Eagles fan posts Craigslist ad seeking secondary help and a new quarterback (PHOTO)

One Eagles fan got so fed up with the team's defense, he resorted to Craigslist with a hilarious ad looking for some help.

After the Eagles' secondary got undressed for 38 points and three touchdowns to Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in last Sunday's loss, this ad appeared in the "gigs" section of the Philadelphia Craiglist:

The title? "Playoff caliber football team seeks Secondary help (Lincoln Financial Field)"

We are a great football team with an elite Special Teams, Offensive unit and plan, and Defensive Front 7, but our Secondary just isn't able to help us close the deal. Can you play Safety or Cornerback? Are you willing to turn your head when the ball is coming toward your man and break up a pass? Can you keep your hands to yourself when you're not making a play on the ball? Do you know how to hold coverage, not blow your assignment, and let the Wide Receiver you're supposed to be covering have 20 yards of space around him while you're double-teaming a decoy? Bonus if you can complete an open field tackle or complete an interception.

Then we want you. Not much football experience or talent required, as all you'll have to do is be better than Bradley Fletcher or Cary Williams.

In case the fan doesn't get the defensive help he thinks the team needs, the ad also requested an upgrade over quarterback Mark Sanchez too.

If you know anyone who can throw a ball to someone 20 yards away without having it intercepted by a guy who is only 10 yards away, let him know that we might need him, too.

If you think you meet that criteria, respond here — or let us know in the comments section why you might qualify as an upgrade over Fletcher, Williams or Sanchez.

The guy might want to post this ad in Eugene or Tallahassee — just sayin'.

[NJ.com]

Could Marcus Mariota's thanks to Eagles Chip Kelly lead to a reunion in Philly? (VIDE)

Marcus Mariota became the first Oregon player to earn the Heisman Trophy and the first Hawaii native to take home the coveted prize. After receiving the 25-pound trophy, Mariota gave an emotional speech, thanking his family, his teammates and home state.

During the tearful speech Saturday night, the soft-spoken quarterback — who beat out Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon — also thanked his coaches including Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.

"Coach (Mark) Helfrich, coach (Scott) Frost, and coach (Chip) Kelly," Mariota said,"thank you for the opportunity. You took a chance on me, and I am truly grateful."

That shout-out — or whisper-out, if you please — has already started speculation that the Eagles might try to move up to get him in the 2015 NFL Draft.

The link between Kelly and Mariota, who were together for one full season during their days at Oregon, has Eagles fans dreaming of the perfect replacement of Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez in running Kelly's offensive attack. 

And, earlier this week,  Kelly took time out from preparing for Sunday night's showdown with the Cowboys to heap plenty of praise on his former player and stoke the fire.

"He has a gift for playing football," Kelly said of Mariota. "He is everything you could want. He can throw the ball, he can run. He is the most talented kid I coached in college."

Could next year's most prized player in the NFL Draft go from being a Duck to an Eagle? It's a long shot — but one worth thinking about.

Here's Mariota's acceptance speech:

Mark Sanchez celebrates victory by getting first Philly cheesesteak (PHOTOS)

Mark Sanchez has waited a long time for this — and I'm not talking about his first victory as a starter since beating the Jaguars on Dec. 9, 2012.

We're talking about his first ever Philly cheesesteak.

THE ACTION NEWS EXCLUSIVE TO END ALL EXCLUSIVES: Eagles QB Mark Sanchez getting cheesesteak in South Phila last night pic.twitter.com/Oog5OU35Vd
— Matt O'Donnell (@matt_odonnell) November 11, 2014

The former Jets quarterback, making his first start for the Eagles in place of injured starter Nick Foles, was solid in a 45-21 rout of the Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on the eve of his 28th birthday but had yet time to ever savor the pride of Philadelphia.

