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SOLID 'GOLD: JETS
ROOKIE ON THE RISE
By MARK CANNIZZARO
NICK MANGOLD
Photo: WireImage
August 5, 2006 -- Go ahead and try to wipe the smile off Nick Mangold's face. It's not going to happen.
Mangold, the second of the Jets' two first-round draft picks, is loving life - even though he's swimming on information-overload as a rookie trying to secure the starting center job.
"This is like going to a good grade school and then you go to high school and it's completely different," Mangold said. "Ohio State has been great preparation for me, but this is different. It's a different level."
Mangold is attempting to replace perennial Pro Bowl performer Kevin Mawae, who anchored the Jets' offensive line since 1998 before he was
released during the offseason.
"At center there is a ton of stuff to learn," Mangold said. "It's already ingrained that you have to get your head in the playbook, but when you're here there's even that much more pressure to learn."
Some of that pressure for Mangold has been alleviated by the fact that he's the second first-round pick behind tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who was the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. Helping matters for Mangold is the fact he and Ferguson have developed quite a friendship.
"It helps having him here, because he has the same perspective going in that I do," Mangold said. "Everybody is trying to learn. We get in there and say, 'Hey, what were you thinking here? Hey, I was thinking that same thing.' It's nice to have that connection."
The two players began bonding before the Jets drafted them.
"When we were at the Senior Bowl, the first night we were there we went out to dinner with the director," Mangold said. "He just grabbed us randomly, and ever since we've been hanging out.
"We get together on the nuances of being a rookie," Mangold went on. "It's been more of a comfort level to have a guy going through the exact same thing as you."
Asked about the pressure of trying to live up to being a starter in his rookie year and replacing Mawae, unflappable Mangold said, "At this time, we have so much going on that I can't think about what kind of opportunity I have in front of me. I just know I have to learn, and there's a lot of learning to do."
* The Jets were off yesterday, their first day without practice since they began training camp July 28. They'll practice at 2:30 p.m. today at Giants Stadium and it's open to the public. They'll practice at Giants Stadium tomorrow at 4:15, but that session is closed to spectators. . . . The Jets signed DB Bruce Thornton and waived DB Jovon Johnson.
[email protected]
SOLID 'GOLD: JETS
ROOKIE ON THE RISE
By MARK CANNIZZARO
Photo: WireImage
August 5, 2006 -- Go ahead and try to wipe the smile off Nick Mangold's face. It's not going to happen.
Mangold, the second of the Jets' two first-round draft picks, is loving life - even though he's swimming on information-overload as a rookie trying to secure the starting center job.
"This is like going to a good grade school and then you go to high school and it's completely different," Mangold said. "Ohio State has been great preparation for me, but this is different. It's a different level."
Mangold is attempting to replace perennial Pro Bowl performer Kevin Mawae, who anchored the Jets' offensive line since 1998 before he was
released during the offseason.
"At center there is a ton of stuff to learn," Mangold said. "It's already ingrained that you have to get your head in the playbook, but when you're here there's even that much more pressure to learn."
Some of that pressure for Mangold has been alleviated by the fact that he's the second first-round pick behind tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who was the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. Helping matters for Mangold is the fact he and Ferguson have developed quite a friendship.
"It helps having him here, because he has the same perspective going in that I do," Mangold said. "Everybody is trying to learn. We get in there and say, 'Hey, what were you thinking here? Hey, I was thinking that same thing.' It's nice to have that connection."
The two players began bonding before the Jets drafted them.
"When we were at the Senior Bowl, the first night we were there we went out to dinner with the director," Mangold said. "He just grabbed us randomly, and ever since we've been hanging out.
"We get together on the nuances of being a rookie," Mangold went on. "It's been more of a comfort level to have a guy going through the exact same thing as you."
Asked about the pressure of trying to live up to being a starter in his rookie year and replacing Mawae, unflappable Mangold said, "At this time, we have so much going on that I can't think about what kind of opportunity I have in front of me. I just know I have to learn, and there's a lot of learning to do."
* The Jets were off yesterday, their first day without practice since they began training camp July 28. They'll practice at 2:30 p.m. today at Giants Stadium and it's open to the public. They'll practice at Giants Stadium tomorrow at 4:15, but that session is closed to spectators. . . . The Jets signed DB Bruce Thornton and waived DB Jovon Johnson.
