Stephen Hill is not catching on
Stephen Hill catches a 5-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez for a 7-3 lead over the Colts early in the second quarter. The Jets won, 35-9, at MetLife Stadium. (Oct. 14, 2012) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Stephen Hill didn't record a single reception Sunday, dropping one and losing another in the lights. But despite his growing reputation for having butter fingers, Rex Ryan maintains he hasn't lost confidence in the rookie.
"I will say this, I was impressed with the way the young man blocked," the Jets coach said. "For us, that's a big thing . . . One thing I know for sure is we're going to keep throwing it to him."
On a critical third-down play late in the third quarter of Sunday's 27-13 win over the Rams, Mark Sanchez keyed in on Hill, but the quarterback changed his mind and threw an 18-yard pass to Konrad Reuland -- a completion that set up Bilal Powell's second touchdown.
Could it be Sanchez didn't trust the rookie?
"He's doing fine," the quarterback said. "He's working his butt off and he's not getting down [on himself] . . . I've got all the faith in the world in him. I think he's going to make big plays down the stretch for us here, this year and for years to come."
Jets showing thanks
The Jets and the Red Cross will collect monetary donations at all MetLife Stadium gates during Thursday night's game against the Patriots. The Jets also will match the total donations up to $100,000 and honor 100 first responders. Grammy Award-winning artist Lenny Kravitz will perform at halftime.
