Check out Erik Boland's blog and see what Ohio State Jim Tressel has to say about the issue.
EBoli will be offering up some more stuff in the paper, but Tressel's initial take is interesting and informative.
Here's what Adam Abramson and I did on a Wednesday afternoon in New York. There was a cast of thousands behind the scenes, so please take a moment to thank them for their efforts. Mark La Monica led the vast production team at Marseilles Restaurant in Manhattan.
It's nice to see that Abramson wears a tie to work these days.
Please read Erik Boland's blog for plenty of Jets' stuff. He was in Central Park yesterday chasing down Kellen Clemens. It was an interesting afternoon.
Erik Boland fills us in on the conversation Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and former linebacker-turned-assistant coach Bryan Cox had in the bathroom during last year's draft.
It's a very interesting tale, and I won't begin to re-tell it. Suffice it to say, a lot of good came of the talk. His name is David Harris.
So says Fox analyst Brian Baldinger, who calls the Arkansas running back "the colossal bust of this year's draft."
I'm still floored by that comment, even though Baldinger gave me the quote a few days ago. It was the lede to today's column on McFadden, who will surely be a top 6 pick - maybe even a top 4.
But Baldinger isn't alone in thinking that McFadden won't live up to the hype.
Interestingly, one of the guys who defends McFadden is Charley Casserly, the former Texans general manager who passed over another high-profile running back a couple years ago. Casserly was ripped for taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush, although that decision is looking a lot better in hindsight.
... but not everyone who studies NFL players is infatuated with the Arkansas running back. I'll fill you in more on Sunday, when I write a column on the speedster.
In the meantime, give us your top 10 picks in the "What About Bob" mock draft contest. We've already got a bunch of contestants, but with more than a week to go before the real deal, there's still plenty of time.
(btw, I'll be coming out with a full 31-pick mock draft for the first round on Monday, to be followed by the usual tinkering based on late-breaking information and discussions with NFL types.)
This mock draft business has become something of a cottage industry of late. I've seen mocks put out as early as January, long before teams even begin to think about which player will be taken where.
My basic rule of thumb with doing mocks is to try and avoid the pick that elicits a reaction from readers along the line of: "are you an idiot?" ... or something like that.
The worst pick I ever had was in 1987, when I was still a pup on the football beat. I included Oklahoma running back Spencer Tillman in my first round. I should have consulted with draft guru Vinny DiTrani, the veteran scribe from the Bergen Record who has taught me plenty along the way.
"The Sage," as DiTrani was nicknamed by Bill Parcells, giggled when he saw that I had picked Tillman so early.
P.S. Tillman was drafted in the fifth round.
Oh, well.
Dude, you can't drop this paragraph in a blog post about the Jets and not give us any more information.
There was also an amusing story Tannenbaum told about a bathroom discussion with assistant coach Bryan Cox during last year’s draft that helped lead to the deal that landed the pick resulting in David Harris. And if someone makes even one Larry Craig joke here...
Forget the Larry Craig jokes. But if the Jets somehow got one of the top linebackers in the draft last year partly as a result of a conversation between GM Mike Tannenbaum and Cox in the bathroom, you've got to at least let us know something about what went on. Suppose Harris goes on to a Hall of Fame career. If so, then it all started in a bathroom somewhere at Weeb Ewbank Hall.
Inquiring minds need to know.
(UPDATE: We've just heard from Eboli, and he will, in fact, let us in on the bathroom vignette. Look for it in Sunday's Newsday.)
He says he's visiting Gang Green (oh, how I hate that nickname, I don't know why I still use it), as well as several other teams.
Again, no off-field baggage like McFadden, and an exceptional talent, not only as a runner, but as a pass catcher. This guy has reliable NFL pro written all over him.
Oh, did I tell you I really like his upside?
As it turns out, the Jets were represented at the Matt Ryan workout. We're told that area scout Matt Bazirgan was there, according to a person who attended the workout. Apparently some incomplete lists of exactly which teams were represented had been passed around, so sorry for any confusion.
As we said earlier, though, even if the Jets hadn't been at the workout, it didn't mean they weren't interested. Some teams simply hold private workouts for players, and sometimes they don't even look at them individually and take them anyway. And it's not as if the head coach and general manager were at the workout.
