Is Mark Sanchez Done? Can The Jets Get To Playoffs With Kellen Clemens?

Coming off an easy win against the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the New York Jets got the day off Monday as they moved to 7-6 with a three-game win streak and back into the thick of the NFL playoff picture.

While beating a bad Tampa Bay club is nothing to brag about, the Jets could find themselves with a realistic shot at the playoffs with some help in Week 15.

While tied with Miami for second, the Patriots (8-5) are having internal issues and are just a game ahead. The Patriots have a difficult contest on the road against divisional rival Buffalo (5-8) at Ralph Wilson. The Patriots did not look good in a victory over Carolina (5-8) and this is not the same Patriot team of playoffs past.

The Jets could catch a break Thursday night depending upon how serious the Colts take the Jaguars who are currently in the playoffs as the second Wildcard.

Having clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, it looks like going undefeated is not a priority for the Colts (13-0) as rumors already abound that Peyton Manning will only play the first half. Should the Colts defeat Jacksonville, the Jets would move ahead of the Jaguars with a win at home against the Atlanta Falcons who fell to 6-7 and are just 1-5 on the road.

But all this playoff talk is just hot air if rookie Mark Sanchez can’t go come Sunday.

While Kellen Clemens threw no interceptions and didn’t turnover the ball, he looked bad against a terrible Buccaneer team.

The Jets limited the playbook and made the smart move of expanding Brad Smith’s role in the offense with the successful punt fake to extend a drive. Clemens red zone play was poor as the Jets drive after drive had to settle for field goals versus touchdowns.

But the only real question is the injury status of Mark Sanchez.

It’s been 11 days since the knee injury and Jet management has been awfully quiet about his status and ability to start this Sunday against the Falcons in the Meadowlands.

Arguably the biggest game of his young career if he plays, are the Jets content to roll the dice and hope that Kellen Clemens can get it done in the friendly confines of Giants Stadium?

Are the Jets going to reveal his actual status, or are the Jets taking a wait-and-see approach until after the Jaguar-Colt game come Thursday night to announce who will play against the Falcons?

But a Jaguar win would really complicate a potential Jet playoff berth.

At 8-6, the Jets lose the tie breaker and unless the Ravens and Dolphins both lose come Sunday, the Jets will still be on the outside looking in at 8-6.

The Bears (5-8) will be traveling to Baltimore and you have to believe the Ravens (7-6) will win at home and get to 8-6. The Dolphins travel to Tennesse where the Titans can be tough. With faint playoff hopes still possible, expect the Titans to give Miami (7-6) all they can handle.

But how committed are the Jets to getting into the playoffs?

Obviously no one wants to jeopardize the long-term health of Mark Sanchez for a possible one and out playoff scenario, will Kellen Clemens get the call at home and give Sanchez another week to heal up if it’s just a sprain versus a tear?

If the Jets qualify for the playoffs, no one will be brought in at quarterback to make it happen.

But the Jets haven’t looked this good in December since the 2006 playoff run in which they entered December 6-5 and finished 10-6. Thomas Jones is arguably the best back in the AFC when it matters most and the Jet secondary is becoming an elite unit led by Darrelle Revis, who looks like the best cover guy for Gang Green since the days of James Hasty!

While making the playoffs is always the goal, it seems to me we’ve seen the last of Mark Sanchez unless the Jets are absolutely going to qualify for the playoffs come January of 2010.

For if the Jets are going to make the post season, that weight has been shifted to the shoulders of Kellen Clemens, for better or for worse!

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jets D Crushes Hapless Bucs 26-3, Move To 7-6, Game Behind Pats

Teams that win in December run the football down your throat and play tough, no nonsense defense.

That’s exactly what the New York Jets did Sunday as they remained in the hunt for a playoff berth moving above the .500 mark for the first time since Week #5 with an easy 26-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in St. Petersburgh, Florida.

