NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS November 5, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Bowles says Fitzpatrick to start for Jets vs. Jaguars (Dennis Waszak)... 2 Bowles says Jets had some 'loafs' on defense (Dennis Waszak)... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick to start Sunday vs. Jaguars (Kimberley A. Martin)... 4 Darrelle Revis expects defense to ramp up the effort against Jacksonville (Kimberley A. Martin)... 5 Geno Smith's not starting speaks volumes about his future with Jets (Bob Glauber)... 6 Todd Bowles: Jets' defense vs. Raiders 'unacceptable' (Kimberley A. Martin)... 8 THE RECORD... 8 Jets say QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday (J.P. Pelzman)... 8 Jets notes: Defensive effort lacking (J.P. Pelzman) NEW YORK TIMES Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick Will Start Despite Thumb Injury (Tom Pedulla) ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall, Boomer Esiason hold a Geno Smith debate (Rich Cimini) Ryan Fitzpatrick to start at QB for Jets vs. Jaguars despite thumb injury (Rich Cimini) Todd Bowles: Jets' shoddy tackling is 'unacceptable' (Ohm Youngmisuk) Gap between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith wider than ever (Rich Cimini) Eric Decker jokes about bloated TD total: All because of Peyton Manning (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST Darrelle Revis elite days are pretty much over : Cowboys great (Justin Terranova) QB not the only position concerning Jets Todd Bowles (Brian Costello) Why Todd Bowles is so sure the Jets defense won t loaf again (Steve Serby) Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick will tough it out, benching Geno Smith again (Brian Costello) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Does Jets' Antonio Cromartie rank among worst free agent signings of 2015? (Darryl Slater) Ryan Fitzpatrick to start for Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Dom Cosentino) Jets' Geno Smith says 'it's not a relief for me' that Ryan Fitzpatrick is healthy enough to play (Darryl Slater) Todd Bowles says Jets' defense had issues with loafing in loss at Oakland Raiders (Darryl Slater) Arizona Cardinals' Carson Palmer advised Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick about thumb injury (Dom Cosentino) Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Calvin Pryor Jets-Jaguars injury report (Dom Cosentino) Jets' Antonio Cromartie insists he's not finished: 'I know that' (Darryl Slater) P a g e

2 10 things Jets fans should know about Jacksonville Jaguars (Dom Cosentino) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to start against Jaguars despite thumb injury (Seth Walder) Darren Woodson says Jets' Darrelle Revis no longer elite corner (Seth Walder) Injured Ryan Fitzpatrick to start for Jets as Geno Smith gets the thumb (Manish Mehta) WALL STREET JOURNAL Injured Fitzpatrick Will Start for Jets (Stu Woo) METRO NEW YORK Jaguars speak highly of struggling Jets defense (Kristian Dyer) WEDNESDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Bowles says Fitzpatrick to start for Jets vs. Jaguars (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) It's a thumbs-up on Ryan Fitzpatrick starting Sunday for the New York Jets. Coach Todd Bowles announced Wednesday that Fitzpatrick will be under center against the Jacksonville Jaguars after being a full participant at practice despite dealing with a torn ligament in his left thumb. "No limitations today," Fitzpatrick said. "Really, just kind of a trial run to see how it was going to feel and what the best way to do (things) going forward would be in terms of using it or not using it and all that. Today was a pretty positive day in that regard." The right-handed Fitzpatrick wore what he called "a special glove" over his left hand after tearing at least one ligament in his thumb that will require surgery at some point. He was hurt on the first drive of the Jets' loss at Oakland last Sunday. "Well, it's painful enough to get me out of changing diapers," said the father of five. "That's been the one positive." Fitzpatrick will "probably" wear the glove during the game against the Jaguars, and added he's "extremely confident" he'll be able to play through the injury the rest of the season. "I don't want to put the team in a position where I'm going to go out and hurt the team or turn the ball over or try to be a hero because something is compromised," Fitzpatrick said. "I want to go out there and help the team, so if I can do that without putting me or the team in a compromising position, then I will. And I think I'm going to be able to do that." Bowles acknowledged that there are still some concerns about Fitzpatrick's thumb, which was heavily bandaged with ice in the locker room after practice. "As long as he's moving forward with his progress, he'll start," Bowles said. Geno Smith replaced Fitzpatrick against the Raiders, but bruised his left (non-throwing) shoulder and had to leave the game briefly after taking a hard shot to his abdomen. Smith was also a full participant at practice and will be Fitzpatrick's backup Sunday. 2 P a g e

