Green Machine

More Fantasy Football--NYJ style

Yet another transaction by GM Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets today, as they signed undrafted free agent OT Nevin McCaskill.

McCaskill was originally signed as a free agent by the Bills on July 28, 2007 and was a member of the Bills practice squad for parts of the 2007 season.  He also participated in the Bills 2008 training camp before being waived on Aug. 31, 2008. McCaskill spent time in 2008 on the Philadelphia practice squad before he was signed to the Packers active roster on Dec. 11, 2008, where he was inactive for three games.  He was waived by the Packers on June 29, 2009.

Jets' reaction to Steve McNair's murder

Here are some quotes, courtesy of newyorkjets.com, reacting to the tragic death of former NFL QB Steve McNair, a victim of a homicide in Nashville Saturday. McNair played 11 seasons for the Oilers/Titans franchise before finishing his career with two seasons in Baltimore.

“Steve was special and as tough and competitive of a guy that I have ever been around," said coach Rex Ryan, who was the Ravens' defensive coordinator while McNair was there. "As soon as we got him in Baltimore, he gave our team instant confidence and I was fortunate to be around him for two seasons. As great of a player as he was, it was more of an honor to know him as a person. My heart and prayers go out to his family.”

LB Bart Scott, a former teammate of McNair's, said, “I am in utter disbelief. Steve always came to work with a smile and a joy about him. I remember him as a dad that brought his kids to the facility and we all embraced them as our own. Not only will Steve’s family miss him, but the entire NFL family has lost a brother. His death was far too early and my thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Pace suspended for first four games

Big news came down today as the NFL announced that Jets OLB Calvin Pace has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season for taking a banned substance. The official NFL statement reads, 'Calvin Pace of the New York Jets has been suspended without pay for the team’s first four regular-season games of 2009 for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Pace's suspension begins Saturday, September 5. He is eligible to return to the Jets’ active roster on Monday, October 5 following the team’s October 4 game against the New Orleans Saints. Pace is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.'

Here's a statement from Pace, released through the Jets: 'This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the League’s policy. I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the League’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.'

The organization's statement merely said, 'We respect the League’s decision and look forward to Calvin’s return for our Monday Night game at Miami.'

What this means is that the Jets will be without one of their starting OLBs for the first four games, so it is an opportunity for second-year player Vernon Gholston, who has been earning raves from new coach Rex Ryan all spring, to make an immediate impact after a disappointing first season in which the sixth overall pick went sackless. Losing Pace for the first month also hurts because he was a fast starter last season, recording 2.5 of his seven sacks in the first four games.

Another possibility to fill Pace's shoes is third-year pro Marques Murrell, who played mostly on special teams last season but was impressive in the spring at linebacker.

The Jets had two players suspended for four games by the league last season for using performance-enhancing substances, running back Jesse Chatman and quarterback Erik Ainge.

Easy come, easy go

The Jets waived former Rutgers G Mike Fladell on Wednesday, two days after claiming the undrafted free agent on waivers. He failed his physical.

Report: Goodell might not let Plax play in 2009

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that commissioner Roger Goodell might suspend Plaxico Burress indefinitely even before his gun-possession case is adjudicated. If this happens, forget about him playing in 2009. Cole is very good at what he does, so this report is highly credible.

I found this passage especially interesting: '[Burress'] refusal to accept jail time as part of a plea bargain in the case that resulted in a self-inflicted gun wound and could be punishable by as much as 3½ years has irritated Goodell and others within the NFL, according to the league source.'

I think Goodell doesn't want it to look as if Burress is making an end run around the NFL's disciplinary arm by dragging the case out. I've said from the start I think Mike 'Due Diligence' Tannenbaum, Woody  Johnson and everybody else need to move away from Burress. He's the last thing new coach Rex Ryan needs, and the fact that he wants to play for the Jets to 'stick it' to the Giants, according to sources, also is a red flag.

Speaking of due diligence, the Jets claimed another player off waivers Monday. He is G Mike Fladell, who was on the Giants' practice squad last season and was a starter at Rutgers in 2006-07.

     

Another day, another waiver pickup

The Jets today claimed WR Mario Urrutia from Cincinnati on waivers. Urrutia, a former Louisville standout who had 16 TD catches in his college career, was a seventh-round pick of the Bengals last season and spent 2008 on their practice squad. I wonder if former U of L standout Kerry Rhodes gave GM Mike Tannenbaum a scouting report. Kerry is a proud alum and still is plugged into their programs [not only did he go to the women's Final Four in April, he even knew that the Louisville baseball team made the Super Regionals, where it lost to CS-Fullerton].

Jets get CB Barksdale on waivers

The Jets claimed CB Rashad Barksdale off waivers. The Giants released him five days ago after he spent last season with their practice squad. Barksdale played six games for Kansas City in 2007 and made nine tackles.

Worthwhile Jets-related event at Hofstra tonight

For any of the Long Island/Queens/Brooklyn readers out there, there will be a Jets Fest setup tonight outside the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge high school football all-star game at Shuart Stadium on the Hofstra campus. The Jets are one of the game sponsors and the game is run by former QB and current WFAN host Boomer Esiason. It benefits research into cystic fibrosis, among other things. The game matches LI all-stars against NYC all-stars and one of the NYC players is Rutgers signee Robert Joseph, a FB from Poly Prep.

Boomer's son Gunnar, who is afflicted with CF, has nonetheless gone on to become a h.s. QB on LI, although he is a righty, not a lefty like his dad. He will play for the LI team. Boomer just said to Mike Francesa on the FAN that the Jets have told him their rookies will be at the game, including Mark Sanchez. Tickets are $15 and the ticket windows will open at 5:30, with the Jets Fest beginning at 4. Here's the website . 

Gause to UFL

Paul Gause, whom the Jets had some interest in as an undrafted free agent, has been drafted by the Las Vegas team of the fledgling United Football League and said today he expects to sign with them. The former Seton Hall basketballer, who finished four steals shy of Dan Callandrillo's school record for a career, projects as a cornerback. The Las Vegas team is coached by Jim Fassel, and also drafted LB Brian Toal of Boston College and Don Bosco Prep. Toal also is expected to sign with Las Vegas. He had a lot of tough breaks at BC with injuries, so this league could be just the thing for him to show he's healthy and ready to play. Toal had a tryout with the Jets last month, but wasn't invited back. Good luck to him.

And good luck to Paul, one of the most [if not THE most] tenacious competitors I've ever had the pleasure of covering. Maybe if he can make his mark in the UFL it will lead to an NFL gig down the road.

Here's a link to the names of the players who were drafted by all four teams. There are some names quite familiar to Jet fans, including QB Brooks Bollinger and LB Anthony Schlegel, both drafted by Orlando. 

No-Plax zone?

It seems the Jets' interest in Plaxico Burress has cooled significantly, from what I'm hearing. I've been against this from the start, and wrote about it again in today's Record.

I've heard Burress does want to play for the Jets, but I've also heard the reason is that he wants to 'stick it' to the Giants, so to speak. I don't buy the argument that it's a good reason for signing him. Put it this way--been there, done that. Think about it--isn't that similar to Brett Favre's motivation, his never-ending quest to stick it to Green Bay GM Ted Thompson. Favre has since admitted that, despite his protestations to the contrary, he really didn't want to be a Jet. He's wanted to go to Minnesota all along. As my mom always says [and many other moms say it too, I'm sure], things done in spite never work out right. I think the same would hold true with Plaxico.