NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS November 26, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Bowles wants Jets to go back to 'algebra' on offense (Dennis Waszak)... 2 Jets' Revis (concussion), Mangold (hand) sit out practice (Dennis Waszak)... 3 Cut! Jets' Fitzpatrick trims bushy beard to change 'mojo' (Dennis Waszak)... 4 NEWSDAY... 5 Jets CB Darrelle Revis sent home not feeling 100 percent (Kimberley A. Martin)... 5 Brandon Marshall, Jets beat writers discuss player-journalist relationship on 'Inside the NFL' (Neil Best)... 5 THE RECORD... 6 Jets: Offense getting back to basics (J.P. Pelzman)... 6 Jets notes: Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold sit out practice (J.P. Pelzman)... 7 THE NEW YORK TIMES... 8 Jets Stick With Ryan Fitzpatrick at Quarterback, if Not Enthusiastically (Ben Shpigel)... 8 ESPN NEW YORK... 10 Jets CB Darrelle Revis (concussion) could be sidelined this week (Rich Cimini)... 10 Anatomy of a mid-season collapse: Examining why Jets have sputtered (Rich Cimini)... 10 Sheldon Richardson returns, but Darrelle Revis sent home (Rich Cimini)... 11 Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick cuts beard in hopes of ending recent slump (Rich Cimini)... 12 NEW YORK POST... 13 Can a cut beard help Ryan Fitzpatrick save his job, Jets offense? (George Willis)... 13 Looks like Jets will have to face Dolphins without Darrelle Revis (Brian Costello)... 14 How is Todd Bowles trying to get Jets back on track? Simple math (Brian Costello)... 15 NJ ADVANCE MEDIA... 16 Jets' Brandon Marshall: Chicago media 'tougher' than New York media (Dom Cosentino)... 16 Todd Bowles says Jets' offense got 'too creative,' must get back to 'algebra' (Darryl Slater)... 17 Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick jokes that Rex Ryan's insult made him trim beard (Darryl Slater)... 18 Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis sidelined at Jets' first practice for Miami Dolphins game (Darryl Slater)... 19 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS... 20 SEE IT: Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick trims his massive beard to switch up the mojo (Seth Walder)... 20 Jets' Darrelle Revis not likely to play Sunday vs. Miami Dolphins (Seth Walder)... 21 WEDNESDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS... 22 1 P a g e

ASSOCIATED PRESS Bowles wants Jets to go back to 'algebra' on offense (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/bowles-wants-jets-go-back-algebra-offense FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The equation is simple in coach Todd Bowles' mind. Daily Clips Cont. Too much creativity and not enough execution on offense all adds up to losses for the New York Jets. "I think we started doing some things that we weren't making plays as a group together," Bowles said Wednesday. "And instead of going back to basics, we probably started trying to go into trigonometry when we should've stayed with algebra. I think we're getting back to basics." The Jets' offense was humming along through the first five games, in which New York started 4-1 and looked every bit a formidable group for coordinator Chan Gailey. The running game, led by Chris Ivory, powered the way with big runs and the offensive line was making holes and giving quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick time. Injuries and inconsistent play have all contributed to a big-time slump on offense, with the Jets (5-5) having lost four of their past five. Ivory has slumped in recent weeks with no 100-yard games in more than a month, Fitzpatrick has 11 total interceptions and wide receiver Brandon Marshall has just one 100-yard receiving game in the past five after four straight early in the season. "I think it's a natural progression," Bowles said. "You go 4-1. The more you win, the more creative you try to be on both sides of the ball. At some point, it gets to a point where it's too creative and then you have to back down and go back to basics and try to get your feet back under you again." Marshall agreed with Bowles, saying that it's "100 percent the right assessment." "It just hasn't been working," Marshall added. "If it was working, it would be a different story. But it's not working, so we've just got to start from scratch." Bowles said he has spoken to Gailey about the offense, but also to defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers and special teams coordinator Bobby April. All three units have had their issues during New York's disappointing stretch. "It's not offensive thing," Bowles said. "It's a team thing." But as far as the "algebra" part of the offense that was working, Bowles sees a clear formula for success. "Algebra was running the ball, throwing it when we can, play action and doing the things that we needed to do and playing the right type of football and playing complimentary football," he said. "We're trying to get back to that." Fitzpatrick thinks it's a matter of the players on offense getting on the same page and executing, not that the Jets lack the personnel to be a dynamic group. "It's one of those things that is frustrating because I think that we have a lot of the right people in here," the quarterback said. "We have worked well as a unit at times and we haven't at others, so we just have to continue to practice and try to continue to keep the confidence level high and go make some plays and all that stuff." 2 P a g e

