Secure in his steps and sapient in his speech, the seven-year veteran rarely hesitates to echo the brazen bravado more characteristic of head coach Rex Ryan. Cotchery is deliberate when he speaks, but always modest; he’s confident without arrogance, proud without sin.

When it was time for Cotchery to make his acting debut last Wednesday in the 12 Angry Mascots’ long-running, sports-themed comedy show, he appeared as comfortable acting as he would catching a pass in traffic on a Sunday afternoon.

In character, Cotchery stormed the stage, took on the character of a diva receiver, promoted a reality show, and launched a rap career within seconds in Chelsea’s Gotham Comedy Club. Kevin Armstrong summed up the sequence nicely on Manish Mehta’s “Jets Stream” blog.

It was all routine — executed as seamlessly as the precise routes he runs. And that’s when the master of ceremonies, Scott Rogowsky, called an audible at the line of scrimmage.

Customary for a 12AM show, Rogowsky sits on stage with the guest and interviews him in a format modeled after late-night television talk shows. He asks sports-related questions without the thorough analysis that intimidates casual fans, and sprinkles some of his well-executed sarcasm across the top.

“You’re the second youngest of 13 children,” Rogowsky began. “What’s it like now being reunited on the same team with your father, Antonio Cromartie?”

And the audience erupted into fits of laughter.

“Man, that’s not cool to rip on Cro!” Cotchery replied, laughing along with the shocked crowd.

Behind the scenes, Rogowsky and Neil Janowitz, fathers of the 12AM show, gave Cotchery glowing reviews. They cited his professionalism and commitment to his performance. It was only Friday when J. Co agreed to do the show, and it was Monday when he arrived to rehearsal with his lines memorized for a Wednesday night performance.

As quickly as Cotchery controlled the stage to the instrumental for M.O.P.’s 2000 single “Ante Up,” No. 89 flipped the script back to football — right on cue. After the show, Cotchery took the time to discuss the upcoming season, bonding with teammates in SUNY Cortland, and the versatility of all the Jets’ offensive weapons.

Angel Navedo: The audience got to see you rap a little bit tonight. Is this something you’ve done before?

Jerricho Cotchery: I’m telling you, man, I did everything I possibly could to get out of, what we call, the hood. I started doing that when I was around 11, just penning my stuff down.

AN: With Darrelle Revis doing his ‘Mr. Manhattan’ thing, what are the conversations like in the locker room? Are there every any battles between guys who are into making music?

JC: None at all. Guys don’t really talk about it. We talk about music and different artists that we like and friends we know who rap. But we don’t talk about it in detail.

AN: The premise in tonight’s skit was about you having your own reality show. Is that something you’d actually do, given the opportunity?

JC: If I do something, as far as a reality show, it’d be something about uplifting families. It’d be a family-oriented show, just showing how my wife and my family operates — our foundation; and that’s God. It’d be something up that alley.

AN: You were on 1050 ESPN Radio earlier in the week discussing wide receivers with Jody McDonald and Brandon Tierney (download), and expressed your faith in some receivers to step up while Santonio Holmes serves his four-game suspension. Care to elaborate?

JC: (Cotchery answered this question before the Jets re-signed Laveranues Coles. -Ed.) We have a number of guys that have been working so hard at developing their games. Everyone knows about David Clowney and his speed. Brad Smith is our all-purpose guy — you never know where you might see him line up. Aundrae Allison got hurt in the last preseason game last year, but he’s come along very well.

And my cousin — no one knows about — Marcus Henry is doing an incredible job learning to play to his size. He’s been able to watch Braylon [Edwards], the way he uses his size and his strength, and he’s been doing some of those same things. He’s always been a great route runner, so he’s trying to add that to his game as well.

AN: Have you, Holmes, and Edwards discussed the different roles you can take on offense?

JC: Our mindset is to go out there and dominate. We have a top-notch receiving corp, so that’s our mission. We see the guy that’s lined up across from us and go to work. That’s going to be our approach. That’s how we’re going to put points on the board.

AN: So there’s no such thing as a No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3?

JC: Nah, nah, nah. And none of us are worried about that. When we step out on the field, it’s about us beating the man across from us. No one is out there thinking, “Okay, the No. 1 guy is out on the field, and the No. 2 guy is on the field.” We’re just going out there, trying to make plays, and put points on the board.

AN: So we might see you in the slot for one set, and then out wide next?

JC: Yeah. That’s the thing with our offense — you have to be versatile and you have to be able to move around. All of our receivers are getting accustomed to doing that. It’s going to keep a lot of defenses off-balance.

