NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

October 29, 2015

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2

'High emotions' caused tiff between Jets' Marshall, Smith (Dennis Waszak, Jr.)............................................................ 2

Jets bemoan missed opportunities in loss to Patriots (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) ..................................................................... 3

Jets cut Weatherford days after signing him while on radio (Dennis Waszak, Jr.).......................................................... 4

NEWSDAY.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Brandon Marshall explains his yelling at Jets teammate Devin Smith (Kimberley A. Martin) ...................................... 5

Visit to Oakland's hostile Black Hole doesn't scare Brandon Marshall (Kimberley A. Martin)...................................... 6

Jets receiver Chris Owusu diagnosed with concussion (Kimberley A. Martin) ................................................................ 7

Buster Skrine's hand injury has him excited for interceptions (Kimberley A. Martin) ................................................... 8

THE RECORD ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Jets notes: Punter Steve Weatherford released (J.P. Pelzman) .......................................................................................... 8

Wide receivers smooth things over (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................................................................... 9

ESPN NEW YORK............................................................................................................................................................................10

Brandon Marshall on Raiders rookie Amari Cooper: 'Stud muffin' (Rich Cimini) ..........................................................10

Jets WR Brandon Marshall says he 'got into it' with Devin Smith (Rich Cimini) ............................................................11

Jets brush up on clock management before heading to West Coast (Rich Cimini).......................................................12

Punter Steve Weatherford cut by Jets, makes $51,000 for one day (Rich Cimini)........................................................12

Jets WR Chris Owusu suffers his fifth documented concussion (Rich Cimini)................................................................13

NEW YORK POST............................................................................................................................................................................14

How Raiders might use Patriots’ blueprint to attack the Jets (Howie Kussoy) ..............................................................14

Brandon Marshall reveals his brief Jets adversary (Howie Kussoy) .................................................................................15

The Raiders’ up-and-coming duo that could give Jets nightmares (Steve Serby) .........................................................16

Brandon Marshal l ‘got into it’ with Jets’ mate in Patriots game (Brian Costello) .........................................................18

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA .....................................................................................................................................................................18

How Jets plan to avoid time-zone mix-ups with visit to Oakland Raiders (Dom Cosentino).......................................18

Jets' Darrelle Revis says Oakland Raiders' Amari Cooper is 'one of the premiere guys coming up' (Darryl Slater) 19

Brandon Marshall 'got into it' with Jets rookie at end of loss to New England Patriots (Dom Cosentino)...............20

After 'a step in the right direction,' Jets' Stevan Ridley 'ready to play' at Oakland Raiders (Darryl Slater) ..............21

Why Jets' Buster Skrine actually doesn't mind wearing hand cast at Oakland Raiders (Darryl Slater) .....................22

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ..............................................................................................................................................................23

Stevan Ridley ready to get up and running for Jets (Manish Mehta) ..............................................................................23

Brandon Marshall reveals Devin Smith as Jets teammate he 'got into it' with (Seth Walder) ...................................24

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Jets praise Raiders rookie WR Amari Cooper as Darrelle Revis buckles down (Seth Walder) ....................................25

WALL STREET JOURNAL ...............................................................................................................................................................26

Antonio Cromartie Hawks Receivers On the Field, and Chocolate Off the Field (Stu Woo)........................................26

METRO NEW YORK........................................................................................................................................................................28

Jets cut Steve Weatherford after Ryan Quigley is deemed good to go (Kristian Dyer) ................................................28

Kenbrell Thompkins' journey to Jets hit plenty of rough patches along the way (Kristian Dyer) ...............................28

WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ..................................................................................................................................30

ASSOCIATED PRESS

'High emotions' caused tiff between Jets' Marshall, Smith (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) Associated Press October 28, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/high-emotions-caused-tiff-between-jets-marshall-smith

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Brandon Marshall simply couldn't hide his frustration.

The New York Jets had just lost 30-23 to the New England Patriots, with a false start penalty ending the game on Sunday. As the referee announced the call, Marshall could be seen yelling at rookie wide receiver Devin Smith.

"It's high emotions," Marshall said Wednesday. "It's like, you lose a game like that, there's a lot of emotion, so sometimes you just need time to cool off. But that happens every Sunday on every sideline."

Marshall brought attention to the incident — which coach Todd Bowles called "no big deal" — on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on Showtime's "Inside The NFL." The receiver was commenting on the stunning sideline outburst by Dallas' Greg Hardy, and Marshall revealed that he "got into it" with a teammate during his game.

Marshall's point on the show was that players often have exchanges during games, but Hardy's situation — in which he slapped the clipboard of Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia to the ground and berated teammates — took things to another level.

In Marshall's case, he acknowledged that he and Smith had discussed the situation in which there was a communication issue between the two. Ryan Fitzpatrick hurried the Jets to the line as time ticked away and spiked the ball for one last try for the end zone. Smith was lined up inside, but Marshall wasn't set, causing a 10-second runoff as a result of the penalty — and the game was over.

"He was saying, 'Hey, it's clear I'm on the ball,'" Marshall said of Smith. "And I was saying, 'I see that, but we've just got to communicate in those moments.' I've been in the league a long time, so there's a certain way I'm used to doing things and there's a certain way he's used to doing things. And it's good to be able to talk through things."

Marshall added that he and Smith talked on the field, and then again in the locker room before calmly settling things.

"He was down a little bit and he felt like he could have made a play or two out there and I was like, 'Look, bro, it's over. We have to move to Oakland as quickly as possible,'" Marshall said. "We both sat there for a while, a little deflated, and just had to move forward as quickly as possible."

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Marshall had a reputation for having some issues in previous stops before coming to New York, which might have caused some to question him commenting on the Hardy situation.

"I think I'm the perfect person to talk about issues like that because I've been through it and now I'm on the other side," he said. "So I get it, I understand it. ... I don't care what other people say. I know who I am, I'm proud of the person I am today."

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Jets bemoan missed opportunities in loss to Patriots (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) Associated Press October 26, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-bemoan-missed-opportunities-loss-patriots

NEW YORK (AP) — The game film confirmed everything the New York Jets already figured.

A victory was there for the taking against the New England Patriots on Sunday. They just couldn't seal the deal.

"I think the hardest thing to swallow," right guard Willie Colon said Monday, "was that we had them right where we wanted to."

New York took a 17-16 lead into the fourth quarter, and Nick Folk's 30-yard field goal made it 20-16 with just under 13 minutes left.

That's when Tom Brady went to work.

The Patriots quarterback completed 14 of 17 passes while leading New England on two touchdown drives for a 30-23 victory at Gillette Stadium.

"We were the more physical team," Colon said. "I felt like we were able to make a lot of big plays on third down that kept the drives going. We just didn't score enough touchdowns. When it came late in the game, obviously Brady took over and those guys made the bigger plays that counted. You have to take your hats off to them."

With the loss, the Jets dropped to 4-2 — two games behind the AFC East-leading Patriots, who remained undefeated at 6-0.

Some fans and media were impressed by how tough the Jets played their rivals, narrowing the gap perhaps in a division that has been won by the Patriots 12 of the last 14 years. All that, though, meant li ttle to coach Todd Bowles.

"There are no statements when you lose," he said. "You've got to win games. We're not in this thing to play close games."

And with that, the Jets were already turning their focus on their next opponent: the Oakland Raiders, who are 3-3 after a 37-29 victory at San Diego.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was actually reviewing tape of the Raiders — "multitasking," he called it — while speaking to the media on a conference call.

"We're onto the next game here and trying to figure out the best way to attack Oakland," Fitzpatrick said. "In every game, you're going to learn stuff and there's some stuff that we learned from, whether it was situations or whether it was different routes or the way that we called certain plays, we'll get better each and every game. You've got to be quick to move on."

That doesn't mean the loss to the Patriots didn't sting.

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Brandon Marshall dropped a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter on a drive in which the Jets had to settle for a field goal and just a four-point lead rather than eight points. Marshall also was called for a false start penalty that ended the game after New York had recovered an onside kick and reached the Patriots 37 one play later.

Bowles also took some heat for his clock management and not using any of the Jets' timeouts during the Patriots' final touchdown drive.

"They were all positive plays," he said of the Patriots' drive. "Had we stopped them at any shorter time when we could have used a timeout, we would have used it."

The Jets also had no answer for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had 11 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. But they did shut down New England's running game, holding the Patriots to 16 total yards on nine rushes — with Brady leading the team with 15 yards.

With New York RB Chris Ivory dealing with tightness in one of his hamstrings, he finished with just 41 yards on 17 carries.

"Everybody was kind of disappointed," Colon said. "I think at the end of the day, we all understand where we're at. We still control our season, we still control our fate. The one thing we can't do is let this resonate."

Certainly not against the Raiders, who turned two interceptions of Philip Rivers into 10 points on Sunday against San Diego and got three TD passes from Derek Carr.

Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper already has 33 catches for 519 yards and three TDs, including three games of 100 or more yards receiving.

Bowles plans to have the Jets leave for Oakland after practice Friday, making no changes to the itinerary despite the cross-country flight.

"We have to learn from our mistakes and clean up the little things, but if we linger on this game, then we're going to get beat next week," Bowles said. "Oakland played a heck of a ball game (Sunday). We know we have to move on. We know what kind of fight we have ..."

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Jets cut Weatherford days after signing him while on radio (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) Associated Press October 28, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-cut-weatherford-days-after-signing-him-while-radio

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The show's over for Steve Weatherford and the New York Jets.