3 There was some initial fear that neither quarterback would be ready, which meant rookie Bryce Petty or a free agent Matt Flynn was mentioned by Bowles could have been pressed into action against the Jaguars. Fitzpatrick has started every game this season after assuming the starting job when Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali in August. Smith was expected to be the starter until his injury, and it appeared he might have to fill in for Fitzpatrick and possibly win his job back. "Relief is a terrible word, but obviously we're praying that Fitz continues to get better," Smith said when asked if he was relieved Fitzpatrick is OK. "But it's not a relief for me. I'm going about my business the same way." Smith acknowledged that his shoulder was still a bit sore, but felt fine during practice. He thinks he'll be 100 percent by Sunday, but had a feeling Fitzpatrick would get the start once he saw how the veteran was coming along. Fitzpatrick, who had his season with Houston end a year ago because of a broken leg, said he has never dealt with this sort of injury. He spoke to Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, his former teammate in Cincinnati, about playing through torn thumb ligaments. Palmer was hurt during the 2009 season while with the Bengals, but played in every game, leading the Bengals to the playoffs and making the Pro Bowl. "Carson actually sent me a text before the game was even over, just saying, 'Hey, hit me up,'" Fitzpatrick said. "So, we talked a little bit and he went through something similar and so we were able to talk and bounce ideas off each other and all that. He's been a decent asset." One thing Fitzpatrick said he didn't realize was how little his left thumb is actually involved in taking a snap. "That was a pleasant surprise," he said. One complication could be trying to hand off exclusively with his right hand, or needing to change how he receives the ball from the center. "It'll be a mystery," he said, smiling. "We'll see how it goes." Fitzpatrick also acknowledged he might have to change things while working on one of his favorite pastimes: the Rubik's Cube. "Yeah, there's a lot of people that can do it one-handed and kind of flick it," he said. "So I'm going to have to try and learn different techniques." NOTES: G Willie Colon (knee), WR Eric Decker (knee), C Nick Mangold (neck), WR Brandon Marshall (ankle, toe), S Calvin Pryor (ankle) and WR Devin Smith (foot) all did not practice. TE Kellen Davis (hand), RB Bilal Powell (ankle) and CB Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand) were limited. Bowles says Jets had some 'loafs' on defense (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Disgusting. Flat. And, now, loafing. 3 P a g e

4 They've all been used while describing the performance by the New York Jets' defense last Sunday at Oakland. And the criticism has come from the coaches and players themselves. Linebacker David Harris said the film of the loss was "disgusting," while defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said the defense was "flat" and claimed "guys were loafing." Coach Todd Bowles has acknowledged he wasn't happy with his team's performance, and was asked Wednesday if he noticed some players loafing when he watched the game film. "We had some loafs on defense for the first time this year," Bowles said. "They were minor loafs, but they were still loafs nonetheless and we have to have everybody to the ball." The statistical analysis website Pro Football Focus found 19 missed tackles. Bowles and his staff, however, are even tougher graders, with the coach saying their total was "in the 20s." Bowles attributed the lapses in effort to possible fatigue, but made it clear it's unacceptable. "Our guys don't normally loaf," he said, "and it shouldn't happen anymore. The Jets came into the game at Oakland with the No. 2 overall defense. They gave up 451 yards in total offense, including four touchdown throws by Derek Carr. The Raiders took a 28-6 lead early in the third quarter, and the defense did little to keep the Jets in the game. "We're not saying people were just dogging it all the way to the ball here," Bowles said. "There might have been somebody getting tackled down the field and somebody pulled up a yard or two from the ball, or not finishing or something like that. It wasn't loafing like we were just dog tired and we were loafing. "Our guys understand what happened in the game, the coaches understand what happened in the game (and) we'll work to correct that." That means the players have gone through the film carefully to see if they can take better angles, wrap up better on tackles or just improve their hustle to the ball. If the players don't get their acts together at practice this week, Bowles warned, they will be doing extra running. The Jets will certainly have a challenge Sunday at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, led by secondyear quarterback Blake Bortles and an offense with some young playmakers in running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. "It is one game, and it's the first time we fell apart like that," Bowles said. "We have to come back together and it can't happen again." NEWSDAY Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick to start Sunday vs. Jaguars (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Turns out, there's a benefit to having an injured thumb. "Well, it's painful enough to get me out of changing diapers,'' quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick joked Wednesday. "That's been the one positive.'' 4 P a g e

5 Despite tearing several ligaments in his left thumb last Sunday against the Raiders, the father of five's sense of humor remains intact. And so does his status as the Jets' starter. Barring a setback, coach Todd Bowles said Fitzpatrick will start Sunday's home game against the Jaguars (2-5). That's a surprising development given Bowles' concern over Fitzpatrick's injury earlier in the week. The decision not to trade for a quarterback before Tuesday's deadline or sign a veteran on Wednesday indicated the Jets felt comfortable with their quarterback situation. But Bowles said he wasn't ready to declare Fitzpatrick the starter until he saw him practice. "He did everything he normally would do,'' Bowles said. "He's a tough guy. He can tolerate some things.'' Wearing a black glove on his left hand, Fitzpatrick took snaps under center and threw short passes during the 20-minute portion of practice open to the media. Fitzpatrick, who plans to wear a glove Sunday as well, said that former teammate Carson Palmer, who had a similar injury in 2009, texted him on Sunday and offered encouragement. "No limitations today,'' said the 32-year-old, who was injured early in the first quarter when he was tackled by Raiders safety Charles Woodson on a 12-yard scramble. "Really just a trial run to see how it was going to feel and what is the best way going forward in terms of using it and not using it and all that. Today was a pretty positive day.'' His replacement, Geno Smith, injured his left shoulder and abdomen in the loss to Oakland. Smith also showed no signs of discomfort during Wednesday's practice, but the Jets (4-3) wasted no time declaring Fitzpatrick their starter. And he didn't appear to have any doubts about his future. Asked if he thinks he'll be able to play the rest of the season with the injury, Fitzpatrick said: "I'm extremely confident. I want to go out there and help the team, and I think I'm going to be able to do that.'' He also said he'll need surgery "eventually;'' he just needs to "figure out when.'' After Sunday's game, it appeared that Smith might get a second chance to be the Jets' starter. But he said yesterday that he "kind of knew, just monitoring Fitz'' that there wouldn't be a quarterback change. Asked if he was disappointed, Smith said: "Yes and no. I understand what's going on, but at the same time, you still want to play.'' The Jets' receivers aren't complaining. "There is relief there because he's led us this whole year,'' Brandon Marshall said of Fitzpatrick. "But I'm proud of Geno, too, for stepping in there and doing a great job. We're lucky to have depth.'' Said Eric Decker: "It's hard when you've got to make a change at that position just because there's so much that goes into it, and, really, the chemistry between skill players and a quarterback takes time.'' Darrelle Revis expects defense to ramp up the effort against Jacksonville (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Asked on Wednesday about how coach Todd Bowles has handled the current "bump in the road," Darrelle Revis made it clear the sky isn't falling at 1 Jets Drive. 5 P a g e

