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It’s time for another heaping helping of Jets Whispers with notes on a key 49er who might be out, Aaron Berry, Antonio Cromartie and more. Let’s get it started . . .
While the Jets have plenty of injuries of their own, they will get one significant injury break on the San Francisco 49er front.
It looks like the 49ers massive, talented starting nose tackle, Isaac Sopoaga, will likely miss the game. He is dealing with ankle and knee injuries and didn’t practice all week.
The 6-2, 330-pounder Somoan powerhouse is the perfect 3-4 nose tackle. AT the combine, he bench pressed 225 pounds, 42 times.
If Sopoaga can’t play, he will be replaced by Ian Williams, a Notre Dame-product. Williams is good, but he’s a little undersized for 3-4 nose tackle. He lacks the quintessential girth that Isaac bring to the table.
Nick Mangold should clearly win his matchup with Williams . . .
The Jets should sign CB Aaron Berry, and get it over with.
Yes, he’s had some off-the-field issues.
This past off-season, Berry had a DUI’s, and was also charged with brandishing a firearm. If not for these poor decisions, there is a good chance he’d be starting for the Detroit Lions this year.
The core value days are over, just go for it Jets – the guy can play. He came out of Pitt in 2010, and made the Lions as an undrafted free agent. He has 4.47 speed and a lot of confidence.
“There are first-round busts every year and there are guys that are free agents that go to the Pro Bowl,” Berry said. “When I’m healthy, I feel like I’m the best player out there and that’s the attitude you’re supposed to have,”
He’s the best corner available on the street. And if you sign him now, he’s a week-to-week salary guy, so what do you have to lose? If he messes up, you bounce him.
I would be concerned that he’s so close to Harrisburg, PA (about two hours from Florham Park), where his trouble tends to occur, but the Jets should just go ahead and roll the dice.
It’s not like they are running The Vatican in Florham Park . . .
The Jets added former Notre Dame cornerback Darrin Walls to their practice squad today. He with in Atlanta’s camp this summer, but suffered some kind of leg injury, and was given an injury settlement at the cut to 75 . . .
While Antonio Cromartie feels he’s now the best cornerback in the league with Revis out, you get the sense his position coach isn’t entirely on board with that proclamation, at least not yet.
“He has to play better,” Dennis Thurman said about Cro today.
Cro has a lot of talent, but he could have easily lost the game for the Jets last week when he bit on an underneath fake, and Brian Hartline beat him for a gain of 41 yards, putting the Dolphins in field goal range. They missed the kick.
He certainly didn’t look like the best corner in the league on that play.
But if he brings his A-Game, there aren’t many corners better than him in the NFL.
Like we have said before – the Revis injury is a tough blow for the Jets, but how many teams have the luxury of plugging in a guy like Cro into the #1 corner spot, with #24 out of the lineup. That is a rare scenario.
September 28, 2012
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