The veteran punter was released Wednesday, just four days after he was signed in a pinch while he was in the middle of co-hosting a radio show.

Weatherford punted for the Jets on Sunday at New England as an emergency replacement for Ryan Quigley, who had an infection in his right shin and was unavailable. Weatherford, who played for the Jets from 2009-10, averaged just 40.3 yards, with a net of 30.8, on four punts in the 30-23 loss to the Patriots.

He acknowledged after the game that "it just wasn't there," having not punted in a game since being cut by the Giants last month. Given the timing, the New Jersey resident was the team's most convenient option, and Weatherford anticipated he would be reunited with the Jets for likely just one game.

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Coach Todd Bowles said Monday the Jets would get an update Wednesday on Quigley, who was taking antibiotics, and make a decision on the punting situation. Quigley, who was a full participant at practice Wednesday, healed enough for the team to part ways with Weatherford.

"Thank you to @nyjets for the fun experience to represent New York once more," Weatherford wrote on his Twitter page. "I enjoyed every moment. Best of luck & thank you. #Blessed."

Weatherford was in a commercial break Saturday on 98.7 ESPN New York when the team called his cellphone and offered him a job. He accepted the gig, but had to rush off the phone as the show went back live on-air.

After finishing the broadcast, Weatherford rushed from the studio in Manhattan and met the team at its training facility before the Jets left for New England.

"Obviously, he is going to be a little rusty because he probably hadn't punted in a while," Bowles said Monday. "I know working out is one thing, but going out there every day and just practicing your craft is another. But under the circumstances I thought he did OK."

Quigley was injured when his punt was blocked by Washington on Oct. 18. He said he had two cuts on his right shin and had them treated after the game and during the week. But last Friday night, his shin started to swell and it really blew up Saturday morning.

"I was thinking it was a bad bruise or something, but it was infected," Quigley said Wednesday. "I figured, 'OK, I can still play.'"

But team doctors and athletic trainers decided to not risk the infection getting into his blood. Quigley, who said it wasn't a MRSA infection, was put on antibiotics and rested while the team played at New England.

"For me, it didn't really hit me until Sunday," Quigley said. "I was like, 'Wow, this (infection) is still here. It's getting bigger.' My parents were freaking out a little bit."

He credited the doctors for helping him heal quickly, adding that he felt good punting at practice and will be ready against Oakland on Sunday.

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NEWSDAY

Brandon Marshall explains his yelling at Jets teammate Devin Smith (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 28, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-brandon-marshall-explains-his-yelling-at-teammate-devin-smith-1.11022669

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Emotions are always high on game day. And the same was true in the aftermath of the Jets' crushing loss in New England on Sunday.

on Wendesday, Brandon Marshall said that "he got into it" with Jets rookie receiver Devin Smith after the 30-23 loss to the first-place Patriots.

With the Jets trailing by a touchdown, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick spiked the ball with one second left in the game, but Marshall was flagged for a false start because he still was moving when the ball was snapped. The penalty resulted in a 10-second runoff and the game ended.

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Marshall and Smith, who had lined up inside on the play, were spotted havi ng an exchange behind the referee who announced the penalty as the game came to an end.

"He was saying, 'Hey, it's clear I'm on the ball,' and I was saying, 'I see that, but we just got to communicate in those moments,'" Marshall said in the locker room on Wednesday. "I've been in the league a long time, so there's a certain way I'm used to doing things and there's a certain way he's used to doing things. And it's good to be able to talk through things.

"We're definitely looking forward to him stepping up and making plays, we need him and I'm excited to see what he does moving forward 'cause he's a very talented guy."

Marshall stressed that "communication is always key" at the wide receiver position and added that he and Smith will "start communicating better moving forward."

Asked whether there was yelling involved, Marshall said: "It's high emotions. It's like, you lose a game like that there's a lot of emotion so sometimes you just need time to cool off. But that happens every Sunday on every sideline.

"We talked on the field. He said what he had to say, I said what I had to say and we went into the locker room. We still talked through it and then we started talking about getting over it. He was down a little bit and he felt like he could have made a play or two out there and I was like, 'Look Bro, it's over. We have to move [on] to Oakland as quickly as possible.' We both sat there for a while, a little deflated, and just had to move forward as quickly as possible."

Had Marshall not mentioned the incident on "Inside the NFL," fans and the media may never have known. But the veteran receiver used it to illustrate that emotions often get the better of players in the heat of the moment -- but Greg Hardy's actions during the Cowboys' loss to the Giants were different.

After a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by the Giants' Dwayne Harris, Hardy smacked the clipboard the Cowboys special teams coordinator was holding and then exchanged words with Dallas receivers Devin Street and Dez Bryant.

Told by a reporter on Monday that some people may question his decision to speak about Hardy, given Marshall's locker room reputation and history of off-the-field issues, Marshall said: "I think I'm the perfect person to talk about issues like that because I've been through it and now I'm on the other side. So I get it, I understand it. I don't care what other people say. I know who I am, I'm proud of the person I am today."

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Visit to Oakland's hostile Black Hole doesn't scare Brandon Marshall (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 28, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/visit-to-oakland-s-hostile-black-hole-doesn-t-scare-brandon-marshall-1.11023455

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- There's nothing quite like the O.co Coliseum, said Brandon Marshall.

"It's my favorite place to play," the Jets receiver said on Wednesday, just four days before the Jets (4-2) square off against the Raiders (3-3).

And the "Black Hole" -- made up of fervent, costume-clad fans occupying an end zone -- makes the Coliseum a hostile environment like no other.

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"I played in Denver so I've battled against them a few times," said Marshall, who was with the Broncos from 2006-09. "That's my favorite stadium to play in. Every time before the game, I'll run to the Black Hole and I'll just stare at them and mean mug them and they just throw stuff at you. It's fun. It's great football."

Football fans are passionate. But Raiders fans? They're a special breed. And they're one of the main reasons being the road team in Oakland is never fun.

"They have a smaller stadium than most, as far as it being closed in," Todd Bowles said. "Their fans dress up more than anybody else I've seen, as far as wearing the spikes and all the other stuff. And they have a great tradition there. So it'll be a fun place to play."

So does the Jets coach have any fun memories of playing in Oakland?

"I remember Bo Jackson running for a touchdown," Bowles, a former NFL safety, said with a smile. "I don't think that was funny at the time. It might be funny now."

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has played several times in Oakland over his 11-year career and joked: "I keep coming back in different uniforms. My parents are in Arizona, it's on the West Coast, so any time you get family that goes to a game, unfortunately they can't sport the jersey.

"The fans are pretty crazy out there. [It's like] you're in the witness protection program. I think it's a fun atmosphere. I'm sure coming off of last week's win it'll be nice and noisy."

All kidding aside, the Jets have taken notice of how the well the Raiders have played lately. Led by second-year quarterback Derek Carr, rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper and the third-best rushing defense in the league, the Raiders are coming off a 37-29 road win over Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers (2-5).

"They're big and they're tough, obviously," Bowles said, when asked specifically about Oakland's defensive front. "They're similar to Washington and New England to that standpoint. And it's going to be another tough ballgame playing them out there.

"I mean, you saw what they did to San Diego last week, so we've got our work cut out for us."

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Jets receiver Chris Owusu diagnosed with concussion (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 28, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-receiver-chris-owusu-diagnosed-with-concussion-1.11023500

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Chris Owusu suffered three concussions in a 13-month span while at Stanford. Now, the Jets receiver, who missed practice Wednesday, is in the concussion protocol for the second time since August.

Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Owusu wasn't diagnosed with a concussion until the team flew to New Jersey after Sunday's loss in New England.

"He felt it after the game and we checked him out," Bowles said of Owusu, who suffered his first concussion with the Jets Aug. 7 during a training camp practice. "Anybody that's had that many, you've got to have some concern for. We're just going to monitor and see how it goes, but that's very concerning."

Owusu, a standout in camp, has six catches for 80 yards in three games, including a 43-yard reception.

O-line insurance

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Because Nick Mangold was unable to practice and his status for Sunday's game in Oakland is uncertain, the Jets signed offensive lineman Wesley Johnson to the active roster. "We just want to be prepared so we made the move with Wes just in case," Bowles said, adding that Johnson and backup Dakota Dozier are both taking reps at center. Mangold injured his neck in the Patriots game and had to be carted to the locker room, but test results Monday came back negative.

Bowles did say that "it's conceivable" Mangold could play without practicing.

Jet streams

Willie Colon (knee), Eric Decker (knee), Bilal Powell (ankle) and Calvin Pryor (ankles) also did not practice . . . Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand) was limited, as was Devin Smith, who injured his ankle in practice . . . Chris Ivory (hamstring) and Ryan Quigley (shin) practiced fully. With Quigley able to punt, the Jets released punter Steve Weatherford. The Jets also signed LB Quanterus Smith to the practice squad.

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Buster Skrine's hand injury has him excited for interceptions (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 28, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-buster-skrine-looks-on-the-bright-side-of-hand-injury-1.11022991

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Could a hand injury be a blessing for Buster Skrine?

After breaking the fifth metacarpal in his left hand during last week's loss in New England, the Je ts slot cornerback plans to play this week with several fingers taped together. And it might just work to his advantage, he said.

"Last year, I broke my thumb in Cleveland," the former Brown said after practicing Wednesday with his left pinkie and ring finger wrapped tightly together with green tape. "And I got all my picks with my cast. And once I took the cast off, I didn't get no more. So it might be good luck."

