Last week, head coach Rex Ryan sent a message to linebacker Quinton Coples, calling out the second-year player for what he saw was a lack of effort in the weight room. The former first-round pick says that the message was received.

Neither player nor coach have talked about the perceived lack of effort with Coples saying it was a “first-time experience for me” and that he has never been called out before. He called it a “wake-up” call.

“I wouldn’t say I got comfortable, it was during a drill, it was videotaped and I could have given better effort,” Coples said. “The next day when we came back here, I gave a better effort to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.”

In 2011 during his final year as a Tar Heel, Coples was dogged by criticism he would take plays off and lacked overall effort. It was a talking point that stuck with him throughout last spring’s NFL Draft process, despite his strong metrics.

Coples said he heard about his head coach’s disapproval when his business manager called him about Ryan’s quotes from rookie minicamp. A Google Alert went off in his business manager’s inbox, notifying him of the situation.

“I wasn’t shocked by it; it was just something he did,” Coples sad. “I responded well. I responded in the weight room and got better.”

Last week, Ryan said he holds Coples to a very high standard since he “has all the physical tools to be the best player out on the field and that’s what we need him to be.”

In 2012, Coples played in all 16 games and had 30 tackles. He led the Jets with 5.5 sacks.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Coples learns from being called out by Rex Ryan appeared first on Metro.us.

Mark Sanchez sounds like someone who is ready to battle for the spot under center.

Following Thursday’s organized team activities, Sanchez addressed the ever-brewing quarterback controversy. The competition got a little less crowded Wednesday with the retirement of David Garrard, who called it quits due to a long-standing knee injury.

“He was one of those guys that I felt like I’d be able to bounce my ideas off of, having that veteran experience,” Sanchez said. “So, it’s tough to see a guy go like that and you just wish him the best health-wise first, and then, he has a career to celebrate, he played a long time in this league and did a heck of a job. It was great to be around him in the short time I had with him and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Taking Garrard out of the picture doesn’t change Sanchez’s perception heading into June’s minicamp and then training camp a month later.

“Nothing’s changed. My mindset is the same,” Sanchez said. “Just stay focused, master this offense, improve on my fundamentals, be as accurate as possible, take care of the football and lead this team.”

Sanchez looked a lot like his rookie self in his fourth season in the league in 2012. He was unsure in the pocket, held onto the ball too long, went consistently with his first read and forced way too many passes.

For the second time in his career and the first since his rookie season in 2009, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns.

Now with Garrard out of the picture, Sanchez will be locked in a quarterback battle with second-round pick Geno Smith in addition to Greg McElroy, who replaced Sanchez in Week 15 last year and then started over him the next game. If he wants to be the starter, Sanchez will need to cut down on his turnovers which means throwing the ball away more.
He’s been working on that in practice.

“Guys will raise their hands if they’re open, and if no one raises their hands, you’re either running or throwing it away,” Sanchez said. “That’s kind of the drill. I think it’s valuable and I think it’s one of those things that we aim to address.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Sanchez still has eyes on Jets’ starting QB position appeared first on Metro.us.

A lot of old-school NFL people will brush off the non-padded offseason workouts as meaningless. They’re wrong.

The OTAs are the first time coaches get a look at their new toys. It’s also the first time we get a gander at initial depth charts, which can help us uncover the hidden gems that decide fantasy titles.

Recent sleepers, such as Arian Foster and Denarius Moore, first shined during these workouts. With that in mind, let’s take a look:

Brick in the Wall

New Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is a dream for fantasy owners. He gets his receivers open vertically, doesn’t throw to running backs and keeps the pedal to the metal at all times. Larry Fitzgerald is going to have a bounce-back campaign, but the No. 2 wideout in this scheme is also set up for success. Andre Roberts ended the 2012 season in that spot, but second-year man Michael Floyd opened up OTAs as the starter. A rare strength/speed talent, Floyd is an ideal sleeper.

On the Ball

Montee Ball’s NFL career is off to a fast start. Although coach John Fox has a reputation for holding rookies back, he’s been heaping praise on the former Wisconsin back. VP John Elway is comparing Ball to Terrell Davis and Fox is downplaying the disappointing 4.66 wheels he showed at the combine. Once the Broncos cut loose Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno, Ball’s stock is going to soar.

Hop to it

Sometimes, a rookie steps onto the field and is even better than the franchise expected. That appears to be the case with DeAndre Hopkins. Check out these quotes from coach Gary Kubiak: “He’s special. Ball skills are extremely special. Very long; long arms. Big hands. He’s going to help us early, and we know that, and that’s why we brought him here.” Hopkins is in line for instant impact.

MLB news

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly won’t say it, but his actions point toward a change at the closer spot. Kenley Jansen is the one that got a one-out save on Tuesday and he’s the one with the real lights-out stuff. Brandon League’s time is just about done.

MLB pickups

Andrew Bailey, RP, Red Sox: Bailey is ready to come off the DL as soon as Monday. The saves shouldn’t be far behind.
Heath Bell, RP, Diamondbacks: It probably won’t be pretty, but Bell is holding off David Hernandez for now.
Dayan Viciedo, 3B, White Sox: Now over his oblique strain, Viciedo is hitting .429 with four RBIs in his first five games back.

The post Living the Fantasy: Early NFL depth charts appeared first on Metro.us.

The comeback story of David Garrard didn’t even make it to minicamp.

According to multiple reports, Garrard retired from football Wednesday afternoon just two months after signing with the Jets to battle for the starting quarterback position in the fall. He reportedly told his teammates he would be leaving Wednesday as well.

“Having to call it quits,” Garrard told SiriusXM’s Adam Schein in a text message. “My knee is not holding up.”

Garrard was expected to be a legitimate contender to usurp the starting spot from Mark Sanchez, who has started since his selection in the first round in 2009. Sanchez had his worst season as a pro in 2012 with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Sanchez was so bad by the end of the season that head coach Rex Ryan decided to bench him in favor of backup Greg McElroy.

McElroy did not stand out in two games against the Chargers and Cardinals. He was 19-of-31 with one touchdown, one interception and one fumble. Still, McElroy will now be in the competition along with 2013 second-round pick Geno Smith and Sanchez.

Garrard last played for the Jaguars in 2012 where he was beat out by Blaine Gabbert as starter. He was in camp with the Dolphins last preseason, but was cut from the roster. He had knee surgery while with the Dolphins in August 2012. He didn’t have a history of knee injuries before that, though he did have back surgery in October 2011.

Wednesday’s retirement may have pre-empted the obvious, one member of Jets management told Metro New York.

“With Mark returning he has the proverbial leg-up and I think Geno showed he can come in and compete and maybe even start,” one member of the Jets’ personnel team told Metro New York. “David was needed when there was no other viable option on the roster other than Mark. Geno comes in as a draft pick and does well and showed at the very least potential. You have a new general manager who is preaching that everyone has to compete. Well, after seeing Geno last week at [rookie] minicamp I think he has the goods to compete with Mark, clearly.

“Nothing really changed with today’s news. I think it was Mark and Geno at the top then everyone else. David never really looked comfortable throwing either so the chance of him being here come Week 1? Rather slim.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post David Garrard pulls out of Jets QB competition, retires appeared first on Metro.us.

There’s an intriguing name or two in nearly every NFL team’s rookie minicamp. For the Jets, it is Mason Robinson.

Robinson, an unsigned invitee, petitioned the NCAA last year for a sixth season at Rutgers following two season-ending knee injuries. He came into the program as a running back in 2007 then switched to wide receiver, cornerback and eventually safety. Robinson has just 19 career tackles. Those aren’t exactly the kind of numbers that jump out at an NFL scouting department.

But Robinson was invited to rookie minicamp by head coach Rex Ryan after a conversation he had with the Rutgers coaching staff.

“He was playing some nickel. I like him,” Ryan said. “The coaches at Rutgers said that no one at Rutgers wanted to fight this guy. I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good for a little corner.’ Now we’ll have somebody that will fight him but that is impressive.”

Robinson was a dominant running back at Somerville High School (Somerville, N.J.), a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com and one of the biggest names hauled in by former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano for his 2007 recruiting class. Robinson played from Day 1 at Rutgers.

