Jets News 4/30

hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

BUILDING WITH D'BRICKASHAW
JETS BOLSTER O-LINE WITH LEFT TACKLE & CENTER
By MARK CANNIZZARO

D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON Photo: Getty D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON
http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/63100.htm

April 30, 2006 -- Like baubles at a high-stakes Sotheby's auction, the most dynamic skill-position players in the NFL Draft sat tantalizingly before the Jets as yesterday unfolded.

Houston's stunning Friday night decision to draft North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick left dynamic USC running back Reggie Bush available at the second choice, and the Saints listened to trade offers.

After New Orleans, which asked a ransom for the pick, drafted Bush, and Tennessee took Texas quarterback Vince Young with the third choice, the Jets then had USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who was 37-2 as a starter and threw 99 TDs in three seasons, staring them in the face.

The Jets, despite having perhaps the most uncertain quarterbacking situation in the NFL with injury-riddled Chad Pennington and unproven Patrick Ramsey, never batted a flirting eye at Leinart, drafting Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth pick.

So the Jets, in essence, passed on the past two Heisman Trophy winners, eschewing the bold, if risky, move of landing a possible franchise quarterback and played it as safely as they could.

They, in fact, stuck to their safe, here's-the-beef, building-block first-round by taking Ohio State center Nick Mangold, another player who figures to start immediately on the offensive line, with the 29th pick.

The Jets then addressed the quarterback position in the second round, when they chose Oregon's Kellen Clemens with the 49th pick. They earlier traded out of their 35th overall pick in the second round with Washington, which gave the Jets a sixth-round pick and a 2007 second-rounder to move up.

The Jets, to make sure they secured Clemens, traded back up in the second round from No. 53 (Washington's previous pick) to No. 49 with the Cowboys, giving Dallas that sixth rounder they'd gotten from the Redskins and their seventh-round pick.

This draft, though, forever will be known as the one in which the Jets, instead of going after a franchise quarterback in the first round, opted to try to protect the ones they already had.

GM Mike Tannenbaum spoke to the Saints to "investigate the opportunity" to trade up for Bush, but New Orleans' asking price was too high.

Then, as Leinart slid down the draft board (he ended up being picked by Arizona at No. 10) and as Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler lasted until the 11th pick (Denver), the Jets made no attempt to trade up for either by packaging their 29th and 35th overall picks in a deal.

Leinart said he thought "it was a possibility" the Jets would pick him at No. 4.

"I heard it was D'Brickashaw and me," he said. "For whatever reason they decided to go in another direction."

The Jets and Ferguson, a Freeport, L.I. native, were delighted with that direction.

"I don't think there could be a better feeling in the world," Ferguson said.

The Jets, with gaping holes on their offensive line, plan to plug in Ferguson immediately at left tackle. Adrian Jones, last year's starter there, will move back to right tackle, where he began his career. Mangold will fit in nicely replacing Kevin Mawae, who has signed with Tennessee.

"It's a rare opportunity where the board marries a need," Tannenbaum said of the Ferguson pick. "We feel we killed two birds with one stone in that D'Brickashaw played at a high level at a position we needed help at."

The match, for the Jets, was a no-brainer in spite of the Leinart temptation.

"D'Brickashaw was a dominant player at his position and left tackle is an extremely difficult position to fill," Eric Mangini said.

Al Groh, the former Jets coach and Ferguson's head coach at Virginia, said, "This is a great pick for the Jets. He showed professionalism long before he turned pro. Only a certain type of athlete can really thrive in New York and he is that kind of man."

Oddly, the large contingent of Jets fans who crowded the balconies at Radio City Music Hall yesterday approved of the Ferguson selection despite the fact Leinart was available.

"New York fans really showed me a lot of love; I was very emotional," Ferguson said.

Said Tannenbaum, "I just hope they have that same feeling after opening day."

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

CAN'T PASS ON KELLEN
By MARK CANNIZZARO
http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/63101.htm

April 30, 2006 -- As the first round of the NFL Draft unfolded early yesterday afternoon and Kellen Clemens saw the Jets pass on Matt Leinart, Clemens' eyes lit up.
"Passing on Leinart left the door open for me," Clemens said yesterday. "I was excited when I saw it."

As he should have been. The Jets drafted the Oregon quarterback in the second round with the 49th overall pick.

"I kind of figured the Jets would take a quarterback, but I didn't know whether they'd take one with their fourth [overall] pick," Clemens said. "When they passed on Matt, I figured they'd use one of their second- or third-round picks."

The Jets actually did some nifty maneuvering en route to drafting Clemens. First, they traded out of the 35th overall pick with Washington in exchange for the Redskins' sixth-round pick (the same sixth-rounder the Jets traded to the Redskins for Patrick Ramsey) and their second-rounder in 2007.

Then the Jets traded back up from 53rd (the Redskins' original second-round pick) to 49th (with the Cowboys) to secure Clemens, who was the fourth quarterback drafted yesterday, after Vince Young, Leinart and Jay Cutler.

Clemens, 6-1 5/8, 224 pounds, is known for his leadership and toughness intangibles. Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer visited him in Oregon about a week ago.

Clemens joins Chad Pennington, Ramsey and Brooks Bollinger on the Jets' depth chart, prompting GM Mike Tannenbaum to note that New England carried four QBs on its active roster in 2000, Tom Brady's rookie year, an attempt to indicate that Bollinger is not a goner ... at the moment.

Clearly, though, the Jets drafted Clemens with hopes he'll be the heir apparent as the starter at some point.

"Kellen had a great touchdown-to-interception ratio (61-to-24) and a great completion percentage in college (61 percent)," Eric Mangini said. "He also has an infectious personality. His players rally around him."

Tannenbaum said it was the intangible elements that separated Clemens from the rest of the second-tier QBs.

"All the feedback we got on this guy was that he's got outstanding, outstanding intangibles in leadership and playing hurt ... we feel that was the difference," the GM said.

Clemens said yesterday all he wants to do is come in and compete. He, after all, has been used to performing in the shadows of other QBs, having played in the Pac-10 against prolific Leinart, who attended USC.

