NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

October 4, 2015

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Table of Contents

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

Early wake-up call Sunday for Dolphins, Jets in London (Steven Wine) .................................................................... 2

Jets' Lattimore doubtful, Reilly upgraded to questionable ....................................................................................... 3

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Protecting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from hits is key to his success (Bob Glauber) .......................................................... 3

Jets facing a desperate Dolphins team in London (Kimberley A. Martin) ................................................................. 5

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Jets vs. Dolphins matchup (J.P. Pelzman) .................................................................................................................. 6

Will jetting to London prove to be a good trip for Jets? (J.P. Pelzman) .................................................................... 7

NEW YORK TIMES .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Jets vs. Dolphins Matchup (Ben Shpigel) ................................................................................................................... 8

Jets Cornerback Puts His Scrappiness to Work (Tom Pedulla) .................................................................................. 9

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

Jets' players say they're happy to be in London ... yes, even Calvin Pace (Rich Cimini) .......................................... 10

It's tempting, but Brandon Marshall will pass on London antique shopping (Rich Cimini) ..................................... 11

Time for Jets to send reeling Dolphins into a London fog (Rich Cimini) .................................................................. 12

Big-play rookie receiver Devin Smith the wild card for Jets' offense (Rich Cimini) ................................................. 13

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 15

How Jets’ ‘silent assassin’ bails out conservative Fitzpatrick (Mark Cannizzaro) .................................................... 15

Ryan Fitzpatrick has to let it fly — and Bowles knows it (Brian Costello) ............................................................... 17

Jets’ bizarre week may end with pushing Dolphins to fire coach (Brian Costello) .................................................. 18

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 20

Jets vs. Miami Dolphins 4 downs interview: Nick Mangold on traveling to London (Dom Consentino) ................. 20

Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick 'looking forward to trying to squish the fish' in London vs. Miami Dolphins (Darryl Slater) 20

4 things Jets must do to beat Miami Dolphins (Dom Cosentino) ............................................................................ 22

How has Jets' Brandon Marshall performed vs. Miami Dolphins, his former team? (Darryl Slater) ....................... 23

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 24

As Jets get set to play Dolphins in London, Todd Bowles chimes in on playoff prospects (Manish Mehta) ........... 24

Jets WR Brandon Marshall's got game, but he could use some help (Seth Walder) ............................................. 25

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 26

3 things to watch for as Jets face Dolphins in London (start, TV time, channel) (Kristian Dyer) ............................. 26

Jets kicker Nick Folk will have to deal with notorious Wembley turf (Kristian Dyer) .............................................. 27

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 28

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Early wake-up call Sunday for Dolphins, Jets in London (Steven Wine) Associated Press October 3, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/early-wake-call-sunday-dolphins-jets-london

Thoughts turned to childhood as the Miami Dolphins reminisced about the last time they played a football game at 9:30 in the morning.

Jarvis Landry said he was 11, and his team won. Reshad Jones said he was a 6-year-old in Pop Warner. And Brent Grimes?

"I don't think I ever did it," Grimes said. "It'll be a little weird."

The alarm will sound early Sunday for the Dolphins, and not just because they kick off against the New York Jets in London at 2:30 p.m. local time, which is 9:30 a.m. in Miami and New York.

With a 1-2 record and three consecutive lackluster performances, the Dolphins desperately need to get going.

"We feel the urgency," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "We're at a critical point in our season."

Here are things to know about the 100th meeting in a rivalry that enters its 50th season:

EARLY START: Both teams have spent months planning for the challenges of a game five time zones to the east.

The Jets (2-1) retained a sleep therapist to help players adjust. They were given light-blocking glasses and a Litebook to provide additional light in the early morning.

"I think a lot of (these) things are odd because you don't do it on a normal basis," tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson said. "You don't normally wear blue blockers or have (artificial) sunlight while you are eating breakfast. But we don't normally play in London."

The Dolphins had the longer flight — 8½ hours — and players wore compression sleeves on the plane.

They're taking a two-game losing streak to London for the second year in a row. In 2014 they came home rejuvenated by a 38-14 victory over Oakland.

"Looks like history is trying to repeat itself," Jones said.

It should be noted, however, that the 2014 game kicked off at 6 p.m. London time.

SLOW STARTS: The early start is a particular concern for the Dolphins because they haven't been ready at the beginning of their first three games.

In the opening quarter they've been outscored 27-3 and outgained 467-108. Last week they gave up 270 yards in the first half of a 41-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

"We've got to play a 60-minute football game," Philbin said. "We really haven't done that."

TAKING IT AWAY: New York's formula for success has been to cause a league-high 11 turnovers.

The Jets had five takeaways in each of their two victories, but just one in last week's loss to Philadelphia. They were focused this week on getting back to making things tough on offenses by taking the ball away from them.

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New York has seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions, and also is first in the NFL in red-zone defense by allowing just one TD in six opposing possessions inside the 20-yard line.

APPLYING PRESSURE: Even with the addition of $114 million tackle Ndamukong Suh, Miami's defensive front has been less than stout.

The Dolphins have one sack in 94 pass plays, worst in the NFL. They've been outrushed 435-218, also last in the league.

New York's pass protection has been solid, with Ryan Fitzpatrick sacked only twice in 118 pass plays.

STICKING WITH FITZ: The Jets have no quarterback controversy — yet.

Coach Todd Bowles made it clear the starting job still belongs to Fitzpatrick, even though Geno Smith has been fully cleared to play after missing several weeks when his jaw was broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali.

Fitzpatrick has six TD passes, but also five interceptions in three games — with three of the picks coming last week against Philadelphia. If Fitzpatrick struggles again, Bowles might have a lot to consider as the Jets head into the bye-week break.

"There's a lot of things from my performance that I just need to continue to get better at," Fitzpatrick said. "Learn from it, but have to move on to next week and a new opponent and all the challenges that are going to come with traveling to London."

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Jets' Lattimore doubtful, Reilly upgraded to questionable Associated Press October 3, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-lattimore-doubtful-reilly-upgraded-questionable

LONDON (AP) — New York Jets backup linebacker Jamari Lattimore is being evaluated for a concussion and is listed as doubtful to play in the team's game against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.

The Jets announced Saturday after the team's walkthrough that Lattimore has a head injury, but did not say when it occurred. New York held a full practice Friday at the London Irish RFC grounds.

Linebacker Trevor Reilly also has been upgraded from out to questionable for the game Sunday. Reilly missed the Jets' game against Philadelphia last Sunday with a badly infected finger.

Guard Willie Colon (knee), tight end Jeff Cumberland (concussion), wide receiver Chris Owusu (knee) and cornerback Darrin Walls (hamstring) remain out. Wide receiver Eric Decker (sprained knee) is a game-time decision.

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NEWSDAY

Protecting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from hits is key to his success (Bob Glauber) Newsday October 3, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/protecting-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-from-hits-is-key-to-his-success-1.10920366

Chan Gailey has a pretty good idea about what the problem has been with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

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Actually, the Jets' offensive coordinator is convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt about what the issue has been.

Fitzpatrick has had a tendency at various points of his career to start a season off extremely well, only to see his performance drop off.

It happened in Buffalo in 2011, when Fitzpatrick started the season off so well that the Bills rewarded him with a monstrous contract in October. But then the bottom fell out, and Fitzpatrick was relieved of his duties as the starter by the end of the following season.

It happened again last season with the Texans. Fitzpatrick won the starting job in training camp and got off to a 3-1 start for first-year coach Bill O'Brien. But by early November, after a series of average performances by Fitzpatrick, O'Brien had turned to Ryan Mallett as his starter.

So what was behind the drop-offs? "I know why it happened," said Gailey, who was the Bills' head coach when Fitzpatrick was the Buffalo starter.

And the reason? "Just taking hits," Gailey said.

He may have a point. Check out Fitzpatrick's stat line in 2011, and you see he was sacked only three times in his first five games. The Bills went 4-1 in that span, with Fitzpatrick throwing 10 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. But in his next 11 games, he was sacked 19 times and threw 14 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions as Buffalo went 2-9.

When the Texans started off 2-0 last year, Fitzpatrick wasn't sacked, threw three touchdown passes and produced passer ratings of more than 100.0 in both games. In his next two games, he was sacked a combined five times and had two touchdown passes and five picks.

Cause and effect? There's not a sliver of doubt in Gailey's mind.

"As long as we can keep him upright and not take a bunch of hits," Gailey said, "I think he'll be just fine for the long haul."

It has been a strikingly similar start for Fitzpatrick in what turned into an unexpected role as the Jets' starter this season. Taking over the No. 1 job after Geno Smith was punched by linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali in training camp, Fitzpatrick was almost flawless in his first two games. In wins over the Browns and Colts, he had a combined four touchdown passes and two interceptions, and was sacked once.

Pass protection wasn't so much the issue in last week's 24-17 loss to the Eagles, although the Eagles consistently pressured Fitzpatrick, especially when the Jets fell behind 24-0. He wound up throwing a career-high 58 passes, had three interceptions and said afterward that throwing so often certainly is not the ideal formula for success. It didn't help that the Jets were without bruising tailback Chris Ivory and No. 2 wide receiver Eric Decker.

