Jets football blog

Duke coach defends Ainge

David Cutcliffe knows the primary rap on his most recent pupil. There was a palpable harrumph in his voice when he addressed it. "As a football coach, I'll tell you he has plenty of arm to play in that league. Plenty of arm," Cutcliffe said of Tennessee's Erik Ainge, the Jets' fifth-round draft choice, during an interview with Newsday on Thursday.

Cutcliffe has some experience in evaluating and mentoring successful quarterbacks. A pair of his students won the last two Super Bowls: Peyton and Eli Manning. "He [Ainge] was very gifted," said Duke coach Cutcliffe, who served as Tennessee's offensive coordinator when Peyton played in Knoxville and was Eli's head coach at Ole Miss. "I've been around a lot of gifted quarterbacks and he's very gifted as well. I wish I would have had him four years instead of two." Continue

Jets like TE's Keller instinct

After his 68-catch, 881-yard senior year at Purdue, undersized tight end Dustin Keller was projected as a third-round draft pick. In an effort to improve his pro stock, he made an unusual - and risky - decision: He blew off the postseason all-star games.

The Senior Bowl extended an invitation, but he declined. The East-West Shrine game wanted him. Sorry, no thank you. It certainly raised eyebrows in the scouting community. Continue

Keller's made huge strides

Joe Tiller had no problem addressing the primary criticism leveled against his tight end, Dustin Keller, whom the Jets took with the 30th overall pick of last weekend's draft. "His first couple years, he wouldn't block Molly Putz," Tiller said. "He was allergic to blocking, but he improved as he got older." So much so, Tiller said, "I think now he's a little underrated as a blocker." Continue

Keller pick stuns faithful

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Jets , who traded the 36th overall pick (a second-rounder) and the second of their two fourth-round picks (113th overall) to the Packers, were selecting Purdue tight end Dustin Keller at No. 30, there was a collective gasp from the crowd at Radio City Music Hall. "Un[bleeping]believable," was the rant of one text message to The Post from a fan at the draft.

Somewhere, Chris Baker, the Jets' starting tight end who's unhappy with his contract and has left the team's offseason conditioning program in protest, had to have a look of disbelief on his face. Baker, who has two years remaining on four-year, $6.6 million contract, is scheduled to make $683,000 base salary this season - about $1 million less than Bubba Franks, who was signed as a free agent for $1.65 million to be his backup. Continue

Jets pick Ohio state DE Vernon Ghoston

The New York Jets selected Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston with the sixth pick in the NFL draft. Gholston is expected to play outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 defense.

Jets need to make something of No. 6 pick at NFL Draft

It will be the Jets' most dramatic moment since enemies Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick approached each other for the postgame handshake last Dec.16 in Foxborough. Sad, but true. Barring a trade, the Jets will be on the clock shortly before 4 p.m. in Saturday's NFL draft - and they'd better not blow it.

For Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum, the Boy Wonders who will look more like one-year wonders if the team stinks again in 2008, it could be a seminal decision. Especially if Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan is on the board, which could happen. Continue

Dealing down

Darren McFadden. Vernon Gholston. Chris Long. Matt Ryan. In no particular order, those are the big four names at the top of tomorrow's NFL Draft who have been most associated with the Jets New York Jets , owners of the No. 6 overall pick. It's a virtual lock that one of those four will be available when the Jets' pick arrives.

The question is, will the Jets be happy with what's in front of them or will they trade out of the pick, move down a few slots and pick up one of the second-tier first-rounders while acquiring another pick or two in the draft? That, according to two people inside Weeb Ewbank Hall, is a possibility. Continue

Jets may ride Matt Ryan express

By doling out $140 million in free-agent contracts this offseason, the Jets have behaved like a team in a win-now mode. But if Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan is available in Saturday's draft, they're prepared to call an audible and look toward the future.

Looking up from the No. 6 position, the Jets can't be sure what will happen with picks two through five, but they appear to be targeting Ryan and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, multiple league sources said Wednesday. Although it's believed they prefer McFadden - they might be willing to trade up for him - the Jets are high on Ryan and could conceivably make the franchise-altering move for a quarterback. Continue

Gholston, Long perfect for Jets

James Laurinaitis has no say about which player the Jets select with their No. 6 overall in Saturday's NFL Draft first round. But he has as keen an insight on two of the players who are highest on the Jets' radar as anyone.

Laurinaitis, a linebacker at Ohio State, is very close to two players whom the Jets covet and could be available to them when their pick arrives - Ohio State's Vernon Gholston and Virginia's Chris Long. Gholston is Laurinaitis' teammate at Ohio State. Long has become a good friend, a friendship forged after the two roomed together at a Playboy All-Star game camp. Continue

Jets may trade up to get Arkansas RB Darren McFadden

Darren McFadden was in New York Tuesday for the second time in less than a week. The former Arkansas star has a hunch he could be spending a lot of time in these parts after the Jets make their first draft pick on Saturday. "I feel like if I'm there at No. 6, they're going to take me," McFadden told the Daily News at a promotional appearance in lower Manhattan.

The Jets own the sixth selection in the draft, and there is a growing belief around the league that McFadden is one of their targets. Concerned the Raiders (No. 4) might select the dynamic running back, the Jets may try to trade up (the Rams are at No. 2) for McFadden, according to a league source. Continue