Jets Playoff Coverage#1

Jets Beat writer Tom Rock Leads off our best of the Jets coverage leading up to Sunday's Match up with New England

My Comment at the end:

Why not them?


BY TOM ROCK
Newsday Staff Writer

January 3, 2007

No one came out and said "I told you so," likely because no one had actually said it to begin with. But mixed in with the feelings of elation and joy that pervaded the Jets' locker room following Sunday's playoff-clinching win over the Raiders was a tone of vindication.

"I'm glad I'm not in the business of making predictions," left guard Pete Kendall said of the dire reports many in the media provided at the beginning of the season, prognostications that proved to be quite wrong. "I never took personal offense at what people from the outside said. It seemed, I guess, relatively well thought out. But the perception and the reality that I saw when we got together in August, there was quite a bit of difference. I'm not going to sit here and say that I thought at that point we were a 10-win team, but I knew that what I had read and what I was seeing were two different things."

The Jets trudged through the season, overcoming bad losses to the Browns and Bills, earning emotional wins over the Patriots and Dolphins, and now head into the playoffs. Finally, this team gets some respect.

But then comes the nine-point spread from Vegas, even though the two Jets-Patriots games this season were decided by an average of five points, one of them a Jets win, and five of the last eight meetings were decided by a touchdown or less. Following closely behind are the statistical analyses, pointing out that the Jets are ranked 25th in overall offense, 20th in overall defense and 24th in rushing defense. Then come the backhanded compliments, about how the Jets have had a nice season and it's an accomplishment just to be in the playoffs, but how can they compete with the dynasty Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have forged in New England?

The Jets played 16 games to escape the doomsday predictions that were floated in August, only to emerge and find similar thoughts in January.

"I don't really put much stock in what people from the outside think or say about us," Kendall said. "We know that we control our own destiny, so whether people think we're a one-and-done team or we're going all the way. If we play poorly, we're a one-and-done and if we play well enough, we'll see where it winds up. There's nothing that any talking head or pundit is going to do to affect that."

The Jets may not be putting any weight into the buzz surrounding their wild-card game against the Patriots in Foxborough on Sunday, but they certainly hear it. Whether it rankles them, drives them or amuses them depends on the player.

Tight end Chris Baker said he's pretty sure about the answer most teams would give when asked whether they preferred to play the Jets or the Chiefs, the other AFC wild card.

"People would probably say they'd rather play the Jets, that nothing jumps out at you on film," he said. "They don't do this well, they don't do that well. That's been the perception all year. They're a product of this or that or whatever. I think we had a pretty good year."

Linebacker Matt Chatham has been on the other end of the Rodney Dangerfield scale of respect when he won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. He said the NFL is set up for teams like the Jets to outperform any preseason naysaying.

"This is such an odd league that we have where you can come in and do anything each year," Chatham said. "I know the mentality of this city is tough and expectations might not have been quite as high for us, but any team in the league should have the expectations that they are going to do things until proven otherwise."

Which is why the Jets refuse to believe they don't have a very good chance to win Sunday.

"Why wouldn't we?" receiver Laveranues Coles asked. "When you say we don't have a chance, it's probably the same people who are doubting us. Look at who's saying we don't have a chance. How smart have they been this far?"

Key matchup
Justin Miller vs. Laurence Maroney

One foot. That's how much better the Jets' Justin Miller was than the Patriots' Laurence Maroney when it came to returning kickoffs this season, topping the NFL with a 28.3-yard average compared to the rookie's 28.0. Where Miller separated himself was in touchdowns (he had two, including a 103-yarder) and volume (his 46 returns were fewer than only one other returner whose average was in the top 10). Although Miller hasn't busted one loose since Week 8, he has been steady, averaging 26.0 yards during the second half of the season and 25.7 in the last four games. In what is expected to be a slugfest Sunday, every foot of field position will help. Edge: Jets

Previous matchups:

D'Brickashaw Ferguson vs. Richard Seymour. Edge: Patriots

Reche Caldwell vs. Hank Poteat. Edge: Jets

And my Slant: The Jets are right: Why Not them? if anyone can beat New England, it's the Jets. So why won't the Oddsmakers in Vegas give the Jets any Play? maybe it's because they never give anything away to an east coast team, much less a NY team. I remember SB XXI, and the Vegas Boys were giving the edge to Denver, weather they were close geographically, or everyone loved Elway and Reeves. there was lost of Denver money on that game. I even heard that a few Texas Gamblers who just Despised NY were going with Denver. Guess they losta few oil wells that day. My point is that here goes the oddsmakers again going against a New York Team. If anyone can make it happen like last years Steeler's team,..it's Eric's Genius Jets.

