NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

November 17, 2013

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

EJ takes on Geno, as Bills set to host Jets (John Wawrow) ....................................................................................... 2

Jets-Bills Capsule ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 4

The black quarterback's long road to glory (Kimberley Martin)................................................................................ 4

Surprising Jets must beat Bills to maintain playoff position (Kimberley Martin) ...................................................... 7

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Jets matchup: Week 11 vs. Bills (J.P. Pelzman) ......................................................................................................... 9

STAR-LEDGER ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

Jets wide receivers have turned run blocking into an art form (Michael J. Fensom) .............................................. 10

Three matchups to watch for the Jets as they face the Bills (Darryl Slater) ........................................................... 12

Jets Four Downs with David Nelson: After move to Buffalo realized 'I'm not in Kansas anymore' (Michael J. Fensom) ................................................................................................................................................................... 13

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Jets prep for Bills with Dave & Buster’s trip (Brian Costello) .................................................................................. 14

Jets’ playoff hopes resume against Bills (Brian Costello) ........................................................................................ 14

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 16

As NY Jets start to run, rookie QB Geno Smith grows (Seth Walder) ...................................................................... 16

Confidence game: Sheldon Richardson's play on 'D' for NY Jets matches his bravado (Manish Mehta) ................ 17

Sunday Morning QB: The NFL playoffs could have a Blue-Green feel (Gary Myers) ............................................... 19

NY Jets at Buffalo Bills: Gang Green needs to say bye to win-one, lose-one formula (Hank Gola) ......................... 22

Anniversary of Butt Fumble Game approaching, and NY Jets have come a long way (Mike Lupica) ...................... 23

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 26

For Jets’ Hill, Receptions Are a Waiting Game (Ben Shpigel) .................................................................................. 26

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 27

Two-Minute Drill: Curtis Martin (Rich Cimini) ......................................................................................................... 27

Austin Howard has Mario Williams' number (Jane McManus) ............................................................................... 29

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 29

Jets vs. Bills: 3 things to watch (Kristian Dyer) ........................................................................................................ 29

David Nelson with ‘extra motivation’ playing against his former team (Kristian Dyer) .......................................... 30

ESPN.COM ........................................................................................................................................................... 31

Who's laughing now? (Ashley Fox) .......................................................................................................................... 31

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 33

ASSOCIATED PRESS

EJ takes on Geno, as Bills set to host Jets (John Wawrow) Associated Press November 16, 2013

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ug3Xqvhg

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo's EJ Manuel and New York Jets' Geno Smith have yet another thing in common in preparing for Round 2 of their AFC East showdown of rookie quarterbacks on Sunday.

Neither cares to be drawn into discussions regarding which of the first two quarterbacks selected in the draft is off to a better start.

"I'm not trying to compare myself to any of those guys," said Smith, who was drafted 39th, 23 picks behind Manuel. "I just want to be the best player I can be right now."

Smith gained the early edge after topping Manuel in their first meeting: the Jets 27-20 home win on Sept. 22.

Manuel was quick to dismiss a question regarding whether the rematch offers a chance to re-establish himself in the conversation.

"If you think so, OK," said Manuel, noting it doesn't matter who the opposing quarterback is. "Not necessarily because it's Geno, simply because it's the Jets. It's a divisional game, and obviously it's a game that we need to win in order to still get where we need to be."

The Bills (3-7) haven't been getting anywhere. They've lost five of six to find themselves of the verge of extending the NFL's longest active playoff drought to 14 seasons.

Manuel is 2-4 in six starts, and his development was stunted by a sprained right knee that forced him to miss four games. And he didn't look sharp in his return, overseeing an offense that mustered a season-worst 227 yards in a 23-10 loss to Pittsburgh last weekend.

Smith has been inconsistent as well, but has the better record in pushing the Jets (5-4) into playoff contention.

Manuel has six touchdowns versus four interceptions. Smith has eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"I can promise you this, it's not easy," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of developing a young quarterback. "You focus on the team. You don't focus on the individual. "

Here's five more things to look out for on Sunday:

REED TO THE RESCUE: The Jets shored up their leaky pass defense by signing veteran safety Ed Reed two days after he was cut by Houston.

It's an obvious fit for the nine-time Pro Bowl selection, who is reunited with Ryan after the two were together in Baltimore. Reed is expected to play in a limited role Sunday on a defense that has allowed 689 yards passing and seven touchdowns in the air in its past two games.

The Bills' pass attack will be limited with rookie receiver Robert Woods (sprained left ankle) to miss his second game, and starter Stevie Johnson's status uncertain because of a groin injury.

BEWARE THE BLITZ: Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine faces Ryan, his former mentor, for the second time since leaving the Jets in January.

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Pettine brought Ryan's attacking philosophy with him, and has Buffalo second in the NFL with 33 sacks. The Jets are tied for 11th with 27.

Ryan remains close with Pettine, but couldn't resist getting in a jab, by saying: "I don't like Pettine at all this week."

RUN-STUFFED: Manuel's struggles against the Jets in September puts the onus on running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to relieve the burden.

The Jets allowed a season-worst 120 yards rushing against Buffalo, though nearly half the total came on Jackson's 59-yard run. The Bills' running attack, however, has struggled recently with opposing defenses keying on containing Jackson and Spiller, who combined for 88 yards against Pittsburgh.

"I don't expect them to do much to change anything," Jackson said of the Jets' approach. "It's a recipe I would stick with if I was them."

RESTED OPPONENTS: Bills coach Doug Marrone is unhappy with the NFL scheduler by noting the Jets are one of Buffalo's six opponents coming off an extended break.

The Jets are the Bills' third opponent coming off a bye. The Jets also had a 10-day break before the first meeting against Buffalo, as will the Falcons (Dec. 1) and Jaguars (Dec. 15).

Marrone called that a disadvantage, saying: "The biggest thing in this league, the one thing that helps you the most, is rest."

WIN ONE, LOSE ONE: The Jets have been consistent in their inconsistency by alternating wins and losses. They're attempting to win two straight for the first time since winning consecutive games Dec. 2 and 9.

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Jets-Bills Capsule Associated Press November 16, 2013

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=X3tDREMf

NEW YORK JETS (5-4) At BUFFALO (3-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Pick-em.

2013 RECORD VS. SPREAD - New York 6-3, Buffalo 5-5

SERIES RECORD - Bills lead 55-51

LAST MEETING - Jets beat Bills 27-20, Sept. 22, 2013

LAST WEEK - Jets had bye; Bills lost to Steelers 23-10

AP PRO32 RANKING - Jets No. 12, Bills No. 27

JETS OFFENSE - OVERALL (17), RUSH (9), PASS (26)

JETS DEFENSE - OVERALL (8), RUSH (1), PASS (24)

BILLS OFFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (7), PASS (29)

BILLS DEFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (22), PASS (17)

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STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Jets are 9-2 in last 11 meetings against Bills and have swept AFC East season series twice in previous three seasons. Bills are 7-26 against division foes since 2008, and 23-46 since NFL realignment in 2002. ... In last meeting, Jets won despite being penalized team-record 20 times for 168 yards. ... Jets have allowed NFL-low 13 runs of 10-plus yards. Bills RB Fred Jackson's 59-yard gain in previous meeting is only run Jets have allowed of 21 yards or more this season. ... DE Muhammad Wilkerson has Jets-leading eight sacks, with at least one in each of past five games. ... Rookie Geno Smith first NFL QB since 1970 with four winning drives in fourth quarter or overtime in first seven career games. ... PK Nick Folk has hit 23 consecutive field-goal attempts, one short of matching Jay Feely's team record set over 2008-09. ... WR Santonio Holmes set to return after missing five games with hamstring injury. Had career-best 154 yards in win over Bills in September. ... In losing five of past six, Buffalo has not had winning record through 10 games since 6-4 start in 2000. ... Rookie QB EJ Manuel is 2-4 in six starts, and 2-1 at home. ... With team-leading 11 sacks, DE Mario Williams three short of matching career best set in 2007 with Houston. ... Rookie LB Kiko Alonso only NFL player with four interceptions and at least two sacks. ... Defense tied for NFL lead with 13 interceptions and ranks second with 33 sacks. ... Bills' offense has scored two touchdowns past two games, and held to five TDs in past four. ... Red-zone production dwindling over past five games: Bills have managed five TDs and seven field goals in 14 chances.

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NEWSDAY

The black quarterback's long road to glory (Kimberley Martin) Newsday November 16, 2013

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/the-black-quarterback-s-long-road-to-glory-1.6449822

After all these years, Anthony Lynn still remembers.

The words had been a slap in the face -- and the beginning of the end to his boyhood dream.

Before he rushed for more than 1,900 yards and 17 touchdowns as a Celina, Texas, high school junior and won back-to-back Super Bowls as a running back with the Broncos in the 1997 and '98 seasons, Lynn played quarterback from the Pop Warner level all the way through middle school. But one demoralizing conversation with a former coach changed the course of his playing career.

"I'll never forget a guy telling a 13-year-old: 'Black guys can't play quarterback,' " said Lynn, now 44, the assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Jets. "It was so ignorant. That came out of a grown man's mouth -- to a kid . . . I was disappointed. But I wasn't going to let that stop me from playing."

And he didn't. Neither did Dennis Thurman nor Tim McDonald, both defensive coaches for the Jets. All three -- all of whom are black -- have 28 years of NFL playing experience and three Super Bowl rings among them. But each was forced to abandon the goal of playing quarterback to have a legitimate shot at college football and the NFL.

Their story, however, is common. Many former black players weren't given the opportunity to play quarterback in the league. And those who were, went through extraordinary measures to do so.

But today's generation of black quarterbacks doesn't have to deal with that struggle.

Nine black or biracial quarterbacks started Week 1 of the 2013 NFL season -- the highest number in an opening weekend. And those more enlightened attitudes toward race will be on display Sunday in Buffalo when Geno Smith's Jets face EJ Manuel and the Bills.

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As was the case in their first meeting in Week 3, the game-day story line won't be about two black quarterbacks going head to head. It'll be about two rookies trying to lead their franchises to a victory.

The progress blacks have made, both in society and in sports, is well documented. And the issue of race no longer is an issue to young NFL quarterbacks.

"They didn't come up when I came up and they didn't witness some of the things I witnessed waiting for my opportunity as well, watching the Marlin Briscoes and the Joe Gilliams," said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who chose to play in the Canadian Football League rather than switch positions in the NFL after going undrafted in 1978.

