These cannot be very restful nights of sleep for Jets punter Ben Graham.
Graham, who had only a mediocre 2007 season but retained his job, has had an uneven start to 2008, low-lighted by his poor performance Sunday against the Patriots in a game where the outcome was determined by field position.
Graham is ranked 23rd in the NFL in net average and 19th in gross. One of his short, line-drive punts was returned 24 yards by Kevin Faulk Sunday.
Eric Mangini yesterday sounded like a coach actively searching for a better solution, saying, “It’s a situation we’ll look at. We’ll look at it very closely, then we’ll move forward here, see where the different opportunities are and evaluate them.”
It would hardly be a shock to see a punter or two being given a workout by the Jets today.
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It looks like Jay Feely will kick again this week in place of Mike Nugent (right quadriceps pull), though Feely was guilty of a 31-yard missed field goal Sunday.
“We’ll continue on the path that we’re on with Mike,” Mangini said. “He’s trying to get back. He’s doing everything he can.”
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Jets rookie No. 1 draft pick, linebacker Vernon Gholston, continues to have a quiet start – one that included being the 12th man in the defensive huddle, good for a penalty Sunday.
“He heard one thing and it was not,” Mangini said. “I loved his enthusiasm and [wasn’t] happy with his confusion on that play.”
Mangini was asked what he thought about Denver coach Mike Shanahan going for the two-point conversion to win against San Diego in the waning seconds Sunday.
“It worked, so I think it’s a great call,” he quipped.
Asked what if it hadn’t worked, he said, “Then I’m sure [Shanahan] would be answering a lot of questions.”