"I feel very comfortable in the position I'm in," Clemens said. "There are a lot of quality quarterbacks there in New York. I'm excited to come in and learn and compete when I can."
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Jets rebuild with D'Brick

Pass on Leinart for left tackle

BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/413441p-349575c.html

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who grew up in Freeport, L.I., comes home to the Jets with the fourth overall pick.
Jets fans are excited with their team's selection of D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
The fans cheered. They actually cheered the Jets' first pick, D'Brickashaw Ferguson. A stunning D'Velopment, considering their favorite team let two Heisman Trophy winners get away in a 20-minute span yesterday at the NFL draft.

"I just hope they have the same feeling after Opening Day," GM Mike Tannenbaum said of the crowd's reaction at Radio City Music Hall.

How about a year from now? Or 10 years?

The Jets' decision not to trade up for Reggie Bush, followed by their cold-shoulder treatment of Southern Cal teammate Matt Leinart, could haunt the team for a long time - especially the Leinart snub.

Tannenbaum confirmed that he talked to the Saints about trading up to the second spot, but he backed off because New Orleans demanded an Eli Manning-esque package that included two first-round picks.

Then, after watching the Saints take the electrifying Bush, the Jets eschewed an opportunity to grab a potential franchise quarterback, passing on Leinart in favor of Ferguson at No. 4.

Afterward, Tannenbaum and rookie coach Eric Mangini, Woody Johnson's wonder boys, had some 'splaining to do. But they didn't provide any concrete answers.

Tannenbaum hinted they didn't want to mortgage the future for Bush, saying, "We need a lot of pieces. Obviously, there were some opportunities out there today that were carefully evaluated. At the end of the day, we feel very good about having D'Brickashaw."

Ferguson, who grew up in Freeport, L.I., 10 minutes from the Jets' facility, is regarded as one of the best left tackle prospects in years. He and Ohio State center Nick Mangold, chosen with the 29th pick (acquired in the John Abraham trade), will be the foundation of a rebuilt offensive line.

They were safe, solid picks. But, with a murky future at quarterback, the Jets could've made a statement by picking Leinart, the most polished passer in the draft. He went 37-2 in college, won two AP national championships and could've been the new face of the franchise. Instead, Leinart went to the Cardinals at No. 10.

In Round 2, the Jets selected a different Pac-10 quarterback - Oregon's Kellen Clemens, an efficient passer with terrific intangibles but a suspect arm.

Still, why not Leinart?

"We spent a lot of time with Matt," Tannenbaum said. "He's a good person, and he's going to be a good player. . . . We just felt that, as an organization, the best thing to do at the four spot was to take D'Brickashaw."

The Jets were impressed with Leinart in a recent private workout, but not enough to allay their concerns about his arm strength and Hollywood image. He never was a serious consideration with the fourth pick.

It's believed the top of their draft board looked like this, in order: Bush, defensive end Mario Williams, Ferguson, Maryland tight end Vernon Davis and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

Tannenbaum, running his first draft, called it "a rare opportunity where the board meets the need."

Added Mangini: "With my background on defense, one of the things I appreciate most is a good left tackle. You're always looking for a weakness, which is normally the left tackle. For us to get a left tackle of D'Brickashaw's caliber, he's a nice fit."

The Jets went for the big man, not the big name. The fans approved.

"The fact that the Jets fans showed me a lot of love really spoke volumes to me," he said. "I know that I'm welcome here at this city. It's my home."

He was the Jets' highest-drafted offensive lineman since Dave Cadigan at No. 8 in 1988. One NFC scout said of Ferguson, "I think he'll be a Hall of Fame tackle."

Ferguson (6-6, 305) was a four-year starter at Virginia, where he established himself as an elite pass protector. Anybody who read the Jets' injury report last season knows that pass protection wasn't a strong suit. Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler suffered season-ending shoulder injuries in the same game.

Barring a protracted contract dispute, Ferguson will be the Opening Day starter at left tackle. Adrian Jones, the incumbent, could return to right tackle.

Before the Leinart-Ferguson drama, the Jets made a play for Bush, who shockingly dropped out of the top spot Friday night when the Texans signed Williams. The Jets contacted the Saints yesterday morning and there were a lot of phone calls.

The Jets didn't make a serious offer, according to a Saints source. The Saints wanted them a pay a Reggie Tax, so to speak, and the Jets didn't want to pay. So they stuck to their original plan.

Jets picks (Rounds 1-3)

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia

Pick: 1st Round (4th overall)
Vitals: LT, 6-6, 306

What you should know: A shutdown pass protector. Could become Chad Pennington's best friend. Good, not dominant run blocker. Remarkable athlete with a 7-3 wingspan. Degree in religious studies, a youth minister, plays the saxophone, black belt in karate. Named for the Ralph de Bricassart character played by Richard Chamberlain in "The Thorn Birds."

Nick Mangold, Ohio State

Pick: 1st Round (29th overall)
Vitals: C, 6-4, 300

What you should know: The best center in the draft. Will battle recently-acquired vet Trey Teague for the starting job. Three-year starter in college. Not an overpowering blocker, but plays with great technique and intelligence. Could be the next Kevin Mawae.

Kellen Clemens, Oregon

Pick: 2nd Round (49th overall)
Vitals: QB, 6-1-1/2, 219

What you should know: Fourth QB taken in the draft. Recorded a 61/24 TD-INT ratio in college. Great intangibles, questionable arm strength. Best suited to a West Coast offense. Sounds like Chad Pennington. Season ended Oct. 22 after broken left ankle.

Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State

Pick: Round 3 (76th overall)
Vitals: LB, 6-0-1/2, 250

What you should know: A reach in the third round, according to many draft experts. Three-year starter in college, but could have trouble finding time in the Jets' suddenly-crowded linebacking corps. Tough at the point of attack, but doesn't cover much ground.

Eric Smith, Michigan State

Pick: Round 3 (97th overall)
Vitals: S, 6-1, 209

What you should know: Yes, another safety - five in the last three drafts. A slew of injuries, but healthy the last two years. Smart and intense. Sounds like an ideal special teamer. Even Smith was surprised that he went in Round 3: "I was getting ready to pack it in and call it a night."

Rich Cimini
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Should've been welcome Matt
Gang Green's snub is way off Lein-art
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/413454p-349590c.html

The Jets were now on the clock after their weak bid to move up for Reggie Bush failed to tempt the Saints. Matt Leinart waited in the green room for his cell phone to ring, wanted his cell phone to ring, but it was D'Brickashaw Ferguson who was soon posing for pictures with Paul Tagliabue.

