NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

September 4, 2015

1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1

Tebow throws 2 TD passes in Eagles’ 24-18 loss to Jets (Dennis Waszak) ................................................................ 1

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 2

Jets backup QBs Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson sharp vs. Eagles (Kimberley Martin) ...................................................... 2

Jets generally happy for Tom Brady (Tom Rock) ....................................................................................................... 3

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Jets QBs Johnson, Flynn make cases for backup job (J.P. Pelzman) .......................................................................... 4

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 5

QBs Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson play well in Jets’ win over Eagles (Rich Cimini) ......................................................... 5

Jets WR Chris Owusu makes strong bid for roster spot (Rich Cimini) ....................................................................... 6

Teflon Tom wins, and everything returns to normal for Jets (Rich Cimini) ............................................................... 7

Jets’ response to the Tom Brady news: We’re on to Cleveland (Rich Cimini) ........................................................... 8

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Deflategate ruling keeps Jets – and Rex – under Patriots’ heel (Brian Costello)....................................................... 9

Matt Flynn makes strong case for backup QB job in Jets’ win (Brian Costello) ...................................................... 10

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 11

Jets’ Matt Flynn ‘glad’ Tom Brady suspension was overturned (Dom Cosentino) .................................................. 11

What did Jets’ Todd Bowles think of how Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson played vs. Eagles (Darryl Slater) .................. 12

Analyzing Josh Johnson as Jets beat Eagles, 24-18, in preseason finale (Dom Cosentino) ..................................... 13

7 Jets takeaways from 24-18 win over Eagles. Which roster bubble guys played well? (Darryl Slater) ................. 14

What does Tom Brady’s overturned Deflategate suspension mean for Jets? (Darryl Slater) ................................. 15

Jets’ Todd Bowles offers non-committal answer about Jeremy Kerley’s roster status, but… (Darryl Slater) ......... 16

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 17

Matt Flynn makes case to be Jets backup QB in final preseason game (Seth Walder) ........................................... 17

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 18

Jets who helped themselves… and didn’t on Thursday night (Kristian Dyer) ......................................................... 18

3 things we learned in the Jets’ 24-18 win over the Eagles (Kristian Dyer) ............................................................. 19

WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS............................................................................................................... 20

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tebow throws 2 TD passes in Eagles’ 24-18 loss to Jets (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press September 3, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

2 | P a g e

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/tebow-throws-2-td-passes-eagles-24-18-loss-jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — It was Tebow Time again. At least for one more night.

Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes and an interception in his final opportunity to make Philadelphia's roster, and the Eagles fell to the New York Jets 24-18 on Thursday night.

Tebow, competing with Matt Barkley for the No. 3 quarterback job, flashed some of the playmaking skills and maddening inconsistency that have made him such a polarizing player throughout his NFL career. Tebow, who last played in a regular-season game with the Jets in 2012, finished 11 of 17 for 189 yards and added 32 yards rushing on four carries.

Chip Kelly must decide whether it's Barkley, who was 4 of 9 for 45 yards and an interception, or Tebow behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez for the Eagles (3-1).

Both teams rested most of their regulars, although linebacker Kiko Alonso made his debut for the Eagles and had two tackles in his one series. Alonso, acquired from Buffalo for LeSean McCoy, tore his anterior cruciate ligament last summer, dealt with a concussion during training camp and was scratched last week with tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee.

Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson each made their debuts for the Jets (3-1), trying to make a case for a backup job behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Flynn was 10 of 14 for 136 yards with two TDs and an interception, while Johnson was 7 of 12 for 82 yards and had 76 yards rushing on seven carries.

Darrin Walls had the first of his two interceptions on Barkley's second pass of the game, intended for Josh Huff and setting up the Jets' first score, an 18-yard TD catch by Chris Owusu from Flynn.

After Kip Smith's 23-yard field goal on the Eagles' next possession, Stacy wiggled into the end zone with a screen pass for a 5-yard touchdown.

Tebow entered on the Eagles' next drive to some cheers at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets started their next possession at the 3 and Jaylen Watkins jumped the route for an interception, giving the Eagles the ball at the 4. But New York's backups on defense held Philadelphia to Smith's 20-yard field goal.

Tebow zipped a pass into the end zone for Rasheed Bailey 23 seconds before halftime and pumped his fists twice in celebration. He also had a 17-yard run and completions of 28 and 23 yards.

Johnson led the Jets on a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by Daryl Richardson's 9-yard run that made it 24-12.

Tebow wasn't done, though, throwing a pretty 9-yard TD pass to Freddie Martino.

Smith missed two extra-point attempts for the Eagles.

Back_to_Top

NEWSDAY

Jets backup QBs Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson sharp vs. Eagles (Kimberley Martin) Newsday September 3, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-overcome-strong-game-by-eagles-tim-tebow-1.10807265

Daily Clips Cont.

3 | P a g e

The auditions for a backup quarterback have come to an end for the Jets. Now it's up to coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan to make the final call.

Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson impressed in a 24-18 win over the Eagles in Thursday night's preseason finale at MetLife Stadium. Flynn threw two touchdowns, including an 18-yarder to Chris Owusu in the first quarter. Flynn, who played the entire first half, completed 10 of 14 for 136 yards with an interception. The newly signed Johnson was 7-of-12 for 82 yards with 76 yards on seven carries.

"I thought they both came in and did a good job,'' Bowles said. "Matt made a heck of a throw on the touchdown play; put touch on it, which is hard to do because we ran it a couple times in a row. He threw the ball to the sideline pretty well. Josh came in, you know him, he can always run. But he threw some good passes as well.''

The Jets have until 4 p.m. Saturday to cut their roster to 53 players. Not surprisingly, Bowles refused to tip his hand.

"They all did some good things. So that'll be tough,'' he said of whittling his active roster. "We've got some tough decisions tonight, and when we know, you'll know.''

During CBS' broadcast, Maccagnan said he and Bowles "are a team'' who will decide collectively whom to cut. He agreed the decisions will be diificult.

The Jets' backups finally got their chance to shine, and Zac Stacy and Chris Owusu, took advantage of the opportunity.

Stacy, behind Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell on the depth chart, caught a 5-yard TD pass in the second quarter and had 68 yards on 20 carries. Owusu, fighting for a spot in a crowded receiving corps, caught a perfectly thrown first-quarter TD from Flynn. Owusu had five catches for 72 yards.

"I just went out there and played,'' Flynn said. "I didn't look at it as 'I've gotta go play well to make the team.' I hadn't been out on the field in a long time. I tried to soak it all in and enjoy it.''

Another on the bubble, Walter Powell, returned a first-quarter kick 57 yards, but he also was flagged twice on one third-quarter drive for offensive pass interference.

