Here is the Jets' Wayne Chrebet: 31 years old, once the most accomplished third-down receiver in the NFL and still thinking like a first-stringer, even though he knows that when he suits up Sunday against the New England Patriots, he will not start.
But Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a former Jets assistant, knows virtually everything about Chrebet. That's why the last time these teams met, Chrebet was double-teamed when the Jets were in a desperate fourth-and-8 on the Patriots' 30-yard line. The Jets trailed 13-7 with a little more than 2 minutes remaining, and their big-play receiver, Santana Moss, was in single coverage.
PHOTO: AFP
But Chad Pennington went to Chrebet anyway. The pass was batted away, and the Patriots ended up with the victory.
"It was kind of weird," Chrebet said Friday. "Even being the third receiver now, and not getting the quantity of catches, most teams still bracket me."
That is hardly a surprise, and the Jets expect it to continue on Sunday, when a victory would make Herman Edwards the first coach in team history to lead the Jets to three playoff appearances.
"You know, most players catch about 50 percent of the balls meant for them," said Jim Hostler, the Jets' receivers coach. "With Wayne, it's almost 70 percent. We expect the Patriots to be the same way on Sunday as they were the last game. Their No. 1 priority on third down is to stop Wayne."
Edwards added, "Bill Belichick will not let him beat them on a crucial third down."
Belichick was coaching the Jets' defense when Chrebet was the most noted third-down receiver in the league. The term "third down" seemed to be part of the persona of the 5-foot-10 Chrebet, who weighed 188 pounds and was pounded every time he snared a ball in traffic. Now Moss and Justin McCareins, younger and faster, are the Jets' first two receivers, and Chrebet comes next, with 25 catches and one touchdown this season. Last year, he had post-concussion syndrome and had 27 receptions in seven games, including five starts.
Chrebet, the senior member of the Jets, is in his 10th season and could be playing his last Jets home game. But he does not think so.
"I've still got a few years left in the tank," he said.
Considering the battering his body has taken, considering the concussions, it is noteworthy that he will not consider the possibility of retirement.
He appreciates the significance of his decade with the Jets. There are only two receivers - Troy Brown of New England and Isaac Bruce of St. Louis - who have been with their clubs longer than Chrebet. And he sounds like a longtime Jets fan in recounting the topsy-turvy nature of the team.
For Chrebet, it began in 1995, when he was 11th on the receiving depth chart as an undrafted rookie out of nearby Hofstra University. In his first season, the Jets went 3-13 under Rich Kotite, followed by the 1-15 disaster that led to the hiring of Bill Parcells.
Now it is year four of the Edwards regime, and while Edwards was insistent on making the team younger this season, Chrebet remains a Jet. For good reason.
"I think in the one year I've been coaching him, he's dropped one pass in practice," Hostler said. "And when he did, he hit himself on the helmet."
That practice helmet, by the way, is a testament to Chrebet's longevity. It is adorned with the outdated Jets airplane logo, which was swept away in 1998, during the Parcells era. In a game, Chrebet wears the new logo.
"He communicates and talks with the quarterback better than anyone I've ever been around," Hostler said. "He's settled into being the third receiver. Obviously, Santana and Justin are the future. Wayne plays like he's a No. 1. He just doesn't start the game."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and