Leinart didn't have to wait as long as Dan Marino in 1983 or Brett Favre in 1991 or Aaron Rodgers last year, but one call from the Jets to Leinart would have taken care of both their needs: The Jets don't have a franchise quarterback and Leinart craved the big stage of New York.

Leinart's fall to the Cardinals at No. 10 after a career that included one Heisman Trophy, two national championships and nearly a third was humbling. But at least he has a team. The Jets still don't have a quarterback.

"We spent a lot of time with Matt. He's a good person, he's going to be a good player. He's very successful," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "We just felt as an organization that the best thing to do in the four spot was to take D'Brickashaw."

Ferguson will start at left tackle right away and probably stay there for the next 10 years. But the stubbornness of the Tannenbaum-Eric Mangini regime in sticking to the New England way of doing things - is Bill Belichick running their draft room by remote control? - by refusing to use a high pick on a quarterback made this an uneventful and forgettable day for the Jets.

Chad Pennington is trying to resurrect his career after his second shoulder surgery in eight months. Patrick Ramsey was twice benched by Joe Gibbs for Mark Brunell. Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks, doesn't make many mistakes at quarterback. And he gave up on Ramsey. The Jets also had Brooks Bollinger, but hardly made up for skipping Leinart when they took Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens in the second round.

But the good thing is the Jets can now protect them from the blind side with Ferguson. And they made this a draft with a lot of star power by drafting another offensive lineman, center Nick Mangold, with their second first-round pick. They turned the John Abraham trade into a center.

So why did Leinart fall?

Arm strength. Too Hollywood. Accomplishments tainted because he played with so many great players. Not a great athlete. This, of course, overlooks the fact that he was 37-2 starting for Pete Carroll at Southern Cal. The Jets needed a face for the franchise and Leinart has the charisma.

"All the questions that teams had, I answered when I met with them," Leinart said. "As far as the arm strength, I answered that. As far as the lifestyle that I have, I answered that. As far as them getting to know me as a person, I think I answered every question I could."

Then, he said, "Everyone looks for the negatives and a lot of these people have no idea what they're talking about."

Did teams have any other concerns about Leinart? One GM insisted there were no red flags when they did their background checks. He said the reason Leinart went 10th was strictly football. Agent Tom Condon said there was "absolutely nothing" that scared teams away from his client.

Leinart actually was pretty happy about getting picked by the Cardinals: They added Edgerrin James to the backfield and have receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and are moving into a new stadium. He didn't appear broken up after getting snubbed by the Jets.

"Obviously, I'm in a place where I was wanted," he said.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis said yesterday if New Orleans didn't sign free agent Drew Brees, it would have drafted Leinart. "We think the kid is an A-plus talent and an A-plus kid," he said.

Of course, by signing Brees and then the Texans outsmarting themselves by passing on Bush to take Mario Williams, the Saints were able to get a quarterback and a running back. But their risky decision to sign Brees instead of drafting Leinart will backfire if Brees doesn't bounce back from shoulder surgery.

"We had the opportunity to get a proven guy," Loomis said.

The Titans were split on Leinart vs. Vince Young. GM Floyd Reese, who drafted Steve McNair over Kerry Collins in 1995, used the same philosophy taking Young over Leinart: Patience. Leinart is ready to play now. But Young could be the better long-term player. The Titans' coaches wanted Leinart.

After the Jets passed on Leinart, his next potential stop was Oakland at No. 7, but the Raiders went for safety Michael Huff. With the return of coach Art Shell, the Raiders will once again emphasize Al Davis' downfield passing game, which is not Leinart's strength.

So, he dropped to the Cardinals, where he will learn behind Kurt Warner. He can call Eli Manning for notes.v

The Jets never had much of a shot to get Bush. The Saints were willing to listen, but wanted to be overwhelmed with an Eli Manning-type trade. The Jets never offered their second No. 1 pick or even their second-round pick to move up for Bush. "Well, obviously, I'd love to play in New York," Bush said with a Saints cap on his head. "I could have made a lot of money in the marketing in New York."

Leinart said Cards coach Dennis Green said it was a "gift from heaven" he was there for Arizona. Green can thank the Jets. Sometimes teams just think too much. Leinart should be a Jet.

Originally published on April 30, 2006
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Brick should handle heat

BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/413453p-349587c.html

Virginia coach Al Groh knows exactly what D'Brickashaw Ferguson is walking into. Groh walked out of the same situation in 2000, and the former Jets coach believes Ferguson has the mettle to handle New York.

"I feel only a certain type of athlete can really thrive in New York, and he's that kind of man," Groh said yesterday. "He understands this market because he grew up here, and he is one of them."

Ferguson grew up in Freeport, L.I., only 10 minutes from the Jets' facility in Hempstead. There will be a lot of pressure on the local kid who made good.

Even though his family moved to Pennsylvania, Ferguson will find that playing in a familiar area can be difficult, with plenty of potential distractions. That he was the fourth pick in the NFL draft, taken ahead of Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart, will raise the temperature on his hot seat.

"I don't think there could be a better feeling," Ferguson said of his homecoming. "I think this is a dream come true."

Growing up, Ferguson always was considered too skinny to be a major star. As a high school sophomore, he was 6-3, 210pounds. He was fast enough to play tight end, but Freeport coach Russ Cellan put him at tackle and he never left. As a senior, he was named the best player in Nassau County.

Ferguson grew to 6-6, 305, still light for an NFL left tackle, but he has rare athleticism for his size - a quality that will help him against speed rushers.

"He's a left tackle like Anthony Munoz," said one NFC scout, referring to the Bengals' Hall of Famer. "Ferguson isn't as mean and tough as (former Jaguar) Tony Boselli, but he's tougher than (current Raven Pro Bowler) Jonathan Ogden, and just as good an athlete as Ogden."

Said Ferguson: "Hopefully, I'll be able to be a great player like I was in college."

If there's a knock on Ferguson, it's that he might be soft. That probably stems from his off-the-field interests. He's a youth minister and plays the saxophone, performing in his local church. He graduated in 3-1/2years with a degree in religious studies.

"That's ridiculous," Cellan said of the soft label. "The NFL is always looking for a chink in the armor. He's not a football head, not talking football 2-4/7, but he's an unbelievable competitor."

Ferguson was named after the Ralph de Bricassart character from "The Thorn Birds," a novel-turned-TV miniseries that aired in 1983. Five questions into his post-draft interview at Radio City Music Hall, he was asked about his unusual name.

