Posada is Day-to-Day After Leaving Tonight's Game With Bruised Knee

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has a right knee contusion and is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles.

The team is contemplating if Posada needs X-rays.

"I don't think it will be a DL," Posada said after the Yankees' 8-3 win.

Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who injured Mark Teixeira with a hit by pitch in spring training, nailed Posada's right knee with a 94-mph fastball, resulting in the Yankees catcher leaving the game in the bottom of the inning.

"You don't want him to hit people," said Girardi, who didn't think the pitch was on purpose. "I'm not going to tell Guthrie how to pitch. He is going to pitch the way he is going to pitch. I respect him. As I said, when our guys are getting plunked, I'm not going to be happy about it, because we don't have Posada probably [on Thursday]."

In the Orioles clubhouse, Guthrie seemed almost apologetic.

"I'm not a pinpoint pitcher," Guthrie said. "If I were, I would be a much better pitcher."

Torre Made a Mistake Leaving Bronx

Joe Torre was wearing one towel around his waist, another over his right shoulder, as he stood before the TV in his Citi Field office and watched a rerun of "This Is Your Life."

The New York Yankees were at the White House. Torre's Yankees. The images of Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte flashed across the monitor, and Torre was smiling widely as he absorbed these scenes stolen from his East Room past.

But the hosting president wasn't Bill Clinton or George W. Bush, and the World Series winner wasn't holding up a jersey graced with Torre's iconic No. 6. Barack Obama and Joe Girardi were posing with No. 27, and at that very moment the manager of the Dodgers, part-owner of a thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby field, came face to face with the notion that he'd put his money on the wrong horse.

"It's an off day," Torre had said earlier of his White House visits, "and guys always treasure their off days. But that's a memorable experience."

And one that Torre's successor, Girardi, is favored to repeat this time next year.

Back in 2007, when Torre refused what he called an insulting offer to remain a Yankee, his possible successor, Don Mattingly, likened the task of following Torre to that of following John Wooden.
Only Gene Bartow fled UCLA after two largely successful -- if championship-free -- seasons, unable to cope with the magnitude of the job.

Girardi? He held off Mattingly and survived a disastrous rookie year to win it all in 2009, this after Torre's Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS in five games.

Jeter's one-for-the-thumb postseason could've been Torre's, too, had the manager accepted the $5 million salary and $3 million in incentives the Steinbrenners offered him. Torre rejected the bid because he believed his final front-office ally, Brian Cashman, had joined the hostile forces conspiring against him, a charge Cashman vehemently denied.

But this much is not in dispute: Torre could've agreed to the Yankees' terms. He could've returned in 2008, emasculated or not, but chose instead to sign a free-agent deal with the Dodgers.
Here's what Torre walked away from: the biggest and best job he'll ever own.

The mythology of American sport dictates the following: If you're the manager of the Yankees, or the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, or the head football coach at Notre Dame, you don't leave the position until someone forces you to leave it.

Torre was nudged to the door, yet wasn't shoved through it. He figured there was newfound happiness to be savored 3,000 miles away.

So there he was Monday evening in the Dodgers' dugout, hoping against hope that the Queens sky would clear and talking about the title Jeter, Pettitte, Mo Rivera and Jorge Posada won without him.

"I watched it," Torre said, "and in past years I've never been one to watch the World Series if we got knocked out. But I was really interested last year and knowing the core guys who were there, plus [Hideki] Matsui and everything Alex [Rodriguez] has gone through, to see and know what they felt like.

"To me the four [core] guys especially, to have it continuously be important for them I think is a tribute to them. A lot of times you think about winning the World Series and you say, 'That's it, nobody can take it away from us,' and you don't need to do it again. But they obviously don't feel that way. … I think it's something a lot of people should pay attention to, that part of it, as opposed to just the bells and whistles."

Let's face it: Torre has done a terriffic job in Los Angeles, claiming two division titles in two attempts and weathering the Manny Ramirez drug suspension. His Dodgers are 8-10 right now, wishing they were the Mets, but nobody's sweating the small stuff.

Torre has made 14 consecutive postseason appearances. On his muscle memory alone, the Dodgers will win the division or the wild card.

Only the same could've been said for the 2008 Yanks. Torre would've succeeded where Girardi failed. With George Steinbrenner no longer in control and with Cashman gaining more power by the hour, Torre could've built a bridge to 2009, when the $423.5 million spent on free agents surely would've earned him Ring No. 5.

"And Joe still has that burning desire to win that fifth championship," said his godson, Mike Borzello, Torre's longtime bullpen catcher. "He's as energetic as ever."

But Torre isn't working with Steinbrenner's budget (or lack thereof) anymore. The Dodgers' payroll is around $95 million, or some $111 million short of the Yanks'.

Torre also has discovered the Steinbrenners own no patent on ownership dysfunction, as the McCourts' divorce from hell does nothing to notarize the claim of a stable long-term plan.

An entire nation removed from the Bronx Zoo, the Dodgers present challenging clubhouse dilemmas, too.

"Joe's had more meetings with some of these guys because their attention span isn't real good," said Larry Bowa, the Dodgers' third-base coach. "With the Yankees, you had guys where you tell them once and they get it. Some of these kids, you've got to tell them once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, and I think that's a big adjustment for Joe."

Bowa brought up the infamous 2006 popup that fell between Jeter and A-Rod in a blowout loss to Baltimore, causing the shortstop to stare daggers through his former best friend.

"Joe gathered everybody in the clubhouse," Bowa recalled, "and he says, 'Where's Alex and Jeter?' They raised their handsn, and Joe said, 'I've got one thing to say -- unacceptable. I don't care who catches the ball, but that is unacceptable. That's not how we play here.'

"But Joe said it in a professional manner, and those two guys took it as constructive criticism and realized they were better than that and it wasn't the Yankee way to play. But you say that here to a young kid [with the Dodgers] and it's like, 'Why are you getting on me?'"

Torre hasn't toured the new Yankee Stadium, nor has he seen the ghastly pile of rubble that is the old Yankee Stadium, even though he was most eager to return to the Bronx this past fall.

With his Dodgers down 3-1 to the Phillies in the NLCS, Torre told them that if they won three straight sudden-death games, "I'll put up with all the aggravation [in New York]."

Nobody put up with that aggravation quite like Torre. He has a good job with a good shot at the playoffs, but he left a better job with the best shot at a title.

In the end, the thoroughbred owner put his money on the wrong horse.

Copyright 2010 by ESPNNewYork.com; article written by Ian O'Connor

I read this last night and this is an absolutely fantastic article and I wanted to share it with you. Great job by Ian O'Connor.

I would have to agree with him that being the manager of the Yankees is something that one should hold onto until being pushed out the door.

Torre, unfortunately, left under terrible terms and while he left under his own terms, no one seemed to be happy about the way it was handled.

Torre is now a Yankee legend, that's a given, but I think he should have been allowed to stay and I think he should have accepted that offer from the Yankees. If he were still here I think the Yanks would have made the playoffs in 2008 and still won their title in 2009.

Also, with Torre set to retire soon, Donnie Baseball (Don Mattingly) would be waiting in the wings to take over. And how could that be more fitting? Handing the reins from a new-ish Yankee legend to an old favorite.

He should have stayed, but make no mistake about it, when his time comes to retire from this "wonderful game that they call baseball" (to quote another Yankee legend Phil Rizzuto), Joe Torre Day better be right around the corner, because No. 6 should be going right in between Nos. 5 and 7 out there in Monument Park.

2009 World Champion Yanks Visit White House

The stately East Room of the White House sounded like the Bronx. The pristine room, which features a 210-year-old portrait of George Washington, now had one Yankees fan shouting out, "Hip, Hip" before a chorus exclaimed, "Jorge," as they sat in suits, ties and business attire.

