COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

Giant Collpase in Final Minute Costs Big Blue vs. Commanders

2026-11-13T16:01:54.048-05:00

Perhaps New York Giants fans shouldn't be so quick to print out those playoff tickets just yet.

Not after Big Blue suffered an inexplicable fourth quarter meltdown against the Washington Commanders in a 24-21 loss in front of a global audience on Prime Video.

In a game that was as wild and strange as its finish, highlighted by prolonged stretches of terrible play by both offenses, coupled with spurts of big play brilliance like Isiah Likely's 66-yard catch-and-run for a score, the Giants held a 21-17 lead in the late stages.

And they couldn't hold on.

And it's not like Washington didn't try to help them.

On three straight possessions, the Commanders shot themselves in the foot, bailing the Giants out at every turn. First, Washington faced a fourth and one at the Giants 30 yard line, and instead of kicking a field goal that would have extended a 17-14 lead to potentially 20-14, the Commanders went for it, and Jayden Daniels pass was incomplete.

Three plays later the Giants took the lead, 21-17 on Likely's incredible touchdown catch, in which he cut across the middle to make the catch, and dashed untouched down field.

On Washington's next possession, Daniels was picked off by Jevon Holland on a deep ball into the end zone.

After Big Blue failed to do anything, Washington again faced a fourth and short, and again Daniels was picked off, this time by Ar'Darius Washington.

All the Giants had to do at this point was get a first down or two, and end the game, but this offense which has been so ineffective for weeks could only must five yards on three plays. And just like that the Giants allowed the Wahington Commanders to sneak back into this thing.

Because for Washington, the fourth possession proved to be the charm when Daniels connected with Stefon Diggs at the Giants 27 yard line, before cutting up-field, untouched to pay dirt for the go-ahead score.

Stunning! Shocking! And downright terrible. Then leave it to J.J. McCarthy, who for weeks has been ballihood by Giants fans and the media as a savior, and who was just dreadful on Thursday night, heaved a game sealing interception with 34 seconds to go.

The Giants stand at 5-3-1. Their lead on the NFC East is tenuous at best. The Commanders and Dallas Cowboys are right back in it.

Giants fans better be worried. After failing to acquire a running back at the deadline, the Giants are still a poor rushing offense. They ran for 116 yards on Thursday, but 34 of those came from the quarterback.

While McCarthy threw for 293 yards, a lot of those chunks came on broken plays. He has not looked good the past two weeks. The Giants have a legit issue under center, and it's not just the fact that Jaxson Dart is out for the year. They don't have anyone to guide them through what will be a gauntlet of a schedule in the second half of this season.

Buckle up folks, because the waters are getting murky for a potential playoff push.

Are the Jets Protecting Aaron Glenn?

2026-11-13T15:41:16.514-05:00

The New York Jets are dead team walking for the remainder of the 2026 season, and one would imagine that Head Coach Aaron Glenn, with an overall record of 5-21 entering Week 10, is on thin ice.

Well, if listen to reports this week, and the Jets fairly inactive trade deadline moves, one would begin to think that perhaps the Jets coaching situation is much more complicated than initially thought.

Outside of trading safety Andrew Cisco to the Detroit Lions for a 2029 sixth-round pick, New York did literaly nothing else. There were trades to be made, and even an request from frustrated defensive end Will McDonald who wanted to get out of Dodge this week.

Instead the Jets kept McDonald, quarterback Geno Smith, and many other veterans who were supposedly on the trading block, the Jets held back, as reports say, because owner Woody Johnson wants to give Glenn every opportunity to finish the season out strong, and prove that he should be the coach beyond this season.

As has been noted by many Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported in his trade recap that the Jets are satisfied with the haul of picks they already have, which they acquired a year ago in the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams deals.

“The Jets have been steadfast that they’re happy with their haul of picks, which includes three first-rounders, for 2027, and want to give their current coaching staff a shot to show owner Woody Johnson that they’re worth keeping around,” wrote Breer.

Those sentiments by the Jets come under heavy criticism by fans and media across the spectrum. From Jets X Factor to the Badlands Podcast. And its definitely understandable.

That's because there were reports teams were willing to give the Jets a second round pick for McDonald, who hasn't seen a lot of playing time this year. It's hard to fathom why the Jets didn't pull that trigger. Outisde of their huge Day 1 haul, they have only one second round pick. Adding another for a player like McDonald who has played in less than half of New York's defensive plays this year, sounds like a home run.

Not to mention there are continued reports, from the likes of Breer and Jordan Schultz that there has been no internal discussion about moving on from Glenn as Head Coach, despite a 5-21 record. That is also astounding!

Then add Glenn's bizarre press conference on Wednesday in which he tried to justify five of New York's losses as being "close games" to "playoff-caliber teams," and that the team is on the "cusp of something."

What that "cusp" is other than total embarrassment, I don't know what Glenn, Darren Mougey, or anyone in the Jets front office is thinking here.

While I can commend Johnson for wanting Glenn to succeed, we all do want to see that, the facts are hard to ignore. New York looked like it gave up last week against the Chiefs. They were down 14-12 at halftime in a game they could have been leading at that point, and came out totally flat in the second half.

The Chiefs won 35-12.

This following back-to-back weeks where the Jets lost to the once winless Dolphins 28-25, and the 3-4 Las Vegas Raiders and their 31st rank defense 38-33. The Jets can't stop a nosebleed defensively, and defensive play-calling is supposed to be Glenn's Super Power, or so we were told.

Glenn's overall 5-21 record is on par with Rich Kotite's 4-28 record from 1995-96. Even Adam Gase, by comparison was more successful in the win-lose margins than Glenn has been.

All of this makes one wonder what is going on here. Does Glenn have a lot more power over Mougey than many fans previously thought?

Even Joe Caporoso brought that up on the Bandlands podcast and he's 100 percent correct.

Mougey was hired basically by Glenn and Woody Johnson in concert, after the team passed on Lance Newmark. Despite rumors that Mougey would be treated separately from Glenn, the question now is should he be?

If Mougey or anyone else with clout had full control of the organization, wouldn't they try to acquire as many assets as possible for the next year or next two years, regardless of the status of the Head Coach? Of course! That's what should happen. But not with the Jets.

So while anything can happen between now and mid-January; and one could also argue that the lack of moves by the Jets could also pave for a smoother transition to the next coach to figure out which players work out or not, the fact the Jets passed up on improving their chances to succeed for instant gratification of someone's job status is definitely troubling.

Jets Hit Another New Low under Aaron Glenn with Loss to Raiders

2026-11-02T16:35:57.864-05:00

At some point between Sunday's despicable 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, and when the season officially ends in mid-January with a trip up to Orchard Park, Jets owner Woody Johnson has got to make a decision.

His football team is floundering at 2-6; worse, even his franchise's depleting fan base is getting out numbered in home games as Vegas Raiders fans stormed the lower bowl of MetLife Stadium, and were so loud in the fourth quarter that the Raiders players were waving towels and cheering them on until Jets' tackle Olu Fasanu committed a false start.

That was one of many downright putrid moments from Sunday's game where Gang Green blew leads of 23-14 and 30-21 only to watch the Raiders storm back to end their own four-game skid.

And this was a Raiders team that has one of the worst defenses in football. A Raiders team that the Jets ran roughshod on all afternoon to the tune of 439 yards of offense. Braelon Allen enjoyed a career day, rushing for 147 yards; wide receiver AD Mitchell recorded a 142-yard day receiving, also a personal best.

