NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS September 14, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 3 Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to win over Browns (Dennis Waszak)... 3 Manziel, Browns fall to Jets in season opener (Mike Farrell)... 4 Jets' Mauldin hospitalized with concussion, no neck injury (Dennis Waszak)... 5 Marshall 'steals' momentum in Jets' win over Browns (Dennis Waszak)... 6 NEWSDAY... 8 Lorenzo Mauldin has concussion but no neck injury (Kimberley A. Martin)... 8 Jets quarterback Bryce Petty learns a pizza lesson (Kimberley A. Martin)... 9 Antonio Cromartie suffers knee injury (Greg Logan) Jets turning point (Newsday) Jets' offense shows star power (Kimberley A. Martin) Jets beat Browns in opener to start Todd Bowles Era on winning note (Kimberley A. Martin) Todd Bowles gets first win without any bluster (Bob Glauber) Jets Q&A: Opener special for Todd Bowles' family, friends (Kimberley A. Martin) Brandon Marshall makes steal of the week (Barbara Barker) THE RECORD Jets: Instant replay (Jeff Roberts) Cromartie has painful return to Jets (Jeff Roberts) Jet notes: Chris Ivory looks sharp (J.P. Pelzman) Jets rookie Lorenzo Mauldin hospitalized with concussion (J.P. Pelzman) Jets beat Browns, 31-10, in season opener (J.P. Pelzman) NEW YORK TIMES A Quick Reminder of Football s Violence (William C. Rhoden) Big Win but Bigger Worries for Jets (Ben Shpigel) ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall brings the heat with buddy Dwyane Wade in the house (Rich Cimini) Fireman Ed returns for Jets' opener, to the delight of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis (Kieran Darcy) Brandon Marshall sparks Jets in season-opening win over Browns (Rich Cimini) Jets rookie Lorenzo Mauldin has concussion, but feeling in extremities (Rich Cimini) NEW YORK POST How Bowles quiet swagger can separate him from past failures (Mark Cannizzaro) Johnny Manziel s magic moment turned sour in a hurry (Brian Lewis) P a g e

2 Darrelle Revis huge return: Cheers, fumble grab, Fireman Ed love (Brian Costello) Monster Chris Ivory gives hope for huge Jets season (Zach Braziller) The Ryan Fitzpatrick-Brandon Marshall lovefest is on and deadly (Steve Serby) Brandon Marshall s TD had nothing on his play of the game (Zach Braziller) Jets report card: What a day for Todd Bowles and his staff (Brian Costello) Jets hold breath after LB carted off with scary head injury (Zach Braziller) Jets kick off new era with mauling of Browns but it has costs (Brian Costello) Jets Cromartie carted off after dreaded non-contact injury (Brian Lewis) Fireman Ed s hiatus is over: Super fan returns to rally Jets (Zach Braziller) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Calvin Pace says he's happy Jets' defense no longer has to carry their offense (Darryl Slater) Jets' Brandon Marshall's strip after pick vs. Cleveland Browns wasn't first time he's done that (Darryl Slater) Jets report card, as they open Todd Bowles era by pounding Cleveland Browns (Darryl Slater) Lorenzo Mauldin update: Jets deliver good news, say he has feeling in extremities (Darryl Slater) What Jets players are saying about Lorenzo Mauldin's 'scary' neck injury (Darryl Slater) Lorenzo Mauldin neck injury: Jets' Todd Bowles says he's 'very concerned' (Darryl Slater) Jets' Antonio Cromartie to have MRI on injured knee on Monday (Dom Consentino) New-look Jets drill Cleveland Browns, 31-10, in Todd Bowles' debut Instant analysis (Dom Costentino) Jets 31, Cleveland Browns 10: The good, the bad, the ugly -- from Calvin Pryor to Antonio Cromartie (Darryl Slater) Jets inquired about Kirk Cousins after Geno Smith got punched, per report (Dom Cosentino) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jets LB Lorenzo Mauldin taken to hospital after suffering concussion in fourth quarter (Kevin Armstrong with Seth Walder) Jets earn first win of Todd Bowles era with romp over Browns, but key injuries put damper on the victory (Seth Walder) Browns QB Josh McCown suffers concussion vs. Jets, Johnny Manziel takes over for Cleveland (Stephen Lorenzo) New Jets coach Todd Bowles is all business as he wins in debut (Gary Myers) Jets 31, Browns 10 - Instant Analysis: Chris Ivory earns game ball with 2 TDs, Gang Green D forces 4 turnovers (Manish Mehta) Jets looks surprisingly good on offense in season-opening win over Browns (Manish Mehta) METRO NEW YORK Brandon Marshall wants Fireman Ed back for good (Kristian Dyer) Jets' Lorenzo Mauldin goes to hospital with head, neck injury (Kristian Dyer) Marcus Williams steps up as Antonio Cromartie goes down (Kristian Dyer) things we learned in the Jets' over the Browns (Kristian Dyer) P a g e