Thomas Jones was his workman-like self as he rushed for 99 yards on 24 carries and boosted his season total to 1,167 yards and 11 touchdowns.

While the Jets were efficient on offense against a bad Tampa Bay Club, the loss of rookie Mark Sanchez was obvious with second-stringer Kellen Clemens under center for the Jets.

Clemens was 12/23 for 111 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

The most exciting pass play of the day was Brad Smith on a fake punt that extended a drive and one must wonder why Smith isn’t on the Jets depth chart when it comes to quarterback?

He can run, pass and catch the football as well as run the Wildcat. While Clemerns was not terrible, there was no pressure on him to win the game as the Jet defense got to Buc’s quarterback Josh Freeman three times while the rookie coughed up three interceptions.

Freeman, who finished 14/33 for just 93 yards was someone the Jets scouted heavily before making the move for Sanchez and trading up with the Cleveland Browns. It was a long day for the rookie as he opened with a pick and just never got started.

For Kellen Clemens, it was all about screen passes and safe routes that let the running game do the talking.

While Clemens was just 1 for 3 in the red zone, Jay Feely continues to have a stellar season going 4-5 on field goals including a 49-yard kick when the offense sputtered with Clemens calling the signals.

With 14 first downs, the Jet running game controlled the tempo most of the afternoon as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 0/14 on third down conversions and had just 124 net yards all day long. By contrast, the Jets were 2/2 on fourth down and had over 300 net yards of offense.

At 7-6, the Jets find themselves in a second place tie with the Miami Dolphins and just one game behind the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins did the Jets a favor today by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars who also are now 7-6.

But the Jets are on the outside looking in when it comes to tie breakers with Miami or Jacksonville.

The Denver Broncos remain the first Wildcard at 8-5 while the Jets, Dolphins, Ravens & Jaguars are all currently tied at 7-6. If the season were to end today, the Jets would not make the playoffs.

The playoff picture could be clarified a bit Thursday evening when the Jaguars play the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

A Jaguar loss would drop them to 7-7 and pretty much end any hope for a playoff berth. The Jets will host the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) in the Meadowlands while New England plays the Buffalo Bills and Miami travels to Tennessee to play the Titans.

A road win puts the Jets at 4-3 overall from the Meadowlands and a victory in Indianapolis could secure an overall road record of 5-3. The Falcons have been an awful road team all season and are currently 1-5 away from the Georgia Dome. Another December win will keep the Jets very much alive in the playoff picture as Jet fans hope and pray Mark Sanchez can start in the Meadowlands against the Falcons next Sunday.

If Sanchez does not play come Sunday, it means we’ve probably seen the last of the rookie for 2009.

At 7-6 the Jets prospects of making the post season are about 50-50 and after watching Clemens against arguably the worst team in football at home, it’s hard to think the back-up will get it done with the playoff pressure being that more obvious.

For the Jets the question is obvious.

Is Mark Sanchez healthy enough to lead this team in this playoff run?

We’ll find out soon enough.

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Ten Questions for Jet GM Mike Tanenbaum

With a possible playoff berth hanging in the balance, why are the Jets committed to Kellen Clemens as the starter when everyone knows he has no future with the franchise?

Should the Jets get to 7-6, the possibility of a Wildcard invitation or diviaional title are still very real.

For a lifetime, sub par .500 franchise over 50 years, you would think Mike Tanenbaum would do all he can to ensure a playoff berth in 2009.

Here are some questions I would ask Mike if I had the opportunity:

Begin Slideshow

Tanenbaum, Johnson and Ryan Would Rather Start Clemens Over Jeff Garcia?

The New York Jets announced today that rookie starter Mark Sanchez is out for this Sunday’s crucial contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a knee injury suffered in the win over the Buffalo Bills .

Having done nothing since the December 3rd victory in terms of auditioning a real back-up to fill the void created by the Sanchez injury, the Jets will go with second-stringer Kellen Clemens in the hopes the team can get to 7-6 against the lowly 1-11 Bucs.