As the Yankees stood on a platform, waiting for the president to be introduced, the historic room suddenly sounded as if it were being invaded by a Bleacher Creature, as a fan chanted, "De-rek, Jet-er."

When President Barack Obama was finally introduced he showed a Bronx flair with a creative one-liner that brought laughter from a partisan, Yankees-blue and pinstriped Washington crowd.

During the conclusion of the ceremony to honor the Yankees' 2009 world championship, the president instructed Joe Girardi to walk over to take a picture with him as they held the World Series trophy.

As Obama went to pick up the trophy, assistant GM Jean Afterman, sitting in the front row of the dais, shouted, "You might not get another chance [to hold the trophy.]"

The president, who once again professed his love for the Chicago White Sox during his speech, smiled and retorted, "You wonder why other teams don't root for you."

Derek Jeter, as is his way, calmly got in the last word on the repartee. Later, speaking to the media outside the West Wing, Jeter playfully warned the president.

"He better be careful with that," Jeter said. "There are a lot of a Yankee fans who vote."

The Yankees went to the White House to celebrate their 2009 world championship one final time. The president made sure to credit them not only for winning, but also for how they won and what they have done off the field.

"Being a Yankee is as much about character as it is about performance," Obama said.

During his 10-minute speech, Obama praised the Yankees for their morning trip to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Malone House to visit wounded warriors. He congratulated the Steinbrenner family and GM Brian Cashman for the team's success. He then went out of his way to single out Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira and Girardi.

The message of the omission was clear: If you have been caught using performance-enhancing drugs, you weren't going to be mentioned. Thus, the names of Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte did not leave the president's lips.

Obama started off by acknowledging that the Yankees' arrival at the White House drew quite a crowd.

"As you can see, we have a few Yankees fans here in the White House," Obama said to cheers and whistles.

He pointed out there were members of the New York congressional delegation, who were joined by members of the congressional delegations from Connecticut and even from North Dakota.

"All of whom take credit for the Yankees' success," Obama said.

He said the nine championship-less years were an "eternity" for the Yankees, but a team like the Cubs would take it pretty quickly.

"That attitude, that success, has always made the Yankees easy to love and, let's face it, easy to hate, as well," Obama said. "For a White Sox fan like me, it is painful to watch Mariano's cutter."

Rivera, who has been praised by nearly everyone, beamed as the president cited his greatness.

The president told of Teixeira starting a $75,000 scholarship in honor of a high school friend, who was killed in a car accident. Obama recalled meeting Jorge Posada before at a charity event and credited the catcher for the work he has done for craniosynostosis, the ailment Posada's son has overcome.

The president then turned to Posada's best friend and said, "Of course, then there is Jeter. Where's Jeter?" He nodded toward the Yankee captain.

Obama praised Jeter not only for passing Lou Gehrig as the Yankees' all-time hits king, but for the story that Jeter has often told about how Don Mattingly instructed him to always hustle. As Obama recounted, Mattingly told Jeter, "You never know who's watching."

"Derek took that lesson to heart and 15 years later, he still runs everywhere, like he is trying out for the track team," Obama said. "Always setting an example, always hustling. That is why everyone says he epitomizes the best of the Yankees tradition."

It was a partisan day at the White House as a Washington crowd brought the Bronx to the capital.

Adalius Thomas Released by Pats, Will the Jets Be Interested?

Adalius Thomas, finally released on Monday by the Patriots after months of speculation, is a Rex Ryan guy. They spent six seasons together in Baltimore (2001-06), where Thomas went from being an unheralded sixth-round draft pick into a two-time Pro Bowl selection. His best year was 2006 -- a contract year, perhaps not coincidentally -- when he recorded a career-high 11 sacks.

The questions is, do the Jets have room for him after signing pass-rusher Jason Taylor? Right now, they have three veteran outside linebackers -- Calvin Pace, Bryan Thomas and Taylor. The fourth 'backer, Vernon Gholston, is no longer a 'backer, having been moved to the defensive line. The Jets didn't confirm the Gholston switch until Saturday, claiming it was contingent on the Taylor signing, but I suspect he could've ended up there anyway, even if Taylor didn't come.

That leads you to believe the Jets will have some interest in Thomas. The thing about him is, he knows Ryan's scheme very well and he can play almost anywhere. He can play inside 'backer, defensive end, and even slide to defensive tackle in certain packages. Now, he's 32 years old -- not the player he used to be -- but you have to think his versatility is intriguing to the Jets.

Notice the Jets didn't draft an outside linebacker, passing on TCU's Jerry Hughes with the 29th overall pick. Obviously, Taylor's arrival reduced the need, but maybe -- just maybe -- Ryan was thinking ahead to a possible reunion with Thomas.

Bart Scott, another ex-Raven, did some chirping about Thomas and the Jets during a March radio interview with ESPN's "Mike and Mike."

"It's funny," Scott said. "I was hanging with Adalius Thomas for Super Bowl weekend. We're buddies from back in the day. He made it public that he's expressed an interest in joining Rex. I think some of his better years of his career have been [as] a part of the Ravens' defense and under Rex Ryan's tutelage. It'll be exciting."

Thomas later told the Boston Herald that he never made those comments to Scott. We'll see.

It would be a quality signing by the Jets because, as I said, he knows the system very well and can move around in the defense. He can help guys get adjusted if necessary and I think he would become productive again under Rex Ryan, who is the ultimate motivator.

Let's see how this plays out.

Stafon Johnson Signs Free Agent Deal with Titans

This is a feel good story that I couldn't help but write about. Not only is this a courageous man, but he was one of my favorite players on the USC Trojans roster and I watched him a lot since I am a huge Trojans football fan.

Stafon Johnson's life almost ended on September 25, 2009 when the bar accidentally slipped out of his hands while he was bench pressing. Even with a spotter, nothing could be done as Johnson crushed his vocal cords, voice box and larynx. For those of you that don't know about weight lifting, the bar itself is 45 lbs and Johnson was benching 275 lbs.

Johnson was rushed to the hospital and underwent seven hours of immediate reconstructive surgery and three more surgeries afterward. He then spent 16 days in the hospital to recover. He could not speak for two months and is just getting the ability to do so back.

The thought of football kept him going. Now he will try to prove he can play in the NFL for the Titans, who gave him an undrafted free-agent contract Saturday after the draft.

"And I am more determined than ever,'' Johnson said. "I feel if I can go through something like that, if I can go through a situation so close to death like I went through, nothing else should hinder me from trying to reach my goals and make my dreams come true.

"I want to show Nashville what I am made of. I want to show everyone I am still a good football player, someone who will stand tall and big for their city.''

Johnson's voice is raspy, almost like he's straining to make himself heard, but he said there should be no concerns about his health. Doctors cleared him to play in the Senior Bowl and he was invited to the NFL Combine.

The Titans are thin at running back after the trade that sent LenDale White to the Seahawks on Saturday, yet Johnson faces a challenge to make the roster. There were 14 backs drafted, and while he heard from eight to 10 teams after the draft, there are questions about whether he's NFL material.

"Considering what Stafon Johnson has been through, I am not going to bet against him being able to make that team," said Rob Rang of nfldraftscout.com. " … Stafon Johnson maybe doesn't have any one characteristic that really jumps off the board, but he has good grades across the board. So that is maybe one of the reasons he didn't get drafted. But it's also one of the reasons he could stick.''

All Johnson wanted was a shot.

His college career ended with 1,552 yards and 19 touchdowns. The consensus was he'd never play again.

"The first thing for me was to get my health back and get back on my feet and go from there,'' Johnson said. "When I felt good about that, then it was focusing on the Combine and focusing on pro day and then the draft. Now, I am glad to have it all over with and now it is time to play football.''

Going undrafted was a disappointment, but it hardly fazed him in the big picture.

