Archives for June 1, 2015

'“Thank the good Lord for allowing me to be here today,” Kelly said. “You can’t spend an hour with each individual, but it’s so good to see my friends and see people I haven’t seen in over a year, because as you well know, I was not here last year at this time. It feels good. I feel good.”'

'"I was hitting my stride in that defense a couple years ago and in the transition, things are coming back to me, there's a lot of similarities, and the carryover is helping me out," he said of the early OTA workouts which continue Tuesday through Friday this week. "I knew the defense would be similar, and I know Rex is a players' coach. I want to do the best I can to help the team. I care about this team and the community, and I just want to win."'

'When talking about Ryan giving the team the day off, Kelly said, "He gets it."'

'"I think I'm in the minority on this, but I think he plays this year," a high-level club executive told Banks. "But it'll have to be for a really strong front office organization. Seattle, Green Bay, Dallas, situations like that. I'm a little bit surprised that it has taken this long for someone to sign him. Buffalo could be another team to watch with Rice. They don't have a need at running back right now, but I'm told Rex Ryan thinks the world of him from their time together in Baltimore (in 2008). He loves him. He doesn't like him. He loves him."'

'But Ryan once again pinning the Jets' problems so significantly on factors other than his own errors only underscores one of his biggest flaws — his inability and/or unwillingness to accept his share of the blame.'

'"It feels good," Kelly said. "I feel good. And it's good because after last year, the money we were able to give out to all the charities, that makes you feel good because even though I couldn't be here, it continued, it moved on and we are still making a difference."'

'The outing will count as one of the team's ten allowed OTAs during this Phase Three of their offseason workout program. The team is also scheduled to hold an OTA practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday will be a voluntary conditioning day for the team.'

'Rice is 28 years old. Although not ancient by NFL standards, an age that’s considered on the backside of a career for running backs. And even though he was reinstated with a month left in last year’s regular season, Rice didn’t play at all in 2014. The last time he did play a full season, it was his worst as a pro. After never averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry as a regular, Rice dipped to an abysmal 3.1 yards per run. He also caught the fewest amount of passes (58) for the fewest amount of yards (321) since his sophomore season in 2009, his first as a regular starter.'

'“I went to coach my kids,” McDonald said. “I wanted to make sure if they were going to play football I was going to be a part of teaching them. That’s why I didn’t take opportunities to stay with the team I was at and coach. I wanted to be with my kids, and coach them.”'

'So here’s a closer look at the candidates and what Rex Ryan thinks of their progress.'