sorry i probably mispelled his last name.... ....but anyway, why haven't i heard anything about him? I read the post everday as well as check out TGG everyday, i havent heard anything, not a lick. where has the guy been? isnt he supposed to be a starter, or at least groom our young guys? im preety sure he isnt injured, so where has he been, everyone else gets mentioned in jets notes or on the board at one point or another.
Posted: Wednesday, 02 August 2006 8:03AM Von Oelhoffen Brings Experience to Jets HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Kimo von Oelhoffen ambled over after another long practice, dropped his gear and put his hands on his waist. He knew what was coming: How does it feel to go from a Super Bowl champion to a team that is rebuilding? The former Steelers defensive lineman smiled, and politely declined to compare his new situation with the Jets to his old one in Pittsburgh. "I can say that I'm glad to be here,'' the 13-year veteran said. "Everybody right now is committed to winning and doing what it takes to accomplish that goal. Cannot make comparisons.'' Von Oelhoffen got a three-year, $9.2 million deal, with $3.2 million to sign, moving into an entirely different situation. He spent the previous six seasons with the Steelers, culminating in the Super Bowl win over Seattle in February. When he became a free agent, he looked hard at the Jets. Coming off a 4-12 season, they had a new head coach in Eric Mangini who was poised to run a similar defense to the one von Oelhoffen helped anchor in Pittsburgh. Even though the Jets are not expected to contend for any titles, von Oelhoffen said the opportunity was appealing. "I liked the coaches, I liked their attitude, their style,'' he said. "They coach fast, they coach hard. That's how you have to approach this game. I knew a little bit about him, we played them every year. Very fundamentally sound, that's my philosophy.'' The 35-year-old Von Oelhoffen, who is the same age as Mangini, started every game but one during his career in Pittsburgh and finished 2005 with 3 1/2 sacks and 22 tackles. But he is perhaps best remembered for what happened against Cincinnati in the first round of the playoffs. Von Oelhoffen rolled into Carson Palmer's left knee on the quarterback's first pass. Palmer's knee was shredded. Afterward, von Oelhoffen apologized to Palmer, his family and Bengals fans, and said the injury took its toll on him. But he's put that behind him. Now, he is the old man on the defense and the team as a whole. Because he is experienced in the new scheme New York will run, the Jets thought it important to sign von Oelhoffen even though he is entering the latter portion of his career. He also has been busy helping out his younger teammates. "Kimo has been outstanding with the younger guys, getting them up in the film room, talking them through technique, talking to them about the way to approach camp, giving them some tricks of the trade,'' Mangini said. Von Oelhoffen said it is only natural to help the younger guys, and got plenty of help when he first came into the league with Cincinnati as a sixth-round pick in 1994. "That's what I do if the guys want help. Sometimes they help me,'' he said. 'That's part of a team, that's what you do to win football games. It's a matter of watching and learning, watching the good players, watching the bad players, watching them play consistently good football and kind of figuring it out for yourself.'' He has even helped some of the rookies on the offensive line who get to compete against someone with so much experience. "You know those are great players who have been in the league and I'm just a rookie out there trying to learn,'' center Nick Mangold said. "Being able to go and be on the same field with all these great guys, it's a great experience.'' Even though playing with the Jets might not give him another shot at a Super Bowl ring, von Oelhoffen is happy with his decision. "It was a good opportunity for me and my family,'' he said. "It was a chance to continue my career. I'm happy I made the move. Very.'' http://www.1010wins.com/pages/63768.php?
