File Under: mangini, eric, Chad, Chris, kellen, Alan, Pennington,, Faneca,, Clemens,, Berman,
07/14 — During "Jets Night" batting practice at Shea Stadium last week, ESPN personality Chris Berman made his way from dugout to dugout and all locations in between. Even though the former Jets season ticket holder is one of sport’s biggest celebrities, he was kind enough to take some time to talk Jets football.
“I think they’re a playoff contender — I think they’re a wild-card contender,” Berman told me. “I really do.”
Berman took notice of the Jets’ off-season moves and was particularly impressed with the club's addition of a perennial All-Pro offensive lineman.
“I think they’ll be a lot closer to the team Eric Mangini had in ’06 than the results he had in ’07,” he said. “[Alan] Faneca is one of the best linemen in the league and that left side of the line is potentially awesome with Ferguson, Faneca and Mangold.”
You don’t need to pick up a preseason publication, though, to know the Patriots remain the favorites in the AFC East. The Jets should be bolstered by their busy spring and there are some prognosticators who think the young Bills are ready to take a step forward. Berman does see improvement from both teams but cautions that the Pats remain a dominant squad that went undefeated in the ’07 regular season.
“Will either the Jets or the Bills beat New England this year in a game? Possibly, yeah, so there’s a loss in the division,” Berman said. “But then again with 16-0, I don’t know how you don’t close the gap — they’re not going anywhere. Because they lost one game, let’s not think they’re going anywhere. But the Jets and the Bills are on their way up.”
And I didn’t let “Boomer” go before asking him his take on the quarterback situation. He’s seen a lot of football over the years and I wanted to know who he thought would be the Jets’ starter in Miami come Sept. 7.
“I think they’ll give Clemens every chance to win the job, but Chad Pennington first of all is going to handle it great and will be either the mentor or the starter,” he said. “If I’m to guess here on July 8, they’ll be curious enough to start Clemens at the beginning of the year.”
Leo Said:
Fri, July 25, 2008 - 9:51pm EDT"So the swami thinks we r a contender? I am going to tell you what it is like to be a JETS Fan. It is like open heart surgery with a butterknife. I have had my heart yanked out of my chest so many times I cant even count. This year will be no different."
Leo Said:
Fri, July 25, 2008 - 9:54pm EDT"So the swami thinks we are a contender? If I had a dollar for everytime I heard that is the last 40 years I couldn't even buy one of those 10.00 Beers. Don't get your hopes up. Being a Jets fan you know it is only a dream."
mikey Said:
Sat, July 26, 2008 - 12:28pm EDT"they will be a contender in the east. possibly a wild card at 10-6. chad give the jets a better chance to win. chad has macho without having a big arm. he is tough and brilliant behind center. has better ability to read a defense then kellen. kellen will get his chance to lead the ny jets squad in 2-3 years. chad has never had an o line that is this solid. chad has great insticts and experience..."
Ira Said:
Mon, July 14, 2008 - 3:20pm EDT"Glad to see that Berman is on the same page as a lot of us are here. I disagree with him about the Pats though. Brady will take a beating this year. I see them at 11-5. Their secondary is their weakest part of their D and teams will try to exploit that. I think his take in the QB battle is on the money.If they are even by the end of camp i do think they will give Kellen the edge. "