So after the game, he hit the legendary Geno's to celebrate:

great decision goin into philly for a celebratory cheesesteak after the W, saw @Mark_Sanchez doin the same #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/yC08sGqjna
— David Bentley (@davebentley24) November 11, 2014

Sanchez, the Jets first-round pick (fifth overall) in 2009 who was cut last March, completed 20-of-37 passes for 332 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers as the Eagles (7-2) pulled a game ahead of the Cowboys in the loss column in the NFC East.

In his Jets career, spanning 68 starts, the often maligned quarterback never once threw for more than 300 yards without committing a turnover.

Mark Sanchez shows up at Genos for a cheese steak after beating down the Carolina Panthers. Philly. pic.twitter.com/1zt9qwdITH
— Brian Lohman (@brian_lohman) November 11, 2014

A week ago, Sanchez relieved the injured Foles and led the Eagles to a 31-21 victory over the Texans in Houston. 

The taste of both victory and Geno's. That's a pretty good night.

Mark Sanchez's Buttfumble jersey sells for $820 at auction: Report

The 2012 Thanksgiving game between the Jets and Patriots will always be remembered by New York fans as the apex of humility in Gang Green football — highlighted that day when quarterback Mark Sanchez hilariously ran head first into the backside of teammate Brandon Moore.

It doesn't seem like a year and a half since the infamous Buttfumble, but now a Jets fan named Jake Hendrickson inadvertently came across a sweaty part of the game and paid $820 to immortalize the occasion, reports NJ.com.

Hendrickson, who lives in California, happened to be browsing the NFL auctions website last week when he noticed a game-worn Mark Sanchez jersey was available. But what really caught Hendrickson's eye was the date: Nov. 22, 2012.

Buttfumble Day.

Hendrickson explained what he had to do from there to Metro New York's Kristian Dyer, who wrote it up for Yahoo's Shutdown Corner:

"There's no way I could let it get in the hands of an anti-fan or something of that manner to be shoved in our face. The auction itself had like five days left on it before it closed so basically I set an alarm on my calendar to remind me an hour before so I could be at my computer. I was prepared for an all-out bidding war. There were a couple other people I was bidding against but it being the offseason I don’t think there were many people looking for football memorabilia so it didn’t go nearly as high as I had anticipated. Plus every time someone would outbid me by $5 or $10 I was raising by a hundred bucks just to show I meant businesses.”

Hendrickson said he plans to frame the jersey and stick it on his wall. "Until we win a Super Bowl," he told Dyer," or I can get together enough money to put it on a rocket ship and shoot it to outer space because I don’t think it belongs on this planet anymore."

And at least it won't fall into the hands of some scheming New Englander.

Mark Sanchez tells Jets fans ‘I’ll miss the good times’ via Twitter

The New York Jets and Mark Sanchez finally parted ways on Friday, and the much-maligned quarterback took to Twitter this morning to bid his fans farewell and say he'll "miss the good times we shared."

                        

Anyway, we'll always have The Buttfumble.

Michael Vick named 'Most Disliked NFL Player' again: Report

It shouldn't come as a complete surprise that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick made the list of most disliked players in the NFL, according to a survey by E-Poll Market Research and released Monday by Forbes.com.  But, even four years removed from federal prison for animal cruelty, it's a little stunning that the rehabilitated Vick still topped the list.

Vick was followed by San Diego Chargers rookie Manti Te'o with Detroit defensive end Ndamukong Suh finishing third.

Ben Roethlisberger and Mark Sanchez rounded out the top five. Accused murderer Aaron Hernandez wasn't even included.

Forbes conducted the survey to see who the most hated player in the NFL. Vick has been at or near the top of the list for a while due to his dog fighting incident. 

The Te'o selection is strange. How in the world is the catfished Te'o the second most-hated player in the NFL over players that have done all kinds of stupid things. According to the survey,  Te'o was cited for "Not enough playing time as a rookie yet to erase memories of the bizarre fake girlfriend episode at Notre Dame last year."

Detroit Lions linemen Ndamukong Suh (43% dislike), known for the occasional cheap shot, might be more deserving of the second spot.