Faster starts are at the top of the list for the offense, particularly since that has plagued the Jets the past few weeks. New York has punted on each of its first possessions the past three games, and each of their first two drives the past two games. Still, the Jets have outscored opponents 47-23 in the first quarter, but teams have feasted in the second by outscoring New York 97-50. That makes for a lot of halftime deficits four in the past five games, all losses. "I think we try to complicate things too much at times and you almost end up outsmarting yourself," Fitzpatrick said. "We want to get back to doing what we are good at, whether it's me or the routes that the receivers are running, or running backs, tight ends, linemen. We're going to play to our strengths and do what we're good at and not try to be too cute." Jets' Revis (concussion), Mangold (hand) sit out practice (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-revis-concussion-mangold-hand-sit-out-practice FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold might have to sit out the New York Jets' showdown with the Miami Dolphins. Revis is dealing with a concussion and was sent home by the team Wednesday so he could rest. Meanwhile, Mangold has a deep cut on his right snapping hand that required six or seven stitches to close. Both were injured during the Jets' 24-17 loss at Houston last Sunday. Revis was home while the Jets practiced Wednesday and will continue to go through the NFL's concussion protocol. He needs to be cleared by doctors before he can practice. "Hopefully, he'll feel a little better as the week goes," coach Todd Bowles said. "He wasn't 100 percent still and the docs won't let him sit in meetings just yet." That means the Jets could potentially need to start either Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams opposite Antonio Cromartie at cornerback against the Dolphins, with both teams trying to remain in the playoff hunt. "We are ready to play without him, but if he comes back it will be a bonus," Bowles said of Revis. "We'll see later in the week, but we are preparing to play without him." Mangold was wearing a heavy wrap on his hand and didn't snap the football during practice, something he hopes to do Thursday. "He has been the quarterback of this offensive line for a long time," Bowles said. "Guys rely on him for everything, whether it's the calls, the blocking schemes or the enthusiasm." Mangold said he's feeling better "slowly, but surely," but was uncertain whether he'd be ready to play. He missed a game after injuring his neck at New England on Oct. 25, an ailment that didn't appear on the injury report Wednesday for the first time since the incident. "The neck feels great," he said. "I haven't had any issues with that." Safety Dion Bailey (ankle) and tight end Kellen Davis (personal reasons) also sat out practice. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (toe) was limited. 3 P a g e

The Jets got defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson back after he sat out practice last week with a strained hamstring that caused him to miss the game at Houston. Cut! Jets' Fitzpatrick trims bushy beard to change 'mojo' (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/cut-jets-fitzpatrick-trims-bushy-beard-change-mojo FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Ryan Fitzpatrick's bushy beard got buzzed. The New York Jets quarterback trimmed his overgrown facial hair Tuesday for his 33rd birthday, cutting it down to a closely cropped patch making him appear more conservative lumberjack than ferocious Viking. "It seemed like it was time," a smiling Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "Switch up the mojo a little bit." Fitzpatrick, nicknamed the "Amish Rifle" because of his usual full facial-hair look, has thrown two interceptions in each of New York's past two games, including on consecutive drives at the end of the Jets' loss at Houston last Sunday. He did the same thing a year ago around his 32nd birthday while he was with the Texans. Fitzpatrick's next game came against Tennessee and he had the best performance of his career, throwing for 358 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-21 victory. Leading up to New York's game against Buffalo two weeks ago, Bills coach Rex Ryan joked about how he didn't particularly like Fitzpatrick's beard and said "he's not a real handsome kid." A freshly trimmed Fitzpatrick had some fun with that while being asked about the new look. "I was going to make a funny joke about Rex Ryan," Fitzpatrick said, "but I'm not going to." But the reporters gathered around the quarterback's locker egged him on, and Fitzpatrick went for it. "All right, I will, OK," Fitzpatrick said, keeping a straight face. "This is what I was going to open with: 'Well, after the last few games, I decided I needed to look in the mirror and just try to figure out what I can do better. When I looked in the mirror, I realized Rex was correct: I was pretty ugly. "And I think this is a better look for me right now." Laughs all around. Except for one corner of the locker room, where bushy-bearded center Nick Mangold lamented the loss of a cut friend. "Well, I know it's the hot-button issue of the day," Mangold said. "It's difficult, you know, to see a good beard go down. But, obviously, he's a fighter and he'll get back up and continue to work on his growth. And, he'll just keep getting better every day." Wide receiver Brandon Marshall said Fitzpatrick brought the idea of the close shave to a group of Jets players. When Marshall was told of Fitzpatrick's reasons, he urged him to go for it. "I love it," Marshall said. "Sometimes, you need a cleanse and to start fresh. I think I was one of the last guys (to vote), and he was like, 'Your vote could potentially get the beard cut off.' It was a lot of pressure on me. It was a team effort, and I think we made the right decision." 4 P a g e

