Barnes’ next career
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- November
- 1
Big news from the Jets’ locker room: Fullback Darian Barnes wants to be a ninja.
Seriously.
He wants to go to a monastery in China (even though ninjas train in Japan) and spend four or five years learning stealthy martial arts.
Seriously.
This started as he tried to describe why he nearly ripped defensive lineman Mike DeVito’s right shoulder off in a tackling drill Wednesday – the ballcarrier is supposed to avoid contact but Barnes couldn’t help himself and instead lowered his helmet into DeVito. So Barnes then started telling us, the media, that Laveranues Coles, who was standing nearby at his locker, listening incredulously with his mouth open, was going to teach him some moves.
Some playful banter ensued back and forth between the teammates then Barnes blurted out he wanted to be a ninja. It’s one of the rare times I’ve seen Coles speechless. Barnes, though, persisted, walking through the locker room, speaking of his dream of being a ninja. On his way back, left guard Adrien Clarke made some comment to Barnes, to which Barnes replied, looking hurt, “Why do you have to crush my dreams?’’
In other news, I want to be a sumo wrestler.
In real other news (actually, I want to be a train engineer for Amtrak, and my wife, kids and several other sports writers will tell you I’m not kidding about that one), Coles said while it would be his inclination to play Sunday against the Redskins despite suffering a concussion against the Bills, he’s going to listen to what those close to him advise, as well as not putting up a fuss when the team doctors deliver their report. Sounds like he’s not going to play but I wouldn’t put anything past LC.
Coles again missed practice but DeVito was back after being limited yesterday. We’ll see what the participation report says at 4 p.m.
Practice squader David Clowney got in trouble with special teams coach Mike Westhoff for jumping the snap and heading downfield too soon on punt team. Westhoff told Clowney, not so gently, not to screw up his unit. Speaking of the punt team, wide receiver Justin McCareins was among those trying to block Ben Graham’s boots.
Injured kick returner Justin Miller wandered into our media room for some reason today while talking on his cell phone. He was surprised to see media members typing at their computers. Confused, he asked a PR representative what that was all about. Among the other questions Miller asked, other than why we were working here and not in our own office, was whether we had to rent cubicle space from the Jets and whether our stories were handed in to the Jets.
The answers were, no, no rental fees for our three-foot cubicle and the stories get handed in to our respective media outlets.
Forgot to blog this yesterday but a big topic of discussion in the media room was whether it was appropriate for 36-year-old Lance Armstrong to be dating, and apparently making out in public with, 21-year-old Ashley Olsen of the famous cutsie Olsen twins. To be honest, I hadn’t gotten my back up on the subject but some in the room were absolutely disgusted, figuring Armstrong was sitting at home watching Full House when Ashley was 5 or so.
Finally, speaking of respective media outlets, particularly mine, thanks for continuing to read this blog through our continued technical difficulties. Our blog server is starting to remind me of the transporter on the old Enterprise. Every time Capt. Kirk sneezed, the thing blew and Scottie was crawling around on his hands and knees fixing it with bobbie pins. It seems like anytime two bloggers try to use this server at the same time, CRASH.
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on Thursday, November 1st, 2007 at 2:36 pm by Andrew Gross.
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[...] Gross of The Journal News has some updates from practice including big news in the locker room. Jets runningback Darian [...]
Lance and Ashley…well, when I think of the fact that my father was 17 years older than my Mom, it’s hard to get too riled, though it does seem like an odd coupling.
On another note, I just found out that I am likely going to my first Jets game at the Meadowlands. My wife’s cousin is a season ticketholder and can’t make the game, so he’s fedexing us his tickets. If things fall in to place, we will pass up the comfort of our den to see the game live. Finger’s crossed that everything works out and I don’t regret it…been down there many times, but never for a game.
Do yourself a favor…watch the game in the comfort of your den.
Na—going to a pro football game is still so fun, and the Jets have at least been in most of the games they played this year to the end.. Back to Coles and his concussion stuff— KC is definately going to reduce that. This concussion and the one last year against Miami were both floaters by CP that he had to leave his feet to catch, leaving him vulnerable. Im excited to see what Kellen has, and Coles definately has 3 more years in him.
wow westoff geting mad at a practice squad player
speaking of the pratice 9 which of the 9 do you think is best
Schaef just put a smile on my face. But, truth be told, if I’d a chance to go to the game I still would. I’ve managed to go to only one Jets’ game in my life: Namath at Shea, about 1971 or 72, spending almost the whole game on his ass in the mud, Dolphins winning 43-0, if I remember right. Griese ran one in for a touchdown and ended his run right in front of me where I was sitting near the end zone. Game’s high point: the Jets blocked a PAT. I’d still go to any Jets’ game anytime. Yes, I am certifiable, but so is almost everyone else who posts on this site!
Ha ha…I’ve been to some Jets Bills games, but it will be nice to see a game in an environment where half the stadium isn’t looking to kill people like me. I was 50-50 on the trip, but my wife is really excited, as we haven’t gone away anywhere together without the kids, since we’ve had them. We’ve had family excursion and solo trips with the guys or girls. We’re overdue…even if it is only an overnighter and it gives me an excuse to take Monday off.
David,
I am also one who lives in Bills’ land. I don’t live in the capital city of Bills’ land, as you do, but I do live near Syracuse (sort of an outlying regional capital in Bills’ land), whose TV stations broadcast Jets’ games only when the Bills don’t sell out their home games. I had to knuckle under and get Direct TV when the Dish Network lost the right to send me NYC’s stations! Anyway, I really do hope you get a good game, and maybe even a Jets’ win. It’s not easy, as you point out, to live in enemy territory.
DAvid make sure they send you a parking pass too.
Alex, we aren’t too far from each other, as I live right in between Syracuse and Buffalo, in Rochester.
Wayne, Thanks for the tip. I was worried about the parking thing, but my wife’s cousin sent us e-tickets with the parking info printed on them, so I think we will be okay with that.
We are in section 334, row 17 (around the 15 yard line). How is the vantage point from the third tier?
Excellent seats to watch kick returns and long passes develop. Hopefully Kellen will air some out for you.
Dress warmly, think you lose the sun early.
Off topic, but just noticed that Kenyon Coleman leads all DE’s in tackles, DRob is 5th in the DT group (inlclude 4-3 DT’s), Revis is 2nd for CB’s and leads the Jets overall.
Vilma and Rhodes nowhere near the top.
Granted they are not getting many sacks, but the maligned defensive line appears to be holding up their end of the bargain, with the LB’s doing a very poor job.
Thanks, Wayne! I think if Harris keeps playing the way he did last week, the defense will continue to improve. I think he can be the monster linebacker, that the Jets have sorely needed in the middle. Nothing against Vilma, but he just does not belong in the middle of this particular defense. I honestly thin Vilma would have been much better off on the outside of this defense. The fact that the coaching staff could not see this, scares me a bit.
Yeah, completely misused, it does scare me.
Guess in their minds he was more important calling signals in the middle, but we saw how little water that argument holds last week.
Can not believe that in his entire career he was never used as an outside pass rushing LB. Seems like he was built to do exactly that.
If I were sitting where you are I would just watched Harris on every defensive play. Enjoy.
Well, we’ll be on the road early, but the clocks moving back will help. I think I’ll go with my black and green Chrebet jersey tomorrow, over a long sleeve and under a leather in case the weather turns.
Thanks for all the words of wisdom, Wayne!