He was healthy his freshman and sophomore years, but tore his ACL during the first game of his junior season. His redshirt junior year he bounced back and was healthy, in the first practice following the first game of his senior season, he tore his other ACL.

Robinson fought back to get on the field, no matter the odds.

“I’m a big competitor. I love being scrappy. I guess it was instilled in me as a little kid,” Robinson said. “I was the baby of the family and I always had to defend myself against my brothers and even my sisters. It has always been a part of my life.”

During rookie minicamp, Robinson has been in the Jets’ nickel package and, much like Ryan described him, he’s been active and scrappy. He’s been getting praise not just from his head coach at the podium but also the coaching staff on the field.

“I try not to listen to that or pay attention to that,” Robinson said. “Each day is a new learning experience — be better tomorrow than I was yesterday. Even learn from other’s experience.”

When he transitioned from high school to college, Robinson stayed a running back even as many pundits saw a bright future for him in the secondary given his athleticism and outstanding footwork. Carries were hard to come by those first two seasons. He had just 77 rushing attempts and one touchdown his first two seasons — and then was switched to wide receiver where he had one catch. After his first ACL injury, he got moved to defense.

Having played offense, he brings an innate understanding of his role on defense.

“You see splits, you see guys on the ball, off the ball [and] you’re able to read it a little bit. When splits are cut, you’re able to read that a little bit,” Robinson said. “When you watch film, you know what’s going to come. When you’re on the field, you can sense it a bit more.”

Following his second ACL injury, Robinson requested a sixth year from the NCAA and was granted one, but was only at “85 percent,” according to him. He had 14 tackles in 2012, but now Robinson says he is fully healthy and ready to contribute.

In high school, at the Meet of Champions, Robinson ran a 10.51-second time in the 100 meters and during his Pro Day at Rutgers this past spring, he clocked a 4.35-second hand time in the 40-yard dash. If he can stay healthy, he can bring something unique to the Jets this summer and maybe beyond.

“I just want to do whatever I can to make the team, whatever it takes,” Robinson said. “Special teams, cornerback, safety — whatever it takes. I will push myself to make it, to make this team. I won’t settle for anything else.”

Jets notes …

» Rookie minicamp wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux, who was cut by the Jets last week, came in on a tryout this past weekend but will not be back, per source. He likely will look at the Canadian league.

» The Jets announced the signing of defensive tackle Lanier Coleman (Louisiana-Lafayette), kicker Brett Maher (Nebraska), wide receiver Thomas Mayo (California (Pa.)) and outside linebacker Sean Progar-Jackson (Northern Illinois).

» The team also announced the release of kicker Derek Dimke, defensive tackle Roosevelt Holliday and wide receiver Royce Pollard, who was on the practice squad last year.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

The post Ex-Rutgers star Mason Robinson fighting for role with Jets appeared first on Metro.us.

Top draft picks usually get the most scrutiny as teams hold their first rookie minicamp, as the Giants did this weekend. But when you’re an offensive lineman, you’re used to flying under-the-radar.

Justin Pugh, selected No. 19 overall in last month’s draft, got his first taste of that last Friday when fourth-round selection Ryan Nassib garnered much of the attention. It’s Pugh, Nassib’s college teammate, who is competing for a chance to start however.

The college left tackle worked out at right tackle this weekend, where 32-year-old David Diehl is nearing the end of his career.

“He has been there the whole camp so he is getting better every day — more comfortable with it,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “The language barrier is becoming a little bit easier for him, as it is for the others.”

The former college teammates were able to joke about the switch.

“I was like, ‘Hey Ryan, now I got your front side as opposed to your backside.’” Pugh said. “He said, ‘It’s all good, man.’ As long as I’m protecting him, he’s good with it.”

Follow New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

The post Giants’ Justin Pugh fitting in to new position appeared first on Metro.us.

Tommy Bohanon held an NFL Draft party on April 27 as he waited for what he hoped would be a phone call letting him know he was selected. Slated as a late-round pick, Bohanon waited until Saturday to have a big gathering and late in the afternoon, the Wake Forest fullback got that call. He could barely hear the voice on the other end of the line so he did the smart thing and walked outside.

Everyone wanted in on the big moment, so the entire party quieted down and followed him outside. Bohanon put the call on speakerphone so he could hear better. College teammate Brad Idzik was nearby and could hear everything coming out of the phone.

“It was then that Brad said ‘Is that my dad?’ Then I was like, ‘Yeah, it is.’ To be on the phone with him and have his son right there? That’s a little crazy,” Bohanon said.

Brad Idzik is not just a wide receiver on the Demon Deacons but his father is John Idzik, the Jets’ new general manager, who was making the call to let the fullback know he was headed to New York. Bohanon met John Idzik when he was still with the Seahawks as their vice president of football administration but he had no idea he would end up being drafted by the father of one of his best friends. The elder Idzik had scouted Wake Forest before and saw something he liked in the fullback.

Bohanon never asked Brad Idzik if he put in a good word for him with his father but now he comes to a Jets team where he has a chance to compete for a starting position. Incumbent starter Lex Hilliard was solid last year but with a new offensive coordinator there will be plenty of opportunities to come in and compete.

The Demon Deacons ran a spread option offense where Bohanon lined up more as an H-back and ran routes. It is his ability to catch the ball that makes him an ideal fit in the new West Coast offense brought in by offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

“I bring my versatility and that’s part of being a West Coast fullback. You need to be able to catch, you need to be able to run the ball and block. I think I’ll be able to do anything the offense needs me to do,” Bohanon said. “I just want to come in and compete and see how it all turns out in the fall.”

Jets notes …

» Much like the day before, head coach Rex Ryan praised the entire offensive line, but he singled out sixth-round pick Will Campbell out of Michigan. Campbell played along the defensive line last year for the Wolverines and has impressed at left guard as he transitions to the offensive line.

“I’m surprised that he’s not making mistakes,” Ryan said. “It’s like he’s been doing it his whole life.”

» Typically, the Jets hold minicamp the next week after the draft but this year they pushed it back to better coincide with the June minicamp involving the full squad.

“It just made sense,” Ryan said. “Why send them home when they’re already here?”

» On Friday, Ryan called out Quinton Coples for what he saw as less than ideal effort in the weight room the day before. Ryan didn’t back away from the rare criticism, but explained why he went after the second-year defensive lineman, who was a first-round pick last year.

“I expect so much from him that I don’t want him to ever have something where he’s not going full out,” Ryan said. “That’s not my expectation of him.”

Ryan then went on to talk up the player while providing a word of caution.

“Here’s a guy that has all the physical tools to be the best player on the field. And that’s what we expect him to be,” Ryan said.

» Safety Rontez Miles is trying to make the team but he has one thing working against him: a Steelers tattoo on his left arm. Miles has had an impressive rookie minicamp and could get a call to compete at safety come minicamp in June.

“I don’t like his tattoo; he has a Steelers tattoo,” Ryan said. “It could be worse, could be a Patriots tattoo.”

Ryan did praise Miles for his aggressiveness.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets rookie Bohanon finds familiar face in John Idzik appeared first on Metro.us.

There was no hesitation from Sheldon Richardson when asked where the Jets want him to line up this season.

Richardson, taken by the Jets at No. 13 over, was a standout defensive tackle for Missouri in their 4-3 scheme, earning All-SEC accolades during his final season with the Tigers. When he was drafted by the Jets, it was presumed he would play the 5 technique in their 3-4 defense. It especially held true when the news hit Quinton Coples would be moved to outside linebacker this offseason. But the Jets aren’t tied to Richardson playing at end.

In fact, ask Richardson where the Jets ideally want him to play and the answer was clear and concise.

“They want me at the 3 for sure,” Richardson said, referring to lining up inside on a guard as opposed to a tackle.

Richardson is an explosive athlete who showed well from the interior on Friday as the Jets opened their rookie minicamp. He had 75 tackles for the Tigers last season as he played inside, on the edge and even in a special package where he was a linebacker.

He’s also an enthusiastic player who clearly loves the game.