3 SUNDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to win over Browns (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Todd Bowles got a big win and a celebratory game ball in his New York Jets debut. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and Chris Ivory ran for two scores, giving the Jets a victory over the Cleveland Browns to open the season Sunday. "It feels good to get the butterflies out of the way, to get that first one," Bowles said. "It wasn't perfect, by no means, but we did what we had to do to win." The Jets (1-0) had five takeaways against the Browns, including an interception and two forced fumbles of Johnny Manziel, who came in late in the first quarter for an injured Josh McCown. "First and foremost," Manziel said, "you can't turn the ball over." D'Brickashaw Ferguson presented Bowles with the game ball in the locker room as the team got off to a winning start under their new coach. Bowles was hired in January after Rex Ryan was fired following six seasons. The victory was a bit dampened by injuries, with a scary moment occurring in the fourth quarter when rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was taken to a hospital after being carted off the field. A few hours later, the Jets announced Mauldin has a concussion but no neck injury, as initially feared and was hospitalized overnight for observation. The team added that Mauldin was awake and had feeling in all of his extremities. New York also lost cornerback Antonio Cromartie in the second quarter with an injured left knee. He's scheduled to have an MRI exam Monday. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker had touchdown catches for the Jets, who sent the Browns (0-1) to their 11th straight opening-day loss. Cleveland committed 12 penalties for 109 yards to go along with the five turnovers. "To lose the way we did," Browns coach Mike Pettine said, "it's difficult to swallow it." Fitzpatrick, who became the starter after Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate last month, finished 15 of 24 for 179 yards and also threw an interception that ended up being the turning point for the Jets. Shortly after Cleveland took a 7-0 lead, Fitzpatrick's throw to Marshall was picked off by Tashaun Gipson. But the Jets wide receiver ripped the ball out of Gipson's hands for a fumble recovery that gave New York the ball at the Cleveland 9. Moments later, Ivory ran up the middle for a 10-yard tying TD. "That, to me, was the play of the game," Bowles said. Manziel was 13 of 24 for 182 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown to Travis Benjamin. He also led the Browns with 35 yards rushing on five carries. 3 P a g e

4 "Obviously, the second half leaves a bitter taste in your mouth," Manziel said. "We'll see what happens this next week." After struggling to find a rhythm early, Fitzpatrick and the Jets' offense clicked on a nine-play, 72-yard drive that was capped by Decker's 15-yard touchdown catch with 26 seconds left before the half and gave New York a lead. Marcus Williams intercepted a pass by Manziel intended for Brian Hartline in the third quarter and the Jets made the Browns pay. With a short field to work with, starting on the Browns 28, Fitzpatrick connected with Marshall for 17 yards on third-and-2 and then threw a fade to Marshall for a 1-yard TD on third down to give New York a lead with 7:51 left in the third quarter. Ivory sealed the game with a 3-yard run just over 10 minutes left. The Browns appeared ready to score on their opening drive, but two big hits on one play kept Cleveland out of the end zone and knocked McCown out of the game. On third-and-goal from the Jets 14, McCown took off up the middle and dived for the goal line. As he left his feet, McCown was hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis, knocking the ball out of the quarterback's hands and out of the end zone for a touchback. McCown suffered a concussion, allowing Manziel to get in amid some hearty boos from Jets fans. On his fifth play, Manziel lofted a perfectly placed pass down the left sideline that landed right in the hands of Benjamin, who outran Cromartie to give the Browns a 7-0 lead. NOTES: Browns LB Scott Solomon was carted off in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Pettine had no immediate word on the severity.... Ivory finished with 91 yards on 20 carries.... Cleveland is 1-16 in Week 1 games since its expansion return in McCown was 5 of 8 for 49 yards before leaving. Manziel, Browns fall to Jets in season opener (Mike Farrell) Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The game and perhaps the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation turned on two big hits on one play late in the first quarter against the New York Jets. Josh McCown suffered a concussion on a collision, ushering in backup Johnny Manziel, and the Browns dropped their 11th straight season opener with a loss Sunday. Manziel did some good things, such as leading the Browns to a 7-0 lead with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin. But it was mostly downhill from there as Manziel threw an interception and lost two fumbles. "We'll see what Josh's status is," Manziel said of McCown, who will have to go through the NFL's concussion protocol. "For me, this week is being ready to go, getting in with those guys and get a chance to mesh with them." On third-and-goal from the Jets 14, McCown took off up the middle and dived for the goal line. As he left his feet, McCown was hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis, knocking the ball out of the quarterback's hands and out of the end zone for a touchback. Browns coach Mike Pettine defended McCown's decision to go for the score instead of a protective slide. 4 P a g e

