The Mets. Lets. Go. Mets.

I’m going to do a little rant, as I am a little wound up at the moment, about the team that currently serving as my provider of ‘things that can make me squeal like a little bieberer’ in sports. THE METS!!!

Yes, I am still trying to convince people to cheer for the Mets, but now more than ever, I can see why we’re used as the punchline of cheap sports jokes written in Hollywood — also punchlines:  the Cubs, whoever drafts for the Raiders, and anything that comes out of Charles Barkley’s mouth. But I won’t talk about Madoff or any of our financial troubles, or even our record…not today!

- I can’t believe that Jose Reyes and CarLOS belTRAN (yes, I’ve heard someone emphasize what I’ve put in caps) are most likely going to be traded before the end of the season. While many of the naive and more stubborn Mets fans blame some of our best players for our failures in recent years, most Mets fans will remember Reyes and Beltran as workhorses, perennial all-stars, players that became the face of the team that we love. Reyes was the catalyst at the top of our line up for many years, and his emotion always brought energy and passion to his teammates and the fans. Beltran is, was, and always will be a class act and one of the best players in baseball, when healthy. This year, his production has been reminiscent of his dominant years from 2005-2008. His willingness to move to right field and the adjustments he made to be the graceful outfielder that he always was (when he won 3 Golden Gloves in center field) are impressive. They will both be missed, and it will become obvious to all Mets fans what they were when they were gone.

- That being said, with both Reyes and Beltran producing this season it is likely that both players will carry noticeable trade value later on in the season. It is a bittersweet feeling to see them healthy and producing, only to know that they are going to be on another team by next season. I am, however, extremely excited to see what talent we will receive in return — whether that be prospects or other major league players.

-Dylan Gee, Jonathan Niese, and to some extent Mike Pelphrey have all looked pretty decent in the past couple of starts. What is surprising, however, is that R. A. Dickey (who named his bats after swords in The Hobbit and Beowulf, awesome.) is the pitcher that has looked most shady. I wonder whether he is hurt — or is it just that players are trusting their scouting reports having seen Dickey’s repertoire for a season now? I personally think that he will be fine.

-I. Love. Baseball. I love the non-stop matchups between the starting pitcher and the line-up, and that only the aces can get through a line-up 3 times. I love that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, bar none, let alone hitting a homerun off of an ace. I love web-gems and nasty pitches. I love the 162 game season because it lets fans believe in their team for as long as possible, and a long season is like having a flowering tree that lasts twice as long as a basketball tree (uhh, showing my hort tendencies here). I love that every single stadium is unique in its field (and sometimes turf), crowd, atmosphere, fans, and surrounding community (no matter how small). I love that rivalries are long-lasting but quickly formed, and all intense. I love managers and how they curse the frack out of the umpires and get thrown out of the game to boost the intensity of their team, even though they have absolutely no chance of winning the argument. I love wall climbing, wall toppling, and wall crashing catches. I Love Spring Training and that fans can watch batting practice. JUST WATCH BASEBALL. DONT LISTEN TO THE IGNORANT.

/rant

psdit: Mets beat the Yankees, R.A. Dickey finally gets a win and momentum back on his side. Reyes with a couple of amazing plays and Justin Turner proving to be playing better than wright at third…maybe move him to second?  Seems talented and productive on both ends already.

And we’re back.

A dramatic tale worthy of, say, an HBO drama, has finally seen an end. Unfortunately for the top-flight wide receivers of the NFL, Revis Island is taking incoming flights again.

The Jets defense is back to full strength, playing well in the preseason even without the consensus best defensive player on the team. Looking forward, the arrival of Darrelle Revis right before the start of the season takes an adequate group of cornerbacks (who have their own issues, but have played decent in the preseason) and instantly transforms it to one of the best in the league. If Revis is the best (or even second best) cornerback in the league, the upgrade to Revis is more significant than any possible free-agent signing. Relegating the talented rookie Kyle Wilson to the third cornerback position will only speed up his development.

While the defense of the Jets looks to be in the top 3 in the NFL, the offense is more cause for concern. One of the biggest reasons for the success of last year’s running game was the 16-year veteran old dog, Tony Richardson. The Jets, however, cut Richardson, seemingly to save money or manipulate the roster for the first week of the season. If the team does not bring Richardson back, either as a player or working for the team, it is not inconceivable to expect a change of chemistry and some confusion in the running game.

Matt Slauson is a talented young player at left guard, but has looked horrible in the preseason, being responsible for a number of sacks and broken plays. Vladimir Ducasse is not any better. In fact, he looks more lost than Slauson. Makes you wonder why the Jets did not keep Alan Faneca for another year (Faneca being a Pro Bowl level left guard).