AN: I’m sure offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is adding new wrinkles in the playbook to use all of you.

JC: Yeah, I can’t reveal those, but we have a lot of new wrinkles. It’s going to be fun. My man Dustin Keller is going to have a fun year as well.

AN: We all know training camp is tough, but with it right around the corner, what are you looking forward to most in this next month?

JC: I’m looking forward to seeing our team develop. We have a lot of guys coming in this year, so I just want to see us develop as a team, and develop that chemistry the way we did last year around this time. And I’m looking forward to getting to know my teammates really well.

For a good laugh, Nike let a few members of the media gauge their athleticism to compare against people who are actually in shape. A lot of folks were humbled.

But Revis’ confidence didn’t stagger for a moment when discussing the Jets’ potential in 2010.

“We can’t let the hype get to us. We got a lot of great players on this team, and everybody is saying ‘this and that’ about us,” Revis said. “We’re paper champs right now, and I think — as one of the leaders on this team — we need to really focus in on not being paper champs and focus on the goal at hand.

“And that’s winning our division, going to the playoffs, and winning the Super Bowl. And this is the team to do it.”

After acquiring cornerback Antonio Cromartie, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Santonio Holmes, and defensive end Jason Taylor, the Jets faced a heap of criticism for tampering with team chemistry, all for a shot at the Super Bowl.

Despite the chatter, the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback knows the environment in Florham Park is strong enough to welcome the new players with open arms.

“We’re very accepting. It’s good friendship in the locker room,” Revis said. “When those guys came in, they adapted very well. … Now it’s about executing on the field.”

And that’s the most critical challenge these Jets face in turning their paper-champion team into a Super Bowl champion. Revis has no concerns about chemistry, or how the personalities will mesh in the upcoming season.

It’s all about what happens when the pads are on.

“Santonio has to get comfortable with Mark (Sanchez). Jason Taylor has to get comfortable with the defensive line and the scheme,” Revis added. “I think it’s just those things — the football stuff — that we really need to focus on with those guys. Make sure they know everything and they can make plays.”

But it’s not only the veteran, free-agent acquisitions that Revis and the Jets are welcoming with open arms.

Kyle Wilson, the Jets first-round selection in the 2010 draft, is in Revis’ hands as he makes his transition from Boise State standout to nickelback in coach Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme.

With Wilson already knowing the playbook, Revis’ job rests in helping the rookie adapt to the mental aspect of the game. Recognizing the strategy that works best in certain situations is part of the rookie learning curve Revis hopes to ease for Wilson.

“I’m going to try and take him under my wing and teach him what I can,” Revis said. “But also, the guy has made a lot of progress. We just got done with the rookie camp. The coaches have been raving about him and about what he knows already.”

——–

It’s leadership by committee for these New York Jets. While people often look to one specific person to identify as a leader, Gang Green has no problem spreading that role around when it’s appropriate.

As far as the locker room is concerned, there are no criteria a player must meet before he can adequately lead and inspire. With future Hall of Fame veterans Tomlinson and Taylor added in the offseason, there’s no shortage of leadership experience.

“We don’t have a problem with LT breaking down the huddle, or coming in and saying how he feels,” Revis said. “We feel comfortable with these guys. … They’re part of the Jets. So let’s get this Super Bowl.”

Banking on the second-year quarterback’s progress, Gang Green added two offensive weapons for Sanchez in receiver Santonio Holmes and running back LaDainian Tomlinson. And the 23-year-old Sanchez is dedicated to running with it and building a familial dynamic on offense.

“When we’re not throwing and working out, it’s important to just hang out,” Sanchez said. “Not just in the film room and in the facility, but you [have to] go to dinner with them. Not as a chore, but it’s something you want to get to know these guys.”

That means planning to vacation with his receivers this offseason, “either in California, or somewhere else,” Sanchez said. Developing a rapport with his teammates and learning his receivers’ preferences takes as much precedence as forging the friendship.

“When it’s the heat of the moment,  it’s the fourth quarter, tensions are raised, [and] guys are yelling back and forth, you know it’s never personal. … You know there’s that deep bond — that love between you guys — and know that it’s all about winning this game. Nothing’s ever personal.”

But what is becoming personal is the growing sentiment among pundits that the Jets have added too many volatile personalities that will be more explosive in the locker than on the field. Being cognizant of a player’s history and indiscretions is fine, but it undermines the environment coach Rex Ryan and his players have worked on for more than a year.

There are no opportunities to be disruptive on a team where the leadership is unified in achieving a common goal.