6 "I don't think it's a bump," the shutdown cornerback said after practice. "We have a two-game losing streak... and it's tough to win in New England and it's also tough to win in the Black Hole [in Oakland]. "We're fine. We're still over.500 and now we're focused on Jacksonville." After a hot start, the Jets are 4-3. But perhaps most troubling about their two-game skid was their defensive performance against the Raiders, who posted 415 total yards (including 118 rushing yards) against the Jets' highly touted defense. "I think everybody was a little upset at what happened on Sunday," Revis said, noting the defense missed "20-plus" tackles. "But that's that. I don't think anybody's happy when you lose." Said Bowles: "They know it wasn't good enough, we know it wasn't good enough. We've got to get better coaching it, they've got to get better playing it. It is one game, it was the first time we fell apart like that. We've got to come back together again and it can't happen again." Bowles can talk all he wants about the importance of sound technique and high energy, but it's on the players to perform better, Revis said. And with the Jaguars coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, followed by Rex Ryan's Bills next Thursday night, the Jets have to improve their tackling and overall level of play. "Guys gotta have more effort, especially on the defensive side of the ball," Revis said. "We bring that energy, we bring that type of toughness to the game. On defense, it's for us to go out there and create turnovers and get off on third down and give the ball back to the 'O.' So there is a spark plug for us on defense and we felt, overall, we did not showcase that on Sunday." Though defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said on WFAN Tuesday that "guys were loafing" against the Raiders, Bowles stressed that his players weren't just "dogging it all the way to the ball." Revis agreed. "You see guys getting there, but then guys, maybe, expect the other guy to make the play instead of just finishing the whole play out," he said. "That's something we started to correct today and moving forward we've got to continue to stay on that and be consistent." Asked specifically about cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who played his worst game of the season on Sunday, Revis said: "He'll be fine. "We've played together for a long time and I have a lot of confidence in Cro. It's a game. We're not pointing the finger at nobody. We're all at fault across the board -- all three phases we didn't play well and it's a team loss." Geno Smith's not starting speaks volumes about his future with Jets (Bob Glauber) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - As much as Ryan Fitzpatrick's return to the starting lineup speaks to his toughness in playing with a torn ligament in his left thumb, it also points to the thinking in the Jets' organization about the team's overall quarterback situation. By choosing to go with a quarterback who eventually will need surgery and is in a sense playing onehanded, the Jets are providing further evidence that they essentially have given up on Geno Smith. 6 P a g e

7 No one was saying that outright on Wednesday, when the team returned to practice for the first time since Ryan hurt the thumb on his non-throwing hand on the first series of Sunday's stinkeroo of a loss in Oakland. Not Todd Bowles, who simply said after practice that Fitzpatrick would remain the starter. Not Fitzpatrick, who believes he can play through the injury, just as his friend Carson Palmer did when he suffered a similar injury early in the 2009 season. And not Smith, who did not outwardly complain about the decision. But Smith's body language and admission of being conflicted about the situation were sufficient to see the obvious conclusion that Bowles' decision pointed toward. Smith was asked if it was a disappointing turn of events after playing most of Sunday's game and doing a decent, if not perfect, job by throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. "Yes and no," he said. "I understand what's going on, but at the same time, you want to play." Smith suffered a bruised left (non-throwing) shoulder on a run he should have gone out of bounds on but instead collided with cornerback David Amerson. But there was no structural damage, and he seemed fine at practice on Wednesday, meaning he was by far the healthier of the two quarterbacks. But the reason for the choice was obvious: Bowles prefers to go with the quarterback he believes is more trustworthy than the younger and more physically gifted Smith. After an entire offseason's worth of commitment to Smith was undone with that jaw-breaking punch delivered on Aug. 11 by then-teammate IK Enempkali, this is now Fitzpatrick's team until further notice. Even though Fitzpatrick himself acknowledged that the pain in his left thumb is so severe that his wife relieved him of diaper-changing responsibilities for the couple's newborn child. Now that the Jets are approaching the halfway mark of the season, this appears to be Fitzpatrick's team the rest of the way. It would be a shock if the Jets don't move on from Smith after the season and look for another quarterback, whether it be through the draft, free agency or a trade, to compete with -- and potentially replace -- Fitzpatrick. "As a player, you want to be out there and have a chance," Smith said. "But I understand what's going on, so I'm not really that disappointed about that part of it." What's going on is similar to what Smith experienced his first two years with the Jets, only in reverse. He was given every chance to beat out Mark Sanchez as a rookie, a decision that became moot once Sanchez suffered what turned out to be a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason. A year later, the Jets brought in Michael Vick, but never gave him a legitimate chance to be the full-time starter. The situation is the opposite for Smith, who went into the offseason as the presumptive starter and made what appeared to be good progress. But once he was punched out of the lineup, it opened the door for Fitzpatrick, who promptly got out to a 4-1 start and played well, even when the Jets lost Oct. 25 to the Patriots in Foxborough. Now that Fitzpatrick is down to just one healthy thumb, Bowles still is unwilling to take him out and go with Smith. "He looked fine," Bowles said of Fitzpatrick. "He did everything that he would normally do." There is still plenty of season left, still time for Smith to see more action in the event Fitzpatrick's injured thumb becomes problematic. But Bowles seems set with Fitzpatrick, and Smith appears resigned to that reality. Someone suggested to Smith that Bowles' decision continues the narrative that the coach began the day Smith was punched: that if things are going well with Fitzpatrick in the lineup, then that's how it will stay. 7 P a g e

