Mark Sanchez speaks about NY media, Rex Ryan, and hot dogs

Friday November 6, 2009 2:53 PM By Bob Glauber

Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez appeared on Los Angeles radio station KLAC to discuss, among other things, his first eight games, his experience with the New York media, his adoration for Rex Ryan and, of course, the infamous hot dog eating episode on the sidelines during the Jets win over the Raiders. 

* On how he assess his rookie season after 8 games: 

"It’s the funnest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. I’m having a great time doing it, but you learn quickly that you got to savor the wins, and just capitalize on those feelings when you win, and get rid of the losses as fast as possible. But it’s a tough league and any week, anything can happen and the margin for error is so small. But I learned a lot here at ‘SC and I’m back here seeing the guys, but I’m just calling on all those skills.."

On how he's treated by the New York media, and how it might be different from when he played at USC: 

"You know, it’s different. They want to know exactly what’s going on, and want inside scoops. They want, you know, it’s almost like they want you to say something wrong, and it’s almost like everyone’s just kind of waiting. But everything’s gone really well so far, so I’m playing things cautious, and playing them smart, and respecting my team and watching myself with what I say and how I act as much as possible. A perfect example was the hot dog thing. You know, it was crazy to see something like that blow up the way it did.”

More on why he apologized for eating a hot dog in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 38-0 win over the Raiders on Oct. 25.

"Well I didn’t want it to be disrespectful to any one and to what we had going on with the team. You know, we had a huge win at Oakland, that’s what really happened that day. It had nothing to do with me eating a hot dog, so I didn’t want to take anything away from the team, number one. And that was just me being me, and making sure people understood that wasn’t something I planned, or something to be funny or anything. I was just pretty hungry, I wasn’t feeling good and it happened. So I apologized just for distracting the team if it did.”

On playing for head coach Rex Ryan:

“Oh, he’s the best. He’s unbelievable. He doesn’t sweep anything under the rug, he tells you straight up what he thinks and he’s just so fun to play for and you really want to play well for him. And you know, his family is around all the time; I’ve been to his son’s games - Seth his son, he’s got his highlights playing during our games and stuff. But Rex is great. Just a total football guy, football family, and he’s just been a joy to play for. So I’m really excited he’s around.”

Ryan Clark may be risking his life by playing in Denver

Friday November 6, 2009 12:19 PM By Chris Mascaro

Steelers safety Ryan Clark is weighing the option to play in Pittsburgh's big Monday night game in Denver against the 6-1 Broncos.

It's a decision that could put his life in jeopardy.

Clark's rare blood condition (his has the sickle-cell trait) nearly caused him to die after playing in Denver two years ago. He had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed because oxygen couldn't flow into those organs in the thin mountain air. He lost more than 30 pounds after the episode.

One percent of the population with the sickle-cell trait reacts extremely poorly when it exerts itself in high altitude. Clark, an eight-year veteran who played his first two seasons with the Giants, has been cleared to play on Monday, but is leaning towards sitting out.

"Coach [Mike] Tomlin could say, 'You know what, it's not worth it," Clark told reporters on Wednesday. "If he's not comfortable with it, he has the right to tell me I can't play.

"Obviously nobody's been able to say, 'If you go, you won't get sick at all. We promise you.' That would make it really easy. And none of them have said, 'If you go, you're going to die,' either. With all those opinions, I spent a month [in 2007] where they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me the last time, too."

Even if he doesn't play, Clark is expected to travel to Denver with the team.

Football players put their health on the line every week of the season, but Clark shouldn't let his warrior mentality cloud his judgement when it comes to this life-threatening ailment.

Phil Simms on Eli's foot: "It's a problem"

Thursday November 5, 2009 6:48 PM By Bob Glauber

Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who will be covering Sunday's Giants-Chargers game for CBS, thinks Eli Manning's problems in recent weeks are in large part because of a foot injury he suffered against the Chiefs in Week 4. Manning has six interceptions in his last three games.

"It’s everything: being under pressure, bad throws, and then just bad decisions," Simms said in comments distributed by CBS. "I think that three blitzing teams have hurt the Giants.  Eli has never made one excuse, but anytime you hurt the knee, the ankle, the foot of an NFL quarterback, it’s a problem.  So it’s going to affect his throwing and lots of things. It’s going to affect his accuracy.  It’s going to affect the stress on his arm.  It’s going to affect practice time.  So you know no matter what anybody says – it’s a factor.  I know.  I played."

