Green Machine

Concussion for Coles

WR Laveranues Coles didn't practice today, and the Jets said he has a concussion. It's very likely that the Jets will hold him out of the game against Washington on Sunday, particularly with a bye week on deck. Coles has started 104 consecutive regular-season games and has appeared in 107 straight. The last time he was inactive was when he was a healthy scratch Dec. 3, 2000 against the Colts in his rookie season.

Coles was understandably subdued today in the locker room, and not only because of his injury. He's very close friends with Chad Pennington, and it hurts him on a personal level to see Chad demoted.

Coles was on his first tour of duty with the Jets when Pennington was promoted in 2002 and Vinny Testaverde was demoted. And quite frankly, the quotes back then from the two QBs involved sounded remarkably similar to what Pennington and Kellen Clemens said Monday.

Vinny: 'I'm not going to sit here and tell you I'm getting a raw deal because that will be the headline. Anybody in my position isn't happy about it. [But] understand that I don't want to be a distraction for this football team. I understand how the process works. When I was in Cleveland, I asked [Bill] Belichick, 'why are you making me the scapegoat in all of this?' His words were: 'I can't change the left guard and get a spark. I have to change the quarterback to get something going.' That's the reality of the situation.'

Chad: 'Talk is cheap, so after today, there's not going to be any more talking. ... I'm not focused on how pretty it looks, how many completions I have, how many touchdown passes I throw. It's about putting points on the board and helping the Jets get a second win.'   

Pennington helped lead the Jets to the playoffs. It's too late for Clemens to do that, but maybe he can engineer a turnaround, too.

Vilma speaks

Well, Jonathan Vilma did have a conference call with the media yesterday, but he didn't say very much. Here is my story from today's editions of The Record. He refused to get into many details about his knee injury, saying Eric Mangini wouldn't let him. I can't Mangini really thinks he can keep the nature of this covered up until Vilma gets back on the field in 2008, but whatever.

On a more positive Mangini note, at least he did the right thing Monday and named Kellen Clemens the starter over Chad Pennington, instead of waiting until later in the week in an attempt to gain the almighty 'competitive advantage' over Washington. Pennington has done a lot for the Jets' organization, and it would've been unfair to bench him and then ask him to play out some silly charade just to fool the Kendalls Redskins. At least this allowed Pennington to retain his dignity.

Clemens' time has come

Coach Eric Mangini has just named Kellen Clemens the starting QB for the Washington game this week, although he wouldn't commit to anything beyond that. Still, it seems doubtful the Jets will go back to Chad Pennington anytime during the rest of the season.

It's the right move, I think. Pennington has been given a fair chance, but it's time for the Jets to see if Clemens is their guy.

Vilma out for season

The Jets announced this morning that LB Jonathan Vilma has been placed on injured reserve, thus ending his season. Vilma, who hadn't missed a game in his four-year NFL career, hurt his knee against Cincinnati last Sunday.

So now the question becomes this: Has Vilma played his last game for the Jets?

I don't think so. His contract expires after the 2008 season, and it's tough to trade someone who is considered damaged goods. He'll need to be on the field next year and show he's his old self before a team looks to trade for him. Of course, even if healthy, he may never look like himself because he is ill-suited for the 3-4 defense. More in Sunday's editions of The Record.

Schottenheimer explains

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer met with reporters for the first time since the ill-fated final possession against the Eagles 12 days ago, and of course was asked about it.

He said, 'we liked the sneak and we liked the play on fourth down. Unfortunately, we didn't get it done.'

He explained that each week the Jets have a list of offensive plays they refer to as 'gotta-have-its,' plays they will consider in a crucial situation. Those plays can vary from week-to-week and opponent-to-opponent. He said, 'I've probably scrutinized those [two] calls as much as anybody.'

He admitted he called the QB sneak on third-and-1 at the 4 because the play had worked before in the game. As for the fourth-down fade from Chad Pennington to Laveranues Coles, I asked him if he considered running a safer play just to pick up the 1 yard, instead of going for it all.

Schottenheimer replied, 'The way that they played the coverage dictated where it went.'

Fair enough. I still think Schottenheimer is a good coordinator; I just disagree with those two calls. I also think the Jets need to find some other options inside the 10 besides fades to Coles. 

Chad to start

Eric Mangini just announced that Chad Pennington will start Sunday against Buffalo, saying he looked at the tape and liked what Pennington did against Cincinnati.

