NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

December 23, 2015

1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Jets give deal to receiver who held sign looking for NFL job (Dennis Waszak) ......................................................... 2

A big game for Jets' Fitzpatrick? Try Harvard-Yale (Dennis Waszak) ......................................................................... 3

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson gets first Pro Bowl spot (Kimberley A. Martin) ............................................................ 4

Why Jets believe in surging Ryan Fitzpatrick (Kimberley A. Martin) ......................................................................... 5

For Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brandon Marshall, it doesn’t get any bigger than Week 16 vs. Patriots (Bob Glauber) .. 6

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Jets notes: Pats' Rob Gronkowski hard to stop (Chris Iseman) ................................................................................. 8

Jets: Looking ahead to the Patriots (J.P. Pelzman) .................................................................................................... 8

Fitzpatrick, Jets face biggest test yet (Chris Iseman) ................................................................................................. 9

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 10

Jets' Mo Wilkerson named to first Pro Bowl; joined by Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis (Rich Cimini) ............... 10

Calvin Pryor: This time, Jets feel like they can beat -- and dominate -- Patriots (Rich Cimini) ................................ 11

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick won The Game, but he needs to win This Game (Rich Cimini) ........................................ 12

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 13

Strategy the Jets likely will use to try to stop Rob Gronkowski (Bart Hubbuch) ..................................................... 13

Is this Jets-Patriots matchup the biggest game of Fitzpatrick’s career? (Bart Hubbuch) ........................................ 14

Three Jets earn Pro Bowl nod, including one first-timer (Bart Hubbuch) ............................................................... 15

Pingpong, not Beckham talk, is what gets Brandon Marshall worked up (George Willis) ...................................... 16

WR’s unorthodox job search lands him a spot on the Jets (Bart Hubbuch) ............................................................ 17

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 18

Jets' Sheldon Richardson: Roger Goodell caved to media with suspension of Giants' Odell Beckham (Darryl Slater) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Calvin Pryor: Jets have 'different mindset' for New England Patriots (Dom Cosentino) ......................................... 20

Darrelle Revis among 3 Jets to make Pro Bowl (Darryl Slater) ................................................................................ 20

Odell Beckham Jr. didn't trash talk when Jets played Giants, Jets players say (Dom Cosentino) ........................... 21

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Jets' Mo Wilkerson has earned big sack of cash, but no rush to deal (Manish Mehta) .......................................... 23

What's on Jets' Christmas list? A return to AFC playoffs (Seth Walder) ................................................................. 24

Jets add Joe Anderson, player who held sign looking for NFL job, to practice squad (Seth Walder) ...................... 25

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ................................................................................................................................ 26

Daily Clips Cont.

2 | P a g e

The 9-5 Jets Have Been Feasting on the NFL’s Weaklings (Michael Salfino) ........................................................... 26

TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 26

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets give deal to receiver who held sign looking for NFL job (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 22, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-give-deal-receiver-who-held-sign-looking-nfl-job

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Joe Anderson's outside-the-box thinking finally paid off.

The wide receiver was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad Tuesday, about six weeks after he stood outside the Houston Texans' stadium for a few days with a sign asking for an NFL job.

Anderson posted a picture of himself holding a piece of cardboard box with the words "Not homeless ... but STARVING for success" on Instagram that quickly went viral. He also wrote on the sign in black marker: "Will Run Routes 4 Food" and added the hashtags: Whateverittakes, UnderDog, Hungry and IBelieve.

He practiced with the Jets on Tuesday, rejoining former Chicago teammate and fellow wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Anderson was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Southern in 2012 and played in nine games, mostly on special teams, for parts of two seasons. His 2013 season ended with an abdominal and groin injury that landed him on injured reserve and he was later waived.

He was with Philadelphia in the 2014 offseason and spent time in the CFL, but had been out of a job in football this season.

Anderson took a desperate and creative approach for looking for a new employer by hitting the streets. He stood outside the Texans' facility at NRG Stadium in Houston and held up his sign for everyone to see.

"Lord it's all in your hands," he wrote on Instagram last month in his caption to the photo. "All I know is that I believe it by faith and see it all happening even when it looks like a joke before the eyes of man!"

The married father of two added that it was not a publicity stunt, but he was doing it to fulfill a dream and to inspire others to do the same.

"It's bigger than just collecting a check to me, straight up!" Anderson wrote. "The way I do what I do and why I do what I do isn't just to score touchdowns and gain fame. That's far from the case. I don't need all that 'cause I'm already famous in spirit and you can't get no (more) famous than that. When I get my shot, you'll see what the Lord is truly about to do in my life and I pray with all my heart it inspires you to never give up."

Marshall saw the post last month and was moved by Anderson's actions.

"Wow, this is humility right here," Marshall wrote on Instagram.

He added that Anderson was "one of the hardest-working guys I've had the pleasure of playing with" while they were with the Bears.

"Some may call him #crazy," Marshall wrote. "Hell, I had to stop and really see his strength in this. I watched this guy grow so much. JOE you're the kinda of guy I want to play with. You're the guy I want in my FOXHOLE. I don't care if it's covering kicks. #mindovermatter."

Daily Clips Cont.

3 | P a g e

Anderson, 27, played at Louisiana Tech before transferring to Texas Southern and playing for three years there while recording 154 catches for 2,010 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a rookie with the Bears in 2012, he had three special teams tackles in the final three games of the season. He had another special teams tackle the next season in six games, and returned five kicks for 82 yards.

Back_to_Top

A big game for Jets' Fitzpatrick? Try Harvard-Yale (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 22, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/big-game-jets-fitzpatrick-try-harvard-yale

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick has played in huge games before, so pressure is no big deal to the Jets quarterback.

New York against New England this Sunday?

Try Harvard-Yale, 2004.

"You know, 10-0 season on the line," Fitzpatrick said with a big smile Tuesday. "A lot of alumni at that game. It'll really set you up for your future if you win that one."

He was joking, of course. But, for the record, the Crimson routed the Bulldogs 35-3 in "The Game" that day to finish undefeated.

"We won," Fitzpatrick said. "I think I did all right."

Fitzpatrick was 15 of 24 for 124 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 67 yards and a score on 11 carries. He led an offense that rolled up 326 yards, including 202 on the ground.

Still, it's not exactly the type of experience an 11-year NFL veteran can draw from — even if it was a pretty big stage for a kid.

"When I was in college, you're getting 10,000 fans, maybe, and then you get to the Harvard vs. Yale game," Fitzpatrick said. "At Harvard, you get 30,000-plus and at Yale you get 50- or 60,000-plus. It was always a huge deal for us, the four games, but I've played in enough now with more people that it's kind of a distant memory."

And, there might be just a little more at stake this weekend at MetLife Stadium when the Jets (9-5) take on the Patriots (12-2) with their sights set on staying on track in the AFC playoff hunt.

"I don't know if I really want to place the significance of where it is in my career, but this is a huge one for me and I'm excited," Fitzpatrick said. "This is why everybody in here plays the game. Playing football games like this in December and have a shot at playing longer. We're pretty excited about this one."

Because of tiebreakers, the Jets are on the outside of the playoff picture while Kansas City and Pittsburgh, also 9-5, are currently in.

A loss to its AFC East rival wouldn't knock New York out of the race, but it sure would make things a lot more difficult than they already are. As it is, the Jets could finish the season on a six-game winning streak but become the third 11-5 team to not make the postseason.

"We've probably been in playoff mode the last four weeks," coach Todd Bowles said.

So, for the Jets, they insist their approach won't change from what it has been.

Daily Clips Cont.

4 | P a g e

"I think maybe it's even more important this week to stay the same because there probably will be some other guys that really try to ramp it up," Fitzpatrick said. "It's another football game."

It all starts with Fitzpatrick, who has a career-high 26 touchdown passes and is three short of tying Vinny Testaverde's franchise record for a season.

But Fitzpatrick is also a dismal 1-7 against the Patriots, who have beaten the Jets in nine of the last 10 meetings. That includes a 30-23 victory for New England in October, when New York held a fourth-quarter lead before the Jets blew it against Tom Brady and Co.

"I don't know if I'd put it in those terms," Fitzpatrick said, "but we've got to do a better job when it's a got-to-have-it play, of making it. Versus the Giants, we kind of did that and last week versus Dallas, we did that. So hopefully, we'll continue to improve in that area as a team."

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall didn't hesitate when asked if this weekend's game was the biggest he has played in.

"Yes, absolutely ... because it's the next one," Marshall said. "And, obviously, it's the next one and we understand the implications attached to it. So, yeah, the next couple will be the biggest games of my career."

Neither Fitzpatrick nor Marshall has ever made the playoffs during their NFL careers, so that is also riding on the final two weeks of the regular season.