"I definitely think this is probably the most-asked question in America, so hopefully this will be the last time I have to answer this," he said.

Prediction: It won't be.

Originally published on April 30, 2006
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Get passer in second
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/413452p-349586c.html

The Jets drafted a potential quarterback of the future yesterday, Oregon's Kellen Clemens in Round 2, and they also explored the possibility of trading for Curtis Martin's heir apparent.

Before the draft, the Jets talked to the Cowboys about acquiring running back Julius Jones, who has rushed for 1,812 yards in two injury-plagued seasons. If the Cowboys had drafted a runner, it would've made Jones expendable. Talks appear dead.

The Jets didn't take a running back with any of their five picks.

Clemens is only 6-1-1/2 and he doesn't have a big arm, but "the guy has outstanding, outstanding intangibles," GM Mike Tannenbaum said.

"Them passing on (Matt) Leinart left the door open for me," Clemens said.

He completed 64% of his passes last season, with 19 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. He missed the last two months of the season with a broken ankle.

Rich Cimini

Originally published on April 30, 2006
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

FIRST BRICK IN THE FOUNDATION
Jets go for Freeport's Ferguson for O-line with Leinart available
BY KEN BERGER
STAFF WRITER; Staff writer Bob Glauber contributed to this story.

April 30, 2006

Nothing happened in the NFL draft yesterday to clarify who will be playing quarterback for the Jets in 2006. But whoever it is will have a better chance of remaining upright.

Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini proved that, if nothing else, they will not cave in to public opinion or do what is popular at the expense of what their football instincts tell them. And their football instincts told them that Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson - not Reggie Bush or Matt Leinart - would be the first draft pick of their new regime.

"I really don't see any minuses about coming home," said Ferguson, who is from Freeport.

Despite rampant speculation that the Jets were aggressively trying to swap picks with the Saints, who wound up taking Bush with the second pick, the Jets never seriously considered such a move, according to two people familiar with their situation.

According to a person familiar with the Saints' thinking, the Jets, Packers and Bills spoke with New Orleans about acquiring the pick.

Talks with the Jets were "not significant enough to make [New Orleans general manager] Mickey Loomis think twice about it," the person with knowledge of the Saints' situation said.

Tannenbaum, running his first draft as the Jets' GM, admitted talking with the Saints, but the move from No. 4 to No. 2 would've been too costly: the fourth and 29th picks, plus other considerations. "I would just say there were some conversations that we had, and I'll just leave it at that," Tannenbaum said.

It was even easier for Tannenbaum and Mangini to resist the temptation to select Bush's teammate, USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who wound up going 10th to the Cardinals. Jets officials already were anticipating Leinart being available even before the Texans' surprising decision Friday night to select North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams over Bush with the first pick. Leinart was never a consideration, according to the two people with knowledge of the Jets' strategy.

"Rarely is it so pronounced where a need and the board match up," said Tannenbaum, who didn't seem fazed by passing on Leinart. "Whatever other people's opinions are, I can't control."

Given the groundswell for the Jets to move up for Bush or take Leinart with the fourth overall pick, it was somewhat surprising that the reaction from fans at Radio City Music Hall was favorable when Ferguson was announced. "I just hope they have that same feeling after opening day," Tannenbaum said.

Ferguson seemed mildly surprised that, in his words, "The New York fans really showed me a lot of love ... I understand the quarterbacks were still there, but I was just as stressed out as they were. I didn't know what was going to happen."

With their second first-round pick, 29th overall, acquired in the John Abraham trade, the Jets further solidified their offensive line by selecting Ohio State center Nick Mangold. The Jets traded their second-round pick, No. 35, to the Redskins for the 53rd pick, then traded with the Cowboys to select Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens with the 49th pick, passing on Alabama's Brodie Croyle and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst.

The Jets moved back five spots in the third round and picked Ohio State linebacker Anthony Schlegel, 76th overall, also getting a seventh-round pick (No. 220) from the Eagles. With their other third-round pick (97th) the Jets selected Michigan State safety Eric Smith.

Ferguson was a four-year starter at Virginia for former Jets coach Al Groh, who gave Mangini and his staff a glowing scouting report. "Any big sack, any big hit that comes usually is blamed on the left tackle," said Ferguson, who views himself as the quarterback's bodyguard. "Regardless of the pick, the position itself is high pressure."

When he met Chad Pennington during his visit to Hofstra several weeks ago, Ferguson said the quarterback's attitude was "anybody who can help him out, he'll take him."

He's been projected as an All-Pro-caliber left tackle, a much more coveted position than running back, and he was rated far ahead of Leinart and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler - and even ahead of Vince Young, who went third to the Titans, on some teams' draft boards.

"With my background on defense, one of the things I appreciate the most is a good left tackle," Mangini said. "Defensively, you're always trying to find a weakness. The weakness is usually there at left tackle. For us to get a player like D'Brickashaw at left tackle, who is the kind of person D'Brickashaw is, it's a nice fit for us."

Staff writer Bob Glauber contributed to this story.
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Yawn...Jets pass on excitement
http://www.newsday.com/sports/footb...4037apr30,0,4972824.column?coll=ny-jets-print

April 30, 2006

The first thing to understand about the NFL draft is that none of the people doing the picking know squat.

Some may know more than others, but not one could tell you with certainty who made hay on Day 1. And who put themselves on the road to becoming the next Texans.

I say someone needs to develop a Wonderlic intelligence test for the yo-yos who run the teams.

For fun, I devised my own makeshift Wonderlic yesterday, based on a player's employment of grammar, deportment and humility (unfortunately, the executives were too busy "brainstorming" to test them), and I tell you this:

Vince Young didn't score anything like a 6 out of 50, as he was reported to on his real Wonderlic, the test used as a worthless hammer over pro hopefuls.

He's more like a 46 out of 50. He gave thoughtful, courteous answers. He showed poise under pressure. And he paid tribute to his mommy.

Nice touch.

Two NFL teams passed on the absurdly talented Young and nine passed on consistent winner Matt Leinart, quite possibly the result of over-thinking, over-analysis and their own foolishness. The Jets never showed any interest in trading up for Young and passed on the bold and brash Leinart, who was 37-2 at USC.

Instead, at No. 4, they grabbed Freeport's own D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a left tackle to protect the two hurt/flawed quarterbacks they already have, and one they selected later.