Now it's on to the Dolphins in London, as Fitzpatrick looks to rebound from last week's poor showing. Ivory is expected to play and Decker might return. The Dolphins' defense has been a major disappointment -- the team has only one sack this season -- but Fitzpatrick takes nothing for granted against a team coming off a 41-14 home loss to the Bills. "Historically, look at the guys that they have up front and the way they performed," said Fitzpatrick, referring to a front that includes Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake. "They create some matchup problems for you. I'm not sitting here looking at that saying, 'Boy, I'm going to be able to sit back there all day and throw.' They've got a lot of talented guys up front that can rush the passer."

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But if his offensive coordinator is correct in his assessment of Fitzpatrick's past issues, and if the Jets' offensive line gives him adequate time to find his receivers, there's no reason he can't rebound with another solid performance.

With Smith healthy again and ready for duty if needed, Fitzpatrick will need to remain solid to continue as the starter.

It's pretty much a weekly referendum for Fitzpatrick, who has been told by coach Todd Bowles that he will remain the starter. But that is not an open-ended assurance, especially in a league in which impatience with quarterback play has never been more pronounced. Unless you are a franchise-caliber quarterback, job security usually lasts only as long as you produce.

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Jets facing a desperate Dolphins team in London (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 3, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-facing-a-desperate-dolphins-team-in-london-1.10920365

LONDON - By no means are the Jets in "panic mode," said Brandon Marshall.

But the same can't be said for his former team.

While the Jets are building something with first-year coach Todd Bowles, the Miami Dolphins -- who face the Jets on Sunday at Wembley Stadium -- could be looking to cut bait with Joe Philbin, their coach since 2012.

The stakes certainly are high for the Dolphins, who haven't made the playoffs since 2008. Making matters worse for Philbin is that his team is 1-2 despite high-priced offseason acquisitions such as Ndamukong Suh and draft picks DeVante Parker and Jordan Phillips. And last week's 41-14 defeat at the hands of Rex Ryan's Buffalo Bills -- coupled with the Dolphins' Week 2 road loss to the Jaguars -- indicated that something is amiss in Miami.

According to an NFL.com report, the Dolphins' front office is considering "shaking up their coaching staff" if the team loses Sunday. And former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum -- now the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations -- will be at the center of the decision-making process.

The game between the AFC East rivals will be played in a neutral site more than 3,500 miles away from MetLife Stadium. It technically is a "home" game for Miami, which boasts a large following in the United Kingdom. But Marshall doesn't think it'll feel like a typical road game for the Jets (2-1).

"Although it's their home game, it's still not the same as playing in Miami," said the wide receiver, who played for the Dolphins from 2010-11. "It's not an advantage for us, but if I was a Dolphin player, I would be a little disappointed.''

"It's neutral," cornerback Darrelle Revis said of the location. "It can play into our hands, especially not going down to Miami and playing them . . . I can't just sit there and say it's an advantage to us. It could be an advantage for them, too, because we're not playing at MetLife Stadium. It's not a home game for us, either. It's going to be a challenge for both squads."

Like the Dolphins, the Jets have much to prove. They were flying high after a 2-0 start, but last week's 24-17 loss to the Eagles brought them back down to Earth. And as confident as they are, they said Sunday's outcome will speak volumes about who they are as a team.

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"Finally, we're facing some adversity," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who committed three of their four turnovers against Philly. " . . . So I think we'll find out a lot about our team this week.''

"Division games are huge," added receiver Eric Decker, whose availability will be a game-time decision because of a knee sprain. "This will be a crucial one for us. Miami's defense is stellar. We got a challenge. It's always nice to get on the winning side of division games. That's usually the determining factor of making the playoffs or not . . . winning your division. So this is a good start for us. I think we're ready."

Playing in London puts a unique spin on a game between division rivals. "It should be exciting," Bowles said. "There will be a big crowd on hand, a lot of people. I don't know who's rooting for who yet -- we'll see how many Jets fans and Dolphins fans will be here -- but it should be an exciting game."

When a British reporter asked why English fans should root for the Jets, Bowles smiled and said: "Because they like us? We play good football, we play smart football. We have to give them a chance to root for us."

Revis said it will be "an honor" to play in front of an expected sellout crowd of 90,000 fans at Wembley. But at kickoff, it'll be all about business. "We both lost last week," he said. "It's a new week. We try to prepare the best way we can and try to beat our opponent. We'll see how the outcome is on Sunday."

Asked about the Dolphins' level of desperation, Marshall replied: "We're not in panic mode or anything, but we lost last week, too. You have two teams that are coming in and that are hungry. We don't like to lose."

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THE RECORD

Jets vs. Dolphins matchup (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 4, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-vs-dolphins-matchup-1.1425152

Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2)

At Wembley Stadium, London; Today, 9:30 a.m.

TV: Ch. 2; Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7; Line: Jets by 1 1/2

What’s at stake

Jets: The Jets are trying to prove the superiority of American toilet paper, after toting 350 rolls of the stuff across the pond so as to not have to deal with the British version. OK, their real objective is to bounce back from a loss to Philadelphia and improve to 3-1 before coming back home for their bye week.

Dolphins: Miami is trying to avoid a 1-3 start that surely would increase the heat on embattled fourth-year coach Joe Philbin, whose job security is rumored to be in question. It also would be a good springboard for the Dolphins into their bye week. Miami won here last season, beating Oakland, and thus many of their players are familiar with this venue.

Key matchup

Jets CB Buster Skrine vs. Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry. Landry has 24 receptions for 230 yards already this season and has been the most consistent weapon in Miami’s mostly lackluster offense. Although he lines up outside occasionally, he is in the slot more often, and thus figures to be Skrine’s responsibility most of

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the time. Skrine has been solid thus far in his first year with the Jets, but this will be his toughest challenge yet.

How they’ll win

Jets: The Jets’ offense should be buoyed by the return of RB Chris Ivory (quadriceps), who sat out the loss to Philadelphia. They would get even more assistance if WR Eric Decker (knee) can come back. He also missed the loss to the Eagles and his potential availability today will be determined during warm-ups. If he can play, his presence underneath would help give more opportunities to WR Brandon Marshall and deep threat Devin Smith. The defense must take advantage of the expected absence of Miami LT Branden Albert (hamstring).

Dolphins: Miami must run the ball effectively to keep the Jets’ blitzers from keying on QB Ryan Tannehill, who was sacked twice and hit eight other times by Buffalo’s aggressive D a week ago. Newcomer Jonas Gray, who had 49 yards on nine carries against the Bills, could help. It will be interesting to see if Tannehill tests Darrelle Revis, who isn’t 100 percent. Ndamukong Suh and Co. will try to exploit RG Brian Winters, who will be starting in place of Willie Colon (knee).

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Will jetting to London prove to be a good trip for Jets? (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 4, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/will-jetting-to-london-prove-to-be-a-good-trip-1.1425089

The Jets made headlines in England when it was revealed that they brought their own toilet paper to London, apparently not trusting the bathroom tissue found in Great Britain.

Today they’ll see if they can flush a disappointing loss to Philadelphia a week ago.

The Jets’ game against Miami today at Wembley Stadium marks the franchise’s first regular-season contest overseas.

"It’s been good for the guys to come to another country and play," coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday after the team practiced at a rugby facility outside of London. "It’s been real good for them from a fanfare standpoint and from a media standpoint. Hopefully, while they take it all in they can focus on the game."

Of course, that is what really matters about this unusual trip, although the bathroom tissue issue has provided a strange sidelight to the game. The New York Times quoted a Jets’ staffer saying the team brought 350 rolls of toilet paper on the trip, one of several amenities packed to help make the transition easier for the players.

The Jets’ decision to bring in their own toilet paper may have, uh, rubbed some Brits the wrong way, but veteran linebacker Calvin Pace believes it shows how the Jets do things the right way.

"We’re the best organization in football, man," Pace told reporters Friday after practice. "Sometimes you guys [media] write articles about us that don’t say that, but this place, they’ll do anything for you.

"I mean, who brings toilet paper?," Pace added. "Little things like that make your trip easier. It’s a good thing for us. If it helps us win, I’m all for it."

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that the often-curmudgeonly Pace actually raved about the idea of playing a game in England, despite the disruption to the normal routine.

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"It’s cool, man," Pace said Friday. "London is a city I’ve always wanted to see and experience. We’re here now, let’s make the most of it. You have an opportunity to play a game. … Me, personally, I like it better than being down in hot, humid Miami, so I’m happy with it."

And lest you think Pace merely is being politically correct, keep in mind that he certainly isn’t a favorite of the Cortland (N.Y.) Chamber of Commerce, considering that he routinely complained vehemently about the experience of being at SUNY Cortland when the Jets spent five training camps there during the Rex Ryan era.

Still, all the pomp and circumstance aside, the Jets must handle the distractions of such a trip and be ready to play today against a desperate division rival. Miami’s blowout loss to Buffalo a week ago has revived the rumors that coach Joe Philbin is on the hot seat.

