06/07 – It would be hard to imagine a more spectacular Sunday morning for the Jets organization. Teaming up with the Alliance for Lupus Research for the seventh annual Northern New Jersey Walk With Us to Cure Lupus, the Jets had 1,200 people participate in the 5K (3.1-mile) stroll, which began and ended at their new home — the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Under a sun-soaked sky, the 2009 Jets rookie class and a few veterans were out early to mingle with folks on the FieldTurf from 9-10 a.m. As one might expect, the lines were longest for rookie passer Mark Sanchez. “You get to meet the fans, have fun with them and see what they’re like," said rookie RB Shonn Greene, an Iowa product whom the Jets selected in the third round. "It’s the fans of our community and I think they deserve the opportunity to meet and greet with us.” Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson has spearheaded his team's involvement in lupus. After one of his three daughters was diagnosed with the chronic inflammatory disease, Johnson said he would find a cure. “His ties are strong and obviously his daughter has the condition of lupus and he started this organization and the players understand that," said Dave Szott, the Jets' director of player development. "We had them here yesterday with the kids clinic and then today with the lupus walk. Next weekend, they have another lupus walk [on Long Island], so those are some weekends where they are involved with the organization and specifically lupus research. "They understand that and it’s great they can be a draw and participate in any way.” Head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum served as co-chairs today and the Jets had a strong organizational turnout across departments. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was among a number of coaches pushing the stroller as he and his wife, Gemmi, brought their son, Sutton, and daughter, Savannah, to the walk. “We love living here, we love the community," Schottenheimer said. "The community has done so much for us, making us feel at home. The fact that it’s for a good cause like lupus and the fact that it’s important for Mr. Johnson is great. "I understand how things like this make a difference. I was fortunate enough to get through thyroid cancer and things like this really mean a lot to us. It’s a great chance for us to spend some time here with the family — both with my family and getting a chance to know these players away from football and letting them see our kids and socializing with the coaches.” Even before anyone took a step, the ALR had raised $215,000 through donations and they hoped to gain another $65,000 in donations today. “It’s very critical," said Karen Bacharach, who serves as the alliance's national walk manager. "Because of Mr. Johnson within the past few years, since we began the walk in 2002, we’ve raised $12 million just from the walk program to help support and fund scientific research to try to find a cure for lupus." "The name of lupus is getting out there because of this and because of him and because of the Jets putting it out there in front of people and bringing an activity like this one today, which is so fabulous. The whole community comes out and honestly I think a lot of people just love to see the new facility. It’s a fabulous facility and we’re real excited to be here.” Bacharach said some of the walkers were so excited and nervous to be at the facility that they wanted to make sure it was OK to walk on the practice turf. Registration was held in the business parking lot and then people moved onto the field, where Jets Fest was in full swing, before Tannenbaum, Ryan and Sanchez delivered prewalk messages to the crowd. The most striking feature of the event is the team T-shirts, showcasing just how many people are affected by lupus. “Everyone does have their own story," Bacharach said. "Everyone lives with lupus in one way or another — either their friend, a member of their family or they themselves have the disease. We encourage the families to create family-themed T-shirts because it builds camaraderie among their own group of family and friends. When we take off here in the next few minutes, you’ll see a sea of T-shirts, which is really fabulous.” Before everyone hit the course, Sanchez led the walkers in a J-E-T-S chant and then they pounded the pavement. Today another step was taken on the road to finding a cure.