5 "A running quarterback, guys who are mobile who get out in open space, I don't know how many of them would have handled that differently when they get that close to the end zone," Pettine said. On his fifth play, Manziel lofted a perfectly placed pass down the left sideline that landed right in the hands of Benjamin, who outran Antonio Cromartie to give the Browns the lead. But the Jets, who started slowly, finished strong in coach Todd Bowles' debut. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and Chris Ivory ran for two scores. "It wasn't perfect, by no means, but we did what we had to do to win," Bowles said. The Jets (1-0) had five takeaways against the Browns (0-1), who committed 12 penalties. "A disappointing way to open the season," Pettine said. "There are no words to express that.... To lose the way we did, it's difficult to swallow it." Manziel was 13 of 24 for 182 yards, including the long touchdown to Benjamin. He also led the Browns with 35 yards rushing on five carries. "He just needs to show more ball security," cornerback Joe Haden said. "He needs to know that people are coming for him at all times. He'll be fine." There was a scary moment in the fourth quarter for the Jets when rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was taken to a hospital after being carted off the field. The team announced a few hours after the game that Mauldin has a concussion, but no neck injury. New York also lost Cromartie in the second quarter with an injured left knee. Cleveland linebacker Scott Solomon was carted from the field early in the game with an ankle injury. Pettine had no immediate update on the severity. Shortly after Cleveland took a 7-0 lead, Fitzpatrick's throw to Brandon Marshall was picked off by Tashaun Gipson. But the Jets wide receiver ripped the ball out of Gipson's hands for a fumble recovery that gave New York the ball at the Cleveland 9. Moments later, Ivory ran up the middle for a 10-yard tying TD. "That, to me, was the play of the game," Bowles said. Marcus Williams intercepted a pass by Manziel intended for Brian Hartline in the third quarter and the Jets made the Browns pay. With a short field to work with, starting on the Browns 28, Fitzpatrick connected with Marshall for 17 yards on third-and-2 and then threw a fade to Marshall for a 1-yard TD on third down to give New York a lead with 7:51 left in the third quarter. Ivory sealed the game with a 3-yard run just over 10 minutes left. NOTES: Isaiah Crowell, the Browns' No. 1 RB after the trade of Terrance West last week, had just 20 yards on 12 carries.... Cleveland is 1-16 in Week 1 games since its expansion return in McCown was 5 of 8 for 49 yards before leaving. Jets' Mauldin hospitalized with concussion, no neck injury (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin has a concussion but no neck injury, as initially feared and was hospitalized overnight for observation after being carted off the field in the team's season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns. 5 P a g e

6 The Jets announced Sunday night that Mauldin was awake and aware, and had feeling in all of his extremities. The team said tests at the hospital had been completed and confirmed that the neck of the third-round pick out of Louisville was OK. In a scary scene at MetLife Stadium, Mauldin was injured in the fourth quarter of the Jets' victory when Johnny Manziel was sacked by Muhammad Wilkerson. Mauldin, who was originally credited with the sack, appeared to punch the ball out of the quarterback's hands and cause a fumble that Darrelle Revis recovered deep in Browns territory. Manziel appeared to roll onto Mauldin, who stayed down for several moments right after the play. The linebacker eventually stood, but then immediately dropped to the turf, where he stayed face-down as trainers and medical staff rushed over to him. "When I was running out on the field, I could see he was getting up but then I just saw him get weak and he fell again," running back Chris Ivory said. "After that, it just looked like his eyes rolled into the back of his head." As several Jets players stood and watched, some on a knee with their helmets in hand, Mauldin's facemask was removed and he was strapped to a board before being lifted onto a cart as MetLife Stadium fell completely silent. "He had very little (movement) from what I saw," coach Todd Bowles said. Several Browns players also came over to Mauldin as he was being examined on the field. Mauldin made headlines in the offseason when he cried during his conference call shortly after he was drafted by the Jets. He had a tumultuous childhood in which both of his parents served jail time, and he was in and out of about 12 or 13 foster homes in the Atlanta area. "I'm here to say that I'm not a statistic," Mauldin said during the offseason, "and I'm going to overcome it." Manziel was in the game because Browns starting quarterback Josh McCown left with a concussion after taking a hard hit late in the first quarter. McCown was hurt when he was hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis while coming up just short of the goal line on third-and-goal from the Jets 14. McCown dived for the goal line, but was hit hard simultaneously by Davis and Pryor, and the ball came loose and went out of the end zone for a touchback. Browns coach Mike Pettine said McCown would go through the NFL's concussion protocol before being cleared to practice and play. Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie left in the second quarter with a left knee injury and will have an MRI exam Monday to determine the nature and severity. Cromartie's knee buckled on a non-contact play and he needed help to the sideline as he didn't put any weight on his left leg. Cromartie was later carted to the locker room and ruled out for the rest of the game. He was replaced by Buster Skrine. Browns linebacker Scott Solomon injured an ankle early in the opening quarter and was carted off the field, and did not return. Marshall 'steals' momentum in Jets' win over Browns (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press 6 P a g e

7 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Brandon Marshall turned a turnover into a takeaway and a huge momentum swing for the New York Jets. Shortly after Cleveland took a 7-0 lead Sunday, Fitzpatrick's throw to Marshall was picked off by Tashaun Gipson. But the Jets' wide receiver ripped the ball out of Gipson's hands for a fumble recovery that gave New York the ball at the Browns 9. "To me, that was the play of the game," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. Moments later, Chris Ivory ran up the middle for a 10-yard tying TD. Fitzpatrick finished with two touchdown passes and Ivory ran for two scores, giving the Jets (1-0) a victory in Bowles' regularseason debut. The Jets' offense started slow, and things appeared to be going the Browns' way when Gipson stepped in front of Fitzpatrick's underthrown pass. Refusing to give up on the play, Marshall reached in and ended up with the ball. "I definitely owe him a soda pop for that one," Fitzpatrick said. Gipson said he wanted to try to get the Browns (0-1) in better field position and possibly take control of the game when suddenly he no longer had the ball. "That has never happened to me," Gipson said. Marshall, in his first game with the Jets after being acquired from the Bears in March, also had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. Here are some other things to know from the Jets' victory over the Browns: HERE'S JOHNNY: After Josh McCown left with a concussion late in the first quarter, Johnny Manziel came in and had an up-and-down day. He finished 13 of 24 for 182 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown to Travis Benjamin. He also led the Browns with 35 yards rushing on five carries. But he also lost two fumbles and threw an interception. "I can't turn it over," Manziel said when asked what he needed to do differently. McCown was hurt when he was hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis when he dived for the goal line on third-and-goal from the Jets 14. McCown must go through the league's concussion protocol, leaving the Browns' quarterback situation uncertain. SCARY MOMENT: Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was taken to a hospital after being strapped to a board and carted off the field in the fourth quarter. A few hours later, the Jets announced Mauldin has a concussion but no neck injury, as initially feared and was hospitalized overnight for observation. The team added that Mauldin was awake and had feeling in all of his extremities. New York also lost cornerback Antonio Cromartie in the second quarter with an injured left knee. He's scheduled to have an MRI exam Monday. BOWLES' DEBUT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson presented Bowles with the game ball in the locker room as the team got off to a winning start under their new coach. Bowles was hired in January after Rex Ryan was fired following six seasons. Unlike his predecessor, Bowles is low-key and not easily excitable except if a certain Motown legend ever shows up. 7 P a g e