"They've got a good thing going over there," Fitzpatrick said of the Patriots. "We just have to do our best to make sure that we're playing our game and we're making the plays."

NOTES: Marshall, CB Darrelle Revis and DE Muhammad Wilkerson were selected to the Pro Bowl. It's the first of Wilkerson's career, and seventh for Revis — fifth with the Jets. Marshall, in his first season with New York, was chosen for the sixth time, but called it "the most special one." He praised the running game, fellow wide receiver Eric Decker and Fitzpatrick. "I'm just so thankful for them and also the fans who voted me in and, obviously, FitzMagic," Marshall said. "I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for FitzMagic." ... C Nick Mangold and RB Chris Ivory are first alternates for the Pro Bowl.

Back_to_Top

NEWSDAY

Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson gets first Pro Bowl spot (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday December 22, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-muhammad-wilkerson-gets-first-pro-bowl-spot-1.11256991

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Muhammad Wilkerson is finally headed to Hawaii.

The Jets defensive end, who leads the team with a career-high 12 sacks, earned his first Pro Bowl selection Tuesday. Cornerback Darrelle Revis was selected for a seventh time and receiver Brandon Marshall for a sixth.

“I’m happy that I made it,” Wilkerson said. “But I wouldn’t be able to make it if it wasn’t for my teammates, who are out there doing their job with me, and the coaches that prepare me for these different games each and every week and put me in a position to make plays and help out the team.”

Marshall credited Ivory and No. 2 receiver Eric Decker, as well as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Daily Clips Cont.

5 | P a g e

“I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for ‘FitzMagic.’ ”

Revis echoed those sentiments by crediting his teammates. “It’s always an honor making the Pro Bowl. I’ve been privileged,” he said. “Hard work pays off. I couldn’t without a lot of people that helped along the way . . . I just want to thank those guys for this year and what we’ve accomplished as a team.”

Six weeks after holding a cardboard sign that read “Will Run Routes 4 Food” outside of the Houston Texans’ facility, wide receiver Joe Anderson was signed to the Jets practice squad Tuesday. The image of his humble request — “Not homeless … but STARVING for success!!! … #WhateverItTakes #Underdog #IBelieve #Hungry,” he wrote on his sign — went viral, but the married father of two never got the Texans tryout he had been seeking. Instead, he wound up on the Jets a week after he worked out for the team.

“I’m so very grateful from the bottom of my heart of the entire @nyjets organization for taking a chance on a kid with literally just a couple dollars and a dream and a heart to prove to others who give up on themselves in life that it’s truly possible!” he wrote on Instagram, beneath a practice picture of him and Marshall.

Anderson, who went undrafted in 2012, played nine games (mostly on special teams) for the Bears from 2012-13.

Marshall, who was one of his teammates in Chicago, posted a photo on Instagram of Anderson outside the Texans’ facility last month and wrote: “Wow, this is humility right here. My brother @_joeanderson is one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with. …JOE you’re the of guy I want to play with. You’re the guy I want in my FOXHOLE. I don’t care if it’s covering kicks.”

Back_to_Top

Why Jets believe in surging Ryan Fitzpatrick (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday December 22, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-believe-in-surging-ryan-fitzpatrick-1.11256813

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New England may have a future Hall of Famer in Tom Brady, but the Jets are feeling pretty good about their chances against the Patriots on Sunday.

Why?

“FitzMagic,” cornerback Buster Skrine said, smiling, as he talked about quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick during a one-on-one interview Tuesday. “I mean, he’s always making plays. Yeah, they have a great player, but I think we have a great quarterback, too. If you look at Fitz the last couple of games, he’s been doing a great job.”

Saturday night’s 19-16 win over the Cowboys was the latest example of Fitzpatrick’s late-game magic. He was 10-for-12 in the fourth quarter for 132 yards, including a 43-yard pass to Kenbrell Thompkins that helped set up the winning field goal with 36 seconds left.

In a buoyant visitors’ locker room at AT&T Stadium, linebacker Calvin Pace raved about Fitzpatrick’s comeback ability. “Fitz is an awesome player. I am glad we got him,” Pace said. “Making plays with his legs, making throws. He is a big-time player. I’m hoping he has enough votes for our team MVP, because he deserves it.”

The 33-year-old journeyman has opened eyes as the leader of the new-look Jets, a 9-5 team still in the AFC wild-card hunt. Over their past four games — all victories — Fitzpatrick has passed for 1,229 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception for a 105.7 rating. His career-high 26 TD passes are three shy of

Daily Clips Cont.

6 | P a g e

Vinny Testaverde’s 1998 club record), and he needs 305 passing yards to move ahead of Testaverde (3,732) for the third-best season total by a Jet.

But not all of Fitzpatrick’s stats are pretty. As a starter, he’s 1-7 against the Patriots. Asked about his lack of success against New England, he said: “I don’t think a lot of people have. They’re a pretty good team. I mean this is a completely different team. Each year in Buffalo was a completely different team.”

The good news is the Jets appear to be much more cohesive than they were in Week 7, when they lost, 30-23, in Foxborough. (Brady threw for 355 yards and two TDs and ran for a TD, while Fitzpatrick completed 22 of 39 for 295 yards and two TDs. Now, their season is on the line, and to maximize their playoff chances, they’ll have to beat the defending Super Bowl champions.

“This is a huge one for me and I’m excited,” said Fitzpatrick, who has played for six teams in 11 seasons and never made the playoffs. “This is why everybody in here plays the game: Playing football games like this in December and have a shot at playing longer.”

The key this week for the Jets’ offense is the same as it was against Tennessee and Dallas. “Play with composure,” he said. And that’s something Fitzpatrick demonstrates on the field and in the huddle.

“When you’ve got this job on your shoulders, you can’t take things too serious, especially at quarterback,” slot receiver Jeremy Kerley said. “First of all, nobody will want to be around you if that’s how it is. And then nobody will really want to play for you because you’re too serious all the time.

“But if you’re cool, you’re chill, you have a personality — and you’re winning? That’s a good combo.”

Back_to_Top

For Jets’ Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brandon Marshall, it doesn’t get any bigger than Week 16 vs. Patriots (Bob Glauber) Newsday December 22, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/for-jets-ryan-fitzpatrick-brandon-marshall-it-doesn-t-get-any-bigger-than-week-16-vs-patriots-1.11256680

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — It is a measure of just how important Sunday’s game against the Patriots is that the two players who might have the biggest impact on the outcome — at least for the Jets — consider this the game of their lives.

“Yes, absolutely,” wide receiver Brandon Marshall said when asked if this was his most important game ever. “The next couple will be the biggest of my career.”

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has never been this close to the playoffs in his previous 10 NFL seasons, called this one “everything for us this week, trying to get a win in this game.”

It’s essentially a win-or-else situation for the 9-5 Jets, who are in the thick of the AFC wild-card race but still have to beat out either Pittsburgh or Kansas City to secure their first playoff berth since Rex Ryan’s second season in 2010. That they face the Patriots at home is the perfect backdrop; New England has owned its division since Tom Brady first became a starter in 2001. The Patriots (12-2) are in position to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so there’s plenty on the line for them, as well.

Welcome to Rivalry Week in the AFC East.

“This is a huge one for me, and I’m excited,” said Fitzpatrick, 33, who is having a renaissance season with the Jets after bouncing around among five teams before being traded from the Texans in the offseason.

Daily Clips Cont.

7 | P a g e

“I mean, this is why everybody in here plays the game, to play football games like this in December, having a shot to play longer. So we’re pretty excited about it.”

Biggest one ever for Fitzpatrick?

“You’re forgetting about the 2004 Harvard-Yale game, 10-0 season on the line,” Fitzpatrick said, breaking into a smile when looking back on his senior year at Harvard. “A lot of alumni at that game. Really set you up for the future if you win that one.”

Fitzpatrick led the Crimson to a resounding 35-3 win to finish off a 10-0 season, although he didn’t have much use for any connections to set him up in a lucrative career in the business world. Playing in the NFL was always his dream, and Fitzpatrick broke into the league as a seventh-round pick for St. Louis in 2005. One decade and five stops later, he is enjoying the best season of his career and now has a chance to reach the playoffs for the first time.

But getting there almost certainly will require a win over the Patriots, who were in the midst of a 10-0 run when they beat the Jets, 30-23, in Foxborough on Oct. 25. The Jets played the Patriots as well as any other team to that point, but couldn’t close the deal late in the fourth quarter. Nearly two months later, though, the Jets have hit their stride and come into Sunday’s game with a head of steam built up from a four-game winning streak. It still may not be good enough to get the win, but with the Patriots still dealing with key injuries on both sides of the ball, there is certainly an opening here.

