Archives for August 13, 2015

'“IK, he made a mistake,” Ryan said, “there’s no question about that. We had IK last year, a lot of us were around IK and he was a good teammate – simple as that.”'

'The fact is, Ryan knows Enemkpali. He was part of the decision to select the former Louisiana Tech player with the 210th overall pick of last year’s draft. And he firmly believes he’s far more familiar with Enemkpali than the rest of us think we are, based on one ugly incident, and he used that to get the approval of Bills owner Terry Pegula before submitting the claim.'

'“I’m happy with where we’re at right now,” Roman said Wednesday prior to practice at St. John Fisher College in his first public comments since training camp began. “I thought we started off a little slow. I thought the first couple days, the passing game was a little out of sync. Around the fourth day, we started to get going. Guys are starting to really get it. We’ve been throwing a lot at them, and I think we’re right on schedule. It’s all about where we go from this point forward.”'

'Manuel's struggles continued Wednesday night. His first pass in 11-on-11 work was incomplete to tight end Nick O'Leary on a ball that maybe should have been caught, but also may have been slightly overthrown. Manuel did go 3 for 5 in his next set of 11-on-11, but his turn in the two-minute was a disaster.'

'If Ryan was willing to take on a player who had been suspended by the NFL and out of the league for nearly a year and a half due to a bullying incident in Miami, signing one of his former Jets just a day after Enemkpali slugged New York quarterback Geno Smith in the face and broke his jaw seems in line.'

'Did Ryan really think another team wanted his former Jets’ player with three career tackles so badly he couldn’t wait at least long enough to speak with him and get some facts behind an ugly incident that even by NFL standards was blowing up Twitter and giving sports talk enough fodder for a month of shows?'

'“It’s a true statement on the game when the fullback has basically been eliminated,’’ Ryan said. “(But for us) when you have a running game and Neanderthal football if you will … well to me, that fullback can be a vital part; and ours can run the ball, they’re great blockers and you can release them out wide because both guys can catch the football.’’'

'Tyrod Taylor may have been the best quarterback on the field Wednesday night. He continued to prove that he's a threat to make plays with his legs and was the only quarterback to get points on his drive during the two-minute drill. He'll work with the second-team offense Friday night.'

'"I'm not surprised at all. We are trying to get better and that's what those guys are doing. They're looking for anybody that can make us better and he happens to be a guy that they believe in. So when he gets here he's got a clean slate with us, we'll see how everything works out, but I'm excited to have him."'

'"I think it's clear (punching Smith) was a mistake. Nothing justifies hitting somebody and all that stuff, and I'm not trying to say that it wasn't a mistake. … But I also believe that he's going to learn from this."'

'Ryan, who was fired by the Jets after a 4-12 season in 2014, was part of the regime that drafted Enemkpali in the sixth-round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Enemkpali had a previous arrest for battery on a police officer, but the Jets took a chance anyway. He hardly played in 2014, but Enemkpali adds another young talent to the linebacker competition.'

'"Every day I compete I definitely think about being passed up and those guys taken ahead of me," Taylor says. "It gives me extra fire every time I step on the field."'

'Rex Ryan knows what Manuel is and isn't since he coached against him the last two years. That Ryan hasn't named Manuel the starting QB yet is either an indictment of how little he thinks of Manuel's skills or it's motivation to play like a top pick.'

'Ryan said that he spoke with Buffalo’s general manager, Doug Whaley, and owner, Terry Pegula, and that Whaley was “leaning on me about this.” For Ryan, signing Enemkpali could be perceived as an opportunity to prove his coaching mettle, that he can turn Enemkpali into a productive player.'

'“I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans,” the statement read. “Geno and I let our frustration get the best of us, but I should have just walked away from the situation. I deeply regret and apologize for my actions. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I appreciate the opportunity I had with the Jets.”'