Jones Scores Three TDs to Pick Up a Listless Favre

Thomas Jones found the endzone on three separate occasions to lead the Jets to a 26-14 win at home versus the still-winless Cincinnati Bengals. On an unseasonably warm day at the Meadowlands, quarterback Brett Favre did not have his best outing (two interceptions, one fumble) and the Jets were still able to up their record to 3-2.

“Turnovers will come back and bite you but you have to be able to overcome the turnover,” said Favre after the game. The Jets were tested on that analogy early on when Atwan Odom sacked Favre on the Jets first drive and stripped the ball, which was picked up by safety Chinedum Ndukwe and returned 15 yards for a touchdown. (more…)

Malcontent Wideout More Distraction than Attraction

When the Giants were shopping Jeremy Shockey, the opinions ranged from one extreme to the other. What the Pro Bowl tight end brought to the table as far as receptions and blocking went were never disputed, but the multiple distractions he caused added up to make him expendable.

Big Blue rid themselves of one problem child when they pulled the trigger on the offseason trade of Shockey to New Orleans, but were still stuck with perhaps a bigger one in Plaxico Burress. The veteran wide receiver recently came back following a two-week suspension after playing hooky from practice and not even bothering to phone in.

Most reasonable people – even professional athletes – would be apologetic and remorseful, especially one that just signed a five-year, $35 million contract extension. But not Burress, who seemed defiant during a conference call on Monday.

“I don’t have any regrets for that at all,” he said. “I haven’t lost any sleep. I enjoyed my week off.” (more…)

‘The Incredible Bulk’ Comes Clean on “Inside the NFL”

Some things are better off never said. When former first round bust Tony Mandarich admitted on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” that he used anabolic steroids, it was the equivalent of Tommy Lee saying that he smoked marijuana.

It just so happens that the ex-Packer and Colt is making the rounds promoting his autobiography, “My Dirty Little Secrets - Steroids, Alcohol and God.” Nothing like using that magic word when looking for attention.

“I used them,” said Mandarich on the weekly program. “This is the first time I ever said it. If I would have come out and said it, I think it would have affected a lot of other people that were doing the same things.” (more…)