NEWSDAY Jets CB Darrelle Revis sent home not feeling 100 percent (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday Daily Clips Cont. http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-cb-darrelle-revis-sent-home-not-feeling-100- percent-1.11166012 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis was sent home Wednesday because "he just wasn't 100 percent and the doctors won't let him sit in meetings just yet," coach Todd Bowles said. Revis suffered a concussion Sunday in Houston and its seems unlikely the Jets (5-5) will have him this week against Miami (4-6). "We're ready to play without him, but if he comes back, it'll be a bonus," Bowles said. If he can't go, Bowles said either slot cornerback Buster Skrine or backup Marcus Williams -- not former first-round pick Dee Milliner -- will start in Revis' spot. Brandon Marshall, Jets beat writers discuss player-journalist relationship on 'Inside the NFL' (Neil Best) Newsday http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/brandon-marshall-jets-beat-writers-discuss-player-journalistrelationship-on-inside-the-nfl-1.11163669 Boomer Esiason jokingly called it "The Tabloid Summit That Saved New York," but later added, "I don't know if we got anything done there, folks." Regardless, the segment on Tuesday night's "Inside the NFL" on Showtime in which Jets receiver Brandon Marshall attempted to broker peace and understanding with three beat writers - including Newsday's Kimberley A. Martin - was unusual and interesting. The approximately eight-minute segment was designed as a follow-up to an exchange on the previous week's show between Marshall and Judy Battista of NFL.com/NFL Network. Marshall had alleged there is too much media access to NFL players these days and Battista bluntly explained the absurdity of his position, with subsequent backing from fellow journalists. With Esiason moderating Tuesday night's sequel, Marshall was joined by Martin, Dom Cosentino of NJ.com and Manish Mehta of the Daily News. Marshall, a regular on the show, seemed to feel the exchange was productive, saying near the end that the key was for players to accept the fact journalists are human beings with jobs to do - an insight that generally requires regular access and opportunities to speak to star athletes one on one. Marshall did correctly note that tensions between athletes and journalists often are the result of sensationalized headlines beyond the reporters' control. Another source of tension, which Marshall noted the previous week, is the awkward spectacle of a crowd of reporters standing around a player's locker while he is getting dressed and ready to speak. This one is easily solved. Just do what LeBron James does, and what athletes for most of the history of open locker rooms in professional sports have done: speak to the media, then shower and dress and put on whatever the fashion statement of the day calls for, be it fake eyeglasses in 2012 or a stylish hat in 2015. 5 P a g e

Solved! Anyway, here are some excerpts, courtesy of Showtime: Manish Mehta: "I think it's about time. I think if you build a relationship with the media and the media has the time to build a relationship with players, that will ultimately foster trust. And when you have trust, that's really the building block for any kind of productive relationship. Can you as a player trust me in telling me things in confidence knowing that it's not going to be on social media 30 seconds later? And as a reporter, can I trust that you're going to be honest and forthright with me and not give me the b.s.?" Kimberley A. Martin: "Well you're talking a lot about what the media needs to do. What about the ownership and the responsibility of the players? If a player has an issue with something I write I would expect you, as Brandon Marshall, to come to me and say, 'Kimberley, that was b.s., I didn't appreciate it.' And then you and I talk about it. And some of those interactions have spawned really good relationships with players going forward. So I can't speak for any other journalist on the beat except for myself, and say that I hold myself to a certain standard and I expect you to challenge me on anything. And that I think is how we build trust and we build a relationship going forward." Brandon Marshall: "I don't think a player has ever been told that, and that's the issue. Because if you tell me that I can hold you accountable or you're open to conversation, then I will come up to you and say, 'You know what Kimberley, I don't agree with what you wrote. I think you got it wrong.' And maybe we'll start to see that relationship grow and get better, but no one has ever told a player that." Dom Cosentino: "I think Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick have kind of ruined this for everyone because they put these restrictions now in place. And Boomer can probably speak to how things used to be but where the access now is so restricted. And it gets more and more restricted I feel like with each passing year, that it's difficult now to build those relationships and build that trust because frequently now the star players in particular, they're herded out to be talked to in a group. There's no opportunity to really get to know us or you and that creates a real divide between the players." Mehta: "We're all similar. We're more similar than dissimilar. You're competitive. I'm competitive, Kimberley, Dom, we're all competitive. You are paid to beat the Bills, Dolphins, and Patriots and win the AFC East. I'm paid to get the story, the information that nobody else has. How do you do it? You catch touchdowns, you score points. How do I do it? I cultivate relationships with people who will help me uncover interesting stories." THE RECORD Jets: Offense getting back to basics (J.P. Pelzman) The Record November 26, 2015 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-getting-back-to-basics-1.1463200 FLORHAM PARK Ryan Fitzpatrick shaved off a large portion of his bushy beard Tuesday. On Wednesday, Todd Bowles talked about how his team needs to get "back to basics." No, the personal grooming of the quarterback and the words of the coach have nothing to do with each other, but the symmetry was unmistakable. After four losses in their last five games, the Jets certainly need to try something different, whether it s on their faces or on the chalkboard. 6 P a g e

