A quick interjection
Well, I was wrong. Indeed, for Chad Pennington, Sunday's game is like any other.
"I’m excited because I have a chance to start and play this game," Pennington just said on a conference call. "And there’s nothing like opening day in the NFL. I think it’s an exciting time for all NFL players and when you get a chance to help lead a team it’s exciting. So on the outside, with the hype around the game and with all the transactions that have happened between the two teams, one would think it’s a revenge game or a statement game or anything like that, but I don’t approach it that way. I approach it as our opening day game, which is exciting for all of us."
Jets coach Eric Mangini and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano gave similar "one of 16" answers.
Brett Favre, as always, gave the most honest response of the day regarding this topic.
"You know, if I was playing against the Packers this week, it would feel a little bit different obviously."
Oh, to talk about this or anything else NFL related, our NFL columnist Bob Glauber will be doing a live chat at 3 p.m. Today. Meaning just about now.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (22)
Hi Erik love your blog...Id like to suggest a nickname for you to use....Dustin "give him heller" Keller....who will be dominant for years to come.
Hi Erik love your blog...Id like to suggest a nickname for you to use....Dustin "give 'em heller" Keller....who will be dominant for years to come.
A) Jason Pocsiak’s career will flourish in New England.
B) Jacob Bender’s career will flourish in New England.
C) Both of their careers will flourish in New England.
D) Neither of their careers will flourish in New England.
E) Charles Nelson Reilly
Hey Erik, I know I mentioned it to you at Hofstra, but it appears to be worse at Florham Park. The audio on both Mangini's and Favre's press conferences was horrific. Couldn't hear you guys at all and could barely hear them.
Might want to let their press guys know. They also might want a little ticker on the bottom of the screen that says "Erik (Futon/Solara) Boland of Newday asks insightful, probing question".
Jets08, thanks for reading! And the nickname...not bad, not bad at all.
RDubbs, THAT was extremely well played.
John Z., I will mention that to the proper individuals. Maybe it was because it was the first day. As for the ticker idea...well, we'll just stick with trying to improve the audio for now. Futon/Solara...
Some ran-dumb thoughts:
Is there any truth to the rumor that Woody has arranged for John McCain to do the ceremonial coint toss at the Pats gaeme?
Is Mangini's new mantra for dealing with the press: "Bore 'em in Florham!"
As Jimmy Cannon used to write, "Nobody Asked Me But..." Prediction: Fireman Ed will boycott the new stadium if he has to pay for a PSL. He'll claim he doesn't need a seat because he sits on his brother's shoulders. He's Fireman Ed and thinks he should continue to get perks and freebies to perform his stale act. The guy is a one-trick phony, who has come to represent repeated failure. Enough.
Erik,
Chad has always been and will always continue to be a class guy. But you know inside he is looking to win so bad.
Erik, do you share my sentiments and think this can be a trap game? Everyone just writes off the Phins cuz of last year, and while I don't think they are better than a 5-11 record, there is a lot of pressure on us to win and no pressure on them. How do you think Mangini will handle this and what do you foresee happening on Sunday?
RC, Woody has already sent Fireman Ed a letter regarding his PSL choices. Unfortunatley he will be charged a Personal Shoulder License on top of his regular PSL. As an extra incentive he will receive a Club beverage delivery service as well as a complimentary pair of Generation Jets shoulder pads with extra wide beverage holder built-in.
Ira, i think Chad will be extra pumped for this game. I hope he's so excited that he forces throws and tries to win the game by himself.
All due respect IRA (great job getting on ESPN in spite of Ed!) I think Chad's Class and "Cerebralness" is vastly overrated. He never gives an honest answer, always a super political one - it's complete BS and always has been. A real man would stand up there and say how he really feels. And smart did he look when he blew the Giants game last year?
How can Chad be a Jets liability until August 2008 - then become a feared opponent? His shortcomings (and short passes) remain and place. Stop wringing the collective hands.
On the twenty - two minutes down by 5 points. Would you rather have Chad or Favre?
Done.
