Tony Sparano and Rex Ryan

The New York Jets 2012 off-season has received mixed reviews from fans and media alike. There were multiple needs that the New York Jets needed to address, some were and some weren’t. What was the biggest need that required attention? Well, in my opinion, it was Brian Schottenheimer, the awful offensive coordinator who’s play calling followed the Jets like the black plague. The Jets did address that issue, thankfully, firing Schottenheimer and hiring ex-Dolphins coach Tony Sparano. Hiring Tony Sparano as the Jets new offensive coordinator was a great move in my opinion and possibly the key to the Jets success. Here’s why..

Tony Sparano is the opposite of Brian Schottenheimer in a multitude of ways. And that’s exactly what the Jets needed after Brian Schottenheimer, the exact opposite! Tony Sparano is an in-your-face, hard nosed coach who isn’t going to take crap from any players. He won’t sit back and watch idly if someone like Santonio Holmes is acting up and hurting the team, like the person who is now working for the St. Louis Rams. The coaching style Sparano brings to the Jets will keep the team together, even in the toughest of times. Take for instance, last season when Sparano’s Dolphins started off 0-7. No one quit on the team or the coaches and the team won 4 games in a row under Sparano before he was fired after losing his 8th game. The Jets have talent and skill, they just need an attitude adjustment and Tony Sparano is the person who’s going to give it to them.

Don’t believe me? Just listen to what some of the Jets players have already said about him?

Joe McKnight: “It’s a different mentality with coach Sparano, he’s the type of person that’s like, if you can’t stop him, he’ll keep doing it,” McKnight said. “That’s the kind of mentality, I think if we had last year I think we could have done better. We were just thinking so much last year it made it more easy for us this year.”

“It just had so much stuff in the offense,” McKnight said about Schottenheimer’s system. “If the defense comes out and they line up one way we had to change the way we run our routes the other way, but when Sparano came we just run the routes. No changes, just go out and play football.

“Everybody had a sigh of relief when we didn’t have the same amount of plays we had last year, we had a lot of plays and a lot of things that go with the plays and right now it’s just the play is here, you just go out and run the play and you win your matchup.”

“He definitely runs a tighter ship than I’ve seen from anyone before, and he’s not going to let anyone slip up,” Keller said last night at the United Way of NYC’s Gridiron Gala.

“When Sparano is in there talking, all eyes are on him,” Keller said. “It’s a change. Before, I would say it was a little more laid-back. But with him it’s more stern, and he just has everybody’s attention, and I think guys are paying more attention to details now more than ever.”

What do you Jets fans think though? Is Tony Sparano a key for the Jets future success, or was he a bad hire? Sound off in the comments! Below is an interview from Eric Allen with Tony Sparano, check it out.

Aaron Maybin certainly was a pleasant surprise for the Jets in the 2011 season and he’s back with the team for the 2012 season. Maybin has his limitations as a defensive end and pass rusher, but he also has incredible speed and quickness that make him a fun player to watch. Speaking of watching Aaron Maybin, here is an AWESOME 2011 Season Highlight Reel of Maybin put together by “footballman175″. Enjoy the video!

Wayne Hunter officially declared starting RT

This New York Jets offseason, many people declared right tackle as a major need for the team. The Jets didn’t make any significant moves to address last year’s porous situation with Wayne Hunter and history looked doomed to repeat itself. Well guess what Jets fans, history is doomed to repeat itself. Below is a quote from Wayne Hunter himself on the starting right tackle position.

”I am the starting right tackle, that’s it,” Hunter said. ”Not up for debate. Whatever happens come opening day, I am the starting right tackle. They told me that, so it’s clear to me. It’s as simple as that.”

‘When it comes to the media and fans, I feel I have lived up to (handling) it. I had good games last year, had some great games. I also had some bad games. I didn’t pick up where Woody left off. I was the weakest link last year at times, played like a rookie last year, and this year I’m going to play like a nine-year veteran.”

