Jets look forward to seeing LI fans at Hofstra

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Tony Richardson might be one of the few people who's truly looking forward to navigating the Long Island Expressway this morning.

"That's going to be actually pretty cool to be able to get up in the morning and go up the LIE," the Jets fullback said Tuesday. "It's 25 minutes versus 45 minutes here and then another 45 back. So yeah, it's going to be pretty cool."

Richardson is a bit giddy because he doesn't have to fight through early-morning traffic and mess with the George Washington Bridge for once, and instead will get the rare chance to drive east from his Queens residence to work.

The Jets are holding an open practice at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium at 6 o'clock Wednesday night, their second one-day session at their old stamping grounds since relocating their franchise headquarters from Hempstead to New Jersey.

The Jets also made the journey last year to the place they called home for four decades. They stopped at Hofstra after their training camp stint and prior to their preseason opener against the Rams. It turned out to be a big hit with Long Islanders, who felt a bit jilted after the Jets motored out of town for Jersey's greener pastures.

"I thought last year was great," Rex Ryan said. "We went down there, the fans were crazy. Kind of like the fans here. When we went up to Hofstra, they were like that. There's a lot of Jets fans right in that area and we want to be true to that.

"I know the Jets were there for years and years, back when my dad was coaching. It's a great opportunity for us to go one day to keep our fan base out there, to let them know we still think about them. It is an inconvenience and all that kind of stuff, but it's the least we can do."

When the Jets moved to New Jersey, so did many of the players. Some still have homes on Long Island that they rent out, but virtually no one wanted to take that 70-mile-plus trip from Long Island to Florham Park on a daily basis.

Shaun Ellis is the lone holdout, preferring to sit tight with his place on the Island. The defensive end is the only other player besides Richardson and Jason Taylor - who lives in Manhattan - who was given permission by Ryan to meet the team in Hempstead.

He's eager to be among his "Strong Island" people.

"It'll be good, to get out there and see our fans, to see that they are still supporting us," Ellis said. "We're expecting a big turnout."

Not everyone is enthralled to be leaving their $75-million facility, though, even if it's for just one day.

"I may shed a tear, probably hug a few people that I haven't seen in a while, but that's it," Laveranues Coles cracked. "I definitely don't miss the locker room. It is what it is. The memories over there are great, but I kind of like this place better."

Still, there's something about being back on the Island, isn't there, T-Rich?

"When I go up there and at the barber shop, or just in the community, people say, 'Oh man, we miss you guys so much,' " Richardson said. "I think it's good that the presence is still there and I'm glad we are making that trip."