“With the Jets, it’s a family-like atmosphere,” Sanchez explained. “These guys support you to the very end. There’s no greater testament to that as when we go through that slump during the season, and it’s not like the whole team was playing poorly. It was me.”

Those are days Sanchez plans to leave behind him. Much like receiver Jerricho Cotchery, Sanchez recognizes the potential for a more explosive offense. Combining the Jets’ newest acquisitions with returning running back Leon Washington creates a semblant pick-your-poison conundrum for opposing defenses next season.

Second-year running back Shonn Greene figures to carry the Jets’ league-leading rush attack. Leon Washington and Tomlinson are both threats in space, either as receivers out of the backfield, or through the holes created by the offensive line. And Dustin Keller is excited about the opportunities he’ll find as a pass-catching tight end with so much attention focused on the receivers.

“I think [Holmes and Tomlinson] are guys that can touch the ball behind the line of scrimmage — four or five yards, even — and take it the distance. Losing Leon early last year was tough on us. We didn’t have that big-time, explosive back, and we made due,” Sanchez said. “I think they all add to everything we bring to the table. It’s going to be a fun year for us.”

—–

With the 2010 NFL Draft on the horizon, Sanchez also recollected his memories of the experience and the anxiety he felt until being picked fifth-overall. After expecting to be selected by Seattle with the fourth pick, Sanchez spoke of his confusion between the time the Seahawks selected Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and the phone call from general manager Mike Tannenbaum following the trade with Cleveland.

Now that a new crop of rookies are slated to come into Florham Park, Sanchez explained the kind of environment new players will enter after this weekend.

“Only thing I can compare it to is what I know, what he had at [the University of Southern California]. It was a family, it wasn’t just a team. Guys here are very supportive,” Sanchez said. “You take your lumps physically and verbally; they get into you a little bit. But at the same time, that’s just part of earning your stripes and growing up in this league. … It’s the most supportive you could ever imagine a team to be. Any rookie that comes to our team, they’re going to be very happy and excited to be with us.”

After spending Wednesday morning showcasing Reebok’s ZigTech sneaker for the media at the Reebok Sports Club in Lincoln Square, the seventh-year receiver beamed while discussing the offensive possibilities with the Jets’ wealth of weaponry.

Cotchery never wondered if the Jets’ additions — Holmes and former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson — would negatively impact his role. Instead, he challenged opposing defenses to figure out how to stop an offense that boasts three receivers who have primary-target ability.

“When you have your third guy — your third cornerback playing one of us — what are you really going to do with that?” Cotchery asked. “It’s going to create a lot of problems, a lot of problems for defenses and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”

Holmes, the Super Bowl XLIII MVP, is fresh off a 1,248-yard, five-touchdown season in Pittsburgh, and Braylon Edwards earned Pro Bowl honors with the Browns in 2007 following a career-best 1,289-yard season with 16 touchdowns. Cotchery also nabbed a career-high 1,130 yards in 2007 through 15 games.

“We didn’t even bring up the other weapons as far as the tight ends and running backs,” Cotchery said. “So just talking about the receivers, now you’re looking at, ‘What are we gonna do?’”

Although Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork wasn’t too concerned with the possibilities, telling reporters Tuesday that the Jets’ acquisitions look good “on paper,” it will be interesting to see how defenses change their approach against a team that won’t rely so heavily on the run going forward.

With three wide outs for Sanchez to target, and Tomlinson projected to be most effective as a receiver out of the backfield, it’s not unreasonable to suggest a philosophical shift in offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s gameplans next season.

It was no secret that Gang Green intended to hammer the ball with former running back Thomas Jones leading the charge, but Cotchery now sees the Jets as a “well-rounded group on offense” that’s ripe for second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez if he builds on his progress from late last season.

“He came into his own in the AFC Championship game,” Cotchery said of Sanchez’s 257-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Indianapolis Colts last January. “We’re just looking forward to more of that this coming year.”

And Cotchery, who’s well experienced with quarterbacks ranging from Brooks Bollinger to Brett Favre, has the utmost confidence in Sanchez to take the necessary steps toward improving and bringing the rest of the team along with him.

“We just clicked. We know what each other is thinking, and that’s the key,” Cotchery said, describing his relationship with Sanchez. “That’s the key, so we’re going to try and get that same chemistry with everyone else on the offense, and once we do that — look out.”

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @fittedhatlow.

Sure, my BlackBerry caught his eye, sparking a brief discussion about the merits of the 9700’s trackpad over the trackball on other devices. But that came second to a subtle display of Rex Ryan’s contagious confidence.