"I have had a chip on my shoulder since the first day God brought me out of the dead and gave me the tools and power to get back on the football field again,'' Johnson said. "I want to show everybody my passion and my drive to be a football player is still intact.

"I want to show everybody I am the same running back as I was before I got hurt and I have well recovered from my injury. I am going to compete and try and do everything I can to get on the football field.''

With the Titans, he certainly has an opportunity. Behind NFL Offensive Player of the Year Chris Johnson is an unproven group.

Coaches have raved about Javon Ringer's progress, but he got only eight carries as a rookie last season. Alvin Pearman was signed last fall primarily as a return man.

Stafon Johnson stands 5-10½ and weighs 215 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds at the NFL Combine. Mike Detillier of M&D Draft Report said Johnson has some limitations but has the potential to be a good NFL back.

"He is not a real good receiver coming out of the backfield. And he doesn't have great foot speed,'' Detillier said. "He earns his keep by being that tough inside runner, and being a real good red-zone, short yardage runner. If my medical staff cleared him, he's going to make that roster because he is a tough guy and is a great competitor and right off the bat you're going to see that. … He's going to be a tough cut, I'll tell you that.''

Johnson will report to Baptist Sports Park in Nashville this week with the rest of the rookie class. After what he experienced, he takes nothing for granted. Not one day. Not one snap on the football field.

His dream scenario is a Johnson & Johnson backfield with the Titans for years to come.

"He is one of the best running backs in the league right now and I respect him so much. We could always be a 1-2 punch, that would be great,'' Stafon said of Chris. "I think with my style and his, we could be a great together.

"But that is showing no disrespect to any running backs there. I know I have to work. I am just a little guy trying to compete for playing time and make some things happen like everybody else. But I am going to give it my all, I promise you that.''

If this kid had been picked in the draft, I just might have cried a little bit.

I love this kid! I watched him play for four years at USC where he learned how to be the ultimate team guy as he was in a RB rotation all four years that usually consisted of about five to seven guys, but when he was called upon, he did his job well.

He has incredible heart and now a fantastic story to go with it if he can stick with the Titans or any other team in the NFL. I'm pulling for him big time. Go big Stafon!!

Jets Restructure Gholston's Deal

Turns out the New York Jets did more than change Vernon Gholston's position for 2010. They also took some money from his pocket.

The Jets have restructured Gholston's contract, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday. While the specific numbers weren't immediately available, the team lowered his base salary (originally $1.9 million), with a chance for him to recoup the money by reaching incentives, a source said.

The important part of the restructuring is this: It ensures that Gholston, the disappointing first-round pick in 2008, will go to training camp with the team and will have a chance to earn playing time.

Gholston appeared to be on shaky ground at the end of last season, as the organization deliberated on whether to give him another season or to cut bait. With it being an uncapped year, it would've been the ideal time to unload him without a salary-cap hit. They decided to retain him, but with a different position.

After two seasons at outside linebacker, Gholston was moved recently to defensive end, where he will play behind Shaun Ellis. The change, first reported by ESPNNewYork.com, was cemented when they signed free-agent pass rusher Jason Taylor, formerly of the Dolphins.

Rex Ryan, who confirmed the move Saturday in his post-draft news conference, said Gholston at defensive end "will give us the opportunity to be more athletic at the position." In reality, it puts Gholston one step closer to the door.

Gholston was the sixth overall choice in 2008, and signed a five-year contract with $21 million in guarantees. So far, it looks like one of the worst contracts in recent history. In two seasons, he has yet to record a sack.

First, what I want to say about this is, good! Good for the Jets for finally being smart and somewhat playing the CYA card here.

It's a good thing he agreed to restructure his deal too because if he didn't and word got out that he didn't agree to do that, he would have been ripped apart by not only the media here in New York, but also by every Jets fan.

This is Gholston's make-or-break year, obviously, because you can be rest assured that if he does not produce this season again, he will be kicked to the curb; he already has one foot out the door with this position change.

Faneca 'Upset' Over Release

When Alan Faneca signed with the New York Jets two years ago, he figured it would be the ideal place to finish his career -- a career that may land him in the Hall of Fame one day.

On Friday night, Day 2 of the NFL draft, the former Jets guard received a phone call from coach Rex Ryan and everything changed. Faneca, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, was fired.

Commenting for the first time since his release, Faneca expressed mixed emotions on his departure, but he did say he was "upset" with the Jets' decision to let a couple of unproven players battle for his old job.

"I'm not sure what I am," Faneca said on Sunday afternoon in an e-mail to ESPNNewYork.com. "I'm not necessarily angry, but I did not want things to end the way they did. I'm upset with their decision. I think they made the decision that they felt was for the future of the team.

"That's fine, this is a business, but everyone wants to leave on their own terms," he continued. "I'll move on and find another opportunity to play. My family and I had a great time being part of the Jets and the community and will always look at our time here and the friends we made as a great time in our lives."

Faneca, 33, didn't say where he might end up, but he figures to attract interest. The Jets owe him $5.25 million, so he probably will sign somewhere for the veterans' minimum -- a bargain for a team looking for an accomplished former Super Bowl champion.

"We did a lot of great things last year on the field," Faneca said. "I guess the phrase, 'If it ain't broke, then don't fix it' doesn't apply here. I think they put a lot of faith in Cally (offensive line coach Bill Callahan), as do I. He is a great coach that they feel he can get the job done."

The Jets' offensive line was arguably the best in the league last season, as the Jets led the NFL in rushing. Faneca, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore and Damien Woody started 32 consecutive games together, the longest streak in the NFL.

It'll be a two-man battle for Faneca's job, between second-year backup Matt Slauson (no NFL starts) and second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse.

I've already said my piece about this move, I've got nothing left to say.

Jets Trade Up in Round Four, Draft RB McKnight, Turn Around and Trade Washington to Seahawks

With his first trade of the 2010 draft, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum shook up his backfield by moving up to select USC running back Joe McKnight. That move raised serious questions about Leon Washington's future with the team.

Then Tannenbaum quickly answered those questions, by trading Washington to the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick.

The Jets traded up 12 spots in the fourth round to take McKnight with the 112th overall selection. McKnight (5-foot-11, 198 pounds), good value at that spot, is a multi-purpose back, a la Washington. McKnight rushed for 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns last season, adding another 1,251 yards on punt and kickoff returns. Scouts say he's a versatile and fluid athlete with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, making him a candidate to be the third-down back.

The Jets traded with the Panthers to get the 112th overall selection. It cost them their fourth-round pick (124) and their sixth-rounder (198).

With the fifth-round choice obtained in the Washington trade, the Jets selected Kentucky fullback John Conner, a 5-11, 240-pound masher. This is a "future" pick for the Jets. Presumably, Conner will learn at the side of Tony Richardson, 38, the wise locker-room sage who can teach the rookie the tricks of the trade.

In college, Conner was known as "The Terminator" because of his blocking ability, and the fact that his name is the name of the guy who leads the resistance army in the movie "The Terminator." He actually made the team as a walk-on, and worked his way up the depth chart. He's a traditional fullback, pure blue-collar. He carried the ball only 54 times for 247 yards in his college career, and had only 25 receptions. No doubt, he will be an immediate contributor on special teams.

But now Washington's career with the Jets is over.

It was a stunning turn of events at the NFL draft. After a quiet two days for the Jets, GM Mike Tannenbaum shook things up by unloading one of the most popular players in the Jets' locker room. Evidently, the Jets don't believe Washington (surgically repaired leg) will make a complete recovery. This move, coupled with the release of Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, has some players on the team grumbling about the potential impact on team chemistry.

The Jets gave away Washington for almost nothing. They included a seventh-round pick in the deal, receiving only one pick -- the fifth-rounder (No. 139) in return. It had to be insulting for Washington, a Pro Bowl kick returner in 2008.

