Mark Sanchez gal leads Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover race

Mark Sanchez paramour Kate Upton is the odds-on-favorite to grace the cover of the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

The smoking-hot Victoria's Secret model— who has been linked to the New York Jets quarterback— is the front runner for the coveted spot, according to the New York Post.

Sources told the Post's Page Six that Upton's blond, all-American looks made her a top contender even though the magazine crowned Russian lingerie model Irina Shayk, the girlfriend of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, its cover girl last year.

Even when Sanchez's Jets don't make the playoffs, he gets hurt and talk is swirling that the maligned quarterback might be replaced by Peyton Manning next season, he still comes out a winner.

Sanchez was spotted making late night arrivals— incognito— at Upton's Manhattan apartment last season and scooting away before morning.

The Michigan-born Upton, 19, who made her SI Swimsuit debut last year, is apparently no Rex Ryan when it comes to predicting the chances of her landing on the legendary cover.

At a ceremony to kick off the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center yesterday, Upton was humble about the chances of her photo gracing the cover and giving her career a gigantic boost.

"All I can say is that I'm in the issue," she coyly told the Post.  "Fingers crossed!"

Other cover girl candidates include swimsuit veteran Chrissy Teigen, the fiancee of R&B star John Legend and Russian Victoria's Secret model Anne V. who is dating singer Adam Levine.

Pulling up the rear are South African beauty Genevieve Morton and California's Alyssa Miller.  Both beauties made their Swimsuit issue debuts last year.

A source told the Post," There's no clear cut front-runner" for the cover.  "There's a lot of talk about Kate in general.  But the idea of American versus international has never been part of the [debate].  It really comes down to the best picture wins."

The issue is ready to go to press and the cover will be unveiled  Monday on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

The Post said a SI rep declined to comment.

Eli Thinks Sharing MetLife Stadium with Peyton Would be "Fun" and "Unique"

Who said New York City ain't big enough for two Mannings?  It could be if you believe Eli Manning, the younger brother of Peyton.

The New York Giants quarterback said if all the talk of Peyton joining same-stadium rivals the New York Jets came true it wouldn't bother him much at all.

"I'm not saying it's not going to happen, or I'd want it to happen, but having your brother that close to you and playing in New York would be very unique," Eli said in an interview with ESPN Radio this morning.

After standing in the shadow of Peyton for his whole career, Eli is finally stepping out from behind it and has become his own man.

Eli is one win from from leading his team to another Super Bowl and the second of the Giants quarterback's career after being the first half of "The Helmet Catch" in 2008.

Big brother Peyton is not far ahead with a Super Bowl win to go with one loss.

While Peyton's future is up in the air and will be the biggest NFL story of the off-season, Eli's future with the Giants is set in stone.

Peyton missed the entire 2011 season following neck surgery.  The Indianapolis Colts became a rudderless ship that went 2-14 on the season earning them the first pick in the NFL draft.

Odds are the Colts go with every one's pick— Stanford QB Andrew Luck.

If Indy decides to go with Luck, the Colts may consider trading Peyton or not picking up his $28 million option.  The team has until March 8 to decide.

The Jets meanwhile, are coming off a disappointing 8-8 season and unnamed teammates and organization members have put most of the the blame on the youthful shoulders of QB Mark Sanchez.

While this week, head coach Rex Ryan and GM Mike Tannenbaum said they fully support Sanchez,  it is no secret Ryan adores the Colts QB and has Peyton's former-offensive coordinator and mentor as a Jets consultant.

Peyton's dad, Archie, also said this week that his son wants to stay in Indianapolis and enjoys the life he has there.

"I don't know what's going to happen in that situation," Eli told ESPN Radio.  "I think it would be interesting to have your brother in the same city playing football together."

"Would it be fun?  I think, yeah," he said.

Eli has had to live up to Peyton his whole career and said he felt the pressure even more after being the Giants first draft pick in 2004.  He was labelled a brat for refusing to go to the San Diego Chargers.

The younger Manning was asked if the stigma of following Peyton affected his play.

"Maybe just a little bit because Peyton had a six year head start on me," he explained.  "In his second year he [Peyton] was  playing at a high level and they were playing great football, going to the playoffs... All of a sudden, people expect the little brother and the same things to happen, to have immediate success and he's going to be in the playoffs every year."

And it's not like there weren't more than a few times the comparisons and expectations had fans ready to run Eli out of town.  Even this summer— after he used the word "elite" to compare himself to Tom Brady— the laughs could be heard from Rockaway Beach to Rockaway N.J..

Now that Eli has become an NFL star in his own right, he said that both brothers sharing the biggest bedroom in the world (MetLife Stadium) could benefit each other.

"It'd be fun," he joked.  "We'd probably commute to work [together], maybe eat our lunch together... share notes on opponents, watch some film together..."

Sounds like he forgot building pillow forts in the living room.

Right now, Eli is the Manning in New York and two wins from surpassing his big brother in Super Bowl victories.

Ex-Jet Damien Woody: Team "Babied" Sanchez

 Former New York Jets tackle Damien Woody said he agrees with the anonymous Jets sources who were quoted in the New York Daily News Wednesday as saying Mark Sanchez has been "babied" by team management and thinks the team should give some thought to getting a veteran quarterback to push the struggling player.

Woody doesn't exactly call Sanchez another Blue Ivy Carter, but says the first-round quarterback is still a work in progress and needs a competitor to light a fire under him.

"I do think he needs to pick it up, needs to pick up his play.  I wouldn't call him lazy, but I do think there are certain things about Mark and the organization that need change," said Woody.  "I think the organization does baby him and they definitely need  to bring in a viable backup— a viable backup to really provide that competition.

"With competition, either you're gonna rise, or you're gonna just crumble.  You bring in a viable backup and let it play out and we'll see which mark Sanchez shows up after that."

Woody— a Jet from 2008-10— joins rookie quarterback Greg McElroy as the only members of the Jets family to criticize the team in public.

While McElroy was criticized for breaking the "locker room code" for speaking out— he's the only active player with enough cojones to put a face with the quote.

Last week, McElroy— in a radio interview— didn't criticize Sanchez personally, but used words like "selfish" and "corrupt mindset" to describe the whole 2011 Jets team.

"It's definitely not a fun place to be.  I can assure you," the seventh-round draft pick said.  "It's the first time I've been around extremely selfish individuals, and I think that's the nature of the NFL."

