NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

December 24, 2013

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Table of Contents

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

Rex Ryan's status with Jets remains unclear (Dennis Waszak).................................................................................. 2

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

No one is talking about the future of Rex Ryan, including Ryan (Kimberley Martin) ................................................ 3

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

Jets: Last game has value for Rex Ryan (J.P. Pelzman) .............................................................................................. 4

Jets report card: Browns (J.P. Pelzman) .................................................................................................................... 5

STAR-LEDGER ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Ed Reed's playing time dips in Jets' win over Browns (Michael Fensom) ................................................................. 6

Jets aim for first winning streak, second road win of year in finale at Miami (Darryl Slater) ................................... 7

Jets receiver David Nelson honors orphaned boy with a simple touchdown celebration (Steve Politi) ................... 8

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Ryan’s focused on Dolphins, not his own job status (Bart Hubbuch)........................................................................ 9

Hey, Woody, it’s time to pull Rex’s feet from the fire (Steve Serby) ....................................................................... 10

Geno ‘pleased’ with turnover-free day vs. Browns (Brian Costello) ....................................................................... 12

Rex Ryan on job status: ‘I’m not disgruntled about anything’ (Brian Costello) ....................................................... 13

Jets winners & losers: Geno finds his groove (Brian Costello) ................................................................................ 13

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 14

If Rex Ryan is fired by NY Jets, he leaves having done his best coaching job (Manish Mehta) ............................... 14

Rex Ryan only focused on the Dolphins, isn’t ‘disgruntled’ by constant questions about future with NY Jets (Seth Walder) .................................................................................................................................................................... 16

NY Jets never seem so natural as when things are falling apart (Gary Myers) ....................................................... 17

With attention on Rex Ryan, Geno Smith quietly emerging for NY Jets (Seth Walder) .......................................... 18

WALL STREET JOURNAL ....................................................................................................................................... 19

Rex Ryan Forges Ahead Despite Rumors (Stu Woo) ............................................................................................... 19

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Jets’ Ryan Looks Ahead, but Not Past Finale (Ben Shpigel) ..................................................................................... 20

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 21

Rex Ryan: I'm not 'disgruntled' (Rich Cimini)........................................................................................................... 21

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 23

Jets tight end Kellen Winslow shows added fire against his first team (Kristian Dyer) ........................................... 23

NJ.COM ................................................................................................................................................................ 24

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Jets coach Rex Ryan deserves to keep his job, says national writer (Dom Cosentino) ........................................... 24

Santonio Holmes speaks! He has 'love' for Geno Smith, still believes in Rex Ryan (Dom Cosentino) .................... 24

Rex Ryan: 'I'm not disgruntled about anything' (Dom Cosentino) .......................................................................... 26

Jets guard Brian Winters's key block springs Bilal Powell on huge run (Dom Cosentino) ....................................... 26

The day after: More odds and ends from the Jets' win over the Browns (Dom Cosentino) ................................... 27

Jets grades: Geno Smith helps raise the curve in victory over Browns (A.J. Perez) ................................................ 28

MONDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 29

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rex Ryan's status with Jets remains unclear (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press December 23, 2013

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Vix7Z5Et

NEW YORK (AP) - If it came down to a vote of players, media and fans, Rex Ryan would be back with the New York Jets next season.

In a landslide.

But the court of public opinion will likely play very little into the final decision by owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik. Ryan's status as coach of the Jets is still difficult to call.

"We're working on Miami, and that's where 100 percent of the focus is," Ryan insisted Monday.

It could be the final game of Ryan's five-year tenure with the Jets (7-8), who have failed to make the playoffs for three straight seasons. Ryan still has one more year remaining on his contract, so the speculation that the coach is in his final days with the Jets could be overstated.

Neither Johnson nor Idzik has commented, and that has led to debates, discussions and arguments whether Ryan deserves to be back. Ryan also declined to comment on whether the owner or GM has spoken to him about his future.

"Guys," Ryan said, "I think the entire organization's committed on trying to find a way to beat Miami."

Several of Ryan's players have used the word "love" when talking about their feelings for their coach during the last few weeks. Many fans have taken to sports talk radio and social media to show their support, with one even starting a petition that had gathered nearly 200 signatures on the site change.org imploring Johnson to keep Ryan.

The hashtag KeepRex on Twitter has also picked up some steam since the Jets' 24-13 victory over Cleveland on Sunday.

"It's just one of those things where he really cares about his players," wide receiver David Nelson said. "Players appreciate that. Players know and they respect him for that. They believe in him and they respect him and they play hard for him.

"I think it's just the mutual respect he gives his players."

Several national and New York-area football columnists have presented compelling arguments why Ryan coming back should be a no-brainer. No. 1 among them is the fact Ryan has squeezed seven wins out of a team expected to have a tough time approaching last year's 6-10 squad.

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Despite the overwhelming show of support, Ryan reportedly told his team Saturday night that "word on the street" is that he's out after the season. There was also a published report that said Ryan was angry that the team has begun considering possible replacements.

"I'm not disgruntled about anything," Ryan insisted, while neither confirming nor denying the reports. "I'm excited about the opportunity that's in front of us, which is the Dolphins."

Ryan was retained last season when Johnson fired GM Mike Tannenbaum, a surprising move considering many anticipated the Jets would start from scratch - including the coach. Instead, Idzik was hired under the condition that Ryan would be his coach, at least for this season.

Now, Idzik could be looking to hire his own coach, as is usually the case with NFL GMs. But Idzik is also looking for the "right" coach.

"He's a player's coach, a guy that we all love to play for, we all love to compete for," rookie quarterback Geno Smith said. "We all play for one another around here and it's a very close-knit bunch. Rex just has continued to be himself and that's the reason why we love him, and that's the reason why we continue to go out there and work hard in practice and continue to play hard."

In a short video posted on the team's website of Ryan's postgame speech Sunday, Johnson could be seen smiling and clapping as the fired-up coach celebrated the victory. While that could be merely trying to garner clues from body language, there's also this to consider: If Johnson's preference is to keep Ryan but he allows Idzik to make whatever move he sees fit, the heat on the GM could be immense if the franchise takes a step back without Ryan.

Idzik would also, in a span of less than a year, be the guy who traded the popular Darrelle Revis and fired Ryan. They would be bold - and mostly unpopular - moves, and decisions that could define Idzik's legacy.

But for six more days at least, Ryan will continue to treat things as business as usual.

"Well, that's easy," Ryan said. "I have a job to do."

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NEWSDAY

No one is talking about the future of Rex Ryan, including Ryan (Kimberley Martin) Newsday December 23, 2013

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/no-one-is-talking-about-the-future-of-rex-ryan-including-ryan-1.6665162

The Rex Ryan era could be drawing to a close in Florham Park, N.J. But the Jets' coach insisted Monday that he's not focused on job security.

For much of his 16-minute conference call with reporters, Ryan deflected questions about his future with the organization, saying instead that he's focused on the task at hand: getting a win Sunday in Miami.

"I'm not disgruntled about anything," he said. "I'm excited about the opportunity in front of us -- which is playing the Dolphins."

His comments came just a day after a source familiar with his situation told Newsday that Ryan talked about his uncertain future -- and the fact that the Jets' front office already has begun reaching out to

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head-coaching candidates -- during the team meeting Saturday night. Ryan's players responded by defeating the Browns, 24-13, on Sunday at MetLife Stadium after falling behind 10-0.

The fifth-year head coach, whose contract expires at the end of the 2014 season, refused to confirm or deny reports that he discussed his tenuous situation with his players. "Again, guys, I'm not going there," he said. "My focus is just on this Miami thing."

He also wouldn't say whether owner Woody Johnson or first-year general manager John Idzik have talked to him about his future with the franchise.

"I think the entire organization is committed on trying to find a way to beat Miami,'' he said. "That's the commitment that all of us have had to each other . . . That's where the focus is, 100 percent of the focus is. There is nothing past Miami. It's all about getting ready to play Miami."

The Jets (7-8) will not make the playoffs for the third straight season, but Ryan's players say they're determined to close out the year by winning back-to-back games for the first time this season and playing spoiler.

"It would be great," outside linebacker Quinton Coples said of ruining Miami's playoff hopes. "But our main priority is just to go down and win. It's not so much to focus on knocking them out, but it definitely would be a little pleasing."

Players have continued to voice their support for Ryan, but they've also been very realistic about their situation. A win might not save their coach's job, but it would serve as a much-needed confidence boost heading into the offseason.

"Ending on a good note could be huge for us, especially as a young team, knowing that we're capable of it," receiver David Nelson said.

"It means everything for us," added quarterback Geno Smith, who threw two touchdown passes to Nelson and ran for a 17-yard score to lead the Jets to victory over the Browns. "We only have this game to look forward to until the offseason. Obviously, we want to end it off on a good note. We're facing a divisional [opponent], so it means everything as far as bragging rights goes."

Despite the swirling speculation about his future, Ryan has managed to motivate his players, Smith said.

"He's a players' coach, a guy that we all love to play for [and] we all love to compete for," Smith said. "We all play for one another around here and it's a very close-knit bunch. Rex just has continued to be himself, and that's the reason why we love him and that's the reason why we continue to go out there and work hard in practice and continue to play hard."

