One of these years the Jets will again rise to the top of the AFC East. It might even be this year. In order to do that, they'll probably have to beat the Patriots, which is something they've done far too infrequently in recent years, particularly at home, where New England has beaten them eight consecutive times.

So you would think that just getting a victory would be the focus of Rex Ryan's team. But free safety Kerry Rhodes (right), who spoke to the New York Post about his hatred of the Patriots, says that his team should look to "go out from the first quarter on, from the first play on, and try to embarrass them. Not just go out there and try to win, try to embarrass them. Try to make them feel bad when they leave here. We don't want to just beat them. We want to send a message to them, 'We're not backing down from you and we expect to win this game, and it's not going to be luck, it's not going to be a mistake.' "

Rhodes also predicted that the Jets' aggressive defense would cause major problems for Tom Brady: "We will hit him more than six times. I promise you that."

-Head coach Bill Belichick has predictably shrugged off all the trash talk coming from down I-95, but former Patriot Je'Rod Cherry told ESPN.com's Tim Graham that behind closed doors, Belichick will be using all of it as motivational material: "It'll be laminated, maybe even a banner over the stadium. Bill is a smart, crafty guy. He will present it as blatant disrespect for the guys who were there throughout that run of Super Bowls, and he will use it to help the new guys identify with the Patriots' legacy. It will be a rallying call."

-This isn't Ryan's fault, but the Jets are facing a $75,000 fine -- former head coach Eric Mangini and current GM Mike Tannenbaum will each have to pay $25,000 additional -- for violating the league's injury rules by not listing Brett Favre on last season's injury reports. Favre has recently revealed that he played hurt down the stretch. In light of this, ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio advised that the Vikings list Favre on this week's injury report as "probable (arm, ribs, wrist, hand, finger, ankles, head, shoulder, knees, toes, back, front, groin, taint, swine flu, polio, lupus)."

-Jerod Mayo's injury means that someone else has to act as the defensive signal-caller, wearing the coach-to-player audio device inside and the green sticker on his helmet. That man is going to be fellow second-year safety Gary Guyton, according to The Boston Globe.

-Speaking of linebackers, Junior Seau told WEEI's Dennis & Callahan that he is not even considering a return to football at this point in the season, but that he will be open to helping a team come December or so.

-Fans watching the Cowboys' home opener against the Giants on Sunday night at any of 600 "participating" TGI Friday's will receive a free order of crispy green-bean fries if a punter hits the massive video board that hangs over the new Cowboys Stadium.

-In news that will be more important to the players on the field, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo assures fans that his injured right ankle will be 100 percent for the game.

-Former Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens has -- as you may have heard -- started complaining about not getting the ball enough, after he made only two catches against the Patriots on Monday night. The Bills would be smart to get him the ball more often when the host the Buccaneers on Sunday: In Week 1, Dallas torched Tampa Bay for 353 passing yards, including three touchdown passes of more than 40 yards.

-Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith was either being goofy or mean when he told quarterback Jake Delhomme during Sunday's game that "I never really liked you as a quarterback, but as a person ... I love you as a person."

-Titans backup quarterback Vince Young made a classy gesture on Wednesday, surprising the two children of the slain Steve McNair by showing up at their house and taking them to their school's "Dear Dads" breakfast at a local restaurant.

-Disgruntled Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson wrote a message on his shoes urging his GM to "pay me," and now he will have to pay a $25,000 fine to the league. Bet he hadn't thought of that.

-The Colts have signed wide receiver Hank Baskett, the man just cut by the Eagles to make room on the roster for Michael Vick.