The Rangers have Chris Kreider to thank for not having to wake up Friday to the end of their season.

Kreider’s goal 7:03 into overtime allowed the Rangers to continue their 2013 campaign following a 4-3 win over to the Bruins in Game 4 of the conference semifinals.

“It was definitely a team effort, especially on [the game-winning] goal,” Kreider said.

The 22-year-old left wing has six goals and three assists in 24 career playoff games, dating back to the 2012 postseason. He finished this season with two goals and an assist in 23 NHL regular-season games while shutting between the Rangers and the organization’s AHL affiliate in Hartford.

“I couldn’t be happier for [Kreider],” head coach John Tortorella said. “You guys [in the media] have been kicking my ass all around, all year long, for [not playing him] and he ends up stepping up and making a big play for us.”

The Rangers trail the best-of-seven 3-1. Game 5 is Saturday in Boston.

“We are very positive in the room and we knew we just had to win one game,” Dan Girardi said. “Now we have to go to Boston and try to win another one. We worked so hard to get the win. It’s one game out of the way and now we just have to prepare to get the second one.”

Entering the do-or-die game, Tortorella made drastic changes to the lineup as Micheal Haley and Kris Newbury replaced Arron Asham and Brad Richards in an attempt to add physicality and energy.

“They gave us some good shifts,” Tortorella said of the newly constructed fourth line. “I just needed another line. I need to get four lines involved. This is the way it went.”

The Rangers outhit Boston, 34-31, and collectively played with more of an edge than they had in the first three games.

“We tried to. We tried to get a forecheck. [Newbury’s] line did a great job buzzing and creating some energy for us,” Brian Boyle said. “There were spurts where it wasn’t there but we just hung in there.”

Still, they never led until Kreider’s game-winner.

Nathan Horton opened the scoring 4:39 into the second period with a power-play goal. Michael Del Zotto attempted to clear a David Krejci rebound, but the puck landed on Horton’s stick and the right wing, stationed at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, ripped a shot past Henrik Lundqvist (37 saves) as he moved to the near post.

Torey Krug’s power-play goal nearly three minutes later increased the lead to 2-0. With Del Zotto in the box for interference, Krug hammered a slap shot from inside the blue line for his third goal in four career playoff games — all in this series.

Then the game began to get weird. Carl Hagelin halved the deficit a minute after Krug’s goal with a soft backhander that eluded Tuukka Rask, who had fallen down.

“It gave us life,” Tortorella said. “It’s funny how it works, huh?”

Derek Stepan tied the game at 2-2 1:15 into the third when he took the puck off of Zdeno Chara’s stick behind the Bruins’ net and tucked a wraparound into the cage.

Tyler Seguin gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead 8:06 into the third period with his first of the playoffs. As Ryan McDonagh’s penalty for goaltender interference ended, Seguin stuffed Dougie Hamilton’s rebound past Lundqvist.

The lead lasted for all of 1:54. Brian Boyle equalized with a power-play goal at the 10:00 mark of the third and the game remained tied until Kreider’s game-winner.

“We did show some character,” Lundqvist said. “It just turned around for us.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Farmingdale State center A.J. Matthews grew up 10 minutes from the Barclays Center and has a sister working in concessions. If he can do enough to impress executives from teams around the NBA, Matthews might find himself stepping on the court to play.

The 7-foot-1 Matthews is not listed in many mock drafts but he has warranted some attention and took the first step toward possibly getting an opportunity by competing in the opening session of the second day of the NBA combine hosted by the Nets in conjunction with the Rockets and Clippers on Thursday.

The first step is showing he can compete against a higher level of competition than he faced in the Division III Skyline Conference. Matthews was not invited to last month’s Portsmouth Invitational, but earned an invite to Brooklyn after leading Division III in rebounding (16.3 per game) and double-doubles (26) while finishing third in blocks (3.67 per game) and 11th in scoring (22.4 points per game).

“When you’re playing 5-on-5, running up and down, it shows your stamina, your conditioning, your play against other big men,” Matthews said. “It shows your jumping ability as far as individuals you don’t really [get to] show what you can do against somebody else. I feel it helped me out a lot. It showed me I can [play] with these upper class guys as far as Division I, because I knew I could before I even got here. I wasn’t even worried about that. I just want to show everyone else that coming from D-3 I can play with other guys.”

It’s not the first time he has drawn attention from the NBA scouting community. During the season, scouts from the Nets, Knicks, Bobcats, Wizards, Pacers, Bulls, Magic and Lakers attended his games and watched as he generated offense mostly on high-percentage shots and put-backs.

To prepare for being on the court at the same time with 10 other players all from Division I, Matthews spent most of the past two months focusing on jump shooting in workouts.

He began to focus on the draft after his final college game, a 71-46 loss to Purchase in the conference tournament. In that game, Matthews scored 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including going 7-for-15 on jump shots.

“After the season, I really worked on it a lot as far as shooting jump shots,” Matthews said. “Guys are a much smaller than me [in Division III] and I feel like I didn’t need to shoot a jump shot or work on a 3-point shot because guys are smaller than me or out of shape maybe.

“So I feel like after the season when I come here, I know I have to work on a jump shot because I’m going to be playing against guys that’s much bigger than me, stronger, height wise and tall and whatever the case may be. So I tried to work on my overall game a lot but I felt like it got better, much better.”

Matthews did not start playing basketball until 11th grade at Harry Van Arsdale High School in Williamsburg. He caught some Division I attention from UMass, Rutgers and St. John’s, but it never materialized as he could not qualify academically. Instead, he went to prep school in Harrisburg, Pa. before going to Monroe Community College in New Rochelle, N.Y. and Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Matthews did enough in college to get invited to a workout with 43 other players looking for a chance. If he can succeed in the next stage, an individual workout with a team, he will become the fourth Division III player to be drafted and first since the Lakers took Devean George from Augsburg College (Minn.) in 1999.

Miami’s Scott works out for Lakers

Former Rice High School (Bronx, N.Y.) star, and close friend of Kemba Walker, Durand Scott was among those participating on Day 1 of the combine on Wednesday. The Miami (Fla.) product is currently not listed on any mock drafts but he is hoping that changes after playing point guard in the event.

“They bring me out here in the point and I just try and get my guys in the best possible position to get the basketball and just go out there and just try to be a leader on the court,” Scott said. “I think I did today and in the same vein I looked for my shot and hit a couple of 3s.”

Scott was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 13.1 points per game in leading the Hurricanes to the Regional semifinals along with Shane Larkin. It earned him an invite to Portsmouth where he scored 22 points in two games and earned a workout with the Lakers.

“It was great, different,” Scott said. “They were my first workout and I kind of got my feet wet and kind of see how hard it is and things like that. It went pretty well. All you can do is play as hard as you can and that’s what I tried to do.”

Nets begin draft prep without coach

Even though Nets general manager Billy King has yet to name a successor to fired head coach P.J. Carlesimo, their personnel department has spent the last year going to college games and other related events looking to see if anyone besides the obvious names might stand out when it comes time to find a player with the No. 22 selection in the first round.

“I think it’s always a little bit easier when you have a head coach in place,” said Nets director of player personnel Gregg Polinsky. “That being said, the one thing about Billy is that the personnel people have been out seeing these people all year long [and] we’ve done our homework. At the end of the day the decision will be made by Billy.

“The information will be supplied by personnel people on where we think this fits and how we’re going to list these guys in terms of order of preference. So the coach is always important but I think being here, knowing what the foundation is and knowing what our team looks like going forward puts us in position to do it without a coach at the present time.”

Polinsky did not get into specifics but among the players who impressed him were Louisville’s Peyton Siva, Baylor’s Pierre Jackson and Long Beach State’s James Ennis.

Follow Nets beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher for news on the team leading up to the draft.

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This No. 15, unlike their last one, might actually be given the chance to make an impact for the Jets .

Zach Rogers, an undrafted rookie free agent who is trying to latch on with the Jets, is making a case to get a look at next month’s minicamp and perhaps beyond. Rogers comes to the Jets as an underappreciated wide receiver at Tennessee, where last year he was fourth on the Volunteers in receiving yards. But he’s a solid route runner with very quick feet and even faster hands and he comes to the Jets with a legitimate chance at making the roster.

And he inherits jersey No. 15, the same number worn last year by quarterback Tim Tebow, who was released shortly after the NFL Draft. Tebow, of course, is the much-talked-about and highly scrutinized quarterback who spent an underwhelming season with the Jets in 2012.

“When I got here, that was the number given to me. I literally just walked in and that was the number given to me,” Rogers said following OTAs earlier this week. “I knew it was his number, as I watched him last year, but I just wanted to roll with it.”

Before the NFL Draft, Rogers prepared for his Pro Day at the Volunteers’ facility at D1 Sports Training just outside of Nashville, Tenn. There he was joined in his workouts by none other than Tebow himself.

The Jets’ last No. 15 was throwing passes to the Jets’ current incarnation of that number.

“He was great to work with and a great guy,” Rogers said. “He was always very open with us and willing to give his time and share his thoughts on playing in the league. He was a great guy.”