Rookies Join Rex, Mike T, Fans in Lupus Walk

05/06 – The seventh annual Jets Taste of the NFL is in the cookbooks and it was a delicious event. A big reason for the delectability is because of the venue. Cipriani Wall Street's grand ballroom was an excellent space to give more than 500 guests, 20 players and most of the Jets coaching staff lots of room to sample the signature dishes from top restaurants in the area, get autographs and photos, buy memorabilia and bid on player helmets and gift packages, all while doing the good work of assisting the Jets and A&P in fighting hunger in the New York metro area. GM Mike Tannenbaum and his wife and head coach Rex Ryan and his wife led the Jets contingent and they were energized by the event as were the fans who ran into them. I met Rex on one pass I made around the main floor of the ballroom and asked him how he was doing. "Great!" the coach exclaimed, and his trademark smile indicated that he meant every word of it. With an hour to go, Mike T and I reflected on the crowd. "They're great fans," Mike said. "They sure know their stuff." No disputing that at all. I do a disservice to all the fans in attendance and to those whom I met but whose names I can't remember today. But I can tell you that Jason Oshins, the subject of my story on the Taste back on March 18, was there as usual, and so was Ira from Staten Island, who, like me, has been to every one of the seven "Tastes." Ira declared Tuesday night's event "one of the best ones they have ever had." Pro Bowl players Leon Washington, Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis led the player contingent. Adding even more star power to the event was the surprise arrival of Salt-N-Pepa and former Knicks star John Starks. Here are some of the preliminary metrics from the event: ■ The 500-plus guests brought in $98,000 in ticket sales. ■ The total amount raised is close to $200,000, which comes in at $30,000 more than last year, or a more than 17 percent increase. ■ And that total dollar amount is the most raised in the seven years of the Jets' Taste of the NFL. In these difficult times, those are phenomenal numbers. Thanks to all for participating.

'Taste of the NFL' Was a Savory Experience

06/05 – The New York Jets loaded up three buses for Thursday's “Jerseys Off Their Backs” event and headed into the communities surrounding their home at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. It was reminiscent of a grade-school field trip; only the players didn’t start singing “The Wheels on the Bus.” Nearly the entire team and several coaches, including head coach Rex Ryan, poured into the towns of Florham Park, Madison and Morristown, visiting various small businesses in groups of two and three and donating their signed jerseys. “We’re just trying to get out in the community and let them know how proud we are of just being a part of this community,” said Ryan. “With our facilities and everything else, we just thought it would be a good idea to get out to some of the businesses and we’re proud of the people we have in our organization.” They shared food, drinks and some laughs with the employees of these establishments as well as any customers who happened to be around. “It’s good because sometimes, with your players, they see them on the field and all that stuff, but they don’t see them out in the community as much,” said Ryan, “and we just thought it would be a good time for all of us to get out there during the day and rub elbows with ‘em.” The experience was unique even for Jets fullback Tony Richardson, who is entering his 15th NFL season. “This is a first and I think it was a great idea,” said Richardson, who spent his time at Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta in Morristown. “Just seeing the fans' faces — they asked us, ‘What are you guys doing?’ and we told them, ‘Today' is Jerseys Off Our Back Day and we just wanted to come out and say thank you to the fans, the ones who support us' — it was pretty humbling just to see their reactions. “I had a chance to meet a gentleman there today who was a season ticket holder for 44 years. His son, Rudy, runs the restaurant now. I met his grandson — lifelong Jets fans. So that was actually pretty awesome.” New Jets safety Jim Leonhard regretted having eaten prior to the event, as his teammates, Marcus Henry and Stanley Daniels, enjoyed their meals on the house at Morristown’s Grasshopper Off The Green. “It’s very good, very, very cool,” said Brian Fitzpatrick, the pub and restaurant’s owner. “A lot of the guys come in on their own time as well, which is real, real good, so it’s good to see some new faces in and get them to know Morristown.” “With football,” said Leonhard, “generally, they just see you on the field or on TV, so it’s nice to get out and get to know people in the community.” One fan asked Leonhard to autograph her ball and hat before continuing through the streets of Morristown, meeting as many Jets and getting as many signatures as she could before her lunch break ended. “My husband and son are big fans,” said Susanne, who works at a local bank and lives in East Windsor, N.J. “They sent me out to get the autographs. I think it’s a very nice gesture to help support the local businesses. They’re very pleasant and very forthcoming and approachable.” With the players’ jerseys signed and already hanging up in some of the stores, the team got back on the buses and excitedly exchanged stories about their experiences. "It was a blast," Mark Sanchez, who helped serve coffee to customers at a Florham Park Dunkin Donuts, told the Daily Record, the local newspaper in Morris County. "You get to mix it up with the local people. That's what being a Jet is all about."

Rex, Players Bring Jerseys to This Part of Jersey