E-Boland & Gang Green

By Tom Rock

Found a familiar face in the locker room today. Darrell Adams, who played at Islip High School and was an undrafted rookie in training camp, was brought back by the Jets and signed to the practice squad. It was one of a few below-the-radar moves the Jets made in the last few days. With Wallace Wright called up to the active roster to replace injured Tim Dwight, they signed Sloan Thomas to the practice squad. Darrell Adams was signed to take the place of Titus Adams, who was signed by the Giants. None of this will affect any of your fantasy league rosters, but it’s nice to see some practice squad guys getting a shot and guys like Adams who were out of football getting a second chance.

By the way, how about the Jets breaking the news on a Giants signing? Just helping to foster a cohesive New York football environment, I suppose.

Here’s a name for you Australian readers to get excited about. Apparently the Jets brought in rugby player Willie Mason for a tryout last week. For most of us here in the states they might as well have looked at Jackie Mason, but Willie Mason is one of the biggest-named rugby players in Australia. “He’s at the top of the tree,” fellow Aussie and Jets punter Ben Graham said. If you get a chance, google this guy Mason and check out his hairdo. I can’t imagine it fitting inside an NFL helmet.

There was a new sign hanging over the Jets practice today. Dangling from the crane used to film workouts from a bird’s eye view was a placard that kept track of interceptions and forced fumbles. Apparently that’s a renewed point of emphasis for the team. Kudos to Erin O’Brien for her diligent work on the sign.

Mangini was asked for his feelings regarding rules that protect quarterbacks, often at the expense of what seem to the naked eye to be standard defensive plays. The Jets have had three examples of that this season. He played both sides of the fence when answering it, to the point that he actually straightened out the microphone on his lectern to make sure it, like his opinion, was right down the middle.