More Simms on the Giants and Sunday's game: "Even though the Giants lost three in a row, I look at them and think, ‘Wow they should be one of the most overpowering football teams in the NFL.’ As I look at this game, the Chargers’ defense is going to need a couple of individuals to play great.  I’ll have to start out with their two corners, Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer.  They’ll have to have great games because they’ll need everybody else to be concentrating on the run defense.  I think there’s a lot of pressure on the two corners to play very well."

On the Giants' struggling defense: "When I look at the Giants defense, the big thing is – just don’t miss assignments.  I can’t point to one player, but the secondary has definitely missed assignments, and they’re not getting lucky, that’s for sure.  When they miss them, the quarterback is finding the right guy.  And they are getting big, big plays.  I know it’s always about turnovers in the NFL, but when you look at the teams that are hot and winning football games, they are making big plays on the offensive side.  The Giants have been giving them up, and that’s the bad thing.  The good thing is it’s mental mistakes, and sometimes those are easier just to correct than the physical mistakes. Sometimes you can’t correct a physical mistake because they’re just not physically good enough."

Could a Big Baby make it in the NFL?

Thursday November 5, 2009 5:57 PM By Chris Mascaro

Probably not, but he says he's going to try.

In an interview with ESPN the Magazine, Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis said he wants to play in the NFL — but not before he becomes an elite NBA player.

That may take a while.

Davis won a championship with Boston in his rookie season, but has averaged just 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in his career (though he pushed those totals to 15.8 and 5.6 while filling in for Kevin Garnett in last year's playoffs). He's only started 17 of the 145 regular-season games he's played in, and he's currently in hot water with his team because he sustained a broken right thumb while fighting with a friend that will keep him out six weeks.

Apparently Davis, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal in August, was quite a football player at University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, La. But he ended his football days when he accepted a scholarship to play hoops at LSU.

Said Davis: "I will try it. When I become an All-Star in the NBA, when I become a great player in the NBA, then I'll try football. One of my dreams has always been to play football.

"I definitely could have made it to the NFL."

Below are some clips of Davis (currently 6-9, 290 pounds) playing defensive end and tailback (!) as a sophomore. Keep in mind this is the same guy who cried after Garnett yelled at him during a timeout.

Fans petitioning to keep Larry Johnson away from record

Thursday November 5, 2009 10:23 AM By Chris Mascaro

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is 74 yards behind Priest Holmes on the team's all-time rushing list, and if it were up to some fans, that's the way it would stay.

An online petition started by Chiefs fans is asking general manager Scott Pioli to deactivate Johnson for the rest of the season so he can't pass Holmes or join the team's Ring of Honor at Arrowhead Stadium. Johnson, who was suspended two weeks for using gay slurs, is set to rejoin the Chiefs on Monday, one day after they play in Jacksonville.

The petition had 1,400 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. It reads: "While we are thankful for his service, we feel that Larry has been a black eye on the organization and has no business being mentioned [among the team's all-time greats].

"We are asking you, as fans of this team, this organization, and of the pride that this city has in the Chiefs, please deactivate Larry Johnson. Please do not let his name sit atop the all-time rushing leaders in Kansas City Chiefs history. He has never represented anything close to the values that we have for our Chiefs and it would be another dagger to the fans that continue to support this proud franchise.

"We are asking this as a favor to those of us who have supported this team long, long, long before you were brought in. We will support you through thick and thin — you will find out that we are a loyal, loyal bunch. ... However, allowing Larry Johnson to attain a record is something that can never be erased."

On Monday, the team cut Johnson's financial punishment in half to $315,000.

Said Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer: ""Larry apologized. He learned from it and hopefully other people learned from it. My hope is that people learn that something positive can come out of this and that there are words that should not be used because they demean people."

Mangini will have input in new Browns' GM

Wednesday November 4, 2009 4:43 PM By Bob Glauber

Browns head coach Eric Mangini, whose hand-picked general manager, George Kokinis, was relieved of his duties on Monday, said today that he will have input with team owner Randy Lerner on Kokinis' replacement.

Scary thought.

"Yeah, Randy and I talk a lot, so I’m sure we’ll be very engaged in that (decision)," Mangini said today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

When asked if it would be difficult to hire a new general manager midway through the season, Mangini said, "We're just going through the process, so I’m not sure how that will all play out. We have to really see what’s there, see what’s available."

Mangini said the team has solid enough staffs in the college and pro personnel departments to function without a GM for the remainder of the season. (Translation: Mangini would do just fine making all the decisions.) 

"I'm not sure what the timetable will be, but I do feel good about the process we have in place and the different departments we have in place,'' he said.

