By Ed Valentine

– Regional Editor

Follow , and

Like SB Nation New York on Facebook.

Oct 25, 2011 – Oh, no! The New York Jets have a bye this week, returning to action Nov. 6 on the road against the Buffalo Bills. What is the New York media going to do for the rest of the week without over-the-top quotes from Jets coach Rex Ryan to write about? This is a problem. I mean, New York Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin is not exactly a quote machine. And New York Rangers’ coach John Tortorella isn’t going to say things like “we sucked from head to toe” every time his team loses. And WFAN’s Mike Francesa won’t have any Jets to interview this week.

Rex did leave us with some fodder for discussion on Monday, for which we thank him. 

Ryan Monday took a poke at the San Diego Chargers after Sunday’s loss. Commenting on San Diego’s Randy McMichael saying ”The San Diego Chargers beat the San Diego Chargers,” he said. “Nothing to do with the New York Jets,” Ryan fired off a classic line from the movie ‘Anchorman.’

“Stay classy, San Diego.”

Ryan also left us with the fact that he has imposed a gag order on himself when it comes to the use of the word ‘rings.’ 

“I will no longer say the word ‘rings’ anymore. Because the ‘Kiss Belichick’s rings’, the rings here with San Diego. All that kind of stuff so I’m not going to use that word anymore. No more of those things. I get crushed every time I say it,” Ryan said.

Ah, but where is the fun in that, Rex?

Ryan did, though, also show a little glimpse that two straight victories — following a three-game losing streak — have brought a little swagger back to the Jets.

“We’re going to be tough to beat. There is no doubt,” Ryan said. “We’ll make our run. We’re 4-3. We’re behind where I thought we’d be, but we still have a lot of football in front of us and we’re playing teams that we have to beat.”

So, everybody, time to catch your breath for a few days. Rex will be back. And we are 100 percent certain whatever he has to say won’t disappoint us.

Read More: rex ryan, New York Jets

Follow , and

Like SB Nation New York on Facebook.

Do you like this story?

Read More: Aaron Maybin (LB – NYJ), New York Jets, Buffalo Bills

Aaron Maybin is not done with the New York Jets quite yet. The former first round pick was given a second chance at an NFL career when the Jets signed him during training camp, only to release him shortly after 53-man rosters were made official, but it seems as though the Jets have once again found a roster spot for the outside linebacker.

The former 11th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills will take the roster spot that was formerly occupied by offensive lineman Rob Turner, now placed on injured reserve, according to the New York Daily News. This completes a promise New York made as the Jets apparently told Maybin they would bring him back whenever there was an open roster spot available.

Maybin’s NFL career to this point has been a bust, essentially, as the 23-year-old has amassed just 23 total tackles in his 26 games as a professional. It certainly doesn’t hurt the Jets to allow him to occupy an otherwise empty roster spot, however, if he’s able to eventually live up to even just part of the potential he showed during his time at Penn State.

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Even though it’s been almost two years since the Raiders last played the New York Jets, Oakland defensive tackle Tommy Kelly won’t have to do much studying this week to prepare.

After being part of a defence that allowed 223 yards rushing and 35 second-half points in a 38-35 loss to the Buffalo Bills last week, Kelly expects Rex Ryan and company to follow suit and keep it on the ground.

Why wouldn’t they?

It was the same formula the Jets used in 2009 when they beat the Raiders by 38 points, the most lopsided home loss in franchise history. It also matched the team’s worst loss ever in the Al Davis era.

“They’re going to try to run that ball down our throat,” Kelly said this week. “It will be a big-boy pad game. They’re going to run the ball regardless. It doesn’t matter what’s going on. That’s their plan any game.”

New York has rushed for only 146 yards in two games this season but the 2-0 Jets have a prime opportunity to get that turned around in Oakland.

Since 2007, the Raiders have allowed opponents to rush for 200 yards or more in a game 12 times, tied with the Bills for the most in the NFL during that time. That includes a 317-yard performance by the Jets on Oct. 25, 2009.

A lot has changed in Oakland since then, but the team’s problems defending the run have remained a constant.

“They’ve been the leading rush team since (Rex Ryan) took over as head coach,” Raiders defensive co-ordinator Chuck Bresnahan said Thursday. “I do know Rex’s mentality is a physical, no BS type of deal and they’re going to try to establish the run game.”

Oakland is still trying to shake the effects from last week’s second-half collapse against Buffalo.

After building a 21-3 halftime lead, the Raiders unravelled over the final 30 minutes while allowing the Bills to score touchdowns on all five of their possessions in the second half.