With an even more extensive résumé, now featuring a second-consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl, a postseason charge to the AFC Championship game, and a league-leading rushing attack — aided by the grunt work of the offensive line he commands — the 26-year-old center from Ohio is exactly as I remembered him, only with more accolades.

Maintaining and building upon greatness looks to be the goal in 2010, and although Mangold won’t be the first to boast, he knows what he wants and he believes this team can get it done.

Angel Navedo: We met last year at UbiSoft’s holiday preview event.  Did you get a chance to pick up and play Assassin’s Creed II?

Nick Mangold: (nods) [I've] been playing it, but it’s been slow going. I got it middle of the season, [but] I didn’t really play too much. … Luckily, playoffs got in the way. I’m happy with that outcome. But it’s a good game, definitely.

AN: Here we are with UbiSoft again. Is there some type of connection with them?

Mangold: They’re good people. They’ve got some good games. It’s nice to have a good company and a good product, so you try to latch on to those type of things.

AN: And Just Dance – it looks like a pretty fun game.

Mangold: It is. It’s a good time. I got a little sister who’s 10 and she loves the Wii. I got her a Wii one year for Christmas and every time a game comes out, she always beats me at something. So if I get a chance to get a leg up on her, you know I’ll take it.

AN: So you’ve now got two Pro Bowls to your credit. What was it like the second time around?

Mangold: It was great! To have that honor the second year in a row, I was very appreciative of the guys who voted for me.

It’s something [when] you sit there and you look in that locker room before you go out, and you see the people you’re sharing it with, you know? It’s a very humbling experience.

AN: Last year when we spoke, you told me going against [nose tackle] Kris Jenkins was “horrible.” Unfortunately, he went down for the season. From your experience going against that defense, what changed after he was gone?

Mangold: I think it was our guys stepping up. They did a great job of filling in the void when Kris left. I think people saw the opportunity to step in and make plays.

AN: Nothing in the scheme changed?

Mangold: Yeah. I don’t think we really changed too much. But I don’t know much about the defense other than it confuses me greatly. Otherwise, I think they did just a really good job of filling in.

Tough to argue with the No. 1 defense.

AN: The Thomas Jones release happened. It’s been reported that he was the vocal leader in the locker room. Who steps up to that role with him gone?

Mangold: I don’t know. I think we’ll probably have a tryout basis as we go forward – see who’s a vocal guy in the locker room. I’m not much of a vocal guy. I don’t get into the “rah-rah,” but it’s good to have. I’m sure we’ll have someone step up and fill the hole.

AN: How did you take the news when you found out he wasn’t going to be part of the team?

Mangold: I was disappointed. He’s a great guy, a great player, and a great teammate. But you understand that it’s part of the business — everyone knows it going in. Hopefully guys learn it early so it saves heartache and pain down the road. But as long as you understand that it’s all part of the business, you get over it.

AN: Do you feel like Shonn Greene is ready pick up where Jones left off?

Mangold: I think so. He’s putting in work. He’s a heck of a running back. He’s starting to talk a little bit more, so you’re getting more humor out of him. It’ll be good to see as [organized team activities] come around [in May]. We’ll be able to get on the field and see how he handles the load.

AN: What were your thoughts when you found out LaDainian Tomlinson was joining the team?

Mangold: It’s always a great opportunity to add somebody of his caliber. I know we wouldn’t bring somebody in if they didn’t have some good stuff left in their tank. I haven’t been too worried about if he has it left in him.

I think the experience [Tomlinson] brings — what he has — to our running backs room is only going to help us. I think it’s going to be a good addition.

AN: One of the big things you touched on last year was how significant Coach Callahan was to helping the offensive line come along. Do his blocking schemes make it easier to feel like most backs can step in and lead the league in rushing again?

Mangold: We hope so. I think [a] good measure [for an] offensive line is how well your running backs do if your quarterback stays healthy. It’s a great thing if you’re able to put somebody else back there and still have the same success. It’s going to take some work, and this offseason will be a good time to get that work done. We’re excited.

AN: What’s your experience been like watching Mark Sanchez? At what time did you think it all came together for him?

Mangold: I think it came together [during the] middle of the year when we were down and we had that low spot. He had two ways to go: tank it and say it’ll get better next year, or it could get better now. I think when he realized he could get better now and did that, it was a big moment for him.

AN: There have been some vague reports about contract talks and your future with the Jets. What are you anticipating going forward?

