New York Jets: What They're Saying

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and several Jets players discussed the upcoming game against the Patriots. Here are the highlights of what they had to say.

On this being a big game this early in the season...
There’s a lot to play for. First you’re playing your biggest rival in your division. You’re already down a game to them that you played head-to-head. Certainly in the standings we’re way down. Obviously, it’s big that way for sure. Any time you play any division rival I think it’s a game and a half. I’ve always said that. With that being said, it’s Game 7, so that’s a little unusual. If it was Game 15 or 16 and it meant more, then obviously I’d say so. Clearly, with all that being said, you still want to win it in the worst way and certainly that’s our feeling.
- Rex Ryan, Head Coach

On if the team has enough talent to beat New England...
I’m not making any guarantees. I believe we do have enough talent to beat any team. If we come out and play our A game and we go out there and we play sharp and we stick to what we’ve been coached to do, I think we can beat anyone.
- Geno Smith , Quarterback

On Tom Brady being like a vampire that needs to have a stake stuck in his heart to not come back...
I thought about doing all that stuff, but I think the league would fine you [joking, laughter]. I’ve been fined enough by the league so I’m going to pass on that. The only way it’s worse than against your brother would be against yourself, obviously. It’s like, "Oh, dude." That’s him. That really is him. But it’s about them as well. It’s about their whole team. It’s about preparation. It’s about the guy leading them. They practice everything and so it becomes a habit. He believes he’s going to win in that situation.
- Rex Ryan, Head Coach

On how facing Tom Brady influences the opposing team’s offensive game plan...
I can’t speak for that. Marty [Mornhinweg] and all of the coaches, they come up with the game plan and they assess that and they determine the plays that we have in and the ones that we don’t. But going up against a team like this, a quarterback like Tom, you’ve got to play mistake-free ball. You still have to be aggressive, you still want to move the chains and have explosive plays, but you’ve got to play mistake free because you give that team too many opportunities and they can capitalize on it.
- Geno Smith, Quarterback

How has your approach towards Tom Brady evolved over the years? Has your thinking changed in terms of the best way to get to Brady?
Well apparently I do a terrible job of it because we've lost five in a row, so I don’t know. Maybe we’ll just have somebody else look at it.
- Rex Ryan, Head Coach

On if he respects the Patriots more because of his history against them...
Sure you want to have the consistency of being a perennial winner. You want to win your division year after year after year as that team has. There’s no question. To say that you’re going to model your franchise after them or whatever? Shoot, I’ll take their quarterback. We’ll see how many wins I’d have or whatever, or anybody else. But no, we’re going to be us. We’re going to keep going. We think we have a good plan in place, but at the same time, you’ve got to respect the fact that this team has won it every year, certainly. So [Bill] Belichick and all those guys, absolutely we respect them but we fear none of them. I can promise you that.
- Rex Ryan, Head Coach

On how difficult it is to confuse Tom Brady...
You can’t use the same disguises and you can’t keep bringing pressure because at the end of the day those guys have played too over there and they have coaches, so they’re going to make adjustments when you want to blitz if you don’t do a good job of disguising.
- Muhammad Wilkerson, DL

Having lost five straight games to the Patriots, do you feel like you’ve been kissing Bill Belichick’s rings a little lately?
No, I haven’t. Maybe you have, but I haven’t, and I never will. I came here to beat him and to win, and to win our own championship rings and all that type of stuff. Again, hey, the facts are we’ve lost five in a row to them and things like that. We’ll see if it’s six in a row.
- Rex Ryan, Head Coach 

Aaron Hernandez Murder And Other Charges, Plus Prosecution's Evidence

Hernandez at Fall River District Court during his bail appeal

Charges Against:

• Murder
• Carrying a firearm without a license
• Possession of a large capacity firearm x2
• Possession of a firearm without and FID card x2

State Evidence:

