Just got off a conference call with Jerricho Cotchery, David Harris and Darrelle Revis. I’ll be doing a story about some of what they said for tomorrow’s paper but here's a snippet: they’re ready to go.
Ok, a bit more quickly: Interesting comment from David Harris regarding Vernon Gholston (not signed as of this moment):
"I see myself in him a lot," Harris said, meaning Gholston's ability to pick things up quickly, as Harris did last year as a rookie. "I think he’s going to be all right."
Cotchery on the receiving corps: "I’m very confident in the group we have. We have a bunch of guys who can get out there and make plays. We have guys who can do a lot of different things...and bring a lot to the table."
And Revis isn't convinced he'll start. Kidding. Sort of. I asked him who would start opposite him - didn't think he'd answer but it never hurts to ask - and Revis said with a laugh, "I don't know if I'm going to be starting."
Not a bad thing when one of your top players has that kind of attitude; that every job in camp is open, including his own (even when it really isn't), and that he has to work as hard as anyone else battling for a job. Dave Hutchinson (Hutch to just about everyone), of the Star Ledger, later assured Revis he would start.
Ok, live chat shortly.
Comments (24)
Revis' attitude is exactly what you are looking for in locker room leadership. I hope all this Jet Values pays off in wins this year. One of these days the good guys will win.
On a completely different topic i may have talked my wife into slipping Namath in as my unborn kid's middle name.
Hey Boland, I tried getting this question through in the live chat, but no dice, so I'll leave it here. Rich Cimini of the Daily News wrote in his most recent blog that the by placing Chris Baker on the PUP list, the Jets have assumed the upper hand in this conflict. As such, it seems this move has forced Baker into a submission, of sorts, because his contract no longer becomes guaranteed. What's your thoughts on this, buddy?
Conference call??? I knew that wasn't you answering those questions.
…Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.
McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”
The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”
No way is Farve coming to NY !
Bryan, I really think what's going to be interesting tomorrow is what Baker says. The Jets don't usually make players on the PUP list available to talk but the Jets told all the beat reporters Baker will talk tomorrow. I mean, based on what he said in minicamp - when he didn't hold his tongue at all - if he's NOT really hurt here and he feels this is punitive, I can't imagine Baker not telling us that. Then again, maybe Baker figures getting paid something is better than getting released but I'll keep saying what I've said before: I still don't think the Jets want to get rid of him. Maybe I'm insane [too easy, I know] and will be proven so on this soon enough, but that's my sense. Cutting through all this contract stuff, he is the Jets best all-around tight end.
dmb, what are we going to do with you? The conference call was from 12:05 to about 12:25 and I posted that item about it BEFORE 1 p.m., which is when the live chat started. I took my writer's HGH and therefore was able to do both.
Scott P, yes I saw that report late last night. Every time you think the Favre situation can't get weirder...
Ah, and Mr. Green T, so I can one day have your ability of persuasion with women, how did you manage to talk her into Namath? (which is actually cool-sounding as you think about it)
Harris was a monster after Vilma went down last year. He can only get better this year.
Boland, I realized that right after I submitted the comment. I didn't notice it was there because the chat came before the blog post on your page but you posted it before you logged on to the chat.
Anyway, gotta tell the mod next time to try and not include questions already answered in your last chat or on the blog page, seems like a lot of repeats.
Revis will be one of the top 5 CB's in the league this year.
The fact that Favre is calling the Vikings doesn't necessarily implicate them. Perhaps favre is a stalker that's stalking Brad Childress. Ok maybe not.
I assume the Jets aren't going to get Favre, but I think it would be great if they did. Everyone whose anyone (King, Mort) seem to think he's going to TB. Just a thought though .... don't you think Clemens might benefit from spending a season or two watching and working with Brett Favre. He's probably a lot more like Brett stylistically than he is like CP. If he does get traded to TB, does that mean Garcia becomes available? He's another QB that's better than our 2 right now.
Missed the chat but here is a question for you Erik.
Do you think the Jets keep all 4 QB's on the roster this year, since you said Ratliff looked good at the OTA's, and I doubt they would cut Ainge.
tia
Boland, I'd have to say I agree with you. Baker, right now, is easily the Jets best all around tight end. The position is deep and talented if it features Baker, Dustin Keller and Bubba Franks. One interesting thing to point out though; I doubt very much that Baker is not hurt. Not only would it be a disaster if the Jets put him on the PUP list knowing he was healthy, but remember, Baker showed up to camp when all the injured veterans were required to report. After receiving his physical at that point, he was placed on the PUP list. My gut feeling is that, while you may not see a smiling Baker tomorrow, you will see a very subdued, less vocal Baker.
How can the Jets be accused of placing him on the PUP list after he was the one crying how his back hurt during the OTAs? He just wanted to let them know he was going to pout and be a distraction unless they gave in to his tantrum.
