NFL

Distractions find Jets … again

You would think Bart Scott would have more important matters on his mind yesterday than threatening a reporter in the Jets locker room for taking his picture with a cell phone. The Jets face what Darrelle Revis called “a must win” situation against the Dolphins tomorrow in a game where Scott will be counted on to improve a defense that has allowed an average of 27.5 points in two games.

Certainly, if Scott snarls at the Dolphins the way he did at Dan Leberfeld yesterday, perhaps Miami will cower and make it an easy victory for Rex Ryan’s crew. But I doubt Reggie Bush will be intimidated if Scott tells him: “I’ll smack the s— out of you.”

Heck, even Leberfeld didn’t back down.

Scott got heated a few minutes after Tim Tebow held court to discuss the front page of yesterday’s New York Post that showed a picture of him showing off “his heavenly physique” in an Annie Leibovitz photograph for Vogue.

“A lot of the guys have been teasing me about the pictures,” said Tebow, who went on to talk about what he looks for in a partner.

We’ll refrain from calling it a circus-like atmosphere because Scott and the Jets seem to be offended by that. But it’s hard to see how these types of distractions help a team prepare for a game that figures to be as challenging mentally as it will be physically.

The Dolphins might not be able to match the Jets man-for-man on a physical and talent level, but they’ll have plenty of intangibles in their favor that could play mind games with the Jets.

There’s the heat. With temperatures expected to be in the mid-80s tomorrow, the Jets have been preparing all week to deal with warm conditions. The coaching and medical staffs have told their players to stay hydrated and get their proper rest. But the temperatures have been cool in Florham Park all week and wearing full pads in Miami for four quarters figures to be a shock to their systems.

“It’s an undeniable advantage for them being as they’re a lot more used to it and we’re just coming down there to play,” said linebacker Aaron Maybin. “But all of us have been playing football our whole lives and we’ve played in hot games before. It’s different than what we’ve been used to the last couple of weeks, but I don’t think it will be that hard to handle.”

The Dolphins also employ an up-tempo, no-huddle offense, which means there will be no rest for the Jets defense. Staying alert, staying focused and staying ready play after play will be as draining as playing in the sun. The Jets insist they’re prepared. They’ve worked all week in practice to keep up with the Dolphins offense, but pace figures to be even more hectic than what the scout team could impersonate. The Dolphins normally snap the ball with 15 to 20 seconds left on the play clock, Ryan said, putting constant stress on a defense.

“We definitely practiced it all week long,” Ryan said. “It may not be exactly the same, but sometimes tempo is the most important thing, trying to simulate that to our defense. They’re unlike any team in the league. We understand that.”

The Jets also understand they are 2-4 against the Dolphins in the Ryan era, including losses in two of the three games in South Florida. That includes a 19-17 loss last year in the final game of the season when the Jets fractured as a team and Santonio Holmes was benched without Ryan knowing it.

The Jets insist they’re a much stronger team internally and mentally this year. But that has to be questioned when Scott, a team leader, has to be restrained by a member of the Jets public relations staff from going after a reporter in the middle of the locker room 48 hours before a game.