"We probably tried to go to trigonometry, when we should stay with algebra," Bowles said of the Jets recent struggles on offense after a fast start. They haven t scored a first-half touchdown in their last two games. "I think we re getting back to basics. Algebra was running the ball, throwing it when we can, and [using] play action. And playing complementary football. We re trying to get back to that." Bowles made it clear he wants to go back to basics in all phases offense, defense and special teams. "You go 4-1, and the more you win, the more creative you try to be on both sides of the ball, Bowles said. "At some point, it gets to a point where it s too creative. And then you ve got to back down and go back to basics, and try to get your feet back under you again." Fitzpatrick understands where Bowles is coming from. "Sometimes we try to make the game a little too complicated," the veteran quarterback said, "and so we just have to be able to go out there and play and execute. "I think that we have a lot of the right people in here. We have worked well as a unit at times and we haven t at others, so we just have to continue to practice and try to continue to keep the confidence level high and go make some plays." Fitzpatrick continued, "We want to get back to doing what we re good at. We re going to play to our strengths and do what we re good at and not try to be too cute." Wide receiver Brandon Marshall also agreed with Bowles. "We ve just got to take a step back," he said, "and get back to our fundamentals." As for why he trimmed his beard to a more manageable level, Fitzpatrick said, "It seemed like it was time to switch up the mojo a little bit. I was going to make a funny joke about Rex Ryan, but I m not going to." But he did after being goaded by reporters. Buffalo coach Ryan had joked two weeks ago that Fitzpatrick was "not a handsome kid" because of that beard. Fitzpatrick trimmed it on his 33rd birthday. "This is what I was going to open with," Fitzpatrick said with a smile before launching into his comedy routine. "Well, after the last few games, I decided that I just need to look in the mirror and figure out what I can do better, and when I looked in the mirror, I realized Rex was correct. I was pretty ugly and I think this is a better look for me right now." Center Nick Mangold, whose bushy beard remains intact, said, "I know it s the hot-button issue of the day. It s difficult to see a good beard go down." Marshall said Fitzpatrick asked some of his teammates to vote on whether or not to shave. "I love it," Marshall said of the new look. "Sometimes you need to cleanse and to start fresh. I think I was one of the last guys [to vote], and he was like, Your vote could potentially get the beard cut off. It was a lot of pressure on me. It was a team effort, and I think we made the right decision." Jets notes: Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold sit out practice (J.P. Pelzman) The Record November 26, 2015 http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets-waive-2012-first-rounder-quinton-coples-1.1461195 7 P a g e

Revis, Mangold sit Two of the Jets veteran stars didn t practice Wednesday. Cornerback Darrelle Revis, who suffered a concussion in the loss to Houston on Sunday, was sent home because he still wasn t feeling well. Center Nick Mangold missed practice because he s recovering from a deep cut on his right hand, also suffered against the Texans. He said the hand is getting better and he hoped to be able to snap the ball today. Coach Todd Bowles seemed pessimistic about Revis chances of playing Sunday against visiting Miami, saying the team was preparing to play without him and that it would be a "bonus" if suits up against the Dolphins. Wesley Johnson has been playing center in Mangold s place and likely would do so again if Mangold cannot play Sunday. Bowles said either Marcus Williams or Buster Skrine would get the start in place of Revis, if necessary. Defensive end Sheldon Richardson (hamstring) practiced full and will play Sunday, Bowles said. Coples practices Fourth-year pro Quinton Coples practiced Wednesday for the Dolphins and Miami interim coach Dan Campbell said it s possible he will play Sunday against his former team. "If we can get him up to speed, we plan on using him," Campbell said on a conference call. Coples was an outside linebacker in the Jets 3-4 scheme, but was not a good fit. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder will switch to defensive end in Miami s 4-3. Bowles said he wasn t surprised the Dolphins claimed him. Miami executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum drafted Coples in the first round in 2012, when he was the Jets general manager. "I wish [Coples] the best," Bowles said. "Just not this week." Buffalo coach Rex Ryan confirmed reports that the Bills also had put in a claim for Coples. THE NEW YORK TIMES Jets Stick With Ryan Fitzpatrick at Quarterback, if Not Enthusiastically (Ben Shpigel) The New York Times November 24, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/sports/football/jets-stick-with-ryan-fitzpatrick-at-quarterback-ifnot-enthusiastically.html?ref=football&_r=0 Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked an obvious question, and he responded in kind. I do think I m the right man for the job, Fitzpatrick said Monday, and imagine the Jets predicament if he did not feel that way. As it is, his team is a bit of an unmade bed right now rumpled and disorganized, a mess of the team s own making. The Jets are built to run, and they cannot. The Jets are built to defend, and they cannot. They are built to score really, truly and they do not, at least not before halftime. 8 P a g e

Those problems have not gone unnoticed, but they have gone uncorrected, leading to four defeats in five games, the latest by 24-17 to the Houston Texans, who won dominated, really without their starting quarterback and running back and a cornerback. These types of losses, as well as their frequency, tend to bring about a deep examination of the roster, which Coach Todd Bowles and his staff conducted Monday. They opted to make one move, releasing the former first-round pick Quinton Coples, while refraining from one that would have been far more notable. Fitzpatrick defended his credentials on Monday not because he wanted to, but because he had to. And he had to because Bowles had stalked out of the postgame interview room at NRG Stadium in Houston without confirming who would start at quarterback Sunday against the Dolphins. Bowles quashed any possibility of a change by saying not much consideration had been given to benching Fitzpatrick, who has completed 46.6 percent (34 of 73) of his passes, with four interceptions, over the last two games. He s our starting quarterback, Bowles said Monday. Bowles added: When you have a quarterback, you have to look at the overall scheme, not just the quarterback. I think Ryan made some good throws. I thought he made some bad ones as well. But you don t give up on a quarterback just like that, because over all, what he s done this year, he still proved he can do that going forward. Generally speaking, when a coach indicates that he is at least considering a switch at the position, it is not because the other 10 offensive starters are performing at a Pro Bowl level. Fitzpatrick undermined the Jets on Sunday by throwing two comeback-stalling interceptions, but the team has been hurt just as much by passes he threw perfectly that were not caught. Before Devin Smith s two critical drops on Sunday, including one that could have turned into a 46-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and the ball Brandon Marshall wished he had grabbed on the Jets second series, Eric Decker cost the Jets a first down in their last loss, Nov. 12 against Buffalo, by mangling a catch on third-and-two from the Bills 20-yard line. The Jets were trailing by 12 points at the time, early in the fourth quarter, and they compounded that mistake with a blunder on fourth down that negated a prime scoring chance. These misplays are not mere annoyances. They have been pivotal moments, at the time as well as in hindsight. And the Jets have been unable to mitigate them. The whole thing is, we have to get going earlier on offense, Bowles said. We can t come from behind. In all the games we ve lost, we ve been behind maybe double digits, and we have to come back and try to fight at the end. Their problems are entwined. The absence of a pass rush has stressed a linebacking corps that struggles in coverage and, in turn, a secondary whose deficiencies have been exposed over the past month. A main culprit against Houston, Darrelle Revis, who allowed a 61-yard touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins, was not feeling better Monday after having sustained a concussion, Bowles said, and may be unavailable for Miami. The bruising, creative running game that escorted the Jets to victories earlier in the season has vanished, and its absence has restored even more predictability to a unit that already relies too much on Marshall. If the Jets are to snap out of this malaise, a primary catalyst will be Fitzpatrick, whose teleconference on Monday grew awkward when he was asked whether as some have speculated, he was told he felt he was still physically capable of playing well. 9 P a g e