Woody was more specific in his assessment of the team by criticizing Sanchez but still thinks the quarterback "deserves one more year to see if this guy can be the future, and, if that doesn't happen, it's time to look in another direction."

The former Jets player thinks the team's front office goes out of its way to protect Sanchez from the swarms of New York media.

"You can see if someone's playing well and someone's not," said Woody.  "But the organization really tries to baby him and protect him as far as the media's concerned."

"When you're playing quarterback in New York, you have to have tough skin and be able to stand up to the criticism," said Woody.  "When things are going great, you're going to be  a god in this city.  But when things aren't going well, you have to man up and take it all.  I think the organization can do a better job of letting the man be a man and stand up and take the bullets like all the other players."

Woody had some harder words for the "unnamed sources" who attacked Sanchez with their harsh anonymous quotes.

"You're scared to put you're name on it, that's just speaks badly of your character as a player," he said.

As for head coach Rex Ryan claiming he "didn't have the pulse of the team," Woody said he wasn't surprised by any of the locker room dysfunction this season and how Ryan lost control of his players.

"When you've had success, it's great," he said.  "But when it's not going well, this is what happens and now you're seeing the ugly side to it."

It looks things are going to get real fugly.

Jets Players' Calls For Peyton To Replace Sanchez Getting Louder

The end of a disappointing season for the New York Jets has led players to point their fingers at one player for the epic fail— Mark Sanchez— and started  a rallying call inviting the services of a veteran quarterback to take the reins— namely Peyton Manning.

The consensus among unnamed players, according to a story in the New York Daily News, has been that if  Manning gets a clean bill of health, he would be the ideal solution to the inept Sanchez.

Those calls are getting real loud.

Key members of the Jets organization said Sanchez is a "polarizing" figure in the clubhouse and there are serious doubts he can lead the team to the Super Bowl.

The consensus among players, according to the Daily News, is that— at the least— the team must sign a legitimate veteran backup to push their young quarterback.


"We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice," said one unnamed player.  "He's lazy and content because he knows he's not going to be benched."

Sanchez has been inconsistent for three seasons and his deficiencies came to a head during the 19-17 loss against the Miami Dolphins. In the final game of the 2011 season, Sanchez's lackluster play helped put the kibosh on any playoff chances and was the final sour note on a season where head coach Rex Ryan was singing the Jets praises.

The inconsistent play of Sanchez over the final three games started his teammates dreaming about another Manning in MetLife Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to take Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the first pick of the draft and there is speculation that the team will let Manning go.

The future Hall-of-Famer is still recovering from a pre-season surgery to his neck, is 35 years old and still waiting to be medically cleared before he can even suit up again.  That's a lot of ifs.

Whether it's in blue and white or green and white is any one's guess.

Asked if the Jets should make a move for the veteran Indianapolis Colts QB if he becomes available, several players told the Daily News they would welcome him with open arms.

"Come on.  That's a no-brainer," a Jets source said.  "If you have a chance to get a 36-year old Peyton Manning and you don't do it, then you're stupid.  If you get a healthy 36-year old Peyton Manning, then, hell yeah, I would trade Sanchez."

The chances Manning would make the switch from the Colts to the Jets are pretty good.

For one thing, at the core, the Jets are a good team and— if they keep Santonio Holmes— have plenty of targets for Manning to throw to.

Secondly, Ryan adores Manning and with all the problems with play calling from the sidelines, Ryan would relish having a real leader on the field to lead the team.

The trifecta payoff is the presence of Jets consultant Tom Moore who was Manning's offensive coordinator and mentor for over ten years in Indy.

"We already have his coach— Tom Moore," one well-respected player told the News.  "Plus, he's a field general and will get everyone lined up.  He will get his playmakers the ball.  We can win a Super Bowl with Peyton."

Manning already has a Lombardi trophy and the Jets are wondering if they can do it with Sanchez?


"How can we when he's not improving at all?" a Jets player said.  "He thinks he is, but he's not.  He has shown us what he's capable of."

Sanchez is only 25-years old and has two years left on his contract.

Some Jets players still think he needs another shot— god knows he's taken enough both on the field and off.

"When you get hit the way he got hit," another team source said, "there were some quarterbacks that wouldn't have made it through the season."

But others think their QB is being coddled by the organization.

"They see the organization babying him," said the source.  "They see him with a sense of entitlement.  He's been given all this and hasn't done anything.  They call him 'San-chise.'  They make him the face of the organization.  They gave him the captain tag.  He's not a captain.  He should have never been a captain."

Sanchez denies he is a victim being held accountable for failure after going to two AFC Championships and losing both.

"We hold ourselves to a high standard," he said.  "I don't want to feel like I'm a victim or anything like that.  We expect to win... I don't feel like we set the bar too high.  There is no way.  I don't feel like that."

"You go to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, and everyone thinks , 'OK, we'll get a little bit better and you are winning the Super Bowl," he told ESPN Radio.  "I don't want to make excuses at all.  That's not my style.  But we've been a victim of our success."

It all boils down to a lot of circumstances fro the Jets to land Manning.

Do the Colts draft Luck, does Manning heal, retire or does he even want to come to New York?

"I don't think he'll come here," a Jets source told the News.  "We have to change the perception of the Jets organization.  We're not the organization that players said they wanted to play for a year or two ago.  We're starting to come across a little flaky. We talk the talk.  We don't back it up. We're out of control.  There's no discipline.  It's a mess right now."

The NFL's biggest off-season story will be the Peyton Manning saga.

Just imagine though, Peyton and his little brother Eli sharing the biggest bedroom in the world— MetLife Stadium.

Who gets the top bunk?

Rex Ryan Gets Teary-Eyed During Team Meeting

Rex Ryan joined thousands of New York Jets fans who cried in their beers Sunday after the team's season came to a monumental halt.

The day after the Jets were officially eliminated from the playoffs, the once-boastful coach humbly stood in front of his team and tearfully told them: "We must become one again."

According to the New York Post, the Jets head  coach stood in front of his players at a meeting and "pleaded" for a return of team unity and got so emotional his eyes welled with tears.

"I'm Irish," he said after the meeting. "It's hurtful.  I'm extremely prideful.  I want to be the best.  I want to win.  Sometimes it comes out like that."

