NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

August 18, 2016

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Table of Contents

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

Jets' Forte does first team drills, Wilkerson feeling good (Dennis Waszak) .............................................................. 2

No soup for Fitz? Jets quarterback meets 'Seinfeld' creator (Dennis Waszak) ......................................................... 3

THE DAILY RECORD ................................................................................................................................................ 4

Jets' Skrine adjusting to new role (Andy Vasquez) .................................................................................................... 4

Jets: Getting close to full strength (Andy Vasquez) ................................................................................................... 5

Jets notes: Action for Christian Hackenberg? (Andy Vasquez) .................................................................................. 6

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Jets rookie QB Christian Hackenberg not satisfied being 4th-stringer (Kimberly A. Martin) .................................... 7

Ryan Fitzpatrick chats up Larry David at Jets practice (Kimberly A. Martin) ............................................................. 8

Jets get a lift from returns of Matt Forte, Muhammad Wilkerson (Bob Glauber) .................................................... 9

Jets’ Deon Simon, Matt Forte and Ronald Martin, Louisiana natives, discuss flooding’s aftermath (Kimberly A. Martin) .................................................................................................................................................................... 10

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 12

Matt Forte makes big step at Jets practice, in front of Larry David (Kiernan Darcy) .............................................. 12

CFL star Freddie Bishop trying to make his mark with Jets (Kiernan Darcy) ........................................................... 13

Fantasy value for Jace Amaro, Jets' tight ends: Not much (Rich Cimini) ................................................................. 14

Nick Mangold's value to Jets proven in his absence (Kieran Darcy) ........................................................................ 14

THE NEW YORK POST ........................................................................................................................................... 15

The Ryan Fitzpatrick quip that got Larry David to laugh (Brian Costello) ................................................................ 15

Jets vet makes quick progress — even if he doesn’t believe it (Brian Costello)...................................................... 15

Matt Forte looks good in Jets moment he’s waited for (Brian Costello) ................................................................. 17

What’s the holdup? Jets need to take real look at Hackenberg (Mark Cannizzaro) ............................................... 18

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 19

Jets 'plan' to play Christian Hackenberg vs. Washington Friday, per Todd Bowles (Connor Hughes) .................... 19

Matt Forte does team drills at Jets practice | Day 15 injury report (Connor Hughes) ............................................ 20

Ryan Fitzpatrick zings Larry David with one-liner at Jets camp (Darryl Slater) ....................................................... 21

THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ............................................................................................................................... 22

Ryan Fitzpatrick relates to Jets backup QB Christian Hackenberg (Seth Walder) ................................................... 22

Ryan Fitzpatrick gets Larry David to laugh at Jets camp (Seth Walder) .................................................................. 23

Sheldon Richardson impressed with Leonard Williams after Jets’ first preseason game: ‘He is going to be elite’ (Seth Walder) .......................................................................................................................................................... 24

Geno Smith needs to grow up and end media boycott, while Victor Cruz faces last Giant shot (Gary Myers) ...... 25

Daily Clips Cont.

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Jets right to be cautious with Matt Forte as banged-up running back is still versatile threat (Manish Mehta) ..... 27

WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS............................................................................................................... 28

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets' Forte does first team drills, Wilkerson feeling good (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press August 17, 2016

http://pro32.ap.org/article/jets-forte-does-first-team-drills-wilkerson-feeling-good

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Matt Forte took a few handoffs in individual drills and tested out his healing hamstring. Then, instead of heading to the trainer's area or into the facility, the New York Jets running back stayed on the field for team drills.

Forte fully practiced for the first time in training camp Wednesday — a positive sign for a guy the Jets have been cautious with after he tweaked a hamstring running on his own last month.

"It was good to see him getting in shape," coach Todd Bowles said. "We got him some reps today, first time taking team reps. Hopefully, that won't have any ill effects tomorrow and we'll go from there."

Forte declared Tuesday that he would "definitely" be available to play in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11. That seemed even more likely on Wednesday with his first significant snaps of camp.

Before Sunday, Forte hadn't even participated in individual drills since Aug. 2. He appeared to have little concern about his health when talking Tuesday, his second straight practice in which he did positional drills after the Jets were off Monday.

"He's got to get into some football shape," Bowles said. "They weren't tackling or really hitting him. He was about three-quarters speed. We look forward to him getting better. If he doesn't have any setbacks (Thursday), then we'll move forward."

New York plays its second preseason game Friday night at Washington, and Bowles wouldn't rule out Forte to play — but sounded as though it would be unlikely.

"He'll warm up," the coach said. "Chances are slim, though."

It's more likely that Forte, as long as he has no setbacks, will make his debut against the Giants next week in the third game, when most of the starters play into the second half and then sit out the final preseason game.

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson could see his first game action against the Redskins after fully participating in practice for the second straight day. He has been working his way back from a broken right leg, suffered in last season's finale against Buffalo.

"I'm feeling good," Wilkerson said. "I felt better than I did yesterday, so that's a good thing."

A first-time Pro Bowl selection last season, Wilkerson is one of the key parts of Bowles' defense and they are guarding against rushing him back.

Bowles said Wilkerson has a better chance than Forte of playing. The defensive end was happy to be able to take the next step in his rehabilitation while participating in team drills in consecutive days.

"I got to hit some of the offensive linemen and get back in the groove," Wilkerson said. "I'm just going to take it one day at a time."

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New York will be counting on a healthy Wilkerson to anchor a defensive line that is an overwhelming strength of this Jets team. Along with Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon make up one of the NFL's top units heading into the season.

"We could be great," Wilkerson said. "We've just got to keep on pushing each other, keep competing, and each and every week, go out and dominate."

Meanwhile, cornerback Dexter McDougle re-injured a hamstring Tuesday and didn't practice Wednesday. Bowles was uncertain of the severity of the injury.

Safety Doug Middleton (leg) and running backs Dominique Williams (concussion) and Romar Morris (shoulder) did not practice. Right tackle Breno Giacomini (back) and wide receiver Devin Smith (knee) remain on the active/physically unable to perform list.

NOTES: QB Christian Hackenberg, the team's second-round draft pick in April, could make his debut against the Redskins. "That's the plan," Bowles said. "We'll see how it works out." Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty all saw time in the preseason opener against Jacksonville last week, but Hackenberg remained on the sideline. ... WR Brandon Marshall had an excused absence from practice for the second straight day, while C Nick Mangold was given a rest day.

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No soup for Fitz? Jets quarterback meets 'Seinfeld' creator (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press August 17, 2016

http://pro32.ap.org/article/no-soup-fitz-jets-quarterback-meets-seinfeld-creator

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Hello, Larry.

Long-time New York Jets fan Larry David made a cameo appearance at the team's training camp practice Wednesday, and the creator of "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" got to meet his favorite cast of characters.

That included quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom David recently begged during a radio interview to shave his bushy beard. Well, Fitzpatrick actually has trimmed it since then and he was eager to see what David thought.

"We hashed it out," said a smiling Fitzpatrick, who is a big "Seinfeld" fan. "I don't know if I've got to take it all the way off. He's a tough guy to read."

Fitzpatrick chatted with David, who also has said he thinks he could be an NFL offensive coordinator, and mentioned his appearance in 2012 on the FX sitcom "The League," which was about a group of friends and their fantasy football league.

David then asked the quarterback if he thought acting was difficult.

"Yeah," Fitzpatrick told him. "It's a lot like a normal person thinking they could come in and be an offensive coordinator."

Wow, Fitz. No acting for you!

"I actually got him to chuckle, which was great," Fitzpatrick said. "That was my goal for the day. That was pretty cool. Man, I loved that show growing up, and even still. It was neat meeting somebody so creative."

Fitzpatrick said he probably could watch five episodes of "Seinfeld" a day, if he had the time.

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He also acknowledged that he really hasn't watched much of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." But now that he's buddy-buddy with David, Fitzpatrick was asked if maybe there's a guest appearance in the works.

"If they need somebody to make fun of, then, yeah," a grinning Fitzpatrick said. "I'd probably be pretty good at that."

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THE DAILY RECORD

Jets' Skrine adjusting to new role (Andy Vasquez) The Daily Record August 16, 2016

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets-skrine-adjusting-to-new-role-1.1646344

FLORHAM PARK — Jets cornerback Buster Skrine says this training camp, the second under head coach Todd Bowles, has been a much smoother one for the defense.

It’s just a product of being more familiar with how Bowles wants them to do things.

“Everything’s a lot easier,” Skrine told The Record last week. “There’s no extra questions about the install [of the playbook]. We just get out here and run the plays, we don’t have to keep running over plays in practice. So just being in the second time around, we just pretty much picked off where we left off [at the end of last season].”

Skrine said that comfort has manifested itself in one major way: the defense is playing with a lot more speed this training camp.

For Skrine, personally, he’s also adjusting to a new, but not unfamiliar, role.

Last year, Skrine’s primary job was almost exclusively to defend slot receivers in the Jets nickel formation.

But with Antonio Cromartie gone this season, Skrine is now competing for a job starting outside at cornerback, while also playing some on the slot in the nickel defense — that’s the same role Skrine played during the first four years of his in Cleveland.