Former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow provided much of the Eagles offense. The former Heisman Trophy winner is battling Matt Barkley (4-for-9, 45 yards, interception) for a job behind starter Sam Bradford and former Jet Mark Sanchez.

Tebow pulled Philly within 17-12 on an 18-yard TD pass over cornerback Dexter McDougle and made an impressive 45-yard throw to Freddie Martino. But soon after his fourth-down pass was intercepted by cornerback Darrin Walls, his second pick of the night.

Jets owner Woody Johnson said in 2012: "You can never have enough Tebow.'' And that was proven true last night.

Tebow refused to be denied until the very end. He escaped pressure and threw another TD, a 9-yarder accentuated by Martino's impressive body control and toe drag.

"We won, it went well,'' Johnson said. "That's the most important thing. we were able to put a lot of drives together. We got a nice comfortable lead and were able to close it out.''

Back_to_Top

Jets generally happy for Tom Brady (Tom Rock) Newsday September 4, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

4 | P a g e

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-generally-happy-for-tom-brady-1.10807515

No one would fault the Jets for being a little dejected.

Their biggest rival -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady -- just had his four-game suspension overturned Thursday by a U.S. District Court judge. But few in the Jets' locker room felt particularly upset by the decision. Especially backup quarterback Matt Flynn.

"When I was up in New England, I formed a good relationship with Tom," said the NFL journeyman, who was released by the Patriots in August because of a hamstring injury.

"Me personally, I don't want to get too in depth, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did."

Granted, the Jets aren't slated to face the Patriots until Week 7, long after Brady would have returned from serving his Roger Goodell-given suspension. But at the moment, the "Deflategate" score is "Brady 1, The Commissioner 0."

And that's got to rub some Jets the wrong way -- right?

Not quite.

"He fought for his rights, and justice was served," left tackle and Freeport product D'Brickashaw Ferguson said during the CBS telecast, though he did call the ruling a little "bittersweet."

After Thursday night's 24-18 win over the Eagles in the preseason finale, Jets coach Todd Bowles didn't seem the least bit concerned about the decision.

Asked if he had a reaction to the day's events, he replied matter-of-factly: "No, not really, other than it's over.”

Back_to_Top

THE RECORD

Jets QBs Johnson, Flynn make cases for backup job (J.P. Pelzman) The Record September 4, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/backups-fight-for-survival-1.1403787

EAST RUTHERFORD – Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson did their best Thursday to make things tough on the Jets.

Even though, of course, Flynn and Johnson were playing for the Jets.

The veteran quarterbacks played well in the Jets’ 24-18 victory over Philadelphia in the preseason finale for both teams at MetLife Stadium. That will set up a difficult decision for the Jets’ management, as they try to decide which player to keep as veteran insurance for starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick will be the opening-day starter against Cleveland on Sept. 13 with Geno Smith still sidelined for at least the first four regular-season games. The Jets view fourth-round pick Bryce Petty as a potential part of their future, but he is a project and likely isn’t ready to be the No. 2 quarterback at this stage of his young career.

The Jets must cut 22 players to get down to the NFL-mandated limit of 53 by Saturday at 4 p.m.

Flynn, signed Aug. 19, started in his first action as a Jet and played the entire first half. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception deep in Jets territory.

Daily Clips Cont.

5 | P a g e

Johnson, signed Aug. 24, took over to start the second half and led a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Daryl Richardson, giving the Jets a 24-12 lead. Johnson also showed an ability to make plays with his feet, including a 27-yard run and a 13-yarder on the Jets’ final, clock-killing drive. He had a team-high 76 yards on seven carries.

"I thought they both came in and did a good job," coach Todd Bowles said of the two veterans.

He added the decision of which one to keep will "be tough. They bring different dynamics to the game. One [Johnson] can run and make some throws and get out of the pocket. The other one [Flynn] can manage the game as well as throw some timely balls and see the defenses."

Both players said they wouldn’t worry about the decision.

"I feel like I put my best foot forward and that’s all I can ask," said Flynn, an eighth-year pro. "I can rest my head on the pillow and sleep good."

"You play the game," said Johnson, a seventh-year pro, "and [then] you just chill, man. Honestly. It’s something that’s really out of your control."

Philadelphia also had a quarterback battle on the line Thursday, for the No. 3 spot behind starter Sam Bradford and backup Mark Sanchez, a former Jet.

Third-year pro Matt Barkley and former Jet Tim Tebow were competing. Tebow looked better, making the kind of throws the charismatic yet often scatter-armed signal-caller has struggled with. Playing the second and fourth quarters, Tebow went 11-for-17 for 189 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, on a fourth-down play.

Barkley, who played the first and third periods, was 4-for-9 for 45 yards with one interception.

"That’s not up to me," Tebow said when asked if he believes he will make the roster.

BRIEFS: Flynn said of the court decision reversing New England QB Tom Brady’s four-game suspension, "I’m glad it worked out the way it did." Flynn was in training camp with the Patriots earlier this summer before being released. … Second-year CB Dexter McDougle was burned on both of Tebow’s scoring passes. He was badly beaten by Rasheed Bailey for an 18-yard score, and missed Tebow on a blitz before he threw his second TD pass. … RB Zac Stacy, who is making a case for the No. 3 RB position, caught a 5-yard TD pass from Flynn on a middle screen. … Philadelphia WR Miles Austin didn’t play. Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly said the Garfield native "couldn’t go," implying that he was injured. Austin, who signed with the Eagles as a free agent during the off-season, missed two preseason games and his spot on the 53-man roster might not be secure.

Back_to_Top

ESPN NEW YORK

QBs Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson play well in Jets’ win over Eagles (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53803/qbs-matt-flynn-josh-johnson-play-well-in-jets-win-over-eagles

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A few thoughts on the New York Jets' 24-18 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium:

Daily Clips Cont.

6 | P a g e

What it means: Not a whole lot. This was the final preseason game, so both teams rested the top half of their rosters. Unofficially, the Jets sat 33 players, including defensive end Sheldon Richardson, whose four-game suspension goes into effect for Week 1. For the record, Todd Bowles finished his first preseason with a 3-1 mark. The record will be forgotten by the time he watches the tape of the game. The focus shifts to cutting the roster to 53 (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET) and starting preparation for the Cleveland Browns. Ten days until opening day.

QB depth chart: With Ryan Fitzpatrick resting and Geno Smith still recovering from his broken jaw, the first objective in the game was to find a No. 2 quarterback for the season opener. A slight edge goes to Matt Flynn over Josh Johnson. As expected, Flynn started the game and he didn't stink. Actually, he performed reasonably well considering he's still learning the offense and had only two full days of practice. Remember, he hadn't played in a game since last December (mop-up duty for the Green Bay Packers).