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THE RECORD

Jets: Last game has value for Rex Ryan (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 24, 2013

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/237117141_Jets__Last_game_has_value_for_Rex_Ryan_for_Ryan.html?page=all

To hear Rex Ryan talk Monday, one might think Sunday’s game is the most important one the Jets will play in Miami since the January 1983 "Mud Bowl" for the AFC title. Or even the biggest since they beat Baltimore in the Orange Bowl in Super Bowl III in January 1969.

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"I think the entire organization is committed on trying to find a way to beat Miami," Ryan said on a conference call. "That’s the commitment that all of us have had to each other. We’re trying, we’re working on Miami. That’s where the focus is, [where] 100 percent of the focus is. There is nothing past Miami. It’s all about getting ready to play Miami."

Of course, the game is meaningless for the Jets, who were eliminated from playoff contention eight days ago. But it may prove to be very important for Ryan, whose status as Jets’ coach is the subject of much debate. That situation is the biggest of several story lines that surround Sunday’s Jets-Dolphins contest.

1. Will Ryan be fired?

An angry Ryan reportedly told his players during their Saturday night meeting that the "word on the street" is that he will be fired after Sunday’s season finale, and it’s been reported that he is angry because he has heard the Jets already are looking into potential replacements.

Ryan has refused to confirm or deny those reports, and that refusal has created even more speculation, as has the tight-lipped stance owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik have taken about his status. One thing is certain — Ryan’s players want him to be retained.

"He’s a player’s coach, a guy that we all love to play for, we all love to compete for," rookie quarterback Geno Smith said.

2. It’s not meaningless for Miami.

The Dolphins can earn a wild-card berth with a victory and either a loss by Baltimore or a win by San Diego.

Linebacker Quinton Coples said "the main priority" for the Jets is to win, but added, "it definitely would be a little pleasing for us" to knock the rival Dolphins out of the playoff hunt.

3. Road worriers.

The Jets are 1-6 on the road, with the only victory coming at Atlanta on a Nick Folk field goal on the final play. The Jets are 6-17 away from home the last three seasons, and that trend must change, whether or not Ryan returns.

4. Last dance?

Ryan might not be the only one gone after Sunday’s game. The Jets have numerous veterans who could be cut loose, including wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who seemingly has been responsible for more distractions than receptions since signing a five-year, $45 million contract before the 2011 season. The Jets can save $8.25 million on the salary cap by releasing him after the season.

There also are veterans on one-year deals that will expire after Sunday, such as linebacker Calvin Pace and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

5. Homecoming for Geno.

Smith was born and raised in Miami, although he indicated after the Cleveland game Sunday that playing in front of family and friends won’t be that big a deal to him. What matters to the Jets is whether the inconsistent signal caller can string together two strong games and end his first NFL season on a positive note. Smith threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in the win over the Browns.

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Jets report card: Browns (J.P. Pelzman) The Record

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December 24, 2013

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/237117061_Jets_report_card__Browns.html?page=all

Running game: A+

The Jets pounded the NFL’s eighth-ranked rush defense for 208 yards at 5.3 per carry. Chris Ivory continued his late-season surge with 109 yards and Bilal Powell contributed 54, including a 39-yard burst. Quarterback Geno Smith’s 17-yard scramble for the clinching score was his fifth rushing TD.

Passing game: B+

Buoyed by the effective running game, Smith was efficient throwing the ball. He passed for 214 yards and two TDs, both on short timing routes to sure-handed David Nelson. There were no big gains, however, with WR Jeremy Kerley’s 22-yard catch the longest. The offensive line had an excellent game. Smith, who was turnover-free for the first time since Nov. 3, wasn’t sacked.

Run defense: C+

The Browns averaged 5.5 yards, helped by WR Josh Gordon’s 22-yard end-around. Running back Edwin Baker had a 5-yard touchdown through a gaping hole and had a similar 2-yard score canceled by an illegal procedure penalty on TE Gary Barnidge, far away from the ball.

Pass defense: A-

Journeyman QB Jason Campbell was limited to a 37.3 passer rating, partly due to several drops by Gordon and Campbell’s own inaccuracy. Still, rookie CB Dee Milliner had his best game. He had five breakups, one of which was an interception. Campbell was sacked three times.

Special teams: C

Nick Folk suffered only his second missed field-goal attempt of the season when he clanked a 49-yarder off the right upright. He is 31-for-33. Ryan Quigley averaged only 33 yards net on three punts, and the Jets had zero yards on kickoff and punt returns. Worse yet, Cleveland’s Fozzy Whittaker had a 50-yard kickoff return.

Coaching: B+

The Jets struggled early, falling into a 10-0 hole, but coach Rex Ryan’s Saturday night motivational speech eventually worked. The offensive calls by coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and Ryan’s defensive calls worked much more often than not. Even the botched faked punt was a good call by special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. Safety-turned-passer Josh Bush simply missed an open Isaiah Trufant.

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STAR-LEDGER

Ed Reed's playing time dips in Jets' win over Browns (Michael Fensom) Star-Ledger December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/ed_reeds_playing_time_dips_in_jets_win_over_browns.html

In the week leading into Sunday's victory over the Cleveland Browns, Jets coaches said the game would offer a showcase for some seldom-used players. With the playoffs no longer within reach, the Jets would present those players a chance to experience increased snaps in practice and the game.

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Two players cited by Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman were Josh Bush and Jaiquawn Jarrett. Both safeties have played sparingly this season on defense, mostly as a part of substitution packages. Official snap counts released Monday, though, show that Bush played on eight defensive snaps and Jarrett two.

Instead, Antonio Allen was the young safety who received a majority of increased plays against the Browns.

Allen's playing time has dipped, since Ed Reed's arrival during Week 11. After Reed was signed Nov. 14, the most participation Allen had seen prior to Sunday was two weeks ago against the Oakland Raiders, when he played on 36 percent of the defense's snaps.

Against the Browns, Reed's playing time plunged while Allen's shot up. Reed was on the field for 30 plays Sunday, or 46 percent of the Jets' 65 defensive snaps. The total was Reed's lowest since joining the team, and for the first time he did not start.

That designation fell to Allen, who lined up alongside Dawan Landry for the first two plays of the game. Allen participated in 69 percent of the defense's plays, 45 in total.

Last week, Thurman noted that rotation on defense -- particularly among the Jets' defensive backs -- is more a reaction to a particular week's opponent than a player's form.

"We try to take advantage of what our guys do (well) and what they do best," Thurman said last Thursday. "A lot of it is match-up driven."

It is possible, then, that Jets coaches felt Allen simply offered a better foil to the Browns' offense compared to Reed, who declined to speak after the game.

Rex Ryan addressed criticism of Reed last week, saying the 35-year-old safety has lost mobility. However, the Jets coach said that the team considers Reed a high-caliber player.

"This is still a good football player, he’s an outstanding player," Ryan said Friday. "Is he as good as he once was? No."

Reed made the most of his diminished playing time, though. On his 30th and final snap, he tracked a Jason Campbell throw, slipped in front of it and intercepted the ball, clinching the Jets' win. On the sideline, Ryan walked over and hugged Reed.

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Jets aim for first winning streak, second road win of year in finale at Miami (Darryl Slater) Star-Ledger December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/jets_aim_for_first_winning_streak_second_road_win_of_year_in_finale_at_miami.html

Five times this season, the Jets have played on the road in the game following a home win. Five times, they have lost. Never, in any of those games, did the Jets lead. That is why these young Jets will miss the playoffs, and why they are still trying to overcome the inconsistency that prevents them from being anything better than middling.

So now, after their home win over Cleveland, they conclude their season Sunday at Miami, hoping an 8-8 record will be enough to save coach Rex Ryan’s job (presuming, that is, his fate has not already been determined). Ryan again deflected questions yesterday about any topic remotely related to his job status.

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Because of the Jets’ inability to sustain success and win on the road, Sunday’s finale does not hold the playoff implications they wanted. So they search for purpose in this game. A victory would be just their second on the road this season, and would mark the first time they have won consecutive games.

"We are in a great opportunity to propel ourselves for next season," said wide receiver David Nelson. "To kind of have the confidence going into the offseason, ending on a good note, could be huge for us, especially as a young team, knowing that we’re capable of it."

Would beating Miami truly springboard the Jets into next season? Maybe, though it will not entirely fix the problems that put them in this position. Those must be addressed in the offseason, by either Ryan or his replacement.

Veteran right guard Willie Colon has frequently pointed to the Jets’ slow starts on the road as an example of their emotional inability to compound success after a win. This is a sign of a still-maturing team, Colon has said.

In their five road games that followed home wins, they lost by three, 10, 23, 25 and 40 points — to New England, Carolina, Buffalo, Tennessee and Cincinnati. In all five games, slow starts doomed the Jets. They trailed 10-0 in the first quarter at New England. Their halftime deficits in the other four games: 16-6, 20-0, 24-6 and 28-6.

The Jets positioned themselves for an 8-8 finish by beating Oakland and Cleveland, who are both 4-11, at home in two of their past three games. Beating Miami will not be as easy. The Dolphins are contending with the Ravens and Chargers for the AFC’s final wild card spot. All three teams are 8-7.

Miami beat the Jets 23-3 on Dec. 1, in what was the Jets’ lowest moment of 2013. They gained their fewest yards of the season, 177, and allowed their most, 453. Ryan Tannehill diced the Jets for 331 passing yards — 127 to Brian Hartline and 82 to Mike Wallace.

