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Maybin Wants to Be Considered a ‘Complete Player’

Aaron Maybin proved last year that he could thrive as a situational pass rusher. Now after signing his restricted free agent tender, the 6’4”, 240-pounder wants to take his game to another level.

“By the end of this offseason and going into this next year, I want to be considered a complete player,” Maybin told newyorkjets.com. “With everything that’s gone on my whole career, I feel like I’m finally in a place where I’m going to have a position to flourish as a complete player and really have that opportunity. Coming into this offseason, I really want to focus on every single part of my game to make sure I am that complete player when preseason rolls around.”

It was just last summer when many wondered if Maybin’s NFL career was over. After being selected No. 11 overall in the 2009 draft, the Penn State product went sackless in 27 games with the Buffalo Bills and was released in August. The Jets signed him and he made the 53-man roster on cutdown day before being let go before the opener. But he re-signed with the Jets in Week 4, appeared in 13 games and experienced his professional breakthrough.

“This is the most excited I’ve been my whole career for the start of a season. Just because coming into last year, a lot of things were uncertain for me,” he said. “Coming into the situation this year, knowing that I’m in a brand new situation, I’m a lot more comfortable with the team now having almost a full year under my belt. I’m just excited to really get a whole year behind me and really get a chance to get out there and help us win football games.”

The best pass rushers have good vision and Maybin isn’t wasting any time looking behind him. While he led his new club with six sacks, four forced fumbles and 24 QB hurries, the Jets stumbled down the stretch and narrowly missed a trip to the postseason.

“Really, as soon as the season ended, all I could do was start putting down goals for next year. It ended with a little bit of a sour taste in our mouth,” he said. “With me personally, I’m excited as I’ve ever been, but I definitely didn’t spend too much time reflecting. It was really on to next year as soon as possible.”

A new face last year, Maybin said he is welcoming his new teammates with open arms and the team is moving ahead with a “singular mindset.” He was particularly happy that NT Sione Pouha received an extension and he also believes unrestricted free agent signee LaRon Landry can be a valuable addition in the defensive backfield.

“Me being from the DC area, I had a chance to watch him for a few years out there in Washington,” Maybin said of the former Redskin. “I’m excited to have a chance to play with a guy like that because you think about guys who can really patrol that secondary and it’s an imposing task for a quarterback to have to make some of those throws sometimes. Anything to make the quarterback hold onto the ball a little bit longer, I’m in favor of.”

On Tuesday night, some of Maybin’s artwork was showcased at the fifth annual Fashion and Football Gala and Runway Show in New York City.

“It’s been a big year for us. As far as the art goes, it’s really taken off for us this year,” he said. “Being in the New York market now and being as big as art is in the city, there’s been a lot of opportunities for me to get some of my stuff out and people have been very receptive to it, so it’s exciting.”

Ryan on ’12 Sked: The Good, the Bad, the Balance

Rex Ryan felt strongly both ways when he spoke about the Jets’ just revealed 2012 schedule on a conference call with beat reporters this evening.

On the one hand, the Jets coach said it was a good thing to get the dates and times of their 16 opponents just a day after the veterans first reported to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center to begin their voluntary strength and conditioning period.

“Yesterday I was really excited to finally have the team in our building, have a chance to talk to them,” Ryan said. “But I’m even more excited now. When that schedule comes out, now you start to visualize who you’re playing and it’s even more exciting. Now you realize the 2012 season is upon us.”

But Ryan was not seeing less challenging games on an easy schedule. They all looked tough.

Having the season opener at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. vs. the Buffalo Bills, 6-10 a year ago?

“Opening up at home is a good thing, but playing Buffalo, they’re a tough team,” Ryan said. “They’re much improved. They’ve got that big pass rusher [Mario Williams] coming in.”

Three consecutive home games from Games 4-6? Not bad, except …

“San Francisco [Sept. 30] and Houston [Oct. 8] back to back, they’re two of the more physical teams in the league,” Rex said. “That’s definitely a tough stretch.”

And a favorable second half with an opponents’ schedule strength of .453? That would be fine, too, but for the little matter of three of their last four games being on the road, at Jacksonville (Dec. 9), at Tennessee (Dec. 17) and at Buffalo in the regular-season finale (Dec. 30).

“Yeah, you see that little clump of games right there — whooo, that’s a tough December,” he said. “But you’re coming into some decent weather, Jacksonville and Tennessee, and I kind of like having San Diego come to our place in December.”

One other eye-catcher is anywhere New England appears on the schedule. The Jets will play the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 21, and then the teams will get back together on Thanksgiving night at MetLife on Nov. 22.