"It’s a tough adjustment," Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of the trip, "but like we’ve said all week, both teams are having to deal with the adjustment. And so we’re kind of on an even playing field there, but it’s been a fun trip so far and hopefully we can kind of catch up on our sleep."

"We’re trying to be as normal as possible," Bowles said. "[Miami] took the same trip, so everything is equal on both sides. We just have to play our game. We’re not going to use traveling or [lack of] sleep as an excuse. We have to show up and play."

BRIEFS: The Jets announced after their walkthrough Saturday that LB James Lattimore was added to the injury report. He is being evaluated for a concussion and is listed as doubtful. He is a key-special teams player. Also, LB Trevor Reilly (finger infection) was upgraded from doubtful to questionable.

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NEW YORK TIMES

Jets vs. Dolphins Matchup (Ben Shpigel) New York Times October 3, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/sports/football/new-york-jets-vs-miami-dolphins.html?ref=football&_r=0

Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2)

At Wembley Stadium, London

9:30 a.m., CBS

Matchup to Watch: Brian Winters vs. Ndamukong Suh

For his first career start at right guard, Winters, filling in for the injured Willie Colon, is tasked with blocking Suh, one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the league. Suh has no sacks yet this season, but the Jets understand his ability. Winters cannot afford to make mistakes against Suh. Asked how to slow Suh, Coach Todd Bowles quipped, “Him not playing.” Asked what advice he would give Winters, Bowles said, “Just eat your Wheaties.”

Number to watch: 47

According to the Pro Football Focus website, that is how many combined sacks, hurries and quarterback hits the Dolphins have allowed, the second most in the N.F.L. through Week 3. Miami’s suspect pass-blocking efficiency was exposed last week against Buffalo, and the Jets could smother Miami quarterback

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Ryan Tannehill unless his offensive line makes adjustments. The poor blocking extends to the running game: The Dolphins are allowing twice as many rushing yards (145) as they gain themselves (72.7).

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Quotation of the Week: ‘I think we feel the urgency and understand that we’re at a critical point in our season.’

Miami quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL, whose Dolphins have lost their last two games.

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Jets Cornerback Puts His Scrappiness to Work (Tom Pedulla) New York Times October 3, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/sports/football/jets-cornerback-puts-his-scrappiness-to-work.html?ref=football

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Dexter McDougle, in his second year at cornerback with the Jets, enters Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London with one special-teams tackle. That is a seemingly meaningless statistic — but not to McDougle.

After losing most of his senior season at Maryland to a severe shoulder injury and all of his rookie year to a knee injury, it means everything to McDougle merely to play again.

“Definitely, when it is taken away from you, you realize how special the game is, how fast it can go, so you make the most of it while you’re out there,” he said.

McDougle finds himself well down the depth chart at what became a position of enormous strength for the team. Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan spent heavily to reacquire the star cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. He also signed defensive back Buster Skrine as a free agent.

But McDougle’s relentlessness and his rugged style of play for a 5-foot-10, 195-pound cornerback are making a strong impression on Todd Bowles, the Jets’ first-year coach.

“Dex is a tough, scrappy corner,” Bowles said. “He’s becoming a technician. Before, he was playing with a lot of physical tools and not a lot of mental. And now he’s starting to put the mental with the physical. I think Dex has a bright future.”

Bobby April, the special-teams coordinator, noted that the time lost to injury was costly because it kept McDougle, 24, from gaining valuable experience. April compared McDougle to a highly regarded but raw baseball prospect who must survive in the major leagues without an ideal foundation.

“He probably could see more pitches; he could see more plays to be in position to make tackles in space,” April said. “But I see him as a quality player.”

When McDougle is not looking to survive in the helter-skelter world of special teams, he is soaking up knowledge from Revis and Cromartie.

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“These are good guys to learn from, some of the best to ever play,” McDougle said. “I’m using that to my advantage in the meeting room and on the practice field.”

He added, “When my name is called, I will be ready.”

The former Jets general manager John Idzik and the former coach Rex Ryan took McDougle in the third round of last year’s draft based on the promise he showed on film and the way he responded to a shoulder injury that cost him the final nine games of his senior season. In a game against Connecticut, one in which he had already made two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, a fired-up McDougle smashed a ball-carrier he estimated was 60 pounds heavier.

He fractured his scapula and dislocated his shoulder. McDougle, at first believing the problem was limited to a dislocation, begged trainers to pop his shoulder back into place so he could return to the field and to a season that was critical to proving himself as an N.F.L. prospect. He had already gained attention by making 71 tackles, with a team-leading 58 unassisted tackles, as a junior. Doctors told him the combination of injuries was most commonly found in car wrecks.

McDougle so impressed Maryland coaches by continuing to attend practice, watch film and help his teammates that they presented him with the inaugural Dexter McDougle Ultimate Team Player Award to close his collegiate career.

McDougle was impressing the Jets’ coaching staff as a rookie last year when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee before the season. He was working one-on-one against a receiver in a red-zone drill on Aug. 10 when he went to jump for the ball. “I didn’t even get off the ground,” he said.

He crumpled to the turf. “Oh God, you’ve got to be kidding me,” he was overheard saying as the medical staff examined him. His body told him the season was lost to a freakish noncontact injury before the doctors could.

Still, McDougle was as devoted to putting the knee injury behind him as he was the shoulder injury. He displayed the grit, the resilience, that he said his father, Dexter, instilled in him the first day he played in a youth league in Woodbridge, Va. The younger McDougle made his debut at running back. On his first carry, he was leveled. On his second, he cut the corner and glanced back to see every defender in hot pursuit. He wanted none of it. He chucked the ball to the sidelines and sought refuge in the stands.

“McDougles don’t quit,” his father said, scolding him.

The elder McDougle sought to reinforce the point and toughen his son, then about 7, when they returned home.

“I had this guy about 10 years old and I told him, ‘I want you to hit him every time I throw him the ball,’ ” the elder McDougle said. “We did it about six times, and this kid would run over him. The seventh time I threw it to him, he plowed the guy over and said, ‘I want to play football again.’ ”

Some may wince at that scene. McDougle views it as a moment that helped him cope with setbacks that broke him physically and tested him emotionally.

“I’ll always remember that day,” he said. “Since that day, I always strived to be the best.”

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ESPN NEW YORK

Jets' players say they're happy to be in London ... yes, even Calvin Pace (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 3, 2015

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http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54710/jets-players-say-theyre-happy-to-be-in-london-yes-even-calvin-pace

LONDON -- Welcome to the British version of the New York Jets' mailbag.

@RichCimini: The player whose opinion carries the most weight, in my opinion, is Calvin Pace. The veteran linebacker is the Jets' resident curmudgeon, which means he complains about a lot of things -- everything from the rigors of training camp to Roger Goodell's sweeping authority. Pace wasn't one of the players who spoke at the formal news conference after practice, but he spoke to reporters on the side and -- surprise -- he didn't bemoan the long flight, the five-hour time change or anything. Here's Pace:

"It's cool, man. London's a city I always wanted to see and experience. We're here now. Let's make the most of it. You have an opportunity to play a game. I think it will be a fun experience. Me, personally, I like it better than being down in hot, humid Miami. I'm happy with it."

So there you have it. If Pace likes it, I'm guessing most players feel the same way.

The flight took six hours, 15 minutes, which is roughly the same amount of time from New York to San Diego. The issue is the time change -- five time zones. That can be rough. Darrelle Revis said at the news conference, "It's tough, it's tough. We had the flight last night. [We're] just getting over here and trying to get acclimated."

Revis, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Mangold and Brandon Marshall spoke at the news conference and, for the most part, they seemed to embrace the idea of playing here in London. The game will be sold out, with officials saying it could draw more than 80,000. The atmosphere should be pretty cool, although it's worth noting the Miami Dolphins have a strong following here. The Jets' faithful probably will be outnumbered.

The Jets will have had 48 hours to get right before kickoff. The bottom line is, it doesn't matter if they're excited or not. They're here to play a football game, an important game -- their first division game. The Dolphins, whose flight was about eight hours, are dealing with the same circumstances. There's no whining in football, especially about sleep. Jets linebacker Erin Henderson, who played over here two years ago as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, made an interesting comment to me the other day. He said professional athletes have a unique body clock; it tells them when it's time to perform. I'd like to think he's right.

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It's tempting, but Brandon Marshall will pass on London antique shopping (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54724/its-temping-but-brandon-marshall-will-pass-on-antique-shopping-in-london

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LONDON -- If Brandon Marshall weren't here to play a football game -- if he had a bunch of free time on Saturday -- he knows exactly where he'd be.

Buckingham Palace? Nope.

Big Ben? Nice, but no.

He'd be at Portobello Market, a popular antique festival in London.

"I’m an antique guy. I collect antiques," the New York Jets wide receiver explained Friday. "So every time I get a chance, I’m always looking over there. It’s cool. You guys should do it if you have free time. It’s like a festival.”

Marshall came clean, admitting this is only his third time in London, but he evidently knows a thing or two about antiques. Portobello bills itself as the world's largest antique marketplace. Marshall said he collects old bags.

“I have a 1940 doctor’s bag," he said. "That’s pretty cool. So that’s my thing now, collecting bags, antique bags. I’ve got an 1800s bag. Some cool stuff.”

