>> Gratuitous Link << Where are they now? JetsSkins foursome didn't last long in D.C. By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer August 18, 2006 AP - Aug 18, 4:44 pm EDT LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Need a reminder of the dizzying pace of change in the NFL? Consider the story of the "JetSkins." It was only three years ago that the Washington Redskins raided the New York Jets during the offseason, plucking away four expensive, high-profile players who were supposed to put coach Steve Spurrier's team into the playoffs. Knowing good intrigue when it sees it, the league scheduled the two teams to meet in the Thursday night nationally televised game that kicked off the 2003 season. "It's was pretty intense," said JetSkins guard Randy Thomas, recalling the Redskins' 16-13 victory. "The first time we played them, the first game of the season. The NFL lined it up right, didn't they?" Yet, as it turned out, the JetSkins quartet had all the staying power of a bad rock 'n' roll band. Their first season produced a 6-10 record, prompting Spurrier to quit. Kick returner Chad Morton couldn't stay healthy and was cut after two years. Receiver Laveranues Coles became so disgruntled that he demanded a trade -- and the Redskins were so eager to oblige that they sent him back to the Jets in 2005 and took a $9.3 million salary cap hit in the process. So, when the Redskins and Jets face each other Saturday night in an exhibition game, only two JetSkins will be wearing burgundy and gold: kicker John Hall, who has lost his kickoff duties this year while trying to return from two years of perpetual leg injuries, and Thomas, the only one of the four who has lived up to his billing. Meanwhile, Coles and Morton have both settled in New York -- Coles with the Jets, and Morton with the Giants. "They had a strong love for us there in Washington," Coles said. "They showed it by paying us what they paid us and bringing us in. The guys were excited about having the opportunity to go somewhere and try to get a new start, but we've all pretty much gone our separate ways." So, how does Coles remember his time in Washington? "It's just like having a relationship with a woman," Coles said. "When you break up with her, you always remember the good times, you never really remember the bad. That's the way it is for me now. I never want to remember anything negative that went on there." The Jets and Redskins continue to do business. Receiver Santana Moss was acquired in the trade that sent Coles back to New York, and Patrick Ramsey -- once the future of the Washington franchise and the winning quarterback in that Thursday night game three years ago -- was shipped to the Jets this offseason for a draft pick. Ramsey is in a four-way competition with Chad Pennington, Brooks Bollinger and rookie Kellen Clemens for the Jets starting job, but Ramsey played in only one series last week against Tampa Bay. He's expected to get more chances Saturday, especially since Pennington won't play because of a personal matter that caused him to miss practice this week. "It's going to be fun to see him play," said Redskins tackle Jon Jansen, who remains good friends with Ramsey, "and it's also going to be kind of sad to see him on another team." Besides settling on a quarterback, New York needs to find some sort of running game. Curtis Martin's future is uncertain because of a knee injury, and a trade for Lee Suggs fell apart this week when Suggs failed his physical. Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and rookie Leon Washington are competing for playing time. The running game is a focus for the Redskins as well. Featured back Clinton Portis is out a few weeks with a shoulder injury, leaving Ladell Betts as the top back. Washington is also trying to decide on a No. 2 quarterback behind Mark Brunell, with Todd Collins and Jason Campbell both expected to get plenty of work. Then again, both coaches would welcome any signs of offensive improvement after last week. The Jets lost 16-3 to Tampa Bay, and the Redskins were thumped 19-3 by Cincinnati. "We'll hopefully get off to a much better start," Washington coach Joe Gibbs said. "We've got a long way to go, obviously." Updated on Friday, Aug 18, 2006 8:24 pm EDT Washington Redskins kicker John Hall, right, gives his son Brady a drink of Gatorade following practice during football training camp at Redskins Park Aug. 7, 2006, in Ashburn, Va. When the Redskins and Jets face each other Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, in an exhibition game, only two JetSkins will be wearing burgundy and gold: Randy Thomas, the only one of the four JetSkins who has lived up to his billing and Hall, who is being limited to kickoffs this year while trying to return from two years of perpetual leg injuries. (AP Photo/Nick Wass/File) Washington Redskins Randy Thomas takes a drink of water as he tries to stay cool during at training camp Aug. 5, 2005, in Ashburn, Va. When the Redskins and Jets face each other Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, in an exhibition game, only two JetSkins will be wearing burgundy and gold: kicker John Hall, who is being limited to kickoffs this year while trying to return from two years of perpetual leg injuries, and Thomas, the only one of the four JetSkins who has lived up to his billing. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais/File)
John Hall is my favorite all time kicker.Hes not afraid to make a tackle.I personally met him when he played for the Jets.He is a class act.
I liked John Hall. If we had him we would of had a chance to go to the super bowl in 04 because he would of made that kick unlike fuckin brien.
oh you're not kidding. It didn't matter if it was a 30 yd FG try or a 50 yd FG try I just knew he was going to miss it
Take a look at halls stats. I take brien over him anyday http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4126/career;_ylt=AjSdVM93jorSnt45wEem1Jb.uLYF
hall has been kicking with a muscle detatched from his pelvis,and it caused his "swing" to change,and he hurt more leg&abdomenel muscles. He finally discovered it this off-season,and had it fixed. Randy Thomas prior to his broken fibula last season was a beast,and our best lineman.better than pro-bowl tackle chris samuels,and report is after spending every day at skins park rehabbing he is in better shape than last year.
It really is funny how people get impressions that don't actually reflect the way things were. John Hall was great on long kicks, while Brien was terrible? I don't think so. In their careers Hall has a 56.2% success rate for kicks of 40+ yards; Brien's is 69.2%. The difference is even bigger if you only look at their NYJ careers - Hall was successful on 55.1% of his 40+ yard FGs, while Brien was successful on 72% of his. Hall wasn't too great at the shorter kicks, either - during their NYJ careers he was successful on only 78.1% of his FGs from 30-39 yards, while Brien was successful on 90.5% of his. Brien missed two big kicks in Pittsburgh, and is forever villified; Hall made one in Oakland and is a hero. The reality is that Hall has been an exceedingly mediocre kicker his entire career, and until that game in Pittsburgh, Brien had probably had the best two-year run of any NYJ kicker since Jim Turner.
He certainly put the thrill back in the extra point. Didn't he miss 2 extra points in a game for the jets (not blocked)?
After that Lions game in 99 I would have loved to kick him in the nuts. We had to sign the immortal Brett Conway I think his name was for the Ravens game cause Hall was so bad.
I started to name my dog's chew ropes John Hall's Hamstring after that season (although I believe it was 2000.)
That's the game I think about whenever I hear Hall's name. Even after the Oakland game. That just hurt. You think of all the comebacks and great peforrmances players put up that year to keep the season alive, and Hall pretty much blew it with that kick. Now granted it was raining and that field was a joke, but still.
