HBO's Hard Knocks: starring Sexy Rexy

By Dan Rodgers

Week one of HBO's Hard Knocks premiered this evening. Let me tell you it was beyond cool seeing this different aspect of the NFL and of my team in particular.

However, it was weird hearing all the players and coaches curse so much and talking so inappropriately. To us fans they are just players and coaches playing football, but it was interesting to see that human side of all of them.

The Jets, since I was born, haven't really gotten a lot of media attention because they haven't been good or done anything crazy/media worthy. All that has changed now that "Sexy Rexy", as the players call him, has taken over. Coach Ryan is very outspoken and not afraid to make predictions about anything regarding the Jets.

There were a few things involving Revis; Rex made a joke looking for him in his dorm room. Mike T also saw his commercial and seemed to deeply miss the All-Pro defensive back; encouraging news for us. However, we saw the frustration Mike T was experiencing after the meeting with Revis' agents.

A funny aspect involved the various fines that were handed out to players and coaches for random things. For example, Rex received a one-dollar "snack fine" for eating a snack that was not healthy for him. One of the coaches brought in tanning spray and was jogging without his shirt on, so he received a few five-dollar fines.

On the other hand, HBO captured the heart-breaking aspect of training camp, showing the Jets releasing two undrafted free agents. One of the two was released after performing very well in the first few days in camp. Doctors had informed Jets personell that he didn't have good knees and would most likely not have a long, productive career.

Week two (Wednesday at 10) should make for a great episode after a phenomenal introduction episode. Look for a possible Revis-update, maybe another player getting released, a Sanchez update, and hopefully some "Rexedy" (Rex induced humor).

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A can full of iced worms

By Scott Antoszewski

The arbitrator ruled in favor of the NHL this week and has voided the 17 year $102 million contract Kovalchuk signed with the New Jersey Devils. Kovalchuk is now a free agent again and can sign with any NHL team. The problem is not who wants him; it’s who can afford him.

He’s stated that he wants at least $10 million a season. The Thrashers offered him that last season and he flat turned them down. He’s not only looking for big bucks, but he wants them from a contender, which limits his options dramatically. The arbitrator ruling will prevent teams from offering a front loaded contract, so the question becomes who has the money to pay for a $10 million a year player who hasn’t led a team to victory or won anything of note himself. I believe that Ilya is in a real bind here. He’s going to have to lower his demands or face playing in the KHL next season, both of which may be a good thing for hockey fans.

The arbitrator’s decision has also opened up a whole new can of worms that the Players Association most likely never thought through. The collective bargaining agreement with the NHL has two clauses that state that the league can review any contract, even after it has been approved, and there is no time deadline for the review of any contract.

A player can be in year two or three of a ten year contract, and if the league chooses to review it and reject it, that player is going to be up the creek without a contract. I think the NHL has let these super long term deals go on for a few years to build up enough ammunition to enact these clauses and make the players pay. The NHL has apparently already started reviewing the contracts of Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa, and Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger. The league will use the Kovalchuk decision as its precedent because the arbitrator even went so far as to mention those three contracts by name in his decision on the Kovalchuk case.

Long story short, Kovalchuck is back on the market, and now any player who signed a mega deal in the past few years, has reason to sweat. Stay tuned, it looks like this is just getting good.

A taste of the NFL

By Dan Rodgers

Last night the NFL pre-season begun as the Cowboys faced the Bengals in the "Hall of Fame Game".

The Cowboys were victorious, by a score of 16-7, in the meaningless game. However, there were some injuries during the game. The Cowboys backup tight-end, who had a big game (John Phillips - 4 rec. 60 yards), might have torn a ligament in his knee. Cowboys tackle, Alex Barron, also left the game with a sprained right ankle.

The Bengals do-it-all running-back Brian Leonard sprained his left foot in the game. Bengals Chris Crocker and Cordera Eason also sprained a right ankle and foot, respectively.

No starter for either team did anything impressive during the game. Some might find this a cause for concern, but Dallas and Cincinnati both have above average defenses and the first-team only played for a couple series.

Well, hopefully none of the key players on my Jets go down in the pre-season...and I can only hope for the opposite for your team.

The first week of the pre-season begins August 12. You can find the complete schedule here.

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