NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

July 28, 2014

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1

Vick embracing role as mentor to Smith with Jets (Dennis Waszak) ........................................................................ 1

Jets' Pryor has concussion, Amaro tweaks knee (Dennis Waszak) ............................................................................ 3

Guard Willie Colon is practicing with Jets (Dennis Waszak) ...................................................................................... 3

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Jets notes: Veteran guard Willie Colon activated (J.P. Pelzman) .............................................................................. 4

Jets notes: Calvin Pryor dinged at practice (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................................................ 5

Jets tilt snaps toward Geno Smith (J.P. Pelzman) ...................................................................................................... 5

Jets' top two draft picks injured (J.P. Pelzman) ......................................................................................................... 6

STAR-LEDGER ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

12 observations from Day 5 of Jets camp, as things start to get feisty (Darryl Slater) ............................................. 7

Jets training camp 2014: What to look for on Day 5 (Darryl Slater) .......................................................................... 9

Jets' Jace Amaro tweaks knee, but is not expected to miss any practice time (Darryl Slater) ................................ 10

Jets' Willie Colon partially returns to practice, works double-team blocking with Breno Giacomini (Darryl Slater) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 12

Demario Davis working hard to take game to the next level (Brian Costello) ........................................................ 12

Clearly Rex’s disciple, Pettine is even unapologetic to his mentor (Bart Hubbuch) ................................................ 14

Jets rookies hit by injury bug (Brian Costello) ......................................................................................................... 15

‘We … make people scared’: Rex Ryan’s brash defense is back (Steve Serby) ........................................................ 16

Gang shows signs of wear after four days without a break (Brian Costello) ........................................................... 17

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 18

Calvin Pace: NY Jets have ‘the best’ defense in the NFL (Seth Walder) .................................................................. 18

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Dee Milliner: I'm best CB in NFL .............................................................................................................................. 20

NJ.COM ................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Calvin Pryor actually got a concussion during a kickoff return drill (Dom Cosentino) ............................................ 21

Michael Vick vs. Geno Smith: Day 5 breakdown, with Smith still in the lead (Dom Cosentino) ............................. 21

Calvin Pryor injury: Read the NFL's concussion protocol here (Dom Cosentino) .................................................... 22

SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 23

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vick embracing role as mentor to Smith with Jets (Dennis Waszak)

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Associated Press July 27, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/vick-embracing-role-mentor-smith-jets

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Vick dropped back, peered down the field and flicked his wrist.

The football zipped through the air about 50 yards and dropped into the arms of a wide receiver running in stride. And it all looked so effortless for the New York Jets quarterback.

"Whoa!" one young fan shouted at a recent training camp practice. "Man, he's still got it!"

Vick knows it.

Everyone else is starting to see it, too.

Thing is, Vick also believes he can not only be a starter in the NFL, but a star. Right now, he's in line to back up Geno Smith this season. And, just as he did last year in Philadelphia, he's doing everything he can to help a young quarterback get better as a high-profile mentor.

"I'm cool with it," Vick said. "I understood the situation coming in and I knew it was Geno's job and my job was to push Geno. The thing I'm going to be is, I'm going to be a guy that's going to be able to help Geno.

"But if this team needs me to play, I'm going to be ready to play."

Vick is still hungry to be what he once was: one of the league's most dynamic players. And as far as he's concerned, no one can tell him any different.

"He can still throw it now, like, wow, can he throw it," Rex Ryan said. "It's amazing how God touches people differently and, certainly, he gave this young man so much ability."

Vick is 34, though, and some see him more as a big-name backup with plenty of experience rather than a potential starter.

Not Vick. Not yet.

"I still feel like I have a lot of football left to play, so I wouldn't take it that far," he said. "But, hey, if that's what it is now and the next couple of years, then, hey, we'll see."

There wasn't much buzz this past offseason when he became a free agent, and Vick chose to sign with a team trying to determine whether Smith can be a franchise quarterback. That's why, as Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said would happen, Smith is taking 75 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense.

"As the days go on," Vick said, "I continue to get more comfortable in my role."

While the Jets have said there is competition at every position this summer, Vick has called Smith "the starter" from the moment he signed.

But, as he well knows, that can change at any time. Just as it did last year, when he began the season with the Eagles as the starter, injured a hamstring and was replaced by Nick Foles — who went on to have a Pro Bowl season.

Rather than sulk, Vick reinvented himself.

He was lauded by Eagles coaches for his willingness to help Foles along, serving almost as another coach.

It's still much of the same in New York.

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"I think these are opportunities you have to embrace," Vick said. "The great part about this is we get to watch a young kid mature in the offense and grow. If I can take part and take credit for some of that, then I will. I will enjoy every minute of that, as if I was out there playing."

He's quick to give Smith a pat on the helmet after he makes a good play. He's also eager to make sure Smith remains focused when things might not be going as smoothly.

"Just helping me with life lessons and learning from some of the things that he's done," Smith said. "He's been in this league 11 years. He's had his ups and downs. Everyone knows that quarterbacks, you're going to have a ton of those: ups and downs, ups and downs. You've just got to stay levelheaded. That's the main thing that he talks about."

After coming out of Virginia Tech as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001, Vick quickly developed into one of the league's most exciting players with the Falcons.

Then came a nearly two-year prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting ring that turned him into one of the most vilified athletes in recent memory. It changed his life, and is something he still tries to make amends for by championing animal rights.

He revived his career during his five years in Philadelphia, and greatly rehabilitated his image. But he's still a bad guy in some eyes. Vick knows that will never fully change. All he knows is that as long as he's on the football field — as player or mentor — life just seems right.

"I have had my share or jubilation in this league, and more to come," Vick said. "This is a great role I am in now, a great opportunity. I still get to come out and dress up and play a game I love. And that's what's most important."

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Jets' Pryor has concussion, Amaro tweaks knee (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press July 27, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/jets-pryor-has-concussion-amaro-tweaks-knee

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — New York Jets rookie safety Calvin Pryor has been diagnosed with a concussion, and tight end Jace Amaro was sidelined in the middle of practice after tweaking his right knee.

Coach Rex Ryan clarified Sunday that Pryor was injured while covering a kickoff — not a punt return, as he originally thought — during drills Saturday when the returner was knocked into him. Pryor, the team's first-round draft pick, was not at practice and will be sidelined while he goes through the NFL's protocol for head injuries.

Amaro, New York's second-rounder, says his knee buckled Sunday, the result of a nagging tendon injury he has felt throughout the offseason. He says he should be fine when the Jets next take the practice field on Tuesday.

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Guard Willie Colon is practicing with Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press July 27, 2014

http://pro32.ap.org/article/guard-willie-colon-practicing-jets

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Jets have activated starting right guard Willie Colon from the active/physically unable to perform list, and he is practicing for the first time at training camp.

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Colon had offseason arthroscopic knee surgery in late May. He is in full pads and participating in some drills Sunday after missing the first three days of practice. Brian Winters, who started at left guard last season, and Oday Aboushi had been filling in for Colon.

Coach Rex Ryan said Saturday that Colon was "real close" to returning.

The 31-year-old Colon was re-signed by the Jets in March to a one-year, $2 million deal. He started all 16 games last season, but was recovering from a torn right biceps in the season finale before dealing with the knee issue.