"They're not as battle-scarred about it as we are -- and that's fine. That's what we want it to be. We want these guys to not have to worry about that part of the game."

The forgotten ones

Questions about "the black quarterback" arise every so often. And these days, they seem to be met with slight apprehension, especially among young players. Some believe the progress made by blacks is an indication that race no longer needs to be part of the discussion. But that doesn't mean the conversations about black NFL quarterbacks are finished, Doug Williams said.

He would know. Williams was the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, in January 1988 with the Redskins.

"The question always arises: 'Do you think we've made it to where we don't need to talk about black quarterbacks?' So basically, we have not gotten there," he said. "But not only in sports. The real world carries over to the football field . . . Once we get over it in society, it'll be easy on the football field."

Race and football, according to Williams, are a "touchy subject" for younger players.

"And I understand," said the former Grambling State star and coach, who was chosen in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Buccaneers. "I ain't mad at them. They're making a lot of money, on and off the field, and their agents, or whoever represents them, makes sure they don't get caught up in that situation."

But it's hard to forget the fight once you've been scarred by it.

Often forgotten are the tales of players who sought to pursue their passion for playing quarterback, only to be told they couldn't. Or worse, those who endured inherent racism within their own NFL organizations.

Players like Briscoe, the first black starting quarterback in the American Football League, who still holds the Broncos' rookie record for touchdown passes with 14 in 1968. But he never got the chance to play quarterback in Denver again. The Broncos brought in Pete Liske, a white quarterback, in 1969 and intended to use him as the starter. After Briscoe was released, he decided to become a wide receiver - a position he had never played before - and was signed by the Bills that same year. He went on to earn All-Pro honors and was a member of the 1972 and '73 Super Bowl champion Dolphins.

In a recent interview with "60 Minutes Sports," Briscoe, 68, said institutional racism was "about 95 percent" to blame for his short stint in Denver.

Eldridge Dickey was the first black quarterback selected in the first round by an AFL or NFL team, in 1968. But despite a strong showing in training camp, the Raiders moved him to wide receiver.

Gilliam beat out future Steelers Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw in 1974 to become the first black quarterback to start in the regular season after the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. But despite his 4-1-1 record,

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Gilliam received death threats and withstood racial epithets from Pittsburgh fans. He soon was benched in favor of the inconsistent Bradshaw, who in an interview years later said of Gilliam: "He gave me my job back. I didn't earn it back."

Change of position

"For so many guys in my era, that was just how it went," said Tony Dungy, 58, the first black NFL coach to win a Super Bowl. "They would say, 'Hey, you can play in the NFL but it's going to be a position change. Or you can go to Canada and play quarterback because the style of the game kind of fits what you do.' And that's what happened in the '70s and '80s."

Dungy made the switch as well, moving from quarterback to safety and winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 1978.

So did McDonald, who was a high school All-American playing quarterback and safety in Fresno, Calif. But he knew his scholarship to USC meant becoming a full-time defensive back.

"Not a lot of kids grew up believing they could be a quarterback," said McDonald, 48, a Super Bowl champion with the 49ers (1994) and six-time Pro Bowl safety.

He has no regrets about switching positions, but he had some doubts back then.

"Probably 60 percent of my mind wanted me to go play quarterback," said McDonald, the Jets' secondary coach. "But my goal and my dream -- being an NFL player -- pushed it the other way."

Almost 10 years earlier, Thurman made the same choice.

He played quarterback against Moon in Pop Warner from the age of 10 in Southern California. But for Thurman, 57, just playing football was more important. So he went to USC and played defensive back.

"When you're a kid, throwing the ball around and playing quarterback in the alley or on some kid's lawn, you knew at some point you had to stop," said Thurman, who is in his first season as the Jets defensive coordinator. "You weren't going to get to do it. It was disheartening."

Those attitudes weren't relegated to the quarterback position. For decades, NFL teams were unconvinced that blacks could play safety, middle linebacker or center -- positions where "you had to think," said Thurman.

"The hoops that we had to jump through, just to compete on the same level, it's kind of been forgotten," said the Jets defensive coordinator. "But when we begin to talk about it, you begin to feel some of those feelings you had back then. It didn't feel good."

Moon landing

Warren Moon, however, wouldn't budge.

After leading the University of Washington to a Rose Bowl victory in 1978, he was determined to make it as a quarterback whether the NFL wanted him or not. He made a name for himself in the CFL, winning five Grey Cups and being named the game's Outstanding Offensive Player in 1980 and the Outstanding Player in 1982. Within six years, the NFL came calling.

But the pressure to be perfect took its toll on the nine-time Pro Bowler.

"People were letting me know everywhere I went, especially in the African-American community, 'You've got to represent for us, Warren. You've got to be successful.' You heard it all the time," said Moon, 56, who became the highest-paid NFL player when he signed a five-year, $10-million contract with the then-Houston Oilers in 1989.

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"You knew there was another sense of responsibility besides just playing well for your team, playing well for your organization and playing well for yourself," he said. "You had this whole race of people that were relying on you to be the guy that could, not so much break the barrier, but could play up to the standards that everybody felt like we couldn't play at."

It was the same type of pressure that James Harris felt years ago with the then-Los Angeles Rams. Like Briscoe, he withstood racial epithets and death threats during his 13 seasons. But Harris, who was the first black quarterback to start and win an NFL playoff game in 1974, was never accepted as the face of the franchise.

Harris, now a senior personnel executive for the Lions, always had wanted to be viewed as just a quarterback. But his race was always the focus.

"He used to always say one thing when he was growing up," Williams said of his close friend, who also played at Grambling. "He dreamed of playing quarterback in the National Football League, and every time he woke up, it was a nightmare. Because it didn't happen."

The lucky one

Williams set out to be a high school football coach, like his older brother. But instead, he became a legend.

Twenty-five years have passed since Williams, 58, became the first black starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl. He remains the only one.

Legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson was the first person Williams saw as he walked off the field after the Redskins beat the Broncos, 42-10, to win Super Bowl XXII.

Lynn, like so many minorities, instantly knew the significance of Williams' achievement. White players on his Texas Tech football team were convinced "a black guy" couldn't beat a gunslinger like John Elway, Denver's quarterback.

"When the Broncos jumped out to a 10-0 lead, there was a lot of 'I told you so, I told you so.' And a riot broke out in our dorm on the athletic floors," said Lynn.

The historic win by Williams, who passed for 340 yards in the game, proved to be a collective victory for black football players seeking both validation and opportunity.

Thanks to these trailblazers, guys like Smith and Manuel have the freedom to be themselves and focus solely on playing well for their teams. The height, weight, speed, size and color restrictions no longer are in play, said Dungy, opening the door for acceptance of more athletic quarterbacks. And that change bodes well for today's black quarterbacks and ones who will follow.

"I feel good for these guys because they've gotten an opportunity," said Dungy, now an analyst for NBC's Football Night in America. "They are leading teams and nobody's talking about (race) and it is gratifying.

"The only thing you say is: I wonder who we missed seeing when this didn't happen 15 or 20 years ago?"

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Surprising Jets must beat Bills to maintain playoff position (Kimberley Martin) Newsday November 16, 2013

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/surprising-jets-must-beat-bills-to-maintain-playoff-position-1.6449093

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BUFFALO

Go ahead, admit it. Some of you never thought the Jets would be here: 5-4, second place in the AFC East and a legitimate playoff contender in mid-November.

Somehow, all of the variables that should have hindered this team -- a rookie quarterback, a third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, a lack of big-name skill players and a coach on the proverbial hot seat -- have generated one of the biggest surprises of this NFL season.

Or was it a surprise?

"All these so-called experts and people that don't play football think we were deserving of being ranked 32nd [in the league],'' linebacker Calvin Pace said. "But we've always believed that we [could be] a playoff team. That was our goal, so it's nothing new to us. Now people can kind of see, hey, they are kind of halfway decent. But we've still got a lot of football left and some work to do.''

The Jets departed for Buffalo this weekend with one goal in mind: winning back-to-back games for the first time in 2013. And if Rex Ryan's team can find a way to defeat the Bills (3-7) for the second time this season, they'll maintain their hold on a potential wild-card playoff spot.

But victory Sunday can come only with the help of Geno Smith. He had a roller-coaster first half, throwing eight touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. And he'll need to prove that he's heeded the coaching staff's message about protecting the football. Smith, however, doesn't appear to be the least bit concerned about hitting a second-half "rookie wall.''

"I think everyone's different,'' he said this past week. "If I feel I'm going to hit a rookie wall, I'm the type of guy that's going to wake myself up and snap right out of it. So I don't think that should be too much of a problem.''

Smith also seemed to take exception to the assumption that he's not a cold-weather quarterback. That criticism arose during his senior year at West Virginia, which ended with a poor showing at snowy Yankee Stadium in a 38-14 loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl (16-for-24, 187 yards, two safeties, on a sack and for intentional grounding).

"I've played in plenty of cold games and I don't think that was really an issue,'' Smith said. "I don't know who's to say or if it is or it isn't [true], but I don't have a problem with it.''

Smith won't get the chance to prove it at Ralph Wilson Stadium, however. Sunday's forecast is for 60 degrees with wind and a 70-percent chance of rain.

The Jets had a breakout game against the Bills in Week 3, with Santonio Holmes (154 receiving yards), Stephen Hill (108 receiving yards) and Bilal Powell (149 rushing yards) recording career numbers. Smith had his first 300-yard passing performance, completing 16 of 29 passes for 331 yards. He threw two TD passes and two interceptions.

Although Smith will be without slot receiver Jeremy Kerley (dislocated elbow) this time, Holmes is expected to play for the first time since suffering a serious hamstring injury against the Bills Sept. 29. Tight end Jeff Cumberland, who missed the Jets' pre-bye week win over the Saints because of a concussion, also is expected back, along with tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (four-game suspension).

Buffalo will be without two key wide receivers -- Stevie Johnson (groin) and Robert Woods (ankle). But this time the Bills will have cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety Jairus Byrd, both of whom sat out the Week 3 game because of injuries.

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The Jets' defense will counter with its own big-name addition: safety Ed Reed. It's unclear how much the 12-year veteran, who was signed Thursday to a one-year, $940,000 deal, will play. But Ryan insisted Friday that "he'll be ready to roll. We are definitely going to play him.''

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THE RECORD

Jets matchup: Week 11 vs. Bills (J.P. Pelzman) The Record November 17, 2013

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/232232051_Jets_matchup__Week_11_vs__Bills.html

At Ralph Wilson Stadium, Today, 1 p.m.

