players. "I think he's a great player," Vick said Friday in the Jets' locker room. "I've been around so long, I appreciate guys coming out of college. I look forward to watching him. I have high expectations for him. I think he, over time, has made some poor decisions. Have I been there to know exactly what happened? No. "But I do know one thing: He may make some poor decisions, but he gets on that football field and he plays his ass off. Yeah, he can mature. He'll mature. I see him maturing as time goes on. Like, this year hasn't been as bad of a year as the first year was for Jameis. I think the kid will continue to improve. I think he's the future of the NFL." Like Vick, Winston is expected to turn pro early, after playing just two college seasons, plus a redshirt year as a freshman. Like Vick, Winston would enter the NFL as a very young man. He turns 21 in January. Like Vick did later in his career, Winston will face significant scrutiny and criticism because of his poor off-field decisions. And like Vick, Winston could find himself facing that scrutiny in a major media market. Their paths aren't exactly the same. Vick was 29 when he landed with the Eagles (and then resurrected his career and life) after going to federal prison for running a dog-fighting ring. Winston has been accused of rape, but never charged, in what is widely considered a seriously flawed investigation. If Winston winds up in a big market like New York, he will do so as a much younger player than Vick was in Philadelphia. Vick thinks it would be difficult, but not impossible, for Winston to succeed in a big market. 12 P a g e

13 "I think it's hard," Vick said. "I think his support cast just has to be around him. You can't put him in a room with a group of young guys." As Vick said this, he gestured his hands out toward the Jets' locker room. "The more veterans around, the more he'll pick up on things and he'll mature quickly," Vick continued. "That's the trend I've been around since I've been in the league." So does Vick believe, based on his gesture, that the Jets' locker room is too young, with not enough veteran players to support a young talent like Winston who needs guidance? "I don't think it's too young," Vick said. "It's just (that) some young guys have got to step up, like anywhere, not here just in particular. Young guys evolve into leaders. The young guys on the team are the future leaders of the team. So all the leaders on the team, (young players) should vicariously learn and watch them and pick up on any type of vibe that they give off, so that the team can be better." Vick emphasized that Winston will need "veterans around him, guys who are going to take him under their wing, make sure he's doing things accordingly, the way he's supposed to, supporting him on the field and off the field. Teamwork, that's what he needs. And that's any guy." Winston has claimed innocence on the rape allegations, but he has acknowledged other less serious, but nonetheless idiotic mistakes, including publicly shouting an obscene phrase and stealing crab legs from a grocery store. Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota are regarded as the two best quarterback prospects available for the 2015 draft, but most observers believe Mariota will be picked higher. Sports Illustrated projects the Jets to draft Winston sixth overall. Veteran Jets players have recently chafed at the notion that one quarterback draft pick, such as Winston or Mariota, would immediately change a franchise's fortunes. Indeed, the Jets have plenty of other pressing needs, besides quarterback, as they enter this offseason. But as someone who helped turn the Falcons from a 4-12 team in 2000 into a playoff team in 2002 and an 11-5 squad that made the NFC Championship Game in 2004, does Vick think a quarterback drafted high could transform an organization by himself? "I don't know how," he said. Without the right amount of support, neither Winston nor Mariota will thrive, Vick said. "A quarterback needs players around him," he said. "I don't care who he is. That's it, man. You need an offense, you need a defense, you need special teams, and you need good coaching. Other than that, guys won't succeed. Mariota is going to need an offense, a defense and good coaching, and a good line. Every time I've ever succeeded, we had a great offense that had talent around me. We had a good defense. And we had good coaching. "If he ain't got guys blocking for him, then he ain't going to succeed. If he ain't got guys catching the ball, he ain't going to succeed. If the defense can't stop nobody, then there's pressure on him to score, (on) the whole offense. This is the total team game. There's no other game like the NFL. One quarterback can't do it. One receiver can't do it all. And it's been proven year after year after year." Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey receives modest fine for punching Jets' Geno Smith (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media 13 P a g e