Rogers was often overlooked in an offense which boasted wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson. During his Pro Day at Tennessee earlier this spring, Rogers was clocked running a 4.49-second time in the 40-yard dash and he has drawn comparisons to Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola.

He always seems to be in the right spot and he said he worked hard in college on developing quick hands so he can show for the ball and get yards after the catch.

“That’s what I need to do to make a name for myself,” Rogers said. “I’m not big in stature, I’m not the fastest guy out there, but I have to work technique to open up leverage for me.”

Tebow’s time with the Jets was lackluster to say the least. He was used only in the Wildcat offense and on special teams as a personal punt protector. Not one of his eight passes thrown last year was in the conventional offense. He arrived in New York to a press conference with 150 media memebers and a dozen television cameras. He left with questions about his NFL future.

Rogers is hoping his future in the NFL is bright. He earned praise from head coach Rex Ryan two weeks ago during rookie minicamp.

Unlike Tebow, Rogers is hoping to stick around for a while.

“I know Tim made a name for himself here wearing that number and I want to do the same,” Rogers said. “I need to go out there and work hard and show the coaching staff what I can do so that No. 15 is my own.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Tim Cahill had been through a scoring drought before. He also knows there are more important things in soccer than just scoring goals.

The captain of the Australian national team and one of the Red Bulls’ two designated players, much is expected of Cahill here in New York. Cahill signed with the team last summer and has the third-highest salary in MLS at $3.625 million. After signing with the Red Bulls last summer, he made an early splash and scored in his third match in mid-August.

He wouldn’t score again until late April of this year when he netted two goals in Toronto, ending a stretch of 19 games without a goal.

That drought, and a similar one at Everton where he once went 34 games without scoring, were never a concern for him, even in a league where big-money players are expected to score goals.

“I played 42 games [that season] and we finished top seven or six. I was a big part of that team. I played a different role and it isn’t always about scoring. Throughout my career I’ve scored important goals, a lot of winners and game changers. At the start of [this] season, I had chances that weren’t going in and it doesn’t faze me,” Cahill told Metro New York in an exclusive interview. “I actually feel that I probably played better at the start of the season than in some of the games where I scored goals but it doesn’t matter because it is all about assists and goals here. It makes no sense to me when someone says you haven’t scored in eight games. Now you see me still playing defensively and scoring goals.”

Counting the Toronto game, he now has four goals in the last five games including a last-gasp header this past Sunday in a 1-0 win over defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles. But all along, his merits were more than scoring goals.

To his teammates, he is a leader. To his head coach, he is instrumental to the team’s very fabric on and off the field.

“I never considered him a goal scorer,” head coach Mike Petke said. “Yes, he’s a midfielder who can score goals but his ball movement, his vision, his pressing, then his leadership in the locker room for the young guys, his role model status for the young guys who watch the work that he puts in [are as important].”

Spend some time with Cahill and it quickly becomes apparent he isn’t the prototypical, flashy designated player in this league. After training at the Red Bulls facility at Montclair State University earlier this week, Cahill sat for this interview in a simple white T-shirt and jean shorts. He is substance over style.

“That’s all I know how to do, is lead a team — to be the player that they turn to on and off the park [and] be the guy who basically takes the rap for anything,” Cahill said. “To be a DP is one thing but the other side of it as well as being that player, well, I don’t mind not being in the limelight. My game is all about getting three points and getting the result.”

Cahill boasted an impressive resume before coming to MLS and yet was still very much in his prime when he signed with the Red Bulls last summer. Fellow designated player Thierry Henry came to the Red Bulls in large part due to his affinity for New York City, where he has an apartment and enjoys engrossing himself in the culture and the lifestyle. But when he signed with the Red Bulls last summer, Cahill wasn’t drawn to New York City as much as a lifestyle change.

He lives in north Jersey with his wife and four children and the change from Liverpool-based Everton, his last club, is something he calls “priceless.” The pressure and lifestyle associated with the sport in England and here in the United States is night and day and as a family man Cahill is soaking up this new experience.

“My kids enjoy the New Jersey lifestyle of space and the sunshine. I didn’t buy into the bright lights. I’ve only been here once with Everton and I wasn’t a big fan of being a footballer and being in the bright lights. Concentration is the most important thing and taking my job seriously,” Cahill said. “Yes, I’ve had some amazing times watching basketball and ice skating in Central Park and Broadway shows. But for me at 33, the most important thing is enjoying the games on the weekend, watching my kids play and enjoy school activities. For me, in England I was a robot. Here I’ve sort of got my life back.”

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Brad Richards will not play in Game 4 and he may never again play as a member of the Rangers.

Richards told reporters following the Rangers’ optional skate at the Garden Thursday morning that he was scratched for the win-or-go-home game.

“I’m just disappointed,” Richards said. “[I will] work harder and try my best to never let it happen again.”

Signed to a nine-year, $60 million free agent deal on July 2, 2011, Richards has not been the dynamic, top-line center the organization has long lusted after. In two years with the Rangers, Richards totaled 100 points (36 goals and 64 assists) in 128 games, and he finished the truncated 2013 season with 34 points (11 goals and 23 assists) in 46 games.

Following the trade deadline acquisition of Derick Brassard in April, Richards was ostensibly dropped to the third line. During the Capitals series, Richards was dropped to the fourth line with Arron Asham and Chris Kreider.

Richards recorded 147:10 of ice time, an average of 14:43 per game. In the first three games of the series against the Bruins, Richards had only been on the ice for 31:41.

“Yes,” Richards said, when asked if it was difficult to contribute offensively with the limited minutes. He has one goal and a minus-3 rating in 10 playoff games this spring.

Head coach John Tortorella, whom Richards won a Cup with in 2004 with the Lightning, has routinely said it is a mistake to judge the center solely by his stats. During the 2011-12 season, Tortorella pointed to Richards’s mentoring of the Rangers’ young players, most notably Michael Del Zotto, off the ice.

However, on the ice, Richards never quite meshed with Marian Gaborik in 2011-12 or Rick Nash this year. His lack of production coupled with his contract and the organization’s salary cap status has led to rumors the Rangers may amnesty his contract this summer as per the new collective bargaining agreement.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed in an email to Metro New York that the Rangers have one more amnesty buyout available to them to use either this summer or next. The Rangers amnestied Wade Redden following the end of the lockout, and he subsequently signed a one-year deal with St. Louis. The Blues traded Redden to Boston at the trade deadline.

Should the Rangers amnesty Richards, the Rangers would have $20.2 million in salary cap room this summer, with Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello all in line for restricted free agent contracts, while Ryane Clowe is an unrestricted free agent. Next summer, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist are all unrestricted free agents.

Injury updates …

» Clowe, Darroll Powe and Marc Staal all participated in the optional skate Thursday morning. Staal characterized himself as “status quo.” Roman Hamrlik replaced Anton Stralman in the lineup. Stralman left Game 3 after 12:25 of ice time spanning the first two periods following a thunderous check from Boston left wing Milan Lucic.

Game 4 will be Hamrlik’s first game action since the 4-2 win over Winnipeg on April 1.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The Giants’ offseason minicamp claimed its first victim just two plays into the first session.

Starting fullback Henry Hynoski underwent an MRI on Thursday, which discovered he’d torn his left MCL and suffered a chip fracture to his lateral plateau. The lateral plateau is the flat top of the tibia at the knee joint.

He will undergo surgery on Friday at The Hospital for Special Surgery performed by team doctor Russell Warren.

The team is hopeful Hynoski will be ready by the start of the regular season in September.

“I am going to set my mind to being ready for the first game of the regular season,” Hynoski said. “They said that is not an unrealistic goal, and I will do everything in my power to be ready for the start of the season.”

Hynoski crumpled to the ground on a running play on just the team’s second play of the organized team activities. He had to be carted off the field.

“He kind of got [his leg rolled up on] and so we are taking a look at that,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “I said a few prayers and I’ll continue until I hear what it is.”

Hynoski is an old school fullback, but plays an important role in blocking on running plays. He rarely received any handoffs, with just five in his two years with the team. He did have 11 catches and a touchdown last season. He had 12 receptions as a rookie in 2011.

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

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Darroll Powe sat at his stall yesterday and regaled the media with memories of the Flyers’ 2010 run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Philadelphia trailed the Bruins 0-3 after the first three games of their second-round series and were down 3-0 after the first 14:10 of the first period of Game 7 before rallying to win the deciding game 4-3. Powe compared the task to climbing a mountain.

The symbolism could not be more appropriate for the Rangers, who enter tonight’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals best-of-seven-series in a similar 0-3 hole.

The Rangers have trailed 0-3 in a best-of-seven series nine times in their history. Six times they have been swept.

The 2010 Flyers, 1975 Islanders and 1942 Maple Leafs are the only three teams in NHL history to win a playoff series after falling behind 0-3.

“You win that one game and things start to change,” Powe said. “After that you worry about the next game, and you realize as you keep going that your confidence builds and grows, and you see the other side kind of go the other way. You can’t do any of that without a big next game.”

But the overriding question is whether the Rangers, facing an opponent that is bigger, stronger, faster and deeper than the Capitals, is able to generate the kind of complete game effort needed to win Game 4.

