Football Reporters Online

Tomlinson Is a NY Jet

by TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

The NY Jets continue to be one of the most exciting teams in the NFL this offseason so far, as they closed the deal on their replacement for Thomas Jones on Sunday. Ladainian Tomlinson, who only a few years back was regarded as the top running back in the NFL, signed a two year 5.2 million dollar deal w the Jets who beat out the Minnesota Vikings for his services. A  5.7 base with incentives.  “LT” will add  experience and depth to a backfield left in need after the departure of Thomas Jones to the Chiefs last week. Tomlinson rushed for only 730 yards last season his ninth in San Diego. The Chargers then released him weeks ago, choosing to tender a first and third round pick for speedy Darren Sproles instead. LT has struggled to staying healthy in the past three  seasons staring with a knee injury that occurred during the 2007 AFC championship loss at New England. A groin injury followed by turf toe in 2008 also helped slow the guy who scored an NFL record 31 TDs in 2006 With the Jets, Tomlinson will be asked to fulfill pass catching and short yardage roles either alongside Leon Washington or as the sole backup behind rising star RB Shonn Greene.

The Jets filled the loss of Jones with Tomlinson but Washington may be gone in the coming weeks (tendered only a 2nd round pick following the broken leg Washington suffered in 2009) as well.  Thus the chance for solid playing time in New York (in Minnesota LT was clearly going to caddy for Adrain Peterson) in a two or three back rotation,  coupled with a familiarity of the system that current Jet offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (a former Chargers assistant) employs, may have made the difference. The Vikings, the other suitor serious about obtaining LT, entertained him on Friday. He left Purple People Eater land without a contract though,  and headed for New York. Tomlinson then met with the Jets on Friday. Going out to dinner with Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez, LT left for home on Saturday excited about the possibility of being a Jet, yet needing time to “think things over,” on neutral ground.  A thought process that took a little over 24 hours to conclude.  Viking QB Brett Favre, who himself has not committed to a return in 2010, reportedly tried, albeit in vain, to help with the recruitment of LT to Minnesota this past Sunday. Favre’s limbo status may have also been a factor in Tomlinson’s opting for the Jets.

In looking at the deal from the Jets viewpoint, some can’t help but wonder why Jet brass decided not to match the offer to Jones, who has said that he would’ve come back despite being released over money.  Choosing instead to move in another direction at running back for a player who appears to many to be on the decline at a rapid rate has befuddled some in the media like Michael Lombardi in the National Football Post who wonders if LT is over the hill.  Some rabid Jet fans have also voiced concern on the release of Jones who rushed for 1402 yards and 16 TDs in 2009, a 31 year old RB who seems to have gas left in the tank although struggling down the stretch.

Instead of attempting to go after Jones at a lower price than the 5.8 million he was set to make in base salary and bonuses combined in 2010 before his release, Jet brass took out a whole page ad in the Kansas City Star instead. This to thank Jones for his efforts, his leadership and production in three seasons with New York. A more appropriate “thanks” for those who felt Jones was let go hastily, would have been a new contract and a continuation of the “Ground and Pound.” A Jones and Greene combo that left the Jets atop all teams in rushing in 2010. More on the true nature behind the reasoning for the switch from Jones to Tomlinson are sure to arise in the coming weeks. For now there is only educated guessing. Some Jet fans on Twitter surmised on Monday that maybe Jones would not have taken a backseat to Greene very well, whereas Tomlinson was prepared for a lesser role in 2010 anywhere he landed.  It’s only speculation as to why the Jets essentially chose LT over Jones. A move that long time Jets writer Steve Serby wrote in Monday’s NY Post, is a mistake.

