According to a Yahoo! Sports report, the NFL had its usual array of intriguing storylines in 2011. From the emergence of Tim Tebow as the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, to the offseason lockout, to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning losing the season due to neck surgery, the media had plenty to talk about this year.

Some of the other top stories in the NFL this year were Aaron Rodgers’ emergence as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league, and the passing of the legendary Oakland Raiders owner, Al Davis. But here in New York, Rex Ryan’s weekly trash-talking and Mark Sanchez’s passing woes dominated much of the local headlines.

Here’s a look at the top five New York Jets stories of 2011:

Jets Beat Patriots, 28-21, In Instant Playoff Classic

Mark Sanchez completed 16 of 25 for 194 yards and three touchdowns to lead his team to a 28-21 win Jan. 16 over the AFC East rival New England Patriots in what Jets coach Rex Ryan called “the second biggest game in franchise history.”

The Jets were clicking on all cylinders, as Sanchez’s incredible performance was perhaps overshadowed by New York’s stellar defense, who intercepted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady once and methodically picked apart New England’s ground game. “We came here for a reason, we got the victory, and I couldn’t be happier,” said Rex Ryan after the game. “That’s a great football team, a great franchise, but we’re not afraid of anybody.”

Sal Alosi Resigns

Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi made the boneheaded decision to trip Miami Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll while the rookie was returning a punt in the third quarter of a Jets-Dolphins game last season, and the trip would ultimately cost Alosi his job. Carroll immediately fell to the turf and was slow to get up after Alosi tripped him. “I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment,” Alosi said in a statement released by the Jets about 2 1/2 hours after the game. “My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for.”

Perhaps to avoid creating any lingering distractions, Alosi announced his resignation in January of 2011, just a few weeks after the tripping incident occurred . “After speaking with Sal, he decided that it is best for him to tender his resignation at this time,” said Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum. “We appreciate all of Sal’s contributions during his tenure with the team. He played an invaluable role in our success and established what we feel is one of the better strength and conditioning programs in the NFL.”

Jets Lose Ground-and-Pound Identity

Early in the 2011 season, the Jets got away from much of the rush-heavy attack that made them so successful in 2009 and 2010. In the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Mark Sanchez threw 44 times while the team ran the ball just 16 times. “You’ve got to give Dallas credit, both schematically and in the personnel,” Ryan said following the game.

“Going into the game, we thought we were going to run the ball more than we did. Give credit to my brother [defensive coordinator Rob] and Dallas. They took that away from us.”And even in a Week 16 loss to the New York Giants, Sanchez attempted a career-high 59 passes. Any time Sanchez is allowed to throw that much is a recipe for disaster.

Nick Mangold and Jim Leonard Injuries Loom Large

The Jets haven’t won a game since losing starting safety Jim Leonard to a season-ending knee injury in the beginning of December. Just how important is Leonard to the Jets? New York linebacker Jamaal Westerman told ESPN that Leonard “is a calming influence in the back end. If you can look back there he’ll tell you where to line up. We really need him because with him we’re so much better than without him.” Losing starting center Nick Mangold for several games early this season was another key injury, as the Jets lost 34-17 to the Baltimore Ravens when he was sidelined.

LT Mulls Retirement

LaDainian Tomlinson’s comments to reporters prior to the New Year’s Day clash with the Miami Dolphins sounded cryptically like a retirement speech in the making. “There’s definitely a thought that this possibly could be [my last game] because you never know how things shake out,” the star running back said. “For me, it just depends on the situation. I’d like to keep playing but if the situation is not right, I won’t. It’s possible that this could be my last game.”

Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.

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The Miami Dolphins appear to be limping into the season finale against the New York Jets.

Not only is Todd Bowles’ team going to be playing without Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long on Sunday – which makes John Jerry the man responsible for stopping Calvin Pace – but the Dolphins have a number of starters nursing significant injuries.

Starting tailback Reggie Bush was held out of Wednesday’s practice because of a right knee injury he suffered late last week’s loss to the Patriots. Bush is walking fine, and says he’s fine.

So the hope is that the team’s featured tailback, who has rushed for 1,086 this season, will practice later this week and be cleared to play.

Starting right tackle Marc Colombo missed Wednesday’s practice because of an ankle injury, but this 10-year veteran has sat out a number of Wednesday practices this season, and played on Sunday.

Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby missed Wednesday’s practice, but his absence wasn’t injury related.

Receivers Brandon Marshall (left knee) and Clyde Gates (groin) were limited. Marshall has been battling knee soreness for a couple of weeks but played through the pain.

Gates apparently re-aggravated a groin strain that sidelined him a few weeks in November. His status will be monitored.

Tailback Daniel Thomas, who suffered a knee injury against the patriots, wasn’t even on the injury report.

Starting cornerback Vontae Davis participated fully despite the elbow injury he suffered in last Saturday’s game.