In 7 more days, a NFL kicker will kick an NFL-standard football, and begin the sports season we have all been waiting for. The New York Jets enter the season with talking, hitting, and broadcasting, engulfed by expectations, talent, and big names. What comes next is my favorite part of the year..

Where is Revis “Deserted” Island??

Though there is more Hard Knocks to come, the first 4 weeks have left a strong impression. After 4 weeks of the show, a couple things have been made clear:

- Rex Ryan loves John Connor and his “Terminator” nickname more than grabbing grub at Taco Bell with Nick Mangold.

- Santonio Holmes was a top receiver playing with a QB whose idea of a good play requires 10 seconds of running around. Now, in a more crisp offensive system, Holmes is primed to be the number 1 receiver on the team. Even more so than Braylon Edwards or *GASP* Dustin Keller (for whom I would fight a lion, tiger, and liger all at the same time to keep him a Jet for life). That is, once he returns from his mandatory 4-week vacation/training period.

- With so much focus on the goal of a Super Bowl, building confidence, and trash talking, it is no surprise that the Jets are becoming a target around the league. I am all for swagger. However, if it begins to build cockiness and laziness in the players, it will be more detrimental than beneficial. Players such as Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jason Taylor and Antonio Cromartie — the newer players — will determine much of both the public opinion of the Jets and the success the team has on the field.

rubberneck these things

Here are a couple of things I am looking forward to in watching the Jets preseason game against the Carolina Panthers:

1. Can the Jets second year quarterback continue where he left off in 2009? Sanchez looked great against the Giants, showing accurate passes, impressive decision making, and his trademarked athleticism on bootleg roll-outs and play-action fakes. The chemistry between the QB and the receivers was evident, with Sanchez completing 13-17 passes thrown. It was comforting to see the Jets receivers each get some action, especially Dustin Keller and Jockcrotchstrappery, who I consider to be the foundation of the receiving corps. Keller is going to have some explosive plays this season…don’t ignore him in fantasy this year fellas.

2. Along the same vein, it will be interesting to see what the Jets run out of the playbook. Last year, the Jets ran the football 60 percent of the time on offense. Will Shotty call some more plays down the field or will he keeps those plays in his Levi’s until the regular season?

3. The dynamic of the running back committee remains both mysterious and intriguing. Will Shonn Greene learn how to effectively run routes and catch the ball out of the backfield, or will LT be on the field on every passing down?  Who will get the goal line snaps, especially when its 3rd and long? How does Joe McKnight look after his second performance following a disappointing first appearance ? At least he’s on the field, I guess.

4. Jimmy Clausen? Brandon LaFell? Exciting rookies to watch on Carolina’s side. Combined with more camera time on the field with Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, LT, Cromartie, and even Braylon Edwards, there will be plenty to keep an eye on on Saturday.

Green with Expectations

Unlike some New York teams, the New York Jets went out this offseason and made positive changes to the team in hopes of creating a dynamic team coherent enough to win the Super Bowl.  With 4 new players at 4 different positions, all of which enter the season ripe with expectations, the Jets are crossing their fingers and hoping that the new beams in the Super Bowl project will hold. The positive reports from training camp may be overstated (as they sometimes are), but with HBO and their cameras around every corner, the entire world will see how each player contributes (and also hear so many curses it would make Mel Gibson consider thinking before speaking).  Here’s my take:

Antonio Cromartie – CB : I know Cromartie had an off year last year, but without that off year, he wouldn’t be wearing green today. This guy brings some of the best pure ball skills of any cornerback in the league, shown by his incredible 10 interception year in 2007. Watching highlights on TV, it seemed as if every single week had a clip of Cromartie with a ridiculous grab. Of course, he would be destined to be as effective as he was in San Diego in the past two years (not very) without a star corner on the opposite end.  My guess is once all the starters are on the field together and the year has gone by, the Jets will mark this down as a great signing.

Ladanian Tomlinson – RB : While many Jets fans were angry that Thomas Jones was sent packing, the move was likely made to allow Shonn Greene, the Jets running back of the future, to carry a heavier workload in 2010. The signing of LT not only gives the Jets an experienced and versatile back on the team but also upgrades their pass blocking and dump-off. While Jones was a true workhorse back that thrived off inside runs, much of his success could be attributed to the stellar offensive line. With virtually the same line, LT can completely change the playbook, giving Rex Ryan the ability to run effective screens and passes to a running back with the ability to run inside.