“One thing we saw was explosiveness, effort to the football,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “One thing you can tell is that the guy loves to play. You could have doubled that practice; he would have been fine.”

He has a unique skillset which made him one of the Top-4 players on the Jets’ draft board. But now they have to find a position for him.

He said he’s comfortable playing the 3 technique with the Jets, even if it is a different role than his responsibilities in college. In most 3-4 systems, the player in the middle tends to be a space eater who can stuff the run and occupy at least two blockers. The Jets have recently had success with the likes of Sione Pouha and Kris Jenkins in that role. Both players have significantly more bulk than the 6-foot-3, 294-pound Richardson. In many ways, Richardson looks more like an end.

The Jets might be looking at him another way.

“Right now, they’re just testing me out, seeing where I best play, best fit,” Richardson said. “They had me at the 3 technique. We’ll see, they want me to learn.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets signed four free agents on Thursday morning, inking tackle Oday Aboushi, fullback Tommy Bohanon, guard Will Campbell and guard Brian Winters. In addition, they signed 14 undrafted free agents including Boston College tight end Chris Pantale and former Rutgers wide receiver K.J. Stroud, who transferred to Bethune-Cookman.

» Ryan didn’t highlight too many players but he had praise for former Rutgers cornerback Mason Robinson, who is attempting to make the team as an undrafted free agent.

“The coaches at Rutgers said no one wanted to fight this guy,” Ryan said.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets’ Richardson searching for role on first day appeared first on Metro.us.

Following the first day of rookie minicamp, Jets quarterback Geno Smith sounded humble and contrite, often hitting on how hard he has worked at getting ready for today. In other words, he sounded nothing like the player who drew negative storylines leading up to the NFL Draft.

Smith was the target of a Pro Football Weekly report just three weeks before the NFL Draft that claimed he was “not a student of the game” and “not committed or focused.” The report played a role in Smith dropping to the Jets in the second round. Reports after the draft claimed Smith interviewed poorly and tweeted during predraft meetings with teams. The fact that he fired his agent last week only exacerbated the perception that Smith lacks maturity.

But on Friday following his first time on the field for the Jets, Smith did his best to erase that perception.

“I don’t think anyone who has worked with me or known me in the past has had anything negative to say. From what I’ve seen coaches and teammates have all said great things about me,” Smith said. “But I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on what I have here with the Jets and proving myself to my teammates and coaches. Like I said, I am trying to improve myself daily.”

It was a rocky first day at work for Smith, who at first glance lacked the composure and finesse in the pocket one would hope to see from a top pick. His downfield accuracy struggled and he bopped around the pocket with a lack of comfort and vision. His short passing game was solid but it is clear Smith is a work in progress.

The transition could be steep for Smith, despite his gaudy numbers at West Virginia. Operating out of the Airraid offense, Smith was often in the shotgun and will have to adjust to being under center with the Jets.

“[I'll be under center] probably more than recently but it felt like a natural transition,” Smith said. “Obviously there’s some things I need to clean up and I’m going work on that with [quarterback] coach [David] Lee, [offensive coordinator Marty] Mornhinweg. It didn’t feel too odd to me so I think I did a pretty good job.”

With strong athletic ability and a good arm, Smith has the potential to be a solid quarterback for the Jets. His intermediate passes always were right at the numbers of his wide receivers and in college he showed good arm strength.

He earned praise from head coach Rex Ryan for his command of the huddle and Ryan said there were no red flags in the draft process that would back up the claims made about Smith.

“Maybe I don’t know what diva behavior looks like but he didn’t do it here,” Ryan said.

Smith for his part has been putting in an effort to try to distance himself from the negative criticism. He held a meeting with his offensive line last night to go over verbiage in the huddle and he’s spoken with the three other quarterbacks on the Jets roster. In short, he’s doing what he should be doing.

For someone who isn’t supposed to be a student of the game, Smith is doing his best to sound like one.

“I don’t think it was too foreign to me. First of all, I studied my butt off to get prepared for today,” Smith said. “Then there’s more work going into getting ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be a transition but that’s expected. But I’m going to work at it and work my best to get my best foot forward.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Geno Smith works on changing perception on first day at Jets camp appeared first on Metro.us.

Some guys seek out the girlfriend experience. Others want the true general manager experience.

For those of us who dream of being Jerry Reese, rather than being with Sasha Grey, we have dynasty leagues. The players we draft can be with us forever, we can sell prospects at the deadline to go for a title and we can build a perennial contender. It’s the truest form of fantasy.

The NFL draft provides a unique opportunity for dynasty owners. There are certain players that might not make a huge impact right away, but project to be major assets down the line:

Manly Christine
Why did the Seahawks use a second-round pick on Texas A&M’s Christine Michael when they already have Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin? Three reasons. First, Lynch has a balky back and is a candidate to be a cap casualty as soon as 2015. Second, Lynch is facing DUI charges and a possible suspension. And third, they really like Michael as a potential feature back down the line. It makes him an ideal dynasty stash as the Seahawks project to be a dominant, run-heavy team for years to come.

Backfield in motion
Denard Robinson is 5-foot-10, 199 lbs., ran a 4.43 at the combine and has the jukes to make defenders look silly. That sounds a lot like Chris Johnson. Robinson was a running quarterback at Michigan, where he piled up an absurd 4,495 yards and 42 touchdowns. The Jags drafted him to play running back, where they have Maurice Jones-Drew in a contract year. Robinson has the makings of a steal.

Cut the Cord
Cordarrelle Patterson played one year of Division I football. In that year, he caught 46 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns. The Vikings made him a first-round pick because of what he can be down the line, not what he is now. The most naturally gifted athlete in his class, Patterson will start off behind Jerome Simpson, catching mostly screens and running reverses. Within a couple years, he’ll be the Vikings’ No. 1 wideout.

NFL news
The biggest injury of the offseason is Robert Griffin III’s knee. Next up is Rob Gronkowski’s forearm. We’ll find out within the next couple weeks if he’ll need a fifth procedure on his infected left forearm. If he does, Gronk’s Week 1 status will be in doubt. The infection, however, is not expect to prevent him from smashing beer cans against his face and fist-pumping shirtless.
MLB pickups
Junichi Tazawa, RP, Red Sox: Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey are both on the DL. For now, Tazawa is the closer.
Andrew Cashner, SP, Padres: We’re always trying to add pitchers who call Petco home. This ex-reliever is now locked into the rotation.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B, Padres: A highly-touted prospect, Gyorko is hitting .360 with three homers over his last seven games. The light is on.

The post Adam Levitan, Living the Fantasy: Dynasty owners are drooling appeared first on Metro.us.

Rookie minicamp is here for the Jets and there is more intrigue than in most years. For starters, the Jets are bringing in seven draft picks including two first round selections and three total players who were consensus Top-10 picks in most mock drafts.

It will also be the first chance for new general manager John Idzik to implement his mantra of competition and try to rebuild a team just two seasons removed from consecutive AFC Championship game appearances.

But the most intriguing storylines are not first-round picks Dee Milliner or Sheldon Richardson, or even quarterback Geno Smith. We look at stories at rookie minicamp among the names you may not be so familiar with.

Three storylines to watch …

1. Oday can you be?

The Jets used a fifth-round pick on Virginia tackle Oday Aboushi, who could end up playing guard in the NFL. The Jets lost both of their starting guards from last year and Aboushi could slide over and end up making a push to win one of those two open positions, in particular Brandon Moore’s slot at right guard. He’s a real mauler with a good engine, but his footwork needs some fine-tuning. Aboushi, a native of Brooklyn, is relatively polished and if he can improve his mobility could give starting right tackle Austin Howard some good competition too. But the guard competition might be his best chance to get immediate playing time.

2. Pass-catching fullback

In the Jets’ new West Coast offense, a fullback who can not only block down field but also catch the ball is necessary as the quarterback will utilize the backfield for short passing situations. Enter seventh-round pick Tommy Bohanon, who displayed this type of versatility at Wake Forest and can be utilized as an H-back as well. He is a good athlete and considering the mixed reviews of fullback Lex Hilliard last year, Bohanon has a good chance to make the team and make a statement to be starter. He’s a good athlete and by all accounts interviewed well during his visits leading up to the draft.