That loss to Miami, the Jets’ third straight, dropped them to 5-7, significantly damaged their playoff hopes and, combined with their loss at Carolina, deflated the meaning of Sunday’s rematch.

Yet you wouldn’t know it by listening to rookie quarterback Geno Smith. He has 21 interceptions, but is coming off just his third pick-free game. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another against the Browns. The rematch with the Dolphins "means everything for us," Smith said.

A win might not assure Ryan’s return. But it would prevent the Jets from achieving a dubious piece of franchise history. In eight previous seasons, they have failed to win consecutive games, most recently in 2005 and 2007. But in all of those seasons, they finished with four wins or fewer. Over their past 34 games since December of 2011, the Jets have won back-to-back games just once — Weeks 13 and 14 last year.

Even with his future uncertain, Ryan remains ever the optimist that the Jets can show their maturation by fixing, at least for a day, their overall inconsistency and road struggles against the Dolphins.

"This is what part of the growing process is," Ryan said. "I think we’re improving as a football team, so they’re going to see us at our very best."

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Jets receiver David Nelson honors orphaned boy with a simple touchdown celebration (Steve Politi) Star-Ledger December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/jets_receiver_david_nelson_honors_orphaned_boy_with_a_simple_touchdown_celebration.html

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As touchdown celebrations go, it was hardly noticeable by NFL standards. Jets receiver David Nelson caught the pass from Geno Smith, stopped in the end zone and simply pointed to the sky.

He wasn’t pointing to the heavens. He was keeping a promise he made to a 15-year-old orphan who was watching from the MetLife Stadium stands.

Nelson had asked Davion Only what he should do when he caught a pass, and Only made that simple request. Point to the sky, the boy from St. Petersburg, Fla., told the receiver, and Nelson was glad he had a chance – twice – to fulfill that request after catching touchdown passes.

“I hope he saw it,” Nelson said. “He inspired me in ways that he’ll never understand. Hopefully, what he saw from me today put a little joy in his life.”

Only deserves some. He became a national story when he stood in front of a church congregation and made a heartbreaking plea for somebody – anybody – to adopt him into a family.

“I’ll take anyone,” Only told the churchgoers. “Old or young, Dad or Mom, black, white, purple, I don’t care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be.”

Thousands responded to his request, who reached out to his adoption agency. Only will be spending the holidays with one prospective family, ABC-News reported.

Nelson, who started a foundation with his brothers to help orphans after a trip to Haiti, saw the story. He had his publicist reach out to Only, to see if he could bring the boy to New York, and that visit took place over the weekend.

Nelson gave Only and another boy a “holiday tour” through the city, one that culminated with the boy attending the 24-13 victory over the Browns. Nelson, who started the season with the Browns in training camp, had his first two touchdowns with his new team as Only watched.

“This is a kid who just wants a family,” Nelson said. “To hear his perspective on life and the things he hoped to do in his heart truly inspired me.”

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NEW YORK POST

Ryan’s focused on Dolphins, not his own job status (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 23, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/12/23/ryans-focused-on-dolphins-not-his-own-job-status/

In the victorious Jets locker room Sunday, Rex Ryan stood in front of his team and began rattling off the impressive stats from the game.

Behind him was an important supporter who clapped, nodded and said “Yeah” at every big Rex announcement — owner Woody Johnson.

The Jets posted the video of Ryan’s postgame speech from their 24-13 win over the Browns on their website and there you see Johnson with his suit and white Jets hat on, cheering Ryan on.

Does it mean anything about Johnson’s support for Ryan? Who knows? But at this point everyone around the Jets is wondering what the Jets will do with Ryan on Monday, once the team’s season is over. The coach has one year left on his contract, meaning the team likely will either fire him or extend him.

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The belief in NFL circles is Ryan is a goner. Three straight years without a playoff appearance and the failure to develop an offense in five seasons are enough to seal his fate, in the view of several people around the league.

But the wild card is Johnson.

The owner’s love affair with his head coach is well known.

“Woody needs to get over that,” one league source said.

The belief around the Jets building is Johnson will defer to general manager John Idzik and act on his recommendation. After all, Johnson hired Idzik 11 months ago to run the football operation. This is the biggest decision Idzik has to make. It would not send a good message if Johnson refuses to listen to his lieutenant on this one.

After Sunday’s game, Johnson declined to discuss Ryan’s future.

It will be worth watching this Sunday how visible Johnson is after the game and if there is interaction between he and Ryan. A year ago, Johnson did not go to the Jets’ finale in Buffalo. It was odd because Johnson rarely misses a game and it was seen as a bad sign for former GM Mike Tannenbaum, who was fired the next day.

Ryan spent Monday afternoon dodging questions about his job status during a 15-minute conference call with reporters.

Ryan danced around everything concerning his job, saying his only focus is the Dolphins, who the Jets play on Sunday. Ryan did say he’s not upset about the current uncertainty surrounding his job status.

“I’m not disgruntled about anything,” Ryan said. “I’m excited about the opportunity in front us, which is playing the Dolphins.”

Ryan addressed the team on Saturday and angrily told them the Jets were already searching for his replacement, according to a source. Ryan did not deny that happened.

“You know again guys I’m not going there,” Ryan said. “My focus is just on this Miami thing.”

Ryan, in his fifth year as Jets coach, did not answer when asked whether Johnson or Idzik have approached him about what was said in the team meeting that later was leaked to the media.

Ryan kept steering everything back to Miami. The 7-8 Jets have a chance to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

“You know guys it’s our focus and what we talk about is getting ready to play against the Dolphins, that’s really where the conversations have been,” Ryan said.

The Jets players continue to shower Ryan with love to the media, trying to save his job.

“He’s being himself and that’s something that he’s very good at doing,” quarterback Geno Smith said. “He’s obviously a very hard-working coach. He’s a player’s coach, a guy that we all love to play for [and] we all love to compete for.

“We all play for one another around here and it’s a very close-knit bunch. Rex just has continued to be himself and that’s the reason why we love him and that’s the reason why we continue to go out there and work hard in practice and continue to play hard.”

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Hey, Woody, it’s time to pull Rex’s feet from the fire (Steve Serby)

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Star-Ledger December 23, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/12/23/hey-woody-its-time-to-pull-rexs-feet-from-the-fire/

To keep or not to keep is the question about Rex Ryan, and there is no easy answer, no pounding the table to keep him when he has missed the playoffs three years in a row, since you are what your record says you are, and all that.

Nevertheless, I’ve decided to pound the table.

No matter how you feel about Ryan, there should be no doubt now he has done his best coaching job since 2010. He has overachieved with a team led by a rookie quarterback that would be hard-pressed to score on Columbia. A team that rookie general manager John Idzik tore down last offseason. He has molded it into a close-knit team that cares for one another, and for its coach, and will run through a wall for him. There is every reason to believe this will soon be a team on the rise, if it isn’t already. He has earned the right to coach this team in 2014.

Woody Johnson has saved Ryan before, only a year ago when he whacked Mike Tannenbaum.

For Ryan out loud, save him, Woody!

It’s your team, last time I checked.

Unless Idzik has found The Next Bill Walsh — highly unlikely — the argument for continuity and stability, with Marty Mornhinweg and David Lee developing Geno Smith, with Ryan directing his defense, trumps the case for change.

“Rex is building something that’s very special,” one Jet told The Post. “Without him, without his philosophy, we take a step back from what we’re building. … It’s tough to start all over. We did that last year.”

Ryan always thought football was a game of inches.

But now he wonders whether it is a game of Grinches.

Grinches named Idzik and Johnson.

It was Johnson who stole Christmas from Tannenbaum at the end of last season. It was Johnson who played Santa for Ryan and gifted him his job. And forced his new right-hand man, Idzik, to give Ryan a year to see what he thinks about him.

This isn’t a democracy. It is a bottom line business. The inmates do not run the asylum.

“I’ve not been around a head coach that is as loved as he is, and guys want to play for a coach as much as they do,” David Garrard told The Post. “I would hear that on the outside looking in when I wasn’t with the team and I was trying to figure out why, but when you’re here, you see how genuine he is and how much he loves his players. It just motivates guys more to want to play hard for him.”

Black Monday is a way of life for NFL coaches hired to be fired, and perhaps if or when the Grinches sing “Auld Lang Syne” to him, Ryan will regret sabotaging Mark Sanchez to win the prestigious Snoopy Bowl, and wonder whether he could have stolen a couple of more games and reached the playoffs and gotten himself another Stay of Rexecution.

“I can’t really speak for the rest of the locker room. … I’m sure if they feel the way that I would, it would definitely be heartbroken,” Garrard said. “This guy comes across more as a great friend, and a great older father or older brother-type relationship. You don’t understand how much he cares for his players,

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and the way he leads his players. He really speaks from the heart. I know for myself, I would definitely be heartbroken.”

It was never about this year for Idzik, a year he preferred to call building rather than rebuilding. By all indications, he has had a good working relationship with Ryan. But he was never joined at the hip with him the way Ryan was joined at the hip with Tannenbaum.

Idzik is joined at the hip with Johnson.

The way Ryan always seemed to be joined at the hip with Johnson.

