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 New York Jets have released RG Brandon Moore and RB Noah Herron and waived DE Sean Conover. The announcements were made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Moore (RG, 6-3, 295, Illinois) originally signed as an undrafted free agent defensive lineman in 2002 and was converted to an offensive lineman during training camp. He made his regular season debut for the Jets in late 2003 at left guard. The Gary, IN native started 73 consecutive regular season games at right guard since missing three games in the middle of the 2004 season due to injury. 

Herron (RB, 5-11, 225, Northwestern) was signed to a reserve/future contract in January. He was originally selected by the Steelers in the seventh round (244^th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. He appeared in two games for the Steelers before being waived and signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad. He was signed to Green Bay’s active roster on Nov. 30, 2005. He appeared in 21 games for the Packers and rushed for 271 yards on 82 attempts (3.3 avg.) and three touchdowns.

Conover (DE, 6-5, 275, Bucknell) signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets this month. He originally signed in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans as a rookie free agent on May 5, 2006, and was promoted to the active roster on Nov. 22, 2006. In two seasons with the Titans, he played in 11 games with two starts, totaling 25 tackles, one tackle for a loss and two quarterback pressures. He had stints on the Falcons and Ravens practice squads in 2008.    

The New York Jets have released LB David Bowens and LB Brad Kassell. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Bowens (6-3/265/Western Illinois/Detroit, MI) played in 32 games with seven starts in two seasons with the Jets and recorded 44 tackles (17 solo), 6.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In 2008, he played in 16 games with five starts at inside linebacker and recorded 31 tackles (14 solo), four sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He originally signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2007 after spending seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins.  

Kassell (6-3/242/North Texas/Llano, TX) played in 32 games with two starts in two seasons with the Jets and recorded 32 special teams tackles in addition to contributing 43 tackles (25 solo) and one pass defensed. Kassell led the team in 2007 with a career-high 23 special teams tackles. He spent the 2008 season on injured reserve (knee). He originally signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 after spending four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

America’s Team Should Expect More Games from Pacman

With the start of NFL training camps, Between the Uprights will bring you a team-by-team breakdown of all 32 clubs vying for the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. We will start with the NFC East and work our way around the league.

Coming off a 13-3 season and a division championship, the Dallas Cowboys spent the offseason wondering what could have been following a tough playoff loss in Big D versus the eventual-Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The tears from T.O. may become a familiar sight with the addition of Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, the much-maligned cornerback late of the Tennessee Titans, who was reinstated by the league following a one-year suspension.

Is he talented? No question, but his off-the-field problems outweigh any good he may do between the white lines. With T.O and ‘don’t call me Pacman’ Jones around, it may be a race to see who could cause more commotion once the hugs and kisses and non-pressure of the preseason ceases. (more…)

The New York Jets have signed free agent LB Brandon Renkart and free agent DB Ron Girault, released DB Andre Woolfolk, and waived DB Darnell Bing. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Renkart (6-2/236/Rutgers/Piscataway, NJ), recorded six sacks over the past two seasons, along with 18 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 10 pressures for Rutgers. In his junior season, first as a linebacker, he ranked sixth on the team with 54 tackles (25 solo), 3.5 sacks, 11.5 stops for losses and two pressures in 13 starts. Renkart also excelled in the classroom, where he was a finalist for the prestigious Draddy Trophy, the academic version of the Heisman Trophy.

Girault (5-10/204/Rutgers/Montvale, NJ)), was a four-year starter at Rutgers. In 45 games (40 starts), he recorded 271 tackles (160 solo), 1.5 sacks (for -11 yards), nine tackles for loss, 10 interceptions for 204 yards, seven passes defended, four forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and two blocked kicks on special teams. Girault originally signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on May 3, but was waived on July 27.

Woolfolk (6-2, 197, Oklahoma), who was originally selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, joined the Jets after being out of football in 2007. In four seasons with Tennessee, Woolfolk played in 39 games and made 11 starts. He totaled 94 tackles, three interceptions, 18 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Bing (6-2, 230, USC) was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft and spent the entire 2006 season on Injured Reserve. He was waived by the Raiders on July 25 and claimed by the San Francisco 49ers July 26. He spent the entire 2007 season on the 49ers practice squad. In 37 career collegiate games (35 starts), he recorded 182 tackles (120 solos), one sack and eight interceptions. An All-American first-team selection by The Associated Press as a senior, he originally signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 15.