So Skrine’s goals in preseason for preseason games are modest.

“Personally, just getting my feet wet at the corner position again,” Skrine said. “And just have solid, all-around games.No explosive [plays], a whole bunch of disruptions on the ball. I feel like I did pretty good at that as a corner.”

Skrine had a career-high four interceptions playing cornerback in his final year in Cleveland. He had one interception in his nickel role with the Jets last season.

***

The Jets practice one last time today before heading to Washington for Friday’s preseason game against the Redskins.

Two questions for today’s practice.

*On Tuesday, Muhammad Wilkerson participated in team drills for the first time since breaking his leg in January, and Bowles said there’s a chance he could play Friday. Will Wilkerson participate in team drills again today?

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*In Tuesday’s practice No. 3 QB Bryce Petty and No. 4 QB Christian Hackenberg had increased reps, while backup QB Geno Smith took less reps than normal. Bowles downplayed that after practice, and said all four quarterbacks need to be ready for Friday’s game. But could today’s division of reps be a preview of Friday’s QB rotation?

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Jets: Getting close to full strength (Andy Vasquez) The Daily Record August 18, 2016

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-getting-close-to-full-strength-1.1647109

FLORHAM PARK — As the Jets gear up for their second preseason game, they’re finally starting to look whole again.

Two of the team’s biggest stars took the field Wednesday, the final practice before Friday’s tilt at Washington.

Running back Matt Forte participated in team drills, the first time he’s done that in camp as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

And defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson took part in his second day of team drills, looking more energetic and active than he did during his first day of contact.

"Feeling good," Wilkerson said. "I felt better than I did [Tuesday]. So that’s a good thing. … [It was] good to hit some of the offensive linemen and get back in the groove. So I’m just going to take it one day at a time."

Wilkerson was activated from the PUP list last week and has made steady progress as he returns from the broken leg he suffered in January’s season finale at Buffalo.

Coach Todd Bowles said there’s a chance Wilkerson could play Friday. The odds aren’t as good for Forte, who just started ratcheting up his practice schedule this week as he recovers from an off-season hamstring injury.

Bowles said Forte will warm up for Friday’s game, but "chances are slim" that he’ll play. Wilkerson, on the other hand, has a better chance at his first preseason action of the year.

"Mo’s been practicing," Bowles said. "We’ll see. We’ll talk about it and go from there. He’s got a better chance than Matt [Forte]."

Forte may not be ready for game action, but his return to full-contact practice was an important milestone for the offense. The Jets signed Forte to a three-year, $12 million deal in March. And while he participated in OTAs and minicamp, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t there because of his contract dispute.

Wednesday’s practice marked the first time they did contact work together.

"It was great seeing Matt, and really the first kind of extensive work I’ve had with him," Fitzpatrick said. "But I figured with as much ball as he’s played and as great a player as he’s been, that he’d be able to fit right in and we’d mesh pretty well. And he did a really nice job [Wednesday], but we’ve been communicating the whole time. So it was nice to see him with pads."

Forte moved with ease and agility. He wasn’t hit hard, but the contact he absorbed didn’t seem to bother him. Bowles said Forte still has "a ways to go" before he’s back to full strength. But Wednesday’s work was encouraging.

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"It was good to see him running around," Bowles said of Forte. "They weren’t tackling or really hitting him, so he was about three-quarter speed. We just look forward to him getting better. If he doesn’t have any setbacks [today], then we’ll move forward."

Even as the Jets get back to full strength, there’s still work to be done. That was evident midway through practice, when Bowles halted the proceedings and gathered his players.

Moments later, they started running the width of the field.

Bowles tried to be coy when asked why his players were running.

"They just need to get in a little better shape," Bowles said with a smile.

But when pressed, he acknowledged that he wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the practice had been going to that point.

"Any time they run it’s for physical training, whether I’m dissatisfied or not," Bowles said. "But they needed to practice better. And we understand each other pretty good."

The exercise seemed to do the trick.

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Jets notes: Action for Christian Hackenberg? (Andy Vasquez) The Daily Record August 18, 2016

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-action-for-christian-hackenberg-1.1647095

Hackenberg debut?

Last week, coach Todd Bowles said it would’ve been a disservice to put rookie quarterback Christian Hackenberg in his first NFL game. He just didn’t have enough reps.

But Hackenberg has seen a lot more practice time this week, and if the Jets have their way, he’ll play Friday at Washington.

"That’s the plan," Bowles said. "We’ll see how it works out."

Bowles said he hasn’t decided how to deploy his quarterbacks in the second preseason game, or if all four would play.

Larry David visits

"Seinfeld" creator Larry David was at practice Wednesday. The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star is a big Jets fan and previously had said he wanted Ryan Fitzpatrick to shave his beard.

Fitzpatrick, who shaved last week, but still has significant stubble, met David after practice.

"It came up," Fitzpatrick said of his beard. "He just didn’t look like he was — I don’t know if I’ve got to take it all the way off or what was going on. He’s a tough guy to read."

Fitzpatrick, who said he "could watch five episodes of ‘Seinfeld’ a day if I had time," said it was a thrill to meet David.

Injuries and absences

Brandon Marshall wasn’t at practice for the second consecutive day because of an excused absence. Bowles said Tuesday that Marshall will play against Washington. … CB Dexter McDougle sat out practice after tweaking his hamstring in coverage Tuesday. It’s the same sore hamstring he was dealing with earlier

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in the preseason. Bowles wasn’t sure how serious the injury was, but said McDougle "shouldn’t be out too long." … Tackle Breno Giacomini is on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a back injury. "He’s coming along fine, getting his treatment, so he’s right on schedule," Bowles said.

Quote of the day

"I’m dead set against it. It makes me sick to my stomach even watching it. It’s like putting a pig in a hare race."

— Bowles, joking about his offensive line’s post-practice routine of fielding punts.

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NEWSDAY

Jets rookie QB Christian Hackenberg not satisfied being 4th-stringer (Kimberly A. Martin) Newsday August 17, 2016

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-rookie-qb-christian-hackenberg-not-satisfied-being-4th-stringer-1.12191676

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Christian Hackenberg is under no illusions about where he stands. He’s the new kid on the block, the fourth-stringer behind two experienced quarterbacks and a recent draft pick. The Jets rookie is a long shot to see significant playing time this season.

But being a backup never has suited Hackenberg.

“I’ve never really accepted it because I’m still working,” the three-year starter at Penn State said Wednesday during a one-on-one interview with Newsday.

“If I accepted it, I’d be chilling. But I’m still trying to go out and work and get better, because, who knows? Two, three snaps away and I’m the guy. You know what I mean? So you have to continue to prepare as if you’re the starter.”

That job belongs to Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 12-year veteran the Jets re-signed to a one-year, $12-million deal. Behind him is the beleaguered Geno Smith, still vying to be the face of a franchise again. Then there is Bryce Petty, a 2015 fourth-rounder who’s eager to prove he’s still worthy of a roster spot.

But even with three guys ahead of him, Hackenberg believes his chance could come at any moment.

“You’re three snaps away. Realistically,” he said. “I try and stay in Fitz’s hip pocket whenever he’s in the film room. Geno, Bryce, whenever anyone’s in there, just try to put as much into it as I can. It’s a lot to learn.”

The 21-year-old is expected to get his first taste of NFL action Friday night, when the Jets face the Redskins in their second preseason game. Todd Bowles said “the plan” is to play Hackenberg. “We’ll see how it works out.”

A chance to show what he can do is all he has wanted.

“It’s tough for him right now,” Fitzpatrick said of Hackenberg, who has seen limited reps in practice. “He has always been the top dog everywhere he has been. This is a new role for him.”

The key to unlocking the rookie’s potential lies in consistency. On Wednesday, he showcased his strong arm, hitting rookie Chandler Worthy with a perfectly placed pass between two defenders. But he followed that up with some errant throws and a pick to safety Ronald Martin.

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But according to Fitzpatrick, the 6-4, 228-pound Hackenberg is “a little more advanced mentally than most quarterbacks coming in.” He also said he has all of the traits of a quarterback you’d create playing a Madden video game — “the height, size, the arm strength and all that.”

Although Hackenberg wouldn’t characterize his transition to the NFL as “tough,” he acknowledged that acclimating to a new environment, new building, new team and a new system “just takes time to adjust to, no matter who you are.” But he’s kept the same mentality all the while.

“Give it 100 percent, and just make sure that you continue to ride that wave that’s always kind of going up, never taking too many steps back, but always continuing to get better,” he said. “And it’s really helped having guys around me who are supporting that, in the quarterback room specifically, but definitely outside of that. They want to see the best out of you.”

For years, the Jets organization has failed to provide fertile ground for young quarterbacks to grow. But Hackenberg said he didn’t feel uneasy being drafted by a team that didn’t have its quarterback situation resolved. Fitzpatrick re-signed on the first day of camp, and since then, Hackenberg has been in his ear.