The Jets scored on six consecutive possessions; something they haven't done in almost two decades, when they rolled the then-St. Louis Rams 47-3 at old Giants Stadium. Brett Favre was under center that day.

The Jets scored 30 points on Sunday, something they haven't done since October 26 of last year when they squeaked by Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals, 39-38 for Head Coach Aaron Glenn's first win as a head coach.

He's still looking for win number six.

And at this rate, he might never get there.

That's because Glenn's Jets continue to make the same bone-headed mistakes that they have been making since last season. No team beats the New York Jets better than the New York Jets, themselves. The Jets defense which was supposed to be Glenn's superpower as a play-caller was so putrid on Sunday against the Raiders that it was embarrassing to watch.

The Raiders outscored the Jets 24-10 in the second half, and rolled New York for 263 yards of offense. While you can criticize the play-calling of Glenn which is more than fair, the fact is Ashton Jeanty who stated earlier in the week that the Jets have players who don't like to tackle, proved his point on Sunday.

While he only ran for nine yards on two carries, he made his presence felt in the fourth quarter when he took a screen pass from Kirk Cousins and went down the sideline untouched for 45 yards to help set up the game sealing field goal.

The Jets defense looked like it didn't want to be there. They couldn't make tackles in big spots. When Glenn rightly opted to kick a field goal to cut the Jets deficit to 35-33, his unit failed to make a stop. That is inexcusable.

Let's not forget the fact that New York still has only one lowly interception this season. It's like this secondary is afraid of the football. And that is an indictment on all involved, especially Glenn who was a master at picking off passes when he was a player.

No better example of the Jets inability to attack the football than the fact that tight ends Brock Bowers (seven catches for 92 yards) and Michael Mayer (five catches for 53 yards) were unstoppable. Even Glenn was seen arguing with linebacker Jamien Sherwood for not stepping up to make a play on the ball when Bowers took a short pass from Cousins and scored on a third and goal in the third quarter.

Offensively, the Jets put up huge numbers, yes. But it was also an afternoon full of curiosities. Garrett Wilson who complained about not getting the ball last week vs. Miami, was targeted 12 times, making only six catches.

A lot of the passes that went Wilson's way felt forced as Geno Smith threw into double coverage. No better example was the ridiculous end of game Hail Mary where Smith just tossed the rock toward the end zone hoping Wilson would get it, but the ball landed in the hands of Landry Chinn, who kept both feet in-bounds.

While Wilson got targets, Omar Cooper Jr. had zero targets. Blame it on the Jets having a lot of weapons, or blame it on Smith and Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich for not doing the right thing and spreading the ball around.

HOW MUCH LONGER!!

The question remains how much longer will Johnson allow this to continue. It's clear that Glenn's losing this thing. The fact that cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick mumbled something to the press that many interpreted as him saying "Jets being Jets," is an example.

The Jets face the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills over the next two weeks. In three weeks that face a Chargers team that - at the moment - is 0-7, and is too talented to be winless this long. This is going to get ugly, and it will get ugly fast.

Perhaps Johnson doesn't want to duplicate his decision to fire a coach in-season like his hasty decision to fire Robert Saleh after five games in 2024. But, this is different. Everyone knows Glenn's goose is cooked in New York. His 5-20 record is at Kotite levels.

If anything Johnson, who reportedly has a strong bond with Glenn, would be doing him a favor.

Jets' Aaron Glenn Firmly on Hot Seat after Dolphins Humiliate Gang Green

2026-10-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

The final score read 28-25, but that was not indicative of what kind of game this was at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Miami Dolphins waltzed into the MetLife and punched the Jets right in the face, laughed, and the proceeded to step on them over and over and over again. The same Miami Dolphins team that came into the game winless at 0-5, having not scored a touchdown to open a game all season, and having played five games without ever having a lead, scored first, and never looked back.

And as the day wore on, the Jets committed self-inflicted wound after another. Geno Smith played scared; Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich again dipped into his bag of ultra-conservative tricks; Receiver Garret Wilson was targeted only three times and was seen either yelling at Smith or Passing Game Coordinator Seth Ryan, or maybe both; and, once again, head coach Aaron Glenn was completely and totally out-coached.

It was embarrassing.

On a beautiful sun-splashed afternoon where the Jets brought out their classic uniforms out of mothballs, where they had alumni all over the ball park from Vinny Testaverde to Laverneous Coles, they, like the thousands of other Jets fans in the building, watched as their former teammate put himself squarely on the hot seat.

The Dolphins took the first possession of the game and drove it right down the Jets throats like a hot knife through butter. 76 yards on seven plays in a crisp 4:07 that culminated in four yard touchdown pass from Malik Willis to Caleb Douglas.

And that was only just the beginning. Willis and Douglas would hook up once more, this time on a game breaking 63-yard slant pattern that Douglas took up field and gashed the Jets en route to the end zone to make it 28-17 in the fourth quarter. The game was over right then and there.

But really had to kill the Jets, other than the obvious fact that they had no answer to stop the Dolphins once struggling offense, the Jets couldn't put together a consistent offensive game plan.

Sure, Geno Smith threw three touchdowns, but there were so many wide open receivers that he didn't hit on Sunday, and then there was -- once again -- the weird absence of Garrett Wilson. Wilson was targeted on three times on Sunday. Perhaps it was the double-teams, or maybe the Jets aren't putting their best playmaker in a position to make plays.

When it was all said and done, Wilson had only two catches for 26 yards, a week after recording only four catches for 44. You could see the frustration boiling over.

Were it not for the breakout days by receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (five receptions, 115 yards, TD) and Mason Taylor (five receptions, 62 yards, two scores) the Jets offense did nothing.

And when it was all said and done, it was Dolphins Head Coach Jeff Hafley, a Jersey kid who grew up in Bergen County, who won his first game as an NFL head coach. He and his players celebrated in the locker room as if they had just clinched the division.

Good for him. Embarrassing for the Jets.

Is this the end of Aaron Glenn? While he wasn't fired on Monday, and likely will be allowed to finish the season, the fact is this, the Jets are a discombobulated mess under Glenn's stewardship. As great as a player he was during his day in the mid-to-late 90s, Glenn has not transitioned into a good head coach.

He tries. He's more likable than let's say Adam Gase, but that is a poor excuse for someone who is 5-19 as a Head Coach. And with a little more than half a season left, at 2-5, suddenly this season like all the others Jets fans have seen the past 15 years is about building for the next season. What a shame.

Giants Skattebo finds his Groove Again as Giants Walk-off Texans

2026-10-25T17:44:00.000-04:00

A week ago Giants running back Cam Skattebo spent most of the time on the Giants bench, and didn't get a single touch of the football. When asked about it by the media, a testy Giants' Head Coach John Harbaugh said that the running back was never benched, and that the opportunities to get him the ball didn't come up.

When the media caught up with Skattebo later in the postgame, the star back said that he was being "punished" for his fumble that cost the Giants a chance at victory over the Washington Commanders, a game that ended in a 27-all tie.

Well, on Sunday afternoon against the Texans, Harbuagh dared his running back to prove something, and Skattebo rewarded his coach for such confidence with 124 yards on 17-carries, including a 42-yard scamper on second and one with 8:42 to go in overtime that set up Devin Singletary's walk-off 30-yard score to give the Giants a 27-21 victory.

That huge run wasn't the only one for Skat on Sunday. Earlier in the game, he had a 16-yard run for score that gave the G-Men a 21-14 lead. When he ran back to the sideline he was warmly greeted by receivers coach Chad Hall and Harbaugh.

