Ben Graham was just on aussie radio talking about his new contract, and he was saying how he is giving the jets inside info on aussie football players, rugby players and athletics people who could make it in the NFL apparently graham has spoken to 8-10 aussie rules players about coming to try out at the jets in different positions also is very keen on one of australias best athletics runners
Thats OK especially if you send us some more tough FB players since our roster is littered with a bunch of softies
I have a question. With Mangini's repeated comments about using players who can fill multiple roles, does anyone expect we may now see Graham taking off with the ball at some point, or possibly passing it? Mangini does have experience with Aussie football, and Grahams athletic abilities were so highlighted when he came to NY. Now that the heartless wonder has left, and we have a real coach, any chance on those options we heard so much about?
I think we should term it The Australia Project. Mangini having done an ambassadorial football project in Oz, the signing of Graham no doubt highly promoted by Tannanbaum, the recent multiple reports of the Jets wanting to try out Aussie players... it's kind of cool in a strange way.
i think it would work best if mangini kept graham as punter only as he seems to be very very good at that so rather than using graham at more that one position they might look into signing a different aussie rules player to throw around at different positions because in aussie rules players have to do everything, kick, chase, tackle, catch and hit the top midfielders in aussie rules run between 15-20km (roughly 10-15miles)per game and there is 22 games per season
Yes send us players that enjoy hitting other players not like the softies we have right now on our roster
All he was saying was cause of the BG resign he will be posting for the next for years. He did not say we had a beef with Aussies
This is awesome news- I know it was reported months ago but the fact that it is official now is pretty big. With no quarterbacks Benny is our secret weapon.
Yep.... great news! I was dissappointed that Graham's second contract was for one year, but he wanted to see what the new CBA looked like. Now, we have him locked up in a nice deal for both parties. I DO think that Mangini will find additional ways to use our Aussie near-legend.... I go one record now, saying Ben scores a TD this year. I don't know how yet.... hail Mary end zone pass? Punt fake? Fake FG? Nugent was a QB in high school, and rumor is he can pass. Direct snap to Nugent, Graham out on the flat.... he breaks a tackle... and another.... he's goin to the HOUSE! Ah.... to dream.....:drunk:
Jets | B. Graham looking to improve hang time in offseason Sun, 21 May 2006 11:52:48 -0700 Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports New York Jets P Ben Graham said near the end of the 2005 season he would like to improve his hang time and directional punting skills during the offseason.
Thanks for explaining that champ. If there was to be a trick play involving BG my guess would be a hail mary. Taking a catch in a pack of players is a Graham skill, however getting enough pass protection to wait for the big guy to arrive in the end zone would be a problem
Agreed, must be our sense of humour....I think they call it irony or something.... Great to hear Ben is staying and earning the equivalent of at least 20 times the average Aussie wage per annum.... We could have done with him Saturday night against Collingwood , matter of fact we could have done with anyone who could play Footy. Can't wait till we play Richmond on Saturday (not)
I know the guy is tough, but lets make sure he doesnt try to make anymore tackles because we cant afford having another guy we threw a 6 year deal at get injured
I listened to Ben's radio interview at the weekend. He said we will be taking on a leadership role at the jets this year, as he said leadership was an area that the jets need to impove on. I get the impression that he and his family have fallen in love with New York. This is an article from the Melbourne Age which recaps on the interview. Graham sounds out Aka switch to NFL By Kate Hagan May 22, 2006 WITH his AFL career at a crossroads, could a change of football codes be the answer for outspoken Brisbane Lion Jason Akermanis? Former Geelong star Ben Graham, who has signed a six-year $7 million deal to punt for the New York Jets, confirmed yesterday that Akermanis was firmly in the sights of Jets coach Eric Mangini. "I will say that I've spoken to (Akermanis), he wants a feel for what's happening over here," Graham said on 3AW yesterday. "What he can offer in a position in the NFL is speed, is explosive pace — he's tough, he works hard, and he's got good hands. He's something the Jets have done a bit of research on, they've seen some tape, but he's one of many." Speaking from Long Island, Graham said he was acting as a "conduit" between Mangini and promising Australian athletes considering a switch to the NFL. He would not be drawn on other athletes who may be of interest to the Jets. "There are players definitely in the AFL, in rugby and even the latest one is in the athletics scene, where someone that has got pure speed might make an impact over here," Graham said. "What Eric Mangini likes in the Australian talent is that there's work ethic. The mentality is sometimes different and better than what you find in America. There's a lot of players, once they get to the NFL, they think that they've already made it. They sign their big deal, they get their money, and the coaches find it difficult to get the best out of them." Graham's role as punter requires him to kick the team out of trouble, which normally happens when the quarterback and the offence are getting nowhere. Graham said Akermanis could be a good fit for the Jets, but only if he was prepared to do the hard yards. "My basic advice to Jason was, 'look, you've got an AFL career going here, just shut up, put your head down, work hard till the end of the season and then work things out', " he said. "Ben Graham won't get Jason Akermanis into the NFL, he'll have to work hard and make the sacrifices like I and (Australian NFL player) Darren Bennett and those before us have done." But Graham said the potential rewards — financial and personal — are enormous. "It was a challenge and a focus that gave me the idea that I could keep playing for another 10 years," he said. "I know that my job in the team is very important and … the punter and the kicker are getting more recognition in that regard."
Unfortunately you have to be a Jets fan for a few more years, although being a Geelong fan aint much better:beer:
It's too late to pull out now. I am a Jets fan for life, regardless of how many Aussies play for them. Its the great fans:drunk: I luve youse guys. One day I want to hear that J.E.T.S chant in person. Thankfully I am not a Geelong fan.
