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Florham Park – It’s almost time for the real footballs to start flying, and Dan checks in from Jets country, in New Jersey, with some nuggets from Monday’s practice and lockerroom.
Steve Serby of the New York Post told me today that he could tell by Rex’s tone during Saturday’s conference call with the media, that Aaron Maybin was a goner.
I didn’t pick up on that . . .
I think that if Mardy Gilyard shows he can be a factor on special team’s coverage, Logan Payne could end up on IR.
Gilyard reportedly is a good special teamer. We will see.
Payne looked like he was going to be a special special teamer, so that is why the Jets were willing to wait on his dislocated wrist to heal.
For Payne, next week is huge. The cast comes off, and the doctors will have a better feel for the timetable . . .
The Jets have added a new assistant trainer. Rick Guter has come over from the Red Bulls of the MLS . . .
I know everyone says John Connor is going to play on Sunday, but I wasn’t totally convinced today watching him work gingerly on the side of the practice field.
I’m not saying he’s going to miss the game, but I don’t know if it’s a slam dunk like most people are saying . . .
I will say this, Kenrick Ellis might not know what he is doing out there, but the way he hustles running after the ball, for a 350-pounder, is very impressive. He has a non-stop motor, which is somewhat unusual for a player his size . . .
Of all the new interior lineman the Jets are mulling over right now, Trevor Canfield (who is on the practice squad) might turn out to be the best.
Remember, he got hurt early in camp (and he’s still not 100 percent), but the Jets kept him around for the last month. That is rare. They are big on handing out injury-settlements and one-way tickets. But they really like this guy . . .
Gilyard has gold teeth.
I’m not judging, I’m just relaying the information . . .
I have to give Rex credit for his candor regarding Andrew Sendejo. While the Jets like the former Dallas safety as a player, Rex didn’t tap dance around the fact that he will be milked for information on his former team this week. Most coaches downplay that. Rex is honest about this common occurrence in the NFL . . .
The Jets defensive coaches have to be licking their chops about this Dallas offensive line situation.
The Cowboys might have three first time starters on the line – Bill Nagy, Phil Costa and Tyron Smith.
And let’s not forget, D-Rex has had four months or so to prepare for this defensive game. NFL teams can come up with the mother of all gameplans for the opener. They can start preparing for it once the schedule is announced.
So you combine the youth on the Dallas line, with the amount of time Rex had for this gameplan (obviously not knowing about the line situation the entire time), and Tony Romo could have some protection issues on Sunday . . .
The next premium article will be Wednesday.