Flynn didn't show much rust, completing 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He made one mistake, and it was a big one -- an interception at his own 4-yard line. He braincramped, forcing a pass to a well-covered receiver. It's hard to believe, but it was the first interception by a Jets quarterback in the preseason. Johnson (7-for-12, 82 yards) played the second half, making more plays with his legs than his arm (a team-high 76 rushing yards). He didn't do anything wrong, per se; it's just that Flynn arrived a weekly earlier, giving him a head start in learning the playbook.

Is Kerley in trouble? With Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker resting, and with Jeremy Kerley (concussion) sidelined, the young wide receivers got a chance to hog the stage. They all played well, especially Chris Owusu (5 catches for 72 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown), Walter Powell (3 catches for 58 yards) and Shaquelle Evans (3 catches for 25 yards). For a change, the Jets have decent depth. The burning question is, will it cost Kerley his job? His slide down the depth chart was one of the unexpected developments in training camp. The new coaching staff apparently doesn't value him as much as the previous staff, but Kerley is a proven slot receiver and a serviceable punt returner. It would be a mistake to cut him.

Who got hurt? There appeared to be no injuries of significance.

Rookie watch: Rookies, what rookies? The Jets' top four picks didn't play -- Leonard Williams (knee), Devin Smith (ribs), Lorenzo Mauldin (knee) and quarterback Bryce Petty (coach's decision).

Deep backfield: The Jets rested their top two running backs, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. Zac Stacy and Daryl Richardson, two former St. Louis Rams battling for the No. 3 spot, continued their spirited competition. Stacy (20 carries for 68 yards) scored on a 5-yard reception and Richardson (22 carries for 72 yards) scored on a 9-yard run. Stacy was more consistent throughout the preseason, so he gets the edge over Richardson. Either way, the Jets have to like their depth.

Mixed results on D: You want the good news? The Jets made two takeaways, a couple of inteceptions by cornerback Darrin Walls. The bad news? They let Tim Tebow, of all people, throw two touchdown passes. Dexter McDougle and Keon Lyn were victimized on the scoring passes.

Back_to_Top

Jets WR Chris Owusu makes strong bid for roster spot (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53814/jets-wr-chris-owusu-makes-strong-bid-for-roster-spot

Daily Clips Cont.

7 | P a g e

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Three positive performances and three negatives from the New York Jets' 24-18 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason finale:

THREE UP

1. Chris Owusu, wide receiver -- Acquired last season by John Idzik (remember him?), Owusu may have earned a roster spot with a strong finish -- five catches for 72 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown reception. The Jets have some tough decisions to make, but Owusu will be in the middle of the conversation.

2. Darrin Walls, cornerback -- He locked up a roster spot with two interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick of old friend Tim Tebow. You have to figure that Walls will be the fourth corner, behind Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. A year ago, Walls was the opening-day starter. Yes, the secondary has come a long way.

3. Daryl Richardson, running back -- Making a late bid to crack the crowded backfield, Richardson rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. He showed his determination on his 9-yard scoring run, moving a pile into the end zone. If he doesn't land a spot on the Jets' 53, he probably attracted interest from other teams.

THREE DOWN

1. Dex McDougle, cornerback -- The former third-round pick is battling for one of the final cornerback spots. He didn't help his chances by surrendering an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rasheed Bailey, an undrafted rookie. Ouch. The quarterback was Tebow. Double ouch.

2. Brent Qvale, tackle -- Remember when Qvale was considered the sleeper in the right-guard competition? That ship sailed a couple of weeks ago. He ended the preseason at right tackle, ending on a down note. He got beat on an outside rush and allowed a third-down sack in the second quarter.

3. Keon Lyn, cornerback -- He made Tebow look good on a deep pass, which is hard to do. Lyn was burned on a 45-yard pass play by somebody named Freddie Martino.

Back_to_Top

Teflon Tom wins, and everything returns to normal for Jets (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 3, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53788/teflon-tom-wins-and-everything-returns-to-normal-for-jets

You can't beat Tom Brady on the field, and you can't beat him in court, either. Much to the chagrin of the New York Jets and their fans, he's Teflon Tom.

Judge Richard M. Berman's decision to nullify the Deflategate controversy doesn't directly affect the Jets because they don't face the New England Patriots until Week 7 -- it would've been Brady's second game after the suspension -- but the court's decision is a blow to those in New York, Miami and Buffalo who embraced the idea that the Brady-less Patriots would be vulnerable in the AFC East.

If you were one of those people, shame on you.

First of all, it ain't over till it's over when it comes to legal matters and the court system. Even now, it might not be over, as the NFL could still file an appeal. Second, even if the four-game suspension was upheld, the Patriots still were going to have the best quarterback in the division -- indeed, one of the best in history -- for three-quarters of the season. And that's huge, considering the other quarterbacks in the

Daily Clips Cont.

8 | P a g e

AFC East are Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill and Tyrod Taylor, none of whom has played in the postseason.

To the Jets' credit, they never did any gloating during the entire Deflategate controversy, recognizing they were in no position to make bold statements. When you're coming off a four-win season, staring up at Mt. Brady-chick, you keep your mouth shut and start hiking. The Jets have been hiking for 15 years, and it seems like they're not getting any closer to the summit.

This hasn't been the greatest summer for the Jets. They lost their quarterback, Geno Smith, to a broken jaw. They lost Sheldon Richardson to a four-game suspension, maybe longer. And now they have to watch their No. 1 rival celebrate the return of their No. 1 player (even though he never left), a victory that, no doubt, will energize the Patriots' franchise and fan base.

A silver lining for the Jets? Well, there's this: When they face the Patriots in Week 7, it won't be Brady's first home game after the the suspension -- an event that would've created a tidal wave of emotion at Gillette Stadium. It'll just be an ordinary game for the defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf.

Where the Jets almost never win.

Back_to_Top

Jets’ response to the Tom Brady news: We’re on to Cleveland (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York September 4, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/53831/jets-response-to-the-tom-brady-news-were-on-to-cleveland

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- At the end of a historic day in the NFL, Tom Brady beating Roger Goodell in court, the New York Jets declined to participate in the noise. Their No. 1 nemesis was freed on a few technicalities, so to speak, but the talkative Jets opted to invoke a Belichick-ism.

They're on to Cleveland.

"If it's not about Cleveland and the New York Jets, I'm not listening to questions," cornerback Antonio Cromartie told a couple of reporters Thursday night as he exited the locker room after the 24-18 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the final preseason game. "I'm out. ... There's nothing to talk about."

This was the same Cromartie who, at the start of training camp, made national headlines by supporting Brady and criticizing Goodell for overstepping his authority. Cromartie is no legal scholar, but he turned out to be right -- at least in the eyes of U.S. District judge Richard M. Berman. The decision, of course, affects the landscape in the AFC East, but the Jets wanted no part of that conversation as they wrapped up a 3-1 preseason.