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THE RECORD

Jets notes: Veteran guard Willie Colon activated (J.P. Pelzman) The Record July 27, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-veteran-guard-willie-colon-activated-1.1058179

Colon activated

Veteran right guard Willie Colon spent part of his day Saturday pushing a massive blocking sled across a field adjacent to the Jets' practice fields. That, apparently, was one of the last tasks he had to perform to show he was physically well enough to get back on the field.

Colon was activated from the active/physically unable to perform list Sunday, and participated in individual drills. It marked the first time he had gotten on the field since the 2013 season finale during which he suffered a torn right biceps at Miami.

After recovering from that, he suffered a knee injury while conditioning during the spring, and required arthroscopic surgery for that.

"Each day is a progression," said Colon, who didn't do any team drills. "Right now, [I'm] just taking it slow, trying not to have any setbacks. That's the key right now."

One of Colon's goals is to begin establishing chemistry with right tackle Breno Giacomini, a former Seahawks starter who was signed as a free agent in March to replace Austin Howard, who departed for Oakland via free agency.

"I kind of wanted to get going with [Giacomini], because chemistry is huge for the offensive line," Colon said. "So, I just have been really eager about that. Right now, it's time and I'm ready to go."

Eye-opener

Coach Rex Ryan was unhappy with some unnecessary hits that occurred during Sunday's practice, including when rookie linebacker Jeremiah George pushed down rookie quarterback Tajh Boyd as he was heading to the sideline after a short run. Quarterbacks are never supposed to get hit during practice.

"It happens almost every year," Ryan said of the problematic hits. "A few guys are a little overzealous. We have to protect each other."

Quote of the day

"He has that fake Boston accent, so I have to get used to that." — A smiling Colon on Giacomini, who is from Massachusetts.

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Jets notes: Calvin Pryor dinged at practice (J.P. Pelzman) The Record July 27, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-calvin-pryor-dinged-at-practice-1.1057909

Pryor dinged

The Jets’ first training camp practice in full pads Saturday shaped up as a potential showcase for safety Calvin Pryor, the first-round pick from Louisville known for his hard hits.

Instead, Pryor, nicknamed the "Louisville Slugger," suffered a head injury when he collided with a teammate while serving as a personal punt protector during a special-teams drill. Coach Rex Ryan said after practice that Pryor was being evaluated for a possible concussion.

"As of right now, we don’t know if it was a concussion or not," Ryan said. "It was a head injury, and when those things happen, you’re always going to [be] cautious. So that’s what we’re doing."

Pryor jogged off the field with a trainer after the collision and later returned to the sideline without his helmet. He watched the rest of practice wearing a baseball cap and no jersey.

Holding back

Running back Chris Johnson didn’t participate in team drills after going full-tilt the first two days of practice. Ryan indicated it was not a setback for Johnson, who had knee surgery in January. The Jets will limit the former Tennessee Titan’s practice time for precautionary reasons, and Ryan implied Johnson may be limited one of every three practice days.

Reserve outside linebacker Garrett McIntyre also is on a "pitch count," as Ryan called it, in terms of practice time. He also is recovering from a knee injury suffered during the 2013 season.

Play of the day

Backup QB Michael Vick threw a beautiful deep pass to Clyde Gates for a "touchdown." Gates, who was a virtual lock to make the team last year and did so before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 6, needs a good camp to stand out in a crowd of wide receivers.

Quote of the day

"I’m not racing that guy. [Philadelphia RB] LeSean McCoy, I’ll race him again. Not Chris Johnson." — A smiling Vick on the possibility of him challenging Cortland roommate Johnson to a race.

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Jets tilt snaps toward Geno Smith (J.P. Pelzman) The Record July 27, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-tilt-snaps-toward-geno-1.1057871

CORTLAND, N.Y. – Geno Smith and Michael Vick spoke to reporters simultaneously Saturday. Smith began with broadcast media representatives while Vick spoke to writers, and then the two traded places.

Smith, the incumbent starter, fielded 27 questions and Vick took 22. Well, at least those reps weren’t tilted all that much in Smith’s favor.

But on the practice field, it again was Smith’s show. The second-year pro again got the bulk of the snaps with the starters, just as he has during all three days of practice so far. In fact, the breakdown on this day

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was even more lopsided than on the previous two, with Smith getting 16 reps with the starters and Vick merely three.

General manager John Idzik keeps insisting it is a competition, even though the reps parceled out by his own coaching staff seem to indicate otherwise. Certainly, Smith has looked solid early in camp, so perhaps the extra time with the first-stringers is helping him.

"Reps are important," Smith said. "Every single rep that I get is going to help me out. I try to take them as hard as I can and I look forward to every single rep that I get because I know that they truly are important. I’ve seen the growth in myself and the growth in the guys around me due to the amount of reps that we’ve had in this offense with the same offensive coordinator [Marty Mornhinweg] and being together."

Smith is getting plenty of time to work with newcomer Eric Decker, imported from Denver during the off-season to be the No. 1 wide receiver.

"Eric has been a guy that from Day One has been working hard," Smith said. "He’s been willing to learn and listen, and for a guy like Eric, going from Peyton Manning, coming to this offense, to be able to still be disciplined, and listen to the offensive coordinator, and the quarterbacks, and do the right things, makes it easier on us."

Smith was asked what he most needs to improve upon thus far.

"In three days, it’s kind of hard to pinpoint one specific thing," said Smith, who is rooming with former Don Bosco star Matt Simms (in a battle with Tajh Boyd for the third-string job). "I just think everything needs to get better. I’m not going to sit here and say that we’ve cornered the market on anything. We’ve got to continue to get better at every single aspect of our offense, me as well, in every single aspect of the game."

As for Vick, he isn’t surprised about the distribution of first-team action.

"I’m cool with it," he said. "I understood the situation coming in and I knew it was Geno’s job and my job was to push Geno. The thing I’m going to be is, I’m going to be a guy that’s going to be able to help Geno, but if this team needs me to play, I’m going to be ready to play."

Of course, he isn’t getting much time with Decker and the rest of the starters.

"When I have an opportunity to go with those guys," Vick said, "I just try to make the most of it. It’s very rare. I try to let Geno get as many reps as he can with those guys because he’s going to be out there with them the majority of the time. So, that’s what’s important."

Smith said Vick has done a "great job" mentoring him, adding, "It’s not one of those things where he’s trying to implement anything that I need to change or anything. Rather, [he’s] just helping me with life lessons and learning from some of the things that he’s done. He’s been in this league 11 years. He’s had his ups and downs. … You’ve just got to stay level-headed. That’s the main thing that he talks about."

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Jets' top two draft picks injured (J.P. Pelzman) The Record July 27, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/news/jets-top-two-draft-picks-injured-1.1058009

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Safety Calvin Pryor, the Jets’ first-round selection, suffered a concussion during a special-teams drill in Saturday’s practice, coach Rex Ryan announced Sunday.

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Ryan had said Saturday that Pryor was injured while serving as a personal punt protector. However, the coach said Sunday that information he had received was incorrect, and that Pryor was injured while covering a kickoff when the returner was pushed into him. Ryan said Pryor, who sat out practice Sunday, has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. He will be monitored for symptoms and cannot return to practice until he has been medically cleared to do so.

Ryan said Pryor, known as a hard-hitter, did not have a history of concussions while playing in college for Louisville.

Tight end Jace Amaro, the team’s second-round pick, tweaked the patellar tendon in his right knee and left practice Sunday. He did not return to action.

