Jets to speak with Cowher

According to the Associated Press, the New York Jets plan to speak with Bill Cowher about their vacant head coaching position ... and Cowher is receptive to talking. As we know, Cowher has a daughter who attends Princeton University, which is not terribly far from the Jets' new practice facility. Click here to read the AP report.

Patriots cheating more than Spygate suggests?

A recent article in The New York Times entitled In Cat and Mouse Game, Patriots Are Central Players hints strongly that the New England Patriots are cheating in many more ways than the Spygate scandal would suggest. It reports that the NFL's Competition Committee has not only heard accusations that the Patriots' coaches videotaped opposing coaches' signals, but also that New England "placed microphones on defensive players to steal quarterbacks' audible signals and manipulated clocks and coach-to-quarterback radio systems."

Yet, unlike the New York Jets, none of the 30 other NFL teams complained publicly about these other violations, and as a result there has been little media coverage about these additional allegations. But it's significant that league officials have been re-writing the league's confidential Game Operations Manual and that the changes concern rules that the Patriots have specifically and repeatedly been accused of violating. Note that the NFL re-worked many sections of the manual before the 2007 season, addressing video technology and stadium video locations, among other things. No doubt teams other than the Jets (Buffalo and Green Bay appear to have been among them) have in past years caught the Patriots engaging in illegal activities; it's just that the Jets were the first team to make their complaints public.

Even more tellingly, the 2007 edition of the Game Operations Manual included significant changes involving coach-to-QB radio systems, game clock operations and the placement of microphones. All of these changes appear to have been in response to complaints lodged by other teams against the Patriots.

Faneca to the Jets

For Alan Faneca it was all about the money. And now he'll have more money than ever after agreeing to a five-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets that includes $21 million guaranteed. Although many fans probably don't agree with me I think the Steelers were wise to let Faneca go, even though the team may experience a significant drop-off at his position in 2008. I can eaily envision a scenario where Faneca's play declines dramatically just a year or two down the road, or he decides to retire prematurely (leaving New York with a lot of "dead money" counting against its salary cap).

Jets 19, Steelers 16 (OT)

Today’s game was a shining example of the advantage afforded teams coming off a bye week. On the second play of the game the Jets executed a trick play that went for 56 yards, setting up New York’s one and only touchdown. I’m certain that sometime during the Jets’ extra week of preparation the coaches noticed that Steelers’ CB Ike Taylor is quick to abandon his pass coverage responsibilities on running plays and thus especially vulnerable to flea flicker-type fakes. Needless to say, the Jets looked to exploit that vulnerability right away, and it was the difference in the game.

Of course, the Jets deserve plenty of credit for doing enough to win. As if the 19-16 OT loss wasn’t enough, Jets RB Thomas Jones broke the Steelers’ streak of 34 consecutive games of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

More importantly, the game highlighted a few ongoing problems: Never mind the kick coverage, the Steelers’ offensive line isn’t as good as the national media makes it out to be. Today, Pittsburgh never got its run game going (Willie Parker rushed for 52 yards) and the offensive line allowed a season-high seven sacks. And once again, the team started slowly on the road against an inferior opponent.

In my opinion, Ben Roethlisberger is making the offensive talent around him look better than it really is, but even Big Ben isn’t going to be able to lead the team back from 10, 14, and 15 point deficits on a regular basis. Look for the Steelers to focus on the offensive side of the ball in the 2008 draft.

"What are the Chances...?" is now 8-2 on the season and 21-5 all-time.

Jets-Steelers trade that never was/The "Heidi game"

In the 2000 NFL draft the New York Jets held four first-round draft choices, none as high as the Steelers' first-round pick that year (8th overall). The Jets coveted WR Plaxico Burress, and New York offered to give the Steelers two first-round picks (#12 and #18, I believe), in exchange for the 8th pick. Much to my chagrin, the Steelers rejected the trade and went on to select Burress. The Steelers would have been better off making the deal and selecting QB Chad Pennington along with a highly-rated defensive player. Taking a chance on Pennington would have been a worthwhile risk back in the Kordell Stewart era.

Anyway, since Jets fans may be taking a peek at this blog today, I'd like to remind them that today is the 39th anniversary of the infamous Heidi game. Click here for details.