8 "Gladys Knight," Bowles said. "If Gladys comes in here and starts singing or Eddie Levert from The O'Jays, we can talk." FITZ FITS IN: Fitzpatrick, who became the starter after Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate last month, finished 15 of 24 for 179 yards with TDs to Marshall and Eric Decker. The veteran QB was acquired from Houston in the offseason, and efficiently led the offense after a sluggish start. "He does everything right," Marshall said. "It would take us 10 minutes to sit down and talk about everything he does right." BUMBLING BROWNS: The Browns lost their 11th straight opening game, and sloppiness had a lot to do with it. Cleveland committed 12 penalties for 109 yards to go along with the five turnovers. The Browns went 0 for 2 in the red zone, while the Jets were 4 for 6. "To lose the way we did," Browns coach Mike Pettine said, "it's difficult to swallow it." NEWSDAY Lorenzo Mauldin has concussion but no neck injury (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 14, Lorenzo Mauldin was somewhat lucky. The Jets outside linebacker was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns and taken to the hospital. It initially was believed that he had suffered head and neck injuries, but the Jets later announced that the rookie had a concussion, not a neck injury. According to the team, Mauldin was awake and had feeling in his extremities. As of Sunday night, all testing was complete and he was to remain in the hospital overnight for observation. Without any official word on the severity of his injuries, Mauldin's teammates forced themselves to think positively. "It was tough, man," said Jets safety Calvin Pryor, who played at Louisville with Mauldin. "I went out there and checked on him and he still had his eyes closed... so I wasn't able to say anything to him and he didn't respond or anything." Like Pryor, coach Todd Bowles said he saw "little movement" from Mauldin after the outside linebacker ended up at the bottom of a pile during a Jets fumble return. He eventually made it to his feet but immediately fell forward and was motionless on the turf for several minutes. "I just saw him get weak and he fell again, and after that, it looked like his eyes rolled into the back of his head," running back Chris Ivory said of Mauldin, who spent most of his life in foster care before being drafted by the Jets in the third round. Bowles said he was "very concerned" about Mauldin, adding that his college roommate, Anthony Young, was carted off the field during his second year with Indianapolis. "[He] broke his neck. He never played again." 8 P a g e

9 Linebacker Calvin Pace said he didn't see the collision, just Mauldin trying to get up and falling. He added, "Just hoping for the best. I don't know exactly what it was, but it didn't look good." Jets quarterback Bryce Petty learns a pizza lesson (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday August 29, For a few minutes, it was like the good old days for the Jets' defense. Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie were reunited in green for the first time in two seasons and came flying out of the tunnel one after the other during introductions to leap in the air and chest bump as the fans roared. But with 8:51 left in the second quarter Sunday, Cromartie crumpled to the turf with a noncontact injury to his left knee. Suddenly, the air was hissing out of the opening-day balloon as Cromartie was carted off and replaced by second-year man Marcus Williams. "Cro is one of the leaders in the secondary and someone we look up to as young guys," second-year safety Calvin Pryor said. "To see him go down in the first game is definitely a big blow to our defense. But everybody stepped up and started playing for one another after that." The Jets' defense went on to force four of five Cleveland turnovers, including an interception by Williams, in a dominant victory. Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall forced a turnover when he stripped an interception away from Tashaun Gipson. Cromartie is scheduled for an MRI Monday. "Cro's situation we don't know much," Revis said. "It was sad to see him go down. He's a great friend of mine." Aside from a slow start, Revis was pleased by the defensive performance, saying: "One of our main characteristics is to create turnovers. That's one of the things we want to harp on." The Browns' turnovers began on their opening drive with a big hit by Pryor on quarterback Josh McCown, who fumbled at the Jets' 1-yard line. Cromartie recovered in the end zone. "I knew as I watched film that he doesn't like to get down," Pryor said of McCown. "So I was able to get a shot on him. I think that turned the momentum of the game around." McCown left the game after that play with a head injury and was replaced by Johnny Manziel, who hit a 54-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin behind Cromartie for a 7-0 lead. That was the Browns' only big play. Early in the third quarter, Williams picked off Manziel and returned it 18 yards to the Cleveland 28 to set up a 1-yard TD pass from Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to Marshall for a lead. "Marcus has been making plays all of training camp," safety Buster Skrine said. "It's been noticeable. He did what he's been doing, he stepped up in the big game." Williams said the situation is comparable to last season when he replaced injured Darrin Walls as the starter. But he knows that with Revis on the opposite side of the defense, he will be a marked man. "I'm pretty much going to be 'hot' most of the time because they're probably going to stay away from [Revis]," Williams said. "So I've got to be ready at all times. I'm going to keep learning from Revis, picking his brain. He's a good leader." 9 P a g e