Davis’ status will be critical considering he’ll probably be responsible for covering Jets receiver Santonio Holmes. The Dolphins also don’t have much depth at cornerback these days, especially since rookie Jimmy Wilson missed practice with a hamstring injury.

On the positive side…. tight end Anthony Fasano passed his NFL mandatory baseline concussion test and has been cleared to return to practice. He’ll likely play on Sunday unless he suffers a setback.

Fasano, a four-year starter, sat out last weekend’s 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots because of the concussion he suffered the previous week.

Fasano’s presence is critical against the Jets because New York’s aggressive 3-4 scheme struggles defending tight ends, especially in the red zone.

Fasano has contributed 22 catches for 237 yards, scoring four touchdowns in the eight games he’s played against the Jets.

Fasano needs 89 receiving yards to establish a career high. He has 440 receiving yards. Last year, he logged 528.

G.G.A.T.G.

By Ed Valentine

– Regional Editor

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Dec 23, 2011 – Let’s continue our position-by-position look at the New York Giants and New York Jets with a look at the special teams units for each team.

Giants

When the Jets let punter Steve Weatherford go after last season the Giants snapped up the veteran free-agent punter to avoid the disastrous inconsistencies experienced a season ago with rookie punter Matt Dodge. Weatherford has responded with a career year. His 46.3 yards per punt average is the best of his career by nearly three yards and his net average of 40.0 puts the Giants seventh in the league, a vast improvement from a season ago. 

Placekicker Lawrence Tynes is having an excellent season. He is 16-of-20 on field-goal attempts, with two of his misses coming from outside 50 yards. Thirty-three of Tynes’ 70 kickoffs have been for touchbacks, a percentage of 47.1. That puts Tynes, historically near the bottom of the league in kickoffs, in the middle of the pack for NFL kickers.

The problem for the Giants has been in the return game, where they simply have not generated any big plays all season.

The Giants’ average of 23.0 yards per kickoff return is 19th in the league and they have only one return longer than 40 yards all season. Devin Thomas handled the job early in the season, and rookie speedsters Da’Rel Scott and Jerrel Jernigan have been the primary returners recently.

Punt return has been even worse. The Giants average just 7.4 yards per return, 28th in the league. Aaron Ross handled those duties early in the season and Will Blackmon has taken over recently. The Giants are one of only two NFL (Carolina being the other) that does not have a punt return of 20 yards or longer this season.

Jets

The Jets replaced Weatherford with T.J. Conley and the rookie from Idaho has done a decent job. He has a 43.0 yards per punt average. His net average of 38.7 puts the Jets 17th in the league. Conley leads the league in forcing fair catches, with 25.

Placekicker Nick Folk is 18-of-23 on field-goal attempts, including thee-of-six from more than 50 yards. Folk’s difficulty comes on kickoffs, where only 16 of his 73 kickoffs (20.9) have gone for touchbacks. That puts the Jets 31st in the league in that category.

Where the Jets are clearly superior to the Giants is in the return game.

The Jets are third in the league with an average of 26.8 yards per kickoff return, and have a league-best of seven returns of 40 yards or longer. Joe McKnight leads all regular NFL kick returners with a 32.3 yards per return average and has five of those 40+ yard runbacks. Antonio Cromartie has the other two.

The Jets average 8.6 yards per punt return. Rookie Jeremy Kerley has been the primary return man, averaging 9.4 yards per return.

Advantage: Jets … based purely on the quality of their return game

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PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Andy Reid and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles are
hoping the team they just whipped helps them out in a big way.

The Eagles (6-8) are still in the playoff hunt in a mediocre NFC East
following a 45-19 rout over the New York Jets on Sunday. Now they’ll need those
same Jets (8-6) to beat the New York Giants (7-7) on Saturday to keep them in
contention.

“I’m a big Jets fan this week,” Reid said Monday.

So is everyone else in Philly.

The Jets-Giants game should be over before the Eagles kick off against
division-leading Dallas (8-6) on Christmas Eve. So, there will be plenty of
scoreboard watching during pregame warmups.

“You control what you control,” Reid said. “You have to play the game
whether that team wins or loses.”

For the Eagles to repeat as NFC East champions, they must beat the Cowboys
on the road and defeat Washington at home on Jan. 1. They need the Giants to
lose to the Jets and then beat Dallas in their last game.

If all four scenarios work out Philadelphia’s way, the Eagles would win the
division in a three-way tie at 8-8 because they would have the best record in
the East at 5-1.

“It feels good that we are still alive,” tight end Brent Celek said.
“That is all you can ask for at this point. We are not where we wanted to be at
the beginning of the season, but we are doing all we can do with what we have.
We just have to play together as a team and go up there, fight and beat
Dallas.”

