Aching to talk injuries, Jets' Jenkins now can
At ease
Kris Jenkins stood up straight with his hands by his side, acting as if he were a cadet at West Point. The massive nose tackle was doing his best to play a Broadway actor re-enacting the way things were last season under the strict Eric Mangini regime, especially when the conversation turned to injury talk.
"So, how you doing?" Jenkins said, pretending to be a reporter asking a question. Jenkins straightened like a drill sergeant, peered side to side and then looked directly ahead. He remained silent until he asked himself the next question.
"How's your back?" Jenkins said before going into the same routine again, drawing a hearty laugh among reporters.
Jenkins' comedic routine was spurred during an inquiry about his strained left calf. He's been nursing the injury for about a week and said it's progressing well. He also said he feels fine and is waiting on approval from trainer John Mellody and strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi to return to practice.
Just being able to talk about the injury - a no-no under Mangini that kept the players on pins and needles - was refreshing for Jenkins.
"Now it's like, I can speak," Jenkins said. "It's cool. I feel like myself, which is fun. It's been a long time since I've played this game that I've really felt like I could be myself."
What Jenkins had to say is another indication that life is different under Rex Ryan as opposed to his predecessor.
"You are not stressing as much," Jenkins said. "You are a lot more loose."
Welcome aboard
Aundrae Allison, the 6-foot wide receiver and newest member of the Jets, practiced with the team for the first time Saturday and is ready to throw his name into mix. "I feel like I'm a pretty good athlete and I'm very confident in my athletic ability," Allison said, who has kick returner skills and, according to Rex Ryan, has good speed. "So whatever it takes, whatever the Jets want, that's what I'm about."