Ryan had lots of reasons to let the waterworks fly.

All the high hopes the bold Ryan tried to sell his players and fans before and during the season— after making the AFC Championship game two years running— fluttered away like a Mark Sanchez pass.

The "player's head coach" lost control of his team and it came to a head when Santonio Holmes— a team captain—quit on the team during the crucial last game and sulked on the bench during the final minutes of the 19-17 loss to division rivals the Miami Dolphins.

The image of Holmes moping on the bench sums up the Jets whole season.

Ryan seemed to realize his braggadocio did little to keep the team together in the end.

"Normally, I'm a guy that really has the pulse of the team," said the now-humbled Ryan.  "I don't think I had the pulse of our team the way I [have] in the past.  When I met with players [yesterday] that became clear to me.

Has losing the final three games of a season with high expectations finally quieted the dysfunctional Jets?

Not if you believe the Post.  According to the newspaper, Bart Scott gave their photographer the finger before storming out of the meeting uttering a stream of obscenities.

Surprisingly, the maligned Holmes showed his face and sprinted from the room too.

While Ryan has turned his boasting into contrition, it does little to explain the free fall of a group of players he called "the most talented team he has had."

The players themselves blamed team chemistry.

"We need to pull together as a team," said Matt Slauson.  "There were a lot of guys just playing for themselves, because we haven't been a team all year."

Ryan said that will all change.

"In my talk to the team what I said was from the heart, and we will have that team, because that's how you win in this league," he said.  "Every team has got talent.  That's what separates  from winning and losing is a team that truly believes in each other and cares about each other.  We're going to have 53 people that believe that way."

The head coach might not be the only one in the Jets locker room to shed any tears this week.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's job is on the line and the outlook for a few players returning doesn't look good either.

Giants Tuck: "We're Capable of Winning Super Bowl"

Justin Tuck had a little trouble Sunday night before finding his intended Gatorade target— Tom Coughlin— after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14— but it sounds like the Giants defensive end plans on dumping a cooler of the juice on his head coach after the Super Bowl.

"We're capable of winning the Super Bowl," said Tuck after the Giants clinched their first playoff spot  since 2008.

Tuck finally did douse Coughlin with the Gatorade— with a little help from the coach's son-in-law Chris Snee—after the Giants handily beat the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

Tuck's optimism is not unfounded.  After a lackluster performance against the Washington Redskins, the G-Men had relatively easy wins against two bitter rivals— the Cowboys and New York Jets.

The Giants defensive line is healthy for the first time this season and sacked Tony Romo six times and chased him all over the field.

Last week against the Jets, the Giants got to Mark Sanchez five times and forced three interceptions.

The Giants (9-7) run to the Super Bowl is a marathon and kicks off next Sunday in a wild card game against the Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at MetLife Stadium.

The Falcons might prove to be a bigger challenge than either the Cowboys or Jets.  Dallas came to New Jersey with Romo and his bruised throwing hand and the Jets were there with Sanchez and his black and blue ego.

The Giants now face a formidable opponent with another Ryan on their side.

After beating loudmouths Rex and Rob, they will face Matt Ryan— a quarterback who does his talking on the field.

Combine Atlanta's Ryan with running back Michael Turner, receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White and veteran Tight-end Tony Gonzalez and you have a multi-faceted offense that can run up the score.

Let's play devil's advocate and assume the Giants do beat the Falcons and the New Orleans Saints defeat the Detroit Lions, then they will have to play the Green Bay Packer at Lambeau Field.

The Giants almost beat the Packers in a 38-35 shoot-out on Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium and did beat the Pack in the NFC Championship game in Green Bay on their run to their 2008 Super Bowl title.

Tuck isn't the only Giants player sipping the Gatorade.

"I think we're in the perfect position," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka.  " We didn't get here the way that we wanted to, but regardless of what happened during the season, we're in the playoffs, we won our division, we have a chance at the Super Bowl."

The Giants are the first NFC East champion to finish the regular season with less than 10 wins but in 2007 no one gave New York any chance of making the Super Bowl— never mind beating the undefeated— and 12-point favorites— New England Patriots.

Tuck, who has battled through a series of injuries throughout the season, says he is healthy now and—combined with Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul— give the Giants the best pass-rushing trio in the NFL.

Never one to be left out of the verbal mix, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs backed Tuck's bravado.

"I wouldn't want to face the New York Giants right now," said Jacobs.  "It's going to be tough to beat us in the playoffs."

Justin Tuck: "I Hate The Cowboys"

Just what Sunday night's do-or-die game between the Giants and Cowboys needs after a week of trash talking between the Giants and Jets— more recycled verbal garbage.  Aren't the Meadowlands swamps filled with enough rubbish already?

Yesterday, after the Giants huge win over same-stadium rivals the New York Jets, Giants defensive end Justin Tuck did his best impression of Rex Ryan and reiterated his deep hatred of the Dallas Cowboys.

When asked, Tuck told reporters he hated the Cowboys more than any other team— even more than the Jets.

Asked why Tuck plainly said," Just because I want to.  For me personally, I've been quoted many times saying I hate the Cowboys and that's still true."

Tuck has never been shy about expressing his dislike about anything Cowboy—including boots and buckles— so his remarks will be familiar bulletin board fodder leading up to the battle for the NFC East title and a spot in the playoffs at MetLife Stadium.

All it takes is the mention of "America's Team" to get Tuck wound up.

"They're what?" he sarcastically asked.

"I don't like the Cowboys and they don't like me, and that's the way it's supposed to be."



Maybe Tuck is still peeved that before the two teams last met on Dec. 11, Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware claimed Tuck had a secret desire to wear the silver star on his helmet.

All Tuck wants on his head next Monday is an NFC East Champions cap after the two 8-7 teams square off this weekend.

Tuck tempered his harsh words for his rivals with a dash of admiration.

"In the Dallas weeks, we probably trash-talk a little bit more," he said.  "But I think it has a lot to do with respect.  Those Dallas teams, they just seem to do it as close to the right way as we do... with their owner, their past championships and past [great] players."

"It's going to be fun— playoff atmosphere on a Sunday night, cold game with a lot of hard hits," Tuck said.  "You couldn't create a better circumstance going into the playoffs.  I know I'm going to be riled up."

Don't let Tuck's mushy sentiments lend you to believe he is getting soft on the Cowboys or is worried about firing up his opponents either.

