12
Aug
2010
HBO Hard Knocks: New York Jets, Episode 1
(Photo: Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images via NYMag.com
Last night, HBO premiered the first episode of this season’s edition of Hard Knocks featuring Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. I took the time to jot down my thoughts during the episode, which I’ve distilled below.
Essentially, this episode was about two things: Rex and Revis. Rex Ryan took center stage as expected and did not disappoint (especially in the cursing department), and Darrelle Revis was the central focus of the episode, despite (or more correctly, because of) his absence from camp.
The fine folks at JetTwit did a much better job breaking down last night’s episode than I ever could, but here are my running thoughts, in case anyone cares:
- If this show were about my favorite team, this intro would get me seriously physically aroused. I think I’m ready for football to start
- Cortland, NY is an awful town … as an alumnus of their rival Ithaca Bombers, I had the displeasure of visiting this beacon of crapitude several times during my college career, and this is not a place you want to spend your summers. But HBO managed to make it look better in 2 minutes of b-roll footage than it ever did during my time there. But I may be biased.
- It’s obvious that the Revis holdout will be big storyline. It must be maddening to have everyone asking about one player when you’re trying to lead a group of 60+ other guys who are all there to do their job
- Rex Ryan doesn’t look to have started shedding much weight yet from the lap band surgery.
- Here’s video of Rex’s opening speech to his players. His goals for the team – all 3 units – is to lead the league in wins. Radical strategy, there. But he’s definitely someone you’d want to play for. Rex is so oddly charismatic, but boy, he sure does say “fuck” a lot (and I mean a LOT – video NSFW for language):
- Rex wears black Chuck Taylors on the first day of camp … apparently this is his thing. And it elicits the “sexy Rexy” chant from a few male Jets fans, and he likes it. Read the rest of this entry »
4
Dec
2009
Braylon Edwards still can’t catch
The New York Jets may have defeated the Buffalo Bills 19-13 last night, and they may have even been helped along by the efforts of WR Braylon Edwards, who had a 13-yd TD catch.
But that doesn’t mean that Edwards has shaken his long-standing problems with dropping perfectly thrown footballs. Check out this play from last night’s game, where Braylon gets wide open downfield, but can’t seem to reel in Mark Sanchez’ gorgeous deep ball. Probably ’cause it hits him in a bad spot … the face:
26
Oct
2009
Mark Sanchez Hot Dogs it during blowout of Raiders
During the Jets’ 38-0 blowout win over the Raiders yesterday, things got so relaxed on the NY sideline that QB Mark Sanchez had time to fit in a mid-game snack. Check out Sanchez taking down a hot dog like he was Kobayashi:
29
Sep
2009
Week 3 NFL Highlights: Ric Flair edition
Julius Jones does the Ric Flair Strut
This week’s installment of your NFL highlights combines 2 things we hold dear to our hearts here at ReadAndReact: football and old-school professional wrestling. Recently, Seahawks RB Julius Jones has been displaying his appreciation for 16x world champion Ric Flair by performing the famed “Flair Strut” in the endzone after scoring a touchdown.
He did it against the Rams in week 1, and yesterday against the Bears, Jones once again did his best Nature Boy impression after ripping off a 39-yd TD on a screen pass (play starts at the :15 mark):
The NY love-fest with Mark Sanchez is fully underway, thanks in large part from this TD run on Sunday. Also, Ric Flair will wrestle Hulk Hogan in Australia later this year. WOO!:
Donald Driver makes an amazing one-handed catch against the Rams. In other news, Ric Flair scratch-off lottery cards are now available in North Carolina. WoooOOOooo!:
19
Sep
2009
Kerry Rhodes and Rodney Harrison: One, Two, Three, Four, I declare Twitter War!
With updates below.
Per Ohm Youngmisu of the New York Daily News, mouthy Jets safety Kerry Rhodes has ripped former Patriot Rodney Harrison via Twitter.
Screenshots from the Twitter pages of Schefter, Rhodes, and Harrison.
From Youngmisu’s story: “The former Patriots safety ripped Rhodes Friday for his comments to the Daily News earlier this week about wanting to “embarrass” the Patriots and hit Tom Brady often. Harrison also questioned the Jets safety’s toughness.
“I respect Kerry Rhodes as a playmaker but he’s not a tough guy,” Harrison, now an NBC analyst, said on Michael Kay’s radio show on ESPN-1050 Friday. “OK, I’ve seen him turn down tackles many a time. As far as him talking about them wanting to embarrass us, I can understand that. But let’s stay a little humble. Because when you start talking like that you really set yourself up to put all the pressure (on the Jets).”
On his verified Twitter account, Rhodes tweeted, “I’m detecting a lil jealousy from (Harrison) he must wish he was playing 2morrow. My talent outweighs his ask belichick.”