Washington irked coach Rex Ryan by skipping the team's voluntary workouts in the offseason, opting to rehab his injury at a facility in Florida. But, at the end of the restricted free agent signing period (April 15), Washington signed his one-year tender ($1.75 million) and reported to workouts, vowing to be ready for training camp and the regular season.

Washington's career took a turn for the worse in October in Oakland, when his left leg was snapped on a gruesome play that required emergency surgery. It was an open fracture, with blood soaking through his sock and horrifying teammates. It turned out to be his final carry as a Jet.

While I must admit that I am very upset to see Leon go, I have watched Joe McKnight for all three seasons he was at USC and he is a very elusive back. He is the same type of player that Leon was before his gruesome leg injury in Oakland. The only difference between Washington and McKnight is that Washington is a proven player, while McKnight is, of course, a rookie.

McKnight might not have to step in right away either. He can learn under LT about being a good pass catcher out of the backfield, which he already is, and how to be an elusive runner in the NFL.

Furthermore, many are predicting John Conner to be for the Jets what Richie Anderson used to be for the Jets, which, of course, could only be a great thing for the Jets.

I just hope that all these moves don't ruin the chemistry of this team, which was a huge strength last season for them.

Jets Draft OT/OG Vladimir Ducasse in Round Two, Release Faneca

The Jets selected Massachusetts offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse with their second-round selection (No. 61 overall) in the NFL Draft.

The 6’4”, 332-pound Ducasse was a three-year starter for the Minutemen and was an Associated Press All-America first-team selection on AP's Football Championship Series team.

"I'm happy, I'm very excited," he said tonight on a conference call with reporters. "The Jets are a good team. My family will be coming to watch my first game. I'm very excited."

As a junior, Ducasse started 12 games at left tackle and was credited with 94 knockdowns/key blocks. Arriving at UMass in 2006, Ducasse didn’t play until the Minutemen’s fourth game and saw mostly reserve duty before becoming a full-time starter at LT as a sophomore.

"I feel like I'm still a student of the game, still learning," he said. "From last year until now, I feel like I learned a lot from that. From the Senior Bowl, I learned a lot from that." 

 

Ducasse, a Haitian native, never played football until coming over to the United States and participating on Stamford High School’s team. While also excelling on the basketball court and in track and field, Ducasse started the final 20 games of his high school career and earned Connecticut all-state first-team honors from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.

Even though he was a college tackle, some have projected Ducasse as a guard on the next level. At the Indy combine, he ran a 5.21 in the 40-yard dash and had 29 reps on the 225-bench press.

"He'll start out at right tackle and left guard," said GM Mike Tannenbaum. "We're going to keep playing around with that. We feel we have some flexibility on the line with Rob Turner and Wayne Hunter, and Matt Slauson played some center at Tampa Bay last year."

 

While his father, two uncles and some cousins still reside in Port-au-Prince, Ducasse hasn’t been back to Haiti since moving to Stamford along with his older brother when he was just 14. Coincidentally, a trifecta of Jets players — S James Ihedigbo, WR David Clowney and LB Vernon Gholston — traveled to Port-au-Prince in March on a humanitarian mission following the 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti and claimed more than 230,000 lives.

Ihedigbo, a fourth-year player, is also a Massachusetts product and Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum graduated from UMass with a degree in accounting.

"He's a really interesting guy," Tannenbaum said of Ducasse. "He's originally from Haiti. He's an incredible worker. From what he's been through in his life, you'd never bet against him."

With the selection of Kyle Wilson at No. 29 overall on Thursday night and Ducasse at No. 61 last night, the Jets spent their own picks in the first two rounds of a draft for the first time since 2002.

With their third-round pick going to Cleveland in last season's trade for WR Braylon Edwards, the Jets had no more picks scheduled for last night.

"We want to keep an eye on a couple of players," said Tannenbaum at the end of Round 2. "If a player or two are there, we may try to take a shot here." But the third round is over and done with and the Jets did not make any trades. 

They now have the 26th pick of Round 4, 124th overall, which they acquired in their trade of S Kerry Rhodes to Arizona.

In related news, as a ripple effect of the drafting of Ducasse, the Jets have released nine-time Pro Bowler and starting left guard Alan Faneca. 

The news came as no surprise, as the Jets had been trying to trade Faneca for several weeks. They found no team willing to pay his $7.5 million salary for 2010.

Faneca made two Pro Bowls for the Jets, but they ended up paying him an exorbitant amount of money. In 2008, Faneca was the centerpiece of a blockbuster free-agent class, signing a five-year, $40 million contract that included $20 million in guaranteed money. The Jets were a little concerned about his age (he's 33 now), but they felt they could get at least three productive seasons out of him.

They got two, although they felt his play had diminished. Faneca allowed 6½ sacks last season, according to STATS -- an unusually high number for an interior lineman. But he still was effective as a run-blocker and was considered a team leader, instrumental in the development of linemates D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.

The Jets are taking a risk, messing with the chemistry on arguable the best line in the league. But the deed is done.

As the saying goes, why mess with it if it's not broken? Well clearly the Jets thought it was, or on its way towards being that way. Ducasse will now compete with last year's sixth round selection Matt Slauson for the starting left guard slot.

I am not really sure yet if I agree with this move to release Faneca. Yeah, maybe he was on a steep and quick decline, but if he was the weakest link on an offensive line was the best, paved the way for the best rushing attack in the NFL and led them to the AFC Championship, why shake it up? It doesn't make too much sense to me, but I guess we'll see how much sense it makes come training camp time.

Ducasse, though, is a project, and although he played tackle in college, many people project him to be a guard in the NFL.

For now I will give the Jets a B on the drafting of Ducasse only because they drafted a position they didn't need to upgrade, but one where they only needed depth. Essentially they come out of the draft with what they had coming in; the same amount of offensive linemen.

All I can say is that Ducasse or Slauson better be ready for the season opener because they have big shoes to fill in replacing Alan Faneca.

Jets Draft CB Kyle Wilson with Pick 29

With the 29th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select ... Kyle Wilson, cornerback, Boise State.

As a defensive-minded coach, Rex Ryan has a motto: You can never have too many corners. With that thought in mind, the Jets selected Wilson with their first-round pick.

Wilson was projected as a top-15 talent on many draftboards, but he slipped to the bottom of the round -- and the Jets gladly broke his fall.

"In this case, the board and the need aligned," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said.

The Jets took an unusual approach to the first round too. For a change, they didn't do anything. They just waited ... and waited ... until Boise State's Kyle Wilson, whom they rated as the most physically skilled cornerback, fell to them Thursday night with the 29th pick.

Sometimes you get lucky. And sometimes you benefit from another team's indecision. If it weren't for a heated debate in the Browns' war room -- yes, the Browns -- things might have turned out differently for the Jets and Wilson.

Picking seventh overall, the Browns narrowed their choice to two cornerbacks, Wilson and Florida's Joe Haden. It apparently was a tough call because, according to a league source, the discussion became rather intense. Why is it that former Jets coach Eric Mangini, who gifted his former team the pick last year that brought Mark Sanchez to New York, always winds up playing a role in the Jets' draft?

Anyway, the Browns chose Haden. At that moment, in the Jets' draft room, Rex Ryan began to hope.

"We were looking at that board and I just said, 'Hang in there, hang in there,'" Ryan said. "And that's exactly what happened."

Wilson, from Piscataway, N.J., is an aggressive cornerback, regarded as an excellent team leader. He can be too aggressive at times, but he had four interceptions last season. With Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on the team, Ryan, wasting no time, named Wilson the starting nickel back. He's also a terrific punt returner and, unless something crazy happens, he'll wrest that job from Jim Leonhard. But that's just a bonus; Wilson's real value is at cornerback. 

He's also an outstanding punt returner. That, too, fills a need for the Jets.