• Victim found 1/2 mile from Hernandez's home w/ numerous gunshot wounds
• 5 .45 caliber shells found at the scene, fired from a semi-auto weapon, based on the locations and distance between them.
• Victim was not robbed, had wallet, keys and phone.
• Keys were to a rental car, registered to Hernandez.
• Phone contained text messages between the victim and Hernandez, within hours of the murder.
• Victim's sister said her brother left at 2:30 AM in a silver Nissan Altima with three people inside
• Hernandez had been renting a Silver Nissan Altima
• Hernandez had known the victim for about a year, The victims girlfriend is the sister of Hernandez's Fiance
• The police went to question Hernandez, Who didn't answer the door. a squad car was placed outside. Eventually Hernandez came out, and told the cops he knew they were they and that he had been watching them on his surveillance system
• A warrant was issued to seize surveillance footage from Hernandez's home.
• Hernandez had recently installed a 14 camera system with cameras inside and out.
• Upon reviewing the footage, they noticed that the first 6-8 hours of footage after the time of the murder was missing.
• at 9:02 PM Hernandez texted a friend from out of state "please make it back"
• 9:05 he texted the victim, indicating he wanted to come by and get together with him
• 9:35 he texted the same out of state friend "get your ass up here" then at 10:23 "hurry your ass up"
• The man he was texting and one other showed up at Hernandez's home, seen on surveillance footage
• Shortly after they arrive, Hernandez is seen with a firearm in his home on the surveillance system says "he is upset that he can't trust anyone anymore"
• the three left Hernandez's home at 1:12 AM in the silver Nissan Altima, captured on surveillance, phone records and cell tower
• the went from Hernandez's home to route 95, headed south towards Rhode Island they turned around and went north. the cell phone tower tracked their movement to a gas station off route 128
• at 2:10AM Hernandez bought Gas, Bubbalicious blue cotton candy gum, and black and milds which are used for smoking marijuana (the prosecutor seems to be mistaken about common blunt cigars but oh well)
• Next they went to the victims home, at 2:32 am Hernandez sent a text "we're here" to the victim, this is when the victims sister saw him leave with them, Hernandez was driving
• They drove back to North Attleboro, this is corroborated by some random surveillance cameras and route was determined by time and distance traveled.
• during the ride, Hernandez had a conversation with the victim indicating he was upset with him. The two had gone to a club together Friday night.
• he said some things happened that night and he wasn't sure if he could trust the victim, one of them was that the victim had spoken to some people He had troubles with, and he was mad about it.
• At 3:07 AM the victim sent a text to his sister "did you see who I am with" no response he texted again at 3:11 AM "Hello?"
• at 3:19 am his sister replied "who?" at 3:22 the victim texted back "NFL" then 1 minute later "Just so you know"
• at the time of these texts, the car is seen on surveillance cameras in the area of the murder site/Hernandez's home
• Surveillance cameras show the vehicle driving down the road to the murder site at 3:23 AM
• between 3:23 and 3:27 am workers nearby hear multiple gunshots
• cameras pick up the vehicle along the route between the murder site and Hernandez's home at 3:27 and 3:28 AM.
• Hernandez's own Surveillance picks sees him arriving back home at 3:29 AM
• Police confirm it is only a 2 minute drive.
• autopsy found that all evidence was consistent with the victim being murdered where he was found. In other words, he wasn't dumped. Also consistent Time of death to the time the car was there.
• two through and through wounds to the victim's chest. Police returned to the scene and dug where the victim was, they found the bullets, indicating the victim was on the ground when he was shot. Both bullets were .45 caliber, consistent with the casings found. All fired from the same unknown gun
• at 3:30 AM Hernandez is seen with his companions in his driveway, one of whom has a gun.
• they go inside. Surveillance shows Hernandez walking around with a gun in his hand.
• all three go to the basement. Surveillance cameras shut off
• later that day, 5:30 PM Hernandez and his companions return the Nissan Altima to the rental agency, Hernandez offers the attendant Blue Bubbalicious.
• one of the side mirrors is broken on the car, footage of the vehicle earlier in the night suggest it wasn't broken when he left Boston, he tells the rental agency he didn't even notice it. The evidence being that it was broken sometime between leaving Boston and arriving back at home.
• He rents another car and returns home, companions leave.
• At the rental agency, a piece of bubbalicious and a shell casing were found, attendant threw them away. When questioned, she told investigators about it, they found it in the dumpster, Shell casing matched to the casings found at the scene.
• Tire impressions at the murder scene right next to the body were consistent with a front wheel drive vehicle (altima is FWD)
• Investigators checked out the rental car. Tire treads matched those at the crime scene. Dirt found on the car also matched the crime scene
• They found a .22 nearby in a search of everywhere between Hernandez's home and the murder site. Hernandez a month prior had been involved an altercation in providence Rhode island. He had someone with him who was seen to place a gun under a car. This man matches the description of one of his companions on the night of the murder.
• The gun under the car in Providence was traced to a Florida gun store. The 22 found between Hernandez's home and the murder site was from the same store.
• further search warrant of Hernandez's home ordered. They found 22 ammo, but no 22 gun. They also found a large capacity 7.62 Hungarian semi auto rifle, and a fully loaded 32 round magazine . Hernandez's prints on it, he doesn't have the correct paperwork to own it.
• Not recovered was the Black semi auto handgun seen in Hernandez's hand before and after the murder. the second individuals gun not found either.
• Hernandez's girlfriend was spoken to by police, she was cooperating until a call from Hernandez telling her not to. She then stopped talking.
• the victim had defensive wounds and seemed to attempt to stop the bullets with his arms.