It was a safe first selection. Most all their moves were. The Jets nearly put me to sleep.

Their tandem of Young and Younger, Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini, told us they wanted "smart" and tough" players. Give them this: Using their own criteria on themselves, Young and Younger went at least 1-for-2; they showed toughness by executing one of the more boring draft days in recent lore before the usual rabid Jets crowd.

Rather than trading up for Reggie Bush or Young, or trading for Leinart, they picked two offensive linemen in the first round - Ferguson, then Nick Mangold, the Ohio State center - and then lassoed a quarterback, Kellen Clemens of Oregon, a little later than we hoped.

There are really no knocks on Ferguson, a pleasant, religious University of Virginia product who seems quite bright (he's no 6 on anyone's Wonderlic) and started four straight bowl games. Except he's no Young, Bush or Leinart.

The Jets tried to trade for Bush, but New Orleans surely wanted to duplicate the Ricky Williams-type haul they once surrendered (I'm speaking of Williams' draft-day trade, not his recent extracurriculars), so we'll give them a pass there.

It's Young, or at least Leinart, the Jets should have landed. Most of the fans I talked to were satisfied with Ferguson. But a couple considered what might have been. They dreamed of another brash, boastful quarterback running around the city.

"[Derek] Jeter needs someone to party with. We could have had David Wright, Jeter, Leinart and Nick Lachey partying at the China Club every night," said Jets fan Damian Tirado of Staten Island.

Despite the lost partying potential, most Jets fans showed a respectful side, generally cheering the Ferguson selection. "The fact that the Jets fans showed me a lot of love really spoke volumes to me," Ferguson said. "I know that I'm welcome here in this city."

After starting with the two linemen, the Jets traded picks for later picks. Watching a car's underbelly rust came to mind.

Draft day traditionally has been a Jets day, and Young and Younger are trying to change that, first by 1) rendering this day as dull as the Weather Channel on a clear day, and 2) creating something more field-worthy.

Ferguson looked good in his suit and nearly everyone on the floor noted what a "solid" pick it was, as if that means a thing.

Part of the beauty of the NFL draft is nobody knows how this turns out. Eighty-one times the NFL geniuses passed on Joe Montana, and 198 times they passed on Tom Brady. Yet 6,000 fans at Radio City Music Hall were cheering and booing players they'd barely seen, or in some case, heard of.

We've all seen Young and Leinart, maybe too much. We've all picked them apart, picked them to death. Young and Leinart are two of the best quarterbacks in NCAA memory. Perhaps productivity should count more than a stopwatch, off-field rep or useless exam.

The knock on Young was his unorthodox delivery and lowly Wonderlic score. With Leinart, he supposedly had too little arm and too much Hollywood.

"If teams passed on me for that reason, that's their problem," Leinart said.

It wasn't just the Jets. Teams passed and kept passing until Arizona grabbed him at No. 10. Could it be they were all outsmarted by the Cardinals?

Meanwhile, Young and Younger are building this team in their own image, duller than dull. It might work. No one really knows. But yesterday it would have been nice to welcome a brash young quarterback to energize this town, the way another one once did.
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Jets snare wounded Duck
Oregon QB Clemens shows he plays hurt but is '95 percent' healthy from a broken fibula
BY KEN BERGER
Newsday Staff Writer

April 30, 2006

The Jets got their quarterback - not with the fourth overall pick, but the 17th pick in the second round.

His name is not Matt Leinart, but Kellen Clemens is quite familiar with the quarterback the Jets opted not to select during the first day of the NFL draft yesterday.

"He was 37-2 as a starter with a couple of national championships and a Heisman Trophy in his back pocket, so you kind of expect to play in his shadow when he's putting up those kind of numbers," said Clemens, who played for Oregon and opposed Leinart in Pac-10 play before being selected by the Jets with the 49th overall pick.

"Them passing on Leinart left the door open for me."

The Jets made two trades to get Clemens, dealing the 35th pick to the Redskins for the 53rd pick, a sixth-rounder this year (189) and a second-rounder next year.

Then they traded the 53rd pick to the Cowboys for the 49th pick to select Clemens, also giving up the 189th just received from Washington and their seventh-round pick (No. 211).

They chose Clemens, who completed 61 percent of his passes with 61 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in four seasons at Oregon, over Alabama's Brodie Croyle because they evidently were spooked by Croyle's extensive injury history.

Their decision to take Clemens over Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst signaled a shift in organizational philosophy. It is believed that former general manager Terry Bradway, who has stayed with the team in an advisory role, had been pushing for Whitehurst.

"The production and all the feedback we got, this guy had outstanding intangibles - character, leadership, playing hurt," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "There's a lot of attributes at that position we've identified to be successful, and at the end of the day, we liked those."

The fourth quarterback selected after Vince Young, Jay Cutler and Leinart, Clemens suffered a broken fibula in the eighth game last season - an injury he termed "95 percent" healed.

He's listed at a shade over 6-1 - although he apparently misspoke in telling reporters he is only 6- 5/8 - and he's not known for his arm strength. He thrived last season in a simplified spread offense at Oregon that was predicated on short throws and didn't require complicated reads.

"I think I'm definitely more proficient in the shorter passing game, the quick-hit routes," Clemens said. "But my deep ball and my vertical passing game has improved immensely over the last year to year and a half."

Clemens' family owns a 3,500-acre ranch in Oregon, and he's never been to New York.

Said Clemens, "I'm a guy who can just adjust to what is thrown at me and make the most of it."
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

JETS' SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS
KEN BERGER
April 30, 2006

Second round,

49th overall
Kellen Clemens, QB, 6-1, 224, Oregon

His list of intangibles sound a lot like Chad Pennington's: "Demanding, vocal leader who studies the game and will expect the same from his teammates," according to the Pro Football Weekly draft guide. "Good work habits. Has a rodeo toughness. Intense competitor." ... Like Pennington, not known for his deep accuracy or arm strength ... Thrived as a senior in the spread offense installed by Oregon offensive coordinator Gary Crowton ... Was not required to make complicated reads ... Protected by a short, controlled passing game ... Great leader who can rally a huddle ... His best year came as a senior, but it was cut short by a broken fibula in the eighth game ... Born June 6, 1983.