Wilson had 11 interceptions at Boise State and returned three punts for scores during his career. He became a starter in the second half of his freshman season and helped lead Boise State to a Fiesta Bowl victory over TCU to cap his college career.

"To be honest, I feel right at home," Wilson said. "I couldn't have dreamt it any better. It's pretty surreal right now."

Fantastic pick by the Jets. I give it an A.

I love this pick because cornerbacks are like catchers in baseball, you can never have enough of them. Wilson is a fantastic cornerback that is great in man-to-man or zone coverage and many had him rated ahead of Joe Haden on their draft boards.

The nickel back is a very important position in Coach Ryan's scheme and Wilson is the perfect guy to fit that role. Last year in the AFC Championship game, Peyton Manning absolutely torched the Jets cornerbacks -- Dwight Lowery, Lito Sheppard, and Drew Coleman.

"Clearly," Ryan said, "that was an issue."

Not anymore.

Giants Draft DE Jason Paul-Pierre with Pick 15

With the 15th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select ... Jason Paul-Pierre, defensive end, University of South Florida.

This move, however, does not mean that the Giants will be saying "sayonara" to Osi Umenyiora.

General manager Jerry Reese emphatically said the unhappy defensive end will remain with the Giants, who now have Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Pierre-Paul at defensive end to go with Dave Tollefson.

"We are not trading Osi so you don't even have to ask that question," Reese told reporters shortly after picking Pierre-Paul.

"We think [Pierre-Paul] has the biggest upside of any player in the draft. We think the sky is the limit. With the speed that he has, the long arms that he has, the athletic ability that he has, those kinds of things come naturally& raw, oozing with that kind of talent. The motor that he has, it is hard to find a package like that. He has some freakish athletic skills which we are excited about trying to hone."

Reese compared Pierre-Paul's 6-5, 270-pound frame to Jevon Kearse. Pierre-Paul is crazy athletic and anyone can go to YouTube for proof, since he can do 14 back flips in a row. But the Giants have to hope he's not the next Vernon Gholston, the Jets' freakishly athletic linebacker who was drafted sixth overall in 2008 but has been a major bust.

Pierre-Paul, 21, has only played just one season of high-level major college football. In his only season at USF, he was an All-Big East performer who registered 6.5 sacks in 13 games. Prior to that, in 2008, Pierre-Paul played at Fort Scott Community College (Kan.) and recorded 10.5 sacks.

In 2007, Pierre Paul had 14 sacks while playing at College of the Canyons junior college in Santa Clarita, Calif. It was only his second season playing organized football.

"Very interesting introduction to the sport: His high school coach got him to play in a playoff game when he was a junior in high school," Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said. "He hadn't played football. He was a basketball player. And that started his career. His senior year in high school he became a football player. This is a very talented young man with outstanding upside."

There were definitely talented options when the Giants picked. They chose Pierre-Paul over Georgia Tech's defensive end Derrick Morgan, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams and Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga, among others. But the Giants did something similar to what they did in 2006, when they took Kiwanuka with the 32nd overall pick despite already having Tuck, Umenyiora and Michael Strahan.

"I'm glad I'm a Giant," Pierre-Paul said in a statement. "I was nervous at one point, I felt like I wasn't going to get picked and then I got a call from the New York Giants. I was surprised because I visited a lot of teams and I didn't know who was going to pick me. I'm just glad I got picked. Now I get to come in, settle down and become a great football player."

While Reese has plenty of pass rushers, he still has a glaring hole at middle linebacker after he released the injured Pierce in the offseason. The Giants had McClain as their top target, but the Alabama middle linebacker didn't make it past the unpredictable Raiders.

Now, the Giants will likely take a long, hard look at middle linebacker in the second and third round on Friday, with Penn State's Sean Lee and Florida's Brandon Spikes sure to attract attention. Adding an offensive lineman, a defensive back and a running back also could be on the Giants' priority list as well.

Reese didn't say much about what he will do on Friday, but he squashed any notion of the Giants trading Umenyiora this weekend -- or for that matter any time at all this season.

Reese said he has talked to Umenyiora and he isn't worried about the defensive end being unhappy. Umenyiora has made it clear he wants his starting spot back and Kiwanuka said he wants to start entering the final year of his contract.

"Osi knows he is going to be here and Osi knows we are not looking to shop him in any way, and he knows he is going to be a Giant in the fall," Reese said of Umenyiora, who has three years left on his contract for a total of a little more than $10 million. "We did get a couple of calls [from other teams]. But we are not looking to shop Osi."

I'll have to give the Giants a B+ on their first round pick.

This kid is, as I said, an absolute freak. He is 6'5" 270 lbs, which is absolutely gigantic and his wing span is freakishly long as well. In his one year at USF he had a knack for getting to the quarterback, but I will guarantee it will be different in the NFL because the competition, of course, will be much greater.

The reason for the B+ is because while this kid has Jevon Kearse-like upside, he also has Vernon Gholston-like downside because he only played one year at college and played in the lower portion of the Big East Conference.

I do really like this move for the New York football Giants because they picked up a need on the defensive line that could turn into a major star, but the keyword there is could. We'll see how this kid develops. Let's hope it's not as slow as Vernon Gholston.

Jets Trying to Trade Kellen Clemens

Four years ago, Kellen Clemens was drafted by the Jets as their heir apparent at quarterback. On his way to the throne, things happened. Brett Favre happened. Mark Sanchez happened. And now Clemens' days in New York are numbered.

With only two days until the draft, the Jets are trying to trade Clemens for a late-round draft pick, league sources have told ESPNNewYork.com. If they can't trade him -- and it will be difficult -- the Jets are prepared to release the former second-round pick.

Clemens is one of a few veterans on shaky ground. The Jets have been quietly shopping Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca for several weeks, league sources said. If they can't find a taker during the draft, the Jets could release the 32-year-old lineman and his $7.5 million salary.

Coach Rex Ryan, speaking Tuesday night to reporters, sidestepped questions on whether Faneca is in danger of being released or traded. Ryan offered the same response on defensive end Shaun Ellis, 32, also the subject of speculation because of his age and big salary ($3.4 million).

This could be a wild week for the Jets, who started Tuesday by agreeing to a contract with former Dolphins pass-rusher Jason Taylor.

That the Jets are willing to dump Clemens now, as opposed to waiting until training camp, indicates they're confident in landing a veteran backup. They met recently with Mark Brunell, 40, but they can't sign him until they lose another unrestricted free agent. They had one open slot, and that went to Taylor.

If the Jets fail to acquire Brunell or another experienced backup, they would be living dangerously with Sanchez, Erik Ainge and Kevin O'Connell. Ainge and O'Connell have only six career pass attempts between them -- all by O'Connell in mop-up duty for the Patriots in 2008.

In the meantime, the Jets have given Clemens' agent permission to speak to other teams about a potential trade, sources said. He has been participating in the Jets' offseason program, although he didn't sign his $1.1 million tender as a restricted free agent until last week. But that doesn't tie him to the Jets; it means he can be traded.

Faneca's fate could be tied to the draft. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the Jets are high on Idaho's Mike Iupati, who happens to be a left guard. The 6-foot-5, 331-pound mauler is widely regarded as the best interior lineman in the draft, projected to come off the board in the 15-20 range.

The Jets also visited with Florida center Maurkice Pouncey at their facility, another projected first-round pick. With All-Pro Nick Mangold on the roster, they don't need a center, but Pouncey started at guard early in his career at Florida.

The Jets own the 29th pick, but general manager Mike Tannenbaum has a track record for trading up for players he covets. And he's not afraid to add to a perceived strength, evidenced by last year's decision to trade up in the third round for running back Shonn Greene.