We’ve seen this sad act too many times before.

When ex-Head Coach Eric Mangini refused to give Chad Pennington a vote of confidence, the former Jet played with a grueling high ankle sprain which saw the boo birds come out at the Meadowlannds in 2007.

Mangini underminded the only Jet quarterback to the lead New York to four playoff appearances!

Mangini switched to Clemens, the overvalued and underperforming 49th pick of the 2006 NFL Draft who can be best described as a complete bust considering the Jets could have taken tight end Anthony Fasano or maybe a guy by the name of Maurice Jones-Drew!

In a draft that only took nine quarterbacks, why was that second round pick squandered on the marginal skill set of one Kellen Clemens?

In his obsession to move Pennington out of the starting role,  Mangini passed on Jay Cutler for Kellen Clemens. In four years Clemens has appeared in 17 games with a 3-5 record. Barely a 50% passer (51.7%), Clemens has thrown 5 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Woefully immobile, Clemens was sacked 27 times in just 8 games in 2007 and 34 times overall. With a lifetime QB Rating of just 59.2, can any Jet fan believe management is putting the best player on the field to win when a savvy veteran like Jeff Garcia is available right now?

In 2008 we saw how the Jets were fined for failing to reveal the severity of the Brett Favre injury which saw the team slide from 8-3 to 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

Just how damaged is Mark Sanchez and is it safe to say we won’t see him for the remainder of 2009? Like Pennington and Favre in the past, when will the Jets get honest about the severity of the Mark Sanchez injury?

Are the Jets truly looking out for the best interests of the club or Sanchez with a possible playoff berth hanging in the balance by not taking a hard look at a Jeff Garcia, a former Buc who’s won consistently in the NFL?

With a lifetime 61.6% pass completion ratio, Jeff Garcia completed an amazing 64.9% of his passes in 2008 when he managed the Bucs to a 6-5 record at the age of 38! With 161 touchdown passes and just 83 interceptions lifetime, why are the Jets ignoring the best available player that can lead this team to victories for the remainder of 2009?

To me, the message to Jet fans is that making the playoffs doesn’t matter!

The fact the Jets have failed to seriously address the issue of quarterback on the roster is the biggest mystery of the 2009 season. Everyone knows Kellen Clemens is at best a second-string or third-string quarterback with no future here in New York. Why wasn’t he moved off the roster the same way Chad Pennington was cut the day the Johnson & Tanenbaum decided to sign Brett Favre?

For an organization that is under .500 after 50 seasons of league play, what’s the excuse for not trying to win? Can anyone look the fans in the face and say with any degree of confidence Kellen Clemens can get it done? His performance against Buffalo was a joke as he showed he can’t handle game pressure as the offense had to adjust to high percentage passes and constantly running the ball on first and second down.

The 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be salivating when they watch Kellen Clemens on film. They’ll see an immobile, indecisive quarterback who rarely gets the ball downfield and the Jets will be all the more predictable with Clemens running the offense.

The disfunctionality of the Jets front office is for all to see once again.

Shame on Woody Johnson for not demanding the Jets make a move so that on Sunday, the probability of winning would increase, not slip away.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Is Peyton Manning the Best Quarterback of All-Time?

Is it time we start considering Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback of all time?

Maybe.

Certainly the greatest player in the history of the Colts franchise, Manning is poised to take Indianapolis back to the Super Bowl for a second ring and quite possibly an undefeated season.

With a 129-59 record as a starter, Manning now has a .686 winning percentage and is averaging nearly 12 wins a season this decade!

With 358 career touchdown passes, Manning is averaging nearly 30 touchdown passes per season. Even more impressive is the fact that Manning has had nine 4,000-plus-yard seasons and will probably make it 10 this year.

Critics will say one Super Bowl championship can’t qualify you as the best QB of all time. But Manning looks like he’ll be going back for a second trip and in all probability he’ll win his second Lombardi Trophy.