[email protected]
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USAToday
Ferguson, Mangold toe the line together in New York
swapContent('firstHeader','applyHeader'); By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — It is both expected and demanded that rookies entertain veterans as one of the ways to enliven the long days and nights of training camp.
Some first-year players belt out their school's fight song, no matter how off-key their voices might be. Some tell jokes, no matter how off-color their material might be. Some freeze.
That recent misfortune befell New York Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, whose play at the University of Virginia spoke so loudly that he was drafted fourth overall but who is otherwise a soft-spoken man who majored in religious studies.
Fortunately, first-year center Nick Mangold, also a first-round selection with the 29th pick, had Ferguson's back.
"I've had a joke that I've used for about five years that I keep as my joke," Mangold says. "Poor Brick was up there and he didn't really have anything.
"When you're in front of the group and you have all of the coaches and all of the players, you can get cold feet real quick. I got up there and closed my eyes and told the joke as though I was sitting in my own room."
Mangold declines to share his comedy, saying it is "not printable." It hardly matters. The point is that Ferguson and former Ohio State star Mangold are there for each other in every way, ready to grow together as key figures in the rebuilding of a 4-12 team.
"Friendship is key," Ferguson says. "Obviously, people come and go on this level, but it's important to support each other."
They are there to help each other master a playbook much thicker than anything they hefted in college. They are there to notice on film something one of them might have missed. They are there for the little things as well.
"It's actually real easy stuff like, 'Where should we go for breakfast?' or 'Where is the offensive line meeting today?' " Mangold says. "There are things a rookie feels stupid asking a veteran about."
Older players are reaching out as well, recognizing the difficulty of the transition to the NFL and the pressure being placed on both youngsters as immediate starters.
"At this level, I'm still seeing things I don't recognize straight away," says guard Pete Kendall, an 11-year veteran. "It's not hard to put myself in their shoes."
It only adds to the complexity of the situation that Mangold finds himself working with four different quarterbacks — injury-plagued Chad Pennington, Patrick Ramsey, Brooks Bollinger and promising rookie Kellen Clemens — as first-year coach Eric Mangini tries to settle on a starter. The running game absorbed a huge blow since Curtis Martin has been slow to recover from knee surgery; the team acquired Kevan Barlow from the 49ers as a prospective replacement earlier this week.
Given all of that uncertainty, the steady progress of Ferguson and Mangold is something for Mangini and the rest of the organization to cling to.
"I just like the way both of those guys are approaching this, with such maturity and the level-headedness that they have and their work ethic," says Mangini, who is finding his own way as the NFL's youngest head coach at age 35. "They have a long way to go and a lot of things to see, but they are really giving themselves the best chance to be successful."
Both have backgrounds that suggest they can develop into premier players. Ferguson, who was given his first name after Father Ralph de Bricassart, a fictional character in the 1983 mini-series The Thorn Birds, started all of his 49 games at Virginia, more than any offensive lineman in school history.
Mangold was an offensive co-captain as a senior. He did not permit a sack and allowed one quarterback pressure in a nearly flawless final season.
Mangold eagerly awaits the regular-season opener, at Tennessee on Sept. 10, for reasons that have nothing to do with football. He, too, is beginning to struggle when it comes to keeping demanding veterans amused.
"I'm running out of material," he says.
Ferguson, Mangold toe the line together in New York
swapContent('firstHeader','applyHeader'); By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — It is both expected and demanded that rookies entertain veterans as one of the ways to enliven the long days and nights of training camp.
Some first-year players belt out their school's fight song, no matter how off-key their voices might be. Some tell jokes, no matter how off-color their material might be. Some freeze.
That recent misfortune befell New York Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, whose play at the University of Virginia spoke so loudly that he was drafted fourth overall but who is otherwise a soft-spoken man who majored in religious studies.
Fortunately, first-year center Nick Mangold, also a first-round selection with the 29th pick, had Ferguson's back.
"I've had a joke that I've used for about five years that I keep as my joke," Mangold says. "Poor Brick was up there and he didn't really have anything.
