With Eric Smith’s suspension being upheld as the NFL declined his appeal, the Jets will continue with their contingency at safety.
That likely will include Abram Elam, a part-time starter last season, starting again.
When asked what his plans are there, coach Eric Mangini said, “Somebody else playing safety,” before naming Elam, David Barrett, who started in San Diego, Hank Poteat and even rookie Dwight Lowery.
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Don’t expect Lowery, who has been starting at cornerback and is developing on the job, to have his progress disrupted by a position switch.
“After a year of being in this system I feel a lot more comfortable, understanding what we’re trying to get accomplished,” Elam said yesterday. “Each week I prepare myself as if I’m the starter. I just want us to win, so whatever I can do to help that I will.”
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There were some funny moments inside the Jets’ locker room yesterday with WR Laveranues Coles.
The first occurred when a TV reporter, identifying himself from PBS. The reporter asked Coles, “What does victory mean to you?”
Coles, completely perplexed and expecting to hear a football question of some kind, said, “What are you doing, writing a thesis or something?”
The second occurred when Coles lit into Brett Favre, whose locker is right next to his.
Peering into Favre’s locker, Coles said, “That’s the cheapest quarterback I’ve ever played with, and you can write that. He’s the only guy I know that makes all that cheese [money] and wears the same thing every day – khaki camouflage shorts with pockets.
“Hell, first thing I’m going to get him is get him some shoes. You ought to see his road trip shoes. They’re like replica Pumas or something. When I get some extra money, I’m going to get him something nice.”
Then Coles rambled, “All that money he should be able to shoot a deer and make some shoes or something. He’s been hunting for a long time.”
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Coles, speaking about a 2-yard TD he caught from Favre against the Cardinals, said Favre told him that was the first fade he’s thrown for a TD in his career.
“It was the weirdest thing for me to hear him say that,” Coles said.