Jets' Nick Mangold helped police nab car burglary ring: Report

A group of teenage car burglars learned what NFL defensive lineman have known for years — don't mess with Nick Mangold.

The New York Jets All-Pro center heard his car alarm go off on Sunday morning while at his home in Chatham, N.J., and when he went to check it out, he found the vehicle's door was ajar. Mangold then picked up his phone and dialed 911 to report the suspicious activity, according to TMZ.

TMZ detailed the arrest:

"Cops rushed to the 'hood and tracked down 5 suspects, just one mile from Mangold's crib. An 18 and a 19-year-old were arrested, along with 3 juveniles. ... We're told there's been a string of more than 40 car burglaries in the area recently!"

Knowing that the "hood" happens to be an upscale, tree-lined suburb filled with million-dollar "cribs" doesn't take anything away from Mangold's assist in the collar.

Earlier in the week, NJ Advance Media reported that five teens were charged "in connection with more than two dozen car burglaries that were reported over the weekend in one Chatham Borough neighborhood,"

The total amount of property reported stolen was roughly $40 in change and small bills, three wallets, and a tool set valued at $75, police said.

Well done Nick. Now go out and protect your quarterback — starting in the locker room.

Jets hold moment of silence for two slain NYPD officers (PHOTO)

The New York Jets held a 10-second moment of silence before Sunday's game against the New England Patriots in honor of the two slain NYPD officers.

Jets center Nick Mangold wore a black NYPD cap and held it over his heart during the singing of the anthem at MetLife Stadium.

The officers were killed Saturday afternoon by a gunman who then killed himself. The gunman has posted online that he was specifically targeting police.

Later, Mangold seriously injured his ankle in the second quarter and was carted from the field.

Nick Mangold of New York Jets carted off field with ankle injury http://t.co/iDGyTXWvTE
— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) December 21, 2014

At least he got a chance to pay tribute before the game.

Eva Longoria says she and Mark Sanchez are 'dating'

The Wildcat is out of the bag.  Eva Longoria, the tiny "Desperate Housewives" star confirmed Thursday — what has been the worst kept secret since Michael Strahan paired up with Kelly Ripa on Live! — that she and Mark Sanchez are an item.

It's official.  Now everyone go "awwww."

After being spotted grocery shopping and having lunch together near his Bedminster, N.J. home or hiding behind a blond wig while dining out in Manhattan, Longoria broke the news to "Extra" host Mario Lopez.

"Mark and I are, you know, fine.  We're happy — just dating," she giggled.

Everyone knows the 37-year old actress has a thing for athletes —he just split with NBA star Tony Parker — but claims she's "a big fan of the Jets because they have the best center in the NFL, Nick Mangold."

Yeah right ... a center.  You know Sanchez told her to say that.

Longoria was coy about breaking the the news — and even called Lopez an "a--hole" for holding up a New York Post story about the couple with the headline,"Private Affair" on it.   But she finally spilled the beans in front of cheering fans.

Now that Longoria has the 25-year old Sanchez on her fantasy team, she can expect a lot more front page headlines — especially with the Jets. 

From one Sunday drama to another, Longoria will find out the the sniping on Wisteria Lane has nothing on the dysfunction at MetLife Stadium.

Nick Mangold headed to Olympics to watch sister compete

Nick Mangold has had a change of heart and will go to London and watch his younger sister, Holley Mangold, compete in the Olympics.  New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan urged his All-Pro center to go to the 2012 Games to see his sibling in person rather than watch her shining moment on television.

Mangold had said he would not go to London because it would interfere with the team's training schedule.

Ryan pushed Mangold to go and, on Saturday morning, Mangold tweeted: "Anyone want to guess where I'm heading?" with a photo of an airport terminal.

"I am laying the guilt trip on him," joked Ryan on Wednesday.  "You know what?  His teammates understand.  I think they are pushing him as well.  It's not just me."

Does this mean Tebowmania is on hold?  Okay, not really, it's just a little diversion.

Mangold's sister is a member of the U.S. Olympic super-heavyweight women's weightlifting team.  The 5-foot-8, 350 pound woman probably pumps more iron than your average quarterback and could actually clean-and-jerk last season's larger version of Ryan with no problem.  The 22-year old woman has lifted a personal best 319 pounds over her head.

The unlikely media darling will be competing in the weightlifting event on Sunday.

Although the Jets' Mangold will miss the team's annual Green & White scrimmage Saturday night, he will be back with the team on Monday.

"It's awesome," said Nick.  " And I'm extremely proud as an older brother, you love to see your siblings do great things."

Tebow and Sanchez break bread with Jets owner

One night after walking the red carpet with A-listers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Tim Tebow was spotted downing red meat with his O-line at a Manhattan steak house along with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and Mark Sanchez.

Although Sanchez— the Jets starting quarterback— and Tebow, who will be competing with him for playing time this season, have publicly stated that they are "friends," the Tuesday night dinner was the first time they have ever been spotted together socially.