"When you're in front of the group and you have all of the coaches and all of the players, you can get cold feet real quick. I got up there and closed my eyes and told the joke as though I was sitting in my own room."
Mangold declines to share his comedy, saying it is "not printable." It hardly matters. The point is that Ferguson and former Ohio State star Mangold are there for each other in every way, ready to grow together as key figures in the rebuilding of a 4-12 team.
"Friendship is key," Ferguson says. "Obviously, people come and go on this level, but it's important to support each other."
They are there to help each other master a playbook much thicker than anything they hefted in college. They are there to notice on film something one of them might have missed. They are there for the little things as well.
"It's actually real easy stuff like, 'Where should we go for breakfast?' or 'Where is the offensive line meeting today?' " Mangold says. "There are things a rookie feels stupid asking a veteran about."
Older players are reaching out as well, recognizing the difficulty of the transition to the NFL and the pressure being placed on both youngsters as immediate starters.
"At this level, I'm still seeing things I don't recognize straight away," says guard Pete Kendall, an 11-year veteran. "It's not hard to put myself in their shoes."
It only adds to the complexity of the situation that Mangold finds himself working with four different quarterbacks — injury-plagued Chad Pennington, Patrick Ramsey, Brooks Bollinger and promising rookie Kellen Clemens — as first-year coach Eric Mangini tries to settle on a starter. The running game absorbed a huge blow since Curtis Martin has been slow to recover from knee surgery; the team acquired Kevan Barlow from the 49ers as a prospective replacement earlier this week.
Given all of that uncertainty, the steady progress of Ferguson and Mangold is something for Mangini and the rest of the organization to cling to.
"I just like the way both of those guys are approaching this, with such maturity and the level-headedness that they have and their work ethic," says Mangini, who is finding his own way as the NFL's youngest head coach at age 35. "They have a long way to go and a lot of things to see, but they are really giving themselves the best chance to be successful."
Both have backgrounds that suggest they can develop into premier players. Ferguson, who was given his first name after Father Ralph de Bricassart, a fictional character in the 1983 mini-series The Thorn Birds, started all of his 49 games at Virginia, more than any offensive lineman in school history.
Mangold was an offensive co-captain as a senior. He did not permit a sack and allowed one quarterback pressure in a nearly flawless final season.
Mangold eagerly awaits the regular-season opener, at Tennessee on Sept. 10, for reasons that have nothing to do with football. He, too, is beginning to struggle when it comes to keeping demanding veterans amused.
"I'm running out of material," he says.
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It's great hearing these kind of stories about some of our favorite Buckeyes doing well in the league...that class of '02 was really special. It helps when you have 5 first rounders.
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bucksn'boobs
Senior
Like a Vet
Watching the Jets vs. Giants game tonight.
Nick has looked VERY good tonight for the Jets. He has absolutely dominated his man all night. He has become a fan favorite here in NY, because of his great personality and demeanor. He already looks like he has been in the league for years.
Watching the Jets vs. Giants game tonight.
Nick has looked VERY good tonight for the Jets. He has absolutely dominated his man all night. He has become a fan favorite here in NY, because of his great personality and demeanor. He already looks like he has been in the league for years.
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Link
Rookie linemen provide Jets glimpse of future
Wednesday, September 06, 2006 BY COLIN STEPHENSON
Star-Ledger Staff
When the Jets selected D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold in the first round of the NFL draft in April, the idea was to fortify their offensive line for the next decade with a couple of guys who figure to have long and successful careers.
The first step of both those careers will be taken on Sunday, when Mangold, the center, snaps the ball to quarterback Chad Pennington on the Jets' first offensive play from scrimmage. When that happens, the rebuilding of the Jets' franchise -- centered around these two young, building-block linemen -- will be underway.
"I'm definitely excited," said Ferguson, the No. 4 pick overall, who has quickly entrenched himself as the Jets' left tackle. "I'm ready to go out there and work hard and play."
The two rookies have proven themselves worthy in the preseason. Ferguson, the 6-6, 312-pounder from Virginia, was penciled in as a starter from Day One, while the 6-4, 300-pound Mangold, who was picked No. 29 overall out of Ohio State, got to start throughout the preseason because of the broken ankle suffered by veteran free agent signing Trey League.