The scientific surveys are conducted as representative samples from people age 13 and up. They counted only currently active NFL players whose awareness registered a minimum of 10% with the public. Out of the 1,100 people asked, 53 percent of them said they disliked Vick the most. According to the E-Poll numbers, 48% disliked Te'o.

The Top Ten list is rounded out by Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Reggie Bush.

With Brady, E-Poll’s numbers show that woman love the guy, but a lot of men see him a metro-sexual pretty boy.

Mark Sanchez merchandise already 50% off at MetLife Stadium

How soon they forget The Butt Fumble. Sign seen at MetLife Stadium store before Jets-Steelers game: "SALE: ALL SANCHEZ MERCHANDISE: 50% OFF.

Geno Smith sales suddenly pretty brisk too.

Seen at Metlife Stadium yesterday: Store with sign: "SALE: ALL SANCHEZ MERCHANDISE: 50% OFF"... Take a look: http://t.co/srogUFUfho #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) October 14, 2013

Rex Ryan: 'Mark Sanchez is not dead'

Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez have been through a lot together and the head coach has mostly talked about his quarterback in the present tense. On Wednesday, Ryan found himself awkwardly discussing the injured Sanchez's time with the Jets in past tense but made it clear that Sanchez's quarterbacking career isn't over — wherever it is.

“We’re acting like he’s dead. Mark Sanchez is not dead,” Ryan said. “Sanchez is going to be 100% healthy, guys. It’s not like his career’s over.”

Sanchez, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday, is still under contract with the Jets for three more years. But it's almost inevitable that he will be a former Jet before a $2 million roster bonus is due next March.

Ryan has been heavily criticized — though not by Sanchez, at least not publicly — for his decision to insert him into the fourth quarter of the Jets' third preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 24. Playing behind a less-than-NFL quality offensive line, Sanchez suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder after getting hit by Giants lineman Marvin Austin.

Sanchez's tenure with Jets, most likely, is over and that is what made Wednesday pretty hard for Ryan, who arrived in New York the same time Sanchez did.

The 2013 Sanchez saga began with a quarterback competition, took a major turn with a baffling injury in a meaningless preseason game and ended with shoulder surgery for the QB on Tuesday. With a $13.1 million cap charge looming for the 2014 season, Sanchez is ripe for release in the upcoming offseason.

“I don’t want to get into that,” Ryan said when asked if Sanchez would ever play for the Jets again. “Whether he’s here or whatever . . . our thing is doing what’s best for Mark, which would be to get him healthy.”

Sanchez and Ryan will forever be linked for their first four seasons together. Back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in the first two years will be something nice to look back upon. Although the comical Butt Fumble and the senseless shoulder injury might end up being the duo's legacy.

Ryan did admit the team may have made a mistake with Sanchez. Not the decision to put him in the preseason game; Ryan has defended that since the night it happened.

No, Ryan said it was fair to say the Jets may have erred by using their one injured reserve/designated to return spot on Sanchez, because he is clearly not returning this year.

"We thought he could come back,'' Ryan said. "We were hoping that he could come back. Certainly knew that this surgery might be a possibility . . . Unfortunately, our doctors said it's probably best if he has the surgery, so that's what we did. But he was doing everything he could to get back out there.''

Coaches and players relationships may fade. But at least Ryan will always have his wife's Sanchez tattoo to gaze upon. 

NFL players to star in ads for men’s moistened toilet wipes

Four NFL players are about to give offensive linemen the most media exposure they've had since the New York Jets' infamous Buttfumble on national TV last Thanksgiving —and the view still ain't pretty.

The burly linemen have signed to get behind a small Venice, Calif., company and crack a new market — moistened toilet paper — targeted at men.

The small but growing market —  it's just 3 percent of the $8.7 billion toilet paper category — is usually aimed at infants but the four NFL centers are hoping to change that with a product called “One Wipe Charlies.”