Mangold: I don’t know how much the talks have been going on. Of course, I’d love to stay with the Jets, [and in] New York. I love where we’re at in [New] Jersey. I know when the time comes, the Jets will do the right thing. When that time comes. TBD.

AN: What would you like to see happen this upcoming season?

Mangold: I’d like to see the same running success. I’d like to build off what we had last season. You can be good and do it once, or you can be great and repeat it. I’m excited to get back out there and see if we can do it again.

Special thanks to Anthony Quintano at QuintanoMedia.com for the artwork.

Everyone take a knee.

A few months ago, I wrote a piece for AskMen.com explaining why New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is great for the NFL—through the good and the bad. Today, I am here to tell you why I’m a devout follower of Rexianity.

Non-believers can scrutinize his bravado all they like, but his brash persona is a welcomed change to Roger Goodell’s NFL show of scripted press conferences and agent-prepared statements.

No one likes being patronized, yet it’s common practice with most other coaches. For years, fans have been made to feel like unnecessary spectators to a game their dollars supports.

The fourth wall was broken the moment Rex Ryan called Jets season-ticket holders and asked them to show up and be loud.

With all of his rambunctious might, Ryan vanquished the evil chorus chanting ”Same Old Jets” at every opportunity. Despite the trials and tribulations, Ryan’s prowess created an Eden of pride around a franchise marred by decades of hopelessness.

He didn’t need any standoffs with the media, nor did he need to make a vain attempt at a competitive advantage through childish scheming. He told everyone what he was about and acted without concern for consequence.

There were no veils of secrecy. Last January, he took the podium at the Jets facilities in Florham Park, New Jersey, and promised an aggressive defense and dedicated running attack.

A year later and the Jets led the NFL in both categories throughout the regular season for a hard-fought playoff berth.

That’s the Genesis of Rexianity, as delivered by the man I consider the prophet of the pigskin.

The Mouthy Messiah

Ryan began his tenure with a public challenge to Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, a refusal to kiss any of Bill Belichick’s Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and an earnest wish to play the San Francisco 49ers after they accused the Jets of tampering with then-holdout receiver Michael Crabtree.

All before his first bye week as a head coach.

Yet, defining Ryan’s season by press clippings alone does a disservice to the job he’s done turning the Jets into a title contender. As our fingers pitter-patter against the keyboards with opinions of his exploits, Ryan is turning his team into a family.

The early summer war of words with Crowder focused all media attention on the Jets head coach and not the shaky quarterback competition between rookie Mark Sanchez and backup Kellen Clemens.

As the season progressed, he proved to every man in his locker room that he’ll be the first to fight for them when necessary.

If he’s not giving a heartfelt, emotional address to his team, he’s criticizing the 36 voters who didn’t select cornerback Darrelle Revis as Defensive Player of the Year.

“I would like to congratulate the people that voted for Darrelle Revis. These guys obviously really know the game,” said Ryan on Tuesday, before bashing the Green Bay Packers defense against the Arizona Cardinals. “I tip my hat to them because they really know the game. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Jets players don’t have to come out and say it, but with every word Ryan builds another wall his team would demolish for their coach.

And don’t think for a moment that Ryan’s dedication to his men isn’t noticed by NFL players whose relationships have soured with their coaches (see: Brandon Marshall).

Through respect, loyalty, and pride, Ryan has shown the consistency of his character  since his introduction. Consistent often runs parallel to genuine, and that goes a long way towards keeping players on his side.

“Everybody had mixed feelings about (Eric Mangini),” Revis said to Rich Cimini of the Daily News. “As a team, you can’t go far (like that). … We’re men, we’re not boys. Coach Mangini ran it like a high-school team where he wanted all the control.”

Defense Done Differently

This is what we Rexians call the Immaculate Hiring.

Finally, the Jets front office selected a leader whose philosophy wasn’t going to set the team back with an overhaul to the personnel. Trumpets blared, angels sang, and the light broke through the skies.

In Ryan, the Jets hired a confident man with the football acumen to make his scheme work—a far cry from the arrogant coaches of old who jettisoned potential Jets greats.

Although Bill Parcells returned the Jets to respectability in the late 1990s, his decision to bid adieu to defensive end Hugh Douglas, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1995, was based on a personal dedication to his 3-4 defense. Douglas went on to wreak havoc with the Philadelphia Eagles and remains a local sports media figure.

In 2001, Herm Edwards, a defensive backs coach in Tampa Bay, brought his 4-3 base, Cover 2 philosophy to New York, and moved ahead without linebacker James Farrior. He went on to Pittsburgh where he became the centerpiece of the Steelers defense.