Amaro, who starred at Texas Tech, said he tweaked his right knee while running a pass route. He left practice but remained on the sideline for treatment. He watched the rest of practice with the knee heavily wrapped with ice. Ryan characterized the injury as “tendinitis.”

Amaro indicated that knee had been bothering him physically for quite some time through “wear and tear,” and he isn’t worried that it is a serious injury. “I’ll be OK by Tuesday,” he said.The Jets have Monday off and will return to practice Tuesday.

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STAR-LEDGER

12 observations from Day 5 of Jets camp, as things start to get feisty (Darryl Slater) Star Ledger July 28, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/12_observations_from_day_5_of_jets_camp_as_things_start_to_get_feisty.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. – On Monday, the Jets will be off from practice for the first time since beginning training camp Thursday. Five days and four practices into camp, there have been some highs and lows. Sunday underscored that.

There is still plenty of time before things get serious with this season – after all, Sunday was just the Jets’ second practice in full pads – but the storylines with this team are beginning to take shape.

So is the drama – or whatever passes for drama in training camp. Sunday was the Jets’ most contentious and energetic practice to date. Again, it was just their second practice in full pads, so things are about to get hot, heavy and fun in the days to come.

The Jets are back on the practice field Tuesday, their first of four straight practices before Saturday’s Green and White scrimmage.

Here now, some observations – not related to Calvin Pryor, Jace Amaro or Willie Colon – from the final practice of this first chunk of training camp.

1. It was a sloppy day, particularly on the offensive side. The quarterbacks themselves weren’t all that bad. Dom Cosentino has your daily quarterback update at this very link. But Geno Smith and Michael Vick were under pressure a few times, forced to scramble. And Smith was victimized by three drops.

Receivers dropping passes wasn’t a problem Saturday, as it was in the first two practices. But on Sunday, drops became an issue again. Stephen Hill, David Nelson, Jeremy Kerley and Shaq Evans all dropped one pass each.

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2. Stephen Hill had mixed results. OK, maybe it’s not fair to single out Hill on a day when other receivers were sloppy, too, including Nelson, the man who is competing with Hill for the No. 2 receiver job. But this is a big year for Hill, a second-round pick in 2012, to show he was worthy of being drafted there.

Hill was hampered by injuries in his first two years, but that is no longer the case. Again, Sunday was just one day of practice, but it started poorly for Hill. On the first snap of team periods, Smith rolled right and threw a perfect pass to Hill, who dropped it.

Later in practice, Hill showed off his speed and size by shedding cornerback Dimitri Patterson to catch a deep ball, though it was hard to tell if Hill got both feet inbounds. Hill almost dropped another pass – a Tajh Boyd throw that he bobbled along the sideline before securing it. Fans cheered when he did. They know how important he can be.

3. David Nelson was fired up. Nelson angrily spiked the ball in the end zone after failing to get both feet inbounds on a nice lob from Smith that Nelson secured with one hand. Later, Smith and Patterson had to be separated after they came to blows and jawed at each other. But by training camp fight standards, it wasn’t anything special.

4. Other players looked feisty, too. The Jets concluded practice by putting their backups in a team period that involved tackling to the ground – something they rarely do in camp. This was the first time in camp that the Jets had tackled to the ground.

On what wound up being the final play of practice, rookie linebacker Jeremiah George shoved rookie quarterback Tajh Boyd as he was going out of bounds. Linebacker Troy Davis ran over to George immediately and admonished him, with salty language, to not hit the quarterback. George cursed back at Davis. And so ended practice, on a fittingly flawed note.

Jets coach Rex Ryan was not pleased to see George’s hit. Ryan made this clear to his players when he addressed them after practice. He mentioned George’s play in particular.

“A few guys are a little overzealous,” Ryan told reporters. “We have to protect each other. We don’t have 105 guys or whatever it is in college, so we have to take care of each other, and for us to be at our best we have to be healthy. You don’t ever take advantage of a player that is vulnerable. If you have a guy in a bad position, you hold him up. You don’t throw him down, you don’t throw him over a pile, and you don’t hit a quarterback. We don’t hit our quarterbacks, period. That’s why they’re in the red jersey. Especially, a situation like that (where the) guy’s running. You’ve got to be smart.”

5. Tajh Boyd had a rough practice. Besides the shove, the sixth-round pick (and hand-picked choice of Ryan) looked sloppy. In a 9-on-7 drill, he attempted to hand off to the right side when everybody else went left. He clearly got the play wrong. Then backup safety Josh Bush picked him off during a 7-on-7 drill.

To his credit, Boyd seems like an eternally upbeat young man. After practice, he stopped, unprompted, to shake hands and chat with reporters. He is, by all accounts, a solid guy. And he put up prolific numbers in college. But he is still fighting for a roster spot, with Matt Simms. If Boyd can combine his mature demeanor with steadier play, he’ll be fine. That is easier said than done in the NFL, as he is learning.

6. Mike Vick cracked wise. Vick walked off the practice field alongside rookie linebacker Trevor Reilly, who carried three sets of teammates’ pads – part of the duties for a rookie. Vick grinned from ear to ear as he strolled past reporters. He said, to nobody in particular, “You know who the rookie is, know who the veteran is.”

7. Zach Sudfeld looked good. Even before Amaro left with a knee injury, Sudfeld was having a nice day. In a 9-on-7 drill, he blocked Demario Davis, opening a lane for Bilal Powell. Then Sudfeld caught a touchdown pass from Vick in a red-zone team period. Vick later hit Sudfeld for a completion along the sideline.

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Sudfeld is a big target (6-7 and 260 pounds), but he probably won’t have a big role this season on offense, with Jeff Cumberland and Amaro being the primary tight ends. Last season, as a rookie, Sudfeld made five catches for 63 yards. But he stood out Sunday.

8. Chris Johnson was back. Johnson sat out team periods in Saturday’s practice, after practicing fully the first two days. Johnson’s surgically repaired knee gets another rest day Monday. He looked sharp in team periods Sunday, as he has throughout camp. The Jets likely will give him another rest day this week. If they want to keep him on the two on, one off schedule, that would mean he will rest Thursday.

9. Jason Babin is trying to catch up. Babin, the Jets’ newly acquired pass rusher, spent some time huddling with assistant linebackers and defensive line coach Jeff Weekes on the sideline. They appeared to be going over plays on a sheet. The Jets acquired Babin on Day 1 of training camp, as they are uncertain about Antwan Barnes’ recovery from a knee injury. Babin jumped offside on one play Sunday. He is not an expert yet, by any means, in the Jets’ defense. But that is to be expected. It’s a process, and part of that involves communicating with his coaches, as Babin did with Weekes on Sunday.

10. Remember the name, if you can. OK, so maybe you don’t have to commit IK Enemkpali to memory just yet. But the rookie linebacker had a solid day Sunday against fellow backups. He beat tight end Chris Pantale off the edge and swatted a Matt Simms throw. A few minutes later, Enemkpali got into the backfield and popped Daryl Richardson after he took a handoff. We’re talking about a sixth-round pick in his first training camp, so let’s not get carried away. But credit to Enemkpali for his good day.

11. Dakota Dozier got yelled at. The rookie offensive guard (a fourth-round pick) was impressive Saturday. And then on Sunday, he was loudly admonished by offensive line coach Mike Devlin for messing up an assignment. Such is the life of an NFL rookie – strong one day, sloppy the next. The conclusion: be wary of drawing too many conclusions when off one potentially eye-widening practice from Enemkpali.