3. Hansen the tryout player

Nose tackle Damon Harrison emerged last year as an undrafted free agent who made the 53-man roster and then started to contribute by season’s end. A name to watch as a rookie camp invitee this year is linebacker Matt Hansen, University of Rhode Island’s all-time leading tackler. He was signed by the Falcons to their practice squad in 2011 and then last June he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. He is now fully healed and could add depth at linebacker. Hansen is good in coverage and has a nose for the ball, something that could make him an intriguing prospect.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets rookie minicamp: 3 stories to watch appeared first on Metro.us.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is married again.

After finalizing a divorce settlement with longtime wife, Christina Weiss Lurie, this past August, Lurie is once again off the market. The billionaire tied the knot with Philadelphia resident Tina Lai in a private ceremony this past weekend.

Christina Weiss Lurie is still part owner of the Eagles and remains very active in the organization, mostly in charity and community service initiatives. Lai will reportedly have no official role with the Eagles.

“I am happy and excited as Tina and I begin our lives together,” Lurie said in a statement.

The post Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie weds in private ceremony appeared first on Metro.us.

David Garrard is ready to be the other man.

During his nine years as a quarterback in the NFL, Garrard has been on both sides of a quarterback controversy. In 2006 and again in 2007, Garrard battled with Byron Leftwich to start for the Jaguars — a battle eventually won by Garrard. Then in 2010, Garrard was on the wrong side of the battle when first-round pick Blaine Gabbert won the starting job and Jacksonville released the veteran quarterback.

Now after two injury-plagued years in which he hasn’t played a single snap of football, Garrard is in New York where he will look to wrestle the starting job away from Mark Sanchez.

“It seems like the last few years, everywhere I’ve been has been a little bit of a quarterback competition [and] a lot of hype with it. [It's] a little bit different here — a few more cameras up here,” Garrard said on Thursday. “Still, what it comes down to is between the lines out there and the way you perform on the field, the way you perform in practice, training camp, preseason games. To me, that will be the deciding factor in who is on the field, who is the starting quarterback on day one. And that’s how it should be.”

Sanchez has struggled the last two years but 2012 was a year marked by ineptness en route to a 6-10 record and another missed trips to the playoffs. Under new general manager John Idzik, the competition mantra is being instilled in the organization and Garrard is expected to be much more than a veteran mentor, he’s coming in to compete and perhaps start.

For this first time in what will be his fifth season in the league, Sanchez will have to win a job that was handed to him during his rookie year in 2009. Despite being plagued by injuries and having not thrown a pass since 2010, Garrard is already an enticing option when compared to Sanchez.

He thinks he can regain the form he showed with the Jaguars in 2010 when he threw for 2,734 with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

“I’ve been a No. 1 quarterback before, as long as I’m healthy, as long as I’m able to continue to work with the team and I don’t have setbacks with my knee or back or anything like that, then I know that I have the ability to,” Garrard said. “But I can’t talk about it, I have to go out there on the field and do it. I’ve been trying to be the No. 1 guy for the last two years and just one thing after another hasn’t allowed that. So right now I can’t talk about where I want to be, I want to show that.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Garrard has own designs on winning QB competition appeared first on Metro.us.

What is being labeled as a circus is nothing more than a quarterback competition for the Jets, albeit a lackluster one at this point.

Mark Sanchez enters his fifth year in the league not solidly entrenched atop the depth chart but rather battling for his future in New York. After taking the normal amount of time away from the game this offseason to recover from the NFL season, Sanchez said he is here to not just compete but also to retain the starting role he has had since he was handed the job as a rookie in 2009.

“Absolutely, that’s where my head is at,” Sanchez said. “I’m competing to be the starter.”

After a 2012 season where he struggled in nearly all facets of the game, the pressure and attention is on Sanchez to improve this year or likely face his last year as a Jet. Last year his numbers were down dramatically as the team missed the playoffs for a second straight season.

The response came from new Jets general manager John Idzik, who brought in David Garrard this offseason as a free agent to provide depth at the position and compete for the starting spot. Despite having not played the last two years due to injuries, the New Jersey native is expected to push Sanchez.

Garrard comes into a crowded quarterback stable that includes not only Sanchez but third-year quarterback Greg McElroy, who played in two games last year including one start, and second-round draft pick Geno Smith. Given the number of quarterbacks in camp, and especially since Idzik brought in a veteran and a high draft pick onto the roster, the general consensus would hold that Sanchez is currently on the outs.

He did acknowledge that each of the five quarterbacks is vying for the starting job this year, saying, “We’re friendly about it but at the same time it’s a fierce competition.”

“It falls right in line with what John Idzik talked about – bringing in competition at every position,” Sanchez said. “But it also mirrors up with everything I’ve been about really my whole life whether in high school, college or making it to the NFL level – of competing with other players [and] earning everything you’ve received in this league; nothing is just given. You have to compete to earn it. It will be fun.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Sanchez plans on competing to be Jets’ starter appeared first on Metro.us.

The first running back in last week’s draft didn’t come off the board until the second round. The highest profile college back saw 60 names come off the board before he was called. And a player many draftniks had as their No. 2 runner (Johnathan Franklin) lasted until the fifth round.

However, the loss of real-life value hasn’t affected the fantasy value of rookie running backs. This year has a chance to be a special class:

1. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
The Steelers gave up on Rashard Mendenhall, have identified Isaac Redman as a complementary piece and are trying to trade Jonathan Dwyer. Add it all up and we have a potentially monstrous workload for Bell. The Michigan State product isn’t the most talented rookie, but he projects to play on all three downs and averaged 4.99 YPC in the rugged Big Ten.

2. Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
Lacy fell to No. 61 overall due to medical concerns. He had toe surgery in 2012 and showed up out of shape to his Pro Day thanks to a hamstring pull. Still, Lacy is entering a high-upside situation. At the very least, the powerful 231-pounder will be the clear-cut goal-line in arguably the league’s best offense. At the very best, he’ll get the 14.2 carries per game Cedric Benson was getting last year and be far more productive.

3. Montee Ball, RB, Broncos
As of now, both Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are on the Broncos’ roster. Thanks to a combination of injuries and salary, they are both candidates to be released at some point before the season. So John Elway grabbed Ball with the No. 58 overall pick and clearly expects him to be able to protect Peyton Manning out of the gate. Ronnie Hillman is nothing more than a change-of-pace option.

4. Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
The man with the most wiggle turned out to be the first running back selected. Bernard is explosive with a 4.53 forty at 202 pounds, but he’ll start off as the speed complement behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis. There’s a ton more Dynasty appeal in Bernard than re-draft value.

5. Tavon Austin, WR, Rams
No player generated more buzz than Austin ahead of the draft. By the time Thursday night came around, you would have thought a fair trade would have been Austin for the No. 1 pick and Joe Montana. The Rams certainly bought into the hype, as they traded up to No. 8 overall to select a 5-foot-8 slot receiver. It’s a wise move, however, as Austin is a Percy Harvin/Randall Cobb kind of talent. He’ll make plays right away in the Rams’ revamped offense.

6. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
Andre Johnson has never played across from a legit No. 2 receiver. At long last, the Texans got him some help. Hopkins is a Roddy White clone, one that isn’t the fastest guy but knows how to get open. He’ll step right in as the starting “Z” and benefit from single coverage all day long.

Thumbs down: Veteran losers on draft day

 
1. Kenny Britt: The Titans used a second-round pick on Justin Hunter after using a first-round pick on Kendall Wright last year.
2. Kevin Kolb: The Bills shockingly used a first-round pick on E.J. Manuel. You can bet they hope the massive rookie starts Week 1.
3. Brian Quick: Once thought of as an intriguing small-school gem, Quick is getting lost in the shuffle. Tavon Austin and newly-acquired Jared Cook will get more targets.

Sleeper alert: Jordan Cameron

 
The Browns run a tight-end centric scheme and they didn’t use any picks on a tight end. Jordan Cameron, a natural pass-catcher, is the man. Coach Rob Chudzinski has squeezed career seasons out of Kellen Winslow, Antonio Gates and Greg Olsen at previous stops.

