NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS September 18, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Jets' Marshall returns to Indy nearly 6 years after big game (Dennis Waszak)... 2 Jets' Cromartie doesn't practice, Smith listed as limited (Dennis Waszak)... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Brandon Marshall: I'd take Chris Ivory No. 1 in fantasy (Kimberley Martin)... 4 Todd Bowles warns Jets about underestimating Colts (Kimberley Martin)... 4 Ryan Fitzpatrick must show good start is not a fluke (Bob Glauber)... 5 Brandon Marshall returns to the scene of his record-setting 21-catch game (Bob Glauber)... 7 THE RECORD... 7 Jets' Brandon Marshall has fond memories of playing in Lucas Oil Stadium (J.P. Pelzman)... 7 Jets notes: Antonio Cromartie sits out practicestadium (J.P. Pelzman)... 9 ESPN NEW YORK... 9 Brandon Marshall's first pick in fantasy would be Chris Ivory (Ohm Youngmisuk)... 9 Ryan Fitzpatrick to face Andrew Luck in battle of the brains (Rich Cimini)... 10 Brandon Marshall returns to site of the best game of his life (Ohm Youngmisuk)... 12 Antonio Cromartie sits, Geno Smith returns to Jets' team drills (Rich Cimini)... 13 Jets coach Todd Bowles recognizes plays... before they happen (Rich Cimini)... 14 NEW YORK POST... 14 Is Jets offense for real or another collapse waiting to happen? (Brian Costello)... 14 Chris Ivory has developed quite the admirer with the Jets (Brian Costello)... 15 Is Colts chaos Jets upset recipe or worst nightmare? (Mark Cannizzaro)... 16 How Jets can neutralize Andrew Luck for the cover (Dave Blezow)... 18 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA... 20 Indianapolis Colts beat writer Q&A: Will Rex Ryan's approach help Jets limit Andrew Luck?field' (Darryl Slater). 20 5 Todd Bowles Jets takeaways: Jeremy Kerley's playing time, Devin Smith, Lorenzo Mauldin (Darryl Slater)... 21 Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts injury report: Chris Ivory, T.Y. Hilton, Devin Smith, Geno Smith (Darryl Slater)... 22 Jets' Brandon Marshall says he wants his record-setting jersey back from Hall of Fame (Darryl Slater)... 23 Will Jets face Indianapolis Colts' T.Y. Hilton (knee) this week? (Darryl Slater)... 23 Antonio Cromartie sidelined at Jets practice again Thursday (Dom Cosentino)... 24 Will rookie Devin Smith be able to play for Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts? (Dom Cosentino)... 25 Quinton Coples says Jets can actually cover opponents now, so turnovers should increase (Darryl Slater)... 25 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS... 26 1 P a g e

Colts receiver Andre Johnson has no recollection of trip to Revis Island (Kevin Armstrong)... 26 Jets WR Brandon Marshall ready to repeat Broadway debut on Monday Night stage vs. Colts (Kevin Armstrong)... 27 METRO NEW YORK... 28 Buster Skrine putting in all the work to become a top-flight NFL cornerback (Kristian Dyer)... 28 THURSDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS... 29 ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets' Marshall returns to Indy nearly 6 years after big game (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-marshall-returns-indy-nearly-6-years-after-big-game FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Brandon Marshall remembers having a feeling that he was about to do something that had never been done in the NFL. The New York Jets wide receiver was with the Denver Broncos in 2009 when he was preparing for a mid- December game against the Colts in Indianapolis. "I was so locked-in and focused," Marshall recalled Thursday. "I actually went up to a reporter before the game and said, 'This is going to be the biggest game I've ever played.'" He was right. And then some. Marshall set an NFL record by catching 21 passes from Kyle Orton that day, going for 200 yards and two touchdowns in Denver's 28-16 loss. The man nicknamed "Baby T.O." back then broke Terrell Owens' league mark by one reception. "I've never been that focused before," Marshall said. "I didn't even see or feel anything." Marshall will play in Indianapolis for the first time since that record-blasting performance when the Jets (1-0) take on the Colts (0-1) on Monday night. He had already made a Pro Bowl appearance and had an 18-catch game, but that game firmly established Marshall as one of the elite playmaking receivers in the league. The Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrated the accomplishment by displaying his game-worn jersey something Marshall wants back from the folks in Canton, Ohio. "I'm being serious," Marshall said. "I went to Canton to visit my jersey and it was in the basement. They had T.O.'s 18 catches up and they took mine down. They told me it was supposedly coming off of a road show, so I would like to have my jersey back." He might have been half-kidding, but Marshall recalls being nothing but serious during his last visit to Indianapolis. Fellow Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley, who died in 2010 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was a rookie that season and walked over to Marshall on the sideline at one point. "He was just looking at me, and I said, 'What are you doing?'" Marshall said. "He was like, 'Nothing, nothing.'" Marshall then pressed McKinley to tell him what was on his mind. "He said, 'Bro, you have 18 catches right now,'" Marshall said. "I looked at him and slapped him and said, 'You should have told me that a long time ago!' That was the first time I knew I had a lot of catches." 2 P a g e

