Back-up QB Greg McElroy rips Jets locker room

The Jets season took another bizarre twisted turn Wednesday when audio surfaced of Jets third string quarterback Greg McElroy ripping his teammates and calling the club full of selfish players. 

In an audio that was initially played on WFAN in New York, McElroy said: "It's definitely not a fun place to be. I can assure you. It's the first time I've ever been around extremely selfish individuals. I think that's maybe the nature of the NFL. But there are people within our locker room who didn't care whether we won or lost ... as long as they got their ... good game individually."

Initial thoughts on his statements are pretty simple: Who is Greg McElroy? And, who does he think he is to speak out about the team when he enjoys zero gravitas on the roster?

McElroy was a late-round draft pick from Alabama, who possessed no arm strength and showed little potential in the past pre-season where he injured his hand was lost for the year. The fact that the third string QB, who wasn't even on roster, is ripping the players is outrageous. McElroy won't win many fans in that locker room for this rant. He won't get the support from veterans for sure, and he can probably forget being a challenger for Mark Sanchez's starting job. 

That said, McElroy's statements are an indictment of Rex Ryan management of this club. Everyone knew the Jets brought in a lot of classless individuals on this football team, carrying with them the risk that it could blow up. Well, it has imploded, and now the Jets have to pick up the pieces.

2012 NFL opponents announced

As has become tradition when the NFL regular season comes to its conclusion, the league announces the opponents for the next season.

For the Giants, they may be busy preparing for the Atlanta Falcons this week, and Giant fans are thinking about winning their second Super Bowl in four years, but their opponents were announced Tuesday.

In 2012, the Giants will play the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Buccaneers, Saints, Packers, Steelers, and Browns at home. On the road, the Giants will again see the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins. In addition, the Giants will face the Falcons, Panthers, 49ers, Ravens, and Bengals.

As for the Jets, they have no choice but to look forward to next season. At home, the Jets will face the Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Colts, Texans, Chargers, 49ers, and Cardinals. On the road, the Jets will confront the Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Steelers, Rams, and Seahawks.

Schottenheimer will return to Jets

In a case of pure stupidity or blind faith, the New York Jets have endorsed offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and asserted he will return as the Jets offensive coordinator. Both Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum sang the praises of Schottenheimer, indicating he will finish his contract with the Jets.

Ironically, Tannenbaum said that Schotty would be interviewing for the head coaching job in Jacksonville, to which Ryan added that he knows that it could be a "50-50" chance that Schottenheimer returns since he might be a head coach elsewhere.

Sounds like the Jets don't want to fire him if he is interviewing for a head coaching position, since it hurts an already bleak resume. Both Ryan and Tannenbaum sounded like they are hoping he gets the job with the Jaguars, so they can go in a different direction without dropping the axe.  If he doesn't, Schottenheimer should return as the Jets offensive coordinator of a sinking ship he helped scuttle with quarterback Mark Sanchez this season.

Ryan added that he felt that Santonio Holmes would return as a Jet in 2012 in spite of his embarrassing behavior on the field the other day.

As for Mark Sanchez, Tannenbaum said he feels confident in the embattled quarterback, stating that Sanchez's "work speaks for itself." Tannenbaum also added that Sanchez will be the Jets starting quarterback next year, a huge mistake if you actually look at Sanchez's body of work.

Tannenbaum also offered the lame apologia about the Jets playoff fate, saying that the Jets were 15 yards away from heading to the playoffs. "If we made the playoffs, look out," Tannenbaum said.

What a joke. The Jets are a complete farce, always full of consistent excuse-making  but very little in the way of solid results. Until things really change with the personnel on this club, the results will continue to sour the fans.

Holmes vs. Sanchez: reported rift exists between NY Jets duo

If you thought that Santonio Holmes' antics at the end of the Jets 19-17 meltdown in Miami had something to do with anything else but Mark Sanchez, wake up!

Again ESPN is reporting an apparent rift exploded between the two during the past week in a quarterback/receivers meeting. Sanchez walked into the room in an attempt to rally the troops and get them to "pick it up." He was even planning to schedule a special after-hours session with the unit.

Apparently, Sanchez's speech ticked off Holmes, who reportedly stood in the back of the room and pouted the whole time. 

Santonio Holmes might be done in NY.

Things came to a head on Sunday when Holmes started a shouting match with lineman Wayne Hunter.

Is it possible that Sanchez told the offense to pick it up which led to Holmes to throw it back in the quarterback's face? Perhaps. Sanchez had a horrible season, and for him to tell others to step it up is nearly hilarious if it weren't so sad.