Manning’s overall numbers represent consistency like no other quarterback to play the position. Manning has had just two sub-.500 seasons with the Colts. When you average nearly 30 touchdowns and 4,000 yards passing, is there anyone else who comes close to this level of excellence year in and year out?

But Peyton Manning is more than just a quarterback; he’s a brand in and of himself.

He represents the Manning brand. The older brother of Giant Eli and the son of Archie. What family has had this kind of professional success at this level of play for so long?

More importantly, Manning has become the face of the NFL.

A great pitchman for just about anything (hotels, televisions, satellite service, phones, etc.), Manning reminds consumers that a friendly and honest face with a great work ethic still exists with today’s professional athletes.

In short, Manning keeps the NFL marketable to a new wave of fans. Those fantasy players that cling to statistical updates, rather than the local self-interests of the parochial NFL enthusiast.

Yes, Peyton Manning statistically is becoming the most important person ever to play the position of quarterback. An offensive coordinator on the field, Manning is now a brand name that could finish as the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Time for the NFL to Simplify the Playoff System: 10 Wins and In!

The time has come for the best to qualify for the  play-offs each and every NFL season.

That means abolishing the divisions and removing the seeding of teams based on a qualifying number of victories to gain entrance into each conference tournament.

While the conferences still hold some limited value in terms of setting up the play-off system, what is the value of a divisional title when a team with more wins can be excluded from the post season?

A glaring example of such inequity was the 2008 season in which the San Diego Chargers finished a mediocre 8-8, yet qualified over both the New York Jets (9-7) and the New England Patriots who finished 11-5!

San Diego would not only go to the play-offs, but they would host a Wildcard play-off in which the Indianapolis Colts at 12-4 were forced to play on the road and thus lose a first round opener to the .500 Chargers, 23-17!

How can any reasonable NFL fan agree with a play-off system that doesn’t use best record as the universal standard for making the play-offs?

How can anyone justify an 8-8 franchise not only making the tournament, but hosting a first round play-off contest against a team that won four more games in the regular season?

With 32 teams, the time to simplify the schedule as well as the play-off process is way overdue.

Everyone should play the same schedule.

The days of weaker squads getting easier schedules and better squads playing better teams for the sake of television ratings needs to cease.

Wouldn’t it be much more exciting to see the Saints and the Colts match-up sooner rather than later or possibly not at all thanks to obsessed television producers creating the schedule for the sake of ratings?

More importantly, what is the value of division title in 2009, anyway?

A team that can go to the play-offs from a division where no club reaches .500 is a pass not only to the play-offs, but hosting of a first-round game? Who can justify such a lopsided emphasis on divisional play than actual wins and losses?

Can any NFL fan even remember what they called the four divisions in the pre-merger era (For those too young to remember: Capital, Century, Coastal, & Central)?

Do most fans even realize the Seattle Seahawks were orginally an AFC franchise? Do they realize that the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns were imported to the AFC from the old NFL for the sake of balancing the conferences?

The only standard for play-off entrance should be wins and losses.

Having said that, a 10-win season would make any NFL team play-off eligible much like the 6-win threshold in the NCAA makes one bowl eligible.

This will eliminate .500 clubs from contention and the seedings would then be based a series of tie-breakers to determine home field advantage and the rankings in both conferences.

Should an unven number of teams qualify the No.1 seeds would receive an automatic by.

The play-offs will become much more competitive and the overall process producing a better game on the field. It makes no sense for the NFL to hold on to the divisional standings when in fact the division titles themselves lack the weight to provide the best teams for the post season.

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Raiders Have a New Leader and His Name Is Bruce Gradkowski!

It was only fitting that Bruce Gradkowski come home to Pittsburgh to solidify his hold on the starting job as the quarterback for the floundering Oakland Raiders.