Skrine -- who suffered a concussion in Week 6 against the Redskins -- also sprained his right shoulder in the Jets' 30-23 loss to the Patriots. But the 5-9, 185-pound cornerback didn't hesitate when asked about his status for Sunday's game in Oakland.

"Yeah, I'm playing," he said.

Skrine also told reporters that his shoulder -- which he injured when he drilled Patriots receiver Julian Edelman during the game -- is "perfectly fine."

"I knew it was a good hit," Skrine said, smiling, when asked about his clean but hard tackle on Edelman. "But I was trying to get my shoulder checked on right after that."

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THE RECORD

Jets notes: Punter Steve Weatherford released (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 28, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-punter-steve-weatherford-released-1.1443959

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Steve Weatherford’s second tour of duty with the Jets was a lot shorter than his first. The Jets released the veteran punter Wednesday, three days after he had a very shaky game as an emergency replacement for the injured Ryan Quigley.

Weatherford, the team’s punter in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, averaged 30.8 yards net on four punts in a loss to New England. Quigley was unavailable that day because of a bacterial infection that caused his right shin to become swollen. Quigley said Wednesday it was not a staph infection and antibiotics have corrected the problem. He practiced full Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday at Oakland.

Mangold sits out

Weatherford’s place on the roster was taken by second-year pro Wesley Johnson, a backup offensive lineman. He was signed as insurance in case 10th-year center Nick Mangold is unable to play Sunday. Mangold suffered a neck injury in the final minute of the Jets’ loss at New England. Although X-rays taken Monday were negative, he sat out practice Wednesday.

"He’s sore, but he’s doing OK," coach Todd Bowles said of Mangold. "He’s just got to get the soreness out. Obviously, the X-rays were negative, but he can’t do anything until he’s feeling better."

Bowles said "it’s conceivable" Mangold could play Sunday even if he’s unable to practice all week. Johnson or second-year pro Dakota Dozier likely would start at center if Mangold is inactive.

Briefs

Bowles said WR Chris Owusu suffered a concussion Sunday, but didn’t feel the effects until the team returned to New Jersey. Owusu, who didn’t practice Wednesday, has suffered at least four previous concussions dating to his collegiate days at Stanford. … Slot CB Buster Skrine suffered a shoulder injury and a fractured left pinkie against the Patriots, but practiced on a limited basis with a temporary cast on his broken finger. He expects to play Sunday.

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Wide receivers smooth things over (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 28, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-wideouts-smooth-things-over-1.1443928

FLORHAM PARK — Brandon Marshall was participating in a televised round-table discussion Tuesday about Dallas defensive end Greg Hardy’s sideline outburst in Sunday’s loss to the Giants when he noted that he "got into it" with a teammate during Sunday’s loss at New England.

So who was it? Jets wide receiver Marshall acknowledged Wednesday after practice that the teammate was fellow wideout Devin Smith.

Marshall was speaking Tuesday on Showtime’s "Inside The NFL," on which he is a regular.

Marshall said "there’s a lot of testosterone" during NFL games and added, "I mean, you put so much into the week. You get disappointed and you get frustrated in those moments. This Sunday, I got into it with a teammate, but we got in the locker room. We talked it out and we love each other."

Marshall said the dispute occurred because of a penalty on the Jets’ final play. With one second left and the Jets trying to spike the ball and stop the clock so they could try a desperation pass, Marshall was called for a false start. By rule, 10 seconds were run off the clock and the game ended with New England winning, 30-23. The Jets didn’t get a chance to try a Hail Mary, which would have come from the New England 37.

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Marshall indicated Wednesday he was trying to communicate with Smith, a rookie from Ohio State, to find out which one of them was supposed to be on the line of scrimmage. Smith was lined up next to Marshall in the slot on the right side of the formation.

Marshall explained that Smith "was saying, ‘Hey, it’s clear I’m on the ball,’ and I was saying, ‘I see that, but we’ve just got to communicate in those moments.’ I’ve been in the league a long time, so there’s a certain way I’m used to doing things and there’s a certain way he’s used to doing things. And it’s good to be able to talk through things."

Marshall has had some verbal altercations with teammates in the past, and reportedly had one last season when he shouted at Chicago kicker Robbie Gould after a game.

As for Sunday’s brief spat, he said, "It’s high emotions. It’s like, you lose a game like that, there’s a lot of emotion, so sometimes you just need time to cool off. But that happens every Sunday on every sideline. We talked on the field. He said what he had to say, I said what I had to say, and we went into the locker room.

"We still talked through it and then we started talking about getting over it," Marshall said. "We both sat there for a while, a little deflated, and just had to move forward as quickly as possible. … We got it all squared away."

Jets coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday he was aware of the situation.

"It’s no big deal," he said.

As for Smith, Marshall said, "We’re definitely looking forward to him stepping up and making plays. We need him, and I’m excited to see what he does moving forward because he’s a very talented guy."

Smith, who missed the first two games of the season while recovering from fractured ribs suffered early in training camp, has six receptions for 60 yards and has yet to become the deep threat the Jets believe he can be.

Marshall said Tuesday on the show that he doesn’t think Hardy has "learned his lesson." When asked Wednesday if he should be criticizing someone else, given some of his own outbursts in the past, Marshall replied, "I’m the perfect person to talk about issues like that because I’ve been through it. Now I’m on the other side, so I get it. I understand it. … I don’t care what people say. I know who I am. I’m proud of the person I am today."

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ESPN NEW YORK

Brandon Marshall on Raiders rookie Amari Cooper: 'Stud muffin' (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 29, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55510/brandon-marshall-on-raiders-rookie-amari-cooper-stud-muffin

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets had a lot of wonderful things to say Wednesday about Oakland Raiders rookie sensation Amari Cooper, with the most colorful praise coming from fellow wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

"I've been a fan of Amari Cooper since he was in college," Marshall said. "He's a stud. He's a stud muffin."

Bet he never heard that from Nick Saban at Alabama.

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Cooper, the fourth overall pick, already has three 100-yard receiving days, the first rookie to have three in his team's first six games since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961. The Jets, who face him Sunday in Oakland, were effusive.

A sampling of their comments on Cooper:

Marshall: "He's so smooth. He's like a ... I don't even know how to explain this guy. I've never really seen this type of player before. He's fast, he's smooth, he can run routes, he releases at the line of scrimmage. It's like a mix between Ocho Cinco and AJ. Green. He has sweet routes, but it's not unorthodox. It's so smooth. I can't explain it. I'm a fan of his."

Coach Todd Bowles: "Doesn't play like a rookie. Great pattern runner. Rarely do you see receivers come out of college and they're able to run patterns. He's got body control, great hands, he can catch it in traffic. He's got the full gamut. ... A route runner is more dangerous than just a big guy or a speed guy. He can do both. He's as advertised. He's smart, he's quiet, he's humble, but on the field he plays like a demon."

Nickel back Buster Skrine: "He reminds me of A.J. Green. He came in and made an impact right away. He's just a complete receiver. He's advanced to be a rookie. He's one of the top receivers in the game right now."

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Jets WR Brandon Marshall says he 'got into it' with Devin Smith (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 28, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55505/jets-wr-brandon-marshall-says-he-got-into-it-with-devin-smith

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Turns out the player that "got into it" with Brandon Marshall was rookie wide receiver Devin Smith.

On Wednesday, Marshall elaborated on the cryptic comment he made Tuesday night on Showtime's "Inside the NFL," when he told a national television audience he argued -- and later patched things up -- with an identified teammate during Sunday's game at the New England Patriots.

It was Smith, he acknowledged when approached by reporters.

Marshall and Smith argued at the end of the game, when Marshall was flagged for a false start as the New York Jets scrambled back to the line of scrimmage in an attempt to try a last-second Hail Mary. The two receivers were next to each other in a bunch formation. Smith was on the line, Marshall off. There was a miscommunication and Marshall moved, incurring the penalty. With a mandatory 10-second run off, the game ended.

"He was saying, 'Hey, it's clear I'm on the ball,'" Marshall explained. "I was saying, 'I hear that, but we just have to communicate in those moments.' I've been in the league a long time. There's a certain way I'm used to doing things and a certain way he's used to doing things. It's good to be able to tell him things.

"It's high emotions," Marshall added. "You lose a game like that, there's a lot of emotion. Sometimes you need time to cool off. That happens every Sunday on every sideline."

The argument lasted into the locker room, according to Marshall, who claimed they eventually made nice.

Smith wasn't available to comment. Coach Todd Bowles said he's not concerned.

It was a rough Sunday for Marshall, who dropped a would-be touchdown pass that would've given the Jets an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter. After the game, he tweeted, "My A** should be walking

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back to NY." He also indicated the drop would provide "fuel" during the week as he prepared for the Oakland Raiders.

By Wednesday, it was a different tune. He was asked how it would impact his preparation.

"That's a funny question," Marshall said. "I drop. I average 10 drops a year. That's what I average, that's what it is. You don't change your game because you made a mistake. It's football. It's life. You're not going to be perfect."

In fact, Marshall averaged eight drops per year over his first nine seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information. So far, he has four in 2015.

That means you can expect another four.

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Jets brush up on clock management before heading to West Coast (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 28, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55495/jets-brush-up-on-clock-management-before-heading-to-west-coast

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- If there's another Geno Smith-type episode on this weekend's trip to the West Coast, it won't be because of any time-zone confusion.

The New York Jets, leaving Friday to play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, will switch to Pacific time when they get to California -- as most travelers do. In other words, their itinerary will be based on local time. For instance: An 8 p.m. team meeting will be 8 p.m. PDT.