10 Revis expressed confidence in Williams. "Marcus stepped in with a lot of confidence and made plays right off the bat," Revis said. "He has a lot of potential. We've seen that in OTAs and training camp. We have high hopes for him." Antonio Cromartie suffers knee injury (Greg Logan) Newsday September 14, He hasn't played a regular-season NFL game yet, but New York Jets rookie quarterback Bryce Petty has Jets turning point (Newsday) Newsday September 14, TURNING POINT Brandon Marshall's quick thinking helped to ignite the Jets' offense. After Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass was intercepted by Tashaun Gipson early in the second quarter, Marshall immediately snatched the ball out of the safety's hands. Two plays later, Chris Ivory scored the first Jets touchdown. "That was huge," coach Todd Bowles said of Marshall's strip. "To me, that was the play of the game." Jets' offense shows star power (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 14, OFFENSE A- Ryan Fitzpatrick made plays when it counted. The quarterback finished 15-for-24 passing for 179 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. But Brandon Marshall made the pick more palatable after he stripped the ball out of the defender's hands and recovered it, helping to set up Chris Ivory's first touchdown. Ivory was dominant (91 yards on 20 carries with two TDs), plus Bilal Powell averaged 5.2 yards after 12 carries for 62 yards. Marshall (six catches, 62 yards) and Eric Decker (one TD) came up big in the passing game, as well as Chris Owusu, the breakout star in training camp. He had a 43-yard reception before Ivory's 10-yard TD in the second quarter. DEFENSE B+ Despite a slow start, the unit rebounded after losing defensive leader Antonio Cromartie and rookie outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin. After giving up 10 second-quarter points, the Jets' defense kept the Browns off the board. Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis combined on one devastating hit to knock starter Josh McCown (concussion) out of the game. And despite giving up a 54-yard touchdown pass by backup 10 P a g e

11 Johnny Manziel (which badly beat Cromartie), the Jets' defense rendered "Johnny Football" ineffective and sacked the second-year QB three times. SPECIAL TEAMS C Nick Folk made all four of his extra points and connected on a 34-yard field goal that put the Jets up in the third. But Jeremy Kerley provided little boost in the punt return game (6.5-yard average) and the Jets had just one kickoff return for 13 yards. COACHING A Few would have blamed the Jets had they fallen apart following the emotional injuries to Cromartie and Mauldin. But just as Todd Bowles did in training camp, he kept his players focused. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's play-calling allowed for a strong dose of ground and pound, but he also spread the field and allowed Fitzpatrick to let it rip. Jets beat Browns in opener to start Todd Bowles Era on winning note (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 14, Calvin Pace couldn't hide his happiness. For once, the Jets' defense didn't have to shoulder the load alone. This time the offense could be trusted to take care of the football and put points on the board. And as a result, the Jets came away with an easy victory in Game 1 of the Todd Bowles Era. "Truth be told, man, our offense gave us serious problems in training camp. And that right there showed me that they're for real this year," Pace said after the Jets' win over the Browns in Sunday's season opener at MetLife Stadium. "The running game is strong as usual, but now we've got some threats outside... It's good to have a complement on the other side and not to be out there and having to do it all by yourself and try to play a perfect game." Despite injuries to cornerback Antonio Cromartie and rookie outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin -- both of whom had to be carted off the field -- the Jets remained unaffected by adversity, just as they did in training camp. And that's a credit to Bowles. "He's a calming presence, but he's also got a lot of fire," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw two touchdown passes. "You look at him on the sidelines and kind of feel at ease. He's very comfortable in who he is and in his role. We certainly feed off that." Fitzpatrick showed no signs of being just another game manager. He was smooth and in control, and he threw a nice ball, too. Fitzpatrick finished 15-for-24 for 179 yards. He threw an interception, but his teammates had his back even on the pick. Brandon Marshall stripped the ball out of the hands of safety Tashaun Gipson at the 11 P a g e

