The Jets helped send Curtis Martin out a winner today with a 19-16 win over the Steelers in overtime.

Me, too.

Sorry to make a surprise announcment in the middle of your NFL season, but this blog represents the last words I will be composing for The Journal News, the end of a wonderful 14-year career at the newspaper.

Life goes on, of course, but I couldn’t leave without thanking everybody who has contributed to or just read this blog. This type of dialogue was a very fulfilling exercise, I always felt like I learned something about the team I covered by the insightful comments posted beneath my roundabout ramblings. Trust me, I have a lot of mixed emotions about leaving the Jets beat. This is the team I followed growing up so getting paid to watch all their games was somewhat of a childhood fantasy. I will miss being in that press room on a daily basis, for all the frustrations of covering a team that is, how shall we say, somewhat tight-lipped, we always had a good laugh. And not just the other media members, the Jets players, coaches, PR department and management, those are good people.

But, mostly, I will miss knowing that I was providing a window to a world all of you were curious about. I love being a reporter, I love telling a story, I love discussing that story, I love talking sports. My job, and specifically this blog, allowed me to do all that.

I’ll still be in the business, I’m just going to be doing something else for a while. Life is about challenges. I’m challenging myself.

There are so many memories that come with working at one place for 14 years. I’m not going to bore everybody by going through them. I would like to acknowledge two people who greatly influenced the person I’ve become.

First is John Humenn, who is still a local editor at The Journal News. John was the one who first brought me to The Journal News, first as a freelancer covering an American Legion state tournament in Cooperstown, then as a part-timer and, finally, as a full-timer. The full-time job, at first, did not include writing, it was about laying out pages. John was good enough, even though he was the sports editor when the Rockland Journal-News was still a separate paper, to assume some of my pagination duties so I would have time to write. I can’t think of many people who would have ever done that.

Along the way, John has become a great friend. I can talk sports with him for a long time. I can talk music with him forever.

While I’ve obviously stayed in touch with John, the second person I want to thank I haven’t spoken to for probably eight years. Dave Georgette was the former sports editor of what was then Gannett Suburban Newspapers when I was a young buck anxious to start covering more pro games.

He brought me over to Westchester for a meet-and-greet, I believe the first time I had stepped foot into the Westchester office. I was a little intimidated stepping into Dave’s office.

I forget how it came up but shortly into our meeting, Dave learned that my wife was pregnant with our first child. So instead of talking sports and how I could further my career, Dave spent a few minutes showing me the different ways to properly hold a baby.

Maybe this doesn’t say much of me but that put a lot of things into perspective for me. If family doesn’t come first, then something is seriously wrong. While I strive to be the best reporter I can be, I’m obsessed with being the best father possible to my two daughters. So thank you Dave.

And, again, thank you for reading this. And, Aunt Rebecca, I guess this means I’ll see you at Thanksgiving rather than calling you from Dallas.

As the great Caruso sang at the end of Pagliacci, “La Commedia è finita!’’

Take care everyone,
Andrew

Welcome to Steelers Stadium. Seriously, driving in, it was tough to tell whether this was actually the Meadowlands or the confluence of the three rivers. Right now, it’s running about 65-35 in favor of Steelers fans over Jets fans in the building.

Weirdest thing seen in the parking lot: a few people walking around wearing black lycra with small TV screens attached to their chests handing out hot dogs. It was a promo for TBS’ new comedy show Frank TV. Clever, huh?

Inactives are out…

Jets – Marques Tuiasosopo (third QB), WR Chris Davis, FB Darian Barnes (TE Joe Kowalewski essentially has a new role as a fullback with Stacy Tutt being placed on IR), OL Jacob Bender, OL Adrian Jones, TE Sean Ryan, LB Marques Murrell and DT Eric Hicks (ouch).

Steelers – Brian St. Pierre (third QB), WR Willie Reid, RB Gary Russell, CB Grant Mason, LB LaMarr Woodley, C Marvin Philip, OL Darnell Stapleton and OL Trai Essex.

Fashion report: Jets green on green, Steelers perfect in white over yellow. They’re running off the field now. Man, are there tons of yellow Terrible Towels in the house.

Never gave a prediction on this one so here goes: Steelers 27, Jets 10 but it’ll be a game until midway through the third quarter. Willie Parker rushes for 178 yards, Ben Roethlisberger carries for another 37. Kellen Clemens gets sacked four times.

Finally, check out my main man from Newsday Tom Rock’s blog. Read the Conspiracy Theory entry. As I told Tom today, this is in bad taste. But I think it’s pretty funny.

Talk to you later with some news, tease, tease…

Few quick items here.