Shannon Sharpe Is A Bigoted Moron

Shannon Sharpe

After the http://www.cbscorporation.com/contact.php vs Ravens game on CBS yesterday, Shannon "The Spitting Stalker" Sharpe was apparently absolutely disgusted with the behavior of Patriots coach Bill Belichick.  You see, Belichick didn't give a television interview to CBS after their devastating loss.  Sharpe took great offense to this "unsportsmanlike" behavior.

"Bill Belichick makes it very easy for you to root against the Patriots. You can't be a poor sport all the time. You're not going to win every time. And he does this every time he loses. It is unacceptable."

Maybe it's me but this makes no sense what-so-ever.  What I saw with mine own eyes was Coach Belichick going directly out onto the field to congratulate players, shake hands and give a hug and congratulatory pep-talk to Coach Harbaugh.  Stop me when you notice the unsportsmanlike behavior.

It even appeared as if Belichick spent an inordinate amount of time seeking out Coach Harbaugh to ensure he was able to applaud his victory.

After that, he walked off the field and into the bowels of Gillette Stadium.

Anything unsportsmanlike yet?

Coaches are contractually obligated to give press conferences, not television interviews.  If someone wants to talk to someone else on TV it's his or her own choice.

Still nothing.

So...

You can dislike, hate, despise, whatever Belichick all you want.  But please have the ability to see past your like/dislike for the guy and realize this for what it is.  That is what I want to get across the most.  You can hate Brady, call them cheaters, call them everything you want. But don't let the media choose for you. Think for yourself...because their agenda and your agenda are two different things.

This is the media, jocksniffers that they are, getting snubbed.

The talking heads, ex-players or not, are now members of the media.  They are not coaches anymore.  They're no longer quarterbacks.  They're no longer making great catches, and Shannon made many of those, along the sideline, anymore.  They have no affect on the game and have no input into how coaches coach or how players play.

All they can do is talk about it.

So when one of their members doesn't get an interview, it has nothing whatsoever to do with sports.  It has everything to do with ego, ratings and attention.  Not having Belichick on TV made the telecast better or worse, depending upon your perspective. 

Obviously in CBSSports.'s perspective, and most importantly Shannon Sharpe's perspective it made their television program worse.

But remember, it has nothing to do with sports.  It has everything to do with ratings.  Make no mistake about it...you and I both (I hope there's a you out there reading this) know that, for broadcasting networks it all boils down to ratings.  Every last thing they put in front of you is to boost their ratings.  Everything.

So, do not be fooled that this has anything to do with sports.  It just happened to be a sports program they were putting in front of you.  That and the fact that they think they are part of the actual game taking place on the field.

Moving on, to what really is offensive.  Is how Shannon couldn't let the game go, even the next day.  And how he needed to lash out more at all things Patriots.  No one was going to get out of his sights.

Anna Burns Welker

Wes Welker's wife Anna, left, posted on her Facebook page that she was proud of her husband.

She also went on to say that Ray Lewis, having paid off the families of murder victims Richard Lollar and Jacinth Baker reached a court settlement while escaping a murder charge,  is the sperm donor for 6 children with 4 different women, is no role model and sarcastically mentions his Hall of Fame chances.

Proud of my husband and the Pats By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’ Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!

Shannon didn't like that.  It appears Shannon doesn't like it when women speak out of turn.

Here's what Sha-NON tweeted out today.

Wives and gfs should be seen not heard, but she gets an opinion. "@shannonsharpe Your thoughts on Wes ... m.tmi.me/HAzzS
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) January 21, 2013

In closing, if I'm sick to my stomach while I watch Ray Lewis dance, scream, preach about God and Jesus watching over him, acting all humble and Christlike...I can only imagine what the Lollar and Baker families are going through this week.