As tempting as it might be, Marshall won't shop the streets of Portobello.

"I want to go, but I will not go," he said. "I just want to be at my best for Sunday. If it was a regular week or something, I definitely would go for like an hour. It’s pretty cool. I’m telling you, you should go. They only do it on Saturdays.”

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Time for Jets to send reeling Dolphins into a London fog (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54692/time-for-jets-to-send-reeling-dolphins-into-a-london-fog

LONDON -- The New York Jets should be wide awake, feeling good from head to tush for their first regular-season game outside North America. Now all they have to do is beat the Miami Dolphins to make their trip to London a smashing success.

From a logistical standpoint, the Jets spent 10 months preparing. They consulted with a sleep therapist to help cope with the five-hour time change, they brought their own chef and, making sure they covered their butts, they packed 350 rolls of toilet paper. In case you didn't know, the toilet paper is thinner in England. The Jets' prep team wanted the players to experience the comforts of home.

"There's a little bit of adversity for both teams, as far as not having the comfort of a normal home or road game," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said Friday upon the team's arrival in London. "But I think we've got a really good team and we're really excited about the way we started with the two wins and, finally, we're facing some adversity after the loss last game. So I think we'll find out a lot about our team this week."

In the end, the game won't be decided by happy bottoms or jet lag. Football is football, regardless of where it's played. This is the Jets' first division game -- the 100th meeting in this storied rivalry -- and they don't want to go into the bye week on a two-game losing streak. The Dolphins (1-2) already have dropped two in a row.

Set your alarms early, folks, because game time at Wembley Stadium is 9:30 a.m. ET, tying the record for the earliest kickoff in NFL history. The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons also kicked off at that time last year at Wembley.

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Some of the top storylines:

1. The Dolphins are a mess: The Jets can crush the Dolphins' spirit by jumping to an early lead. Why not? Everybody does it. The Dolphins have faced 10-0, 17-6 and 27-0 deficits in their first three games, raising serious questions about coach Joe Philbin's game preparation -- or lack thereof. Philbin is in trouble. If the Dolphins get embarrassed by their AFC East rival, a coaching change isn't out of the realm of possibility. Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is running the Dolphins, and he has no loyalty to Philbin.

2. Battle of the Ryans: Fitzpatrick and Ryan Tannehill are looking to rebound after suffering three-interception performances last week. Fitzpatrick will be helped by the return of Chris Ivory, who should spark the running game if he's 100 percent. The big question surrounds wide receiver Eric Decker (knee), who is questionable. His presence would add balance to the passing attack, and we know he likes facing the Dolphins. He almost broke a team record last season in Miami, racking up 221 receiving yards in the final game. Look for the Jets to attack the right side of the Dolphins' defense, noticeably weaker than the left. Defensively, the Jets are supremely confident in their ability to defend Tannehill. They see him as a talented passer who gets happy feet when he feels pressure, and they should be able to generate heat against a suspect offensive line. Muhammad Wilkerson should have a monster game against replacement left tackle Jason Fox.

3. Hidden edges: Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers spent the previous seven seasons on the Dolphins' staff. He tried to downplay it, but that's an advantage for the Jets. He knows their personnel and their offense. Truth be told, everybody on the defense should have a good feel for Miami's system. The Jets faced a version of it last week in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor is a former Chip Kelly assistant, and he runs a similar up-tempo style. As linebacker Calvin Pace said, "Give kudos to the schedule maker for helping us out with that one."

4. Dearth of playmakers: Considering the travel and the struggles of both offenses, this figures to be an ugly, low-scoring game. It could be decided by a play or two on either side of the ball. Which playmaker will step up? No one on the Dolphins' offense scares the Jets, and the only players they're concerned about on the Miami defense are Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake and Brent Grimes, who plays the left side exclusively. The Dolphins have some talent, but they're not playing as a team. The Jets have played well in 10 of 12 quarters this season, buying into Todd Bowles' program. Unless something wacky happens, they should win.

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Big-play rookie receiver Devin Smith the wild card for Jets' offense (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54669/big-play-rookie-devin-smith-the-wild-card-on-jets-offense

LONDON -- A look at what’s going on around the New York Jets (our early version of Sunday notes):

1. Smitty to the rescue: The Jets drafted Devin Smith with the 37th overall pick because they believe he can be an all-round receiver, not just a deep threat. They need it to happen sooner than later because, on an offense filled with veteran skill-position players, the dynamic Smith is the X Factor. He has what they need -- explosiveness. The quicker he demonstrates it, the better chance they have of becoming more than just a grind-it-out, workmanlike offense.

Smith wasn't given much of a chance to show his full skill set last week in his NFL debut. Yes, he was targeted nine times, but the average target distance in air yards was 22.6 -- pretty much a replay of his

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Ohio State days. That won't work, not with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Fitzpatrick can do a lot of nice things, but throwing the deep ball isn't one of them. He has attempted 19 passes of at least 20 yards (second-most in the league), but the aggressive mentality has resulted in a league-high three interceptions and only two completions, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Smith is playing catch-up because he missed nearly two months with fractured ribs, so this is his training camp, essentially. You can't expect overnight success, but he needs to grow into a prominent role to give the offense more versatility. Don't be surprised if his breakout game happens Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Their No. 2 cornerback is Brice McCain, who was awful last week. He will be targeted -- a lot.

2. No need to panic, but ... : New general manager Mike Maccagnan filled a lot of needs in the offseason, but he failed to acquire a change-of-pace running back -- and it’s starting to show up. He re-signed Bilal Powell and added Zac Stacy and Stevan Ridley to the stable, joining Chris Ivory. They have similar skill sets. As Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said, "The running backs are straight, downhill guys." In fact, only 14 of their 72 designed rushes have gone outside the tackles, per ESPN Stats. The once-vaunted running game is off to a sluggish start, and this is one of the reasons why.

3. At home in London: Not many NFL executives can travel to Great Britain and say, "This is where it all started." Maccagnan can. His first front-office position came in 1991 when he was the director of player personnel for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. It was a memorable year, as London won the inaugural World Bowl.

4. The Buddy Bowl: Sunday’s game will be a special reunion for linebacker Erin Henderson, whose close friend and former Minnesota Vikings teammate Greg Jennings will be playing for the Dolphins. Jennings was a pillar of strength for Henderson last year. Henderson was in alcohol rehab after an arrest, trying to get his life together and wondering if he’d ever play again. Jennings visited him in rehab and attended therapy sessions. They did a lot of praying together.

"He was a big help for me in a rough time -- a real rough patch in my life," Henderson told me. "He was there for me, a shoulder I could lean on. The fact that he didn’t have to be there made it that much more special for me. He took time out of his schedule and away from his family to show he cared about me and my well being."

That's a cool story.

5. Plugging a leak: It’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions, but has anybody noticed the Jets aren’t getting torched by tight ends? This was a major issue last season, as they allowed a league-high 14 touchdowns to tight ends. They also were the only team not to intercept a pass on a tight-end target. After three games, they have allowed only five catches and no touchdowns. Granted, they haven’t faced any Pro Bowlers -- Rob Gronkowski is looming in three weeks -- but let’s give credit where it’s due. Some of it goes to Calvin Pryor, who believes his pass coverage has improved because he’s getting more chances to play his natural position, strong safety.

"It has a lot to do with me being down in the box," he told me. "Whatever you saw last year is going to be totally different than what you see this year."

Pryor and fellow safety Marcus Gilchrist have one interception apiece, but they came on passes to wide receivers.

6. The Miami Jets: Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum isn’t the only ex-Jets executive working for the Miami Dolphins. Their front office also includes former Jets president Matt Higgins (vice chairman) and ex-cap specialist Dawn Aponte (executive vice president/football administration). Wait, there's another.

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A few months ago, Tannenbaum hired his former boss, Terry Bradway, as Miami’s college scout for the Northeast region. Bradway spent 14 years with the Jets, first as the GM and later as a top scout. His run came to an abrupt end last January, when he was fired by new GM Mike Maccagnan. He was on the job for, oh, about a minute before he sent Bradway packing. It was the start of a front office/scouting overhaul by Maccagnan.

7. Unbreakable (well, almost): Willie Colon is one tough dude. He twisted his right knee on the first play of last week’s game -- his non-surgically repaired knee -- but he stayed in the game, fighting through the pain. At the end of the first half, it became too much. He didn’t have enough strength in his knee to plant his leg on a bull rush by Philadelphia linebacker Vinny Curry. Colon got pushed backward into Fitzpatrick, bear-hugging Curry in an attempt to protect his quarterback. That’s when he knew it was time to get out. Colon (sprained MCL) is expected to miss two to three weeks. They will miss his nastiness Sunday against Suh.

8. Money ball: Two of the most expensive free agents from last offseason are playing in this game -- Suh (six years, $114 million) and Darrelle Revis (five years, $70 million). They will make a combined $42.5 million in 2015. Consider: The entire Miami Marlins baseball team has a $62.2 million payroll. Wow.