The Bengals traded up and grabbed Tavon Austin with the No. 8 pick.

The post Adam Levitan: Analyzing NFL draft from fantasy perspective appeared first on Metro.us.

Whether fairly or not, the Jets’ two first-round picks in last week’s NFL Draft will be expected to turn around a franchise that has struggled the past two seasons. The team has missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson will likely step into prominent roles for a team clearly rebuilding.

The picks are welcome for head coach Rex Ryan, a former defensive coordinator with the Ravens who very much remains involved with his defense with the Jets.

Metro New York reached out to two NFL Draft experts for their grade on the Jets’ first-round picks.

The experts:
Dan Shonka – A former NFL scout who is now the general manager and national scout for Ourlads.com
Rick Serritella – The founder of the popular and well-respected NFL Draft Bible, a comprehensive draft resource

No. 9 – Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama

How does the pick fit into the Jets needs?
Shonka: After the trade of Darrelle Revis, it gives the Jets another big time cornerback to play opposite Antonio Cromartie.
Serritella: Most complete cornerback in the draft. If anyone can play in the shadow of Revis, Milliner has talent to do so. Will play opposite of Cromartie as Kyle Wilson is not viewed as dependable starter.

What did you like about the player on tape?
Shonka: Has the prototypical size and speed for the cornerback position. Smooth and fluid in his movement with little wasted motion. Good body control and ball skills. Can stick his foot in the ground and drive hard on the ball. Plays with good instincts and awareness. Good ball skills to play the ball down the field.
Serritella: Physical cornerback who excels in bump and run coverage. Fluid hips and natural instincts; will step up and help against the run.

What stands out as a concern?
Shonka: Has below average hands to catch the ball.
Serritella: Footwork and fundamentals need improvement. Has just one year of starting experience.

No. 13 – Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri

How does the pick fit into the Jets needs?
Shonka: Ryan wants strength up the middle with loss of Sione Pouha. An upgrade from Antonio Garay & Kenrick Lewis. Should create competition and rotation ability.
Serritella: Not your prototypical nose tackle in a 3-4; better suited in 4-3 scheme. Could change dynamic of Jets defense up front with Quinton Coples and Muhammad Wilkerson.

What did you like about the player on tape?
Shonka: Instinctive with the ability to redirect quickly. Lightning quick up the field; doesn’t stay blocked. Experience dropping into coverage. Plays well on his feet. Good instincts and feel for the game. Explosive initial quickness to control the blocker. A good effort player.
Serritella: Explosive. Speed allows for rare pass-rush abilities from the defensive tackle position. Can be disruptive in backfield and has the ‘quicks’ to chase down runners.

What stands out as a concern?
Shonka: Only played a year and a half for the Tigers. Will slip off a tackle at times when he’s trying to rake and strip a quarterback.
Serritella: Struggles to hold point of attack, loses leverage against stronger lineman. Junior college transfer so still developing as a player. Coming off shoulder surgery.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets 2013 NFL draft: The scouts’ take appeared first on Metro.us.

Tim Tebow is gone but the questions about his curious one-year stint with the Jets continue a day after his release.

Acquired in a trade with the Broncos last March, Tebow spent one puzzling year with the Jets where he threw just eight passes and was involved just a handful of times in each game. Tebow’s tenure started with a full press conference attended by 150 members of the media and ended ingloriously with a 125-word press release announcing his release on Monday.

On Tuesday in a conference call with season-ticket holders, general manager John Idzik said Tebow was never asked to switch positions.

“We really view Tim as a quarterback here. We didn’t contemplate moving him around,” Idzik said on the call. “When we viewed him on the roster, we viewed him with respect to the other quarterbacks we have.”

Immediately after the trade, head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Tebow was coming in to back up incumbent starter Mark Sanchez and to be used in a variety of different roles.

This line from Jets management was supposed to quell any talk of a quarterback competition but instead created an issue in the team’s locker room.

One offensive starter on the 2012 team spoke to Metro New York about the fallout of the Tebow trade last season. The starter spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the nature of the remarks.

“It’s done, it’s over, but it wasn’t good last year. What happened was that Mark became entitled because he was the only player on the roster who didn’t fight for his job,” the player said. “You’ve got this situation where the player brought in to be the backup can’t win the starting job so what does that mean for the starter? It means he’s the starter no matter what goes on and all that. I’m not saying Mark dogged it out there but it created this sort of entitlement mentality and Mark had his job no matter what. Then you got a Tim Tebow who outworked everyone and couldn’t get a fair shot. They made a mistake by not making this an open thing. I don’t think they meant to but making Tebow the immediate backup hurt the whole team. It made Mark protected in his role.

“I think last year, the coaches and GM were scared that Tebow might come in and show-up Mark. If Tebow was active in Week 15 and not [backup quarterback] Greg [McElroy] then I don’t think they pull Sanchez from that game.”

“You then have a bunch of his teammates saying, ‘Mark is our guy.’ Well, do they say that for an offensive lineman who isn’t doing well or a tight end or a receiver? No, the best man plays no matter what. I’m not saying Tim was better than Mark, but he wasn’t given even a look last year. I think they had to release him just to be rid of the negativity. Mark knew that no matter how bad he was, Tebow wasn’t going to play over him. If his last name was Davis or Jones or Smith and not Tebow, would he then have had a shot?”

Even with the release of Tebow, the Jets still have five quarterbacks on their roster. Sanchez and McElroy return and the team signed veteran quarterback David Garrard this offseason as a free agent. They also drafted West Virginia’s Geno Smith in the second round last week and brought in Matt Simms to compete for a role as well.

“We have five quarterbacks on our roster; we’ll let them compete. We got a rookie minicamp coming up so we’ll be able to see a few of them throw and then we’ll take it day-to-day,” Idzik said on the call. “We’ll see how it goes going forward. We probably won’t be able to take five to camp but again we’ll let it play out.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

The post Source: Tebow ‘couldn’t get a fair shot’ with Jets appeared first on Metro.us.

If nothing else, the conclusion of the NFL Draft represented not just a fresh start for the Jets organization, but an entire cleansing from the old ways.

There is a culture change taking place right now by general manager John Idzik, whose message of building through the draft and increasing competition across the board was the main reason he was hired by owner Woody Johnson in late January. For the past four offseasons (and perhaps even longer), the Jets had been bent on big names and splashy signings. Idzik, instead, is going with young and unproven players as his formula for long-term success.

The emphasis in this draft on taking the best player available and filling needs is a stark departure from recent drafts. It seems as if Johnson is finally prepared to listen to Idzik the proselyte. The new general manager is preaching a mentality that has led to sustainable success in places like New England and Baltimore and was used to build the rising powers in San Francisco and Seattle.

Johnson, who in the past never saw a big name he didn’t like, is a convert. Monday’s news of the release of Tim Tebow only underscores this new paradigm.

This team will go young, will draft players and will build from the bottom up. Wheeling and dealing and short-term fixes have no place for a team that has bought high and sold low for too many years.

Across the board, the Jets got more talented but also deeper via this draft, ending an era of entitlement for star players who have been overpaid and underperformed for far too long.

Instead of playing fast and loose with their selections like in years past, the Jets held onto seven of their eight picks, trading away only their fourth-round selection for former Saints running back Chris Ivory, who could be a potential star in New York.

With three selections in the first 39 picks of the draft, the Jets netted three selections who all were all viewed as potential Top-10 picks. Nothing will be given to these players — no prominent or even starting role handed to them to justify their selection. Not Dee Milliner, not Sheldon Richardson and not even Geno Smith, taken in the second round and likely the quarterback who will replace Mark Sanchez.

An emphasis on the draft as a way to build a team is underscored by the similar mindset it will breed in this newest crop of young Jets, who will learn from the onset what playing for this team means.

It is unlikely that each of Idzik’s seven draft picks will develop into a star but what they can and will do is develop a culture of winning around this team. The guns for hire that marked the past five seasons in Jets land resulted in locker room dissension and a toxic atmosphere.