He and Petty are tight, too, he said, despite their shared goal of being the Jets’ starter one day. “We both want to help this team in any way we can, we’re both really confident in what we can do,” Hackenberg said. “So we’ve really clicked from that sense and a character standpoint. So why not push each other? Why not try to get the best out of one another?”

The rookie also credited Smith for being “awesome, too,” adding that they “hit it off” in the spring.

“Each of them brings a unique perspective,” Hackenberg said. “Bryce was in my shoes just last year. Geno was in my shoes a couple years ago.”

Then he added with a laugh: “And Fitz was in my shoes half a century ago. It’s like a timeline, so it’s pretty cool.”

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Ryan Fitzpatrick chats up Larry David at Jets practice (Kimberly A. Martin) Newsday August 17, 2016

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ryan-fitzpatrick-chats-up-larry-david-at-jets-practice-1.12191630

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Ryan Fitzpatrick not only got to meet Larry David on Wednesday, but he delivered a well-timed one-liner at the “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator’s expense.

David recently tweaked the Jets quarterback, saying Fitzpatrick should shave his overgrown bushy beard, and said he should be the Jets offensive coordinator. On Wednesday, he finally got to see his team in action. The sitcom star watched much of practice alongside owner Woody Johnson. Though David didn’t speak to reporters, he did chat with Fitzpatrick, a self-described “Seinfeld guy.”

“We hashed it out,” the quarterback joked, when asked about his recently-trimmed facial hair. “I don’t know if I’ve got to take it all the way off. He’s a tough guy to read.”

Fitzpatrick — who called the “Soup Nazi” episode “a classic one” and listed “The Lip Reader” episode as one his favorite Seinfeld episodes — also told David about his 2012 cameo appearance on the sitcom “The League.”

“He said, ‘Was it hard (acting)?’ And I said: ‘Yeah, it’s a lot like a normal person thinking they could come in and be an offensive coordinator.’ So I actually got him to chuckle, which is great. That was my goal for

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Could the veteran quarterback cut it on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”?

“I don’t know,” Fitzpatrick said of making a guest appearance in the future. “If they need somebody to make fun of then yeah I’d probably be pretty good at that.”

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Jets get a lift from returns of Matt Forte, Muhammad Wilkerson (Bob Glauber) Newsday August 17, 2016

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/jets-get-a-lift-from-returns-of-matt-forte-muhammad-wilkerson-1.12191297

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The days run together in training camp, with one practice barely distinguishable from the next as the relentless grind continues. But on this day and in this practice, there were two reasons for the Jets to feel better about themselves.

Their names are Matt Forte and Mo Wilkerson.

With a brutal six-game stretch to start the regular season, the presence of these two important players couldn’t have been better news. Forte, the former Bear who is equally adept at running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, and Wilkerson, the recently re-signed defensive end who figures heavily into one of the league’s best front sevens, were back on the field.

Forte is critically important to an offense that opted not to re-sign bruising tailback Chris Ivory, who cashed in with a $32-million free-agent deal in Jacksonville. But until Forte finally began full-contact team drills Wednesday, the doubts were as nagging as the hamstring injury that had sidelined him from the start of camp.

Forte can keep defenses guessing and provide a viable play-action passing option for Ryan Fitzpatrick. You don’t want Fitzpatrick throwing 50 times a game — even in a pass-happy league — so having Forte in the lineup is essential. Bilal Powell is a nice changeup back and a polished inside runner, but he’s not a No. 1 back.

At 30, Forte is at or near the tipping point for most NFL backs, who experience a gradual — or sometimes precipitous — falloff at that chronological milestone. The Jets are hopeful he can squeeze a couple more good years out of his body, so the hamstring issue was disquieting for a player entering his ninth season.

Perhaps that’s why coach Todd Bowles was being cautiously optimistic about Forte.

“It’s good to see him getting in shape,” Bowles said. “We got him some reps today, first time taking team reps, so hopefully he doesn’t have any ill effects and we’ll go from there. He still has a ways to go, but it’s encouraging to see.”

Still a ways to go.

“He’s got to get in football shape,” Bowles said. “He wasn’t tackled and no one really hit him. He was about three-quarters speed. If he doesn’t have any setbacks (Thursday), then we’ll move forward.”

It was particularly gratifying for Fitzpatrick to be on the field with Forte for the first time.

“This was really the first extensive work I’ve had with him,” Fitzpatrick said, “and I figured with as much ball as he’s played and how great of a player he’s been that he’d be able to fit right in and we’d mesh pretty well. So it was nice to see him with pads.”

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A nice feeling, too, for the Jets to have Wilkerson back for the first time since he fractured a leg in the season-ending loss to the Bills that kept the Jets out of the playoffs.

“Good to hit some of the offensive linemen and get back in the groove,” a sweat-soaked Wilkerson said after practice.

Wilkerson is part of a defensive front that he says can be “great. We just have to keep pushing each other, keep competing each and every week, and go out there and dominate.”

Wilkerson wouldn’t say whether working out an $86-million contract is a relief — “right now, everything is about football” — but he does share the enthusiasm of teammates who believe this can be a special season for the Jets. This despite opening with six games featuring five playoff teams from last season and a Bills team that beat the Jets twice.

“Clearly, everyone knows that 10-6 wasn’t good enough,” Wilkerson said. “We got to make sure we work hard to be better than 10-6.”

Wilkerson was heartened to see Forte back in action, too.

“I played against him a couple years ago, but to have him here is a great thing,” Wilkerson said. “His resume speaks for itself.”

And so the grind continues. On this particular day, with these two players back in uniform, it was all good.

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Jets’ Deon Simon, Matt Forte and Ronald Martin, Louisiana natives, discuss flooding’s aftermath (Kimberly A. Martin) Newsday August 17, 2016

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-deon-simon-matt-forte-and-ronald-martin-louisiana-natives-discuss-flooding-s-aftermath-1.12189390

The floodwaters crept toward his mother’s home.

Then Deon Simon lost contact with her.

Panic washed over the Jets defensive lineman as he tried in vain to reach his mother. Last he heard, the water was rising steadily. There was no telling where she was.

More than 1,300 miles northeast of his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Simon tried to keep calm and think rationally. But with each passing minute, he couldn’t help but wonder: “Where could she be? Did somebody have to get her in a boat and take her to higher ground?”

As of Tuesday, at least 11 people had died, officials said, from the record-breaking rain and flooding that inundated southern Louisiana. While communities remain underwater after what Gov. John Bel Edwards described as “historic” and “unprecedented” torrential rain, Louisiana natives Simon, Matt Forte and Ronald Martin, discussed the devastation’s aftermath Tuesday after Jets practice.

“A lot of my friends lost a lot,” said Simon. “Basically just lost everything.”

Simon, a 2015 seventh-round pick, said he saw a photo of flooding on Instagram a few days ago but didn’t realize the scope of the damage. Then he saw videos on social media “of people trying to get out of their houses, and boats and all kind of rescue people.”

He immediately contacted his mother, who told him it had started flooding near her home in the Glen Oaks area of Baton Rouge. But when he tried to get in touch with her again, he couldn’t get through.

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“The AT&T service was down, so I was panicking,” said Simon. “Because they kept saying the water was rising overnight, so I didn’t want her to get stuck in that and not have a way out.”

Eventually, he was able to track his mother down and she assured him that she — and the house — were fine. “It’s a blessing,” he said. “She said the water didn’t even touch our house.”

Asked about his relationship with his mom, Simon beamed and said: “We’re real tight. Real tight. That’s my baby.”

Forte said he expected to see flooding in different areas but initially assumed his parents and his brother’s family in Slidell would be OK. “If it was another hurricane coming in, I’d be concerned,” said the Jets’ No. 1 running back and former Tulane standout.

Still, he had to be certain.

“Once I saw how bad it got, I called them to make sure they were all right,” Forte said.

Martin, who’s from Bayou Goula — about 25 miles south of Baton Rouge — said most of his family was unaffected by the flooding. But the home his first cousin shared with a roommate sustained flood damage.

“People came in a boat and picked them up,” said the 23-year-old Jets safety, who played at LSU. “They say they should be fine.”

A reported 60,000 people statewide have signed up for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to Gov. Edwards. And on Sunday, President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency in the state.

Before heading to Jets practice Tuesday, Simon checked in with his neighbors in Baton Rouge, as well as high school and college friends.

“I talked to a couple of my friends this morning and they were in their houses already cleaning up,” he said, describing how “helpless” he feels being in New Jersey. “A lot of stuff is already mildewed. I tell them, ‘I wish I was there to help you.’”

Martin’s family may have gone largely unscathed by the floods, but his heart still goes out to people in his home state. “I’m very devastated for the people back in Louisiana. I send a prayer up to all of them back home and I’m praying for them each and every day. I hope everything gets better. …Everybody’s gotta come together, fix things up and we’ll be fine.”

Many in southern Louisiana will have to rebuild, just like Gulf Coast residents had to do after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the region in 2005. More than 1,200 people died as a result of the storm and subsequent flooding.

Forte had just left for college when his parents moved into their new home in Slidell in 2004.

“We were a year into the house when Katrina hit,” he said.