It was a different story last October when the Jets traveled to San Diego. Not wanting to disrupt the players' body clocks, former coach Rex Ryan stayed on East Coast time. That created an issue for Smith, who was confused by the three-hour time change and missed a team meeting on the eve of the game. He went to a movie and lost track of time, sparking a huge controversy. He probably relied on his cell phone, which naturally showed local time.

So, yeah, Todd Bowles is taking some heat for his clock management on the field, but at least he knows to set his watch back three hours on the West Coast.

One potential problem: On Saturday night, the clocks are turned back one hour. The Jets might have to hire a time consultant to address that issue.

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Punter Steve Weatherford cut by Jets, makes $51,000 for one day (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 28, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55473/punter-steve-weatherford-cut-by-jets-walks-away-with-51000

What a gig.

For one day of work, Steve Weatherford made $51,000, received an all -expenses-paid overnight trip to the New England area and got a great seat for the most anticipated game of the NFL weekend, New York Jets versus New England Patriots.

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Weatherford's excellent weekend adventure came to an abrupt end Tuesday morning, when he was released by the Jets -- an indication regular punter Ryan Quigley could be ready for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Weatherford was signed last Saturday afternoon on short notice when Quigley reported to the facility with a shin infection that caused swelling and bruising. The Jets reached out to Weatherford because of his close proximity. The former New York Giants punter, who lives in New Jersey, was co-hosting an ESPN radio show in Manhattan when he got the call. He drove across the George Washington Bridge, stopped at home to pick up a suit and his cleats, and met the team at its facility before the Jets departed for the airport.

As a player with nine years vested, Weatherford signed for the minimum salary -- $870,000. Prorated for one game (players are paid 17 times during the season), it's $51,176.

All he did was punt four times and hold the ball five times on field goal and extra-point placements. He was rusty, averaging only 40.3 yards (gross), but he was a good sport about it. Afterward, Weatherford explained he had punted only three times since being released by the Giants at the end of the preseason. The last time was a week ago in a park, with his 7-year-old son snapping to him.

Weatherford said he had a blast, also acknowledging, "It was a rough, rough day for me." He seemed OK with it. The 32-year-old punter, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants after two years with the Jets (2009-2010), said he already has begun to chart a course for life after football.

Back to co-hosting.

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Jets WR Chris Owusu suffers his fifth documented concussion (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 28, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55488/jets-wr-chris-owusu-suffers-his-fifth-documented-concussion

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- For the second time in three months, and the fifth time in his college and pro career, New York Jets wide receiver Chris Owusu is concussed.

Owusu suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots, but the symptoms didn't surface until the team returned home to New Jersey, according to coach Todd Bowles, who revealed the injury on Wednesday.

"We'll monitor it and see how it goes, but, yes, that's very concerning," Bowles said after practice.

Owusu, the Jets' No. 3 receiver and kickoff returner, missed time in training camp due to a concussion. He still won a spot on the 53-man roster, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. He missed three games after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Owusu's final season at Stanford, 2011, was cut short because of a concussion. In a November game against Oregon State, he went down after helmet-to-helmet contact and left the field in an ambulance. It was his second concussion in a three-week span, his third in 13 months.

The Jets are dealing with a number of injuries as they prepare to face the Oakland Raiders on the road. A update on the key players:

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Center Nick Mangold (sore neck): He didn't practice, but he was spotted on the field, sans neck brace. He's still experiencing soreness, but it's "conceivable" he could rest all week and play Sunday, according to Bowles.

Running back Chris Ivory (hamstring): He wasn't himself on Sunday, due to hamstring tightness, but he practiced fully. He'll be ready for Sunday.

Wide receiver Eric Decker (bruised knee): This is different from his recently sprained knee. Decker banged his knee in the game and didn't practice. Bowles said he's "trying to be careful with it," but the sense is he'll play.

Safety Calvin Pryor (sprained ankle): Pryor wasn't spotted on the field at all, which never is a good sign. There's a decent chance he won't play. With only two healthy safeties, Marcus Gilchrist and backup Dion Bailey, they probably will sign one from the practice squad at the end of the week, Rontez Miles or Ronald Martin.

Cornerback Buster Srine (sprained shoulder, fractured pinky/hand): He took a beating on Sunday, but he's expected to play. Skrine said he'll wear a cast on his left hand. He doesn't anticipate any problems with it during the game.

Wide receiver Devin Smith (sprained ankle): This happened Wednesday in practice. The rookie tweaked an ankle and couldn't finish. It means the Jets may have only four heal thy receivers for the game, including recent pick-up Kenbrell Tompkins.

Punter Ryan Quigley (shin infection): He said he sustained two small cuts in Week 6, on a blocked punt, resulting in an infection over the weekend. Claiming the infection is "almost completely gone," he returned to punting in practice. His improvement allowed them to cut Steve Weatherford in the morning.

Running back Bilal Powell (sprained ankle): He didn't practice, and there's a chance he will miss his second game in a row. This could be the week Stevan Ridley is activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list.

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NEW YORK POST

How Raiders might use Patriots’ blueprint to attack the Jets (Howie Kussoy) New York Post October 28, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/27/jets-nick-mangold-get-the-good-news-they-were-waiting-for/

There are no easy answers against the Jets’ defense, no obvious so lutions to slicing up a unit whose strengths sit on every level. Through five games, Todd Bowles’ team had provided no hints of what could pass for a successful formula, holding teams to 15 points per game while becoming the league’s top-ranked defense, before their battle for first place against the Patriots.

In Bill Belichick’s biggest challenge of the season, the four-time Super Bowl champion coach threw away much of his playbook and opted for a one-dimensional offensive attack, running the ball only nine times — only five carries came from running backs — while having Tom Brady throw 54 passes. Despite 11 drops by receivers, New England gained 355 yards through the air and pulled out a 30-23 win, the most points dropped on the Jets this season.

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Now the Jets are aware that opponents might very well mimic what has been the most successful strategy against their defense thus far.

“We’re really tough against the run and I think Bill really respected our front seven going into the game,” linebacker Trevor Reilly said. “It’s a copycat league. I think teams may try to go pass-heavy.”

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said he wasn’t surprised New England conceded the running game, but said that their success didn’t necessarily mean that he would utilize similar play -calling against the Jets on Sunday when the Raiders play host to Gang Green.

“Every team is different in how they approach game planning,” Del Rio said on a conference call Wednesday. “I think the Patriots have shown over the years that they’ll do something li ke that. We’ll put a plan together and look forward to competing ourselves come Sunday.”

With the 13th-ranked passing offense and the 23rd-ranked rushing attack in the league, the Raiders may be more likely than most teams to follow the Patriots’ playbook.

After completing 58 percent of his passes in his rookie season in Oakland, Derek Carr has shown tremendous growth in his second season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing nearly 66 percent of his passes. Helping him has been star rookie receiver Amari Cooper, whose devastating blend of blazing speed and precise route-running has allowed him to average more than 86 yards per game.

So, given the Raiders’ strengths, Reilly said the defense is preparing for the possibility of a second straight week of aerial action.

“Most teams won’t go into a game saying they’re gonna throw 54 times and run nine times, but it could happen,” Reilly said. “They could try it.”

The reason they may not? There’s only one Brady.

“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” cornerback Buster Skrine said. “He goes through his reads really fast. Not every team has Tom Brady.”

Or Rob Gronkowski.

“The X-factor they have is Brady and Gronk,” Reilly said. “Brady’s unbelievable, but they also have the best pass-catching tight end in the NFL. They have a special situation going on over there.”

So does the Jets’ secondary.

Even after being shredded by Brady, the Jets still have the third-ranked pass defense in the league, having posted a league-best 54.8 completion percentage and as many interceptions as passing touchdowns allowed (eight).

So, if similar-styled attacks are coming, the Jets will be smiling.

“Todd will be the first to tell you we put a lot of trust in those guys,” Reilly said. “It shows in the calls we make. It shows with how aggressive we are on defense.”

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Brandon Marshall reveals his brief Jets adversary (Howie Kussoy) New York Post October 28, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/28/brandon-marshall-reveals-his-brief-jets-adversary/

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On the final play of Sunday’s loss to New England — when Brandon Marshall was called for a false start, ending the game and preventing the Jets an opportunity at a game-tying Hail Mary attempt — the receiver said he “got into it” with rookie Devin Smith because of a miscommunication regarding their alignment.

“It’s just high emotions,” Marshall said following Wednesday’s practice. “You lose a game like that, it’s a lot of emotion. Sometimes you need time to cool off. That happens every Sunday on every sideline.

“Time was ticking down and [we’re] trying to figure out who’s on or off the ball. We got it all squared away. We’ll start communicating better moving forward.”

Coach Todd Bowles was aware of what happened between the receivers and said “it’s no big deal,” while Marshall said he talked with Smith in the locker room after the game and told the rookie “it’s over,” turning the conversation to the Raiders.

Marshall first talked about the incident on “Inside the NFL.” As he spoke about Greg Hardy following an emotional outburst on the sidelines in Dallas’ loss to the Giants, Marshall said the Cowboys defensive end “is not aware” and didn’t think he “learned his lesson” following Hardy’s conviction last year of assault on a female.

“I think I’m the perfect person to talk about issues like that because I’ve been through it and now I’m on the other side,” said Marshall, who has had multiple legal issues during his career. “I get it. I understand it. … I don’t care what other people say. I know who I am and I’m proud of the person I am today.”