TV: CBS; Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7; Line: Jets by 1

What’s at stake

Jets: The Jets are trying to break a season-long pattern of alternating wins and losses, and are coming off their bye week after an upset win over New Orleans. If they lose today, they would be the first team in NFL history to alternate wins and losses for the first 10 games of a season, according to ESPN. They also are trying to reverse their history under coach Rex Ryan. They are 1-3 following a bye since Ryan took over in 2009, but that win was at Buffalo in 2011.

Bills: Buffalo still is mathematically alive for the playoffs but its hopes are fading fast, as are the chances of reversing its sad history of recent years. Unless the Bills win five of their last six games, they will record their ninth consecutive losing season. Buffalo, which finally will have its bye after this game, also is trying to avenge a 27-20 loss to the Jets in East Rutherford on Sept. 22.

Key matchup

Jets WR Santonio Holmes vs. Bills CB Stephon Gilmore: Gilmore, a second-year pro, missed the first meeting because of a wrist injury. The Bills also were without S Jairus Byrd (foot), who sat out, and CB Leodis McKelvin (hamstring), who departed in the first quarter. All three are healthy now but so is Holmes, who is expected to make his return today after sitting out five games with a serious hamstring injury. The Jets have been conservative offensively in recent games. Perhaps Holmes’ presence will help them open it up.

How they’ll win

Jets: With an extra week to plan, creative offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg comes up with some new wrinkles in the Wildcat for Josh Cribbs and with some good first reads in the passing game for Geno Smith, who has played the role of game manager in the Jets’ last two wins. The Jets likely won’t be able to run the ball as well as they did against New Orleans’ porous front seven, but need to run somewhat effectively in what figures to be a low-scoring game. The defense shows Buffalo rookie QB EJ Manuel some blitzes and coverages it didn’t use in the first meeting.

Bills: Without injured WRs Robert Woods and Stevie Johnson in the lineup, Manuel likely will have to rely on TE Scott Chandler, who had a 33-yard scoring catch in the first meeting. The offense also will need contributions from RBs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. The versatile Spiller also has game-breaking potential on returns. A now-healthier secondary should present more problems for Smith and his receivers, and the Bills must generate more of a pass rush than they did the first time. Smith was not sacked Sept. 22.

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STAR-LEDGER

Jets wide receivers have turned run blocking into an art form (Michael J. Fensom) Star-Ledger November 17, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/11/jets_wide_receivers_have_turned_run_blocking_into_an_art_form.html

Sanjay Lal coached the wide receivers of the Oakland Raiders from 2009-11, before taking the same job with the Jets prior to the 2012 season. Lal recalls a particular game during his tenure in Oakland when an opposing player that he would identify only as “an elite cornerback” attempted to negotiate a deal with one of Lal’s receivers.

During downs when the Raiders handed the ball to a running back, the cornerback said, “Take it easy on me. I’ll just back up on these run plays and we’ll both be out of the play.”

Lal teaches his receivers that such an arrangement is deceptively one-sided.

“When it’s third and 8, he’s saved up all that juice and he’s going to break on the ball faster than he ever has and blow the play up or get a pick because you didn’t block him on every play before that,” Lal explains.

To Jets receivers, Lal stresses blocking as much as route running. From the first day of training camp, he escorts the group to the five-man sled, where wide receivers strike the weighted pads as offensive linemen frequently do. Film study outlines defensive backs’ tendencies during running plays. Every wide receiver is present for a weekly Wednesday meeting when Mike Devlin, a Jets offensive line coach, installs running plays for the coming game.

It might seem odd that a position often associated with a “give-me-the-damn-ball” mentality is not just required, but willing to, as Stephen Hill says, “get down and dirty to put a cornerback on his butt.” The success of the Jets offense, however, hinges upon such blue-collar shifts.

When distributing marks for each week’s game, Lal awards as much credit for a smartly executed block as a perfectly run route and catch. Blocking is a skill Lal likens to an art form.

Naturally, then, Lal figures should this crop of Jets be confronted with a proposal similar to that receiver in Oakland a few years ago, the response would be identical.

“I won’t repeat what he said, but he said the right thing,” Lal grinned, thinking of his former pupil. “And he went after him the whole game.”

* *

Rex Ryan has said this season that the Jets’ success -- a 5-4 start headed into today’s game in Buffalo against the Bills -- has hinged on locker room cohesiveness. The Jets are a “team,” Ryan proclaimed Monday, invoking a word that has become more mantric than descriptive.

The Jets’ last two victories have come as underdogs, and they have run the football with ferocity. The strategy has been useful in keeping the ball away from the prolific offenses of the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. But the functioning of the Jets’ rushing offense -- in total, 305 yards were collected -- illustrates Ryan’s assessment.

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“A lot of times, running backs get too much credit,” Anthony Lynn says, somewhat surprisingly. The Jets running backs coach explains that a successful rushing attack is never a solo operation, but a coordinated deployment -- think storming the beaches at Normandy rather than James Bond.

There are indicators, Lynn proceeds, present in teams that run well, signs of unselfish play and a determination to out-work and hit opponents.

“When you look at the teams that have the most explosive runs, you look at the wide receivers,” Lynn adds.

Against the Saints in Week 9, the Jets’ 198 rushing yards marked a season-high. By contrast, the passing performance was the weakest of the season. Passing accounted for 41 percent of offensive output, 13 points under the previous low. While Jets wide receivers combined to catch merely six passes for 83 yards, that is not to say they weren’t heavily involved in the offense.

Hill has not caught a pass in two games, but against the Saints he acted as a key blocker on runs by Chris Ivory of 27, 30 and 52 yards -- the running back’s longest gains this season. Each play, Hill bullied a Saints defensive back as Ivory arrived, and on each drive the Jets scored a field goal. The website ProFootballFocus rated Hill as the Jets' top run blocker against the Saints.

On the second play of the second quarter, with the Jets at their two-yard line, Hill sprinted at Keenan Lewis at the snap of the ball. Seven yards down the field, Hill latched on and turned the Saints cornerback toward the sideline. Ivory dashed past for a gain of 52, a play the Jets credited as catapulting them to a 26-20 win.

When Ivory busted a 27-yard run in the first quarter, Hill drove Lewis 11 yards off the line of scrimmage with a block. He then smartly switched to block Rafael Bush, a safety crashing the play and the greater threat to stop Ivory. Lewis eventually made the tackle, but not before Ivory dragged him for 10 yards.

Willie Colon, the Jets’ right guard who spent the first seven years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said a willingness for wide receivers to block stems not from a specific gameplan or play call. It is an ingrained aspect of team philosophy.

The Jets contend that the team’s coaching staff leaves no choice. Ryan asserts each week the Jets be more physically imposing than the opposition, especially when running the ball.

“There are a lot of schematics in football, but at the end of the day the most physical team usually wins,” Lynn said.

David Nelson, the best blocker among Jets receivers, remembers signing on Oct. 2. Lal “made it very clear that I wouldn’t be here any longer if I didn’t block.”

In Pittsburgh, Colon said, Hines Ward’s crunching blocks set an example for others to follow. Nelson, Hill and even Santonio Holmes are the Jets’ standard-bearers.

“He’s a ‘diva wide receiver,’ as I call it,” Lynn says of Holmes. “But he goes in there and he lays it on the line for his brothers in the backfield. We have a lot of respect for that.”

There is an incentive, also, for receivers to block. Success in the running game sucks defenses toward the line of scrimmage, creating space for wide receivers to roam. Running backs will often reciprocate by then blocking harder on passing downs.

“When it comes to run action, we’re faking our asses off,” Lynn said. “And we’re going to protect our asses off so those guys can get the ball down the field.”

* *

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Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said he has weaved specific run plays and wide receiver screens into the Jets’ gameplans because he trusts his receivers to block well.

“If we believe we have great blocking receivers, there are going to be plays that take advantage of that,” Lal says.

Nelson has come to exemplify the blocking skill at the position. At 6-5, he is taller than most defensive backs, but as Lal says, he plays “at a 5-11 level.” That means Nelson is adept at contracting his body to gain leverage as he blocks. He quickly closes down space between he and the opponent, to negate the defensive back’s edge in quickness. Once engaged, Nelson capitalizes on his strength and long reach.

Lal also explains that technique changes depending upon situation -- and Nelson’s recognition is a chief asset. Sometimes a receiver must drive a defender, other times hold him in position. When a defender charges aggressively, a chip is enough to nudge him out of the play.

“You can’t go out there trying to kill the guy every play, or you’ll miss,” Lal said. “You have to pick your battles and pick your techniques.”

Above all, though, the best blocking receivers enjoy the task as much as catching touchdowns. As Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson says, “It’s more of a ‘want to’ thing -- some guys want to block and some guys don’t.”

Nelson said he enjoys when his teammates succeed, but also the annoyance defensive backs feel knowing he will be grinding them down from the first snap of the game, run or pass. Describing why he relishes run blocking, he sounds much like a lineman.

“There is an aspect of it where its one on one, me against the guy across from me,” he said. “If I can just out-will him and out-physical him and win that play, there is something to be said about that. I may not have gotten statistical recognition. But in my heart and my team knows on that given play, on that battle, I won.”

So Sunday, resist the tendency to let your eyes flash to the football. Stray to the wide receivers paving the way. There is artistry there, too, as well as a taste of the trenches.

Star-Ledger staff writer Darryl Slater contributed to this report.

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Three matchups to watch for the Jets as they face the Bills (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger November 17, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/11/three_matchups_to_watch_for_the_jets_as_they_face_the_bills_1.html

THREE MATCHUPS TO WATCH

WR SANTONIO HOLMES VS. CB STEPHON GILMORE

Holmes likely will return from a five-game absence due to a hamstring injury. In his last full game, he torched the Bills for five catches and 154 yards, with a 69-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave the Jets a 27-20 victory. But three of Holmes catches (on four targets) came while Justin Rogers was covering him. Those three catches resulted in 133 yards. Rogers is back on the bench, now that Gilmore has returned from a wrist injury. This will be Gilmore’s sixth game back, but he said he is still struggling with his wrist. He was the No. 10 overall pick last year, when he had one interception and two

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forced fumbles. Last year, Holmes played the Bills once. Gilmore was targeted twice while on Holmes, and yielded one catch for 17 yards.

QB GENO SMITH VS. FS JAIRUS BYRD

Smith had the most productive game of his rookie season against the Bills in Week 3. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. It is his only 300-yard passing game and one of two games in which he threw multiple touchdowns. But the Bills’ secondary was without Gilmore and Byrd that day. Byrd, a ball-hawking, fifth-year pro, has played five games this season and got his first interception last week against Pittsburgh. He has 19 career picks, including five last year. In just two of the Jets’ nine games this season has Smith not thrown an interception. He has 13 total picks, and five multi-interception games.