12. Injury update. Rookie wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (hip) remains sidelined. He hasn’t practiced since getting hurt in position drills during the first practice. Also out: Barnes, linebacker Tim Fugger (ankle) and defensive lineman Zach Thompson (shoulder). Ryan said backup running back Alex Green got hit in the chest Sunday, but is good to go for the Jets’ next practice, on Tuesday.

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Jets training camp 2014: What to look for on Day 5 (Darryl Slater) Star Ledger July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/jets_training_camp_2014_what_to_look_for_on_day_5.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. – Sunday marks the Jets’ fourth practice of training camp, their second in full pads and their last prior to their first off day, which comes Monday.

The Jets will still have team-related duties Monday. So it’s not like they’ll be spending all day sunning themselves next to Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca. But they won’t have to practice Monday, as they rest their bodies and prepare for the four practices and one scrimmage that come between Monday and their next off day, next Sunday.

We gave you the lowdown on Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 of camp (the first three practices). Here is what we are watching heading into Sunday’s Day 5.

• Chris Johnson back in team periods? The Jets gave their new prized running back an off day Saturday – well, at least off from team periods – as he is coming off knee surgery. He practiced the first two days of

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camp, and then was off. So it seems likely that the Jets would give him a two on, one off schedule. If the Jets are intent on not practicing him fully for three straight days, that would mean Thursday would be his next off day. We’ll see how it all plays out. The bottom line, is the Jets need Johnson at full strength for the season.

• Players perhaps returning from injuries. Rookie wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (hip) has barely practiced since getting hurt in the first practice. He continued to rehab Saturday. He did not expect to be out for long. Right guard Willie Colon (knee) and outside linebacker Antwan Barnes (knee) remain on the physically unable to perform list. Coach Rex Ryan said Saturday that he doesn’t expect Colon to be on the PUP list for much longer. Colon seems to be itching to return. He was barking and cheering on the offensive line during a blocking drill against the defensive line Saturday.

• Calvin Pryor’s head. The safety, a first-round pick this year, left Saturday’s practice after sustaining a head injury – not yet deemed a concussion, officially – while serving as the personal protector in a punt drill. Will he be back on the field Sunday? Or will the Jets give him another day to rest, just to be extra safe, even if he does not officially have a concussion? If he doesn’t practice Sunday, that means Pryor will have essentially missed three days (because of the off day) once he takes the field for Tuesday’s practice, if he does indeed take the field. Pryor missing Sunday's practice would not be a huge deal, but the Jets do want to get a look at Pryor in pads, as they attempt to determine how much he will play, as compared to Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen. (On Saturday night, Pryor tweeted that he is "fine," but he has yet to receive official public clearance from the Jets to return to practice.)

• More first-team snaps for Michael Vick? Vick barely played with the first team Saturday, as he got just three snaps with that group’s offensive line, compared to 16 for Geno Smith. So far in camp, Vick has received just 22.2 percent of the snaps with the first-team line. If you’re bad at math, that would be 77.8 for Smith, which is actually almost right on target with the 70-75 percent projection that offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg offered in the spring for Smith's first-team training camp snaps. Don’t expect Vick to get a ton more first-team snaps Sunday, but 16-to-3 is a pretty uneven ratio.

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Jets' Jace Amaro tweaks knee, but is not expected to miss any practice time (Darryl Slater) Star Ledger July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/jets_jace_amaro_tweaks_knee_but_is_not_expected_to_miss_any_practice_time.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Jets’ second-round draft pick, tight end Jace Amaro, is expected to play a significant role in whatever improvements their sluggish passing game makes this season. So the Jets and Amaro went through quite the scare Sunday – albeit briefly – when he tweaked his right knee after catching a pass during practice.

Amaro said he aggravated his patellar tendon, which had been sore to some degree for the past couple months. Jets coach Rex Ryan, after consulting a team spokesman, referred to the condition as tendonitis.

Either way, both Amaro and Ryan said Sunday’s tweak was not serious, and that Amaro should be ready for Tuesday’s practice. (The Jets are off Monday – their first off day of training camp.)

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” Amaro said.

Amaro missed the rest of Sunday’s practice after getting hurt. But he said the Jets’ trainers told him he should be “fine” by Tuesday. Amaro answered several questions about his knee after practice and punctuated almost every answer by saying some variation of: “I’ll be OK by Tuesday.”

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The knee tweak occurred when Amaro jumped to catch a pass, and then landed and attempted to turn up the field.

“I took a little hard cut, and it gave out a little bit,” Amaro said. “I just hit the ground hard, and when I cut, it just kind of buckled on me. I didn’t get much explosion on my break (after landing) and it kind of just caught me off guard.”

Amaro has torn his anterior cruciate ligament before, though that happened to his left knee. Amaro has experienced aches with his right knee recently, but Sunday’s tweak “was definitely different” than what he had felt in this knee before, he said.

When Amaro landed, “It felt like something was wrong. I had torn my ACL before. It was a similar pain. It didn’t hurt as bad (as an ACL tear). Once I started walking on it, it felt OK.”

Amaro went to the sideline and consulted with trainers after tweaking his knee. He sat down and they examined the knee. He then did some quick-step exercises to test the knee. He also flexed the knee. A trainer then wrapped his knee in an ice pack. Amaro never left the practice field, but he did not return to action. He watched the rest of practice, standing with the ice on his knee.

Amaro said his right knee had been “nagging” him well before Sunday. He dealt with it during organized team activities and minicamp, but it was never a serious issue.

“It was just a little injury that had been going on,” Amaro said. “It was just something I was playing through and hadn’t been bothering me much. But today was one of those days where it was a little inflamed. I’ll take care of it now (with icing and rehab work) that it’s more of an issue than it had been in the past.”

Most rookies, like Amaro, enter training camp having had few breaks since the previous summer. From college preseason practices to the season to preparation for the NFL combine to the combine itself to pro day to rookie minicamp, and then OTAs and regular minicamp, it is quite a grind for rookies.

Amaro said his knee condition stemmed “just from all the stuff I had been doing,” adding, “I really hadn’t had a day off almost from last summer. It was just one of those things, kind of a wear-and-tear deal. This last break (the month between minicamp and training camp) was my first break in a whole year.”

During minicamp, the Jets’ second-year defensive tackle, Sheldon Richardson, also commented on the rookie grind – and how worn out he felt by the end of regular minicamp last year.

“My body was dead,” Richardson said.

Despite Amaro’s knee tweak Sunday, he still maintained his daily routine of catching 150 balls from the Jugs machine after practice.

“Just trying to make sure I’m getting extra catches and working on my hand placement,” he said.

Four practices into his first NFL training camp, Amaro is pleased overall with his progress, despite Sunday’s brief setback. Before getting hurt Sunday, he made a nice block in a 9-on-7 drill. Amaro worked with the first team during the drill, and sealed off weak-side linebacker Demario Davis on a running play.

Amaro practiced run blocking from both sides of the line during the drill. It was an encouraging sign for Amaro, who did not have much in-line run-blocking experience entering the NFL, but insisted it would not be a problem for him.