”I know I can play this position, and Tony knows it,” Hunter said. ”They know I can do the job and do it well, and I will do it.” -Yahoo Sports

Well, I guess it’s official Jets fans. Wayne Hunter is back at starting right tackle and there’s nothing we can do about it. To be honest, Wayne Hunter seems like a pretty good guy, I like his team first attitude and I LOVE how he almost fought Santonio Holmes last year when Holmes was throwing a pity party. However, Wayne Hunter needs to start getting the job done and he needs to do it fast. He was awful last year at times and he knows it. I’m hoping that Hunter uses his poor play last year as motivation for major improvement, because he’s going to need to improve to handle Mario Williams twice a year!

Darrelle Revis on the Patriots: "Ignorant and Disrespectful"

It’s not even June and the New York Jets vs New England Patriots rivalry is heating up.

Revis said. “You guys know me very well. This isn’t the first time me speaking what I need to speak about something. I talked about the Randy Moss stuff… It’s just how I felt. That’s how I feel. I feel that people let him slide when he says his smart remarks (on) certain things. He says comments about us like he never coached here…. He did. That’s just how I felt.”

“I have respect for him. Winning is winning,” Revis said. “But sometimes things are disrespectful. When you say certain comments about the Jets, some stuff is disrespectful. It’s okay to have a rivalry. It’s okay to compete. But when it gets personal, you’re getting disrespectful. I didn’t start this battle. The smart remarks sometimes he says are ignorant. It’s ignorant to this organization.” -The Jets Stream

Darrelle Revis simply telling it like it is here folks. Everyone always acts like the New England Patriots are the classiest organization in the world, but they pull the same BS that everyone else does. Anytime anything happens with the Patriots, it’s fine because Bill Belichick said it and he’s a football genius. It’s refreshing to hear that Darrelle Revis tells the media how he actually feels and doesn’t hold back anything.

It’s always good to know that the guys on the Jets have a genuine hatred for Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots. I’m sure it’s the same way from the Patriots side and that’s a good thing. Tom Brady hates the Jets, the Jets hate him and that’s how it should be. In my opinion, the Jets vs Patriots rivalry is one of the best in the NFL since Rex Ryan rolled into town. The Patriots have owned the division but the Jets are gaining ground (so are the Bills though) and there have been some damn good games between the two.

As I said before, it’s not even June and the Jets Patriots rivalry is sizzling hot. Can’t wait for the season!

Tim Tebow and newly renamed Bronx

Tim Tebow’s dog. Yes, it’s the biggest New York Jets news of the day! Tim Tebow has renamed his dog from Bronco to Bronx in an effort to appease the New York Jet fan base and tell the man upstairs who he really plays for now-a-days. Perhaps Tim Tebow’s dog won’t even realize the slight name changeas Bronco and Bronx sound pretty familiar, but who knows? Actually, who really cares? Well, apparently a lot of people because Tim Tebow is the biggest thing in New York since sliced bread and he’s only a back-up quarterback (as of now).

Does anyone else think that Tim Tebow’s dog should have been renamed from Bronco to Jet or Meadowlands? The Bronx is kind of unrelated in Jets world, I mean, we’re not the Yankees.

Nick Folk, you should watch your back!

It’s official, Nick Folk has some competition, serious competition at that. After hitting only 76% of his attempts last season, many Jets fans were hoping for a new kicker to be signed or drafted this off-season. That wasn’t the case until the Jets signed veteran Josh Brown a short while ago. Initially, it wasn’t clear what the exact goal of the Josh Brown signing was, we now know thanks to Mike Westhoff.

Westhoff told the Daily News that Brown vs. Folk will be “at least as competitive (as Folk vs. Novak) if not more.”

“This year, I don’t think I’m going to delve into whether that is the case or not the case,” Westhoff said of Folk having the inside track. “I want to create the most competitive atmosphere that I possibly can. Josh Brown is the best candidate to do that with. We want to have a viable battle here to see who’s going to win our job and to get the best possible guy that we can put on the field.”