If this was a Playoffs-or-Bust season for Ryan, then he would have every right to believe the fix was in, every right to feel he was set up to fail. He wouldn’t be the first, of course, nor would he be the last.

If Idzik has decides it is time for a bright offensive mind to navigate the Jets through the modern-day NFL quarterback-driven waters, then that is his right.

It appears that after three straight years missing the playoffs, winning is more important to Johnson than winning the backpage of the tabloids and the number of hits on blogs.

“You can try to change things and try to mix it up,” Garrard said, “but the grass isn’t always greener.”

For Ryan out loud, save him, Woody!

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Geno ‘pleased’ with turnover-free day vs. Browns (Brian Costello) New York Post December 23, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/12/23/geno-pleased-with-turnover-free-day-vs-browns/

Jets quarterback Geno Smith opened some eyes Sunday with his best performance in months.

Smith led the Jets to a 24-13 win over the Browns with his arm (20-of-36, 214 yards, two touchdowns) and his legs (10 rushes, 48 yards, one touchdown) and played a turnover-free game.

“I loved the way he managed the game,” wide receiver David Nelson said Monday on a conference call with reporters. “I loved the way he took what the defense gave him. I think a lot of times yesterday, specifically on third downs, when it was third-and-8 and third-and-9, he wasn’t making 10-yard throws. He was making 4-yard throws and allowing the players to get extra yards and get the first down for him. I just loved the way even though we were down 10, he didn’t force things. He let the game come to him and just managed the game. I think we had drives of 80, 79 and 81 yards. That’s how you win football games, is by taking care of the football, putting quality drives together and managing the game. I thought he did a great job of that. He just took what the defense gave him and managed the game really well.”

Smith said he was pleased with how the offense operated as a whole.

“I think I’m more pleased with the fact that we had some really good, long drives,” Smith said. “We had 13, 14-play drives and it just means that we were executing the game plan, just staying on target and in that zone and staying with our reads. Obviously, we converted those third downs that were crucial in the game. It allowed our defense to rest up after playing pretty much the entire first quarter and then also got us into a rhythm and led to [scoring] some points.”

The Jets could keep the rival Dolphins out of the playoffs with a win Sunday, something the Jets are already talking about.

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“It would be great,” linebacker Quinton Coples said. “They’re a divisional opponent. That would be a great opportunity for us to go down there and win. That would knock them out of the playoffs. But our main priority is just to go down and win. It’s not so much to focus on knocking them out, but it definitely would be a little pleasing for us.”

The Jets altered their practice schedule this week because of Christmas. They will practice Tuesday, normally the players’ day off, and be off Wednesday.

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Rex Ryan on job status: ‘I’m not disgruntled about anything’ (Brian Costello) New York Post December 23, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/12/23/rex-ryan-on-job-status-im-not-disgruntled-about-anything/

Jets coach Rex Ryan spent Monday afternoon dodging questions about his job status during a 15-minute conference call with reporters.

Ryan danced around everything concerning his job, saying his only focus is the Dolphins, whom the Jets play on Sunday. Ryan did say he’s not upset about the current uncertainty surrounding his job status.

“I’m not disgruntled about anything,” Ryan said. “I’m excited about the opportunity in front us, which is playing the Dolphins.”

Ryan addressed the team on Saturday and angrily told them the Jets already were searching for his replacement, according to a source. Ryan did not deny that happened.

“You know again guys I’m not going there,” Ryan said. “My focus is just on this Miami thing.”

Ryan, in his fifth year as Jets coach, did not answer when asked whether owner Woody Johnson or general manager John Idzik had approached him about what was said in the team meeting that later was leaked to the media.

Ryan kept steering everything back to Miami. After Sunday’s 24-13 victory over the Browns, the 7-8 Jets have a chance to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

“You know guys it’s, our focus and what we talk about is getting ready to play against the Dolphins, that’s really where the conversations have been,” Ryan said.

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Jets winners & losers: Geno finds his groove (Brian Costello) New York Post December 23, 2013

http://nypost.com/2013/12/23/jets-winners-losers-geno-finds-his-groove/

The Jets kept fighting Sunday and came away with a 24-13 victory over the Browns at MetLife Stadium. Is it enough to save Rex Ryan’s job? We’ll find out. For now, here are the winners and losers from the game:

Winners

GENO SMITH: You could argue it was his best game all season. It’s at least his best in two months. Smith did it with his arm (20-of-36, 214 yards, 2 TDs) and his legs (48 yards rushing and a touchdown on 10 carries). Smith did not force any throws and took what the Browns defense gave him in a rare turnover-free game. Part of the credit goes to the pass protection, which kept Smith clean all day.

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DEE MILLINER: Ryan gets to crow a little bit after his prized first-round pick did a good job against Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. Milliner had an interception and five passes defensed. Gordon got open a few times and ended up with 97 yards, but that’s nothing compared to the numbers he’s been putting up. This could be the type of performance that raises Milliner’s confidence and gets him going in the right direction.

DAVID NELSON: The wide receiver has been the Jets’ best in-season pickup. He had another nice game with four catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he showed what a big heart he has off the field by playing host to two orphans. Nelson has been a tremendous addition to the Jets locker room and he has produced on the field.

Losers

SANTONIO HOLMES: The boo birds came out for Tone Time. The controversial receiver had another unproductive day and heard it from the crowd when he dropped a couple of passes. Holmes is in his final days as a Jet. He’s not giving the fans too much to remember him by.

JOSH BUSH: You can understand why the Jets would attempt a fake punt early in the game. There was nothing to lose there. But man, don’t they have someone who can throw the ball? Bush’s knuckleball throw was ugly.

REX HATERS: Sure, it was the Browns. And at times it was not pretty. But Sunday’s win goes in the “keep him” column in the debate about Ryan’s future. His team has played extremely hard the last two weeks. On Sunday, they had no playoffs to play for and they were playing in a mostly empty stadium. Still, they played hard and it is clear from the testimonials that flowed after the game that Ryan was the reason why.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

If Rex Ryan is fired by NY Jets, he leaves having done his best coaching job (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 23, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-better-pout-rex-good-goodness-sake-article-1.1557044

If this is the end for Rex Ryan, if the best thing to happen to the Jets in a decade gets the pink slip in six days, he should take solace in knowing that this was his finest hour.

History will view 2013 as just another lost season for the star-crossed franchise. The numbers will reveal subpar statistical rankings.

Ryan, of course, will know the truth: He’s never done a better coaching job in his life.

Somehow, the embattled coach — “our leader,” as GM John Idzik said last month — has managed seven wins with a team packed with inexperience and middling talent. Somehow, a team that entered the season with 11 new starters, three new coordinators and nine new assistants remained in the playoff conversation for three months before reality intervened to end what would have been a football fairy tale.

“I’m proud of this Jets team,” Ryan said Monday. “It’s a total commitment thing from top to bottom. We don’t have the record that we wanted... but we have the effort, we have the desire and the determination.”

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Ryan is no Miracle Man. He couldn’t will these Jets, an afterthought to much of the football world before the season opener, to the playoffs. He couldn’t turn Santonio Holmes into Reggie Wayne for his rookie quarterback. He couldn’t accelerate Geno Smith’s evolution to breakneck speeds.

He did everything else his superiors asked: tone down the bombastic chatter, evolve as a leader and, above all else, squeeze every bit of talent out of what he had.

Ryan won’t win Coach of the Year honors, but there’s been nobody in his profession that has done a better job of getting his players to play above their talent level this season. Like his weekly game planning, Ryan’s coaching style is unique. He’s firm and friendly, caring and stern.

“He doesn’t just bark orders at people (or) stand behind a podium and yell at guys,” wide receiver David Nelson said. “He tells guys what he wants them to do, but at the same time, he believes in them and gives them respect. Guys appreciate that.”

Ryan sheds tears in a world where grown men are supposed to be tough, not vulnerable. He has a potty mouth only suitable for cable TV when he gets angry, like over the weekend upon hearing whispers that the Jets may have already started looking for his replacement.

Talent evaluators around the league know that Ryan’s cupboard needs to be restocked.

“The strength of the team is the defense,” one front office executive said. “There’s no need to go away from that. Personally, I’d keep Rex and focus on upgrading the roster on offense. He’s a damn good coach. They just need more offensive weapons.”

Ryan has won two of three games since Woody Johnson admitted earlier this month that he was “pretty happy with the way things are going.” The Jets were in a competitive game with the playoff-bound Panthers through three quarters in the lone loss.

I haven’t spoken to a player publicly or privately who believes that the Jets would be better off firing Ryan.

There have been plenty of instances when a head coach’s message becomes stale, when a fresh voice is the best course and it’s simply time to hit the reset button on a franchise.

That isn’t the case here. Ryan’s messages are as impactful on his mathematically eliminated team now as they were in the run-up to the season opener against the Buccaneers. Ryan has succeeded when so many others have failed. He’s kept his team engaged when the path of least resistance includes booking vacations and securing tee times.

Ryan is no fool. In fact, he’s a master self-preservationist, willing to conform to Idzik’s “competition” theme and change elements of his previously brash public persona.

Through all the adjustments, he preserved his core principles that have helped draw his inconsistent team closer during rough patches that could have blown the entire operation to a million little pieces.

It’s naïve to think that Johnson and Idzik haven’t formulated a strong opinion about Ryan’s future. There are fair arguments to be made in a discussion that is more complicated than it may appear.