“I feel a lot more comfortable than I did throughout the first couple weeks of OTAs, just knowing the playbook, and I feel a lot more comfortable (blocking) in the run game, too,” he said Sunday. “I did a much better job in the run game today than I did yesterday, just because (Saturday) was the first day I had pads on. Today, I felt a lot better about it. I feel like I just want to earn the respect of every guy on this team.”

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Jets' Willie Colon partially returns to practice, works double-team blocking with Breno Giacomini (Darryl Slater) Star Ledger July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/jets_willie_colon_partially_returns_to_practice_works_double-team_blocking_with_breno_giacomini.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Jets’ starting right guard, Willie Colon, came off the active physically unable to perform list for Sunday’s practice, after missing the first four practices of training camp. Sunday’s practice was the Jets’ second in full pads.

Colon missed organized team activities and minicamp after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on his knee. He also tore his biceps in last season’s finale at Miami, but his knee rehab was the reason he began camp on the PUP list.

Colon participated in position drills Sunday, but not team periods, as the Jets are easing him back in. Brian Winters worked at right guard Sunday, with Oday Aboushi working at left guard. On Saturday, Winters was on the left side, where he started last season, and Aboushi was on the right side. They have been flip-flopping every day, to get them comfortable with both spots.

Jets coach Rex Ryan does not expect it to be long before Colon joins the team periods and returns to his regular spot as the first-team right guard. That would almost certainly mean Aboushi’s relegation to a backup role.

Colon was encouraged by getting to practice Sunday, even though he did not fully participate.

“Just trying to get acclimated to football,” he said. “A good day. Each day is a progression. Right now, just taking it slow, trying not to have any setbacks. That’s the key right now.”

He said his knee and biceps both feel fine, but is not sure when he will be able to rejoin team periods.

“I’ve still got to get used to the speed of the game and reacting and doing the things I need to do, so I can do what I do,” he said.

He did not expect his conditioning to be an issue when he returned, and while he felt fine Sunday, he cannot be sure yet about his conditioning level, because he did not go through a full practice. (He did, like every other Jets player, pass his pre-camp conditioning test.)

“I didn’t feel bad at all,” Colon said of his conditioning Sunday. “It’s different when you’re in there longer and you’re doing more reps. I’ve yet to do that, so I can’t really grade where I’m at.”

Though he just worked in position drills, Colon was able to practice some double-team blocking with the Jets’ new right tackle, Breno Giacomini. It was the first time Giacomini has been able to practice alongside Colon. Double-team run blocking will be an important part of Giacomini adjusting to the Jets’ offense, because Giacomini did not do it much in Seattle, his employer last season.

Colon had said he felt "behind" in the process of building chemistry with Giacomini, in regard to things like double-team blocking. Now, he can begin to catch up.

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NEW YORK POST

Demario Davis working hard to take game to the next level (Brian Costello)

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New York Post July 27, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/07/27/demario-davis-working-hard-to-take-game-to-the-next-level/

CORTLAND — Jets linebacker Demario Davis begins practice every day off to the side of the field alone with a blocking sled and linebackers coach Bobby April III.

The sled is meant to mimic an oncoming blocker and Davis has to work on his moves to get past him. It’s one of the little details Davis is trying to perfect in his third season in the NFL.

“I’ve got a lot to prove to the world I feel like,” Davis said Sunday. “I want to be respected as one of the best. The only way you can do that is if you put in the work and get the results.”

Davis’ coaches and teammates say Davis puts in the work. Davis is one of the first players on the field every morning and one of the last ones off every afternoon.

Coach Rex Ryan, who once said he saw Ray Lewis-type leadership qualities in Davis, said Davis organizes groups of teammates to watch film.

“His passion to be good is beyond what I’ve seen from most guys,” April III said. “The guy wants to be a very good player.”

The Jets need him to be one. Davis took over as the starting inside linebacker last year when the team released Bart Scott.

He showed his athleticism in Week 1 when he chased down Tampa Bay’s Vincent Jackson to prevent a touchdown.

But for a guy who played 95 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps last year, he did not have a huge impact. He finished the year with 107 tackles, but just one sack and one interception.

“I’ve got to take it to another level,” Davis said. “Every year is about progression. They say the biggest year of growth is from your rookie year to your second year. I could feel that. They say the next biggest one is between your second year and your third year. I can feel that. I did a lot of training in the offseason to be ready for this moment.”

Davis has become the leader of the Jets’ defense. He is not its best player (Muhammad Wilkerson) or its longest-tenured (David Harris), but he has a style that makes others follow.

Shortly after he was drafted in 2012, then-teammate Darrelle Revis said he thought Davis was going to be a great leader. That is now coming to fruition.

“I don’t know if anybody in the league is working harder,” Ryan said of Davis. “You watch him, he’s the first guy in there before meetings and he’s watching tape and he’s bringing people with him. …He’s all in and he wants to be a great player…He can run with anybody in this league as a linebacker. He has some God-given skill, there’s no question. He’s also got a great work ethic and he brings a great attitude every day to the practice field and everywhere else.”

This winter, Davis brought that attitude to Long Island, where he worked with former Pro Bowl linebacker Stephen Boyd, who is now the head coach at Chaminade High School.

Davis would make the 2 ½ hour drive from his New Jersey home to spend a few hours working with Boyd on the finer points of playing linebacker. The two spent time on the field and in the film room studying.

“My athleticism is what lets me play a lot of different positions,” Davis said. “I just never really had anybody that sat down and taught me how to be just a box linebacker. I played in a spread league in

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college [at Arkansas State]. I was never a box linebacker. I was able to play higher, play fast. It’s so much about slowing the game down and staying low, staying in good body position in the box. Working with him, he just taught me to keep my body inside my body, not crossing my feet up, not standing up too high, just staying low through the whole play. Working with him, he showed me a lot. I feel like it’s going to show up in a major way.”

Davis plans on showing opponents how the work has paid off this season.

“I’ve got to be one of the best in my mind,” Davis said. “Anything less than the best is never good enough. I’m always pursuing excellence in everything I do. I feel like my best can always be better. Last year was nowhere near my best. I’ve got a long way to go.”

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Clearly Rex’s disciple, Pettine is even unapologetic to his mentor (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post July 27, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/07/27/clearly-rexs-disciple-pettine-is-even-unapologetic-to-his-mentor/

BEREA, Ohio — Mike Pettine’s thoughts are never far from Rex Ryan or the Jets.

Even after a stop in Buffalo last year and his out-of-nowhere (even to him) selection as coach of the Browns six months ago, Pettine still sounds wistful when talking about his four-season stint as Gang Green’s defensive coordinator under Ryan.

“I’ve drawn a lot from other coaches I’ve been around, but most of my philosophy and what I do falls back to my time with Rex in New York,” Pettine told The Post on Sunday after the second day of training camp.

Pettine, 47, doesn’t try to hide that, either. Anyone who has attended a Jets practice under Ryan could close his eyes at Browns camp and swear he’s in Florham Park instead.

The same odd mix of rock, rap and country blares at deafening volume from giant speakers. The pace on the field, meanwhile, is loose and low key, with Pettine — like Ryan — focused almost entirely on the defense.

Even Pettine’s press conferences sound familiar, thanks to his frequent references to expecting his players to “Play like a Brown” — a direct takeoff on Ryan’s “Play Like a Jet” mantra.

That’s not a surprise, considering Pettine was a former high school coach in Pennsylvania toiling in the Ravens’ video department when Ryan helped him get into position coaching in Baltimore and then brought him along when he was hired by the Jets in 2009.