JETS' DEFENSIVE FRONT VS. RB C.J. SPILLER

The Jets lead the NFL with 73.8 rushing yards allowed per game and also rank first with 3.1 yards per carry allowed. Their front of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison has been elite. In Week 3, the Jets held Spiller to 9 yards on 10 carries. Last season, he averaged 6 yards per carry. He is down to 4.6 this season. In Week 4, Spiller suffered a high ankle sprain. Since, he has carried eight, 10, six, 12 and eight times, though two games ago, he gained 116 yards on those 12 carries against Kansas City. Bills coach Doug Marrone said Spiller’s limited action last week against the Steelers (eight carries, 23 yards) was due to the game plan, not Spiller’s ankle. Curious.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Jets have won nine of their past 11 meetings with the Bills. The only losses: last season’s second meeting and the first meeting of 2009. Jets coach Rex Ryan is 7-2 against the Bills, having swept them in 2010 and 2011. He is 3-1 in Buffalo, with the loss coming last season. By comparison, Ryan is 3-5 against Miami and 4-7 against New England. So he has as many wins against the Bills as he does against the rest of the AFC East combined.

THE NUMBER

45.2

The completion percentage for Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel in Week 3 against the Jets – Manuel’s lowest of the season. He completed 19 of 42 passes that day, as the Jets sacked him eight times, which accounts for almost one-third of the Jets’ 27 sacks this season. Manuel will be playing his seventh games today against the Jets. He has thrown an interception in three games so far. Last week against Pittsburgh, he returned from a four-game absence (knee) and completed 22 of 39 passes for 155 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ryan said he noticed on film that Manuel didn’t run the read option quite as much against the Steelers as he did before his knee injury.

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Jets Four Downs with David Nelson: After move to Buffalo realized 'I'm not in Kansas anymore' (Michael J. Fensom) Star-Ledger November 17, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/11/jets_four_downs_with_david_nelson_after_move_to_buffalo_realized_im_not_in_kansas_anymore.html

Is your family going to be in town this weekend for your return to Buffalo?

No. It's already a big distraction. They're back in Dallas.

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Is there anywhere you'll be headed Saturday before the game that you've missed since leaving Buffalo?

There are a couple of restaurants. I might hit one or two depending on how much time I have. I'll probably be going to Chef's, a little Italian place. I'll get some spaghetti parm -- ah, I'm excited about that. There a lot of people I have see, too. A couple of former teammates and just some people around town who I got to know, friends. Hopefully, I can have everyone in one place for dinner. I don't want to create too much distraction for myself or anyone else. I have to stay focused for the game.

Was it a difficult adjustment coming from Texas and playing college football at Florida to play in such a cold-weather environment in the NFL?

Not really. It was definitely a transition but at the same time, playing in the cold? I don't know if anyone could get used to that. I don't know if it's anything you could have in your blood. I guess the first couple of games I was like, 'I'm not in Kansas anymore. This is not the weather I'm used to.' But when you're out there and running around, you don't really notice it. I heard some stories about some really bad ones, but I'm fortunate enough not to have experienced them.

Did your brother bring your husky, Bo, up from Texas?

Yeah, he's up here. I got a place. I got a dog. So life is somewhat normal for me now.

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NEW YORK POST

Jets prep for Bills with Dave & Buster’s trip (Brian Costello) New York Post November 16, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/10/13/jets-back-to-being-the-jets-in-loss-to-steelers/

The Jets are setting a record for one-game win streaks.

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Jets’ playoff hopes resume against Bills (Brian Costello) New York Post November 17, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/11/17/jets-playoff-hopes-resume-against-bills/

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Jets return from their bye week in position to do what was unthinkable three months ago — make a run at the playoffs.

Gang Green face the Bills on Sunday in control of their playoff lives. They would be the AFC’s sixth seed if the playoffs started now. With seven games left, they have to hold onto the spot, and that begins with a divisional test at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“It’s always been our goal,” linebacker Calvin Pace said of the playoffs. “It’s just the fact that these so-called experts and people who don’t play football thought we were deserving of being ranked 32nd. We’ve always believed we were a playoff team. That was our goal to get to the playoffs. It’s nothing new for us. It’s just now people can see that, ‘Hey, we are halfway decent.’ We’ve still got a lot of football left and some work to do.”

That work includes becoming a better road team. The Jets are 1-3 on the road this season,and this is the first of four road games the Jets have down the stretch.

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“We’re better at home, which is not surprising, because we feed off the energy from our fans,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “We have to be able to win on the road, though. If we’re going to do anything we have to do that, and this is something that we’ve talked about and we’re focused on. Really, you face the opponent and you don’t get the energy boost that you get from your fans [at home], but we’ve got to be focused enough and dialed in enough that we handle our business.’’

The Jets also need to show they can handle success. Expectations were raised with their win over the Saints two weeks ago. There is playoff talk and the team signed veteran safety

Ed Reed this week, a sign they are going for it. Can a team with 10 first- and second-year players in the lineup handle it?

A look inside the game:

Marquee Matchup

Bills RBs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller vs. Jets front seven

The Bills are missing wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods, meaning they will be relying heavily on their backs. That plays right into the Jets’ strength of stopping the run. They are the league’s No. 1 defense against the run, allowing just 3.1 yards per attempt.

“You’ve got the two-headed monster with Fred Jackson and Spiller,” defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said. “We’ve just got to be prepared to stop the run and make sure no balls are thrown over our head.

“The key with speed guys is setting the edge. With Jackson, we’ve got to wrap up and tackle. He’s a physical guy. We have to make sure we wrap him up and get him down.”

Run Geno, Run

The forecast calls for rain and wind Sunday in western New York, so both teams may be reduced to trying to win the game on the ground. One thing that has been effective for the Jets lately is using zone-read plays with rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

Against the Saints, Smith ran for a 3-yard touchdown on a designed zone-read run. He has rushed 11 times for 48 yards on zone-read plays, according to ESPN. Running back Chris Ivory also had a few big runs off zone-read plays against the Saints when Smith chose to hand it off.

“I’ve never said I was a pocket passer,” Smith said. “I’m effective from the pocket, but I can run as well. That’s kind of the point I’ve been trying to push all along is that I’m not a quarterback that you can put in a box. I do it all, and I try to perfect every single thing, even running the ball.”

Smith gets to see the only quarterback taken ahead of him in April’s draft, EJ Manuel, who returned from injury last week for the Bills.

Sons of Anarchy

The Jets defensive line has a nickname, so they’ve truly arrived. A fan christened them the “Sons of Anarchy” playing off the “son” at the end of the names of Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison. Now, the group has to continue to live up to such billing. In Week 3, the Jets sacked Manuel eight times. For the season, the group has 27 sacks, just three shy of the team’s season total a year ago.

Reinforcements are here

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Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is back after missing the past five games with a hamstring injury. Tight end Kellen Winslow is back after missing the past four due to a suspension for violating the league’s PED policy. Tight end Jeff Cumberland returns after missing the last game with a concussion.

Having them back only can help Smith and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg get through this game. Mornhinweg has done a great job of piecing together his offense with lesser players. Now, he gets some of his firepower back. Holmes had a career-high 154 receiving yards the last time these two teams met.

“Playing with Santonio and knowing the competitor that he is, he’s going to want to get right back in the mix and impact the game,” said Bills safety Jim Leonhard, who played for the Jets from 2009-11. “He had a great game against us the last time, so I know he’s going to come in with a lot of confidence. We have to try to take him away early, not knowing what his role is going to be. Obviously with [Jeremy] Kerley going down it’s a bad situation for him, but Santonio is going to come in and be a big part of that offense and we’re going to have to take care of him.”

Mister Ed

One of the most intriguing storylines of this game is how the Jets will use the newly acquired Ed Reed. Coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said they have a defined role for Reed this week. It likely is going to be on third-and-long. The Jets have been burned deep in their last two games. They’re hoping Reed will put an end to that.

Costello’s Call

The Jets are the better team, but this has classic letdown written all over it. For two weeks, the Jets have heard how good they are and how they are a playoff team. The win one, lose one pattern continues.

Bills 20, Jets 13

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

As NY Jets start to run, rookie QB Geno Smith grows (Seth Walder) New York Daily News November 16, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-start-run-rookie-qb-smith-grows-article-1.1519354

A mere two months ago, the story of the Bills-Jets showdown at MetLife Stadium centered on two rookie quarterbacks on struggling teams that hoped each would become the new face of the franchise. It was about EJ Manuel, who surprisingly had been drafted before Geno Smith, and which quarterback would win the first of what most assumed would be many battles.

Fast forward from that 27-20 Jets victory, after which each squad has taken quite divergent paths. The Bills (3-7) lost Manuel for four games, three of which they lost, on the way to what appears to be another lost season in Buffalo. The Jets have taken the more preferable road, to 5-4, on the back of their defense and with the up-and-down Smith, who has both won and lost games for the Jets.

Gang Green’s big wins of late have come mostly as a result of what they’ve done on the ground. Interestingly, Bilal Powell feels that Smith has had a direct hand in that.

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“Geno, of course, making great checks,” says Powell of what has helped the run game. “He does a great job with (them) him and of course Nick Mangold making great calls out there. He puts us in the best position. Geno, man, it’s crazy how much he’s grown from day one to now.”

Running backs coach Anthony Lynn concurred with Powell.

“Geno’s done an outstanding job with that for a young quarterback. We don’t ask him to do a whole lot, but what we do ask him to do he’s handled well,” says Lynn. “There have been times when defenses have had us dead to rights. He gets us into a better situation. That’s what good quarterbacks do.”

The Jets beat the Patriots and Saints with the ground game, rushing for 177 and 198 yards in those wins respectively. Sunday’s contest against the Bills, on paper, looks set up for another big day running the football.

Though the last time these two teams played, Smith delivered 331 passing yards, the Bills were missing cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety Jairus Byrd with injuries and lost cornerback Leodis McKelvin during the game. Because of that, the Jets may be more inclined to stick to limiting Smith’s throwing chances in an attempt to keep turnovers in check.

The Jets ran the ball 61% of the time against the Patriots and 64% against the Saints.

“We lost some skill guys. It was forced, almost, to do a little bit more (running) at least,” says Marty Mornhinweg of the team’s tendencies of late. “We’ll continue to try to keep people off balance.”