Giants Playoff coverage#1

Newsday's Shaun Powell Let's us know why The Giants have Eagles Coach Andy Reid to thank for This Sunday's Game in Philly. My comment at the End:

Shaun Powell
SPORTS COLUMNIST
Just Reid and weep for Coughlin
January 2, 2007

The upcoming Giants-Eagles game was made possible by a coach who was set up to fail. Midway through the season, he lost his best player for good, his team began losing, the city began grumbling, his job came into question and everything was on the verge of collapse. All those forecasts about making the playoffs died quickly, like a New Year's resolution to hit the gym.

Andy Reid found a way, though. The better ones do. He plugged in a replacement quarterback with a weak arm, tweaked his game plan, changed his clipboard and challenged his players.

Instead of accepting disaster, which was widely assumed once Donovan McNabb went down, the Eagles shook up the NFC East and all conventional thinking. Rather than finding excuses for losing, the way the Giants do, Philly listened to Reid and believed him when he said the season wasn't over, it was just beginning.

That's why Reid should be coach of the year over the two boy wonders: Eric Mangini of the Jets, who had a healthy quarterback and enough sick-looking opponents, and Sean Payton down in New Orleans, blessed with Pro Bowlers Drew Brees, Will Smith and Jammal Brown.

Reid had to adjust his approach on the fly, without much time to prepare, the hardest task in the coaching biz. This is what separates the good from the average, or more bluntly, Reid from Tom Coughlin.

While East Rutherford burned all around him, Coughlin did not find a way, and the Giants reached the postseason mostly despite him, not because of him.

Like Reid, Coughlin was handed a joker from the bottom of the deck. He lost Michael Strahan, the Donovan McNabb of his defense. There were plenty of other injuries to various parts of the team. And the bad luck spilled onto the field, where Mathias Kiwanuka didn't wrap up Vince Young.

Coughlin had unexpected issues, agreed. But again, this is where coaches earn their large paychecks. This is where they can make an impact. They can't tackle or pass or run the football, but they must plug holes and inflate confidence when all looks lost and the bandwagon is broken.

Given how the Giants ruined a 6-2 start with too many bad and unforgivable losses and needed the mediocrity of the NFC to slip into the playoffs, we can all conclude that Coughlin's job should be and is on the line.

The question now is: Does he make the decision to fire him a tough one or an easy one? Does he go to Philly and beat Reid, or do the Giants take yet another foot in the behind?

What Coughlin needs to do, for the first time this season, is surprise us. Make us notice his coaching. Shake up the playoffs. Do a better job of dealing with weakness: Cover his team's, exploit the other team's. Instill faith, belief and confidence in a locker room lacking all three. Remind his players, over and over, that they're playing in the NFC, where everyone's got problems. Most of all, do for the Giants what Reid did for the Eagles.

That's really what this season, and Coughlin's employment, comes down to: his performance in a game nobody expects the Giants to win.

He took one step forward when he stripped the play-calling responsibilities from John Hufnagel, something that should've been done long ago, back when Tiki Barber was feeling "insignificant." Now Coughlin must get radical with a defense that gave up nearly 400 yards and almost blew a 27-7 lead to the Redskins. The Giants can't pressure the quarterback or defend against the pass or stop the run when it counts. Good luck, Coughlin.

Reid was hearing about his job when the Eagles were 5-5 when McNabb went down. Then they were slapped around by the Colts. They've won every game since, after Reid gave up the play-calling duties and balanced an offense led by Jeff Garcia, who couldn't keep a job in Cleveland last year. They passed the division leaders along the way, leaving the Giants and Cowboys choking on exhaust, and won the NFC East.

"We're a little bit like zombies," Reid cracked. "Back from the dead."