“I think we’ve improved [since the last Patriots game],” Fitzpatrick said, who is 1-7 lifetime against New England. “Offensively, we’ve got a better understanding of who we are and how to get things accomplished. We have a better feel for each other. That being said, we’ve got to go out there and do it. We’ve got to go out there and make sure the chemistry we’ve built up is showing on Sunday.”

But Fitzpatrick said it’s important, especially on offense, not to be too amped up once the game starts.

“We have to play with composure,” he said. “We have to be able to think our way through the game. It’s not necessarily about the raw emotion like it sometimes is on defense. Offensively, we’ll have to come out with some composure, and I think we have the right guys to do that.”

Marshall, who is having one of his best seasons with 93 catches (tied with Al Toon for the franchise high), 1,261 yards and 11 touchdown receptions, is especially anxious for a big game. He’s still smarting over a dropped touchdown catch against the Patriots.

“You never want to disappoint your teammates,” he said. “You come over to the sidelines, you had a play where you could potentially energize your teammates. You never want to see that.”

The Jets’ defense has also shown improvement since the last Patriots game, and the confidence level is high.

“I think the guys have gotten to know each other more, good team chemistry,” safety Calvin Pryor said. “Playing them last time, we felt like we could play with them, but we didn’t feel like we could dominate them. I’m thinking this is a different mind-set for this game.

“It’s an intense rivalry, with a chance to go to the playoffs,” Pryor said. “It’s going to be crazy, but we’re ready for it.”

Jets-Patriots with everything on the line. It gets no better than this.

Back_to_Top

THE RECORD

Daily Clips Cont.

8 | P a g e

Jets notes: Pats' Rob Gronkowski hard to stop (Chris Iseman) The Record December 23, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-pats-rob-gronkowski-hard-to-stop-1.1478587

Here comes Gronk

The Jets had no answer for Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski in Week 7. He finished with 108 yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown.

That was one of Gronkowski's five games this season in which he's had at least 100 receiving yards. He's tormented defenses and Jets safety Calvin Pryor said there's no easy way to shut down the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski.

"You've got to have different game plans when you're going up against him," Pryor said. "He's so big and physical. He's able to get off the jam quite easily when somebody tries to jam him because he's so strong."

Pryor wasn't on the field much when the Jets last played New England, as the 23-year-old left the game with an ankle sprain.

Growing up

With his team on a four-game winning streak, Jets coach Todd Bowles was asked Tuesday how his team has developed since it last played the Patriots.

"We've grown and they're playing together more," Bowles said. "They trust each other a little more. We have better chemistry, and that comes with the season going forward. You just want to get better each week. So from that point, we've gotten a little better."

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said it's helped the offense. "I think offensively, we've all got a better understanding of who we are and how to get things accomplished," Fitzpatrick said.

Briefs

Bowles said LB David Harris was "doing OK," but the Jets did not have a full practice Tuesday as "it was more of a mental day for us." Harris left Saturday's win against the Cowboys with a back contusion. … WR Brandon Marshall, CB Darrelle Revis and DE Muhammad Wilkerson were named to Pro Bowl roster. RB Chris Ivory and C Nick Mangold are first alternates.

Back_to_Top

Jets: Looking ahead to the Patriots (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 23, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets/jets-looking-ahead-to-the-patriots-1.1478606

Patriots (12-2) at Jets (9-5)

At MetLife Stadium

Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV: CBS

Daily Clips Cont.

9 | P a g e

Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7

Early line: Patriots by 3

New England needs one win in its next two games (with a trip to Miami on deck) to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Beating the desperate Jets won't be easy, considering the injury-plagued Patriots likely will be missing several key players. But quarterback Tom Brady still is upright, and he is having another MVP-worthy season, with 35 TD passes and only six interceptions. The Patriots have won eight of the last nine meetings, but the last five games have been decided by seven points or fewer.

In the spotlight

Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. Rodgers and coach Todd Bowles will have to devise a game plan to at least slow down Brady, who has kept on trucking despite losing several wide receivers and running backs to injury. Rodgers and Bowles have blitzed less frequently in the latter stages of the season, and it will be interesting to see how they decide to pressure Brady. As for coverage, they most likely will double superstar TE Rob Gronkowski and force the Pats' pedestrian wideouts to beat them.

Game plan

The Jets cannot afford one of their trademark slow starts on offense, the kind they got away with against Dallas and the Giants. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (left) needs to be sharp in the first half. New England abandoned the run against the Jets in the first meeting, totaling only nine rushing attempts. The Patriots again might choose that strategy, given the depleted state of their running-back corps. Their leading rusher against Tennessee was Joey Iosefa, who had been promoted from the practice squad the previous day.

Back_to_Top

Fitzpatrick, Jets face biggest test yet (Chris Iseman) The Record December 23, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/fitz-jets-face-biggest-test-1.1478624

FLORHAM PARK – Ryan Fitzpatrick is in his 11th NFL season. Yet few games that the Jets quarterback has played in – if any – have had the magnitude of Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots.

Fitzpatrick joked Tuesday that his biggest game to this point might’ve been in 2004, when he was under center at Harvard and led the Crimson to a 35-3 victory over Yale to complete a 10-0 season.

Of course, that wasn’t quite on the same scale as the challenge he faces this week.

"This is a huge one for me," Fitzpatrick said. "I’m excited. This is why everybody in here plays the game, to play in football games like this, in December, and have a shot at playing longer. We’re pretty excited about this one."

Fitzpatrick and the Jets are hoping things go differently from the last time they played the Patriots, in Week 7, when they coughed up a fourth-quarter lead and lost, 30-23. The Jets (9-5) need help from other teams to make the playoffs, but they need a victory Sunday at MetLife Stadium to keep their postseason chances from diminishing severely.

To get it, they’re going to have to win what coach Todd Bowles said is a "chess match" that comes with going up against Bill Belichick and New England’s defense.

Daily Clips Cont.

10 | P a g e

One of the biggest challenges for the Jets will be to figure out how to get wide receiver Brandon Marshall the ball if the Patriots (12-2) frequently double-team him, like they did in Week 7. Marshall finished that game with four catches for 67 yards. Fitzpatrick targeted him seven times.

Trying to out-think Belichick, though, is never easy.

"It worked for them last time," Bowles said. "So we have to look at it and see what they’re trying to do and try to have a counter to it. You never know what they’re going to come out with. They come out with different game plans all the time."

One thing that could help the Jets is that the connection between Fitzpatrick and Marshall has continued to improve over the course of the season. Fitzpatrick said they not only communicate better, but he can also read Marshall’s body language when he runs a route to determine whether or not they’re on the same page.

But that still won’t solve everything.

"There’ll be times when they’re going to have multiple guys on him and it’s going to be hard to throw to him," Fitzpatrick said. "He’s a guy we always want to get the ball. But we’ve also got to make sure we kind of pick and choose the right time to do it."

Marshall said there isn’t much he can do aside from taking advantage of the chances he gets.

"Just when the ball comes, just make my play," said Marshall, who has at least 100 receiving yards in three of the past four games. "That’s all I can do. Just be where I’m supposed to be, and when I get an opportunity, come down with the ball."

The Patriots successfully took Marshall out of the game once this season. The Jets are hoping they can find a way to keep it from happening again.

Their postseason chances could depend on it.

"We’ll try to counter some things," Bowles said. "I’m sure they’ll counter to it. It’ll be a chess match. It’ll be a cat-and-mouse game. We’ll just have to see how they play him."

Back_to_Top

ESPN NEW YORK

Jets' Mo Wilkerson named to first Pro Bowl; joined by Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 22, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57284/jets-mo-wilkerson-named-to-first-pro-bowl-joined-by-brandon-marshall-darrelle-revis

SELECTIONS

Brandon Marshall, WR, sixth Pro Bowl: What can you say? Quite simply, he's having one of the best seasons for a wide receiver in Jets history. He needs one more catch to break Al Toon's record for most receptions in a season (93) and he's chasing Don Maynard's 48-year-old record for most receiving yards (1,434). Marshall has 93 catches, 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns, re-establishing himself as one of the best in the business. The notoriously enigmatic Marshall has been consistent on and off the field, making last offseason's trade with the Chicago Bears an absolute steal. Marshall credited quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, saying, "I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for FitzMagic."

Daily Clips Cont.

11 | P a g e

Darrelle Revis, CB, seventh Pro Bowl: It hasn't been a vintage Revis season, circa 2009, but he's still one of the premier corners in the league. Covering the opponents' No. 1 receiver, often without safety help, Revis has been involved in seven takeaways -- four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. His only hiccup came against Houston Texans star DeAndre Hopkins, who beat him for a 61-yard touchdown. Aside from that game, he has been a lockdown presence in the secondary. This is his fifth Pro Bowl with the Jets.

Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, first Pro Bowl: It's about time. After getting snubbed in 2013 and 2014, Wilkerson broke down the Pro Bowl wall with his best season -- a career-high 12 sacks. It would've been a travesty if he had been overlooked for a third straight year. A healthy and motivated Wilkerson is a tough dude to block, and he has proven it on a week-to-week basis. He's a nice fit in Todd Bowles' one-gap scheme, which allows him to use his quickness in addition to his brute strength. He'll be a free agent, but he probably will be slapped with the franchise tag.

SNUBS

Chris Ivory, RB: His career year (a personal-best 951 rushing yards) coincided with a down year for running backs, with the injury bug hitting stars such as Le'Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch. It put Ivory in the Pro Bowl conversation, but his recent decline probably doomed his chances. You could argue he deserved the sixth and final spot over LeSean McCoy, but it's a close call. Ivory was named the first alternate at running back.

Nick Mangold, C: This comes as a surprise. Mangold is a well-respected player throughout the league (see: six Pro Bowls), but he failed to crack the top four. The nods went to Mike Pouncey, Alex Mack, Ryan Kalil and Travis Frederick -- all quality players. Mangold missed the equivalent of two games because of injuries, probably hurting his chances. Some scouts feel Mangold, 31, has slipped, and that he's no longer able to block consistently at the second level. He's the first alternate.

Damon Harrison, NT: He doesn't get the sack numbers (one), which will always hurt him in the Pro Bowl voting, but there aren't too many better run-stuffing interior linemen in the league. Harrison has 50 solo tackles, a high number for a nose tackle.

Back_to_Top

Calvin Pryor: This time, Jets feel like they can beat -- and dominate -- Patriots (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 22, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57320/calvin-pryor-this-time-jets-feel-like-they-can-beat-and-dominate-patriots

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets took a 4-1 record into their last encounter with the New England Patriots, feeling pretty good about themselves. But not nearly as good as they feel now, according to safety Calvin Pryor.

"We're playing at a very high level and with a purpose," Pryor said Tuesday. "When we played them the first time, we felt like we could play with them, but we didn't feel like we could dominate and win that game. I'm thinking it's a different mindset now that we have."

A four-game winning streak will do wonders for a team's state of mind. The Jets (9-5) haven't won this many in a row since 2010, their last playoff season, so they have every reason to be confident. Pryor's words speak volumes.

Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

There's no doubt the Jets are a better team than they were on Oct. 25, when they lost a heartbreaker at Gillette Stadium, 30-23. The passing attack is better, as Ryan Fitzpatrick has grown comfortable with his main targets, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Since then, Bilal Powell and Quincy Enunwa have emerged as secondary options in the passing game. Defensively, there's more cohesiveness, resulting in fewer big plays.

"I think we’ve improved," Fitzpatrick said. "I think, offensively, we’ve all got a little bit better understanding of who we are and how to get things accomplished, got a better feel for each other. With that being said, we’ve got to go out there and do it. We have to go out there and make sure that the chemistry that we’ve built up is shown on Sunday."

On the downside, the running game has regressed and the special teams still is making too many mistakes.

To a man, the Jets believe they've improved over the past two months. They certainly have shown more poise in the fourth quarter, which could be a big factor against the Patriots (12-2), known for years as an outstanding crunch-time team.

"I don't know if we're different or we're better. We've grown," coach Todd Bowles said. "We're playing together and they trust each other a little more. We have better chemistry. That comes with the season going forward."

Back_to_Top

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick won The Game, but he needs to win This Game (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 22, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57309/jets-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-won-the-game-but-he-needs-to-win-this-game

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- No matter what happens over the final two games, Ryan Fitzpatrick's season will be a success. He stabilized the quarterback position and earned the respect of the New York Jets' locker room, proving he deserves a new contract in the offseason.

It's a feel-good story, the Harvard-educated quarterback finding happiness on his sixth team. To make it a feel-great story, though, he has to beat the New England Patriots on Sunday. It's that simple.

Such is life in Tom Brady's division.

To make your bones as a quarterback in the AFC East, you have to beat Brady in a big game. The Patriots have owned the division for 15 years, setting the standard. If you can't topple the dynasty, you can at least own them for a day -- a day rife with playoff implications. Heck, even Mark Sanchez did that, beating the Patriots in the 2010 postseason.

Now it's Fitzpatrick's turn. He's having arguably the best season of any quarterback in the division since 2001 -- any quarterback not named Brady, that is -- but there will be a void if he can't get it done this weekend at MetLife Stadium. This is his chance to reverse two trends: He's 1-7 lifetime against the Patriots, and the Jets are 1-8 against them since that playoff win four years ago.

On Tuesday, Fitzpatrick smiled when asked if this is the biggest game of his career. This is his 11th season and he's never been this close to the playoffs, so the answer seems obvious.

"You might be forgetting about 2004 Harvard-Yale, undefeated season on the line," said Fitzpatrick, who led Harvard to a 35-3 victory that day to complete a 10-0 season. "(There were) a lot of alums at that game that could set you up for your future if you win that one."

Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

The Game is legendary, but Jets-Patriots isn't too shabby. The Jets (9-5), winners of four straight, need this one badly. A loss would cripple their playoff hopes, perhaps eliminate them before Week 17. They don't want to lose to any team, least of all the hated Patriots.

"I don't know if I want to place a significance on it, where (it ranks) in my career, but this is huge for me," Fitzpatrick acknowledged. "I'm excited. This is why everybody in here plays the game, to play in a football games like this in December and have a shot at playing longer."

He doesn't want to be remembered as The Guy That Never Made The Postseason. Only one quarterback in NFL history has thrown more touchdown passes than Fitzpatrick (149) without making the playoffs -- the immortal Charley Johnson (170), who played from 1961 to 1975.

Fitzpatrick also is trying to conquer his New England demons. Reminded of his struggles against the Patriots, he said, "I think a lot of people have. They're a pretty good team." They're an outstanding team, but only one quarterback since 2001 has more losses against them than Fitzpatrick -- Peyton Manning (4-9).

This could be Fitzpatrick's time. Not only is he having one of the best passing seasons in Jets history, but he's doing it in Brady's division -- and that's rare. Consider: No AFC East quarterback other than Brady has thrown 28 touchdowns in a season since 2001 (he's done it nine times), but Fitzpatrick is right there with 26. Chad Pennington had a similar year in 2008, helping the Miami Dolphins steal the division from the Patriots.

It's too late for that, but Fitzpatrick can accomplish the next-best thing: Beat 'em in a big December game.

The Jets' version of The Game.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK POST

Strategy the Jets likely will use to try to stop Rob Gronkowski (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 23, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/23/strategy-the-jets-likely-will-use-to-try-to-stop-rob-gronkowski/

The Jets will take another stab at trying to at least contain their nemesis this weekend.

Not that Gang Green — like the rest of the NFL — has ever had much luck in limiting the damage inflicted by the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski.

“Many have tried …” Jets coach Todd Bowles said with a forced smile and a shrug Tuesday, his voice trailing off before Bowles could catalog the many accomplishments of the most dominant tight end in football.

Unfortunately for Bowles and the Jets, their playoff hopes most likely ride on being able to keep Gronkowski in reasonable check Sunday when they play host to New England at MetLife Stadium.

It’s an especially daunting task for the Jets, who could do nothing of the sort the first time the teams met in Week 7 in Foxborough, Mass. Gronkowski ran wild that day, catching a season-high 11 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 30-23 victory.

A two-time, first-team All-Pro, Gronkowski is a nightmare for opponents on multiple levels. Not only does he stand 6-feet-6, 265 pounds, but Gronkowski is quick for his mammoth size and has soft, reliable hands.

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

Using single coverage is almost always a losing proposition, especially if it’s with a linebacker who isn’t both big and fast. So teams usually opt to blanket Gronkowski with a rotation of safeties and cornerbacks in double coverage.

From listening to Bowles and his players Tuesday, the latter is likely to be the Jets’ approach again Sunday against Tom Brady’s favorite target.

Bowles all but admitted that singling Gronkowski is useless, especially when trying to press him at the line of scrimmage.

“I’ve seen the best try to cover Gronkowski and couldn’t cover him,” Bowles said. “We’ve got to mix it up and play our game.”

No matter what Bowles and the Jets try, it is likely to be a case of them picking their poison.

Gronkowski is having another huge year, staying healthy enough to appear in all 13 games while hauling in 66 passes for 1,072 yards and 11 TDs.

Gronkowski ranks just seventh in the NFL in receptions among tight ends, but that appears to be a case of the defending Super Bowl champions limiting his touches somewhat to keep their once oft-injured star upright and available for the playoffs.

“You’ve got to have different game plans when you’re going against him, because he’s so big and physical,” safety Calvin Pryor said. “He’s able to get off the jam quite easily when somebody tries to jump him, because he’s so strong. We just have to switch it up a little bit.”

Pryor, the Jets’ biggest hitter in the secondary, is expected to spend the most time shadowing Gronkowski on Sunday.

