Jets News For The Week Of 6/9

[Gunzlingr]

PLEASE POST JETS NEWS HERE

[Gunzlingr]

Even though they're solid at quarterback with Chad Pennington and Vinny Testaverde, the Jets - in a surprising development - will meet today at Hofstra with former Bengal Akili Smith.

Smith, who was cut a week ago, was scheduled to arrive last night. It's believed the Jets were the first team to contact him after his release.

MORE (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/story/90783p-82565c.html)

[The_Philster]

The Jets aren't planning dramatic changes on their quarterback depth chart, but they are showing interest in former Bengals' No.1 pick Akili Smith because they believe he could be a worthwhile reclamation project.
"We're doing our homework," GM Terry Bradway said yesterday. "He's a guy everybody had rated pretty high coming out (in 1999), but for one reason or another, he hasn't lived up to expectations. We feel he has a lot of ability. In the right program, he has a chance to develop....

more (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/story/90995p-82733c.html)

[Gunzlingr]

June 10, 2003


Vinny Testaverde rolls his eyes when he hears what Chad Pennington has just said.

It is a few minutes after a recent offseason practice session, and Testaverde is sitting on a bench outside the Jets' locker room. Looking relaxed in a pair of sweats, flip-flops and a Jets cap, Testaverde is told about Pennington's theory behind the Jets' stunning turnaround last year. And why Pennington believes the team can win the Super Bowl this season.

Thus, the look from Testaverde.

"In my opinion, the biggest reason we were able to be so successful was because of Vinny and how he reacted to the whole quarterback situation," Pennington said while kneeling in the middle of the practice field. "I'm telling you, it was everything not to have that awkwardness. It's very difficult to play the quarterback position if you can't trust your teammates, especially your backup quarterback. Vinny being here means everything to me. He means everything to our success and our quest to win the Super Bowl."

A clearly embarrassed and somewhat disbelieving Testaverde looks as if he wants to crawl into a hole when Pennington's comments are relayed. The 39-year-old quarterback believes like anyone else -- with the possible exception of Pennington himself -- that last year's recovery from a 1-4 record had little to do with Testaverde and mostly to do with his 26-year-old teammate's breathtaking display of leadership, poise and accuracy. After all, Testaverde barely played the rest of the season after being replaced.

more (http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-chad0610,0,7264180.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)

[The_Philster]

Akili Smith, a first-round quarterback bust released by Cincinnati a week ago, has begun a tour to salvage his NFL career by talking with the Jets.

General manager Terry Bradway, asked whether the Jets would like to sign Smith, said, "Maybe we will, maybe we won't." But Smith passed a physical at the team's Hofstra University complex Monday and met with the coaches for two days before leaving today for visits with Green Bay and New Orleans....

more (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTYzODk0NDEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

[Mr. Miyagi]

Originally posted by gunzlingr
"In my opinion, the biggest reason we were able to be so successful was because of Vinny and how he reacted to the whole quarterback situation," Pennington said while kneeling in the middle of the practice field. "I'm telling you, it was everything not to have that awkwardness. It's very difficult to play the quarterback position if you can't trust your teammates, especially your backup quarterback. Vinny being here means everything to me. He means everything to our success and our quest to win the Super Bowl."

Vinny :kissa: Pennington

[Gunzlingr]

Friday, June 13, 2003
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Jets running back Curtis Martin, whose off-season workouts are legendary for their difficulty and creativity, has outdone himself this time. Martin is working himself to near-exhaustion in an effort to reach greater heights next season.

Three times a week, Martin puts a harness around his waist with a bungee cord attached that provides resistance and does an assortment of directional running drills designed to strengthen his legs and increase endurance. His past off-season workouts with stadium steps, the steps at his Miami-area condo and steep hills pale in comparison.

"Every year I try to find my edge, and I think it's in that right there," Martin said yesterday after the Jets completed the last of 11 off-season workouts at their Hofstra University training complex. "This is one of the hardest cardio workouts as well as physical workouts you can do. It's harder than the stadium steps. It's harder than any of our running tests. It's the only thing I do that makes me feel like I can't do any more."

After several weeks of rest following last season, a year in which he suffered severe sprains to both ankles and sprained his left knee, Martin says he's "rejuvenated" and ready to shatter a long held belief: An NFL running back's career begins to decline at age 30.

Martin turned 30 on May 1.

more (http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/105548491191140.xml)

[The_Philster]

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Curtis Martin is feeling great this off-season. There's the burn in his legs, for example.

It comes at the end of practice, shortly after Martin, under the supervision of strength coach John Lott, attaches the bungee cord to his waist and walks out until the cord pulls him back. Then the Jets' featured back does five five-minute sets of running and changing direction until his lower body is on fire.

"John's goal is to break me," Martin said. "My goal is to feel broken."...

more (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMjEmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTYzOTA4MDMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

[The_Philster]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Woody Johnson is one of the least publicized owners in the NFL. He doesn't hold weekly news conference during the season the way Jerry Jones has done. He doesn't challenge the league in court, like Al Davis.

Since taking over the New York Jets in 2000, Johnson generally has avoided headlines.

Yet, on June 22, he'll welcome all the attention he can get as he participates in the Lupus Awareness Walkathon at Giants Stadium....

more (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6429561)