9. Shopping for Martellus? I received a couple of questions on Twitter about the possibility of trading for Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett. The rebuilding Bears are having a fire sale and the Jets are hurting at tight end, but I don't see it happening. Bennett isn't cheap ($4.9 million this year, $5.1 million next year) and the tight-end position doesn't have a prominent role in Chan Gailey's offense. It's wishful thinking.

10. Film critic: Calvin Pace couldn't sleep on the six-hour flight to London, so he watched a movie, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2." He wasn't impressed.

"My kids rave about that movie, so I was like, 'Let me check it out,'" he said. "It wasn’t bad, you know what I’m saying? The first one was better, though."

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NEW YORK POST

How Jets’ ‘silent assassin’ bails out conservative Fitzpatrick (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post October 3, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/03/how-jets-silent-assassin-bails-out-conservative-fitzpatrick/

A week removed from their humbling, back-to-reality home loss to the Eagles, the Jets have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to play their next game at Wembley Stadium in London.

It is there, at the iconic European “football’’ venue, where the Jets hope to rediscover their swagger Sunday when they play a 9:30 a.m. Eastern time game against the division-rival Dolphins.

The key ingredient to the swagger the Jets brought to their first two games — en route to a feel-good 2-0 start under new coach Todd Bowles — had to do with one particular player: Running back Chris Ivory.

Ivory makes the Jets offense go. He gives the offense its personality.

Not coincidentally, Ivory did not play in last Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Eagles, a game in which they fell behind, 24-0, in the first half.

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Ivory, who sat out with a quadriceps injury, will play Sunday. Bowles took a calculated risk last Sunday by sitting Ivory, who was cleared by doctors to play and in uniform, with hopes that the week without contact would help him in the long term.

In the short term, it backfired, with Ivory replacements Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy combining for just 34 yards on 12 carries. The offense in general was anemic.

So the Jets hope his return Sunday marks the return of their offensive punch. Ivory is not the best back in the NFL, but he brings something beyond yards that many of the other top runners do not.

It is his violent running style that energizes the offensive line, forces opposing defenders to shy away from the contact he administers and — most importantly — he usually gives quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick second-and-manageable downs with which to work.

“I call him the ‘Predator’ from ‘Alien vs. Predator,’ because he looks like the Predator with those dreadlocks,’’ Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly said. “I’ve been calling him ‘Predator’ now for two years. I don’t know if he likes it, but I’ve been calling him that.’’

Ivory’s reaction?

“He smiles, but … he’s very reserved,’’ Reilly said. “He’s the silent assassin.’’

Ivory is not an attention-seeker. He prefers not to speak to reporters. Often in these cases, a player might be shy in public but communicative with his own teammates inside the locker room. Not the case with Ivory. He’s somewhat of a mystery to even his teammates.

“You hear stories about [Seahawks running back] Marshawn Lynch being like that,’’ Reilly said. “Chris is the same guy to everyone.’’

As long as he is the same guy Sunday on the Wembley pitch against the Dolphins — the guy who rushed for 148 yards, a 4.4-yard average and two TDs in the first two games. The Jets are a different team when Ivory is bounding of their backfield with abandon.

“He’s a threat that — a guy that other teams are worried about — and rightfully so, in my opinion,’’ offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said.

Reilly, when standing on the sideline watching his team’s offense operate, notices teams bracing for the Predator.

“At the end of games, it’s like body blows,’’ Reilly said. “When you get to the fourth quarter, the players are like, ‘I don’t want another dose of that helmet or shoulder.’ ”

As much a weapon as he is late in games with the Jets trying to protect a lead, Ivory’s effectiveness on early downs early in games cannot be overstated.

“The thing with Chris is he’s a forward-leaning runner, meaning worst-case he’s going to get one yard,’’ Reilly said. “When you look at offenses, it’s, ‘What do you do on first down?’ That usually dictates what you’re going to do on offense. If you can get to second-and-6 or second-and-5, you’ve got a great chance.’’

This kind of production on first downs is vital to the Jets offense, because Fitzpatrick is not a down-field thrower. According to ProFootballFocus, Fitzpatrick is 3-of-20 for 85 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions on passes of 20 or more yards down the field. That includes 0-of-8 last week.

Coaches and players almost always walk on eggshells when asked about the impact of a missing starter, because they’re fearful of disrespecting that starter’s backup. This is how the Jets have been since after last week’s game.

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“It limits you some,’’ was about as bold as Gailey wanted to go. “It makes a difference. If it didn’t make a difference, the other guys would be starting.’’

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Ryan Fitzpatrick has to let it fly — and Bowles knows it (Brian Costello) New York Post October 3, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/03/ryan-fitzpatrick-has-to-let-it-fly-and-bowles-knows-it/

LONDON — The Jets are struggling to go deep this season.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is just 3-for-20 on passes of 20 yards or more in the team’s first three games, according to Pro Football Focus. It has been a struggle to stretch defenses for the Jets.

“I don’t even look at that. You can paint stats a lot of different ways,” Fitzpatrick said. “Like I said a couple of games ago, some are just throwing the ball away, but we’ve definitely got to get better at that. That’s an area of emphasis, making sure we’re taking chunks in the passing game.”

Against the Eagles, Fitzpatrick went 0-for-8 on with an interception with the deep ball. Some of the balls were underthrown badly, raising questions about Fitzpatrick’s arm strength, something that has been questioned throughout his career.

“Ryan can throw the deep ball,” coach Todd Bowles said.

The Jets have operated mostly as a short-passing team. Fitzpatrick is averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. That number was 4.9 last week.

“Some of it depends on the game plan and what we think or what we want to get accomplished going in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some of it was throwing 58 passes and kind of in the second half there getting away from the game plan and just trying to make stuff up on the fly. We’ve got to start hitting those and throwing it down the field more.”

Rookie receiver Devin Smith returned to the lineup last week after missing the first two games with broken ribs. The Jets drafted him in the second round for his ability to stretch defenses, so as he and Fitzpatrick get more comfortable together the deep passing should improve.

Bowles said he knows the Jets are going to face stacked boxes until they show they can go deep.

“I hope we do face a lot at the line of scrimmage,” Bowles said. “That will give us more of an opportunity for deep balls. It’s the first time we’ve really tried to get them over the top. You’ve got to throw them no matter what just to back teams up, because we run the ball pretty good and to back them up off of you, you’ve got to throw them.

“Whether we complete them or not, it’s not necessary, it’s the fact that we can throw them.”

Jets LB Calvin Pace said he sees signs of improvement in Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

“I think the offense is kind of tailor-made for him,” Pace said. “The guy is an athletic guy. He played receiver in college. He has a good arm. He’s dangerous when he gets out of the pocket. It just seems like he’s a little more comfortable, watching film, with the throws he’s making. He’s not making a lot of mistakes. My job is to just make his day uncomfortable, hit him, get him off his spot.”

The Jets made two changes to their injury report Saturday. LB Trevor Reilly (finger) was upgraded to questionable. LB Jamari Lattimore was added with a head injury. He is being evaluated for a concussion. The Jets did not say how he suffered the injury.

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Jets’ bizarre week may end with pushing Dolphins to fire coach (Brian Costello) New York Post October 3, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/03/jets-bizarre-week-may-end-with-pushing-dolphins-to-fire-coach/

LONDON — The Jets made headlines by bringing their own toilet paper to England this week. Now, they’re hoping to wipe the field with the Dolphins.

The Jets will play one of the strangest games in their history on Sunday, playing across the Atlantic at Wembley Stadium in a game that will start at 9:30 a.m. New York time.

For the past week, the Jets have heard from sleep specialists and trainers about how to help their bodies adjust to changing five time zones. Now, it’s all about football.

“It’s been good for the guys, you know, to come to another country and play,” coach Todd Bowles said. “It’ll be real good for them from a fanfare standpoint and a media standpoint. Hopefully, while they take it all in they can focus on the game.”

That is the key question: How much will the site of the game and everything that comes with it be a distraction for the 2-1 Jets? This is their first AFC East game of the season, and they are looking to rebound from their first loss of the year, last week to the Eagles.

“It’s huge because it’s our first division game and we’re coming off of a loss right now,” rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “We’ve got to bounce back. I feel like we have a lot of great leaders on our team and a lot of great vets. They’ve been telling everybody that just believe in our team. We’re great this year and just bounce back.”

The Dolphins come to this game on shaky ground. At 1-2, there already is talk coach Joe Philbin could be fired if they lose this game. The Bills embarrassed them last week with quarterback Ryan Tannehill throwing three interceptions.

Still, the Jets defenders say they see improvement.

“I see Tannehill’s grown a little bit. When I say a little bit, I mean he’s taking steps,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “They’ve got some different pieces, but it’s still the same philosophy. They’re moving fast. It’s kind of similar to what we faced last week. The good thing about it is we’re familiar with them. We obviously play them two times a year, so it will be like it always is, man, coming down to the wire. It will be an interesting game.”

Marquee matchup

Jets RG Brian Winters vs. Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh

Jets coach Todd Bowles joked this week that Winters better eat his Wheaties for this matchup. Suh is one of the most dominant defensive players in football, the reason he got a six-year, $114 million deal in free agency from Miami. Winters is making his first career start at right guard with usual starter Willie Colon sidelined with a knee injury. That is what you call a mismatch.

