Yardbarker: Ben Graham

[Jets] Jets Release P Ben Graham For Second Time This Year

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:16:13 -0500

The Jets have cut Ben Graham for the second time in two weeks. "Our net [average] was very good, the gross wasn't bad, but it's more difficult to...

[Jets] Jets Release P Ben Graham For Second Time This Year

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:16:13 -0500

The Jets have cut Ben Graham for the second time in two weeks. "Our net [average] was very good, the gross wasn't bad, but it's more difficult to...

NFL Punchlines: Bob Sanders to Miss 4-6 Weeks With High Ankle Sprain

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:38:32 -0500

If we had to guess we would say Elbert Mack's football hero growing up was Rodney Harrison. (Tampa Trib)

Interesting idea: When the Rams are looking to replace Linehan their first call should be to Dick Vermeil. (Post Dispatch)

The Seahawks signed Koren Robinson and traded for Keary Colbert in order to help bolster their receiving corps. (Seattle Times)

Raiders DT Tommy Kelly was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of DUI just hours after the team returned from Kansas City. (SacBee)

A 6-0 record to start the season seems possible for the Giants. (Newsday)

As we mentioned yesterday, the Jets did in fact give Ben Graham the boot. (NY Post)

We could kind of tell this was your plan when you started Tyler Thigpen at QB. (KC Star)

Bob Sanders is out 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain. (Indy Star)

How can the Texans prepare for a football game with the fallout from Ike on their mind? (Houston Chronicle)

Interesting source: According to an Austin council member, Cedric Benson is going to sign with the Lions. (Detroit Free Press)

After pulling a LaRussa, Broncos CB Karl Paymah was sentenced to probation and an alcohol treatment program. (Denver Post)

An award for "team" players might not be a bad idea. (Dallas Morning News)

Roy Williams has a fracture in his right forearm and is out 3-4 weeks. (Dallas Morning News)

On the Road Again…

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:36:23 -0500

This week is going to tell us a lot about the 2008 New York Jets! The last time the Jets won a road game anywhere outside of Miami was the end of the 2006 season. Yikes… So what chance do they have in San Diego? Well, there are a couple of things that make me think they have a fighting chance. First

Favre Most Untriumphant in Meadowlands Debut

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:15:19 -0500

It felt like it was meant to be, a symbolic changing of the guard in AFC if you will. The Meadowlands was unbelievably adorned with Brett Favre jerseys (green ones, blue one, green and yellow ones, and even makeshift spray painted ones), considering the fact that he had not played a single game in New Jersey as a Jet yet. The terrible cliches were out in force, including but not limited to excessive use of Braodway Brett and Jett Favre. And of course, Tom Brady wasn't playing.

When the first drive commenced, Brett Favre looked exactly like the Brett Favre who picked apart my Lions last Thanksgiving with 20 straight completions. That first drive reminded why this guy is so popular. When he is on, he's the best quarterback in the world. The Jets made quick work of the Pats defense, marching right down the field. Then, in classic Jets form, they sputtered in the red zone, settling for a field goal from the 11. Which they missed. And That was the end of the game.

From that moment on, the Jets looked bad. The line which was so dominant just a drive before, couldn't keep the pressure off. The running game, despite a much improved O-Line, couldn't get it going. Brett's best completion came on a tremendous grab by Jericho Cotchery on a towering one-on-one fly pattern only to be called back by a crappy offensive pass interference call. Favre's only TD pass came on a red zone crossing pattern, which was a blatant pick one the defender that they got away with, so I guess it's only fair.

Most reports will say that Cassel outplayed Favre, but that's a stretch. Cassel did little to nothing outside of his first nice drive as well. After that it was the a wholly uninspired game. Favre did throw a disastrous pick though, which was just a terrible throw.

Overall, this was a poorly played game by two teams, but the Pats made less dumb mistakes. Also, Ben Graham's punting was a major contributor as the Pats started most drives inside the 50. I think the big Aussie drank a lot of bloody mary's Sunday morning in hopes of curbing his hangover, because he practically missed the ball on every punt. One actually flew about 25 yards out of bounds.

As for notes about my first trip to the Meadowlands, the dude with the Fireman's hat who does the J-E-T-S chant was amusing, not because he does anything enjoyable, but more so because the kid I sat next to for most of the game was terrified of him. Everytime he came on the Jumbo he would excitedly tell us, "He's on again, look, look." So, finally I asked, "Do you actually like him?" and he matter-of-factly responded, "Not at all, I'm scared of him."