Ryan will almost certainly be remembered for the back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010, but this season has been his most impressive coaching job since taking over five years ago.

His detractors will say he only cares about one side of the ball or he needs to sharpen his clock management or … (fill in gratuitous complaint here).

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Ryan is far from perfect, but he should be proud of this Jets team — and himself — no matter what happens in six days.

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Rex Ryan only focused on the Dolphins, isn’t ‘disgruntled’ by constant questions about future with NY Jets (Seth Walder) New York Daily News December 23, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/rex-worried-job-focused-miami-article-1.1556864

Publicly, Rex Ryan is playing the good soldier despite possibly being in the final days of serving Woody Johnson and John Idzik as coach of the Jets.

Behind closed doors may be another story, with Ryan getting angry at a team meeting Saturday evening upon hearing that Jets brass already may have reached out to possible replacement candidates, according to a source. But with six days remaining until the presumed decision on Monday, Ryan swatted away the notion that he is unhappy with the current uncertainty surrounding his future.

“I’m not disgruntled about anything,” Ryan said Monday.

It’s no surprise that Ryan, who has toed the company line all season, isn’t outwardly displaying frustration even if privately he’s upset. In fact, other than Ryan’s comment that he isn’t disgruntled, he mostly sidestepped all questions relating to his status beyond this year.

When asked directly if he had heard the team might have already reached out to potential coaching candidates, Ryan danced around the subject.

“You know again, guys, I’m not going there,” Ryan said to reporters. “My focus is just on this Miami thing.”

Ryan managed to turn all questions related to his future back to the season finale in Miami. Meanwhile, everyone else is focusing on the Jets future: Which players will still be with the Jets (7-8) in 2014 and who will be the coach?

After three consecutive seasons in which the Jets have failed to win more than eight games, Ryan may be at the end of the line. He wouldn’t say if he had been approached by Johnson or Idzik to discuss his future.

“You know, guys, it’s our focus, and what we talk about is getting ready to play against the Dolphins, that’s really where the conversations have been,” Ryan said.

Over the past week, countless players have sprung to Ryan’s defense, saying he is the best man for the job.

From Willie Colon to Calvin Pace to Antonio Cromartie to Sheldon Richardson, leaders and youngsters alike have loudly displayed their affection for their head coach and desire for him to remain in that position. But that only matters if Idzik and Johnson heed their opinions.

After firing Mike Tannenbaum a year ago, Johnson retained Ryan. But unlike then, Idzik is now part of the equation in determining whether Ryan will stay or go.

One argument for keeping Ryan is that consistency of coaching staffs helps in the development of young players.

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“Well, it’s easy for a coach to sit back and say, ‘Oh, it makes all the difference in the world, of course,’” Ryan said at first, then added he does believe that stability can be beneficial to development. “I think, obviously, the more time you get with somebody, the continuity I think helps. I think without question that helps.”

That argument pertains to more than just Ryan.

If he is fired, the Jets very well could be looking at three new coordinators for the second straight season, plus possible changes of the positional coaches.

Rookie QB Geno Smith gave offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach David Lee his full support Monday.

“I know as long as David Lee is my coach and Marty (Mornhinweg) is my coach, they won’t allow me to take any breaks or take any shortcuts, and that’s kind of been the way that I’ve been learning all season,” Smith said.

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NY Jets never seem so natural as when things are falling apart (Gary Myers) New York Daily News December 23, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/myers-jets-turbulence-natural-state-article-1.1557118

Woody Johnson’s decision to retain Rex Ryan after he fired GM Mike Tannenbaum has created a season-long drama and distraction revolving around Ryan’s future and added to the instability of a franchise that has always lacked continuity.

The 14-year anniversary of Johnson’s $635 million purchase of the Jets is coming up next month and if he fires Ryan, it means he will be hiring his fifth coach since 2000: Al Groh left after one season for Virginia; Herm Edwards was essentially traded to Kansas City in a mutual parting after five seasons; Eric Mangini’s three-year run ended after a late-season collapse by Brett Favre combined with Johnson feeling that Mangini’s secret ways made him uncomfortable; and, now Ryan could be a goner after five seasons.

Strong leadership up top — along with an elite quarterback — is what wins in the NFL. The scorecard on the Steelers beginning with the 1969 season: Three coaches and six Super Bowl titles. The Jets during that time: 13 coaches (not counting two interims) and no Super Bowls.

Does Ryan deserve to be fired? No.

Will he be fired?

I believe that’s the decision Johnson and GM John Idzik, who was forced to inherit Ryan when he replaced Tannenbaum in January, will ultimately announce Monday.

Ryan’s contract runs through 2014. If Johnson and Idzik elect to keep Ryan, they must give him more than a one-year extension or they will go through the same nonsense next season. I just don’t anticipate Idzik wanting to link his future to a coach he didn’t hire, even if they have gotten along fine. One source told me Monday that he doesn’t believe Johnson loves Ryan anywhere near the extent that has been portrayed.

“I think there is only one reason Woody kept Rex after last season — he didn’t want to pay him,” the source said. “Otherwise it makes no sense that you fire the general manager and don’t fire the head

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coach. You know the track record of that working? There is none. Why make a decision like that when history tells you it doesn’t work?”

The source believes that Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, 43, is at the top of Idzik’s list if Ryan gets fired. They worked together in Seattle in 2009-10 before Quinn left to become defensive coordinator for the University of Florida. He returned to the Seahawks this season as the defensive coordinator replacing Gus Bradley, who was hired as the head coach of the Jaguars. Quinn was previously an assistant under Mangini with the Jets in 2007-08, so Johnson is familiar with him.

Of course, if the Jets fire Ryan and hire another defensive coach — that would be five in a row for Johnson — then it’s likely to be criticized because Ryan is among the elite defensive coaches in the league. But it would go beyond which side of the ball Quinn has coached. It’s all about Idzik having his own guy. General managers consider that essential to success. “No more important than you have to trust your wife,” the source said. “You spend more time with the coach than you do with your wife. It’s a very volatile business. Not enough is made of how important it is to have a coach you can trust.”

Ryan has squeezed seven victories out of a team that has 4-12 or 5-11 talent. He’s breaking in his second rookie quarterback in Geno Smith, but at least he had a veteran team around Mark Sanchez in 2009.

Sources say Ryan was angry and animated when he spoke to his players at the Saturday night meeting. He is also said to be upset because he heard that the Jets have already reached out to potential replacements. When he was asked Monday if he was disgruntled about being in limbo, Ryan insisted, “I’m not disgruntled about anything.”

Edwards was on Tony Dungy’s staff in Tampa when Idzik was in the Bucs’ front office. “John is a football guy,” he said. “He’s going to look at the overall situation. He’s smart enough to know he’s going to get the best guy going forward. He’s been around Rex a whole year. He respects Rex. I don’t know what they are going to do.”

He believes Ryan deserves to stay.

“I just think the guy has done a really good job,” Edwards said. “The more you look around our league and you think change is needed, you end up going backwards when you start over.”

Edwards made the playoffs in three of his five seasons with the Jets, but departed after they were 4-12 in 2005. He said he wanted to stay and that he wasn’t fired by Johnson.

“We had a mutual agreement,” he said. “I respect the man. He was kind enough to give me my first opportunity and I will never forget that. I still consider him a friend and I wish the organization nothing but the best.”

Even so, in less than one week, Johnson could be starting over again in a league that requires stability to win.

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With attention on Rex Ryan, Geno Smith quietly emerging for NY Jets (Seth Walder) New York Daily News December 23, 2013

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-quietly-geno-emerges-article-1.1557113

At least in terms of attention received, Geno Smith has taken a back seat to his coach lately.

But with all eyes fixated on Rex Ryan, Smith actually looks like a quarterback trending upward. He wasn’t spectacular against Oakland or Carolina, but he didn’t implode either, which was an improvement over

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the games preceding it. He delivered one of his best games Sunday in the Jets’ 24-13 victory over the Browns. With the Jets out of the playoffs, Smith’s audition for the starting job in 2014 is probably already underway.

“I know he’s building a case to be a successful player,” said wide receiver David Nelson. “I can’t speculate what the organization’s plans are for him or how they see him in the future. I do know that he is building a solid foundation for a successful career for him individually. That’s something you have to do, especially your rookie year.”

Smith seemed relatively happy with his performance Sunday.

“I think I’m more pleased with the fact that we had some really good, long drives,” Smith said. “We had 13-, 14-play drives and it just means that we were executing the game plan, just staying on target and in that zone and staying with our reads.”

“I loved the way he managed the game. I loved the way he took what the defense gave him,” Nelson said. “I just loved the way even though we were down 10, he didn’t force things, he let the game come to him and just managed the game.”

Smith has often bristled at the suggestion that he is racing against the clock to prove he is the quarterback of the future for the Jets. That didn’t change on Sunday, when Smith said he wasn’t concerned about any possible deadline for proving a standard.

GOIN’ FISHING

The Jets can knock the Dolphins out of the playoff race with a victory in Miami on Sunday.

“It would be great. They’re a divisional opponent. That would be a great opportunity for us to go down there and win,” Quinton Coples said Monday. “That would knock them out of the playoffs.”

The Dolphins need help elsewhere to make the playoffs even if they defeat the Jets.

