The New York Jets have waived P Reggie Hodges and RB Marcus Mason. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Hodges (6-0, 235/Ball State/Champaign, IL), originally signed to the Jets active roster on Sept. 7, 2008, has punted in 20 NFL games, 12 in 2008. He has a career 42.8 average on 44 punts, with a 35.5 net average and 23 punts inside-the-20 yard-line. Hodges was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft (210th overall) by the St. Louis Rams. He appeared in five games for the Rams, before he was waived Oct. 10. He then signed with the Eagles on Nov. 2 and appeared in three games, before he was waived Nov. 22. Hodges participated in training camp for the Colts in 2006 and 2007 and for the Seahawks in 2008.

Mason (RB, 5-9, 215, Youngstown State) was originally signed by the Redskins as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 2, 2007, and waived Aug. 31, 2008.  He was signed to Baltimore’s practice squad on Sept. 3, 2008, before the Jets signed him to their active roster on Oct. 29. Mason led the NFL in rushing during the 2008 preseason with 317 rushing yards. He was inactive for seven games during the 2008 season before being waived by the Jets and signed to the practice squad.

The New York Jets have re-signed free agent OT Michael Kracalik. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Kracalik (6-8, 337/San Diego State/San Diego, CA) spent the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2006-08), where he played in four games. He was originally signed by the Jets in 2005 and was waived after training camp. He played in 10 games for the Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) in 2006, starting three games at tackle.

The New York Jets announced today that they will open to the public five June mini-camp practices as part of a week of activities at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ beginning June 6th. The team also announced that its 2009 Training Camp will feature practices open to the public in three different locations throughout the tri-state area - Upstate New York, Long Island and New Jersey.

Training camp is scheduled to begin at SUNY Cortland on July 31st.  The team will then hold a special Family Night practice on Long Island at Hofstra University, the site of their former practice facility, on August 12th. Three more practices open to the public will take place at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on August 22, 26 and 27th. 

 “I am excited that we will be able to interact with our fans throughout the region in an unprecedented series of public practices,” said Jets Owner Woody Johnson. “Starting in June, we will welcome fans to our new home for the first open practices at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Come the end of July, training camp in Cortland will provide the remote environment Coach Ryan envisions to foster team unity. We will return to our Long Island roots in August for a Family Night practice at Hofstra University and we will close out the summer in New Jersey with a final round of public practices at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.”

Jets mini-camp practices in June – Jets Week – and the Long Island and New Jersey practices in August will feature activities for the entire family. Fans attending will enjoy Generation Jets Fest, the JetsShop merchandise tent and autographs sessions with players, coaches and the 2009 New York Jets Flight Crew. Details of all mini-camp and training camp practices will be available at newyorkjets.com in the coming weeks.  Mini-camp and training camp are proudly supported by Atlantic Health, Dunkin’ Donuts, Sprint and The Record.

The New York Jets have signed free agent P Eric Wilbur. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Wilbur (6-2, 200/Florida/Orlando, FL) originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans on May 4, 2007 and was released July 23. He also was signed and released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Aug. 8, 2007. Wilbur became the first punter at the University of Florida to be named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. He concluded his collegiate career first in school history in punting yardage (9,900), attempts (231) and second in average (42.9), producing 39 punts of 50-or-more yards. 

The Jets begin the Rex Ryan Era on the road at Houston, open their final season at the Meadowlands by hosting the Patriots, and play the Bills in Toronto, Thursday night Dec. 3, highlighting the Jets schedule as the NFL unveiled the 2009 regular season slate Tuesday night on NFL Network.

“We got the schedule today and I am fired up about the upcoming season,” said Coach Ryan. “This will be my first season as a head coach and the schedule is filled with challenges, but our coaching staff and players have been working hard and I know that we will be ready.”

For the first time since 1977, when the Jets defeated the Houston Oilers, 20-0, at the Astrodome, the Jets open the season in Texas, facing the Texans, Sept. 13.

Following the opener, the Jets return home to host New England, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m., marking the fourth consecutive year that the Jets-Patriots contest at the Meadowlands opens the Jets home schedule.  After 26 seasons at the Meadowlands, their home since 1984, the team moves into New Jets Stadium beginning in 2010.

The Jets homestand continues with the AFC South Champion Tennessee Titans on Sept. 27, before two consecutive road games at New Orleans, Oct. 4, and on Monday Night at the defending AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins, Oct. 12. The Jets and Dolphins play twice in four games with the return matchup at the Meadowlands, Nov. 1, sandwiched around a home game against Buffalo, Oct. 18, and a contest at Oakland, Oct. 25. Following the Miami home game is a bye on Week Nine, after which the Jets host Jacksonville, Nov. 15, before going to Foxborough to play the Patriots, Nov. 22.

After hosting the 2008 NFC South Champion Carolina Panthers on Nov. 29, the Jets travel to Toronto to face the Bills on the Thursday Night NFL Network contest, Dec. 3 at 8:20 p.m. The Jets last traveled to Canada 21 years ago during the preseason, where they defeated the Browns, 11-7, in Montreal, Aug. 18, 1988.

The Jets return to the United States and then head to Tampa Bay, Dec. 13, before returning home to host Atlanta, Dec. 20.  The Falcons, a Wild Card Playoff team in 2008, visit the Jets at the Meadowlands for the first time since 1998.

The Jets road schedule wraps up with a trip to Indianapolis, Dec. 27, marking the Jets first game in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Jets last regular-season game, and the last scheduled NFL regular season game at the Meadowlands will be vs. Cincinnati on Jan. 3, 2009.