And that's just what you wanted to hear (or not hear) from the Jets. Their regular-season game faces went on at 9:58 p.m., when the (Tim) Tebowl came to an end. Clearly, they wanted to avoid the Brady distraction as they begin preparations for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

"He's not on my team, so I didn't have much of a reaction," said tackle Breno Giacomini, who grew up in the Boston area and had 20 unread texts on his phone -- from giddy Patriots' fans back home, he figures.

The always chatty Willie Colon responded to a Brady question as if he had been asked to supply his cell-phone passcode. He clammed up.

"From a player's perspective, I washed it away because we still had no see him, no matter what," he said, alluding to the Week 7 meeting in Foxborough -- three weeks after the suspension was to expire.

Daily Clips Cont.

9 | P a g e

These aren't the Rex Ryan Jets, that's for sure. They're the Todd Bowles Jets, which means they don't yap as much as the old days. They feed off Bowles, a man of few words who insulates himself -- and the team -- from potential distractions.

Right now, the No. 1 objective is to cut the roster to 53. They have some tough decisions, especially at wide receiver. Jeremy Kerley's status is the top question. Aside from Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, he's their most accomplished receiver, but he didn't received a strong vote of confidence from Bowles.

"We'll make those decisions. We'll see," Bowles said. "We have a bunch of good receivers, so we're going to take a look at them."

Once the roster is finalized, they will direct their attention to the Browns. Mentally, the Jets are in a good place, as they played well enough in the preseason to build confidence. Health-wise, the starting lineup suffered only one injury in the preseason, albeit a significant one -- quarterback Geno Smith and his broken jaw.

Otherwise, they look and sound like they're ready to go. There was no Brady talk -- well, maybe just a little.

"This could work in our favor because when the appeal happens and gets (overturned) maybe, his suspension could be when we play them," linebacker Jason Babin said. "Who knows?"

He was laughing when he said it.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK POST

Deflategate ruling keeps Jets – and Rex – under Patriots’ heel (Brian Costello) New York Post September 3, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/09/03/deflategate-ruling-keeps-jets-and-rex-under-patriots-heel/

Apparently Judge Richard Berman is not a Jets fan.

Any hope Jets fans had of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missing a quarter of the season and therefore opening up the AFC East race faded Thursday when Berman ruled against commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL and nullified Brady’s four-game suspension. There is a chance the NFL could win an appeal and get the suspension reinstated, but that feels like a slimmer possibility than Bill Belichick hosting “Saturday Night Live.”

The suspension never directly affected the Jets because they are not scheduled to play the Patriots until Week 7 in Foxborough. But the idea of New England playing without No. 12 for the first four games of the season had many believing the division race would be more open than it has been in years with the Jets, Bills and Dolphins having a real chance to unseat Brady and the Pats, who have won 11 of the last 12 AFC East titles.

The defending Super Bowl champions still look weaker than usual entering the 2015 season with major questions in the secondary and along the offensive line, but with Brady back under center it’s impossible not to see them as the favorites in the division yet again.

The Jets also now get Brady hitting his stride when they play on Oct. 25 at Gillette Stadium instead of him shaking off the rust. The Jets game would have been his second game back had the four-game suspension

Daily Clips Cont.

10 | P a g e

stood up. A small silver lining for the Jets is not having to play him in his first home game of the season, which the October meeting would have been.

New England has followed the same pattern in recent years of starting slowly and then figuring things out in October and never looking back. There is no good time for the Jets to play Brady and the Patriots, but October might be the worst. Since 2003, the Patriots are an NFL-best 41-9 in October. The last time they lost in Foxborough in October was Oct. 2, 2005 to the Chargers. The Patriots are 25-1 in October home games since 2003.

The Jets have not beaten the Patriots in Foxborough since the 2010 playoff game and are 1-7 overall against New England since that memorable victory.

Speaking of that playoff win, engineered by Rex Ryan, he has to be as upset as anyone outside of Goodell about the decision. Ryan’s Bills face the Patriots in Week 2. They thought they might see Brady’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, instead of Ryan’s old nemesis in Brady. Ryan publicly will act like he is thrilled to see Brady and have the chance to beat No. 12, but privately he had to be hoping to get the inexperienced Garoppolo.

Todd Bowles and the Jets have said very little about Brady’s suspension and that probably won’t change now. They have been careful not to make any statements about the AFC East being wide open, mindful of going 4-12 last year and all of their struggles with Brady through the years. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie came out and defended Brady last month.

“There is no part of me that feels a player should be suspended for something that he shouldn’t be suspended for, and that he should only receive a fine for,” Cromartie said. “I want to see New England at their best. Even though we don’t play them until Week [7]. … I want them to be full strength and not have any excuses anyway.”

Cromartie got his wish.

Back_to_Top

Matt Flynn makes strong case for backup QB job in Jets’ win (Brian Costello) New York Post September 3, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/09/03/matt-flynn-makes-strong-case-for-backup-qb-job-in-jets-win/

Matt Flynn may have locked up the Jets’ backup quarterback spot with a decent performance in Thursday’s 24-18 win over the Eagles in the preseason finale.

Flynn played his first snaps of the preseason and made his case to be the short-term backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick while Geno Smith recovers from a broken jaw. Flynn, who had been dealing with a hamstring injury since he signed with the Jets two weeks ago, completed 10-of-14 passing for 136 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

After cornerback Darrin Walls intercepted Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley on the second play of the game, the Jets went run-heavy at first. But Flynn looked sharp on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chris Owusu that put the Jets up 7-0.

Flynn added a second touchdown pass early in the second quarter, finding running back Zac Stacy for a 5-yard score. Flynn was far from perfect, though. His worst pass came near the Jets’ goal line when an awful throw was intercepted by Jaylen Watkins at the 4-yard line.

Josh Johnson replaced Flynn at halftime, and also was impressive.

Daily Clips Cont.

11 | P a g e

Johnson went 7-for-12 for 82 yards and rushed for 77 yards on six carries.

“It will be tough,” coach Todd Bowles said of the decision. “They bring different dynamics to the game. One can run and make some throws and get out of the pocket. The other one can manage the game as well as throw some timely balls and see the defenses. It will be tough. We’ll discuss it tonight. We’ve got some good players. There will be some hard cuts.”

The Jets want an experienced backup to play behind Fitzpatrick while Smith is on the shelf. Rookie Bryce Petty had some good moments in preseason, but the coaches do not feel he’s ready.

Bowles would not guarantee WR Jeremy Kerley will be on the 53-man roster. The five-year veteran seems to have fallen out of favor with the new coaching staff.

“We’ll make those decisions tonight,” Bowles said after the game when asked directly about Kerley. “We’ve got a bunch of good receivers, so we’re going to take a look at them.”