8 "I think that message has been sent," Smith said. And message received. Smith knows where he stands: on the outside looking in. Todd Bowles: Jets' defense vs. Raiders 'unacceptable' (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - "Unacceptable.'' That's how Todd Bowles described the Jets' defensive effort in Sunday's road loss to the Raiders. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis agreed. "There's a million words,'' Revis said. "It can be disgusting, it can be unacceptable. We felt like we didn't play Jet football on Sunday. We just didn't play up to our standards.'' ProFootballFocus.com counted 19 missed tackles. Bowles kept his own stats. "Believe me, they were a lot higher,'' he said. "They were in the 20s.'' Bowles said he agreed with Muhammad Wilkerson and David Harris, who called out the unit for a lack of energy. "Yes, there were some loafs on defense for the first time this year,'' Bowles said. "They were minor loafs, but they were still loafs, and we've got to have everybody to the ball. "We normally don't loaf. I think we're splitting hairs here. We're not saying people were just dogging it all the way to the ball.'' The key to tackling is simple, Bowles said: "It's effort, it's technique, it's fundamentals and it's want to.'' Coaches went over the corrections with players and stressed wrapping up, taking better angles and hustling to the ball. So is there a way to hold guys accountable? "There's a way,'' Bowles said. "And we do.'' Jet streams Brandon Marshall (ankle/toe) and Eric Decker (knee) did not practice, but Ryan Fitzpatrick said he expects both to play Sunday... Willie Colon (knee), Nick Mangold (neck), Calvin Pryor (ankle) and Devin Smith (foot) did not practice. Kellen Davis (hand), Bilal Powell (ankle) and Buster Skrine (shoulder/hand) were limited. THE RECORD Jets say QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday (J.P. Pelzman) The Record 8 P a g e

9 FLORHAM PARK Ryan Fitzpatrick s fingerprints have been all over the Jets conservative yet efficient offense this season. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to start Sunday despite tearing a ligament in his thumb during last week's game at Oakland. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) They likely won t be in evidence as much Sunday against Jacksonville, at least not from his left hand. Fitzpatrick was named the starter Wednesday for the Jets next game, despite having a torn ligament in his left (non-throwing) thumb. He used a protective glove on his left hand during practice to cushion the injured finger and said he probably will wear it against the Jaguars. He looked fine, coach Todd Bowles said after practice. He did everything that he normally would do. Bowles, who said Monday he wasn t sure who would start Sunday, chose Fitzpatrick over backup Geno Smith, who played creditably in relief of the starter in the Jets loss at Oakland on Sunday. Fitzpatrick, who practiced full Wednesday, exited the game after suffering the injury on a scramble on the Jets sixth play from scrimmage. Smith played the rest of the game, except for two plays when he came out because of a hard hit that hurt his abdomen. He also suffered an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, but practiced full Wednesday as well. Fitzpatrick said he is extremely confident that his injured thumb will not be an issue during the game. Well, it s painful enough to get me out of changing diapers, Fitzpatrick, a father of five, said with a smile. That s been the one positive. More seriously, he said, it s more painful to sit on the sidelines and not be there for your teammates. I don t want to put the team in a position where I m going to go out and hurt the team or turn the ball over or try to be a hero because something is compromised, Fitzpatrick continued. I want to go out there and help the team, so if I can do that without putting me or the team in a compromising position, then I will. And I think I m going to be able to do that. Bowles indicated there could be concerns about a possible setback for Fitzpatrick, whose thumb was heavily bandaged with ice after practice. As long as he s moving forward with his progress, he ll start, Bowles said. Smith said he wasn t surprised by the decision. I kind of knew, he said, just monitoring Fitz. Smith was asked if he felt relief that Fitzpatrick is healthy enough to play. Obviously, we re praying that Fitz continues to get better, Smith said. It s not relief for me. I m going about my business the same way. Smith then was asked if he was disappointed about not getting the nod for Sunday. Yes and no, he replied. I understand what s going on, but at the same time, you still want to play. Fitzpatrick said it was a pleasant surprise to find out how little his left thumb is involved in taking snaps while under center. He called the practice just kind of a trial run to see how it was going to feel and what the best way to do [things] going forward would be in terms of using it or not using it and all that. [Wednesday] was a pretty positive day in that regard. 9 P a g e