An ankle injury to Pryor in the October meeting is considered the biggest reason Gronkowski ended up with double-digit catches for the first (and still only) time this season.

Bowles also is sure to work the officials before and during the game about Gronkowski. That tactic could pay dividends, considering Gronkowski has been called for offensive pass interference five times already — more than several entire teams have incurred this season.

More likely, though, the Jets are going to have wince and hope for the best against the player who has burned them for an average of six catches for 63 yards and nearly one touchdown per game in nine career regular-season matchups.

“It’s just going to take a group effort,” cornerback Marcus Williams said. “He’s a great player, and it’s going to be a huge challenge.

“We’re going to have to go out there and try to be physical with him to see if we can get him off his game,” Williams added. “But that’s obviously easier said than done.”

Back_to_Top

Is this Jets-Patriots matchup the biggest game of Fitzpatrick’s career? (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 23, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/23/is-this-jets-patriots-matchup-the-biggest-game-of-fitzpatricks-career/

It might look like it on paper, but Ryan Fitzpatrick wants you to know that Sunday’s Jets-Patriots matchup at MetLife Stadium isn’t the biggest game of his football career.

Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

“I think you might be forgetting about the 2004 Harvard vs. Yale, 10-0 season on the line,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday, his tongue sounding firmly in cheek. “A lot of alumni at that game. It’ll really set you up for your future if you win that one.”

Fitzpatrick led Harvard to a 35-3 victory that day, completing an undefeated season for the Crimson. The Jets only can hope their veteran quarterback does the same this weekend against New England or Fitzpatrick’s dream of reaching the playoffs for the first time in his 11 NFL seasons will be dashed.

“The biggest thing of the Harvard-Yale game is that when you play football at Harvard, you usually don’t go on to play anywhere else,” Fitzpatrick said. “So for the seniors, that’s the last football game they’ll ever play.

“Because of the rivalry [with Yale], and also because of it being the last game for 30 guys, it was always a huge one,” Fitzpatrick added. “Hopefully this next one isn’t our last one ever, but we’re definitely looking forward to it.”

The Jets, whose schedule is a bit skewed this week because they played Saturday instead of Sunday, held what coach Todd Bowles called a “mental day” Tuesday.

The Jets didn’t practice, with Bowles choosing to do a walk-through outside in the rain at their Florham Park facility in hopes of letting his team collect its thoughts with such a huge rivalry game next.

Bowles said the mental aspect is something the Jets have improved on since their 30-23 loss to the Patriots in Week 7.

“I don’t know if we’re different or better, [but] we’ve grown and are playing together more and trust each other more,” Bowles said. “And we have better chemistry, [which] comes with the season going forward.

“We’ve gone through some growing pains,” Bowles added. “Thankfully, it’s starting to click.”

New England held Jets receiving leader Brandon Marshall to just four catches for 67 yards in the Patriots’ October victory, thanks in large part to near-constant double coverage.

Because Bill Belichick is so good at mixing up his defensive schemes on a weekly basis, Marshall probably won’t see the same look Sunday.

Or will he?

“You never know what they’re going to come out with,” Bowles said of Belichick and his defensive coaches. “They come out with different game plans all the time. … It’ll be a chess match, a cat-and-mouse game. We’ll just have to see how they play him.”

Back_to_Top

Three Jets earn Pro Bowl nod, including one first-timer (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 22, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/22/three-jets-earn-pro-bowl-nod-including-one-first-timer/

The Jets had three players voted to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, headlined by first-time selection Muhammad Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, a defensive tackle enjoying a career year with 12 sacks, was joined by cornerback Darrelle Revis (seventh Pro Bowl selection) and wide receiver Brandon Marshall (sixth).

Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

ADVERTISING

Running back Chris Ivory and center Nick Mangold were named first alternates from the 9-5 Jets as a result of the consensus vote of fans, players and coaches.

The Pro Bowl is going back to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu this season and is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff Jan. 31.

The honor should help drive up the asking price for Wilkerson, a potential free agent who the Jets might use the franchise tag on instead.

Marshall was rewarded for catching 93 passes for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season with the team, while Revis earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod since coming back from major knee surgery.

Back_to_Top

Pingpong, not Beckham talk, is what gets Brandon Marshall worked up (George Willis) New York Post December 23, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/23/pingpong-not-beckham-talk-is-what-gets-brandon-marshall-worked-up/

Brandon Marshall was upset and causing a locker-room commotion late Tuesday at the Jets facility in Florham Park, N.J. He was ranting about whether a point can be scored when a pingpong ball bounces off the ceiling. Marshall and his table-tennis foe, defensive end Leger Douzable, couldn’t come to an agreement, causing an abrupt ending to the game.

“I sat there for 20 minutes arguing with him,” Marshall told the assembled media. “You know it was my point.”

Douzable accepted victory by forfeit: “I’ve never seen a guy walk off a table and not want to finish a game,” he said.

“Cheater,” Marshall yelled.

“Start the interview,” Sheldon Richardson grumbled as he sat at his locker a few feet away. “Be professional.”

The beef over the pingpong game didn’t appear to be anything serious, though in this season of locker-room tantrums it’s hard to know what passes for good-natured fun. Geno Smith got his jaw broken and Giants defensive end Damontre Moore lost his job after locker-room skirmishes this season, and certainly disagreements over pingpong have ignited a few unpublicized battles.

Still, it was mild stuff considering what Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is enduring a few miles up the road. If you had to bet during the summer which wide receiver in this city would attract news for all the wrong reasons this fall, the favorite probably would have been Marshall given the malcontent image shaped of him in Denver and Chicago.

Daily Clips Cont.

17 | P a g e

General manager Mike Maccagan and head coach Todd Bowles, who was on the coaching staff at Miami when Marshall was there, were thinking only of the immediate future when they shipped a couple of late draft picks to the Bears for Marshall. It’s the fans scarred by the Santonio Holmes era and how a diva receiver can ruin a franchise who were nervous.

But Marshall has been all the Jets (9-5) could have expected and more, a key reason they’ll carry a huge dose of bravado and confidence into MetLife Stadium on Sunday when they face the Patriots (12-2) with playoffs implications at stake.

“We’re starting to jell together at the right time,” said Marshall, who has caught 93 passes for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and was named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. “We’re learning how to win and that’s important. You win a couple of games and you gain confidence and confidence is key in anything you do in life.”

Marshall stepped on the field as a team leader in training camp and let his work ethic and will to win speak for itself. He’s formed a productive rapport with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eric Decker, creating one of the most dangerous passing combinations in the AFC.

Whatever happened in Chicago and Denver is irrelevant with the Jets, who think they’re a better team than the one that lost 30-23 to the Patriots in Foxborough on Oct. 25. It was part of four losses in five games, a dose of adversity conquered by four straight wins.

“I think we’re better,” Marshall said. “The Giants game was a big test. We faced adversity and we did well. Dallas was the same type of environment and we stuck together and came through it.”

Marshall is media savvy and has been watching the heat Beckham is enduring for losing it against the Panthers. Ultimately, he declined to join the rest of the world in condemning the Giants receiver, saying something about already providing “enough headlines,” and conceding, “it’s a physical game.”

As for Sunday’s game, Marshall expects the Patriots, who are looking to lock up the top seed in the AFC playoffs, to be physical. He caught just four passes for 67 yards in the first meeting. There was a huge drop late in the game.

“We’re going to get a couple of opportunities,” Marshall said. “We just have to capitalize.”

Marshall will need to keep being better than expected.

Back_to_Top

WR’s unorthodox job search lands him a spot on the Jets (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 22, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/22/wrs-unorthodox-job-search-lands-him-a-spot-on-the-jets/

Six weeks after Joe Anderson stood in front of the Texans’ practice facility with a sign that said “Will Run Routes 4 food,” the Jets are giving him the chance to back that up.

Gang Green signed the former Bears wide receiver to their practice squad Tuesday, a potential happy ending to one of the more unorthodox NFL job searches you will ever see.

“This is why you can’t be so quick to throw the towel in, because you don’t know when that call will come,” Anderson told The Post on Tuesday, his arrival so fresh his locker had neither his name nor jersey number.

“A lot of people don’t want to be patient,” Anderson added. “When that call came, it wasn’t no surprise. Because I had prepared for it.”

Daily Clips Cont.

18 | P a g e

Anderson, a former undrafted free agent from Texas Southern who played in nine games with the Bears from 2012-13, also tried to help his case with a headline-grabbing move last month in Houston.

Not even telling his agent before he did it, Anderson swallowed his pride and held up a cardboard sign in front of the Texans’ headquarters for several hours.

“Not homeless … but STARVING for success!!!” Anderson wrote, adding the social-media hashtags #Whateverittakes, #UnderDog, #IBelieve and #Hungry.