The house had to be gutted after the carpet, all of the furniture, and even the sheetrock were ruined. But Forte knows his family was lucky.

His parents briefly considered relocating after Hurricane Katrina but couldn’t bring themselves to leave.

“They didn’t want to go through something like that again, but at the same time, they had been there a long time,” said Forte, whose mother is a Lake Charles, Louisiana native. His father, Gene, also played football at Tulane.

“They made a family there and we grew up there. So it’s like, we’ve been here the whole time, we don’t want to let it scare us off. You never run from your problems.”

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Martin and Simon said their families never considered leaving, even after the latest round of flooding.

“It’s home. Nobody wants to leave home,” Martin said, smiling. “Especially down there. They’re a pretty close-knit people down there.”

Simon said his mother refused to leave her house over the weekend, even with the threat of rising waters.

“My cousins and my uncle went to my mom’s house to try to get her to leave and she said she’s not leaving until the water’s touching the house,” he said. “I’m not sure what it is exactly, but there are a lot of people that’s from Louisiana and the down south area that just don’t want to leave. I don’t know what it is. You couldn’t pay them to leave.”

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ESPN NEW YORK

Matt Forte makes big step at Jets practice, in front of Larry David (Kiernan Darcy) ESPN New York August 17, 2016

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/62242/matt-forte-makes-big-step-at-jets-practice-in-front-of-larry-david

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Matt Forte practiced for the New York Jets on Wednesday, and there’s no reason to curb your enthusiasm, Jets fans.

Forte (hamstring) participated in team drills for the first time in training camp, a day after proclaiming he will definitely be on the field for the team’s regular-season opener. Jets head coach Todd Bowles even said Forte will warm up for Friday night’s preseason game against the Washington Redskins, and there’s a “slim” chance he will play.

Matt Forte said he will be on the field for the team's regular-season opener in September. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

“It’s good to see him out there running around,” Bowles said. “He’s gotta get in football shape. We weren’t tackling or really hit him. So he was about three-quarters speed. We look forward to him getting better. If he doesn’t have any setbacks tomorrow then we’ll move forward.”

Forte carried the ball several times against the defense on Wednesday, and caught a few passes from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, too.

“It was great to see Matt, and [it was] really kind of the first intensive work I’ve had with him,” Fitzpatrick said. “I figured with as much ball as he’s played and how great of a player he’s been, he’d be able to fit right in and we’d mesh pretty well. He did a really nice job today, but we’ve been communicating the whole time.”

Forte wasn’t the only pleasant surprise at Jets camp on Wednesday. “Seinfeld” co-creator and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Larry David was present and watched the entire practice.

David is a big Jets fan, and has said in the past -- as recently as last week, in fact -- that he believes he could be an NFL offensive coordinator.

He also was critical of Fitzpatrick’s beard, which the quarterback has since shaved off.

David wasn’t made available to the media, but Fitzpatrick did get a chance to speak with him.

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“Yeah, we hashed it out,” Fitzpatrick said, in a deadpan manner. “I kind of talked about my acting career on ‘The League.’ He had done some work with Mr. [Jeff] Schaffer before. He said, ‘Was it hard?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s a lot like a normal person thinking they could come in and be an offensive coordinator.’ So I actually got him to chuckle, which was great, that was my goal for the day.

“That was pretty cool,” Fitzpatrick added. “Man, I loved that show growing up and even still.”

Fitzpatrick isn’t the only “Seinfeld" fan on the Jets, by the way. Bowles said he’s seen many episodes, too.

When asked what their favorite one is, both Bowles and Fitzpatrick immediately mentioned the Soup Nazi. No wonder they work so well together.

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CFL star Freddie Bishop trying to make his mark with Jets (Kiernan Darcy) ESPN New York August 17, 2016

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/62233/freddie-bishop-cfl-star-trying-to-make-his-mark-in-new-york

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets haven't won a championship since 1969, but they did add a champion this offseason.

Freddie Bishop isn't a Super Bowl winner, but he did win a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. And now the outside linebacker is getting a chance to prove he can play in the National Football League.

"I think it's going pretty good," Bishop said after practice Tuesday. "Making strides every day. Just trying to continue to get better, show my skills, adjust to the game a little bit -- it's a little bit different coming back down here. Just trying to make the transition as natural as I can."

Bishop, 26, went undrafted out of Western Michigan in 2013. He signed with the Detroit Lions but was soon released and eventually moved north of the border.

After a breakout season in 2015, with 11 sacks in 16 games for the Stampeders, Bishop garnered interest from several NFL teams and ended up signing with the Jets. He played defensive end in the CFL, but the Jets are utilizing the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme.

"He's tough and he plays hard," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "I still want to see more of him. He's an interesting guy to watch; I like what he brings to the table."

Bishop has gotten some first-team reps in practice and has impressed at times. He had two tackles, including one for a loss, in the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"The initial game is still the same; it's always just football," Bishop said, comparing the NFL to the CFL. "But the competition is different, the lineups are different, how you have to rush -- you have to tweak your rushes a little bit from a pass-rush standpoint."

One change in particular Bishop has to make? In the CFL, defensive players must line up a yard away from the line of scrimmage.

"It's a big adjustment because [offensive] tackles are up on you quicker now -- you reach that contact zone a lot quicker than you would have before," he said. "So you gotta be ready with your hands, ready to make a move at the line."

Bishop said he never gave up on his NFL dream, and now it appears it is becoming reality.

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"Of course I thought it was gonna happen," Bishop said. "In this game you gotta believe in yourself, you gotta believe in your abilities.

"So I knew it was gonna happen, it was just gonna be a matter of when -- and when the opportunity came, what was I gonna do with it? Was I gonna make the most of it? Or was it not gonna work out for me? Right now I'm trying to make the most of it."

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Fantasy value for Jace Amaro, Jets' tight ends: Not much (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York August 17, 2016

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/62175/fantasy-value-for-jace-amaro-jets-tight-ends-not-much

The ESPN fantasy football marathon continues with an analysis of the New York Jets’ tight ends:

Jace Amaro

ESPN Fantasy Projection: 33 receptions, 327 yards, 3 TDs

Over or under: In a different offense, with a different supporting cast, Amaro would surpass these projections. But on the Jets? Not likely. In case you missed last season, here's a news flash: Tight end is a low-impact position in the Jets' passing attack. The tight ends combined for only eight receptions last season, one of the lowest totals in recent league history. The scheme revolves around the wide receivers, which probably is a smart thing because the receivers are Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Amaro is an enigma to the coaches because he flashes receiving skill, but he disappears for stretches. After missing last season due to shoulder surgery, he's highly motivated in what could be a make-or-break year. But to get on the field, he'll have to improve his blocking and be more consistent in all areas.

Who else could see time: Incumbent Kellen Davis still is running with the first team, but he's strictly a blocking tight end. He's not a receiving threat in any way, shape or form -- only three catches last season. At 6-foot-7, Zach Sudfeld should be a red-zone presence, but he has battled injuries and could be hard-pressed to make the team.

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Nick Mangold's value to Jets proven in his absence (Kieran Darcy) ESPN New York August 17, 2016

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/62244/nick-mangolds-value-to-jets-proven-in-his-absence

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Thursday's wake-up call, Day 22 of New York Jets training camp:

What's happening: The Jets have a day off before hitting the road for their second preseason game, against the Washington Redskins on Friday night.

What's hot: I've been at Jets practice the past couple of days, filling in for Rich Cimini, and it just so happened that Nick Mangold was given both days off. Head coach Todd Bowles said he wanted to give his veteran center some rest, and also take a look at some other guys playing the position.

You don't typically notice a center very often at an NFL practice, but I certainly noticed Mangold's absence the past two days -- and not just because he was standing off to the side without his helmet on.

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On Tuesday, backup quarterback Geno Smith received so many bad shotgun snaps he eventually took off his helmet and flung it to the ground in anger -- not an excuse for losing his temper, but still. On Wednesday, starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had to deal with a bad snap on the very first play of team drills, and that wasn't the only one.

You tend to forget how crucial a team's center, and the center-quarterback exchange is, until things go wrong. The Jets are very lucky to have Mangold, a seven-time Pro Bowler who's missed just four games in his 10 seasons with the team. But they don't have much experience behind him, and if and when Mangold's not on the field for whatever reason, watch out.

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THE NEW YORK POST

The Ryan Fitzpatrick quip that got Larry David to laugh (Brian Costello) The New York Post August 17, 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/08/17/the-ryan-fitzpatrick-quip-that-got-larry-david-to-laugh/

Larry David has been offering up critiques of the Jets in recent interviews, so Wednesday he checked out his favorite football team up close.

David, the creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” watched Jets practice from the sideline. David recently said he thinks he can be the team’s offensive coordinator and implored quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to trim his beard, which he did.

Fitzpatrick and David chatted after practice. Fitzpatrick told David about his acting experience on the fantasy football show “The League.”

“I said it’s a lot like a normal person thinking they can come in and be an offensive coordinator,” Fitzpatrick quipped. “I actually got him to chuckle, which was great. That was my goal for the day. That was pretty cool. I loved that show [Seinfeld] growing up and even still. It was great meeting someone so creative.”

