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Florham Park – It’s time for another heaping helping of Dan’s Website Whispers. The content on this website is totally different then our monthly magazine. Enjoy. Happy New Year.
I understand the Jets want to play Mark Sanchez because he’s played better the last two games, and is back in a good groove.
But honestly, the guy was throwing lefty again today at the beginning of practice. That’s not a good sign.
And I hear has a torn capsule in this throwing shoulder.
He probably shouldn’t play this week.
The rest couldn’t hurt according to former NFL quarterback I talked to this week.
But you know what – Dr. Ken Montgomery is pretty darn smart. If he thinks the guy can play, without making it worse, we probably need to trust his opinion . . .
I’ve been pretty rough on Vernon Gholston at times. He has improved, but he has a long way to go. But you know what – he’s going to play extensively this week, starting for Shaun Ellis. He’s going to play a ton. Let’s see what he can do, playing almost the entire game. Let’s see. It’s been a long time since he has played this much.
The Buffalo Bills offensive tackles aren’t the greatest. Vernon, let’s see what you’ve got. The proof will be in the pudding . . .
Another guy, I think we all want to see this week, is rookie guard/tackle Vlad Ducasse. Let’s see what Bill Callahan (pictured above) has done with the ball of clay prospect.
There is a good chance he’s going to play a lot. But it might not be at left guard or right tackle, the two positions he’s most associated with. There is a good chance he could play at right guard.
Wayne Hunter the current right tackle, and Matt Slauson, the left guard, could use the work against Buffalo. Hunter, hasn’t started a lot the last few years, and Slauson in his first year as a starter. However, right guard Brandon Moore, could use a respite . . .
Will Trevor Pryce play this week? He is three weeks in to a torn hip flexor, a six week injury. We hear he is going to play this week. While he’s not 100 percent, he’s a lot better, and he’s lobbied hard, to the coaches, to play. If feels he needs to get his timing back for the playoffs. I get the sense his ability to play this week could be helped by the assistance of a painkiller . . .
Rex Ryan clearly is fed up with the inconsistency of the Jets nickel back spot, and he and Mike Tannenbaum are considering rolling the dice on a UFL player, signed a couple of weeks ago – Isaiah Trufant.
“We owe it to our football team,” Ryan said on Friday. “We have to do what it takes and if that means this young man’s up in the playoffs, then we’re going to find out.”
I think Trufant can really help this team. While he doesn’t have great size (5-7, 170), how much does that really matter covering the slot? Think about what most slot receivers look like.
Trufant has tremendous speed, quickness and changes direction effortlessly, much like Ray Mickens. That is a good skillset for covering the Wes Welker’s of the world. And he’s very tough for his size.
We will see what he can do this week, but I think everyone is going to be pleasantly surprised. The guy didn’t win the Defensive MVP of the UFL for nothing. He had a tremendous season in that upstart league, and standing out in the Arena League.
The Jets need help at the third cornerback spot, and Trufant could be a Godsend for the Jets. We will see . . .
Speaking of the UFL, Jets safety Emanuel Cook confirmed to me today, that the players in that league didn’t receive their last paychecks.
The league sent the UFL players an e-mail that they will get their final checks in January.