Harbaugh grabbed a hold of Skattebo, shook him and said a few words of encouragement into the ear hole of his helmet. Somewhere in New York or New Jersey, former Giants coach Bill Parcells had to be smiling, because that was something he was known for doing: challenging his players to be better, then building them back when great plays were made. Those who succeeded most of all became Parcells' Guys.

Harbaugh has been looking for Harbaugh's Guys since he got here. Perhaps this is the start of something for the Giants running back.

“This week, I made sure I took care of it. I can protect the ball if I need to and when I have the right mindset," Skattebo said.

Meanwhile the other big story for the Giants is quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Once a cast-off by the Minnesota Vikings, McCarthy played extremely well in his first start as Giants quarterback. He protected the football and completed 20-of-28 passes for 252 yards. He even gave way to Jamies Winston on a couple of snaps, including helping Winston on a tush push for a score.

While it is never fair to say that injured quarterback Jaxson Dart could lose his starting job or might have to compete for it come 2027, if McCarthy keeps this up and takes the Giants on a serious playoff run, it will be a discussion point.

Don't believe me, just ask both Trent Green and Kurt Warner. Remember when Green was supposed to be the Rams starter in 1999. Then he got hurt in the preseason, Kurt Warner took over and the Rams never looked back. It can happen.

Even Nate Burleson of the NFL Today on CBS broached the subject that the Giants could have a quarterback battle down the road.

Knicks Raise Banner & Get Rings, While LeBron & Sixers Spoil the Fun

2026-10-21T01:40:18.509-04:00

The New York Knicks celebrated the success of last season that culminated in the franchise's first NBA Championship in 53 years just 3-1/2 months ago when they took down the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

Players, coaches and staff received their championship rings before watching a blue Championship banner get raised to the rafters to join the 1970 and 1973 champions for all eternity. Fans, some of whom had to pay upwards of more than $1,900 just to secure a seat in the nosebleed section, witnessed something that many thought was not possible.

The ceremony itself was a thing of beauty. Knicks television play-by-play man Mike Breen, who called the Knicks NBA Finals series nationally for ABC MC'd the event, while Knicks and NBA Hall of Famer Walt Clyde Fraizer handed the rings to all the players. It was emotional, and gave the sold out crowd at MSG a collegial feel.

Then reality set in, and the Knicks, who for decades have always been the hunter, were now in an unfamiliar place: the hunted.

And the first one up to try to take the Champs down a rung was the King himself, LeBron James, and the Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Knicks 106-100 to open the '26-'27 season.

While James, 41, may not be the offensive force he once was in his prime, he still became the focal point of the Sixers victory. 14 points, 9 boards and 7 assists. He was a huge difference maker for Philadelphia, adding both physicality and swagger that was not present when the Knicks swept away the Sixers in the East Semis last May.

Hey, the man is one of the greatest players in NBA history for a reason.

Add 19 points by fellow Sixers newcomer Jaylen Brown (trade via Boston), and spirited efforts by Tyreese Maxy, who led the way with 28 points, and Anfernee Simons, who drained three huge three-pointers, the Sixers were too much for New York.

The game really flipped when Simons three ball gave Philly a 77-76 lead late in the third quarter. Brown then followed with a pair of three's of his own to give the Sixers an 83-76 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Despite big shots by Karl Anthony Towns, Jose Alvarado, and OG Anunoby, the Knicks couldn't make up the deficit. For his part, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points, but was 6-of-19 from the field, including two huge shots down the stretch.

Jets' Aaron Glenn Once Again Out-Coached as Patriots Walk Away With Win

2026-10-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

This much is clear from the New York Jets 26-19 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday: there is a clear and obvious coaching discrepancy between the two teams.

In a game that wide receiver Garret Wilson rightly called a "big ass game" on Friday, the Jets shot themselves in the foot one too many times, and when you do that a team as well coached as the New England Patriots you are bound to lose.

Aaron Glenn is not Mike Vrabel. He's not as calculating and involved as Vrabel appears to be on the field, and even that was obvious on Sunday as well.

What really killed the Jets Sunday was three plays. Two of those plays involved Gang Green's inability to convert a simple fourth and one to move the sticks, keep a drive going, and perhaps put points on the board.

And that inability not only falls on Head Coach Aaron Glenn, it falls on Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich, who once again showed an inability to put together a creative game plan.

Twice the Jets faced a fourth and short, and each time Reich called the same play, over and over again. Runs up the middle.

The worst came midway through the second quarter when the Jets faced and second and one, third and one, and fourth and one, and ran the same play each time, and each time it got stuffed. And that is including a ridiculous decision to run a quarterback sneak on a long fourth and one.

One would think that it would be a good idea to change things up, just a little bit? Especially in a league where teams are willing and able to take advantage of eight-men in the box formations, and actually throw the football.

Most teams toss the ball to a sure-handed tight end in such scenarios. But not the Jets. Not Reich, who once was credited with imploring five tight ends in Week 1. I guess that Frank Reich was left in Nashville.

Isn't Glenn's job as head coach is to listen to and override bad decisions?

The other moment that lost this game for the Jets happened late fourth quarter with 6:30 to go in the game. Gang Green trailed 23-16, and had New England on the precipice of a three-and-out as the Patriots faced a third and 13. The Jets went with an all out blitz on Drake Maye, who quickly dumped the ball off to wide open Hunter Henry who just walked for 15 yards for a first down.

The Patriots would chew up the next four-and-a-half minutes, as Vrabel positioned himself in a great position to either go for it on fourth and short and win it, or kick the ball and take a 10-point lead. Either way he won.

That's coaching. That's game management. That's something that Glenn and his staff have been so putrid at in their 1-1/2 years on the job. The Jets lost not because they weren't as talented as the Patriots. They lost because their coaches aren't getting the job done to put them in a position to succeed.

J.J. McCarthy Shines As Giants Flatline vs. Saints

2026-10-18T17:30:00.000-04:00

There are two huge storylines that came out of the Giants stunning 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

1) Cam Skattebo was all but benched by Head Coach John Harbaugh. Skattebo didn't have a single carry in the game on Sunday, and when asked by reporters, the running back said he was "punished" for his fumble against the Commanders that cost the team a chance at victory last week.

That was last week. The Giants meanwhile this week, couldn't establish a running attack. Their leading rusher on Sunday was back-up quarterback J.J. McCarthy who had two carries for 26 yards, and he didn't come into the game until there were 11 minutes left in it.

Harbaugh denied that Skattebo was benched, saying it was "not by design, It’s just when he was in the game, we didn’t call any runs.”

You have to respect what Harbaugh is doing here. Skattebo's fame skyrocketed early last season before his rookie year was cut short at midseason with a brutal leg injury. Since that time it has basically been assumed he would be the 'star' bell-cow for the Giants. Not the case. Harbuagh wants to find his guy at running back, and if he feels Skattebo isn't up to snuff, whose to fault the head coach for that.

2) The other huge storyline is the quarterback. McCarthy, as I wrote came into the game will about 11 minutes to go with the Giants down 24 points. He then threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, which apparently was an NFL record for yards thrown in such a small amount of time. The Giants went from down 34-10 to right in the game at 34-27.

He had good zip on his passes, and got his receivers involved. The Giants needed as they had to live with another shaky outing from starting quarterback Jamies Winston.

Harbaugh was mum on Sunday about a potential quarterback controversy, but that's what the Giants have here.

They know what they have in Winston. He's a good veteran back-up quarterback, and better clubhouse guy. That's about it.

