http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3006350 It's nothing new, really; but I'm happy anytime there is something about the JETS, even though it's TJ off of his calf injury. I still believe in the fact that TJ IS what we needed to change our offense around. Not that we failed last year, but a go to back with Leon still in the mix is a huge asset to this football team. From here on out I will be praying the O Line mans up against NE. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Thomas Jones looks and sounds ready to play in the New York Jets' season opener against the New England Patriots. The running back, acquired from Chicago in the offseason, has been practicing this week for the first time since straining his right calf on Aug. 12. "I feel a lot better than I felt the past couple of weeks," Jones said Wednesday in his first public comments since Aug. 10, when the Jets opened the preseason with a victory over Atlanta. "The trainers have done a really good job of trying to get me back on the field," he said. "I'm going to practice today, practice tomorrow and go into the game and see how it goes." Coach Eric Mangini remained secretive, as usual, when asked about Jones' status for Sunday. "We have a lot of time left," Mangini said. "With all the guys that are nursing injuries or are in that process, you look at it throughout the course of the week and you let it go right until the end of the week. There's a set schedule of what you're trying to get done in conjunction with the trainers, the doctors, the strength and conditioning coach, the player, and we have all those guys on a program." If cleared to play Sunday, Jones might split carries with second-year back Leon Washington. "I'm very excited about the opportunity," Jones said. "We have a really good game plan. It's a Patriots game and that's a big rivalry up here, so I'm very excited." Jones' elusiveness in the locker room earlier in the morning might have served as a clear indication he's feeling fine. He quickly made his way past a throng of reporters to get to his locker, said he had to do a conference call and disappeared into one of the back rooms. About 20 minutes later, Jones re-emerged and spoke with the media for 1 minute, taking four questions before being led away by a member of the Jets' media relations staff. On the practice field, Jones stretched out his calf, which wasn't wrapped, and took part in other drills before taking handoffs in practice. It's unclear if Jones has been running at full speed or making cuts yet because the media get to see only a half-hour of light drills. Jones was injured early in camp while doing running back-linebacker drills when he went to plant his right foot and fell. He was examined immediately by a trainer, who wrapped the leg. Jones then limped to the sideline and had a more substantial wrap applied. He spent the rest of camp sidelined, working on his conditioning while allowing the calf to heal. A day after the injury, Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press that the running back told him he was "confident he would be ready" in time for the game against New England. "I've played a lot of football," Jones said Wednesday. "I'm going into my eighth year, so I've been in a lot of games and a lot of situations, so it's nothing new. I did a lot of conditioning and stayed in the playbook, so I'm not at a disadvantage." Jones rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns while leading the Bears to the Super Bowl, and is expected to jump-start the Jets' running game, which struggled last season. Despite the missed time in camp, Jones isn't concerned about having to adjust to working with a new set of offensive linemen. "I've been here the whole offseason, so I worked with them a lot during OTAs and minicamps and during the beginning of training camp," Jones said.
Honestly, I don't think that the injury was all that serious to begin with. The guy can play. LT doesn't play preseason. Why get your top RB's all beat up before the Official season begins? I think, down the line, we'll see more starting skill positions sitting out the Presason with "injuries", or "holdouts" -- Unless the preseaon gets shortened a game or two. I mean, starters barely play the first 2 games anyway.
i agree with you that tj is what we need. we had almost 1500 yds last season with 4 rbs. i hope tj brings 1200 to 1500 yds this season and hope washington adds another 600. should take alot of pressure off chad.
i think you keep forgetting our line cant run block. ill be ecstatic if he even gets over 1000. and more importantly leon will fair better as far as YPC goes behind this line because hes the only one elusive and quick enough to break tackles in the backfield. we never needed thomas jones though. im really glad we do. but we need run blocking. but this isnt madden, thomas jones isnt going to solve anything.
Yes he will. Our runningbacks for most of last year were Cedric Houston, who didn't have passion for the game, and Kevan Barlow who we can get for free if we want right now.
as long as jones is in shape and ready to go, i dont put anything on the fact he didnt play much in the preseason, he is not going to forget about playing football now, its his life, so i think he wont loose a beat on sunday.
I really hope he says this after the game not prior. Coach K we all know about the o-line, however, from all reports I have read, Bender is a better run blocker already than Kendall. He can not pass block very well. Kendall was not so great on the point of attack where as Bender is a guy that is. Now the fact he is a rookie and will be painted orange on passing plays is a completely different subject.
I personally feel Bender will hold his own. Shotty and Mangini know they are coming to rush Chad from that side, so I think we're going to see the motions end on the left side to take away from some of those guys and to help block any blitz' that we'll be okay. If we immediately put them on their heels with some nice runs by Jones & Leon and some mid-field passes that move the chains, we take away from that "attack the LG from the go" mentality some of the guys on the NE D may have right now. Shotty has to frustrate them, something he did very well last year, and I think he'll do an even better job with TJ now as a new versatile weapon in his sleeve.
You don't wanna push it if he's not 100%. I would keep him on the sidelines. Remember Curtis. And if the game is close in the 4th then I'd put him in. Then again I ain't the coach but if I could keep it close that's what I'd do. If he is 100% then it's a moot point.