Westhoff admitted that he wasn’t thrilled that the Jets didn’t upgrade the position by drafting a kicker. -New York Daily News

Neither option at kicker is particularly thrilling to me. Nick Folk can be lights out at some points and incredibly inconsistent during other times. He’s made some huge kicks for the Jets during the playoffs, but he’s also missed some easy regular season kicks that should go through the uprights every time. Percentage wise, Josh Brown is a superior kicker, averaging around 80% for his career, while Nick Folk is less than 75%.

It’ll be interesting to see if Josh Brown can recover from his drop in production last season, or if it even continues. If Brown kicks like he did last year, the Jets might start the year off with Nick Folk. However, if Josh Brown can return to his 2009 and 2010 form, where he was 9-11 from 50+, you can kiss Nick Folk goodbye.

Who would you rather have to start the Jets season as kicker, Nick Folk or Josh Brown? 

New York Jets have signed QB Matt Simms

The New York Jets have just signed undrafted rookie QB Matt Simms to a contract after he competed in the Jets rookie mini-camp. Name sound familiar? That’s because Matt Simms is the son of NFL legend Phil Simms. Here’s more on the signing from Manish Mehta,

Undrafted free agent quarterback Matt Simms has officially crossed enemy lines in the Simms family household. Simms, son of Giants great Phil Simms, was signed by the Jets on Sunday. The former signal caller at Louisville, El Camino College and Tennessee was invited to Gang Green’s three-day rookie mini-camp for a tryout over the weekend. He impressed the coaches enough to get a deal. Simms is the fifth quarterback on the roster along with Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Greg McElroy and G.J. Kinne.

With five quarterbacks on the roster, it’s safe to say that no one besides Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are safe. Greg McElroy, G.J. Kinne and Matt Simms will all be fighting for a roster spot and/or a practice squad position, so it’ll be interesting to see how training camp goes.

The Jets signing Matt Simms does seem a little ironic as Phil Simms is a former New York Giants great and Matt’s brother Chris is an assistant coach on the Patriots. Talk about a family divided.

Demario Davis: Rookie Jets Linebacker

Rookie Jets linebacker Demario Davis has only been with the team for a few short days, but he’s already earning high praise and comparisons to current NFL players. But which NFL player was Demario Davis compared to? The one and only Ray Lewis.

“Wow,” Ryan said. “This is amazing. He reminds me of Ray.”

Ryan, of course, referred to Ray Lewis, the all-time great linebacker he coached in Baltimore. This was a lofty comparison Ryan made public on the first day of rookie mini-camp, because he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

He made sure not to equate Davis to Lewis, a 16-year veteran and future Hall of Famer. But he couldn’t shake the déjà vu he felt in Davis’ passion, his mannerisms, and the way he looked Ryan dead in the eyes. -NJ.com

While Demario Davis may not ever be the legendary player that Ray Lewis has become, the Jets organization and fans certainly have reason to be excited. Davis is 6’2″ 239 pounds, clocking in a 4.5 40 yard dash, but it’s not just the measurables that make him a special football player. Demario Davis plays with a fire and intensity that Jets fans will come to love. He shows a clear passion for the game and an eagerness to learn.

Most importantly in my eyes, Demario Davis is a player of high moral character. The Jets clearly need some upgrades on the teammate and character front after last year and Demario Davis might just be that guy. Davis rededicated himself to religion in his sophomore year at Arkansas State, spending 10 weeks over the summer at Evangelist training and gave up drinking completely. His new found dedication to religion also help Demario find a leadership role in the lockerroom, just what the Jets need.

One or two times, he admitted, that entailed getting in a teammate’s face and putting him into a locker.

“When you see a guy that’s hurting the team more than helping, then everybody feels the same about that guy, it’s just what person is going to go up to them and be like, ‘Get with it or get out,’ ” Davis said. “When I see an opportunity to lead, and no one else is doing it, I feel like it is on me to step up. A team can’t be successful without leaders.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly what the New York Jets need. Someone who isn’t going to take crap from anyone. If Santonio Holmes is acting like a cry baby, toss him in a locker and tell him to get on board or get out! Simple as that. Welcome to the Jets Demario Davis, I like your style. 