On the beard: “Yeah, we hashed it out,” Fitzpatrick said.

David spent a good portion of practice watching with Jets owner Woody Johnson. He also spent time with general manager Mike Maccagnan.

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Jets vet makes quick progress — even if he doesn’t believe it (Brian Costello) The New York Post August 17, 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/08/17/jets-vet-makes-quick-progress-even-if-he-doesnt-believe-it/

Bilal Powell only could watch as the Jets’ season went down the tubes last year. The running back, who had become a crucial piece of the offense, sat out the season finale in Buffalo with an injured ankle.

The Jets lost 22-17 and were knocked out of the playoffs. It fuels Powell seven months later.

“Just knowing that it was so close. It hurts worse when you can smell it,” Powell said Wednesday. “We were knocking on the door. You use it as motivation. I did everything I could to get back healthy and come back in the best shape I can to help this team win.”

So far, so good.

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Powell has been one of the most impressive players in training camp. Now in his sixth year, Powell seems to be getting faster and is making a case for a bigger role.

Jets coach Todd Bowles, who throws around compliments like they weigh two tons, practically gushes when Powell’s name comes up.

“He’s been healthy, he’s been quick, he looks a lot quicker than he did last year,” Bowles said last week. “He’s always smart, he’s always talking, he’s steady. What you see is what you get all the time from him. I’m happy about that.”

How has Powell gotten quicker?

“I guess he works in the offseason, I don’t know. He looks quicker,” Bowles said. “He does a good job training. He keeps his mouth shut, he’s very smart, he’s very studious and he’s very attentive.”

Powell laughs when told he looks faster.

“Everybody keeps telling me I’m faster, but I’m just having fun,” Powell said. “It’s Year 6. I’m blessed to see Year 6 right now. I’m trying to fly around as long as possible and have fun doing it.”

The 27-year-old has outlasted a lot of teammates. Powell and Muhammad Wilkerson are the only players left from the Jets’ 2011 draft class. The fourth-round pick out of Louisville came in without many expectations but seems to make an impact every year.

Last season, he had 70 rushes for 313 yards and a touchdown while also catching 47 passes for 388 yards and two more scores. The 47 catches were third on the team behind Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Powell was at his best when the Jets went on their five-game winning streak late in the season.

While people want to point to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s interceptions in Buffalo or Darrelle Revis’ struggles against Sammy Watkins, Powell’s absence that day was a huge factor in the loss to the Bills.

“We wish we could have that one game back to get in the playoffs,” Powell said. “That’s something you can just strive off of and use as motivation for this training camp. Guys are coming out with fire lit. Everybody’s buying in.”

Powell had the chance to leave the Jets in March as a free agent. The Patriots and Broncos both expressed interest in signing Powell, but he decided to stick with the Jets, signing a three-year, $11.25 million deal.

Besides his contributions on the field, Powell is also a quiet leader in the running backs room. He played with LaDainian Tomlinson as a rookie in 2011 and never forgot how much time Tomlinson spent helping him.

“I tell a lot of people I had the opportunity to play under LaDainian and he did nothing but open his arms and share his wisdom,” Powell said. “I was a sponge at that time. I was just trying to soak up everything possible from him.

“I always told myself that after a couple of years getting established that if I had the opportunity to help a young man, I will. That’s just my personality. That’s one of my passions is to help the next person and just be selfless. I know everybody can’t stay but you want to get guys prepared and if they can’t make it here, hopefully they get a chance somewhere else.”

Powell is expected to split carries with Matt Forte, who replaces Chris Ivory in the backfield. The coaches have not let on how much of a split it will be, but Powell is not worried about his role right now.

“I have no idea [what my role will be],” Powell said. “I just want to help this team win and get a chance to get to the playoffs and see how far this talented team can go.”

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Matt Forte looks good in Jets moment he’s waited for (Brian Costello) The New York Post August 17, 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/08/17/matt-forte-looks-good-in-jets-moment-hes-waited-for/

The Jets finally got to see new running back Matt Forte on the field during team drills on Wednesday.

Forte, who has been out since the beginning of training camp with a hamstring injury, looked good in the practice. He caught several passes from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and burst through the holes on running plays.

“It was great to see Matt,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was really kind of the first extensive work I’ve had with him. But I figured, with as much ball as he’s played and how great of a player he’s been, he’d be able to fit right in and we’d mesh pretty well. He did a really nice job today, but we’ve been communicating the whole time. It was nice to see him with pads on today.’’

Forte has been doing positional drills, but this was the first time he was on the field with the entire offense. He is not expected to play Friday against the Redskins, but this is a clear sign he should be fine for the regular season.

“It’s good to see him out there running around,” coach Todd Bowles said. “He has to get in football shape. We weren’t tackling or hitting. He was at three-quarters speed so we look forward to him getting better. If he doesn’t have any setbacks [Thursday], we’ll move forward.”

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson did team drills for the second straight day and reported no problems. Wilkerson is recovering from January surgery to repair a broken bone in his leg.

“I felt better than I did yesterday, so that’s a good thing,” said Wilkerson, who was not ruled out for Friday by Bowles.

Bowles did not disclose what the plan is for the quarterbacks in Friday’s game. He said all four could play.

“The flow of the game will tell that,” Bowles said.

Rookie Christian Hackenberg did not play at all in the preseason opener with the Jaguars. Bowles said he expects Hackenberg to play Friday, which is a bit of a surprise since the first- and second-teams will get more playing time in this game.

“That’s the plan. We’ll see how it works out,” Bowles said of Hackenberg playing.

Bowles stopped practice to have the team run sprints, apparently unhappy with how the practice was going.

“They needed to practice better,” Bowles said. “We understand each other pretty good. I thought it was a very good practice after that.”

Center Nick Mangold was given a second straight day off. Bowles called it a “rest day.” … Receiver Brandon Marshall was excused for personal reasons for the second straight practice.

Dakota Dozier is in a battle for a roster spot and Wednesday is not going to help his cause. He had at least two bad shotgun snaps and is fighting Wesley Johnson for the backup-center job. Right now, it looks like Johnson has the edge.

The Jets have a number of good rookie wide receivers. Jalin Marshall and Charone Peake have gotten most of the publicity, but Wednesday Robby Anderson, an undrafted free agent out of Temple, put on a

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show. He had several nice catches, the prettiest a one-hander on the sideline. The referee called him out of bounds, but it was still a remarkable catch.

CB Dexter McDougle did not practice after tweaking his hamstring on Tuesday. S Doug Middleton (leg), RB Dominique Williams (concussion) and RB Romar Morris (shoulder) remained out. TE Wes Saxton (leg) returned to practice.

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What’s the holdup? Jets need to take real look at Hackenberg (Mark Cannizzaro) The New York Post August 17. 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/08/18/whats-the-holdup-jets-need-to-take-real-look-at-hackenberg/

Christian Hackenberg may or may not play in Friday night’s Jets preseason game against the Redskins in Maryland.

Jets coach Todd Bowles, who seems as enthusiastic about revealing his preseason quarterback rotation as he is about giving out his ATM pin number, will not say for sure.

After Wednesday’s practice, when he was asked if he “hopes’’ to play Hackenberg against Washington, Bowles said, “That’s the plan.’’

That, too, was said to be the plan for last Thursday’s preseason opener against the Jaguars, and the Jets second-round draft pick did not play.

This is in no way to suggest Hackenberg should be groomed right now to take over for starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Nor is it a suggestion he should be rushed into anything he’s not ready for.

But playing a series or two late in preseason games can be a valuable learning experience for him because it will give him at least a little bit of a sense for the speed of the pro game.

It, too, can be a valuable teaching and evaluation tool for offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and his offensive staff to measure where Hackenberg is in his development.

One player who strongly believes Hackenberg would benefit greatly from playing

Friday is Fitzpatrick, the man whose job the Jets hope he will take, possibly as soon as next year.

“It’s always valuable for all quarterbacks to get out there in game situations,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “You can only learn so much in the classroom. He’ll learn a lot more getting out there on the field and getting some reps.’’

Hackenberg, who’s quietly dying inside to play, is remaining patient, trusting his coaches with their plan for his development.

“Yeah, you’re going to be jacked up, but I think I’m more excited to see how, once I settle in, everything goes and try to be the most prepared I can for that moment,’’ Hackenberg told The Post.

“No matter how much he feels comfortable in the classroom and in practice, it’ll still be crazy for him out there,’’ Fitzpatrick said.

Right now, Hackenberg is merely a concept to anxious Jets fans, a label on the outside of an unopened package.

“Franchise Quarterback.’’ Or “Quarterback of the Future.’’ Pick your label.

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No one — not Hackenberg, not Bowles, not general manager Mike Maccagnan (who placed his reputation as a terrific talent evaluator on the line with his commitment to the draft pick), not a single Jets’ fan — knows whether the product will live up to that label.

“I just try to tune [the expectations] out, stay within the building, stay with what the coaches expect of me,’’ he said. “I know what I can do, what I expect of myself and teammates expect of me.’’