"Dead" is a fair description of the Giants right now and Coughlin's chances of coming back next season. Too many bad mistakes and losses and, to be fair, injuries have us checking for a pulse. To rise like Lazarus, or even Andy Reid, will require a big game from someone in particular. Will we see Coughlin or coffin?

My only disagreement here is that it doesn't matter what we all(Fans-Writers-Bloggers-radio and TV hosts) Think. John Tisch and John Mara are not firing the Coach THIS year. Why?? simply because for thesecond year in a row the Giants have had too many injuries, esp on the Defense, to cost a coach his job.

New York Giants and New York Jets In NFL Playoffs

It's been a few years since both NY city area Pro Teams made the Playoffs at the same time. During this week we will keep all of our readers updated on the doings of the Jets and Giants as they prepare for their matchups with New England and Philidelphia.

The Jets drive to the post season has been a great story to say the least, while the Giants rise and fall has been anything but steller. Later today we will start posting matchups for both teams, as well as various beatwriters' take on both teams, as well as my own commentary on both teams.

Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank's Firing Of Jim Mora, Jr. Not A Good Business Move

Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank's New Year's Day firing of Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr. was not a good business decision. The simple reason is that his record not just of 26-22 will be hard to top but his record of winning the NFC South division and his development of Quarterback Michael Vick as well.

The problems the junior Mora had were very fixable. The real focus should be on the defense, but the media's fixation with Vick seems to have infected the Falcons ability to adress this area. The counter to this is that they did make trades to improve the defense, but more change is needed in the area of scheme. Their defense is far too predictable. Perhaps making a change in defensive coordinator would have helped. Indeed, certainly it would. But Blank has thrown out the baby with the bathwater.

I think what did in Mora Jr. was his comment that he would want to coach at Washington. I understood what he meant, but it was taken far out of context. It was the focus of too much anger and in some cases way over the top. But what's done is done. It should not have cost him his job.

Arthur Blank will be hard-pressed to find a coach that will be as successful as Mora has been. I know that watching his team lose game after game this year was hard. But he needs to take a long terms view of the firm under Mora Jr. and take a few steps back. His decision seems based more on emotion than on cold hard analysis. For example, after three years of development of Vick into a passer, the Falcons now leave themselves without a guarantee of continuity in his training. This is a bad situation. What's the plan? I'll bet there's not a business plan in Blanks's office that answers this question. There should be one.

The weeks ahead will show what kind of owner Blank is. Does he have a good plan? Can he make a coaching choice that will cement the progress of Vick as a passer? We shall see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just a very Happy New Year wish to everyone who reads our blog. 2007 will be an exciting time for us!

James Brown Passes At 73 - CNN.Com

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- James Brown, the legendary R&B belter, a singer and songwriter who created a foundation for funk and provided the roots of rap, a man of many nicknames but a talent that can only be described as one of a kind, is dead.

Brown died early Monday at Atlanta's Emory Crawford Long Hospital of congestive heart failure, his agent said. He was 73.

Brown was in Atlanta for a dental appointment when he fell ill and was admitted to the hospital over the weekend for treatment of "severe pneumonia," said his agent, Frank Copsidas.

"It appears what happened is that he did die of a heart attack as a result of his pneumonia," Copsidas told CNN Radio.

Brown -- known variously as "the Godfather of Soul," "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," "Soul Brother Number One" and "Mr. Dynamite" (and often introduced as all of the above) -- was known for his elastic dance moves, razor-sharp musicianship and all-stops-out performances. (Watch the incomparable Brown perform )

He was, literally, an impossible act to follow: The Rolling Stones were said to have been terrified to come on after Brown in "The T.A.M.I. Show," a 1964 concert that appeared on film the next year. ("Nobody could follow me," Brown told "T.A.M.I. Show" director Steve Binder, according to a Los Angeles Times article.) Brown's performance in that show even earned an ovation from the backing band.