10 Fitzpatrick also is encouraged by the experience of Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, who suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb in the fifth game of the 2009 season. Palmer didn t miss a game and helped lead the Bengals to the AFC North title. He and Fitzpatrick were teammates with the Bengals in Carson actually sent me a text, Fitzpatrick said, before the [Oakland] game was even over, just saying, Hey, hit me up. So, we talked a little bit and he went through something similar and so we were able to talk and bounce ideas off each other and all that. He s been a decent asset. Jets notes: Defensive effort lacking (J.P. Pelzman) The Record November 5, FLORHAM PARK Linebacker David Harris said Monday the Jets effort on defense was "poor" in a loss to Oakland the previous day, and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said Tuesday on WFAN that "guys were loafing" on defense. Coach Todd Bowles didn t disagree Wednesday, also criticizing the Jets um, half-baked effort on defense Sunday. "We had some loafs on defense for the first time this year," Bowles said when asked if he saw any loafing on defense. "They were minor loafs but they were still loafs nonetheless and we have to have everybody [move] to the ball." "It s unacceptable," Bowles later added. "We weren t good enough. We have to get better at coaching it. They have to get better at playing it. It is one game, it s the first time we fell apart like that. We have to come back together and it can t happen again." Cornerback Darrelle Revis said Bowles told the defense its performance was unacceptable. "He said a lot of words," Revis said. "But that one stands out." "We don t normally loaf," Bowles said. "It wasn t loafing like a big deal. It s taking two steps, one here or another. I think we are splitting hairs here. We re not saying people were just dogging it all the way to the ball here." INJURY UPDATE: Five starters didn t practice Wednesday. Center Nick Mangold (neck), RG Willie Colon (knee), SS Calvin Pryor (ankle) and WRs Brandon Marshall (toe, ankle) and Eric Decker (knee) all were held out. Mangold and Pryor also sat out the Oakland game because of their injuries. Decker indicated it was a rest day as he continues to manage a troublesome left knee injury he has had since Week 2. Still, he has missed only one game. Marshall, who suffered both of his injuries against the Raiders, said, "I m going to do everything I can to be out there" Sunday against Jacksonville. Bowles said Marshall s ankle and toe "are pretty sore." NEW YORK TIMES Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick Will Start Despite Thumb Injury (Tom Pedulla) New York Times 10 P a g e

11 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. The Jets quarterback woes do not appear as severe as the team had feared. Coach Todd Bowles said Ryan Fitzpatrick would start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite having a torn ligament in his left thumb. Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith, who has a bruised left shoulder, practiced without visible limitations Wednesday after being injured in Sunday s road loss to the Oakland Raiders. Both players are righthanded, and their injuries have seemingly not affected their ability to throw. Fitzpatrick, wearing a protective glove on his injured hand, took snaps from under center and executed handoffs without any apparent difficulty. Smith threw with good velocity and did not appear to be restricted by his injury. In a conference call Monday, Bowles said Fitzpatrick s availability depended on his threshold for pain and spoke of the possibility of trading for a quarterback or signing a free agent. Bowles appeared much more comfortable with Fitzpatrick on Wednesday, after the team s first practice of the week. He s a tough guy; he can tolerate some pain, Bowles said. The way they ve got it bandaged up, he should be O.K. Fitzpatrick, 32, wore a heavy ice pack on his injured thumb after practice but expressed optimism that he could operate effectively. It s more painful to sit on the sideline and not be there for your teammates, he said. With a 4-3 record, the Jets have already equaled their victory total of last season. Fitzpatrick, acquired from the Houston Texans in the off-season, has been one of the keys to the team s resurgence under Bowles. He has started every game, completing 133 of 215 passes for 1,518 yards, with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Fitzpatrick s willingness to persevere may provide a lift when one is needed, with the team coming off consecutive losses to the New England Patriots and Oakland. When you look at a guy who has been through so much, he has to have mental toughness to last this long in the game, wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. Fitzpatrick, a former seventh-round draft choice out of Harvard, has played for six teams in 11 seasons. He can look to his former Bengals teammate Carson Palmer for an encouraging precedent. Palmer, a righthander, sustained ligament damage to his left thumb in the fifth game of the 2009 season. He went on to lead Cincinnati to the A.F.C. North title and was chosen to the Pro Bowl before he had surgery. Fitzpatrick said Palmer texted him before Sunday s game was over and invited him to have a phone conversation. Palmer offered assurances that he could play through the injury, Fitzpatrick said. Bowles has said that Fitzpatrick s injury will eventually require an operation. Fitzpatrick was hurt when he failed to slide after a 12-yard scramble during the opening series against the Raiders. He relieved Smith for two plays when Smith, too, elected not to slide at the end of a fourthquarter run. Bowles criticized both quarterbacks for failing to protect themselves as much as possible. 11 P a g e