“You just beat Houston,” Harrison said in an amazed tone on the radio. “You beat Houston. Now all of a sudden, Mark Sanchez is Joe Namath and Rex Ryan is Buddy Ryan. He’s the best coach ever.”
Before the season began, the brash Ryan said he was not going to bow down to the Patriots and kiss Bill Belichick’s Super Bowl rings, which only intensified one of the NFL’s best rivalries.
Then this week Rhodes said that the Jets will try to rattle Brady and “hit him more than six times. I promise you that,” referring to the number of times the Bills knocked Brady around on Monday night. While Rhodes made it clear that the Jets won’t play dirty, he did say it is human nature for Brady to be thinking about his surgically repaired left knee. “If somebody is around his leg, or he feels pressure below, he’s not going to step into his throw,” Rhodes said.
* * *
UPDATE from TheDarkHorse: Looks like Rhodes and Harrison have been chatting via Twitter subsequent to this report from the NY Daily News. And getting ESPN’s Adam Schefter into the mix, too.
RHODES TO HARRISON:
I’m detecting a lil jealousy from @rodneyh37 he must wish he was playing 2morrow. My talent outweighs his ask belichick.
HARRISON TO RHODES:
@kerryrhodes Kerry, you talk big for someone who has yet to even win in the playoffs you think you will ever accomplish what i accomplished?
RHODES TO HARRISON:
@Rodneyh37 r u playing sunday? i respect ur game but u crossed line. and i never talk smack u started it. i kno u respect my game! Tweet it!
HARRISON TO RHODES:
@kerryrhodes I definitely respect your game on the field Kerry, but i didn’t appropriate what you said about the Patriots its disrespectful.
ADAM SCHEFTER to his Twitter followers:
Me? I’m guessing Belichick prefers a Pro-Bowl safety with championship rings rather than a Pro-Bowl-less one who tweets about himself.
RHODES TO ADAM SCHEFTER:
@Adam_Schefter yo man get it right he tweet me first about this i dont trash talk but i defend myself! so u get it right!
RHODES TO HARRISON:
@Rodneyh37 u being someone who played the game knows the media runs it i said we are gonna try to embarrass them! lol u should respect that
HARRISON TO RHODES:
@kerryrhodes And even though i respect your game, you do have flaws and i have seen you pass on tackles and not always been physical.
RHODES TO HARRISON:
@Rodneyh37 and i told u i respect ur game and u have flaws 2 lol. and so does ed reed! thats a given.
HARRISON TO RHODES:
@kerryrhodes The talk about Brady’s knees and promising to hit him more than 6 times is what hit a nerve did you ever come back from a surgery like that? no wonder you have no idea what kind of impact your words have for certain players who went through rehab.
RHODES TO HARRISON:
@Rodneyh37 see and thats my point i never ever said anything about hitting his knees! lol r u serious you know i dont play that way!
4
Sep
2009
Clown Car: Cease
He just rolled on in.
Guy starts a mere 16 games at USC, then lands as the 5th pick in the NFL draft.
He’s savvy with the media. He’s chummy with his teammates.
That’s all very nice–but can he play? Apparently, he can.
His much-awaited first pass as a New York Jet brought the fanbase out of their seats (note: you think the guy in the Boomer Esiason jersey was relieved to see this?):
In four preseason games, Mark Sanchez has totaled some impressive numbers: 21 of 33 passing, 259 yards, 3 TDs and a pick. He’s improved with each outing. Last night, in a 38-27 beating of the Eagles, he went 5-for-5, for 67 yards and a score–before being pulled. LOOK… we refuse to get excited (or tricked) by quarterback performances in the preseason (see: Eric Zeier), but the Jets–who are long-suffering, and always toil in the shadow of the Giants (and play home games in a stadium named AFTER the Giants–not even IN New York)–appear to have found a gem in Mr. Sanchez.
That said, the NFL preseason tells lies: as of right now, another highly touted USC quarterback, Matt Leinert, leads the NFL in passing with 507 yards.
However, let’s not forget Emmitt Smith‘s overtly condescending 1993 Reebok ad campaign, which instructed us ad nauseum (while Emmitt held out for more money) that “PLAYERS ARE MADE IN THE PRESEASON.” Setting aside the depressing mix-messaging and post-modern irony of that slogan’s attempt to sell shoes to brain-muted children, Sanchez has played, and played well during these trial runs–and kept his ego in check. Now he enters the crucible of the regular season–where players who rush for 124 yards and 2 scores in practice frays are snuffed out by the big boys, held to 8 yards on 11 carries, and jettisoned to the practice squad–a beguiling TRANSACTION item in USA TODAY. A spaghetti dinner and a Greyhound ticket back to East Earnie, Kansas. A memory.