Marshall has made a career of finding a way to get the ball in his hands. He had a streak of seven straight seasons of 1,000 or more yards receiving snapped last season, due in large part to injuries. Now in New York after an offseason trade from Chicago, Marshall feels healthy and rejuvenated. It certainly showed in the season-opening win over Cleveland last Sunday, when he had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown and ripped an interception out of Tashaun Gipson's hands for a fumble recovery that changed the momentum of the game. "Brandon plays everything," coach Todd Bowles said. "He plays offense, he plays defense, he plays aggressive." The Jets are hoping for more of the same against a Colts team that could match up star cornerback Vontae Davis against Marshall. "No, I'm washed up and old," the 31-year-old Marshall joked. "No one should follow me now." Opponents know better, of course. But with Marshall on one side and Eric Decker on the other, teams will have to pick their poison during games, with each receiver likely to get his share of opportunities to make plays in Chan Gailey's offense. When lightheartedly asked if he would pick him or Decker for his fantasy football team, Marshall wouldn't commit either way. "It depends on the week," he said, smiling. "This week is going to be a big week for one of us." If Davis happens to stick on him most of the game, Marshall knows what to expect. The two went up against each other in practice every day when they were teammates in Miami for two years. Marshall is still as confident as he was back in his younger days, like that game against the Colts in 2009. He has no plans, however, to give Davis a call to warn him about any vibes he might be feeling entering Monday night's game. "Oh, no," he said with a big grin. "Don't want to mess with the cage. Vontae is tough." Jets' Cromartie doesn't practice, Smith listed as limited (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-cromartie-doesnt-practice-smith-listed-limited FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie sat out practice for the second straight day, and quarterback Geno Smith was upgraded to limited for the first time since having his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate. Cromartie, who sprained his left knee Sunday against Cleveland, has not been ruled out for New York's game at Indianapolis on Monday night. Coach Todd Bowles says the cornerback is "day to day, week to week." Smith's participation in some team drills Thursday is a sign of progress, although he's still expected to miss the first four games. Linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion) and cornerback Darrin Walls (hamstring) didn't practice. Guards James Carpenter (back) and Willie Colon (knee), running back Chris Ivory (groin) and safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder) were limited. 3 P a g e

NEWSDAY Brandon Marshall: I'd take Chris Ivory No. 1 in fantasy (Kimberley Martin) Newsday http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/brandon-marshall-i-d-take-chris-ivory-no-1-in-fantasy- 1.10857756 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Brandon Marshall doesn't play fantasy football, but if he did, he knows exactly which NFL player he'd draft first. And no, it isn't himself. "My first pick would be Chris Ivory," the Jets receiver said Thursday. Marshall admitted he didn't know much about the running back and "really didn't get" why the Jets traded a fourth-round pick for Ivory in 2013. But now he understands. "He's one of the best running backs in the business right now," Marshall said of his teammate, who ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in last week's win over the Browns. "He just runs hard. He's smart. And he can do it all... You just give that guy an inch and he'll do something with it. "... I'm shocked that the world really doesn't know about him." But would Marshall pick himself over fellow wideout Eric Decker? "It depends on the week," he said, smiling. "This week it's going to be a big week for one of us." Cro a go? Antonio Cromartie (knee sprain) wore a helmet during practice, but didn't practice for the second straight day. Still, coach Todd Bowles isn't ready to rule out the cornerback for Monday Night Football. Jet streams WR Devin Smith was "full speed" and practiced fully, but Bowles wouldn't say for sure if the rookie will play... For the first time since he was punched in the jaw, Geno Smith participated in team drills this week, though he was limited Thursday. So were Ivory (groin), LG James Carpenter (back), RG Willie Colon (knee) and S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder)... CB Darrin Walls (hamstring) and LB Lorenzo Mauldin, who is currently going through the concussion protocol, did not practice... Colts WR T.Y. Hilton (knee) did not practice. Todd Bowles warns Jets about underestimating Colts (Kimberley Martin) Newsday http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/todd-bowles-warns-jets-about-underestimating-colts- 1.10857794 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Todd Bowles didn't have to say it. But he did anyway. He refused to let the external hype of a Week 1 victory over the Browns infiltrate his locker room. So as his Jets were preparing to face a wounded Colts team, Bowles preached the importance of not looking past their next opponent. Truth be told, though, his players never considered it. 4 P a g e

"I don't understand how you can look past a team that's been to the playoffs the last three years in a row,'' defensive lineman Leger Douzable said of the Colts, who were bullied by Rex Ryan's Bills, 27-14, in Sunday's season opener. "He didn't really have to say that to us, we know that. This is a veteran-heavy team and we know that wasn't their best effort in Week 1. We know it's Monday Night Football. "They play a lot different at home than they do on the road, so we know they're going to come out juiced up ready to play us.'' One of the Jets' biggest challenges will be facing Andrew Luck. Although he threw two interceptions against the blitz-happy Bills, the fourth-year quarterback has the physical tools and pocket awareness to pick apart the Jets. "He can beat you with his brain, he can beat you with his arm, he can beat you with his feet,'' Bowles said of Luck, who completed 26 of 49 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns against Buffalo. "He's just a hell of a quarterback. He's easily one of the best in the league.'' The Colts are hopeful that injured wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who did not practice yesterday because of a knee injury, will be ready by game time. Standout pass rusher Robert Mathis (Achilles) was limited, but the Jets are preparing as if he'll play. "We'll have our hands full with him, too,'' Bowles said. Cornerback Vontae Davis also could spell trouble for the Jets. "Man, we had some good battles,'' wideout Brandon Marshall said of facing his former Dolphins teammate. "This kid is really talented, and I always thought that when Vontae's super-focused, he's one of the best in the business -- if not the best -- behind our guy.'' The Jets are seven-point underdogs, but the loss at Buffalo has some football pundits and fans wondering if the Colts are for real. "When you win, everybody writes great things about you, and when you lose, they come from all corners,'' coach Chuck Pagano said. "You're going to get a barrage from everywhere. That's just the National Football League. We've got our blinders on, we've got our earmuffs on. Our total focus is on today and getting better.'' Bowles downplayed the notion that the Colts are more dangerous coming off a loss. "Everybody is a dangerous team,'' he said. "Anybody can beat anybody.'' Douzable disagreed. "As a man, you never like to get whupped,'' he said. "So when you lose the way [they did], they're going to be extra hyped because nobody wants to go down 0-2. "We're going to get their best effort and we know that. We all know that the team we've seen the last three years, that's the team we're going to get on Monday.'' Ryan Fitzpatrick must show good start is not a fluke (Bob Glauber) Newsday http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/ryan-fitzpatrick-must-show-good-start-isnot-a-fluke-1.10857754 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Ryan Fitzpatrick is off to as good a start as you could want for the Jets, running the offense with efficiency, showing a lively arm and setting up his receivers almost perfectly in the 31-10 season-opening win over the Browns. 5 P a g e

