Projo Pats Blog

Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins explains in today's New York Post that the Jets' boastful attitude is just the way they are, as a true New York team.

Jenkins, who is actually from Detroit, said the Patriots "will see a team with the New York mentality, we'll just say that. I've been around in the subways, I've been in some clubs, I've been in some places in New York -- we're just gonna say they're gonna see a team with the New York-type of mentality."

"It's like a very cocky ... everything's on the line with New York. ... That's one of the things that you kinda realize when you go into the city and things like that ... everything's on the line. Everybody as far as just who they are, everything ... just real standoffish, just really in your face. ... I don't think that you can be meek and be in this city. I think that if you're gonna be in this city, at some point, somewhere, you're gonna have to stand up for yourself."

O.K. Can't wait.

-Rex Ryan tried to downplay the comments of his free safety, Kerry Rhodes, who said he wanted his team to embarrass the Patriots on Sunday: "I think they just want to win," Ryan said of his team. "Our franchise has been embarrassed [with] eight straight losses at home [to the Patriots]. You'll have to ask Kerry if that's what he meant, but that's probably where that tone was coming from."

-Former Patriots backup quarterback Kevin O'Connell hasn't exactly embraced the tough-talking ways of his Jets teammates, but he does think he can help New York out as it prepares to face the Patriots' offense.

-Not all the trash talk coming out of New York is emanating from the Jets; the Giants are also making some provocative statements about the Cowboys as they prepare to travel to Dallas for a big Sunday night game. Running back Brandon Jacobs this week said he hated the Cowboys "with a bloody passion," while Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton said that there's a lot more bad feeling with the Giants than with Dallas' other division rivals, the Redskins and the Eagles. "We kind of don't respect the Giants," Crayton said. "We respect them for what they do on the field, but I mean there's a lot of chitter chatter."

-Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison had more provocative comments this week, telling Dan Patrick this about Brett Favre: "Everywhere he goes, he craps on everybody." Harrison said that if things start to go bad with the Vikings, Favre will inevitably turn against his teammates and blame others for the team's problems.

-Matt Cassel's status for Week 2 remains in question, but the Chiefs quarterback says he is making progress with his injured right knee.

-The Chargers may have to face the Ravens defense this weekend without three offensive starters, as running back LaDainian Tomlinson, center Nick Hardwick and right guard Louis Vazquez all missed Thursday practice.

-The Steelers are expected to turn to a backfield rotation of Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall for this weekend's game at Chicago.

-With wide receiver Michael Crabtree continuing to hold out -- and the possibility of his never reaching a deal with the 49ers very much alive -- the San Jose Mercury News spoke with former quarterback Kelly Stouffer, the sixth-overall pick in the 1987 draft. Stouffer skipped his entire rookie season after failing to reach an agreement with the Cardinals; he ended up in Seattle in 1988 but was a colossal bust. Still, Stouffer has no regrets about his actions 20-some years ago.

-Rams guard Richie Incognito, who has a reputation around the league as a hotheaded player at best and a cheap-shot artist at worst, faces the handicap of having opposing players constantly try to get under his skin at the same time that officials keep an extra-close eye on his actions, according to a profile in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

-This week's picks:

Week 1 record was 12-4, not bad for Week 1. Home teams are listed in caps:

TITANS over Texans: Houston looked like quite a mess in Week 1, and the Titans were just a missed field goal away from winning in Pittsburgh.

Vikings over LIONS: Brett Favre used to struggle in Detroit when he was a Packer, but he won his last three games in the Motor City, and that streak will go to four as the Lions losing streak goes to 19.

FALCONS over Panthers: Even if all was fine with Jake Delhomme, winning in Atlanta (where the Falcons have won nine of their last 10) would be a hard thing for Carolina.

REDSKINS over Rams: Washington had the swagger knocked out of it by the Giants, but the Redskins' tough defense should be able to shut down the Rams.

JETS over Patriots: New York has certainly given the Pats plenty of motivation in this game, but if they are ever going to beat Bill Belichick's team at home, this could be the week. If, however, Tom Brady stands up to the Jets' blitz and delivers a Tom Brady masterpiece, we can assume that he has truly returned all the way from that knee injury. Watch for the Jets to run right at the heart of the Patriots' diminished defense, with Jerod Mayo out.

Raiders over CHIEFS: Oakland showed some signs of life on Monday night, and they look like the better team overall in this faded rivalry.

PACKERS over Bengals: It's hard to pick Cincinnati, playing a tough road game after a dispiriting loss.

SAINTS over Eagles: No one really believes that Donovan McNabb will play on Sunday, and backup Kevin Kolb is, in a word, awful.

Cardinals over JAGUARS: Arizona needs this game, and Jacksonville's weak pass defense should be a good foil for Kurt Warner and his receiving corps.

BILLS over Bucs: Tampa Bay's secondary looked like a sieve against Dallas, and the Bills will be looking to make more use of their downfield passing game after Terrell Owens was a nonentity against the Patriots.

Seahawks over 49ERS: Nice opening-day statement by Mike Singletary's team against Arizona, but Seattle still looks like more of a threat in the NFC West.

BEARS over Steelers: Jay Cutler has the perfect opportunity to win over the home crowd after his awful debut, facing the Super Bowl champs without Troy Polamalu out there raising hell.

Ravens over CHARGERS: Slow-starting San Diego looked like they were at it again before pulling out Monday night's game against the Raiders.

BRONCOS over Browns: Mangini vs. McDaniels. Yawner of the week.

COWBOYS over Giants: More than 100,000 fans will gather at Cowboys Stadium for Dallas' home opener. While I ultimately think New York is the best team in the NFC East, the Cowboys should ride the emotion of the moment and the confidence of their Week 1 victory to a 2-0 record.

DOLPHINS over Colts: Both teams played poorly in Week 1. Miami needs this one to maintain credibility as a legitimate division-title defender.

 Tags  Football Today Kris Jenkins

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