Jason Taylor – DE : I have always had respect for Jason Taylor as a player, being one of the most dynamic pass rushers in recent NFL history.  I don’t care about his past hatred for the Jets. As long as he is wearing real green we’ve got no problems. Even though the Jets had the top defense in the NFL last year, the team only recorded 32 sacks, tied for 18th in the league (the Bills also had 32 sacks…). With additional pressure on the edge from a seemingly rejuvenated Taylor,  the proverbial gate will open for David Harris, Calvin Pace, and Bart Scott to pad their stats. They all want to see their Madden rating go up next year.

Santonio Holmes – WR: Suspended for the first 4 games of the season? Really Santonio? Although the crisp route-running wide receiver comes with off-the-field baggage, Holmes remains a top receiver in the NFL. Many individuals may disagree with me on this, but is there any more convincing proof than this?

When "making it look easy" becomes the world's greatest understatement

With dynamite hands, speed and experience, Holmes will fit in perfectly along the highlight waiting to happen in Braylon Edwards and the NFL’s most underrated receiver in Jerricho Cotchery,

Preseason Game #1

Though this comes prematurely, I wanted to share some of my thoughts about the Jets’ first preseason game. The game is at the new stadium for both the Giants and the Jets, and amidst controversy about who should open their first preseason game at home and, therefore break in the new stadium, the NFL decided to just save the headache and drama but pitting the teams against each other in the first game, simulated or not, of the season.

The game between the Giants and the Jets has historically been played on the third week of preseason, when the teams’ rosters are generally set in stone. This allowed the teams to “go at it” more than a preseason game, as starters would get more time and subsequently receive the next preseason game off to be fresh for the season. That is, it should be interesting to see how each team approaches the preseason game. My hunch is that this game will be played like any other first preseason game: starters in for a couple of drives before taken out to field-test talent and deliver playing time to those that earned it in training camp.

However, with the Jets coming right off Hard Knocks and the stadium remaining unnamed, anything can happen. Pride and unofficial naming rights may be on the line. Stay tuned.

Revis Beavis, we’ll be fine

A recent report from the Jets camp mentioned Pro-Bowl and runner up to Defensive Player of the Year Darrelle Revis missing a recent conditioning test (the same one that Joe McKnight, our fourth round pick, initially failed).  While this news doesn’t prove that Revis is holding out for a bigger contract, it hints that a hold out is a possibility. Either way, I don’t believe its something fans should worry about. Here’s why:

Revis is known around the league, through his performance on the field last season, to be one of if not the best cover-men in the entire game. Contract negotiations will continue, and since Revis will hear the call of a Super Bowl chasing team needing their best defensive player, he will come to play. Jason La Canfora also reported that Revis is willing to agree to short-term contract solutions — meaning that he is confident in his ability and his hard work, offering a trial period to let him prove his worth to the team. I’m not worried whether Revis will show up to training camp. If he holds out a week, two weeks, or the entire span of training camp — he will come ready to play in the preseason.

Meanwhile, the Jets have signed Kyle Wilson, likely to be the third or fourth corner, depending on whether he passes Dwight Lowery on the depth chart. The secondary is looking to be rock solid again this year, with another extremely underrated player in Jim Leonard and the newly added Brodney Pool (who I think will have a breakout year in the system) playing the roam game.

According to reports, Joe McKnight has passed the conditioning test. For those of you thinking of drafting Shonn Greene in your fantasy leagues, believe the hype. If he’s around mid second round, you’ll want to snag this beast. Tomlinson will likely play a more versatile role while Greene gets the bulk of the carries as the team’s workhorse.

I can’t wait for Hard Knocks…it’s the best cast of characters yet. After a few weeks, even non-Jets fans will start to love the color greene. It’s easy, all you gotta do is glide with it:

pictured: hopefully not overrated

EDIT- Revis is officially on holdout.

Laveranues?

Hearing the news today that the Jets may sign long-time Jets receiver Laveranues Coles has got me reminiscing. First of all, I think Coles would be a good fit. He would no doubt do the dirty work between the numbers and though Cotchery is already doing that better than 95% of the receivers in the NFL, having another for a second year QB in Sanchez will go a long way. Sanchez, despite not making the Super Bowl, still made it to the AFC Championship Game, and is likely to experience at least some ups-and-downs during this Jets season. But back to reminiscing…

I remember when I spent all my energy defending Chad Pennington to fans of other teams AND of the Jets.

I remember being proud that Curtis Martin was on my team, and representing my team off the field.

I remember getting a pick from the Chiefs as a result of the Herman Edwards fiasco, and selecting Neon Leon the Electric, who is now not part of the Jets anymore.

I remember enduring verbal abuse and carrying the stigma of being a Jets fan when we were 4-12 in 2005 and 2007 , up to the tease we got when Whitebeard did well early in the 2008 season before fading (and eventually becoming the best ever with the Vikings).

