Garrard Retired Saying Knee Was Giving Him Issues

Garrrard

David Garrard retired from Jets on Thursday saying his knee was giving him trouble.

Garrard spent two years out of football and his knee problems were widely known, Rich Cimini of ESPN New York reports. An AFC personnel executive said at the time of the signing, “His knee is a concern. He’ll look fine in drills, but I don’t know if he can take a hit.” Turns out that Garrard, 35, couldn’t cut it in drills, either, prompting his abrupt retirement.

Garrard missed some workouts early in the off-season program, a source said, fueling speculation in the locker room that he wasn’t right, physically.

In recent practices, he was sharp on his short throws, Cimini was told, but he labored on longer routes because he couldn’t drive the ball, probably because of his balky knee. As a result, he bounced some passes.

Jets Fans! Enter The New Era Photo Day Contest!

NY Jets (ANGLE)

New Era, the official on-field headwear of the National Football League, is teaming up with the NFL to launch the Back to Football Photo Day contest. So what this means is that Jets fans will now have the chance to join the ranks of Gino Smith to also become THE face of the Jets.

The contest, which is live at www.speakwithyourcap.com or through New Era’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/neweracaps?fref=ts) will require Jets faithfuls to submit photos of themselves showcasing how you personally “speak with your cap.”  Whether you wear your cap sideways, backwards or flexed at the brim, show how you are bringing your own style to the game.

32 fans (1 per team) will ultimately be chosen and win a complimentary trip to New York City for two. The winners will enjoy a four-day VIP experience and will be professionally styled in their favorite team’s looks for a New Era photo shoot that may be used for a year-long advertisement and promotional campaign.

Could Sanchez Be Gone Come Week One?

Mark Sanchez

One rookie minicamp doesn’t make a quarterback but there are more rumblings that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez might not be around at the start of the 2013 season.

Brian Costello of the New York Post reports Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith was impressive during the two days of the mini-camp open to the media.

His passes had great zip on them and he looked more decisive as the practices went on as he got more comfortable in the offense.

The 22-year-old was even more impressive off the field. He held players’ only meetings at the team hotel to learn the plays and handled the media like a longtime pro.

You can tell from talking to people around the team during this weekend’s rookie mini-camp that many in the organization are smitten with new quarterback Geno Smith. It’s beginning to look more and more like the starting job is his to lose.

The best scenario for the Jets is: Smith shows he’s capable, Garrard proves he’s healthy and another team suffers an injury at quarterback during the preseason. Then, the Jets could trade Sanchez to the quarterback-needy team — after agreeing to eat about $6 million of the $8.75 million coming to him.

Costello isn’t the only one who believes Sanchez could be on the way out. According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, if Geno Smith wins the Jet starting job to start the season, he wouldn’t be remotely surprised if the Jets traded Mark Sanchez for a low-round draft pick or cut him before Week 1.

Jets Sign Four After Minicamp; Release Three

The Jets have made some changes to their roster after their weekend rookie minicamp.

The team announced the signing of free agents DT Lanier Coleman, K Brett Maher, WR Thomas Mayo, and OLB Sean Progar-Jackson.

The Jets also released K Derek Dimke, DT Roosevelt Holliday and WR Royce Pollard.

Ryan To Have A Bigger Say In The Jets Defense In 2013

Rex Ryan

In his first two seasons as the Jets’ coach, Rex Ryan was involved in many aspects of the defense. But in Year 3, he scaled back, preferring to do only “some” of the defensive play-calling instead of all of it. But Ryan will be a bystander no more, Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports

Ryan reiterated Saturday that he’ll run all of the walk-throughs, install all of the defenses and make all of the defensive play calls during the season — just like he did in years past. But he also said that a return to his roots isn’t a result of not trusting new defensive coordinator and longtime friend Dennis Thurman, who replaced Mike Pettine this offseason.

“It has nothing to do with Dennis’ ability,” said Ryan, whose voice carried on the practice field Saturday as he barked out assignments during Day 2 of rookie minicamp. “I mean, there’s a reason for four straight years people wanted him to be their coordinator and we denied it every time. So it has nothing to do with Dennis’ ability.”

Ryan, who said the task of replacing seven starters on defense helped precipitate his decision, also said: “I’m going to go back to doing what I do, and that’s teach and coach primarily on defense. We hired a great offensive coach. Will I be involved there? Of course. But I do my best down there on defense.”

“I think we’re better served if I’m on the defensive side and making sure we’ve got the rules set the way I see it set,” the Jets coach said.

Jets Have Some Interest In LB Karlos Dansby

Karlos Dansby

Karlos Dansby visited with his former team, the Cardinals on Wednesday. The 31 year old free-agent linebacker has also visited with the Bengals and Bills.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 620 reports Dansby had “good meeting” with the Card’s brass. No contract was discussed. Dansby said he had interest from others including The Jets, Texans and Falcons.

Jets To Talk To Former Browns KR/WR Josh Cribbs

Josh Cribbs

Former Browns return man Josh Cribbs is a busy man these days, as he visited with the Raiders and was offered a contract after passing their physical, but instead of signing put the team on hold.

Cribbs will talk to another team that has interest in him – the Jets. This according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and NFL.com.

Rapoport claims that Cribbs has three other teams who are interested in him, with one of them being New York. He will sit down with the Jets, and will gauge their interest in him before making a decision on where to sign.

Holmes Says Pay Cut Was In Best Interest Of The Team

Santonio Holmes

Santonio Holmes is still working on overcoming his Lisfranc injury that forced him to miss most of the 2012 season.

This offseason the Jets had his restructure his contract, leaving him with only the guaranteed money he is owed heading into this season.

When asked why he agreed to the cut, Holmes said it was because he had the best interest of the Jets in mind.

“I want to be here for the long term, and if it means helping out the team I’m going to continue helping out the team in any way possible,” Holmes said on the NBC Sports Network Wednesday night.

When asked about the quarterback competition, Holmes said, “Right now, it’s Sanchez and that’s who we’re going with and we’re going to continue on this road until time permits.”

Holmes said he spoke to Sanchez both today and yesterday and thinks he’s still going to be a team leader. It appears the two have continued repairing their relationship from the debacle to end the 2011 season.