That s fine, Fitzpatrick said, but I m still here. That he is. ESPN NEW YORK Jets CB Darrelle Revis (concussion) could be sidelined this week (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York November 23, 2015 Darrelle Revis may have to wait an extra week to atone for his poor performance against the Houston Texans. The New York Jets' star cornerback, who left the 24-17 loss in the third quarter after suffering a concussion, "wasn't feeling any better" on Monday, according to coach Todd Bowles. Revis has to be cleared by a neurologist before he can return, according to NFL protocol. The team is braced for the possibility that Revis may not play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. "Anytime a person gets a concussion you're kind of pessimistic about him the next week," Bowles said. "Some people recover faster than others. We'll just have to wait and see." This marks at least the second concussion of Revis' career. He missed the second game of the 2012 season after sustaining a concussion in the opener. This time, he was knocked woozy while trying to tackle running back Akeem Hunt. Revis got up slowly and was taken to the locker room for evaluation. If he can't play Sunday, he'd likely be replaced by Marcus Williams. It was a rare off day for Revis, who was roughed up by Texans star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Unofficially, Revis allowed four receptions for 98 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown. Aside from Revis, center Nick Mangold is a question mark as the reeling Jets (5-5) prepare for a critical division game. An MRI of Mangold's lacerated right hand came back negative, according to Bowles, but his status is uncertain because he has six or seven stitches in his right (snapping) hand. Mangold suffered a gash between the pinky and ring fingers, forcing him out of the game in the second quarter. If he can't grip the football, he can't snap it, which means he can't play. It's quite obvious the offensive line drops a few notches without Mangold. His replacement would be Wesley Johnson, a former practice-squad player. The Jets are hopeful that defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (hamstring) will return this week. Bowles was non-committal, saying Richardson has to practice before he can make a determination. Anatomy of a mid-season collapse: Examining why Jets have sputtered (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56421/jets-cb-darrelle-revis-concussion-could-besidelined-this-week http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56470/anatomy-of-a-mid-season-collapse-examiningwhy-jets-have-sputtered 10 P a g e

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Five reasons why the New York Jets (5-5) have dropped four of their past five games, leaving them on the brink of falling out of the playoff race: 1. Stars have dimmed: The big-name players with the big salaries have, for various reasons, slipped in recent weeks. We're talking about Brandon Marshall, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold and Chris Ivory on offense; Antonio Cromartie, Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine on defense. Much of the team's early-season success was due to big-time performances by Marshall, Ivory and Revis, but their consistency has waned. This isn't to suggest they can't rebound over the final six weeks, but five of the aforementioned seven players are 30 and up. Logic tells us a late-season resurgence is less likely with older players. 2. Loss of identity: Good teams know what they do best and they stick with it. The Jets have forgotten who they are, particularly on offense. In the first five games, they ran the ball a lot (a league-high 32.6 carries per game) and they ran it well (4.48 yards per attempt). Over the past five games, the average number of carries has dropped to 24.6 (18th) and efficiency has nosedived to a shockingly low 3.2 per rush (30th). Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has become pass-reliant, putting too much pressure on Ryan Fitzpatrick. To get the best out of Fitzpatrick, the Jets need to keep him under 30 attempts, operating a balanced attack. A little creativity in the running game would help. The Jets have to dust off their old blueprint. 3. Aging O-line: For years, the Jets were blessed with good health and continuity on the offensive line. This season, not so much. Right guard Willie Colon (knee) is done for the season and Mangold has missed the equivalent of two games with hand and neck injuries. It's no coincidence the running game started to fall apart when Mangold, the center, got hurt. His replacement, Wesley Johnson, had no previous NFL experience in the pivot. The front office will have to make some tough decisions in the offseason. Mangold and Ferguson are both 31, and the line needs fresh blood. 4. The 4-3 isn't working: When Sheldon Richardson returned from his suspension in Week 6, the Jets adjusted the defense, morphing from a 3-4 scheme into more 4-3 fronts. It seemed to make sense because it allowed the Big Four -- Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams -- to play at the same time, at least on first and second downs. In reality, it hasn't helped because the Jets are essentially playing with four defensive tackles, hurting the outside pass rush. Less pressure means fewer hurried throws, and that has resulted in fewer takeaways -- only five over the past five games, compared to 15 in the first five. It's simple, really: When the Jets have multiple takeaways in a game, they win. They're 5-0 in those games. 5. Missing speed: The Jets lack explosive athletes at a few key positions, and it's catching up to them. Marshall and Eric Decker are a terrific tandem, but they're bigger receivers and need time to get into their pass routes. Gailey's offense is predicated on quick throws, and the Jets don't have a receiver who can create immediate separation. Jeremy Kerley used to be that guy, but the new staff doesn't regard him as highly as the previous staff. Rookie Devin Smith could be that guy, but he hasn't developed as quickly as hoped. The lack of a home-run threat in the backfield also has become more pronounced. The running backs have produced only one play (run or catch) longer than 25 yards in the past five games. Defensively, the Jets don't have a speedy pass-rusher on the edge. See item No. 4. Sheldon Richardson returns, but Darrelle Revis sent home (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56473/sheldon-richardson-returns-but-darrelle-revissent-home 11 P a g e