Surprised? Don't be. Fitzpatrick has a history of getting off to fast starts. Like in 2011 in Buffalo, when he led the Bills to a 5-2 getaway with 14 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He was rewarded midway through that season with a whopping $59-million contract extension. After beating out Ryan Mallett for the starter's job in Houston last year, Fitzpatrick had the Texans off to a 3-1 start. But those hot starts fizzled, with Fitzpatrick's play dropping off so precipitously in Buffalo that he lost the starting job by the end of 2012. When his play tailed off last year, he was replaced by Mallett after nine games. So as good as Fitzpatrick was in his Jets debut, we strongly advise taking a wait-and-see approach before assuming that his unexpected ascension to the starting job after the jaw-breaking shot Geno Smith took in training camp will lead to a more permanent position as the No. 1 guy. Fitzpatrick sees no common thread in his experiences in Buffalo and Houston, although you could argue that once defensive coordinators got enough tape on him, it was easier to pick on his deficiencies later in each season. "For me, I think it's just continuing to get better every week and knowing that you're only as good as your next game," Fitzpatrick said on Thursday as the Jets practiced for Monday night's game in Indianapolis. "We had a great start [on Sunday], but we can do a lot of things better on offense. If we come out and lay an egg this week, that's all forgotten quickly." It will, especially in a league in which seemingly definitive judgments about teams and players can go up in smoke from one week to the next. But it was hard not to be impressed by Fitzpatrick in the opener, especially after seeing him struggle early in training camp. Fitzpatrick simply didn't show the command of the offense or the arm strength to make you think the Jets had much of a chance if he was forced to play. But there's a reason the 32-year-old Fitzpatrick continues to be employed. It's his resourcefulness that allows him to adapt to his surroundings. He'll never be mistaken for Andrew Luck, whom he'll face on Monday night. But put a solid cast of players around him and give him time to throw, and you'll get the kind of performance he put on against a solid Browns defense. "Game days, it's a totally different speed," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said of Fitzpatrick's deceptively good arm strength. "[The ball] gets on you quick. I don't know where people get that from, where they say he doesn't have a strong arm. He actually does. He reminds me of Josh McCown. People said the same thing about McCown, but when we played with him, we were shocked." Receiver Eric Decker also scoffs at the knock against Fitzpatrick's arm strength. "I got these questions with Peyton Manning all the time," Decker said. "[Fitzpatrick] can make every throw. Whether he throws 70 yards on a line or not doesn't matter. From what I've seen the last six months being with Fitzpatrick, he can make every throw. So it's not a surprise to me. I've gotten to witness it every day in practice. He's been great for us."now the question is how much longer Fitzpatrick combines his arm strength with accuracy. Coach Todd Bowles made it clear the day Smith was decked by linebacker IK Enemkpali that Fitzpatrick will keep the job if the Jets are doing well, even when Smith is ready to play again. But if Fitzpatrick's history of leveling off after impressive starts comes into play, then Bowles might have a decision to make. So Jets fans rejoicing in Fitzpatrick taking over as the starter might have to deal with a different reality down the road. Fitzpatrick hopes that won't be the case, even if he is aware of his past. 6 P a g e

"I've had some success. I've had some struggles," he said. "The way I look at it is what do I need to do to get myself better." The answer may determine how far the Jets go and whether Smith gets a chance to take back his job. The answer rests with Fitzpatrick. Brandon Marshall returns to the scene of his record-setting 21-catch game (Bob Glauber) Newsday September 16, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/brandon-marshall-returns-to-the-scene-of-his-recordsetting-21-catch-game-1.10857341 FLORHAM PARK. N.J. -- Brandon Marshall visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton not too long ago to see his game jersey on display from his remarkable 21-catch performance against the Colts on Dec. 13, 2009. Only it wasn't there. "It was in the basement," said the Jets receiver, who was with the Broncos at the time. "They had T.O.'s [Terrell Owens] 18 catches [jersey] up and they took mine down. They told me they said it was coming off a road show." Marshall smiled and said, "So I would like to have my jersey back." It was a remarkable game for Marshall, who set an NFL record with 21 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-16 loss to the Colts. He'll be back at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night when the Jets visit Indianapolis. "I was so locked in and focused," Marshall said. "I've never been that focused before. I didn't even see or feel anything. I actually went up to a reporter before the game and said, 'This is going to be the biggest game I've ever played.' " It was. The record still stands. When Marshall had 18 catches, fellow wide receiver Kenny McKinley came over to him on the sideline. "He said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'Nothing, man.' He said, 'Hey, bro, what's going on? You have 18 catches now.' I slapped him and I said, 'Man, you should have told me that a long time ago.' That was the first time I knew I had a lot of catches." THE RECORD Jets' Brandon Marshall has fond memories of playing in Lucas Oil Stadium (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 18, 2015 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/marshall-returning-to-site-of-historic-game-1.1412743 FLORHAM PARK Indianapolis led Denver 14-0 nearly 10 minutes into the game on Dec. 13, 2009. That's when Brandon Marshall went to work. By the time he was through that day, he had rewritten the NFL record book. 7 P a g e