"I didn't say a word," he smirked right before promising to add more fuel to the fire when he meets the press on Thursday.

And not one to leave anyone out of the fun, Tuck got the Giants' fans involved.

"I know our fans hate the Cowboys as much as I do," he said.  "So it will be fun.  There you go,  I just said it."

N.J. Governor Chris Christie: Jets Over Giants By Seven

It was only a matter of time before New Jersey's second biggest bloviator would chime in about Saturday's crucial Giants-Jets game and Governor Chris Christie didn't disappoint.  He thinks bettors should take the points and the three-point underdog Giants in the battle of the Meadowlands but count on the Jets to win the game.

"J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets," the governor said Friday on Sirius XM's Radio's "Mad Dog Radio" program.  "Absolutely.  Rex and the boys will win by seven."

Most politicians would have used political double-speak when answering that question and said something along the lines of 'the home team' or the 'team from Jersey.'

Technically the Giants are the visitors, but the blunt-talking Christie has never been one to mince words and seems cut from the same mold as the Jets loudmouth head coach Rex Ryan.

And a big mold it is.

Christie, who combined with Ryan, could probably wipe out a Las Vegas buffet table in one trip, said nice things about Giants head coach Tom Coughlin but believed the Jets—who train in Florham Park— would win. 

"The Jets are going to step up," said Christie,  "The Jets have been the more consistent team this year.  The Jets are going to win."

All week, the GOP governor was heard supporting presidential candidate Mitt Romney and now old Mitt has jumped to first place in the latest Republican polls.  So maybe Christie can bring the same kind of luck to the Jets playoff hopes.

Meanwhile, Ryan continues to stir things up and has been mouthing off about Giants fans.  He said he occasionally runs into them.

"There is usually a shoving match," he joked.

Ryan is encouraging his own fans to bring the twelfth man on Saturday afternoon and instructed them to wear green and wave white rally towels.

Jets Using Bloodied Photo Of Eli Manning As Playbook Cover

Eli Manning is the new cover boy of the New York Jets defensive playbook for this week's crucial game against the New York Giants. The photograph of Manning being sacked by the Jets— right before blood started dripping from a three-inch gash in his forehead— is being used to motivate the Jets defense by putting a subtle bull's-eye on the opposing quarterback's head.

The playbooks were handed out to members of the Jets defense on Tuesday by defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, according to the New York Daily News, and some may think the ploy is just a little short of putting an actual bounty on Manning.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan might slightly remember that his dad Buddy was accused by the Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson in 1989 of putting a $500 bounty on QB Troy Aikman and a $200 bounty on kicker Luis Zendejas before a Thanksgiving Day game.

Manning, who is having the best season of his eight-year career, probably remembers very well the August 2010 preseason-game against the Jets when the gruesome photo was shot.

On a busted play, the Giants signal-caller was cut on his forehead by Jets defensive back Jim Leonhard's face mask after getting crushed by Jets outside-linebacker Calvin Pace from behind which forced Manning's helmet to come flying off.

As Manning kneeled on the ground with blood gushing down his face, Giants fans couldn't help but recall the image of former-Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle in the same bloodied position from an iconic b&w photo.

Manning would not return to that preseason game after doctors used 12 stitches to close up the nasty wound.

Pace was the first player to get the new playbook and said he remembers the hit on Manning.

"It was cool to see it again," he said.

Pace also knows Manning is a much different and better player now.

"You have to make him uncomfortable.  It's like his brother Peyton, man," said Pace.  "If you let him sit back there clean, he's the greatest ever, but if you get your hands in his face, I think it puts a little bit more challenge on him."

The Jets may be using red blood before this game between Big Blue and Gang Green to intimidate and motivate,  but Manning is a lot better quarterback now than he was back when he was knocked out of that game.

The photo of a dazed and bloodied Manning might be a motivational tool for the Jets, but the Giants, themselves, could use it as a reason to go after the Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

An eye for an eye.

Rex Ryan to Play Patriots Fan in Adam Sandler Movie

Rex Ryan will be coming to a big screen near you—a really big screen.  The outspoken New York Jets head coach will be playing—of all things—a New England Patriots fan in Adam Sandler's upcoming film "I Hate You, Dad."

Ryan as a Patriots fan?  Talk about casting against type.

The news was revealed in a podcast by Sandler on the NFL Network yesterday.

Ryan's detractors probably think that even Cinescope is too small for the head coach's ego but Ryan will play a Boston lawyer in the movie which was filmed in Massachusetts last summer.

This isn't the first foray into acting for the brash Jets coach who turns almost every one of his press conferences into a showcase.

Ryan did appear in an episode of "CSI: New York" earlier this year with GM Mike Tannenbaum but—despite any rumors—he did not audition for a part in the recent remake of "Footloose."

Sandler—a die-hard Jets fan—described Ryan's role in the interview.

"He's my lawyer," Sandler told Rich Eisen.  "My character... is kind of a dirtbag guy and he's in trouble.  Rex is an inexpensive lawyer in town. He takes care of me.  He's also a mammoth Patriots fan in the movie."

Don't expect any scenes with Bill Belichick though.

"We wrote it in the script," said Sandler.  "He was great enough to be loose and funny about it.  He talks about Tom Brady.  He talks about Coach Belichick.  He's really cool."

Ryan—whom no one would call a shrinking violet—was more than happy to take on the role according to the actor.

""I saw him in the hotel in the morning going to the set," said Sandler.  "I saw coach running lines with two nice girls that work for the Jets.  Just seeing the coach in the lobby doing his lines and memorizing them, closing his eyes.  Then he put on a suit.  Kind of a goofy suit.  And he did great... he did nail it."

Rex Ryan Is Now Playing Mush-Mouth Football

Rex Ryan is controversial even when he's trying not to be.  After Wednesday's conference call, where the Type-A— what 'A' stands for is up to you— head coach of the New York Jets gave a backhanded compliment to Norv Turner and lit a fire under the normally reticent San Diego Chargers head coach.  Now, the usually unapologetic Ryan has backtracked and phoned Turner to make up.

Ryan's antics, which are getting as tired as George Clooney's charm—yeah, I said it—and as frequent as a Lindsay Lohan court date, have run their course.  Have the dysfunctional Jets turned Ryan into Dr. Phil?