"You have the Rolling Stones on the same stage, all of the important rock acts of the day, doing their best -- and James Brown comes out and destroys them," producer Rick Rubin wrote in Rolling Stone. (i-Report: Your thoughts on James Brown)

His influence was broad and deep. He was a soul innovator, bringing a churchy rawness to R&B with his early hits "Please, Please, Please" and "Think." He essentially created funk with mid-'60s songs such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Cold Sweat." His grooves were sampled by rappers and hip-hop artists. (Gallery: James Brown through the years)

He was tough on his own backing band, the Famous Flames -- which included saxophonist Maceo Parker, guitarist Jimmy Nolen and drummer Clyde Stubblefield -- famously fining them if they missed a cue. They even walked out on him in 1969; Brown simply recruited a new band, which included bassist Bootsy Collins. (Many of the Flames later returned; they were renamed the J.B.'s.)

He provided the ground that much of black music -- much of pop music -- stands on. (Story: James Brown's greatest hits)

"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close." (Watch "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" do his thing )

Despite much-publicized personal problems that included a rap sheet and drug troubles, he also was a community leader. In the 1960s, he was a voice for calm during a period of urban riots; J. Anthony Lukas' book on Boston race relations, "Common Ground," notes that a 1968 Brown performance the day after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination helped keep the Massachusetts city from exploding.

Later, dismayed by the school shootings of the late '90s, he spoke out against violence in schools, even writing a song, "Killing's Out and School's In."

"We need to protect the kids by giving them something to do," Brown told CNN in 2001. "[It's about] making them interested, making them love mom and dad more, love the family more, love themselves more and love their school. So there won't have to be killing in school."

'Superhuman determination'
James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. His early years were rough. Abandoned by his immediate family, he was taken in by friends and relatives and grew up in an "ill-repute area" of Augusta, Georgia, he once said. He shined shoes and danced for change, and he also served time in a reform school for breaking into cars, rescued by the family of friend Bobby Byrd.

Byrd invited Brown to join his group, the Gospel Starlighters, which later changed its name to the Flames and then the Famous Flames. The group was signed to King Records and released its song "Please, Please, Please" in early 1956. The song hit the R&B Top 10 and the group worked it hard, touring the "chitlin circuit" -- as the series of African-American clubs and theaters was called -- incessantly.

"What made Brown succeed where hundreds of others failed was his superhuman determination, working the chitlin circuit to death, sharpening his band, and keeping an eye on new trends," Richie Unterberger wrote on Allmusic.com.

A second hit, "Try Me," gave the group staying power, and from there it was hit after hit: "Think," "This Old Heart," "Bewildered," "Lost Someone," "Night Train," "Prisoner of Love." Brown eventually scored more than 50 Top 10 hits on the R&B charts. Seventeen hit No. 1.

Despite the occasional pop hit, crossover stardom eluded him until 1963, when "Live at the Apollo" -- still considered one of the great live albums of all time -- hit No. 2 on Billboard's album chart. In 1965, Brown hit the pop Top 10 with the groundbreaking "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," a song that incorporated the intricate start-and-stop rhythms that would come to define funk, and his mainstream stardom was sealed.

Brown's music was bold: 1968's "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" was a defiant statement of black pride; 1970's "Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like A) Sex Machine" was blatantly sexual; 1971's "Hot Pants" leering. His sound was unlike anything on the charts and was copied by many artists, including Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament -- who, in turn, gave it their own spin.

Influence on disco, hip-hop, rap
Brown went into eclipse in the mid-'70s. His 1974 song "The Payback" was his last Top 40 hit for 11 years, and even his appearances on the R&B/black music charts were irregular. He returned to the Top 10 with "Living in America," the theme from "Rocky IV," in 1985, but it was his last hurrah on the pop chart.

Brown also was plagued by personal problems. In the late '80s he was in the news for being accused of assault and battery by his then-wife. In 1988, high on PCP, he led police on a chase through two states before officers shot out the tires of his truck. He received a six-year prison sentence, serving 15 months in prison and 10 months in a work release program before being paroled in 1991, according to the AP.

But his musical influence was undeniable. He was part of the first group of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He won Grammys for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "Living in America." He received a Kennedy Center honor in 2003.

He knew what he'd accomplished.

"Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I'm saying? You hear all the rappers, 90 percent of their music is me," he told the AP in 2003.

Brown's traditional performance close -- wailing "Please, Please, Please," falling to his knees, being covered with a cape, led almost off stage, still singing quietly, only to rise again, returned to the center, bringing the crowd to its screaming feet -- is indelible. It suggested nothing short of a life force, one that lives on in his many followers.

