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Recently, ESPN’s Rich Cimini had an exclusive one-on-one phone interview with quarterback Mark Sanchez. This is the first one-on-one Sanchez has done with a beat writer.
What are the quarterback’s expectations for the Jets this season?
“Do we expect to go to the Super Bowl? We better, absolutely,” Sanchez told ESPNNewYork.com. “That’s our goal.”
Sanchez feels some commentators are overrating him right now.
“Man, [some sports talk hosts] are talking like I did really well,” Sanchez said. “I mean, yeah, we had a good run at the end of the season, but I’m not even good yet. Just wait. Just wait until I know what I’m doing. I’m not even good yet.”
Where is his comfort level at right now?
“Do I feel like I’m better than I was last year? Hands down, without a doubt,”
he says. “I feel so much more comfortable, sharper. It’s only going to build.
This year’s passing attack progresses as the former rookie quarterback
progresses. As I grow up, the passing offense grows up and expands.”
How excited is he about this year’s team?
“This will be a multi-faceted offense that will come after you, with a defense
that will kick your butt,” Sanchez said.

After scoring an exclusive interview with Mark Sanchez (the first by a Jets beat writer) last week, ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini was the only reporter to land quotes from Lavarnues Coles after the wideout re-signed with the Jets on Friday.
“It’s an insurance policy for them,” Coles told Cimini. “Those first four games are
very important for the team to get where they want to go. It’s an opportunity
for me to come in and see what I can still do, but there’s a slim chance I’ll be
there after four games. There’s a good chance I’ll get released; it depends on
how things go. They were honest and open about it. It is what it is.”

New York Post beat writer Mark Cannizzaro feels the Jets showed poor timing in announcing contract extensions for Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum on Friday.
“Well, well, look what we have here,” wrote Cannizzaro in Saturday’s New York Post. “While several key Jets players are toiling in frustration over contractual issues, the Jets announced yesterday that they have extended the contracts of coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum, keeping them together with the Jets through 2014.
“The timing is interesting considering the player contract issues that Tannenbaum
and Ryan are facing with some of the most important players on their roster as
training camp is set to begin tomorrow.
“Johnson made a statement in displaying his pleasure with both Ryan and
Tannenbaum. It will be interesting to see what kind of statement Johnson makes
with his wallet when it comes to Revis, Mangold and Harris.”

New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller will be hosting the “I Eight One Preseason Kickoff Party” at the Village Pourhouse in New York City this Saturday – a day before the Jets open training camp. “I Eight One,” which plays off of Keller’s No. 81 jersey, is the name of a monthly food column Keller writes for the New York Times. At the event this Saturday, Keller and the restaurant will be debuting a new “I Eight One” veggie wrap, and Keller will be signing autographs and hosting various prize giveaways.

Keller will also be talking to fans about the new wrap and he’ll be writing about it for his August column. The goal of “I Eight One” is to cover the world of food from the unique perspective of a professional athlete while inspiring people to try new and different things before forming an opinion.

Other Jets players will be joining Keller at the event, which takes place at the downtown Village Pourhouse location at 64 3rd Avenue at 11th Street.

DUSTIN KELLER RESTAURANT APPEARANCE

When: Saturday, July 31, 2010
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Village Pourhouse
64 3rd Ave. at 11th Street

In the latest issue of Jets Confidential Magazine (totally different content than this website), cornerback Dwight Lowery told JC that he asked the coaches for a chance to play safety.
“Safety is more natural to me,” Lowery told JC. “I played safety in junior college, and I was supposed to play safety at San Jose State, but a cornerback got arrested. Playing in the middle of the field will allow me to play at my best. For me skillset, it’s best for me to read and react.”
And based on how well he played in the spring practices, hauling in several picks, this move looks like it could work out well.
Lowery doesn’t have ideal speed to play man-to-man cornerback in Rex’s system. That isn’t a shot at him, just a dose of reality. If he’s going to play cornerback in the NFL, he would be a better fit in a Cover Two zone system.
You can pick up a copy of the latest issue of JC on the newstand or subscribe by calling 1-800-932-4557 (M-F, 9-5).

The New York Jets have signed free agent wide receiver
Laveranues Coles.

Coles (WR/5-11/200/Florida State/Jacksonville, FL) has spent seven of his 10 NFL
seasons with the Jets where he produced 459 receptions for 5,941 yards and 37
touchdowns. He ranks fourth in team history in receptions, fifth in receiving
yards and is tied for fifth in touchdown receptions. In 2009, he played with
Cincinnati and ranked second on the team with 43 receptions for 514 yards and
five touchdowns. Originally a Jets third-round pick in 2000 (78th overall),
Coles signed with Washington in 2003 as a restricted free agent but was
re-acquired by the Jets in 2005 in a trade for Santana Moss.

For his career, Coles has compiled 674 career receptions (35th all-time in the
NFL) for 8,609 yards (59th all-time) and 49 touchdowns.

The Jets have signed wide receiver Laveranues Coles.
The announcement was made by Ashley Earle.

On Friday, the Jets gave GM Mike Tannenbaum a five-year contract extension.
But this probably won’t stop Mike Florio from writing yet another “Tannenbaum is on the hotseat” story. He’s written so many of them, I’ve lost count.
Speaking of PFT, I have to give Gregg Rosenthal credit for giving us a different twist on Darrelle Revis.
“No one was talking about Darrelle Revis as the best cornerback in the league a year ago, and that’s partly because Ryan’s pass rush makes Revis look so good,” wrote Rosenthal.

The Jets have given coach Rex Ryan a two-year extension. The announcement was made by NFL reporter/personal trainer Jay Glazer, who is a close friend of Ryan.