While little is to be praised in Oakland, one thing is for sure and that’s Bruce Gradkowski’s belief in himself and his ability to show it on the field of play.

The former Seton-La Salle High School star came into Heinz Field today and stunned the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers with 21 points in the final quarter to hand them a fourth straight loss.

Bruce Gradkowski has shown something that Jamarcus Russell has not for the better part of three seasons.

He’s a leader.

The former Toledo standout pulled a second rabbit out of his hat this weekend as the Raiders pulled off another come-from-behind victory with another winning drive in the final two minutes.

First it was the Cincinnati Bengals and today it was the Steelers.

Gradkowski showed his steel town mettle as he passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns improving the Raiders to 4-8. Gradkowski is now 2-1 as the starter and some light is now shining on the Black Hole known as the Oakland Raiders!

You just got the feeling Jamarcus Russell didn’t care about winning and losing.

His inability to lead from the front of the line was so obvious that Tom Cable had no choice but to sit the LSU bust in favor of the more composed, more poised Gradkowski who seems to relish in the spotlight as an NFL starter.

While Russell has all the physical tools, he seems to lack the intangible skill of leading and winning.  Bruce Gradkowski has seized his chance and it’s time Tom Cable reward him with a vote of confidence by shipping Jamarcus Russell away from the Bay Area once and for all.

Gradkowski may not be a fantasy favorite, but he now has 854 passing yards and six touchdowns. His ability to inspire confidence is the ultimate intangible in any leader.

Bruce Gradkowski has the Raiders believing they can win in the most improbable of situations and the Steeler upset truly lays the groundwork for this team to compete in 2010.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Miami Dolphins Stun New England Patriots, Jets Back In Race For AFC East Crown

The New York Jets are back in the thick of the AFC East thanks to Chad Henne and the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami secpnd-year starter played like a veteran today as he passed for 335 yards and two touchdowns as the Dophins came back from a 14-0 deficit to defeat the New England Patriots 22-21.

Looking ordinary with little ground support, quarterback Tom Brady sputtered in the fourth quarter when it counted as he threw a game-ending interception to Channing Crowder in the final seconds.

Brady, usually at his best in come-from-behind scenarios, was 19-for-29 with 352 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The most dramatic play of the game was a 81-yard connection to Sam Aiken to open the third quarter which extended the Patriot lead to 21-10 which looked like the final nail in the Dolphin coffin.

It was not to be.

Henne played brilliantly with the season hanging in the balance as the Dolphins reminded Brady & Company they are the defending AFC East Champions and were not about to hand them the divisional crown without a fight!

It was the Miami defense that changed the complexion of this contest as the gambling Bill Belichick could not convert twice inside the Dolphin ten.

Patriot wideout Wes Welker had another tremendous effort in defeat as he caught 10 balls for 167 yards. Randy Moss was limited to just two receptions, with one being a 58-yard touchdown on the opening drive.

At 7-5, the Patriots like the Steelers may find themselves on the outside looking in as it comes to the ever complicated playoff picture.

The Jets will travel to Tampa Bay in an effort to crawl over the .500 mark since Week 5. The Dolphins will play a key contest with playoff possible Jacksonville on the road. The Jags are 7-5 and in a good position to solidify a Wildcard position with a win.

The Patriots will be at home against the up and down, 5-7 Carolina Panthers. Assuming the Patriots and Jets win while the Dolphins lose, the New York Jets could be just one game behind with three to play.

But the problem with the Jets are tie breakers.

They lose tie breakers to Jacksonville, Miami and probably New England even if they run the table at 10-6. For the Jets, they’ll need some help to secure a berth and today’s win by the Dolphins might just line-up the right scenario for the seemingly inside straight they’ll need to sneak into the AFC tournament come January.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

New York Jets: Sign Jeff Garcia as the Back-Up to Mark Sanchez Now!

The New York Jets need a real back-up quarterback to rookie starter Mark Sanchez right now.