The Eagles weren’t supposed to be in a position where they had to scratch
and claw and hope to make the playoffs. Many experts picked them to contend for
the Super Bowl this season after an offseason spending spree brought several
star players to Philadelphia, joining an already strong core that included
Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. Even management declared this an
all-or-nothing year.

But a 1-4 start doomed the Eagles and they’ve failed miserably to live up to
those enormous expectations. Consecutive lopsided losses to New England and
Seattle dropped the Eagles to 4-8 and seemingly ended their playoff chances.
Fans were calling for Reid to be fired, and for offensive line
coach-turned-defensive coordinator Juan Castillo to go with him.

Now it appears both Reid and Castillo have secured themselves another
season. Players have rallied around Castillo, saying they have more confidence
in his schemes and calls. The results support that. The defense has shown vast
improvement recently, holding both Miami and the Jets to under 250 total yards
and getting 13 sacks.

“You have to understand that we really didn’t have training camp,”
Castillo said. “And I think initially I started too fast and what I found out
is I had to go backwards with some of those guys because they had missed some of
that and we were making some mistakes just on fundamental stuff. You know, now
as we understand all of our packages, we’re able to add as we keep going. And
there is still a lot to add, but the first thing we have to understand is how to
handle our fundamental packages.”

Sometimes the decisive moments in a football game come early — very early.

And the two key plays in the Philadelphia Eagles’ awfully impressive 45-19 destruction of an absolutely dreadful and completely outmatched New York Jets team came before most of the 69,144 fans who eventually filled Lincoln Financial Field were in their seats.

The Jets had stopped the Eagles on their first possession, taking over at their own 7-yard-line and ran running back Shon Greene four times for 33 all-too-easy yards through Rex Ryan-sized holes in the Philadelphia front seven.

It looked as though Greene and the Jets would run free all day against the Birds’ stop-the-pass-first wide-nine and thus finish off the Eagles’ last feeble playoff hopes.
And then the Jets made a mistake — and it cost them the game.

On first-and-10 from their 40, New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer could have kept hammering Greene right at the Eagles. The Birds were in a nickel package — ideal to run against — but Schottenheimer called for a screen pass to the lost-a-step LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Mark Sanchez didn’t audible out of it, and much-maligned rookie linebacker Casey Matthews read it perfectly, swept in and dropped Tomlinson for a 4-yard loss.

On the next play, facing 2nd-and-14, New York had to pass up Greene and try to pass. Jets’ wide receiver Santonio Holmes fumbled thanks to hits by safety Kurt Coleman and Matthews, and defensive end Juqua Parker scooped it up and rumbled 47 yards for the game’s first score.

Less than 10 minutes of game time later, it was 28-0 Eagles.

“That play got everyone excited and it changed the momentum and everything,” said Parker of his second fumble-return TD of the season. “That started everything off.”

Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins agreed.

“That play there was huge for the start we had and getting up early on them,” he said.

Had the Jets kept pounding away with Greene, it’s very probable they’d have had continued success, shaking the confidence of a defense that has lacked consistency all season and perhaps even turning the crowd against the Eagles.

Instead, Matthews’ first-down play set the stage for Parker’s rumbling run — “Hey, man, I got some speed in me,” said Parker, laughing and joking in a very loose locker room — the fans howled with delight and roared for their boys. The Eagles were flying high.

“The fans were really there for us today,” Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid said. “It was cold out there and they were loud. They really helped.”

But if that opening Jets drive had ended 93 yards later in a Greene TD run instead of in Parker’s score, the fans may have been booing, not boosting.

Once the Eagles owned the lead, they could fire away at will against a dazed and confused Sanchez, who looked about as comfortable as a mouse in a hungry python’s cage. Sanchez got no help from a Jets team that just didn’t look ready to play, as its four turnovers, four sacks allowed and 11 penalties clearly showed.

“That was about as bad as it gets,” Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan said. “I’m shocked, I guess. Obviously a horrendous performance by us.”

None worse than Holmes, who should have caught a pass at the at Eagles’ 8 that turned into an interception and eventually Philadelphia’s second touchdown. Ryan called Holmes’ poor effort “disappointing”; “backbreaking” would have been better.

Because after Holmes’ fumble there seemed little doubt the Eagles would lose. New York did crawl back to within maybe-a-game-of-it-28-13 in the third quarter before Vick found Brent Celek for 73 yards — what is it with New York’s pitiful, bend-and-break alleged defense against tight ends? — to the Jets’ 1 to set up a LeSean McCoy’s second rushing TD of the game and end any questions as to the outcome.

Not that there was much doubt all along after Parker broke the plane.

“Oh, I definitely agree (Parker’s run) changed the game,” said Eagles defensive end Jason Babin, whose three sacks gave him 18 on the season, only the third Bird in history (Reggie White and Clyde Simmons) to reach that number. “That was the biggest key.”

A key to unlock a win the Eagles desperately needed, as it turned out.
 
Brad Wilson can be reached at bwilson@express-times.com.