If the Jets believe Iupati has the ability to eventually play right tackle, as some teams do, it will increase his value and could justify a trade-up. Their two oldest linemen are Faneca and right tackle Damien Woody, both 32. Faneca is guaranteed $5.25 million of his salary, so they'd have to eat a lot of money. He allowed 6½ sacks last season, according to STATS -- a high number for an interior lineman.

Ellis is the longest-tenured Jet, and he looked old at times last season, playing on a bad knee. But he still registered 6½ sacks and, considering the lack of depth on the line, it's hard to imagine him being unloaded. But the Jets are considering a defensive lineman with their first pick, with Penn State's Jared Odrick, Alabama's Terrence Cody and East Carolina's Linval Joseph the top candidates.

It took them this long to say they were trying to trade Clemens? Yes, but I am willing to bet that they have been shopping him since March 3, the start of free agency.

Clemens has done nothing for the Jets since they drafted him except not be very good. In his one start for an injured Mark Sanchez last season, Clemens could not connect on a lot of passes against a measly Buccaneers defense.

When he got his opportunity to start in 2007, he flopped badly. Granted the offensive line was worse than atrocious that season, but he was still terrible, which is why the Jets held on to him last year.

But now it is time to bid adieu and move on from what was clearly a mistake in the second round of the 2006 draft. I've said all along that the Jets could use an experienced QB like Marc Bulger. He was released, they can sign him. Now go do it.

As for that bit about Faneca.

That would be a very poor move by Tannenbaum in an offseason filled with good ones. Faneca is only 32 and has been extremely durable. So durable that he, and the rest of the offensive line, have not missed a game in their two seasons together.

A move like releasing Faneca would ruin the chemistry of the offensive line and I'm sure many in the locker room would be none too happy about it either.

Sources: Jets Moving Gholston to D-Line

The Jets' acquisition of Jason Taylor Tuesday is a tacit admission the organization has lost hope for Vernon Gholston. In fact, Gholston's days as a rush linebacker appear over.

After mulling the move for weeks, the Jets are leaning heavily toward making Gholston a full-time defensive end, league sources told ESPNNewYork.com. The former first-round pick has been working out with the defensive linemen for weeks, sources said, and now the Taylor signing all but clinches it. The team will wait to see how things shake out in the draft before making it permanent.

Gholston, the sixth overall choice in 2008, was drafted to play outside linebacker in the base defense and rush the quarterback on passing downs. But he has yet to record a sack in two seasons, earning the "bust" label. He's entering the middle year of a five-year contract that pays him $21 million in guarantees, arguably the worst money the Jets ever spent.

Rex Ryan inherited Gholston from the previous coaching staff, promising big things for the former Ohio State standout. It was one of the few bold predictions that Ryan failed to deliver.

The move to defensive end means Gholston is one step closer to the door. In Ryan's 3-4 scheme, the end is a non-glamour position. The ends have a two-gap responsibility, tying up blockers so the linebackers can make the plays. It's believed that Gholston will serve as Shaun Ellis' backup.

Ryan, speaking Tuesday night to reporters, said he plans to use Taylor, Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas in a rotation as outside linebacker. He never mentioned Gholston. Ryan wants to keep his pass rushers fresh for the fourth quarter, with the hope of avoiding some of the late-game meltdowns that almost ruined the Jets in 2009.

I've just about had enough of him, myself.

The kid clearly cannot play in the NFL. I mean he has ZERO sacks in his career, that doesn't set off an alarm to anyone?

Maybe switching him to a down lineman will help, but I'm willing to bet that if he, again, does nothing this year than he will be gone by the end. This is year three, folks. That usually is the year where a draft pick starts to shine, or in his case, signs of life.

Jets Sign Longtime Nemisis Jason Taylor

Booed and despised by Jets fans for years, Jason Taylor is now on their side.

The former Miami Dolphins linebacker agreed to terms with the AFC East-rival Jets on a two-year contract Tuesday, bolstering a defense that ranked No 1 in the league this past season.

"Clearly, this is one of the premier players in the game, one of the premier pass-rushers in the game," coach Rex Ryan said during a conference call. "We expect Jason to play a bunch and be a major contributor to our defense."

League sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Taylor agreed to a two-year deal that could be worth as much as $3.75 million in the first year. Because of the league's "Final Eight" restrictions, the Jets could pay Taylor only $1.75 million in base salary this season -- the amount unrestricted free-agent kicker Jay Feely signed for with the Arizona Cardinals.

The second year has a $750,000 guarantee, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. The first year is guaranteed, so Taylor receives a $2.5 million guarantee in his deal. The deal could be worth a total of $13 million if he meets all the incentives in the contract.

The NFL's active sacks leader received an offer from the Jets two weeks ago. Taylor said he was hoping for an offer from the Dolphins that never came, and after vacationing in Costa Rica this past weekend, he decided to join the Jets.

Long a part of one of the NFL's most intense rivalries on the field, Taylor has had a contentious relationship with fans in New York, calling them ignorant and classless and saying their "J-E-T-S!" chant was dumb.

"Do I expect them to hate me some? Sure," Taylor said. "We've had a long history of going back and forth. We lost a lot of games to those guys for a few years. That wasn't fun. I was a big boy, and I always came back and added more fuel to it. It's a rivalry. That's the way it's supposed to be."
Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins said Taylor will be embraced by the team.

"I think he will be a great addition to the team with his athleticism, experience, and wisdom," Jenkins told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "We have had time to get past the fishy smell of his past, but now he will be enveloped with the fragrant smell of Jet fuel! Go Jets!"

As for how fans in Miami will react to his deal, Taylor said: "Hopefully one day I can walk back in the stadium and not get booed."

Taylor briefly became teary-eyed during a 30-minute news conference at his foundation's offices in Weston, Fla., and said the situation left him with mixed emotions.

He said the Dolphins offered him an extension this past November but then withdrew the proposal before the season ended, made no offer since and gave him no reason for the lack of interest in a new deal. Taylor said he had a meeting scheduled last week with coach Tony Sparano, but the Dolphins canceled it.

"If I was important enough that you wanted me in November, why wouldn't you want me now?" Taylor said. "If I was good enough then, I just don't understand why I wasn't good enough now. But that's their prerogative. They're allowed to make that decision. There is a business side to football, and if they feel that it's better for their team to not have me, that's fine. I have no problem with that. That's part of the game. Just let me know."

The 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year said he's joining the Jets because he feared their offer would be the only one he would receive and he had to give them an answer before the draft begins Thursday.

"If I sit here and roll the dice, I could be left out in the cold," Taylor said. "The Jets have given me an opportunity to play. They want me there. It's pretty flattering and humbling that I'm the free agent they want to go after-- a 35-year-old defensive end/linebacker from Miami who has been a pain in their butt."

Now Taylor will try to endear himself to fans in New York, the way Brett Favre did in Minnesota and Donovan McNabb hopes to do in Washington. A few early-season sacks might do the trick for Taylor.

"I look at it this way: What was the kind of impact Roger Clemens had?" Ryan said. "He was a Red Sox and went over to the Yankees and helped out there. I kind of look at Johnny Damon with the same type of deal.

"So, if Jason could have the same impact on the Jets as those players had on the Yankees and we win a championship, I think we'll all be happy," Ryan said.

Either way, it's the latest headline-grabbing acquisition by the Jets, who have clear intentions of making a Super Bowl run this season after losing in the AFC Championship Game to the Indianapolis Colts in January.

Already loaded with storylines for its appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks" during training camp this summer, New York has also signed running back LaDainian Tomlinson and safety Brodney Pool and traded for wide receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Best-known by some as the runner-up to Kristi Yamaguchi on "Dancing With The Stars" in 2008, Taylor also has 127½ career sacks. He provides the Jets with a proven pass-rusher who should fit right into Ryan's aggressive 3-4 defensive scheme as a hybrid linebacker-defensive end.