Marshall had an NFL-record 21 receptions for 200 yards in the visiting Broncos' 28-16 loss to the Colts, a record that still stands four-plus years later in the pass-happy NFL. "I was so locked in and focused," Marshall said Thursday, recalling that game. "I actually went up to a reporter before the game and said, 'This is going to be the biggest game I've ever played.' " The Jets' wide receiver will be making his first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium since that historic game when the Jets play Indianapolis on Monday night. "I have never been that focused before," Marshall said. "I didn't even see or feel anything." In fact, Marshall didn't even know how good a game he was having until teammate Kenny McKinley informed him during the fourth quarter. "Kenny McKinley, rest in peace, was a rookie back then," Marshall said of McKinley, who died in September 2010 in what was ruled a suicide. "Kenny came to me on the sideline and was just looking at me weird." "He said, 'Bro, you have 18 catches right now,' " Marshall noted. "I looked at him and said, 'You should have told me that a long time ago.' That was the first time I knew I had a lot of catches." Marshall didn't have nearly that many receptions in the Jets' opener against Cleveland on Sunday, but he certainly was effective. He had six receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown, which gave the Jets a commanding 11-point lead in the third quarter. Marshall beat star Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden for five of those catches for 56 yards, including the TD, according to Pro Football Focus. The score came on a fade to the right corner of the end zone, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick gave Marshall "99 percent" of the credit Thursday for their rapidlydeveloping chemistry. "He's a big body," Fitzpatrick said, "he's got a great football IQ and he's able to move and adjust in a lot of different ways quickly. That's more a product of him and his talents than it is of me." Marshall likely will be matched up against Indianapolis' top cornerback, Vontae Davis. Marshall and Davis were teammates when Marshall was with the Dolphins in 2010-11. "I always thought when Vontae is super-focused," Marshall said, "he is one of the best in the business, if not the best behind our guy over there." He was referring to perennial Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis, whom Marshall has matched up against in many games and now faces in practice on a regular basis. "Vontae is super-patient now. That wasn't the case back then," Marshall said. "[It] seems like he's locked in on every single play now. His focus is at an all-time high. He has always been super-talented. It just seems like he has finally put it all together and that is a scary thing for a wide receiver" to go up against. So does Marshall expect Davis to shadow him wherever he lines up Monday? "I'm washed-up and old," Marshall said jokingly. "No one should follow me now." Marshall said he wants to get back a souvenir from that day, although it was hard to tell if he was serious or not. "The Hall of Fame needs to send my jersey back," said Marshall. "I'm being serious. I went to Canton to visit the jersey and it was in the basement. They had T.O.'s [Terrell Owens' jersey from the previous record] up and they took mine down. They told me it was supposedly coming off of a road show so I would like to have my jersey back." 8 P a g e

Jets notes: Antonio Cromartie sits out practicestadium (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 18, 2015 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-antonio-cromartie-sits-out-practice-1.1412732 Cromartie update Cornerback Antonio Cromartie sat out practice for the second straight day as he continues to deal with a sprained left knee, but coach Todd Bowles still won't rule him out for Monday's game at Indianapolis. The Jets will have an extra day of practice because of the longer week, so Cromartie, who hasn't missed a game because of injury in his 10-year NFL career, has two more days to perhaps show Bowles that he will be ready to play against the Colts. Worse yet, reserve cornerback Darrin Walls sat out Thursday because of a strained hamstring suffered near the end of Wednesday's practice, Bowles said. The coach added that Walls is "day-to-day. We'll see if he can go [practice] later in the week." If both Cromartie and Walls are unable to play, that would leave the Jets with only four healthy corners against pass-oriented Indianapolis, unless they decide to make a roster move and sign one prior to the game. Geno makes progress Backup quarterback Geno Smith practiced on a limited basis Thursday. It was a milestone of sorts for Smith, who took part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since Aug. 10, the day before he had his jaw fractured by then-teammate IK Enemkpali. Still, Bowles has made it clear that the timetable for Smith's return hasn't changed. The Jets still expect him to be unavailable for the first four games. Briefs Rookie WR Devin Smith (ribs) practiced in full and Bowles said he went "full speed." It's possible he could play Monday after sitting out the opener. Bowles was asked if he believes the Colts, the defending AFC South champs, are a "dangerous" team because they are 0-1. "Everybody is a dangerous team," Bowles replied. "Whoever we're playing that week is a good team. Anybody can beat anybody. We just have to take care of ourselves." ESPN NEW YORK Brandon Marshall's first pick in fantasy would be Chris Ivory (Ohm Youngmisuk) ESPN New York September 18, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54246/brandon-marshalls-first-pick-in-fantasy-wouldbe-a-jet FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Brandon Marshall says he doesn t play fantasy football. But if he did, the New York Jets receiver says he knows who would be his first pick. Actually, my first pick would be Chris Ivory, Marshall said. 9 P a g e