Boston has more shots on goal (114-96), won more faceoffs (99-81), more hits (115-114) and one more power-play goal (1-0) than the Rangers.

At even strength, the Bruins have outscored the Rangers 9-5. Eleven Bruins have recorded at least one point in the series. Boston’s top line of Nathan Horton, David Krejci and Milan Lucic has combined for four points (a goal and three assists) and a plus-4 rating in the three games. Their fourth line of Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille has six points (two goals and four assists) and a plus-9 rating.

In comparison, only three Rangers — Brian Boyle, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan — have a plus rating in the series. All three are plus-1. Nine Rangers have recorded a point in the series, led by the trio of Ryan Callahan, McDonagh and Rick Nash, who have two points (a goal and an assist for all three) apiece in the series.

“I think having the puck more starts with getting the puck from the other team — that’s where we have struggled a little bit with our coverages, in our end zone as far as them sustaining battles there,” head coach John Tortorella said. “Again, not to enhance Boston but they’re a pretty good team, too. That’s a big part of their game. So at times we’re good at it but we’re just not consistent enough.

“We’re trying to forecheck. But you have to play good defense to get anywhere in [the] playoffs and to even think of winning a championship, you have to play good defense. It’s not being this defensive-oriented team; it’s playing good, strong defense and I don’t think we’ve done that consistently enough.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The Giants officially kicked off the 2013-14 season with organized team activities (OTAs) Wednesday as veterans joined the minicamp participants who were lucky enough to earn a spot on the camp roster.

Conspicuous by their absences, however, was the Giants’ starting pair of wideouts, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Cruz’s contract saga is well-publicized, so it wasn’t a huge surprise he didn’t attend. But Nicks’s absence was met with a testy response from head coach Tom Coughlin, who expected his veteran receiver to be front and center when the first unit was on the field.

“He should be here,” Coughlin said when asked about Nicks’s no-show.

It’s unknown the reason for Nicks’s absence, but perhaps it had to do with safety precautions, since the former first-round pick endured an injury-riddled 2012-13 season. Nicks broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot during last year’s OTAs, and judging by the many slips on the slick outdoor practice field and an apparent knee injury to fullback Henry Hynoski, perhaps Nicks was clairvoyant in avoiding the session.

Coughlin wouldn’t allow for Nicks perhaps using last season’s foot injury as a reason to skip the workouts, saying that even if that was the case, the Giants would’ve taken the necessary precautions with their prized wideout.

“He would have some kind of limitations, I’m sure,” said Coughlin. “But that’s not the reason [he's not here].”

Eli Manning, ever one to shy away from controversy, wanted no part of the sagas that currently plague his wideouts, but did allow he was shocked to find out Nicks no-showed.

“I had no reason to think he wasn’t going to be here,” Manning said.

Ever the optimist, though, Manning used Cruz’s and Nicks’s absences as a teachable moment for the other wideouts in attendance and said he still used the session as a way to bond with them and get them important repetitions.

“Right now, I’m just worrying about myself, and executing. The guys that are here, we’re just trying to make sure that everybody gets better and up to speed, especially the young guys getting involved,” Manning said. “It was good getting everybody who was here a lot of reps and involved, and having time with them. So whoever is on the field, we expect them to play and perform at a high level. … The more guys you have who are experienced and ready to go and play different positions, the better off you’re going to be.”

About the only thing Manning said about Nicks’s absence that hinted at disappointed was when he was asked if he could understand guys missing time for health reasons – should that ultimately be the case for Nicks.

“You want to make sure guys are healthy at the start of the year, but there’s also a time to get work in also and improve,” Manning allowed. “You have to rep things and make sure you’re playing at our best. That involves being healthy, but also involves practicing and getting reps.”

One guy who certainly doesn’t mind the extra reps is third-year wideout Jerrel Jernigan. The former Troy star has been mostly used as a return specialist, but with the absences of the star wideouts, Jernigan ran with the first unit, alongside newcomer Louis Murphy.

Jernigan has taken incremental steps during his time in New York, so he’s looking forward to really taking advantage of the newfound playing time.

“It’s wide open and we’re all competing. I’m putting in a lot of work,” said Jernigan. “This year, going into my third season, it’s time to go out there and make plays and prove myself. Until [Cruz] comes back I’ll be the ‘Z’ [the wideout closest to the tight end] and try to make plays.”

Jernigan has only registered three catches for 22 yards in his career — all coming last season — so he’s a longshot to steal any playing time from the veterans when they finally report. But the speedy 5-foot-9 wideout doesn’t lack confidence when expressing his desire to do more on the offensive end, so he doesn’t get typecast as merely a return specialist.

“My confidence is always high. I never get down on myself. I know what I can do, and been playing this game since I was 7 years old. I go out there every day and put in work, no matter if I’m a starter or whatever,” Jernigan said. “The first year was the playbook, because [in college] we were running four-wides [four wide receiver offense], and then I came here into a pro-style offense. Last year I learned a little bit more, and now this year, my third year, I know the whole offense. … There’s no excuses now. I just need to go out and perform.”

Big Blue notes …

» Hynoski was carted off the field on the second play from scrimmage with an apparent knee injury and will undergo an MRI to see the extent of the damage.

» Former first-round pick Aaron Curry was very enthusiastic during Wednesday’s session. The former No. 4 pick rotated with the second unit and had a “just happy to be here” view on being a part of Big Blue. Curry noted that as a blue-chip middle linebacker, who was selected by the Seahawks in the 2009 draft, he took things for granted, but has rededicated himself with a new lease on his football life.

“In Seattle, football wasn’t a priority and I just lacked maturity,” Curry said. “[Being labeled a bust] was definitely about the mental aspect. The physical part about football is all NFL guys got [ability], but the guys that separate themselves do it because of the mental, and that all starts on the Monday after the previous Sunday game. I’m looking forward to applying my new way of studying and attention to detail, and challenging myself to emptying the tank every day.”

Curry also credited former Cowboys linebacker and current linebacker coach for the Seahawks, Ken Norton, Jr., for setting him straight.

“Ken Norton challenged me every day. He’s a great coach who said a lot of things that made me change the way I did a lot of stuff about the NFL, about life and about the business,” Curry said. “Every now and then I’ll text him and thank him for all the wisdom and knowledge he passed down to me. … When I got to Oakland, I wore No. 51 because he once wore No. 51. A lot of days I still think about how he taught me how to handle things on the field or off the field.”

» Don’t count defensive end Justin Tuck as someone who’s particularly concerned about the absence of his starting wideouts.

“No matter how much time they miss, if they come out on Sunday and ball, this will be forgotten,” he said, adding about Cruz, “We’ve got a lot of things to worry about, but I don’t think Victor Cruz is one of them.”

» Guard Chris Snee was not participating, as he’s still recovering from an offseason procedure to his hip. James Brewer filled in for him.

» Mathias Kiwanuka, who was the starting strongside linebacker last season, was seen working with the defensive linemen in drills.

» Mark Herzlich was seen calling the shots at middle linebacker for the first unit, in between outside linebackers Spencer Paysinger and Keith Rivers.

» Cornerback Terrell Thomas said he hopes to start individual drills soon, adding he’s “not scared” of competing despite tearing his ACL for the third time last season.

“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” Thomas said.

Thomas then quipped he’ll play wherever the coaching staff needs him, as it’s rumored that he may move from cornerback to safety.

“If they tell me I’m going to play kicker, I’ll play kicker,” Thomas said.

Follow Giants beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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If Mark Sanchez is a better quarterback this year, it might be because he doesn’t have Tony Sparano to kick around any longer.

Sparano, the Jets’ offensive coordinator for last year’s 6-10 season, oversaw Sanchez’s nosedive in performance. The quarterback had his worst statistical season since his rookie year, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.

Now with Marty Mornhinweg calling the plays, Sanchez is hopeful he can bounce back. The experienced offensive coordinator has a reputation for maximizing a quarterback’s potential and he will be charged with rebuilding a fledgling career now at an all-time low.

“I just feel like this coaching staff is going to get the best out of me — just rededicating yourself to the game, rededicating yourself to your preparation and just being excited about this system and what it can do for a quarterback,” Sanchez said. “I think just in these early stages we strung together a couple good days of OTAs. We just got to keep it rolling, stay positive and keep on improving. But I like our attitude and I like the coaching we’ve received so far. I think it’s only going to continue to grow and get better.”

A season ago, the Jets were going to return to the ground game under Sparano and the acquisition of quarterback Tim Tebow to run the Wildcat only underscored that Sanchez’s arm was on the outs in a run-heavy offense. But the ground game sputtered and was inconsistent and injuries beset the wide receivers, leaving Sanchez without a running game or bona fide targets.

It also didn’t help that Sanchez struggled with his progression and regressed to a one-read quarterback as a result of an unimaginative offense lacking playmakers.

Sanchez wouldn’t blame an offense that under Sparano was No. 30 in total offense last season or last year’s coaching staff.