McCarthy is still a raw talent at 23-years old, and was a former first round pick. He has a National Title to his name at Michigan. The Giants should at least kick the tires and give McCarthy an extended look under center when they visit the Texans this weekend.

Nobody is saying that McCarthy is a guarantee to take the starting job away from Jaxson Dart come 2027, but who's to say he can't play his way into the conversation.

Jets Aim for Defining Victory in Foxborough, Sunday

2026-10-16T17:15:52.629-04:00

It has been a long time since the New York Jets last won a game of any significance up at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

While New York's most recent victory there came just three seasons ago, a 17-3 win in Week 18 of the 2023 season, that game was pretty meaningless. The Jets finished 7-10 that season, a season that was supposed to be about Aaron Rodgers first in New York. Of course all the dreams of Rodgers succeeding in different shade of green was hijacked in Week 1 when he went down with an Achilles Tear.

As for the Patriots they were an awful 4-13. It was Bill Belichick's final game as Patriots Head Coach, but nobody really seemed to care that the Jets sent him out of the NFL with an 'L.' Not in a snowy, cold Week 18 game with both teams already looking forward to the off-season.

So if you are looking for the last Jets win at New England that had any real significance as far as playoffs, or AFC East standings, or even division titles are concerned, you'd have to go all the way back to the Jets 28-21 divisional playoff victory over the Patriots in the 2010-11 season!

That's right, the last time the Jets had a truly significant win at Gillette Stadium, Tom Brady was still under center for the Patriots; Bill Belichick was still Head Coach. The Patriots hadn't even won Super Bowl titles No. four, five, and six yet.

Rex Ryan was in the midst of taking the Jets to their second consecutive AFC Championship game; Mark Sanchez was under center; Brian Schottenheimer, now the Dallas Cowboys Head Coach, was the Jets O.C. Revis Island was still a thing.

It's hard to believe that for as long as the Jets playoff drought (15 years and counting), it's been that long since Gang Green's last meaningful victory on the road in New England.

The Jets are 1-14 in their last 15 games at Gillette. They are 4-25 overall if you include an equally dismal 3-11 record at home against the Patriots. What's remarkable about that stat is the fact that the losing continued long after Tom Brady was off the scene. The Jets are 2-10 against the Patriots in the post-Brady Era; 1-3 against them in the post Belichick Era.

It's really outrageous when you think about it.

At some point something has to change, and this game, this week might be that golden opportunity.

The Jets (2-3) have been lead by their defense all season. They have held three of their first five opponents under 200 yards of offense for an entire game, including an eight-sack masterclass last week against Cleveland.

I know that was Cleveland, but Aaron Glenn has been dialing up some nasty blitzes this year, and it's clear play-calling is indeed his super power.

Now as for the Patriots, they looked terrible offensively just a few weeks ago. They were 1-2 after getting shellacked 35-6 by the Jaguars in Week 3. Drake Maye threw four picks that day, and many were wondering if he was showing signs of being a flash in the pan.

Well, guess what? The last two weeks Maye and the Patriots have been on fire. Maye has thrown seven touchdowns to one pick in wins over the Bills and Raiders, to get to 3-2 on the season. Suddenly the Pats are rolling again.

Obviously the Patriots are a -7.5 point favorite. They deserve to be. The Jets have to prove they can beat a team as deep as this, and as well coached as Mike Vrabel's squad. This will be a huge test for Geno Smith who will be without Breece Hall again. The Jets offensive line must do a better job in giving him time than it did the previous two weeks.

Still, I got a feeling this Jets defense is going to keep New York in it, and as they say when it comes to the law of averages, sometimes a team is just due. The Jets are more than due for some success in New England.

Giants Look for Complete Game Victory over Bumbling Saints

2026-10-16T17:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know what goes through the heads of gamblers when it comes time to setting the betting lines for an NFL game, but I truly am aghast at the very idea that the bumbling New Orleans Saints are a -1.5 point road favorite this week at the New York Giants.

I just don't get it.

Sure the Giants are lucky to be 3-1-1 right now. They had to win two games on the final play, and get a brain fart on the part of Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn to pull out a tie in Washington. Still though, the G-Men are 3-1-1, and the Saints (1-4) are in my mind have been the most overhyped team in the NFC South since the season began.

I mean people were not only picking the Saints to win this division, which might still happen, but they were already putting Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore on the Mt. Rushmore of brilliant young head coaches, and quarterback Tyler Shough as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Really? Are we really that serious?

Outside of their one-point Week 1 loss to Detroit, the Saints have been blown out of every other game they have lost this year. So to spot them as a road favorite is generous.

Sure Shough has put up good numbers, but let's get real, if the Saints are picking high in the first round next Spring, you can bet dollars to donuts they are taking a quarterback, especially if someone like Arch Manning is sitting there.

New Orleans biggest issue this year has been the ground game. They are averaging only 3.5 yards per game on the ground. That's not good at all.

Will be fascinating to see how the Giants who rank seventh against the pass, but 25th against the ground handle this Saints attack. If Big Blue is as opportunistic against Shough as it was against Jacoby Brissett and Cam Ward, it will be a long day for New Orleans.

On the flip side, Jamies Winston has to get off to faster start in these games. The offense has been notoriously slow in the opening quarter of games. Big Blue could use an opening touchdown drive to get this rolling.

The Saints are 25th in the NFL in total defense, and are ranked 30th and 31st against the run and in points allowed per game.

Expect Winston to have a solid enough afternoon, and for the Giants to pull away to 4-1-1 before the schedule gets really tough.

Jets Sack Browns, While G-Men Draw in D.C.

2026-10-11T23:30:00.000-04:00

The New York Jets Sack Exchange is back! At least the latest version anyway.

Props to Aaron Glenn for putting together an incredible game plan as his defense came to life amid tropical rainfall to defeat the Cleveland Browns 17-12 at MetLife Stadium. Much maligned rookie defensive end, David Bailey led the way with three sacks, as he dominated the Browns at the line of scrimmage.

Defensive end Will McDonald also got into the action with a sack, as the Jets collected eight sacks on the day.

Meanwhile the Jets had to rely on some Browns mistakes to make this win happen. Trailing 12-10 midway through the fourth quarter, a muffed punt by the Browns gave the Jets the football at the Cleveland 23-yard line. A couple plays later, running back Branden Allen was in for the score to give the Jets the lead for good.

New York is 2-3 in a much needed victory to alleviate the pressure that had been mounting in recent weeks.

As for Big Blue, well they were very fortunate to escape Washington D.C. with a 27-27 tie, thanks to the Commanders totally botching their final drive of the game. After Cam Skattebo fumbled the football, giving the Commanders life, Washington was in position to win the game with a field goal.

Only one problem, the Commanders kept play, and they kept playing until the clock read triple zero, and didn't realize it until it was too late. Washington Head Coach Dan Quinn was beside himself as he slammed his headset into the ground.

The tie marks the third straight week in which the Giants escape at the final seconds.

Yankees season ends thanks to Fan Interference in Game 3

2026-10-08T12:40:00.000-04:00

It was Jeffery Maier but in reverse for the 2026 New York Yankees.

With a runner on in the bottom of the sixth inning, and trailing 4-2, Yankees short stop Anthony Volpe crushed a Griffin Jax fastball toward the left field wall. And for a split second it looked like the ball had cleared the fence just past the outstretched glove of left fielder Victor Mesa Jr., tying the game at four.

The Yankee Stadium faithful exploded! Volpe's homer signaled the second time that the Yankees stormed back to tie. Surely it was only a matter of time before the Bronx Bombers would win this game.

But, it was all a mirage.