Now the Jets will start bringing in players who, from the onset of their professional careers, will grow up in the Jets’ way of doing things through competition. Doing this every year will only enforce that in their locker room.

“Play Like a Jet” won’t just be a slogan that works when the Jets win; instead it will become a part of the team’s chemistry as players are signed and brought along in their scheme. Over time, the mantra will become a mindset as more and more draft picks brought in by Idzik take on prominent roles in the locker room.

And it might just work.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Opinion: NFL Draft shows Idzik in control of Jets franchise appeared first on Metro.us.

The post VIDEO: Run Tebow, run appeared first on Metro.us.

The New York Jets announced the release of Tim Tebow on Monday, April 29, 2013. Here is a look back at photos from when he played for the Denver Broncos, and later for the New York Jets.

The post PHOTOS: A look back at Tim Tebow playing for the Broncos and Jets appeared first on Metro.us.

The year-long experiment is finally over.

The Jets have released backup quarterback Tim Tebow. The New York Post reports Tebow was told by general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan Monday morning at the team facility.

“We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow,” head coach Rex Ryan said in a statement. “Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Tebow’s release brings to an end a trade which never made much sense in the first place. Tebow was acquired from Denver in March 2012 for a fourth-round draft pick and a swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks. Almost right away the move incited controversy on both sides. Tebow had gained fame in Denver for bursting onto the scene and leading the Broncos to a playoff win.

The evangelical Christian already developed a cult following in his time at the University of Florida, where he won two national titles and a Heisman trophy.

But his NFL abilities were questioned from the start. Denver head coach Josh McDaniels staked his future on drafting Tebow in the first round at 25th overall in 2010. But when former great John Elway took over as team president, he never seemed enamored with the quarterback’s unique skillset and pulled the trade with the Jets despite the successful 2011 season.

From the start in New York his role was hazy. The team held a solo news conference to introduce Tebow, but when camp opened in the fall the coaching staff consistently reiterated Mark Sanchez, who had received a contract extension weeks before the trade, would be the starter.

The team, including new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, said it would use Tebow extensively in Wildcat packages and in the red zone.

When the season began, none of that materialized. And even when Sanchez sputtered late in the season, Greg McElroy got the start when Sanchez was benched. It was speculated the trade was championed by owner Woody Johnson while the coaching staff never wanted the addition.

Idzik would never outright say the team was looking to trade Tebow, but it was widely reported. He did not include Tebow in the quarterback competition in a press conference prior to the draft. With Jacksonville — Tebow’s hometown, where he enjoys massive popularity — saying it had no interest in Tebow, the market seemed all but nonexistent.

The NFL Draft ended on Saturday, and with the selection of West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the second round, Tebow was released.

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

The post Jets release backup QB Tim Tebow appeared first on Metro.us.

It is the end of the “Sanchise.”

After using both of their first-round picks Thursday night on the defensive side of the ball, the Jets addressed their most pressing need by going after offense, taking quarterback Geno Smith with the No. 39 overall selection. It likely spells the beginning of the end for incumbent starter Mark Sanchez, who was taken in the first round four years ago and was supposed to be the face of the franchise.

Smith joins free agent signee David Garrard not to mention Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy as quarterbacks on the roster.

Smith was a popular Top-10 pick in most mock drafts but fell out of the first round as teams were uncertain about his ability to consistently make throws along with questions about his technique.

“I’m going to come in with the right mentality. I’m going to come in and work,” Smith said. “I’m going to make sure that I put my best foot forward. I’m going to be dedicated and try to come in and be a leader and help my team win games.”

What the move does is likely begin the death knell for Sanchez, who the Jets took No. 5 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Sanchez led the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship games his first two years in the league but the Jets have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

Smith will now be the face of the franchise and in all likelihood will be anointed the Jets’ latest savior.

During his senior season at West Virginia, Smith completed 369-of-518 passes for 4,205 yards with 42 touchdowns and six interceptions. But it wasn’t all pretty. After a 5-0 start, the Mountaineers fell apart, losing five of their last seven games and then were badly beaten by Syracuse at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

The Jets had the No. 30 total offense last season, averaging just 299.2 yards per game under Sanchez. They struggled in the passing game and with offseason losses tight end Dustin Keller and running back Shonn Greene, the team Smith joins will be lacking star power and playmakers, at least this season.

In early April, Smith met with the Jets over a two-day period but he said he had no idea he would be taken in the second round. He sees himself as a franchise quarterback.

“I do believe so, for a number of reasons. The main thing is that I’m going to come into practice; I’m going to come into work. I’m going to compete daily. I’m going to also do my best to better teammates in order for us to win a Super Bowl,” Smith said.

“It’s not about qualities. I think it’s up to me to continue to improve daily. My game is not based on one single thing, but I think it is based on a number of things. As long as I continue to improve and progress, I think I’ll be fine.”

Winters goes in third round

It wasn’t the franchise-shaking move the Jets made with Smith, but third-round pick Brian Winters of Kent State could be a very solid addition to the team.

The theme of the second day of the draft for the Jets was offense, taking their quarterback of the future in the second round and then adding a guard in Winters with the No. 72 pick, a move that solidifies their offensive line. Winters started 49 games for the Golden Flashes all as a tackle. Winters isn’t viewed as a lineman with great technique, but instead as a physical mauler. He is projected to move to guard.

In all likelihood, Winters will step right into a starting position with the Jets, who lost starters Brandon Moore and Matt Slauson this offseason. CBSSports.com had him as a second-round grade and the No. 5 guard in the draft.

“I couldn’t ask to step into a better situation,” Winters said in a conference call with the media.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets draft QB Geno Smith in second round appeared first on Metro.us.

The Giants made a big splash in every sense of the word with their second-round pick, as they selected defensive tackle John Hankins of Ohio State.

Hankins is 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds and is the typical two-gap run-stuffing tackle who usually occupies two blockers.

New York is taking its nickname to heart as Hankins joins Mike Patterson, Cullen Jenkins, Shaun Rogers, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn in the defensive tackle rotation.

It’s unlikely Hankins will crack the starting rotation, but he’ll certainly be a part of the rotation — providing the gargantuan lineman stays in shape, because that’s about the only knock on the former Buckeye star.

Marc Ross, who is in his seventh season as the Giants’ director of college scouting, is in charge of the franchise’s college scouting department and has a large say in the team’s draft picks, and he’s confident that none of the criticism about Hankins will stick during his time in New York.

“We had him identified as a first-round guy. This is not just a raw guy. This guy knows how to play football,” said Ross, adding the massive Hankins isn’t just a plodder. “You see he can be more of the athletic quick edge move kind of guys, [which] makes this guy more of a rarity. … Plus, he does the dirty work [because] he is a wide body.”

Ross did quickly admit Hankins “probably could lose a few pounds” but then predicted “the sky is the limit for him [because] he is a big, wide-bodied presence and a three-down player.”

The Giants will need Hankins’s girth because they surrendered 129.1 rush yards per game last season, and have been searching for a big-bodied defensive tackle to alleviate some pressure on edge guys Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck.

Ross said Hankins — and yesterday’s first-round pick Justin Pugh (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) — will add a nice element of toughness and physicality for Big Blue on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

“We wanted to get bigger and more physical up front and we really think we’ve done that with these first two picks,” Ross said.

Big Blue notes …

» The Giants also got great value in the third round by selecting pass-rush defensive end Damontre Moore of Texas A&M. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder was a supreme sack artist in college — playing opposite Broncos All-Pro linebacker Von Miller in college. Moore lasted until the third round, however, because he didn’t test well at the NFL Combine or his Pro Day, when he only benched pressed 225 pounds 12 times (by comparison most quarterbacks can surpass that amount) and ran a pedestrian 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash. But judging by the flier Giants general manager Jerry Reese took on Moore, he valued the stellar game tape and Moore’s measurables over testing.

Follow Giants beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

The post Giants add beef to defense with Hankins, Moore appeared first on Metro.us.

The Giants had a few needs to fill, including skill positions like running back, linebacker and cornerback. But true to their form, they bypassed all the hoopla and stuck to their board, by selecting offensive tackle Justin Pugh with their No. 19 pick.