If healthy, Tomlinson’s pass catching ability will help second year QB Mark Sanchez check down, avoiding throws into traffic that hurt him throughout his rookie year, while providing a key element to third down conversions. With Sanchez and the Jets having blossomed during three road playoff games that left them 30 minutes away from the Super Bowl, any drop off in personnel would surely derail  plans for a Super Bowl run in 2010. One Jet source was quoted as not being concerned at all that Tomlinson would decrease the value of the running game. The source noted that LT not only has plenty of good games left in him, but that he will benefit from a run heavy attack that does so behind an offensive line that houses two pro bowlers in Nick Mangold and Alan Faneca among others.

Players in the twilight of their careers have more often than not,  attempted to catch on for a final shot at glory with teams that have the chance to win it all.  Beating out the Vikings for LT, a team that like the Jets, fell short in the Conference championship game, symbolizes how the perception of the Jets organization by players around the league, has changed for the better.  Free agents want to become Jets now. This is in part due to the culture Ryan has helped change for a franchise that was once better known for dramatic December losses that ended seasons in perpetual decline. The Jets have quickly become a team that under Rex Ryan is aggressive and  fun to play for. A club that has clearly set itself up talent wise,  for a few year’s run at the title in the process.

It’s not just Tomlinson. Other free agents are taking notice. There is trade talk now of high strung Broncos star WR Brandon Marshall and the Jets. Last week Browns safety Brodney Pool signed with Gang Green. Two weeks back 26 year old Antonio Cromartie, also a former Charger who coming into 2008 was considered a top NFL corner, became a Jet. Now its Tomlinson.

Being a legend in the twilight of a hall of fame career without a team didn’t last long for number 21. A second chance to earn that elusive ring, and the opportunity for Tomlinson to prove those who feel he is finished wrong, both start today. In Green and White. Wearing Baby Blue is a thing of the past for Ladainian. A star who once carried the San Diego offense yet now is being asked to contribute like a cog in the machine. A machine running downhill towards a Gang Green Super Bowl dream together.

follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter@ thejetrpeort

JETS LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY, FALL TO FALCONS  10-7

by TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

If you’ve been around Gang Green nation long enough, then Sunday’s 10-7 loss to Atlanta in the game’s final minutes should come as no surprise. No franchise in the NFL snatches defeat from the claws of victory with it all on the line (The Houston Texans haven’t been around long enough but their resume IS growing) more often, year in year out, than the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. Need proof? Please. It would be like reading you the Dead Sea Scrolls. We’d be a light year into the future by the time we were done with THAT laundry list.

Recent debacles in the past twenty odd years include 1986, when the Jets went from  from 10-1 to just a 10-6 wildcard entry. Then falling at Cleveland during the divisional playoffs in OT thanks to Mark Gastineau’s idiotic late hit on Bernie Kosar . The 1994 Dan Marino fake spike play, and ensuing tailspin that sent the first place Jets led by  Pete Carroll, to oblivion.USC would soon follow for the guy who during the “milk it, milk it” Bruce Coslet era, motioned to Pete Stoyanovich the choke sign after a miss. The Dolphins star kicker then hit a game winning bomb moments later. The Jets were up 10-0 in Denver in the AFC Championship under Bill Parcells in 1999, only to watch John Elway rally the Broncos to their first world title.

How about 2008? The Jets were 8-3 and alone in first, until Brett Favre started throwing the ball like Pat Ryan. The 9-7 finish ended the bizarre Favre- Eric Mangini marriage. Now this. A chance to control destiny vanishing into the the endless Meadowlands swamp. This after fighting for a month to get back into the AFC playoff hunt. The Jets botching three field goals were the culprit. Three! They held the struggling Atlanta offense to 3 points all day, only to allow a Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzalez TD with 1:15 left. Mark Sanchez? The rookie made some timely plays in his return from two knee injuries that have him resembling Joe Namath in the knee brace department. However, three more interceptions helped lead to another crushing loss that now leaves the Jets needing a win against the undefeated Colts in order to have life during the final week. Yikes.