Only one day after Ryan boldly claimed that the Chargers would have won a Super Bowl if they had hired him instead of of Turner, the smash-mouth Ryan turned into mush-mouth Ryan.

"It's all on me," Ryan said.  "I'm guilty.  Absolutely.  It was unintentional."

What a turnaround from boasting on Wednesday that San Diego would have two Lombardi Trophies on their mantle if he had been hired as their head coach in 2007.

"Well, I think I would have had a couple of rings," Ryan said.  "I'm telling you, those teams were loaded.  There is no question about it.  But things happen for a reason."

Even though Ryan called to praise Turner, the usually-reserved Chargers coach still fired back.

"I was surprised by the call," said Turner.  "And then after I saw the quote, I didn't have a chance to ask him this, but I was wondering if he had those rings with the ones he guaranteed the last couple of years."

Ouch.  That's four Rex Ryan Super Bowl guarantees for two different teams and not one ring to show for it.

Ryan didn't go into details about their phone exchange, but gave the match-point to Turner.

"I think we're even because he did get me with a good shot, there's no question," Ryan said.

This all leads up to Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium and an NFL rivalry no one really knows about.

In Ryan's first year with the Jets, his team beat San Diego, 17-13, in the divisional round of the playoffs.  Then, there was the Jets infamous AFC divisional playoff win, 17-14,  in 2010 after the Chargers'  "money" kicker Nate Kaeding missed three field goals and was roundly taunted by the Jets Darrelle Revis as the game ended.

Ryan's histrionics—comparing his wife to Tom Brady's supermodel honey or donning a wig to impersonate his almost-equally unreserved twin brother—have become pretty routine at his press conferences.  Only this time, he might have crossed the battle line.  And Ryan knows his words will be hanging like dirty underwear over Sunday's game.

The Jets (3-3) will have their hands full with the loaded Chargers (4-1) and the home team's victories are over Dallas, Miami and Jacksonville—who have a combined record of 3-and-13.

"Obviously, I wish this one never happened," Ryan said.  "It was just clearly unintentional.  I don't know what other word to use.  I don't know what to even say... I hope it doesn't take from the game."

Stop the presses!  Rex Ryan doesn't know what to say!

'No Fun League' Was Pretty Funny During Week Six

The NFL entertains millions of fans every season but is sometimes about as humorous as "The View." The "No Fun League" commissioner Roger Goodell will never be confused with Louis C.K. but this week's NFL story lines seemed like they written for a few episodes of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

It looks like Goodell will have his hands full following the escapades of Week Six.

The week began with Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall saying he was going to play like a "maniac" against the New York Jets on Monday night.  The All-Pro player tried to rally his lowly team by going as far as to announce that he was going to get thrown out of the game by the second quarter and might even punch out Jets defensemen Antonio Cromartie or Bart Scott.  Goodell was surely listening.

The fun continued in the second quarter of the St. Louis Rams-Green Bay Packers game when A.J. Hawk sacked Rams QB Sam Bradford and rubbed it in by flipping the bird towards his own bench and the Packers fans in Lambeau Field.

Hawk, who might have been angry at wearing the ugly Packers throw-back uniforms or celebrating the fact that it was his first solo-sack in nearly two years, later apologized.  He claimed it was a "running joke" and didn't intend for "anyone to see it."  Okay.  You can't make these things up folks.

The "Lambeau Flip" was ignored by the officiating crew but lambasted by the game announcers on TV and it's a good bet the Commish will be pointing his own accusing finger at the linebacker.

The bizarre episodes continued with a near cage-match between head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz after an exciting game between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.  The two surprising teams exchanged six lead changes throughout the game and, during the mandatory mid-field after game handshake, Harbaugh's overenthusiastic grip and greet with a hard pat on the back riled losing coach Schwartz.

The Lions coach didn't take kindly to his exuberant counterpart and he chased Harbaugh down and started yelling at him.  To paraphrase Mel Brooks: May the Schwartz be on you.

The two coaches had to be separated by staff members and the tussle got the surrounding players pumped up and a few more scuffles broke out at mid-field.

Harbaugh later accepted the blame and said, "I was really revved up.  That wasn't me, I just shook his hand too hard."

It was even kind of comical-- in a Farrelly Brothers, ball-to-the-groin way--  seeing Saints head coach Sean Payton  coaching from the bench in a leg brace after getting run over by his own player and breaking his knee cap.  Sometimes humor hurts.

The only thing missing this week was a rant by the Sam Kinison of the NFL-- Rex Ryan.  I guess three straight losses don't lead to a very funny punchline, but there's still one day to gather some material.

It looked like there was little too much frat-boy for the NFL's blood this week.  Forget a finger, it's looks like Goodell will lay down his fist.

Rex Ryan Blamed For Taser Attack During Jets-Cowboys Game

The son of the man, arrested for firing a stun gun into a crowd of fans sitting in MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, blamed Jets coach Rex Ryan for creating a confrontational environment before the New York Jets-Dallas Cowboys nationally-televised game even started.

According to a report in the New York Daily News, Leroy McKelvey's son, Charlamagne tha God, claimed Ryan stirred things up by saying in a press conference before the game that "It's probably not recommended that you wear Cowboys stuff" to the Jets home stadium.

"He shouldn't have had a Taser on him," said the son about his father's arrest.  "But I really feel he took a risk because he felt threatened."

Charlamagne tha God, a local radio DJ, said the attack could have been provoked because his dad was wearing a Cowboys hat and jersey and has tattoos of Cowboys stars on his shoulder and right forearm.

SEE VIDEO

Witnesses say otherwise.  They say the brawl erupted after a Marine became annoyed that McKelvey and some friends  would not stand or remove their hats during the national anthem and for talking during "Taps" and "Amazing Grace."

The witnesses claim the fight escalated when the Marine, who was sitting at the end of a row of seats in the upper deck wouldn't move when McKelvey, 59, of Monck's Corner, S.C., tried to get past him to go to the restroom during halftime.

McKelvey pulled the stun gun and fired a shot into the Marine's neck, knocking him down six rows, according to police reports.

Authorities are still baffled as to how McKelvey was able to sneak the weapon inside MetLife Stadium, especially with heightened security for 9/11 and the high-profile presence of former-President George W. Bush in attendance at the game.