The players — the Dallas Cowboys’ Travis Frederick , the Minnesota Vikings’ John Sullivan, the Buffalo Bills’ Eric Wood, and the San Diego Chargers’ Nick Hardwick — will be part of a marketing blitz, entitled “Clean Snap,” to kick off in two weeks, reports The New York Post.

But ... no Mark Sanchez.

The idea came from the mind of Mike Dubin, CEO of Dollar Shave, who told The Post: “Most of the centers we approached were game to try this. They are guys not a lot of people are reaching out to. ”

“We wanted to make something just for men; it’s aspirational: a way to get it done in one,” Dubin said.

A survey conducted by Dollar Shave found that 89 percent of wipe users were very satisfied with the cleanliness of their butt after using a wipe — versus only 58 percent for traditional TP.

Financially, the players are far from flush from the deal. They are likely pocketing only $10,000 or so for the campaign, according to Advertising Age. Just a fraction of what Peyton Manning and Tom Brady get for their gigs.

Mark Sanchez: 'No doubt' I won Jets' QB competition

If you ask Mark Sanchez, the only reason Geno Smith is lining up behind center against the Patriots Thursday night is because of Sanchez’s injured shoulder.

The New York Jets quarterback told NFL Network's Rich Eisen on the Gillette Stadium field Thursday that "I won the competition. There’s no doubt."

According to Eisen, Sanchez told him he is eager to be there for Smith, but is disappointed about not starting the regular season since he thought he won the job until he was injured Aug. 24 in a preseason game against the Giants.

He has a separated shoulder and also reportedly has a partially torn labrum. But Sanchez would not confirm that to Eisen.

"I really can’t get into that part," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said the doctors who examined his shoulder are "pleasantly surprised" by his "progress."

Contrary to some reports, last year's Jets starter stated that his plan is to rehab the shoulder — instead of undergoing surgery — and get back on the field. After incorrect reports surfaced Thursday that Sanchez was out for the season, it's interesting to hear him now try to get out in front of the story. He's making it clear that he doesn't want the Jets to end his season. Sanchez said he's not angry with the Jets, but he believes he earned the right to play with a better August performance than the rookie quarterback.

Rex Ryan must be happy to hear that.

Jets owner blames Sanchez for getting hurt because 'you got to protect yourself'

You would think that Woody Johnson might have learned by now how to pick and choose what to say and when to say it.  For Gang Green sakes, even Rex Ryan has turned down the rhetoric and now keeps his words to a minimum —maybe too much so.

Either way, on Wednesday, the Jets owner spoke with such cringe worthy carelessness that it revealed just how much the Jets have distanced themselves from Mark Sanchez.

According to the N.Y. Daily News, the Jets owner stood on the corner of 57th St. and Fifth Ave. and delivered a bizarre take on Ryan's ill-advised decision to put in Sanchez in the fourth quarter of the third preseason game against the Giants less than two weeks ago. After being thrown to the wolves, Sanchez suffered a shoulder injury which led to the Jets’ announcement that Geno Smith will be the Week 1 starter against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

"I don’t have any regrets," Johnson said. "He’s an experienced guy. I wish he hadn’t gotten hurt, but you got to protect yourself, too."

Say what?! To suggest that Sanchez, who rolled out of the pocket behind a third-string offensive line before getting leveled, could have protected himself better on the play was naive. It just goes to show Johnson’s complete lack of understanding of the game and, mostly, his desire to move on from the organization’s one-time starter and new whipping boy.

The organization’s recent handling of Sanchez over the past couple of weeks has been disturbing — to say the least

And where does the outspoken Ryan stand on Johnson's embarrassing remarks about his former No.1 draft pick and favorite tattoo design?

"It’s 100% injury rate in the league," Ryan said. "It’s unfortunate that it happened. But these things do happen. And we’ve moved on."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the suddenly neutered head coach.

"He’s a very, very good quarterback," Johnson said. "Franchise quarterback is something . . . I think you can debate the term."

Seven hours after Johnson’s inane remarks — and two hours after Ryan tiptoed around questions about them — the owner delivered a seemingly forced clarification after a team spokesman got wind of his boss' remarks.