"Well, I was wrong."- Erik Boland
Well, there's a news flash....
Seriously Boland, you're looking a little piqued in that video over on the right, kinda bloated too. You been watching your dairy intake lately? How's your free-radicals? We might have to get you onto a Big Jenk-type diet soon. Try to hit up a few less Taco Bells, huh?
RC Meany, I'm starting to gather you don't like this move to Jersey in the least. Call it a hunch...
JetsFanDan, I completely agree with you on this being a trap game. I'll give you a score Friday - just the way I do things - but I think you guys (meaning the Jets) will get out of there with a win. But far from easy.
CG, agreed on the two-minute situation. I don't even think that's debatable.
Darrell, Darrell, Darrell, I get that after wishing you a happy b-day? It's all good, I know. Allow me to explain the video. First, the way I'm freeze-framed their makes me look like a beaver (think face please). I'm a svelt 165 pounds but that day I was in the beginning stages of what was a nasty cold. I think that made my head balloon up. Let's go with that.
Erik, can I suggest a nickname for your video persona? Thanks. Downtown Beaver Brown.
"...and now we go to Newdsay's own Downtown Beaver Brown at the new Jets training facility...."
e-bola, long time reader, rare commenter. i really enjoy your work and i do agree this is a trap game. but it's a trap for the media, not the jets. i mean, put aside all the juicy media storylines and name one player on the dolphins who should scare the jets? this game will be a blowout. as CG noted, how is it all of a sudden the dolphins are a tough team to beat when chad is the QB. just three weeks ago he was just the weaklink on a much better team -- and the success of the team was being questioned bc of his lack of ability. it's illogical. it's as if the fins were the team in need of the missing QB piece instead of the jets. it's the world upside down. the dolphins are a borderline expansion team outside of pennington and their two RBs.
Just concerned, Erik. We need to keep you healthy for a 16 game stretch here. If you go down, what're we left with? Cimini?
Yes the Dolphins were the laughing stock of the league last year, and they shouldn't be much better this year. That being said it is still a rivalry game, Chad will come out and try to have the game of his life. Should the Jets win in a laugher, absolutely. Will they? Hoping so, but believe this: the Fish are going to show up on Sunday. It may be the last game they show up for, but with the Tuna watching from high above that dump they call Dolphin stadium, a new coach, and a scorned QB leading the team, the Jets better not come out flat, or they could be in trouble. I stated it before, it is all going to come down to Defense. If the defense plays as well as it is being hyped after the offseason acquisitions, we will win big. Pothead Ricky slashes us for 125+ we will be in for a long day. Not trying to come off as pessimistic, just throwing saome caution to the wind. Here's looking forward to me looking like an idiot come Monday morning, after a huge blow out. Go JETS!!! Squish those Fish!!!
I think reality is in the middle somewhere. Yes, the 'Phins sucked last year, but Parcells & Sparano aren't going to let them suck this year. They're not completely rebuilt, but they're not going to be a walkthrough either.
That being said, I was actually impressed with the way the Jets starters hung in there with the Giants starters, who are a far better team than Miami.
Probably like a 21-10 Jets victory.
Well here goes my prediction [which means nothing] for this week. A very tight game both teams trying to run the ball and control the clock. Jets hold on to a 20 -17 win. GO JETS!!!!
I am more concerned with the last game of the year, when we face the Dolphins and Flipper for the second time deep in December in the Meadowlands. They'll have nothing to play for by then except the chance to end our 15-game winning streak and spoil our perfect season.
Erik,
Bill loves beef.
The Jets D has beef for the first time since, well, forever!
LB Pace weighs more than Abdul Salaam or Marty Lyons! Jets may neutralize Ricky with a four-man front or perhaps even five -- calling it the nickel-bag defense.
CG
CG Love the "nickel Bag comment"
Looks like a trap game, good thing it is opening day. Team will be focused on the game at hand due to 1st one and the Chad factor. Look at the match-up, will be a fun game but the JETS have (well I hope so) too much talent.
73 hours, 19 minutes 45 secs to kickoff