Jets fans remember this: a clown car of low-impact, leaf-colored, momma’s boys under center. They are fed up, and there is no better time than now for someone with a pulse to emerge from the steaming trash heap under center. The Jet fanbase is prepared to make him the toast of the town. Giants fans have tried with Eli Manning, but something–on a deeper, subconscious level–doesn’t fit, despite Eli’s success. Something about him screams “Certified Public Accountant with seven years experience testing Sarbannes-Oxley regulations for emerging companies in Indiana!”
The worst move Eli ever made was getting tugged into these ultra-corny, IQ-reducing ads with Peyton. Enough already with the Manning Brothers attempting to act. Their work on screen is in a dead heat with High School Musical 3 for “reasons man should cease to exist.”
Two out of five television commercials involve one--or both--of these button-down-shirt-wearing, "awe-shucks" hobby horses--and I want to burn the hair off my head just thinking about it.
Bottom line: The city of New York (and the state of New Jersey, the true home of the Jets and the Giants) is simply better off when both teams thrive. There’s no question which of the two teams has captured the city’s imagination–the Jets struggle to simply be noticed, at times.
If you’re Sanchez, you can’t ask for more than the opportunity to start for this team–in this city–with this rabid fanbase ready to hoist you up (or feed you to the dead). Rise or fall, baby. Rise or fall.
29
Jul
2009
NFL Rookie Talent Show
Apparently the latest trend in NFL trading cards is to gather all of the newest entrants to the league together and make them do something stupid on camera. Earlier this year we were treated to the Upper Deck NFL Rookie Touchdown Dance-Off. Now, Topps is now getting into the game with the Topps NFL “Rookies Got Talent” Competition.
Here we see some of the highest-profile NFL rookies – including Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Kenny Britt & Knowshawn Moreno – show off their hidden talents . Most of these are pretty stupid, but check out the amazing display of hand speed by Giants WR Hakeem Nicks … I can only assume it’s a trick, but if not, my man’s got some ridiculous hand-eye coordination.
Meanwhile, while all this it taking place, 32 of 36 first round draft choices remain unsigned. Ah, priorities.
“While we in no way condone Antonio’s decision to be in a nightclub in Manhattan less than two days before a game, we cannot understand the DA’s position that Antonio is subject to criminal charges. When this incident occurred, Antonio reacted out of concern for the health and well-being of Plaxico Burress. His first priority was to make sure Plaxico received proper medical attention for what very well could have been a life-threatening wound. There was no criminal intent on the part of Antonio, who was thrust into this predicament simply because he accompanied Plaxico that evening and because he made the decision to immediately take Plaxico to the hospital. We believe it is unwarranted for the DA’s office to press criminal charges against Antonio under these circumstances.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2009/07/mara-charges-against-pierce-un.html#ixzz0MbjSzzia
28
May
2009
NFL Rookie Dance Off!
Thirty-four members of the 2009 NFL Rookie Class were gathered together in Los Angeles this past weekend for the annual Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere Upper Deck Photo Shoot.
In addition to getting their pictures taken for their trading cards, the rookies were challenged to perform their best Touchdown Dance, with the winner taking home an autographed Michael Jordan jersey.
Let’s go to the videotape:
If you disregard the fact that most of these would draw a 15-yard penalty for including props (and the fact that we’ve seen half of those before anyway), there were actually some decent moves in there. Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno taking home the prize for his lumberjack celebration … I don’t know, I kind of liked Aaron Curry‘s, myself.
29
Apr
2009
SI’s Impact Players of the 2009 Rookie Class
6'6" WR Ramses Barden has a chance to replace Plaxico Burress as Eli Manning's red zone target in NY (Photo by Ben Liebenberg)
SportsIllustrated.com has selected their NFL Rookies With an early chance to shine in 2009.
Again, this is basically an exercise in futility, but that’s what we’re all about here at ReadAndReact, right? SI’s Don Banks looks at the NFL teams/situations where draftees have landed, and selects his impact players at each position based on their likelihood to contribute right away.
At WR, even though the Giants selected Hakeem Nicks in the 1st round, Banks thinks it’s their 3rd round pick, Ramses Barden who will make the biggest splash in NY:
While I think Cleveland second-round pick Brian Robiskie is going to walk into a major role in the Browns’ receiver-thin offense, on a hunch I’m giving my top billing to Barden, the 6-foot-6 Cal Poly product who is slated to inherit Plaxico Burress’s job of out-skying opposing cornerbacks and safeties in the red zone. Barden caught 50 touchdowns in college, so it’s a key role the third-round pick appears up for.
Other impact players of note include RB Donald Brown (Colts), C Alex Mack (Browns) and LB James Laurenitis (Rams).
On the flip side, RedZoneReport has their Top 10 2009 NFL Draft Bust Candidates. Interestingly, both articles selected the same player at #1 – QB Mark Sanchez (Jets).
And, one more reminder to check out the list of Undrafted Free Agent signings, to see which players your teams will be bringing into camp for a look.