14 December 19, modest_fine_for_punching_jets_geno_smith.html FLORHAM PARK -- The NFL fined Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and Jets right guard Willie Colon the same amount for their roles in a brawl during last Sunday's game. Casey, who started the melee when he punched Jets quarterback Geno Smith in the helmet, was fined $8,268 for unnecessary roughness, because he unnecessarily struck an opponent after the play was over. Smith had been trash talking with Casey and Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard before Casey hit him. Colon, who sprung to Smith's defense and pulled off Casey's helmet, was also fined $8,268 for unnecessary roughness, because he grabbed an opponent by the face mask after the play was over. Colon also grabbed safety George Wilson by the helmet and threw him to the ground. Jets center Nick Mangold and right tackle Breno Giacomini were also involved in the skirmish, to lesser degrees than Colon. But nobody else besides Casey and Colon was fined by the NFL for involvement in the brawl. Casey also punched Giacomini in the helmet during the dust-up. Casey and Colon were fortunate they did not get fined for fighting. It is the most costly violation on the NFL's fine schedule -- $27,562 for the first offense, $55,125 for the second. Colon said Thursday he was fined for his role in the Jets-Titans brawl, but declined to specify the amount. He said he wouldn't take back what he did. This fine pales in comparison to the $35,000 Colon was fined last year, for throwing a punch and (more seriously) making contact with an official during a melee in a Jets game at the Patriots, who the Jets host on Sunday. During this year's preseason, Colon was fined $8,268 for a late hit on Bengals cornerback Terence Newman during a skirmish. In the fourth quarter of Jets-Titans, Woodyard drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag after he jawed at Jets receiver Eric Decker on the sideline. The two players were teammates in Denver last season. Woodyard was not fined for this penalty. Why did Jets safety Rontez Miles need emergency leg surgery? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, ets_safety_rontez_miles.html FLORHAM PARK -- Jets coach Rex Ryan didn't think it was a big deal. Safety Rontez Miles, who had been promoted from the practice squad two days earlier, got kicked in the leg at Thursday's practice. This sort of stuff happens all the time. But later Thursday, around 8 p.m., Ryan received a phone call. Miles' lower leg, around his shin, had significantly swelled. Miles needed emergency surgery to relieve the pressure. And now, he won't make his 2014 debut in Sunday's game against the Patriots. He might not play for the rest of the season, since the Jets have just one game left after Sunday. But Ryan on Friday would not officially rule Miles out for the season finale at Miami. Miles, at least, believes his season is done. He wrote as much on his Facebook page Thursday night, as he announced his surgery, though he did not specify what happened to him. 14 P a g e

15 This is terrible timing for Miles, who went undrafted in 2013 and spent almost all of last season, and then all of this season, on the Jets' practice squad. He played in one game last year, getting just 15 snaps, all on special teams. Ryan had talked about perhaps giving Miles some defensive snaps against New England. Ryan was surprised by how quickly Miles' situation progressed from a simple accidental kicking incident in practice to potentially season-ending surgery. "At the time, I never even thought it was really anything," Ryan said. "It's unfortunate. I was shocked by it. It just sounded like a bruise or whatever, but apparently the pressure in it, it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. And at that time, you have to have emergency surgery. I understand the pressure in it or whatever was so great that they had to go in and relieve it." Ryan said that if Miles had waited longer to have surgery, "they would've had to slice that whole leg open and they would've had dead muscles and things like that, is what was explained to me." Ryan said Miles did not have a blood clot. It sounds like Miles had compartment syndrome, but Ryan said he wasn't sure about the specific nature of the medical condition. Ryan said Miles underwent surgery "shortly after" the coach received the phone call at 8 p.m. Thursday about Miles' situation. Ryan said the Jets' medical staff pays close attention when players sustain bruises at practice, because of the pressure that can build up afterward. "Their biggest fear with any kind of bruise, or something like that, is that something like this could happen, so they're very observant of it," Ryan said. "And as he had treatment after (practice), it never got better. It was getting worse, and so they took him over to the hospital or to the docs. That's when it was decided he needed the surgery." Why did Jets safety Rontez Miles need emergency leg surgery? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 20, ets_safety_rontez_miles.html FLORHAM PARK -- Jets coach Rex Ryan didn't think it was a big deal. Safety Rontez Miles, who had been promoted from the practice squad two days earlier, got kicked in the leg at Thursday's practice. This sort of stuff happens all the time. But later Thursday, around 8 p.m., Ryan received a phone call. Miles' lower leg, around his shin, had significantly swelled. Miles needed emergency surgery to relieve the pressure. And now, he won't make his 2014 debut in Sunday's game against the Patriots. He might not play for the rest of the season, since the Jets have just one game left after Sunday. But Ryan on Friday would not officially rule Miles out for the season finale at Miami. Miles, at least, believes his season is done. He wrote as much on his Facebook page Thursday night, as he announced his surgery, though he did not specify what happened to him. This is terrible timing for Miles, who went undrafted in 2013 and spent almost all of last season, and then all of this season, on the Jets' practice squad. He played in one game last year, getting just 15 snaps, all on special teams. Ryan had talked about perhaps giving Miles some defensive snaps against New England. Ryan was surprised by how quickly Miles' situation progressed from a simple accidental kicking incident in practice to potentially season-ending surgery. 15 P a g e