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Just as the New York Jets defense got Sheldon Richardson back on the practice field, cornerback Darrelle Revis was sent home due to his concussion. Revis is still in the concussion protocol and the Jets are preparing to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins without their top corner. I sent him home today and he is still going through (the protocol), Coach Todd Bowles said. Hopefully, he will feel a little better as the week goes. He wasn t 100 percent still and the docs won t let him sit in meetings just yet. We are ready to play without him, but if he comes back it will be a bonus, Bowles added. We will see later in the week, but we are preparing to play without him. The Jets are hoping to have center Nick Mangold against the Dolphins. Mangold did not practice after getting seven stitches to seal a gash on his right hand. The center hopes to attempt to snap on Thursday. He has been the quarterback of this offensive line for a long time, Bowles said of Mangold s importance. Guys rely on him for everything, whether it is the calls, the blocking schemes or the enthusiasm. You overlook (just how vital Mangold is) and you get complacent when you have a guy at that spot for a long time and he is making all the calls, so you have a comfort level, Bowles later added. Richardson is set to return after missing last Sunday s loss in Houston with a hamstring injury. The star defensive end said he thought he might've been able to play against the Texans but that Bowles and the Jets thought better to keep him out. Felt like back to myself, Richardson said of how he felt in practice on Wednesday. If Revis is unable to play on Sunday, Bowles said that Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams could start in Revis place. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick cuts beard in hopes of ending recent slump (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56473/sheldon-richardson-returns-but-darrelle-revissent-home FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Slumping New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick wants to cut down his interceptions. While he addresses that issue, he figured he'd trim something else. His scruffy beard. "It seemed like it was time," Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "Switch up the mojo a little bit." He might have a point. Fitzpatrick made headlines last November when he shaved his beard while starting for the Houston Texans. A few days later, he played the game of his life, throwing six touchdowns in a rout of the Tennessee Titans. The well-traveled quarterback said that had no bearing on this week's decision. Aside from the mojo factor, he said he did it to look younger; he celebrated his 33rd birthday on Tuesday. For the record, the beard isn't history. It's just -- well, less unwieldy. 12 P a g e

Fitzpatrick also made a joking reference to Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan. Before facing the Jets two weeks ago, Ryan cracked, "The thing that's disappointing to me is that beard. I mean, you look at him like, 'Really, kid?' So he's not a real handsome kid." Fitzpatrick said he wanted to open with a Ryan joke at the start of his Wednesday media session. Reporters urged him to tell the joke anyway, and so he did. "This is what I was going to open with," he said. He paused, trying to keep a straight face. "Well, after the last few games, I decided I needed to look in the mirror and just try to figure out what I can do better," Fitzpatrick said. "When I looked in the mirror, I realized Rex was correct, and I was pretty ugly. And I think this is a better look for me right now." It has been a rough patch for Fitzpatrick, who has thrown four interceptions in the past two games. The Jets (5-5), who face the Miami Dolphins (4-6) on Sunday, have dropped four of their past five. Fitzpatrick received a vote of confidence this week from coach Todd Bowles, but he could be running out of chances. Fitzpatrick still has the respect of his teammates -- even without the usual amount of facial hair. "It's difficult to see a good beard go down," said center Nick Mangold, now the proud owner of the bushiest beard on the team. Fitzpatrick polled his teammates, asking the question: To shave or not to shave? Wide receiver Brandon Marshall said it was a close vote. "It was a team effort," he said. "I think we made the right decision." NEW YORK POST Can a cut beard help Ryan Fitzpatrick save his job, Jets offense? (George Willis) New York Post November 26, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/11/26/can-a-cut-beard-help-ryan-fitzpatrick-save-his-job-jets-offense/ Nick Mangold wasn t very happy Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick decided to give his beard a severe trimming on Tuesday. It s difficult to see a good beard go down, said Mangold, who sports his own Grizzly Adams beard. But obviously, he s a fighter. He ll get back up and continue to work on his growth and keep getting better every day. That s all you can expect. Fitzpatrick s trim was the hot-button issue of the day, as Mangold called it, a drastic change from the overgrowth on his chin and the handlebar mustache. Fitzpatrick admitted he trimmed his beard to help switch up the mojo after the Jets have lost four of their last five games to drop to 5-5 on the season. He also turned 33 on Tuesday and wanted to look 23 after Bills coach Rex Ryan dissed Fitzpatrick s beard before the Bills game with the Jets on Nov. 12. Ryan had called Fitzpatrick s beard disappointing, adding, He s not a real handsome kid. Fitzpatrick admitted Ryan s comments were a factor in his decision to cut the beard. 13 P a g e

