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.

The New York Jets discovered a few more creative ways in their crushing 16-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It was a masterful showing of ineptitude in all phases of a football game after two previous flirtations with disaster.

A second-quarter, season-ending injury to All Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins triggered a tragedy of errors, highlighted by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and his five-interception outing.

Coach Rex Ryan showed his rookie colors again with poorly-timed challenges and a mismanaged clock. A lost fourth-quarter challenge exhausted a valuable timeout following a Buffalo punt return for an insignificant six yards.

Penalty flags flew early and often with everything from false starts to unnecessary roughness. While Ryan’s Jets are certainly more aggressive, they’re also undisciplined when it matters most.

Gang Green’s disgraceful performance received it’s final stamp of emphasis when punter Steve Weatherford bobbled the snap on what should have been the game-winning field goal in overtime.

At least that’s what this brand new excuse machine of mine sputtered for the first few hours after the loss before settling on a small shred of vindication.

Turbulence through the air

In losses to the New Orleans Saints and Bills, Jets’ fans witnessed the kind of quarterback Sanchez will be when he doesn’t have receivers he can trust.

Jerricho Cotchery, the Jets most sure-handed receiver, missed Sunday’s game against the Bills with a hamstring injury—his first since December 2007—severely staggering the offense.

Through five games, Cotchery’s 360 receiving yards are tied with Arizona Cardinals standout receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Except Cotchery has 24 receptions and one touchdown to Fitzgerald’s 35 catches and five scores.

Cotchery was a league leader in receiving yards early in the season until the Saints defense neutralized him in Week Four. He was identified by New Orleans as a favorite of Sanchez and was double-covered.

The fifth-overall pick went on to throw three picks in the Superdome, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum pulled the trigger for an early October trade with Cleveland for receiver Braylon Edwards.

The transaction is still expected to be a successful one. But the expectations are contingent upon how well Cotchery and Edwards complement one another. If Cotchery’s not available, it’s unreasonable to expect Edwards to fill the void of two receivers after 10 days on the roster.

With no viable receiving threat to play opposite Edwards, the Jets newly-acquired receiver faced double coverage from Buffalo’s fourth-ranked pass defense. Sanchez targeted Edwards nine times for three completions and 40 yards.

Losing versatile receiver Brad Smith in the lineup didn’t help either.

More importantly, a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

If you’re not familiar with the guys at 12AM, then get familiar. You’re missing out on some excellent sports-themed comedy and satire.

These guys have been featured in Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The New York Times, and a segment from the show was aired on ESPN’s NFL Live in May.

WHO: Hosts Scott Rogowsky and Neil Janowitz of NYC’s only sports-comedy variety show, 12 Angry Mascots.

WHAT: Darrelle Revis and Chris Duhon headline a night of sports-comedy mirth and mayhem to celebrate 12 months of 12 Angry Mascots. Krystal Gray and her teammates on the Majesty – New York’s Lingerie Football League franchise – will be adding a touch of class with an in studio appearance, and Saturday Night Live contributing writer Mike Drucker is scheduled to perform a set of sports-themed stand-up comedy.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.;  Show at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Comix, Zagat’s top-rated comedy club in New York City, located at 353 W. 14 St (just east of Ninth Ave).

TICKETS: Click here to purchase.
Tickets are $10 if reserved online in advance, or $15 if purchased day of the show at the door.

The draft day trade that allowed the Jets to leap 12 spots and select Mark Sanchez was eyebrow-raising, especially given the compensation Mangini accepted for the rights to the Browns’ fifth-overall pick.

Cleveland received safety Abram Elam, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, and quarterback Brett Ratliff—none of them are standouts at their respective positions—as well as the Jets’ 17th-overall and second-round picks, granting New York the opportunity to select the NFL’s Rookie of the Month.

The Jets’ search for a receiver to complement their prized rookie finally culminated in a trade for Browns receiver Braylon Edwards. And all it cost Gang Green was special teams linebacker Jason Trusnik, receiver Chansi Stuckey, and what’s being reported as third- and fifth-round draft picks.

Steal? Sort of.