Center Nick Mangold’s (neck) status against the Raiders is uncertain, but the Jets began preparing for the possibility of the All-Pro not playing, promoting center/guard Wesley Johnson to the active roster from the practice squad.

If Mangold misses just the fourth game of his 10-year career, Bowles said he could start either Johnson or Dakota Dozier, who filled in for three snaps against New England. Neither player has ever made an NFL start.

Wide receiver Chris Owusu missed practice after suffering a concussion Sunday. The 25-year-old entered the season having suffered four concussions previously.

“Anybody that’s had that many you’ve got to have some concern for,” Bowles said. “We’re just going to monitor and see how it goes, but that’s very concerning.”

Also missing practice were safety Calvin Pryor (ankle), running back Bilal Powell (ankle), guard Willie Colon (knee) and receiver Eric Decker (knee), who was held out for precautionary reasons. Smith was limited after tweaking his ankle in practice, while Buster Skrine was also limited. Skrine, who has a sp rained shoulder and broken pinkie, said he will play against the Raiders wearing a special glove.

The Jets released former Giants punter Steve Weatherford Wednesday morning after one game with the team as Ryan Quigley returned to practice after missing one game with a shin infection.

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The Raiders’ up-and-coming duo that could give Jets nightmares (Steve Serby) New York Post October 28, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/28/the-raiders-up-and-coming-duo-that-could-give-jets-nightmares/

Here is Brandon Marshall talking about Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper:

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“I’ve been a fan of Amari Cooper since college. He’s a stud. He’s a stud muffin. I’ve never really seen this type of player before. … It’s like a mix between [Chad] Ochocinco and A.J. Green almost, where he has sweet routes, but it’s not unorthodox, it’s so smooth I can’t explain it.”

Here is Marcus Gilchrist talking about Raiders quarterback Derek Carr:

“I think he’s a top-10 quarterback. He’s picked up from his first year. He can make all the throws. They give him the ability to get at the line and check. I think he’s a really complete quarterback.”

Carr throwing to Cooper has the makings of the battery of the future, and that future will be waiting for the Jets on Sunday in Oakland. Darrelle Revis & Co. better get them now, before they grow up.

Carr is the second-year franchise quarterback who looks like a good bet to fix the Black Hole that has been the Raiders quarterback position, and Cooper is the rookie out of Alabama who is this year’s Odell Beckham Jr., minus the three-fingered catch for the ages.

“One of the better guys I’ve seen on tape,” Jets safety Dion Bailey said. “We have one of the better guys I’ve ever seen on tape covering him, so it’s gonna be a great matchup, I’m gonna enjoy watching it.”

Cooper (33 receptions, 519 yards, three touchdowns) is the first rookie with three 100-yard receiving games in his first six games since Mike Ditka in 1961. Revis has called him a talent and is going to school on him.

“In the future, he’s just gonna be out of this world, but what makes him so special now, he’s a rookie but he looks like a vet,” Bailey said. “He’s not making like rookie mistakes, extremely confident in his route-running, his ability. Him and Derek Carr, they have a great rhythm. He’s just a great talent, No. 4 overall pick, and he’s showing why he is that.”

Cooper, who has taken heat off Michael Crabtree, has been a godsend for Carr (11 TDs, three interceptions), who has a 101 QB rating.

“A guy that can turn a 1-yard play into a touchdown, and can also stretch the field, he can run all the routes,” Carr said.

Buster Skrine saw Carr up close last season when Skrine was with the Browns. Carr went 34-for-54 for 328 yards, two touchdowns and two INTs in a 23-13 Browns win.

“Last year you could tell he was confident, but he was just a rookie,” Skrine said. “He’s in the top category of quarterbacks right now. We respect him.”

The game has slowed down for Carr, the younger brother of former Texans 2002 No. 1 overall pick David Carr, whose career was sabotaged by a series of horrific offensive lines.

“If not for his brother, he probably would have been the first overall pick,” Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly said. “He’s got that much talent in his arm. I think people, for whatever reason, they got scared — his brother wasn’t terrible. He just was on a bad team. Derek’s got all the talent in the world, man. He can make all the throws, he’s fast, got a quick release. The sky is the ceiling for him. He’s got everything you’d want in a quarterback.”

Bailey was part of a USC team, along with Jets No. 1 pick Leonard Williams, that manhandled Carr’s Fresno State team 45-20 in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl.

“We were able to rattle him, really get him out of his rhythm, he was missing a lot of throws and things like that, but that’s just because he didn’t have the front that he has now,” Bailey said. “He has all the talent in the world, and now he has a legit weapon in [Cooper]. They’re on the up and up right now.”

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Carr, who wore No. 4 in college because of Brett Favre, lasted until the 36th pick of the 2014 draft, but is showing signs he could be better than first-rounders Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater. He hasn’t forgotten Big Brother’s advice.

“The one thing that always sticks out is, ‘You’re gonna be praised, and you’re gonna be criticized — ignore both, ’cause neither matter,” Carr said.

Carr, naturally, is very much aware of Revis Island.

“If I just eliminate one side of the field, that hurts our team, and I’m all about the team,” Carr said. “I’ll know where he’s at all times, obviously.”

Better get them now.

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Brandon Marshall ‘got into it’ with Jets’ mate in Patriots game (Brian Costello) New York Post October 26, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/28/brandon-marshall-got-into-it-with-jets-mate-in-patriots-game/

Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he understands Cowboys defensive lineman Greg Hardy’s sideline outburst last week, but believes Hardy needs to do some soul searching.

Marshall, appearing on “Inside the NFL,” said sideline arguments happen often. He even said he got into one with a teammate this Sunday during the Jets’ loss to the Patriots.

“There’s emotions that come with the game,” Marshall said. “There’s a lot of testosterone. I mean you put so much into the week, you know you get disappointed and you get frustrated in those moments. This Sunday, I got into it with a teammate but we got in the locker room, we talked it out and we love each other.”

Hardy came under fire this week after cameras caught him having an emotional outburst toward special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, even slapping his call sheet, during Dallas’ loss to the Giants on Sunday. That was followed by a confrontation with wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Marshall, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2011, said people need to worry about Hardy the person, not just the player.

“When I look at Greg [Hardy] and how he’s handled himself, on the field and i n the locker room, I see a guy that is not aware,” Marshall said. “He doesn’t understand the magnitude of what happened last year, what he did and the atmosphere surrounding the NFL. I don’t think that he gets it. I don’t think that he learned his lesson. And he really needs to look himself in the mirror and ask himself, what type of person do I want to be?”

Hardy was convicted last year of assault on a female and communicating threats in a case involving his former girlfriend. Charges were dismissed in February after prosecutors said the accuser could not be found. Hardy did not play last season and was suspended for the first four games of this year.

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

How Jets plan to avoid time-zone mix-ups with visit to Oakland Raiders (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 28, 2015

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http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/how_jets_plan_to_avoid_time-zone_mix-ups_with_visi.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — Among the many Jets-like stories to emerge from last year's 4-12 disaster was what happened during the team's lone west coast trip, when quarterback Geno Smith missed a meeting the night before a game at the Chargers in San Diego because of some time-zone confusion.

But when the Jets visit the Raiders in Oakland, Calif., for Sunday's game, head coach Todd Bowles has a sensible plan in place that ought to easily keep everyone on the same page.

Basically, Bowles said, the Jets will operate as though they're on Eastern Daylight Time, though the actual time on everyone's itinerary will be Pacific Daylight Time, with the three-hour time difference already factored in.

An example: If, say, a meeting would have been at 4 p.m. if the Jets were still on the east coast, that meeting will be scheduled for 1 p.m. local time on the west coast.

The idea is to remain consistent so as not to mess to much with the players' body clocks, while also not sowing confusion by leaving everyone wondering what time it really is.

"Just from playing, and the coaches I've been with over the years, that's what I'm used to," Bowles said.

Rex Ryan, the Jets' previous head coach, used to keep the schedule on Eastern Time while also having Eastern Time on the itinerary, going so far as to have the clocks in players' hotel rooms adjusted to account for the time difference.

But cell phones automatically change to local time for travelers, and Ryan's system resulted in confusion for Smith, who was at a movie when he should have been at a meeting last year in San Diego. The Jets season ebbed the next day with a 31-0 loss in which Smith was benched at halftime.

"I counted down instead of counting up and just got the times mixed up," Smith explained after the Jets returned home following the game.

Bowles said the Jets would travel to Oakland, Calif., on Friday after practice—one day sooner than they typically travel for road games. Four weeks ago, the Jets flew to London—a five-hour time difference, albeit in the opposite direction—and while they were weary after first arriving, they adjusted just fine on game day.

"The flight itself is a little different from London because the time change isn't that drastic," Bowles said of flying to the west coast. "But just the time and going a day early, and spending time and making sure the team doesn't come out flat. Other than that, it's not a big change."

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Jets' Darrelle Revis says Oakland Raiders' Amari Cooper is 'one of the premiere guys coming up' (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 28, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/why_jets_think_oakland_raiders_amari_cooper_doesnt.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — Amari Cooper, the Raiders' prodigious wide receiver, is off to a strong start in his rookie season.

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He has three touchdown catches, and he ranks 14th in the NFL with 86.5 receiving yards per game. He already has three 100-yard games — 109 against the Ravens, 134 against the Browns, and 133 (on just five catches) last Sunday in San Diego.

This Sunday, Cooper gets his biggest test yet — a matchup with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, one of the finest players of his generation.

"He's a talent, man," Revis told NJ Advance Media. "He makes plays. Overall, he can play. He's one of the premiere guys coming up in the league."