If Ivory plays the way he did in the season opener against Cleveland, Marshall and the Jets may be winners more often than not in reality. Ivory is coming off rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-10 win over Cleveland. The 6-foot, 222-pound back hopes to continue his success at Indianapolis. With the game being on Monday night, Ivory will get a chance to show a prime time audience what he can do. Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, there are a lot of guys that are super humble but go about their business with their pads, Marshall said. [Ivory] is one of them. I am shocked that the world really doesn t know much about him. I didn t know much about him. I remember the Jets trading for him and I didn t get it. I didn t understand what was the big deal. But now I understand it. After seeing what Ivory can do in training camp and against the Browns, Marshall believes the Jets have a weapon not many are talking about. He is one of the best running backs in the business right now, Marshall said. He just runs hard. He is smart. He can do it all. Not only can he pound you but he also has speed and agility. Just give that guy an inch and he will do something with it. It s no secret that the Jets offensive success will be predicated on their ability to run. While Ryan Fitzpatrick has Marshall and Eric Decker to throw to, the Jets want to pound the ground game as much as they can. And the more they can run effectively on Monday, the longer the Jets can keep Andrew Luck off the field. He is important no matter if he is away, at home, in a dome, natural grass, synthetic, Marshall said. He s important. For us he makes everything go. It starts with him and that offensive line. Ryan Fitzpatrick to face Andrew Luck in battle of the brains (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54243/ryan-fitzpatrick-vs-andrew-luck-in-a-battle-ofthe-brains FLORHAM PARK, N.J. Instead of the usual quarterback graphics, maybe ESPN should try something different on Monday night. Forget about completions, attempts and yards. This matchup demands SAT scores, college GPA and Wonderlic results. It s the Brain Bowl, Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Andrew Luck proud alums of Harvard and Stanford, respectively. Apologies for the Princeton reference, gentlemen, but it will be a meeting of two beautiful minds when the New York Jets play the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Fitzpatrick (economics, Class of 2005) and Luck (architectural design, Class of 2012) were schooled at two of the top universities in the country, a burgeoning academic rivalry that will shift to the gridiron on primetime cable TV. Let s call this show Mad Mensa. 10 P a g e

In his short time with the Jets, Fitzpatrick has impressed his new teammates with his cerebral approach to, well, life. In his spare time, he writes computer programs and created a video game for his 8-year-old son, who can do long multiplication in his head. Fitzpatrick recently learned how to solve a Rubik s cube it was on his bucket list and now he s so proficient that he can do it less than two minutes. He taught tight end Zach Sudfeld, who also cracked the two-minute barrier. Andrew Luck, a Stanford graduate, has a reputation as one of the smartest quarterbacks in the NFL. But his academic credentials are rivaled by Jets starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard grad. AP Photo/Bill Wippert Ryan is as smart as Harvard claims as its reputation, said wide receiver Chris Owusu, a pre-med major at Stanford who played three years with Luck. On the field, he does all the right things and he checks into all the right stuff. Andrew is the same way. In terms of actual football, there aren t too many similarities between Fitzpatrick and Luck. After all, Fitzpatrick was the 250th pick in his draft (2005), Luck the first overall in his year (2012). Fitzpatrick is starting for his sixth team, an NFL record. Luck is the Colts cornerstone and could play his entire career in Indianapolis. But the people who know them best say they re a lot alike in one respect: They re really intelligent dudes who see the game better than most. Owusu said Fitzpatrick communicates with the receivers after every play in practice, discussing the defensive coverage, the outcome and how they could have attacked it differently. Who needs to watch the film? Fitzpatrick is a human ipad. He can record and play it back in his mind, on the spot, sans WiFi. Luck was the same way at Stanford, according to Owusu. When he concentrates a lot of his focus on something, he never stops, Owusu said. He keeps going. In football, he s always trying to grow and learn more. That s the scary part about Andrew. He s going to continue to grow. The Ivy League produces U.S. presidents and CEOs, but not star quarterbacks. In fact, the only former Ivy Leaguer with more NFL touchdown passes than Fitzpatrick (125) is Columbia grad Sid Luckman (137), a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Look out, Sid, here I come, Fitzpatrick joked. With Fitzpatrick and Luck, we re talking about two of the smartest quarterbacks in recent memory. On the Wonderlic, an intelligence test given to players at the NFL scouting combine, Fitzpatrick scored a 48 out of 50, the third-highest in combine history. Another Harvard grad, punter Pat McInally, nailed a 50 in 1975. Luck failed to challenge any records, but he fared well with a 37, the highest among quarterbacks in the 2012 draft class. In case you re wondering, the player he replaced on the Colts Peyton Manning, the definition of a cerebral quarterback scored a 28. Brother Eli outdid him with a 39, although some folks might demand a re-grade after last Sunday night's brain cramp in Dallas. He can beat you with his brain, coach Todd Bowles said of Luck. He can beat you with his arm. He can beat you with his feet. He s just a hell of a quarterback. He s easily one of the best in the league. Owusu was amazed by Luck s football aptitude in college, but his favorite Luck moment was a tackle, of all things. 11 P a g e