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Rex Ryan Forges Ahead Despite Rumors (Stu Woo) Wall Street Journal December 23, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303290904579276812738666626

If this is Rex Ryan's last week on the job, then the Jets' head coach is making sure he's going out in his own fiery way.

Despite a 7-8 record that assures that the Jets will miss the postseason for the third straight year, Ryan accomplished three things during the past week that other, more successful coaches might not consider so important. First, he beat another team that had been eliminated from the playoffs (the Cleveland Browns) on Sunday. Second, he won the outspoken support of several of the team's veteran players.

And third, he's making sure to savor every small triumph of the season, critics be damned.

Since the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention on Dec. 16, Ryan has motivated his players by telling them to just enjoy the fact that they play in the NFL, according to receiver David Nelson.

"It's been his message to us to enjoy this opportunity," said Nelson, who caught his first touchdown pass as a Jet in Sunday's win. "This is an opportunity: Who knows how much longer you'll be playing? Who

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knows how many opportunities you get to play this great game and this situation and the grand stage that we play in?"

It's unclear whether that message was Ryan making veiled references to his own coaching career. Ryan declined to address news reports claiming that he told his players, in a speech the night before the Cleveland game, that he was angry about rumors that the Jets were already looking for his replacement.

"I'm not disgruntled about anything," Ryan said Monday.

Ryan, whose record with the Jets stands at 41-38, repeatedly said his only concern was preparing his team to play at Miami in the season finale this week.

A Jets spokesman declined to comment on the coaching situation. Jets owner Woody Johnson has said he will address the matter after the season.

In the minutes after Sunday's 24-13 victory, Ryan did address his critics.

First, he defended his rookie cornerback, Dee Milliner. After struggling for most of the year, Milliner was terrific on Sunday, intercepting a pass and blanketing the NFL's leading receiver, Josh Gordon.

Ryan also offered his players a "victory Monday," giving them the day off instead of having them come to the practice facility to lift weights and review film, as they would on a typical Monday.

"We're going to enjoy this one and they're getting a 'victory Monday,'" Ryan said. "You can rip me for that one if you want. That's fine and dandy. Our guys will be out in their Jets gear buying Christmas presents, so look for them around town with Santa Claus."

Several Jets veterans have said they want Ryan to remain the coach, especially linebacker Calvin Pace and offensive lineman Willie Colon, who even said the Jets would be taking a step back if Ryan weren't with the team next year.

Rookie quarterback Geno Smith, whose struggles this season have clouded his own prospects with the team, said he wants to continue working with quarterbacks coach David Lee and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. New head coaches often bring in their own coaching assistants.

"I know as long as David Lee is my coach and Marty is my coach, they won't allow me to take any breaks or take any shortcuts," Smith said.

As for Ryan, Smith said, "Rex just has continued to be himself and that's the reason why we love him and that's the reason why we continue to go out there and work hard in practice and continue to play hard."

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NEW YORK TIMES

Jets’ Ryan Looks Ahead, but Not Past Finale (Ben Shpigel) New York Times December 23, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/sports/football/jets-ryan-looks-ahead-but-not-past-finale.html?ref=football&_r=0

There is one game remaining in the Jets’ season, and what a relief that must be for Coach Rex Ryan. No more speculation or assumptions or educated guesses about his job security. The day after Sunday’s finale at Miami, he is expected to learn whether he will be retained for 2014.

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Until then, though, every detail — every word he says, and is said about him — will be parsed for signs of greater meaning. His decision to allude to his tenuous status while addressing the team Saturday night, as part of a broader message about accountability, could be construed as a calculated one — that he is quite aware of that tenuous status and that he is not so pleased about it, either.

“I’m not disgruntled about anything,” Ryan said Monday. “I’m excited about the opportunity in front of us, which is playing the Dolphins.”

Which does not change the fact that Ryan is in limbo and has been for the last 11 months. He again declined to discuss details of his passionate speech, or confirm (or deny) whether it was provoked by a sense that the front office might have already begun performing due diligence on potential replacements.

“I’m not going there,” Ryan said. Or whether he had discussed the matter with the men who control his fate, the owner Woody Johnson and General Manager John Idzik.

“What we talk about is getting ready to play against the Dolphins,” Ryan said. “That’s really where the conversations have been.”

These answers came toward the end of his conference call, at a point when he tried to steer the conversation toward the Dolphins, toward football, toward anything but the subject that has dominated — and will continue to dominate — his team. Had the Jets played as well during their three-game losing streak as they did during Sunday’s 24-13 victory against Cleveland — no sacks allowed, no turnovers committed, 422 yards amassed — Ryan might be handling a cheerier line of questioning.

Ryan toned down the defiance he revealed Saturday night, and then again after Sunday’s game, when he challenged reporters to criticize him for rewarding players with a day off and boasted about his confidence in the rookie cornerback Dee Milliner, who had struggled for most of the season before starring against Cleveland. He did make certain to repeat a sentiment he expressed Sunday, that he believes the Jets are a rising power.

“We’re starting to play that way,” Ryan said. “I think we’re seeing it. It’s just now, can we end this thing on a huge note, a real positive note?”

Ryan has been heartened by the energy and dedication put forth by his players, who have pledged their support and could have folded after the team was eliminated from playoff contention last week.

Every game is an audition, and in the last three weeks, Geno Smith has completed 57.3 percent of his passes while throwing for four touchdowns and running for two more. It could be that Smith, with one game left in a wobbly rookie season, is starting to reveal more signs of progress. Ryan was asked whether stability in the coaching staff is valuable for a young team, and he just laughed.

“Realistically, obviously, you’re not starting at ground zero, you’re starting where you can take off from,” Ryan said. “And I think, obviously, the more time you get with somebody, the continuity I think helps. I think without question that helps.”

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ESPN NEW YORK

Rex Ryan: I'm not 'disgruntled' (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 23, 2013

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http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/10188086/rex-ryan-new-york-jets-claims-not-disgruntled-job-status?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Beginning what could be his final week as coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan tried to deflect questions Monday about his uncertain future, saying his only focus is the next opponent.

But that was a tough sell, considering Ryan mentioned his tenuous job security Saturday night in a team meeting -- a fiery motivational speech fueled, in part, by anger. He was "pissed" after hearing that management may have already reached out to potential successors, sources said.

"I'm not disgruntled about anything," Ryan claimed on a conference call with reporters. "I'm excited about the opportunity in front of us, which is playing the Dolphins."

At first, Ryan refused to confirm or deny an ESPN.com and other media reports that said he was seething during his address to the team because of the rumors.

"I'm not going there," he said. "My focus is on this Miami thing."

Ryan also refused to comment on the speech after Sunday's 24-13 win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Jets (7-8) close the season in the spoiler role, hoping to crush the Dolphins' playoff hopes. The following day, owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik likely will announce their plans for Ryan, who has only one year left on his contract.

On Sunday, after the game, Ryan said he hadn't heard from upper management regarding his status for 2014. He sidestepped the same question Monday, saying the organization's only concern is the Dolphins (8-7).

The speculation intensified last week, when the Jets were mathematically eliminated. Evidently, Ryan got wind of something that didn't sit well because he decided to mention to the team that a coaching search may have already begun, sources said.

It wasn't a "Win one for me" motivational tactic. Ryan used it in the context of how everyone in the room faced a cloudy future and how they should go down fighting for each other, sources said.

It's a complicated decision for the Jets.

Ryan has earned praise for his work this season, eclipsing last season's win total (six) in a rebuilding situation, but he missed the playoffs for the third straight year. He reached the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons.

Idzik, hired last January, had no say in Ryan's status for 2013. But, after a year of evaluating the football operation, he may want to bring in his own coach. The feeling in the organization is that Idzik is leaning toward a change, while Johnson is open to the idea of keeping Ryan.

Even though he didn't want to discuss his future, Ryan made sure to state his belief that the Jets are an "ascending" team.

"We're starting to play that way. We're seeing it," he said. "Now it's just, can we end this thing on a huge note, a real positive note against a real good football team?"

Ryan has received tremendous support from his players, many of whom have lobbied publicly to keep him. Rookie quarterback Geno Smith, coming off his best game in two months, said he'd like to continue working with coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach David Lee.

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"They won't allow me to take any breaks or take any shortcuts, and that's kind of been the way that I've been learning all season," Smith said, adding: "Having coaches such as Marty and Coach Lee, it really allows me to stay in that moment and just continue to grind and continue to grow as a rookie."

Ryan, knowing his response would be perceived as self-serving, laughed when asked if coaching continuity is important.

"It's easy for coaches to say, 'Yeah, [it makes] all difference in world," he said. "Obviously, you're not starting at ground zero, you're starting where you can take off from. Obviously, the more time you can spend with somebody, the continuity helps. Without question, that helps."

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets tight end Kellen Winslow shows added fire against his first team (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York December 23, 2013

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nfl/2013/12/23/jets-tight-end-kellen-winslow-shows-added-fire-against-his-first-team/

Tight end Kellen Winslow put together another solid performance for the Jets in Sunday’s 24-13 win over the Browns. If he seemed extra motivated, the proof was not just in his stat line.

Winslow spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Browns as a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. A game against his old team surely meant a little something extra to him and on Sunday, he was named by head coach Rex Ryan as a team captain. It is a frequent move by Ryan to fuel a player against his former team. The tight end was traded from the Browns to the Buccaneers following the 2009 season.

