In the last week, the Jets have made a big splash in the free agent market, acquiring some solid help for their team. Al Faneca, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody, and Kris Jenkins should all make nice additions to the gang green roster.

Several weeks ago, I strongly suggested that the Jets should pursue Shaun Rogers to bolster their defensive line, but I must say I like the Kris Jenkins move a little more. Of course Shaun Rogers is a tremendous tackle and his strength and size are huge assets for any defensive unit. However, I like the athleticism of Jenkins to fit in better with what the Jets try to do defensively. Eric Mangini’s defensive schemes are not unlike those of his nemesis and former mentor Bill Belichick. The Jets, for the past two seasons, have done a lot of zone blitzing with their newly installed 3-4 defense and you want a mobile nose tackle who can play on the ball, off the ball, or split out to the end spot as dictated by the play-calling. I still think Rogers would have helped immensely, but considering what the Browns had to pay to get him (a third round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden) and what the Jets shelled out for Jenkins (undisclosed draft picks), I believe Jenkins is not only the better fit for their team, but could ultimately be the better bargain.

Continue reading "Green Spendin' the Green"

With the NFL season at its conclusion, I find myself in a reflective mood. I naturally think about the missed opportunities of my beloved Jets, some of the most spectacular plays of the year, and the biggest off-the-field fiascos. This season, however, I find myself thinking of Kevin Everett, the Buffalo Bills’ tight end who was severely injured on the second half kickoff of their week 1 game versus the Denver Broncos. All year long, sportswriters and analysts wanted to call Brett Favre’s resurgence the biggest storyline of the 2007 campaign. Others wanted to dub the Patriots’ pursuit of perfection as the ultimate subplot to the season. I, however, cannot think of a bigger story, a more compelling tale of human triumph, than that of Everett.

I’ve grown up with football being Sunday afternoon entertainment my whole life. But with the near-death injury of Kevin Everett, I was suddenly reminded that our entertainment comes at a price; the price being the very safety and well-being of the athletes on the field. It’s easy to be desensitized to what a sports injury really is. We hear about them all the time, and for us fans who have never played sports at the professional level, injuries are intangible entities that keep our favorite players off the field for a game or two. I will be the first to admit that I rarely think about the players’ physical well-being before, during, or after a game. Even when my favorite player misses a game due to injury, the camera cuts to them briefly on the sideline and they look so normal, that I subconsciously dismiss the reality: they are in enormous pain.

Continue reading "It's Only a Game"