The breakdowns were numerous and everywhere.

Oakland forced Buffalo into only four third-down situations in the second half, safety Tyvon Branch and cornerback Chris Johnson both dropped would-be interceptions in the fourth quarter and a breakdown in coverage allowed the Bills to score the game-winning touchdown with 14 seconds remaining.

Buffalo was initially credited with 217 yards rushing but that number increased by six yards after the NFL amended the stats, awarding Oakland linebacker Rolando McClain a sack instead of a tackle for loss when the Bills were in a wildcat formation.

That helped McClain’s personal numbers — it’s the first full sack of his career — but raised the Raiders’ average against the run to 130.5 yards a game.

More troubling was the Bills’ 8.7 yards-per-carry average, which came on the heels of Oakland’s season-opening win against Denver, when they held the Broncos to 38 yards total on the ground.

Bresnahan and coach Hue Jackson have been adamant in practice this week about moving on from the loss to Buffalo, but Kelly acknowledged that’s been easier said than done. Like the loss to the Jets in 2009, it’s not something he’s been able to let go of easily.

“We have to really redeem ourselves from last week,” he said. “We can’t let that happen again. The Jets run the ball a lot on first and second down. We have to knock their guys back and get early penetration so we can get them into third and long.”

Notes: The Raiders announced a sellout for Sunday’s game, only their second in the last 16 home games. This will be the 46th of 129 regular-season home games televised locally since the team moved back from Los Angeles for the 1995 season. … TE Kevin Boss practised without limitations and is expected to make his Oakland debut against the Jets. … K Sebastian Janikowski (foot) also worked out with no setbacks. … WRs Jacoby Ford (hamstring) and Louis Murphy (groin) were held out of practice. Murphy has already said he will not play this week.

The 2-0 New York Jets begin a stretch of three consecutive road games on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS) when they face the Oakland Raiders. The Jets have a pair of home victories over Dallas and Jacksonville. The Raiders opened by defeating Denver, but then lost to the Buffalo Bills.

The Jets could be without Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold, who has a high ankle sprain and is “iffy” for the game.

The Jets primary task on defense will be to control the Oakland running game. Through the first two weeks the Raiders average 160.5 yards per game on the ground, fourth in the league.

Turner, the Jets’ backup center, broke his leg in the team’s first preseason game on Monday. After the Houston Texans’ defensive end, J.J. Watt, pushed through backup center Vladimir Ducasse and quarterback Mark Sanchez, Turner’s leg suffered the blow.

After Sanchez fell on Turner’s right leg, the center was carried off of the field. On Tuesday The New York Daily News reported that an MRI determined a fracture in Turner’s leg which could take up to 10 weeks to heal.

Although ESPN does not consider Turner a “household name”, the center is diverse and can also play tight end or guard. The first preseason game was tough for Jets’ coach Rex Ryan, who also had to come to grips with injuries to guard Brandon Moore and center Nick Mangold before the game.

“I think we’ll feel better when Brandon and Mangold get back out there,” Ryan said, according to ESPN.

While the Jets’ offense may be struggling with depth, Ryan announced a new addition to the team’s defense. The coach announced that Aaron Maybin, former Buffalo Bills’ linebacker, would join the Jets.

Like us on Facebook

Ryan said he is willing to take time to develop the player.

“I think he’s got some talent, some pass-rush ability,” Ryan said, according to ESPN reports. “If he sticks on our team, he’s going to be a pass rusher for us. We don’t need him to be a starter. We’ve got two excellent starters at outside linebacker already.”

Maybin, the 11th overall draft pick in Buffalo who did not perform to critics’ expectations, will sign a one-year contract with the Jets. Chafie Fields,Maybin’s agent, said he is excited to join the team and play his old squad during the season.

“We wanted to get him out there and give him an opportunity to perform,” Fields told the Buffalo News. “He’s ecstatic. He gets to play Buffalo twice, which sparked a little something in him. He’s a fan of Rex Ryan. He said, ‘I’m going to get to see Buffalo twice and I can’t wait.’ ”

Be the first of thousands of iPosters by sharing your news, views, and analysis.

Aaron Maybin and the New York Jets have reached agreement on a one-year deal, Coach Rex Ryan confirmed in a press conference.

Maybin, a draft bust who was cut by the Buffalo Bills on Monday, would bolster the pass rush, Ryan said, if he can make the team. And that may be one big “if.” Maybin, nicknamed “Maybe” by Bills fans, was the 11th pick overall in the 2009 draft — and has no sacks. A standout at Penn State, Maybin most likely would be a backup in Ryan’s 3-4 defense. He’ll play for the league minimum.