Pettine said he and Rex were so tight he even helped put together the formal presentation Ryan gave the Jets in his audition for the job — a presentation Pettine said he copied when he interviewed with the Browns.

“We had the format for it and I just said, ‘Let’s do it on my terms and put my information into it,’ ’’ Pettine said.

Pettine claims he and Ryan are still close, but that friendship appeared to be tested last month when Sports Illustrated’s MMQB.com site posted an interview with Pettine in which he appeared to make fun of his old boss.

Pettine told the site he had intentionally streamlined the Browns’ playbook because Ryan would “give them out like candy” with the Jets. Pettine theorized Ryan’s sloppiness had enabled Bill Belichick and the rival Patriots to get hold of it because Ryan had given copies to Nick Saban, Belichick’s good friend.

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Ryan was apparently angered by the story, saying he didn’t understand what Pettine “was trying to gain out it.”

Pettine told The Post he only regretted how the remarks came out — not that he had made them in the first place — and that he’s spoken with Ryan and smoothed over the situation.

“We’re OK with that,” Pettine said. “We talked about it.”

Pettine appeared to be more concerned with Belichick’s reaction to the controversy than Ryan’s.

“I have a ton of respect for Bill and what they’ve done in New England,” Pettine said. “It was more half-joking. I didn’t want it to come out as they in any way, shape or form obtained it illegally.”

It was just one of the latest brushfires for Pettine since the Browns shocked the league by hiring him in January after several potential choices had embarrassingly turned them down.

Much of Pettine’s time seems to be spent dealing with the fallout from Johnny Manziel’s latest off-the-field antics, although Pettine said he was “entirely on board” with the decision to draft the controversial Texas A&M quarterback in May.

Pettine has drawn flack for trying to rein in Manziel’s personality and limit the media attention (taking lessons he said he learned from the Jets’ handling of Tim Tebow), but he isn’t apologizing for it.

“I don’t want to feed into it,” Pettine said of the media focus on Manziel. “The fire is burning, but we just don’t want to throw gas on it right now. Johnny very easily could be the starter here, and he’ll get all the exposure anybody could want when that happens.”

Pettine said he expects — like Ryan with the Jets — to take a hands-off role with the Browns’ offense, entrusting offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan with the bulk of the decisions.

Pettine, who is the Browns’ third head coach in as many seasons, appears comfortable in his new role and popular with players and management.

“One of our guys come in and said, ‘Mike looks like he’s been doing this for years,’’ Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Saturday. “He’s exactly what we need, and I think he’ll be a really good coach.”

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Jets rookies hit by injury bug (Brian Costello) New York Post July 27, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/07/27/two-jets-rookies-suffer-injuries-in-practice/

CORTLAND – The Jets draft class is getting to know the trainer’s room quickly.

Safety Calvin Pryor, the team’s first-round pick, and tight end Jace Amaro, their second-rounder, both suffered injuries this weekend. Jets coach Rex Ryan confirmed that Pryor did suffer a concussion Saturday and now will be out until he goes through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Amaro left Sunday’s practice with a right knee injury. Amaro said he tweaked his patella tendon, an injury he’s been fighting through for months, he said. Ryan described the injury as tendinitis.

While Pryor could miss significant time, both Ryan and Amaro said the tight end should be back for the Jets’ next practice on Tuesday.

Amaro said the strain of playing last season at Texas Tech and then going into draft preparation, followed by OTAs and minicamp caused him some knee pain.

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“It was just one of those things where I’ve been going from OTAs to minicamp,” Amaro said. “It’s just one of those nagging injuries. I took a hard cut and it gave out a little bit.”

As for Pryor, Ryan has to wait for the doctors to clear him.

“It’s out of your hands as a coach,” Ryan said. “In a way, that’s a good thing because it’s not like you’re going to force the issue and have a guy get out there when it’s not in his best interests.”

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‘We … make people scared’: Rex Ryan’s brash defense is back (Steve Serby) New York Post July 28, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/07/28/we-make-people-scared-rex-ryans-brash-defense-is-back/

If the Rex Ryan Jets are perceived as the Bad Boys of the NFL on their way to their stated goal as the league’s No. 1 defense, so be it.

“I ain’t never seen a lot of people outside of our own organization see us in a positive light,” Demario Davis told The Post. “People may call us cocky, people may call us arrogant or whatever, we know we’re humble as we can be. I have yet to see anybody be successful that wasn’t confident in themselves.

“You have to be violent on the field, it’s a violent game, the most physical team always wins. And, can we be more physical? Yeah. And will we be? We have to be. But that’s the mentality of Jet defense.

“When Rex’s defense was No. 1 in the league, those were some of the most violent men I’ve ever seen. Us younger guys got to be able to go and play like some of the older guys that played for Rex. You go back and watch 2009 film before, Rex has always had the most violent defense in the league. I think that’s kind of what’s got him the reputation of being a bully in the league. That’s what we look to do, is dominate every opponent that we play. You got to be able to do it when the lights come on.”

Sheldon Richardson, asked how many enforcers are on Gang Green, shot back: “11.”

His definition of an enforcer?

“Someone who doesn’t take crap from anyone — even his own teammates,” Richardson said. “He backs up what he says.”

Were there 11 enforcers last year on this defense?

“Not 11. We had about 8,” Richardson said.

“It may be more than 11, but I know the 11 on the field will be serious enforcers,” Davis said. “Have you seen practice?

You hear the pads, it speaks for itself.”

The Rams had a Fearsome Foursome. The Jets believe they have a Fearsome 11.

“We’re fearless and we look to invoke fear,” Davis told The Post. “That’s who we are.

“I feel like people think we’re bullies in the NFL, so it is what it is. Ain’t none of us scared of nothing when it comes to football. We look to make people scared of us.”

Hide the women and children when Muhammad Wilkerson and Rookie of the Year Richardson come to town.

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“I picked up double-teams and triple-teams probably about third, fourth game of the season, so …,” Richardson said.

So figure out a way to be a double-digit sacker anyway.

“I got to get more sacks, I got to rush the passer a whole lot better,” Richardson said. “Even though I had a lot of [quarterback] hurries and [QB] hits, sacks are a whole lot better.”

There was only one New York Sack Exchange, and until there is another, Ryan craves a New York Takeaway Exchange (a mere 15 in 2013).

“We need to get the ball back for our offense as fast as possible and find ways to score with it ourselves,” Ryan said.

Ryan’s challenge is making certain his predators recognize the fine line between intimidation and intelligence.

Rookie inside linebacker Jeremiah George was admonished for belting rookie quarterback Tajh Boyd near the sidelines.

“We don’t hit our quarterbacks, period,” Ryan said. “That’s why they’re in the red jersey. You got to be smart.”

Cornerback Dimitri Patterson and wide receiver David Nelson had to be separated during a brief scuffle on Sunday.

“It’s a lot more wide receivers and DBs fighting than last year,” Richardson said, and chuckled.

Richardson, 10 pounds lighter at 300, is a fan favorite.

“Fans are nuts, I love ’em … I love ’em, man,” he said.

It was suggested to Richardson this will be a fun team to watch.

“Most definitely,” he said.

A hungry team.

“Most definitely,” he said.

An angry team.

“Something to prove,” Richardson said.

That they can overtake the Patriots.