Last week, Jets coach Eric Mangini praised Mangold for the work he did in the Jets' third preseason game against the Giants and in practices last week. And Mangini added that when Teague is healthy enough to return to practice, he won't be challenging Mangold for the center position, but rather will be used at several positions to bolster the offensive line's depth.
Asked Monday to assess the two rookies' progress in the preseason, Mangini said he was generally pleased with what he has seen. He even was willing to forgive Ferguson for a couple of false starts in the Giants game. Those types of mistakes are to be expected, Mangini said.
"I think that's going to be part of the transition from college to pro football, and to learning all of the new things," Mangini said. "To me, it's not necessarily the mistakes they make; it's what they do with the mistakes they make, and how they approach those and how well they learn from those. And these are two guys that are very smart guys, very conscientious guys, and they're smart enough to get with the veterans and to pick their brain and to try to attack problems proactively, which I really like. I like that from the entire rookie class. I like their approach. They have been excellent that way."
Pennington, returning from two rotator cuff surgeries, is depending on the two rookies -- and veterans Pete Kendall, Brandon Moore and Anthony Clement -- to keep him well-protected in the pocket. And Pennington, who was sacked three times in two preseason games, thinks they will.
"I think our offensive line has done a nice job of jelling throughout the off-season and preseason -- they're doing a good job of communicating," Pennington said. "Obviously, regular season is different from preseason, and opening day is definitely different. So it'll be an exciting time for our rookies (and) for our guys that haven't experienced NFL football yet, as far as the regular season. But I think they'll handle it well."
Ferguson and Mangold admitted they have no idea what it will be like when they step on the field as paid professional players for the first time. Ferguson said he'll handle whatever comes his way.
"Honestly -- you can prepare, but until you do it, there's always going to be some things that you're not going to (be ready for)," Ferguson said. "You have to sometimes just go out there and do it. That's what I'm going to do."
Rookie linemen provide Jets glimpse of future
Wednesday, September 06, 2006 BY COLIN STEPHENSON
Star-Ledger Staff
When the Jets selected D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold in the first round of the NFL draft in April, the idea was to fortify their offensive line for the next decade with a couple of guys who figure to have long and successful careers.
The first step of both those careers will be taken on Sunday, when Mangold, the center, snaps the ball to quarterback Chad Pennington on the Jets' first offensive play from scrimmage. When that happens, the rebuilding of the Jets' franchise -- centered around these two young, building-block linemen -- will be underway.
The two rookies have proven themselves worthy in the preseason. Ferguson, the 6-6, 312-pounder from Virginia, was penciled in as a starter from Day One, while the 6-4, 300-pound Mangold, who was picked No. 29 overall out of Ohio State, got to start throughout the preseason because of the broken ankle suffered by veteran free agent signing Trey League.
Last week, Jets coach Eric Mangini praised Mangold for the work he did in the Jets' third preseason game against the Giants and in practices last week. And Mangini added that when Teague is healthy enough to return to practice, he won't be challenging Mangold for the center position, but rather will be used at several positions to bolster the offensive line's depth.
Asked Monday to assess the two rookies' progress in the preseason, Mangini said he was generally pleased with what he has seen. He even was willing to forgive Ferguson for a couple of false starts in the Giants game. Those types of mistakes are to be expected, Mangini said.
"I think that's going to be part of the transition from college to pro football, and to learning all of the new things," Mangini said. "To me, it's not necessarily the mistakes they make; it's what they do with the mistakes they make, and how they approach those and how well they learn from those. And these are two guys that are very smart guys, very conscientious guys, and they're smart enough to get with the veterans and to pick their brain and to try to attack problems proactively, which I really like. I like that from the entire rookie class. I like their approach. They have been excellent that way."
Pennington, returning from two rotator cuff surgeries, is depending on the two rookies -- and veterans Pete Kendall, Brandon Moore and Anthony Clement -- to keep him well-protected in the pocket. And Pennington, who was sacked three times in two preseason games, thinks they will.
