New York Jets Notes and Nuggets

Coach Mangini backed Eric Smith, who was fined $50,000 and suspended for a game by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin Sunday. He said the play happened so quickly, it seemed difficult to avoid the contact that occurred. "I definitely support the commissioner's initiative to protect the players and to do everything possible to promote player safety," Mangini said. "But Eric Smith is a good person, and he'd never do anything intentionally to harm somebody else." "It's difficult because both safeties were converging. You don't know necessarily who's going to get there first. You're not sure where the receiver is going to end up catching the ball. Is he going to jump in the air? Is he going to catch it on his feet? Is he going to turn? You're obviously trying to break up the play. That's the first objective."