Part of that process is soaking in everything he can from Fitzpatrick, benefit from the 12 years Fitzpatrick has in the NFL and his willingness to impart his wisdom on his rookie understudy.

“Fitz is an awesome resource to have,’’ Hackenberg said. “He’s a guy who’s had a lot of success and a lot of failures, he’s had this up-and-down career and he’s got a lot of perspective. He’s been awesome. He played for Bill [O’Brien, the former Penn State and current Texans coach], too, so we have that connection. We can talk a little bit of the same language; we’re kind of wired the same way.’’

They may be wired the same way, but Hackenberg was physically built much differently than his mentor.

“If you’re creating a quarterback on ‘Madden,’ with the height and the size and the arm strength,’’ it’s a description of the 6-foot-4, 228-pound Hackenberg, Fitzpatrick said.

“He is a little more advanced mentally than most quarterbacks coming in,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “It’s tough for him right now. He’s always been the top dog everywhere he’s been. So this is a new role for him, to be here and put in a situation where he’s not getting many reps.

“He’s got a step back and learn. He’s got to swallow his pride and work his tail off, focus on becoming a better Christian Hackenberg every single day, whether in the classroom or pre-practice or during practice.’’

Or in games. Beginning Friday night against the Redskins. Play the kid, Todd.

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets 'plan' to play Christian Hackenberg vs. Washington Friday, per Todd Bowles (Connor Hughes) NJ Advance Media August 17, 2016

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/08/jets_plan_to_play_christian_hackenberg_vs_washingt.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — Christian Hackenberg could make his NFL debut in the Jets' preseason matchup against Washington on Friday.

Assuming all things go as head coach Todd Bowles hopes, that is.

"That's the plan," Bowles said on Wednesday. "We'll see how it works out."

The Jets selected Hackenberg in the second round of this year's draft, but to this point, have been taking a very cautious approach with the quarterback. Hackenberg, at the moment, is fourth-string on the depth chart. He doesn't see many reps in practice. Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the bulk, followed by Geno Smith and Bryce Petty. Hackenberg cleans up whatever is left — usually three or five team snaps.

The lack of snaps in practice was a big reason Hackenberg didn't play in the Jets' preseason opener against the Jaguars. Bowles said earlier this week it would have been a "disservice" to put Hackenberg in with such little preparation.

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This week, though, is another story. While his time in the team drills was roughly the same, Hackenberg did see extended reps with the scout team offense.

"He had much more practice reps this week than the week before," Bowles said.

Hackenberg has had a rather up-and-down training camp to this point. He will dazzle with an impressive throw, just to follow with an errant pass.

Wednesday was no different. Hackenberg threw a marvelous ball deep down the seam, which split two defenders, to Chandler Worthy. His very next pass was forced into double coverage, deflected and intercepted by safety Ronald Martin.

"It's tough for him right now," Fitzpatrick said of Hackenberg. "He has always been the top dog everywhere he has been. This is a new role for him to be here and put in a situation where he isn't getting many reps. He has to take a step back and learn.

"The biggest thing for him right now is just to put the time in, swallow his pride and work his tail off. He needs to focus on becoming the better Christian Hackenberg every single day."

The Jets will have off on Thursday before traveling to Washington on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. If Hackenberg plays, it will likely be in the fourth quarter after Fitzpatrick, Smith and Petty.

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Matt Forte does team drills at Jets practice | Day 15 injury report (Connor Hughes) NJ Advance Media August 17, 2016

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/08/matt_forte_does_team_drills_at_jets_practice_day_1.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — Matt Forte isn't 100 percent yet, according to Jets coach Todd Bowles.

But he's getting awfully close.

At Wednesday's training camp practice, Forte participated in team drills for the first time all summer. Forte worked with the Jets' starters in a limited capacity. When he came off the field, Bilal Powell came on.

"It was good to see him getting in shape," Bowles said of the Jets' starting running back. "We got him some reps today. Hopefully he won't have any ill effects tomorrow. He still has some ways to go, but it was encouraging to see."

Forte, who signed with the Jets as a free agent this offseason, has been hampered in training camp by a hamstring injury. Before the Jets reported on July 27, Forte tweaked the muscle working out on his own. He did individual drills Aug. 2 (the Jets' fifth camp practice), but nothing again until Aug. 13 (last Sunday).

Bowles wouldn't rule Forte out for Friday's game against the Redskins, but indicated him playing would be a long shot.

"He still needs to get in some football shape," Bowles said. "We weren't' tackling. No one hit him. He was probably about three-quarters speed. If he doesn't have any setbacks, we'll move forward."

Forte may not have been going full speed on Wednesday, but he still made his presence felt. In 11-on-11 drills, Forte beat linebacker Erin Henderson up the seam and caught a long pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

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For Fitzpatrick, this was the first time he worked with Forte in team drills. When Forte practiced in organized team activities and minicamp, Fitzpatrick hadn't yet re-signed with the Jets.

"It was great to see Matt," Fitzpatrick said. "I figured with as much ball as he has played, and how great of a player he has been, he would be able to fit right in and we'd mesh pretty well. He did a very nice job today."

Here's the rest of the Jets injury report:

Receiver Brandon Marshall and center Nick Mangold did not practice for non-injury reasons. Marshall's absence was excused. Mangold had a rest day.

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (leg) practiced fully again. Bowles said there is a chance he plays against Washington. "We'll talk about it and go from there. He has got a better chance than Matt [Forte]," said Bowles.

Running back Khiry Robinson (leg) and tight end Wes Saxton (leg) both did individual drills, but no team drills. Saxton seems to be progressing, while Robinson is likely a week away.

Receiver Devin Smith (knee) and right tackle Breno Giacomini (back) did not practice as both players remain on the physically unable to perform list.

Cornerback Dexter McDougle re-injured his hamstring on Tuesday. He did not practice on Wednesday. Bowles did not know the severity of the injury.

Safety Doug Middleton (leg), running back Romar Morris (shoulder) and running back Dominique Williams (concussion) did not practice.

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Ryan Fitzpatrick zings Larry David with one-liner at Jets camp (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media August 17, 2016

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/08/ryan_fitzpatrick_makes_fun_of_larry_david_at_jets.html#incart_river_index

FLORHAM PARK — Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick got a thrill out of meeting Larry David on Wednesday, when the "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator showed up at training camp practice.

But Fitzpatrick couldn't resist tweaking David, a Jets fan who has repeatedly (jokingly) said that he thinks he could be a coordinator for the Jets.

Fitzparick told David about his own appearance on "The League," a television show about friends who play fantasy football. David asked if Fitzpatrick — a big "Seinfeld" fan — found acting to be difficult.

Fitzpatrick's witty response, which he recounted after practice: "Yeah, it's a lot like a normal person thinking they could come in and be an offensive coordinator."

David, of course, appreciated this biting answer.

"I actually got him to chuckle, which was great," Fitzpatrick said. "That was my goal for the day. That was pretty cool. Man, I loved that show growing up, and even still. It was neat meeting somebody so creative."

David answered Jets fans' questions on the team's Twitter account before practice. During practice, he chatted with owner Woody Johnson on the sideline, while watching the action. After practice, David walked off the field and talked with general manager Mike Maccagnan.

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David recently demanded during an interview that Fitzpatrick shave his bushy beard. Fitzpatrick said he'd consider the request. He trimmed it, but didn't completely shave it off. He said Wednesday that he won't cut it any shorter than its current length. Fitzpatrick chatted with David about the beard Wednesday.

"We hashed it out," Fitzpatrick joked, though he's not sure if the beard is short enough for David's liking. "I don't know if I've got to take it all the way off. He's a tough guy to read."

With "Curb Your Enthusiasm" set to return for a ninth season, would Fitzpatrick like to make a guest appearance on the show?

"If they need somebody to make fun of, then yeah, I'd probably be pretty good at that," Fitzpatrick said.

He actually hasn't watched "Curb Your Enthusiasm" that much, but he loves "Seinfeld."

"I could watch five episodes of 'Seinfeld' a day if I had time," he said.

Fitzpatrick singled out this scene as one of his favorites from the show:

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THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Ryan Fitzpatrick relates to Jets backup QB Christian Hackenberg (Seth Walder) The New York Daily News August 17, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ryan-fitzpatrick-relates-jets-backup-qb-christian-hackenberg-article-1.2755543

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been in Christian Hackenberg’s shoes.

Eleven long years ago, Fitzpatrick was the Rams’ fourth quarterback — like Hackenberg is for the Jets — just getting a few reps in practice.

Hackenberg, the team’s second-round pick, did not play in the team’s preseason opener. Fitzpatrick, now the Jets’ starter, said he sympathizes with Hackenberg being way down the depth chart.

“It’s tough for him right now,” Fitzpatrick said. “You just kind of look at his career thus far, which was, he always was the top dog everywhere he’s been. This is a new role for him, to be here and to be put in a situation where he’s not really getting many reps.”

Todd Bowles said Wednesday he would like to get Hackenberg into Friday’s preseason contest at Washington, but wouldn’t make any guarantees.

“That’s the plan, we’ll see how it works out,” Bowles said.

