Jets' Coleman finally gets his chance to start

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Drew Coleman never saw it coming - a chance to finally be a starter again, a chance to prove he belongs on the field.

Coleman, a fifth-year veteran out of Texas Christian, had bided his time on the sideline after the Jets drafted cornerback Kyle Wilson in the first round last spring. Deep down, Coleman knew he would get another chance. He just didn't realize it would be now.

"This was a total surprise to me," said the cornerback, who will start over Wilson in Darrelle Revis' position Sunday against Buffalo. "I just went into practice trying to get a little bit better, just watching [Antonio] Cromartie, watching Revis, talking to Kyle. Just trying to stay focused in the game just in case my number was called so I can go in and be productive."

The Jets had touted Wilson as one of the best cornerbacks in the draft. "To get him at 29, I feel like when we drafted Nick Mangold at 29," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in April. "You know we were just really happy that he was there at 29."

But less than a month into the season, Coleman - who intercepted a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-4 from the 5 in the final minute to preserve the Jets' 31-23 win over the Dolphins on Sunday - has supplanted Wilson, who will play inside.

"I just think sometimes it takes a while, but we saw signs of it last year," coach Rex Ryan said of Coleman's development. "He stepped up and played well. I think this season, he has elevated his game. He studies, he knows the defense, he knows what we expect. His coverage is tight. He is better at recognizing routes, in my opinion, and he's playing them better. He's always had great quickness, a change of direction-type athlete. It's just that awareness. I think he's really dialed in."

The Jets tried to part ways with Coleman after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, according to his agent, Alan Herman. Other teams were interested, but the Jets' asking price for a trade was too high. Now Coleman has a chance to keep Wilson on the back burner for a while.

Coleman was banished to the bench by former coach Eric Mangini early in his rookie season of 2006 after he slipped in the fourth quarter against Chicago in a November game and allowed Mark Bradley to run 57 yards into the end zone for the lone touchdown in the Bears' 10-0 win over the Jets. He's started only one game since then.

"He's had to constantly scrape and fight for every minute of playing time," Herman said. "Now he's got the opportunity to step in and use his experience to help this team win."

Coleman signed a one-year, $850,000 deal, but it never was about the money, he said. All the shy, quiet kid from Texas wanted was to remain a Jet.

"I just love the guys," he said. "I love the atmosphere, I love Rex, I love the organization . . . My main thing is, I'm here to win and I'm here to contribute to this team. I didn't care nothing about the money right now. But winning the championship is the ultimate goal."