The Bills are ranked 22nd in the league in run defense, though Powell said he thinks they’ve been improving lately. Lynn, too, wasn’t buying that run defense is a weakness for Buffalo.

“That defense has been on the field a lot,” he says. “Personnel-wise they have some of the best talent we’ve seen all year.”

The running back that’s shouldered most of the load in recent weeks has been Chris Ivory. Against New England and New Orleans, the running back was what the Jets hoped for when they dealt a fourth-round pick for him in the offseason. The key for Ivory, who was banged up earlier in the year, is quite simple, Lynn says.

“Chris has been healthy,” says Lynn. “When he’s healthy, he’s going to play. Him and Bilal, I’m going to use them (as) a 1-2 punch.”

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Confidence game: Sheldon Richardson's play on 'D' for NY Jets matches his bravado (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News November 16, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-richardson-play-matches-bravado-article-1.1519353

Sheldon Richardson vehemently objects to the notion that Muhammad Wilkerson is fast becoming the scariest man on the planet, breaking rookie stereotypes one bold proclamation at a time.

“I don’t feel like Mo’s the best defensive player in the league ... I am,” Richardson told the Daily News. “I’m dead-ass serious.”

Confidence is high. Repeat. Confidence is high.

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The Jets rookie defensive lineman is a swaggerlicious throwback that would make pre-lap band Rex Ryan proud. He’s the new Bart Scott, fearless and funny, a refreshingly honest voice at a time when many players prefer the politically correct path of least resistance.

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” he said.

Richardson, however, is more than a colorful quote for a team that has morphed into one of the biggest surprises in the NFL entering Sunday’s game at Buffalo. He’s also more than just Wilkerson’s trusty sidekick.

“He’s a beast,” said a scout, whose team had Richardson as one of the top five players on their draft board. “There’s no question that if he improves his work habits, he’ll be a special player. Football means something to him. He loves it.”

There may not be a more self-assured human being that I’ve come across. Richardson is Richardson’s biggest fan, for good reason.

His presence has been invaluable for one of the league’s most formidable defensive fronts that has allowed a league-low 73.8 rushing yards and 3.1 yards per carry. The line has been the anchor for Ryan’s eighth-ranked defense and the primary reason why the 5-4 Jets have the inside track on the final wild-card spot with seven weeks to go.

Wilkerson and Richardson, who was selected 13th with the pick the Jets received in the Darrelle Revis trade, have quickly become one of the best duos in the league. Richardson has made it clear to Wilkerson, widely recognized as the team’s most dangerous player, that he will be better than him.

“I told him I ain’t trying to be second to nobody ... even my own damn teammates!” Richardson said. “No! It’s not going to happen!”

“All right,” the more reserved Wilkerson repeatedly tells the rookie. “Keep working.”

Richardson, who is fourth among 3-4 defensive linemen in Pro Football Focus’ run ratings, has learned plenty from Wilkerson.

“Staying consistent and technique,” said Richardson, who has 2½ sacks. “The same things he does in practice, he’s doing in the games. So I just got to make sure I’m doing that too. Sometimes, I revert back to my old ways in college.”

Which is?

“Not working,” Richardson admitted.

Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar has preached to Richardson the importance of sharpening technical elements of his game rather than always relying on his athleticism. He hasn’t been around such a confident rookie since he coached Tommie Harris in Chicago.

“He stays loose but he plays with a lot of intensity,” Dunbar said of Richardson. “For some guys, the game is too big for them and then they have to learn how to adjust to it. I don’t think he has that problem.”

Richardson’s presence has benefitted Wilkerson, whose team-high eight sacks through nine games match his total from his first two seasons.

“That makes me want to be a better player,” Wilkerson told me. “If I got a guy behind my tail that wants to be better than me, then I want to push myself more to make sure that I’m getting better as well.”

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Richardson has more total tackles (41) and stops (22) than Wilkerson, stats that the first-year player doesn’t let his teammate forget.

“I’ve told him many a time that I am on him,” Richardson said. “I could have got a sack last game, but I got held. Ask him. He knows it. We’re all trying to be the best though…. I feel like the best defensive lineman in the league is on my defensive line.”

Richardson disagrees with the widely held belief that Texans’ star J.J. Watt is the top defensive lineman in the league.

“Mo’s better than J.J. Watt,” Richardson said. “I’m sitting here splitting hairs, but I prefer Mo Wilkerson if you ask me…. If I was (friends with) J.J. Watt, it would be the same thing. I’d tell him to his face, ‘I think Mo Wilkerson is a better defensive lineman than you.’ I respect (Watt). From the first play to the last play, he’s 100 (mph). He’s going all out. I’m not knocking him. He’s a great defensive lineman.”

Richardson, who’s in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year with Panthers defensive lineman Star Lotulelei and Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso, saves his biggest props for his favorite player: Himself.

He admitted that Wilkerson is “beating my ass in sacks,” but that he will one day be better than the player who has a two-year head start on him. I told him that he’s delusional. “I’m not delusional,” he said.

“I really don’t want to go on with this,” Richardson laughed. “I really don’t. … Scratch all that off, man. Let’s start from the beginning. ... I’m a rookie, bro. And the head man gonna come talking to me. You know what I’m saying?”

He was sinking fast and knew it. So he turned to a teammate at a nearby locker for a life preserver.

“What am I better than Mo at?” he asked, looking for some help. “You watch film. … Don’t hate.”

Silence.

“Most definitely, I’m second,” Richardson conceded with a smile. “As of right now.”

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Sunday Morning QB: The NFL playoffs could have a Blue-Green feel (Gary Myers) New York Daily News November 16, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/sunday-morning-qb-playoffs-blue-green-feel-article-1.1519239

When the NFL awarded Super Bowl XLVIII to the Giants and Jets in the spring of 2010, it was fun to talk about the possibility of a Subway Super Bowl or a Turnpike Super Bowl: Big Blue vs. Gang Green playing for the ultimate bragging rights at the $1.7 billion stadium they built together.

Of course, no team has ever played the Super Bowl on its home field, so the chances of two teams doing it in the same season were off the charts.

And now that we are in mid-November with the Jets at 5-4 and holding the AFC’s No. 2 wild-card spot and the Giants desperately trying to crawl back into the NFC East race after an 0-6 start, it’s certainly realistic both could make the playoffs.

But neither is good enough to make it back to MetLife on Feb. 2. At the very least, they are making it interesting in New York as the season takes the turn for home

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The Giants have the benefit of playing in the very forgiving NFC East, and by next Sunday night they could be tied for first place, even if they waited until nearly Halloween to get their first victory.

Things change so quickly in the NFL. Just a few weeks ago, it appeared the Giants would have a difficult time staying competitive with the Packers Sunday. But the Giants have now won three in a row, and because Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone two weeks ago and backup Seneca Wallace injured his groin last week, the Giants get third-stringer Scott Tolzien . This has become a very winnable game.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys, who are 5-5, have a bye this week. The Eagles, also 5-5, play the Redskins at the Linc, where Philly has somehow lost its last 10 games. The Redskins are 3-6, but can stay in the race if they can beat the Eagles.

So, let’s play this out: The Giants beat the Packers and the Redskins beat the Eagles.

The standings would look like this:

Cowboys 5-5

Eagles 5-6

Giants 4-6

Redskins 4-6

Then next week, the Eagles have a bye and the Redskins play host to San Francisco. If the Giants beat the Cowboys (they haven’t lost to them twice in the regular season since 2007), RG3 finally has an explosive game and the Redskins pull off the upset at Candlestick, the standings would look like this:

Giants 5-6

Cowboys 5-6

Eagles 5-6

Redskins 5-6

Is that going to happen? To stay relevant, the Giants must beat the Packers and Cowboys. Even if the Eagles beat the Redskins to get to 6-5, as long as the Giants win their next two games Bib Blue would be only one game back with five to play, meaning they would be playing meaningful games in a difficult December with two against the Redskins and games against the Chargers, Seahawks and Lions.

The 2011 Giants won the division at 9-7 in 2011, the worst record for an NFC East champion since the division was formed in 1970. Of course, they went on to win the Super Bowl. It’s possible 8-8 wins the division this year.

Meanwhile, the Jets are in good shape to make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The two Denver-Kansas City games — Sunday in Denver and Dec. 1 in K.C. — will determine who gets the No. 1 seed and the No. 5 seed. The Jets are the only other second-place team in the AFC that even has a winning record.

The defending champion Ravens (4-5) are the team the Jets most have to worry about. Even though the Ravens have had a disappointing season, Joe Flacco could still lead them on a playoff run, and they have enough core players from the title team that they are not going away so easily.

The Jets play in Buffalo on Sunday, a game they need to win to break the win-one, lose-one pattern. If they lose, they will be the first team in NFL history to win one and lose one for the first 10 weeks of the season. The Patriots did it the first nine weeks in 2005. Next week, the Jets play at Baltimore in what will be a pivotal game — they can put some distance between themselves and the Ravens. The Jets are only

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two games behind the Patriots and could close the gap with New England having a tough game in Carolina on Monday night.

The Chargers (4-5) still have to play the Chiefs twice and at Denver. The Titans (4-6) have lost two in a row without Jake Locker , who is out for the season. The Dolphins (4-5) have dropped five of six, including a loss to the winless Bucs last week. They are not good enough to overcome the distractions of BullyGate. The Jets play them twice in December. The Browns (4-5) are in the mix, but still have to play at Cincinnati, New England, the Jets and Pittsburgh.

The Giants and Jets won’t be meeting in Super Bowl XLVIII, but this has turned into a season worth watching around here.

SMART REED

There’s nothing not to like about the Ed Reed signing. It didn’t cost the Jets draft choices, it cost reasonable dollars (he gets $55,294 for each game he’s with the Jets, which is the prorated per-game portion of the $940,000 minimum), he knows Rex Ryan’s system and brings big-game experience. He’s not the same player he was five years ago, but as one of the great ball hawks in NFL history he should help a secondary that has only three interceptions in nine games (the Jets have a total of five). ... Eli Manning leads the NFL with 16 interceptions. The Packers have only three INTs, the fewest in the league. This would appear to be a good matchup for Manning. ... In 1989, the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings in a megadeal for essentially three first-round picks and three second-round picks. That helped build the Dallas dynasty in the ’90s. No veteran has been traded since then for that kind of return. But what if the Vikings try to pull off the Walker trade in reverse and gather as many picks as possible for Adrian Peterson ? The trade rumors have been out there, and Peterson addressed them last week. “I definitely wouldn’t mind playing here,” he told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I feel we have the right pieces, and we can continue to get some more pieces as well to help build this team and make us even stronger.” He wants to stay — he signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension two years ago — and the Vikings could use what they’d get in return to help rebuild the team. But with the way running backs have been devalued, it’s hard to imagine Minnesota getting more than a first-round pick and a later round pick for a running back who is 28 and has 1,927 career carries. “I know this is a business and things like that happen,” Peterson said. “So if it happens, it happens. There’s not much I can’t handle. I’m sure someone will welcome me with open arms if they do decide to trade me.” ... The Giants may have played themselves back into the NFC East race, but the three-game winning streak just about eliminates them from the Jadaveon Clowney Derby, unless they trade up to get him.