Now, Winters has made 18 starts at left guard, but the 2013 third-round pick was not good enough to keep the new Jets regime from going out and signing a replacement this year in the offseason. The Jets know the Dolphins are going to target Winters, but they think he’s up to the challenge.

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“Obviously, you’re going to look at, like any team would, a new guy coming in,” said center Nick Mangold. “But we have a lot of confidence in Brian and the way he plays. Filling in last week, I thought he did a good job coming off the bench. Now getting a week of prep, he should be ready to go for us.”

4 Downs

Plug the holes

The Jets uncharacteristically were run on last week. The Eagles ran for 123 yards on the Jets, a shocking number for a defense that rarely has given up that many yards in recent years. They know they are going to have to clean that up going forward, starting with the Dolphins on Sunday.

“We need to stay in our gaps, No. 1,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We need to stay in our gaps and play off of each other, rather than play individual football.”

The Jets players said they just have to do a better job with their technique to clean up the problem. The Dolphins have not exactly been running through teams. They are 27th in the league, averaging 72.7 yards per game on the ground. Lamar Miller leads the team with 105 yards rushing. They have yet to score a rushing touchdown.

Searching for sacks

The Dolphins have a fierce defense line on paper with Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, but so far that group has zero sacks. Miami has one sack as a team and it came from rookie Jordan Phillips.

“I think it’s a little misleading,” Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of the stat total. “Even historically if you look at the guys they have up front and the way they’ve performed, they create some matchup problems for you. I’m not sitting here looking at that saying boy, I’m going to have all day to sit back there and throw. They’ve got a lot of talented guys up front that can rush the passer.”

Philbin’s last stand?

The reports out of Miami have not been good for coach Joe Philbin this week. There are reports of a team in turmoil with players questioning the play-calling on both sides of the ball, and this could be it for Philbin if the Dolphins lose. Miami has a bye week after this game, a good time for executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, a former Jets GM, to make a change if he wants to.

Philbin’s teams always seem to come up small against the Jets in big spots. The past two seasons the Dolphins lost the final game of the year to the Jets when they were playing for a playoff spot and the Jets were playing for pride. It would be fitting if the Jets were the ones that finally got him fired.

The return of Ivory

The Jets offense was a bit stagnant against the Eagles, but a big reason why may have been the absence of running back Chris Ivory, who missed the game with a quad injury. He is expected back Sunday and could provide the jolt the offense needs.

“He’s probably heavier than the other two backs [Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy,” Bowles said. “He runs a little more violently, but the other two runners are just as good, just a mental thing. We just got to open holes for him and run. When he’s healthy he gives us a spark hopefully. We just got to open holes regardless of who is back there.”

Wide receiver Eric Decker also missed last week’s game with a knee injury. He is a game-time decision Sunday.

Costello’s call

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The Dolphins are a mess. The Jets should handle them easily. It’s tough to figure out how playing in London will affect this game, but I think the Jets are simply the better team. The defense dominates and scores at least one touchdown.

Jets 20, Dolphins 0

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets vs. Miami Dolphins 4 downs interview: Nick Mangold on traveling to London (Dom Consentino) NJ Advance Media October 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/jets_vs_miami_dolphins_4_downs_interview_nick_mang.html#incart_river

LONDON — Sunday's game against the Dolphins at Wembley Stadium will be the first in London for the Jets, but it's not the first time center Nick Mangold has visited the historic British capital.

Mangold, in fact, was in London in July—just two weeks before training camp—as part of an NFL promotional tour for this season's three scheduled games in London.

The Jets arrived here early Friday morning after taking a red eye from Newark International, and they practiced at a suburban rugby pitch (complete with a fully stocked bar in the media work room) on Friday afternoon.

But, in separate media sessions this week, both before the Jets departed and after they arrived, veteran center Nick Mangold was asked about traveling to London, and about adjusting to the five-hour time difference.

You were in London three years ago to see your sister, Holley, compete as a weightlifter in the Olympics, right?

"Yeah. This will technically be my fourth time. I went as a kid, and then with the Olympics—but even the Olympics was a quick hitter. And then the most recent time. We were out there about five says or so. It's always been a positive experience."

Have you talked to any guys that have played over there?

"Yeah, just throughout the past couple years, how it's been ramped up every year. It seems like more and more teams are going over there. I've been able to talk to different guys and hear their experiences."

What was the best advice you got?

"Some had advice, but then, at the same time, you've got to be able to use what's available to you. Every guy's different. Every team's different. So while it's decent advice, you can't take it as gospel."

Did you take the advice of the sleep specialist the Jets brought in by sleeping on the plane?

"Of course. It was the middle of the night, and any time I'm not around [my] kids, I'm sleeping. I don't need a sleep specialist to tell me that one."

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Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick 'looking forward to trying to squish the fish' in London vs. Miami Dolphins (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media

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October 3, 2015

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

LONDON — About 15 years ago, shortly after the Adam Sandler movie "Big Daddy" came out, a British kid named Josh Andrew watched the flick and noticed something interesting.

Sandler's character — just like Sandler in real life — is a passionate Jets fan. After seeing the film, Andrew wanted to know more about these Jets, and the curious sport of American football.

On Saturday afternoon, Andrew, 20, stood in London's Trafalgar Square, wearing a Mark Sanchez Jets jersey, and reflecting on how he first became a Jets fan because of that movie.

"I just stuck to it since," Andrew said.

Saturday morning, Andrew and his father, Rob, took a two-hour train ride from their home in Helmshore (just north of Manchester), down south to London. They'll attend the Jets' game Sunday against the Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, they checked out the NFL's fan rally at Trafalgar Square.

The rally included an on-stage appearances by Jets players, during which quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was in a light-hearted mood.

"We're looking forward to trying to squish the fish," he joked, referring to the Dolphins.

One of the rally's on-stage hosts was former Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who asked Fitzpatrick for tips on how to grow a bushy beard like his.

"You've got to just go with it," Fitzpatrick said. "You can't be too concerned with what it looks like or what it smells like or whatever."

About 5,000 fans filled the square, many sipping beers. They watched as Jets owner Woody Johnson led a "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" chant on stage. Much of the crowd shouted along, even as British fans wore a wide array of NFL teams' jerseys — from the Raiders to the 49ers to the Packers.

The fans even played along and laughed when Fitzpatrick joked that Big Ben was "the Steelers' quarterback," tweaking nose tackle Damon Harrison, who had told the Jets' website that he didn't know the famous clock's name.

Fitzpatrick and Harrison were joined by cornerback Darrelle Revis, fullback Tommy Bohanon, center Nick Mangold, and head coach Todd Bowles on stage at the rally.

It was an educational experience of sorts for British NFL fans, whose numbers have grown in recent years. During a Q&A on stage, Harrison explained his duties as a nose tackle.

Andrew, the British Jets fan, admits he doesn't know all the ins and outs of this year's team. It's hard to follow along here, but he tries. For the Jets' Week 2 Monday night game at the Colts, Andrew sat up in the middle of the night, watching the game on a pirated TV website.

Sunday will be Andrew's second NFL game. He attended Dolphins-Raiders last year in London, and was surprised by the turnout at that game's Saturday fan rally. Nearly all 86,000 seats are expected to be filled Sunday at Wembley — almost entirely by British fans.

The NFL's personality — or at least how it is marketed — appeals to English sports fans, said Andrew's 53-year-old father, Rob. Fans here rarely hear from professional soccer players, since they're often shielded from media interviews.

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"You have characters, people like Sherman," Rob Andrew said of Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman. "Soccer, everybody is like robots."

The Jets' players certainly felt accessible to fans Saturday in Trafalgar Square. As the Jets walked from the rally to a waiting bus, fans crowded around them, snapping photos.

For all their talk about this being a business trip, the Jets understand the uniqueness of this weekend. A few minutes after his teammates left the rally, Jets cornerback Buster Skrine strolled alone by the square, just out for a walk around the city, taking it all in.

Walk around enough, and he would cross paths with New York-area Jets fans here. A few approached the Jets' popular general manager, Mike Maccagnan, outside Trafalgar Square and asked for a picture. Maccagnan, ever polite, obliged. He even introduced himself to the fans. (It's a safe bet they already knew his name.)

So far, pending Sunday's result, this trip and Saturday's sunny scene are worth every penny for Jets fans like Matt Puma, 26, of Long Island, N.Y. He paid $300 per ticket on the secondary market, for seats up high at Wembley.

Puma, in London for the first time, wore a white Muhammad Wilkerson jersey signed by the star defensive end himself. After mingling with Jets fans — the seasoned alongside the still learning — in a historic, 170-year-old square, Puma looked ready to continue enjoying all that this charming city offers.

Just make sure not to spill any beer on that nice Wilkerson jersey, he was told. He smiled, laughed, and pointed at the front of the jersey.

"I already did!" he said.

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4 things Jets must do to beat Miami Dolphins (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 4, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/4_things_jets_must_do_to_beat_miami_dolphins.html#incart_river

LONDON — Truth be told, the Jets seemed tired following their first practice in London on Friday, which came just hours after their red-eye flight from Newark landed here at 6 a.m.