"I think our offensive line has done a nice job of jelling throughout the off-season and preseason -- they're doing a good job of communicating," Pennington said. "Obviously, regular season is different from preseason, and opening day is definitely different. So it'll be an exciting time for our rookies (and) for our guys that haven't experienced NFL football yet, as far as the regular season. But I think they'll handle it well."
Ferguson and Mangold admitted they have no idea what it will be like when they step on the field as paid professional players for the first time. Ferguson said he'll handle whatever comes his way.
"Honestly -- you can prepare, but until you do it, there's always going to be some things that you're not going to (be ready for)," Ferguson said. "You have to sometimes just go out there and do it. That's what I'm going to do."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Link
NEW TERRITORY FOR ROOKS
By MARK CANNIZZARO
'GOLD-EN MOMENT: Jets first-year center Nick Mangold wasn't sure what to expect in his NFL debut today against the Titans.
September 10, 2006 -- JET NOTES
NASHVILLE - When Nick Mangold, the Jets' rookie center, was asked if he felt ready for his NFL debut today, he said honestly, "We'll see."
Mangold doesn't know how he'll respond to his first pro experience and neither does fellow first-round draft pick, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who's also starting. "It's something you're just going to have to do," Ferguson said of being a first timer. "There's only so much you can envision. After I play, then I'll know. This is what we've practiced for and prepared for. I'm thankful for where I am, but right now my nose is still to the grindstone. I'm just trying to improve.
"Now is not the time to reflect at all [on accomplishments]. The season hasn't even started. In the off-season I'll reflect. I'm very appreciative and glad I've accomplished lot, but this is a working time, not a reflecting time."
Asked if he feels ready, Ferguson said, "Because I haven't gone through it, I can't really tell you. But I feel confident in what I know."
*
Just because he's the same age as his head coach, don't rule out Bobby Hamilton becoming a leader of this Jets' defense. "He's a special guy," 35-year-old Eric Mangini said of Hamilton, whom he's coached before and signed last week. "I love Bobby's fire. I love his passion. I love the way that he has - his toughness, his inherent strength. Here is a guy that just worked his way into the league and worked his way into the starting lineup. That's his trademark, that work ethic, toughness, energy, enthusiasm. And he's not a young buck any more, but you'd never know it. So the old guy can still play. I really like all of the characteristics he brings."
Hamilton, who began his career with the Jets after two seasons in the World League of American Football, spent the last two seasons with the Raiders.
* Today marks the 35th time in the Jets' 47-year history that they open the season on the road. Since they moved to Giants Stadium in 1984, the Jets have opened at home only six times, including only three times in the last 14 years. . . . WR Tim Dwight (thigh) is out today. . . . The Jets are 19-27 on opening day and have a current two-game losing streak on the road. Their last opening day win was the 37-31 OT win over the Bills in Buffalo in 2002. . . . The Titans have a 20-14-1 record against the Jets. . . . The Jets open their home season with a game against the Patriots next Sunday at Giants Stadium. Let the apprentice (Mangini) vs. the mentor (Bill Belichick) hype begin.
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NFL.com
NEW YORK: Several rookies have started for the Jets in their first seven games, including T D'Brickashaw Ferguson (first round, Virginia), C Nick Mangold (first round, Ohio State), RB Leon Washington (fourth round, Florida State), and CB Drew Coleman (sixth round, Texas Christian). Ferguson and Mangold have been offensive line mainstays while Washington leads the team with 346 rushing yards -- only 15 yards behind the NFL's top rookie rusher Maroney. WR-QB Brad Smith (fourth round, Missouri) has contributed on special teams and has carried the ball nine times for 46 yards, reaching a first down on seven of those carries.
NEW YORK: Several rookies have started for the Jets in their first seven games, including T D'Brickashaw Ferguson (first round, Virginia), C Nick Mangold (first round, Ohio State), RB Leon Washington (fourth round, Florida State), and CB Drew Coleman (sixth round, Texas Christian). Ferguson and Mangold have been offensive line mainstays while Washington leads the team with 346 rushing yards -- only 15 yards behind the NFL's top rookie rusher Maroney. WR-QB Brad Smith (fourth round, Missouri) has contributed on special teams and has carried the ball nine times for 46 yards, reaching a first down on seven of those carries.
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