After Edwards was fired, the 3-4 defense returned in 2006 with Eric Mangini, rinsing away five years of building a 4-3 defense which ranked in the Top 10 in 2004. Pro Bowl linebacker and captain Jonathan Vilma, another former Defensive Rookie of the Year, was packaged to the New Orleans Saints for draft picks.

It might as well be the Old Testament.

Rex Ryan came to the Jets, signed inside linebacker Bart Scott to replace an aging Eric Barton, and plugged a familiar face or two in positions that needed to be addressed. Without shuffling the roster, Ryan still shuffled the Jets defense to the top of the NFL in one season.

There’s a reason every game feels like Judgment Day for the other team.

Gang Green’s 29-15 win against the 14-0 Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium was met with disdain. This time around, the agony of defeat is credited to Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell and not the Jets’ top-ranked defense.

That’s irresponsible. Accusing Caldwell of sabotaging a perfect season by resting select starters, including MVP-candidate Peyton Manning, is an irrational oversimplification.

On a day where league leaders on opposite ends of the statistic spectrum met—the Colts’ prolific passing attack and the Jets’ stingy pass defense—the only crime Caldwell committed was disallowing the fans of finally answering what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

“We tried to score as many points as we could,” admitted Manning during his postgame press conference. The Jets top-ranked defense was the reason they couldn’t.

The writing was on the wall: The Jets were not going quietly into the night, and the Colts were benching themselves.

Allow me to paint the picture with the masterful strokes of a classically-trained artist.

This Is Not a Recap — It’s a Pattern

Manning commanded two touchdown drives before becoming a spectator, but his disappointment was captured by CBS’ cameras long before he took to the sidelines.

Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne may have helped Manning become the fastest player to eclipse 50,000 passing yards in a career yesterday, but they were also a step slow, missing opportunities against a defense that doesn’t give many.

Outside of dissecting Jets’ cornerback Lito Sheppard, Manning struggled to build a rhythm in the passing game. The Colts’ offense relied on running backs Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown to score the team’s only touchdowns.

Jets’ safety Eric Smith set the defensive tone on the first play when he flipped a leaping Austin Collie upside-down for a one-yard loss. That was Caldwell’s first warning.

When linebacker Bryan Thomas blocked Adam Vinatieri’s extra point attempt following Addai’s 21-yard dash to the end zone, the momentum shifted right back into the Jets’ favor despite the two-score deficit.

Brad Smith’s franchise record-setting 106-yard kick return for a touchdown to start the second half gave the Jets a 10-9 lead, proving the Jets were going to find ways to score against Caldwell’s Colts.

And then the Colts nearly snatched the momentum back from the Jets when Manning orchestrated an impressive nine-play, 81-yard drive, capped off by Brown’s one-yard rumble into the end zone.

The momentum was short-lived when the Jets stuffed the two-point conversion attempt.

Caldwell’s decision to introduce backup quarterback Curtis Painter was met with a sack and forced fumble by linebacker Calvin Pace. The forced fumble was met by defensive end Marques Douglas for a shuffle into the end zone and go-ahead score.

And the Jets took a solid three-point lead when quarterback Mark Sanchez lofted a pass into the hands of tight end Dustin Keller for a successful two-point conversion.

Extra points were stopped on the field, the Colts were trying to score, and all they could muster was an uncomfortable 15-10 lead with a perfect season on the line against a tenacious team in pursuit of a playoff berth.

That is the anatomy of an upset in the making.

New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes sent a message on Sunday that didn’t take 140 characters or fewer against the Carolina Panthers.

The avid tweeter delivered a two-interception performance to stamp a final exclamation point on a tumultuous week that started with a demotion. Jets coach Rex Ryan had removed the fifth-year safety from his base 3-4 packages.

Yet, Rhodes still didn’t say enough. Making Jake Delhomme, a turnover-plagued quarterback, look like a turnover-plagued quarterback doesn’t signal the long-awaited return of the Jets’ playmaking superstar.

But if you ask Kerry, he’ll imply that the demotion was all he needed to reignite his fires.

“The message was sent,” said Rhodes, briefly. “Now I am moving on…You saw Kerry today and that is what you will see.”

A peculiar notion, to say the least.

The Jets’ 2008 defensive captain shouldn’t need a message to become the blitzing ball hawk who was snubbed in Pro Bowl voting, following strong 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

And he definitely shouldn’t have needed a message after an offseason he peppered with expectations of performances akin to that of Baltimore Ravens five-time All-Pro safety Ed Reed.

