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Florham Park – A heaping helping of Website Whispers from One Jets Drive including nuggets on Cromartie’s hip, Kellen Clemens status, Ed Reed’s hip, sign-up now . . .
Rex Ryan told reporters that Antonio Cromartie missed a few plays in Tuesday’s practice with a little bit of hip problem.
Cromartie was seen in the locker room after practice taking off a wrap on his right hip and upper right leg (it was the same wrap).
Why did Ryan offer this information about “Cro” when he wasn’t even asked about the player?
It’s pretty clear.
The last time Cromartie missed some practice time due to a hip issue, somebody leaked the info to Rich Cimini. So to cut this off at the pass, Ryan offered volunteered this information . . .
It’s pretty simple why Kellen Clemens is still on the team, and Kevin O’Connell isn’t. It’s because Kellen had the better summer. While that isn’t tremendous insight, it’s what happened.
It also helped Clemens case that he took a paycut. If he hadn’t taken a paycut, he likely would have been released (and if not claimed) brought back after the first game. So by taking the paycut, he could still make more money, because whatever his current salary is, it will be guaranteed for the year. The other way, he might have been a week-to-week player.
But perhaps the most important reason Clemens is still around is Mark Brunell’s age. He turns 40 on September 17, and if Sanchez suffers a serious injury (like he almost did against Washington when he shoulder was driven into the ground by a Redskin defender), Brunell might not be capable of starting a long stretch of games. He could be the short reliever and Clemens could be the long reliever. Remember, a big reason Brunell is around is to impart his significant wisdom on Sanchez.
Right as the media part of practice ended, I saw Brunell throw a low pass over the middle to Matthew Mulligan that fell incomplete.
While he’s still somewhat new to the team, he needs to start practicing better and show a spark against Philadelphia, to instill more faith in the Jets brass.
Perhaps Brunell’s inconsistent summer also contributed to Clemens staying around . . .
It’s unclear whether Baltimore safety Ed Reed (hip) is going to play in the Jets-Ravens opener. One Raven observer, I talked today, said he doesn’t think that the safety is going to suit up. But the Jets aren’t taking any chances. They have a defensive back (I think safety Emanuel Cook) wearing #20 on the scout team . . .
Look for the Jets to use a lot of spread sets, with extra receivers, and guys like LT and Keller, to take advantage of the Ravens ravaged secondary . . .
DT Martin Tevaseu blocked a Mark Sanchez pass in Tuesday’s practice. Sanchez has had quite a few passes tipped this summer. “MTV” is only 6-1, so that makes this block a little troubling. It’s not like 6-6 Jason Taylor doing this. Remember, when he came out of school, there was a little concern about Sanchez’s height.
But then again, 6-0 Drew Brees led his team to the championship last year. You throw into passing lanes, not over lineman. Whatever the case may be, Sanchez needs to cut down on this tips and blocked passes . . .