Facing USC in 2010, Luck delivered a Jadeveon Clowney-type hit on defensive lineman Shareece Wright, who scooped up a fumble by a running back and started running. He didn t get very far, as he was planted into the Palo Alto turf by Luck. That s the kind of guy he is, Owusu said of his old quarterback. He s resilient and persistent on winning. Fellow Jets receiver Brandon Marshall, describing Luck s competitiveness, said: It doesn t matter how he gets it done; he gets it done. Spit, foam, hanging out of his mouth, all kinds of stuff in his beard. The guy is the ultimate competitor. It s fiercely competitive between Harvard and Stanford grads, as both schools consider themselves the nation s premier academic institution. Fitzpatrick respects Stanford, its very intelligent student body and its nice weather, but: It s still not Harvard. Owusu, the Jets lone Stanford alum, said of Harvard: They have a tough academic schedule. I applaud them But they re a close second. Brandon Marshall returns to site of the best game of his life (Ohm Youngmisuk) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54240/brandon-marshall-returns-to-site-of-the-bestgame-of-his-life FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The last time Brandon Marshall was in Indianapolis, he had a premonition that he was on the verge of something special. In fact, Marshall remembers making a prediction to ESPN s Michael Smith before the Denver Broncos played the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 13, 2009. I was so locked in and focused, Marshall recalled. I actually went up to a reporter before the game and said, this is going to be the biggest game I ve ever played. Marshall wasn t messing around. He made history that day, setting an NFL record with 21 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-16 loss to the Colts. I have never been that focused before, Marshall said. I didn t even see or feel anything. On Monday night, Marshall returns to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since that historic performance, which remains the NFL single-game record for most receptions. In his Jets debut, Marshall was impressive with six receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland. So what will the receiver do for an encore? How about trying to duplicate the best game of his life? Marshall said he was so locked in that he didn t know how many catches he had during the game until teammate Kenny McKinley updated him on the sideline. Kenny McKinley, rest in peace, was a rookie back then, Marshall said of McKinley, who died in 2010 in an apparent suicide. I was right at 18 catches and Kenny came to me on the sideline and was just looking at me weird. I said, What are you doing? He was like, Nothing, nothing. 12 P a g e

Marshall told McKinley he better tell him what was wrong. He said, Bro, you have 18 catches right now, Marshall recalled. I looked at him and slapped him and said you should have told me that a long time ago. That was the first time I knew I had a lot of catches. Marshall tends to rack up a lot of catches against the Colts. In a win over the Colts in 2012, Marshall had nine catches for 119 yards and one touchdown for the Bears in Chicago. This Monday, Marshall could draw the attention of former Dolphins teammate Vontae Davis. Davis played two seasons with Marshall in Miami. Marshall knows he could have his hands full with the Colts cornerback, who is entering his prime, according to the Jets receiver. I always thought when Vontae is super focused, he is one of the best in the business if not the best behind our guy over there, Marshall said looking over to Darrelle Revis locker in the Jets locker room. Vontae is super patient now. That wasn t the case back then. Seems like he s locked in on every single play now, Marshall continued. His focus is at an all-time high. He has always been super talented It just seems like he has finally put it all together and that is a scary thing for a wide receiver. Marshall said he has not contacted Davis this week. Oh no, no, no, Marshall said. Don t want to mess with the cage. Of course, the Colts don t want to poke Marshall either. After all, he made history against them the last time he was in Indy. The only thing Marshall wants back from that day is his game jersey which sits in Canton, OH. The Hall of Fame needs to send my jersey back, said Marshall, who needs 167 yards to reach the 10,000- yard plateau for his career. I m being serious. I went to Canton to visit the jersey and it was in the basement. They had T.O. s (Terrell Owens' previous record) up and they took mine down. They told me it was supposedly coming off of a road show so I would like to have my jersey back. Antonio Cromartie sits, Geno Smith returns to Jets' team drills (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54233/antonio-cromartie-sits-geno-smith-returns-toteam-drills-at-jets-practice FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie (sprained knee) missed practice for the second straight day, but he still hasn't been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Cromartie is "day to day, week to week," coach Todd Bowles said Thursday. It's hard to be more vague than that. Obviously, Bowles doesn't want to reveal too much. The Jets still have two practice days before departing for Indianapolis, so there's still recovery time for Cromartie. Bowles cautioned it's too early to categorize Cromartie's status as unlikely to play. He was seen in the locker room walking without any trace of a limp, but he has a ways to go. He didn't participate in positional drills during the media window at practice. 13 P a g e

Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Devin Smith (ribs) could make his NFL debut. He practiced fully for the second straight day and was able to withstand a little banging in practice, Bowles said. The coach was encouraged, but non-committal on Smith. Running back Chris Ivory, coming off a two-touchdown game in the opener, showed up on the injury report with a groin injury. He was limited in practice; there were no indications he wouldn't be ready for Monday night. Backup quarterback Geno Smith practiced for the first time since suffering a broken jaw, albeit on a limited basis. Smith already has been ruled out for this week, but he's getting closer. He's scheduled for an X-ray and checkup next week on his fractured jaw. Bowles said the timetable hasn't changed, meaning he expects Smith to miss the first four games. Jets coach Todd Bowles recognizes plays... before they happen (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/54225/jets-coach-todd-bowles-recognizes-playsbefore-they-happen FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Todd Bowles arrived in New York with a reputation for being a smart defensive coach. He evidently had a strong grasp of the Cleveland Browns' tendencies because he called out two of the biggest plays in last Sunday's game before they happened. Moments before Travis Benjamin beat Antonio Cromartie on a 54-yard touchdown reception, Bowles -- mic'd up by NFL Films -- recognized what was about to occur. "Out-and-up, Cro! Out-and-up, Cro!" Bowles screamed at the veteran corner, who was positioned in front of the Jets' sideline. Obviously, Bowles' prescient observation didn't help. Benjamin ran a double move -- more stop-and-go than out-and-up -- but the premise was the same. He went deep, beating Cromartie easily. Bowles' reaction? An exaggerated shoulder slump. Later, in the third quarter, Bowles did it again. "Coming at you, Marcus," he yelled to cornerback Marcus Williams on a third down from the Browns' 37. Sure enough, Johnny Manziel came at Williams, who responded with an interception, one of five takeaways by the Jets. Good call, coach. I wonder how he feels about the stock market. NEW YORK POST Is Jets offense for real or another collapse waiting to happen? (Brian Costello) New York Post http://nypost.com/2015/09/17/is-jets-offense-for-real-or-another-collapse-waiting-to-happen/ 14 P a g e