Also, Jenn Sterger seems to have found a new role as Sprint's random in-game, on-field personality, whereby she introduces the cheerleaders before they bust into a routine. It's pretty random and she actually has a pretty bad on-air presence. I think she is actually a decent writer, so not sure why she keeps going this route. She also asks trivia questions to fans and that type of thing. Remember that sweet interview we did with her? Man are we cool or what?

A lot of people give the Meadowlands a bad rap for transportation to and from the stadium. I was actually totally impressed with the NJ Transit system. The train from Penn Station took 10 minutes and then we promptly took the bus for a net travel time of about 45 minutes. After the game, the wait for that bus was slightly on the brutal side, but nothing like what I expected. I'm sure the complaints come more from people who attempt to drive to the game.

In terms of crazy fan stories, I don't have any good ones today, because I was doing the work thing, so we didn't get to tailgate, but it looked like a great parking lot scene out there. Jets fans definitely know how to do it up.

All in all, just a poorly played game, but a grand old time at the soon to be defunct Meadowlands. It always fun to check out a new venue for the first time, unfortunately, I really hoped for a different outcome. Next time, the Jets win this game.

Favre On The Way?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:13:31 -0500

To save the day? The rumors are swirling more fast and more furious than they were around draft time. Firts he says he doesn't want to play for teh Jets than he says he may take the Packers $20 mil to stay retired and now after early reports today that Brett Favre was headed to Tampa Bay, the New York Jets could be on the verge of landing one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. If they do pull off the improbable let me start the applause early. You cannot pass on the chance to acquire a player of Favre's caliber and to think he'd be a "diva" or "distraction" as I have heard bandied about in describing Favre now is utter lunacy. The fact that the Jets are so close and so deep into negotiations at this point tells you all you need to know about the team's faith in Kellen Clemens. They already know what Chad Pennington brings to the table. A player with more guts than ability at this stage of his career and more shoulder surgeries than playoff wins. In other news, Chris Baker is back to playing tight end in training camp but new toy Dustin Keller is the star of camp so far. Keller should be a tremendous weapon on offense while fellow rookie classmate Dwight Lowery might be the Kerry Rhodes of this year's draft. He is looking good and may pay instant dividends in the defensive backfield on dime and nickel packages to start before he may earn himself a larger role. Also of serious note is the improved play of punter Ben Graham. The Jets looked to be all but certain to replace Graham — possibly with recent camp exile Jeremy Kapinos — but it looks like Graham has nailed down the starting gig, and in style, as evidenced by his recent 86 yard punt in camp. G'day mate! In some increasingly concerning camp news ILB David Harris continues to sit out with a mysterious leg injury and Jesse Chatman has yet to practice as well. Harris is a necessity the Jets cannot afford to lose and it is imperative he gets better in a hurry so he can quarterback the new defense. And finally, someone is giving the Jets some credit (finally!) whereas most in the media just like to kick sand in the Jets faces no matter what they do to try and improve. At least in this report card the Jets are one of only a handful of teams to get an A.

2007 GNUru Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 23:04:30 -0500

Ok, so you could probably care less about where the GNUru has ranked this years crop of fantasy kickers...but that doesn't mean you should show up uninformed for your fantasy draft in regards to kickers. From Robbie Gould to Automatica Gramatica..the GNUru ranks them all!

Puntermetrics

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 09:44:31 -0500

NFL Punters are the most interesting players in the league. You want storylines? They're running trick plays, diving for flags, and making the ugliest TD saving tackles you've ever seen. Guys like Jeff Feagles and Brad Maynard have virtually earned degrees in meteorology (wonder if they scoff at dome punters). They've also got the best names: Tom Tupa, Scott Player, Brian Barker. But are getting dissed. They're not included in Fantasy Football, they took away the hangtime counter on TV coverage, and announcers rarely say how far a punt went. Perhaps the biggest insult to punters the lack of accurate statistics on the guys. Averages are incredibly misleading, and touchback, fair catch, and inside the 20 ratios go unnoticed. What are your favorite punters? Got any good punter stories?

Mangenius & Mr. Washington go to Miami

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:06:37 -0500

-Nick Saban gets outcoached -Lavereneus Coles forgets that the game even happened -ESPN combines the "glow puck" coverage with Wil E. Coyote for the halftime show -Leon Washington looks like Reggie Bush -NFL Punters are being disrespected, give the guys back the hangtime counter. -Gerry Austin once again proves, "I'm not senile yet." Also, did you catch Jimmy Kimmel's shout out to JB, Terry, Howie, and Chris at the end of his halftime segment. There was a quick, that lady just smacked their kid in the cereal aisle, type of pause and continuance like nothing's wrong. Anyone think he misses those days, before ABC owned him? What would happen if you put Kimmel in the MNF booth? My condolences to all in KC, CIN, JAX, and especially Tennessee.