Thanks to modern day technology and the fact that Baseball now reviews every home run that is close to the wall, it became painfully obvious that a fan had reached over, touched the ball and pulled it into the stands.

The review overturned the home run as fan interference. Instead of touching home, Volpe was rewarded with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 4-3.

But that would be the final time the Yankees would score.

Thanks to one fan's ignorance and selfishness the Yankees season ended in a three game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays who were chanting "Daaaaa Yankees Lose!" in the clubhouse afterwards.

Oh, how ironic karma can be sometimes. Because almost 30 years to the day, October 9, 1996, in an ALCS game the Yankees trailed 4-3, short stop Derek Jeter hit an opposite field drive to right that was pulled away from Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco. The culprit: Jeffery Maier.

Back in 1996 there was no instant replay review process. The call was a home run for Jeter. The Yankees won that game, would go to win the World Series, and begin a dynasty that became one of the most dominant the sport of baseball has ever seen.

So here we are 30 years later, and the man who was ballyhooed as the heir to Jeter's short stop throne, a young man in Volpe who had been a huge Yankees fan because of Jeter, should hit this fly ball that didn't result in a two-run homer, instead ending another disappointing Yankees trip to the postseason.

Since the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, New York has managed to appear in the Fall Classic only once: in 2024.

And under Aaron Boone, the Yankees have now been knocked out of the division round four times. Whats more, the Bombers have seen the visiting team celebrate on the field at Yankee Stadium in each of their last four postseason appearances: 2022 against Houston in the ALCS; 2024 against the Dodgers in the World Series; 2025 in the ALDS against the Blue Jays, and 2026 against the Rays in the ALDS.

It has to be frustrating for the Yankees.

They didn't have Aaron Judge for most of the season, and not at all in the playoffs. Giancarlo Stanton missed most of the season, but returned for two at bats in the playoffs. He was 0-for-2.

The questions that face the Yankees are manifold. What do they do with Aaron Boone who has a year left on his contract.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the expectation is Boone will return. Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have been high on Boone for years, but the fact is this: in nine years, Boone has yet to win the World Series. It's a pinnacle that has evaded him ever since he got the job in 2018.

One would think that after nearly a decade of little postseason sucess, to which Boone is 27-30, the Yankees would make a change, but it's not likely.

Moreover the Yankees have questions about the roster. What will happen to Judge and Stanton moving forward? Do the Yankees keep Volpe who struggled for the most part this year and was demoted at one point?

Do the Yankees keep Austin Wells despite his base running blunder in this postseason? Do the Yankees say good bye to Jazz Chishom and Ryan McMahon?

While New York had great pitching in 2026, it was not enough to get past a team like Tampa Bay. And now with a future so uncertain thanks to the pending lockout, the Yankees have to truly look in the mirror and decide what path they want to go on next. It's time.

Giants and Jets are Polar Opposites

2026-10-06T12:27:17.970-04:00

For years the Giants and Jets were on similar trajectories downward. Since 2017 until this season, both New York City based clubs were one and two for the worst winning percentage in the NFL.

That is finally changing.

The Giants are 3-1 following a thrilling 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Deonte Banks' 98-yard pick six with seven seconds to go sealed the deal for Big Blue, as they took sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

It is the first time in any season the Giants have been in first since 2015.

As for the Jets, well, they remain the Jets. An embarrassing 23-12 showing in Chicago on Sunday, saw the Jets get totally outcoached and outplayed by a superior Bears team. The Bears held the ball for nearly 43 minutes, and outgained the Jets 492-157. Ouch!

So here we sit! One team has a direction and a head coach to be respected in John Harbaugh. The other team has one of its all time best players, Aaron Glenn trying his best to rally the troops and failing on a weekly basis.

Yup, New York finally has some clarity when it comes to its NFL teams.

Yankees on the Brink of Elimination as Rays take 2-0 ALDS Lead

2026-10-06T00:47:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees are on the brink of elimination, yet again.

And yet again, the Yankees face the prospect of watching someone else celebrate on the Yankee Stadium turf in October when the Rays bring a 2-0 ALDS series lead to the Boogie Down on Wednesday and Friday for Games 3 and 4, if necessary.

The Yankees find themselves here after a 5-2 loss to the Rays on Monday night where New York was charged with an inexplicable four errors! Three of those errors came in a nightmarish first inning as Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm struggled to make what are normally routine plays look anything but routine.

First McMahon couldn't field a ground ball by Yandy Diaz that immediately swung momentum the Rays way. Two batters later, Junior Caminero reached on a Fielder's Choice after Chishom threw the ball away while trying to make an acrobatic play at second base. The resulting error allowed Diaz to score from third, handing the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Chisholm would make another error when he pulled George Lombard off of second base. In what should have been a quick inning for Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, turned into a 19-pitch endurance test.

It would only get worse from there.

With the game tied at one in the bottom of the fifth, the Rays plated four runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero would both score on Yankees mistakes. A slow grounder by Liam Hicks, allowed Aranda enough time to take off from third and score, forcing Chisholm who made the play on the ball to go to second.

Chandler Simpson's slow hopper to short stop was bobbled by Lombard, who tried to make a play at the plate as Caminero scored to make it 3-1, chasing Schlittler from the game.

Tampa would plate two more runs in the frame when Richie Palacios drove in Simpson and Jonny DeLuca on a single to center.

It's not like the Yankees didn't have chances.

Ben Rice has two solo homers in the game. His first blast tied the game in the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth New York had something cooking when Austin Wells doubled, and both Ryan McMahon and Rice walked to load the bases for Cody Bellinger. The Yankees lanky left field put a charge into one towards center, but the ball died at the warning track, falling into the glove of center fielder Johnny DeLuca.

The Rays now hold a 2-0 series lead. They can wrap it up Wednesday. Should that happen, it will marke the fourth straight October for the Yankees were they watched someone else celebrate on their field. They saw Houston do it in Game 4 of the 2022 ALCS; the Dodgers celebrated at Yankee Stadium in Game 5 of the World Series in 2024; the Blue Jays celebrated in Game 4 of the ALDS last season. The Rays can now join them.

Still the Yankees are known for the comeback. Twice in their history have the Yankees stormed back down 0-2 in an ALDS and won. That was in 2017 when the Yankees climbed out of a 0-2 hole to beat Cleveland, and in 2001 when the Yankees came out of a 0-2 hole vs. Oakland to win that series.

This Yankees team, however, is not as good as those two teams were. Not even close. It could get ugly in the Bronx. Stay tuned.

Austin Wells' Basing Running Error Costs Yankees Chance in Game 1 of LDS

2026-10-04T00:48:23.147-04:00

Fair or not, Game 1 of the 2026 American League Division Series will forever be known as the Austin Wells Game.

That is because Wells got caught trying to turn a big play into a monumental play when he thought his double down the right field line took an extra hop and committed himself toward going to third.

Turned out to be a big mistake. As Luis Rojas' had his hands up in the air motioning Wells to stop at second, he admitted in postgame, that by the time he saw Rojas he was committed.

"I tried to make something happen in being aggressive. After I was passing second I picked his hands up, but I was committed," Wells said, adding in the moment he was trying to be aggressive.

His answer was understandable, but it was a mistake nevertheless.

Had Wells stopped many assume that manager Aaron Boone would have pinched hit Ryan McMahon for Giancarlo Stanton, who hadn't batted in a live Major League Game since April 24. The very thought of Stanton, who crushed seven homers and drove in 16 two Octobers ago, was tantalizing, but we'll never know how that played out.

