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It’s time for a helping of Dan’s Wednesday Website Whispers – a slew of juicy nuggets from Jets Camp in Florham Park, NJ. Let’s get it on . . .
The Buffalo Bills claim of running back Tashard Choice was a good one.
Not only is he a talented runner, but he played for Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech, so he knows the Bills offense and should be able to pick up the system quickly . . .
It’s pretty ridiculous to act like the Jets playoff hopes are a longshot.
Their chief competition for the second wild card spot is likely Cincinnati, and the Bengals, with a rookie QB, still have to play Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston.
And the Bengals are pretty banged up, including losing starting cornerback Leon Hall for the season. He’s their #1 cornerback. That is a big deal.
If the Jets take care of business, the second wildcard spot is a strong possibility . . .
I asked Shonn Greene if he’s good to go on Sunday, and he kind of snapped and me and said, “I told you yesterday, I was good to go.”
There is only one problem with that – I wasn’t at Jets Camp yesterday.
But I usually find Greene to be very cordial, so I don’t have a big issue with this. He’s probably tired of talking bout the rib, and he’s not the kind of guy who really knows whose who in the media.
Most of the guys don’t.
I covered Shaun Ellis for ten years and I don’t think he knew who I was . . .
The Buffalo Bills are one of the most banged up teams in the league, and what makes matters worse for them, is they don’t like to spend a lot of money on backups, so they aren’t a team that can afford a myriad of injuries.
If the Jets don’t win this game on Sunday, it would be one of the biggest upsets in Jets history. Considering the Jets handled the Bills in Buffalo a few weeks ago (when Chan Gailey’s team was much healthier), they should have absolutely no problem beating this injured ravaged team in “The Met.” . . .
Taking some snaps away from Mark Sanchez was a good idea. He needs to be sent a message that his sporadic play isn’t acceptable. But then problem is, following the move, Rex Ryan has been acting like it isn’t a message, and has been placating Sanchez with the media.
Think about this from a parent’s standpoint – if punish your kid, and then make the punishment into a joke, that really isn’t a punishment and what kid is really going to get the message?
Reading the tea leaves, the Jets brass thinks Sanchez is so sensitive, that if they come down on hard on him, they think it could make matters worse, and he could go into the tank further.
But you know what, Mark’s father, Nick, who is a great man, was a tough father on Mark growing up, so why do the Jets think Sanchez can’t take tough love?
I thought it was bizarre and misguided for Rex to say in his opening statement last Friday, the day after the Jets loss, to make that Sanchez did complete 11 passes in a row in the game.
As Bill Parcells used to say, “There are no medals for trying.”
This is about winning, not completing 11 passes in a row, and getting your team in the end zone once (on a fumble recovery).
It just seems like Rex is on this constant PR campaign regarding this QB, and not many people in the press and in the Jets nation are buying it anymore . . .
As you know by now, tight end Shaun Nelson was released by the Jets yesterday due to a migraine problem.
Nelson’s mother passed last month in Mississippi, and he was devastated by this. He was with his mother for weeks, tending to her in her final weeks.
In retrospect, considering how hard he took this tragedy, he probably came back to the NFL a little too soon.
He needs more time to get his head straight, and get to the bottom of this migraine problem.
Don’t be shocked if the Jets bring him back in the off-season . . .
We will have another heaping helping of Website Whispers on Friday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Pictured above is Plymouth Rock, where it all started.