The New York Jets have signed free agent P Reggie Hodges and waived P Eric Wilbur. 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, punting 12 games in 2008. He compiled a 42.8 average on 44 punts, with a 35.5 net average and 23 punts inside-the-20 yard-line. He was on released on April 27, 2009. In his career, he has punted in 20 games for the Rams, Eagles and Jets, with a career average of 40.2 on 85 punts with a net of 33.9. 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.

Wilbur (6-2, 200/Florida/Orlando, FL) signed with the Jets as a free agent, April 15, 2009. He 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 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 announced the hiring of Wide Receivers Coach Henry Ellard, Running Backs Coach Anthony Lynn, Assistant Secondary Coach Doug Plank and Secondary Coach Dennis Thurman. The team also announced that Bob Sutton will return as senior defensive assistant/linebackers. The announcements were made by Head Coach Rex Ryan.

Ellard (Fresno State/Fresno, CA) joins the Jets after eight seasons as the wide receivers coach with the St. Louis Rams (2001-08). Under Ellard’s tutelage, the Rams’ Torry Holt posted seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and reached 11,000 career yards in 131 games, faster than any player in NFL history. He also coached at his alma mater, Fresno State, in 2000. Ellard, a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams in 1983, finished his 16-season NFL career with 814 receptions for 13,777 yards and 65 touchdowns for the Rams, Redskins and Patriots. Ellard is currently tied for 19th in NFL history in receptions (Keyshawn Johnson), and eighth all-time in receiving yards.

Lynn (Texas Tech/McKinney, TX) spent the last six years as a running backs coach in the NFL, earning two-year stints with the Browns (2007-08), the Cowboys (2005-06) and the Jaguars (2003-04). In his first season at Cleveland, Lynn worked with Jamal Lewis, who finished fifth in the NFL with 1,304 yards rushing despite missing two games. At Dallas, Lynn oversaw the emergence of the effective duo of Julius Jones and Marion Barber III. At Jacksonville, Fred Taylor recorded two of the top four single-season rushing performances in Jaguars history under Lynn. He began his coaching career with the Broncos as an offensive assistant and assistant special teams coach (2000-02). As a player, Lynn earned two Super Bowl rings as a running back with the Broncos in 1997 and 1998 during his seven-year NFL career.

Plank (Ohio State/Greensburg, PA) joins the Jets after working as a coaching assistant with the Atlanta Falcons. Plank was the head coach of the AFL’s Georgia Force (2005-08), compiling a 47-25 record while guiding the team to an ArenaBowl appearance in 2005. In 2008, the Force won their third Southern Division Championship under Plank while earning a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year. He was named the AFL Coach of the Year on two occasions (2005 and 2007) and led the team to a franchise-best 14-2 record in 2007. Plank spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the AFL Arizona Rattlers after serving as the team’s radio and television analyst. Plank played in three Rose Bowls for Woody Hayes, was a 12th round pick in 1975 and started eight seasons for the Chicago Bears, where he was the first Bears rookie to ever lead the team in tackles. The 1980s Bears “46 Defense,” developed by Buddy Ryan, father of Rex Ryan, was named after Plank’s No. 46 jersey.

Thurman (USC/Los Angeles, CA) coached the Ravens secondary from 2002-07 alongside Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan. During his Ravens tenure, the team led the NFL with 126 interceptions and 18 interception returns for touchdowns while he was coaching Ed Reed (34 INT, 2002-07), Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle and Deion Sanders, among others. Before coming back to the NFL, he coached the defensive backs at his alma mater, USC, for eight years (1993-2000). He made his NFL coaching debut for the Phoenix Cardinals, coaching defensive backs for two seasons (1988-89). Thurman, who had 36 career interceptions and played in Super Bowl XIII in 1979 during his nine seasons as a cornerback and safety in the NFL for the Cowboys and Cardinals, was a two-time All-American safety at USC, where he was part of teams that won four bowl games and the 1974 National Championship.

Sutton (Eastern Michigan/Ypsilanti, MI) is entering his 10th season with the Jets. A former head coach (1991-99) and assistant coach (1983-91) at Army, he originally joined the Jets in 2000 as linebackers coach before being named the team’s defensive coordinator in 2006.

Losing Star QB for Season Will Effect Entire Conference

Where it used to be the New England Patriots and then everyone else in the AFC, the season-ending knee injury suffered by quarterback Tom Brady in the first quarter of the season opener has changed everything. The team that was the preseason favorite to win it all will have to defend their conference title without their field general.

No matter how good a head coach Bill Belichik may be, losing the reigning league MVP may be more than even he can overcome. No slight against Matt Cassel, but he will be making his first start since high school come this Sunday on the road against the Jets.

The former back-up nearly found himself on the unemployment line following a dismal performance in the Pats’ four exhibition losses. Now he is being asked to step in for a team that went 16-0 last season.

Cassel was able to lead the team to a 17-10 home win over the Kansas City Chiefs after taking over for Brady. Under normal circumstances, New England would have dominated a weaker opponent like the rebuilding Chiefs. They barely hung on and if that is any indication of what is in store, first place in the AFC East will not be for long.

“I would still consider them the favorite,” Jet linebacker Eric Barton said in response to a question posed to him about the Pats and the Super Bowl. “Absolutely. I think the last time they were in a situation like this they won the Super Bowl,” he continued, reflecting on the time Brady took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe on September 23, 2001 and promptly led 14-point underdog New England to a shocking victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Brett Favre agreed with Barton’s assessment. “I think the Patriots are the team to beat until proven otherwise,” the veteran quarterback said. “They have dominated this division as well as this league for a long time.”

From one QB to another, Favre isn’t buying into what people are saying about the Pats being lost without their marquee player in the lineup, but did acknowledge there will be a difference. “Matt Cassel played great the other day when he came in,” he said. “They assume he will do that. Tom Brady is Tom Brady. So that does give us a better chance.”

According to Jets head coach Eric Mangini, the new starter has enough weapons around him to carry the load. “It’s a very efficient offense,” he said. “Matt will do an excellent job for them. He’s been there a long time. I was there when he got there.

“He’s very similar to what I’ve experienced with a lot of the quarterbacks in terms of the way he approaches things, how disciplined he is and how much he studies. He’s got a strong arm. He can make plays with his feet. I think he’ll do a really, really good job.”

Heading into the season, most of the experts were putting New England, Indianapolis and San Diego at the top of the heap. Both the Colts and Chargers lost at home in Week 1 to underdog NFC teams.

An interesting campaign just got a lot more interesting. How all of this plays out is anyone’s guess at this early juncture, but no Brady can make for a very different season than what has been considered the ‘norm’ for New England.