“I kept it to myself, because I didn’t want anybody to try to talk me out of it,” Anderson said Tuesday.

Although the Texans barely even acknowledged Anderson’s ploy, sending only a low-level personnel assistant to briefly chat with him, the Jets were paying attention.

Gang Green worked out Anderson last week after getting a positive endorsement from former Chicago teammate Brandon Marshall, then signed him to the practice squad in the wake of wideout Devin Smith’s recent torn knee ligament.

Marshall told The Post he was impressed by Anderson’s willingness to humble himself with the sign.

“It’s not about football with him,” Marshall said. “It’s about his faith and his belief. I think Christians can appreciate [what he did] — to show that humility and that faith to continue to go.”

Anderson was out of football last season because of sports hernia surgery and feared he had been forgotten by the NFL, even though he still had an agent making calls for him.

With a wife and two kids to support and his love of the game still strong, Anderson felt it was time for drastic action after his phone stayed silent throughout the offseason and season’s first three months.

Even so, Anderson admitted it took a while for him to gather up the courage to hold up his sign.

“I sat on [the idea] for about three days,” Anderson said. “I was hesitant because it just didn’t seem like something I would do. But I decided I might as well act on it because I don’t have anything to lose.”

Though the Jets are merely hoping for depth at wide receiver, Anderson hopes his story can be an inspiration for others.

“A lot of people are afraid to ask for help when they’re in need,” Anderson said. “Help don’t always mean, ‘Hey, can you give me some money?’ It’s how low are you willing to humble yourself for something you really want.

“Sometimes you have to open your mouth,” he added. “A closed mouth don’t get fed.”

Back_to_Top

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets' Sheldon Richardson: Roger Goodell caved to media with suspension of Giants' Odell Beckham (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media December 22, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/jets_sheldon_richardson_roger_goodell_caved_to_med.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson, one of the NFL's most promising young stars, said Tuesday that he strongly disagrees with commissioner Roger Goodell's one-game suspension of another young star, Odell Beckham Jr.

Daily Clips Cont.

19 | P a g e

Beckham, the Giants' talented wide receiver, was suspended for his actions in Sunday's game against the Panthers and cornerback Josh Norman. Most notably, Beckham used his helmet to spear Norman in the helmet — a blind-side hit. Beckham has appealed his suspension.

But even that spearing cheap shot did not warrant a suspension, said Richardson. He believes the suspension was "overboard," and that Goodell caved to media pressure in the wake of Sunday's game.

"They both were going at each other," Richardson told NJ Advance Media. "It's football, man. That's one thing I can't stand about it now. People still want us to be like guys in suits, but we've got helmets on. Some games get a little more physical. A guy might be putting clamps on you, and he might be getting in your head a little bit.

"[Beckham] took a cheap shot. He did. But a game suspension, I think that's a little overboard. Media drives it, so it feels like Roger Goodell will have to do something about it. That's just how this league is now. Basically, if the media writes a bad report about you, I guess the NFL looks at you a different way."

(Officially, it was NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks, and not Goodell, who handed the suspension to Beckham.)

Richardson didn't see the Panthers-Giants game live, but watched replays of Beckham's multiple, ferocious interactions with Norman, who also went after Beckham.

When pressed on Beckham's dangerous spearing move in particular, Richardson insisted it was not worthy of a suspension.

"Offensive linemen do it all the time, when guys are around the pile," he said. "Let's say a fumble happens, they might not spear each other in the helmet, but as far as leading with the crown of their helmet goes, they do it all the time. It's nothing new to me. It's frowned upon if it's coming from a skill position.

"I use my head every play. Offensive linemen do it, too. It's frowned upon when it's coming from one of the flashier positions, like wide receiver and cornerback. I'm used to it, so it's a regular play for me.

"Offensive linemen use their head when they're pulling [on blocks]. If it's an interception, guys tackle with their helmets down, but no one pays attention to that, because I guess they're out of position, so it's expected.

"It's still football at the end of the day, and we shouldn't try to make it be nothing more than that. It's violent. It's meant to be violent. They fine guys on certain hits, but they'll show them on instant replays and highlights and all that, about how gruesome the game is. It's just not fair to us."

Richardson said he knows Beckham a little bit, and that Beckham didn't talk too much when the Jets played the Giants earlier this month.

"I've talked to him a few times, at the Pro Bowl [after last season]," Richardson said. "Cool dude, man. We're pretty cool. He wasn't saying anything slick to anybody [on the Jets], I don't think.

"But [trash talking] makes the game fun. It makes you compete harder against the guy across from you. A guy might have a [big] name, like Odell, and he might go against [Jets corner] Marcus Williams. And he might say something to Marcus, and [Williams] might play a little harder. You never know what it's going to bring out of you. It could be good for you or bad for you. It just turned out bad for him."

Does Richardson believe Beckham, a second-year pro, has maturity issues that he needs to rectify?

"Not necessarily," Richardson said. "We're still men out here. Guys are not just going to let anybody talk crazy to them, hit them any type of way. Once people realize that, that this is a gruesome sport, man, it's not meant to be pretty. It's not. You're not going to stay healthy. Hits are going to be hard."

Daily Clips Cont.

20 | P a g e

Richardson on Tuesday also shared his ongoing disappointment about the current state of the NFL's rules, and the inconsistencies he notices with officiating.

"Wide receivers complain about a lot of stuff," he said. "Now they're complaining about guys taking shots at their knees, and if we hit you up high, we're getting $20,000 fines out of our paychecks. They're going to complain about everything and anything, as far as the offensive side of the ball goes. But every time a rule change happens, it's always a defensive change.

"I grew up watching football where defensive holding was rarely called. Like, rarely called. They call that [now] more than they call offensive holding. They hold every play, and I can testify to that. Every play they hold. Every play. If they look at the offensive linemen, they're holding every play. But they'll never throw the flag. [Officials] always say they didn't catch it. All you've got to do is look."

Back_to_Top

Calvin Pryor: Jets have 'different mindset' for New England Patriots (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media December 23, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/calvin_pryor_tktktk.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — The first time the Jets met the Patriots this season, back in October in Foxborough, Mass., they were 4-1, but it was tough to know quite what to make of them.

And now that they're 9-5 and riding a four-game winning streak with the playoffs still something of a possibility: As they prepare to play the Patriots (12-2) again on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, are the Jets a better team?

"No doubt about it," safety Calvin Pryor said Tuesday. "We're playing at a very high level, with a purpose. When we played them last time, we felt like we could play with them, but we didn't feel like we could dominate and win that game. I think this is a different mindset now that we have."

To make the playoffs, the Jets need to beat the Patriots and Bills and get a loss from either the Chiefs, Steelers, or Broncos. The Patriots, who are pretty banged up, can wrap up home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a win.

In the teams' first meeting, the Jets had the lead in the fourth quarter before squandering it in a 30-23 loss. Pryor sustained a high-ankle sprain early in the second half, and while no one on the Jets will admit it so as not to throw anyone under the bus, they missed his presence.\

But the Jets are fully healthy now, and they've gotten some clutch performances from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown for 10 touchdowns against just one interception during this four-game winning streak.

"I mean, I think we've improved," Fitzpatrick said. "I think, offensively, we've all got a little bit better understanding of who we are and how to get things accomplished, got a better feel for each other."

Said defensive end Sheldon Richardson: "We're executing a lot better, finishing in the fourth quarter. We put ourselves in predicaments we shouldn't be in, if we start fast. But other than that, we're finishing well, playing complementary football a lot better than we did back then."

Back_to_Top

Darrelle Revis among 3 Jets to make Pro Bowl (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media December 22, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

21 | P a g e

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/xx_among_xx_jets_to_make_pro_bowl.html#incart_river_index

The NFL on Tuesday night announced the players who made the Pro Bowl.

Three Jets made it: cornerback Darrelle Revis, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, and wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Center Nick Mangold and running back Chris Ivory are first alternates. Mangold was not among the four centers selected, and Ivory was not among the six running backs voted into the game. Mangold finished third in fan voting among centers, while Ivory was seventh among running backs.

This is the seventh time in Revis' nine-year career that he has made the Pro Bowl. He missed it in 2007 (his rookie year) and 2012 (when he played in just two games before sustaining a season-ending knee injury).

This is the first Pro Bowl trip for Wilkerson, a fifth-year pro who is having the best season of his career (12 sacks). In 2013, Wilkerson had 10½ sacks, but still didn't make the Pro Bowl.

Marshall is in his 10th season and has now made the Pro Bowl six times (also in 2008-09 and 2011-13). He said Tuesday he didn't really mind if he made the all-star game this year or not.

"To be honest, I don't even care," he said. "I think the last time I was voted, I didn't go. I'm tired of the Pro Bowl."

Then he paused, smiled, and looked into a TV camera.