The suspect's son claimed his father is a devout Jehovah's Witness and doesn't stand for the national anthem or Pledge of Allegiance, but would never resort to violence.

"He's not a violent guy at all.  He just likes to have fun," Charlamagne tha God said.  "I would hope that an altercation didn't happen because of him not standing for the national anthem."

Police said three men suffered minor injuries, including the Marine, during the scrum and McKelvey had his nose broken.

"He got jumped by Jets fans when the Cowboys were leading by two touchdowns, so he was just defending himself," the son said.

The incident comes just weeks after brawls broke out all over Candlestick Park during a San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason game.  The NFL came out and said teams were going to crack down on fan violence by curbing drinking and tailgating.  The 49ers banned shirts with anti-team statements written on them.

The Jets-Cowboys game was the highest rated week 1 primetime game in 15 years according to numbers released by Nielsen.  The Jets won the game, 27-24, after mounting a fourth quarter comeback.

McKelvey was charged with felony aggravated assault, felony possession of a stun gun and illegal possession of a weapon.  His son posted the $22,500 bail. 

It was a solemn day that should have never ended with violence at such a prominent game.  The blame should be put squarely on the stadium security who fumbled the ball on this one.

Rex Ryan To Dallas Fans: Don't Wear Cowboys Stuff In Our Stadium

It looks like New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has put his foot in his mouth once again.  After being asked if he expects to see Dallas Cowboys fans in the stands during Sunday's game, Ryan gave a subtle warning to folks planning to wear ten-gallon hats.


"I don't know why they'd be here," said Ryan.  "They're coming into our stadium.  It's probably not recommended that you wear Cowboys stuff, I would think."

It wasn't the first time Ryan has called out visiting team fans but, this time, his joking couldn't have been more ill-timed-- considering the recent fan violence in Los Angeles and San Francisco this summer.

Last week, a soccer fan was beaten outside Wembley Stadium and died.

Ryan made the off-the-cuff comment while talking to reporters on Wednesday.  While it wasn't intended to incite trouble but, as usual, the outspoken head coach's words were controversial and couldn't have been more poorly timed.

The Jets meet the Cowboys on Sunday night for a prime-time game that will include a remembrance ceremony to the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  The opening game for both teams starts at 8:20 p.m., so there will probably be plenty of boisterous Jets fans on hand.

Last October, Ryan told Green Bay Packers fans to watch their backs if they ventured out into the streets of New York wearing Cheesehead hats and green and yellow jerseys before a game in the Meadowlands

"I wouldn't want to wear Green Bay stuff coming to our stadium," Ryan warned.

Many cheese-wedge hats and Aaron Rodgers jerseys were spotted at the game, and there were no reported incidents.

Ryan has been quiet all week.  It's a somber week in New York leading up to September 11 and Ryan said it was an honor to be chosen as New York's home team on the 10 year anniversary of the attack.

"This week, I can't stand Dallas," said the head coach.  "But I'm a big fan of their next 15 games in the regular season, but I don't like them right now."

A silent Rex Ryan-- you knew it was too good to last.  Cowboys fans, remember to leave your chaps in Texas.

Since When Did Eli Manning Owe Plaxico Burress Anything?

Since when did Eli Manning become the villain when it comes to his relationship with Plaxico Burress?  There was a lot of talk criticizing the Giants quarterback for not reaching out to his former-wideout after Burress was released from prison and looking hook up in the NFL again.  Get over it, Manning owed Burress nothing.

Last night, the New York Giants and New York Jets played for the first MetLife trophy at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, although most fans were billing it as The Plaxico Bowl as if the former-Giant is the real prize.

The MetLife Trophy has cute Snoopy wearing an old-school helmet on top of it.   The comic strip seemed appropriate because the game was as flat as Charlie Brown on his back after trying to kick the seductive football yanked away by Lucy.  It's like a Matt Dodge punt.

Manning threw two interceptions and Burress was a non-factor while being held to zero catches.

The Plaxico Comeback Tour stalled against his former team.

Final score of the game, Jets 17-3.  Final score of The Plaxico Bowl, 0-0.

Even Jets coach Rex Ryan tried to hype the yawner afterwards.

"It was a fun game, man.  It was two good football teams going at it," he said of the game after his team was outgained 239-113 in total yards during the 17-3 win.  "Obviously, it's a preseason game, but it's good competition."

Much was made of what the first face-to-face between Manning and Burress, leading up to the game and since the latter was sprung from the joint, would be like.  Well the meeting last night was anti-climatic.

Funny thing, they unexpectedly reunited two days earlier outside a movie theater where Burress was coming out of "The Smurfs" (no Big Blue there) with his family and he ran into Manning and former-Giants center Shaun O'Hara.  Burress said they laughed about the coincidence last night.

The highly-publicized preseason tug-of-war for the services of Burress was ultimately won by the Jets. Many Giants fans faulted Manning for not reaching out to Burress when he was a free-agent.

Sure, it's easy to make fun of Manning's "Aw, shucks" interviews, his less than flashy play on the field and how he tucks his jersey into his pants, but don't lay the blame on him.

So Manning didn't visit Burress when he was in stir or call him once he got out.  Some Giants fans thought that Manning's cold shoulder contributed to the former-Giants player to jumping over to the Jets.  He had no obligation to guide Burress.  That's what parole officers do.

Plax went to the Jets was all money--plain and simple.  A guaranteed paycheck, after you haven't worked in almost three years, will do that to a man.

While Manning represents team play and character, Burress is the prototype of how fans perceive pro athletes these days-- and it ain't all good-- unless he's pulling in touchdown passes.

Burress was Manning's favorite go-to guy leading up to their Super Bowl XLII upset victory over the New England Patriots and the wideout  caught the game-winning touchdown, but a lot of bumps came on that ride.

There were too many instances, with the Giants, where Burress boycotted practices over contract demands, didn't show up on Monday or answer his phone for days at a time.  It all culminated with the self-inflicted gun-shot incident outside a Manhattan nightclub in November 2008.  After 20 months of three squares and a bunk, Burress was ready to make his comeback and the MetLife Stadium roommates were first in line.

Suddenly, it was up to Manning to do what head coach Tom Coughlin and owner John Mara's little dinner party couldn't do-- convince Burress he was coveted by the Giants.