12 ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall, Boomer Esiason hold a Geno Smith debate (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York A current New York Jets wide receiver and a former Jets quarterback fanned the flames on the team's new and unusual quarterback controversy. We're talking about Brandon Marshall and Boomer Esiason, of course. They're TV buds on Showtime's "Inside the NFL," and they engaged in a Geno Smith debate on Tuesday night. A sampling of the back-andforth: Marshall: "When did I get here (with the Jets)? April? May? Since that day, I've been a fan of Geno Smith. I'm going to stick to that. I love him. I'm proud of the kid." Esiason: "The perception out there is that he can't do it. I believe that that perception does have a tinge of reality attached to it, because I haven't seen it. I've seen some moments where he can throw the ball physically, but mentally, there are times where I just think he's clueless on the field." Marshall: "Now I'm not just going to take this stance because I'm his teammate. But you take a kid who hasn't played all year and you throw him in that game, and look what he did." Esiason: "But (Smith) also got punched in the face by a teammate in the locker room. And we can't forget that. That tells me volumes about what his teammates think of him." Marshall: "Can we give a kid, a young kid, a second chance?" Esiason: "Well, he's had like three different chances already, didn't he? Geno's had ample opportunities to really show that he can do it. He screwed up a major opportunity at the beginning of this year to play with what I thought would be his best offensive team." Smith is a starting option this week, but there are many variables: the condition of Ryan Fitzpatrick's injured left thumb; the condition of Smith's bruised left shoulder; and the team's comfort level with rookie Bryce Petty. One more injury and they could be calling Esiason. Ryan Fitzpatrick to start at QB for Jets vs. Jaguars despite thumb injury (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' quarterback situation, muddled on Monday, has returned to normal. Despite at least one torn ligament in his left (non-throwing) thumb, Ryan Fitzpatrick will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coach Todd Bowles announced Wednesday after practice. 12 P a g e

13 Fitzpatrick, who confirmed he will need surgery at some point, wore a protective glove on his left hand and said he practiced without limitations. He said he is "extremely confident" he will be able to play that way Sunday as the Jets (4-3) attempt to snap a two-game losing streak. Fitzpatrick hasn't lost his sense of humor. "It's painful enough to get me out of changing diapers," Fitzpatrick said. "That's been the one positive." The situation appeared dire Sunday night in Oakland, where Fitzpatrick was injured on the sixth play and backup Geno Smith suffered a badly bruised left (non-throwing) shoulder. The next day, Bowles was so concerned that he said rookie Bryce Petty would get practice reps and that the Jets would look to add a veteran. None of that was necessary. Fitzpatrick and Smith practiced fully on Wednesday, and nothing will change: Fitzpatrick will be the No. 1, Smith the No. 2. Bowles admitted he was surprised that Fitzpatrick was able to do as much as he did in practice. "He looked fine," Bowles said. "He did everything." Bowles acknowledged there is a concern that Fitzpatrick's injury could get worse as the week progresses. He will be closely monitored. Fitzpatrick said he talked to former Cincinnati Bengals teammate Carson Palmer, who experienced the same injury in Palmer played the whole season, made the Pro Bowl and led the Bengals to a division title, undergoing surgery as soon as the season was over. Palmer texted Fitzpatrick before the Jets-Raiders game was over. Later, they talked by phone. "He went through the same thing, and we were able to talk and bounce ideas off each other," Fitzpatrick said. "He's been a decent asset." That Bowles needed only one practice to announce his decision shows the considerable gap between Fitzpatrick and Smith, who lost the starting job in the preseason when his jaw was broken by a teammate's fist. Fitzpatrick has become a popular team leader. Smith said he had a feeling he'd remain the backup this week, based on Fitzpatrick's progress, but he admitted it was a letdown. "You want to play, you want to be out there, you want to have a chance," said Smith, whose play was uneven in his season debut in Oakland. "But I understand what's going on, so I'm not really that disappointed." The Jets fell apart without Fitzpatrick in the lineup, falling to the Raiders, He ranks third among quarterbacks in Total QBR (78.4), trailing only Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers. In practice, Fitzpatrick was able to take snaps from under center, saying that he learned "your left thumb is not really involved in taking a snap. So that was a pleasant surprise." He also said he was able to grip the ball in his left hand while executing handoffs to the right side. "I don't want to go out and hurt the team and turn the ball over and try to be a hero if something is compromised," he said. "I want to help the team. If I can do that without putting the team or me in a compromising position, I will, and I think I'll be able to do that." Todd Bowles: Jets' shoddy tackling is 'unacceptable' (Ohm Youngmisuk) ESPN New York 13 P a g e