IN THE FOLES

The way Nick Foles has played the last two weeks — 10 TDs and zero INTs vs. Oakland and Green Bay — makes you wonder why Chip Kelly didn’t start the season with him over Michael Vick . Foles has 16 TDs and zero INTs overall. He was not considered the prototypical QB for Kelly because he doesn’t run very well, but he has the Eagles tied for first place with Dallas. The Eagles are 3-1 in games started by Foles with the only loss coming when he suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter against Dallas and rookie Matt Barkley came in and tossed three interceptions on all three of his possessions. Philly is 2-4 in the games Vick has started, but the victory over the Giants really belongs to Foles, who came on in relief in the second quarter. Clearly, Vick is done in Philly after this season.

BIRDS’-EYE VIEW

The 49ers (6-3) trail the Seahawks (9-1) by 2.5 games in the NFC West, which gives Seattle a margin for error when it goes to Candlestick on Dec. 8. The Seahawks beat the Niners in Seattle. San Francisco’s battle is to get the No. 1 wild-card spot over Carolina (6-3), among others, which would mean they

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would play on the road most likely against the NFC East winner, which will be an easier game than the one featuring the No. 2 wild card, which would have to play at Detroit based on the current standings.

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NY Jets at Buffalo Bills: Gang Green needs to say bye to win-one, lose-one formula (Hank Gola) New York Daily News November 16, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/playbook-jets-5-4-bills-3-7-article-1.1519346

JETS AT BILLS, 1 P.M., RALPH WILSON STADIUM

LINE: Bills by 1

TV: Ch. 2 ( Ian Eagle , Dan Fouts )

RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM (Bob Wischusen, Marty Lyons), in Spanish on WEPN 1050 AM (Clemson Smith Muniz, Oscar Benitez)

FORECAST: Cloudy, low 60s with 17 mph winds and a good chance of rain.

INJURY REPORT

The Jets will be without WR Jeremy Kerley (elbow) but Santonio Holmes , who had 154 yards receiving, including a 69-yard TD catch in the first Bills game, is on track to make his return after missing five games with foot and hamstring injuries. TE Kellen Winslow is back after a four-game suspension. The Bills will be without their top two receivers, Robert Woods (ankle) and Stevie Johnson (groin). T.J. Graham and rookie Marquise Goodwin will start but head coach Doug Marrone has been using TE Chris Gragg more as a receiver and lining up RB C.J. Spiller out wide.

KEY MATCHUP

RB Chris Ivory vs. Kiko Alonso and the Bills LBs

In Week 9, Ivory ran roughshod over his former Saints teammates, who couldn’t tackle at the point of attack, gaining 109 yards on three of his carries alone. Alonso is an impressive rookie who is second in the NFL in tackles but otherwise, the Bills linebackers lack speed and have allowed 10 runs of 20 or more yards. It showed up in the first meeting when Bilal Powell had a 149-yard day. Part of the reason why the Jets neutralized pass rusher Mario Williams that day was because they ran right at him. Sounds like a plan one more time.

SCOUT SAYS

“I’ve been impressed with some of the creative things that (offensive coordinator) Marty Mornhinweg has done with the guys the Jets have picked up, and Chris Ivory just gives them that tough dimension. It’s all helped Geno out. The Jets should be able to control the line of scrimmage with their interior line. Damon Harrison gets better every week and they are relentless. I don’t know how much of a help Ed Reed is going to be. The tools aren’t there any longer. He’s lost a few steps. The mind is still there, though, and if used correctly within Rex’s scheme, he might still be able to make a few plays.”

INTANGIBLES

Don’t look now but the Jets, the object of derisive preseason prognostications, are in control of the second wild-card spot. Of course, the way the season has developed into a win-one, lose-one pattern, there is no guarantee they will remain in control, especially since this is supposed to be their week to lose. Maybe the bye will screw up the formula. The Jets have to be feeling very good about themselves

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after upsetting the Saints in their last game, and the addition of Ed Reed is a sign they are serious. The Bills, much better at home than away, have been gritty but losing always takes a toll. There’s not much enthusiasm for the rest of the season in Western New York. Owner Ralph Wilson had to guarantee purchase of the remaining tickets to avoid a TV blackout.

PREDICTION

JETS, 28-17: They can't really screw this up, can they?

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Anniversary of Butt Fumble Game approaching, and NY Jets have come a long way (Mike Lupica) New York Daily News November 17, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/lupica-butts-jets-article-1.1519606

There is no downside, none, to the Jets signing Ed Reed to come be a safety for them the rest of the season, even if Reed can’t play a lick anymore, if he comes to the Jets with less game than another future Hall of Famer — Ronnie Lott — did once.

If he can play, of course, Rex Ryan will know how to use him, don’t worry about that. There is so much history between them, going back to when Rex was an assistant in Baltimore and Reed really was one of the brilliant defensive players of all time.

But know this at the same time: Reed doesn’t make the Jets some kind of surefire lock to get the Other Wild Card in the AFC any more than if the Jets had somehow brought in Richard Sherman of the Seahawks for their defensive backfield, or Darrelle Revis in his prime. Or Deion.

If the Jets are going to make the playoffs, if they are really going to start making a playoff run on the road against Buffalo this week and Baltimore next week, they need to do it by making the same sort of run Rex made in his first season in New York:

With a rookie quarterback, by running the ball (put me down, high up on the list, of those who thought it was a joke to talk about being a running team in a passer’s league), with a dynamic and evolving defense.

And, maybe, what the Jets need to do is continue to be as lucky in their own season as the Giants have been since they started out 0-6.

It has been well-documented, here and everywhere else, that the Giants have gotten to face Josh Freeman, Matt Barkley and Terrelle Pryor in their last three games, all wins, and get either Scott Tolzien or maybe even Matt Flynn today against the Packers.

But, let’s face it, it’s not as if fortune has ignored the Jets, either, and not just because of what has happened with some of the other teams that were supposed to be wild-card contenders down the stretch the way the Dolphins and Titans were. The Jets’ season started with the Bucs giving them a gift penalty and a gift win. Then they end up getting a win off the Patriots because of another bizarre ending, one of the Patriots guys getting flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on a 56-yard field goal that Nick Folk had just missed.

Oh, sure. The flag on that one was thrown because of a new rule that forbids you from shoving one of your own teammates in an attempt to block even field goals attempted from Paterson Plank Rd.

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If you are a Jets fan, you’re fine with all of that, you think it is high time that a little good fortune did come your way, especially after you thought you might be beginning the Butt Fumble Era just one year ago.

It no longer matters how they got here, just that they are here, 5-4, playing the Bills today, a team so wounded you actually think they fit the profile of the Giants’ recent opponents. The Jets continue to have this tremendous opportunity to be something even more than a contender, something more than the most interesting team of this dreary time in New York sports, and that means even if the Giants rather miraculously find themselves in a three-way tie for first place by next Sunday night.

Really, think about where the Jets were after the Butt Fumble play against the Patriots and the beating they took that night on national television, and look where they are now, the field opening up for them if they can manage to do something about that, not just the new guy, Ed Reed, but all of them.

By the way? You hope that Reed does have plenty left, just because he didn’t take long the other day to let you know he was in town.

“I love the game,” Reed said. “I love football. I’m going to play it until I can’t play anymore. I think that’s why God blessed me with the gift that he did. It’s not so much about football. Football is a sport of kings. It’s not about rings and all that stuff. Of course you want to get it, but it’s just something that you’re able to do for a short chapter of your life. I didn’t feel like this book was over yet. Obviously it’s not and I’m still playing. I just love the game. I have a big heart for it. My heart is pigskin and probably a football.”

He gets with Rex and that young defense now, gets to play in the same defensive backfield with Antonio Cromartie, gets to back up Mo Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, maybe gets to remember the way he played when he was young because of the way the young guys Rex has up front get after the other team’s quarterback.

One year after the Jets had become some kind of national football joke in the National Football League they are the butt of nobody’s jokes, at least for now. They have this chance. John Idzik, the new general manager, goes for Reed and, who knows, gets him before the Patriots do.

So much could still happen for the Jets, and that means so much bad could happen, too. As we do move up on the anniversary of what will always be known around here as the Butt Fumble Game they are back in play. Rex and a rookie quarterback and a running game and a defense. Ed Reed, loud ex-Raven, joining that defense the way Bart Scott, loud ex-Raven, did in Rex’s first year in town. So much has changed in four years. But maybe we have seen this movie before.

Jimmy the Great, need some J.R. & an Imus-t listen....

-- I was at Sardi’s on Thursday to watch Jimmy Breslin be inducted into the Deadline Club’s Hall of Fame and was reminded of an email our sports editor, Teri Thompson, got from a man asking where Jimmy was on Nov. 22, 1963.

Here is where he was:

On his way from Selma, Ala., to Dallas to write what I believe is the greatest newspaper column ever written, “A Death in Emergency Room One.”

Later would come his legendary column about Clifton Pollard, the gravedigger for President Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, a piece of writing now taught in journalism school.

You can read both of them today, as we move up on the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination.

But start with the one written on deadline that day for the Herald Tribune.

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Read “A Death in Emergency Room One” and see why Jimmy was who he was in this business, and will always be.

-- We can obsess about Carmelo’s contract situation and about Tyson Chandler’s injury and the amazing decline of Amar’e Stoudemire, considering the kind of amazing money the Knicks still owe him.

We can talk about Andrea Bargnani’s contract, too, and about his defense.

Or lack thereof.

Those are all valid elements to any analysis of the New York Knicks and their prospects.

But if J.R. Smith can’t become the kind of scoring option that he was a year ago once he has his legs under him, no matter how much scoring Bargnani gives the Knicks this season, it is hard to see them being much more than a .500 team.

And that means even when Tyson Chandler is healthy again, whenever that is.