Very interesting item from Rock in a post about Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, who offered some comments about being without Jonathan Vilma this season. Vilma was traded to New Orleans.
Rhodes e-mailed Rock a quote that he asked be printed as is:
"its wat happens in this league players and teams part ways but hopefully one day ill get 2 play with him again cuz we learned alot togetha as teammates and grew to be real good friends so he will be missed!!!"
Rock then mentions that Rhodes and the Jets are working on a long-term extension. But unless Rhodes means that he hopes one day to play basketball softball or some other sport that doesn't require a helmet and shoulder pads, we found the comment curious. Very curious.
Yes, it's an intriguing thought: Randy Moss rejoins college teammate Chad Pennington, and they make magic yet again on Sunday afternoons. 
Now that Moss has failed to reach contract terms with the Patriots, he is fielding offers from other teams. And the Jets are probably nosing around about the possibilities.
But right here, right now, Randy Moss does not make sense for the Jets.
Sure, he would be delighted at the prospect of catching passes from his former Marshall teammate. But even if Moss did sign with the Jets, there's no guarantee he'd be catching passes from Pennington. Why? Because there's no guarantee Penninton will be the starter. Heck, there's no guarantee he'll even be on the team.
Moss' arrival would also create the potential distractions that come with him. He was a good soldier last year in New England, but mostly because he knew he couldn't get away with pouting in a locker room filled with a bunch of players who own three Super Bowl rings and a coach who doesn't stand for "me" guys. Besides, what's to complain about when you have a Hall of Fame quarterback throwing darts your way?
The dynamic would be completly different in New York, where the Jets are trying to recover from a 4-12 season and already have their hands full with a pouty receiver. Laveranues Coles is angling for a contract extension, and he will certainly test the limits of GM Mike Tannenbaum's patience. Especially in the wake of last year's Pete Kendall debacle.
Moss doesn't have the time or mindset to deal with a rebuilding franchise. He's in a win-now mode, and there's no turning back.
Nope. Not the right time and place for Moss in green and white.
Tom Rock indulged in a little blog post chest-thumping after a busy day yesterday with 17 entries. All about the boys in green and white. Not quite in the Glauber/Best stratosphere, but a worthy effort nonetheless. And no mention of urinal etiquette at the health club. 
It was a whirlwind day for the Jets, who dealt Jonathan Vilma to the Saints, acquired Kris Jenkins from the Panthers, and are engaged in intense negotiations with Steelers free agent guard Alan Faneca.
And you thought all Rock was good for was being an Uncle Fester look-a-like.
- photo from www.answers.com
The Jets have released guard Adrien Clarke, the poor sap who had to try and fill the shoes of outgoing guard Pete Kendall after he "went Kendall" and was traded before last season.
Sorry for your troubles, DC Jets Fan.
Jets coach Eric Mangini didn't seem fazed by Laveranues Coles' recent criticism of the team and its apparent unwillingness to extend his contract beyond the two years remaining on it.
In his first comments on Coles' situation, Mangini told reporters at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that the two spoke recently and had a good discussion about how the 2007 season went. Mangini said the contract issue hadn't come up at that time, but that he'll sit down with Coles at some point to talk about it.
"I wanted to get his feedback on the season," Mangini said. "He was one of the most impressive guys that I've been around who has transitioned into that captain's role. I thought he embraced it. I thought he did a great job representing the players, while also working to move the organization forward and to look at things objectively and critically. And that's what he and I are going to do. Sit down and get his feedback on things that we can do better, things that I can do better. Because I appreciate that insight, and I know that when he gives it, it is looking at the big picture and just isolated on his view of things."
Mangini said he understood the context of Coles' frustration about the contract.
"We're not the only team that has encountered these things," he said. "That's the business side
of football. And that's not something that's different in terms of the Jets versus any other team.
And I understand that. We've all been involved with those things.
"You appreciate that side of it," he said. "It's really something that's not unique to it. What I understand is I understand how it works, and that this is part of the business. Like I said, LC and I have a very good relationship. And I look forward to that relationship continuing to grow."