If watching Kellen Clemens play like a human turnover machine wasn’t enough to make any Jet fan cringe against the Bills Thursday night, how does management find themselves 12 games into the 2009 season with no answer at quarterback should Sanchez be lost to injury?

Consider the fact that Kellen Clemens has played in a total of 17 games in four seasons.

That’s just five more than Mark Sanchez!

Third-string option Kevin O’Connell has played in a total of two games.

That’s a total of 19 games between the team’s two back-ups. In total, the New York Jets have three quarterbacks with a total of 31 starts and an overall record of 9-11.

Does anyone think it’s time for a real back-up?

With playoff hopes still flickering, why isn’t Jet brass looking to sign the very available Jeff Garcia?

The 11-year veteran is a four-time Pro Bowler with a career record as a starter of 58-58. In 2007 and 2008, Garcia as a starter with Tampa Bay was 14-11 with 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions!

With 25,537 yards passing in the NFL, Garcia has thrown for 161 touchdowns and just 83 interceptions. What better mentor for the young Sanchez than someone who’s won and someone who’s been to the playoffs like the veteran Garcia?

While Garcia is 39, does anyone question his ability to outperform Clemens or O’Connell? Should Jet playoff hopes perish in the hot sun of Tampa Bay because this team is too naive to go out and get themselves a true reliever like Jeff Garcia?

While the win in Toronto propelled the Jets somewhat back into the playoff discussion, can anyone have any degree of confidence in Kellen Clemens to hold onto to the snap much less complete a forward pass?

What is owner Woody Johnson and General Manager Mike Tanenbaum thinking people?

A Jet win coupled with a Miami victory and a Titan upset will have a real impact on the overall playoff picture.

A Miami win will drop the Patriots to just 7-5 and all bets are off as the odds on favorite to win the AFC East should the Jets win at Tampa Bay and find themselves in the thick of the hunt at 7-6 with a three-game winning streak with just three games to play.

For the Jets to make a run in December, they need to solidify the position of quarterback with a true back-up that can step-in and lead the offense.

Kellen Clemens is not the answer.

If Head Coach Rex Ryan wants to still be playing in January, he needs to convince management signing savvy veteran Jeff Garcia might not be such a bad idea!

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Smartest QB In The NFL?

He’s Harvard-educated. 

He scored a 48 on the Wonderlic Test in just nine minutes. The only person to score higher was also a Harvard graduate, former Cincinnati Bengal Pat McInally.

Meet Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Is he the smartest quarterback in the NFL?

If he beats the Jets again tonight, he might just be considered a guy with a real future in the NFL. 

A seventh-round draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Fitzpatrick was the 250th player chosen overall.

Last year Ryan Fitzpatrick played for the injured Carson Palmer and finished third in rushing among all quarterbacks. He is one of just five players in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in their first start. The other four are Otto Graham, Ed Rubbert, Mark Rypien, and Peyton Manning.

Fitzpatrick signed with the Buffalo Bills on Feb. 27 and made his first contribution ironically against the New York Jets when starter Trent Edwards was knocked out of the game. He led the Bills to a 16-13 OT victory in the Meadowlands.

Now playing in Canada for a new coach with nothing on the line but pride, can Ryan Fitzpatrick duplicate his first effort against the Jets and move the Bills into a third-place tie at 5-7?

For the Jets, this is simply a must-win game to remain playoff relevant. At 6-6 the Jets would be just two games behind the Patriots with five to play.

If the Dolphins can give the Jets some help, the New England Patriots could find themselves at 7-5 and probably out of playoff contention if they don’t win the very competitive AFC East.

With a 54 percent completion percentage, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions, Ryan Fitzpatrick could be a legitimate starter in the NFL.

But it was Jets turnovers that led to the first Bills win. Given the fact the Jets have the No. 2 defense in the NFL, I look for the Jets to hold off the Bills and get themselves back to .500 at 6-6.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010