Ryan also said his addition will have no effect on the Jets' approach to having the 29th overall pick in the draft.

"We're in an ideal situation," Ryan said. "We're going into the draft where we can take the best player."
Several Jets players met Taylor during his visit to the team's facility in Florham Park, N.J., on April 8 and said they'd welcome him if he signed.

While his best days are clearly behind him, the Jets believe Taylor still has plenty left -- at least for a season. He had seven sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown -- against the Jets -- last season.

Taylor played with the Dolphins from 1997 to 2007 before being traded to Washington in 2008. He clashed with Miami for competing on "Dancing With the Stars" rather than working out with the team that offseason.

After one season in Washington, the Redskins released him after he refused to commit to the team's offseason conditioning program so he could focus on his family.

Ryan said he expected Taylor to participate in team workouts before mandatory minicamp in mid-June, save for a few previously scheduled prior commitments.

"These are voluntary workouts, but I've got a funny feeling that Jason's going to volunteer to be here," Ryan said.

Well isn't this just the ultimate ironic situation. Every Jets fan hates Jason Taylor with a burning passion for all the trash talking he does to us, but it will be extremely interesting to see if the fans can warm up to him.

If he struggles, look for him to get booed louder than you've ever heard someone get booed before, but Fireman Ed, the most famous Jets fan, will not boo him anymore, but he will not "root for him like hell," he states.

Fireman Ed was not on board with this from the beginning and will only be rooting for Jason Taylor because he has put on his beloved Jets uniform and is now one of Gang Green.

Petrov to Be In Islanders Prospect Camp

The low risk/high reward gamble by Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski to use an extra 2008 third round pick on talented Russian prospect Kirill Petrov is about to pay off - and very likely way ahead of schedule.

According to his agent, Alexander Tynjynch, Petrov has accepted an invitation to participate in the Islanders’ prospects camp after the June draft. The 6-3, 205-pound left wing has even received the blessing of the Kontinental Hockey League and his team, Ak Bars, to be part of the camp.

While a signed contract is not a condition of his participation in the prospect camp, there has been momentum towards getting Petrov out of his KHL contract - which has two seasons remaining - and signing an Entry Level deal with the Islanders.

“He is guaranteed to be at the prospect camp,” Tynjynch told Point Blank. “I have been speaking with Kirill every day to prepare for this. He wants to join the Islanders organization this year and start his career in their system. There is still a lot of work to be done if he is to be signed and join the Islanders’ roster. There has to be an agreement between the KHL and the NHL, and the Islanders and AK Bars, but I think you would agree that Kirill being set to attend the Islanders prospect camp is a very good first step.”

Asked if Petrov accepts the likelihood that he would start the 2010-11 season with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, Tynjynch said, “You cannot say that for sure. The decision is ultimately is up to the general manager and coach. This is a very highly-skilled player. If everything works out, Kirill would attend the main camp in September with the goal of making the NHL team.”

Beyond his impressive play for Team Russia at the World Junior Championships, Petrov is coming off two straight seasons of marginally stunted development. As a member of the high-powered Ak Bars team in the KHL, cracking the lineup has been difficult for Petrov. He has played the majority of the last two seasons in the second-tier league.

Petrov, who turned 20 on Tuesday, is actually with the big club now. He was in the lineup for Ak Bars’ last two playoff games, but did not receive a second of icetime. “It happens,” said Tynjynch. “It’s okay. I’m telling you, most of the talented North American players Kirill’s age would not be played by Ak Bars, either.”

The top-six forward prospect was considered by most scouts to be a mid-to-late first round talent. However, because of rumors of Petrov’s lack of desire to play in North America and his long-term contract with Ak Bars, NHL teams elected not to gamble an early round draft pick on him. Since the Islanders had three second round picks and three third-rounders in 2008, the risk was minimal. Now the Islanders may see a pair of high-end prospects, Travis Hamonic (second round, 53rd overall) and Petrov (third round, 73rd overall) emerge from the six-pack.

Petrov and Tynjynch are so excited about the potential of the player beginning his Islanders career that they have spoken with Snow about staying here before the team’s main camp in China in September. Petrov could skate with the Islanders that partake in unofficial workouts at Iceworks in August or he could be part of a preparation camp Tyjynch’s agency hosts in Ottawa for their clients.

“Kirill has matured physically and mentally,” said the agent. “He’s ready.”

Well, hallelujah! This kid is finally, as Neil Diamond sings, coming to America.

Petrov has been said to have mid-first round talent, but teams were scared off because they were unsure if he would ever come to North America. Well, here he comes!

I am extremely excited, for one, to see this kid perform and to see what he can do on the ice. I hear all this talk about Petrov, Travis Hamonic and other high end prospects start the season in Bridgeport, but how much do you want to bet that they all start with the Islanders? The Isles need all the help they can get, and these kids can surely provide it.

Yanks Put Park on DL with Hamstring Strain, Call up Boone Logan

After an MRI Friday afternoon revealed a low level strain of Chan Ho Park's right hamstring, the Yankees placed the right-handed reliever on the 15-day disabled list. They have brought up lefty Boone Logan from Triple-A Scranton to take his roster spot.

The Yankees don't think Park's injury is serious. Manager Joe Girardi, general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees medical staff debated just resting Park over the weekend and then having him return next week when the Yankees travel to Oakland. Since it is April, the club decided to go with the most cautious approach.

"There was a possibility he would have pitched for us next week, but you run your bullpen short and the other thing you do is take the chance of hurting it even worse," Girardi said.

Park had issues with his hamstring last season, but Girardi said this injury is in a different spot. Park has begun the season 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA.

Logan, who came over from Atlanta in the Javier Vazquez trade, had a very good spring and did nearly everything possible to make the team, but the signing of Park nudged him out of beginning the year with the Yankees.

The Yankees hoped that Logan could arrive by game time Friday, but Girardi warned that there likely will be traffic from Scranton to the Bronx.

Logan will, obviously, serve as the second lefty out of the 'pen, after Damaso Marte. His fastball, curveball, slider and change-up make for a good repertoire to come out of the 'pen in lefty-on-lefty situations and brings a different look than Marte does with his fastball, slider, change-up repertoire.

Leon Washington to Sign Tender with Jets

Running back Leon Washington, a restricted free agent recovering from a severely broken right leg, will sign his tender contract offer with the New York Jets, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

Washington was traveling from his home in Florida to New Jersey on Wednesday night and planned to sign Thursday morning. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been signed.

Washington, a fourth-round pick in 2006, received a second-round tender last month worth $1.759 million.

The former Pro Bowl kick returner suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula at Oakland on Oct. 25, and missed the rest of the season. He has been training at the Athletes' Performance-Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Fla., for the past five weeks.

When healthy, Washington has been one of the league's more dynamic players, serving a dual role as a kick returner and running back. He took his time after being tendered, exploring his options before deciding to sign with the Jets.

Washington, 27, was injured on his first carry against the Raiders when Oakland's Tommy Kelly rolled up on his leg after a 6-yard run in the first quarter of the Jets' 38-0 win. It was a gruesome injury, which required a rod to be inserted into the tibia, and many speculated about whether he'd be able to fully recover or even play again.

Washington said in January that doctors told him he was way ahead of the normal recovery rate. He is beginning to run, and will continue his rehabilitation at the Jets' team facility in Florham Park, N.J. Jets coach Rex Ryan recently said he was disappointed that Washington was staying away from the team's voluntary workouts, choosing to rehabilitate closer to home after he was tendered. Washington was the only player not at voluntary workouts at the time.

"He may have reasons for not being here or whatever, but the rest of the team volunteered to be here," Ryan said last month. "We would love to get Leon back."

Ryan has also said he envisioned the versatile Washington more as a kick returner and third-down back, behind Shonn Greene and recently signed LaDainian Tomlinson, than an every down ball carrier.