However it is also unfair to make the assumption that Stanton ties it there. Rays ace Drew Rasmussen was absolutely dealing on Saturday night. He held the Yankees hitless through 7-2/3 innings of work, with only two walks and 10 strikeouts to boot.

The A.L. Cy Young Award candidate is 3-1 against the Yankees in four starts for a reason. Heck he was on the mound two weeks ago when the Rays clinched the A.L. East crown at Yankee Stadium. The guy just knows how to pitch to the Yankees. In fact the Yankees current lineup hits a career .167 against him.

Sure it's easy to get on Wells for what could have been, but making that assumption just doesn't pass muster to what was really happening on Saturday night.

The Yankees who pounded 26 hits and scored 18 runs against the Red Sox were totally put to sleep, and it wasn't even close.

Whehter this game lives in infamy or not depends on how New York responds. Cam Schlitter will get the ball on Monday night. If he dominates or shuts the Rays down, and the Yankees can win, this series is back on track for the Pinstirpes.

Yankees Dispose of Punchless Red Sox in AL Wild Card Sweep

2026-10-01T13:11:25.861-04:00

Oh, how I miss the days when Red Sox - Yankees used to mean something.

The days when the series was an intense border war with games that had a razor thin margin for error, combined with an intense, boiling hatred that filtered through the clubhouses and the fan bases alike.

Oh, how I miss the days of Pedro Martinez head hunting Yankees and dropping quote like "Who is Kareem Garcia?" and "Whose you Daddy?" The days when A-Rod got booed; when A-Rod and Jason Varitek fought one another at home plate. The time when the Yankees stormed back to beat the Sox in the '03 ALCS. Aaron Boone's home run. Then the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees choked on a 3-0 series lead.

Those were the days, my friend.

Because this iteration of the Yankees-Red Sox war has as much enthusiasm as a Yankees-A's game in mid-May.

It's sad.

And that sadness was on display for two consecutive nights in the Big Apple as the Yankees dismantled the Red Sox by a combined score of 18-2.

This was a total mismatch. The Yankees had a huge pitching advantage, and they will in every game and series they play this October. It's the only reason this Bombers squad has a shot at the pennant, and it's hard to believe they are considered under the radar this season.

Cam Schlittler blanked the Sox over 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts in Game 1, continuing his stretch of owning Boston since last October when he burst onto the postseason scene.

In Game 2, Max Fried got touched up with a run on three hits over six otherwise brilliant innings.

And to think the Yankees will have a fully rested Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon waiting to start Games 1 and 2 in Tampa for the Division series.

Offensively the Yankees did something they haven't done in a long time: play small ball.

The Yankees plethora of young stars from George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Ben Rice, and Austin Wells all found ways to move runners along whether it be by singles, productive outs, or even bunts. Then when the Yankees needed it they got the power swing.

Over two games, the Yankees pounded 26 hits, and only four of them were homers.

On Wednesday night they got it from Luis Garcia, the man Brian Cashman acquired at the deadline, who roped a home run to right to break a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Then in the six, Cody Bellinger crushed a three-run home to right to blow the game wide open at 8-1.

The Yankees offensive output was very similar to what they accomplished in Game 1 when Rice drove in six, and cracked a grand slam to blow that game open at 9-0.

If anything the Yankees showed that they do no necessarily need Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup. Both players are finally on the doorstep of returning after missing huge swaths of the 2026 season. Judge is expected back by the Tampa series. Stanton was active but didn't bat against Boston.

Who needs them? When both were in the lineup in big spots like this, the Yankees got home run happy. Without them they are a more finesse offense with an old National League feel -- something a long time N.L. player like Boone, would like to manage.

Meanwhile the Red Sox had nothing. They came into the playoffs slumping having lost 11 of 18 entering the wild card series. They are a shell of who they once were, and were not the team that was red hot in July.

Next up, the Yankees take on a Rays team that has been ahead of them in the standings for almost the entire season. Everyday it felt like the Yankees were either three or four games out of first. Now these two AL East titans will meet in what should be a barn-burner of a five-game series.

Giants Trade for Vikings Failed QB Prospect JJ McCarthy

2026-09-28T14:15:18.239-04:00

The New York Giants have swung a very intriguing deal with the acquisition of former first round pick, J.J. McCarthy to back-up Jamies Winston, who struggled in Big Blue's 12-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

McCarthy, once drafted 10th overall in the 2024 draft, was supposed to be the apple of the eye of Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, but failed to live up to expectations. McCarthy lost the starting job last season when it was given to him, despite going 6-4 in 10 games as the Vikings starter in 2025.

This summer McCarthy became the odd man out, as the Vikings brought in two veteran quarterbacks in Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, both of whom have helped lead Minnesota to a 3-0 start the season.

Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh is certainly familiar with McCarthy since his brother, Jim, coached the quarterback at Michigan over three seasons, winning a National Championship in 2024.

The Giants gave up a fifth round pick to the Vikings in order to get the deal done, but it does create a very interesting dynamic not only for this season but for 2027. McCarthy is due to make $1.19 million next season with a $3.77 million cap hit, the final year of his rookie deal in 2027.

Meanwhile incumbent starter Jaxson Dart still has two years on his rookie year through 2028; the veteran, Jamies Winston is also on a multi-million deal through the '28 season as well.

What if McCarthy finds a way to sub-plant Winston as the starter this season, plays very well and leads the Giants to the playoffs? What do you do if your are Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh? Suddenly the Giants have a quarterback controversy on their hand in '27 with Dart and McCarthy. Would they consider trading one of them?

It's worthy speculation for another day, but for the time being, the Giants hope they have solved their quarterback depth issues following Dart's season ending knee injury.

Giants Hold Off Titans in MetLife Nor'Easter

2026-09-28T02:00:35.382-04:00

Not only did the Giants battle the elements on Sunday, they found a way to hold off a stubborn Tennessee Titans team 12-7 in an ugly rain-drenched affair at the Meadowlands.

The Giants managed only 238 yards of offense, and could only score four field goals, but it was more than enough this time.

The biggest play of the game of course came in the final seconds with the Titans in position to take the lead for good. Tennessee had 24 seconds and two timeouts in their back pocket at the Giants' own seven yard line, but Cam Ward couldn't handle the prosperity.

The second year signal caller threw up a duck on the run that was picked off in the end zone by Giants safety Jevon Holland to seal the deal and get the banged up Giants back over .500 at 2-1.

Jets Mistakes Add Up, Lions Sneak Away with 31-24 Win

2026-09-28T00:36:00.142-04:00

At what point should we get tired of hearing about moral victories?

Following the Jets heartbreaking 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Aaron Glenn stressed to reporters that his players are closing the gap.

"We're right here. It's this gap that we have to close. We're fighting to close that gap and we will. We'll be on the other side of these games. I truly believe that."

Even if the Jets "closed the gap" the same problems still persisted for the Jets and Glenn on Sunday, that helped contribute to a disheartening loss. Whether it be time management at the end of halfs, the use of timeouts and challenges, or even the inability to adjust the game plan, the Jets failed in many respects to cover themselves, and as a result played right into the hands of the Lions.

Call it a young team, or a moral victory if you want, but the facts are 20-games in, Aaron Glenn is 4-16 as a head coach. Not that anyone expected them to win on Sunday in Detroit. Nobody did, but there were so many golden opportunities for the Jets, it was a crushing loss nonetheless.

Really, credit Garrett Wilson for keeping the Jets in this game. His incredible goal line touchdown catch at the Lions one-yard line on a crucial 4th and six with four and a half to play saved Glenn and the Jets from intense scrutiny.