But in doing so he gave them a way to remove him and keep him from being too attractive to another team and hopefully he realizes that they can just let him remain in limbo and then cut his just before the first game limitting his value to anyone else. That might compel him to just play the year and hit the market after the season.
And I doubt Baker would be upset if he was released Erik. That would make him a FA which is exactly what he wants so he can get a new deal.
JETVET, I should have clarified that and your point is correct. What I should have added was that at this late stage of things, he doesn't want to get released because he'd have no guarantee he could get this year what he's scheduled to get from the Jets. Sure, he'd hook on somewhere, but not for the money he wants. If he indeed really wasn't hurt during the OTAs, then he outsmarted himself, no question. But I think the injury was legit. We'll all see soon enough.
JayM, I would be surprised if they kept four. And in saying that, I believe that's the only way Ratliff makes the team, unless Clemens wins the job and Pennington gets PO'd and demands a trade. But that's not Pennington's way.
And dmb, there were some repeats. The live-chat thing is still a work in progress for us so hopefully we can improve with each one. I love the participation but saw a lot of people who didn't get their questions in. Maybe we'll try to do a massive two-hour one before the season. Anyway, there will be more of the one-hour ones coming during camp.
erik, i wasn't able to get on your chat because my office blocks that stuff. i had a question on the vilma trade/draft pick.
on your chat, you said:
dmb, no once the season is "over," it's over, one day afterward or not.
moorebr07, it looks more and more like that pick is going to end up being a third-rounder for the jets
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my question is, if it is only the 3rd, are the jets still required to send back to the saints the 4th? or was that only if they got the 2nd?
(i hope that makes sense)
thanks. you do a great job covering the jets
Erik,
During negotiations for naming rights to the first child i gave up on the first name on the condition i get the middle name AND the first name of the next one. The first one's middle name is Jett. I know i have problems. So to talk her into Namath, i gave up the first pick and settled for the middle name which sounds better. Plus i don't come off as insane when the children are introduced to strangers.
I think Mr. T would have been proud of the trades. I may need to seek help, though.
Greg, thanks. From looking back at how it was reported [I wasn't on the Jets at the time] the fourth-rounder went back if this year's turned out to be a second OR third round pick.
Mr. Green T, forget Mr. T being proud of your ability to negotiate. Aim higher. You might be able to help the U.S. out with Iran with those skills.
Big day tomorrow!
First time they are opening camp on a day besides Friday since at least 2000 or 2001. Go figure flash flood warnings and rain storms coming.Oh well hope Friday is better.
Boland, to bring up my question from the chat again,my question was actually more about whether or not we (as in you, Tom Rock, the media) are sure the language is structured "an extension before the end of the season" and not just something with regards to re-signing him at any point?
I just ask because I can't imagine why the Jets in their right mind would accept those terms knowing that any GM with an education level above 1st grade will just sign him 1 day after the season ends to avoid it. I mean why would they even bother with a deal that is impossible to gain that extra compensation? There's no risk to the Saints because they can sign him after the season AND before free agency so its not like they are competing with other teams either. It just make no sense.
EB - great spot you talking with Bassett on thejetsblog. Brian is a good guy, and I love how you are able to co-exist as bloggers, very different than competing beat writers.
By the way, I went to the Jets website the other day to the news/clippings section and all 6 or 7 NY papers had the same headline, same exact story. PLEASE don't turn into another Cimini/Cannizaro! While I appreciate their contribution over the years, they are in no ways innovative. Guys like you and Bassett are giving fans like me soooo much more info - tell your boss to stick it next time he wants you to cover the generic story.
So it begins, Erik. All us psychopathic Jets fans are looking forward to this pre-season more eagerly than in years past for several reasons, not the least of which is the high volume and quality of the coverage we've already come to expect and rely on from you. Thanks for everything up til now, and for all you're about to go through. Good luck, and good reporting.
Erik,
First time posting here...but I've been reading your blog daily for a while now and I have to say that you are doing an outstanding job!
This is without a doubt the best Jet blog out there.
Live chat, replying to your readers, sense of humor, dedication to your work and the fact that you seem like a really regular guy and fan have enabled you to set the new standard for blogs.
Also heard you on Bassett and enjoyed it. Many thanks.
So Smith and Chatman were placed on the nonfootball injury list. Hope not for long. Don't worry about Gholston. Most of the 1st roundwes are not signed yet. Its the way it is around the league. He will be in by tomorrow.
Greg: You should say, your office "blocks" that stuff. Any nerd worth his weight (about 98 lbs for most nerds) could circumvent that annoyance. Find yourself a nerd and you'll be chatting in no time...
Thanks for the nice comments, guys. We're still trying to progress, one way or the other. Practice No. 2 starting shortly...