We'll see about that. Coles seems adamant about wanting his contract re-done, and he believes the team has made assurances in the past of extending the deal. But if he feels that they're unwilling to address the situation - did someone say Pete Kendall? - then Coles will make things very uncomfortable moving forward.
He is a very prideful player, and has shown no hesitation to express his dissatisfaction - especially when it comes to the money side of the business. After all, when he forced the trade back to the Jets from the Redskins, part of the deal was that he re-upped his contract. Coles now believes that contract is outdated, and if the Jets don't agree to re-do it, he might not be showing up any time soon.
It ought to be an interesting press briefing on Monday with Jets coach Eric Mangini, who said after the team's 20-10 loss to the Patriots that the move to keep Kellen Clemens on the sidelines was a "coach's decision," and not so much a medical one.
Clemens was hurt on his first and only pass of the day - which turned out to be an interception return for touchdown by Patriots defensive back Eugene Wilson. Clemens was flattened by Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour and left with what was called a rib injury.
But Mangini said after the game it was his decision to keep Chad Pennington in at quarterback, intimating that Clemens could have played.
Mangini might clear things up at his presser tomorrow afternoon and point out that, given Clemens' physical state, he simply wasn't the best option to go back in. Or he could open the door to questions about whether he believes in Clemens in the near term. We asked some of those questions in our Sunday column.
As we point out in the column, it's still waaaay early in Clemens career to make a final determination about whether he's the guy. But the question still needs to be addressed in some form, because it will be a key component of the Jets' off-season.
Your thoughts?
The weather has gone from snow to sleet to rain, and the winds are whipping here at Gillette Stadium, scene of Jets-Patriots.
The conditions are simply nasty, and it'll be interesting to see if the Patriots' offense can operate with any kind of proficiency.
A ride to the stadium that normally takes about 30 minutes took a good two hours. Tom Rock did yeoman's work in navigating the treacherous roads. Just another example of how valuable Rock is to the operation.
Weird visual: With snow and sleet covering the seats, and with tractors plowing the snow and slush off the field, there's a picture of a fireplace burning logs on the scoreboard. Is this supposed some type of reverse psychology?
On the way up to New England for Jets-Pats, and here's the latest weather warning from Weather.com. Basically, the forecast calls for absurdly bad conditions for most of the game. Then again, one of the most celebrated moments in Patriots history came during a snowstorm in the 2001 playoffs, when Adam Vinatieri nailed the game-winning field goal against the Raiders in New England's first Super Bowl run. 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 3 PM EST SUNDAY.
STEADY SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE ADVISORY AREA JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY MIX WITH SLEET LATE...BEFORE CHANGING TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN DURING SUNDAY MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE TO A WINDSWEPT RAIN AROUND NOON SUNDAY. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TOP OF THE EXPECTED SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION. THE PRECIPITATION INTENSITY WILL TAPER OFF SIGNIFICANTLY AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES.
The latest Jets-Patriots controversy over a video camera took yet another twist today, when Patriots coach Bill Belichick told NBCsports.com that the Jets did not ask for permission to use a second endzone camera in their playoff game last season.
“I was never asked for permission, nor was anyone in our video department asked for permission for a second endzone camera,” Belichick said after his news briefing today.
It is the first time Belichick has directly addressed the situation over last year's playoff game, which was first reported by Newsday on Wednesday. We reported that a Jets' cameraman was removed from an endzone video position when Gillette Stadium security noticed him filming the playoff game.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said on Wednesday that the Jets had requested and received persmission to use the second endzone camera, which is allowed by the NFL.
It's just further evidence that the league really does need to impose more formal rules for the second endzone camera. Currently, the NFL leaves it up to individual clubs to use a second endzone camera to film games. As long as both teams have the ability to use the cameras, then either or both teams can use them.
Belichick's contention that the Jets never asked for permission in the first place leaves a big enough gray area that the league needs to close any potential loophole.
Jets public relations director Bruce Speight said "we will agreed to disagree" on the issue of whether the Jets received permission to use the second camera.
Newsday Internet guru Mark La Monica forces me to do these videos every so often, and he picked a great day to sit down and talk about all things NFL and all things Jets-Pats. My man Tom Rock is aboard, too, and Rock actually does quite well in moderating our discussion.