Wide receiver may be one of the most difficult roster decisions for the Jets’ brass. Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall and rookie Devin Smith are definitely going to make it. Kerley and Quincy Enunwa have a very good chance of making it. If the Jets keep six receivers, that leaves one spot. Owusu may have won that spot with five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also returned kicks.

“We’ve got a bunch of tough decisions — wide receiver, defensive back, offensive line,” Bowles said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys who can play football in this league. Numbers wise there will be some tough decisions made.”

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Walls Island

Backup cornerback Darrin Walls had two interceptions, picking off both Eagles quarterbacks — Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow. Walls should make the roster.

Thumbs up

Whoa Owusu

WR Chris Owusu made his case for the final wide receiver spot on the roster, catching five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Owusu missed most of camp with a concussion but was impressive when healthy.

Thumbs up

Bring on the season

The preseason is over. The Jets face the Browns on Sept. 13 in a game that counts.

Thumbs up

Back_to_Top

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets’ Matt Flynn ‘glad’ Tom Brady suspension was overturned (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media September 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/jets_matt_flynn_glad_tom_brady_suspension_was_over.html#incart_river

Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

EAST RUTHERFORD — Matt Flynn was not Tom Brady's teammate for very long. Two months went by from the time the Patriots signed Flynn until they released him, and much of that time covered June and July, during the only few true dead weeks on the NFL calendar.

The Patriots had brought Flynn in as a possible backup quarterback option after Brady's Deflategate suspension was handed down. But Flynn had a hamstring injury, and on Aug 10, he was let go.

Flynn joined the the rival Jets nine days later, in the wake of Geno Smith breaking his jaw. And Thursday night, after he completed 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards two touchdowns, and one interception in the Jets' 24-18 win over the Eagles in a preseason finale, Flynn admitted he was happy Brady's suspension had been overturned by a federal judge several hours earlier.

"When I was up in New England, I formed a good relationship with Tom," Flynn said. "Me, personally, I don't want to get into too many depths, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did."

Flynn, who played the first half against the Eagles, is competing with Josh Johnson, who played the second half, for what's likely a temporary spot as Ryan Fitzpatrick's backup. Either Flynn or Johnson is likely to get cut when the Jets trim their roster from 75 players to 53 by Saturday at 4 p.m. But the one that makes it will likely only be on the roster until Smith's jaw heals and he's ready to return.

"Kind of being around, and this being my eighth year [in the NFL], you don't feel as much pressure, I don't think," said Flynn, who's mostly been a backup in his career. "Yeah, there's probably a lot riding on how you perform in this [final preseason] game, but they also know what you can do despite the game.

"They want to see you go execute the offense. But I just went out there and played. I didn't look at it as, you know, I've got to go play well to be able to make the team. I just went out there and had fun. ... I tried to soak it all in and enjoy it." Back_to_Top

What did Jets’ Todd Bowles think of how Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson played vs. Eagles (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media September 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/what_did_jets_todd_bowles_think_of_how_matt_flynn.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Jets coach Todd Bowles decided to split the playing time Thursday between quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson.

Flynn got the first half, and Johnson played the second half. It seems unlikely that Bowles would choose Johnson as his backup quarterback over Flynn.

But to no surprise, Bowles offered no indication after Thursday's 24-18 win over the Eagles about which way he was leaning. Both Flynn and Johnson performed fairly well, for the most part, against the Eagles.

Bowles was asked Thursday if it'll be a tough decision between Flynn and Johnson, for the role of Ryan Fitzpatrick's understudy. Bowles said exactly what you'd expect, so you shouldn't read into it at all.

"It'll be tough," he said. "They bring different dynamics to the game. One can run and make some throws and get out of the pocket [Johnson]. The other one can manage the game, as well as throw some timely balls and see the defenses. So it'll be tough. We'll discuss it tonight. There will be some hard cuts."

Flynn completed 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Johnson completed 7 of 12 passes for 82 yards. Johnson also ran seven times for 76 yards, with a long of 27.

Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

"I thought they both came in and did a good job," Bowles said. "[Flynn] made a heck of a throw on the touchdown play. He put touch on it. That's pretty hard to do, because we ran it a couple times in a row. He threw the ball to the sideline pretty well."

As for Johnson, Bowles said, "You know he can always run, but he threw some good passes as well."

Flynn indeed put nice touch on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chris Owusu, a roster fringe receiver, in the first quarter. Flynn also threw an interception out of his own end zone, on a pass intended for Walter Powell.

"It was his [primary] read," Bowles said. "I thought he got rid of it too late, and the guy [Jaylen Watkins] made a heck of a play." The Jets must turn in their final, 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Saturday. Regardless of whether they choose Flynn or Johnson, that guy will only last with the organization until Geno Smith's broken jaw heals. Then, the Jets will revert to their regular quarterback trio of Fitzpatrick, Smith, and rookie Bryce Petty. Back_to_Top

Analyzing Josh Johnson as Jets beat Eagles, 24-18, in preseason finale (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media September 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/analyzing_josh_johnson_as_jets_beat_eagles_in_pres.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Just six days after signing with the Jets, quarterback Josh Johnson got his one big chance to make the 53-man roster Thursday night.

Johnson's opportunity came in the second half of a 24-18 victory over the Eagles (3-1) in a preseason finale at MetLife Stadium. Johnson came on in relief of Matt Flynn, whose performance you can read about here. In a meaningless game, this was a quarterback competition with only a little bit of meaning: Johnson and Flynn are battling for a backup spot. The winner gets to be the No. 2 behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, while the loser will likely get cut when the Jets (3-1) are forced to reduce their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday.

But any victory will likely be hollow even for the winner, since his roster spot only figures to last for as long as Geno Smith remains sidelined with a broken jaw, a process that only ought to take a few more weeks.

So how did Johnson do? I knew you'd ask. He finished 7 of 12 for 82 yards passing, plus an impressive seven carries for 76 yards rushing. Johnson can really run. All in all, he did nothing egregiously bad.

Here's a quick rundown:

1. Flawless first drive. Johnson came on at the start of the third quarter, and he led the Jets on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 9:07. He took no shots downfield, but he attempted three passes and completed all three of them—one each to running back Daryl Richardson and wideouts Walt Powell and Shaq Evans. Two other completions to Powell were negated by offensive pass interference penalties. Johnson also rushed twice for 12 yards, including a quick, seven-yard scramble after his protection broke down.

2. The athleticism. Head coach Todd Bowles had this to say when asked this week why the Jets signed Johnson, a journeyman who had recently been cut by the Bengals: "He's extremely athletic. He can get himself out of bad situations. He has a strong arm. Give him time in the pocket and he can sit there and

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

deliver the ball, but I know the guy can run." On his second drive, Johnson took off when he had no one to throw to and raced for a 23-yard gain. And late in the game, on third-and-5 from the Jets' 39, Johnson used a designed draw out of the shotgun to race for a 27-yard gain that more or less put the game away.

