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Cortland – The Jets reported to Cortland today, except for one player.
Dan Leberfeld checks in with some Whispers from Central New York . . .
The Jets hope and pray that Kellen Winslow’s right knee holds up.
That is the knee he had surgery on early in his career, and then had complications (staff infection).
Winslow takes no chances with his surgical knee. I noticed when he checked into the dorms today in Cortland, that knee was taped.
And there was no practice today . . .
Mark Sanchez is in tremendous shape, the best I’ve seen in my years covering him – he’s lean and ripped.
This is an area he has a big advantage over Geno Smith.
Looking at Geno walk around today by the dorm, he looks like a guy who has hardly seen a weight room up to this point.
Right now, he looks like he has a slight frame not built to withstand NFL contact.
The good thing for Smith and the Jets is they can do something about this.
Over the next year, I’m sure he will be pushed real hard by strength coach Justus Galac.
But right now, Sanchez has a major advantage as far as having a body that can deal with the pounding NFL quarterbacks take . . .
I hear Jets players are getting no single rooms this year in dorms, and will have roommates. This is a good way to develop closer relationships . . .
Austin Howard looks like he’s slimmed down. This should help him deal with speed rushers a little better than last year . . .
Speaking of slimming down, David Harris looks like he lost some weight. That should help him with his mobility in coverage . . .
I asked Isaiah Trufant about the knee he blew out last year, and he told me it’s now 100 percent.
This guy is an underrated player. Not only does he do a lot of good work as a cover guy on kick and punt coverage, but he’s a good guy to have around to cover small, quick receivers. Trufant did a great job on Wes Welker in New England last year . . .
Bart Scott is still out on the street, and I heard an interesting rumor today that it’s possible he could come back with the Jets. Not now, but if there are some injuries, or bad play in ILB, he could be added during the season. He still lives 15 minutes from Jets camp . . .
Greg McElroy seems to be in good spirits after getting screwed by being left out of the quarterback competition.
From what we hear, he knew he was out once they picked Geno Smith.
Right now, there is no comparison between McElroy and Smith when it comes to reading defenses and go through his progression reads. It’s not even close.
But the Jets brass seems obsessed with arm strength, and Smith has a better arm than McElroy.
“Sometimes the arm strength aspect of it is overrated because people are trying to paint it with a brush,” said Eagles coach Chip Kelly. “We’re not trying to knock over milk cartons at a county fair. It’s, can you put the ball in the right spot at the right time.” . . .
As you know by now, RB Mike Goodson didn’t report today. I’m not sure why, but we all know he is dealing with myriad legal issues.
But here is the bigger problem, and why the Jets should be criticized for this signing.
It’s not that they signed a guy with a shady background, but it’s that they gave him a $1 million signing bonus.
I was speaking to a high-ranking executive from another team, and he was shocked the Jets guaranteed any money to this guy. He feels the contract should have been a make-go deal; behave and perform well, and you get paid . . .
Pictured above are Stephen Hill and Jordan White bringing their belongings to their dorm room at Cortland.
July 25, 2013
Premium will return by 7 pm on Friday from Cortland.