Since 2006, the NFL has implemented flexible scheduling for the last seven weeks of the regular season. The Jets Week 13 game vs. Buffalo at Toronto will not change but Jets games in Weeks 11, 12 and 14-17 are currently listed as TBA (to be announced), and may be played at 1 p.m., 4:05 p.m., 4:15 p.m. or at 8:15 p.m. on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Game times will be confirmed a minimum of 12 days in advance (except in Week 17 when it may be confirmed six days in advance).

The Jets preseason schedule was also finalized. The preseason opener vs. St. Louis is set for Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. Following the Jets Monday night game at Baltimore, Aug. 24, the Jets play the Giants Saturday, Aug. 29 in the final Jets-Giants game at the Meadowlands. The preseason ends with the traditional Thursday night contest vs. the Eagles.

2009 New York Jets Schedule

Preseason

8/14    Friday  vs. St. Louis   7 p.m.  WCBS

8/24    Monday  at Baltimore    8 p.m.  ESPN

8/29    Saturday        at Giants       8 p.m.  WNBC

9/3     Thursday        vs. Philadelphia        7 p.m.  WCBS

Regular Season

9/13    Sunday  at Houston      1 p.m.  CBS

9/20    Sunday  vs. New England 1 p.m.  CBS

9/27    Sunday  vs. Tennessee   4:15 p.m.       CBS

10/4    Sunday  at New Orleans  4:05 p.m.       CBS

10/12   Monday  at Miami        8:30 p.m.       ESPN

10/18   Sunday  vs. Buffalo     4:15 p.m.       CBS

10/25   Sunday  at Oakland      4:05 p.m.       CBS

11/1    Sunday  vs. Miami       1 p.m.  CBS

11/8            BYE            

11/15   Sunday  vs. Jacksonville        1 p.m.  CBS

11/22   Sunday  at New England  TBA*    TBA*

11/29   Sunday  vs. Carolina    TBA*    TBA*

12/3    Thursday        at Buffalo (Toronto)    8:20 p.m.       NFLN

12/13   Sunday  at Tampa Bay    TBA*    TBA*

12/20   Sunday  vs. Atlanta     TBA*    TBA*

12/27   Sunday  at Indianapolis TBA*    TBA*

1/3     Sunday  vs. Cincinnati  TBA*    TBA*

*Subject to NFL Flex Schedule

The Jets have hired Rex Ryan this offseason to lead an aggressive game plan on the field - “We’re not going to read-and-react, that’s for somebody else,” said Ryan. “We’re going to be attacking from the whistle. We’re going to turn the heat up.” Off the field, the Jets have adopted the same philosophy, teaming up with A&P for the Seventh Annual New York Jets Taste of the NFL Benefit. The benefit, designed to fight hunger, has raised $835,000 since 2003, looks to surpass the 1 million dollar mark this year.

“A&P is proud to partner with a team dedicated to excellence and helping others.  At A&P we also strive to provide the best for our customers and our communities especially in the fight against hunger” stated Rebecca Philbert, SVP, Merchandising and Supply & Logistics, A&P. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 5 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Cipriani’s Wall Street.  Tickets are $250 and proceeds will benefit the New York Jets Foundation.  Special VIP tickets are available in limited quantities for $400.  These tickets provide early admission, special access to Jets players and an extra hour of food sampling beginning at 6 p.m.

The benefit is an exciting star-studded culinary event packed with food, wine, fun and football. This year’s lineup of players is led by Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis and Leon Washington, while restaurants including NOBU, Tao and Blue Smoke will be present. The event is set up in a “taste-around,” style, where party attendees are invited to mingle with past and present Jets football stars and sample delectable dishes of distinguished chefs.

“A&P is the ideal partner for us in our fight against hunger,” said Jets EVP, Business Operations Matt Higgins. “This event has earned more than three quarters of a million dollars to fight hunger in our local communities and, with the help of A&P we are looking to go beyond the million dollar mark this year.”

About A&P

Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation’s first supermarket chains. The Company operates 444 stores in 8 states and the District of Columbia under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Best Cellars, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh and Food Basics.

About Taste of the NFL

Taste of the NFL is the Party With a Purpose.  The purpose is to raise awareness and dollars in the fight against hunger for thousands of families who struggle every day to simply feed their children.  The nation’s finest chefs as well as NFL legends, both past and present, volunteer their time along with the best community citizens in dozens of cities, the Super Bowl Host committees and the NFL in support of hunger relief efforts throughout the country and in the host communities.  The Jets are the top NFL team in local fundraising for Taste of the NFL, raising $835,000 during the last six events.

About the New York Jets Foundation

The New York Jets take great pride in playing an active role in making a year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation touch the lives of countless young men and women in the tri-state area.  Over the past nine years, the Jets and their charitable foundation have donated or contributed more than $9 million to promote youth health, fitness and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. From fighting childhood obesity through the Generation Jets: Be Lean & Green initiative to launching a football team in a Harlem high school, urging students to eat right and move more, and supporting the efforts of the Alliance for Lupus Research, the New York Jets invest in programs that make a difference in the lives of others. In addition to the Jets Foundation, which supports our own extensive youth initiatives, the Jets partner with numerous established charitable organizations and participate in causes sponsored by the NFL.

Contributions to the New York Jets Foundation are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent provided by law. For more information about the New York Jets Taste of the NFL Benefit, please visit www.newyorkjets.com/taste or call 1-973-549-4654 to purchase tickets.