Santonio Holmes is escorted out of the Jets locker room Monday. (Getty Images)

By Will Brinson

With everything that happened with the Jets over the past 24 hours -- missing the playoffs, fighting with the media, in-fighting and whatnot -- you wouldn't be surprised if Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum decided to blow some stuff up. But they won't.

Ryan and Tannebaum confirmed on Monday during a press conference that Santonio Holmes, the player primarily deemed responsible for locker-room issues, would return, and that much-maligned offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would be back, barring another team (like Jacksonville) hiring him as their head coach.

Black Monday

Wilson: Spags tenure in STL ends poorly Judge: St. Louis needs offensive-minded guy Freeman: Bucs evaluating Raheem Morris now Katzowitz: Jags looking to interview Mularkey? Brinson: Bolts to wait 'a couple days' on Norv Eye on Football: Black Monday coaching rumors

"I believe Santonio will be back next year," Ryan said.

The pair were pelted with questions about Holmes and team chemistry and Ryan said they would do away with team captains altogether.

"I made a huge mistake," Ryan said. "Not just by naming Santonio a captain. With all the captains. It's not something I truly believe in."

When the Jets announced the press conference for Monday, speculation started to ramp up that the Jets could do away with Holmes altogether. However, as Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reported, Holmes is guaranteed more than $7 million in 2012 (with another $7 million of future salary becoming fully guaranteed on the second day of the 2012 league year).

Which is to say, the Jets can't really even consider releasing Holmes. They've simply got to find a way to get him to be better in the locker room. (Tannenbaum wouldn't comment on whether Santonio was disciplined for his behavior the last week.)

As for other issues, Tannenbaum said that Mark Sanchez will remain the starting quarterback in 2012. And Rex indicated there wouldn't be any changes on the coaching staff as of right now.

Oh and Rex's excuse for crying to his team in the locker room on Monday?

"Ah, Im Irish."


For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, Like Us on Facebook, subscribe to our NFL newsletter, and while you're add it, add our RSS Feed.

This message has been removed by the administrator.

By Josh Katzowitz

For a team that likes to talk so much trash, the Jets certainly didn’t want to speak to reporters a day after their playoff hopes were dashed by a loss to the Dolphins. And they made themselves extremely clear about that.

Santonio Holmes, who actually talked Sunday after he was benched for the final few minutes of the game, was escorted out by the Jets PR department and refused to comment, according to the Newark Star Ledger.

Linebacker Bart Scott also refused to talk, and when a photographer got in his way, Scott yelled, “Get out of my f------ face” and flipped the bird. Cornerback Darrelle Revis also uncharacteristically declined comment.

It just goes to show how acrimonious that locker room has become and what a disaster of a season it was for the Jets. Coach Rex Ryan will meet with the media today at 3 p.m. ET, and the Jets said today that general manager Mike Tannenbaum will join him. Which might mean there will be some team and/or coaching personnel decisions to discuss. 

But say this for Ryan, who apparently cried in front of his team while giving his last speech of the season and pleading for team unity. As blustery as he is, he answers all questions after an opponent makes him look foolish. It’s called being accountable. Sounds like his team is exactly the opposite.  

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, Like Us on Facebook, subscribe to our NFL newsletter, and while you're add it, add our RSS Feed.

Posted by Eye on Football Analyst Andy Benoit



Ever since Rex Ryan left Baltimore to become New York’s head coach, we’ve viewed these two teams as mirror images of one another – and understandably so. Both have young quarterbacks. Both have running backs entering their primes who are backed up by a sage veteran. Both feature an aggressive and deceptive 3-4 defensive scheme. And both talk abundant trash even though their respective rivals – the Patriots and Steelers – have all the rings.

Let’s take a closer look at these teams’ similarities.

1. Young quarterbacks
Something that stood out in Week 3 was how the Ravens and Jets heavily utilized play-action early on, but for different reasons.

The Ravens referred to it to allow time for downfield routes to unfold. They wanted to take advantage of a depleted Rams secondary that was starting undrafted second-year nobody Darian Stewart at safety and disintegrating Al Harris at nickel corner outside. (They succeeded, by the way).