After the last few games I decided to look in the mirror and figure out what I can do better and when I looked in the mirror, I realized Rex was correct, Fitzpatrick deadpanned. I was pretty ugly. I think this is a better look for me right now. Fitzpatrick s trim is symbolic of the Jets entire attitude this week, cutting off the fluff that has stifled an offense and turned a defense unreliable. Head coach Todd Bowles said he planned to trim the fat that has on grown on the Jets playbook, expanding from algebra to trigonometry as he put it, so perhaps it was the proper time for Fitzpatrick to trim his beard. We try to complicate things too much at times and you almost end up trying to outsmart yourself, Fitzpatrick admitted. We want to get back to doing what we re good at. Whether it s me, the routes the receivers are running, running backs, tight ends, linemen, we re going to play to our strengths and what we re good at and not try to be too cute. Mangold was asked if he thought Fitzpatrick s decision to trim his beard was a panic move. I think it s just his birthday and he did it for the kids because we all know it s about the kids, said Mangold, whose absence in recent games with neck and hand injuries hasn t helped. Brandon Marshall suggested it was a team vote that helped sway Fitzpatrick. Sometimes you need to cleanse and start fresh, Marshall said. That s what the Jets are hoping for. Simplifying the offense needs to lead to better production on first down, a higher conversion on third down, minimizing negative plays and self-inflicted mistakes like dropped passes. All of the above have been stalling drives. It s frustrating because I think we ve got a lot of the right people in here, Fitzpatrick said. We have worked well as a unit at times and we haven t at others. We just have to continue to practice and keep the confidence level high and go make some plays. Fitzpatrick has to improve his play. He has thrown four interceptions in his last two games, losses to the Bills and the Texans in which he had quarterback ratings of 57.6 and 52.9. His two interceptions in the final two drives at Houston ruined any chance of a comeback. Bowles waited until Monday to officially name Fitzpatrick as the starter for Sunday s game against the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium, and another poor performance could prompt more discussions about turning to either Geno Smith or rookie Bryce Petty. The Jets, for now, belong to Fitzpatrick, who is hoping a trimmer beard and a more streamlined offense will result in a much-needed victory. Looks like Jets will have to face Dolphins without Darrelle Revis (Brian Costello) New York Post November 26, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/11/26/looks-like-jets-will-have-to-face-dolphins-without-darrelle-revis/ The chances of Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis playing this week sound slim. Revis suffered a concussion in Sunday s loss to the Texans. His symptoms were still so bad Wednesday that the Jets sent him home to rest. He just wasn t 100 percent still and the doctors won t let him sit in meetings just yet, coach Todd Bowles said. 14 P a g e

Unless Revis makes a quick recovery over the next few days, it looks as if he will miss a game for the first time this season. Bowles said either Marcus Williams or Buster Skrine would play in his place. We re ready to play without him, but if he comes back it will be a bonus, Bowles said. We ll see later in the week. We re preparing to play without him. Bowles said playing without Revis would not have a drastic effect on their game plan for the Dolphins. You don t change it too much, he said. You tinker with certain things on the side one way or the other but the game plan will be the game plan. Center Nick Mangold (hand) also did not practice Wednesday. Mangold has stitches in his right hand and still cannot snap. I d like to see some improvement tomorrow, Bowles said. He s still pretty swollen and pretty sore. He did get stiches and everything. It s kind of a deep hand injury. Mangold, who never says much about his injuries, said he is hoping he can make some snaps Thursday. DE Muhammad Wilkerson said that Bowles went off on the team after Sunday s loss in Houston. Bowles explained why he exploded on the team. It was just a culmination of the losses and the way we lost this one, the execution at the end, he said. You re pissed off after a bunch of games and you go off different ways. It happens in coaching. Asked if his team needs a wake-up call, Bowles said no. I think we re awake. That s the problem. We just need to execute better, he said. DT Sheldon Richardson (hamstring) practiced fully and will play Sunday after missing last week s game. TE Kellen Davis was excused from practice for personal reasons. WR Brandon Marshall (toe) was limited in practice. Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell said former Jet Quinton Coples will have a role for them this week. Miami claimed Coples off of waivers on Tuesday after the Jets cut him. It was a bit of a no-brainer, Campbell said. [Executive Vice President of Football Operations and former Jets general manager] Mike Tannenbaum had a history with him. He knows who he is, character-wise we know he has really good character and we just feel like we re about to get the best of Quinton Coples yet, we re about to get the best is ahead of him and we re excited to have him. How is Todd Bowles trying to get Jets back on track? Simple math (Brian Costello) New York Post http://nypost.com/2015/11/23/quinton-coples-officially-a-bust-as-jets-cut-first-rounder/ Jets coach Todd Bowles broke out a math lesson Wednesday to describe what is happening with his sputtering offense. We weren t making plays as a group together and instead of going back to basics, we probably tried to go to trigonometry when we should have stayed with algebra, Bowles said. I think we re getting back to basics. So what is algebra for the 5-5 Jets? 15 P a g e

