Ellis a driving force for Jets' defense

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Shaun Ellis twisted Tom Brady like a rag doll before throwing the quarterback to the turf.

With his fists planted firmly on Brady's midsection, the Jets' defensive lineman hovered over his victim, nearly helmet to helmet, relishing every last second of yet another hit.

Ellis, the longest-tenured Jet, wasn't ready for his season to end. And with his five tackles and two sacks, which came on the Patriots' final drive of the first quarter in last Sunday's 28-21 divisional win over New England, he made sure the Jets would have another shot at the Super Bowl. Sunday, Ellis and the Jets square off against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field.

"I just wanted to go out there and play hard," the 6-5, 290-pound defensive end, now in his 11th season, said of his performance against the Patriots. "It's the playoffs, you've got to win to advance, playing against the Patriots, so I just wanted to go out and make plays. That was my whole mentality."

Ellis looked like a crazed man on a mission, steamrolling offensive linemen who stood in his way. His two sacks were the most he's had in a game this season and the first he's had since the Jets' Week 14 loss to Miami.

"He broke out when we needed him to break out," fellow defensive end Trevor Pryce said.

The rest of the Jets seemed pleasantly surprised by Ellis' effort and passion - all except Bryan Thomas.

The linebacker has spent his nine-year career with Ellis, affectionately called "Big Katt" in the Jets' locker room, and said Ellis' showing against the Patriots was nothing special.

"Why were people surprised? I wasn't surprised," Thomas said. "I know how Katt plays. After that butt-kicking they put on us in the last game, he just put it on himself that he had to play better, the rest of us - all of us on defense - had to play better. We just took it personal."

For Ellis, the Jets' 45-3 loss to the Patriots on Dec. 6 was yet another low point in a career that includes a 20-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC divisional round after the 2004 season, a 4-12 finish under former coach Eric Mangini in 2007 and - the most crushing blow of all, he said - last year's 30-17 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC title game.

"Just having to watch the Super Bowl from the house with the Colts and the Saints, that was tough," Thomas said. "I know how everybody that was here last year felt about that game and having to go home and watch it. I know they were sick to their stomachs. And I know they don't want to have that feeling again."

Said Ellis: "To find myself in that spot again is very fulfilling, but I want to finish it."

Several Jets have said they want to reach the Super Bowl, not only for coach Rex Ryan and the organization but for the older guys such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Tony Richardson and Ellis, who collectively won only seven playoff games before this season.

Despite his age, the 33-year-old Ellis never plays the "veteran card," his teammates said, instead preferring to crack jokes with the younger guys as if he's in his first or second year in the league.

"He deserves every inch of happiness that's in this locker room," nose tackle Sione Pouha said. "You can't feel much happier for the guy than to go out and get a win for him."

Ellis is quick to dispense knowledge during meetings, Thomas said.

"If you need help, he's there to ask questions," he said. "He's there in the film room, he's there studying with you. He's just a guy that wants to do well, wants to be successful. And that's how he's been here since I've known him."

A free agent after this season, Ellis said his uncertain status isn't affecting his focus heading into tonight's game. He's determined to walk off the Heinz Field turf the same way he did a week ago in Foxboro: as a winner.

His confidence is derived from the disappointment of last year's AFC Championship Game. That loss prepared him and his teammates for the road ahead; now the Jets know what it takes to win.

"It seems like it was just yesterday, now that we're here," Ellis said softly. "Just seeing the Colts celebrating as we're walking off the field, it's like, 'You know what? If we get this opportunity again, we're going to take advantage of it.'

"And now we're here again, so guys are ready."