E-Boland & Gang Green

As the media walked outside, playing on the sound system was Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier.” I noticed several players, Bryan Thomas most glaringly, gyrating as they stretched. Eric Mangini loves his themes. I remember Miami week the theme from “Miami Vice” was playing when we walked outside.

David Harris was again on the exercise bike on the sideline. It increasingly looks as if he will not play Sunday [Eric Smith and Bubba Franks did not practice either]. If Harris can’t go, David Bowens will replace him, as was the case last week when Harris went out with his groin injury during the game.

“Same as it’s been every week,” Bowens said of his approach. “All my career, when I first was backing up Jason Taylor then I started opposite…every week I feel like I’m learning something new which is a challenge for me so I take it very seriously. I’ve always prepared, I’ve always been ready. When I went in last week, nothing ever changes, I was the same. My preparation’s always been the same.”

On occasion I like to ask questions I know players can’t answer just to see how they respond and if they have a sense of humor. So after Bowens talked about the Bills and his preparations, I asked him for an update on Harris’ injury.

“C’mon, man, you see these gray hairs,” Bowens said with a laugh. “I’m not going to fall for that hook. That was a nice try, though.”

* The Jets, who haven’t had a pick in three games, were working on intercepting passes and also tips at the line. Watching Kris Jenkins deftly grab hold of a tipped ball and accelerate several steps forward is a sight.

* Damien Woody was excused from practice for the second straight day for personal reasons. Mangini said Woody would “definitely play on Sunday.”

“He’s fine,” Mangini said. “There’s nothing wrong with him physically.”

* A pretty good summary of how the Jets feel about this Sunday’s game against Buffalo was given by Kerry Rhodes on Wednesday.

“It’s a chance for us to come out against a good team and prove our worth a little bit,” Rhodes said.

* Mangini was asked about the election and if there’s any benefit or downside to players and/or coaches talking about politics.

“Probably not. My dad used to say you shouldn’t really talk about politics and religion,” Mangini said. “So try to stay away from those two topics.”

I, naturally, then had to ask him, why in heck he majored in politic science.

“I can study it but just not talk about it,” Mangini said smiling. “Just like my press conferences.”

* Greg Bishop from the Times ordered Legal Seafood today, yet another decadent Thursday afternoon feast. As I’ve mentioned before, beat writers pick the Thursday catering for the press room (yes, it is amazing we get paid for this line of work), and my spot in the rotation comes up next week. So any locals who have suggestions for good area eats, I’m all ears. We might have tried some of them already, but who knows.

* Finally, spend part of your Halloween right here as Live Chat IX is tomorrow morning at 11. I always wonder if the poor Jets interns – Matt, Christie and Jeanette – have to follow those live chats the same way they’re forced to read this blog by their taskmaster, PR chief Bruce Speight. My guess is yes. The man is cold.

Katie Strang fills in for me tomorrow at The Fort, but I'll be back sometime in the evening with the Friday Picks Post when, on a weekly basis, a good time is had by all.