Wide receiver Laveranues Coles, a Jacksonville native, recently built a house in Jax and plans to move in upon season's end. The league leader in receptions spoke with Jacksonville reporters Wednesday about a number of topics including last year's battle between the two clubs.
"They are still a great football team. I think last year when we played them they were missing their marquee star in Donovin Darius," said Coles. "Now that they have him back, they are much better. When you look at them across the board, they are an excellent football team, from top to bottom and front to back."
Read Below for the Full Coles Conference Call Transcript
NEW YORK JETS WR LAVERANUES COLES
CONFERENCE CALL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2006
(on the opportunity to play in his hometown) "You are always a little nervous about returning home and being in front of your family and friends."
(on if the nerves go away once the game starts) "Once everything gets unfolded at the beginning, you get a couple of snaps, a few plays, you take your first hit, you get into the groove of the game and from there it's all about playing football."
(on if he sees any differences in the Jaguars defense from last year to this year) "They are still a great football team. I think last year when we played them they were missing their marquee star in Donovin Darius. Now that they have him back they are much better. When you look at them across the board, they are an excellent football team, from top to bottom and front to back."
(on if there is a lot more to do with his new house in Jacksonville) "It's pretty much done from what I understand. When I come home I am going to go over and check on it when I get in on Saturday."
(on if he is going to be living there in the offseason) "I definitely will be in after the season. Everything should be done within the next few weeks from top to bottom. When I come home in the offseason I will be totally moved in."
(on if the home looks as nice as he envisioned) "Actually, it came out a lot better than I had envisioned. It is a beautiful home. I didn't anticipate it being that large and on that scale. I'm definitely excited about it."
(on the cul de sac the house sits on having a name change) "We changed the name of it to 87 Coles Court, but I think we have a few more details to get ironed out when I get in town. I have to sign some paperwork that needs to go somewhere then they are going to change the name of the street. They already have the paperwork turned into the county. They just need to change the sign and get a little more paperwork done and it will be changed to Coles Court."
(on if he thought he would have to win a Super Bowl championship to have a street named after him) "That is generally what happens when you win a national championship in college. The success I have had in football and the owner has taken very good care of me. The program here has taken care of me. It has given me some opportunities to do some things that I never thought I would be able to do."
(on if QB Chad Pennington looks stronger this year) "Any time you have a guy put that puts that much work and effort into an offseason…and come back as strong as Chad has. He has bulked up. The ball is coming out with great velocity. He is throwing the ball as well as he has thrown it in his career."
(on Chad Pennington adding 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason) "He is a big guy. He was already huge, but I think just by watching him come out of the tunnel, he's a lot stronger, has more of a physical presence. You can tell he is stronger than he has been in the past."
(on if there was ever a time he crossed paths with Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis) "We have run into each other a couple of times in Jacksonville, but it's all been friendly. We say hello to each other. I believe we are both hometown guys and any time you have hometown guys that are very successful you are just very happy for each other."
(on if he has taken Jets rookie running back Leon Washington under his wing) "Leon is his own man. If he needs me I am here for him. I have let him know that. I am allowing him to be his own man and that's the best way to go at this level. Just allow people to be themselves. If they need you they will call upon you."
Wednesday Injury ReportJets
Doubtful:RB Cedric Houston (knee)*Questionable: CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), RW Tim Dwight (thigh), OL Pete Kendall (thigh) & OL Trey Teague (ankle)
*Probable: *DL Dave Ball (hand), *RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *LB Matt Chatham (foot), *OL Anthony Clement (shin), *DL Bobby Hamilton (knee), *FB James Hodgins (knee), *OL Adrian Jones (thigh), *CB Justin Miller (hip), *QB Chad Pennington (calf), *S Kerry Rhodes (thigh), WR Brad Smith (thigh), *S Eric Smith (knee), & *DL Kimo von Oelhoffen (knee)
Jaguars
Doubtful:WR Matt Jones (hamstring), DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), DE Marcellus Wiley (groin) & RB Derrick Wimbush (knee)
Probable:S Donovin Darius (knee), LB Nick Greisen (ankle), CB Rashean Mathis (knee), G Chris Naeole (knee)
* Denotes players who participated in practice