The taping was held at Chrebet's in Uniondale, right across from the Jets' training complex, the place where Chrebet began his unlikely career at Hofstra and then turned into an NFL star.
La Monica works hard on putting these things together, so even if you think it's cheesy (it's not, but don't tell La Monica I said that), give him a shoutout on the Keyboard Quarterbacks and show him some love.
You can also see if La Monica lives dangerously and does another shot of Jack Daniels in the video. Or, for that matter, if Rock or I throw down a couple.
(Little known La Monica factoid (in fact, stunning La Monica factoid): Yes, the man who threw down a shot of Jack at the Coliseum graduated from Neil Best's alma mater, Cornell. The only difference is, La Monica doesn't feel the need to brag about it every other blog post.)
Look, I understand your team went into yesterday's game with a 1-8 record, it was cold out, and the rain was falling early in the day. 
But any self-respecting Jets fan has to be disturbed by what we saw yesterday at G*&@!s Stadium, as Tom Rock (aka Uncle Fester) calls the place on Jets home days.
I've never seen a stadium quite like it. I pulled into the parking lot, and I saw a lot more black-and-gold than I did green-and-white. Granted, there are plenty of Steelers fans in the area, and I'm sure a bunch traveled in from Pittsburgh to support their beloved team.
But you cannot allow your stadium to be invaded by that many fans from the opposing team. Even if it's a Jets-Giants game, and it's a Jets home game, you can't allow that to happen. Even the Eagles fans don't infiltrate in numbers that big. Fireman Ed wasn't there, but at least he has an excuse; he hasn't been there all season because of knee problems.
The fact that the Jets actually pulled off the upset of the week made it even more absurd. By the time Mike Nugent's field goal split the uprights in OT, half the Jets fans who did show up were in their cars headed home.
Bad job by you, Jets fans. Inexcusable.
In a word: wow.
Eric Mangini has refused to listen to the fans and the media, as well as disregard the poor arm strength and interceptions. Chad Pennington is still his guy. 
At 1-6, Mangini evidently still feels the Jets have something to play for, and that Pennington gives him the best chance to win.
Either that or else Kellen Clemens really stinks in practice.
I mean, what else are you supposed to think when you see Mangini so unwilling to give a spark to his team that he's not allowing the quarterback he drafted last year to be Pennington's eventual successor to come off the bench?
This season is lost, and there is almost zero chance of the Jets making a comeback to be in playoff contention. So why not see what the kid has before the record falls completely apart?
The Bills are willing to go with rookie Trent Edwards as their starter after a promising series of starts in place of the injured J.P. Losman, but Mangini is making things very tough on his club by not at least considering the idea of throwing Clemens in there.
Can't imagine how ornery the fans are going to be for this one. If the Jets stink out the joint against the Bills, then G*&$&# Stadium - as Tom Rock so cleverly refers to GIANTS Stadium - is gonna be a mess.
As I wrote in today's newspaper column, Laveranues Coles has stepped up at a critical time for the Jets. It's when this team needs "a mensch" the most, and Coles has filled the role quite nicely.
It's been interesting to watch Coles grow as a football player and a human being. I remember when he was first drafted by Bill Parcells and Al Groh in 2000, he had the biggest chip on his shoulder of a player I've ever seen. He wanted desperately to prove himself after being kicked off the Florida State team for several off-field infractions.
He turned into a terrific receiver, and even after he forced his way out of New York in a trade with the Redskins, he soon realized that the grass wasn't any greener in Washington. He didn't like playing for Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs, and soon lobbied to get back to New York. He told me over the summer that he wants to finish his career in a Jets' uniform.
It's another reason he has turned into the Jets' stand-up guy in a season gone wrong.
Just wrapped up Eric Mangini's press conference at Weeb Ewbank Hall.
In answer to your question: The coach has not decided whether or not to bench Chad Pennington. Or if he has decided, he isn't willing to share it with anyone.
He talked about this being a process or some sort of coaching gobbledy gook, so no word just yet.
The hunch here is he waits until tomorrow and tells the QBs.
