Laveranues Coles still is not speaking to reporters, an unfortunate adolescent act of sulking over his hurt feelings about the Jets’ sudden release of close friend Chad Pennington when Brett Favre was acquired.
But Coles is speaking to Favre, and that’s of most importance as Favre works overtime to learn the Jet offensive system and the nuances of his new receivers, including Coles.
Favre, in fact, had a conversation with Coles yesterday during which he paid him a pretty high compliment.
“I talked with him in the locker room and said he’s a lot like [Packer WR Donald] Driver, and I mean that with the highest compliments,” Favre said.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys come and go who had tremendous speed, who could jump high, who could bench press more than anyone in the locker room but couldn’t play football.
“When it’s all said and done, that’s the most important thing. Can you play? Obviously, Laveranues has had a great career up to this point, and I don’t see any reason why, barring some freak injury, he doesn’t have a wonderful five more years or however long he wants to play.
“I think his playmaking ability and yards after the catch ability is a lot like Driver, along with his experience.”
Driver was Favre’s go-to man in Green Bay, catching 84, 86, 92 and 82 passes the last four seasons and averaging more than 1,200 yards per year, catching 24 TDs during that span.
Favre went on to say that, in meetings when some players might not understand the big picture regarding why certain plays are installed and called, Coles “gets it right away.”
What Coles isn’t getting at the moment is a lot of practice playing time, because he’s been sidelined with a leg injury that has kept him out of the first two preseason games and limited him in practice.
Coles was limited in practice yesterday, not participating in any 11-on-11 drills.
The injury isn’t believed to be serious, but coach Eric Mangini is being cautious.
Asked about the importance of getting Coles back onto the field for Saturday’s preseason game against the Giants so he and Favre can have some game action together, Mangini said, “The important thing is to get Laveranues ready for the regular season. No you can be a little more cautious than you may be in the regular season. You have a little more time.
“But they’ve gotten some drill work in.”
Mangini said of Coles that keeping him out is more “precautionary and making sure we’re really over the hump before we move too quickly” and play him too soon.
“We want him at 100 percent,” Favre said. “Obviously, he didn’t do a lot [yesterday]. We just talked through some things. Having him out there talking through things and having his experience can’t do anything but help us.
“I can’t wait to get him back, [but] I’m sure Eric doesn’t want to put him on the field until he’s 100 percent. It makes no sense.”