The Super Bowl run of last year is now a memory, just like the others. With a tough schedule that includes two teams that are arguably the two best teams in the AFL in the Ravens and the Patriots, as well as two divisional opponents in the ‘Fins and the Bills, the stage is set for the Jets. The beers are opened; the macaroni set. If the Jets can prospectively win 2 or more of these 4 games, it will go a long way to proving to their fans and the rest of the league that there’s more to this team than just the names on its roster. On the other hand, if they lose 3 or more games, be prepared to hear the jeering of Rex Ryan’s extra skin, or something. Fans and critics won’t have to wait too long to make the judgments that they are all dying to make.

there’s a big day coming…

Here’s a message to all football fans still undecided about a team: We’re ready to accept all applications to the Jets Bandwagon.

It’s right about that time of year when the air is getting crisper and football is right around the corner. And this year, behind our head coach and weight-loss czar Rex Ryan (imagine an entire series where Rex Ryan leads you through a multi-phase workout. Let’s call it p-90-xtrememasterflex2000.), the Jets are ready to pick up right where they left off: aiming for the Super Bowl behind a sharp, poised and GQ’d quarterback and a cast that looks, on paper, to be one of the top contending teams in the AFC (and the NFL).

More resembling of a VH1 celebrity reality show than a coherent NFL roster in name, the roster quietly boasts (and not quiet because of humility- talk about walking on eggshells) artists with many awards in their closet. Ladainian Tomlinson wins the Lifetime Achievement Award, but much like The Who who won the award in 2002, nobody is quite sure if LT will break a hip on the big stage in an importance performance(get it? they’re oldddd). Jason Taylor wins the award for Best Villain, but much like Brock Lesnar, who showed an amazing performance against Shane Carwin in the UFC Heavyweight Championship, nobody is quite sure if he’s a good guy or a bad guy until his next big performance (and whether he can ball). Santonio Holmes, by all reports, could not accept his award for Best Supporting Actor (aka slot receiver) because he was pulled over in his Bently while puffing the reefer. Santonio, dude bro, at least close the window!! (this is not a true story)

Its time for all those who are ready for an exciting season to jump aboard. If you’re a Mets and Nets fan like I am, the past 6 months have been dreadful to watch (though I’ll stay cautiously optimistic about the Mets’ chances for now). Now, the sound of the horses’ hoofs pulling Jets wagon brings hope.  Jump on! The air conditioning is broke, but we have a bunch of green foam fingers you can fan yourselves with. There should be plenty of room back there for now. Soon enough our carriage will look like that of the Celtics, Lakers, Yankees, and Saints: filled to the top with fans that can only muster enough effort to put Derek Jeter as their desktop background at the office or a Kevin Garnett fathead on the blind side of a mahogany dresser in the bedroom. We’ll accept you now; but only now, preferably before Hard Knocks (will be one hell of a show) begins, before the fluffy training camp reports surface and definitely before Gang Green steps on the field against Philly for their final preseason game on September 2. With two of the most underrated players at their positions in WR Jerricho Cotchery (whose hands might be able to grip a watermelon and whose veins are pumping with ice water) and MLB David Harris (our team leader in tackles and the silent, respected leader of the defense), along with the number of award-winning, familiar faced, high potential players on the roster, its time to get excited about this upcoming season. Switch over to the dark side before the most hardcore Jets fans begin calling you a FAKER (if its me, I apologize in advance)!!!

SO WHO’S PUMPED?!

ps. Not that this means anything, but typing “so who’s pumped?” in caps requires that one lets go of the Shift key, else this happens: ‘SO WHO”S PUMPED?!’. Problem is, when I’m pumped up, I press down the key as if you trying to drain Shift juice. Letting go of the Shift key relinquishes all intensity and consequently makes my mind feel funny.

pps. It’s good to be back

Music I’m Listening To: Lost In The Trees – “All Alone In An Empty House” and The Antlers – “Hospice”

and we’re back…

I’ve long neglected this blog for a number of reasons, none of which I can justifiably say are fair or substantiated. A few things that I’ve realized during this time off:

1.) Those who find their calling are the happiest ones on earth- ironically, the happiest ones are often the ones scouring slickdeals for coupons for free burritos.

2.) While being lazy on the Internet is easy and not unexpected, being productive on the Internet requires focus, dedication, and savvy…three skills that I failed to sharpen taking Chinese calligraphy last year in college.

3.) Revis is another name on a long list of players who decide to show their displeasure by hurting the team. Although I give him much more credit than Haynesnotworthit, as Revis has more on the line (read: greeeen).
I’ll be back with much more..