Jets football blog

RB Jones returns to practice

Thomas Jones is back. Leon Washington isn't.

As expected, the disgruntled Jones ended his offseason boycott, rejoining the Jets Wednesday  for practice in Florham Park. The Pro Bowl running back had been skipping voluntary team activities, hoping to land a new contract. The Jets haven't renegotiated his contract, which runs through 2010, but his agent indicated last week that Jones was planning to show up.

Practice was closed to the media. Today's practice is open, and Jones is expected to address his contract situation. Continue

Rhodes not a suspect of rape at his home

New Jersey cops are investigating a woman's claim that she was raped at the home of star Jets defensive back Kerry Rhodes after meeting him and another man at a Manhattan nightclub, The Post has learned.

The woman, a Canadian tourist, told NYPD cops that two men raped her late Friday or early Saturday in Morristown, NJ, where the 26-year-old Jet safety has a town house, New York law-enforcement sources said. Continue

Sanchez gets a little heat from teamates

GQ's new favorite quarterback has been getting an earful over his struggles against Rex Ryan's hyper defense. And that's when he's not hearing it about the GQ photo spread.

For a while, Sanchez could barely take a step around the Jets' complex in Florham Park, N.J., without seeing one of his pictures posted up somewhere. One of the Jets' favorites is the shirtless one of him wearing short red lifeguard shorts, which elicits howls of "David Hasselhoff" whenever Sanchez is around. LB Bart Scott even wants to set up a "walk-off" between the quarterback and the team's resident magazine model - safety Kerry Rhodes.

"It was a team effort, they definitely put him on blast (embarrassed him)," CB Lito Sheppard said. "Coming from the West Coast and that sunny mentality, I guess you do some weird things. He thought he was auditioning for 'Baywatch.'" Continue

RB Jones to return

Thomas Jones' agent says the unhappy running back will report to the Jets' organized team activities next Wednesday.

Jones has boycotted all offseason workouts due to dissatisfaction with his contract.

Rosenhaus made the announcement this evening on his Twiiter page.

"Thomas Jones will attend the Jets OTA next Wednesday," it read. Continue

Rex not happy with Keels

It started with a tweet, which led to a tweak.

Perhaps responding to Twitter comments made by Leon Washington's agent that cast the Jets in an unflattering light, coach Rex Ryan responded Thursday by questioning whether the dynamic running back is receiving sound advice from the agent, Alvin Keels. Washington, frustrated by the lack of progress in contract negotiations, stopped attending voluntary workouts in Florham Park on Monday - a sudden about-face. Previously, he vowed to remain in the offseason program during contract talks. Continue

Wahington contract talks progressing

There appears to be a thaw in the Jets-Leon Washington contract impasse.

Washington, who's been boycotting the first in a series of organized team activities (OTAs) because he's unhappy with how the negotiations for a new contract have been going, might soon return to the OTAs. His agent, Alvin Keels, yesterday posted a message on his Twitter account that made it sound as if he and the Jets are on a better track toward coming up with a new deal for Washington. Continue

Both RBs sitting out OTAs for Jets

Two of the New York Jets' top running backs -- Leon Washington and Thomas Jones-- are reportedly unhappy with their contracts and are skipping offseason workouts.

That's bad news for Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, the team's top draft pick who will need a strong running game if he starts from day one.

Washington, the Jets' dynamic running back/kick returner, skipped the first day of the Jets' organized team activities Monday amid reports he's unhappy with his current contract, which has a base salary of $535,000. Continue

Shon Greene's motivation

In 2007, he was set to become the starting tailback at Iowa, but he flunked out of school and enrolled at nearby Kirkwood community college, where he hoped to get his grades up. To pay for the tuition, Greene worked at McGregors furniture in Coralville, Iowa, making $8 an hour.

Greene unloaded trucks and assembled furniture in a warehouse, determined to resume his football career at Iowa. Instead of becoming a couch potato, he lifted couches. Saturdays were tough because the Hawkeye games were on the radio in the store, and he would have to listen, a reminder of what he had lost. Continue

Clemens has to be much better to start

This much is certain after the first two days of the Jets' rookie minicamp:

Kellen Clemens will have his work cut out for him.

Clemens, entering his fourth season with the Jets, is set to battle Mark Sanchez this summer for the starting job, a competition that very well could be tilted in the prized rookie's favor.

It would be an exaggeration to say the fix is in, and coach Rex Ryan complimented Clemens on Friday while talking about Sanchez. But during the last two days of the minicamp, Ryan also has said he has no compunction about starting a rookie at the sport's most important position. Continue

Sanchez happy with first mini-camp

It was almost Brett Favre-like - the media circus, that is.

With 14 TV cameras and 60 media types watching from a landing above the Jets' indoor practice field in Florham Park, N.J., Mark Sanchez made his NFL debut Friday in a rookie minicamp. The former USC star made all the throws, and said all the right things afterward, but it was something he did Thursday night, away from the spotlight, that made the biggest impression on his coaches.

At the team hotel, Sanchez gathered his offensive teammates, ranging in stature from third-round pick Shonn Greene to a handful of non-roster tryout players, and conducted his own study group. Led by Sanchez, they took the Day 1 game plan - 18 plays - and learned it as a unit. Continue