Considering the Browns demanded defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and a first-round pick from the New York Giants in April, it’s easy to feel like the Browns are on a walk of shame through the NFL with ex-Jets.

It’s hard to say Cleveland was completely fleeced. Edwards had his issues with the Browns, and Eric Mangini shipped away a headache he hoped to alleviate all offseason.

But it’s harder to overlook the offensive dynamic Braylon Edwards brings to the Jets.

A receiver capable of nearly 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns in a season is always worth the gamble.

Why the Trade Had to Happen

New Orleans completely neutralized the Jets’ offense in Week Four. Safety Darren Sharper and the Saints’ ball-hawking defense disrupted Sanchez with pressure and tight coverage schemes, knocking him out of his comfort zone.

And that’s when it became critical that sixth-year receiver Jerricho Cotchery was in dire need of a complement on the other side of the field.

Chansi Stuckey, a seventh-round pick in 2007, wasn’t awful. He has great hands and can tally up yards after the catch. But he struggles with separation at the line of scrimmage, making him an inconsistent option in the offense.

For that reason, Braylon Edwards was critical for the Jets, despite the criticisms of his talent and issues with dropped passes. His true value to the Jets can’t—and shouldn’t—be quantified through individual statistics.

The physical aspect of the fifth-year receiver’s game is why he was necessary.

His presence must be respected by a secondary while his speed and size commands a double team. Receiver Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller should be able to find open space as coverages roll in Edwards’ direction.

Sanchez also receives a 6′3″ target to locate as defenders stop stacking the box, giving running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones the room to reignite the Jets’ stalled rush attack.

Most importantly, the Jets couldn’t afford to exhaust their fourth-ranked defense with a one-dimensional offense every week.

Flight Pattern to Destination

A trade for a 6′3″, 215-pound receiver with game-breaking potential is one that every franchise with championship aspirations has to make to be competitive.

After Sanchez came on board, the question revolved around who would become his premier receiver and help the Jets clear the runway.

Leading up to the season, every high-priced and/or troubled star receiver was linked to the Jets. Despite long flirtations and rumors, none of them stuck.

A quick refresher course:

• Plaxico Burress didn’t gain separation from his legal troubles.
• Matt Jones couldn’t sniff a practice field throughout training camp.
• Anquan Boldin made peace with the Arizona Cardinals.
• Brandon Marshall buried the hatchet with the Denver Broncos.
• Michael Crabtree, the 10th-overall pick in 2009, signed with San Francisco after the 49ers filing tampering charges against the Jets.

After the smoke cleared, Edwards’ fire was the only one still burning.

No need to be coy about it: The Jets are hoping a change of scenery is the catalyst Edwards needs to overcome the flaws in his game.

Coach Rex Ryan’s familiarity with Edwards through preparing for him as the former Ravens defensive coordinator should put fans at ease. If Ryan wanted him after watching him up close twice a year in Baltimore, then it’s safe to assume that the decision to make the trade was carefully examined.

The fifth-overall selection in April’s draft was the first rookie quarterback to start for the New York Jets since Matt Robinson in 1977. He stamped an exclamation mark on that, notching his first win on the road in Houston.

Then he helped the Jets hand Patriots quarterback Tom Brady his first regular season loss since Dec. 23, 2007.

To close out the month, Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback to start his career at 3-0 with a win over the Tennessee Titans.

And with the first of October came recognition as the NFL’s first Rookie of the Month, making Sanchez the first offensive player to win the award in Jets’ history.

That euphoric feeling hovering over Florham Park in New Jersey has transformed into something visible from space.

In fact, an anonymous source spoke of frantic calls from civilians in every town harboring an NFL franchise, concerned that the massive green cloud was harmful. Facetiously speaking, of course.

With 606 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions to his credit, Sanchez has looked like anything but a rookie at times. His resiliency, pocket presence, and fluid footwork are indications of a quarterback with natural ability akin to that of a wily veteran.

Despite his fumbles and momentary slip-ups, Sanchez has done an admirable Michael Phelps impression in a “sink or swim” situation with the Jets.