12 Cleveland 17-yard line and reached the 9. Two plays later, Chris Ivory scampered 10 yards into the end zone as the Jets tied the score at 7 with 9:41 left in the first half. "He made a veteran move," Gipson said. "I can't tip my hat enough to him. I think that play changed the game." So did Bowles. "That was huge," he said. "Brandon plays everything. He plays offense. He plays defense. He plays aggressive. To me, that was the play of the game." Ivory rushed 20 times for 91 yards and two TDs. Bilal Powell averaged 5.2 yards a carry, rushing 12 times for 62 yards. Bowles' defense also made key plays. Though the Browns controlled the time of possession (31:40 to 28:20), they failed to score another point after posting 10 in the second quarter. Their starting quarterback, Josh McCown, was knocked out of the game with a concussion late in the first quarter as he tried to scramble toward the end zone. He fumbled after a hard, low hit by safety Calvin Pryor and then was sent flying on a midair hit by linebacker Demario Davis. McCown did not return and was replaced by Johnny Manziel, who was 13-for-24 for 182 yards with a touchdown -- the first of his career -- an interception and two fumbles. He also was sacked three times. The Jets had five takeaways -- their most since the 2010 season finale against Buffalo and their most in a season opener since 1984 at Indianapolis. "Confidence is everything," said Marshall, who had six catches for 62 yards and a 1-yard TD to go along with Eric Decker's 15-yard score. "Not only in sports but in life. And when you take confidence and turn it into momentum, successful things happen." It's only one game, but the win was a positive sign for a team that's built "to win now," Pace said. "A lot of the guys that they brought in are going to play an integral role in us trying to get back to the playoffs. It's a team win... We've just got to keep building." Todd Bowles gets first win without any bluster (Bob Glauber) Newsday September 14, Chris Ivory had just bulled his way into the end zone for the fourth-quarter touchdown, putting the Jets up and finally allowing Todd Bowles a moment to celebrate his first win as the Jets' coach. But he didn't. Bowles, in a dark green windbreaker and black hat and looking as inconspicuous as any of his assistant coaches wearing headsets, did raise his right index finger. But it wasn't to signify that the Jets are No. 1. It was to signal that he wanted the Jets to go for the PAT kick. There wasn't even a hint of a smile despite the impressive body of work yesterday by the players he has presided over since replacing Rex Ryan in January. Just business as usual for a straight-talking coach who wants his team -- and not himself -- to be the story on Sunday afternoons. It was a performance in Bowles' image: tough, aggressive, resourceful and relatively mistake-free. The revamped defense, which now includes Darrelle Revis, Leonard Williams, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist and some other additions, produced four turnovers against a Browns team forced to use backup 12 P a g e

13 quarterback Johnny Manziel after starter Josh McCown went out with a suspected concussion after a jarring hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis in the first quarter. That turnover total, plus Brandon Marshall's steal on offense, was more than one-third of the 13 takeaways the Jets came up with last year in 16 games. The offense was as impressive as one could expect with a quarterback who was scheduled to begin the season as Geno Smith's backup. Ryan Fitzpatrick went 15-for-24 for 179 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, good for a 95.7 rating. Jets running backs compiled 154 yards and two touchdowns. And the Jets committed only four penalties for 30 yards, compared with Cleveland's 12 penalties for 109 yards. "No-nonsense, straight-to- the-point, get-after-it football? Yes, it had to be," guard Willie Colon said. "We're not about the schematics of games anymore. We have a lot to prove. We have a lot to get done. We're not looking to the future. Winning is right now." Winning now for a first-year coach taking over a 4-12 team with every built-in excuse for a patient, thiswon't-happen-overnight process is as impressive a message as any for a coach who has spent a lifetime preparing for this moment. From his time as a kid playing in the local parks in nearby Elizabeth, New Jersey, to starring at Temple for Bruce Arians (now the Cardinals' head coach), to a solid NFL career as a safety in Washington, to a yearslong apprenticeship as an assistant, Bowles is uniquely prepared to handle life at the top of his profession. He is as self-effacing and unassuming a coach as you will come across, but he has a commanding presence. He is a man who knows what he wants and won't accept anything less. "He's a calming presence, but he's also got a lot of fire," Fitzpatrick said. "You look at him on the sideline and you try to feel at ease." "He's very comfortable in who he is and his role and we certainly feed off of that." Bowles admitted to having some nerves before his first game as the Jets' boss, but it didn't last long. "I just tried to keep my [emotions] under wraps and understand it's about the team," he said. "Enjoy it and coach the game and not make it about me. It's as good a start as he could ask, but Bowles understands it is nothing more than that. "It was a good win, but by no means are we where we want to be. The trick is to try to win while you're trying to get there." Bowles received a game ball from left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who saluted his new coach in front of the entire team. What did Ferguson say? "We won, and we appreciate it," he said. "Hopefully, there are a lot more." Can't imagine there won't be. Bowles knows what he's doing, and his players know it, too.the opening act was surely a promising sign of things to come. Jets Q&A: Opener special for Todd Bowles' family, friends (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday September 14, What was Sunday's game like for Todd Bowles' family and friends? Doreen Bowles needed this. 13 P a g e

14 The New Jersey native -- and older sister of the Jets' coach -- had been waiting for months to talk a little trash. And Sunday's win over the Browns gave her that opportunity. "That's all it takes for me,'' she said, smiling, during an interview with Newsday inside the Coaches Club at MetLife Stadium. "I'm a Jets fan. I'm gonna talk junk!'' About 20 family members and friends still were gathered around tables inside the Coaches Club after the Jets' season opener, Bowles' first victory as a head coach. But Todd Bowles' wife insisted that her husband showed no pregame jitters. That's just not his style. "Cool as a cucumber, honey,'' said Taneka Bowles, who was accompanied by their three sons as well as her mother and father. "Always even-keeled. That's just him.'' His older sister, a Jets fan for 25 years, agreed. "He's always level,'' she said. "Always been that way from birth.'' The "roller-coaster ride'' that she and the family have been on since his hire has been not only exciting but "humbling,'' she said. "We grew up in Elizabeth, we were raised by our mom, and my mom has since passed away,'' said Doreen Bowles, who lives in Woodbridge, New Jersey. "And to see my brother, the baby boy, accomplish what he has accomplished is humbling because it lets you know you're blessed.'' Anthony Rose, one of Todd Bowles' best friends, said their hometown is buzzing now that Todd Bowles is back in town. "My phone is almost dead,'' Rose said of all the text messages he's received. "People are just happy and excited in Elizabeth.'' For the Bowles clan, a win Sunday was a must. But truth be told, they already felt like the victors. "I was happy because I knew he had won either way,'' Taneka Bowles said. "We won just by being here, honey. We won by just getting the opportunity for him to have this team right here. So I was all right. "But did I still want the win? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,'' she said, laughing. "But we won in February when we got here.'' Why was Zac Stacy inactive? For the first game of the season, Bowles decided to make only two running backs active -- Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. That left Zac Stacy, whom the Jets traded for in May, on the outs. But Bowles thought activating Stacy would be "overkill'' with fullback Tommy Bohanan available as "an emergency'' back. Other inactives included CB Dexter McDougle, QB Geno Smith, WR Devin Smith, G Jarvis Harrison, OT Ben Ijalana and NT Deon Simon. Any special guests in attendance? Sure. There was NBA star Dwyane Wade, Browns great Jim Brown and actors Ray Romano and Bobby Cannavale, but the real star of the afternoon was Fireman Ed. The unofficial leader of the "J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!'' chant returned to MetLife Stadium for the first time since declaring during the 2012 season that he was done. Brandon Marshall makes steal of the week (Barbara Barker) Newsday 14 P a g e

