The New York Jets signed head coach Rex Ryan to a two-year contract extension. The NFL waited too long to pry Ryan from his old post as Ravens defensive coordinator, and the Jets benefited. Despite a rookie quarterback who threw 20 interceptions, Ryan took the Jets to the AFC Championship game in his first season on the job. He’s beloved by his players, making it easier for the Jets lure big-name players to New York. With GM Mike Tannenbaum doing an excellent talent-collection job, Ryan should continue to win throughout the life of his deal.

Free agent receiver Laveranues Coles will work out for the Jets on Friday and is expected to sign with the team after.

Coles has had two previous stints with the Jets from 2000-2002 and 2005-2008.

He would fill the void created by the four game suspension for Santonio Holmes.

Coles isn’t as explosive as he once was, but he can still be a reliable target in the slot.

Though I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets cut ties with Coles after Holmes returns from his suspension. He doesn’t add much special teams value and they may want to use the extra roster spot somewhere else.

This news speaks volume about the teams view of David Clowney and Brad Smith as receivers. If they don’t think they can be the teams number three reciever for three weeks, then I don’t expect either player to be in the teams long term plans. Well, maybe Smith because of his versatility.

The injury not only cut short his season but left him unable to exercise. “I couldn’t run or do anything, and that’s the hardest time I have personally to lose weight,” said Jenkins, who hopes to be down to 350 by the time training camp – which starts Sunday – is over in August. Whenever I can’t be active, I suffer. Honestly, I’ve had weight issues my whole career. It just got to the point where I got fed up.”

Not only is Jenkins in better shape, he could be in a position to beat out Ryan, who challenged him and teammate Damien Woody to a three-way weight-loss competition. When they weigh in on Sunday in Cortland, N.Y., the winner will have a donation made in his name to a charity.

Almost every stadium had at least one “critical violation” and the ajority had multiple.

The worst offenders were Tropicana Field and the Verizon Center, where 100% of vendors had critical violations.

So how did Giants Stadium, the now old home of the Jets, fare?

Giants Stadium
New York Giants, New York Jets (former)
Vendors with critical violations: 20%
Inspection report excerpt: Managers tossed 20 pounds of ground beef after inspectors cited them for letting partially grilled burgers with raw centers sit at unsafe temperatures for three hours before final cooking.

Hmmm come to think of it, that burger I had last year did taste kind of funky.

All kidding aside, this is a serious issue.

And just because the Jets are moving into a new stadium, it doesn’t mean that conditions will get better.

The Yankees and Mets, who both moved into new stadiums this past season, both had at least 45% of vendors commit critical violations.

This is just another reason why you should bring your own food to the game. I have been doing it for years, mainly because of the outrageous prices they charge and now I’m more inclined to do so out of fear of my health.

Well today is your lucky day.

HBO is airing a 12 minute sneak peek tonight at 11:00.

I’ll be recording it tonight and hopefully watch it at some point tomorrow.

If it’s interesting I’ll post some quick thoughts on it in the coming days.

Brunell joins a crowded group of quarterbacks behind Mark Sanchez.

That leaves Kellen Clemens, Eric Ainge, and Kevin O’Connell vying for one spot.

More than likely, one of the three will be cut before camp opens on Monday.

Hopefully, it won’t be Clemens (can’t believe I’m saying that). Brunell will be 40 and has nothing left in the tank. He was beyond awful in his one start last season and while Clemens isn’t anything special, he is at least serviceable.

Ideally, Clemens would be kept as the number two and Brunell would be the third quarterback, serving as a mentor to Clemens and holding the clipboard because if he has to put a helmet we might as well kiss our season goodbye.

I’m far from alone on this stance. Even the players are scared of Brunell being the primary backup.

First is coach Rex Ryan talking about the team’s chances.

“We’re loaded as a football team,” Ryan said. “This team has no excuses. Our team knows it; we’re chasing a Super Bowl.”

What else could you expect to hear from Ryan and in the case he’s not exaggerating. I can’t remember a Jets team as talented as this and they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Next up was Mark Sanchez, first speaking about the talent the team added in the offseason.

“I love it, absolutely love it,” second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “We have so many weapons. So much experience and, for me as a young player that’s growing up as the leader of this team, I’m taking it all in from these guys. Asking L.T. what other quarterbacks he’s played with have been like; asking Jason Taylor for tips, if I’m tipping off my snap count.

He’s in a great situation for a second year quarterback. He has plenty of weapons around him to help him out and can learn from all the experienced veterans on the team. Though, talk is cheap and it means nothing unless Sanchez can out up good numbers.

Sanchez went on to comment on of the issues the media has with the Jets, their chemistry.

“Now you have that feedback from different players, different ballclubs. It’s been great. And chemistry issues, I don’t think we’ll have those. With Rex, he’s a great equalizer. We’ll be fine.”

I have to agree with Sanchez here. The chemistry concerns have been way overblown from the start. Everyone knows winning cures all, so as long as the team is winning there will be no problems. Also, Sanchez makes a great point about Rex. The players absolutely love him and would do anything for him.

Finally, there is Ryan again, who first talks about Sanchez’s offseason.

“No player that I’ve ever been around worked as hard as Sanchez did in the offseason — no player,” Ryan said. “From a classroom standpoint, it’s just incredible the strides he made.

Again, Sanchez is doing and saying all the right things, but it all comes down to how he performs when the games count for real.

And Ryan also comments on how the Jets play calling for the upcoming season.

“We’ll be a little more balanced than we’ve been in the past. But make no mistake, we do want to have an all-weather offense,” said Ryan, who anticipates a vertical element that can strike more quickly.

Don’t expect the Jets to lead the league in carries again, but I don’t think it will be an even 50-50 split either.

The talk of the morning was that the Jets were interested in signing wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Well, we can put that to rest as sources say that Owens has agreed to a one year deal with the Bengals.

It was fun to talk about for a minute, but now we can move on.

I highly doubt the Jets were ever serious about signing Owens.

Tannenbaum was probably just doing his due diligence on Owens, like he did with JaMarcus Russell earlier in the offseason.

Owens never would have been a fit for the Jets and adding his ego to the locker room was a distraction this team didn’t need.

Now they can focus on training camp, which opens August 2nd.

The Jets contacted Owens’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and Schefter reports that New York has even gone as far to debate the idea of inviting Owens to training camp.

Also, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday night that the Bengals have extended an offer to Owens and that he and Rosenhaus like the team’s situation. The Bengals are hoping for an answer in the next 48 hours.