E-Boland & Gang Green

By Tom Rock

The fallout from the fall-apart of the Lee Suggs deal continues to linger at Jets camp, and today the big story is the arrival of Derrick Strait. He’s the cornerback-slash-safety who was traded to Cleveland then returned to the Jets after Suggs failed his physical. Must be difficult to come back to a place that though so highly of you they swapped you for a running back who has been healthy just over half his career and had eight carries last season.

Mangini said he hadn’t spoken with Strait since the deal fell apart, but might seek him out at some point. “He understands how I feel,” Mangini said.

Mangini also said he speaks with Browns coach Romeo Crennel often, including last night and this morning, and said their recent conversations were not set askew by Crennel’s comments on Tuesday implying that the Jets may have purposely nixed the Suggs deal, perhaps with a better deal in sight. “I love him as a guy and he and I have a great friendship,” said Mangini, who worked under Crennel in New England. “There has never been awkwardness in our relationship.”

Running back isn’t the only position the Jets are looking to improve at. NT Grady Jackson visited the Jets today, but Mangini would not comment on how that meeting went. Jackson’s fitness has always been an issue in his career, and Mangini also declined to comment on his impressions of the big guy who has reportedly been close to 400 pounds at times. The Jets do need help at NT, as Dewayne Robertson has been shifting between there and DE along with Kimo von Oelhoffen. With Pouha hurt and Pope gone early in training camp, the front line has been a little thin. It won’t be, in more ways than one, if Jackson plops himself here in Hempstead.

Not to be a prude, but some of the songs being played at Jets camp have been raising eyebrows. Most of the naughty words have been dubbed out or skipped over, but the themes in songs such as Jibbs’ “Chain Hang Low” and “London Bridge” by Mindless Self Indulgence have been making training camp feel a little blue. (I’ll let you Google the lyrics and see for yourself). I like the idea of the music – as an entertaining portion of practices; I’m not sure if or what help it gives to the players – but there should be some kind of filter before the tunes are blasted. Especially when the speakers are just a few yards from Jets Fest, the kiddie park with inflatable attractions for the young ‘uns. I actually like some of the songs that are played and have downloaded a few onto my iPod. But I don't play them in the car with the kids.