I wonder if there was a scramble for the shaker every time one of the other Jets players asked either of them to "pass the salt."

The competing quarterbacks dined for three hours with the owner, his brother Christopher Johnson and several teammates including offensive linemen Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore along with D'Brickshaw Ferguson and David Harris at the Meatpacking District hotspot Abe & Arthur's.

Witnesses claimed things between the two QB's seemed "pretty harmonious."

It was the first time Tebow and Sanchez both dined with the team owner.

Jets Nick Mangold tweets about Newark's 'stank'

New York Jets center Nick Mangold may have many of his fans holding their noses at him for tweeting about the aroma surrounding the Garden State's largest city on Wednesday.

"Best part of driving back to NJ rather than flying even if it's a 9 hour trip instead of 1.5 hours?  Not having 2 go thru the stank of Newark," Mangold said on his Twitter account last night.

The Ohio-bred Mangold— who now reportedly lives in Chatham, N.J.— spent the following hour tweeting back and forth with fans about the stench around Newark— but the well-known prankster let fans know he was only joking.

"it's not jersey that smells.  It's Newark.  I quite enjoy NJ," he tweeted back to a fan who took offense at Mangold's cliched remark.

The Pro Bowl center even got Newark's Mayor Corey Booker into the mix, tweeting to a follower," I think @coreybooker would have to agree.  Otherwise he should get his sense of smell checked."

If anyone should know about "stank," it's Mangold.  He was part of the Jets putrid playoff run last season.

Sure it's easy to pick on the stench of Jersey between exits 13 and 16W (the Meadowlands) on the N.J. Turnpike.  The country's busiest thoroughfare leading to Newark Liberty International Airport and the tunnels entering New York City are lined with refineries and factories.  Throw in the swamplands and it's a recipe for 'stank' bouillabaisse.

But it's not always so bad.  A couple of years ago, a maple syrupy-y smell from a New Jersey food plant wafted through lower Manhattan for weeks— baffling New Yorkers who suddenly craved pancakes.

NFL Will Not Fine Players For Wearing 9/11 Tribute Gear On Anniversary

The NFL players who wear special cleats and gloves to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks this weekend will not have to shell out a fine for breaking uniform rules according to Yahoo! Sports.

Players from Redskins tight-end Chris Cooley to Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had tweeted photos of the colorful Reebok gear, expected to pay fines for wearing the special cleated shoes and gloves in Sunday's games.

On Friday afternoon, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that the players would not be fined for wearing the tribute gear, despite breaking the league's strict uniform policy.

"We have extensive plans for Sunday to respectfully recognize the significance of the day," Aiello said.

All NFL players, coaches and sideline crews will be wearing special 9/11tribute ribbons on their apparel during the opening Sunday of the season.

The colorful equipment was spotted inside the New York Jets locker room this week and center Nick Mangold and tight end Dustin Keller said they plan to wear the cleats and gloves.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs posted on his Twitter account about the possibility of having a fine levied against him for donning the red, white and blue gear.

"So once the breast cancer game is played, players can wear pink gloves and shoes as much as they like," Briggs tweeted.  "For the anniversary of 9/11 game, why is it if I wear shoes and gloves that are the colors of our nation's flag...I will be fined by the league."

"Reebok did a great job on these gloves and shoes...looks like I'm getting fined this week.  Lol!"

All the players who chose to wear the gear in honor of the day won't have to worry about getting fined this week, but let's see what happens after all the ceremonies and tributes are done.

Nick Mangold Photo Bombs Mark Sanchez Once Again

Nick Mangold gave broadcast networks another reason you'll never see an offensive lineman being interviewed in post-game wrap-ups.  The New York Jets center photo bombed his quarterback Mark Sanchez while being interviewed on live TV by an NBC reporter after last night's game against the New York Giants.

It seems like the only way that the 300-pound Mangold can get his Grizzly Adams beard in prime-time is to crash Sanchez's interviews.  He is making a habit of it.  This is the second week in a row Mangold has done it and he is proud of his new-found face-time.

Mangold tweeted about the photo bomb on his Twitter account: "Got another one!  I'm 2 for 2."

The camera-hungry Mangold pulled the same stunt last week after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was joined, for a moment,  by another O-lineman, teammate Wayne Hunter,  in acting like giddy spectators when the Jumbo tron Fan-Cam is turned on them-- lots of hand waving and silly faces.  It's a lot worse when annoying fans do it.

It almost looked like Sanchez was expecting the interruption and didn't break stride in his conversation.

The Jets defeated the Giants, 17-3, in the thrice-scheduled "Battle of  MetLife Stadium" in the Meadowlands, so there was a good reason to goof around.

Afterwards, the prankster Mangold made nice with the reporter Bruce Beck by tweeting him: "All in good humor of course."