The Raiders drafted Cooper fourth overall, two picks before the Jets selected defensive end Leonard Williams. The Raiders have made their share of draft mistakes over the years (see: Russell, JaMarcus). But Cooper seems legit.

Buster Skrine, the Jets' slot cornerback, offered high praise for Cooper.

"He reminds me of A.J. Green, because A.J. came in and made an impact right away," Skrine said of the Bengals receiver. "He's a complete receiver. He's advanced to be a rookie. He's one of the top receivers in the league right now."

Jets coach Todd Bowles echoed those comments about Cooper.

"He doesn't play like a rookie," Bowles said. "Great pattern runner. Rarely do you see receivers come out of college and they're able to run patterns [so precisely]. He's got body control, great hands, can catch it in traffic.

"He's got the full gamut. He can get off the ball. He's got speed. He can catch the ball. He runs routes. A route runner is more dangerous than just a speed guy or a big receiver. And he can do both."

Cooper, who is 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, interviewed with the Jets at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"He's everything as advertised," Bowles said. "He's smart, he's quiet, he's humble, but on the field, he plays like a demon. He's a tough player."

Skrine praised Cooper's ability to gain yards after the catch. That is one of Cooper's biggest strengths. He is currently fourth in the NFL with 9.2 yards after the catch per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.

What else makes Cooper so unlike a rookie?

"Catches with his hands," Skrine said. "He doesn't slow down when he comes out of his breaks."

Most young receivers tend to catch the ball into their bodies, rather than extending their hands, Skrine said.

What did Revis notice on film, in terms of Cooper catching the ball with his hands extended?

"That's Buster's comment," Revis said. "I didn't pay attention to that."

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Brandon Marshall 'got into it' with Jets rookie at end of loss to New England Patriots (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 28, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/brandon_marshall_got_into_it_with_jets_rookie_at_e.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — During his weekly appearance on Showtime's "Inside the NFL," receiver Brandon Marshall admitted he "got into it" with another Jets player during Sunday's loss at the Patriots.

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"This Sunday, I got into it with a teammate, but we got in the locker room, we talked it out, and we love each other," Marshall had said.

Marshall related that story in the context of his commentary on Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy, who had a rather public dust-up with a special teams coach and teammate Dez Bryant during Sunday's loss at the Giants.

But inquiring minds wanted to know: Which teammate did Marshall have it out with? These altercations can be common in the NFL. But Marshall did have a reputation for being ornery with teammates before joining the Jets, so ...

Turns out it was rookie wideout Devin Smith.

On the game's final sequence, as the Jets scrambled to spike the ball to get one more Hail Mary p lay, Marshall was flagged for a false start, which necessitated a 10-second runoff, which ended the game.

But Marshall hadn't lined up properly because he said Smith, who was next to him in the slot on the right side of the formation, hadn't communicated as to which one would line up on the line of scrimmage and which one would line up behind it.

"He was saying, 'It's clear I'm on the ball,' and I was saying, 'I see that, but we've just got to communicate in those moments,'" Marshall said. "There's a certain way I'm used to doing things, there's a certain way he's used to doing things. It's good to talk through things."

How bad did it get?

"It's high emotion," Marshall said. "You lose a game like that, there's a lot of emotion, so sometimes you just need time to cool off. But that happens every Sunday on every sideline."

Marshall said the two talked about it on the field and in the locker room after the game. Smith was not available for comment.

Head coach Todd Bowles wasn't concerned in the slightest about the incident and didn't think it would be anything that threatened to linger going forward.

Marshall, too, gave every assurance that this had been a one-time thing.

"We got it all squared away," Marshall said. "We'll start communicating better moving forward." Back_to_Top

After 'a step in the right direction,' Jets' Stevan Ridley 'ready to play' at Oakland Raiders (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 28, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/after_a_step_in_the_right_direction_jets_stevan_ri.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — Jets coach Todd Bowles said it was a close call with running back Stevan Ridley's status for last Sunday's loss at the Patriots.

Bowles opted to not remove Ridley, who is returning from ACL and MCL surgery, from the physically unable to perform list.

The Jets went with Zac Stacy as their No. 2 back, behind Chris Ivory. Bilal Powell missed the game with an ankle injury.

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As the Jets prepare for Sunday's game at the Raiders, Powell missed practice again Wednesday. Bowles said Ridley is healthy enough to play in Oakland, but the coach hasn't yet decided if Ridley will be removed from the PUP list this week.

According to NFL rules, the Jets must bring Ridley off the PUP list — or keep him there for the rest of the season — within three weeks of his return to practice. That happened last Wednesday.

So Ridley can spend, at most, two more games on the PUP list. He'd have to come off it by the Nov. 12 game against the Bills.

As for whether Ridley will play this week, Bowles said, "We just need to see more of him, and what Bilal does, as well. Depending on what we see [regarding] who does more between Ridley and Bilal, and what we need in the game plan this week, we'll go from there."

Ridley is clearly itching to play again. Sunday marked a step forward for him. It was the first time he had traveled to a road game, or even been on the sideline, in more than a year. He tore his knee ligaments last Oct. 12, while playing for the Patriots, in a game at the Bills.

Since that point, Ridley had sat a suite during home games and watched road games on television. He relished being back on the sideline Sunday in New England, but he's ready to actually play.

"To be there and to watch it, it was just good to be out of the box [suite] and just back down on the field with my teammates," he said. "It was definitely a step in the right direction, just to get closer to the field. From the box down to the sideline. Hopefully, the next step will be on the field."

And then into the end zone after that?

"I'll try to get there soon," Ridley said.

Now that he's 100 percent healthy — though probably not all the way back into football shape/rhythm — Ridley is holding out hope that he'll make his Jets debut in Oakland. While being on the sideline in New England was an acceptable point of progress, Ridley isn't going to celebrate anything until he suits up.

"I'm ready to play, man," he said. "That's it. I'm just waiting on that."

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Why Jets' Buster Skrine actually doesn't mind wearing hand cast at Oakland Raiders (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 28, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/why_jets_buster_skrine_actually_doesnt_mind_wearin.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — Buster Skrine, the Jets' slot cornerback, has taken a beating the past two weeks.

First, in a win over Washington, he sustained a concussion. He was able to return for last Sunday's loss at the Patriots. But he sprained his shoulder in the game, which he completed, and also broke a bone in his left pinky finger.

Skrine was limited at Wednesday's practice, but he said he'll definitely play Sunday at the Raiders. He said his shoulder is actually totally fine. (Or so he insists.) He was able to return against the Patriots after spraining his shoulder — a good sign.

After that game, and again Wednesday, Skrine wore a heavy wrap/temporary cast on his left pinky and ring fingers. He said he broke the fifth metacarpal bone (the lower part of his pinky finger), whil e tackling running back LeGarrette Blount.

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Against the Raiders, Skrine said he'll play with a similar wrapping/cast on his hand. He referred to it as "a club," but clarified that he'll have some fingers free, outside of the cast. Skrine removed the wrapping while walking around the locker room Wednesday, so he apparently doesn't need to wear it all the time.

Skrine actually doesn't mind wearing a cast on his hand, even though you'd think it would impede his ability to get his hands on wide receivers, and pick off balls.

"Last year, I broke my thumb in Cleveland and I got all my picks with my cast," he said. "Once I took the cast off, I didn't get any more. So it might be good luck."

Skrine had four interceptions last season. He is still seeking his first pick with the Jets, though he has been a difference maker in their defense, especially as a situational blitzer.

Despite his ailments, Skrine didn't hesitate Wednesday when asked how he's feeling.

"Great," he said.

He confirmed that he sprained his shoulder while delivering a big, clean hit on Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman.

"I knew it was a good hit," Skrine said with a smile.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Stevan Ridley ready to get up and running for Jets (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News October 28, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-losing-pats-october-isn-crushing-season-article-1.2412150

He is the forgotten man, the thankful man and the man who might just provide a jolt at the exact right time for a team good enough to make the playoffs.

Stevan Ridley’s pending return from a devastating knee injury will give the Jets’ already formidable rushing attack another much-needed weapon. Chris Ivory and Ridley could be the 1-2 punch that helps the Jets play meaningful games in January.

“Chris has done such an exceptional job up to this point,” Ridley tol d the Daily News on Wednesday. “To complement him in any way could put fear in a defense.”

The 5-11, 220-pound Ridley, one year removed from tearing his ACL and MCL with the Patriots, should be more than a bit player moving forward. The Jets signed him to a one-year deal this offseason with the hope that he could make a difference in Chan Gailey’s offense.

“I think we’re all excited to see him get out there,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said.

Ivory’s white-hot start (100 yards per game on 5.0 yards per carry) made it easy for the organization to take a conservative approach with Ridley, who was taken off the physically unable to perform list last week. The 26-year-old power back, less than three years removed from a 1,263-yard, 12-touchdown season in New England, no longer has any restrictions from the medical staff.

“I believe that I can be one of the best backs in the league,” Ridley said. “I think in due time I’m going to have my opportunities to show that. But it’s up to me to go out there and show that… I have to come in here and continue just to stay on track. Don’t try to do too much. Don’t try to be anybody I’m not.”

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Ivory’s violent running style makes Ridley’s presence that much more important. Ivory, the second-leading rusher in the AFC, has already missed one game due to injury this season. He was hampered by hamstring tightness after his first carry last week. Ivory is the engine in Gailey’s scheme, but his ferocious style creates doubt about his ability to remain healthy for the next 10 weeks.

Ridley should be able to help. He’s already seen that running-back-by-committee approach work to perfection with the Patriots, who never overworked any single ball carrier.