“You know how I feel about the Patriots man,” Richardson said. “It is what it is.”

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Gang shows signs of wear after four days without a break (Brian Costello) New York Post July 27, 2014

http://nypost.com/tag/new-york-jets/

CORTLAND – The Jets had their first sloppy practice of training camp. It is not surprising. They have gone four days without a break and have one coming Monday. The focus was not sharp Sunday and it was evident with a lot of penalties and dropped passes.

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Jets coach Rex Ryan was annoyed with some of the players getting a little overzealous hitting teammates. The worst hit came at the end of practice when rookie linebacker Jeremiah George did not hold up and hit quarterback Tajh Boyd along the sideline, knocking him down to the ground – major no-no. Breno Giacomini and several other offensive players screamed at George.

A few minutes later Ryan lit into the team, unhappy with them failing to protect one another.

Guard Willie Colon was activated from the PUP list and practiced for the first time this camp. He did not participate in any team drills, but did go through the positional drills.

In team drills, Brian Winters lined up at right guard Sunday and Oday Aboushi was at left. The two have alternated sides each day.

There were several minor fights in practice, an annual sign that camp is starting to wear on guys. WR Clyde Gates and CB Ras-I Dowling had a scrap during a blocking drill. Then WR David Nelson and CB Dimitri Patterson got into it during a team period. There have been no major brawls yet. Nothing like the 2012 brawl between Joe McKnight and D’Anton Lynn that spilled into the media area.

Rookie WR Shaq Evans had a mixed practice. He had another brutal drop, this one on a pass across the middle form Geno Smith. He did throw a major block during an open-field blocking drill that drew praise from WRs coach Sanjay Lal.

RB Chris Johnson was a full participant Sunday after being limited on Saturday. The plan for Johnson in training camp could be two days, one day off.

Rookie G Dakota Dozier got an earful from line coach Mike Devlin after he screwed up a blocking assignment. … G Will Campbell threw a great trap block on OLB Trevor Reilly in 9-on-7 drills. … There were drops from Evans, Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley and Nelson. … LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson threw a huge block on OLB Quinton Coples, throwing him to the ground during team drills. …

… OLB Jason Babin jumped offsides and coach Rex Ryan ran next to him to do the penalty pushups. When they stood up, Ryan began coaching Babin emphatically … DT Sheldon Richardson had a sack. He also dropped into coverage on a play. … TE Zach Sudfeld had the best practice of anyone. He received more reps with rookie Jace Amaro sidelined by a knee injury, and took advantage of them. He caught a ton of passes in the practice and threw some big blocks … Keep an eye on LB A.J. Edds as a sleeper pick to make the roster. …

… WR Saalim Hakim can fly. He returned a kickoff in practice that was a thing of beauty. … Hill had a sideline grab over Patterson, who fell down. …. LB David Harris had a nice pass breakup. … S Josh Bush stood out in practice. He had an interception in 7-on-7 drills and nearly had another in team drills when he collided with WR Jacoby Ford and dropped the ball. …

… Rookie LB IK Enemkpali showed a little something in a situational drill, when he exploded into the backfield and hit RB Daryl Richardson … RB Alex Green (chest), S Calvin Pryor (concussion), DL Zach Thompson (shoulder) and WR Quincy Enunwa (hip) did not practice.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Calvin Pace: NY Jets have ‘the best’ defense in the NFL (Seth Walder) New York Daily News July 27, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/calvin-pace-jets-best-defense-nfl-article-1.1882003

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No one knows how many wins the Jets will have in 2014, but it sounds like they rank first in the league in self-confidence. One day after Dee Milliner told the News he's the best cornerback in the league, Calvin Pace made another bold statement.

Asked how he thought the Jets defense stacks up against others in the league, Pace told the Daily News, "(Compared to) the rest of the defenses in the NFL? S--t, man, we're the best."

"You ask anybody around the league, we're not the team you want to see coming in, even in a down year," Pace added.

By their standards, the Jets did have a down year last season. The team finished 11th in the league in total defense, their worst finish in the five seasons since Rex Ryan took over as head coach.

"There's a certain type of aggression when we come ... you know we're going to come with a lot of stuff and teams don't want to see that," Pace said. "They want to see a vanilla defense, that just lines up and you know where they're going to be."

The Seahawks or 49ers might take issue with Pace's proclamation that Gang Green have the best defense, but there's no stopping Jets players from voicing their self-belief.

"We're the benchmark when we're doing well," he said. "I'll take these guys and Rex and this system any day."

The Jets have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Those down years, Pace says, are driving the team to improve.

"The thing I like about these guys, man, for the most part they take coaching," Pace said. "Even a guy like Muhammad (Wilkerson). He could take the day off if he wanted to, plays off if he wanted to. He don't have to be here really, he could hold out if he wanted to. But everybody is trying to get better."

Gang Green has an excellent front seven but also is filled with question marks in the secondary. The Jets will need players like Milliner and Calvin Pryor to live up to their draft day hype in order for the team to match Pace's expectation.

"We always talk about being the best defense out there and trying to get back to the old style of Jets football," Wilkerson said. "That's just always, every year."

If there's reason for optimism for the Jets' future, it stems first and foremost from the defense which is filled with young starters that could conceivably play together for years to come. Of the 11 starters in the team's base defense, seven or eight are entering their fourth or fewer year in the league depending on who wins the second safety spot between Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen.

Wilkerson is the star of the team's best group: its defensive line. Though the team finished 11th in the league in defense last year, its line was elite, helping the Jets have the third-best run-stopping unit in the league. But can the line keep it up?

"You have to put years together before anybody can say you're great," defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. "Because everybody can have a flash in the pan."

"One-hit wonders are laughed at more so than praised," second-year defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson added.

As good as the defensive line was, the defense as a whole is going to have to make improvements in order to reach their goals. Number one on that list? Turnovers.

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"We got to get takeaways. That's number one," Ryan said. "It's not just good enough to stop them or something like that; prevent points. We need to get the ball back to our offense as fast as possible and find ways to score with it ourselves."

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ESPN NEW YORK

Dee Milliner: I'm best CB in NFL ESPN New York July 27, 2014

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/11271081/dee-milliner-new-york-jets-says-best-cornerback-nfl?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Dee Milliner's confidence evidently was not shaken by his inconsistent rookie season with the New York Jets.

Milliner, who will enter his second NFL season as the Jets' top cornerback, told the New York Daily News that he believes he is the league's best player at the position.

"The best corner in the league? Me," Milliner told the Daily News in an interview Saturday. "I ain't gonna say that somebody else is better than me."

A first-round draft pick who was benched multiple times last season, Milliner made positive strides down the stretch in 2013. He clearly feels that his late-season surge will carry over into 2014.

"I'm not going to say somebody that plays the same position is better than me," Milliner said. "Don't care if they've been in the league 10 years and I've been here five months. That's how it's going to go.

"I'm the best. I'm not going to say that another man that plays the same position ... and say he's better than me? I can't do that."

Milliner's lofty aspirations also include an eventual place in the Hall of Fame.

"I want to be great," he said. "That's the difference between the players that are in the Hall of Fame and not in the Hall of Fame. ... You want to do great things. That's what I want to do."

Milliner figures to be tested early and often in his second year, as the Jets will have to contend with some of the NFL's top wide receivers over the first two months of the season, including Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, Brandon Marshall and Jordy Nelson.