The former Syracuse star is 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds and considered by many to be one of the best tackle/guard combos in the league. The Giants have a habit of selecting ready-made players in the first round and Pugh shouldn’t be any different.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese said that Pugh was high on their draft board and added in earnest that he’s happy that the lineman was available.

“He was the highest guy on our board,” said Reese, almost sounding as if he was trying to convince anyone within earshot. “You guys think I’m joking when I say that, but he was the highest guy on our board.”

Pugh, a 2012 First-Team All-Big East selection, will likely slide immediately into the swing-tackle position — a spot that is very valuable in offensive coordinator’s Kevin Gilbride’s offense.

The extra tackle in the heavy packages is essentially an extra blocker for short-yardage situations, which is something the Giants have lacked in execution in recent years.

Head coach Tom Coughlin certainly expects Pugh to hold his own.

“It’s an outstanding pick for us. Justin is a very good left tackle from Syracuse University, and he’s a technician and an excellent student and very smart,” said Coughlin, who is also a Syracuse alum. “He utilizes all of his ability and he adds a lot of versatility.”

Coughlin went on to praise the versatility of his newest player.

“He can play the left or right side. He’s got big hands, and could even play center for us if we needed that,” Coughlin said. “His feet are good and can get to the second level as well as anyone. … He can play either tackle position and [can] probably be taught the inside as well.”

Regarding the Giants’ tackle positions, Pugh may not immediately crack the starting lineup, as left tackle Will Beatty signed a lucrative contract extension during the offseason and right tackle David Diehl will be penciled in at the right tackle position. Diehl, though, isn’t inked in as the starter, so it’s a real possibility that Pugh can give the veteran a battle in training camp.

Coughlin certainly thinks Pugh can handle the pressure of camp competition against a respected and long-time veteran.

“Well, it was time to address [adding depth on the offensive line] and if the best player available was an offensive lineman, we’d be very happy to get help along the offensive line,” said Coughlin. “It’s not easy to come into the National Football League and play or start at the offensive line position. But this young man has the experience and intelligence to handle that.”

Follow Giants beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

The post Giants go under-the-radar with offensive lineman Pugh appeared first on Metro.us.

With two first-round picks, John Idzik’s initial draft as general manager of the Jets produced no shortage of intrigue. Now, we will have to wait and see if cornerback Dee Milliner and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardsoncan prove to be impact players.

Amid rumors they would trade back from one of their two first-round picks, the Jets stood pat as they began their rebuilding process, even if the names weren’t necessarily the high-profile prospects Jets fans were salivating over. With West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin and North Carolina guard John Cooper already off the board, the Jets eschewed popular names such as West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in selecting Milliner and Richardson.

“We selected two of the top four players on our board, period,” Idzik said. “And we’re extremely thrilled to have that. We were in a very unique position that way, especially considering this draft.”

Milliner, considered the best cover corner in the draft, impressed during his three years at Alabama and is solid in press coverage. He is a physical cornerback who should fit well into the Jets’ 3-4 scheme. But Milliner also comes as damaged goods, with recent shoulder surgery in addition to a rod in his tibia and a knee scope on his medical history.

His multiple trips under the knife didn’t scare off the Jets.

“We’re comfortable with the medical. He’s had a few things. He’s a very physical player; he doesn’t miss time. He played through the injuries,” Idzik said.

“Dee just loves football. He just does not miss practice, he does not miss games. And that was really important to us. In short, we were comfortable with his medical.”

Head coach Rex Ryan called him a “complete player.”

“He’s a great tackler,” Ryan said. “He’s physical.”

The Jets owned the No. 9 pick by virtue of their 6-10 record last season and acquired the No. 13 pick from the Buccaneers as part of the Darrelle Revis trade earlier this week. The trade made the Jets the only teams with two selections in the first 15 picks of the draft and it also made Milliner a pick that fit a need.

“[The trade] had nothing to do with this. It was based purely on the player. It might be perceived that way but the reality is [that] Dee was one of our highest-ranked players on our board, regardless of position.”

Rather than trading back at No. 13, the Jets went defense again with the selection of Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. With the Tigers, Richardson had 70 tackles and is the ideal three-technique for a team that lacked a pass rush last year.

Richardson represents the third straight year the Jets used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman, having taken Muhammad Wilkerson two years ago and Quinton Coples last year.

“I think he can compete right way. When you say we got two players in our top four, that tells you what the New York Jets think about him,” Ryan said.

The Jets looked away from addressing their multiple needs on offense, in particular at wide receiver and left guard and went defense in the first round for a fourth straight year.

“This draft is deep,” Idzik said with a smile.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Idzik ‘extremely thrilled’ with Jets’ first-round selections appeared first on Metro.us.

The Jets gambled with the No. 9 pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, selecting Dee Milliner with their top selection. The move brings in a talented playmaker at cornerback after recently trading Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers, but the move comes with a high level of risk.

There is no denying Milliner was the top cornerback in the draft, based off his play for Alabama last season, but he has a long list of injuries, including a reported five surgeries. Most recently, he had a shoulder surgery which has hampered his draft preparations.

Milliner told reporters Thursday night he will be ready and healthy for training camp in July.

“It’s nothing that kept me from playing on the field, never had any setbacks from it. They always managed it so it’s nothing big,” Milliner said on a conference call with the media. “You can see that if you watch the field when I’m out there playing.”

Whether fairly or not, Milliner will always be compared to Revis, who he will essentially replace in the perception of fans. But in the near term, he will compete with Kyle Wilson, who was the Jets’ first-round pick in 2010 and has been underwhelming.

“I’m just going to try and go out there and compete and do what I do best and that’s play football,” Milliner said. “I’m just going to come in there and compete for a job and play football and control what I can do.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets select injury-prone Milliner to replace Revis appeared first on Metro.us.

It’s been a big week for everyone’s favorite female basketball star, Skylar Diggins.

Diggins, who was recently selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, signed on with Jay-Z’s new sports agency, RocNationSports. She was immediately captured throwing up the “dynasty” sign. Diggins joins the Yankees’ Robinson Cano and the Giants’ Victor Cruz on Jay-Z’s client list.

Earlier in the week, Diggins and injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant enjoyed some light-hearted banter on the Twittersphere.

Bryant initiated the conversation while remarking on Diggins’ appearance at a Nike camp, writing, “Heard @SkyDigg4 is visiting my Nike fam campus! It would be great to have her be the 1^st official #ladymamba rep #mambamen …”

To which Diggins re-tweeted and replied, “Lady Mamba lol”

No word yet from Vanessa Bryant …

Feeling a draft

The NFL Draft is mere hours away as we sit here typing. While the experts — and yes, even Metro did a mock draft — break down the best of the best, we want to use this space to introduce you to the first WAG we’ve come across.

Matt Barkley is a quarterback for USC. He may go in the first round, if a team desperately seeking a quarterback wants to reach. More likely, he’ll go in the second or third round, and maybe his suitor will secure the steal of the 2013 draft.

More likely, we’ll all just be cheering for him to go early, so we can get up close and personal with his girlfriend, Brittany Langdon, much like we did a year ago with Ryan Tannehill and his smokeshow disguised as arm candy.

In the meantime, enjoy Brittany, courtesy of BustedCoverage.com.

Happy drafting everyone!

The post Playing the Field: Skylar Diggins signs with Jay-Z, flirts with Kobe Bryant appeared first on Metro.us.

In what will be his first NFL Draft in charge of the Jets, the pressure is on general manager John Idzik to produce nothing short of a home run. The men who know him best think he is capable of doing just that.

Idzik comes to the Jets with an intriguing resume even if it might not appear on paper like he’s an ideal candidate. With Seattle the past six seasons, Idzik was the vice president of football administration, a title not synonymous with the draft process. But in this role, he had a vital role in personnel decisions as he specialized in salary cap issues and contracts and also had a hand in player evaluations.

“John did scout on the road and attended workouts for us. Our draft process is mostly collaborative by nature,” John Schneider, executive vice president/general manager of the Seahawks, told Metro New York. “John sat right behind me in the room on draft day and provided input throughout that process. Additionally, he was responsible for coordinating the free agency period of the draft for us. He was a valuable asset.”