I think it's the right move. Pennington was nowhere near the Jets' biggest problem against the Bengals. Mangini also noted at the beginning of his news conference that LB Jonathan Vilma will miss practice today with an injury, the nature of which is undisclosed. This is big news, too, because Vilma never misses practice.

UPDATE: As Mangini promised, Vilma is listed on the injury report as not having practiced because of a knee injury. This is quite interesting, considering Vilma said Tuesday on his weekly WFAN spot that he wasn't injured. Vilma was not in the locker room, today, as Mangini said he was having more tests on his knee. Stay tuned. This could get interesting.

Jets-Bengals inactives

Here's a surprise on today's inactives--after two critical missed tackles in the last two games, CB Andre Dyson is inactive. Drew Coleman, who is active every other week, is active today. (He also was active for games 1, 3 and 5. This is game seven. See the pattern?

Other than TE Chris Baker, all the other NYJ inactives are the same as usual: Marques Tuiasosopo (third QB), WR David Clowney, G Will Montgomery, DE Mike DeVito, LG Jacob Bender and TE Jason Pociask. None has been active this season. Cincy inactives: third QB Jeff Rowe, CB David Jones, HB Rudi Johnson, LBs Corey Mays, Ahmad Brooks, Caleb Miller, C Dan Santucci and WR Antonio Chatman.

First look at this stadium, and it's quite impressive, overlooking the nearby Roebling Suspension Bridge here on the Ohio River. It looks a little different from some of the other 'new' stadiums, such as Heinz Field, 'The Linc' or Gillette Stadium. There's no roof, but there's something atop the stadium that almost looks like a giant sneeze guard, much like in Seattle. 

Great day for conspiracy theorists

The Jets announced Saturday afternoon that TE Chris Baker is out with a back injury. Yeah, the same Chris Baker who questioned the Jets' highly questionable play-calling on their final drive of Sunday's game, specifically their decision to let a QB with a bad ankle (well, Chad Pennington's been listed by the Jets as questionable with that ankle injury ever since he returned, right or wrong?) try to sneak for 1 yard on third-and-1 rather than have a professional running back, Thomas Jones, try to get it.

Baker definitely received a stern lecture from Eric Mangini the next day. Would the coach go so far as to sit down Baker for his remarks? I honestly can't answer that one right now, but if Mangini did, that's sad. Baker is an excellent run blocker and an underutilized receiver.

To be fair, Baker was injured in the Philly game, although the Jets (of course) never announced it until he showed up on the injury report, so this may simply be a case of an injured player not making the trip. He limped off after Pennington's sneak (the broadcast tape of the game clearly shows it) and was replaced by Sean Ryan, who likely will get the start Sunday. Actually, Ryan was wide open on the final play, the incomplete fade to Laveranues Coles. Ryan released on the right side and nobody picked him up. Had Pennington seen him, the game could've been tied.

Loud locker room

The Jets certainly don't appear tight going into their game at Cincinnati. The locker room today was as boisterous as I've seen it on any Friday, with plenty of yelling and laughing, despite the fact that the players all were soaked by a torrential rainstorm that hit with about 20 minutes left in practice.

So will these good vibes carry over into some good play Sunday? We'll see.

Cincy MLB Ahmad Brooks (groin) didn't practice again and is out, which means former Jet Anthony Schlegel will start. The Jets certainly should have a pretty good book on his strengths and weaknesses.

 

Schlegel's revenge?

Anthony Schlegel, shown here in action against Kansas City last Sunday, could make his third consecutive start when Cincinnati hosts the Jets this Sunday.

You all remember Schlegel, right? He was the Jets' third-round draft pick of a year ago who absolutely couldn't get on the field in his rookie season. He actually had a decent preseason this year, but once the Jets took David Harris in the second round, his days in green and white were numbered.

But a rash of injuries at LB have moved him into the starting lineup for the Bengals, who picked him up one day after the Jets cut him.

Here's what Cincy coach Marvin Lewis had to say about him on the conference call Wednesday:

'Anthony has worked very, very hard since he got here, and unfortunately for him he got thrown in there right away to the wolves as quick as you can. He's done some good things. There are always some things you would like to have guys to do better and I know Anthony would like to do some things better, but he's given everything he's got.'

And when Chad Johnson, Ocho Cinco himself, was asked about Schlegel, he offered only, 'I'm sure that he's doing what he's supposed to do. I don't pay the defensive side much mind.'

Imagine if MLB Ahmad Brooks (groin) has to sit out a third straight game, and Schlegel makes a key defensive play to beat his old team. I'm certainly not saying that'll happen, but it would be wild.