The Jets referred to play action because they wanted to prolong the time that Raiders’ defensive backs had to hold up in man coverage. They also wanted to coax the Raider linebackers into running out of position. (They succeeded, but only in the first half.)

Same offensive tactic, but with vastly different inspirations. The Ravens were trying to showcase their young quarterback, while the Jets were trying to simply make life easier for theirs (nothing wrong with that). This makes sense. Flacco has been around a year longer than Sanchez and is clearly a year ahead of him development-wise. He has a stronger arm and, as of late, more refined tools. He has really improved his pocket movement, becoming more consistent in resetting his feet before he throws.

The Jets are working with Sanchez in this realm. Entering this season, the USC star had a habit of bringing the ball down while eluding rushers in the pocket. This compelled him to reset both his feet AND throwing mechanics, which is too slow of a motion for the NFL.

For what it’s worth, don’t expect such a heavy dose of play-action in this game. Both defenses have savvy linebackers and are too likely to blitz. Instead, the key will be which young quarterback does the best job at diagnosing coverages and pass-rushing attacks prior to the snap.


2. The running backs
Let’s get one thing clear: Ray Rice is a better football player than Shonn Greene. It’s not even close. If Rice were a Friday night, Greene would be, at best, a Wednesday afternoon. Rice runs with superb balance and strength, and his lateral agility is second to none (especially when he gets to the second level). What’s more, he’s a demon in the passing game, both as a receiver and blocker.

Greene, on the other hand, has been somewhat disappointing. He sits out most passing downs and has 1,440 yards rushing…in 32 career games. One issue is Greene’s more of a momentum runner than explosive runner. He excels on sweeps because those runs naturally allow him to hit the line of scrimmage going downhill. But sweeps don’t work against elite outside linebackers (like, say, Terrell Suggs).

Between the tackles, Greene’s vision and timing are very average. That’s why the Jets made LaDainian Tomlinson a prominent part of their offense last season. Tomlinson is off to a fantastic start as a receiving back this season (12 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown), but that’s in part because he knows how to outwit pass defending linebackers. On film, it’s clear L.T. has lost a lot of his speed and quickness. If the Jets are to go anywhere in 2011, they’ll have to ride Greene.

Same goes for the Ravens and Rice. Rice’s production is not a problem, though the Ravens were wise to bring in a supporting No. 2 back like Ricky Williams.

3. The receivers
Derrick Mason is the X-factor. He was Baltimore’s possession target last year and is now filling that role from the slot in New York. The crafty 15-year veteran is one of the few players in the league who does not need to get separation in order to be open.

Plaxico Burress is another one of those players. He’s been, for the most part, his same old self this season (which is remarkable when you really think about it). His matchup Sunday night against Carry Williams will be worth watching. If you asked God to make a cornerback specifically for defending Burress, you might get Williams. He’s only 6’1”, 185, but long and upright, he plays much bigger than that. He has an intriguing combination of physicality and change-of-direction ability, and if asked to play man coverage, he won’t be shy about using trail position technique (which will compel Burress to use his “speed” more than his strength).

It will be interesting to see what the Jets do with Darrelle Revis. The likely assignment will be Anquan Boldin, though last week, rookie Torrey Smith turned in a jaw-dropping three-touchdown first quarter that had the Rams redirecting their safety help concepts. Smith gets faster at the end of his routes, which is something all great deep threats do. Antonio Cromartie has the speed to run with him, so expect the Jets to trust that matchup. But expect the Ravens to readily go after it.

The weak link of both cornerbacking groups happens to be an ex-Boise State Bronco: Chris Carr for the Ravens and Kyle Wilson for the Jets. If it comes down to these ancillary matchups, the Jets have the overall advantage. Mason, their No. 3, is as reliable as they come. For the Ravens, newcomer Lee Evans (who now figures to be the No. 3 receiver) has not established any sort of a rhythm with Flacco.

4. The defensive lines
The Jets have a unique run-stopping approach with their three-man defensive line. Instead of asking their downlinemen to occupy blockers and fill two gaps, the Jets ask them to focus on physically manhandling the guy in front of them. The idea is this creates congestion through penetration and also defines the inside linebackers’ path to the ball (David Harris and Bart Scott are tasked with reading the defensive linemen’s action and attacking in the opposite direction that it’s drifting. More on that in the next section.)