But they've had two days to get their bodies adjusted—same as their opponents, the Dolphins, who touched down at 7 a.m. on Friday—so they ought to be good to go for Sunday's 9:30 a.m. (New Jersey time) kickoff.

Here's how to watch. Here are some key matchups. Here's the final injury report.

And here's a quick look at what the Jets must do to win.

1. Run the ball. Most teams are going to stack the line of scrimmage to contain the Jets' rushing attack. And the Dolphins (11th-ranked in run defense DVOA, per Football Outsiders) can stop the run better than most teams. But after a 16-carry, 47-yard showing in last week's loss to the Eagles, the Jets will have Chris Ivory (4.4 yards per rush) back from injury. The Jets fell behind 24-0 last week, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ended up throwing the ball 58 times, which is a blueprint for disaster. If they can get Ivory going, even just a little, it'll be a big part of their winning formula.

2. Throw it quickly. With Brian Winters starting in place of Willie Colon at right guard, and with Ndamukong Suh staring straight across from Winters at defensive tackle, the Jets are going to have to do something

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to help Winters. But the best solution may just be to have quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throw it quickly. This worked last week against the Dolphins for the Bills' Tyrod Taylor, who was 14 of 17 on throws in which he only held the ball for 2.5 seconds or less, according to Pro Football Focus. And guess what? Short, quick throws are exactly what Fitzpatrick does well.

3. Stop Jarvis Landry. Landry, the Dolphins' versatile, second-year wideout, has 24 catches for 230 yards in the season's first three games. He's not a deep threat, so the Jets figure to cover him with nickel corner Buster Skrine.

4. Force Tannehill to throw to a window. Jets head coach Todd Bowles is best-known for dialing up blitzes, but he also adapts his strategy based on the opponent. And get this: the Jaguars and Bills beat the Dolphins the last two weeks not by blitzing—just 25 of 98 combined dropbacks, per PFF—but but mainly bringing no more than four pass-rushers to force Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill into making sharp throws. The Jets have the kind of front four that can generate pressure on its own. They also have a tremendous secondary. They can do this, too ... and win.

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How has Jets' Brandon Marshall performed vs. Miami Dolphins, his former team? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 4, 2015

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

LONDON — When the Jets and Dolphins meet Sunday in London, it'll be a reunion of sorts for Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

He played for Miami from 2010-11. So he didn't cross paths with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whom the Dolphins drafted in 2012.

The Dolphins traded Marshall to the Bears after the 2011 season. Before that season, in the spring of 2011, Marshall's wife allegedly stabbed him during a dispute.

Marshall, who is mostly excelling in his first season with the Jets, has been traded three times.

He was productive on the field in Miami. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011, when he had 81 catches for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns. In 2010, he made 86 catches for 1,014 yards and three touchdowns.

Since the Dolphins traded Marshall, he has played against them just once. That happened last season, in Chicago. Marshall made six catches for 48 yards, as the Bears lost 27-14.

Marshall will get to face the Dolphins again this season, of course, since he is back in the AFC East. The Dolphins visit the Jets on Nov. 29.

Because the Jets' road game against the Dolphins is in London, Marshall still hasn't played in Miami since his trade to the Bears.

BIG NUMBER: 7-2

That is the Jets' record in their past nine road game against the Dolphins, dating back to 2006. Of course, Sunday is only technically a road game for the Jets. They have won three consecutive road game against the Dolphins. The Jets' only two losses during this nine-game span came in 2009 and 2011. That 2011 game was the disastrous regular season finale in Miami. It was the Jets' third straight loss — a season-ending skid that resulted in them missing the playoffs. Moreover, wide receiver Santonio Holmes was

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benched during that game after arguing with right tackle Wayne Hunter in the huddle. Teammates had called out Holmes' lackluster effort in the game, which the Jets lost 19-17.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

As Jets get set to play Dolphins in London, Todd Bowles chimes in on playoff prospects (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News October 3, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-todd-bowles-chimes-jets-playoff-prospects-article-1.2384023

LONDON — Todd Bowles wakes up each morning at 4 — give or take 10 minutes — without the assistance of an alarm clock. From college student to NFL player to head coach, his internal body clock never malfunctions. He knows when it’s time to make the doughnuts.

Bowles has navigated through the first month of his first season with a steadiness that leaves little doubt that the Jets are in good hands. His standards are high, his expectations firm, so he’s unafraid to let you know that a so-called overachieving eight-win season is unacceptable.

“Realistic for us is trying to get to the playoffs,” Bowles tells the Daily News in the run-up to an overseas game against the Dolphins on Sunday. “However we get there. All we want to do is get in. If you get in, you got a chance. But we got to do the things to get in.”

The goal is clear, but he stresses that his players can’t miss all the steps along the way to reach the desired destination. So, he views everything through a narrow prism.

Bowles told his players that he was proud of them in the wake of an emotionally charged primetime win over the Colts two weeks ago, but the real prize was still off in the distance. He told his players that they were much better and smarter than the group that lost to a winless Eagles team last week.

His message is simple and powerful. His words are caring and critical. He’s direct. He speaks the truth.

“He has such a confidence in his scheme and in the guys that are out there playing,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tells the News. “His swagger… that quiet confidence that he has is inspiring.”

Bowles is wise enough to understand that 60 players aren’t going to be as level-headed as their head coach amid this 17-week rollercoaster. Sometimes he’ll have man-to-man, one-on-one talks with overexcited rookies like Leonard Williams. “He keeps us calm,” the first-rounder says.

Sometimes, he’ll rely on veterans to help convey his message to younger teammates. “Whatever coach says is golden to me,” says nose tackle Damon Harrison.

“As long as we fight and have a chance to win at the end, that’s all I can ask for,” says Bowles. “We have a chance to be a very good team if we put the pieces together in time.”

How much time will it take?

The Jets have deficiencies in key areas and a glaring lack of depth thanks to the previous front office, but Bowles is not an excuse maker. He knows the deal even if he isn’t going to spell out the areas that he’d love to upgrade. Besides, no team is perfect.

“There’s no more issues than you have with any other team,” says Bowles. “Everybody’s got their issues. Nobody’s going to have a full gauntlet at every position. So you understand where your weaknesses are and you work around them.”

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Bowles has stressed winning three core elements of every game. His team can be a viable threat each week if it consistently A) wins the turnover battle, B) commits fewer penalties and C) rushes for more yards.

The Jets won all three categories in its two victories and lost all three in its lone defeat. So, the head coach harped on those core principles in the run-up to Sunday’s game in London.

Bowles breaks his season into four quarters. He believes the picture of the 2015 Jets is coming into focus as the first quarter ends.

“After the first four games, the season really starts,” says Bowles. “You got four games of film on everybody. You kind of know what you are and you know what you’re going to get every week. Right now, everybody is trying to find themselves. You’re trying to scrape out a few wins in the process. Once the bye week is over, the season is going to really start, because everybody is going to see what we do on both sides of the ball.”

“My goal going into the first quarter was to be above .500,” Bowles continues. “You give yourself a chance in that quarter. Then, you get ready for the second quarter. You grind out the third quarter. You see the light at the end of the tunnel in the fourth quarter.”

Bowles is busier than ever, so he’s not about to interrupt his journey to pat himself on the back just because the Jets have won a couple games.

“I don’t have time to sit back and say, ‘Okay, I’ve done a good job or a bad job,’” says Bowles. “I’ll learn as I go. I’ll be learning 5-10 years from now.”

The light is too far in the distance to see right now, but he knows it’s there.

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Jets WR Brandon Marshall's got game, but he could use some help (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 3, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-wr-brandon-marshall-game-article-1.2384054

Brandon Marshall is good, but he’s not that good. He can’t do it all on his own, and that was evident in the Jets’ first loss of the season last week to the Eagles.

Now, Gang Green is looking to stomp on a struggling divisional opponent but it is going to need another receiver, likely veteran Eric Decker or rookie Devin Smith, to contribute.

“Someone has to step up, because if we don’t have guys that step up, they’ll find a way to take away Brandon Marshall with getting him in double coverage,” wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s effectively able to get open in some of those situations, but not all the time.”

Part of the problem last week was that the team was missing Decker, who is officially listed as questionable and a game-time decision heading into Sunday’s showdown with the Dolphins in London.

Asked this week if Decker’s absence influenced the way defenses cover Marshall, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said frankly, “Yes.”

As Dorrell mentioned, Marshall still was able to get on the stat sheet last week. And his numbers looked pretty good. He caught 10 passes for 109 yards and a score.

But part of that was a function of the Jets passing far too much since they were playing from behind the entire game.

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Marshall himself thought he played poorly and Todd Bowles essentially agreed with that, in no small part due to the infamous failed lateral that resulted in a key turnover.

“I think as an offense we know that you can’t just feed one person the ball,” Smith said. “You have to spread the ball around.”

If Decker can play Sunday, it would be a great aid to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“He’s just a unique player,” Dorrell said. “He can do a lot of things just because he diagnoses things quickly and he’s able to adjust very effectively.

If it’s not Decker, Smith will need to grow up quickly. The former Buckeye has big-play potential but Fitzpatrick was unable to connect with him deep last week. The rookie thinks it’s coming, however.