It’s difficult to not be enamored with the young man and his abilities. He’s personable, respectful, and his 14-yard touchdown scamper against the Titans in Week Three proved to his teammates that he’s more than the 22-year-old face of a franchise.

“That play epitomizes what we want to be all about with this football team,” said right tackle Damien Woody. “We want to be tough, smart, and have that desire to do whatever it takes. That’s what it was.”

Now Sanchez and Gang Green hope to be the first blemish on the Saints record when they travel to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the high-octane offense he commands in Louisiana’s Superdome.

And the irony of it all…

Mark Sanchez to New York was made possible by ex-Jets coach Eric Mangini to start off his first draft with Cleveland.

With no plans for the Browns’ fifth-overall pick, Mangini gift-wrapped the spot to the Jets for a package of two picks and three marginal players, including a previously undrafted quarterback.

Hindsight is 20/20, so it’d be cruel to kick Mangini and the Dawg Pound’s faithful while they’re down. But with three straight weeks of offensive woes surrounding the team’s ineffective quarterbacks, one can’t help but wonder if the NFL’s Rookie of the Month could’ve helped out a little.

Then again, the Brett Ratliff era could take the NFL by storm if Derek Anderson isn’t up to the task. Right? Anyone?

Hello?

“Their record is not indicative of how tough that team is,” said Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez of his opponents.

Throwing for 171 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, Sanchez had his struggles against a proud defense looking to prove the Titans are better than their record.

The fifth-overall draft pick capped off a strong opening drive with a 14-yard scamper to the end zone and followed it up less than three minutes later with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock on a convincing play-action fake.

Then Sanchez started to look a little like a rookie. The wet weather forced him into mistakes as the Titans’ defense pushed the Jets into five consecutive three-and-out drives.

It was the NFL’s top-ranked defense at the start of Week 3 that salvaged the game for New York. It bent for quarterback Kerry Collins, but never broke for running back Chris Johnson.

When there was a game to be won, linebacker David Harris stepped up to intercept Collins to end one drive and sack him for an eight-yard loss to stifle the Titans’ comeback bid in another.

There May Be a Kitchen Sink Out There, Too

When Kerry Collins was named the starter in Tennessee, the expectation was that he’d be the game manager for a strong running team with a ragtag crop of receivers. At 36, Collins played that role well for the Titans, working more diligently than anyone in an effort to secure his team’s first victory.

Sure, he may have thrown 13 consecutive incompletions as the offense stalled Tennessee’s attempt at a fourth quarter rally, but Collins stands out for throwing directly at Darrelle Revis, challenging the cornerback who Matt Schaub and Tom Brady avoided in previous weeks.

Ultimately, Collins opened the run game with his passing, threw two touchdowns, and allowed Johnson to dash for 97 yards while LenDale White smashed for the first offensive touchdown scored against the Jets this season.

Tennessee’s defense didn’t let New York off the hook, either.

The Jets’ offensive line had an all-pro opening drive, but couldn’t open any holes big enough for Thomas Jones.

Tennessee showed that adapting to life after Albert Haynesworth is simple enough, limiting Jones to a dismal 20 yards rushing on 14 carries, while the defensive ends applied consistent pressure, flushing Sanchez out of the pocket to end drives.

The Titans’ secondary, featuring three Pro Bowl defensive backs, succeeded in not allowing a 300-yard passer for the first time this season, an accomplishment even though Sanchez is a rookie quarterback.

“How Dare You?”

The season is young, and with youth comes questions as to the reality of a team’s abilities. For New York, every contest has been about finding out who the real Jets are while pundits hesitate to acknowledge the impressive nature of their victories.

The reality of Tennessee’s talent should only serve as a testament to the quality of the new, New York Jets.

Gang Green didn’t squeak by with a sloppy victory—they created opportunities, taking advantage of mental errors, particularly at critical moments in the game.

“We’ve played three outstanding football teams. We’re 3-0, right here, maybe that says something about us,” said coach Rex Ryan during the Jets’ postgame press conference.

“For anyone out there who thinks this is a gimmick defense, that this is a defense that can’t play smash mouth: How dare you?” asked linebacker Bart Scott.

“This team’s built on tough, gritty players that can adjust to any style of football.”