“We wanted to get him out there and give him an opportunity to perform,” said Chafie Fields, Maybin’s agent, told the Buffalo News.

“He’s ecstatic. He gets to play Buffalo twice, which sparked a little something in him. He’s a fan of Rex Ryan. He said, ‘I’m going to get to see Buffalo twice and I can’t wait.’ ”

Tim Graham

Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.

Send questions and comments »

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – The swagger is back, and the New York Jets are bringing it with them to Indianapolis.

Again.

A few hours after a 38-7 rout of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Jets found out their first-round playoff opponent would be familiar foes: Peyton Manning and the Colts. Yep, the same bunch that kept them out of the Super Bowl a year ago.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us, but we’re ready for it,” cornerback Marquice Cole said. “Hope to get some payback from last year.”

The Jets (11-5) play the Colts (10-6) next Saturday night, squaring off a bit earlier in the playoffs than they did last year. New York led midway through the third quarter of the AFC championship game before Manning took over and sent Rex Ryan’s team home disappointed. The Jets have other plans this time around.

“I thought we’d win it last year,” Ryan said. “I think we’re going to win it this year, so we’ll see. Regardless of who we play, we think we’re better than any team out there. We have to go prove it, though.”

Nothing like a confidence-boosting performance right before the playoffs.

“We are ready to go do what we set out to do,” Ryan said. “If somebody is going to beat us, then they must be really good.”

Taking it easy while resting his sore right shoulder, Mark Sanchez played one series without throwing a pass before giving way to Mark Brunell, who threw two touchdown passes – his first since 2006 – in a lopsided tuneup as backups starred in the victory over the lowly Bills.

“That was great,” Sanchez said. “It was fun for me to watch.”

Sanchez wasn’t the only one who got some pre-playoff rest, as LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie all sat this one out. But New York still earned the fourth 11-win season in franchise history, and first since the 1998 team went to the AFC championship game.

Rookie Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards and New York’s defense was dominant after a few subpar weeks, forcing the Bills (4-12) into six turnovers, including Cole’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“This game was about getting back to what we do,” linebacker Calvin Pace said, “stopping the run, getting turnovers and getting some pressure on the quarterback.”

The Jets swarmed Brian Brohm, starting for Ryan Fitzpatrick, all game. New York intercepted Brohm three times and sacked him three times. Buffalo was held to 162 total yards, compared to New York’s 388, and the Bills gained just 37 yards on the ground.

“Offensively, it was an awful performance,” Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said. “We couldn’t protect the passer, we couldn’t run it. We never got any kind of consistency at all. When you turn it over that many times, your defense has no chance.”

The Jets took control early, even with Sanchez not throwing any passes. Ryan said during the week that Sanchez would start so he could maintain the rhythm he had the last few weeks, but wasn’t sure how long he’d play. Turned out, if you blinked, you missed him. After his nine handoffs – one was called back for a penalty – Sanchez was replaced by Brunell to start the Jets’ second offensive series, and it was all New York the rest of the afternoon.

“I was keeping the streak alive,” a smiling Sanchez said of his cameo appearance. “Look out, Brett.”

Sanchez said his shoulder is “all right, it’s ready to play,” but this week served as a way to get an extra week of rest without sitting out completely. He said he doesn’t know if the shoulder will need surgery after the season, but insisted he can play well through it the rest of the way.

“We’re in a good place on offense and we wanted to keep that rolling,” he said, “and I think we did.”

Brunell finished 6 of 12 for 110 yards and touchdowns to Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. He also threw an interception, which accounted for Buffalo’s only points as Jairus Byrd returned it 37 yards for a score early in the third quarter.

One of the biggest cheers came when Kellen Clemens, the Jets’ third quarterback, scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown to put New York up 31-7 with 9:18 left.

McKnight, making his first NFL start in a disappointing rookie season, got the bulk of the work on the ground, rushing 32 times while Tomlinson and Greene watched from the sideline.

“It felt good just to go out there and play ball,” said McKnight, who had only 31 yards on seven carries entering the game.

The loss capped another lousy season for the Bills, who will miss the playoffs for the 11th straight year, tied with Detroit for the NFL’s longest active drought.

“It hurts,” Gailey said. “It does. It’s not the way you want to finish.”

Meanwhile, Ryan and the Jets won’t be satisfied unless their season ends with them holding a trophy in Dallas as champions.

“I said the day I took this job, that I came here to win Super Bowls,” Ryan said. “That’s the truth. I have none right now, but I know one thing: Whoever we play is going to get my best shot. They’re going to get this team’s best shot. And let’s see if we’re not good enough to win this whole thing.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The scrimmage is over, and now the New York Jets are heading to the postseason on a positive note.

Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes in relief of Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards and New York’s defense was dominant in a lopsided playoff tuneup as the Jets routed the Buffalo Bills 38-7 on Sunday.

The Jets rested many of their starters against the Bills, but it did not stop them from collecting a convincing win.

New York (11-5) rested several stars, including LaDainian Tomlinson, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, but still earned the fourth 11-win season in franchise history — and first since the 1998 team went to the AFC championship game. The Jets, the No. 6 seed, were waiting to see where they will travel next weekend.

It’s the second time in as many seasons the Jets are going to the playoffs under Rex Ryan. Green and white confetti trickled through the air after the game, and several players high-fived fans in a victory lap around the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Sanchez is dealing with a sore right shoulder, but started and played only one series before being replaced by Brunell. He handed off nine times without a throw, including one called back for a penalty, on New York’s opening drive that ended with Nick Folk’s 28-yard field goal.

Brad Smith came in three times during the opening drive and took direct snaps from the Jets’ version of the wildcat and had three runs for 62 yards, while McKnight had seven carries for 25 yards and John Conner had a 2-yard run.

Ryan said during the week that Sanchez would start so he could maintain the rhythm he had the last few weeks, but wasn’t sure how long he’d play. Turned out, if you blinked, you missed him. Brunell replaced Sanchez to start the Jets’ second offensive series, and it was all New York the rest of the afternoon.

The defense swarmed Brian Brohm, starting for Ryan Fitzpatrick, all game and forced the Bills (4-12) into six turnovers. New York intercepted Brohm three times, including a 35-yard return for a score by Marquice Cole, and sacked him three times. Buffalo was held to 162 totals yards, compared to New York’s 388, and the Bills gained just 37 yards on the ground.

It was a good performance by a defensive unit that went back to basics during the week of practice after a handful of subpar games.

One of the biggest cheers came when Kellen Clemens, the Jets’ third quarterback, scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown to put New York up 31-7 with 9:18 left.

Brunell finished 6 of 12 for 110 yards and touchdowns to Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. He also threw an interception, which accounted for Buffalo’s only points as Jairus Byrd returned it 37 yards for a score early in the third quarter.

McKnight, making his first NFL start in a disappointing rookie season, got the bulk of the work on the ground, rushing 32 times while Tomlinson and Shonn Greene watched from the sideline.

The loss capped another lousy season for the Bills, who were trying to win their regular-season finale in consecutive years for the first time since 1998-2000. Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the 11th straight year, tied with Detroit for the NFL’s longest active drought.

Cole, starting for Cromartie, who was resting a tweaked groin, gave the Jets a 10-0 lead with 9:07 left in the half after intercepting Brohm’s pass intended for Steve Johnson and returning it 35 yards for a score. Calvin Pace popped Brohm and tipped the pass just as he was throwing, forcing the ball to float toward a leaping Cole.

Cole had another interception late in the game, setting up Conner’s 16-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring.

Holmes caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to give the Jets a 17-0 lead with 15 seconds left in the opening half. It was Brunell’s first scoring throw since he tossed one against Dallas in November 2006, when he was with Washington.

Brunell threw his second touchdown pass with 6:41 left in the third quarter when Edwards leaped above Leodis McKelvin and then sprinted down the left sideline for a 52-yard score that made it 24-7.

Brohm finished 10 for 23 for 106 yards and three interceptions in his second NFL start. Fitzpatrick was inactive after missing practice all week with a right knee injury.

– The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets are heading to the postseason on a positive note.

Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes in relief of Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards and New York’s defense was dominant in a lopsided playoff tuneup as the Jets routed the Buffalo Bills 38-7 on Sunday.

New York (11-5) rested several stars, including LaDainian Tomlinson, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, but still earned the fourth 11-win season in franchise history – and first since the 1998 team went to the AFC championship game. The Jets, the No. 6 seed, were waiting to see where they will travel next weekend.

It’s the second time in as many seasons the Jets are going to the playoffs under Rex Ryan. Green and white confetti trickled through the air after the game, and several players high-fived fans in a victory lap around the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Sanchez is dealing with a sore right shoulder, but started and played only one series before being replaced by Brunell. He handed off nine times without a throw, including one called back for a penalty, on New York’s opening drive that ended with Nick Folk’s 28-yard field goal.

Brad Smith came in three times during the opening drive and took direct snaps from the Jets’ version of the wildcat and had three runs for 62 yards, while McKnight had seven carries for 25 yards and John Conner had a 2-yard run.