"I love the Pro Bowl," he said. "Sorry, guys. Thanks if you voted for me and my teammates. I appreciate you guys. If we're not in the Super Bowl, maybe I will go this year. But I'm so focused on winning it all that I don't care about it."

Here's what Marshall said later Tuesday in a quote distributed by the Jets: "I'm just so honored to make my sixth Pro Bowl. I think this one is the most special one, because it's really a testament to the success of everyone on offense. I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for Fitz Magic."

That is Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's nickname.

Revis was one of eight corners to make the Pro Bowl, while Wilkerson was one of six defensive ends, and Marshall was one of eight wide receivers.

The Pro Bowl participants were determined by a three-pronged voting system — fans, coaches, and players. Each group's vote counted one-third toward the players who made the Pro Bowl. (Here's a look at how the fan voting turned out.)

The game itself is Jan. 31 in Honolulu. Players will be assigned to a team, via a draft, on Jan. 27. The Pro Bowl no longer adheres to conference affiliation, in its selection of players, or in its actual game format.

Back_to_Top

Odell Beckham Jr. didn't trash talk when Jets played Giants, Jets players say (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media December 22, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/jets_defenders_odell_beckham_jr_didnt_trash-talk_d.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — News flash: The Panthers and Giants didn't invent the concept of trash-talk during an NFL game, even if the antics of cornerback Josh Norman and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. went

Daily Clips Cont.

22 | P a g e

overboard on Sunday, and even if those antics seem to be all anyone with an interest in the NFL can talk about this week.

"Who doesn't talk?" Jets safety Calvin Pryor said Tuesday.

One player who didn't talk when the Jets and Giants played an overtime thriller won by the Jets on Dec. 6? Beckham.

"Nah, he didn't say nothing," Jets cornerback Buster Skrine told NJ Advance Media.

The reason? Beckham and a lot of the Jets players get along off the field.

"A lot of times, we see each other—all of us see each other in the city," Skrine said. "There's no bad blood."

Skrine said he only talks trash if someone yaps at him first.

"You're trying to feed your family, and I'm trying to feed my family, and we're good," Skrine said. "But if you get to talking, then I'll talk."

Skrine said the solitary nature of the defensive back-wide receiver matchup lends itself to trash talk.

"DB-receivers, I think that's probably one of the most competitive positions going against each other because it can determine the game," Skrine said. "You could give up two touchdowns and lose the game. Or a receiver can be a No. 1 receiver and get shut down, and they lose the game because they don't have anybody to throw to."

The trash talk itself can vary, according to Pryor.

"It's different for different people," Pryor told NJ Advance Media. "You stay within the lines [by] talking trash about football, and don't get personal."

Sometimes, of course, things do get personal, such as when Jets wideout Brandon Marshall got chippy with Giants defensive end Cullen Jenkins for saying something about his wife. Jenkins didn't know Marshall was married, however. He later apologized.

"It depends on who you are," Pryor said. "Some people talk about your mom and really don't have a care in the world. They're just hoping they get in your head. Some guys go out there and people talk trash, and they don't even say anything. They just let their game speak for itself."

Jets cornerback Marcus Williams said he doesn't get into trash talking.

"It's just never been a part of my game," Williams said. "I'm not trying to go out there and fight with someone or start anything with them."

Skrine said the Norman-Beckham dustup, which resulted in a one-game suspension for Beckham, was rooted in the competitiveness both players bring to their craft. They are, after all, two of the game's best at their respective positions.

"He's Odell Beckham, so of course he's going to get a lot more heat than a lot of other people," Skrine said. "But I've seen Norman play before, and Norman is a feisty guy. He talks all the time. Even in his rookie year [2012], he was talking.

"I actually know him personally, and he's a feisty guy. And Beckham's a feisty guy. They're both competitive, and that's why I think they were going at it like they did."

Pryor said there tends to be some method to the madness of trash talk.

Daily Clips Cont.

23 | P a g e

"If you know that person, and you've played him more than once or twice and you know how that person's going to be, I think it's cool to talk trash," Pryor said. "But, at the same time, once the game is over, it's just going to be all over and done with."

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets' Mo Wilkerson has earned big sack of cash, but no rush to deal (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 23, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-wilkerson-earned-big-sack-cash-article-1.2474589

The Pay-The-Man police is out in full force again with predictable demands that lack foresight.

Mo Wilkerson’s standout season has prompted these armchair brainiacs to implore the Jets to dole out whatever-it-takes cash for the fifth-year defensive lineman. You should have signed him to a blockbuster contract extension before the season, they insist.

It’s foolish to suggest that the Jets erred by letting Wilkerson play 2015 on his fifth-year option. He is a very good player playing at a high level in Todd Bowles’ scheme, but let’s not kid ourselves. Wilkerson is not in J.J. Watt’s stratosphere. Teammate Sheldon Richardson has a higher ceiling.

Wilkerson’s terrific 2015 campaign and solid first five seasons warrants a raise. His team-high 12 sacks helped earn him his first Pro Bowl berth Tuesday, but it’s myopic to tell the Jets to back up the Brink’s truck.

The Jets should make an effort to secure him at a fair price, but why overpay when they already have a more dynamic and versatile player (looking for his own payday in a couple years) and a relatively cheap first-round rookie on the defensive line?

Wilkerson seemingly had leverage this summer after Richardson’s off-field troubles surfaced, but the dynamic has changed in the past five months. Richardson has stayed on the straight and narrow path. Rookie Leonard Williams has shown promise. The Jets have wrestled back leverage.

It’s unrealistic to believe that the team will sign Wilkerson and Richardson to blockbuster extensions despite the growing salary cap in the coming years. One of the two will have to take significantly less than what he believes he’s worth. Spoiler alert: That’s not happening.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business and guys have to make the best decisions for themselves,” safety Calvin Pryor told the Daily News. “If they want the money, go after the money. If they just love the game and love being a team player, be a team player. But that’s their decision. I’m going to be happy for them regardless.”

The Jets can use Wilkerson’s career year to their advantage. His outstanding play should make both sides happy. GM Mike Maccagnan will almost certainly apply the franchise tag on Wilkerson after the season to maximize his options this offseason.

If the two sides can’t agree to a fair compromise on an extension, the Jets should explore a tag-and-trade scenario. The divide on fair value last spring was so wide that Wilkerson’s camp opted to table in-season discussions. Both parties knew at that time there was little chance that the financial gap would be bridged.

Wilkerson has teamed up with Sheldon Richardson to form a formiddable pass rush.

Daily Clips Cont.

24 | P a g e

The Jets could use Wilkerson as a valuable bargaining chip to move up in the 2016 draft and land a quarterback, edge pass rusher or other position of need.

Wilkerson gives them flexibility to continue to fortify the roster with young (and affordable) talent. Teams were interested in Wilkerson in the run-up to last year’s draft, but nothing went beyond the exploratory stage. It’s reasonable to think that the Jets would want at least a first-round pick in any trade scenario this time. The tricky part is finding a team willing to pony up a first-rounder and pay Wilkerson the $40-plus million in guaranteed money that he desires.

There is no real doomsday scenario for the Jets. If they simply slap the franchise tag on Wilkerson without dealing him, they buy an additional year to make sure Richardson, who could be facing league discipline stemming from a July arrest on alleged misdemeanor traffic violations in Missouri, stays out of trouble.

Keeping the defensive line trio intact would also give the organization more time to monitor Williams’ development. The most significant downside would be playing Richardson out of position as a stand-up outside linebacker at times.

“Pick your poison,” cornerback Antonio Cromartie said of the defensive line trio. “Who do you want to block? Who you want to double team? So, there’s going to be some 1-on-1 matchups.”

Wilkerson is the first in line for a significant pay raise. Richardson will enter next season on the final year of his rookie deal. Williams obviously isn’t going to get his big payday for a while.

S o, it’s Wilkerson’s time. He’s been exceedingly patient, but the Jets shouldn’t overpay given their other assets along the defensive line. Wilkerson can be a powerful bargaining chip for the organization.

He’ll get his money. It might just not be from the team that drafted him.

Back_to_Top

What's on Jets' Christmas list? A return to AFC playoffs (Seth Walder) New York Daily News December 23, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-christmas-list-return-afc-playoffs-article-1.2474580

There's no questioning the stakes of Sunday’s Patriots-Jets game at MetLife Stadium.

The game is so important that, quite frankly, it will be the biggest game of both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall’s respective NFL careers.

“Yes. Absolutely,” Marshall said Tuesday. “It’s because it’s the next one. Obviously it’s the next one and we understand the implications attached to it. So yeah, the next couple will be the biggest games of my career.”

Neither Marshall nor Fitzpatrick — the two most important components in the surprisingly effective Jets offense — has been to the playoffs, despite this being their 10th and 11th seasons in the league, respectively. Sitting at 9-5 they have a chance to finally get there, but they likely will have to beat the Patriots to make it.