Last week the coach indicated he couldn’t really put Hackenberg in the game because the rookie had gotten so few reps in practice, an indicator of how few and far between the youngster’s chances have been. This week, however, Hackenberg has participated in more of practice.

Fitzpatrick said he thought preseason experience could be valuable for Hackenberg, and joked about some “advice” he gave the rookie.

“I may have fibbed and said it was my first ever throw, but it was one of the preseason games in my rookie year, I think I was 1-1 for (78) yards and a touchdown,” Fitzpatrick said with a smile, referring to what actually happened in his second ever preseason game. “I told him it’s easy, when he gets in there — just throw it deep.”

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Unlike Fitzpatrick, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Rams, Hackenberg enters with a strong pedigree and more highly-touted athleticism.

Hackenberg has not gotten many reps in practice, which is holding him back from getting playing time in preseason games.

“I don’t think you’re the No. 1 high school (quarterback) recruit in the country if you don’t look the part,” Fitzpatrick said. “If you’re creating a quarterback on Madden (video game) with the height and the size and the arm strength and all that, (he’s that).”

Fitzpatrick thinks Hackenberg has another advantage, too, that stems from a mutual coach of theirs. The veteran QB has been very complimentary of Bill O’Brien, his coach with the Texans, in the past. And before O’Brien went to Houston, he coached Hackenberg at Penn State. It was his best year as a Nittany Lion.

“It’s very tough to come out of college and to step in and play this game. But I will say that he is a little more advanced mentally than most quarterbacks coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “And I think a lot of that comes from that one year that he got to spend with Bill O’Brien.”

The knock on Hackenberg coming out of college was his accuracy, and at times during training camp, it’s showed. Fitzpatrick said he thinks the rookie QB needs to work on his consistency.

“But the biggest thing right now is he’s just got to put the time in. He’s got to swallow his pride and work his tail off,” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s been a guy, you know much like Bryce (Petty) last year, they’re both willing to put in the work.”

Fitzpatrick was also complimentary of Petty on Wednesday, saying, “Bryce has taken a huge jump from last year to this year.”

While Gang Green is clearly happy to have Fitzpatrick back, the team naturally is hoping one of its two young quarterbacks eventually can take over. So does Fitzpatrick feel like the team will be in good hands when he’s moved on?

“I think they’re in good hands this year,” Fitzpatrick said wryly. “We’ll see what happens down the road.”

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Ryan Fitzpatrick gets Larry David to laugh at Jets camp (Seth Walder) The New York Daily News August 17, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ryan-fitzpatrick-larry-david-laugh-jets-camp-article-1.2755585

Suffice it to say that Ryan Fitzpatrick got Larry David back.

The comedian and writer recently criticized the quarterback's beard, which Fitzpatrick recently trimmed. The quarterback said he was discussing his "acting career," which amounts to a brief (but funny) appearance on the television show "The League," with David when the Seinfeld creator was at Jets practice on Wednesday.

"He said, 'Was it hard' or whatever? I said, 'Yeah, it's a lot like a normal person thinking they could come in and be an offensive coordinator,’" Fitzpatrick recalled, tweaking David for previously saying numerous times he believes he could be the Jets' OC.

"I actually got him to chuckle, which was great," Fitzpatrick said. "That was my goal for the day."

Larry David still wants to coach Jets, wants Fitzpatrick to shave

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Fitzpatrick said he was a huge fan of "Seinfeld" growing up and would watch five episodes a day now if he had the time.

So, is David satisfied with Fitzpatrick's new look?

"I don't know. It came up, it just didn't look like he was...I don't know if I've got to take it all the way off or what's going on," Fitzpatrick said. "He's a tough guy to read."

FORTE MOVES FORWARD

Ryan Fitzpatrick relates to Jets backup QB Christian Hackenberg

Matt Forte (hamstring) participated in team drills for the first time on Wednesday.

"He took some (team) reps today, he's still got some ways," Todd Bowles said. "But it's encouraging."

The coach said the chances of Forte playing in Friday's game at Washington are still "slim."

Fitzpatrick gets the 'Seinfeld' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' creator to chuckle on Wednesday.

Forte has been hampered by that hamstring for all of training camp, but it's a good sign for the Jets that he was able to finally get into practice. Forte was at about three-quarters speed, per Bowles.

"If he doesn't have any setbacks tomorrow then we'll move forward," Bowles said.

MO BETTER

Muhammad Wilkerson has a better chance of playing in Friday's contest than Forte, according to Bowles. It would be the first time Wilkerson has played since suffering a fractured fibula in last year's season finale.

Wilkerson has participated in team drills the last two days and said it pumped him up to get back in action on the practice field.

"Definitely. Get to hit some of the offensive linemen and get back in the groove," Wilkerson said.

The Pro Bowl defensive end has high hopes for his defensive line.

"We could be great," he said. "Just keep pushing each other, keep competing each and every week and go out there and dominate."

That expectation extends to the rest of the team.

"Clearly, everybody knows that 10-6 wasn't good enough," Wilkerson said, though he wouldn't say if he expected the team to make the playoffs...Nick Mangold was given a veteran rest day...Brandon Marshall was excused from practice, as expected...Dexter McDougle's injury is to the same hamstring that had previously been bothering him, and Bowles said he did not know if the cornerback's injury was serious yet.

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Sheldon Richardson impressed with Leonard Williams after Jets’ first preseason game: ‘He is going to be elite’ (Seth Walder) The New York Daily News August 17, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/sheldon-richardson-raves-jets-teammate-leonard-williams-article-1.2750177

Sheldon Richardson is on the Leonard Williams bandwagon.

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Quietly, Williams debuted at a new position on Thursday night, filling in at nose tackle with Steve McLendon out with a toe injury. And Williams made the most of a few snaps in Damon Harrison’s old spot. Williams brought pressure with his pass rush on multiple occasions before sacking Blake Bortles to finish the defensive starters’ one drive. Richardson said he thought Williams played “awesome.”

“Well I’ve seen him do it before (in practice), nothing new to me,” Richardson said. “Him doing it and being successful at it, it’s the regularly scheduled program. We had a few reps where he actually did (get) some production against Nick Mangold, so I’ve seen it before.”

“He’s trying to be elite,” Richardson added. “I’ve got full faith in him, he is going to be elite.”

That’s high praise from the Pro Bowl defensive lineman. But certainly, those are the expectations for Williams given that the second-year pro was the No. 6 overall pick in 2015. He had a solid rookie season, but the Jets will be looking to get more out of him in his second season as a professional.

If Williams, who traditionally is a 3-4 defensive end, can line up over the center it could give Todd Bowles some flexibility in trying to figure out how to get all of his stud defensive linemen on the field at the same time in his base defense. At the moment, he’s got a surplus of defensive ends in the 3-4 with the presence of Richardson, Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson. The Jets last year tried Richardson at outside linebacker but that plan has been scrapped.

As for the defensive line as a whole in that 17-13 preseason win over the Jaguars? It doesn’t sound like they lived up to Richardson’s standards.

“Looked alright. (Allowed) a little bit (on) a few runs. I know we’re down two guys, but we looked alright,” Richardson said, referring to McLendon and Wilkerson sitting the game out. “Still gave up too much from the ones’ standpoint. Myself included, missed a tackle... Retreated a lot on some of my double teams.”

“I’ve always had high expectations on myself,” Richardson said. “I’m my hardest critic. There isn’t anything you could tell me that I don’t already know.”

Richardson is coming off of a down season in which his sack total dropped from eight the year prior to five last season. Does he have a number in mind for this year?

“I wanna win, bro,” Richardson said. “Truth be honest, I just want to win.”

And he isn’t even opposed to returning to outside linebacker if called upon to go back there.

“I want to produce most definitely, but I just want to win. This defense is a whole lot better, a whole lot...faster,” Richardson said. “And if I do got to go outside and play outside again for whatever reason that may be, I’ve got to go out and do it.”

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Geno Smith needs to grow up and end media boycott, while Victor Cruz faces last Giant shot (Gary Myers) The New York Daily News August 17, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/geno-smith-grow-victor-cruz-faces-giant-shot-article-1.2755639

Observations from Florham Park and East Rutherford as the Giants and Jets work their way through the grind of training camp:

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Florham Park: If Geno Smith ever expects to be a starting quarterback in the NFL again, he still has a lot of growing up to do. One of the themes of Jets camp is that Smith had finally matured and gained a new perspective after getting his face punched in last summer by IK Enemkpali.

Put that narrative on hold. He's still a baby. Perhaps Smith has learned how to prepare and study and set his clock on the right time zone from being around Ryan Fitzpatrick, but unfortunately the Harvard guy's professionalism and leadership has yet to rub off.

Smith willingly granted numerous one-on-one interviews on Aug. 9, two days short of one year of the Punch That Rocked Florham Park, with the line of questioning the same: How did he feel one year after the hit to his face?

Smith was upbeat through the inquisition.

The result was several anniversary stories about the Thrilla in Florham Park and how Smith changed for the better after getting his jaw broken and losing his job to Fitzpatrick.

Football can be so nostalgic.