The Jets put up 31 points and 333 yards in their season opener against the Browns last week. Now, the question is: Was that an indication of things to come or just a mirage? The offense gets its next test Monday night against the Colts. Indianapolis struggled in its opener, letting the Bills roll to a 27-14 victory, but the Jets expect a bounce-back game from the Colts. So can their offense duplicate last week? It s just Week 1, wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. That s why we have practice. That s why God invented it, like coach [Chan] Gailey always says, he said of the team s offensive coordinator. Time will tell. I know one thing, the only thing that we can control is how we prepare every single day in the classroom and on the field. I like what I see and I think if we continue to do that, whatever it is if it s 15 points is our potential or if it s 40, we ll be able to reach it. The Jets scored 31 or more just once last season, in the finale against the Dolphins, and once in 2013 against the Raiders. We have seen the Jets play well in an opener before then fall apart. Last year, they beat the Raiders in Week 1 then lost eight games in a row. In 2012, they put up 48 points against the Bills in the opener, but finished 28th in the NFL in scoring and finished 6-10. These Jets have a different feel with legitimate wide receivers in Marshall and Eric Decker, a veteran at quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick and the ground game led by Chris Ivory. We know what our potential is and we know what we re capable of, Decker said. You can never really judge anyone off one week s performance. We hope to be consistent throughout the whole season. I think we have the ability, pass-run, to be threatening every game. Whether we do that or not it s up to us as players to execute. We got a lot of smart guys in that room, and some savvy guys up front. Fitzpatrick has been around, Brandon Marshall has been around the game a lot. You ve got guys that have played a lot of football, so if we can just execute we can be a very good offense to complement the very good defense we ve got. The offense has additional pressure on it this week because Andrew Luck and the Colts can put up points. They finished sixth in the NFL in scoring offense last season. Fitzpatrick was asked about the pressure to put up points to ease the burden on the Jets defense. I m used to answering this question when I was in Buffalo with [Tom] Brady, Fitzpatrick said. It was kind of the same thing: What do you think going into this game? But we re not really going to change our mentality or who we are. We re going to go out there and try to put our stamp or our identity on this game, and I think you just put more of an emphasis on being as efficient as possible. You try to do that every game. It s going to matter that much more this week just because of the opposing quarterback and all that stuff. We definitely have to be efficient and stay on the field. The Bills were effective against the Colts last week. Buffalo ran for 147 yards and had a total of 342. But Jets coach Todd Bowles cautioned his team to not read too much into one game, saying these Colts were in the AFC Championship game eight months ago. You don t win the division and come in and all of a sudden become a bad team, Bowles said. They had one outing. That doesn t mean anything. It s early in the season. We understand that these guys are a playoff, championship-game caliber team and that s the team we re expecting. Chris Ivory has developed quite the admirer with the Jets (Brian Costello) New York Post 15 P a g e

http://nypost.com/2015/09/17/chris-ivory-has-developed-quite-the-admirer-with-the-jets/ Jets running back Chris Ivory has developed a huge fan inside the Jets locker room. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall gushed about the bruising back on Thursday. He s one of the best running backs in the business right now. He just runs hard, Marshall said. He s smart and he can do it all. Not only can he pound you, but he also has speed and agility. You just give that guy an inch and he ll do something with it. Ivory looked terrific in the season opener against the Browns, running for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Marshall joked about having a fantasy football team, and was asked about choosing himself. My first pick would be Chris Ivory, he said. Like many people who do not follow the Jets regularly, Marshall knew little about Ivory before getting traded here. He does remember former general manager John Idzik trading for Ivory during the 2013 draft, one of the highlights of Idzik s brief tenure. I m shocked that the world really doesn t know about him. I didn t know much about him, Marshall said. I remember the Jets trading for him. I didn t get it. I didn t understand what was the big deal. But now I understand it. I m excited for him, and I m excited for our team. There is some optimism in Indianapolis that star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will be able to play on Monday. Hilton suffered a bruised left knee last week against the Bills, and the belief was he would miss a few weeks. He did not practice Thursday, but coach Chuck Pagano was optimistic. I m very hopeful, Pagano said in a conference call with the New York media. He s progressing well enough. I m hoping he s able to do a little bit of something tomorrow and the next day and get him ready to go. Marshall is a big fan of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. He just competes, he said. It doesn t matter how he gets it done, he just gets it done. Spit, foam hanging out of his mouth, all kinds of stuff in his beard. The guy s the ultimate competitor. The last time Marshall played at Lucas Oil Stadium, he caught an NFL-record 21 passes. That was in 2009 when he was with the Broncos. CB Antonio Cromartie (knee), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion) and CB Darrin Walls (hamstring) did not practice. Walls injured his hamstring Wednesday in practice. Jets coach Todd Bowles said it is too soon to rule out Cromartie for Monday. Ivory (groin) was limited in practice, but is expected to play. QB Geno Smith was listed as limited for the first time since his jaw was broken. Smith said Wednesday he began participating in some team drills. Is Colts chaos Jets upset recipe or worst nightmare? (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post http://nypost.com/2015/09/17/is-colts-chaos-jets-upset-recipe-or-worst-nightmare/ There are two schools of thought at play this week as the Jets prepare to play the Colts Monday night in Indianapolis: The Colts, who are 0-1 after being ambushed in Buffalo on Sunday and are, according to reports out of Indianapolis, suddenly dysfunctional and a team in turmoil, are ripe for the taking for the 1-0 Jets. And 16 P a g e