That being said, there is no excuse for Holmes to act this way. He was a clown when the Steelers dumped him on the Jets, and now New York is seeing why Pittsburgh made that move in early 2010. Holmes signed a five year deal and is probably not going anywhere, unless the Jets find a taker who is willing to take the rest of his contract.

Holmes' teammates are not defending him. Many have come out and said that he quit on the team and are not happy with him. In short, the Holmes era could be nearing an ignominious conclusion.

Big Blue Blitz: Giants roll to NFC East title

GIANTS 31

COWBOYS 14

To all the Tom Coughlin haters out there who wanted him fired for Bill Cowher: how do you feel now?

Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants are back in the postseason after a dominating 31-14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys to clinch the NFC East title. The Giants will host the Falcons next week in the wild card round, Sunday at 1 p.m.

This game wasn't even close, as the Giants rolled right over a hapless Dallas Cowboys team that had no answer for the Giants blitzing schemes, no answer for Eli Manning, and no answer for Giants super star receiver Victor Cruz.

The Giants wasted little time in putting this game in their back pocket. With 4:57 to go in the first quarter, Manning hit Cruz at the Giants own 24 yard line, and like he did against the Jets a week prior, Cruz slipped out of his tackler and sprinted down the sideline for the touchdown, giving New York a 7-0 lead.

Cruz had a huge evening hauling in six passes for 178 yards; it's a shame that this man wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl; he has had a spectacular season and made Giants fans forget Steve Smith.

In the second quarter, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw took over, adding a five yard touchdown run and a 10 yard reception from Eli Manning to give Big Blue a big 21-0 lead.

Even though Dallas cut the Giants lead to seven, thanks to a couple Laurent Robinson touchdown catches, it was pretty obvious that Dallas was not going to come back in this game. The Giants defense swarmed all over Tony Romo all night long. They sacked him six times, deflected two of his passes, and knocked him down seven more times. Romo never got comfortable in the pocket as the combination of Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck harassed him all night.

That trio will be key to any Giants success in the postseason.

As for Manning, he was excellent, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns, capping off what has been a brilliant 2011 regular season. Even though he won't win the league MVP this year, Manning was as good as any quarterback in football this season.

For Coughlin, the victory has to be bittersweet. He has had to hear all season about how his job was on the line, how he gave too much responsiblity to his coordinators; nonetheless, here he is in the postseason with a legtimate shot at the Super Bowl.

While asking the Giants to go into Green Bay and New Orleans and win is asking a lot this year, they can compete with anyone in this NFC playoff field. They are getting healthy at the right time, and they are playing their best football. Now Big Blue has to focus and get ready for a dangerous Atlanta Falcons team on Sunday.

Schottenheimer likely out as Jets O.C.

Brian Schottenheimer may have coached his last game in NY.

As the New York Jets melted in the Florida sun Sunday afternoon, it became abudantly clear that change is on the horizon for the Jets offensive coaching staff.

According to a report by Rich Cimini of ESPN, the Jets could be close to terminating Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator. Cimini said that the Jets are likely to see if Schottenheimer secures a head coaching job, and even if he doesn't, they would consider either former Broncos head coach, and current Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, or current Chargers head coach Norv Turner as the team's new offensive coordinator.

In the same story, Cimini says, Schottenheimer could end up getting demoted and remain a part of the staff, but that would be really awkward, and the best thing the Jets could do for themselves moving forward is to put the axe down on Schotty.

Between Turner and McDaniels, the Jets are better off with Turner. Granted this hinges on whether the San Diego Chargers fire Turner, but the guy has a reputation as a fantastic offensive coordinator, having orchestrated the Cowboys Super Bowl offense in the 1990's. While Turner doesn't have a great head coaching record, he did win games in San Diego and helped build a high powered offense in So-Cal with Phillip Rivers as his quarterback.

Norv Turner, next Jets O.C?

McDaniels is a total nutcase. He ran himself out of Denver because of his abrasive personality, and this year was the offensive coordinator of the hapless 2-14 St. Louis Rams. McDaniels would be a terrible choice as O.C.

Another choice for the Jets, is to stay in house, and go with Bill Callahan. Callahan, who has head coaching experience with the Raiders and Nebraska University, was the O.C. of the Raiders when their offense was one of the NFL's best in the early 2000's. He would be a good choice since he knows the players here and would make the necessary adjustments.

That being said, you can't blame Schottenheimer for everything because Mark Sanchez has been a travesty behind center. Rumors have been swirling that the Jets are not confident in him and might look for a new quarterback. It should be interesting to see if a new offensive coordinator can get the best out of Sanchez or turn to Rex Ryan and tell him to get another quarterback.

Jets crumble and fall apart in loss to Miami

DOLPHINS 19

JETS 17

Call it a fitting way to end an absolutely hideous season.