Third round,

76th overall

Anthony Schlegel, LB, 6-1, 250, Ohio State

Most scouting guides had him pegged as an effort player who would get consideration on the second day ... All about toughness, work ethic and intangibles ... LB coach Bryan Cox loved him at the combine ... Set two world deadlift records in the 19-and-under group for 220- and 240-pound division with lifts of 662 and 672 pounds ... Also a high school heavyweight wrestling champion ... A Texas native, he has gone wild boar hunting with dogs and a knife ... Transferred from Air Force, where he was a team co-captain ... Projects as an inside linebacker and special-teamer ... Lacks speed and range ... Not a great tackler ... Could struggle in coverage ... Despite athletic limitations, he fits the role-player mold that the Jets' new regime is seeking ... Born March 1, 1981.

Third round,

97th overall

Eric Smith, S, 6-1, 209,

Michigan State

Another player long on intangibles and short on natural ability ... Excellent football intelligence and instincts ... Long history of injuries, including torn meniscus in left knee, torn anterior cruciate ligament in right knee and torn rotator cuff in shoulder ... A series of sprains in both shoulders have required surgery ... Started 22 games the past two years, when he was mostly healthy ... Projects as a strong safety or linebacker and special-teamer ... Intense competitor with good size, but struggles tackling in space and in coverage ... Was stunned to be picked this early. "I really thought I would be later," he said. "I was getting ready to pack it in and call it a night." ... Born March 17, 1983.
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Jet fans knew to draw line
Sunday, April 30, 2006
BY KEVIN MANAHAN
Star-Ledger Staff
http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1146375454146760.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

NEW YORK -- John Roffe was sure. So sure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have modified his beloved Curtis Martin jersey -- the one he has worn on game days, the one he washes in the gentle cycle.

Gone were the factory-installed, perfectly symmetrical letters across the shoulders, replaced by a handwritten and poorly centered "Bush," some letters skinny, some thick, in black marker.

Roffe was going to be the first guy on his block with a green-and-white Bush jersey -- even if he had to make it himself.

"Don't get me wrong," he said before the draft. "I love Curtis Martin, but ..."

But? Here's the but: Just minutes after the Jets made their first-round pick at the NFL Draft yesterday at Radio City Music Hall, Roffe was in the second-floor lobby, wiping his eyes and blowing his nose.

The Jets, with a pocketful of draft picks to trade, were unable to pry the second overall selection from the New Orleans Saints, who chose Reggie Bush, the explosive USC running back and Heisman Trophy winner. Stuck at No. 4, the Jets ignored USC quarterback Matt Leinart and took Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Even though Ferguson was the player the Jets had targeted before anyone thought they would have a shot at Bush, Roffe was crushed.

"I'm upset," he said. "We missed a chance to get the next Barry Sanders, or better than Barry Sanders. I hope we made a good offer. I hope the Saints just wanted too much. But, really, I think we should have done whatever it took to get him."

Honk! Roffe blew his nose, then wiped it, and we wondered: Is Bush worth crying over?

"I'm not crying," Roffe said. "It's allergies."

Well, if he was allergic to this pick, he was in the minority. Inside, other Jets fans were using their handkerchiefs as terrible towels, waving them in the air to celebrate.

If the Jets had been able to juke the rest of the league and grab Bush, fans would have been delirious. But they were happy with the fallback plan, the first draft pick by the Hofstra Wonderboys -- rookie GM Mike Tannenbaum and rookie coach Eric Mangini.

Maybe bypassing Leinhart and choosing Ferguson was a safe pick. But with a franchise haunted by first-round busts like Johnny "Lam" Jones, Blair Thomas, Russell Carter and Ron Faurot, the fans gladly welcomed the selection of brute over cute. After all, the Jets had gotten cute by selecting quarterback Ken O'Brien in 1982, leaving Dan Marino, a future Hall of Famer, to the Miami Dolphins.

On that day, the fans had howled. Yesterday, they high-fived.

The Jets have a 6-6, 313-pound D'Brickahouse to solidify a flimsy offensive line that twice has put quarterback Chad Pennington on the operating table with shoulder injuries. And whether next season's starter is Pennington or free-agent acquisition Patrick Ramsey, he can feel safer. Ferguson, considered the best pass blocker in the draft, is expected to start.

"It's a good pick," said Jim Clancy of Lodi, a season ticketholder for the past 15 years. "I wanted to move up and get Bush, but we took the best of what was left. We didn't make a reach. We took the guy who will help us. It was a smart choice."

Said Keith Hopton of Flanders: "We needed a stud on the offensive line, and we had a chance to get a guy who could be there for the next 10 years. They had to make that pick."

When outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue had announced the selection at 12:47 p.m., the Jets fans, who packed the three balconies, roared. Understand this about Jets draftniks: They are stingy with their love and mouthier than a White House heckler. These were the same guys who had greeted defensive end Mario Williams, the first pick of the draft, with chants of "Over-rated! Over-rated!"

Ferguson, who grew up in Freeport, N.Y., minutes from the Jets training facilities in Hempstead, received a group hug. And, at his press conference later, he blew kisses back.

"The fact that the Jets fans showed me a lot of love really spoke volumes to me," Ferguson said. "I know that I'm welcome in this city. It is my home. This is where I plan to stay, so let's make it happen."

Glenn Marrison of Chalfont, N.Y., was wandering the lobby, his Jets hard hat filled with autographs he has collected over the years. He pointed to an open spot over his right ear.

"There's just enough room for one more autograph," he said. "But with a name like D'Brickashaw, he's going to have to write real small."
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Jets Notebook: New quarterback gives off a lot of positive signals
Sunday, April 30, 2006
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1146375430146760.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- When the Jets passed on USC quarterback Matt Leinart with the fourth pick overall, Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens knew he was in the mix.

"I had an idea the Jets were definitely a possibility," Clemens said yesterday. "Them passing on Leinart left the door open for me and I was excited when I saw that."

That possibility turned into reality when the Jets selected Clemens in the second round (49th overall), making him the fourth quarterback taken behind Vince Young, Jay Cutler and Leinart.

Alabama's Brodie Croyle and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst were still on the board, but the Jets opted to go with Clemens, who played in Leinart's shadow in the Pac-10.

"I think when you look at his production and all the feedback we got, this guy has outstanding, outstanding intangibles -- character, leadership, playing hurt," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "There are a lot of attributes at that position we have identified with being successful that he has.

"At the end of the day, although we liked those other quarterbacks, we felt that was the difference."