Maybe Manning didn't want the 34 year-old Burress and the baggage he drags along.  Even though the Giants lost All-Pro receiver Steve Smith right after Burress' defection, Manning seems happy throwing to his youthful and talented receiving corps of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Domenik Hixon.  Burress, so far, seems like a good decoy for Santonio Holmes.

Manning has to back up this boast of being in Tom Brady's class and prove he isn't the 25-interception quarterback of last season.  He has done little this pre-season to prove or disprove any of that so far this summer.

Meanwhile, Burress has to keep on the straight and narrow and the Jets hope he doesn't revert back to his gangsta persona.  Michael Vick's second chance $100 million contract has to be a good incentive.

The "real" MetLife Trophy will be awarded when the two teams meet on Christmas Eve.  Hopefully, all the hype about Eli vs. Plaxico will have passed by then.

"I don't know if there are any tickets available for that Dec. 24 game," said Ryan.  "But I think we just sold them because that was typical Jets-Giants slugfest right there."

Giants and Jets Staying Sort of Calm Before Saturday Night's Storm

In New Jersey, the two biggest forces of wind which are beyond control come from two sources-- Mother Nature and Governor Christie.  This weekend, one of those hurricanes is expected to pound the Jersey shore and the other will be hunkered down trying to keep surfers and "bennies" off the same beaches.

There is one more storm headed to the Meadowlands and its name isn't Irene.  Its tropical storm Rex.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has looked like a comparative summer breeze to Irene in the days leading up to the Jets-Giants game at MetLife Stadium this Saturday.  The normally brash Ryan has just been downgraded to a Category-1 storm.  Call the National Weather Service for a sound bite.

Even Ryan's offseason remarks that the Jets (1-1) are no longer the little brothers of New York football have done nothing to turn this game into anything more than it is-- an exhibition game.  The two teams meet in a regular season game on Dec. 24.

It's not to say that the outspoken Jets head coach is going be welcomed with open arms by the "home" team-- the Giants.

Ryan still resents the Jets being considered squatters in the new MetLife Stadium and living under the shadow of the Giants (1-1) for the past three decades.

After two straight AFC championship games, Ryan believes the Jets are the superior team and he is ready to paint the two-year old stadium Jets-green.

In his book Play Like You Mean It, Ryan stressed that the Jets are now the "big brother" in New York and "are going to remain the better team for the next ten years."

"When people ask me what it's like to share New York with the Giants," Ryan wrote.  " My response is always 'I'm not sharing it with them-- they are sharing it with me.'"

Even the new name at the old New Meadowlands Stadium has a Giants' tint-- literally.  The MetLife logo is the same color as Giants blue.

This whole stadium brouhaha  has been a thorn in the Jets side since they took residence there in 1984. It came to a head last year after the teams argued who would get to host the first game in their shared home field.  It didn't help when NFL commissioner Roger Goodall allegedly had a "secret' coin toss-- with out any team representatives-- before awarding the first game at the $1.7 billion stadium to the Giants.

Jets fans claim the toss was rigged.

Giants fans gave their little brother a nougie and said quit bawling.

"I'm glad MetLife came forward as a sponsor," Giants captain Justin Tuck said yesterday.  "But to me it'll always be Giants Stadium."

To Tuck and any fan over the age of seventeen who grew up in the area.

It seems like revenge ought to be more of a theme for this week's game than city supremacy-- even though the players say it isn't so or they just won't admit it.

Plaxico Burress, the former Giants Super Bowl hero who snubbed the G-Men and signed with the Jets after a 20-month prison stay, blew off the notion he was seeking the Big R.

"There's nothing extra, no added incentive, juice or whatever you call it," Burress said.  " I'm more concerned about me going out, playing better, getting better."

Maybe Giants quarterback Eli Manning will go the eye-for-an-eye route.  After all, he was the one who wobbled off the field during last year's pre-season meeting sporting a gash on his forehead that required 12 stitches to close up.

The second quarter hit by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace sent Manning's helmet flying and his exposed mug into safety Jim Leonhard's facemask.  Manning's Y.A. Tittle moment was the result of a clean hit, miscommunication with Brandon Jacobs and looked worse than it was.

"I don't think about it to bring back good times," joked Manning yesterday.  "I can deal with it...it didn't hurt too badly."

Okay, no animosity there either.  I guess we'll leave it up to Mother nature to wreak some kind of havoc.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST and Irene is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 70 mph.  In the Meadowlands that's a light breeze.  Com' on Irene.

The Giants VP of Communications, Pat Hanlon, said the game will go on as scheduled.

"Based on everything we've seen and heard, it sounds like the brunt of the hurricane isn't expected to hit our area until Sunday," he said.

"I go about it just like I would any other game," said Tuck of the exhibition game.  "Is it more intense than what the rivalry was with the Jets before Rex got here?  In a preseason game, no.  But come that game right before Christmas, that might be a different story."

No hurricane until Sunday, no Rex Ryan bombast and no revenge.

Can't wait for the regular season.

Jets Flight Crew Unveils Sexy 2012 Calendar Photos Shot by Owner's Daughter

The New York Jets have leaked some of the Flight Crew's sexy 2012 calender photos and they'll have you thinking about a different type of fantasy football. 

Only this time, the Jets cheerleader's swimsuit calendar was created by owner Woody Johnson's two daughters.  The photos capture 19 of the team's 41 pom-pom shakers in a variety of tantalizing poses over the twelve months.

J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.  The letters never looked so good.  Even Giants fans would have to agree.

According to the New York Post, Gang Green's cheerleader calendar was created by Johnson's two girls.  The photos were shot by 23 year-old daughter, Daisy, in sun-drenched Aruba.

Older sister, 29 year-old Jamie, who is also a photographer, was the art director for the project.

A team representative told the Post that Daisy went through the usual interview process and was selected on her skills.  Oh-kaaay.

Whatever the procedure, the outcome is what matters and it looks like the aspiring Daisy and the models all have skills.

The Flight Crew cheered on Gang Green during last night's rain-soaked 27-7 exhibition win over the Cincinnati Bengals.  Quite a change from the sun-and-fun of Aruba.

The 2011 Flight Crew team will make its regular season debut, with the football team on Sept. 11, when the Jets meet the Dallas Cowboys in a nationally-televised game in Met-Life Stadium.

This was the second consecutive year the calendar was shot in Aruba and it's a lot easier on the eyes than Rex Ryan in a wig during a press conference.