“I don’t know about that. Each system has its own pros and cons. A lot of that stuff is timing and there’s a million things that come into play,” Sanchez said. “At the end of the day, I just have to worry about what I can control.”

What may not be a good sign is that he continues to lose the turnover battle. On Wednesday, Sanchez threw three interceptions, one of which was picked off by nose tackle Damon Harrison.

Sanchez laughed off being intercepted by a player who has been nicknamed by the coaching staff as “Big Snacks” due to his size, but Ryan sounded concerned even if it is only May.

“Yeah it is, absolutely [concerning]. It was a good thing the defense made some plays but I’d rather him not turn the ball over once,” Ryan said. “He did some great things but at the end of the day those are the things that get you beat.”

There is, of course, extra pressure on Sanchez this year as he not only has to improve but he’s engaged in the first true quarterback competition of his professional career.

Geno Smith took the second-most reps in practice after Sanchez and felt he showed “subtle improvement” this week. After a strong rookie minicamp two weeks ago, he struggled with his accuracy and timing.

Part of it is the adjustment to an offense where he is under center, unlike last year at West Virginia where he operated primarily out of the shotgun.

“It just takes reps. Overall, I feel that I’ve been able to pick up on my reads, figure out my depth and drops and how it should be done,” Smith said. “As I said, there’s a total difference in the systems and it’s just a process I have to go through.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets lined up first round pick Sheldon Richardson in the 3-technique today, which he told Metro during rookie minicamp was their ideal spot for him. In college, Richardson primarily played on the edge.

» Smith announced he will be represented by Roc Nation Sports, the agency started by rapper Jay-Z. Head coach Rex Ryan didn’t seem too concerned about his second-round pick going with such a high-profile agency.

“He knows he has to focus on the job at hand here. I’m confident that will happen,” Ryan said. “I don’t even think about who he hired.”

» Second-year wide receiver Stephen Hill was held out of OTAs on Wednesday due to swelling in his knee. He rode the stationary bicycle along with wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who did not practice as he continues to recover from last year’s foot surgery that ended his season.

A team source told Metro New York on Wednesday morning that Holmes “is not expected to be able to run till training camp. His injury is coming along fine but don’t expect him for OTAs or minicamp next month.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Lanier Coleman is a 26-year-old rookie trying to make the Jets after more than three years out of football. It is a second chance for the massive defensive lineman after he thought his playing days were done.

Coleman was invited to Vikings minicamp in 2009 after a solid career at Louisiana-Lafayette. He did well in minicamp but not enough to earn an invite to their training camp a month later so Coleman packed his bags and returned to Louisiana to coach high school football. The following spring he played in the Arena Football League, but figured he had hung up the helmet and pads for good when he took an intern position at Louisiana-Lafayette in their weight room.

He stocked protein, racked the weights and cleaned the weight benches. In short, he did the grunt work around the weight room, but he ended up falling in love with the job. He always pictured himself as a coach “but I really got into the intensity and passion of the weight room.”

His thankless efforts did not go unnoticed and in the spring of 2010, Coleman went to Rice University in Houston where he served as assistant strength coach for baseball, football, golf, tennis and swimming. He began to learn more about handling athletes and training them in addition to the administrative side of things. When an opportunity came along a year later to take a similar position at Cal, Coleman hopped on board.

It was there that Chris DiSanto, the Golden Bears’ assistant strength and conditioning coach who is now with the Browns, noticed Coleman’s passion for the game.

“I was at practice, getting excited about practice, jumping around and one of my coworkers, Mr. DiSanto, said that ‘I can tell you still have a fire for this game.’ My thing was, I didn’t have any connections,” Coleman said.

It had been three years since Coleman had played in the Arena Football League and four years since he stepped foot on a football field at the NFL level in Minnesota’s minicamp. His defensive line coach at the Vikings was Karl Dunbar, who became the Jets’ defensive line coach last year. DiSanto pushed Coleman to reach out and see if any opportunities existed.

Coleman felt if he had made an impression on Dunbar four years ago he would have heard from the respected position coach already. He hadn’t, so he assumed Dunbar wouldn’t be interested.

“I felt like if coach Dunbar wanted me, he’d seek me out. But Mr. DiSanto said that I should reach out, show him that I want it,” Coleman said. “So I reached out to him and he reached out to me and we talked. I was shocked because I figured he’d be swamped with people wanting to get to him and he wouldn’t have the time for me. He told me he might have an opportunity for me but that I’d have to bring my A game.

“He was very honest with me. That’s the great thing about him. He’s not only a great coach, he’s a great man as well.”

So Coleman packed his bags and headed to New Jersey as a tryout player in the Jets’ rookie minicamp. Nothing was guaranteed but it was an opportunity he had to take.

It was a worthwhile gamble as he impressed the Jets, especially on the second and third day of minicamp. He played inside at the 3-technique but showed great pursuit and chased down the ball from sideline-to-sideline. Not surprisingly, conditioning wasn’t an issue for him. After the morning workout he looked like he wanted to go out for an afternoon session as well.

That Sunday, the Jets called Coleman up to their office and based off his performance he was offered a contract. It was the contract that had eluded him four years earlier and had led him down this path, from high school football coach to college intern to assistant strength coach.

And now, maybe he will have a spot as an NFL player.

“The huge thing was my effort, my effort and learning the defense as quick as I did; that’s what they liked. The first day was a struggle but the thing was my effort. It stuck out. That’s one thing I’ve always hung my hat on is my work ethic,” Coleman said. “Now I need to make them believe that I’m a great football player as well. It’s been a long way to get here. I just want to help them win games however I can.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates and photos from Jets minicamp this week.

The post Lanier Coleman aiming for Jets roster after four-year journey appeared first on Metro.us.

The Rangers’ best effort in the Eastern Conference semifinals simply wasn’t good enough.

As a result, a season which began with expectations of playing meaningful games in June is one loss away from ending.

The Rangers trail the Bruins in the best-of-seven series 3-0 after dropping a 2-1 decision in Game 3 Tuesday night at the Garden. Game 4 is Thursday night.

At least one Ranger took it personally.

“I feel a lot of areas that I could have contributed more and that’s infuriating,” Brian Boyle said. “The biggest game of the year, [and] it just wasn’t enough.”

Daniel Paille’s goalmouth tap-in at 16:29 of the third was the game-winning goal. The sequence which led to Paille’s goal began with a Shawn Thornton shot that hit Henrik Lundqvist and popped behind the goaltender. The puck never crossed the goal line, but Lundqvist could not find it and Paille pounced on the loose rebound.

As the Bruins celebrated, Lundqvist stared up at the pinwheel ceiling, frustration etched on his face.

“We were in our own zone way too long, because I couldn’t win a freakin’ draw,” Boyle said. “We want to put them in their zone, get some offensive zone time that way. And it’s a lot of pressure for our [defense], and it’s a lot of zone time for them to try to create offense. Because I can’t win a freakin’ draw. Again, there’s another opportunity on Thursday to do a better job.”

Boyle was 4-for-21 in the faceoff circle during 19:41 of ice time last night.

The only reason the Rangers were in the game was due to the reigning Vezina winner. Lundqvist made 31 saves in the loss, including spectacular stops in the first period when he stoned Tyler Seguin on a breakaway after Anton Stralman was unable to keep the puck in at the Bruins’ blueline, and consecutive door-step saves on Jaromir Jagr.

“The season is on the line,” Lundqvist said. “You have to leave everything out there. Preparation and the effort have to be there, and we will see if it’s going to be enough. We definitely have to give everything right now, mentally and physically, and put it out there on Thursday.”

Both of Boston’s goals came in the third period and both were directly attributable to the Bruins’ fourth line.

Johnny Boychuk tied the game at 1-1 3:10 into the period with his fourth goal of the playoffs following a shift in which grinding forwards Thornton, Paille and Gregory Campbell were able to keep the puck below the goal line. Paille and Campbell were credited with assists on the goal, while Thornton was part of a two-man screen, along with Campbell, which obstructed Lundqvist’s vision.

“It’s just the little things that we’re making mistakes on,” Dan Girardi said. “They are a very opportunistic team and they have really good players. They are making us pay.”

Taylor Pyatt opened the scoring 3:53 into the second by tipping Ryan McDonagh’s point shot past Tuukka Rask. Pyatt tied up Dougie Hamilton and Zdeno Chara in front of Rask as McDonagh ripped a shot from inside the blue line.

Pyatt’s goal marked the first time since the 2:55 mark of the third period of Game 1 the Rangers had a lead in the series.

They would get no more. The Rangers did not score on either of their two power plays and are 2-for-38 in the playoffs. The Rangers generated just 24 shots on goal, and attempted 60 shots. By comparison, Boston had 75 shot attempts.

“That’s where you establish all of your offense, off the forecheck,” Rick Nash said. “We haven’t been getting it consistently enough for a full 60 [minutes]. I think [the lack of offense] is a combination of the forecheck, special teams and not bearing down on our opportunities. The last game we had a bunch. Tonight we had a couple and we just didn’t bear down enough.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The Knicks wrapped up their season-ending media obligations by ushering head coach Mike Woodson and team president Glen Grunwald in front of the masses at their facilities Tuesday.