3. Some inconsistency. Johnson wasn't perfect (not that anyone expected him to be). He went 2-for-6 on his second drive, which included a high throw on an out to wideout Chris Owusu. Johnson was also victimized by a drop by wideout Quincy Enunwa on a hot read when Johnson was blitzed.

4. Penalties. The Jets' third possession with Johnson was short-circuited by a false start penalty on third-and-8. Johnso connected with tight end Wes Saxton, but it wasn't enough for a first down.

5. The dangerous throw. Johnson floated a 12-yard completion in the fourth quarter that was delivered late and behind Enunwa, who had to make a terrific play to grab the ball with his left hand. But, man, was it close to being something very bad the other way.

And that'll do it for the Jets' preseason. They play the first of 16 games that count in 10 days against the Browns back here.

Back_to_Top

7 Jets takeaways from 24-18 win over Eagles. Which roster bubble guys played well? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media September 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/xx_jets_takeaways_from_eagles.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets on Thursday hosted the Eagles in the preseason finale for both teams.

The Jets won 24-18. But the result didn't matter nearly as much as the game's particular plays and moments — and how they'll impact players fighting for roster spots.

With that in mind, here are seven takeaways from Thursday night:

1. No starters. As expected, the Jets started 22 backup players. Jets coach Todd Bowles hadn't ruled out playing some starters, but it didn't happen.

These were the offensive starters: quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Zac Stacy, fullback Julian Howsare, wide receivers Quincy Enunwa and Chris Owusu, tight end Kellen Davis, left tackle Charles Brown, left guard Oday Aboushi, center Wesley Johnson, right guard Brian Winters, and right tackle Brent Qvale.

These were the defensive starters: ends Stephen Bowen and Ronald Talley, nose tackle T.J. Barnes, outside linebackers Deion Barnes and Trevor Reilly, inside linebackers Joe Mays and Jamari Lattimore, cornerbacks Marcus Williams and Darrin Walls, and safeties Rontez Miles and Durell Eskridge.

Of those players, only these guys seem likely to make the 53-man roster, which must be determined by Saturday afternoon: Flynn, Stacy, Enunwa, Winters, and Miles. The rest will wait and hope between now and 4 p.m. Saturday.

2. The backup linemen. Aboushi got the start over Dakota Dozier at left guard. Dozier replaced Aboushi in the second half. A good sign for Aboushi's chances of making the roster? (Dozier is eligible for the practice squad.) The only other offensive lineman the Jets replaced to begin the second half was Winters, at right guard. He is Willie Colon's backup there, so Winters is probably set on the roster. Rookie Jarvis Harrison took over at right guard in the second half.

3. Matt Flynn's performance. How'd he look? Not great, but probably good enough to lock up the backup quarterback job, behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Here's more on Flynn's night.

Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

4. Dexter McDougle's poor coverage. With 23 seconds left in the first half, Tim Tebow threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rasheed Bailey. Dexter McDougle, the Jets' second-year cornerback, was in the end zone, but he didn't turn around to defend the pass. On the sideline after the play, Bowles looked none too pleased with McDougle. The former third-round draft pick hasn't locked up a roster spot yet, but he would probably be considered a surprise cut if he didn't make the team. Earlier in the game, another backup corner, Darrin Walls, had a pick. Walls added another pick in the fourth quarter.

5. Joe Mays' successful night. The backup inside linebacker played quite well, as he competed for a roster spot. One of his better plays came on the Eagles' second possession. The Eagles had third-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Then Mays stuffed a Raheem Mostert run for a loss of 4 yards. The Eagles had to settle for a field goal. Mays is one of three primary backup inside linebackers currently on the Jets' roster, along with Jamari Lattimore and Erin Henderson. Because Henderson is recovering from a sprained knee, Mays and Lattimore started Thursday.

6. Walt Powell's mixed results. The wide receiver/return man is very much a roster fringe player. Powell had three catches for 58 yards, while Chris Owusu, another fringe receiver/return man, had five catches for 72 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown. But in the third quarter, Powell was flagged for two pass interference penalties on one drive. This is why Owusu looks like the better offensive player. Still, Powell is undeniable fast as a returner. Powell did both kickoff and punt return Thursday. He had a 57-yard kickoff return called back because of a holding call on Johnson, the No. 2 center.

7. Eric Decker's anti-bullying announcement. The Jets star wide receiver didn't play Thursday, but he did do something positive. During the game, on the television and radio broadcasts, Decker took part in a public service announcement that launched a season-long partnership between the Jets and STOMP Out Bullying, the leading national anti-bullying and cyber bullying organization for kids and teens in the United States. The PSA encouraged educators in the tri-state area to register for free Jets-branded STOMP Out Bullying educator's prevention toolkits that will be gifted to the first 1,000 schools to register.

Back_to_Top

What does Tom Brady’s overturned Deflategate suspension mean for Jets? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media September 3, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/what_does_tom_bradys_overturned_deflategate_suspen.html#incart_river

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday had his NFL-imposed, four-game suspension overturned, as part of that whole under-inflated footballs thing.

Now, instead of sitting out four games, Brady won't have to miss any.

So what does this mean for the Jets? Will this make it tougher for them to win their first AFC East title since 2002?

Well, yes, though the Jets have more immediate, pressing things to worry about, like their quarterback situation. They can't yet concern themselves with down-the-road dreams of a division crown. That goal is a lot of wins away.

Brady's initial suspension was never going to sideline him for any games against the Jets anyway. His second game back was going to be against the Jets — which is the first Jets-Patriots meeting of 2015.

Brady will now be available for the Patriots' opening four games, against the Steelers, Bills, Jaguars, and Cowboys.

Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

There's obviously just one AFC East game in there, against the Bills. But now, that game is less winnable for Rex Ryan's Bills. If the Patriots can beat Buffalo, with Brady's presence giving them a clear edge, that would give them an early, small head start in the division.

The Jets have to travel to New England for an Oct. 25 game, the sixth contest of the season for both teams. And then the Patriots travel to MetLife Stadium on Dec. 27 — the penultimate game of the year for both teams.

Will Jets vs. Patriots in late December have playoff berth/division title implications for the Jets? They'll need to do a lot of winning against teams not named the Patriots before then, in order for the game to have those stakes.

But for the Jets, the overturning of Brady's suspension doesn't really change much. They'll still have to play the Patriots twice, as they would've with the suspension intact. Now, they'll still have to beat out a Brady-led Patriots team to win the division, as the Jets have tried to do for so many years, with little success.