First, the participation report is out for today’s practices. The Jets are pretty clean. Only wide receiver Chris Davis (shoulder) and nose tackle Dewayne Robertson (knee) were limited. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who missed the Jets’ game against the Redskins before the bye with a concussion, is not on the list at all. Coles said he felt pretty good today so there’s no reason he won’t be available.

The Steelers were missing running back Willie Parker (hip), left tackle Marvel Smith (coach’s decision) and wide receiver Hines Ward (coach’s decision) from practice today, along with running back Gary Russell (personal) and linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring). Linebacker Andre Frazier (groin) was limited.

Also, I thought there was an interesting comparison between the teams two young coaches today. Whereas the Jets’ Eric Mangini again tried to rationalize the 3-4 vs. the 4-3 and how the difference wasn’t really all that great – this to a question as to how Mike Tomlin kept the 3-4 in place in Pittsburgh after coaching a 4-3 in Minnesota as the Vikes’ D coordinator last season, Tomlin went right to the heart of the matter in his conference call.

“I think anything other than staying with the 3-4 would not have been driven by the desire to win,’’ Tomlin said. “We had a great scheme, we had great continuity with our players and the guys that fit that scheme so it wasn’t broken. It wasn’t my intention to fix it. I’m interested in winning football games. I’m not interested in putting my stamp on the defense because that happens to be my area of expertise.’’

The Steelers, under D coordinator Dick LeBeau, have successfully used the 3-4 for years. The Jets were a 4-3 team under Herm Edwards but Mangini brought the 3-4 from New England. Most outside observers believe the team’s personnel is not directly suited for the 3-4 in that the linemen aren’t big enough to stuff the run.

Finally, a little plug here. I hope you guys will join me tomorrow night on JetsInsider.com as I do an online chat at 8 p.m. According to the plug on that site, I will, “take your questions and chat about all the happenings at Weeb Ewbank Hall heading into the second half of the season.’’

See you there.

Today sort of has that feel from college the day before you left for spring break. You’re here physically but you’re on the beach or at the bar mentally.

When we walked into the locker room today, there were some ugly clothes hanging in the center of the room. Looked like a flea market where you wouldn’t want to spend fifty cents. Apparently, Eric Barton went into Bryan Thomas’ locker and put some of BT’s belongings on display. BT was hoping to initiate legal action.

Have no fear, though, coach Eric Mangini was on top of the hijinks, making sure his team kept its focus before its four-day break. I asked whether it was hard to keep his team’s attention at this point, before everybody heads out.

“I thought yesterday was a very good in terms of focus and attention and today’s going to be very good, as well,’’ Mangini said. “It’s going to be very good.’’

I countered whether Mangini would have any compunction canceling shore leave and bringing his players back tomorrow. He would not.

“The schedule is fluid,’’ Mangini said. “I think everybody understands that and appreciates that.’’

Other notes from Jets-land today: Jonathan Vilma underwent surgery in Florida, allegedly on a knee. We may know by next training camp how the surgery went.

The team also signed Appalachian State rookie Marques Murrell off the Eagles’ practice squad. The 22-year-old Murrell, a defensive end in Philadelphia and in college but now an outside linebacker with the Jets, is the younger brother of former Jets running back Adrian Murrell, who, we learned today from his brother, is working in water management down in Charlotte. In the tackling drill, Murrell did a nice job making contact with Danny Ware and then stripping the ball from Darrelle Revis. Punter Ben Graham, whose wife just had the couple’s third child, a son, Jack Benjamin, on Monday, was excused from practice today. So Mike Nugent handled the punting duties today. Let’s just say Graham could probably handle kickoff duties easier than Nugent handles the punting.

Finally, don’t know if you guys saw this stadium survey that SI.com did but, please note, Giants Stadium finished dead last among fan experience – for Jets’ games. For Giants games, Giants Stadium ranked 25th. Give the survey a read and tell me whether you agree. I’ll admit, it’s hard for the media to get a good sense of the fan experience. The press box is so high up and sealed, so no sound filters in. Honestly, it’s a fairly vanilla environment up there. And, note to my bosses, I don’t tailgate before games, but it does look like you guys enjoy that, at least.

This just in from the Jets.

November 6, 2007—The New York Jets have waived safety Rashad Washington. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Washington (6-1, 217, Kansas State) was selected by the Jets in the seventh round (236^th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.  In four seasons, he played in 48 games and tallied 69 special teams tackles, 22 defensive tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed.  He recorded 10 special teams tackles in nine games this season.

For a time, Washington was a very valuable special teams player. In fact, when I polled the locker room last season, he was most constantly cited as the player most likely to make a big play on special teams. But he was awful against the Redskins with two penalties (going on memory here as I try and race out the door to Hofstra) and he also was  clobbered on the Redskins’ successful onsides kick.