14 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Todd Bowles wouldn t reveal exactly how many tackles the New York Jets missed on Sunday in Oakland. The disappointed Jets coach would only say the number of missed normal tackles was in the 20s. We had some loafs on defense for the first time this year, Bowles said when asked if he saw any loafing on defense. They were minor loafs but they were still loafs nonetheless and we have to have everybody to the ball. It s unacceptable, Bowles later added. We weren t good enough... It is one game, it s the first time we fell apart like that. We have to come back together and it can t happen again. Without a doubt, tackling and getting back to fundamentals and technique was emphasized during Wednesday s practice. The Jets (4-3) cannot afford to drop a third straight game when they play Jacksonville (2-5) on Sunday at home. Cornerback Darrelle Revis said the Jets got Bowles stern message after their loss in Oakland. He said a lot of words, Revis said when asked about Bowles calling the tackling performance unacceptable. But that one stands out. We felt that we were the better team and they surprised us, Revis later added about Oakland. What bothered me the most is we didn t play Jet football. We didn t play Jet defense like we usually do. Usually guys are flying around making a bunch of plays being where they need to be. And guys really just weren t doing their jobs. Failing to sack Derek Carr, the Jets allowed the Raiders quarterback to pass for 333 yards and four touchdowns. Latavius Murray rushed for 113 yards and Raiders receivers had long gains of 36, 49 and 59 yards. Now the Jets defense faces Blake Bortles and the two Allens -- Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Both receivers have combined for 11 touchdowns and each has more than 30 receptions and 500 yards receiving this season. Jacksonville also has a young talent at running back in T.J. Yeldon, who is coming off a 115-yard and onetouchdown rushing performance against Buffalo. Robinson, Hurns and Yeldon can make the Jets defense pay if there is more sloppy tackling. Bowles spent a good portion of his Wednesday press conference with reporters answering questions about loafing and poor tackling. We don t normally loaf, Bowles said. It wasn t loafing like a big deal. It s taking two steps, one here or another. I think we are splitting hairs here. We re not saying people were just dogging it all the way to the ball here. Still, Revis and the defense are eager to make amends for Sunday s poor effort. You can call it whatever you want to call it, Revis said. There s a million words (to describe Sunday). It can be disgusting, unacceptable, I can sit here and say there s a bad taste in my mouth as a team, yeah, it s all those words. We didn t play Jets football. 14 P a g e

15 Gap between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith wider than ever (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A few thoughts on New York Jets coach Todd Bowles' announcement that Ryan Fitzpatrick, despite having a torn ligament in his left thumb, will start on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars: 1. Frankly, I'm a little surprised Bowles clarified the situation so quickly. All he needed was one practice to determine Fitzpatrick is good to go for Sunday -- a mere two days after expressing pessimism. What can we read into this? It's pretty clear: Bowles would rather take his chances with a slightly compromised Fitzpatrick than a relatively healthy Geno Smith, whose bruised left shoulder appears fine. The gap between Fitzpatrick and Smith never has been greater. 2. Don't let that fancy Harvard education fool you. Fitzpatrick is a tough dude. 3. The Fitzpatrick news created a palpable sense of relief in the locker room. It's apparent from listening to players that Fitzpatrick has won their trust and they believe he gives them the best chance of winning. Some people might interpret that as an anti-geno sentiment; I think it's more pro-fitzpatrick. The Jets (4-3) have dropped two in a row and can't afford a loss on Sunday to the lowly Jaguars. The players know this, and they're grateful Fitzpatrick will be leading them. 4. Smith said he has mixed feelings: happy for Fitzpatrick, disappointed for himself. I came away from Smith's media session thinking he's really bummed about not getting the start this week. He said, "I understand what's going on" and the "message has been sent" that it's Fitzpatrick's job to lose, but you could hear some disappointment in his voice. He could have strengthened his cause by playing better against the Oakland Raiders. I think he knows his future is elsewhere. 5. Naturally, Fitzpatrick downplayed the potential impact of the injury, but it's fair to wonder whether the Jets will have to tweak their offense to compensate. Two concerns: Can he handle snaps from under center? Can he grip the ball in his left hand on handoffs to the right side? The Jets are in the shotgun formation about 55 percent of the time, which helps. What about the other 45 percent? An AFC personnel executive suggested the Jets use the pistol formation. If they do, it would be a departure for the Jets, who have run only 15 plays out of the pistol. Eric Decker jokes about bloated TD total: All because of Peyton Manning (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York November 5, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- This might surprise you: Since breaking into the NFL in 2010, Eric Decker is fifth among wide receivers in touchdown receptions (43). The only receivers ahead of him are Dez Bryant (56), Calvin Johnson (56), Jordy Nelson (45) and Brandon Marshall (44). Decker is hanging around with some pretty good company. 15 P a g e

16 "Yeah, I'm a product of Peyton Manning, so it's all because of Peyton," Decker said Wednesday, a sarcastic reference to one of the criticisms that emerged last season when he left the Denver Broncos to sign with the New York Jets. Decker, who seems more at ease in his surroundings than last year, leads the Jets with five touchdown catches, one ahead of Marshall. Decker was a bit surprised to see his touchdown total standing among the game's elite, saying, "That's pretty cool. That's a lot of touchdowns." He added: "I've surprised myself a little bit. Stats, they come and go every year, but touchdowns are so important. They're game changers. It's one of the more important stats offensively. So it's pretty neat." For the record, Decker scored 24 touchdowns with Manning, 19 with other quarterbacks. Decker, battling a knee injury since Week 2, didn't practice on Wednesday. Neither did his partner, Marshall, who is dealing with ankle and toe injuries. Both are expected to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Decker hates missing practice time, but he believes rest is smart as he attempts to manage the injury throughout the season. Marshall declined to discuss his injuries, but he can play Sunday even if he doesn't practice during the week. "He can still play on Sunday if he's feeling better," coach Todd Bowles said. NEW YORK POST Darrelle Revis elite days are pretty much over : Cowboys great (Justin Terranova) New York Post One former Pro Bowl safety thinks Revis Island is becoming a preferred vacation spot. ESPN analyst and former Cowboys great Darren Woodson took some shots at Jets star Darrelle Revis on Wednesday morning. He s a 30-year-old cornerback, let s just call it what it is, Woodson said on Mike and Mike after reviewing Revis performance Sunday against the Raiders and rookie Amari Cooper. We are going to find out a lot about Darrelle the next few weeks because he s going to go out against some strong receivers on the outside. His time of being an elite No. 1 cornerback is pretty much over. The Jets signed Revis to a five-year, $70 million ($39 million guaranteed) contract this offseason to help rebuild a defense that had seen its talent decline as Rex Ryan s tenure went on. In Todd Bowles first season, the unit had been one of the best in football until Sunday s dismantling by the Raiders. Cooper had five catches for 46 yards and was not matched up with Revis all afternoon. Still, Woodson, who won three Super Bowls in Dallas, was worried at what he saw. Just watching him Sunday against Cooper and he s going to be a special receiver but that matchup if they wanted to go at Darrelle Revis all game, Amari Cooper would have had at least 150 yards, Woodson said. He would have had a huge game against Darrelle Revis. Sometimes you have to look at yourself and says, age is going to catch up. It just does. It s Revis Island, they have a tremendous amount of faith in him and they put him out there and put him against the best of the best. 16 P a g e