16 "At the time, I never even thought it was really anything," Ryan said. "It's unfortunate. I was shocked by it. It just sounded like a bruise or whatever, but apparently the pressure in it, it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. And at that time, you have to have emergency surgery. I understand the pressure in it or whatever was so great that they had to go in and relieve it." Ryan said that if Miles had waited longer to have surgery, "they would've had to slice that whole leg open and they would've had dead muscles and things like that, is what was explained to me." Ryan said Miles did not have a blood clot. It sounds like Miles had compartment syndrome, but Ryan said he wasn't sure about the specific nature of the medical condition. Ryan said Miles underwent surgery "shortly after" the coach received the phone call at 8 p.m. Thursday about Miles' situation. Ryan said the Jets' medical staff pays close attention when players sustain bruises at practice, because of the pressure that can build up afterward. "Their biggest fear with any kind of bruise, or something like that, is that something like this could happen, so they're very observant of it," Ryan said. "And as he had treatment after (practice), it never got better. It was getting worse, and so they took him over to the hospital or to the docs. That's when it was decided he needed the surgery." Jets' John Idzik has a supporter in Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, per report (Dom Cosentino) Nj Advanced Media December 20, eral_manager_john_schneider_per_report.html FLORHAM PARK Not everyone wants to see general manager John Idzik get the boot from his job with the Jets after this season. John Schneider, the Seahawks' general manager, went to bat for Idzik in an interview with Newsday's Bob Glauber. With the Jets mired in miserable season that's two games away from its merciful conclusion, Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan are both on the hot seat. But Schneider, who worked with Idzik for three years in Seattle, think Idzik deserves more time than the two years he's had on the job with the Jets in addition to the opportunity to hire his own head coach. Here's what Schneider told Glauber: "I think [Idzik] should be able to hire his own coach and see how it goes. He's steady, he's strong-minded, he's not a roller-coaster-ride guy. It's too bad there aren't more people like that, because you need core people in your building, and you need to have a consistent culture that you're building, instead of flipping cultures all the time." The Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champs. And Glauber pointed out that Schneider's first two teams in Seattle went 7-9 before things improved. But one of those losing teams won a playoff game. And the Seahawks drafted well so well they even hit it on the head when they selected quarterback Russell Wilson in the 2012 third round. Idzik's drafts have been a mixed bag: He landed a stud defensive end in Sheldon Richardson last year, but quarterback Geno Smith has thus far failed to live up to the expectations that came with picking him in the second round. And while this year's draft class looks like a failure because only safety Calvin Pryor and 16 P a g e

17 tight end Jace Amaro have been impact players, eight of 12 draftees are still with the organization, so it's probably too soon to definitely judge the group as a whole. But missing on Smith at quarterback and failing to land a suitable veteran cornerback last offseason have had a giant impact on the Jets' implosion this year. Those moves are Idzik's albatross. The Jets were clearly hoping Smith would develop and improve this year. And injuries that compounded the situation at cornerback left them constantly fending for a personnel solution with a variety of players. Nonetheless, Schneider said, Idzik deserves more time. Also from his interview with Glauber: "I feel like [Idzik] is going to do the right thing. It might not be sexy, it might not be overnight instant change, but I feel like you have to be able to build something. You have to have a strong core of people. You can see that happening [in Seattle] now... But it took a couple of years to get there." After six years, Ryan's time looks like it's up. Idzik's only had a couple of years. It's now on owner Woody Johnson to determine whether Idzik deserves a couple more. Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson (toe) has better chance of playing vs. New England Patriots, but will he? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 19, _percy_harvin.html FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets still aren't sure if they will have their best player, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, for Sunday's game against the Patriots. But there is a better chance it will happen this week than in any of the past three weeks. Wilkerson missed the past three games with a turf toe injury sustained Nov. 24 against the Bills in Detroit. He is listed as questionable for this week's home game against New England, after initially being listed as out, out and doubtful the past three weeks. He was limited in practice every day this week. He returned to practice last week, and was limited on Thursday and Friday, after not practicing last Wednesday. Wilkerson could be a game-time decision Sunday, but Jets coach Rex Ryan hopes Wilkerson can be cleared before that. Wilkerson said he expects to be a game-time decision. Wilkerson said he participated "a little bit" during team periods in Friday's practice -- the same as he had the past two days. He said this minimal participation is what the Jets' trainers asked him to do, so he did it. "It still hurts," he said of his left big toe. He is now on his second specialized cleat, to guard against further injury to his toe, because he didn't find his first cleat comfortable. Wilkerson said the cleat has helped "a little bit," but not as much as he hoped. "It's getting a little better each and every day, but it's still bothering me, though, out there on the field," Wilkerson said. He said the Jets' medical staff stills believes he won't need offseason surgery on his toe. He said the team's doctors told him he "wasn't going to make it worse" by continuing to try to practice and play on his injured toe. 17 P a g e