"Let's see where he's at," Ryan said. "I'm not just going to give him the ball 20 times a game coming off of that. He has to be ready to take that kind of role. If he's ready to take an expanded role, then obviously we could see that."

Before the injury, Washington had hoped to get a long-term deal from the Jets after being selected as an All-Pro as a kick returner for the 2008 season.

Washington made $535,000 in the final year of his rookie deal, and was believed to have been looking for something in the range of $5 million to $6 million a year. He sat out the first three weeks of organized team activities last offseason before returning in minicamp "in good faith." He was a no-show when the rest of the team checked in for training camp last summer, but was with the team the next day.

Washington said he was unhappy with the situation and wasn't optimistic a new deal would get done, but never let it visibly affect him on the field or in the locker room.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum has repeatedly said he wanted Washington back, but one of the major stumbling blocks in getting a long-term deal done was the uncertainty of the league's collective bargaining agreement. He said that without an extension of the CBA - which has not happened - the Jets would be able to retain Washington's rights as a restricted free agent for far less than what he was seeking.

Washington has run for 1,782 career yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 123 passes for 969 yards and two scores since coming out of Florida State in 2006. He has also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns, including three in 2007.

It's a good thing Washington finally decided to sign his tender with the team because if he can return to form then he will bring a dynamic aspect to the Jets offense that, at times, was missing last season. 

As stated before, he is as dynamic a player as there are in the NFL when he is healthy and the return game also was lacking severely in his absence. 

Now there is rumors that the Jets may trade him, but let's be honest here. Can the Jets really afford to trade him? I don't think so because the likelihood of him returning to form is higher than him not doing so, and the Jets can least afford to have him be the Leon of old in another uniform.

Yanks Receive Championship Rings and Defeat Angels 7-5 in Home Opener

Andy Pettitte hit the corners, Derek Jeter homered into the right-center field stands, Jorge Posada rambled into second base for a double. And for good measure, Mariano Rivera closed it out with a cutter.

Don't tell the Yankees' core four it's 2010.

The longtime All-Stars each picked up World Series ring No. 5 and then led New York to a victory in its home opener Tuesday, 7-5 over the Los Angeles Angels in front of a record crowd that included owner George Steinbrenner.

"Everyone talks about how long we've been here but in our minds it seems like we are just still little kids," said Jeter, the AL rookie of the year in 1996. "We want to come out here and contribute and try and be consistent. That's what we tried to do throughout the years and that'll never change."

The Angels' Hideki Matsui might have gotten the loudest ovation of the stirring ceremony that celebrated the Yankees' 27th title, with fans welcoming back the World Series MVP. But the four stars who last won a title in 2000 wound up winners in the end.

"They all played big roles last year, as well," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Andy won the last game at the stadium last year and won the first one this year -- pretty fitting. Derek had some big hits, Jorgie. Mo closed it out. It is appropriate."

With the 2009 World Series banner whipping in a chilly breeze, Pettitte (1-0) returned to the Yankee Stadium mound for the first time since he won the clinching Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies last November. He threw 100 pitches in six crisp innings as the Yankees dropped the Angels to 2-6, their worst start since 1972.

The 40-year-old Rivera was needed to earn his third save after another ex-Yankee, Bobby Abreu, hit a grand slam in the ninth off Dave Robertson to make it 7-5.

"Obviously we did too many things poorly early in the game and had to crawl our way back and it was too little too late," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's definitely some things we need to clean up the way we're playing ball this week."

Matsui was mobbed by his former teammates near the mound after getting his ring in the pregame festivities. He was regaled with a prolonged standing salute when he stepped into the batter's box in the first inning.

"I was very deeply moved by that moment. It's something that I did not anticipate at all," he said through a translator. "It's something that I will remember forever, that moment. I'm just very happy and very thankful, the way that the fans had welcomed me back.

"The Angels' designated hitter stepped out and tipped his helmet before striking out -- another cheer -- to end the inning and got tangled with Posada, who playfully tagged him a couple times. Matsui went 0-for-5 in front of a record regular-season crowd of 49,293 at the ballpark, now in its second year.

"The fans wanted him to tip his hat. I just felt he deserved that so I stepped off the mound," Pettitte said. "As soon as he steps in the box, it's just put your head down. You better make good pitches to him."

Jeter, who led off the Yankees' last regular-season home game with a home run, hit his first homer of the year in the fourth and hit a sharp grounder off Ervin Santana's thigh for another RBI in the fifth.

Nick Johnson also homered for New York, who hit a team-record 136 homers in their first year at the ballpark. The most home runs across 161st Street, now a fading memory -- thanks to a wrecking crew -- was 126 in 2004 and '05.

Johnson homered off Santana (0-2) in his first at-bat in pinstripes since 2003, when he was traded to Montreal during the offseason, helping the Yankees win for the 12th time in the last 13 home openers. They were routed by the Cleveland Indians in the first game at the new stadium on April 16, 2009.

Alex Rodriguez received his first World Series ring and later drove in two runs with a three-hop single off reliever Jason Bulger that nicked diving third baseman Brandon Wood's glove in the sixth to make it 5-0. Posada drove in a run, too.

Pettitte became the first pitcher in postseason history to start and win all three clinching games, including Game 6 of the ALCS against the Angels, and he began this season in equally fine fashion. He allowed a run and six hits against Boston in his first start and shut down the Angels' speedy offense for his 230th career win.

"Pressure-wise I almost felt more pressure than a World Series game -- because unless it's a Game 6 or a Game 7, you know you have another game," Pettitte said. "This was just a special day, for the organization, for the fans and for our team. You want to win it."

He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out six before giving way to Chan Ho Park for the seventh. Kendry Morales hit a drive into the second deck in right field off Park in the eighth to make it 5-1.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Longtime Yankees Trainer Monahan Battling Cancer

Gene Monahan started his Opening Day with a radiation treatment, and punctuated it with the thrill of his distinguished baseball life.

The longtime Yankees trainer, who told ESPNNewYork.com he is suffering from throat and neck cancer, received an extended standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd immediately following Joe Girardi's introduction, when Monahan was called onto the field during the pregame ring ceremony.

With Monahan standing near first base, and with Jorge Posada asking host and Yankees TV voice Michael Kay to delay the rest of the introductions, Posada and his teammates moved to the dugout railing and joined the fans' salute as an emotional Monahan waved and patted his heart.

"The toughest part of this has been missing my family here," said the 65-year-old Monahan, who has worked in the Yankees organization for 48 years and was making his 38th consecutive Opening Day appearance with the big club.

"This particular group is very special because it looks out for each other, and they certainly looked out for me. Everybody stayed in touch, they sent me videos, and they told me to stay strong.

"I didn't want to come. I didn't want to be a distraction. I didn't want to be in the way, but I got convinced by everybody it was important to stop by and say hello and let the guys know I'm here to help out in any way I can until I get back."

Monahan said that he had surgery in January to remove his tonsils, and that he's been undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He endured his latest treatment Tuesday morning before arriving at the Stadium.

"I finish my radiation next Monday; it will be my 30th radiation," Monahan said. "I'll see my surgeon six weeks after I'm done with that, and then we're off to our next point of attack.

"I've got a good prognosis and I'm very optimistic. I just want to get back to work with these guys and contribute and see what we can do this summer. I think we've got a great chance and a great bunch."

Monahan said that he's been receiving a daily injury report from his assistant, Steve Donohue, and that he's fielded encouraging calls and text messages from the likes of Posada, Girardi, Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia and Reggie Jackson.

"The last three or four days have been tough, and I've still got a long way to go," Monahan said. "But I'm very positive about beating this."

God bless "Geno" and I know everyone wishes him a speedy recovery as many say he is one of the best guys in all of baseball.