Which was what James Brown hoped for.

"I would like to pass on the want to do something," he told CNN in 2000. "The need is there. Good lyrics are good things, but I would like to pass on that drive, that vigorous undying determination."

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

"Vince The Great" - Vince Young Leads Titans To 30-29 Win v. Buffalo Bills - NFL.com

Young keeps Titans' streak, hopes alive

NFL.com wire reports

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (Dec. 24, 2006) -- If Vince Young keeps this up, the Tennessee Titans just might do the unthinkable and make the playoffs.

The rookie first-round draft pick has the Titans (8-7), who started the season with five losses in a row, alive in the AFC playoff race entering the final weekend after rallying them to a 30-29 victory against the Buffalo Bills.

The doubters have motivated Young all season long.

"That's all you heard all season, that a rookie's not going to be able to do this and that," Young said. "And I took that as, 'Hey, let's show the world that you can do that.' "

Young threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another to engineer his fourth comeback in the fourth quarter or overtime. This time, he helped Tennessee overcome a 29-20 deficit in the final 12 minutes. After hitting Brandon Jones for a 29-yard touchdown pass, Young engineered a 14-play, 75-yard drive, which Rob Bironas capped with a 30-yard field goal with 2:10 left.

Young's most electrifying play came at the end of the first half, when he scored on a 36-yard keeper on a fourth-and-2.

The loss knocked the Bills, now 7-8, out of playoff contention.

"This loss really hurts," said linebacker London Fletcher, whose team entered the game having won five of seven. "We had everything fall into place the way you want it to fall. We played a home game in a situation where you have to beat a team. And we just didn't get the job done."

Young improved to 8-4 as a starter and has led the Titans to six consecutive victories as they attempt to become the first NFL team to qualify for the playoffs after starting the season 0-5.

Tennessee still needs help, and must win its season finale when it plays host to New England next weekend.

"Every week he does something to amaze me," Jones said. "I can't believe some of the things that he does."

It was a wild, back-and-forth contest, featuring seven lead changes.


Vince Young made more magic when he beat the clock with his 36-yard touchdown run before halftime.
The Bills had a chance to pull it out but failed in the final minute.

Facing fourth-and-5 at the Titans 28, J.P. Losman scrambled out of trouble and threw a desperation pass that was intercepted by Reynaldo Hill at the goal line. On the play, the Bills elected against a field goal. They were driving into a wind that was gusting up to 20 mph.

Losman finished 19-for-33 for 266 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice. Willis McGahee had 95 yards rushing and a touchdown.

"All we wanted was an opportunity," Bills receiver Lee Evans said. "It came down to the end of the game and, defensively, they made more plays than we did offensively."

The game turned after Rian Lindell, with a career-tying fifth field goal, put the Bills ahead 29-20 late in the third quarter.

Young took over and led the Titans on a nine-play, 62-yard march, which he capped by hitting a wide-open Jones over the middle at the 10. Jones eluded Terrence McGee, who slipped on the play, and ran it in for a 29-yard reception.

After the Bills went three-and-out, the Titans turned to running back Travis Henry in a drive that ate up 7:15 and, more significant, produced the winning points.

Henry had 41 yards on eight carries during the drive, and finished with 135 yards rushing while facing his former team for the first time since being traded to Tennessee in 2004.

More surprising is that Henry arrived in Buffalo late after he missed the Titans' flight the day before.

"I was home just chilling and I got a call from a teammate like they were going to leave," Henry said, noting he had misread the Titans' travel schedule. "I got on the first flight that was available and I had to connect through Charlotte. ... It was crazy."

Young laughed when asked about Henry's late arrival.

"He's got a lot of money to book him another flight," Young said. "He got here, no problems, and went out there and played the game."

GAME NOTES:

With six victories in a row, Young moved into a tie for third with Pittsburgh's Mike Kruzcek for the longest streak among rookie NFL quarterbacks.
Losman has 12 touchdown passes in his past eight games, eight of them for 20 yards or longer after he hit Evans for a 37-yarder on Sunday.
Bironas hit all three field-goal attempts for Tennessee, including a tough 42-yarder into the wind.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved