The Jets, Bears and Texans showed the most interest in signing former Rutgers DE Jamaal Westerman after the NFL Draft. Westerman chose to sign with the Jets for about $12,000 less than an undisclosed team was offering. The three-year college starter is second all time in school history with 30.5 sacks. However, he suffered a torn bicep in his senior season which forced him to miss the team’s bowl game and part of the scouting circuit.  He did show his toughness by playing the second half of his senior season with the torn muscle. During his  junior season the Ontatrio native made 14 TFL and eight sacks. He has recovered well from the surgery and his bench press is up to 25 reps.

Westerman has been working out as a standup linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. Not only can he get after the quartback but he can drop back in pass coverage. Westerman, was recruited out of high school as a linebacker. He has impressed coaches with his passion and sharpness. …

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is on record saying he would support the franchise if they signed former Giants WR Plaxico Burress. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum contacted  his agent Drew Rosenhaus before the NFL draft to inquire about Plax’s legal situation. The GM was performing a tactic called “due diligence”. Head Coach Rex Ryan also said he is waiting to see what happens with the legal matter regarding the receivers availability. No other NFL team has come out with public interest about Burress.

Burress is a controversial figure with character concerns but is a very talented. The Jets tried to trade up for Florida WR Percy Harvin during the NFL Draft but were unsuccessful. Harvin, is another player with character issues who failed a drug test at the NFL Combine in February. The team is relying on their current receivers on the roster after never finding a replacement for WR Lavaranues Coles. The top of the Jets WR depth chart is David Clowney and Brad Smith,they caught a combined 13 passes …

Two game sevens were played this week, with two game-seven losers being the result, Brandon Dubinsky was bitten (who knew Mike Tyson played for the Washington Capitals?), Blair Betts had his face broken (who knew Mike Tyson played for the Washington Capitals?), Sean Avery was scratched, John Tortorella was suspended, Martin Brodeur got burned (twice), Daniel Murphy kept falling down, Mariano Rivera shockingly gave up two home runs in one week, the Mets got an early start on their next collpase and the Yanks recovered with three straight wins after starting the week by getting swept by the Red Sox. The opening salvo of the series was a warning by David Ortiz directed at Joba Chamberlain for his “dislike” of Kevin Youkilis: “Just play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.” Pitchers throwing at and intimidating batters is the way the game is supposed to be played (just ask your old teammate, Pedro Martinez). Wearing enough body armour to the plate to qualify as a football player while designated hitting is not the …

The Jets signed former Cleveland State basketball player F J’Nathan Bullock.  Bullock was one of the best overall players in the Horizon League averaging 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in his senior season. He hepled lead the Vikings to the second round of the NCAA tourney upsetting Wake Forrest in the process. The 6′5″ 240 pounder was  an honorable-mention football player at Flint High School. He played WR, TE, OLB, and DE before he played basketball at the collegiate level. Scouts from 12 NFL teams attended his pro day at Cleveland State as teams want to find the next Antionio Gates.

The Jets also signed Andrew Davie a TE from Arkansas. The former Razorback caught only eight passes last season but the 6′5″ 266 pounder is a good blocker which the team needs. With the Jets releasing P Reggie Hodges, the franchise signed P TJ Conley. Conley led the nation in punting with a 47.4-yard average last season at Idaho. DE Zach Potter was signed to add more depth to the defensive line. The 6′7″ …

I’ve gone from being dumbfounded to angry to depressed to optimistic to hopeful to “holy crap, we didn’t really give up that much.”  I do not, or I guess I should say, did not like the personality I saw Mark Sanchez put on display the weeks leading up until draft day.  He struck me as an egotistical jock who’s spent the past few years playing sports in Southern California.  When asked about workouts he did for teams he pretty much said “I wowed them with my arm, with my football brain, and with my stunning smile.”

“I threw it really well. I was spinning it all day. I knocked down all the throws. It was great…  As soon as I sat down with their team and their playbook, they were like, ‘Wow, this kid has a natural feel for the game. He understands our offense very well.”

That was right after his workout with the Jets a few weeks ago.  Ryan Leaf had more modesty.  I don’t know why …

QB

Mark Sanchez

The New York Jets moved up 12 spots to select USC QB Mark Sanchez with the Browns fifth pick. Sanchez threw for 3,204 yards and 34 TDS for the Trojans last season. The 6′3″ 225-pound QB was also was named the MVP of the Rose Bowl throwing for 413 yards and four TDs against Penn State. Even though he started one year in college, Sanchez will be given the opportunity to win the Jets starting QB gig for Week 1. He just has to beat out QB Kellen Clemens to win the job since QB Brett Ratliff was traded to the Browns in the draft day deal.  The Jets will be paying Sanchez like a starter and team brass hopes he turns out to be their franchise QB. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said he has no problem starting a rookie considering his former team , the Ravens did it with Joe Flacco last season.