"I may have said or I’ve been accused of saying that Sanchez’s injury was his fault," Johnson said. "That was not my intent at all. Of course, it wasn’t his fault. He was trying to make a play."

So glad he cleared things up.

Jets give players 'Media Bridges' cards with phrases to use with reporters

The New York Jets organization gave its players handy laminated cards titled "Media Bridges" complete with phrases to use with reporters. It's chock full of polite responses which help divert answers in a civil tone of conversation.

"Let me answer you by saying that" and "That’s not my area of expertise, but I think your audience would be interested to knowing that," are a couple examples of a kinder, gentler Gang Green locker room.

Manish Mehta of the N.Y. Daily News posted photos of the front and back of the cards which will hopefully bridge the gap between the Jets players and the media.

ICYMI: Jets gave players "Media Bridges" card: Phrases to use w/reporters #nyj Front: pic.twitter.com/T73EGZ9aDe Back: pic.twitter.com/ljdBJZm51h
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) August 21, 2013

Not surprisingly, there is nothing on either side that says anything like "When it comes to Mark Sanchez" or "John Idzik says." I guess they'll cross that bridge when they get to it.

Jets' Sanchez to start Saturday vs. Jaguars; Smith may not play

After wavering back-and-forth over the past few days, Rex Ryan got brutally assertive this morning and announced that Mark Sanchez will start Saturday's exhibition game against the Jaguars at MetLife Stadium.

Originally, it was believed rookie Geno Smith would start this game after Sanchez started the team's first preseason game. But Smith suffered a sprained ankle against the Lions last Friday and has not looked good this week in practice, flatlining with a four-interception practice Wednesday.

After the "brutal" 11-on-11 scrimmage, Ryan called Smith's performance, "Geno's worst day."

The head coach said it is even possible that Smith won't play Saturday.

Ryan will address the media at 3 p.m Thursday to answer questions like: If Smith is hurting, what is he doing on the practice field?

The Jets are still playing under The Big Top.

Rex Ryan on Mark Sanchez pick-six: 'I never saw it'

The view from the hot seats just got a little toastier for Rex Ryan after the New York Jets head coach claimed he never saw Mark Sanchez's pick-six toss until it was captured on tape.

The Jets quarterback competition between Sanchez and Geno Smith got off to a wobbly start on Friday night when Sanchez tossed a pick-six to Detroit Lions first-round defensive end Ziggy Ansahon the team's fourth offensive play of the preseason.

Ryan —along with GM John Idzik — will be involved in selecting the team's starting quarterback this season. After the game, he was asked about Sanchez's interception and the coach — who is depending on their pick to save his own job — admitted he didn't see it happen live.

"I think, obviously, the interception, I never saw it, I just caught the tail end of it, when the kid was running in for a touchdown," he said.

"I had my own issues on the other side, so I never really focused a whole lot while he was in there," Ryan said. "We'll see it on tape. You probably saw more plays than I did."

Considering how anything involving the Jets immediately affects his future, Ryan's admission last night has raised some eyebrows on Saturday morning.

Ryan did catch the rest of Sanchez's night, which saw the 2009 first-round pick rebound and complete 10-of-13 pass attempts for 125 yards and a 26-yard touchdown to tight end Jeff Cumberland before turning it over to Smith.

"Obviously, we can’t have that," Ryan said of the interception. "But yeah, he made some nice throws, he made some throws under pressure, which was good to see. We could have done without the pressure, but the fact that he stood in there, made some nice throws, and then led our team down the field, scored a touchdown. I think that was encouraging about Sanchez."

And you thought those $50 nosebleeds at MetLife Stadium were bad.

Cromartie: Fans booing Sanchez is 'bullcrap'

It's sort of ironic that Antonio Cromartie — the player who picked off Mark Sanchez's boo-inciting pass Saturday— is the same guy who came to the quarterback's defense when the venomous chorus from the stands wouldn't let up on the maligned QB.