15 September 14, Brandon Marshall's jaw-dropping style doesn't change much when he steps on the football field. In the season-opening win over Cleveland on Sunday, the flamboyant and outspoken Jets receiver made a strong bid to be the team's most important newcomer with an outsized receiving performance. Marshall had three huge plays: a touchdown reception over Joe Haden, a third-down reception that kept a touchdown drive alive, and a forced fumble and recovery that set up the Jets' first touchdown. The forced fumble was exactly the sort of savvy veteran play that shows why Marshall has been to five Pro Bowls and is considered one of the most dangerous receivers in the league. With the Browns up 7-0 in the second quarter, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick hurled a ball downfield toward Marshall. It was intercepted by Tashaun Gipson. "The guy made an awesome play, had his back to it and turned around at the last second," Marshall said. "When he caught it, the first thing I thought about was getting the ball back." Marshall ripped the ball right out of the hands of Gipson, who seemed to be stunned by his sudden change of fortune. Both Jets coach Todd Bowles and Cleveland coach Mike Pettine called the fumble and recovery a game-changer. "That was huge," Bowles said. "Brandon plays everything. He plays offense. He plays defense. He plays aggressive. To me, that was the play of the game." Marshall's statistics for the game weren't overwhelming -- six catches for 62 yards -- but he proved he had the gift of coming up big when the team needed him most. Marshall's presence and the fact that he kept Haden, the Browns' best defender, busy for most of the game opened up a lot of other options in the offense. Eric Decker, the team's other starting receiver, caught two passes for 37 yards and one touchdown. Chris Owusu, who had been cut and then re-signed last week, had four catches for 55 yards. "Brandon Marshall is a dynamic player and he's a guy that teams have to know where he's at," Decker said. "For him to make the plays he did today, it put us in good situations. Safeties are going to have to key on where he's at. It's going to open up one-on-ones for us. I think even open the running lanes more. It's always nice to have a guy of this caliber on the other side." Fitzpatrick couldn't be happier to have a tall, athletic target. On the Jets' third touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter, the team had taken Marshall out because they were at the Browns' 1. Marshall, on the sideline, told Fitzpatrick he wanted to come back in and that he should throw him the ball. "I said, OK, let's put Brandon in," Fitzpatrick said. "If we get him the right look, we'll get him the ball. It was just one-on-one out there. He had a huge size advantage and he went up and got it." Marshall outjumped Haden and scored his first touchdown as a Jet. You can bet it won't be his last. Fitzpatrick said it's hard not to have chemistry with a player like Marshall, adding: "He's just played a lot of football. I think we understand each other. He understands a lot about this game and my job and that's very helpful for me to have that." 15 P a g e

16 THE RECORD Jets: Instant replay (Jeff Roberts) The Record September 14, Star of the game The Jets defense recorded three sacks and forced four turnovers three fumbles and an interception. That did not include the fumble Brandon Marshall "recovered" when he ripped the football out of Cleveland safety Tashaun Gipson s arms following a Ryan Fitzpatrick interception. The Jets converted three of the five turnovers into touchdowns in a season-opening victory. Co-stars included RB Chris Ivory (91 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries) and Fitzpatrick (15-of-24 for 179 yards and two touchdowns) in his Jets debut. Eye-catching Calvin Pryor prevented a Browns touchdown at the goal line late in the first quarter, drilling QB Josh McCown on a scramble and forcing a fumble. Demario Davis hit McCown immediately after, sending him spinning helicopter-style into the end zone. The hits knocked McCown from the game with a concussion, and Johnny Manziel replaced him. The fumble went out of bounds for a touchback. The Jets almost scored on the play following Marshall s fumble recovery, when Fitzpatrick hit Ivory with an apparent 9- yard TD pass. It was negated by a Marshall holding penalty, but Ivory bowled his way into the end zone on the next play, a 10-yard touchdown run to tie the score, 7-7, with 9:41 remaining in the half. The score was set up by Chris Owusu s 43-yard reception. Fitzpatrick threw a perfect fade to Marshall for a 1-yard touchdown in the third to help give the Jets a lead. Mo Wilkerson strip-sacked Manziel, and the fumble was recovered by Darrelle Revis, who returned it 17 yards. It set up Ivory s 3-yard, fourthquarter score. Trevor Reilly strip-sacked Manziel in the fourth, and the fumble was recovered by Quinton Coples. Costly mistakes Travis Benjamin torched Antonio Cromartie on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Manziel. Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett also was late in reacting. Fitzpatrick wasn t ready for a shotgun snap from Nick Mangold on thirdand-7 from the Jets 26 in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick recovered it at the Jets 3. Coaching decisions The Jets went for it on fourth-and-1 from Cleveland s 45 in the second quarter. But FB Tommy Bohanon was stopped for no-gain. It set up Cleveland s touchdown. Jets coach Todd Bowles gambled wrong on his first replay challenge, when an 11-yard Brian Hartline reception was confirmed in the second. Looking ahead The Jets (1-0) travel to Indianapolis next Monday night to take on Andrew Luck and the Colts, who lost to Buffalo, 27-14, in Rex Ryan s Bills debut. Cromartie has painful return to Jets (Jeff Roberts) The Record September 14, P a g e