“This is everything for us this week,” Fitzpatrick said. “Trying to get a win in this game.”

Fitzpatrick was asked if he, too, thought it was the biggest game of his life. “I think you might be forgetting about the 2004 Harvard-Yale (game),” Fitzpatrick said with a grin. “10-0 season on the line.

Daily Clips Cont.

25 | P a g e

A lot of alumni at that game. Really sets you up for your future if you win that one.”

The quarterback didn’t quite get into ranking the importance of Sunday’s contest compared to others in his career, but considering this is the closest he’s ever come to the playoffs, it has to be the biggest.

“I don’t know if I really want to place the significance on it, where it is in my career, but this is a huge one for me,” Fitzpatrick said.

“This is why everybody in here plays the game,” the quarterback added. “Playing football games like this in December and have a shot at playing longer. We’re pretty excited about this one.”

For the Jets to get the coveted victory, Fitzpatrick would need a reversal of fortune against the Pats. He is 1-7 when facing Belichick’s team.

“I don’t think a lot of people have (had success against New England),” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re a pretty good team.”

The Jets aren’t guaranteed a playoff berth by winning out. If they beat the Patriots and Bills, they still would need a loss by either the Broncos, Chiefs or Steelers to get into the postseason.

Lose to the Patriots, and the Jets would need a win and two losses by one of the three aforementioned teams.

And especially since all three of their competitors play easy games in Week 17, the Jets really need that win on Sunday.

“I think maybe even it’s more important this week to stay the same because there probably will be some other guys really trying to ramp it up,” Fitzpatrick said.

The Jets lost a game to the Patriots back in Week 7, despite holding a fourth-quarter lead. Bowles, after Saturday’s win over the Cowboys, said he thought the Jets blew it against New England.

Now, the Jets are hoping that the team they’ve been lately shows up on Sunday.

Back_to_Top

Jets add Joe Anderson, player who held sign looking for NFL job, to practice squad (Seth Walder) New York Daily News December 22, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/player-held-sign-nfl-job-shot-jets-article-1.2474324

The Jets know their newest practice squad player is willing to do whatever it takes.

WR Joe Anderson, signed to Gang Green's practice squad Tuesday, is famous for standing outside NRG Stadium in Houston earlier this year hoping to get a job. He held a cardboard sign that read, "Not homeless...but STARVING for success!!! Will Run Routes 4 Food #WhateverItTakes #UnderDog #Ibelieve #hungry."

Though his tenacity didn't land him a spot in Houston, it has now earned him a gig with Gang Green.

Anderson played in nine games for the Bears between 2012 and 2013 but does not have a catch recorded in the NFL. He played football in college at Texas Southern.

At time, Anderson's dedication caught the eye of Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

"Wow this is humility right here," Marshall wrote on Instagram six weeks ago. "My brother @_joeanderson is one of the hardest working guys I've had the pleasure of playing with. Everyday he stands outside of @houstontexans stadium praying someone gives him a shot. Some may call him #crazy.

Daily Clips Cont.

26 | P a g e

Hell I had to stop and really see his strength in this. I watched this guy grow so much. JOE you're the kinda of guy I want to play with. You're the guy I want in my FOXHOLE. I don't care if it's covering kicks."

Back_to_Top

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The 9-5 Jets Have Been Feasting on the NFL’s Weaklings (Michael Salfino) Wall Street Journal December 22, 2015

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-9-5-jets-have-been-feasting-on-the-nfls-weaklings-1450822885

With a 9-5 record and a four-game win streak, it’s happy times in Jets land. Until the realization strikes that the team could win their last two regular-season games and still miss the playoffs in the AFC.

But if the Jets do miss out on the postseason, they can only rue the missed opportunity they had for failing to take advantage of the AFC’s softest schedule. Put simply, the Jets have beaten one team—the 6-8 Giants—who have scored more points this season than they have allowed. Sure, the Jets rank in the top 10 in total offense and defense. But after factoring in the point differential of their opponents—and further the point differential of the opponents their opponents have faced—the Jets’ schedule is the equivalent of playing a team 3.7 points worse than average. That is the easiest in the AFC and only the 6-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (minus-3.9) are worse in football.

To be fair, the schedule the Carolina Panthers have played hasn’t been much harder, according to Pro-Football-Reference’s calculations, at 3.4 points below average. But the Panthers have steamrolled their soft slate to a 14-0 record. Meanwhile, the Jets have lost to the Philadelphia Eagles (6-8), Oakland Raiders (6-8) and Houston Texans (7-7), who have combined to allow 107 more points than they’ve scored.

The only top-echelon team the Jets have faced this season, the 12-2 New England Patriots, beat them 30-23 in Week 7. The Jets face the Patriots again on Sunday and the scheduling gods may be shining on them once more as Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a conference call earlier this week that he’ll “give some thought” to resting key players since his team has already clinched a first-round bye.

Back_to_Top

TUESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball

MLB INTERNATIONAL — Named Charles Hill managing director of MLB Europe, Middle East and Africa.

American League

CLEVELAND INDIANS — Released 3B Chris Johnson. Agreed to terms with LHP Ross Detwiler on a minor league contract.

National League

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Mike Leake on a five-year contract.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

Daily Clips Cont.

27 | P a g e

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Reassigned Fs James Ennis and Jarell Martin and G Russ Smith to Iowa (NBADL).

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES — Recalled G Tyus Jones from Idaho (NBADL).

FOOTBALL

National Football League

ARIZONA CARDINALS — Placed S Tyrann Mathieu on injured reserve. Re-signed S Chris Clemons.

BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed TE Crockett Gillmore on injured reserve. Placed LB Brennen Beyer on the practice squad injured list. Signed LB Chris Carter. Signed DE Nordly Capi to the practice squad.

BUFFALO BILLS — Placed LB Randell Johnson and WR Robert Woods on injured reserve and T Seantrel Henderson on the reserve/non-football illness list. Released WR Marcus Thigpen. Signed WRs Dezmin Lewis, Walter Powell and Greg Salas and DE Jerel Worthy. Signed TE Jacob Maxwell and QB Zac Dysart to the practice squad.

CHICAGO BEARS — Waived RB Antone Smith. Terminated the practice squad contract of DL Toby Johnson. Signed DT D’Anthony Smith from the practice squad and CB De’Vante Bausby and DL Davon Coleman to the practice squad.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Placed OL John Greco on injured reserve. Re-signed WR Darius Jennings.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Placed LS Brett Goode on injured reserve. Signed LS Rick Lovato.\

HOUSTON TEXANS — Placed QB T.J. Yates on injured reserve. Signed QB B.J. Daniels from the practice squad.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Placed LBs Koa Misi and Chris McCain on injured reserve. Re-signed LB James-Michael Johnson and OL Jacques McClendon. Signed G Shelley Smith.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed LB Alex Singleton to the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Placed LB Eric Martin on injured reserve. Released DL Ishmaa’ily Kitchen. Signed RB Steven Jackson.

NEW YORK JETS — Signed WR Joe Anderson to the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Placed DT Mike Martin on injured reserve. Signed QB Alex Tanney from Indianapolis’ practice squad.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Signed TE Marcel Jensen from Buffalo’s practice squad.

Canadian Football League

EDMONTON ESKIMOS — Signed SB Adarius Bowman and DT Almondo Sewell to contract extensions through 2017.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Recalled D Petter Granberg from his conditioning assignment with Milwaukee (AHL).

WASHINGTON CAPITALS — Reassigned D Connor Carrick to Hershey (AHL).

Daily Clips Cont.

28 | P a g e

American Hockey League

SAN DIEGO GULLS — Announced LW Max Friberg was reassigned to the team by Anaheim (NHL).

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

LA GALAXY — Transferred D Omar Gonzalez to CF Pachuca (Liga MX-Mexico).

NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed F Alex Muyl.

National Women’s Soccer League

WASHINGTON SPIRIT — Waived D Josephine Chukwunonye.

WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH — Announced the resignation of coach Aaron Lines, who will remain with the club in a management position.

North American Soccer League

JACKSONVILLE ARMADA — Signed D Tyler Ruthven.

COLLEGE

NCAA — Placed Hawaii’s men’s basketball program on probation for three years.

BALL STATE — Announced the resignation of football coach Pete Lembo to become assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Maryland.

MIAMI — Suspended S Jamal Carter for the Sun Bowl for violating a team policy. Announced DT Courtel Jenkins was declared academically ineligible.

PURDUE — Named Terry Malone offensive coordinator in addition to his duties as tight ends coach.

TEXAS STATE — Announced the retirement of football coach Dennis Franchione.

WISCONSIN — Named Howard Moore men’s assistant basketball coach.

Back_to_Top