Clemens, who is listed at 6-1 5/8, 219 pounds, was a three-year starter. He passed for 7,555 career yards, 61 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Last season, he completed 64 percent of his passes, with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He missed the final four games with a broken left fibula but has been cleared medically, Tannenbaum said.

Oddly, Clemens is less than an inch taller than last season's starter Brooks Bollinger, who was repeatedly criticized for being too short. It seems as if Bollinger is the odd man out, but Tannenbaum pointed out that the Patriots carried four quarterbacks in 2000.

In addition to Clemens, the Jets drafted Ohio State center/guard Nick Mangold (29th overall), Ohio State linebacker Anthony Schlegel, Michigan State safety Eric Smith and of course, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

After Ferguson and Mangold, the Jets drafted a group of blue-collar, overachieving role players. It appears the Jets plan to rebuild with those types of players.

The Jets, who have four picks today (two fourths, a fifth and seventh), made three trades yesterday, picking up a second-round pick from Washington next year in the process.

In their first trade, the Jets dealt their 35th pick overall to Washington for the 53rd pick, a sixth-round selection (189th overall) and a second-round pick next season.

Later, the Jets moved up to 49 to select Clemens, giving the Cowboys the 53rd pick, the sixth-round pick from Washington and a seventh-rounder (211 overall) this season. It is believed Minnesota was eyeing Clemens.

Finally, they sent their 71st pick overall to the Eagles for the 76th pick and a seventh-rounder (220th overall) this season.

Clemens, who could emerge as the Jets' long-term solution, said he had no problem being an afterthought to Leinart in the Pac-10.

"It's tough, but Matt was 37-2 as a starter, won two national championships and has a Heisman Trophy in his back pocket," Clemens said. "So you expect to be playing in his shadow when you put up those kind of numbers."

Clemens, who played in a spread offense at Oregon, excelled in the short passing game but said his deep passing game has vastly improved. He did some of his best work on the move, much like Bollinger.

Mangold, who was a three-year starter at Ohio State, is no stranger to replacing an accomplished starter.

At Ohio State, he eventually followed LeCharles Bentley, who is considered one of the top centers in the NFL. Now, he's expected to eventually replace six-time Pro Bowler Kevin Mawae. A second-team All-America, Mangold, who can also play guard, had 33 starts in 45 career games.

Mangold and Jets K Mike Nugent grew up together in Centerville, Ohio and the pair played together at Ohio State.... Clemens grew up on a 3,500-acre ranch in Oregon that had 100 heads of cow.... Schlegel started at Ohio State alongside A.J. Hawk (taken fifth by Green Bay) and Bobby Carpenter (taken 18th overall by Dallas).

Ferguson, the first offensive lineman drafted in the first-round by the Jets since they took Dave Cadigan in 1988, is the Jets' new Renaissance man. He earned his degree in religious studies in 3 1/2 years, plays the saxophone and has a black belt in karate. One former coach described him as being presidential in terms of his integrity.

Ferguson, whose parents now live in Lansdale, Pa., compares himself to former NFL offensive tackle Lomas Brown because like him, Brown was a "tall guy, skinny guy, long arms. I could see that even though he wasn't 315 pounds, he could still be a great player."
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

With Ferguson there, Jets are able to pass
Sunday, April 30, 2006
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1146375375146760.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Landing Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart would have sent the green-and-white-clad gallery at Radio City Music Hall into a frenzy. Star power sells on Broadway.

But even long-suffering Jets fans who have gone home brokenhearted on draft day year after year found it hard to complain when the Jets selected Virginia offensive lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth overall pick in yesterday's NFL draft.

After deciding not to move up to No. 2 to select Bush and passing on Leinart, the Jets made the safe -- and perhaps smart choice -- nabbing the 6-6, 312-pounder from Long Island.

The boorish gallery, which has famously booed Jets' first-round picks in the past, roared in approval.

"The fact that the Jets fans showed me a lot of love really spoke volumes to me," Ferguson said. "I know that I'm welcome here in this city... I don't think there could be a better feeling. Whenever you can come back home and come back to your family and friends... I'm real proud to be a part of this organization."

Ferguson, who was named by his father after the character Father Ralph de Bricassart in the novel-turned-TV miniseries, "The Thorn Birds," grew up in Freeport, N.Y., 10 minutes from the Jets' Hofstra University training complex. He started as a 245-pound true freshman and went on to start 49 of 51 career games.

The Jets further solidified their offense line by drafting Ohio State center Nick Mangold with their second first-round pick, No. 29 overall, which was obtained in the John Abraham trade.

Then, after dealing the No. 35 pick to the Redskins, the Jets addressed their quarterback situation by taking Oregon's Kellen Clemens with the 49th pick, a pick obtained in a deal with Dallas.

In the third round, the Jets selected Ohio State linebacker Anthony Schlegel (76th overall) and Michigan State safety Eric Smith (97th overall). They have four picks today (two in the fourth, a fifth and a seventh).

Interestingly, the Jets, who need a running back, passed on USC's Lendale White several times. He fell to the Titans at 45.

As for selecting Ferguson, the Jets believe securing the left tackle position for the next decade was more important than making a big splash with either Bush or Leinart. Plus, they had a gaping hole at the position.

"In our assessment, it's rare where the (draft) board marries a need," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "We really feel like we killed two birds with one stone... He's one of those people we think can be here for a long time and help us win a lot of games."

Head coach Eric Mangini was thrilled.

"With my background on defense, one of the things I appreciate the most is a good left tackle," he said. "Defensively, you're always trying to find a weakness and that weakness is usually at left tackle."

The club toyed with the idea of moving up to get Bush at No. 2. Tannenbaum said they had discussions with the Saints yesterday but refused to go into detail. But an agent with a player in the top of the draft said the Saints wanted the Jets' fourth and 35th picks overall this season and their first-round pick next season.

"There were a lot of phone calls," Tannenbaum said. "Some we made. Some we received. We're going to access every opportunity. We need a lot of pieces. I would characterize (the trade talks with the Saints) as we were investigating opportunities. Looking at the totality of the situation, we're very happy to have D'Brickashaw."

The Jets were never interested in taking Leinart.

In the end, the Jets added picks rather than trading them. Trading the No. 35 overall pick to Washington netted the Jets the 49th pick (where they took Clemens), along with Washington's sixth-round pick this year and second-round pick next season.