Neither wanted to discuss personnel decisions going forward but were eager to effuse praise on a team not many pegged to even go this deep into the postseason. Grunwald, specifically, refused to get into the specifics of what he plans on doing with the roster this summer, but he did allow that changes will likely be made.

“[The team’s salary cap] probably is not likely to get under the [luxury]-tax thresholds, but sign-and-trades are available, although you just can’t acquire a player that way if you’re over the threshold,” said Grunwald. “I think there are some opportunities. We’ll see how it all plays out. Free agency is always a little unpredictable. … But I think we can be creative. I think we got some ideas in what we can do, but we have to be aggressive and creative in terms of our approach to this offseason.”

Grunwald went on to explain that while the Knicks appear to be hamstrung with the tax, he feels confident minor maneuvers can be made to tinker with the roster’s depth, while maintaining the core of Woodson’s group.

“You can trade players, but I don’t think that’s our focus. Our focus is to continue to build this core team. I think some continuity, some familiarization, further growth as individuals and a team, I think that’s what we have to do,” Grunwald said. “We have to continue to buy in as a group to what coach Woodson’s trying to do here. It’s what we all need to do to play a role to be successful.”

According to Woodson, his players all bought in this past season and he’s looking forward to stacking on another training camp to further emphasize his schemes.

“For the most part, I still say that based on where we started and how we assembled our team, this was, to me, a wonderful season and it was a major step in the right direction,” said Woodson. “To win our division, [and] to secure the second seed, people didn’t think we could do none of those things. Some of our goals were met, so all wasn’t bad. I think we made a major step. I think we were able to win some of our fan base back and to me, that’s what’s most important.”

Woodson did have a few complaints, though, about the state of the team — specifically on offense. The long-time coach has never really led a team with great inside presence, as both his former Hawks teams and this current batch of Knicks played inside-out.

“For the most part, we were a jump-shooting team this year, except when we did post Melo [Carmelo Anthony],” said Woodson. “Rasheed [Wallace] helped us early on the block, but we just didn’t have a major low-post game and that might be an area that we might look at as well.”

Overall, Grunwald said, the 2012-13 season was a success for a Knicks team that became relevant again — a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since the early 2000s.

“I thought we could have played better, but we didn’t, so we have to look at that and find out why we didn’t play as well as we could,” said Grunwald. “I’m disappointed in the [ending of the] season, but I’m not at all discouraged in this team. I’m very excited about the future. Obviously we have some work to do. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re going to do all we can to get where we want to go.”

Knicks notes …

» Woodson was asked about Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes restrictions going into next year, as well as his role in the foreseeable future, and was rather vague.

“We’ll have to play that by ear,” Woodson said. “We’ll obviously wait for the doctors and see where things wind up next year. … We’re hopeful [that Stoudemire comes back next season 100 percent], but there’s no guarantees.”

“That will be for us to determine where our roster winds up next year and where everyone else is,” Grunwald said on Stoudemire’s status going forward. “I thought he had a great role in terms of where Woody put him to be successful in terms of coming off the bench. And whether that continues next year or not will be determined, but there is no grand plan to say that he’ll start or not start.”

» Jason Kidd sounded like he was one guy that’s definitely coming back, according to both Grunwald and Woodson:

“We had a great meeting, Woody and I had with Jason yesterday,” said Grunwald. “He was a big part of our success and we look forward to having him back next year.”

“Not yesterday [any discussion of retirement]. It sounded like he was coming back,” said Woodson. “I thought he made it sound like, yeah, he’s coming back, but that can change, you never know.”

» Grunwald tried hard to not tip his hand on J.R. Smith’s status, but it sounded as if he’s leaning towards finding a way to keep the Sixth Man of the Year.

“Like I said before, I think it’s best for us to maintain some continuity,” said Grunwald. “The same group, the same core group together, but I’m not going to comment on any individual player because were not finished with our evaluation. … I think for now we’re just going to go through the evaluation. I’m very happy for J.R. He had a great year, obviously. He’s disappointed in how it finished for himself as it is for our team. But I think that’s going to make us stronger and more committed to next season.”

Woodson said he thinks Smith still has to improve in many ways if he wants to take the leap next year from sixth man to trusted team star.

“He’s got to grow as a player. He’s got to grow on and off the court if he plans on being a better player in this league moving forward,” said Woodson. “As a coach, if he’s back here, it’s going to be my job to be sure to continue to push him in the right directions and make sure that he does everything possible to make sure he wins basketball games.”

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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Sometimes, the best lessons are the ones that are self-taught.

Following an uncharacteristically subpar performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, in which Dan Girardi was on the ice for all five goals in the Rangers’ 5-2 loss, head coach John Tortorella opted not to have a meeting with the top pair defenseman.

“I didn’t even talk to him,” Tortorella said in his Tuesday morning press conference at the Garden in the hours prior to Game 3. “He’s going to play his best game.”

Long one of the Rangers’ leaders, Girardi has earned Tortorella’s confidence with his play and reliability.

“It depends on the person,” Tortorella said. “It depends where he is as a player, experience-wise. I don’t have to say one word to Dan Girardi. If that’s a John Moore, certainly we will try to help him along the way – maybe show him so tape, whatever it may be.

“With [Girardi], he’s one of the better defensemen in the National Hockey League that had a tough night. He knows it. He doesn’t need to hear it from any coach at all as far as what needs to be done.”

No need to hold serve?

The popular thinking is that the Rangers need to win the next two games at home to get back into the series.

Unsurprisingly, Tortorella dismissed the notion.

“I’m looking at this as one game,” Tortorella said, when asked about the prospects of the Rangers coming back from an 0-2 deficit for the second straight series. “We just want to win a game and crawl back in to make it a series. So all of the stuff as far as the history and what we did the last time, we’re not paying attention to it.

“We made corrections [at Monday’s practice in Greenburgh, N.Y.]. We felt we played a pretty good hockey game [Sunday afternoon]. It certainly wasn’t a 5-2 game. We want to win a game and we’ll see where we go.”

Powe, Staal updates

Darroll Powe and Marc Staal were part of a group of players that participated in the optional skate at the Garden Tuesday morning. Both Powe and Staal have not played since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Capitals.

As per organizational policy, the Rangers have not announced the reasons for their absence. Powe was elbowed in the head by Washington’s Joel Ward during Game 3 of that series when the Rangers center checked the Capitals right wing into the boards.

Staal has been sidelined with a potential reoccurrence of symptoms from the eye injury he suffered in the 4-2 win over the Flyers on March 5. The defenseman was struck near the eye by a Kimmo Timonen shot.

“Feel good. It’s good to be back on the ice, skating with the guys,” Powe said. “It’s a few days of skating. I felt pretty good. I’m just skating, working out and try to get back in the lineup. The goal is to get back as soon as I can.”

Staal was unavailable for comment.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Long putters beware.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced Tuesday that it was amending the official Rules of Golf. Starting on Jan. 1, 2016, it will be illegal to anchor the club to make a stroke.

The new rule, 14-1b, says that a player using a long putter cannot hold the end of the club against his body while putting. The long putters are still legal clubs, as long as the rule is adhered to.

“Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game, the free swing of the entire club,” said USGA president Glen Nager. “The traditional stroke involves swinging the club with both the club and gripping hands held away from the body, requiring the player to direct and control the movement of the entire club.”

You might be thinking to yourself, ‘Nice story on a slow news day.’ However, four of the last six major winners used an anchored stroke, including Adam Scott as last month’s Masters tournament.

The post USGA amends rules, prohibits anchoring the club appeared first on Metro.us.

The Yankees are branching off into the beautiful game.

The baseball franchise announced Tuesday morning they will be forming a new MLS team, named the New York City Football Club, which will join the league in 2015. The Yankees are forming the team in conjunction with Manchester City, one of the most powerful clubs in the world.

Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new club.

Manchester City was purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, which has poured massive amounts of money into the club. The club brought in international stars such as Yaya Toure and David Silva. They won the English Premier League title in 2012 for the first time since 1968. They were shocked by Wigan in the FA Cup final just two weeks ago, with a 1-0 loss. They fired manager Roberto Mancini days later.

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”

The franchise will be the 20th in MLS.

“We are pleased to be associated with this major move by MLS to increase its presence in the New York market and to enhance the opportunity for New York soccer fans to enjoy high-level play in their own city,” Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “We look forward to the opportunity to work with Manchester City to create something very special for the soccer fans of New York.”

The team has not yet announced where in the city they will play, but promised a permanent stadium will be built. The city has discussed building a new stadium in Queens at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The owners of New York City FC said they would “continue these discussions.”

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

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Professional sports are mostly black or white — and about wins or losses — which explains Iman Shumpert’s view of the 2012-13 season.

“We failed. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do,” Shumpert said during his season-ending exit interview session with the media on Monday.

Despite earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, winning 54 regular season games and enjoying the franchise’s most successful season this decade, Shumpert doesn’t look back fondly on a season that ended far earlier than he, his teammates and the rabid fanbase expected.

“At least the Eastern Conference finals,” said Shumpert, when asked his minimum expectations for the Knicks this postseason. “We knew we were supposed to go farther and we didn’t.”