Ridley had only 649 carries in 52 career regular-season games under Bill Belichick, whose gameplan-specific philosophy created some wild fluctuations in the running back’s weekly stats.

At 26, he’s still in his prime.

“I have plenty of time,” Ridley said. “I played four years in New England and everybody knows that’s a pass-first offense. So, I didn’t have a lot of wear and tear and a lot of beating on my body… It’s crazy to think we’re halfway through the season. I haven’t taken a hit yet. I think my role on this team is to come in here and bring the juice and bring the passion. I’m fresh. I got a lot of tread left on my tires.”

Ridley first tore his ACL at LSU, but this second reconstructive knee surgery came at the most inopportune time. The pending free agent was the Patriots’ leading rusher through six games before his knee buckled against the Bills last October. “That’s kind of a running back’s nightmare,” Ridley said. “But I couldn’t let that stop me.”

His rehab has been grueling, but he has the right mindset. Patience has been his soundtrack for the past year. He knows that he’ll be showcasing himself for the Jets and every other team in the league over the next three months.

“I just have to keep preparing like I’m the starter,” Ridley said. “I have to keep preparing like I ’m in that year when I was running for 1,200 yards… I learned at an early age, if you work hard every day, you can’t lose.”

For all the praise heaped on Todd Bowles’ defense, his offense hasn’t been too shabby, either. Ivory has spearheaded the league’s third-ranked rushing attack. The Jets are in the Top 10 in total and scoring offense.

Bowles hasn’t determined yet whether he’ll activate Ridley against the Raiders on Sunday, but the time is coming. He could be the X-factor.

“I’m not scared,” the running back said. “I’m not timid. I’m just waiting on them to let me play.”

It’s Ridley’s prove-it season, and that’s precisely what he plans to do.

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Brandon Marshall reveals Devin Smith as Jets teammate he 'got into it' with (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 28, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-brandon-marshall-row-devin-smith-article-1.2415408

Brandon Marshall confirmed Wednesday that the teammate he “got into it” with was fellow receiver Devin Smith.

The two argued about a communication issue on the final play against the Patriots on Sunday. Marshall was confused over which of the two of them was supposed to be on the line of scrimmage. The mistake resulted in a flag — and a 10-second run-off — that ended the team’s loss to the Patriots.

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“So he was saying, ‘Hey, it’s clear I’m on the ball,’ and I was saying, ‘I see that, but we’ve just got to communicate in those moments,’” Marshall said. “I’ve been in the league a long time. So there’s a certain way I’m used to doing things and a certain way he’s used to doing things. It’s good to be able to talk through things.”

To be fair to the rookie, who hurt his ankle in practice Wednesday and and did not speak to the media, Smith was lined up long before Marshall got back to the line of scrimmage, so the veteran wideout probably just should have seen where Smith was and adjusted.

Marshall said there was a lot of emotion in that moment and stuff like that “happens every Sunday on every sideline.”

Bowles said he was aware of the matter.

“It’s no big deal,” he said.

HOLE LOTTA FUN

The O.co Coliseum is generally considered one of the worst stadiums in the NFL, but it also happens to be Marshall’s favorite place to play.

“Every time before the game, I run to the Black Hole and I’ll just stare at ’em and just mean mug ’em. And they just throw stuff at you. It’s fun, man.

"It’s great football.”

QUICK HITS

Buster Skrine broke a bone in his pinkie but will play against the Raiders with a club or cast on his hand...P Ryan Quigley returned to full strength, so the Jets cut Steve Weatherford four days after signing him...Chris Owusu felt the effects of a concussion after the Patriots game. Bowles called it “very concerning” due to the receiver’s history of them...Calvin Pryor (ankle), Nick Mangold (neck), Eric Decker (knee) and Willie Colon (knee) did not practice...Chris Ivory (hamstring) practiced fully.

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Jets praise Raiders rookie WR Amari Cooper as Darrelle Revis buckles down (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 28, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-praise-amari-cooper-darrelle-revis-buckles-article-1.2415519

From afar, Brandon Marshall has admired a wide receiver 10 years his junior. He’ll get a closer look in Oakland this weekend when the Jets play the Raiders, who feature rookie wideout Amari Cooper.

“He’s a stud muffin,” Marshall said of Cooper.

“He’s everything as advertised,” added Todd Bowles. “He’s smart, he’s quiet, he’s humble , but on the field he plays like a demon.”

The fourth pick of the 2015 draft has 33 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns this season, including three games in which he posted more than 100 yards.

“He gives you everything,” Marshall said. “It’s like a mix between (Chad) Ochocinco and A.J. Green, almost. Where he has sweet routes, but it’s not unorthodox. It’s so smooth. I’m a fan of him.”

Independently, cornerback Buster Skrine also said Cooper reminds him of Green, the Bengals star.

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“He reminds me of A.J. Green because A.J. came in (with) an impact right away. (Cooper) came in and he’s going against good corners and is doing a good job,” Skrine said. “He’s just a complete receiver. He’s advanced to be a rookie and he’s one of the top receivers in the league.”

“He was drafted in the first round for a reason,” Darrelle Revis said. “He’s that type of impact player.”

Of course, in Revis, the Jets hold what is normally a trump card over opposing wideout. While the Jets don’t reveal their coverage plan before games, it’s reasonable to assume that Revis will be assigned to stop the rookie sensation.

That has soothed some of the concerns the Jets may have against Cooper.

“Revis ...(has) been one of the best the corners in the NFL, or is the best corner in the NFL,” Skrine said. “So just knowing that you have a guy like that on your team... defensive coordinators like that just because you know you put a guy on the side of the field and give a receiver a problem. He’s been doing that his whole career.”

Still, Oakland quarterback Derek Carr said he won’t necessarily shy away from throwing to Cooper just because Revis is on him.

“If I just eliminate one side of the field, that hurts our team,” said Carr, who did concede that facing Revis is a challenge.

“He’s one of the best to ever play his position,” the quarterback said. “I’ll know where he’s at at all times, obviously.”

Carr has improved substantially from his rookie year. He’s completed 65.8% of his passing attempts (up from 58.1%) and has thrown 11 touchdowns with just three interceptionss

“I think he’s a top-10 quarterback,” Jets safety Marcus Gilchrist said. “He’s picked up from his first year, he can make all of the throws. I think he’s really, a complete quarterback.”

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Antonio Cromartie Hawks Receivers On the Field, and Chocolate Off the Field (Stu Woo) Metro New York October 28, 2015

http://www.wsj.com/articles/antonio-cromartie-hawks-receivers-on-the-field-and-chocolate-off-the-field-1446077980

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.— Antonio Cromartie was chatting with a Jets teammate in the locker room on a recent Friday when he saw backup quarterback Bryce Petty put on his backpack and walk toward the exit.

“Hey, Bryce!” Cromartie yelled across the room. “You can’t go anywhere yet. Come! Come, my son.”

Petty walked over, brow furrowed. Cromartie, the 31-year-old veteran cornerback, handed the rookie a book to study. It wasn’t a football playbook. It was a glossy catalog for sugary treats that Cromartie was selling to raise money for his 10-year-old daughter’s gymnastics team.

“Go order something right now,” Cromartie said.

NFL players miss many of the rituals of a typical 9-to-5 job—sitting at a desk, shopping during lunch hour and troubleshooting the printer. But one thing they can’t dodge every autumn is the pushy co -worker hawking candy on behalf of his kid’s fundraising project.

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“I’m in my office,” Cromartie said of his most recent effort. “Gotta pass by everybody’s cubby.”

Office workers often avoid eye contact with their colleagues’ snacks-selling children, whether for financial or dietary reasons. Many workplaces ban such solicitation. But in those that don’t, employees should do their best to have their kids make the sales pitches themselves, according to Lizzie Post, an etiquette expert at the Emily Post Institute.

“It’s a learning experience for kids and you don’t want to take it away and do it for them,” Post said. She conceded, though, that in Cromartie’s case, it’s probably inappropriate for his daughter to be in an NFL locker room during school hours.

Post said parents should e-mail their colleagues before their children’s visit to see who wants to make a purchase. “That way, you’re not bringing your daughter around to nos,” she said.

Fortunately for Cromartie’s daughter, Jordynn, an NFL locker room is the promised land for a children’s fundraiser. There are 53 calorie-craving giants who, if not multimillionaires, earn at least the NFL’s minimum salary of $435,000 a year. And that’s not including the handful of guys on the practice squad, who make about $112,000 a season and are looking to ingratiate themselves, plus a sl ew of well-paid coaches.

Cromartie was confident his daughter would be her gymnastic team’s top saleswoman. “She should win,” he said. “That’s the plan.”

Jets lineman Leger Douzable, who quickly forked over $22 in wrinkled bills for cookies-and-cream clusters and caramel popcorn, said fundraising pitches were especially frequent when he played with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2010 to 2012, since many of his teammates had children. Ditto for Giants kicker Josh Brown, who said that when he was with the St. Louis Rams from 2008 to 2011, his teammate’s kids would drop by around the holidays to sell wrapping paper.

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said he has often worked as a salesman for his five children. “Stuff for school,” he said.

Cromartie who played for the Jets from 2010 to 2013 and rejoined them this season after a stop with the Arizona Cardinals, has had a steady if unspectacular season so far, ranking 55th among NFL cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. But he’s cleaning up on the candy sales. He said he got at least seven teammates and a total of about 20 people, including members of the Jets’ front office, to buy something for Jordynn’s team.