Why? Because a possession earlier when the Jets scored at the start of the quarter to cut the Lions lead to 24-16, Glenn opted to go for two points, when all he really needed was one. The gaff in judgement is not the first time Glenn has gambled and lost on two-point conversions. He infamously did it last year against the Steelers in his first game as a head coach. That was forgivable.

20 games in is not.

Had Geno Smith's throw not gotten to Wilson, or had Wilson not come down with the football and landed in the end zone, or if the ball wizzed out of his hands for an incompletion. The Jets lose that game right there at 24-16.

What Glenn probably should have done right there was kick the field goal. It would have made it a five point game at 24-19 with enough time to get the ball back, IF the defense could hold. Instead he gambled, luckily it paid off. Wilson got the touchdown, and ex-Giant Sterling Sheperd got the two-point conversion.

But then, Glenn's bread and butter, his defense which came into the game ranked number 1, couldn't shut the door on the Lions. Jared Goff evaded an incomping David Bailey and connected with speedy receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a 49-yard gain, setting up Jaymar Gibbs with the winning score. The Lions needed only four plays to go 65-yards.

If defensive play-calling is Glenn's superpower, it didn't show there.

Finally with the Jets driving for the potential winning score. The Jets couldn't cover the safety blitz as Chuck Clark came flying through the Jets o-line toward Geno Smith, forcing the fumble that ended the game.

It was little things like this that stopped the Jets from having a chance.

Again, you can claim moral victory and sing it all you want, it's not good enough. This team isn't prepared well enough, and it showed on Sunday. That in itself is a major disappointment.

Mets Name Andy Green Manager in First Move of 2027

2026-09-23T00:45:13.624-04:00

The 2026 season isn't even over, and moves are already being made for 2027.

The New York Mets have removed the interim label from Andy Green, naming him the full time manager of the club with a brand new three-year contract extension.

Green who took over a brutal situation in late June with the Mets all but out of contention following the firing of Carlos Mendoza, settled things down to the best of his ability. He got the team to play better, got the most out of many of the young players like AJ Ewing and Carson Benge, and as a result the Mets went 37-38 in the 75 games since June 26.

"I think Andy brings to us an ability to connect the organization in ways that very few people could," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told the media in Texas on Tuesday.

Green was serving as the Mets VP of Player Development with a specific focus on the Mets farm system, when he was asked to step into the managerial role in late June to take over for Mendoza. It was Green's familiarity with a lot of the young and developing players, and his unique communication skills that made him rub off quiet well with the players in the clubhouse.

His naming as full time manager was met with unanimous praise from players and those associated with the franchise.

"Since Andy stepped in, he’s helped a lot of guys be a better version of themselves. We’ve been playing a good brand of baseball. Glad to have that continuity moving forward. Extremely happy for him and his family," infielder Marcus Seimien said on Tuesday.

Added veteran Francisco Lindor: "Its a good thing for the organization. I felt like he's done a good job, and you don't want to go into the offseaosn thinking about what's going to happen. He's been in the organization for the past few months, it's a wise decision, and I look forward to the next couple years."

Lindor added that Green has brought "light, joy and accountability" to the team.

Mets Hall of Famer and broadcaster Keith Hernandez was thrilled by the move. "It's very important when you have young players you have a manager who knows their abilities. I think he's the right guy for the job. I am absolutely thrilled."

While the move wasn't a shock to those around the Mets, it might have come as a shock to fans and those outside, because Green, Stearns and owner Steve Cohen has stated emphatically for months that once the 2026 season ended, Green would head back into his VP of Player Development role, and that he valued family time with his children. There was an understanding that the Mets were going to go into a full scale search.

But things changed.

"I made a promise to my girls when they were 13 years-old that I would not go back into the dugout until they graduated high school. And over the last month to see them go from 13-year olds to almost 18 year olds who want to see what dad do what makes him happy, but encouraged me to do this if the opportunity presented itself."

Stearns added that he got a call from Green a couple weeks ago in early September that he was open and "eager" to throwing his hat into the ring for the full time role, and that he "very much believed in this group of players."

"It got my head spinning just a bit," Stearn said. "We've had a number of conversations, and ultimately I recommended we move forward with Andy to Steve and Alex, and they agreed."

"I expected to have a conversation with Andy as we got deeper into September, and I expected him to come back to the front office. When he shared with me where his mind was, and it got me thinking. We've been able to have those conversations, and I was pleased we ended up where we did."

"I am excited to go forward with that group, and anticipate what we can do going forward," Green said. "It became more obvious with my family that this was something we wanted to do together."

When asked if he had done any informal searches outside the organization before this move, Stearns added, "I would say we did a significant amount of due diligence on candidates so we knew who was out there. But we never got to the point of interviewing an external candidate," Stearns added.

"The familiarity helps as we get into the off-season. It's comforting for players and allows us to move forward together."

Giants' Dart Could Be Lost for the Season with Knee Injury

2026-09-22T17:03:43.066-04:00

The prognosis for quarterback Jaxson Dart is not good.

Dart, who was injured on the seventh play of the Giants opening drive on Monday night in Los Angeles, could miss the entire season, or at least an extended period of weeks, as tests revealed the damage to Dart's left knee is worse than anticipated.

Dart got hurt when he was sandwiched in mid air between Rams linebackers Byron Young and Josiah Stewart. Dart then fell to the ground in a heap, while holding his knee. He left the game and didn't return, although reports early Monday indicated that he wanted to come back in, and was seen on the sideline in street clothes moving around just fine.

There was also ESPN, incidentally, capturing a member of the Giants training staff mouthing to Head Coach John Harbaugh what many assumed was him saying Dart could miss four to six weeks. Of course that was never confirmed.

Harbaugh did not reveal any diagnosis following the Giants 28-6 loss to the Rams, and then declined to comment further on how long the quarterback would miss time when broached about it on Monday.

However ESPN's Ian Rappoport and Mike Garafolo both indicate that Dart's injury is very severe and he could miss the rest of the season.

While the Giants have a favorable schedule the next two weeks with the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals coming to MetLife on the schedule, beyond that it will get dicey.

Nobody expected the Giants to have a quarterback crisis on their hands this season, but now they do.

If he does, it's a devastating blow to Dart, and to Harbaugh, who is in his first season as Giants coach. A lot has been made about the Giants new coaching staff getting the most and best out of the second year signal caller after an injury plagued and inconsistent rookie year.

Veteran quarterback Jamies Winston played the rest of the game on Monday and struggled; he was 11-of-27 for 111 yards and an interception. Winston just signed a two-year, $13 million extension to be the Giants back-up, so if Dart is out, this is definitely going to be Wintson's show.

The only other quarterback on the team is Jack Haener who is on the practice squad.

If the Giants go out and look for a free agent, the best available is veteran Jimmy Garroppolo, who hasn't started a game since 2024.

If the Giants were to make a trade, would they call the Cincinnati Bengals about Joe Flacco?

It's an intriguing idea. Of course Flacco won a Super Bowl with Harbaugh in 2012 with the Ravens, and Flacco is no stranger to the area having spent three years with the Jets as a back-up and fill-in starter. But, the Bengals might value Flacco very highly, considering they don't have anyone else to back-up starter Joe Burrow.

Jets Disasterous Loss Harkens Back to Same Old Times

2026-09-21T04:48:00.000-04:00

Not only did the Jets blow a 17-7 lead on Sunday, and lose to the Green Bay Packers, 20-17, but they did something that hadn't been done in the NFL since 1941, and that is they held Green Bay under 200 yards, had a plus-one turnover margin, and Green Bay was flagged for over 100 yards, and still the Jets managed to lose.