Sanchez has the tools around him to succeed with WR Jerricho Cotchery who has …

Somehow I lucked into a split season ticket situation for next year.  4 games, I get to pick which ones.  Basically, a father and son like the Jets but don’t want to go to every game.  The only catch is that the Carolina and Jacksonville games are spoken for.  Is that a catch?  With the AFC East being once again incredibly competitive and Rex Ryan’s promise of a new style of football, I’ve spent some serious time debating which games I should go to.

First choice- and this one’s a no brainer- the Patriots are coming to town in week two for the Jets home opener.  Rex Ryan vs Bill Bellicheat, round one- FIGHT!  This game will bond coaches, payers, and fans for we will stand together against the tyranny of that state just North of Rhode Island.  Tom Brady’s twice surgically repaired knee will be tested as will our revamped secondary I’m sure. Maybe they’ll actually serve beer at this game.

One player I truly can’t stand …

The Jets have six picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and rumors say the franchise is interested in trading down from the 17th pick and selecting Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew. The Jets lack depth at TE and need someone who can block. If the Jets trade down they will likely acquire another pick that can help build depth at DE, WR or QB. The Jets have a history of drafting TE’s in the first round who have become busts (Anthony Becht, Kyle Brady and Johnny Mitchell).

The Jets are thin at TE and had to work out DE Kareem Brown at last week’s minicamp. The team has not replaced Chris Baker who was released as a salary cap casulaty. Pettigrew is 6′6″, 260 pounds and is labeled as the most complete TE in the draft. He is a tremendous blocker attributed to his large frame. He caught 42 balls for 472 yards last season. However he did not score a touchdown and missed three games due to an ankle injury. Pettigrew …

The New York Jets should draft LSU DE Tyson Jackson if he still on the board at pick 17. He is considered the best 3-4 end in this weekend’s draft and would provide the Jets aging defensive line an upgrade.  Currently on the roster at the position is starter Shaun Ellis who will be turning 32 years old before the  09 season. Ellis a ten-year veteran had just one sack in the team’s final eight games. Keynon Coleman is 30 years old and at best is a serviceable starter. The Jets signed former Raven DE Marques Coleman who will be a should be a backup for the team. 

Jackson started his last 40 games games and earned second-team All-SEC this past season. He anchored a line that was 17th in the nation against the run and tallied 10.5 tackles for a loss. The 6′4″ 296 pound end ran a 4.95 40 which is considered slow at his position. However, his style of play is constructed around his size and power. He is not …

It was the best of times, it was the… uhhh, best of times.  Thomas Jones led the AFC in rushing.  Leon Washington finally made the pro bowl and achieved the respect he deserves.  Both are focal points of the Jets’ game plan.  Both are looking for new contracts.

The best times are going to get ugly.  Or at least a tad personal.

My gut feeling is that only one of these guys is going to get a contract extension and it’s not going to be the guy who gets the tough yards or who carries the ball the most.

Thomas Jones had a great season last year.  Running behind what might be the best offensive line, Jones once again looked like the runner who carried the Bears to the Super Bowl a few years back.  He’s under contract for another two years but has expressed displeasure at the fact that he’s only due $900,000 next season and isn’t showing up to mandatory workouts.  His thinking (or his agent’s) seems to …

On one hand, he’s the best young quarterback in the league.  He’s got an accurate cannon for an arm and he can complete passes in the most epic weather conditions.  Many feel that Cutler is the type of talent rarely seen in the NFL.

On the other hand, Jay Cutler is a jackass.  At least he seems like one to those of us who don’t know him personally but read his stupid comments in the papers and hear him on TV.  He just comes off as an egotistical tool.

That’s where we are right now.  Possibly the best quarterback in the game is begging to get out of Denver and the Jets have a giant ? under center.  Cutler’s an obvious solution if he didn’t resemble a smarmy used car sales man.

Since day 1, Rex Ryan has been adament that the Jet’s “quarterback of the future” is already on the roster.  That was before whatever happened between the Bronco’s and …

Since being drafed out of North Carolina State in the first round in 1999, Torry Holt has amassed 869 catches for 12,660 yards and 74 touchdowns. Among active WR’s he is second in yards per game (80.1). He was selected sixth by the St. Louis Rams because of his impressive season year and strong combine. The 6′0″ receiver ran a 4.34 40 and had a 37 inch vertical jump. He was selected as first team All-American complying 88 catches for 1,604 yards and 16 Tds for the Wolfpack.

Entering his 11th year in the NFL he is 11th all time in receptions, 14th in yards, and tied for 26th in receiving TDs. He had a streak of eight 1188+ receiving yards seasons snapped last season where he set career lows in catches, yards and TDs. However, he has missed just two regular seasons game in his 10 year career.

Henry Ellard was hired by the Jets in January to be their Wide Receivers coach. The former NFL great  previously held the same position for …