When he walked out to the middle of the field for the coin flip, Winslow quickly shook hands with the Browns captains. But after the flip, when the players again shook hands, Winslow turned his back and ran to the Jets’ sideline. It was a move that raised an eyebrow or two.

“We shook hands once. Enough with the shaking of hands. I’m good. Let’s go play ball,” Winslow told Metro. “That’s all, I’m just a little different. Nothing into it.”

In the game, Winslow had three catches for 35 yards. But it was the way he played that left an impression.

In the middle of the third quarter, Winslow made a reception over the middle and turned upfield. It looked like a routine short gain until he hurdled a Browns defender and kneed another opponent before he was brought down. It was a 16-yard reception with plenty of inner fire.

“I got the catch and turned and saw white jerseys around me and usually when it is a corner they go low on you,” Winslow said. “It finally worked, you know?

“It was a good feeling. It really is another team for me — just going out and doing my job. It was just another game.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets finish out the regular season Sunday at the Dolphins. The game is meaningless for the visitors, but the Dolphins’ playoff future is on the line after a shocking loss to the Bills on Sunday. For the Jets, it’d mean something to get a win and not only finish 8-8, but also knock Miami out of the playoff picture.

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“It would be great. They’re a divisional opponent. That would be a great opportunity for us to go down there and win,” linebacker Quinton Coples said. “That would knock them out of the playoffs. But our main priority is just to go down and win, it’s not so much to focus on knocking them out, but it definitely would be a little pleasing for us.”

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NJ.COM

Jets coach Rex Ryan deserves to keep his job, says national writer (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/national_writer_says_rex_ryan_deserves_to_keep_his_job.html

Peter King, a Sports Illustrated NFL writer who pops up on your TV screens each week during Sunday Night Football, has weighed in on the fate of Jets coach Rex Ryan.

This is from King's latest column for The MMQB:

I think the Jets should not fire Rex Ryan. Period. End of story. A 7-8 record with a game to go, with that team? Hardly a fireable situation. Extend Ryan one year (his contract is up at the end of next season) and push this decision off until the end of 2014. Ryan, and Jets fans, deserve that.

King's opinion isn't the one that matters, of course. Ryan's future is in the hands of Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik, and there's no way to tell which way they're leaning.

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Santonio Holmes speaks! He has 'love' for Geno Smith, still believes in Rex Ryan (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/jets_receiver_santonio_holmes_on_geno_smith_i_love_the_guy.html

Jets receiver Santonio Holmes frequently walks around the locker room with a scowl on his face, making it clear to reporters he's unapproachable except for the one time a week when the NFL mandates that he speak to reporters.

But in an appearance Monday night on Inside the Jets with Bob Wischusen on ESPN New York 98.7 FM, Holmes was humble, thoughtful, engaging and personable as he discussed a variety of Jets-related topics.

Holmes, who cut short his postgame media session after Sunday's 24-13 victory over the Browns, opened his conversation with Wischusen by stating he could have been more productive in that game. Specifically and without prompting, Holmes brought up "the two dropped passes."

Holmes then proceeded to speak in the first person plural when referring to the Jets.

"But we're really excited about what happened yesterday," Holmes said. "It was a great team victory for all of us, and even for the fans. I think finishing these last two games, we'll have something to look forward going into next year."

(We must interrupt here to add that there likely won't be a next year for Holmes and the Jets.)

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Wischusen asked for Holmes's thoughts on rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

"I love the guy, I love this kid," Holmes said. "He has an understanding for the game. And to have that understanding as a young quarterback, you have to kind of let him go on his own. He's going to look back a few times, but when he knows what to do because you've taught him everything, now allow him to do it. And that's what our offense did over the course of the year. It's starting to understand that he understands the game at the professional level. Hopefully, we'll look for great things in the future."

Holmes said the biggest growth he's seen from Smith has been "his leadership," adding that "it's always been there from Day 1, but you see him taking charge of the huddle in practice when things aren't going right. ... He does the things right in practice that has shown that he knows what to do on game day and what the coaches expect out of him.

"Everything takes time. We don't all become great professional football players the next day."

Holmes also addressed the topic of head coach Rex Ryan: "I think Rex is doing it the right way. He's building the program with some veterans in spots that are just sprinkled around the field. He's bringing in guys that are filling in those positions."

On the subject of Ryan's job uncertainty, Holmes said: "We still believe in everything that coach has been talking about since Day 1, and even up until this point. We don't walk around the locker room worried if our coach is going to get fired. We came here to line up to finish 16, 17 games, and play football."

Holmes played just 53 of 77 offensive snaps Sunday, but he chalked up that and other variations in playing time to the nuances of Marty Mornhinweg's offensive system.

"I know most people would say, 'Why's he not playing so much, or why's he only playing this amount of plays?'" Holmes said. "But it was the style of offense we had that we were trying to get explosive plays throughout the season, and in order to keep our guys fresh, we rotated, we split carries, we split catches, and that's the way football is, because it's the ultimate team sport."

Ladies and gentlemen, Santonio Holmes, spokesman for team football. Is this really the same game guy who said just a few weeks ago that he wasn't told he'd get less playing time?

Asked to assess his season, Holmes said he wished he could have been "more consistent." Holmes missed the last 12 games in 2012 with a Lisfranc injury, and he's battled hamstring issues and other nicks this year.

"I did everything necessary with the training staff to continue playing as many games as I could, and then I suffered the hamstring injury, which was very unfortunate," Holmes said.

The problem, Holmes admitted, began in the offseason leading into 2012. He then said he's still dealing with the impact of the Lisfranc injury.

"I didn't put enough miles leading up into the season that I normally do, year-in and year-out, for six years that I've been a professional, even going into the seventh season, which ended after four games. I had to take my time, training, rehabbing, working my way back into understanding how my foot has been dysfunctioned, and now how can I develop this foot to doing the same thing it used to."

Holmes then dropped in a Ferrari simile.

"As someone was (saying) to me yesterday, it's like a Ferrari," he said. "When you have a little bend in the brakes or the gas pedal, like something just doesn't work right, it throws it off that much. To need my wheels to be able to produce and run fast and cut in and out of routes, it takes time to develop that again. I think I needed this season to go through it and see if I had the mental attitude to play this

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season and play through this type of injury. And next offseason, it'll be even greater that I can produce myself back into the Santonio Holmes that I once was and what I feel like myself."

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Rex Ryan: 'I'm not disgruntled about anything' (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/rex_ryan_im_not_disgruntled_about_anything.html

In a conference call with reporters this afternoon, Jets head coach Rex Ryan gave no indication as to whether he knows what the team's plans are for him beyond Sunday's season finale against the Dolphins in Miami.

"That's easy," Ryan said in response to a question about how he deals with all this twisting in the wind. "I have a job to do."

As he did last week, Ryan deflected a question about whether rookie quarterback Geno Smith could benefit from having to work with quarterbacks coach David Lee and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg beyond this season. He also declined to say whether Jets upper management—read: owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik—have had any discussions with him about his job status in light of Sunday's win over the Browns.

After the game, in a locker-room video posted on the team's website, Johnson can be seen celebrating the victory with Ryan and his players. Though it can't be seen in the video, Idzik was also briefly spotted in the locker room shaking hands with several players.

According to multiple reports, Ryan had angrily told his players at a meeting Saturday night that there's talk he may get fired at the end of the season. After Sunday's win, Ryan declined to discuss what was said at that meeting. He did the same again today.

"Guys, I think the entire organization's committed on trying to find a way to beat Miami," Ryan said. "That's the commitment that all of us have had to each other. We're working on Miami, and that's where 100 percent of the focus is. There's nothing past Miami. It's all about getting ready to play Miami."

After twice refusing to discuss what he said to the team Saturday night, Ryan was asked about the perception that he might be "disgruntled" because of the limbo he's in.

"I'm not disgruntled about anything," he answered. "I'm excited about the opportunity in front us, which is playing the Dolphins."

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Jets guard Brian Winters's key block springs Bilal Powell on huge run (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/jets_guard_brian_winterss_key_block_springs_bilal_powell_on_huge_run.html

Let's not try to sugarcoat this: Brian Winters, the Jets' rookie left guard, has had a trying season.

But let's also give credit where credit is due: Winters made an outstanding play Sunday to trigger a long run that allowed the Jets to even the score at the half. This after they first spotted the Browns a 10-0 lead.

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Winters, a third-round draft choice out of Kent State, battled an ankle injury in training camp, but he's been a starter since Week 5, when he took over for the struggling Vladimir Ducasse for the Monday nighter in Atlanta.

Since then, Winters hasn't played all that well. Pro Football Focus gives him a cumulative grade of minus-31.9 on the season, which ranks worse than all but three guards around the league who have played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps.

Winters did not have a great game against the Browns—PFF gave him a grade of minus-2.9 on the day, mostly because he did fail to hold some blocks on some runs—but we have to talk about the one play in which Winters really was great, because it was exactly what the Jets needed, and right when they needed it.

With 34 seconds left in the first half and the Jets trailing, 10-7, the Jets got the ball back on their own 18-yard line. Ordinarily, that situation would call for taking a knee or running the ball up the middle to avoid making a mistake heading into the half. In addition, the Jets were getting the ball to start the second half, so they especially had no need to take any unnecessary risks.

