E-Boland & Gang Green

By Tom Rock

Wednesdays are usually pretty crowded around here in Jetsland, but today was especially so because of two reasons: A) the team is suddenly a hot story and B) the Giants are off. The win over the Patriots really pushed the Jets onto the front burner in many minds, and the fact that they are serious contenders for a playoff spot is pretty amazing considering how many questions and doubts the team faced in August. There were eight TV cameras filming practice today – there are usually only one or two – and a birdie told me that an HBO crew was around on Tuesday for an Inside the NFL segment.

Still, Mangini said there are two P-words that are not to be uttered: playoffs and Patriots. Asked if he ever looked at the big picture, he insisted that the Bears game on Sunday IS the big picture. Then he referred to film of the Bears as “smelling salts” that wake them from any dazed enjoyment still lingering from last weekend.

The Bears are staying in a different hotel than the one they stayed in for last week’s game against the Giants. Coach Lovie Smith said he is treating this just like two separate road games and not focusing on the oddity of playing in the same place twice in two weeks. He said the hotel switch is due to accommodation and booking factors, but I’m sure he is pleased to have the subtle difference.

For the record, it was the second week in a row an opposing coach did not refer to Mangini by name in his conference call with the NY writers. I suspect there was something less sinister and spiteful behind Lovie’s motives, however.

Thanks to Alan Hahn for the shout-out in his Knicks blog. And thanks to Glauber for the shout-down. From now on, you can do all the work!