Shumpert, who spoke barely above a whisper during his session, seemed wise beyond his years when discussing the current state — and forthcoming prospects — of the Knicks.

He thinks the unevenness of the collective effort from game to game caused his team’s early exit.

“We just have to hold each other accountable. Come next year, little things like not playing hard should never come into play. Letting a game slip at home should never come into play. Getting beat on the boards when that’s an emphasis coming into a series should never happen,” Shumpert said. “We have to take care of the little things and we didn’t. And it caught up to us.”

Shumpert’s veteran teammates didn’t sound as pessimistic about the Knicks’ season or their fortune going forward. To a man, every other veteran who was allowed to speak towed the company line in saying they believe this season was basically a trial run considering it was the first time this unit played together.

“I’m going to say it was a great year. It was a great year, great run. Definitely a huge step from years in the past, [and] something to build on,” Raymond Felton said. “Definitely not satisfying but, you know [we] can’t really be too upset. I think we had a great year overall. We did a lot of special things this year. So all this is about now is just capitalizing and building on it.”

Perhaps Felton’s optimism should be taken with a grain of salt, considering the point guard actually felt he had a “pretty good performance in the playoffs.”

But Carmelo Anthony essentially agreed with Felton’s outlook that the Knicks can still contend, and thinks the future is bright.

“We’re right there, I mean we’re right there,” Anthony said. “When you recap this whole season, it’s just some detail-oriented things that we kind of got to fix. … I don’t think we underachieved. We made strides forward. We made huge steps. When I first got here in New York, I always said this was a process, [and that] this was going to take two to three years. This was the first year the pieces to the puzzle started to fall into place. … We’ve set a standard, [and] kind of teased the city of New York a little bit, because now everybody expects us to play at this high level. Eventually something has to happen. We want to win the championship, that’s the goal, and we’re going to keep striving for that. I feel very confident about that.”

Knicks notes …

» Shumpert said the coaches want him to play in Las Vegas summer league, and added he’s excited about doing so because he desires to be “under coaching and under coach’s wing” all summer. It’ll be the first time he’s done so since he missed his rookie campaign (lockout) and last season’s (ACL injury) summer league.

» Among the players who didn’t speak to the media today were J.R. Smith, Amar’e Stoudemire and Jason Kidd. The Knicks brass, however, will allow Woodson and team president Glen Grunwald speak with the media on Tuesday.

» Anthony admitted that he will have his left shoulder checked out and see what kind of therapy and rehab it needs. Anthony also declined to look ahead at what he’ll do next season in regard to his opt-out clause at the end of next season, because it would be “selfish” to think about that scenario and didn’t want to “jump the gun.”

» Chris Copeland said he wants to come back next season, and will be twisting in the wind until the Knicks decide what to do with the 29-year-old rookie. The team must make him a qualifying offer by June 30.

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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The facts paint a bleak picture for the Rangers.

For the second straight series, they return to the Garden in a 0-2 hole. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there has not been a team in NHL history that has won consecutive Stanley Cup playoff series after spotting opponents the first two games as the Rangers have against the Capitals and the Bruins.

The Rangers have been outscored 8-4 in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Only three players — Brian Boyle, Carl Hagelin and Anton Stralman — have a positive rating after the first two games of the series. The power play is 0-for-8 in the first two games and 2-for-36 in the playoffs.

And their Vezina-finalist goaltender appeared to injure his shoulder in the final moments of Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 loss in Game 2.

With all of that said, head coach John Tortorella painted a much different picture.

“I thought we played a much better game in the second game,” Tortorella told reporters after the Rangers’ practice in Greenburgh, N.Y. on Monday in preparation for Tuesday’s Game 3. “I’m very optimistic as far as where we’re going as a team.”

Tuesday’s game is at the Garden, where the Rangers are 3-0 in these playoffs and have outscored opponents 9-6 in those games. The Rangers finished the regular season with a 16-6-2 mark at the Garden compared to a maudlin 10-12-2 road record.

The biggest reason for Tortorella’s confidence is a Henrik Lundqvist, who appears likely to play in Game 3. Lundqvist, the reigning Vezina winner, tweaked his arm in the third period of Sunday’s loss while making a diving save.

“I landed on it awkwardly and it hurt a little bit but it’s under control,” Lundqvist said. “Everybody is sore. It’s the playoffs. You can’t sit out because it’s hurting a little bit. It happens. You have to do the right things to keep it going.”

In order to extend their season past the next two games, the Rangers will have to be decidedly better defensively than they were in the first two games, in which the Bruins attempted 143 shots towards Lundqvist.

To that end, it appears as if the customary top defensive pairing of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi will be reunited. According to reports, the two skated together during Monday’s practice session.

Split up prior to Game 1 in order to have a strong defender on the ice against Boston’s top two lines, the two logged their accustomed ice time while partnered with Anton Stralman and Michael Del Zotto, respectively. McDonagh finished with a goal in Game 1 in 55:55 of ice time in the series, while Girardi is minus-4 with an assist in 51:34 spanning the first two games.

Girardi was on the ice for four of Boston’s goals in Game 2, including Brad Marchand’s top-of-the-crease tap-in 26 seconds into the third period which gave the Bruins an insurmountable, 4-2, lead.

“We can defend,” Tortorella said. “It surprises me that we made some mistakes that we very rarely do on simple coverages. The third and fourth goal, they’re simple coverages and we beat ourselves.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Not even Don Draper could spin what happened Sunday afternoon into anything other than a disaster.

The Rangers are two losses away from a premature and unsatisfying end to a season which began with Stanley Cup aspirations after absorbing a 5-2 loss to the Bruins at the TD Garden in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Bruins lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0. Game 3 is Tuesday night at The Garden.

What is most troubling is that the Rangers have not had an appropriate response to the Bruins’ momentum surges in the first two games. For all intents and purposes, yesterday’s matinee was decided 26 seconds into the third period when Boston’s nominal second-liners Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand hooked up on the Bruins’ fourth goal.

Bergeron carried the puck along the wall into the Rangers’ end while being hounded by Michael Del Zotto. The Bruins center held off the defenseman, then fired a perfect saucer pass to a driving Marchand when Dan Girardi momentarily spied Bergeron. In an instant, the Rangers were down 4-2.

Milan Lucic added his third of the post-season 12:13 later to end the scoring. Boston outshot the Rangers 11-10 in the third. The Rangers had a 37-32 advantage in shots on goal.

Torey Krug, Gregory Campbell and Johnny Boychuk also scored goals for the Bruins. Boychuk’s top-of-the-circle wrister at the 12:08 mark of the second period was the game-winning goal.

What will rankle the Rangers is that, for as poorly as they played Sunday afternoon, they had a chance to win. Ryan Callahan and Rick Nash scored goals that tied the game at 1-1 and 2-2, respectively.

However, the Rangers could not score a go-ahead goal, and were unable to slow Boston’s rushes which were marked by defensemen consistently jumping into the play.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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LeBron James responded to comments from Pacers coach Frank Vogel Sunday. Vogel had referred to the Miami Heat as “just another team.”

“We’re not just another team,” James said. “I don’t understand what he’s saying. But we’re not just another team. That’s not true. He said we’re just another team in their way. We’re a great team. If we’re just another team, you really don’t prepare for just another team. You have to prepare for us.”

The Heat and Pacers begin their playoff series Wednesday night. The two teams have a contentious history having met in the postseason last year. Miami won that series in six games.

“We’ll be ready for them,” James said.

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Standing at his locker and still in uniform after preparing for a start that was rained out against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, CC Sabathia basically shrugged it off.

To show how little a chance the Yankees had of actually playing, Sabathia was sitting on the couch in the middle of the clubhouse when the game was officially postponed.

“I was all the way out, but I’m not very intense,” Sabathia said. “Either way I wasn’t really worried about it. I was sitting on the couch and they told me it was canceled so I’ll just play catch and I’ll be fine.”

Sabathia instead will make his second start of the season against Baltimore. His first one was April 12 in a game the Yankees turned a triple play in a 5-2 win. Monday will be his first start in Baltimore since Game 1 of the ALDS.

The early rainout gave Sabathia and the Yankees a chance to avoid the same issue in Colorado on May 9. Sabathia pitched four innings because of a two-hour rain delay in a 3-1 win.

“That happened in Colorado,” he said. “I ended up getting a win but you still don’t want kind of waste starts.”

After Sabathia, the Yankees will go with Phil Hughes and Hiroki Kuroda in Baltimore.

Steinbrenner speaks

Owner Hal Steinbrenner was at Yankee Stadium Saturday for a fan picture day event with Yankee season ticket holders and he also addressed several things concerning his team, most notably the team’s first-place performance, the drop in attendance and contract negotiations with Robinson Cano, a free agent this season.

In terms of the team’s 27-16 record, Steinbrenner was extremely pleased with the contributions of various players from the farm system while also saying he did not subscribe to the negativity of the preseason predictions.