Needing a victory against the Miami Dolphins, and a lot of help to make playoffs, the Jets put together another stinker, as Gang Green choked away their playoff future with a 19-17 loss; Mark Sanchez starred front and center in the abysmal effort.

Sanchez was not only mediocre, he was awful.

He didn't dazzle anyone in the first half of the game when New York clutched onto a delicate 10-3 lead; then, ultimatey, began to stink in up in Sanchez fashion. With the Jets facing a second and eight at their own 47 yard line, Sanchez dropped back to pass, and, in a poor attempt to find LaDainian Tomlinson on a crossing pattern, Sanchez dumped the ball off into the hands of Randy Starks, a gigantic defensive lineman, who intercepted the football with only nine seconds left in the first half.

Miami answered quickly, and Dan Carpenter kicked a 58 yard field goal to cut the Jets lead to 10-6.

Then the Jets ineptitude continued into the second half, as the Dolphins ate up the entire third quarter, and part of the fourth quarter with an incredible 21 play, 98 yard drive that ate up 12:29 on the clock. Matt Moore was percise and accurate with his passes, completing 12 of 13 passes for 87 yards, with a 1 yard touchdown pass to running back Chris Clay to make it 13-10. Devon Bees was a huge key to the Dolphins success on the drive; the speedy slot receiver hauled in four balls for 38 yards, converting two huge third downs in the process.

The fact is the Jets defense, which has been like a sieve all season, was dreadful on that drive. They allowed Miami to hold onto the football for that long was inexcusable, especially from a defense that is labeled by their coach as the best in the NFL.

After that it was all on Sanchez. On the Jets ensuing possession after the Jets touchdown, Sanchez made a hideous mistake. With pressure coming from former Jets Jason Taylor, who was closing in on a sack, Sanchez decided to put the ball up into the air and threw it into the hands of Starks, who rumbled ahead to the Jets 30 yard line. Miami eventually settled for a field goal, but the trend was firmly established; this was Sanchez's to lose, and he lost it.

Later in the fourth quarter, with the Jets driving deep into Dolphins territory, New York received a heck of a break on a roughing-the-passer penalty on Miami, as Yerimiah Bell couldn't stop his momentum into Sanchez on a blitz. The penalty came on a third and nine which would have forced the Jets to punt, but no, Gang Green got new life at the Dolphin 30.

But Sanchez then threw away the opportunity; he threw the ball right into the hands of Marvin Mitchell, who rumbled all the way down the field to the Jets 36. Miami settled for another field goal, all but ending this game at 19-10.

Interesting moment: Late in the game, as New York was trying to get itself back in the game, Santonio Holmes got into a war of words with a Jets player while in the huddle. He left the huddle, flipped his helmet, and sat on the bench for the rest of the afternoon.

When asked why he didn't join his teammates on the sideline, Holmes, wouldn't answer. Then when pressed about what he thought about Mark Sanchez, he threw him under the bus, saying that Sanchez didn't play well enough to help the team win.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, several Jets players felt that Holmes "quit" on the team at a crucial juncture of the season. Holmes was elevated to a team captain this year, with the hope that he would mature and become a leader. He has been anything but that this year. From throwing the quarterback under the bus to his idiotic touchdown dance when the Jets were trailing the Eagles 28-3, and now Sunday's actions, Holmes is quickly writing his ticket out of town.

However, the Jets had signed him to a big contract, so if they move him, it will have to be via trade. The Jets are beginnnig to see why the Steelers were so quick to get ride of Holmes over a year ago.

As for the Jets offense and Sanchez, it was another despicable performance. Sanchez once again showed that he is not the answer as the Jets franchise quarterback, and New York has got to begin looking around for another quarterback.

Forget the rumors about Peyton Manning; the Jets are not going to risk millions into an aging quarterback who is coming back from neck fusion surgery. The Jets could look at potential free agents like Kyle Orton, or Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn. Flynn is a highly touted prospect, who threw for six touchdown passes in Green Bay's 45-41 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

Then there is the issue with the offensive coordinator. Brian Schottenheimer has got to go. Rex Ryan once again had to defend Schotty during his post game conference, but the facts are plain. This Jets offense has been dreadful in their play-calling, and Schottenheimer has not done a good job preparing this quarterback, and he has not done a good job in molding an offense that had talented pieces in Holmes, Plaxico Burress, and Dustin Keller. It has been a colossal failure. 

As for Rex Ryan, the pressure is now on him. He has got to step up and accept the fact that changes have got to be made to this football team if it is to be successful next year. He has professed consistently that this was a Super Bowl team; now he has egg all over his face. Another season of unfulfilled expectations, then Ryan will be the one on the griddle, not the gridiron..