It didn’t have to be this way. The 7-6 Jaguars lost on Thursday. The 7-6 Dolphins lost on Sunday. The Jets were right there. Safety Kerry Rhodes symbolized the team’s frustration.” This (bleep) is crazy, man. We (bleeping) got exactly what we wanted and we couldn’t get it done.”

When Sanchez (18-32 226 1TD 1int) hooked up with WR Braylon Edwards for a 65 yard TD pass, the Jets took 7-3 lead.  It stayed that way until the final minute. The Jets vaunted ground game however was bottled up for most of the day as the Jets had trouble adding to the lead,. Thomas Jones managed just 52 yards, as the Jets tried to attack one of the leagues worst pass defenses. The plan backfired. That’s because three FG attempts were wasted. One because of a high snap, the other a Kellen Clemens drop, the third was on Feely.

The inability by the Jets to tack on more, gave life to an Atlanta team that was eliminated from playoff contention Saturday night, thanks to the Dallas win over the then 13-0 Saints. Falcons QB Matt Ryan, back from a toe injury that had kept him out two games, engineered a drive that left the Falcons with a fourth down inside the ten with just over a minute left. The whole stadium knew where the ball was going, to soon to be hall of fame TE Tony Gonzalez. It did, as a zone full of Jets encircled him, too far to disrupt the first TD in 34 possession against the Jets. What a time to let that happen. Sanchez threw an interception shortly after that sealed the Jets fate. 10-7 was the final.

The Jets defense has now had the lead three times going into the game’s final five minutes. The result has been 0 for 3. Losses to Miami on Monday night, Jacksonville and the Jones Drew kneel, and now Atlanta. Two for three would have equalled a first place tie with the now not so unbeatable New England Patriots. One win would mean an 8-6 record and control of their own destiny.

Instead it’s win and get help. The 7-7 record is not all the defense’s fault. Maybe

too much was expected of Sanchez too early. The interceptions have been piling up since September. Signs of a rookie QB’s growing pains that the Jets may have tried to will away by all of the preseason talk about a killer defense and run first approach to the year.

Nonetheless, the recent three game win streak that left the Jets first in rushing and defensive yards allowed, regenerated hope that seemed lost during the mid season swoon that saw the once 3-0 Jets fall to 4-6.. Now hope is fleeting again. If you follow the Jets, you are well accustomed to watching a team that loses the game BEFORE the big game. Yet it’s in the club’s DNA to both tank in an Atlanta type game, yet show up and steal the Indy one. Rex Ryan who said “we’re out of the playoffs after the loss retracted his statement , admitting on Monday that he was “dead wrong.” Ryan’s no math major but who could blame the single minded focus that comes with gearing up to run the table.

Now there’s a new table to run. A two game table. It’s now over. However, because of the tragic loss to Atlanta, the final run will have to start with 14-0 Indy, if the Jets want to still be talking about 2009, not 2010 next Monday. A tall order. As Jet fans fasten their seat belts once again this Sunday, they know that in all likelihood, Peyton Manning and co. will ensure that it will be for the last time in ’09. Then again, if you follow the Jets, you have been witness countless times to the fact

that nothing EVER goes as planned.

A LOOK BACK AT THE THREE KEYS TO ATLANTA:

JET D FORCING TURNOVERS:  Jet D was hot coming in, but forced the big goose egg. Atlanta picked off Sanchise 3 times.

THROW IT SMART NOT SCARED:  We asked for 50 percent completion , we got it at 18-32. We asked for 200 yards and got that at 232. Smart? Three picks for Sanchez, again. Some timely throws but in all, too many mistakes. The missed FG”s exposed the Int’s.

WATCH WOODHEAD: We felt that the Jets super conservative passing game would be aided by the emerging Wes Welker, Wayne Chrebet type. Rookie slot WR/RB Danny Woodhead DID get more involved but the opportunities missed in the kicking game again nullifies the good what  Woodhead’s increased role could provided.

follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter @ thejetreport