But Smith was not happy with how he was portrayed in at least one of the pieces and was turned off by a headline. Get over it, buddy. This is New York.

Then after some early boos at MetLife after an incompletion in last Thursday night's preseason opener, Smith played well. After the game, he did a radio interview with the Jets station by his locker and then skipped coming over to the interview area as requested and bolted.

It was a media boycott by a backup QB. Every player is required by the NFL’s media policy to speak after games, so Smith violated the rule. He then turned down media requests after each of the four practices the Jets have held since the game, including Wednesday.

Smith is a free agent after the season. If he is auditioning this summer for other teams to sign him in 2017, his childishness won't help.

Teams want their quarterback to be mentally tough. It's a job for grown-ups.

--East Rutherford: Ben McAdoo sounded upbeat about getting Victor Cruz back on the field sometime soon after he suffered a groin injury last week. Considering Cruz's history following the torn patella tendon in 2014 and the calf injury in camp that was supposed to sideline him briefly but ended his season instead, it's at least fair to wonder if we've seen the last of Cruz. His $2.4 million salary is guaranteed this season, but if he winds up on season-long IR, then he's likely done as a Giant.

Cruz is one of the good guys, so there isn't anybody in Big Blue Nation who doesn't want to see him back on the field doing his first salsa dance since Sept. 21, 2014, when he caught a 26-yard TD pass from Eli Manning against the Texans. If it turns out Cruz has played his last game for the Giants, his legacy will be the 99-yarder against the Jets in the 15th game of the 2011 season that jumpstarted the Super Bowl run.

--Florham Park: The Giants had to go out and buy three players with over $100 million in guarantees to fix their defense in free agency. The Jets are doing it the traditional way through the draft with Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams upfront and promising rookie linebacker Darron Lee. They were all first-round picks. It never made sense that GM Mike Maccagnan was trying to trade Wilkerson and then wouldn't offer him a multi-year deal until the franchise deadline. When you have great players, you keep them.

--East Rutherford: Jason Pierre-Paul is my early favorite for comeback player of the year. He played one-handed last season following his return in the ninth game from the July 4 fireworks explosion that cost

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him his right finger and half his thumb and middle finger. He is playing with a specially designed glove this year instead of a club and his motor has not turned off since the opening day of camp.

"He is one of the most disruptive players in this league and his energy impacts everyone out there on the defense," McAdoo said. "He can make a mess anywhere at any point in time. We anticipate that going into the season."

--Florham Park: I was speaking to Darrelle Revis last week about his one year with New England and asked if Bill Belichick had made an offer in the ballpark of the Jets’ five-year $70 million deal ($39 million guaranteed) in 2015 if he would have stayed considering he had just won a Super Bowl and his QB was Tom Brady.

"If the money was equal, there would be a lot I would have to chew on during that process of being a free agent," he said. "But they weren't interested. They weren't interested in talking."

Revis meant a lot to Belichick's defense. There were times he covered the best receiver by himself and other times he covered the No. 2 receiver and Belichick doubled the No. 1.

"The conversation we had prior to me signing is we were both invested into that one year, into winning the Super Bowl," Revis said. "That was the conversation the whole year I was up there. As soon as we got into OTAs, it was the Lombardi Trophy up there on the screen in the team meeting room."

--East Rutherford: If Revis vs. Brandon Marshall in Jets camp was a middleweight fight, then Snacks Harrison vs. Justin Pugh in Giants camp was a super heavyweight battle. "There was no fight," McAdoo said. "It was a disagreement."

"Nobody looked at it like those guys are going to try and kill each other," Harrison said.

Clearly, the Giants are building team chemistry.

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Jets right to be cautious with Matt Forte as banged-up running back is still versatile threat (Manish Mehta) The New York Daily News August 17, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-cautious-matt-forte-article-1.2754083

He sounds like soft jazz, smooth and soothing like someone with everything under control. He is relaxed and reassuring with a quiet confidence that comes with nearly a decade of success in the most savage of professions.

Matt Forte talks about the nuisance like it’s no big deal, but you can’t help but wonder if this annoying malady is a sign of what lies ahead. Injured hamstrings are fickle pests that heal when they’re damn good and ready. They have their own timeline no matter when your team wants you back. They rush for nobody, especially 30-year-old running backs. If you tick them off, they’ll linger and further annoy you.

Jets trainer John Mellody has wisely taken a conservative approach. Forte, after all, isn’t getting any younger.

“It’s taken longer than I expected just because we’re being super cautious about it,” Forte said after participating in positional drills Tuesday for only the third time in training camp. “At this point, there’s really no reason to rush back out there… I know the offense. By watching in camp, I know it a lot more. It doesn’t take that long to get back into it.”

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There’s no reason to panic yet. Todd Bowles doesn’t have a timetable for Forte’s return, but the running back insists that he’ll “definitely” be ready for the season opener against the Bengals on Sept. 11.

The Jets have seven practices, including two walk-throughs, before the third preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 27. “At this point,” Forte said, “as long as I get some work in the third (preseason) game … I’ll be fine.”

Bowles is happy with the organization’s deliberate plan for a player who could provide a versatile dimension to take his offense to a higher plan this season. The Jets were a Top 10 offense in the first season under Chan Gailey. Forte, even at this stage of his career, provides so many possibilities that weren’t available to the offensive play-caller last year. His game is multi-faceted and still special even if the Bears didn’t want him anymore.

The Jets need and want a third option to complement Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Enter Forte, who set the NFL mark for catches for a running back (102) only two years ago.

“Another veteran presence is going to be big too,” Decker told the Daily News. “When you get into the middle of the season and towards the end of the year, you want a guy that has had success in this league for a while. He’s been there and done it a lot.”

The Jets hope Forte can still be the same player as he was in Chicago despite being a 30-year-old running back.

The Jets replaced Chris Ivory by signing Forte to a three-year, $12 million contract (with $9 million real guarantees). Gailey’s ability to tailor his offense to the strengths of his play-makers makes Forte an intriguing addition. He should be able make a difference out of the backfield in a spread scheme (see: Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller in Buffalo), so it’d be silly to accelerate his rehab right now.

Forte, who last suffered a hamstring injury after his rookie year, reiterated that he hasn’t suffered a setback, but it’d be foolish to completely dismiss reality. Although Forte has been one of the most durable players at his position in the past eight seasons – he’s only missed eight career games – he’s crossed over the barrier typically considered the point of no return for running backs. The Curse of 30 is real.

Running backs have a short shelf life. Forte has already beaten the odds with 2,577 career touches. His inability to turn back time and be productive this season aren’t mutually exclusive. He will be a valuable contributor.

Bowles is fully aware of this, so he’s not pestering his trainers or his player to get back on the field. The games don’t count for 25 more days.

“This is the most anxious I’ve (been) and the most patience I’ve had to have with an injury,” said Forte, who has yet to participate in 11-on-11 team drills in practice. “They’ve had to hold me back personally. If it was up to me, I’d be going at it every day to try to be out there on my own terms….

A lot of times they have to protect me from myself.”

Forte will be playing soon enough with plenty to prove to plenty of people. He’ll be well worth the wait.

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WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Optioned RHP Carson Fulmer to Charlotte (IL). Recalled RHP Anthony Ranaudo from Charlotte.

CLEVELAND INDIANS — Placed RHP Josh Tomlin on the family medical emergency list. Activated RHP Danny Salazar from the 15-day DL.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Recalled RHP Kirby Yates from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). Optioned LHP Chasen Shreve to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Placed INF Tyler Ladendorf on the 15-day DL. Selected the contract of INF Chad Pinder from Nashville (PCL). Transferred 2B Jed Lowrie to the 60-day DL.

TEXAS RANGERS — Recalled RHP Nick Martinez from Round Rock (PCL). Placed RHP Lucas Harrell on the 15-day DL.

National League

ATLANTA BRAVES — Activated C Tyler Flowers from the 15-day DL. Placed C A.J. Pierzynski on the 15-day DL.

CHICAGO CUBS — Recalled RHP Spencer Patton from Iowa (PCL). Placed OF Chris Coghlan on the 15-day DL.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Optioned 1B-OF Andy Wilkins to Colorado Springs (PCL).

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled RHP Koda Glover from Syracuse (IL). Placed LHP Sammy Solis on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 16.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Named Bob Bender assistant coach and Bob Thate shooting coach.

MIAMI HEAT — Signed G Beno Udrih to a one-year contract.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

NFL — Suspended N.Y. Giants K Josh Brown for the first game of the 2016 season, without pay, for violating the NFL personal conduct policy.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Suspended CB K’Waun Williams for two weeks and fined him an undisclosed amount for multiple violations of team rules. Waived OL Erle Ladson.

DETROIT LIONS — Waived WR Alex Chisum. Signed OL Lemuel Jeanpierre.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Signed S Alden Darby.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed G-C Jacques McClendon. Released WR Rasheed Bailey.

NEW YORK GIANTS_Signed DB Joe Powell.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Activated LB Kevin Dodd from the PUP list. Waived OL Josue Matias. Signed WRs Donte Foster and Jarrod West.

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