Though he made the pick, Cromartie was not too happy with the crowd’s reaction.

“I think that’s bullcrap,” Cromartie said. “My thing is, if you’re going to be a fan, be a fan. You don’t come out here and boo anybody.”

Sanchez seemed to take it in stride, perhaps having gotten used to being the target of such disdain over the past couple of seasons.

“Oh, shoot, I don’t care,” he said. “That’s the way it goes.”

The boos started before Sanchez tossed the pick. Earlier in the game, the fifth-year incumbent, trying to fight off a challenge from rookie Geno Smith for the starting job, tripped over his own feet and fell smack on his butt for the easiest sack of Dawan Landry’s career. You might want to label it the Buttsack — little brother of the infamous Buttfumble of last season.

For Sanchez’s sake, at least it was his own rear end that took the brunt of the impact (rather than Brandon Moore’s) and he was able to hang on to the football.

Though Smith reportedly looked like the better quarterback throughout the majority of the scrimmage Saturday, Sanchez finished with a big play —a 57-yard touchdown to Stephen Hill — which wiped out any remnants of the aforementioned Buttsack.

Sanchez completed six of 11 attempts for 93 yards, with a touchdown, interception and two sacks.

Smith, who took the majority of the reps with the first team because it was his turn in the rotation, was 9-for-16 for 77 yards and a sack.

Look for Friday night’s preseason opener against the Lions as an opportunity for either Sanchez or Smith to solidify their chances for the starting job.

“Again, guys, it’s just one opportunity to come out and compete,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “Certainly, this is really the beginning stages of the competition, and I think it will be interesting when we go to Detroit and start playing some live preseason games.”

Good thing Cromartie is there as the Jets' peacekeeper.

Sanchez: I'll 'absolutely' win Jets QB competition

In between water balloon toss and big dinners with his wide receivers during workouts at his old high school in Southern California, Mark Sanchez sounded more than confident that he will win the New York Jets quarterback competition against rookie Geno Smith. So sure in fact, Sanchez said he'll "absolutely" win the job.

 "When it comes down to a competition, I just put my money on myself," Sanchez told The New York Daily News after Friday's workout. "And bet on myself and go play and go win the job. So if that’s what it’s going to be like it’s been clear that’s what it is, alright let’s go."

Sanchez will be fighting for his quarterback life when he heads to camp with the rookies July 22 in Florham Park before heading to Cortland. But said he holds no grudge against Smith for skipping his annual Jets West passing camp in his hometown.

“I don’t hold it against any of the guys that can’t make it,” Sanchez said Friday after workouts on his old field of glory.

 “I probably should have said that right away. There are no hard feelings about anything like that. Greg (McElroy’s) not here. (Matt) Simms isn’t here. Guys are on vacation. Some guys are going and getting married. They’re doing stuff. There’s plenty of other things that they could be doing.”
 
Sanchez invited all of the offensive skill position players, including Smith, to participate — as he has done for the past few summers.

Smith was strangely vague and non-committal about joining Sanchez the rest of the players.
 
"If they can make the sacrifice and be here, awesome," Sanchez said. "If they can’t, (it’s) totally fine. And I would never hold a grudge against anybody who’s not here. But we’ve (Tim) Tebow here. We’ve had (Mark) Brunell here. We’ve had (Kevin) O’connell. So it’s not like I don’t invite those guys. They’re more than welcome to come and we’ll invite them every year."
 
Smith opted to work out in Florida rather than make the trip to California and take part in weight lifting, playbook review and on-field sessions with 12 other teammates that included running back Chris Ivory, tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr, Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland and receivers Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill, Jordan White, Clyde Gates, Vidal Hazelton, Thomas Mayo and Ryan Spadola.

Two other quarterbacks — McElroy and Simms — also skipped the voluntary workouts.
 