The hunch here is he tells Kellen Clemens he's the starter.
We caught up yesterday with former Jets QB Vinny Testaverde, who has some interesting things to say about former teammate Chad Pennington and the struggles he's going through with this year's team.
Always good to hear from Vinny, one of the classiest individuals ever to put on an NFL uniform. He offers a pretty interesting defense for what's going on with Pennington, who might be about to lose his job to second-year man Kellen Clemens.
Vinny's advice to Pennington: Hang in there, kid. It's not all your fault.
At 1-5, this is all about next year. So in our continuing efforts to serve our constituents, we commissioned Newsday college football guru Adam Abramson to put together his list of top 10 prospects likely to come into next year's draft.
Check out Abramson's blog, because the kid knows his stuff. In the meantime, here's a look at what you should be thinking about for next year.
1. Darren McFadden, Running Back-Arkansas
Only a junior, the 2007 Heisman runner-up is a larger version of Reggie Bush -- in terms of versatility. He's consistently averaged 6 yards per clip and has no problem getting the ball 25-30 times a game.
2. Brian Brohm, Quarterback-Louisville
Playing for a school without a defense, Brohm has been nothing short of a winner for Lousiville. He was the reason the Cardinals won the 2007 Orange Bowl. At 6'4, 230, he has no problem taking care of the little things, and he's pretty good at tucking it and taking off out of the pocket.
3. Glenn Dorsey, Defensive Tackle-Louisiana State
Despite weighing 300 pounds, Dorsey is one of the most athletic players on the field. It's a treat to watch him chase a play down from behind and make the tackle.
4. Calais Campbell, Defensive End-Miami
At 6'8, the junior was better Gaines Adams when he was selected as the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft. Think Julius Peppers all over again. Or Mario Williams if you will.
5. Jake Long, Offensive Tackle-Michigan
Running back Mike Hart and quarterback Chad Henne get all of the headlines, but it's Long -- a four-year starter -- who has the most talent of the Michigan bunch.
6. Dan Connor, Linebacker-Penn State
He's 6'3, 233 and has been a tackling machine since first hitting the recruiting scene at 16 years old. He played under the shadow of Paul Posluszny, but has flourished leading one of the best defenses in the country.
7. Andre Woodson, Quarterback-Kentucky
He has NFL quarterback size, an NFL quarterback cannon and NFL quarterback poise. If he had the same weapons as JaMarcus Russell in 2006, his statistics would be untouchable. Big wins this year show he has the necessary intangibles.
8. Adarius Bowman, Wide Receiver-Oklahoma State
He's bigger than Andre Johnson and has the speed to pose matchup problems for any defense in the NFL. Look up prototypical wide receiver in a book and you'll find Bowman.
9. James Laurinaitis, Linebacker-Ohio State
When you're an All-American as a sophomore, you're doing something right. Make sure you don't question his abilities against the pass -- he has seven interceptions in essentially 19 games of playing fulltime football.
10. Matt Ryan, Quarterback-Boston College
Teams suffer as a whole when there's a coaching change, but quarterbacks can be broken by such a move. Such isn't the case for Ryan, Tom O'Brien left and Ryan has been nothing short of dominant his senior year without him.
We certainly don't expect the Jets' coaching staff to admit they've read our list of suggestions to turn their season around, but we are kind of curious to see if they pay attention. 
I wrote a list of suggestions in my newspaper column today, all in an attempt to give this season some meaning after all.
At 1-4, it's nearly a lost cause, but this is the NFL, so strange things do happen. As my man Tom Rock is quick to point out, the Jets are one of five teams since 1990 to pull out of a 1-4 tailspin and make the playoffs. And just like that 2002 season, it all seems hopeless after five games.
But again we're certain this team will play hard despite the record, so we'll see what happens. In the meantime, lemme know what you think of the ideas, and offer some of your own if you like.
Hanging out in the ESPN First Take green room with former Jets cornerback James Hasty, who is making quite a name for himself in the broadcasting business
James has a shoutout for Jets fans ...
"I miss 'em. I really do. I miss those Jet games."
Hasty is miffed about a couple things, though.
"Do they have cheerleaders?"