Algebra was running the ball, throwing it when we can, play-action and doing the things we need to do and playing the right type of football and playing complementary football, Bowles said. We re trying to get back to that. The Jets had better do something. After starting the year 4-1 with the offense clicking thanks to a heavy dose of Chris Ivory with a decent amount of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker mixed in, the offense has slowed to a crawl and the team has lost four of its last five with the running game struggling. Bowles said the Jets tried to get a little too fancy instead of sticking with what was working. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has relied more on the spread offense recently, partly because the team has been trailing in games, but partly because the Jets were trying to do something different. I think it s a natural progression, Bowles said. You go 4-1 and the more you win, the more creative you try to be on both sides of the ball. At some point, it gets to a point where it s too creative and then you ve got to back down and go back to basics and try to get your feet back under you again. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown four interceptions in the last two games, welcomes a return to what worked earlier this season, agreeing with Bowles assessment. I think that he s right, Fitzpatrick said. We try to complicate things too much at times and you almost end up out-smarting yourself. We want to get back to doing what we re good at whether it s me or the routes receivers are running, running backs, tight ends, linemen, we re going to play to our strengths and do what we re good at and not try to be too cute. Marshall said what the Jets are trying to do by incorporating so many new pieces is unprecedented. That may be overstating things, but the Jets have struggled with chemistry issues with a new quarterback, No. 1 receiver and rookie Devin Smith also getting a good number of snaps. Marshall said with the talent the Jets have, it s tempting to try to do too much. It s exciting for all of us to talk about all the things we can do off of certain looks, Marshall said. It just hasn t been working. If it had been working, it would be a different story. But it s not working, so we ve just got to start from scratch. While Bowles went with the math analogy to explain the struggles, Marshall compared it to another sport. It s just like basketball, when your 3-pointer is off, you ve just got to go to the bucket, Marshall said. That s all we have to do. We have to go to the bucket. Our jumper s been off. We ve got to get back to that, driving and getting to the foul line, hitting some of our free throws and getting that rhythm back. The Jets offense has not scored a touchdown in the first half of either of the past two games. The group has looked out of sync and out of rhythm. It s frustrating because I think we ve got a lot of the right people in here, Fitzpatrick said. We have worked well as a unit at times and we haven t at others. We ve just got to continue to practice and continue to try to keep the confidence level high and go make some plays and all that stuff. We definitely have to get off to faster starts because that s really hurt us the last couple of games. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Jets' Brandon Marshall: Chicago media 'tougher' than New York media (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media 16 P a g e

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/jets_brandon_marshall_chicago_media_tougher_than_n.ht ml#incart_river_index FLORHAM PARK Brandon Marshall and the reporters who cover the Jets have gone back and forth quite a bit in recent weeks, but Marshall dropped one more sugarplum into the conversation during a group interview at his locker on the evening before Thanksgiving. "You know what? The Chicago media's tougher than ya'll, to be honest," Marshall said with a grin. "They almost made me cry last year." Marshall spent three seasons with the Bears. His time in Chicago did not end well. He was traded to the Jets in March. Don't worry, Brandon: There are still six weeks left this season. "You guys have been all right," Marshall said. "I guess if we lose a couple more games or drop some more balls, that narrative's going to change real quick, huh? I'm waiting for that." Todd Bowles says Jets' offense got 'too creative,' must get back to 'algebra' (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/brandon_marshall_jets_offense_complicated_todd_bow.ht ml#incart_river_index FLORHAM PARK Jets coach Todd Bowles thinks his coaching staff tried to get too creative after starting 4-1. The Jets are 1-4 since then, entering Sunday's game against Miami. On Wednesday, when asked about the Jets perhaps losing their offensive identity during this slump, Bowles spoke bluntly. "I think we started doing some things that we weren't making plays as a group together, instead of going back to basics," he said. "We probably tried to go to trigonometry, when we should stay with algebra. I think we're getting back to basics. Algebra was running the ball, throwing it when we can, and play action. And playing complementary football. We're trying to get back to that." Why did the Jets try the more complex stuff? "I think it's a natural progression," Bowles said. "You go 4-1, and the more you win, the more creative you try to be, on both sides of the ball. At some point, it gets to a point where it's too creative. And then you've got to back down, and go back to basics, and try to get your feet back under you again." Bowles said he's talked to all three of his coordinators about this, and emphasized "it's a team thing," not just related to the offense. But Chan Gailey's offense has clearly slipped lately. The Jets are 1-2 in their past three games against Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Houston and they had their three lowest yardage outputs of the season in those contests: 318 against Buffalo, 290 against the Jaguars, and 267 last week against Houston. "It doesn't matter what the plan is," center Nick Mangold said. "If we don't execute very well, it doesn't matter what we come up with Xs and Os wise." The Jets have lost two straight games. Against the Bills, they ran the ball 24 times, and threw it 34 times. In Houston, the Jets ran it 21 times, and threw 39. Based on what Bowles said, he doesn't like those sort of ratios. 17 P a g e