Former Jets quarterback Ray Lucas and NFL analyst Adam Schein discussed Rhodes’ performance on SNY after the game, and they agreed on something fans believed was missing from Rhodes’ preparation all season: he played like a man who studied the film on Delh-”Oh my God! Where are you throwing?” and took advantage.

If Lucas and Schein were right about Rhodes improving his preparation with more film study, then that speaks to a much bigger problem with the player who’s posted more than 7,100 messages to his Twitter profile.

Regardless, the intention is not to vilify Rhodes for his extracurricular activities—that would be inappropriate. But his motivation is not beyond reproach.

When former Jets coach Eric Mangini shipped Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints, he also shipped the defensive leader who kept Rhodes in the film room. The result: David Harris emerged as the quiet leader where Vilma once stood, and Rhodes regressed to a playmaker by previous reputation.

As it stands, fans have to wonder if Rex Ryan should consider making the demotion even stronger than just a message. Perhaps it could signify a real change.

Granted, Rhodes’ success could have been a result of added determination after an embarrassing public demotion. And then his performance could also have to do with the decrease in responsibility in his new role.

Finding the field in nickel packages didn’t require Rhodes to have sideline-to-sideline range in the defense against the Panthers. He played a support role and waited for Delhomme to toss one of those errant passes he’s become infamous for since January.

Rhodes is more athletic than Eric Smith, the safety who replaced him, but one has to wonder if he’s diagnosing plays with the efficiency needed to be the deep safety in Rex Ryan’s defense.

Nonetheless, consider these the cracks in the wall that separate fan from journalist:

1. I own an authentic Kerry Rhodes jersey.
2. Kerry Rhodes’ autograph is permanently Sharpie’d onto another jersey of mine.

It’d bring me great joy to declare the end of Rhodes’ two-year regression. But in the spirit of responsibility, it must be understood that such a declaration would be premature.

Until then, I’m looking down the road as far as I can, hoping the demotion made all the difference.

Revis took a moment to discuss his methods on the field, two-year-old grudges against receivers who scored on him, and life for the Jets’ defense after Kris Jenkins’ season-ending knee injury.

Angel Navedo: Is it safe to say that tonight is your acting debut?

Darrelle Revis: Yeah (smirks). I don’t know. It might be. [There is] going to be comedy with it, though. I just want to have fun with it. I joke a lot, so this is something that’s going to open me up and let people see Darrelle Revis off the field.

AN: Any plans to do more work in front of the camera down the line?

DR: (thinks for a moment) Eh, if it presents itself, [then] I’ll look more into it. But right now, I’m just doing this for a good cause—for Crohn’s and Colitis disease research. I’m here to have fun in the city tonight. [The 12 Angry Mascots] asked me to do it, and I just want to enjoy it.

AN: Now, most cornerbacks consider themselves either ballhawks or physical guys, but you do both well. Do you prefer a certain style?

DR: It can be both ways. I try to think of myself as an all-around corner. I like to cover, but I like to come up and tackle as well. In certain situations, I might be a finesse type of corner on receivers or with the quarterback.

And sometimes I might just wanna get in your face and tear it off (laughs).

AN: When you watch film, do you still identify problem areas in your game?

DR: It depends. We all make mistakes, week in and week out. The one thing I try to always preach on to myself is being consistent in my play, even at practice. I go back and look at the practice film and see if I made a step the wrong way, or did something else. I try and critique myself.

Usually, nine times out of 10, I know as soon as I mess up. If it’s in a game or if it’s in practice, I automatically know. It’s something you have to know and follow to keep your game consistent against some of the top receivers in the league.

AN: Do you feel like your mistakes are things you mostly do to yourself, or were you caught offguard?

DR: It’s moreso something I did to myself. Don’t get me wrong, these top receivers get paid a lot of money, too. I have to have my “A+” game on these guys. You can’t try to relax or give in.

Every now and then there might be a false step here and there, but you can recover and do other things. It depends on how athletic you are. But if you know yourself, you can avoid getting caught in bad situations.

AN: Any situations where guys really try and test you?

DR: I was tested real good last week [by Buffalo Bills' receiver] Terrell Owens. [On the] first play, he tried to come off the ball and knock my head off. And he saw that I was meeting him head on.

You can’t show that you’re weak out there.

AN: I remember you last played Owens in your rookie year. And if I’m not mistaken he’s one of two guys who did catch a touchdown on you.

DR: Yes (laughs).

AN: But you bounced back and kept him covered this time around. What was it like getting another chance at him?