Mark Sanchez Was Ready To Lay Down His Own Brand Of Hard Knocks On Rex Ryan

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez admits there was a time last season when he wanted to lay down his own version of Hard Knocks on his coach Rex Ryan-- with his fists.

Last year, after Jets head coach Rex Ryan came close to benching Mark Sanchez, the quarterback said the incident nearly caused him to come to blows with the outspoken Jets coach.

According to the New York Post, Sanchez-- he of movie-star looks and lifestyle-- told GQ magazine, in the new issue featuring the NFL, he wanted to throw down a beating on his mentor and coach.

"I wanted to fight him.  I was really mad," opened up Sanchez in the revealing article.

According to Sanchez, he had not been playing well during consecutive losses to division rivals, the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, causing the never-shy Ryan to openly speculate about sitting down his signal-caller and replace him with back-up quarterback Mark Brunell.

Brunell was instructed by Ryan to start practicing more with the other starters.

Sanchez said he took this as a subtle message that the head coach was considering benching him and it made the Gang Green QB see red.

The scorned Sanchez put down his dukes after offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, intervened.

The article reports that Schottenheimer-- as the messenger-- reminded Sanchez of Ryan's order for Brunell to handle more of the first-team practices which made Sanchez want to call out Ryan.

"I was like [Ryan] can come tell me [himself],' recalled Sanchez.

Schottenheimer threw water on the fired up QB.

The coordinator consoled the unhappy Sanchez.  "And [Schottenheimer] is like, ' Come on, man, don't do that,'" he revealed to GQ.

Ryan and Sanchez have always had a father-son relationship-- albeit one that could blow at any time.  It's pretty easy with a no-nonsense-speaker like Ryan, even with the soft-spoken Sanchez, but the head coach has stood by his QB through all of Sanchez's growing pains in the NFL.

"Rex is super honest," said Sanchez.  "I wish he wasn't that honest at times."

In the article, Sanchez delves into his personal life as a rich single man in New York City and the boundaries he has learned to set for himself outside of the game.  He acknowledges that the rock star life style has its limits.

"You have to be a 24-year-old bachelor with the means to do anything, just about, but with the wherewithal and understanding and life skills of a 45 year-old Supreme Court judge," he said.

Even a 45 year-old Supreme Court judge has probably felt like giving the loud-mouth Jets head coach a pop on the snout at one time or another.

Rex Ryan Shows Off Plaxico and New Tattoo in Jets Training Camp

Plaxico Burress made his big debut in New York Jets green today, but his arrival in training camp was not as big as the prominent new tattoo gracing head coach Rex Ryan's right leg.  It looks like Ryan used his down time, during the lockout this summer, to get his calf inked with what looks like Japanese artwork-- maybe a dragon or a serpent.

Burress, the ex-New York Giants Super Bowl hero appeared on the sidelines of the Jets Florham Park training camp this afternoon.  The ex-con, who signed a one-year $3.017 million contract with Gang Green on Saturday, cannot participate in practice until Thursday due to the new labor rules.

The controversial Burress, who always expressed a desire to play under Ryan, must have really meant what he said.  The wide-out appeared at the facility three days before he can even run drills.

It's been over two years since the 33 year-old Burress has touched a football in an NFL surrounding but says he is in good shape.

Burress, who will wear his old No. 17-- Braylon Edwards' number-- was even given an additional $17,000 by the Jets because of his connection to the number.

Jets 7th-Round Draft Pick & Sanchez BFF Has "Saw" Screenwriting Credit in Future

The New York Jets, who were already drowned in criticism about drafting a couple of players with violent backgrounds, added a third draftee with a scandalous past. 

According to the New York Post, the team's 7th-round pick and Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez' longtime friend, Scotty McKnight, was suspended for the final eight games of his senior high school football season because he penned threatening and vicious words directed at his High School English teacher.

In a 2005 school assignment McKnight handed in to his teacher, the then-17 year-old wrote " I am planning coming in your room late one night while you are still working," he wrote.  "I will smother you in gasoline and light your head on fire..."

In another entry, according to court records,  McKnight sounded like Freddy Krueger by indicating he would glue the teacher naked to a wall, chop off her feet and kill her family while she watched.

The foot reference must have bothered Jets head coach Rex Ryan just a little.

McKnight, who later played college ball and broke receiving records at Colorado, said he and his high school teammate Sam Smith wrote the gruesome journal as a challenge to see who could write the most bizarre scenarios.

Both students thought the Tesoro (Calif.) English teacher was supposed to keep the journal private and not becoming public.  The teacher, Alyssa Di Somma, took the journal to school officials after feeling threatened by the images it presented.

McKnight and Smith apologized to Di Somma and they were not criminally charged.

"Me and my buddy wrote some crazy stuff, Tarantino-like movie type stuff and we were trying to one-up each other, figuring no one was ever going to read it.  It was for lack of judgment for sure, but we were 17 years-old and not thinking."

Not thinking is putting it mildly.  The one person who would read it was the one you graphically threatened with bodily harm.  Does Columbine ring a bell?

"It was an error in judgment," McKnight said.  " I was 17 years-old and had an assignment to write whatever you want, be creative and no one was ever going to read it."

The "prank" almost cost the honor student and sports star McKnight his football career.  Besides being suspended for the last eight football games of his senior year, McKnight was rebuffed by Boise State, to whom he had committed, and ended up as a walk-on at Colorado.

McKnight doesn't deny writing the vile journal and said the entire event was " a learning experience that ultimately get me to where I am today.  You really see how one small error in judgment can affect your whole life."

The new Jet claims he was forthright about the incident with every team, including the Jets,  who showed interest in drafting him.

"People know that is not me," said McKnight.  "I was 17 years-old and had never been in trouble.  I come from a family of police officers."

Sanchez will now be re-united with Sanchez, his old friend from their football days at Santa Margarita High School in Southern-California.  Sanchez even threw to McKnight at Pro-Day and vouched for his abilities on the field last week.

"He's the best guy who didn't go to the combine," Sanchez said.  "He didn't drop a ball at (Pro-Day).  He'd be a steal for someone."

Is that a little tremble of fear in Sanchez's voice when discussing his new receiver/future slasher-film screenwriter.  McKnight could give the football terms slash, cut and deep threat new meanings in the Jets huddle.