I was at the Garden for Knicks-Rockets on Thursday night and actually thought a lot more good than bad happened, even with the ending, and not getting a call on what could have been a 4-pointer for Carmelo.

In fact, if you look at everything that happened down the stretch, the Knicks probably win the game if Carmelo doesn’t commit one late boneheaded foul on Dwight Howard, and Howard doesn’t somehow knock down two free throws — you thought it was more likely for him to get hit by lightning — after Carmelo does that.

On an unrelated topic:

I know how fancy that new Chase Bridge is.

But isn’t it really just a bridge to where the old blue seats were?

Here’s the deal on the current debate about the N-word, whatever the color of your skin:

All those lecturing the rest of us about the word’s usage, and telling the rest of us whether or not we’re even allowed to criticize that usage, need to understand something:

It is a hateful word and always has been and always will be.

If you are a Giants fan, and you look back over the run Eli Manning has given you over the past five years, you want him to be great today against the Packers.

-- If you are a fan of “Imus in the Morning” — and if you’re not, why aren’t you? — you have to love the new “Vinnie From Queens” segment with Warner Wolf, Lou Rufino, Tony Powell and Mike (Gunz) Gunzelman.

No general managers in baseball face more pressure — and more interesting challenges — this season than Brian Cashman and Sandy Alderson.

There are nights when you actually feel as if you can see Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce calcifying in front of your eyes.

Doesn’t mean they won’t help the Nets win the Atlantic Division this season.

But you just shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for either one of them to forget what year this is, at least off the small sampling we’ve gotten from them so far.

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-- Somebody just tell me when to start the prayer vigil about whether or not Robinson Cano is going to get his money.

Finally today:

Happy birthday to my mom, Lee Lupica.

She continues to be a hero of our family and my life, continues to carry us all with her great heart, continues to believe in the best in all of us.

And will take a walk with my dad today, the way they walk every day, into another day of a wonderful life.

* * *

“The Mike Lupica Show” can be heard Monday through Friday at noon and Sunday at 9 a.m. on ESPN 98.7.

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NEW YORK TIMES

For Jets’ Hill, Receptions Are a Waiting Game (Ben Shpigel) New York Times November 16, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/sports/football/for-jets-hill-receptions-are-a-waiting-game.html?_r=0

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — It happens all the time to Stephen Hill. He will be leaning over his pregnant fiancée, talking to her belly, when their dog, a Shih-poo named Boss, bounds over to compete for his attention. Boss barks. Boss snatches a toy and drops it at their feet. Boss barks some more.

At the moment, this qualifies as the biggest annoyance in Hill’s life. He could be bothered that he did not have a reception in the Jets’ last game, a victory Nov. 3 against New Orleans, or that he was thrown to only once. He could be frustrated that he has caught all of 10 passes over the last five games after catching 13 in his first three. He could be discouraged that David Nelson, who joined the Jets in early October, has six more receptions in that span. But, Hill said with a smile, he is not.

“If I have to wait my turn,” Hill said, “I wait my turn.”

It can be the nature of the position, as Hill discovered in college, where at Georgia Tech he played in a run-first offense. It is also among the more curious subplots to the Jets’ season, how Hill has come to occupy a peculiar niche on the team, as the receiver who does not do much receiving. He seems less an afterthought — afterthoughts do not play, as Hill did, 79 percent of the offensive snaps across those five games — than a decoy, a 6-foot-4 speedster clearing space for other, less heralded options.

His most significant contributions in the Jets’ victory against the Saints came when he helped to spring Chris Ivory on two long runs, an effort that earned Hill top marks from his position coach, Sanjay Lal, a rigorous grader.

The Jets value Hill’s blocking proficiency, but that is not why they traded up to draft him No. 43 over all in 2012. Coach Rex Ryan said he was “a little frustrated” because he had been hoping for more production.

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“We’re not disappointed in him,” Ryan said. “The numbers are a little low. We’d like to see him get started and do a little more. Again, it’s not that we’re totally disappointed in him. I do believe, though, that he has a higher ceiling and he hasn’t reached it yet.”

The Jets considered Hill a project when they drafted him, and their opinion has not changed. Asked to assess Hill’s development, Ryan twice referred to it as a process. Joe Bommarito, who spent 12 years scouting for the Jets before being let go in May, said they envisioned Hill needing about four years to evolve into what they think will be a top receiver.

“To me, he’s on track,” said Bommarito, who did not scout him at Georgia Tech but watched film of Hill and attended meetings where his potential was discussed. “People are anxious. They always want results right away. Some things take a little time, and that’s the deal with him. We knew we had to develop him, but we felt that the kid has the opportunity to be a very special one.”

Lal has watched that progression since Hill’s first day with the Jets, before a rookie season, plagued by drops and stalled by injuries, that reflected his difficult transition to an N.F.L. offense from a triple-option. Lal sees little value in projecting a receiver’s learning curve, preferring to gauge improvement in daily increments and not solely by the number of receptions.

He notices subtle things, like how Hill now runs his go routes with his shoulders square so as not to lose speed. He notices more obvious things, too, like how Hill rebounded after absorbing punishing hits against Pittsburgh and Tennessee, which sidelined him with a concussion, and how consistent work with a passing machine has refined his catching.

That Hill has not shown off those skills much is a source of minor concern to some friends and family, who, he said, have wondered why he has not caught many passes recently. He tells them not to worry, and Lal said Hill never complained.

Lal offered a few possible reasons not many passes have headed Hill’s way: the game’s ebb and flow, coverage rolling toward him in the red zone, defenders clouding quarterback Geno Smith’s vision.

“Is he open?” Lal said. “Yes, he’s getting separation. That hasn’t been a problem.”

Another reason stems from that game in Tennessee, when Smith committed four turnovers and Santonio Holmes sustained a serious hamstring injury. Ever since, the Jets have favored a more conservative style, complementing the run with the kind of shorter passing game that minimizes the downfield routes that Hill tends to run.

Of Hill’s 41 targets, 13, or 31.7 percent, have come on throws of at least 20 yards. Only Torrey Smith of Baltimore (35.4) has seen a higher percentage of deep throws among receivers thrown to at least 30 times, according to game charting by the statistical website ProFootballFocus.

Lal said Hill’s fortunes are due to change, possibly as soon as Sunday. Holmes is scheduled to return after a five-game absence, so maybe that will help: Holmes can draw coverage, stretch the defense, create opportunities underneath and on the outside. Playing at Buffalo may also help: In two games against the Bills, Hill has caught 8 passes for 197 yards and 3 of his 4 career touchdowns. He said he would like to add to that total.

“Very, very much,” he said.

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ESPN NEW YORK

Two-Minute Drill: Curtis Martin (Rich Cimini)

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ESPN New York November 16, 2013

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/31241/two-minute-drill-curtis-martin

Our weekly Q & A is with Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, who was in the news recently. He accepted an invitation by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to serve on an advisory committee to review the Dolphins' conduct policies and make recommendations in the aftermath of the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying scandal:

How does a former Jets great end up on a Dolphins committee?

Martin: It doesn't have anything to do with it being the Miami Dolphins; this is a universal problem. It's this situation. You know all about the turmoil it has caused. Stephen wanted to pick out individuals he trusted, people like (former Dolphins) Jason Taylor and Dan Marino. I'm more of an outside point of view.

You don't see anything weird about it?

Martin: No. At the end of the day, the NFL is part of my family now. It wouldn't matter what team it was. This is something I wanted to do. It's a very important issue.

In all the years you played, did you ever witness this type of bullying?

Martin: No, I've never seen anything like it, personally. I'll be really interested to see the final facts. In a situation like this, you have to get all the facts and make a judgment. When I was playing, there's no way I'd be aware of a situation like this and not address it. I take this issue very seriously. I hear a lot of people saying a lot of things. People say [the Dolphins] had to know it was going on, but that's not necessarily true. Really, I'd rather wait until we have all the facts before I say anything more about it.

How did you get to know Stephen Ross?

Martin: We've had some interactions in the past. I definitely have a lot of respect for him. From his words, I think he appreciates the way I think about things.

When you retired in 2007, you said you were close to becoming involved in the ownership of an NFL team A short time later, Ross purchased the Dolphins. Were you talking to him about becoming a part owner of the Dolphins?

Martin: When I was freshly retired and looking to buy into team, he was one of the guys generous enough to give me good advice. I was seeking out the expertise and experience from different owners. I wanted to talk to some owners who had been around a long time, and I wanted to talk to new owners.

Let's talk about the Jets. Are you surprised they're doing so well?

Martin: I don't necessarily feel surprised about it. I always like to see how things play out. I'm glad they're doing well. Say what you want, but 5-4 is encouraging. There's a lot of potential there. Geno [Smith] is growing and growing.

What do you think their record would be if Mark Sanchez still were the quarterback?

Martin: That’s a real guess. To be honest, if I knew, I’d say. Sanchez has had pretty decent years, but I like Geno’s talent. He’s versatile. He has escapability, along with a pretty good arm. Once this kid totally understands the game … I equate it to chess. When I started to learn to play chess, I made some good moves, but I didn't have a sense of the whole board. It's the same thing with playing quarterback. You have to know where everybody is on the field. That will come in time. Geno will be very dangerous as he develops that quality.

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You're also a member of the Super Bowl XLVIII committee. How's that going?

Martin: It's been a learning experience. I always thought the teams just showed up at the game, there was more traffic and that was all there was to the Super Bowl. But it's so much more than that. You have to work with the lighting on the field, transportation, sponsorships. What if it snows? It's really a huge, huge task to put on a Super Bowl. Woody Johnson wanted me to sit in on the committee, on hehalf of the Jets, and I consider it a tremendous honor. This is going to be one of the biggest, best Super Bowls ever.

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Austin Howard has Mario Williams' number (Jane McManus) ESPN New York November 16, 2013

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/31271/austin-howard-has-mario-williams-number

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Austin Howard would never say it outright, but Rex Ryan can; the Jets' right tackle has gotten the better of defensive end Mario Williams every time the New York Jets have faced the Bills.

“Well, he’s done a phenomenal job against arguably one of the best players in the league at his position in Williams,” Ryan said. “He did it last year, too. Everybody thought he was getting doubled. No, he was getting doubled by his left arm and right arm. He's outstanding; he’s just a big, athletic guy. He matches up well against almost anybody. He’s another young player that’s ascending.”

Mario Williams is fourth in the NFL with 11 sacks this season.

“It’s one of those things where there’s a lot of back and forth,” Howard said. “It’s never easy by any means.”