The Jets Giveaway Prize, a FREE book.

Hey Jets Fans, in the spirit of the NFL Draft and the fast approaching Jets season, we decided to do a little giveaway for you all. The Jersey Jets Fan will be giving away one FREE copy of the book, “100 Things Jets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die”. To simply things, we’ll be giving away the book via Amazon Kindle format so that the winner doesn’t have to wait a minute for shipping.

I’m sure you’re asking, okay how do I enter the giveaway? Easy, just sign up for the Jersey Jets Fan Newsletter below and we’ll randomly select one person from the list on Friday, May 4th. It’s as simple as that. And don’t worry Jets fans, we will never spam your e-mail, send you useless updates or sell you anything via the newsletter. It’s simply a way for us to contact you for future giveaways such as this and MAJOR Jets news and stories that you need to know about.

So don’t hesitate, enter the giveaway now by joining the newsletter below. And if you’re already a member, don’t worry, you’re already entered to win!

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Jets draft picks, Left: Stephen Hill, Right: Quinton Coples

The 2012 NFL Draft is officially complete and the New York Jets have restocked on talent with 8 new players. Below is a list of the players the Jets drafted, their overall draft positions and Twitter accounts that you can follow (via TJB).

1st Round (16): Quinton Coples (No account … yet)
2nd Round (43): Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech – @_StephenHill_
3rd Round (77): Demario Davis LB Arkanasas St. – @YouAreFree146
6th Round (187): Josh Bush S Wake Forest – @JBush
6th Round (202): Terrance Ganaway RB Baylor – @RepChrist24
6th Round (203): Robert T. Griffin OG Baylor – @7RobertGriffin9 (Private)
7th Round (242): Antonio Allen S South Carolina – @ALLENBOI26
7th Round (244): Jordan White WR Western Michigan – @_JordanWhite

The New York Jets have received mixed reviews from “experts” and media folk around the league on their selections. The Jets first selection, Quinton Coples, is regarded by many as a bad pick because Coples “lacks a motor” and is inconsistent. Coples will have a lot to prove on the field with the Jets, but from all accounts, he has the potential to be a monster on the defensive line. Stephen Hill and Demario Davis are also LOADED with potential and great value picks for the Jets, but are considered raw athletes with a lot to learn. They have the physical skills to be successful, but the way they adapt to the professional game will likely determine their success. Both Coples and Stephen Hill are already considered to be immediate starters and Demario Davis has the ability to make his way into the starting linebacker corps as the season progresses.

As for the Jets late round selections, even Patriot bloggers liked the Jets picks. Here is an excerpt from Boston Radio WEEI,

Jets: The Jets got some solid players during the first two days of the draft, but still had some glaring needs will only sixth- and seventh-round picks remain. However, the Jets managed to land huge value at positions of need late Saturday. The Jets got some help in their backfield by grabbing Baylor running back Terrance Ganaway with the 32nd pick of the sixth round. The Jets also addressed their safety concerns by grabbing Wake Forest safety Josh Bush in round six and South Carolina safety Antonio Allen in round seven. Allen in particular is a huge addition, as he was projected as fourth or fifth round pick in most experts’ recent mock drafts. The selection of Baylor guard Robert T. Griffin also adds some depth for a weak Jets interior offensive line. -WEII

WEEI really summed it up well. The Jets got excellent value at the safety position with Antonio Allen and Josh Bush, both of whom could become solid players for Gang Green. Allen was actually a 2nd team AP All-American, who luckily fell to the Jets in the 7th round, turning to be a high value pick up if he pans out on the field.

The biggest “flaw” of the Jets draft might be their lack of addressing the offensive tackle position, but perhaps the Jets have something else up their sleeves. Maybe they see something in Wayne Hunter (that none of us will ever likely see) or have their sights set on a new player. Whatever it is, a lot rides on the right tackle position and the Jets lack of action this offseason could come back to bite the offense in the ass.

But enough of my blabbering, what do you think about the Jets 2012 draft selections?