Jets football blog

Jets sign Dustin Keller, turn attention to Vernon Gholston

Stung by a lengthy contract dispute last year with rookie Darrelle Revis, the Jets are working feverishly to get their current draft class signed before the start of training camp on Thursday.

They finalized a five-year deal Friday with former Purdue tight end Dustin Keller, only the fifth of 31 first-round picks to sign. The Jets have five picks under contract, with first-round linebacker Vernon Gholston (No. 6) their only unsigned rookie. They're well into negotiations with the former Ohio State standout. Continue

Jets fans will get their chance - to pay

Jets fans have been sitting on the sidelines the past three weeks, watching the Giants' personal seat license drama unfold and wondering when it would be their turn for bad news. Yesterday, they got their first official taste of it.

The team issued a statement saying, "We are developing our PSL plan that we will announce at the end of August." It was the first time the team publicly acknowledged it will use PSLs to fund its half of the joint stadium with the Giants. Continue

Jets fans will get their chance - to pay

Jets fans have been sitting on the sidelines the past three weeks, watching the Giants' personal seat license drama unfold and wondering when it would be their turn for bad news. Yesterday, they got their first official taste of it.

The team issued a statement saying, "We are developing our PSL plan that we will announce at the end of August." It was the first time the team publicly acknowledged it will use PSLs to fund its half of the joint stadium with the Giants. Continue

Jets sign fourth-round pick Lowery

The New York Jets signed cornerback Dwight Lowery, the team's fourth-round pick, on Wednesday. Lowery started all 25 games at cornerback in two seasons at San Jose State, with 13 interceptions, including a school-record nine in 2006. The Jets have signed three of their six draft picks, with first-rounders Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller, and fifth-rounder Erik Ainge still unsigned. New York's first training camp practice is July 24. (AP)

Don't expect Brett on Jets

The Jets have no set starter at quarterback, and a Hall of Famer appears available. But don't expect Brett Favre to don a different type of green jersey this season. Favre, who retired publicly amid tears and cameras after last season, reportedly has asked Green Bay officials for his unconditional release. If the Packers agree, speculation will run rampant about teams that could use Favre. Continue

Bill Callahan, new Jets assistant, works in trenches as offensive line coach

When Bill Callahan was introduced as the Nebraska head coach in 2004, he received the head-of-state treatment. His first news conference drew 200 boosters and was televised live across the football-obsessed state, pre-empting daytime soap operas. He was the new guiding light for Husker Nation.

These days, Callahan is working in relative anonymity as the Jets' offensive line coach. There were no TV cameras when he was hired in January, no back-page headlines, only a modest press release. Since then, he has stayed out of the spotlight, working dawn-to-dusk days and living in a hotel near the team's facility. Continue

Jets pick up safety Worrell

The Jets yesterday signed free agent safety Cameron Worrell, a five-year NFL veteran who spent the 2007 season with the Dolphins, playing in 12 games, making seven starts and 56 tackles. Worrell originally entered the NFL with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2003, appearing in 46 games in four seasons for the Bears and recording 20 tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries on defense along with 45 special teams tackles. Continue

Jets president Cross resigns

Jay Cross, the Jets' president for the past eight years, resigned yesterday to become president of Related Hudson Yards. Cross will head a developer's effort to build a neighborhood on Manhattan's far West Side, where an effort to build the Jets a stadium failed.

Cross will not be replaced, with his responsibilities being distributed among three Jets front-office members, who were given new titles. Matt Higgins is now executive vice president of business operations; Thad Sheely is executive vice president of stadium development and finance, and Mike Tannenbaum had executive vice president added to his general manager role. All three will report directly to owner Woody Johnson. Continue

Jets fined TE Chris Baker for missing treatment session

The relationship between the Jets and disgruntled tight end Chris Baker is deteriorating by the day. The club hit Baker with a $3,000 fine for missing an injury-treatment session at last week's mandatory minicamp, his agent, Jonathan Feinsod, confirmed Wednesday night. Baker will appeal, contending he did what was required.

Baker, who boycotted voluntary workouts during the offseason because he's unhappy with his contract, showed up for minicamp and "tweaked something" in his back during warmups on the second day. He spent the day (two practices) riding a stationary bike, fueling speculation he feigned the injury to send a message to the Jets. Clearly, coach Eric Mangini wasn't happy. Continue

New LB'S 'Ghol': Playing catch-up with the Jets

Vernon Gholston arrived at Jets mini-camp Friday morning and coach Eric Mangini gave him his first test immediately - name all 84 of his teammates that were sitting with him in the team's auditorium.

"The biggest part of being a team is knowing your teammates and with me it's really just my first time meeting a lot of these guys," Gholston said. "I really haven't worked the names with faces. Coach put me to the test and I had to name the guys. I did OK on it. Some guys you haven't seen so you have to grunt through it." Continue