"Yes, although I don't think they call them cheerleaders, per se."
"Why cheerleaders now but not then?" Hasty says. "All that losing, we could have used a little motivation."
Hasty on this year's team: "It's tough, but I still think they can do something. They need a running game. And I like the leadership of Laveranues Coles. They need more guys like him."
Just a note here: We filmed this before Thomas Jones' injury and before Kellen Clemens made things interesting with some strong preseason play. But Adam Abramson needs the face time, and Mark La Monica needs to justify his existence as Newsday.com's guru, so here goes.
... thanks for the flattering intro shot, fellas.
There's no way the Jets could have kept Pete Kendall this season, not with the acrimony built up over the last several months. Kendall claimed he received verbal assurances of a $1 million raise - to $2.7 million - by the Jets, while GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have been unwilling to grant the request.
Kendall responded with plenty of harsh words for the coach and GM whenever anyone asked how he felt, and there was simply no way he could have co-existed on this team this season without huge fallout.
So the Jets did the right thing by getting a draft pick from the Redskins for the 34-year-old guard, who still has a few good years left. If they weren't gonna pay him - and clearly, they weren't - then best to get something in return.
The deal also keeps Kendall away from the Dolphins, the team they were deathly afraid would sign Kendall if he'd been released at the end of the preseason.
So it's a win-win in that respect, but on the field, it's far from certain. The Jets simply don't have a replacement who provides the kind of steady leadership and solid blocking that Kendall offered. Adrien Clarke is the likely fill-in, but he has had a less-than-stellar camp so far.
... for even mentioning the possibility that the Jets are worried about Chad Pennington in any way, shape or form.
Ok, so Coles didn't come out and tell specifically mention Rock yesterday during a very informative interview between practices. But the 29-year-old receiver did sound off on anyone who would suggest that Friday night's two-interception performance meant that there was cause for concern.
When I asked if there should be any issue whatsoever with Pennington as the starter, Coles said simply: "No. Cut-and-dried. No."
Why so?
"Why wouldn't he be the starter? I don't know where your loyalty lies, but I know where my loyalty lies, and it's with Chad. He's the main reason I came back [to the Jets from the Redskins]. I'm with him."
Nothing personal now, Kellen Clemens. You know how it is.
Jets fans might have been more than a little quizzical about the potential motivation of disgruntled guard Pete Kendall during Friday night's preseason game against the Vikings, when he snapped the ball way over Kellen Clemens' head and led to a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Minnesota. He also had another botched snap.
Kendall is having a continuing contract beef with the Jets, and has let it be known that he's none too happy about getting snaps at center. So would he puposely botch the snap to make a point to head coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum?
"No," he said after practice this morning, echoing his claim to reporters after the game that he simply played poorly. "Why would I put Kellen in that situation? It's unbelievable to me that people would ask. I guess if you take a certain position in this situation, then anything you can use to justify your position, then that's what you're going to do about it. I would not do that to my teammates on purpose."
We buy Kendall's explanation on that, and his previous problems playing center when called upon in the past lead you to believe that it's a matter of technical difficulties. Besides, the guy has said just about anything and everything to force his way off the team, so he doesn't need to make a statement on the field to justify his anger over the contract impasse. Kendall said he has had no problem with his teammates over his frustrations with the contract.
I asked Kendall what his gut feeling was about the eventual outcome of his situation, and he said he simply didn't know. I asked what he'd do if the season started and he was the team's starting left guard, which is a distinct possibility.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," he said. "I don't know what the plan is. I'm just trying to get through the day."
Stay tuned on this one. Absent a $1 million raise on his $1.7 million contract, the Kendall mess will stay ugly.
... on the exercise bike. And the Jets' injured running back looked terrific tossing a medicine ball back and forth with Jets' assistant and former defensive lineman Rick Lyle.
Jones remains week-to-week with a calf strain, but it's clear the Jets sorely need his presence if they're going to be a contender this year. They patched together a running game last year with nearly half a dozen backs, but Chad Pennington needs the workhorse type back like Jones to be at peak efficiency, especially if teams are going to crowd the box trying to defend the dink-and-dunk passes that have become his trademark.