17 QB not the only position concerning Jets Todd Bowles (Brian Costello) New York Post Quarterback is not the only position at which the Jets are dealing with injuries. Starting wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker both sat out of practice on Wednesday. Marshall injured his left ankle and right big toe in Sunday s loss to the Raiders, and Decker has been dealing with a left knee injury since the Colts game in Week 2. Both sounded optimistic they will play. Coach Todd Bowles said he will be worried if they continue to feel pain into this weekend. It s concerning right now, Bowles said. We don t have a lot of guys [at wide receiver], but it s early. We ve got a couple of days to let them heal up, so I ll be concerned toward the weekend if they re not making any progress. Rookie wide receiver Devin Smith also sat out practice with a foot injury. Decker said he understands why the trainers want him to rest, but he hopes to return to practice soon. I m a practice guy, so I like to be out there all week, Decker said. Right now, this is probably just the smartest thing in terms of maintenance. Just trying to take a few days off after the game and get as much work as I can toward the end of [the week]. CBS announcer and former Pro Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon was critical of Jets quarterback Geno Smith in Sunday s game in Oakland, particularly when Smith appeared to be unaware the clock was running late in the game. Smith was not moved by Gannon s words. I don t care about announcers criticism, Smith said. Center Nick Mangold (neck), safety Calvin Pryor (ankle) and guard Willie Colon (knee) did not practice. Bowles said he is hopeful that Mangold can practice this week. CB Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand), RB Bilal Powell (ankle) and TE Kellen Davis (hand) were limited. Why Todd Bowles is so sure the Jets defense won t loaf again (Steve Serby) New York Post This is Todd Bowles, tackling the problem: It was unacceptable, the Jets coach said. They know it wasn t good enough. We know it wasn t good enough. We gotta get better coaching it. They gotta get better playing it. It is one game, it was the first time we fell apart like that, we gotta come back together And it can t happen again. If it happens again, if his loaded defense is more gangrene than Gang Green, it won t matter whether Ryan Fitzpatrick and his padded left thumb or Broadway Joe and his pantyhose is the quarterback against the 17 P a g e

18 Jaguars on Sunday, and the Jets likely will have a three-game losing streak, and Bowles will have his first crisis as a rookie head coach. Bowles remains the Iceman Coach, the Stoic Coach, even in the wake of a disgraceful exhibition in Oakland by a defense that fancies itself as the elite of the elite. Some coaches are real freak-out guys, and some can get their point across without screaming, linebacker Trevor Reilly said. Todd can get his point across. We know when he means business and when he wants something done. He doesn t have to like turn into Bob Knight or anything. I don t think Todd s gonna be choking any of us out anytime soon. What d Teddy Roosevelt say? Speak softly and carry a big stick? I think that s kind of how Todd handles himself. If you asked him, I bet he would say that about himself. He can raise his voice, I m not saying that he doesn t raise his voice, all I m saying is that with a veteran team like this, we know when we [messed] up. How s this for messing up? Bowles revealed the coaches counted an obscene number of missed tackles. They were in the 20s, Bowles said. So Wednesday became an exercise in tackling technique. We had shoulder pads on and we wrapped up more, Bowles said. It s effort, it s technique, it s fundamentals, and it s want-to. You see, he will not tolerate any further lack of want-to. We had some loafs on defense for the first time this year, Bowles said. They were minor loafs, but they were still loafs nonetheless, and we gotta have everybody to the ball. Why does that happen? Sometimes fatigue, and sometimes you re just tired, Bowles said. Our guys don t normally loaf and it shouldn t happen anymore. It sounds like it won t. You can call it whatever you want to call it. It can be a million words it can be disgusting, it can be unacceptable. I could sit here and say there s a bad taste in our mouth as a team, Darrelle Revis said. Yeah, it s all those words. We felt like we didn t play Jet football on Sunday, and that s what it is. We just didn t play up to our standards. Reilly: You can t win in the NFL when you do that you can t win in college when you do that. Some of the veteran leaders carried Bowles message to the practice field. A lot of guys in our defense in practice today, reminded guys, Run to the ball, wrap up, Leonard Williams said. Everybody s pursuing to the ball. We looked back like how we were looking in the beginning of the season, and that s what we need. Who were some of the vocal guys? Snacks [Damon Harrison] was one of the vocal guys as always, and Muhammad Wilkerson, Williams said, just little reminders here and there. Bowles: We gotta gang tackle. That solves a lot of problems. 18 P a g e