And rather than kneel down, the Jets chose to run it, with Bilal taking the ball between Winters and left guard D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Only by the time Powell was tackled, he had picked up 39 yards and reached the Browns' 43.

Just like that, instead of having to run out the clock, the Jets were in position to score.

Looking at the play, Winters had no one to block off the snap, so he went straight toward Browns safety T.J. Ward. In this photo, you can see Winters near the top hashmark at the 20-yard-line as he sizes Ward up for a block:

In this next image, you can see Winters engage Ward at the 21-yard line along the top hashmark. Powell, who's been given the ball by quarterback Geno Smith, is beginning to make his way through the line of scrimmage:

Winters continues to hold his block on Ward at the 22 near the top hashmark. Powell, who burst through the hole at the line of scrimmage, is now set to run behind Winters' block and take off:

Here you can see Winters continuing to drive Ward downfield. That's Ward wearing No. 43 in white around the 23-yard line. Powell, who has run to Winters's left by following his lead, is at the 25. Powell is about to break a tackle, and he won't be brought down until he crosses midfield:

This is what Winters had to say about the play: "Me and Brick just communicated what we were doing. I saw the WILL linebacker creeping down. I left him soon and got right up to the second level, and (Powell) cut right off my butt."

The Jets called timeout after Powell's run. There were still 24 seconds left in the half. Four plays later—with help from Tashaun Gipson's unnecessary roughness penalty on Geno Smith—the Jets kicked a field goal on the final play of the half to tie the game at 10. They wouldn't trail again.

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The day after: More odds and ends from the Jets' win over the Browns (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/the_day_after_more_odds_and_ends_from_the_jets_win_over_the_browns.html

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Some of this and some of that following Jets 24, Browns 13:

• The Jets were 12 of 18 on third downs, and that includes a kneel-down at the end of the game. On two of their scoring drives, they converted on third down four times.

• All three of the Jets' touchdown drives went for at least 80 yards.

• Sunday marked the first time all year the Jets allowed neither a sack nor a turnover.

• Geno Smith certainly had one of his best games of the season (91.7 rating), but if we're going to note that it's not always his fault when he struggles, it's just as important to point out what kind of help he gets when he succeeds. So here goes: Not only was Smith not sacked on Sunday, but per The Jets Blog, he was also not hit, and was pressured just eight times. Smith threw the ball away on four of those pressures, and he stood in the pocket and completed passes on three of the other four.

• In the first quarter, with the Jets down 3-0 and sputtering, they tried an end-around to Saalim Hakim after a direct snap to Bilal Powell, who was lined up in the Wildcat. The play went for minus-11 yards and looked like a disaster. But at the time, the Jets were willing to try anything. On the previous play, Smith threw an incomplete pass, but CBS showed a freeze frame that clearly showed how none of his receivers had gotten open.

• The Jets had five offensive plays go for at least 20 yards. Four of them were runs—two by Chris Ivory, one by Bilal Powell, and one by Smith. The Jets finished with 208 yards on the ground and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

• Much was made of the Browns' Josh Gordon coming in (and with good reason), but Gordon dropped a pair of passes in the red zone in the second quarter, including one that would have been a sure touchdown. During its broadcast, CBS noted that the Browns' receivers entered with game with 35 drops, the third-highest total in the NFL.

• The Browns are a mess. First, they failed to score after having seven plays inside the Jets' 10-yard line in the second quarter. Then, they had a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter wiped out because tight end Gary Barnidge was whistled for a false start. Cleveland wound up settling for a field goal, after which the Jets marched 80 yards in 14 plays to put the game away with Smith's 17-yard TD dash.

• Ed Reed did get a late interception, but the Jets chose to give Antonio Allen more reps (45 snaps to Reed's 30) at safety. Reed played primarily on passing downs.

• Also: Santonio Holmes played just 53 of the Jets' 77 offensive snaps—fewer than both David Nelson (62) and Jeremy Kerley (59). Might explain why Tone walked off so suddenly afterward.

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Jets grades: Geno Smith helps raise the curve in victory over Browns (A.J. Perez) NJ.com December 23, 2013

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2013/12/jets_grades_geno_smith_helps_raise_the_curve_in_victory_over_browns.html

EAST RUTHERFORD -- The story before and after the New York Jets’ 24-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns was head coach Rex Ryan and his future. In between was a solid effort by the Jets at MetLife on Sunday. Here are my grades along with yours.

Offense: B

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For the first time in weeks (months?), Geno Smith appeared he could be a serviceable NFL quarterback. The long-term answer? This was a small sample size against a team that entered with four wins. It did take a while for the Jets’ offense to get going as the Browns took a 10-0 lead. Smith was 20 of 36 and three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing). Running back Chris Ivory rushed for 109 yards, the third time he’s surpassed the century mark this season. (The Jets rushed for a season-high 208 yards total.) The Jets compiled 422 yards of total offense, only the second time the they’ve broken the 400-yard mark this season. Maybe the most amazing stats: the Jets allowed zero sacks and Smith had no picks. (How you voted: B, 64.06%)

Defense: B-

The Browns entered 27th in the league in scoring, so the Jets’ defense didn’t exactly face a powerhouse. But the Jets held the Browns in check and the secondary wasn’t near as porous as it had been in stretches this season. Rookie cornerback Dee Milliner picked up his first interception as a pro and veteran safety Ed Reed hauled in his second as a Jet. The Jets also dodged a major blow when lineman Sheldon Richardson had to be checked out for a shoulder injury in the first half. He returned a short time later, but not before Browns running back Edwin Baker ran untouched into the end zone from five yards out. (How you voted: B, 67.19%)

Special teams: C+

The Jets wasted little time for trickery as they attempted a fake punt on their first possession. The attempt failed as safety Josh Bush underthrew the intended receiver. (The Browns failed to take advantage of the good field position after the turnover on downs.) Jets kicker Nick Folk saw his string of consecutive field goals at MetLife (20) snapped as his 49-yard attempt hit the upright in the third quarter. (How you voted: B, 33.9%)

Coaches: B

Whatever Ryan said before the game certainly did something. The Jets, at least after a slow start, had their heads in the game -- not always easy with the chances for the postseason thwarted and ongoing questions about Ryan's future. Maybe that fake punt early was overly aggressive, but it was hard to fault much of the overall game plan. (How you voted: B, 64.52%)

Overall: B

The Jets may have a couple more wins than some expected at this point. This was a game the Jets should win and they did more than enough to do so. (How you voted: B, 64.91%)

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MONDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

Associated Press December 23, 2013

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Monday-s-Sports-Transactions-5089697.php

BASEBALL American League CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Claimed LHP Eric Surkamp off waivers from San Francisco. MINNESOTA TWINS — Signed RHP Mike Pelfrey and C Kurt Suzuki. Sent OF Darin Mastroianni outright to Rochester (IL). TEXAS RANGERS — Claimed OF Alex Castellanos off waivers from Boston.

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TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Claimed 3B Brent Morel off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. National League CHICAGO CUBS — Claimed RHP Brett Marshall off waivers from the New York Yankees. Can-Am League QUEBEC CAPITALES — Sold the contract of RHP Karl Gelinas to Philadelphia (NL). Frontier League WASHINGTON WILD THINGS — Signed C Jim Vahalik to a contract extension. Signed RHP Matt Purnell. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association NBA — Fined Los Angeles Clippers F Matt Barnes $25,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner upon his ejection during a Dec. 22 game against Minnesota. HOUSTON ROCKETS — Recalled G Isaiah Canaan Rio Grande Valley (NBADL). FOOTBALL National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed RB Robert Hughes to the practice squad. Released LB Jojo Dickson from the practice squad. BUFFALO BILLS — Signed DT Alan Branch to a contract extension. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Placed DT Brandon Deaderick and DT Roy Miller on injured reserve. Signed DT Drake Nevis and DT pro Kyle Love. Signed DE Will Pericak and WR Jabin Sambrano to the practice squad. Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed DE Jason Vega. HOCKEY National Hockey League BUFFALO SABRES — Recalled D Mark Pysyk and F Johan Larsson from Rochester (AHL). Assigned D Chad Ruhwedel to Rochester. DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned RW Jordin Tootoo to Grand Rapids (AHL). FLORIDA PANTHERS — Recalled D Alex Petrovic from San Antonio (AHL). American Hockey League HARTFORD WOLF PACK — Announced D Samuel Noreau was assigned to the team from Greenville (ECHL). LACROSSE National Lacrosse League COLORADO MAMMOTH — Signed D Dan Ball to a one-year contract. Signed D Mike McNamara to the practice player list. TENNIS TENNIS INTEGRITY UNIT — Announced Guillermo Olaso is banned from the sport for five years and fined $25,000 for match-fixing. COLLEGE COLORADO STATE — Suspended defensive line coach Greg Lupfer two weeks for using a gay slur when yelling at Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday in the New Mexico Bowl last weekend. GEORGIA — Suspended S Josh Harvey-Clemons and CB Sheldon Dawson from their Jan. 1 Gator Bowl game for undisclosed violations of team rules. PROVIDENCE — Announced freshman basketball G Brandon Austin and freshman basketball F Rodney Bullock will not compete in games for the remainder of the 2013-2014 season. SMU — Agreed to terms with football coach June Jones on a three-year contract extension through 2017.

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