(UPDATE: My man Tom Rock informs me that Jones was riding the stationary bike for the first time since being injured, which is good news. The bad news: When I saw him walking off the bike toward the practice huddle when the morning session ended, he was not walking too well. Week-to-week might be optimistic.)
That's Rich, not Bob, so let's get that straight. Rich G.: Older brother by two years, often beat me up, hated the nickname "Erch," went nuts when we called him "Erchie," has a great kid, we no longer fight, lives in Eugene, Oregon. If you ever need a musical gig to entertain folks from 2-92, Rich is your guy. Great musician. Reminds you of Raffi. 
Ok, enough of the bio. See the website for further details.
So why bring Rich into the equation? Because he's a Kellen Clemens freak, having watched the Jets' backup QB at Oregon. Rich loves the kid. And after hearing about Chad Pennington's struggles last night against the Vikes - 2 picks returned for TD - he's wondering if it's time for Clemens to start.
"Hey Bob,
Is Kellen the man yet? ... Maybe you'll have to come out to Burns and do a feature on sagebrush, 4 wheel drives and 25 cent coffee."
Rich closes with an off-color joke we won't repeat here, but suffice it to say, Clemens has a big supporter back on the West Coast. In fact, he probably has some supporters at Giants Stadium who are wondering whether Chad's struggles last night are a hint of things to come.
The Bob Glauber take here: Relax, people. It's preseason. You think the Patriots are ready to sack Tom Brady as quarterback because he threw an interception return for touchdown last night?
Chad is the starter. Clemens is the backup. The only way that changes is if the picks are returned for touchdown once the real games begin. And we're still a few weeks away, so let's chill.
In the meantime, we'll keep Erch ... I mean, Rich ... posted on all things Clemens.
A few minutes ago, Chad Pennington threw an ill-fated pass in the direction that of Leon Washington that was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. And a few minutes before that - on the Jets' first series - Pennington threw a pick that was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Darren Sharper.
Pennington didn't attempt another pass on his third - and final - series he played in the Jets' second preseason game against the Vikings.
A few minutes later, backup Kellen Clemens threw a short pass to his left to Justin McCareins, who turned it into a dazzling 35-yard touchdown.
Quarterback controversy?
Easy does it.
Eric Mangini didn't name Pennington his starter in the off-season, only to pull the plug based on a poor throw in their second preseason game. In fact, I'll bet Pennington sizzles next Saturday night against the Giants. He'll get his most extensive playing time of the preseason - probably playing well into the third quarter with the starters - and knowing how frustrated he was with the interception, he'll be highly motivated to put in a solid showing against Big Blue.
Now, if Pennington stinks it up against the Giants, things get a little dicey, especially if Clemens, who has had a really good camp, stays sharp. At least it'll be interesting.
Darrelle Revis will go a long way toward completing the puzzle to the Jets' defense now that he's finally signed, sealed and delivered.
Negotiations took far longer than expected, but the former Pitt corner figures to play a huge role in the Jets' defense, especially against divisional powerhouse New England and all the Patriots' new receivers. 
It'll surely take Revis a while to catch up now that he's missed so much time in training camp. But if there's one position that you can overcome a prolonged absence, especially for a younger player, it's cornerback. The zone defenses are complicated and require plenty of practice, but with plenty of man coverage these days, corners can simply rely on their natural instincts more than players at other positions, where schemes are often more complicated.
Of course, not as complicated as negotiations to get Revis signed. It took weeks of talking, and a marathon session that lasted the better part of the last two days. The contract, according to Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, is a whopping 47 pages long!
"I knew the landing spot on this deal was really small, but I was resolute in the fact that there was a landing spot that was good for Darrelle and good for the Jets," Tannenbaum said. "I am just happy we found a spot. In some deals, it’s easy to find that landing spot. This deal was obviously hard to find, but we knew that it was there. Part of it is the system- the complexities of the system over the last few years. We are sitting here with a 47-page document. All these deals are complicated and it seems like each year they get more complicated, not less complicated."
The two sides hammered out details that had to be approved by the NFL Management Council, which accounted for some of the delay in getting the deal done. But now that it's completed, it's on to football for a cornerback the Jets hope will be here for a long, long time.