And though the Jets liked Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler, who went 11th overall to Denver (which traded up to get him), they didn't make an attempt to package their 29th and 35th picks to move up and grab him.

Ferguson, who is considered the best offensive lineman in the draft and is stamped "can't miss," was the player the Jets wanted all along. He'll be plugged in as the starting left tackle, with incumbent Adrian Jones moving to the right side.

As a senior, Ferguson started 10 games (missing the final two with a knee injury) and allowed just three sacks and two quarterback hurries. An All-America, he was a dominant force at the Senior Bowl.

He likes to describe himself as a bodyguard. And he's ready to answer the only knock on him: That he is undersized.

"I know I'm going to have to do a lot of work, equating myself to the game, the style and the hard work," Ferguson said. "I know myself and Nick will be in a similar situation. We'll probably become friends pretty quickly so we can have success in the end."
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hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

Jets Block Out the Hype and Take Virginia's Ferguson
By KAREN CROUSE
Published: April 30, 2006

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle who was a four-year starter, played at Virginia under Al Groh, who was the coach of the Jets in 2000.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., April 29 — Those Heisman Trophies obviously did not impress the Jets much. They did not complete a trade Saturday with the New Orleans Saints to acquire running back Reggie Bush, the best college player in 2005. They passed on quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman winner. Instead, they used their first pick, the fourth over all, to select Virginia offensive lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

"We really feel like we killed two birds with one stone," General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "We're going to get a person who started at a high level of competition at a position where we need help."

Tannenbaum, who is directing his first N.F.L. draft after replacing Terry Bradway in February, contacted New Orleans about trading up to No. 2 to choose Bush, the Southern California star, who was unexpectedly available after the Houston Texans announced they would select defensive end Mario Williams with the No. 1 pick.

For the rights to Bush, the Saints wanted the Jets' two picks in the first round (the Jets received the 29th overall pick as compensation for trading the All-Pro defensive end John Abraham to Atlanta) and their first pick in the third round. That was more than Tannenbaum was willing to surrender.

"We were investigating opportunities," he said. In the end, Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini, the first-year coach, did not waver from their commitment to rebuild. They stayed the course, even when Leinart, Bush's college teammate, was still on the board as the Jets were put on the clock.

The Tennessee Titans, picking at No. 3, selected Texas quarterback Vince Young. Leinart's availability left the Jets, a team with many needs and no star power, with a thorny decision: Go for the safe pick or the sexy one?

Ferguson, who had long been on the Jets' radar, will immediately upgrade the offensive line, which was corroded last year by age and injuries. The line protected its quarterbacks' flesh from the heat about as well as baby oil. The Jets lost Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler to injuries during a 4-12 season, and the emergency replacements Vinny Testaverde and Brooks Bollinger were also hurt.

"We're excited to have D'Brickashaw," Tannenbaum said. "We got a great player at a premium position."

Noting that left offensive tackles tend to get noticed only when they mess up, Ferguson said: "I hope you guys don't hear about me for the next couple of years, almost forget that I'm there, because if I can just do my job, then I know that the quarterback will reach success and as a team we will definitely improve."

It perhaps says something about the sorry state of the offensive line that the Jets also used their second pick in the first round to further shore up that area, taking center Nick Mangold of Ohio State.

Ferguson, 6 feet 6 inches and 310 pounds, grew up in Freeport, 10 minutes from the Jets' practice facility here. He was a four-year starter at Virginia, where he played under the former Jets coach Al Groh. His skills are so refined that he is expected to play for the Jets soon.

But whose blind side will Ferguson be protecting? Pennington, who turns 30 in June, is recovering from his second shoulder operation in less than a year. He will be competing for the starting job with Patrick Ramsey, whom the Washington Redskins deemed expendable after he lost his starting job to Mark Brunell.

Since 2002, when Pennington replaced Testaverde, the Jets have gone 21-16 when Pennington has started and 8-19 when he has not. Leinart, 22, could have challenged Pennington and Ramsey for a starting spot immediately.

Leinart was widely viewed as the most N.F.L.-ready of this year's quarterback prospects. Playing in a pro-style offense at U.S.C., Leinart led the Trojans to a 37-2 record and two national championships.

The Jets do not have any charismatic players capable of challenging Derek Jeter, Pedro Martínez, Jaromir Jagr and Eli Manning for New Yorkers' hearts, and Leinart would have rectified that. He has a magnetic personality that reminds people of Joe Namath, who led the Jets to their only Super Bowl, in the 1968 season.

The Jets' big picture came into sharper focus in the second round when they selected quarterback Kellen Clemens of Oregon, at No. 49. After sending their 35th pick to Washington for its 53rd pick, a sixth-round pick and a second-round pick in 2007, the Jets turned around and traded the 53rd pick and the sixth-round pick to Dallas to move up four spots to get Clemens, whose height is listed as a shade under 6-2.

In the third round, the Jets took Anthony Schlegel, an inside linebacker from Ohio State, with the 76th pick, originally belonging to the Philadelphia Eagles. With the 97th pick, they took Eric Smith, a safety from Michigan State.

The last time the Jets used their first pick on an offensive tackle was 1988, when they selected Dave Cadigan of U.S.C. at No. 8. He played for the Jets from 1988 to 1993 and finished his N.F.L. career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1994.

"I feel only a certain type of athlete can really thrive in New York, and he is that kind of man," Groh said of Ferguson in a statement. "He understands this market because he grew up here, and he is one of them."
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Kris 15 · Apr 30, 2006

Cannizzaro said:

Like baubles at a high-stakes Sotheby's auction
Click to expand...

I'm impressed.

RapZiLLa54 · Apr 30, 2006

Just a quick question. Isn't Nugent number 1? I guess brick just jacked his number lol.

highflyer · Apr 30, 2006

Good work today Hydro. Big news day and you got alot of articles so I imagine that took some effort. Thought some of the articles were a bit harsh but overall a great read.

hydro51 · Apr 30, 2006

what are you guys thought on us tryna trade for julius jones?

Bomber · Apr 30, 2006

Yeah, well done Hydro again. Lotsa news today obviously and you got it all.

Bomber · Apr 30, 2006

hydro51 said:

what are you guys thought on us tryna trade for julius jones?
Click to expand...

Interesting isn't it? What are the tailbacks available in the FA market now? Because it looks as if that is where we are heading with the RB situation now after we passed on several notables in the draft.

P.S. I'm glad we didn't get Jones because of his durability issues.

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