“You will see some plays made by Devin Smith,” the wide receiver said about himself.

“He’s on the cusp right now,” Dorrell said of Smith, noting that the receiver missed the entire preseason and the first two games of the year with broken ribs.

The rookie’s play speed is what Dorrell wants to see improve this week against the Dolphins.

“He can run and fly and move around the field very effectively, and it looks like he’s gliding,” Dorrell said.

“But it’s like anything, when you’re playing your first game, and you’re playing that number of plays, you’re going to get tired.”

Of course, the ideal scenario for the Jets is that Decker is healthy and able to affect the game from the slot while Smith takes the top off the defense with his speed. Smith and Decker have yet to be healthy at the same time this season.

“If someone steps up ... that’ll even out the coverage again,” Dorrell said. “We need that type of player to step up.

“We know that Decker creates a great balance for our offense, we know that Devin potentially can do the same thing but he’s still growing and learning and improving.”

The Jets should be to improve their running game, with Chris Ivory set to return after missing last week’s loss. That should alleviate the burden on Fitzpatrick and Marshall, as the power back has the ability to churn out first downs.

“He’s a good back,” Gailey said of Ivory. “Obviously, the stats tell you that and if you watch him run you know that. So, I think he’s a threat that is a guy that other teams are worried about. They’re worried about him, and rightfully so, in my opinion."

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METRO NEW YORK

3 things to watch for as Jets face Dolphins in London (start, TV time, channel) (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 3, 2015

http://www.metro.us/sports/3-things-to-watch-for-as-jets-face-dolphins-in-london-start-tv-time-channel/zsJojb---iTQ16vldkElgA/

On Sunday (9:30 a.m., CBS), there will be a chance to rebound for the New York Jets, who had a comeback attempted thwarted last week in a 24-17 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

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And they face an opponent in the Miami Dolphins who are vulnerable and have not looked good in their 1-2 start to the year. The offense is disjointed, the best player on the defense is doing his own thing and life in Miami is not terribly sunny.

Now the Jets travel overseas for a regular season game for the first time ever, taking their 2-1 record into famous Wembley Stadium. These games in London have proven to be a bit wacky at times plus you can factor in fatigue, travel and time zones as well as a stadium not configured for the NFL and suddenly, it is one weird week.

"I think we’ll see as it comes, because we’ve got to figure out the sleep schedules and how everybody feels and all that. The good thing is both teams are dealing with the same stuff and the same challenges and problems," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "So, we really just have to focus in while we’re here with practice today and meetings and tomorrow as well, before we get on the plane. Then be productive over there, but it’s going to be a huge mental week for us, just making sure that we know exactly what we’re doing on offense, what we’re trying to get accomplished and the different things they can throw at us on defense."

Three Things to Watch from the Jets in Week 4:

The Suh Factor – It is hit or miss when it comes to Ndamukong Suh and how the Dolphins prize free agent is performing. He had four tackles in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills but has yet to register a sack at all this season (in fact the Dolphins as a team have one sack to date). Suh can be disruptive in the interior for sure but he hasn't been the dominant player the Fins hoped for when they signed him this past offseason. He'll likely be matched up against guard Brian Winters, who will get the start in place of the injured Willie Colon. This could be a nightmare for the Jets as Suh is physically dominant with his bull rush and Winters, who has short arms, has struggled in these type of match-ups in the past.

Dolphins Have Done This Before – Miami made this road trip last season, a 38-14 win over the Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium. The familiarity with this flight, with the field, with the surroundings, might be beneficial to the team. “We’re doing a lot similar things from a schedule standpoint, nothing is ever always the same, but I thought last year our operations people and our advance people really did a fantastic job with the logistics and the details of the trip and they again have done an excellent job," head coach Joe Philbin said. "We’re going to stay in the same hotel, we’re familiar with that, practice at the same facility, we’re familiar with that and we’re excited about going over there and playing.” This understanding might give the Dolphins an edge in this game.

Bouncing Back – Outside of the first game of preseason, these Jets hadn't lost under head coach Todd Bowles until Week 3, so something will be learned about the Jets head coach from this experience. How will he focus the team after a tough loss and get them to regroup during a week with travel and an unusual set-up? This will be a telling week for Bowles and one where his coaching style will be evident.

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Jets kicker Nick Folk will have to deal with notorious Wembley turf (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 3, 2015

http://www.metro.us/sports/jets-kicker-nick-folk-will-have-to-deal-with-notorious-wembley-turf/zsJojd---Qwsxr6jHCg24s/

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Nick Folk is packing three different pairs of cleats for this Sunday's game in London, the New York Jets kicker uncertain just how the turf is going to look and play in a stadium built for soccer but now becoming a regular stop on the NFL calendar.

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Wembley Stadium will see Folk and the Jets continue the league's overseas schedule this weekend against the Miami Dolphins, a game that surely serves the NFL's initiative to push into expanding markets but sees issues with standard of play. The turf at Wembley tends to be longer and thicker than most NFL fields and players have typically picked on the field like it was a nose or a pimple. Perhaps because it is foreign but they say that the field just doesn't feel like an NFL one. It is different.

No one will be impacted more by the length of the turf than the kickers.

Folk's kicking shoe will remain constant but his plant shoe, the one that he uses to plant while he swings his other leg for the kick, will depend based on the field's shape and how his pre-game routines goes. He has different options for "different lengths, different studs." Depending on the length and thickness of a turf made for soccer, Folk will adjust his cleats.

"I know there is no [soccer] club team that players here unless England had [an exhibition] here a couple weeks ago, it should probably be in pretty good shape," Folk said this week.

"I think it will be OK. As long as they don't keep it a softer pitch, water it down all the time. We'll just have to deal with it. In 2007, my rookie year, Pittsburgh played Miami over there. The score ended up being 3-0. I remember punts were flying and sticking into the turf.

"I think they've upgraded for us, I think they've gotten better for football, American football. We'll see."

Folk is looking forward to the trip, even with the uncertainty about the field. Wembley is sacred turf for soccer fans and Folk is one. His brother Greg was a professional player and he's a bigtime New York Red Bulls fan as well as European and World Cup soccer.

The view you hold on Wembley's turf varies, perhaps, on who you talk to.

There are differing opinions on what to expect. Outside linebacker Trevor Reilly has heard the horror stories and that the grass is as different as calling an elevator "a lift" or driving on the left side of the road.

"I think the grass is a little bit thicker, from what I'm heading from other players, it's a different feel," Reilly told Metro. "We're used to a shorter field, faster. This is a throwback, I'll be using screw-in cleats."

Then there is Erin Henderson, who actually played at Wembley a couple years ago when with the Minnesota Vikings. He remembers the negative talk back then too about the field - "everyone seemed to have something bad to say or that they heard" - but the hype didn't live up to reality.

"From what I remember, in 2013, it was fine. I don't remember anything bad about it," Henderson said. "I don't remember it being high and slow. It was fine."

So fine that Henderson had nine tackles on the day in a win by the Vikings.

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Assigned RHP Donn Roach outright to Buffalo (IL).

National League

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Reinstated OF Yasiel Puig from the 15-day DL.

MIAMI MARLINS — Assigned LHP Chris Reed outright to New Orleans (PCL).

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BASKETBALL National Basketball Association

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — Waived F/C Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

SACRAMENTO KINGS — Exercised the 2016-17 option on G Ben McLemore.

FOOTBALL

CHICAGO BEARS — Waived DT Brandon Dunn. Signed P Spencer Lanning.

CLEVELAND ZROWNS — Terminated OT Andrew McDonald from the practice squad.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Released DT Bruce Gaston. Signed WR Jared Abbrederis from the practice squad.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Waived CB Shaun Prater.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Terminated the contract of DT Kenrick Ellis. Signed TE Will Tye from the practice squad.

NEW YORK JETS — Signed TE Wes Saxton from the practice squad and DT Deon Simon to the practice squad.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Signed DT Caushaud Lyons to the practice squad. Signed PK Chris Boswell.

ST. LOUIS RAMS — Traded WR Chris Givens to Baltimore for a conditional draft pick. Waived CB Brandon McGee. Signed DB Christian Bryant from the practice squad and CB Eric Patterson to the practice squad.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS — Released RB Donald Brown. Signed OL Michael Ola from the practice squad.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Released DE Frank Kearse. Signed CB Deshazor Everett from the practice squad.

HOCKEY

CALGARY FLAMES — Assigned C Drew Shore to Stockton (AHL).

CAROLINA HURRICANES — Assigned G Daniel Altshuller from Charlotte (AHL) to Florida (ECHL). Agreed to terms with G Eddie Lack on a two-year contract extension.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Assigned G Michael Leighton to Rockford (AHL).

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Released F Tyler Kennedy from his professional tryout agreement. Agreed to terms with F Lee Stempniak on a one-year contract.

NEW YORK RANGERS — Assigned F Jayson Megna and D Raphael Diaz to Hartford (AHL).

COLLEGE

UMKC — Placed men's assistant basketball coach Andre McGee on administrative leave. Promoted director of men's basketball operations Conner Hampton to temporary assistant coach.

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