The Jets are the only 3-4 team in the NFL that plays the run this way.

This unique approach is why general manager Mike Tannenbaum drafted a fist-fighter like Muhammad Wilkerson in the first round. Tannenbaum would probably give his right eye for a chance to have a guy like Haloti Ngata. The Ravens 335-pound defensive end/nose tackle is the most destructive front line force in the NFL today.

Ngata has the power of a tug boat and mobility of a clipper. Truly, he moves like a linebacker. Expect him to spend most of his time at defensive end this season, as last year’s second-round pick, Terrence Cody, has looked great at nose tackle.



5. The inside linebackers
These are the entertainers – the guys NBC cameras will fixate on Sunday night. The sagacious Ray Lewis and loquacious Bart Scott. Both back up their personas. Lewis no longer has elite sideline-to-sideline speed, but he compensates with instincts, ferocity and fundamentals.

He was a demon attacking Rams lead-blockers last week. The Ravens’ defensive style will always allow Lewis to be productive, as so much of their run approach is predicated on his teammates occupying blockers.

Scott, who is as aggressive downhill as any linebacker in the league, has both an easier and tougher job than Lewis. It’s easier in that he has a stellar running mate in David Harris. It’s tougher in that, as mentioned earlier, he must read the defensive linemen’s battles in front of him and pursue the ball accordingly.

The reason other 3-4 defenses don’t take this type of approach is it requires great intelligence and pursuit skills from both inside linebackers. Most defenses don’t have an inside combination like Scott and Harris.

So who will win? Check our expert picks for all Week 4 games. 

Follow @Andy_Benoit on Twitter or contact him at Andy.Benoit-at-NFLTouchdown.com.

Posted by Ryan Wilson

Jets 2011 third-round pick Kenrick Ellis was set to stand trial next week on felony assault charges for an arrest that took place in April 2010 while he was still a student at Hampton University. The trial has been rescheduled for November 28, but Ellis faces bigger issues than appearing in court during the NFL season.

He's not a US citizen (Ellis was born in Jamaica and moved to the States at the age of 11), but holds "permanent resident" status. A permanent resident can be deported if convicted of an aggravated felony, which means that the outcome of this trial could not only cost Ellis millions of dollars, but keep him from ever playing football in this country.

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini wrote last week that because of the stakes, Ellis' best move would be to negotiate a plea bargain before the matter goes to trial.

The key is to make sure that any plea arrangement isn't classified as an aggravated assault and carries less than a one-year sentence, suspended or otherwise, according to Virginia-based immigration attorney Bill Kovatch.

"There's a reason (for the Jets) to be worried ... because if it's an aggravated felony, there's nothing that can be done," said Kovatch, who doesn't represent Ellis. "He gets deported and there's no waiver."

Under Rex Ryan, the Jets have taken chances on talented players with questionable pasts, and the results have been mostly positive. Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie all came to New York with baggage, and all contributed to the Jets' two consecutive runs to the AFC Championship game.

So it wasn't altogether surprising that Ryan and general managers Mike Tannenbaum drafted Ellis, a 6-5, 345-pound nose tackle out of Hampton, in April. At the time, the team said they were "comfortable" with the risk after doing their due diligence.

Before playing at Hampton, Ellis was dismissed from the University of South Carolina for failing multiple drug tests, and one NFL general manager told Cimini that his team shied away from Ellis because of the impending trial and the possibility of deportation.

"That was big for us," the GM said. "It's a pain in the tail, the whole legal issue."

The Jets need Ellis to help fill the void left by Kris Jenkins (to that end, New York also drafted Temple defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson in the first round), and given their past successes with players like Holmes, Edwards and Cromartie, it's not unreasonable to think that the gamble on Ellis will pay off.

Plus, as Cimini notes, there's this: "[Ellis] has been a permanent resident for more than five years. Even if he's convicted of a crime of moral turpitude (which is deportable), as long as it's a misdemeanor -- a sentence less than one year -- it won't affect his residency status, Kovatch said. But a repeat offense, he said, would make him deportable."

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Posted by Ryan Wilson

Last offseason, the Jets acquired Santonio Holmes for a fifth-round pick. That the Steelers were willing to part with their former first-rounder and Super Bowl XLIII MVP for the draft equivalent of a bag of doughnuts* was no reflection of Holmes' on-the-field production and had everything to do with his inability to stay out of trouble.

The Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum Jets don't share such concerns. In fact, their personnel philosophy can be loosely described as "If a guy can play he deserves a second (third, fourth, etc…) chance." And for the most part, the strategy has worked. Braylon Edwards, Antonio Cromartie and Holmes were critical to the Jets' AFC Championship runs the last two seasons, all came to New York with a U-Haul full of baggage.

All three players are also free agents, and once the 2011 offseason officially begins, the Jets will have to decide who to keep and how to do it. According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, Holmes is the priority.

“I believe they will (be able to afford Holmes),” La Canfora said on Total Access. “From everything I’ve heard, he will be a priority. Look at what they’ve done in recent years with D’Brickshaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, stepping up for Darrelle Revis. They’ve done everything possible to keep their young core. … I think Holmes stays in New York.”

Holmes was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy and he still managed 52 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns. According to Football Outsiders' WR efficiency ratings, Holmes led all Jets receivers in total value and value-per-play.

The Steelers were able to jettison Holmes and remain productive offensively. Part of that was because second-year player Mike Wallace emerged as a legit No. 1 wide receiver, but also because Ben Roethlisberger ia a top-10 NFL quarterback. The Jets need Holmes because Mark Sanchez is still in the developmental stages of his career. A playmaker like Holmes certainly eases that transition, even if he's not always enamored with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's game plan.

Edwards' future in New York seems less certain. Depending on how free agency plays out (assuming a new CBA isn't far off), Randy Moss and Plaxico Burress could also be possibilities.

* Turns out, the Steelers made the most of that fifth-round pick. During the 2010 draft, they acquired CB Bryant McFadden and a sixth-round pick from the the Cardinals for the fifth-rounder they got from the Jets for Holmes. That sixth-round pick would eventually become Antonio Brown.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Posted by Eye on Football Staff

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rex Ryan (Live!) is underway at the combine and, as usual, the media's hanging on his every word, as the Jets coach drew a tremendous crowd for his 3:30 PM EST press conference.

And, shortly after calling GM Mike Tannenbaum a "diva" for his performance on CSI: New York, Ryan did what's become expected of him lately: guarantee a Super Bowl victory for the Jets.

"I thought we'd win it the first two years," Ryan said. "I guarantee we'll do it this year."

It's really nothing new from the Jets coach, but you don't have to tell him that.

"I’m not afraid to stand up here and say we're going to get it done," Ryan said. "I’m going to try to will a championship. Anything it takes."

For starters, it's probably going to take at least a new CBA deal and some free agent signings -- not to mention a good draft.

But while rolling eyes at Rex's proclamations have become the reaction du jour now that he's guaranteed a title so many times, it's still tough to dismiss the success he's had in his short run with the Jets and their strong chance to compete for a title in 2011.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Posted by Will Brinson

Vernon Gholston, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 draft, has been a bit of a disappointment for the Jets so far in his career. In fact, he's yet to record a career sack. 

And GM Mike Tannenbaum was asked during a recent wrap-up conference call whether Gholston was going to hang around for the long run.

"Certainly, he’s been given his fair share of opportunities," Tannenbaum said per the New Jersey Star-Ledger. "It could be time to move on, but obviously we’re not ready to say that yet."

Tannenbaum also pointed to the improved play of cornerback Drew Coleman, who eventually took hold of the nickleback spot for the Jets. Gholston saw no such late improvement -- he was eventually moved from outside linebacker to defensive end, where he didn't see much more success.

"Not playing toward the end, obviously, is something we’re going to take a long look at and see if there’s a role that makes sense for him," Tannenbaum said. "If there is, obviously we’ll keep him, and if not, we’ll move on."

The Jets did plan ahead for this though -- because Gholston made more in 2010 (the not-quite, but still-kind-of "all-in" season for New York), he's less of a financial liability for the team should the team decide to bail on their first-round investment from 2008. If a better edge pass rusher emerges in this year's draft, that's entirely feasible scenario.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.