The Patriots have won 12 of 14 AFC East titles since Brady became their starting quarterback in 2001, including six straight division crowns. Overturning that success will be far tougher for the Jets than a judge canceling Brady's suspension.

Back_to_Top

Jets’ Todd Bowles offers non-committal answer about Jeremy Kerley’s roster status, but… (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media September 4, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/jets_todd_bowles_offers_non-committal_answer_about.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Is there a chance the Jets could cut wide receiver Jeremy Kerley this weekend? It seems highly unlikely.

But for what it's worth, Jets coach Todd Bowles offered a non-committal answer about Kerley after Thursday's 24-18 win over the Eagles, in the preseason finale.

Bowles was asked if Kerley is on the bubble to make the Jets' 53-man roster, which must be determined by 4 p.m. Saturday.

"We'll have those decisions [Friday], and we'll make those decisions [Thursday night after the preseason finale]," Bowles said. "We've got a bunch of good receivers, so we're going to take a look at them."

Here's the thing: That answer isn't worth a whole lot, because it's the same answer (non-answer, really) Bowles had been giving for his entire postgame press conference about roster decisions. He's not going to tip his hand on anything.

In fact, Bowles, in his dealings with reporters, hasn't committed to an answer about a roster decision for the entire preseason. He's dodged every question about that.

And why would he commit to answer? These are things that Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan obviously want to play close to the vest, for competitive advantage reasons, etc.

So don't read at all into what Bowles said about Kerley on Thursday.

Kerley didn't play against the Eagles. He is still recovering from a concussion, and likely wouldn't have been available, even if Bowles wanted to play him.

Daily Clips Cont.

17 | P a g e

Would Kerley have played Thursday if he was healthy? It's possible. Only backups played in the game, and Kerley had been getting a lot of reps with the backups.

Even before he got hurt, Kerley had seen second-year pro Quincy Enunwa take many of his snaps as the Jets' No. 3/slot receiver. Enunwa is bigger than Kerley, and offers better blocking skills.

(That's important for the Jets, because they lost tight end Jace Amaro to a season-ending shoulder injury. Amaro was set to be the Jets' H-back this year — a receiver/tight end hybrid. Enunwa's skills could fill some of that void.)

Still, Kerley is a proven NFL player, albeit not a star, while Enunwa spent almost all of last season on the Jets' practice squad. He played just three snaps all season, in the finale at the Dolphins.

Here's the biggest reason why it would make no sense for the Jets to cut Kerley this weekend: He counts $4.4 million against their salary cap this year if he gets cut, and $2.6 million if he's on the roster.

If the Jets trade Kerley, he would count $2.4 million against their 2015 cap — a savings of just $200,000, compared to if he remains with the team. And it's not like the Jets are going to get a ton in return for Kerley.

Regardless of what Bowles and his staff think of Kerley, and his future with the Jets, shipping him off now would mean Bowles was putting a ton of faith in Enunwa, a completely unproven player.

It seems like Enunwa is a lock to make the 53-man roster, along with Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, and Devin Smith. If we assume Kerley is on the roster, as the fifth receiver, then Chris Owusu, Walter Powell, and Shaq Evans are the three remaining receivers in the mix for the final one or two spots.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Matt Flynn makes case to be Jets backup QB in final preseason game (Seth Walder) New York Daily News September 3, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/matt-flynn-case-jets-backup-qb-article-1.2348245

Matt Flynn largely passed his interview for a temp job -- Jets backup quarterback until Geno Smith heals -- though not without throwing a pick.

The only drama, if you can call it that, heading into Gang Green's final preseason game at home against the Eagles on Thursday night was the competition to be Ryan Fitzpatrick's backup between two quarterbacks who had never thrown even a preseason pass for the Jets: Flynn and Josh Johnson.

In the first half, Flynn completed 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Those are solid numbers, but he was facing the Eagles' backups. Flynn connected twice with Walt Powell and three times with Chris Owusu -- two receivers fighting to make the team -- in the first half.

Reading between the lines from head coach Todd Bowles, Flynn appeared to be the favorite heading into Thursday's game. Flynn, who has bounced around the league and was cut by New England earlier this offseason, got the start against the Eagles.

The Jets signed Johnson last week, presumably as insurance in case Flynn was unable to recover from his hamstring injury or didn't play well enough to win the job.

Daily Clips Cont.

18 | P a g e

Bowles had said he was considering using some starters in Thursday's contest, but ultimately elected not to do so. The rookie head coach ran out a full lineup of backups to begin the game. Potential third wide receiver Quincy Enunwa did play on Thursday, and was kneed in the helmet in the second quarter.

The Eagles, too, had two quarterbacks battling for a roster spot. And the game opened with good news for ex-Jet Tim Tebow...though not because of anything he did. Matt Barkley was picked off by Darrin Walls on his second pass attempt of the game.

Flynn, meanwhile, opened about as well as he could have, hitting Chris Owusu with a nice throw on an 18-yard touchdown pass to cap off his first drive as a Jet.

The journeyman QB kept the production coming in, leading the Jets to a 90-yard touchdown drive on his second series. He completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Zac Stacy for his second score of the day.

His perfect day came to an end in the second quarter when, with the offense backed up on its own two-yard line, Flynn threw an ill-advised pass toward Walt Powell that was picked off by Jaylen Watkins.

At the end of the first half Tebow did what Tebow has done before: run a successful two minute drill against the Jets. The once-shirtless QB marched the Eagles downfield and threw a touchdown to Rasheed Bailey to end the half.

Back_to_Top

METRO NEW YORK

Jets who helped themselves… and didn’t on Thursday night (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 3, 2015

http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/jets-who-helped-themselves-and-didn-t-on-thursday-night/zsJoid---fPG5trrkNVXRc/

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The fourth (and final) preseason game produced its fair share of roster shakeups or perhaps clarification for the New York Jets. There are a handful of roster spots open according to head coach Todd Bowles and a few players made a case for those coveted spots in the win over the Eagles.

And a few didn't.

Truthfully, no player on the outside looking in did such a tremendous job in the game that he elevated himself onto the roster.

Players Who (Look Like) They Finalized a Spot on the 53-Man Roster:

Chris Owusu – His versatility on special teams is a plus but his two first quarter catches including an 18-yard touchdown reception showed that his training camp concussion didn't rattle his chance to make the roster. Owusu had a great camp before the concussion and he's picked up where he left off in preseason. He finished with five catches for 72 yards.

Zac Stacy – He ran well, to the tune of 68 yards on 20 carries and had some nice catches out of the backfield, including a weaving 25-yard reception in the second quarter. Stacy was a long shot to make the roster after the Jets traded for him during the NFL Draft but he's made quite a case during training camp. He's making this team.