Linemate Willie Colon said Howard has to feel confident about the way he has played Williams, which will only improve his chances Sunday when the Jets head to Buffalo.

“One thing about Austin is he’s a confidence guy,” Colon said. “When his confidence is high, he plays to that level.”

Ryan even said he thought Howard has gotten under Williams’ skin a bit.

“I think there’s some frustration,” Ryan said. “Mario Williams is a great player and then to be shut out on the score sheet or whatever it was, that’s one way you talk about it. Quite honestly, I think the league knows, [Howard] is a young man that’s a pretty good football player.”

Colon cautions that it’s dangerous to underestimate the Bills.

“They’re a different team at home,” Colon said. “When you watch them away they look average, and when they get home they look like the '85 Bears. I refuse to believe the hype. I just know what they’re capable of, and I know once they get to their hometown when that crowd’s behind them and they’re fired up, they can make it muddy for you.”

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets vs. Bills: 3 things to watch (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York November 16, 2013

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http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nba/2013/11/16/jets-vs-bills-3-things-to-watch-3/

If the 5-4 Jets are going to be serious playoff contenders, they need to start with a winning streak this weekend in Buffalo.

A win over the Saints two weeks ago and a bye this past week means the Jets will need to build on the momentum of physically manhandling the NFC South’s top team.

The Jets haven’t won multiple games this season.

In the Bills, the Jets face a team they beat in Week 3 and is currently dealing with injuries to their wide receivers. But the ground game is good and their defense is vastly underrated.

Three things to watch for …

1. Holmes factor

When Santonio Holmes went down with a hamstring injury in Week 4, the Jets lost a true playmaker and a veteran presence at wide receiver. Now with Jeremy Kerley out for this game with an elbow injury, the return of Holmes to the field after six weeks away is pivotal if the Jets want to pass the ball. While he’s enigmatic and streaky, he is a big play waiting to happen.

“I pretty much feel like the last time I played was against Buffalo. I got hurt the week after, but it doesn’t push me any closer to want to play against these guys,” Holmes said. “It’s a conference game for us and it’s going to mean a lot for us to get this one. That’s probably what I’m really looking forward to — just getting the win against these guys.”

Against the Bills in Week 3, Holmes had 10 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown.

2. Bills secondary is primary

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith has struggled with turnovers this year, including throwing 13 interceptions (against eight touchdowns).

Now that the Bills have a healthy secondary — one that is tied for the league lead with 13 interceptions — it is a huge matchup problem for the rookie. Smith will need to limit mistakes and play smart football. If they can get the ground game going, Smith won’t be asked to win the game.

“We still have to be a better team to get more wins, but having the secondary back has helped us with those guys coming back,” Bills head coach Doug Marrone said. “They’re communicating well. They’ve been doing some nice things and getting better and better each week. It’s exciting, but it’s still going to be a very big challenge for us.”

The secondary is keyed by cornerback Stephon Gilmore and free safety Jairus Byrd.

3. Nobody runs like the Bills

Well OK, not exactly, but the Bills do have a dangerous running back tandem in Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Currently, they are averaging 140.7 yards per game, good for No. 7 in the league in rushing.

“They still have a good running back duo, which is our No. 1 goal to stop,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “Stop the run.”

The Jets come into the game with the No. 1 rush defense, allowing just 73.8 yards per game.

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David Nelson with ‘extra motivation’ playing against his former team (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York

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November 16, 2013

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nfl/2013/11/16/david-nelson-with-extra-motivation-playing-against-his-former-team/

Former Bills wide receiver David Nelson is rather philosophical about his return to Buffalo this week, the team that signed him out of college. They are also the team that, this past February, chose not to re-sign him following a knee injury in 2012 that cost him 15 games.

It isn’t animosity from Nelson, who was signed by the Bills in 2010 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida and immediately became an impact player. But a knee injury in the first game of the 2012 season was followed by an inglorious axing from Buffalo. The Jets picked him up as a free agent early this season with injuries having depleted their depth at wide receiver. This Sunday marks the first time he’s ever played the Bills.

Five games into his Jets career, Nelson has shown no signs of limitation due to the injury with 16 catches for 199 yards.

“There’s definitely going to be a little extra motivation this week, a little extra excitement leading into the game. Whether you like it or not, you love the game of football … but you’re always looking for something to give you an edge,” Nelson said. “That’s why you see coaches create billboard material; that’s why you see random things that motivate players. This week, I don’t need anything extra. I’ve got it in the bank. I’m excited to play.”

Earlier this week, Nelson said he found out about his release from the Bills in February on Twitter, something that clearly was a slap in the face to him. After two full seasons in upstate New York where he earned a reputation as a gritty wide receiver willing to put his body on the line including blocking, it was the ultimate insult.

That he was cut by the Bills following an injury is one thing, the way it was done was something entirely different. He doesn’t hate the Bills – in fact he counts former teammates such as C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Stevie Johnson and Aaron Williams among his close friends – but he clearly has a chip on his shoulder this Sunday.

“It’s one of those things where there’s no law. Nothing says that they have to call me or reach out to me in any sort of fashion. It’s just the way it goes. It’s the nature of this business and it’s just the way they handled it is the way they wanted to handle it,” Nelson said. “I myself would have handled it a little differently. I feel like I was in a position I had built a relationship with them that it would have been handled a little different. There’s nothing I can do about that; I have to move on and approach it the best way I know how.”

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ESPN.COM

Who's laughing now? (Ashley Fox) ESPN.com November 16, 2013

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9985821/rex-ryan-makes-jets-relevant

Rex Ryan has done the unthinkable. The New York Jets are relevant again. They are a playoff contender.

Daily Clips Cont.

32 | P a g e

Even with a rookie quarterback, they are for real. If the Jets behind Geno Smith make the playoffs -- which is a distinct possibility -- not only should Ryan earn a contract extension but he should challenge Kansas City's Andy Reid for NFL Coach of the Year honors.

Reid has done a remarkable job turning around a Chiefs team that went 2-14 a season ago, but Ryan has done more with less. Look at the folks the Jets have beaten: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, and Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, among others.

Imagine that, from the Jets.

It was impossible to envision just a few months ago, when the butt fumble and Tim Tebow and the Mark Sanchez debacle dominated the headlines. The Jets were Team Drama, one crazy storyline improbably outdoing the last, and Ryan's ridiculous decision to play Sanchez behind third-string offensive linemen in a meaningless preseason game topping them all.

Ryan's news conferences were entertaining theater, but he teetered between coming off as unstable and delusional. It was great for the media but not so much for Ryan.

And now look. Even with a rookie under center, the Jets are 5-4, with a very winnable game coming up Sunday at Buffalo, which is 3-7. Despite not winning consecutive games all season, New York has a one-game lead for the AFC's second wild card and a remaining schedule that includes only one team -- the Carolina Panthers -- that currently has a winning record.

Coming off their bye, the Jets have an opportunity to increase their chances of making the playoffs, something that seemed implausible in August, when the Jets began the season ranked dead last in ESPN.com's power rankings.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, under the current playoff format, 63 percent of the teams that started the season 6-4 made the playoffs, as opposed to only 29 percent of the teams that started 5-5.

In May, Jets owner Woody Johnson was preaching patience. He acknowledged that his franchise had made "dramatic changes" -- such as changing general managers and offensive coordinators -- and said it was "going to take a little bit of time for these changes to take hold."

They've certainly taken hold. Now, the arrow is pointed up. Now, New York is heading back in the right direction. Now, Ryan has forced Johnson and first-year general manager John Idzik to think long and hard about firing him. The players love Ryan. He can obviously coach. He has a young, talented defensive front seven that includes three linemen drafted by the Jets in the past three years. He made a brilliant hire in naming Marty Mornhinweg his offensive coordinator.

Given the way things are going and the promise Smith is showing, Johnson would be a fool not to extend Ryan's contract after the season. It expires after 2014. At the very least, Ryan deserves a one-year extension.

The Ed Reed signing tells me Ryan will get it.

After Houston released Reed last week, Ryan badly wanted to sign him. He wasn't shy about saying so. Ryan has a history with Reed. He coached him in Baltimore. He knows what Reed is all about.

And Ryan surely knows that Reed isn't nearly the player he was when Ryan was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore and Reed was in his prime. Reed lost a step years ago. Words such as "freedom" and "creativity" were code for "freelancing," which became Reed's style.

The Ravens held on to Reed as long as they did because he is a surefire future Hall of Famer who was respected in the locker room. Houston thought Reed had more to offer on the field but quickly found out he did not.

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Ryan wanted Reed for his leadership, for his swagger, for the clout he would have in the locker room. He wanted a Super Bowl champion to have an impact on the young talent he has assembled on defense. He wanted Reed's wisdom and his leadership. Whatever he provides on the field will be a bonus.

Idzik was more than happy to oblige.

On Friday, Ryan was asked whether he had considered the "big picture" beyond the Bills game, the big picture presumably being his job security and the Jets' playoff prospects.

"We haven't really thought about it," Ryan said. "We know there's one game left, and that's the one we're focused on, this one. Down the road, I understand where you're coming from, the big picture of things, but it's this game. Is it important? Absolutely it's important. That's why we put every bit of our energy and all of our focus on it."

Broaden the lens and the big picture shows that Ryan has done a remarkable job with a young team few thought would be any good. The big picture also shows that Ryan deserves to continue his Jets journey, this season and beyond.

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

Associated Press November 16, 2013

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Saturday-s-Sports-Transactions-4987704.php

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association NBA — Suspended Miami G Mario Chalmers one game for throwing a forearm and making contact with the head of Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki during Friday's game. FOOTBALL National Football League CHICAGO BEARS — Signed DE Cheta Ozougwu from the practice squad. Released LB Larry Grant. CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed S Tony Dye from the practice squad. Released CB Chris Lewis-Harris. HOCKEY National Hockey League ANAHEIM DUCKS — Assigned D Jesse Blacker to Norfolk (AHL). DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled C Luke Glendening from Grand Rapids (AHL). TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS — Traded D Jesse Blacker and a 2014 third-round and seventh-round draft pick to Anaheim for Fs Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz. Assigned Staubitz to Toronto (AHL). WINNIPEG JETS — Recalled D Julian Melchiori from St. John's (AHL). American Hockey League SYRACUSE CRUNCH — Recalled F Carl Nielsen from Florida (ECHL). Central Hockey League ARIZONA SUNDOGS — Released D Derek Matheson. Suspended F Chad Costello. QUAD CITY MALLARDS — Signed G Casey Sherwood. ST. CHARLES CHILL — Signed G Linus Lundin.

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