Ryan said during the week that Sanchez would start so he could maintain the rhythm he had the last few weeks, but wasn’t sure how long he’d play. Turned out, if you blinked, you missed him. Brunell replaced Sanchez to start the Jets’ second offensive series, and it was all New York the rest of the afternoon.

The defense swarmed Brian Brohm, starting for Ryan Fitzpatrick, all game and forced the Bills (4-12) into six turnovers. New York intercepted Brohm three times, including a 35-yard return for a score by Marquice Cole, and sacked him three times. Buffalo was held to 162 totals yards, compared to New York’s 388, and the Bills gained just 37 yards on the ground.

It was a good performance by a defensive unit that went back to basics during the week of practice after a handful of subpar games.

One of the biggest cheers came when Kellen Clemens, the Jets’ third quarterback, scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown to put New York up 31-7 with 9:18 left.

Brunell finished 6 of 12 for 110 yards and touchdowns to Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. He also threw an interception, which accounted for Buffalo’s only points as Jairus Byrd returned it 37 yards for a score early in the third quarter.

McKnight, making his first NFL start in a disappointing rookie season, got the bulk of the work on the ground, rushing 32 times while Tomlinson and Shonn Greene watched from the sideline.

The loss capped another lousy season for the Bills, who were trying to win their regular-season finale in consecutive years for the first time since 1998-2000. Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the 11th straight year, tied with Detroit for the NFL’s longest active drought.

Cole, starting for Cromartie, who was resting a tweaked groin, gave the Jets a 10-0 lead with 9:07 left in the half after intercepting Brohm’s pass intended for Steve Johnson and returning it 35 yards for a score. Calvin Pace popped Brohm and tipped the pass just as he was throwing, forcing the ball to float toward a leaping Cole.

Cole had another interception late in the game, setting up Conner’s 16-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring.

Holmes caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to give the Jets a 17-0 lead with 15 seconds left in the opening half. It was Brunell’s first scoring throw since he tossed one against Dallas in November 2006, when he was with Washington.

Brunell threw his second touchdown pass with 6:41 left in the third quarter when Edwards leaped above Leodis McKelvin and then sprinted down the left sideline for a 52-yard score that made it 24-7.

Brohm finished 10 for 23 for 106 yards and three interceptions in his second NFL start. Fitzpatrick was inactive after missing practice all week with a right knee injury.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After just eight handoffs in his brief start against the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez said his right shoulder was “pretty sore.”

That soreness remains after a week of very light work during practice in the week leading up to the game. After the 38-7 win over the Bills, Sanchez was asked if his doctors have talked about the possibility of surgery in the offseason.

“They bounced ideas around,” Sanchez said. “But it’s so far in advance hopefully we’re not talking about it for another month.”

Sanchez has some cartilage damage, but it isn’t clear if it’s problematic or just natural wear and tear. The second-year quarterback said that his physicians have assured him that he isn’t doing further damage to his shoulder by continuing to play through the injury.

“The doctors would have said something about that first,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez initially injured his shoulder when he fell awkwardly in Pittsburgh trying to run the ball. A week later after a loss to Chicago he said the shoulder was “very sore,” and said it was “pretty sore” after the game Sunday.

Sanchez said he will be ready to play when the Jets head to Indianapolis for the first game of the playoffs next weekend.

“I’m going to play — it’s not a big deal,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez was replaced in the game by 40-year-old backup Mark Brunell, who threw touchdown passes to wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. The scoring pass to Holmes was the first Brunell had made since 2006. Brunell also threw an interception.

The Jets then used wide receiver Brad Smith at quarterback. Smith played the position at Missouri. Kellen Clemens ran the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when he came in at the spot.

Sanchez said he had an idea that he wouldn’t play much going into the Bills game, and that he wouldn’t be passing the ball. After the Chicago loss, coach Rex Ryan was leaning toward resting his starter, but he seemed to rethink that as the week went along. By Thursday, Ryan announced that Sanchez was starting and that it was a matter of keeping his head in the game.

“I never wanted him to get hit or anything else,” Ryan said. “It was one of those things that we weren’t going to throw the football with him. We accomplished everything we wanted during the week. We kept his preparation the same way.”

Sunday, Ryan opted to rest a number of starters, including running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, and cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie.

Asked what the point of starting was if he played just one series and made eight handoffs, Sanchez showed his sense of humor was fully intact.

“Keeping the streak alive,” he said with a smile. “Lookout, Brett.”

Jane McManus is a reporter and columnist for ESPNNewYork.com.