No disrespect to Washington but, finally, some signs of life from coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum. Too often, they’ve threatened changes and, Clemens for Pennington notwithstanding, most of them have been cosmetic. This move, though seemingly minor, might actually get some players’ attention in the locker room.

Remember that line from the last entry about the Jets’ defense not playing badly?

Never mind.

The Jets run defense was atrocious today. It’s beyond baffling that nine weeks into the 2009 season, coach Eric Mangini is still citing poor tackling. It’s tackling. It’s what, as a defensive player, you’re supposed to know how to do. The players have no explanation for it, just a, “We need to get this corrected,’’ attitude.

In fact, what I can report from the post-game locker room is that this is not the devastated team you would hope it would be at this point. Sorry to say, but the losses seem to be starting to roll of their backs, almost as if this is what they expect.

It’s a very disturbing trend.

Another thought: The usually sure-handed Jerricho Cotchery dropped two balls today. Justin McCareins dropped two in a Week 2 loss at Baltimore that Kellen Clemens started. I’m thinking the receivers might be having a hard time adjusting to the difference in the way Clemens throws as compared to Chad Pennington.

Pennington’s balls tend not to be fastballs. Clemens’ are. There may be a period of adjustment the Jets’ receivers need to go through. I didn’t get a chance to ask Cotchery that today, I’ll try tomorrow.

Finally, here are some post-game notes courtesy of the Jets’ PR staff that I have lazily cut and pasted.

Jets RB/KR Leon Washington returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. It was his third kickoff return for a touchdown this season, which is a Jets record for a single season and ties Justin Miller for most career kickoff returns for a touchdown as a Jet. He is the 11th player in NFL history to return three kickoffs for a touchdown in a season. Buffalo’s Terrence McGee was the last player to accomplish the feat, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2004. Bobby Humphery was the last Jet to return an opening kickoff for a touchdown. He had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Cincinnati (12/21/86), a 52-21 loss. Leon Washington’s return was the Jets 10th kickoff return for a touchdown since special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff joined the Jets in 2001. The 10 touchdowns are the most in the NFL during that span.
Washington is now averaging 33.5 yards per kickoff return on 25 returns.

TE Joe Kowalewski caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens in the second quarter to cap off a 10-play, 80-yard drive. It was the first touchdown of Kowalewski’s career and his second career reception. The Jets signed Kowalewski as a free agent in 2006 after he came to rookie minicamp on a tryout. He spent 2006 on the practice squad before making the 53-man roster in 2007.

WR Laveranues Coles was inactive today, ending his streak of 104 consecutive starts and 107 consecutive games played, which was the longest active streak in the NFL by a wide receiver. The last game that he did not start was at Baltimore (12/24/00), the last game of his rookie season.

WR Chris Davis made his NFL debut lining up at wide receiver in the first quarter. He had a three-yard rush in the second quarter before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

K Mike Nugent was two-of-three on field goal tries, nailing a 29-yarder in the first quarter and a game-tying 30-yarder with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The field goals were the 58th and 59th of his career, passing Bobby Howfield for fourth all-time in team history. He now has 251 career points, passing Wayne Chrebet for 13th all-time in team history.

LB Eric Barton recorded his first sack and first interception of the season in the third quarter on the same series. He sacked Jason Campbell for a seven-yard loss and then intercepted him five plays later.

It was Barton’s fourth interception in his nine-year NFL career and first since 2004 vs. Seattle, his first year as a Jet.

WR Justin McCareins started at wide receiver for the second time this season. He caught a season-high three passes for 32 yards.

WR Brad Smith started at wide receiver for the fourth time this season. He caught a career-high four passes for 27 yards.

QB Kellen Clemens completed 23-of-42 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 48 yards on seven carries, including a career-long 18-yard run in the second quarter. Clemens’ 18-yard rush was the Jets longest run by a quarterback since Vinny Testaverde ran for 24 yards at Buffalo (9/8/02). The last Jets quarterback to rush for 40 yards in a game was Brooks Bollinger against Oakland (12/11/05), when he ran for 56 yards on six carries.

Jerricho Cotchery caught five passes for 90 yards to extend his streak to 15 consecutive regular-season games with at least four catches.

It is currently the second-longest streak in the NFL behind Rams Torry Holt’s 16-game streak. The Rams had a Week 9 bye. Cotchery leads the team with 51 receptions for 682 yards (13.4) and one touchdown.

Thomas Jones rushed for 49 yards on 13 carries. He passed Travis Henry, Chuck Foreman and William Andrews to move into 66th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. Henry rushed for 31 yards on nine carries today at Detroit. Henry now trails Jones by 13 rushing yards.

Chris Baker caught a season-high four passes for 42 yards.

David Harris, according to the press box defensive statistics, recorded 24 tackles with 20 solos in his second career start. The defensive coaches’ film statistics will be released Monday night.

The Jets recorded a season-high 23 first downs.

This was the Jets first overtime game since vs. Jacksonville (9/25/05), a 26-20 loss. They are now 14-15-2 in overtime games.

The Jets trail the all-time series with the Redskins 8-1.

Mea culpa.

The Jets defense is playing much better than anticipated. Linebackers Vic Hobson and rookie David Harris have both gotten heavily involved and the secondary is playing very strong man-to-man coverage.

And, perhaps most importantly, Kellen Clemens has been in control of the offense, poised, confident. I still think he stands in a little too long but that will come with experience.

And my Syracuse boy, Joe Kowalewski, darn near chest bumped everybody in the stadium after catching his first career touchdown. I can understand his excitement. Kowalewski was a complete longshot at training camp in 2006. Catching a touchdown really signifies how far he’s come.

Just wondering, though. Did Chris Davis hurt his shoulder after a hard celebration hit from Kowalewski?

Still waiting for Pete Kendall to catch a TD pass.

To everybody’s relief, Laveranues Coles is inactive today.

As stated in the previous post, everybody who cares about this man wanted to see him inactive as protection against himself. There are still effects from last week’s concussion and concussions are cumulative – something I was schooled in by ex-Ranger Eric Lindros, who, for obvious reasons, was very up on the subject. Essentially, the more you suffer, the more likely you are to suffer another one and the less likely you are to recover quickly.

A week off, at least, is the best thing for LC.

Newly-signed wide receiver Chris Davis will be on the Jets’ active roster. Interesting few months for Davis. The former CFLer (Montreal Alouettes) was signed as a free agent July 26, then waived Sept. 1. The next day he was signed to the practice squad, then released from the practice squad Oct. 25. On Oct. 29 he was re-signed to the practice squad, then signed to the active roster yesterday.

Today, the 23-year-old from Wake Forest, a slight 5-10, 180 pounds, makes his NFL debut.

The full inactives:

Jets: QB Marques Tuiasosopo (emergency QB), CB Drew Coleman, FB Darian Barnes (not a happy camper these days), T Adrian Jones, TE Jason Pociask, WR Laveranues Coles, TE Sean Ryan and NT C.J. Mosley.

That leaves Stacy Tutt as the FB and Chris Baker and Joe Kowalewski as the TEs.

Redskins: QB Mark Brunell (emergency QB), CB David Macklin, LB Marcus Washington, OL Mike Pucillo, DT Ryan Boschetti, RG Randy Thomas, OL Kevin Sampson and WR Brandon Lloyd.

Jets green over white, Redskins white over maroon.

More later…

A little behind on this weekly feature but…

Redskins 14, Jets 10 – Pete Kendall catches two touchdown passes after reporting as an eligible receiver.

As Kendall might say, that would show an incredible espirit du corps.

My real thoughts on the game are that the Jets’ offense will definitely get a bump from Kellen Clemens, mainly because at least now the rest of the players know what direction the team is going. This QB thing has hung over them for about a month; it wasn’t easy on them, no matter what they say publicly. We’ll get the inactives shortly (which I’ll post) but I daresay Laveranues Coles will be inactive. Everybody, including his mother, hopes, for his own sake, that he takes it easy this week.

I just don’t think the defense is good enough right now to win an NFL game. And that’s just about it for analysis, pretty much begins and ends there.

Meanwhile, still shaking off the effects of a great Van Halen concert last night here at the Meadowlands. Have to admit, didn’t go in with high expectations because the VH boys have been through a lot and David Lee Roth didn’t have the greatest voice even when he was young.

But I’ll tell you what, they were in-freakin’-credible. What impressed me most was they took the stage at 8:55 and played straight through till 11. Literally, one song ran into the next, no long-winded stage talk from DLR, no milking the audience for applause, just rock. Even the encore came with minimal effort. They played Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love, DLR said, “Thanks, good night,’’ and three walked off stage while Eddie stayed on for an insane guitar solo. Then they came back for Jump, which, to be honest, I really could have down without.

But Unchained was off the hook, as was Everybody Wants Some and Somebody Get Me a Doctor.

Good, good stuff, surprisingly so.

Only bad part was searching the Meadowlands parking lot for a half hour trying to remember where we parked. We were all turned around. Luckily, we found the car before we had to take a ride in the Loser Van – the van that drives around the Meadowlands parking lot after events helping people find their car. My buddy once rode in that for about two hours.

Also, a funny scene from the Verizon Wireless store in Nanuet the other day. A couple is getting a new phone and, in the meantime, they spy a Jets cell phone case. They asked the Verizon representative if those were being given away for free now since the team was doing so badly.

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.