DR: That actually stuck with me for two years (laughs). I really took it to heart, and I always wanted to get a chance to play him again—to compete with him and show him that it ain’t gonna happen this time.

I was so excited when he signed with the Bills, because now I get to see him twice a year. I know he’s a great player, so I have to match every step with what he does. That’s what I tried to do [on Sunday] to get him back, and I actually did. He caught three balls for 13 yards.

AN: But what about the other guy who scored on you in 2007?

DR: Braylon Edwards (laughs). And now he’s my teammate, but I can’t do nothing to him.

AN: Maybe see him in practice?

DR: Not during the season (laughs). We don’t want to hurt the star players. Maybe in training camp, though; it might get a little bit heated in the offseason.

AN: Speaking of injuries, how is the defense adjusting to the loss of Kris Jenkins? How does losing him change things for the secondary?

DR: We have to focus on what we do. Our first job is to not let any balls go over our heads. Through the six games we’ve had, we’ve been doing fairly well, but we have to keep focus on that. But now it comes to a point where we might have to come up and tackle more.

Kris Jenkins is a big loss. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and everything; big body at 6′4″, 380 pounds. He takes up two guys sometimes.

AN: He’s listed at 360. Are you saying he’s actually 380?

DR: I don’t know. I just know he’s a big cat (laughs). But we still believe in the guys who are going to step in for him. They wouldn’t be in the NFL if they couldn’t.

[Injuries are] just tough, man. We’re even kind of short at the receiver position. [Losing] Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith hurts. We want to get them back, but they have to come back healthy.

AN: And this Sunday you’re going to Oakland to face a Raiders team that looks to be improving. How’s coach Rex Ryan preparing you to come back from the Buffalo loss?

DR: Basically, don’t take [the Raiders] lightly. They beat a good Philadelphia Eagles team, [and] they beat us last year in Oakland. [Coach Ryan] told us this is a trap game. This is a situation where we have to go out there and prove not just to them, but to the NFL that we’re still a top contending team in this league.

AN: Thanks a lot, Darrelle. Good luck this week and have a great show.

DR: You’re welcome, man.

Click here for excerpts of Darrelle Revis’ performance with the 12 Angry Mascots, courtesy of the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

A 6′4″, 360-pound defender by trade, but persistent competitor at heart will be forced to the sideline for the rest of 2009 with a devastating, season-ending knee injury.

The torn anterior cruciate ligament was confirmed by Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News, ending speculation and sprinkling salt on the Jets’ wounds after a crushing 16-13 divisional loss to Buffalo.

It was the second quarter when Jenkins stopped Bills running back Fred Jackson. Jenkins remained on the turf as the congestion around him cleared, grimacing as trainers examined him before hobbling gingerly off the field with help.

He never returned, but now fans have to wonder if he’ll be able to return as the same Kris Jenkins after surgery.

The road is one Jenkins has already traveled. In 2005, he was with the Carolina Panthers when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. The season-ending injury followed a shoulder injury that sidelined him in 2004.

Although he returned to All-Pro form after finding a home with the Jets in 2008, the injuries happened to a younger, smaller Jenkins.

Given his massive stature and age—Jenkins turned 30 in August—is it reasonable to expect No. 77 to return to All-Pro form on two surgically repaired knees?

Jenkins is a recently married man with two young children. He may reach a crossroads when deciding if he’d like to continue playing a game where injuries come back to haunt players.

Under such circumstances, Jenkins’ return could rely more heavily on his feelings as a family man than it does on the rehabilitation of his knee.

But it’s far too soon for such speculation, right?

As it stands, coach Rex Ryan must figure out how to help his defense recover from the dagger that was driven into his unit’s heart. Make no mistake about it—the defensive scheme doesn’t function properly without Jenkins on the field.

His ability to collapse the pocket, devour runs, and occupy the line of scrimmage is a skillset the Jets require to function properly. Without him, Ryan is forced to concoct a new defensive formula to disrupt the offense.

Sione Pouha, a 6′3″, 325-pound defensive tackle, moves up the depth chart with Jenkins’ injury. But can the Jets expect a 30-year-old perennial backup in his fifth year to fill the void Jenkins’ injury created?

If the Pouha experiment doesn’t work, Ryan may have to deviate from his 3-4 defensive scheme and explore more four-man fronts with a rotating defensive line.

Defensive end Shaun Ellis could be move inside in some situations with some outside linebackers taking a three-point stance to seal the edges. But that’s only more speculation in a confusing time for the Jets defense.

Whatever the situation, fans should expect a significant trial and error period before Ryan develops new schemes for his players strengths.