“I’m not shocked. I didn’t buy into the doomsday scenario that many people did,” Steinbrenner said. “I knew we had some good kids at Triple-A. More importantly, I knew that the guys we got in the offseason were veterans. Whether people thought they were worth getting or not, I felt they were veterans and this is what you expect veterans to do.”

Steinbrenner was also in New York to attend the quarterly owners’ meetings which took place Wednesday and Thursday at MLB headquarters on Park Avenue.

The Yankees have not sold out since Opening Day and have played to two road sellouts that were not home openers. They have announced 15 crowds under 40,000.

“The good stories that we’ve all known about on this club are going to be more well-known to the fan base,” he said. “I think people are going to be excited to come out and see the Adamses, the Romines, the Hafners and the players we got in the offseason.”

Steinbrenner did not go in-depth on the future of Cano, but indicated that the sides have met a few times.

The Yankees have a policy of not negotiating new contracts during a season but it seems that could change concerning Cano, who hit two home runs Saturday.

Brignac becomes infielder

The Yankees have started nine players at the infield positions and Sunday, they added a 10th by starting Reid Brignac at shortstop. Brignac was acquired Saturday from the Rockies. He joined Chris Nelson as the second former Colorado infielder to join the team this month.

“I’ve seen him have some big days; Ive seen him have some good years,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I think there’s some good talent there. So we’re going to see what he can do.”

Brignac also became the fourth different starting shortstop, a list that includes Alberto Gonzalez (three games), Jayson Nix (14 games) and Eduardo Nunez.

The Yankees have used the disabled list 13 times with 11 DL spots still occupied. Five of those spots are held by infielders.

Brignac has extensive experience playing AL East hitters defensively after playing 185 of his 266 games with the Rays, a fact he pointed out Sunday.

“I know all these hitters in this division and how to position myself and where to play,” he said. “I think it can definitely help me out.”

Follow Yankees beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.

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Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested early Friday morning on Route 80 West in Denville, N.J. for possession of a loaded handgun and marijuana.

Around 3 a.m. on Friday morning, a tow-truck driver pulled along a grey Yukon driven by Garant Evans of Roselle, N.J. in which Goodson was the passenger. The vehicle had stopped in the left-center lane of the four-way highway, located roughly 20 minutes from the Jets’ facility. Evans was was charged with driving under the influence. Goodson was taken for evaluation to nearby St. Clare’s Hospital.

A handgun was found in the vehicle after the police did a search.

Goodson was released from his cell at Morris County Jail around 6 p.m. on Friday evening and after he posted $50,000 bail. The delay had nothing to do with Goodson being held for medical reasons and was merely due to him waiting for the bail to be posted.

The state police found a “small amount of marijuana” on Goodson’s body, per the police statement on the incident. Evans was taken to the local state police barracks in Netcong, N.J. and was processed. His bail was set at $150,000.

According the police release, both Evans and Goodson were charged with possession of marijuana (under 50 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a loaded handgun and possession of hollow-point ammunition.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The Knicks almost rallied for a hard-fought road win, but in the end they came up short as the Pacers ended the series with a 106-99 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Carmelo Anthony was brilliant for most of the game, scoring a game-high 39 points on 15-of-29 shooting, but struggled down the stretch. He went 1-of-6 in the fourth quarter for four points and had a couple of key turnovers — not to mention a momentum-swinging dunk blocked by Roy Hibbert at the rim that sent a charge throughout Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Total blame shouldn’t be placed at the feet of the league’s leading scorer and MVP finalist, however, because he was the Knicks’ best offensive option all night. New York got nothing from starters Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler. Felton, who struggled all series, only had two points (0-of-7 shooting) and six assists, while the 7-foot-1 Chandler mustered even less with two points, six rebounds and zero blocks. The 6-foot-7 Anthony, conversely, had seven rebounds from the forward position.

If not for the saving graces of their bench, namely J.R. Smith and Chris Copeland, the Knicks would’ve been run out of the arena. Smith didn’t shoot particularly well (4-of-15) in scoring 15 points, but he had a team-high 10 rebounds. Copeland, who critics may say head coach Mike Woodson waited far too long to insert into the regular rotation, added a solid nine points (all on 3-pointers in the pivotal third quarter) in 15 minutes.

Indiana was led by Lance Stephenson’s team-high 25 points, as every Pacers starter scored in double figures. Indiana didn’t even need a bench, as it combined for just eight points, because the starters combined for 98 points and 37 rebounds. The Knicks’ starters, conversely, combined for 68 points and 19 rebounds — certainly something that will need to be addressed in what has now turned into an earlier-than-expected summer vacation.

What we saw …

1. Hibbert changed the complexion of this entire round with his aggressive play from the onset of this series. Hibbert was a beast on the blocks as he tallied 21 points, 12 rebounds and a game-high five blocks, as he eviscerated fellow the All-Star Chandler all series.

2. Chandler fouled out with 3:12 remaining in the game, but it was as if he was nowhere to be found anyway. Chandler, who struggled all series with Hibbert because he had at least a one-inch and 40-pound disadvantage, only gave the Knicks 37 points (6.2 per game), 36 rebounds (6.0 per game) and 10 blocks (1.7 per game) in the whole series.

3. Stephenson was the ultimate X-factor as he notched a career-high 25 points, including 16 in the first half and a handful of key buckets late to send the Knicks packing. Stephenson, a Brooklyn native, certainly didn’t want to make the trip back to New York for a Game 7, as he tortured whatever Knicks defender in his way. Stephenson also added 10 rebounds from the shooting guard position to close out what was a promising season for his hometown team.

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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Oxbow, a 15-1 longshot ridden masterfully by 50-year-old Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, cruised to an easy, wire-to-wire victory in the $1 million Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

Itsmyluckyday, ridden by John Velazquez, finished second in the field of nine, while Rosie Napravnik guided Mylute to a third-place finish over a fast track at Pimlico Race Course.

Orb, the Kentucky Derby champion, tired badly and finished fourth, ensuring that a Triple Crown champion will have to wait at least another year.

The winning time for the mile-and-three-16th race was 1:57:54.

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It’s the age-old question: Jordan or Kobe?

Everyone debates it, usually during a late night bar crawl with friends — everyone, that is, except the man that coached both players … until now.

Phil Jackson, who coached Michael Jordan to six titles and Kobe Bryant to five, finally touches on the greatest debate in basketball in his new book, “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success.” The 339-page book hits bookshelves Tuesday.

In it, Jackson paints the portrait of two very different players. Jordan was a born leader, whereas Bryant learned how to lead along the way. He also delves into their contrasting styles of play on the court.

“One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader,” Jackson wrote. “Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he’d yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones.”

Of course, Jackson had his issues with a young Bryant. Many have speculated that those issues had to do with Jackson stepping away from the Lakers briefly in 2004.

“Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn’t developed strong social skills in college,” Jackson wrote. “When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road.”

Jackson described Jordan as “more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe.”

These are just observations, though. Jackson went out of his way to heap praise on both players as two of the greatest to ever do it. In fact, Jackson felt the need to send out this tweet as more and more news outlets begin to run commentary from the book.

“Listen friends of bball; don’t get hung up on words,” Jackson tweeted. “I was most fortunate to have the chance to coach two of the greatest gds. EVER MJ/Kobe”

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First blood goes to the Bruins.

Brad Marchand scored his first goal of the playoffs at the 15:40 mark of overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday night at the TD Garden. Boston leads the best-of-seven series, 1-0. Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in Boston.

Marchand finished a counterattack with centerman Patrice Bergeron by tapping a feed under Henrik Lundqvist (45 saves).

The series opener between the Original Six franchises was not the mosh pit most expect the series to become. Instead, the two teams engaged in a feeling-out process.

Zdeno Chara opened the scoring in the series at the 12:23 mark of the second period with a slap shot Lundqvist never could quite control and inadvertently knocked into the goal. The goal ended Lundqvist’s playoff shutout streak at 152:23.

Ryan McDonagh tied the game with 1.3 seconds left in the period. The defenseman finished a sequence which began with a Rick Nash wraparound with his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal.

After the initial shot, Nash broke up a Tyler Seguin clearing attempt, and the puck landed on McDonagh’s stick.

The Rangers took a 2-1 lead 14 seconds into the third period on Derek Stepan’s third of the playoffs. Patrice Bergeron won the faceoff against Stepan to start the period but Marchand was unable to get the puck into the Rangers’ end. The Rangers’ top line counterattacked, finishing with Stepan one-timing Carl Hagelin’s feed past Tuukka Rask (33 saves).

The lead didn’t last long.

Torey Krug, one of three rookie defensemen in the lineup for the Bruins alongside Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski due to injuries, tied the game 2:41 after Stepan’s goal with his first playoff goal in his first NHL game.

Interestingly, head coach John Tortorella split up his normal top defense pair of McDonagh and Dan Girardi. Girardi started the game paired with Michael Del Zotto, while McDonagh played with Anton Stralman.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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It wasn’t always pretty, but the Knicks found a way to stave off elimination and push the series back to Indiana, as they held off the Pacers, 85-75, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks enjoyed some good news pregame, as Pacers starting point guard George Hill was ruled out with a concussion he suffered in Game 4 when he crashed into a hard pick from Tyson Chandler. Hill was replaced in the lineup by D.J. Augustin, who had 12 points, but the Pacers offense sorely missed their floor leader.