Football is an escape for us.  We root for the "good guys" and we hope the "bad guys" lose.  But there really is no good or bad guy, in most cases, it's just laundry.

But there really is a bad guy here.

While you Raven's fans are sitting at home enjoying the Super Bowl, wearing your $100 Lewis jerseys idolizing him and cheering him on.

Please, please think about these families.

Then examine your conscience.

Superbowl History

In case you were wondering here's a history of all the Superbowls in history:

2011	XLVI	New York Giants	21	New England Patriots	17	Eli Manning	Lucas Oil Stadium	Indianapolis	Indiana
2010	XLV	Green Bay Packers	31	Pittsburgh Steelers	25	Aaron Rodgers	Cowboys Stadium	Arlington	Texas
2009	XLIV	New Orleans Saints	31	Indianapolis Colts	17	Drew Brees	Sun Life Stadium	Miami	Florida
2008	XLIII	Pittsburgh Steelers	27	Arizona Cardinals	23	Santonio Holmes	Raymond James Stadium	Tampa	Florida
2007	XLII	New York Giants	17	New England Patriots	14	Eli Manning	University of Phoenix Stadium	Glendale	Arizona
2006	XLI	Indianapolis Colts	29	Chicago Bears	17	Peyton Manning	Dolphin Stadium	Miami	Florida
2005	XL	Pittsburgh Steelers	21	Seattle Seahawks	10	Hines Ward	Ford Field	Detroit	Michigan
2004	XXXIX	New England Patriots	24	Philadelphia Eagles	21	Deion Branch	Alltel Stadium	Jacksonville	Florida
2003	XXXVIII	New England Patriots	32	Carolina Panthers	29	Tom Brady	Reliant Stadium	Houston	Texas
2002	XXXVII	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	48	Oakland Raiders	21	Dexter Jackson	Qualcomm Stadium	San Diego	California
2001	XXXVI	New England Patriots	20	St. Louis Rams	17	Tom Brady	Louisiana Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
2000	XXXV	Baltimore Ravens	34	New York Giants	7	Ray Lewis	Raymond James Stadium	Tampa	Florida
1999	XXXIV	St. Louis Rams	23	Tennessee Titans	16	Kurt Warner	Georgia Dome	Atlanta	Georgia
1998	XXXIII	Denver Broncos	34	Atlanta Falcons	19	John Elway+	Pro Player Stadium	Miami	Florida
1997	XXXII	Denver Broncos	31	Green Bay Packers	24	Terrell Davis	Qualcomm Stadium	San Diego	California
1996	XXXI	Green Bay Packers	35	New England Patriots	21	Desmond Howard	Louisiana Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
1995	XXX	Dallas Cowboys	27	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	Larry Brown	Sun Devil Stadium	Tempe	Arizona
1994	XXIX	San Francisco 49ers	49	San Diego Chargers	26	Steve Young+	Joe Robbie Stadium	Miami	Florida
1993	XXVIII	Dallas Cowboys	30	Buffalo Bills	13	Emmitt Smith+	Georgia Dome	Atlanta	Georgia
1992	XXVII	Dallas Cowboys	52	Buffalo Bills	17	Troy Aikman+	Rose Bowl	Pasadena	California
1991	XXVI	Washington Redskins	37	Buffalo Bills	24	Mark Rypien	Metrodome	Minneapolis	Minnesota
1990	XXV	New York Giants	20	Buffalo Bills	19	Ottis Anderson	Tampa Stadium	Tampa	Florida
1989	XXIV	San Francisco 49ers	55	Denver Broncos	10	Joe Montana+	Louisiana Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
1988	XXIII	San Francisco 49ers	20	Cincinnati Bengals	16	Jerry Rice+	Joe Robbie Stadium	Miami	Florida
1987	XXII	Washington Redskins	42	Denver Broncos	10	Doug Williams	Jack Murphy Stadium	San Diego	California
1986	XXI	New York Giants	39	Denver Broncos	20	Phil Simms	Rose Bowl	Pasadena	California
1985	XX	Chicago Bears	46	New England Patriots	10	Richard Dent+	Louisiana Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
1984	XIX	San Francisco 49ers	38	Miami Dolphins	16	Joe Montana+	Stanford Stadium	Palo Alto	California
1983	XVIII	Los Angeles Raiders	38	Washington Redskins	9	Marcus Allen+	Tampa Stadium	Tampa	Florida
1982	XVII	Washington Redskins	27	Miami Dolphins	17	John Riggins+	Rose Bowl	Pasadena	California
1981	XVI	San Francisco 49ers	26	Cincinnati Bengals	21	Joe Montana+	Pontiac Silverdome	Pontiac	Michigan
1980	XV	Oakland Raiders	27	Philadelphia Eagles	10	Jim Plunkett	Louisiana Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
1979	XIV	Pittsburgh Steelers	31	Los Angeles Rams	19	Terry Bradshaw+	Rose Bowl	Pasadena	California
1978	XIII	Pittsburgh Steelers	35	Dallas Cowboys	31	Terry Bradshaw+	Orange Bowl	Miami	Florida
1977	XII	Dallas Cowboys	27	Denver Broncos	10	Harvey Martin Randy White+	Superdome	New Orleans	Louisiana
1976	XI	Oakland Raiders	32	Minnesota Vikings	14	Fred Biletnikoff+	Rose Bowl	Pasadena	California
1975	X	Pittsburgh Steelers	21	Dallas Cowboys	17	Lynn Swann+	Orange Bowl	Miami	Florida
1974	IX	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	Minnesota Vikings	6	Franco Harris+	Tulane Stadium	New Orleans	Louisiana
1973	VIII	Miami Dolphins	24	Minnesota Vikings	7	Larry Csonka+	Rice Stadium	Houston	Texas
1972	VII	Miami Dolphins	14	Washington Redskins	7	Jake Scott	Memorial Colesium	Los Angeles	California
1971	VI	Dallas Cowboys	24	Miami Dolphins	3	Roger Staubach+	Tulane Stadium	New Orleans	Louisiana
1970	V	Baltimore Colts	16	Dallas Cowboys	13	Chuck Howley	Orange Bowl	Miami	Florida
1969	IV	Kansas City Chiefs	23	Minnesota Vikings	7	Len Dawson+	Tulane Stadium	New Orleans	Louisiana
1968	III	New York Jets	16	Baltimore Colts	7	Joe Namath+	Orange Bowl	Miami	Florida
1967	II	Green Bay Packers	33	Oakland Raiders	14	Bart Starr+	Orange Bowl	Miami	Florida
1966	I	Green Bay Packers	35	Kansas City Chiefs	10	Bart Starr+	Memorial Colesium	Los Angeles	California