He said his daughter, whose best gymnastics events are the floor exercise and beam, wasn’t selling anything herself. He was doing it all. “That’s what a dad is supposed to do,” Cromartie said. “A dad is supposed to help their children.”

Petty wasn’t actually trying to avoid this. Cromartie loomed over him as the quarterback sat on a stool, studying the catalog. Petty said he had no cash. “Hey, we’ve got an ATM machine inside,” Cromartie said, referring to the one in the players’ lounge. Petty eventually settled on the caramel popcorn and some mint-chocolate and dark-chocolate treats.

“It’s really not too hard to lobby me to buy sweets,” Petty said. “I’m going to get them anyway, so I might as well help them out.”

His only quibble was that some teammates put their own orders on Petty’s tab. “I’m so ready to be not a rookie anymore,” he said.

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets cut Steve Weatherford after Ryan Quigley is deemed good to go (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 28, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/jets-cut-steve-weatherford-after-ryan-quigley-is-deemed-good-to-go/zsJojB---9Hsn7v3c33HY/

In an expected move, the New York Jets cut punter Steve Weatherford on Wednesday, clearing the way for the return of incumbent starter Ryan Quigley.

Weatherford was signed this past weekend prior to the Jets Week 7 loss at the New England Patriots. Quigley, the regular punter, had suffered a shin injury that week and was unable to go, making the impetus for the Jets to make a move quickly. It was Weatherford who ended up punting for the Jets on Sunday in the loss.

Sources tell Metro that on Wednesday morning, Quigley was examined by the team’s medical staff and received positive feedback about his condition. The expectation is for him to be able to practice on Wednesday and play Sunday in their game at the Oakland Raiders.

A former Jets punter who was most recently with the New York Giants, Weatherford is a steady NFL veteran. He was brought in on short notice because of his availability but also because he was based in north Jersey near the Jets facility.

Now in his third season with the Jets, Quigley is averaging 42.4 yards per punt. His directional punting in particular is seen as an asset for the Jets special team’s unit.

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Kenbrell Thompkins' journey to Jets hit plenty of rough patches along the way (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 28, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/kenbrell-thompkins-journey-to-jets-hit-plenty-of-rough-patches-along-the-way/zsJojA---DWhuyrUBRtxc2/

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – It has been a long road to the NFL, and now the New York Jets, for wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins - elevated from the practice squad to the team’s 53-man roster last week. That this is his fourth NFL team in three seasons in the league says nothing about this young man’s fortitude and work ethic born out of a desperate background.

Thompkins story is not terribly different from many young men growing up in the inner cities. Drugs and gang life in Miami’s inner city is rampant and where Thompkins grew up was no different. Before his junior year was completed, he had already been expelled from Northwestern High School twice and was enrolled in an alternative school that was designed to help at-risk teenagers. He returned to Northwestern, a football powerhouse, for his senior season but was arrested his senior year on armed robbery chargers and then expelled a third time. There would be seven arrests before the time he turned 20-years old.

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Yes, seven arrests, all before he could legally drink.

The story doesn’t end there, this rollercoaster ride ain’t quite over yet.

He was an immensely talented football player but because of character concerns, he was without a major college offer so Thompkins originally enrolled at a community college Palomar located in San Marcos, CA. From there, Thompkins “took my talents” to El Calmino, another junior college in California in time for the 2008 season. The entire circuit that got him out of Florida and out to the West Coast may have been his saving grace.

“It was one of the best experiences I had, it made me who I am today. And experiencing what I experienced,” Thompkins told Metro. “My first time on an airplane, actually flying. Going on a trip, going on the other side [of the country] made me understand, my purpose. God blessed me in so many ways when I was over there.

“I’m from the inner city where bad things happen. Good things that happen to us are bad everywhere else, but to those of us in the inner city, it’s good. It depends how you see it. The guys we looked up to were considered bad guys but those were our role models at the time in middle school and then high school.”

At El Camino, Thompkins was roommates with Matt Simms, who would go on to be a quarterback at Tennessee and then be an undrafted free agent with the Jets. He was cut by the Jets this offseason and is now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Thompkins was going to follow Simms to Tennessee but before signing day, head coach Lane Kiffin left for USC. This left the young wide receiver on the precipice again but Thompkins ended up giving a commitment to Oklahoma.

But Oklahoma wouldn’t let him in due to his arrest record so he ended up in what was then known as the Big East at Cincinnati. Thompkins there found some stability and flourished but character questions remained.

In two years there, he combined for 88 receptions and 1,087 receiving yards. He was one of the best wide receivers in the nation but character questions, despite a recent clean record, continued to circle around his name.

See, seven arrests were more of a talking point with certain league general managers than the numbers he was putting up on the field. Almost every team and most NFL Draft insiders had him pegged as a mid-round pick based on talent. But a rap sheet as long as his accolades was a major red flag for some teams.

So teams ignored his college stats or the numbers he was putting up in the class room. He had graduated early with a degree in criminal justice with good grades but those arrests and expulsions in high school still carried weight.

“Cincinnati was a good place for me, a good experience there as well. I graduated early there as well,” Thompkins said. “I accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish as wel l.”

He beams when he talks about his grades – “I got mainly A’s and B’s. To come from the inner-city and do that, I was a guy who wanted to change myself and see if I could do that. And I did that.”

He sits in the Jets locker room now with a corner locker. His area is well organized, with four different types of Gatorades on the top shelf arranged neatly in a row. His cleats are lined up and organized, a far cry from the heaps of laces and studs in the lockers surrounding him.

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Ask him about the past and he’s reluctant to talk much – “the past is the past and the future is much more exciting.” He speaks carefully, deeply. On a stool, hunched over with his elbows on his knees and hands folded under his chin, he looks back in the past only so that he can look ahead.

His NFL career has seen four stops including the Jets since entering the league in 2013. No matter, Thompkins says. It’s nothing compared to where he has been and where he is going.

“Steps, I don’t know how else to put it. You dream about playing on Sundays. You go to high school, go to college. My life was different than others. I’m excited about the opportunity now here in front of me right now,” Thompkins said.

“The dream has been there since I was a kid. I grew up watching Randy Moss, grew up watching Peter Warrick. Now I get to live that dream.”

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WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Claimed RHP Jacob Turner off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Named Mike Butcher pitching coach.

Frontier League

RIVER CITY RASCALS — Signed RHP Zeb Sneed to a contract extension.

WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS — Released RHP Chris DeBoo and OF Ryan Deitrich.

BASKETBALL

Premier Basketball League

PBL — Added the Providence Sky Chiefs as an expansion franchise.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Released C Eric Kush from the practice squad. Signed G Reese Dismukes and LB Nate Askew to the practice squad.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DB Chance Casey to the practice squad.

DENVER BRONCOS — Released DT Marvin Austin.

HOUSTON TEXANS — Waived-injured TE Mike McFarland. Signed QB T.J. Yates. Signed S Kurtis Drummond from the practice squad and RB Daryl Richardson to the practice squad.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed LB Hayes Pullard from Cleveland's practice squad. Waived LB James-Michael Johnson. Released WR Jordan Leslie from the practice squad.

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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Placed LB Rufus Johnson on the reserve/non-football illness list. Claimed S Dewey McDonald off waivers from Indianapolis.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Signed LB Henry Coley to the practice squad.

NEW YORK JETS — Released P Steve Weatherford. Signed OL Wesley Johnson from the practice squad and LB Quanterus Smith to the practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Signed S Tevin McDonald to the practice squad.

ST. LOUIS RAMS — Signed DB Christian Bryant.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS — Released C J.D. Walton. Signed LB Joe Mays.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed WR Adam Humphries from the practice squad and WR Andre Davis, OL Ryan Groy, DT Derrick Lott and LB Julian Stanford to the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed TE Chase Coffman.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

ARIZONA COYOTES — Assigned G Marek Langhamer from Springfield (AHL) to Rapid City (ECHL).

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Recalled D Erik Gustafsson from Rockford (AHL).

DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned F Zach Nastasiuk from Grand Rapids (AHL) to Toledo (ECHL).

MONTREAL CANADIENS — Recalled F Mark MacMillan from to St. John's (AHL) from Brampton (ECHL).

American Hockey League

LAKE ERIE MONSTERS — Assigned F Derek DeBlois to South Carolina (ECHL).

PROVIDENCE BRUINS — Reassigned G Matt Ginn to Atlanta (ECHL).

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS — Recalled D Nick Mattson from Indy (ECHL).

ST. JOHN'S ICECAPS — Recalled D Josiah Didier from Brampton (ECHL).

ECHL

ATLANTA GLADIATORS — Traded F Todd Fiddler to Wichita for future considerations.

BRAMPTON BEAST — Released D Julian DaCosta. Released G Trevor Cann as emergency backup. Signed Fs Luke Pither and Jamie Wise and D Mike Vernace.

IDAHO STEELHEADS — Signed G Chris Rawlings and traded him to Utah.

INDY FUEL — Signed F Walker Wintoneak.

TOLEDO WALLEYE — Added G Drew Palmisano as emergency backup.

TULSA OILERS — Released F Justin Mansfield.

UTAH GRIZZLIES — Released Gs Bryan Hogan and Eric Levine. Signed F Erik Higby.

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WINTER SPORTS

USA LUGE — Named Tony Benshoof assistant coach for the junior national team.

COLLEGE

MIAMI — Suspended DT Michael Wyche indefinitely.

MINNESOTA — Announced the retirement of football coach Jerry Kill. Named defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys interim football coach.

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