Carmelo Anthony had a brilliant game as he tallied 28 points on 12-of-28 shooting and six rebounds. Anthony had perhaps his best all-around game as he got his hands on loose balls, battling rugged power forward David West (17 points and 10 rebounds) to a standstill in the post and scoring late in the fourth quarter — something he’s failed to do in the previous two games.

Anthony wasn’t alone, however, as Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and even Chris Copeland picked up the slack when the Pacers defenders were paying too much attention to the league’s leading scorer.

Copeland, who was inexplicably left on the bench most of the series prior to tonight, scored 13 points — including eight in the pivotal third quarter when he helped the Knicks boost a six-point halftime lead to its largest margin of 10 points.

“It is a blessing. I’m extremely excited that I had some impact on the game. I hope I can do it again next game,” Copeland said. “I think I can help us spread the floor and get guys away from the basket. I think I can help Melo get opportunities on the block and space for J.R.”

Woodson, who never really gave a reason for burying Copeland on the bench, despite the team’s offensive struggles in all of their three losses, was impressed with the 29-year-old rookie’s ability to stay ready.

“It was a big lift throughout the whole game,” Woodson said, never really mentioning Copeland by name. “Our offense has spurted at times, but tonight we found our offense. We changed some things a little bit tonight … and tried to change some of our sets to see if it worked.”

The insertion of Copeland worked even if Woodson refused to acknowledge the rookie’s impact.

Smith also finally shook his series-long doldrums to contribute 13 points. Smith shot 4-of-11, as the controversial shooting guard finally lived up to his Sixth Man of the Year status for the first time all series. Smith also added six rebounds and a blocked shot.

The fact that the Knicks were so active in the paint was arguably the biggest difference. The Pacers dominated the interior in each of the previous three wins in the series, but seemed out of sorts Thursday night.

All-Star center Roy Hibbert was finally a nonfactor as he was essentially cancelled out by the Knicks’ own All-Star center, Tyson Chandler. Both bigs were hindered by foul problem for most of the game, but the Knicks will take that every time. Hibbert finished with just nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Chandler had two points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

Chandler wasn’t much of factor again, but his teammates picked up the slack as they collectively defended the paint and attacked the glass. The Knicks had been pounded on the boards all series by the bigger and younger Pacers, but they finally held their own. The Pacers still won the rebounding battle, 43-40, but the Knicks didn’t allow them to dictate the play in the paint. The Pacers held only a slight advantage on the offensive boards, 12-10, which meant New York limited the second-chance points that harmed them most of the series.

“It was the second-chance points [that hurt the Knicks in the three losses]. We got outrebounded badly and that was the difference then,” Woodson said. “We were outrebounded tonight, but we had enough going for us defensively, as well as our offense, that it didn’t hurt us. … We have to have the same commitment when we step out on the floor at Conseco [now Bankers Life] Fieldhouse on Saturday.”

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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Andy Pettitte had a chance to reach 250 career victories. Instead he left the mound with a back injury.

Pettitte allowed two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings but only lasted 79 pitches during last night’s 3-2 Yankees loss to the Mariners.

Pettitte winced and appeared to hold his side while throwing a slider to Kyle Seager. The trainer came out to look at Pettitte and removed him from the game.

“Every time a guy feels something you watch how it goes, and lot of times hitters go through it and it’s not a big deal,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Tonight I saw a drop in a velocity and that was a concern.”

The Yankees announced during the top of the eighth inning that Pettitte’s injury was a tight left trapezius.

For now, there was good news concerning Pettitte, who said he was not feeling any pain while explaining what happened in the postgame interview.

“I couldn’t extend it at all,” Pettitte said. “I felt like I was cutting everything off and really just throwing slower than slow to tell you the truth.”

The injury initially surfaced after the fourth inning and Pettitte said he thought it vanished after getting some heat and massage treatment. After his first pitch to Jason Bay, Pettitte said it locked up again, though he was uncertain if it would cost him his next start.

In typical Pettitte fashion, he was more upset about not giving the Yankees length a night after the bullpen was used for 25 outs.

“I can’t stand that I wasn’t able to stay out there and give us a good start and give us a chance to get the lead,” he said.

It is the second time this season Pettitte has had an injury issue. Last month he went 10 days in between starts due to back spasms and emerged from that problem to turn in two quality outings.

After not having much command of his pitches in losses to Houston and Oakland, Pettitte seemingly rediscovered it with seven strong innings in Kansas City on Saturday.

It was a typical Pettitte start with several base runners and a few jams but he only allowed a run-scoring double to Dustin Ackley in the second and a run-scoring infield hit to Brendan Ryan in the fourth. Along the way, Pettitte worked out of runners on second and third in the second inning and got of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning.

He started the fifth by striking out Jason Bay with one of the few changeups thrown. He remained throwing off-speed in the at-bat to Seager which might have been an indication something was off physically.

Pettitte’s injury overshadowed a quiet night by the Yankees offense which did little in 4 1/3 innings against Hector Noesi and not much else against four relievers. The Yankees scored their first run in the second a double by David Adams and made it a one-run game on an infield single by Robinson Cano in the seventh.

The Yankees were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10, including Brett Gardner on third following two stolen bases when Cano made the final out in a thrilling at-bat with Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen, who jokingly described the ninth as everything a closer could want.

Besides losing consecutive games for the fifth time this season, the Yankees suffered another injury besides Pettitte. Catcher Chris Stewart left the game with a left groin injury after the seventh but the Yankees did not know afterwards if a stint on the disabled list would be needed.

Follow Yankees beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.

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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.

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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.

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Four weeks after learning Derek Jeter had suffered a second fracture in his left ankle, the Yankees finally received what qualifies as good news concerning their captain.

Jeter is expected to be out until after the All-Star break but the Yankees said when he was recently re-evaluated, it had healed to the point where he can soon shed the walking boot.

“It’s healing,” manager Joe Girardi said. “They see the bone is going back together. They say it’s healing. I think he’ll be out of the boot sometime shortly and then he’ll go from there.”

Jeter has not played since crumpling to the ground in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit on Oct. 13. He was hoping to return by Opening Day but during spring training it became apparent that was not going to happen nor was the second tentative return date of May 1 once he struggled with soreness at various points in exhibition games.

Jeter did not make his spring training debut until March 9, and took the field March 13. After playing defense in consecutive games March 15 and March 16, he was scratched on March 19 and required an anti-inflammatory injection.

Without Jeter, Eduardo Nunez has started 26 games, Jayson Nix has made 11 starts and Alberto Gonzalez has made the other starts at shortstop. Defensively, Yankee shortstops have made five errors in 162 chances for a .969 fielding percentage.

Now a reliever, Betances joins Yankees

Dellin Betances threw five no-hit innings for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre at Gwinnett on May 5. After throwing 90 pitches to 20 hitters, minor-league pitching coordinator Gil Patterson told him he was headed to the bullpen.

“It was [strange] because I was starting to feel like I was getting quality starts, but there’s nothing I could have done about it,” Betances said. “Whatever I need to do, I’m ready for whatever.”

In two outings, he allowed one run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings while throwing 64 pitches to 16 hitters. Since the Yankees used Brett Marshall for 108 pitches spanning 5 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 12-2 loss, they needed another arm and Betances was the choice.

“It’s just been a battle, just mechanic-wise,” Betances said. “I’ve worked real hard to repeat my delivery. I feel like I’m getting there. I feel like I’m real, real, real close. I feel like I’m throwing more strikes, especially out of the bullpen in a different mode. It’s more of an attack mode right out of the gate.”

Betances spent time with the Yankees as a September call-up two years ago when he issued six walks to 16 hitters in mop-up relief. Last year, the 6-foot-8 Grand Street Campus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) product was 6-9 with a 6.44 ERA in 27 appearances (26 starts) while splitting time between Double-A Trenton and Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

“He’s done OK. He had one really good outing the time before last,” Girardi said. “His last outing was OK. We like that he can simplify things and get on a roll and [can] be another arm for us.”

Yankee injury updates …

» Michael Pineda will throw 50 pitches on Friday either in extended spring training or in an intrasquad game.

Since Pineda has not pitched in nearly two years, the Yankees need him to build his arm strength back up to 100 pitches but they expect that to happen and that he will pitch sometime this summer

“We’ll continue to build him up,” Girardi said. “Starters as you know take a lot longer than relievers because you have to get him to 100 pitches and for a kid who hasn’t pitched in a couple of years, you may want to see a couple of times and make sure he’s ready to go every fifth day.”

» Joba Chamberlain will need another week to heal from a ribcage injury. Chamberlain was eligible to be activated but although he has not had a setback, the Yankees are playing it safe by having him play catch which will likely be followed by another bullpen session and another rehab appearance.

“Ribcages are tricky,” Girardi said. “A lot of times you’ll see where guys can actually throw or swing but you don’t feel that they are a hundred percent full power and we don’t think he’s quite there yet so we want to make sure he’s ready.”

Follow Yankees beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.

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