But Milliner said he is "not worried" about any expectations placed on him.

"They say the pressure is on, but I ain't worried about it," Milliner said. "I'm not worried about pressure. I go out there and do what I'm coached to do."

In December, Milliner was selected as the NFL's defensive rookie of the month after getting 27 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed. He was also the AFC's defensive player of the week after intercepting two passes in the season finale at Miami.

"I love the way he ended, but there's guys that never get on a field and nobody talks about them," Jets coach Rex Ryan told reporters Saturday. "Did he go through growing pains? Absolutely, but he was in the fire.

"So, right now, it's nothing to him. He's out there, let's go. And his teammates, believe me, they're definitely confident in Dee Milliner."

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NJ.COM

Calvin Pryor actually got a concussion during a kickoff return drill (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/calvin_pryor_actually_got_a_concussion_on_kick_return_coverage.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Jets on Sunday officially declared rookie safety Calvin had sustained a concussion a day earlier, and that Pryor would now be subject to the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to action.

Pryor did not practice Sunday and was not even out on the field with his teammates. There is no timetable for his return, since the league's concussion guidelines mandate that he pass a number of cognitive evaluations before he can be cleared. The team has a day off from practice Monday. If Pryor passes the tests, he could be back as early as the next practice on Tuesday.

Head coach Rex Ryan could not say what sort of symptoms Pryor may have been experiencing, but he did clarify what happened on the play in which Pryor was concussed. Saturday, Ryan said the injury happened when Pryor was in on punt protection. Sunday, he said that while that had been his understanding at the time, Pryor was actually concussed during a kickoff return drill.

"He was blocking, and the return man kind of got knocked into him and kind of just hit him right," Ryan said. "Like one of those heavyweights hitting you in the chin. The lights go out."

Ryan repeated what he said Saturday, saying he would continue to use a number of starters—he specifically mentioned that inside linebacker Demario Davis would be on the punt team—on all of the special teams units.

"Special teams are important," Ryan said. "It's not just lip service."

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Michael Vick vs. Geno Smith: Day 5 breakdown, with Smith still in the lead (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/michael_vick_vs_geno_smith_day_5_breakdown_with_smith_still_ahead.html

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Jets' quarterback competition is neither an open competition nor a controversy, no matter what the team's brass might still be might saying publicly.

Head coach Rex Ryan can keep calling it a competition, and general manager John Idzik can say all he wants that the situation isn't "tilted" toward Geno Smith, but the reality is obvious: Smith has the advantage over Michael Vick. It's Smith's job to lose, and it's been that way since organized team activities and minicamp. Vick, of all people, has had no problem making that clear.

But since neither quarterback has officially been named a starter, we're going to chart their progress from up here until that happens. Here's how things looked on Day 5 of training camp on Sunday, the fourth day of practice.

Geno Smith

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Analysis: If this is getting repetitive, that's because, well, it is. Smith again took a supermajority of the first-team reps on Saturday, and his stats might have been much better if his receivers hadn't dropped so many passes. Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley, and Shaq Evans all dropped one pass from Smith, and the best ball Smith threw all day—a soft teardrop in the corner of the end zone for David Nelson, who beat Kyle Wilson—was ruled out of bounds. Smith also did a nice job getting out of the pocket and getting the ball downfield on the first play from scrimmage, and he hooked up with Stephen Hill on a deep ball after Hill got through Dimitri Patterson's press coverage.

Stats (team drills): 4-for-9, sack, scramble on Sunday. Overall, Smith is 22-for-34, four sacks, one interception.

Number of first-team reps: 14 on Sunday (77.8 percent), 56 to date (77.8 percent)

Quote from Smith: "We’ll see on the field. We’ll see. I’ve definitely seen improvement in myself, but I don’t want to put too much emphasis on what we do out here in practice. Practice is for us to get better and for us to take advantage of every single rep."

Quote from Vick: "You know, I heard somebody say, [three] days ago, they saw him make a throw that he didn’t make last year and that’s just the second year, being comfortable, having a year to digest everything. The maturity level, the maturation process at the quarterback position takes a while. So he is experiencing that right now."

Michael Vick

Analysis: Working mostly with the second-team again, Vick expertly executed a fake before rolling to his left and hitting tight end Zach Sudfeld for a touchdown in a red zone drill—one of two times Vick and Sudfeld hooked up. Vick mostly didn't force anything, but at one point he did hang Jacoby Ford out to dry deep over the middle, where Ford was hit hard by backup safety Josh Bush. Vick has been solid so far, but he hasn't done much to make anyone clamor for him to supplant Smith.

Stats (team drills): 3-for-6 on Sunday. Overall, Vick is 19-for-28, two sacks, one interception.

Number of first-team reps: 4 on Sunday (22.2 percent), 16 to date (22.2 percent)

Quote from Vick: "When I have an opportunity to go with [the first-team] guys, I just try to make the most of it. It’s very rare. I try to let Geno get as many reps as he can with those guys because he’s going to be out there with them the majority of the time. So, that’s what’s important."

Quote from Smith: "[A] great job. It’s not one of those things where he’s trying to implement anything that I need to change or anything. Rather, [he’s] just helping me with life lessons and learning from some of the things that he’s done. ... You’ve just got to stay levelheaded. That’s the main thing that he talks about."

If the season started today ...

Unchanged. This is still Smith's job to lose.

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Calvin Pryor injury: Read the NFL's concussion protocol here (Dom Cosentino) NJ.com July 27, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/07/calvin_pryor_injury_read_the_nfls_concussion_protocol_here.html

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CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Now that rookie safety Calvin Pryor has officially been diagnosed with a concussion, what has to happen for Pryor to get cleared to practice again with the Jets?

Last year, the NFL's head, neck, and spine committee implemented protocols for diagnosing and managing concussions. Those protocols spell out specific steps for any concussed player to return to the playing field.

As part of his preseason physical, Pryor—like every other player—had been asked questions about his concussion history and given a baseline neuropsychological exam. Now that he's been diagnosed with a concussion, he'll be checked repeatedly for symptoms and given additional neuropsychological evaluations. That data must then be interpreted by the Jets' neuropsychological consultant, who will report those findings back to the Jets' team physician.

Once Pryor returns to baseline status, he'll be given what the protocol describes as a "graduated exercise challenge," followed by "a gradual return to practice and play." So when he does come back, expect him to wear a no-contact red jersey for a day or more.

Pryor not only has to be cleared by the Jets' team physician before returning to practice or play: The independent neuropsychologist that's been assigned to every team in the league with the approval of the NFL and the NFL Players Association must also evaluate him and give him the go-ahead.

The NFLPA had fought for years to require an independent neuropsychologist to examine players for head trauma. The league finally acquiesced last year, after an NFLPA survey revealed that nearly 80 percent of players said they didn't trust that team doctors would consider their interests over those of the team. A still-unresolved class-action lawsuit from hundreds of former players likely had something to do with the league's about-face, too.

Each team's independent neuropsychologist is also now on the sidelines for every game to examine any player suspected of having a concussion, though that process wasn't always without its problems last season, even for the Jets.

In a nutshell, once Pryor's head trauma analysis returns to normal—both at rest and with exertion—after repeated testing by the Jets' neuropsychologist, and once he's been examined and cleared by both the Jets' team physician and an independent neuropsychologist, he'll be good to go.

You can read the entire NFL concussion protocol below.

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS