Tag: New York Jets

Saints to hire Maryland coach Cory Robinson to defensive staff

The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire Maryland Terrapins coach Cory Robinson, a respected defensive assistant from the college ranks.

The New Orleans Saints appear to have filled the vacancy left by assistant defensive backs coach Leigh Torrence, with Maryland defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson set to join them. News of Robinson’s addition was first reported by AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, which was confirmed by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Torrence left for a higher position with the New York Jets, rejoining defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (who Torrence once played for when they were both with the Saints, back in the early 2010’s). It’s a bit of a surprise that the Saints added someone to replace him this late in the game, but they obviously value having as many eyes as possible on the back end of the defense. He’ll work with secondary coach Aaron Glenn and senior defensive assistant Peter Giunta.

But let’s circle back to Robinson. He joined Maryland coach Michael Locksley’s staff just a year ago, having first worked as the Terps’ director of player personnel back in 2015. Sandwiched in-between were stops at Toledo (2016), Temple (2017), and Rutgers (2018), as cornerbacks coach.

This feels similar to the addition of defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen back in 2017. Like Robinson, Nielsen was a highly-regarded position coach who had earned a promotion to the NFL by successfully recruiting and developing talented athletes. Nielsen has done a great job coaching up inexperienced players like David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport; now, Robinson will get the same opportunity.

The Saints will go into the 2020 season with their coaching staff largely intact. While linebackers coach Mike Nolan was hired away by the Dallas Cowboys as their new defensive coordinator, the Saints made an in-house promotion to elevate Michael Hodges into that spot. With Robinson filling in for Torrence, New Orleans is poised to run it back one more time.

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2020 NFL Draft: Jets go a different route in Daniel Jeremiah’s post-combine mock

In Daniel Jeremiah’s post-combine mock draft, the NFL Network draft analyst projects the Jets to take Flordia CB C.J. Henderson.

With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in the books, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his latest mock draft on Monday.

In his new projection, Jeremiah has the Jets making a surprise selection with the 11th pick. With the top-four offensive linemen already off the board, Jeremiah has the Jets taking Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson over Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb.

Here’s his explanation for the pick:

It sounds like the Jets will aggressively address the offensive line in free agency. If so, they can address their need at cornerback right here.

Rumors out of Indianapolis expect the Jets to aggressively pursue the offensive line market, showing interest in free agents like Jack Conklin, Joe Thuney, Graham Glasgow and Bryan Bulaga.

Jeremiah has consistently been one of the most accurate mock drafters each year. With the Jets presumably already taking care of the offensive side of the ball in free agency, Joe Douglas opts to take a cornerback with his first draft choice as Jets general manager.

Henderson turned heads at the combine with his speed. Standing at 6-foot, 204 pounds, the University of Florida product posted a 4.39 40-yard dash on Sunday, finishing second-fastest of all of this year’s defensive backs.

In Henderson, the Jets would be getting a smooth cornerback who has the speed and athleticism to stay with speedy wideouts. He’s more than willing to help in run support and make the necessary open-field tackle. Henderson is a twitchy cornerback who has the ball skills and burst to be a No. 1 CB at the next level.

Despite it filling a position of need, this pick wouldn’t exactly lead an already impatient fanbase to warm up to Douglas. Whiffing on one of the top offensive linemen or wide receivers would be a major misstep for an organization trying to rebuild its young talent through the draft.

Larry David blames Jets for killing his friend in new episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’

The Jets found themselves in the plot of an episode of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Even in the offseason, the New York Jets still find ways to make headlines.

The Jets found themselves in the thick of the plot in Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In the episode, Larry David’s friend, Carl, kills himself because of the aggravation that comes with being a Jets fan. David is a lifelong Jets ran in real life.

Carl’s demise was brought about by news that Le’Veon Bell was out with a season-ending injury. This did not actually happen, thought the episode referenced plenty of nonfictional Jets disasters.

“I can’t take any more disappointment,” Carl wrote in his suicide note.

David goes on to tell a couple of his friends about Carl killing himself over the Jets, but he did attribute some of the blame to another New York franchise as well.

“The Jets killed Carl — and a little bit of the Knicks,” David said.

David then brings up Sam Darnold’s mononucleosis in a conversation later on with a friend.

“Last year started with such promise. Then Darnold gets mono, season’s over by Game 3,” David said.

Toward the end of the episode, David is sitting with Carl’s widow, Veronica, and explains why he thinks Carl killed himself.”The [expletive] Jets,” Veronica responded.

“He loved them so much,” she continued. “The Jets ruined our marriage. I couldn’t stand to be around him.”

The two then fought over the Austin Seferian-Jenkins fumble that cost the Jets an opportunity to beat the Patriots in 2017.

David is an avid Jets fan, but, like Carl, has been frustrated with the organization for years. So, he made them the subject of his show and got a few hilarious jabs in. Maybe that’s just David’s way of coping with all the pain Gang Green has brought him.

Knicks president Leon Rose knows all about struggling New York franchises — he’s a Jets fan

New Knicks President Leon Rose is a lifelong Jets fan because of Joe Namath.

Leon Rose knows what it’s like to root for a losing team in New York.

Rose was officially hired to be the Knicks president Monday after the team fired Steve Mills earlier this season. Rose then asked Knicks fans to be patient with him as he tries to get the team headed in the right direction. While many are surely skeptical that Rose can accomplish that — more experienced men have failed — perhaps there is something to be said for the fact that the former player agent understands the pain that comes with prolonged struggles in New York.

After all, Rose is also a Jets fan.

Rose grew up watching Joe Namath in the 1960s and 1970s and instantly fell in love with the Jets. Namath led the team to its only Super Bowl win in 1968, but there’s been little to cheer about in the decades since. Recent history has been especially cruel, as Gang Green has not made the postseason since 2010 and has enjoyed just one winning season since.

The Knicks can certainly relate. One of the premier franchises in the NBA on paper, the team has not won a championship since 1973. The Knicks appeared in two Finals in the 90s, but lost both. They have neither been to the playoffs nor recorded a winning season since 2013.

It’s no secret that both franchises are lacking some talent. Like the Jets, the Knicks have made bad choices when it comes to the draft, personnel hiring and free agent signings. That, combined with poor player development and a culture of dysfunction, isn’t exactly a recipe for success.

Now the Jets will hope Joe Douglas can successfully guide them through his first offseason as general manager. Rose, meanwhile, will have to let the NBA’s regular season play out — the Knicks are 19-42 and in 13th place in the Easter Conference — before he can start to really make some changes.

Until then, he’ll be rooting for Douglas to upgrade the Jets, just like every other fan of Gang Green.

5 wide receivers Jets should target on the trade block

The Jets need better wide receivers. These five players could be good options on the trade block.

Every offense needs playmakers and the Jets are in prime position to add several in free agency and the draft.

With Le’Veon Bell entrenched at running back and a quartet of tight ends led by Chris Herndon, Joe Douglas needs to shore up the wide receiver group, especially if he lets Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas leave in free agency. There are several free agent wideouts the Jets can target this offseason, as well as a dearth of prospects in the upcoming draft, but Douglas would be wise to scour the trade block as well for some players that could immediately upgrade his receiving corps.

The Jets aren’t tied directly to any of the following players, but all options should be on the table for Douglas his offseason. With that, here are five wide receivers the Jets should look at for potential trades.

(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery

Adam Gase needs playmakers on offense for Sam Darnold to work and Jeffery would be a solid addition to the Jets given his veteran skillset and connection to both Gase and Joe Douglas.

Jeffery caught 54 receptions for 807 yards and four touchdowns in 2017 with the Bears when Gase was his coach and when Douglas was the director of pro scouting. Jeffery also played for the Eagles for two years during Douglas’ tenure in Philadelphia.

Jeffery would become the Jets’ best wide receiver option with his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame, but there are obvious concerns when it comes to his production and durability. He’s coming off his least productive season since his rookie year in 2012, hasn’t turned in a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2014 and hasn’t played a full 16-game schedule since 2017. 

Jeffery reportedly “would welcome the change of scenery,” according to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, but there’s no telling what the Eagles would want in return for his services. Given his injury history – he just had Lisfranc surgery for his foot in December that comes with a nine-month recovery period – and the $9.910 million base salary the Jets would take in, it wouldn’t take much to acquire Jeffery, though it would be a huge risk.

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Would-be-Jets target Yannick Ngakoue to be tagged by Jaguars

Potential Jets target Yannick Ngakoue expected to be franchise tagged by Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars will use their franchise tag on defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, according to ESPN. Ngakoue would have been a Jets target in free agency, but any possible union between the two is now more complicated.

The tag will allow Jacksonville to try and trade Ngakoue if the two sides cannot come to an agreement on a contract extension. Ngakoue has been adamant that he doesn’t want to return Jacksonville and took to Twitter to reaffirm this Monday morning.

The franchise tag carries an approximate salary of $19.3 million in 2020. Ngakoue has made it pretty clear that he has no intention of signing the franchise tag.

Whether the Jaguars plan to keep Ngakoue remains to be seen. In the meantime, they also could be following the strategy of the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs just an offseason ago, when both teams tagged and traded defensive ends Frank Clark and Dee Ford, respectively.

Despite Jamal Adams naming Ngakoue to his wishlist of free agents, it’s hard to envision the Jets forfeiting a high-end draft choice for Ngakoue in addition to signing him to a lofty contract. Adams also named edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr. as fits for the Jets.

Joe Douglas has mentioned getting an edge rusher at the top of the Jets’ to-do list this offseason. Sacks haven’t been easy to come by for New York, which will surely look to get more out of that position, whether it’s acquiring Ngakoue or targeting Clowney, Fowler, Matthew Judon and Shaquil Barrett.

At the age of 24, Ngakoue has already amassed 37.5 career sacks, as well as 14 forced fumbles. He had eight sacks and set a career-high with 41 tackles and tied his career-high with 13 tackles for loss in 2019.

It’s unlikely the Jets will enter the Ngakoue sweepstakes due to the presumably high-price tag of a high Day 2 pick. Regardless, the Jets will seek an edge rusher who can bring an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball.

See it: Knicks introduce two Giants, completely ignore Jamal Adams

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones and WR Sterling Shepard got some love at the Knicks game, while Jets safety Jamal Adams got ignored.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Sterling Shepard were in the house at MSG on Monday night, and the New York Knicks made sure to get them involved.

The Knicks introduced the Giants duo on the big screen, had them sign a few autographs and toss footballs into the stands.

That’s a cool gesture, right? Well, not if you’re New York Jets safety Jamal Adams, who was sitting right next to them but got completely ignored by both the Knicks and the fans.

After the game, Adams had a little fun with the whole thing, tweeting that he’ll be going to Brooklyn Nets games from now on while also admitting he nearly stole the football from Jones.

It was all in good fun, of course, and it’s nice to see Adams taking the whole thing in stride. It can’t be easy to play for Team B in New York, especially when you’re out in public with members of Team A.

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC East Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC East Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

For the last two decades, the AFC East has belonged to the New England Patriots. Since the 2003 season, the Patriots have won the division every year, except for the 2008 season when Tom Brady tore his ACL. The Patriots still went on to win 11 games that season, but it was the Miami Dolphins who wore the AFC East Crown.

Will things change in 2020 in the AFC East as Brady could be on the move? Could another team sneak up and pass the Patriots inside the division? Here are the betting odds for each team to win the AFC East in 2020.

2020 AFC East odds: New England Patriots (-304)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. ET.

As expected, the Patriots are currently big favorites to win the AFC East for the 12th straight season. However, these odds are lower than usual as the Brady situation hangs over the fate of the entire franchise.

Even if the Patriots were to lose Brady, their defense, along with coach Bill Belichick makes this team tough to bet against. In all likelihood, Brady should return, and the Patriots will once again be one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. At their current odds, the Patriots are still a good bet to win the division. In fact, consider them a value play right now as Brady’s future is still in question.

2020 AFC East odds: Buffalo Bills (+325)

If you want to fade the Patriots, betting on the Bills at more than 3-1 to win the division isn’t a bad way to go. Under coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have gone 25-23 over the last three seasons. Their best year came in 2019 when they went 10-6 and made the playoffs.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The Bills have an incredibly talented roster on both sides of the ball, but they need QB Josh Allen to continue to take steps forward as a passer. With their elite defense and top-tier run game, it’s reasonable to think Buffalo could reach double-digit wins in 2020. Don’t be afraid of betting on this hard-nosed Bills team next season.

2020 AFC East odds: New York Jets (+1000)

After the Patriots and the Bills, there is a big gap between the next tier of teams in the division. The Jets come in at 10-1 underdogs after finishing the season 7-9 last year. There is some optimism surrounding this team as it won six of the final eight games to finish the season. While the Jets defense played near an average level last season, it was their 31st-ranked scoring offense that held them back.

If the Jets can find some offensive line help to protect QB Sam Darnold, it wouldn’t be a shock to see this team sneak into the playoffs next season. However, the Jets are still a long way from topping the Patriots and the Bills and should be avoided at their current odds.

2020 AFC East odds: Miami Dolphins (+2000)

The Dolphins are 20-1 underdogs to win the East. While they are clearly still rebuilding the roster, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this team turned things around quicker than most expect. First-year coach Brian Flores was awfully impressive in the second half of the season as the Dolphins earned impressive wins against the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Patriots.

If the Dolphins can find their franchise quarterback this offseason and rebuild their roster with the plethora of picks at their disposal, don’t be surprised if this team makes a big leap in 2020. However, it does appear Miami is still one or two years away from challenging New England or Buffalo atop of the division.

Want action on the AFC East Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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5 potential tag and trade partners for Jags pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue

After this morning’s news he was going to be put under the franchise tag, these are 5 potential tag and trade partners for Yannick Ngakoue.

With news coming Monday morning of Yannick Ngakoue’s desire to play elsewhere in 2020, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made the decision to use their franchise tag on the former Pro Bowler. Unfortunately for the team, Ngakoue’s stance could lead to a trade, which general manager Dave Caldwell would have to orchestrate.

Make no mistake about it, using the franchise tag on Ngakoue is 100% the correct thing to do. At just 24 years old, there certainly will be interest in Ngakoue because good young pass-rushers are simply hard to find.

To lose a player of Ngakoue’s caliber for nothing would have been a devastating blow for Jacksonville. Now, Caldwell can explore the trade market and gain more ammunition for next month’s draft — that is if he wants.

The question then remains, who is willing to partner the Jaguars in a trade? Below is a list of some possible scenarios that could unfold before the starting of the 2020 season:

Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins

With no illusions that the Dolphins will be using some of their ammunition to make a move for a franchise quarterback, it makes a ton of sense for Chris Grier to also secure the team’s long-term future at the next most important position by trading for Ngakoue.

With very little edge depth in this year’s class, it’s unlikely that the Dolphins would be able to secure an impact player of Ngakoue’s caliber with either the No. 18 or No. 26 picks. Whilst the idea of trading a first-rounder for someone who then wants to sign a contract averaging $22 million a year is scary, the Dolphins have plenty of cap space to do so. They currently have over $88 million in available space, good for first in the league and more than enough to absorb such a contract.

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5 kickers the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at five free-agent kickers Joe Douglas should avoid.

Kicking was a disaster for the Jets in 2019.

Between Chandler Catanzaro retiring out of the blue, Kaare Vedvik missing two kicks on opening day and Sam Ficken being hit or miss the rest of the way, the Jets failed to kick with consistency last season.

Ficken, who only made 70.4 percent of his field goals for the Jets, going 19-27 in addition to going 23-26 on extra-point attempts. In total, he missed 11 kicks and hindered the Jets more than he helped. Ficken, an exclusive rights free agent, will likely be let go, as the Jets signed former Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher to a reserve/futures deal in December.

That said, the Jets still need to bring in kicking competition for Maher, whether it comes from free agency or the draft. However, there are some kickers the Jets should avoid at all costs. Let’s take a look.

Adam Vinatieri

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Father time has finally caught up to the greatest kicker the sport has ever seen.

In 2019, Adam Vinatieri hit just 68 percent of his field goals while costing Colts three different games. For a team that finished 7-9, that was the difference between missing the playoffs and potentially winning the AFC South Division title.

Vinatieri has played 24 seasons in the NFL, only playing for two teams in the process. Although the future Hall of Famer has spent the past 14 seasons in Indianapolis, he will hit the open market. There is no guarantee he will return to the Colts for a 15th season.

With Vinatieri’s best days clearly behind him, he shouldn’t be anywhere near the Jets’ radar. Vinatieri may still want to kick, ending his storied career on his own terms. If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be in New York.

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