Oct 21, 2012; Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) prepares to hand off the ball during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets are next up in our Reader’s Mock Draft.  Like a lot of teams drafting in the Top 10, the Jets are a team in transition.   Similar to what the Bears did a couple of years ago, they fired their GM but kept their longtime head coach Rex Ryan.  We know how that turned out for Lovie Smith, despite the Bears’ best efforts to save their beloved coach.

Ryan figures to be on the hot seat all season.  Can new GM John Idzik give him what he needs to restore the Jets defense to prominence?  Can the Jets figure out their quarterback position with another USC quarterback?  Do they replace the guards that are departing via Free Agency?  (more…)

Rex Ryan and wife Michelle back in January 2009, when Rex was introduced as the Jets head coach. (Photo courtesy of Getty)

It’s always something with these 2010 Bears.  In one of the weirdest season that I can recall, things take an even weirder turn this week as recently outed foot fetishist Rex Ryan brings his New York Jets to town to face your NFC North Champion Chicago Bears in a key matchup on Sunday.  Foot fetishist, you ask?  That’s the latest going around thanks to this Deadspin post which include the video clip you’ll see after the jump.  (more…)

Reunited: Alan Faneca and Russ Grimm together again like their days with the Steelers.

You probably won’t like the answer to The Alan Faneca Question.  The answer?  Not Chicago.  New York Jets’ castoff Faneca is reportedly re-uniting with former offensive line coach Russ Grimm in Arizona.  Faneca played under Grimm back in Pittsburgh at the height of his career.

I’ve already presented some numbers showing why he may or may not be a good fit.  In my unscientific poll, BGO readers overwhelmingly wanted to bring him to town, with nearly half of all readers suggesting that we get him only if he comes cheap.  The deal is said to be a 1-year pact worth about $2.5 million.  Is $2.5 mildo cheap enough?  That’s tip money for the McCaskey’s at the yacht club.  This deal should have been made.

Bears fans have seen both sides of this type of situation.  Of course, Orlando Pace is fresh in our minds for how signing a veteran offensive lineman is NOT supposed to work.  Pace quickly demonstrated that his best days were behind him.

On the other hand, a few years ago, the Bears took a chance on a aged Ruben Brown, who was on the street after the Bills let me go.  Brown was extremely productive and fortified the Bears’ offensive line en route to a Super Bowl appearance.  So which is Faneca?  I’m a numbers guy, so let’s look at some numbers:

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Not sure why the Bears couldn’t pony up a 5th round pick to get such a talent.  Even if he is suspended a few games as the result of violating the league’s substance abuse policy, I think he’s worth the risk. Holmes is a former Super Bowl MVP and has legit #1 wide receiver talent.

The Bears will host the Jets this season, so they depending on if/when any suspension is enacted and how the schedule shakes out, expect  to see him  in 2010.  More details to come when the schedule is released (supposedly later this week).

This weekend take a look at a team that really lives up to the Bears’ formula – the New York Jets.   The Jets finished up the season ranked 1st in defense and 1st in rushing at just over 172 yards per game.

In stark contrast, the Bears wound up with about 93 yards per game.  They did this with – ya, you guessed it – Bears castoff Thomas Jones toting the rock.  You remember him, right?  The guy they traded to make way for Cedric Benson.  The Cedric Benson who tallied over 1200 yards for the Bengals when he got his head screwed on right.

Meanwhile, the guy we had to draft to replace the guy that chased the other guy out of town played all season with a bum wheel.

The Jets have more ties to the Bears besides T Jones.  How about head coach Rex Ryan?  Yup, Buddy’s son.  And one of his assistants?  46-zone defense ‘namesake’ #46 Doug Plank.

Critics have said that the Jets backed their way into the playoffs, thanks in large part to the Colts laying down for them back in Week 16.  But the Jets have gotten the job done in the playoffs with strong running from Jones and emerging superstar Shonn Greene (take note 2010 fantasy footballers) and playing killer defense behind lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Look for Revis to follow Reggie Wayne into the locker room at halftime – that’s how tight he’ll be covering.  I doubt the Jets will be able to confuse Peyton Manning with various fronts and blitzes – who can?  But if the Jets can run the ball and keep Peyton and the Colts offense off the field…   Well,  you never know.

So if you like old-school 1985-style 46-defense and smash mouth running attack that the Bears advertise, throw your support behind the Jets.

Even though the Bears‘ season is over (sigh), it doesn’t mean football season is over.  Wild-Card Weekend featured plenty of teams the Bears faced this season (5), ex-Bears runners, a crumbling dynasty, an ex-Chicago team and a hated Bears rival in an instant classic.   Here’s my wrap-up:

Jets 24, Bengals 14

Ex-Bears ran wild in this game, especially Cedric Benson, who ripped off 169 yards and a long TD run in a losing effort.  Former teammate Thomas Jones added a TD of his own as the Jets cruised past the Bengals behind Rex Ryan (yes, Buddy’s son) who runs a lot of the old Bears 46 defense.

The loneliest guy in Cincinnati has to be Shayne Graham.  It seemed like every time the Bengals tried to close the gap, he was missing a short field goal.  It’s going to be a loooong offseason for that guy.

The Jets head to San Diego to take on Phillip Rivers and the red-hot Chargers.   (more…)