Rontez Miles – With Antonio Allen done for the year, Rontez Miles shot up the depth chart and is now firmly on the two-deep. He got the start on Thursday night and chipped in on a big tackle on the goal line,

Daily Clips Cont.

19 | P a g e

one of eight tackles on the night, second most on the team. He's going from the practice squad the past two years to firmly on the two-deep.

Stuck in Neutral:

Walter Powell – A couple big gains, such as a 21-yard effort in the second quarter and another one of 28 yards helped cement the wide receiver firmly on the bubble. Factor in his special teams work and couple nice catches all of which helped him, but two second half penalties damaged him. He may not be doing enough to stick on the roster although he is making a late push.

Quincy Enunwa – The wide receiver and possible tight end had a bad drop in the third quarter, not the first time in preseason he hasn't been able to hold onto the ball. But he still manages to make enough plays to keep himself in discussion to make this roster. But he didn't cement his roster spot on Thursday night like he could have with two catches for 17 yards.

Players Who (Look Like) They Didn't Finalize a Spot on the 53-Man Roster:

Brent Qvale – After getting some first-team reps during minicamp, the second-year offensive lineman allowed a bad sack in the second quarter. It might be an uphill battle for Qvale who still has a decent shot at making the team, he just didn't help his case against the Eagles. He got pushed around a bit as well which won't help sell the coaching staff on his upside.

Daryl Richardson – He didn't have a bad night but given the way Stacy played, it might be too little, too late. His recent concussion kept him out of Saturday's win over the New York Giants and hurt his spot on the roster. He needed a home run showing against the Eagles and came up short, even as 72 rushing yards and a touchdown showed some goods. He should get picked up somewhere as he has talent. Just didn't have the big game he needed to get on the roster. It wasn't that Richardson was poor, it's just that Stacy has consistently shown he can make plays.

Back_to_Top

3 things we learned in the Jets’ 24-18 win over the Eagles (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York September 3, 2015

http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/3-things-we-learned-in-the-jets-24-18-win-over-the-eagles/zsJoid---bXX4I34K0xbA/

East Rutherford, N.J. -- With the New York Jets having answered most of their questions in their previous two preseason games (both wins), the fourth and final preseason game was less about a victory and more about evaluating the bottom of the roster. But the Jets' second and third string players didn't look bad in their 24-18 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

There were some good signs, with the starters and more prominent players who did suit-up doing what was expected of them and showing well. So there shouldn't be any surprise cuts this weekend when the Jets trim their rosters down to get to the 53-man limit.

In theory, that is.

(Oh yes and Tim Tebow played and the former Jets quarterback had some nice touches including an 18-yard pass to Rasheed Bailey in the second quarter).

Three Things We Learned from the Jets Fourth Preseason Game:

Daily Clips Cont.

20 | P a g e

Matt Flynn Debuts - The recently signed Flynn got his first reps of preseason, having sat behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty the last two games. Flynn is the insurance policy until Geno Smith returns from his injured jaw, sometime around the fourth game of the season. Playing against the Eagles backups, Flynn orchestrated an eight-play, 54-yard drive on his first series, capping it off with a pretty ball over the top of the Eagles secondary for an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Owusu. Then on their second series, he connected with Walt Powell on a 28-yard pass again over the top. But his second quarter interception intended for Walter Powell was one where he locked-in on his target. No bueno. Flynn put enough on tape that some team will sign him when a quarterback gets injured.

The Stacy Case – Last week, it was his leaping touchdown into the end zone off a screen pass that caught all the attention but running back Zac Stacy showed just how versatile he can be. He had a touchdown early in the second quarter and rushed for 68 yards, often after churning out tough yards behind a makeshift offensive line. It was good, consistent running from their third-year player.

Another Win – Yes, it is just preseason but the Jets finished 3-1 in the exhibition slate, something that has to feel good for a team that had four wins all of last year. Perhaps there is a little momentum here in play, especially after a grueling training camp and some off the field distractions. But more than anything, three wins out of four for a team that has failed to make the playoffs the past four seasons gives them some positivity heading into the season. Winning can be infectious.

Back_to_Top

WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Placed 1B Paul Goldschmidt on maturnity leave. Recalled LHP Keith Hessler from Reno (PCL).

COLORADO ROCKIES — Recalled RHP Brooks Brown and RHP Justin Miller from Albuquerque (PCL).

PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Selected the contracts of INF infielder Pedro Florimon from Bristol (Appalachian). Transferred RHP Deolis Guerra from the 15- to the 60-day DL.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Recalled LHPs Tyler Lyons and Nick Greenwood and RHP Miguel Socolovich from Memphis (PCL). Optioned LHP Marco Gonzales to Memphis.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Recalled INF/OF Alex Dickerson, RHP Jon Edwards and C Rocky Hale from El Paso (PCL). Designated LHP Chris Rearick for assignment.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled RHP Rafael Martin and LHP Matt Grace from Syracuse (IL).

American Association

JOPLIN BLASTERS — Exercised their 2016 option on RHPs Winston Abreu, Sam Agnew-Weiland, Victor Capellan, Luis Chirinos, Matt Swilley, Josh Evans, Carlos Fuentes, Nestor Molina and Matt Parish, LHPs Frank DeValle and Leyson Septimo, Cs Mason Morioka and Carlos Ramirez, INFs Aaron Brill, Mitch Glasser, Maikol Gonzalez, Omar Luna, Jairo Perez and Jake Taylor and OFs Oscar Mesa, Jesus Solorzano and Steven Tinoco.

Atlantic League

LONG ISLAND DUCKS — Signed RHP Mariel Checo. Released OF Sam DiMatteo.

FOOTBALL

Daily Clips Cont.

21 | P a g e

National Football League

ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed OL Eric Lefeld. Waived WR Bernard Reedy.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed QB Derek Anderson to a two-year contract extension.

CHICAGO BEARS — Acquired TE Khari Lee from Houston for a 2017 sixth-round draft pick. Waived TE Blake Annen.

CINCINNATI BENGALS — Placed WR Onterio McCalebb on the reserve/injured list.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Re-signed K Chris Boswell.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Signed LB Lorenzo Alexander. Waived LB Horace Miller.

Canadian Football League

CFL — Fined Winnipeg LB Jamall Westerman for unsportsmanlike conduct; Toronto CB Travis Hawkins and Ottawa OT Colin Kelly for delivering blows to the head of an opponent in recent games.

EDMONTON ESKIMO — Traded QB Matt Nichols to Winnipeg for a conditional 2017 seventh-round draft pick.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Added RB Chevon Walker to the practice roster.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Agreed to terms with F Joakim Nordstrom on a one-year contract.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Announced the retirement of D Bryce Salvador.

ECHL

MANCHESTER MONARCHS — Signed D Mark Adams.

Back_to_Top