Just some free advice for Lerner: If Mangini wants to put his two cents in, fine. But when you do make a decision on a new GM, just remember that old saying: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." 

Giants CB Aaron Ross targets Atlanta game for return

Wednesday November 4, 2009 2:45 PM By Bob Glauber

Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, who has missed the entire season with hamstring problems, said he expects to return to action when the Giants return from a bye week Nov. 22 against the Falcons.

Ross initially suffered his injury on Aug. 9, and then hurt the hamstring again on the final day of training camp. He appeared close to returning in early October, but suffered another hamstring tweak and has remained on the sidelines.

He said today he is feeling "great," but that "I won’t know completely until a guy [opposing receiver] is standing there in front of me." 

Ross said he has missed the game much more than he could ever have imagined.

"You develop a new respect for the game when you miss the whole season," the former first-round pick said. "I’ve missed maybe a game or two here and there, but never anything like this. First, I had to get past the frustrating part and really get my mind ready and then be prepared to go out there physically.I’ve been keeping up with the mental part of the game. Now, with cutting and everything, I won’t know until that guy lines up in front of me. I’m glad we have a bye to see if I can test it."

Ross said he has no regrets about his off-season conditioning regimen, but admits he is being overly cautious before returning after suffering two setbacks.

"I did everything right. In the off-season," he said. "I treated my body right. I have no regrets on anything leading up to the injury." 

Did he come back too soon the first time? Maybe.

"That’s why I’m waiting so long this time to make sure everything is all right," he said. "I felt good when I was coming back, but I wasn’t ready. They always say, 'When you feel good, wait an extra week and maybe it will be ready then.' Well, I feel great, I'm waiting that extra week and hopefully I'll be ready." 

Bears players rally around Lovie Smith

Wednesday November 4, 2009 12:35 PM By Bob Glauber

Bears fans often complain about what they perceive as head coach Lovie Smith's emotionless demeanor. And with the team off to a 4-3 start and struggling to keep up with the front-running Vikings, there are increasing calls for a coaching change.

But not among the players.

Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune writes that several players have spoken up in defense of Smith. The thing they like most about him: his even-keeled approach, the thing that drives fans nuts.

"I was here when coach Smith wasn't here," veteran defensive end Alex Brown said. "So, I remember how it was. Not to say anything bad about coach (Dick) Jauron, but it's a lot different now.Coach (Smith) has a way of doing things, and that's doing it right all of the time. And if you don't adapt to that, then you won't be here. He has taken us to the promised land ( Super Bowl XLI) once. And I believe he will do it again here real soon."

"He doesn't get too mad; he doesn't get too happy. He's always even-keeled. He coaches the same way," Brown said.

Said tight end Desmond Clark: "Lovie, as a coach, is what this team needs. We need that steadying force. ... To have that steadying voice with the same message coming every week is good for this team."

Smith is a disciple of former Bucs and Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who ran into the same criticism during his career. Dungy would often explain it this way: 

"When you lose, they think you need to show more emotion," he said. "When you win, they say it's good you don't overreact and maintain and even keel." 

Fassel, Cottrell on the sidelines at Hofstra

Tuesday November 3, 2009 7:11 PM By Bob Glauber

A couple of familiar faces will be on the sidelines at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium on Wednesday night, when Jim Fassel's Las Vegas Locomotives visit Ted Cottrell's New York Sentinels in a United Football League game.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets average $20 per seat.

Fassel, the former Giants' head coach, will go against Cottrell, the former Jets, Bills and Chargers defensive coordinator. Cottrell used to coach at the Jets' training facility at Hofstra.

Both men say they're enjoying the UFL experience, despite on-field struggles. The Sentinels are 0-3 and the Locomotives are 1-2.

"I'm enjoying this as much as at any other time in coaching," Fassel said. "I'm enjoying the players and the challenges of a new league."

Fassel, who coached the Giants to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season, still hopes to one day resume his head coaching career in the NFL. He was nearly hired by the Redskins before the 2008 season, but the team opted instead to make Jim Zorn the head coach. Zorn is now under intense pressure and is expected to be fired after the season.

Cottrell has long harbored dreams of becoming an NFL head coach, but is content for now in his first head coaching experience.

"I'm finally a head coach, and it's something I've hoped for and prepared for for a long while," he said. "It's been great. You have a direct hand in molding guysinto the type of players you want them to be and getting your style of play across to them," he said. "It's like a piece of clay that you're molding. You see the gleam in their eye and that passion. They want to do things right."