The buck now stops with Idzik.

When Idzik was introduced in late January, owner Woody Johnson praised a background that included drafting and scouting. Much like Schneider described the Seahawks draft process, Idzik says all decisions relating to personnel will be collaborative in nature. But last week when he spoke about the draft, he acknowledged the decisions ultimately come down to him.

It won’t be an easy challenge. The Jets have had their struggles recently and lost six starters on defense and four starters on offense from last year’s team.

People around the Jets facility speak glowingly of Idzik in his three months on the job. He has been called a “visionary, someone who looks down the road” by one member in senior management and another who has been involved in the scouting and evaluation process said he is “thorough and concise, I would say to a fault but it isn’t a bad thing so I can’t find it as a fault.”

All told for this draft, the Jets have run 1,426 player evaluations, visited 271 schools, written over 5,000 reports and interviewed over 300 potential draftees. In short, Idzik left no stone unturned in rebuilding this team.

“I’ve been impressed with John now and how he handled things. He’s not afraid to be unpopular, such as the Revis trade. That is a bold move,” one general manager told Metro earlier this week. “I think Idzik will be a departure from the Jets mentality in the past in their war room. He won’t go for the name. He will go for what will help the Jets the most. At the end of the day, it might not grab the headlines in New York but if they win, that’s all that will matter to him.”

Those who worked with Idzik in Seattle say he is pragmatic and can absorb a voluminous amount of information quickly, digesting and discerning it with ease. He works hard and takes great pride in the end result.

On Thursday night, the Jets own two picks in the Top 13 selections, giving Idzik an instant chance to reshape a team that hasn’t made the playoffs the past two seasons. No matter how the draft board shapes up, his old boss in Seattle is certain that Idzik will be prepared.

“He has a very level-handed and pragmatic approach to the job. He is going to be thorough and steadfast. I think he will stay true to his beliefs and make smart, sound decisions based on how they see the board,” Schneider said. “He is not the type of guy who is going to get flustered or step out of character. I think he will go into the draft with a good plan and do everything in his power to execute it. I thought he was a good choice for the job and I think he will do a nice job.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Idzik bringing ‘pragmatic’ approach to Jets’ draft appeared first on Metro.us.

As the Giants prepare their final draft board, general manager Jerry Reese will have to decide between selecting for need (offensive line, defensive line, running back and linebacker), or simply sticking with his customary plan of snatching the best player available.

Either way, Reese said he feels a good player will fall into the Giants’ lap at the No. 19 pick — even though he’s not fond of picking at that spot.

“We don’t like picking 19. That is early for us. We hate picking this high. But hopefully we can get a player who can come in and contribute for you right away,” Reese said. “It is a good draft. I think there are a lot of good players in the draft at every position. I don’t see one position that is stronger than the other, though.”

The fact the Giants are picking near the middle of the pack means it’s likely someone good will fall. It’s a trend that continues in every draft, as highly graded players fall for some reason or another.

Most mock drafts have the Giants selecting either a lineman, linebacker or pass-rushing defensive end. And according to most mocks, it could be someone like offensive tackle D.J. Fluker (Alabama), inside linebacker Alec Ogletree (Georgia) or defensive end Bjoern Werner (Florida State). Should all three be available when the Giants select, Reese will have a good problem on his hands, because they rank among the best at their respective positions and would also fill immediate needs.

“We need linebackers, we need D-line, we need the offensive line and we need every position,” said Reese. “We are trying to get as many players at every position that we can.”

Whatever Reese decides, one thing is for sure, that rookie will be expected to play like a veteran because he’ll be on the field for his share of snaps this upcoming season.

“In this day and age of bringing your draft picks in, and just sitting them for a year or two, I think those days are dwindling away,” Reese said. “I think you have to bring them in and get those guys ready to play. You’d like to develop guys, and quite frankly guys are really not ready to come in, but sometimes you have to force them in there. … We have played young players in the past, because nowadays you really have to get them ready to go pretty quickly.”

Giants’ likely targets:

Fluker, 6-foot-5, 339 pounds — He might be the best run-blocking lineman in the entire draft. He is NFL ready because of the pro-style program Nick Saban runs. Fluker could even kick inside to guard, so his versatility is a plus. And if anything, Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin cherishes offensive linemen who can play more than one position.

Ogletree, 6-foot-2, 242 pounds — He was overshadowed some by the excellent season his Bulldogs teammate Jarvis Jones had, but Ogletree is no slouch. He’s an elite athlete who can make plays at the linebacker position, and could fit either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. Although Ogletree has had some run-ins with the law during his time at Georgia, he could actually benefit by playing for a strict disciplinarian like Coughlin, as well as being around a solid group of professionals in the Giants’ locker room.

Werner, 6-foot-3, 266 pounds — No team rotates pass rushers like the Giants, so New York would be an ideal landing spot for a talented prospect such as Werner. Big Blue will need to fill a hole in the rotation now that Osi Umenyiora is on the Falcons. Werner would be the classic Giants pick because he has a high work ethic, is NFL ready in size, strength and technique and is a productive player from a major program — as his 49 tackles behind the line over the last two years can attest.

Big Blue notes …

» Wideout Victor Cruz is no longer a restricted free agent, as the deadline for any team to make a qualifying offer passed last Friday. He was originally placed with a first-round tender, meaning had any team offered him a deal they would’ve had to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft if the Giants declined to match. That was obviously too steep a price, as no one made Cruz’s camp an official offer.

» Former Giants guard Rich Seubert, who played 10 years, will announce the team’s second-round pick from the podium on Friday.

» Center David Baas had elbow surgery last week, but insists it was just to remove some bone spurs. He added he’ll definitely be ready for training camp.

Follow Giants beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

The post Giants likely to stick with ‘best player available’ appeared first on Metro.us.

The Jets could select a player at nearly any position in the upcoming NFL Draft and fill a need, making this a crucial three days as the franchise retools. There are plenty of needs for a team that has finished a combined 14-18 the past two seasons and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010.

Currently, the Jets hold three picks in the Top 40 — No. 9, No. 13 and in the second round at No. 39.

Pressing needs include outside linebacker, guard and safety but don’t be surprised if the Jets use all eight of their current picks on players who instantly crack the two-deep on the 53-man roster. There’s also a strong possibility the Jets trade back in the draft, with a likely suitor being the 49ers, who hold the No. 31 pick in the first round and also the No. 33 pick, which translates to the top selection in the second round.

Here is a look at the players that are likely high on the Jets draft board:

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia — Perhaps the best true playmaker in the draft, Austin boasts 4.28-second 40-yard speed and the ability to be shifty in the open field. He has skills but it is hard to tell how his numbers and game film out of West Virginia’s wide-open “Air Raid” offense translates to Sundays. Plus, the Jets biggest need isn’t at wide receiver.

Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina — Likely the best guard in the draft, Cooper is an athletic and nimble big man, even at 6-foot-2 and 311 pounds. General manager John Idzik attended his Pro Day in March and had to walk away impressed.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama — Lacy’s low center of gravity and bruising running style fits a between-the-tackles runner. He doesn’t possess elite speed but does have decent hands, a positive in the Jets’ new West Coast offense.

Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU — Mingo, a popular pick to go at No. 9, would give the Jets a bona fide pass rusher to help supplement a group of linebackers missing two starters from last year. But Mingo has never played at linebacker, making even the most optimistic of Jets fans think of the Vernon Gholston debacle of several years ago.

Kenny Vaccaro , S, Texas — The Jets have a need in the back end having lost LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell to free agency and cutting veteran safety Eric Smith. Vaccaro has the length the Jets like and can also cover the slot. He could be an intriguing pick.

Other names to keep in mind: T.J. Barnes, DT, Georgia Tech; Zac Dysert, QB, Miami (OH); Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas; Mark Harrison, WR, Rutgers; Margus Hunt, DE, SMU; Kyler Reed, FB, Nebraska; Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post NFL Draft: Who are the Jets targeting? appeared first on Metro.us.