"It just doesn’t look like he’s going to come," Sanchez said about whether Smith made it clear to him that he wouldn’t attend. "I don’t want to make it bigger than it is. It’s really not a big deal. If he’s not going to make it, he’s not going to make it."
 
Smith’s absence won’t necessarily put him behind in the competition, but it couldn't hurt. It’s clear that the players in attendance believe there’s a tangible benefit to spending the time to build a relationship with his new teammates in a low-key atmosphere.

 
"He just couldn’t make it," Hill said. "That’s what I’ve heard. I didn’t actually get a chance to speak with him. It would have been good for him to be here, but I know he’s working back in Florida. He’s doing what he has to do. He’ll be ready for camp."
 
"It would have been great to have Geno and all of the quarterbacks out here," Reuland said. "The more , the better. However, I don’t think it’s a make it or break it type of thing. It’s still going to be camp as usual. No one’s going to win a spot based on what they do out here."

Will the competition with Smith be closer than expected?

"We'll see," Sanchez said. "I hope not."

 

Rex Ryan: I'm better than people give me credit for

Rex Ryan knows he's living on borrowed time this season.  It's either an extended run into the playoffs or the unemployment line for the head coach of the New York Jets.

With a depleted roster and another unstable quarterback situation, the cards are stacked high against Ryan still being with the Jets on New Year's Day.  Still, the blustery coach was defiant as ever —and just a tad defensive — when he was interviewed by Newsday, minutes after the team concluded its final minicamp Thursday afternoon in New Jersey.

"I'm a hell of a lot better football coach than I'm given credit for," Ryan said.

"I don't care," he added with a smile. "I don't need the credit. But I can tell you one thing, when it's said and done, they'll look back and say, 'Oh man, this dude can coach his butt off.' And you know what? It's true. And I'll let the people that know best talk on my behalf about the kind of coach I am.

"I don't have to brag, even though statistically, I can brag about anything I've ever done defensively."

First on Ryan's new agenda, he needs to figure out how to get his team back to where they were early in his Jets career when he coached them to two straight AFC Championship games.

Ryan repeatedly has said he's going back to basics in Year 5 — taking a hands-on approach again with the defense and stay out of the offensive meeting room after a disastrous season with offensive coordinator Tony Sparano last year.

"I will not be there," he stressed. 

That's not to say Ryan won't be giving his opinions to new coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast offense.

"Don't think for a second that I don't know what we're doing," Ryan said. " . . . Marty knows what I want. We're on the same page."

The Jets have yet to decide who will run it — incumbent Mark Sanchez or rookie Geno Smith -- and there still are questions about the health of their receivers. After the offense finished 30th overall under Sparano last season, Ryan knows it must improve dramatically.

Ryan also tossed aside the assumption he was devoted to the ground-and-pound game.

"When you really look at it, ground and pound was one year," he said. "That was what it was. It was the first year. But we talked about it forever, but that's not the case."

When all is said and done, Ryan still believes his era at the helm of the Jets — no matter how long — will be remembered fondly by Gang Green fans.

"They'll say, 'He's a hell of a football coach, and you know what? He had more passion than anybody who's ever coached here before.' Eventually that's what's going to be said about me," Ryan said.

"And hopefully it's not for another 15 years."

Dustin Keller: Too much 'nonsense' around Jets

Former New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller sounded like he was putting all the blame for the team's failures over the past two seasons squarely on everyone but his old quarterback Mark Sanchez and seemed happy to get away from Gang Green and the tumultuous atmosphere.

"There's always some type of nonsense," Keller said. "We didn't go to the playoffs the year before but it seemed like we were in the media more than anybody else for the wrong reasons and you never want that. Could that have anything to do with the season -- kind of -- things falling apart? I really don't know."

Speaking on Sirius XM yesterday, Keller — who left the Jets as a free agent during the offseason and signed with their division-rival Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal after an injury-plagued 2012 — criticized the Jets but stuck up for his old quarterback.

The former favorite target of Sanchez's said that the incumbent quarterback probably didn't like the fact that the team took Geno Smith in the second round.

"It definitely lit a fire underneath him, I think," Keller said. "I’ve talked to him a couple times this offseason, and he’s been working. So I think you can expect some good things from him.”

Keller hung out socially with Sanchez during his time with the Jets, so his comments don't come as a big surprise. The two are good friends and, like he said,  still keep in contact. 

The tight end still has his buddy's back and believes Sanchez can hold on to the starter's job even after his miserable 2012 play.

"I think he'll be able to pick things up and get back on the right track this year," Keller said. 

Joe Namath: Jets wasted a draft pick on Geno Smith

Joe Namath was one of Mark Sanchez's biggest supporters last season — even after the New York Jets quarterback devolved into one of the least efficient signal callers in the NFL. Now — with the doomed Tim Tebow experiment behind them — the Hall of Famer thinks the Jets made a big mistake in drafting Geno Smith and would have benefited more by filling other positions with their second-round pick.

Joe Willie calls Gang Green’s new rookie QB Smith a “sensational athlete” with “good size.” But he also thinks drafting Smith with a No. 2 pick was unnecessary.

“No, I don’t think they needed a quarterback,” Namath said at the United Way’s 20th annual Gridiron Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Tuesday. “They needed the other positions filled. Possibly offensive line. They got some defensive line. The safeties are still questionable. The outside linebackers are still questionable.”

Namath thinks the Jets already had a quality quarterback in the much-maligned starter Sanchez even though he has struggled in the last two seasons. But Namath attributed that to “distractions.”

“I am pulling for him,” Namath said of Sanchez. “I know that he can do better than he’s done. And we saw him lead a team to two AFC championship games, right? I also know what it’s like not to necessarily have the weapons you’d like to have, not to necessarily have the time you’d like to accomplish.”

Namath sounded confident that Sanchez will lift himself up — whether it's as a Jet, or in another NFL uniform.

“I know it’s a team game and I know Sanchez is going to play better,” Namath added. “I promise you you’ll see a different guy (this year). I believe you’ll see a different guy.

“Mark’s not a puppy anymore,” he added. “He’s gone through some things, growing process. As far as Sanchez goes, even if he’s not with the Jets, he’s going to play as long as he wants to. He’s that good. As long as he wants to, he’s going to be in the NFL.” 

Because of Namath’s ongoing faith in Sanchez, he said he didn’t think the Jets needed to draft a quarterback last month, but the Jets legend felt confident Geno Smith would be a good fit — on the field and off — if he beat Sanchez out as the starter.

“From what I’ve heard from his coaches in college, they think a great deal of him, so that carries more weight than any of the rumors you might hear,” Namath said. “I have watched him for the past four years. He’s a sensational athlete, good size, [but] he’s got to fill out a bit. He’s a little bit lean to get out with the big men.

“If Geno beats [Sanchez] out at training camp, he deserves to start, [but] I don’t know that the deserving guy always gets to start. The contract speaks for itself sometimes.”

Hate to break it to you Joe, but the Jets' 2013 quarterback controversy is just getting primed.

Panthers' Steve Smith rips Mark Sanchez: 'He sucks'

It sounds like it's open season on Mark Sanchez all over the airwaves.

The Carolina Panthers' All-Pro receiver Steve Smith ripped the Jets maligned quarterback while hosting a radio show on Wednesday.

"He sucks,” Smith said Wednesday while co-hosting “The Drive” on WFNZ 610-AM in Charlotte. “I wouldn’t let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich.”

Smith's unabashed opinion of Sanchez as some sort of deli counterman is all the more juicier because the Jets are scheduled to play the Panthers in Week 15 in Carolina. But there a good possibility the home team might be lining up against rookie Geno Smith by then.

Sanchez’s chances of making the Jets roster did get a boost on Wednesday when David Garrard announced he was ready to retire. Sanchez will now be the main competition for second-round draft pick Smith in the battle to be the Jets starter.

Expect to see a run on paper sandwich bags down in Charlotte December 15.