NFL Schedule - New England Patriots Vs. Buffalo Bills

Ian Rapoport offers the following on today's game:

Why this game is intriguing: The last time the Patriots visited upstate New York, they left with a humbling defeat -- their first loss to Buffalo since 2003. Tom Brady threw four interceptions and might have been angrier about this result than any regular-season game in memory. Fast forward a year, and the Pats are (gasp) in third place in the AFC East. How mad will Brady be this year if they fall to 1-3? We may find out. Buffalo has survived scares to both running backs, and Fred Jackson could return this week. Plus, the atmosphere should be insane.

What to watch:Mario Williams, the top free agent on the market during the offseason, was lured to Buffalo for games like this. Nothing is more important than affecting Brady, and Williams will have his chance. The Patriots will try to get their offense going after some rare stagnation, as it appears offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is still trying to find his happy place. If they can block the Bills front, it could be a good day. As for the Buffalo offense, the possible return of Jackson would serve as a game-changer. He's one of the opposing players most respected by Pats coach Bill Belichick.

Patriots stats thus far in the season:

TOTAL FIRST DOWNS	83	60
FIRST DOWNS (Rushing-passing-by penalty)	27 - 48 - 8	15 - 37 - 8
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS	18/42	13/36
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS	0/0	1/3
TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS	1173	1029
OFFENSE (Plays-Average Yards)	222 - 5.3	187 - 5.5
TOTAL RUSHING YARDS	329	243
RUSHING (Plays-Average Yards)	97 - 3.4	74 - 3.3
TOTAL PASSING YARDS	844	786
PASSING (Comp-Att-Int-Avg)	79 - 118 - 1 - 7.5	72 - 109 - 2 - 7.3
SACKS	4	7
FIELD GOALS	9/10	5/5
TOUCHDOWNS	8	7
(Rushing-Passing-Returns-Defensive)	3 - 4 - 0 - 1	2 - 5 - 0 - 0
TIME OF POSSESSION	31:15	28:45
TURNOVER RATIO	+4