The loss reminded us all what its like as the Same Old Jets.

Howie Rose Puts it in the Books ... on Legendary Career

2026-09-20T23:44:19.772-04:00

Legendary New York Mets broadcaster Howie Rose called it a career Sunday in his final radio broadcast as the Mets lead play-by-play voice.

Rose who covered the Mets for 39 years beginning in 1987, built a lasting legacy as one of the many great local voices to lend his pipes to the Amazin's. When you think of the Mets and broadcasters, Rose is right up there along with Gary Cohen, Bob Murphy, Lindsay Nelson, and Ralph Kiner.

Rose began his career as the host of the Mets pre and post game shows in 1987. By 1995 he moved into the broadcast booth as the voice of the Mets TV telecasts, first on Sports Channel, and then on Fox Sports Net New York.

In 2004, he took over the slot vacated by Murphy when he retired, sitting alongside Gary Cohen for two seasons, before Cohen switched over to TV and SNY.

Since 2006, Rose has been the lead voice of Mets radio broadcasts joined by a cast of different broadcasters from Eddie Coleman, Wayne Hagen, Josh Lewin, Wayne Randazzo, and Keith Radd.

On Sunday, the Mets had to postpone a ceremony to him due to the lingering rain storm in the area, it will be made up next season, but that wasn't enough to dampen the moment. The game went on, the Mets lost 7-2, and with each passing inning Rose became more emotional. When he signed off, he had tears in his eyes as the mets players came out of the dugout tipping their caps to him. He waved to the crowd who gave him a standing ovation.

Much deserved for the man who made catch phrases like "Put it in the Books" and "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!" a part of the lexicon of New York sports.

Pete Alonso Earns Revenge Against Mets Front Office with 300th Career Homer

2026-09-16T00:54:10.076-04:00

Pete Alonso wouldn't admit it when asked about the emotions of this moment when he returned to Citi Field as a member of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, but this was personal, and he had to love every minute of it.

Nine months ago Alonso said good bye to the city he called home for over a decade, when he signed a five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, after the Mets front office, led by President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, decided against going into an aggressive bidding war for his services.

In fact, the Mets didn't even make an offer last winter.

How could they do that?

Alonso is the Mets All-Time Home Run Leader. His bat alone catapulted the Mets onto an incredible postseason run in 2024 when he launched a Devin Williams fastball over the right field wall in Milwuakee to send the Mets past the Brewers in the wild card.

Alonso was a home grown Met; one of the franchise's best overall players (even if he wasn't fleet afoot at first base). He played every single day. Never complained. Just put his head down and worked, and worked and worked.

"I spent a lot of time here. It's obviously exciting, because of all that time, coming up in the Mets organization and knowing a ton of people on the other side ... it's good to see all the people there," Alonso said on Monday outside the Orioles clubhouse. "Honestly I am gracious and appreciative of all the support. It's been a long time now since I have been an Oriole. It's been almost a year, I've been an Oriole and to still have that support is appreciative."

While he said all the right things, let's be honest, when Alonso launched a Kodi Senga fastball deep into the Flushing Queens night on Tuesday for his 300th career home run, he had to feel every kind of emotion and thought running through his body. I bet it probably felt like running on air around those bases.

He flipped the bat toward the Orioles dugout, pumped his fist in the air and screamed, then rounded the bases at Citi Field, something he had done 123 different times in a Mets uniform. Only this was different. This was vengeance. As Alonso came to the dugout he high-fived his new teammates, and had the look of both relief and anger in his eyes.

300 home runs! In the building he once called home! Against the team that didn't want him anymore! Against the team that replaced him with an oft-injured and inconsistent middle infielder named Jorge Polanco?!?!?!

You have to think that Alonso was thinking about all of that. Thinking about David Stearns who refused to come to terms on any deal with the Mets best player for two straight off-seasons. In fact Alonso was quoted in a May edition of the New York Post as telling Stearns: "When my career is being evaluated for the Hall of Fame years from now, you'll still be fiddling with your F---ing formulas."

This was justice personified.

And then there is Steve Cohen, the Mets slickster owner, who for years has tried to paint himself like George Steinbrenner, but is just a slicker version of Fred and Jeff Wilpon, walked up to Alonso at batting practice on Monday, almost making sure the cameras were on the two of them, when he told the Mets former First Baseman that Citi Field would always be his home. The two shook hands and Cohen walked back to the first base dugout.

While Cohen was trying to be the better man, and with all intents and purposes did the right thing going up to Alonso, he also tried to paint himself as innocent one in this situation.

Here's the thing, Cohen is the second richest owner in Baseball (outranked now by the Angels new owner Stan Kronkie). He could have easily walked into the office at any point last off-season and said, 'Guys, what the hell is going on here with Alonso? Five years? Six years? What is it? I'll pay it.'

He could have done that. Just like he made sure to outbid the Yankees for Juan Soto, making Soto one of the highest paid players in baseball history just two off-seasons ago. He could have done that, just the way he tried to with Carlos Correa before that deal fell through back in 2023.

Cohen said he wanted to be the East Coast version of the Dodgers, but last off-season he looked like an older version of the Mets when they used to tighten their purse strings.

So this entire week has been a harsh reminder to both Cohen and Stearns that Mets fans never forgot and never forgave. Sure for the past two months in July and August when this team has played a little bit better under Andy Green, you didn't hear much from Mets fans, mainly because the season was over before it ever started in April.

Mets fans stood up and gave Alonso a well deserved standing ovation when he walked to the plate on Monday.

And when he was walked in his first at bat, the crowed booed. When nothing was going on, they chanted, "Fire Stearns!"

Then came Tuesday night when Alonso crushed his 300th home run in the ninth inning of the Orioles 7-5 victory.

Citi Field exploded when the ball was launched off Alonso's bat. Then, Alonso peered out of the dugout and gave the fans a curtain call to which he received an even louder ovation.

The "Fire Stearns" chants grew louder and louder.

For those few fans criticizing Mets nation for their love and support of Alonso, you just don't get it.

Alonso was more than just a ball-player, he is a Hall of Famer. While we can argue about the Mets moving on from Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and even Edwin Diaz last off-season, Alonso should have been a full stop. Allowing him to leave should have never been an option.

Yankees Clinch Playoff Berth vs. Twins

2026-09-15T00:14:00.000-04:00

Behind a three-run bomb by Aaron Judge, the Yankees clinched a spot in the 2026 postseason in an 8-3 win over their favorite whipping boys, the Minnesota Twins.

Judge, who was 3-of-20 since coming off the I.L. after missing most of the season with a rib injury, launched a pitch into the second deck, signifying the Yankees slugger was finally back!

Judge wasn't the only one to go long. Both Jose Caballero and Austin Wells went long for the Yankees as they blew away the Twins in the later innings.

Now as far as that postseason thing is concerned the Yankees have a lot of work to do, and need some help. They still trail the Rays by 3.5 games. Tampa has been in first place seemingly everyday since mid-June.

Can the Yankees catch them? We are running out of days. The Yankees are six games ahead of Boston for the top wild card, meaning New York will have home field in the wild card series, but for the second straight season, the Yankees are starring down facing the Red Sox in that series.

That's rough.

New York has had a lot of trouble against teams within their division the past few years. This year has been a little better, New York is 25-20 vs. the A.L. East, but still. The Yankees will have to get through both the Red Sox and Rays to get to at least the ALCS. It's going to be a real challenge, but if anything the Yankees have the pitching.