17 EAST RUTHERFORD The anguished cornerback buried his face in a white towel and appeared to weep. He then leaned back, his still-covered head hung low. And Antonio Cromartie took the ride every NFL player fears the slow, agonizing commute on the back of a cart into the locker room and into the unknown. This is how Cromartie s return to the Jets ended on Sunday. And this is how his season well might have ended. The 10th-year veteran crumpled to the MetLife Stadium turf with a non-contact, left knee injury in the second quarter of the Jets season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns as he backpedaled in coverage. The team s carefully re-designed secondary could have been dealt a major blow before it had played two quarters. Cromartie, 31, will undergo an MRI today. Early indications are that the four-time Pro Bowler could have suffered a significant injury, one that could cost him his season. "The guy s a playmaker," safety Calvin Pryor said. "To see him go down like that the way he did, that s a tough blow for this defense. "Any time anything like that happens, I always think, That could be me. " Cromartie collapsed after awkwardly planting his leg with 8:51 remaining in first half as he attempted to make a cut. He pounded the turf with his fist in pain or frustration, surrounded by team trainers. He could not put any weight on his left leg when two of those trainers helped him hobble off the field. "It s a big blow because he s a good player," coach Todd Bowles said. A few teammates surrounded Cromartie on the sideline in a somber gathering. It was the first of two the Jets would hold Sunday, as rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after suffering a concussion. The reserve apparently was knocked unconscious, but was awake in the hospital Sunday night. Cromartie signed a four-year, $32 million contract this off-season, part of a rebuilt secondary that included the return of Darrelle Revis and the addition of slot corner Buster Skrine, a former Brown. Marcus Williams replaced Cromartie whose first tenure with the Jets lasted from 2010 to 2013 and recorded an interception and three passes defensed. His interception of Browns backup Johnny Manziel set up the Jets third touchdown, giving them a lead in the third. Williams, who made eight starts last season as a rookie, was targeted often as Manziel avoided Revis. "It s definitely going to be big for me, cause now I m pretty much going to be hot most of the time cause they re probably going to stay away from [Revis]," Williams said. "I just got to be ready at all times." Cromartie was torched on the Browns only touchdown, a 54-yard bomb in the second quarter from Manziel to Travis Benjamin. He appeared to have bit on a double move. And safety Jaiquawn Jarrett was late in providing help. But now the cornerback position opposite Revis could belong to Williams. He ll be back " Skrine said of Cromartie. Then he paused. "I don t know when though." 17 P a g e

18 Jet notes: Chris Ivory looks sharp (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 14, Ivory looks sharp Chris Ivory often has put the finishing touches on Jets victories by pounding opposing defenses in clockkilling, fourth-quarter drives. He didn't need to do that Sunday against Cleveland, mostly because he already had put the Browns to bed earlier in the game. Ivory had 91 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries. His first touchdown run, a 10-yarder in the second quarter, tied the score at 7. His second one, a 3-yarder in the fourth period, finalized the scoring. Ivory had a 9-yard scoring reception called back because of a holding penalty on the play prior to his first score. He was asked if he believes this game was a sign of things to come for him this year. Ivory thinks so. "I like the scheme," he said. "I'm just confident. If you're not confident in yourself, who will be? I think the opportunity is there. It's just about me making the plays and being healthy." Johnny Football plays Cleveland journeyman quarterback Josh McCown left the game after suffering a concussion in the first quarter, leaving the door open for Johnny Manziel to take over. The much-hyped Manziel, who struggled mightily in limited action as a rookie last season, notched his first NFL touchdown pass. It was a 54-yarder to Travis Benjamin that gave the Browns a 7-0 second-quarter lead. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 182 yards. He was intercepted by Marcus Williams in the third quarter and the Jets capitalized with a short touchdown drive. Cleveland was held scoreless after halftime. "I did some good things," Manziel said, "but not enough to really get the job done.'' McCown will enter the NFL's concussion protocol. Brief WR Brandon Marshall and CB Darrelle Revis gave posgame shout-outs to superfan Ed Anzalone, aka Fireman Ed, who returned to MetLife Stadium after sitting out the past two-plus seasons because of repeated confrontations with other fans. Jets rookie Lorenzo Mauldin hospitalized with concussion (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 14, EAST RUTHERFORD Rookie outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin suffered a concussion in the Jets win over Cleveland on Sunday, the Jets announced. But he was awake and alert Sunday night and has feeling in all of his extremities. Mauldin will stay in the hospital overnight for further observation, but a team spokesman said testing on Mauldin already had been completed. 18 P a g e