Participation report
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- October
- 24
For those of you turning blue while holding your breath for an update on Jonathan Vilma, well, keep wishing.
The first practice participation report of the week was just handed out and, as expected and as Eric Mangini announced this morning, linebacker Jonathan Vilma did not participate because of a knee injury.
I’m seriously doubting they’ll be anything more on that today.
Here’s the full report:
Jets – LB Jonathan Vilma (knee) did not participate. TE Chris Baker (back), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), QB Chad Pennington (ankle) and NT Dewayne Robertson (knee) were limited. WR Justin McCareins (calf), TE Jason Pociask (back), DB Hank Poteat (chest), TE Sean Ryan (knee) and DB Eric Smith (thigh) had full participation.
Bills – DE Ryan Denney (foot), LB Leon Joe (knee), DE Chris Kelsay (ankle), S Jim Leonhard (calf) and LB Josh Stamer (calf) did not participate. TE Ryan Neufeld (quad) and CB Ashton Youboty (ankle) were limited and WR Sam Aiken (hamstring) had full participation.
Anyway, some overall impressions of the day. For a 1-6 team, the mood was pretty light, both in the locker room and on the practice field. They were worked pretty hard in the 30 minutes of practice the media was allowed to watch but there was joking and enthusiasm. That’s a good sign.
And I think it’s a definite sign the players are happy Chad Pennington has not been made a scapegoat for the team’s rotten play. The players, for several different reasons, both for fear of being fined and fear of belittling Kellen Clemens at Pennington’s expense, can’t truly express how happy they are to have Pennington remain under center. But he’s truly the team’s leader, not just the leader of the offensive unit. Perhaps Mangini believes the team will rally around Chad, though he shot down that theory today.
“To me, this isn’t a Chad Pennington issue,’’ Mangini said. “This is a New York Jets issue. this is all of us needing to do a better job.’’
True enough, but actions often speak louder than words and this is a team that looked like it had earned a reprieve today.
Also, interesting response from Bills quarterback Trent Edwards when I asked him what it told him about the NFL that Pennington’s job security has been such an issue. Remember, Edwards is in the midst of a mild QB controversy up in Buffalo as the rookie has taken over for a now-healthy veteran J.P. Losman.
“It’s sort of a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business and that’s difficult because you see how hard these guys work,’’ Edwards said. “It’s not necessarily always on the QB, but that’s the catalyst of the offense and that’s the first person they look to when they start losing games. Even if they’re not playing at a high level, it’s not always their fault, that’s just the nature of the business. It amazes me. I’m starting to learn that right now. It’s just amazing the way they treat the position.’’
Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Now don’t screw up.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 4:18 pm by Andrew Gross.
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Jane McManus 
The Bills made the right choice and Edwards seems like a quality guy, but I’ve got to hope he goes out and does screw up this week. I can’t afford the Jets to lose me my second lunch of the season at the expense of a Bills fan co-worker. I found it hard to believe that the Bills are 3 point underdogs. I was demanding the spread, before I knew what it was. When I found out, I refused to give him the points and we bet it straight up this time. In my mind, the Jets should be the clear underdog, this time around.
More candor from Edwards in one quote than from the entire Jets team all season. Could not play for this coach.
Re Vilma, once again, another allegedly disgruntled veteran instead is actually injured.
Excluding yourself, Andrew, it really seems the beat writers have been waiting for the first sign of adversity to pile on this disliked coaching staff.
They deserve criticism for their coaching for sure, but really wish the beat writers would lay off the criticism of the coaching style. Herm is not returning, like it or not. No two coaches are alike.
There are disgruntled players on every team, especially the losing teams. To make this clubhouse out any differently is deceitful.
Again, not by you Andrew, but many of your colleagues are creating stories where there are none.
Vilma was hurt, yet everyone wrote a “disgruntled benched Vilma” story. What happened to waiting for the facts?
There are plenty of things to criticize on the field, media does not need to create off the field stories.
Happened with Baker last week, now Vilma.
[...] Gross runs down the practice reports. [...]
Well, it sounds like Vilma really is injured. If Cimini is correct, then Vilma is done for the year with a bad knee and Hobson will take his place. Vilma is a great competitor, but I still think he’s out of place in the middle. Wish they could have him on the outside, but it will be interesting to see if, being forced to get stouter in the middle might have some kind of impact for this anemic D.
Harris would replace Vilma.
I’m sorry, I absolutely meant to say Harris, but was having some kind of flashback, I guess. Thanks for keeping me in line.
David: I’m not sure how old you are, but, speaking then only for myself, I’ve had a senior moment or two (I hope you’re not young enough to be insulted!) myself! Both men are linebackers, both played for Michigan, and both of their names begin with “H.” An easy flashback to make for anyone any age.
Are you old enough to remember Namath throwing footballs? The recent rage about calling Namath the most overrated QB of all time really pisses me off. Stats don’t tell Namath’s story (except the 4000 yards passing in one season thing-
first ever). Even Mike & Mike in the morning seem to forget that the rules were SO different back thensuch as a receiver being able to be beaten up all the way down the field until the ball was in the air, location of the hash marks, etc. Modern-day QBs have many advantages that puff up the stats, which is why the stats are dominated by modern-day QBs rather than the old guys. Someday, when I’m less busy, I’ll petition the NFL channel to rebroadcast (in NFL’s Greatest Games format) the game in which Namath threw for 497 yards on 15 or 16 completionsand that against a Colts defense whose zone coverage was highly regarded as one that could NOT be thrown long against. Caster had had two or three 80+ yard receptions. So-Namath would throw one or two passes for a touchdown and then Unitas would bring the Colts back down the field for a TD in 15 plays. Back and forth like that with the Jets prevailing in the end. I remember some of it as if it were yesterday. Truly a great game. UNDERRATED is more like it for Namath!Ha ha…Thanks Alex. Well, my birthday just passed and I’m older than I care to admit, although I’m told I still look younger. I became a Jets and a football fan, the year the Jets won the super bowl. Most of my youngest memories revolve around the beaten up Joe, quarterbacking a Jets team that seemed to constantly lose games at the feet of guys like Fred Cox. I had a huge Namath poster (I think it might have been a LeRoy Neiman rendering) on my closet door. I guess those were character building years…I’m a masochistic fan, with very thick skin.
Alex…You are 100% correct on your estimation of Namath. Back in those days the QBs were beaten up by the defensive players after throwing the ball. The O-lineman had to keep thier hands inside thier shoulders when blocking. Today they can wrap-up the D linemen and not get called for a hold. Todays QBs have all day to pass. The recievers were bumped as long as the QB still hadn’t thrown the ball. In the game you are talking about, Namath only threw 16 passes gor 450 plus yards.. Todays QBs throw the ball 40-50 times a game and they have all day to do it. God forbid they get hit. Joe Namath changed the face of the game. If he had good knees he would have been considered the greatest. In SBIII he shredded what was considered at that time, the greatest defense ever. Some sports writers predicted a 70-0 scored for Baltimore. Unfortunately that was the pinnacle of NY Jets. 1969 was a long time ago. I saw it. Hope you did too.