Beware of the wounded animal. There is little question the abrasions remaining from the trampling the Bills gave to the Colts still are raw and sensitive based on the reaction Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano had when asked by The Post on Thursday about the reported rift between him and general manager Ryan Grigson. You know, really, if you guys want to talk about the upcoming ballgame, I d love to answer your questions, Pagano said after an uncomfortable pause. Our focus is on today and getting better today and getting ourselves prepared to play a great Jets football team. When pressed on his reaction to the reports that his team is in turmoil, Pagano began by saying, I have no comment, before adding, When you win, everybody writes great things about you. And when you lose, they come from all corners. You re going to get a barrage from everywhere. We ve got our blinders on. We ve got our earmuffs on. The reported issues in Indy are centered less around the players and more around Grigson, who many believe does too much meddling in coaching personnel matters, and Pagano, who is in the final year of his contract, turned down a one-year extension and is in a lame-duck situation. The loss in Buffalo merely exacerbated the simmering internal problems. And the heat in Indy reached a temperature uncomfortable enough that both Pagano and Grigson issued denials to reporters this week about a rift. Grigson: It s hard enough to win in this league when everyone s getting along. You ve got no shot if you re not. It makes no sense for us to be going in opposite directions. That s not the case. Trust me. Pagano: We have no egos around here. Everybody checks them at the door every day they come to work. Players, coaches, myself, Ryan. Asked on Thursday about the mindset of his team this week, Pagano said, It s really good. This is a resilient bunch. Are we disappointed about the way we played and the outcome of that game? Yeah, but we ve moved on. We ve moved on a long time ago, because you have to move on. Sure the Colts say they have moved on, but is Sunday s lopsided loss in Buffalo still lingering in players heads? The Jets defense has the ability and personnel to be just as aggressive as the one Rex Ryan employed including lots of blitzing to disrupt Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. And if 0-1 has the buzzards swarming in Indianapolis, what might 0-2 bring after a loss to the Jets? When you don t win there are all kinds of things said by people from the outside, but you really can t feed into that stuff because that stuff can kind of tear your team apart if you have somebody from the inside feeding it to someone from the outside, said receiver Andre Johnson, the Colts marquee offseason acquisition. The Colts, who are coming off three consecutive 11-5 seasons with playoff appearances (including advancing to the AFC Championship game last season), were widely picked by prognosticators to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. It all looks good on paper, but if you don t play the way you re capable of playing, you re not going to be successful, Johnson said. So we just have to get that bad taste out of our mouth from what happened last week. Johnson insisted everybody s been in good spirits around here, adding, One game doesn t define your season. Of course, we didn t open up the way that we wanted to. You just have to move on from it. This is a long season. One game is not going to define us. 17 P a g e

This is what the Jets are expecting from the Colts on Monday night: a significant bounce back. Behind closed doors, Jets coach Todd Bowles has been imploring this to his players just in case they re seduced by last Sunday s results. We ve got our hands full, Bowles said. They re a tough team. They re a tough bunch to play. You don t win a division and all of a sudden become a bad team. Bowles was asked if he has hammered that message home to his players. They understand what they re going into, he said. How Jets can neutralize Andrew Luck for the cover (Dave Blezow) New York Post http://nypost.com/2015/09/17/how-jets-can-neutralize-andrew-luck-for-the-cover/ So much about the Jets has changed. The coaching staff. The quarterback. The cornerback! But there s one thing that looks remarkably similar to last season, and that s their Week 2 situation. In 2014, the Jets opened with a home win against the Raiders, then went to Green Bay as eight-point underdogs to face a Packers team that was coming off a 20-point, opening-week road loss at Seattle. Now, the Jets are 1-0 after throttling the Browns at home, and they go to Indianapolis on Monday night as seven-point dogs. The Colts lost their first game, 27-14, at Buffalo, and it wasn t even that close (the score was 24-0 at one point in the third quarter). The Jets lost in last season s Week 2 at Lambeau, 31-24, the start of an eight-game losing streak. But here s the thing: They had that game, up 21-3 before a colossal collapse. And here s the other thing: The Jets still covered. Yes, the Colts are a good team that will be playing angry off a bad loss, but that doesn t make them a slam dunk here. T.Y. Hilton likely will be out with a knee injury and Darrelle Revis will largely take away Andrew Luck s next-best receiver. That will force Luck to look for other targets and he will be susceptible to the Jets dangerous pass rush and blitzes. On the other side, the Jets can have success pounding the ball at the Colts defense, supplemented by passes to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The pick: Jets +7. Sunday GIANTS (-2 ½) over Falcons: Giants had a terrible conclusion to what had looked for much of the night to be an impressive and triumphant entry into the 2015 season. They were both manly and opportunistic for 52 minutes. While it s always a challenge to try to shut down the Julio Jones-Roddy White duo, the Giants have had good recent success against Atlanta, winning five of the past six meetings. Despite the Falcons win against the Eagles, they had trouble with Philly s up-tempo offense at times, and the Giants will look to exploit that with their fast-paced attack. If the Giants can t win this one, then it s worry time. Texans (+3) over PANTHERS: Like having the cushion of a few points in this game, particularly with stud Carolina LB Luke Kuechly iffy to play as he goes through the concussion protocol. 18 P a g e