“Oh, man. That one’s going to be a beauty, there’s no doubt,” Rex said with a laugh about the Turkey Night affair with the defending AFC East champ and the conference’s Super Bowl representative. “It’s a late-night one and our fans will be ready to roll. I know New England’s obviously a tremendous team, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.

“The last time we played on Thanksgiving, we had success,” Ryan added about the 2010 holiday night game at their new stadium, the 26-10 victory over the Bengals. “That’s good. Hopefully history will repeat itself … and I hope my wife’s got the green-bean casserole ready for after the game.”

Summing it all up, Ryan came to a standard coaching observation: “I think it’s a real balanced schedule. It looks good. We’ll see what happens.”

Sanchez in Running for This Week’s NFL ‘Moment’

Mark Sanchez is up for one of the NFL’s weekly awards this week, along with one of the quarterbacks he and the Jets lost to this season ad one of the QBs he and the Jets defeated.

Sanchez orchestrated the 12-play, 82-yard drive that concluded with the QB’s rollout TD strike to WR Santonio Holmes in the end zone with 1:01 to play, giving the Jets the 28-24 lead they didn’t lose in their home victory over the Bills.

On the march, Sanchez completed six of eight passes for 61 yards, with four of the completions going for first downs and two — 12 yards to Patrick Turner to the Bills 35, then 18 yards to Plaxico Burress with his leaping one-hand grab to the Bills 18 — converting third downs.

The award is the Never Say Never Moment of the Week and fans can click here to vote for their favorite “moment” from now through Friday at noon ET.

Sanchez’s competitors for this award are Tim Tebow, who rallied the Broncos past the Chargers in overtime on Sunday, and Tony Romo, who guided the Cowboys to Dan Bailey’s game-winning field goal over the Dolphins as time expired on Thanksgiving Day.

NFL’s Luckiest Coach? That’s OK by Rex

Updated, 6:37 p.m. ET

Rex Ryan was unapologetic, as you might expect, a day after the Jets sweated out their 28-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

“I’ve said it for three years now — I don’t care if I’m known as the luckiest coach in the league. That’s fine with me,” Ryan told reporters at this afternoon’s news conference at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. “It’s funny how if we make a mistake we’re horrible, but if we make a play, oh, we’re just lucky. Maybe it’s the green, I don’t now. But I hope karma’s with us and I hope we continue to be lucky. I’d rather be lucky than good. I’d rather be both, and I think we are.”

But that’s not to say the coaches and players didn’t go over their corrections today and will continue to work on the things that made Sunday’s win too close for a lot of comfort.

On offense Ryan referred to “Some of those things, poor decisions or whatever, there’s no doubt we’ve got to clean that up. Are we running routes exactly the way they’re supposed to be, at 12 yards or 15 yards or whatever? We’ve really got to get that tightened up.”

But he continued to praise Mark Sanchez — “He did throw four touchdown passes. … Mark Sanchez is not our problem. He’s one of the strengths of our team.” And he lauded his wideouts, his O-line again, and RB Shonn Greene — ” I don’t think he aggravated anything. I just think he was playing through it,” Ryan said of Greene’s rib injury from Denver. “It seemed like every time he made a run, he got up slow. But he ran great, averaged 6 yards a carry and was really running hard.”

Defensively, Rex said of the Bills’ last drive, “Was it the prettiest thing? No. I’d much rather have ended up with a sack or an interception.”

But he lauded several contributors, such as LB Aaron Maybin — “He plays with his hair on fire. He’s encouraging to watch” — NT Sione Pouha — “He continues to really handle that middle of our defense” — and LB David Harris, who “had a huge game for us as well.”

On specials, Ryan changed the number of this season’s lost fumbles or muffs to five after Antonio Cromartie’s muffed fair catch led a play later to Buffalo’s final TD. The coach went over the reasons for Cro stepping in (Jim Leonhard had the wind knocked out of him the play before, Jeremy Kerley was out and Joe McKnight had a larger role on offense for this game). But he said the reasons didn’t make the turnovers acceptable.

“It’s happening too often to our football team,” Rex said. “It’s uncharacteristic of Jets special teams, that’s for sure.”

Yet the negatives do not detract from Ryan’s belief in his team as it has begun to embark on this perilous trip down the home stretch.

“I definitely think we’re a playoff team,” he said. “We have to prove it on the field but I absolutely think we’re a playoff team. Once we get there, anything can happen. It’s hard to get into the playoffs every year, but that’s certainly what we plan on doing.”

And the plan lives as the Jets make their corrections and get ready to take on their next NFC foe, the Redskins at Washington on Sunday.

At least two players won’t be available for that game though:

DT Mike DeVito — “It looks like he’s got a bit of a knee, an MCL. It’s a different knee from before, though. But I don’t think Mike’s going to play this week.”

S Emanuel Cook — Cook, who recovered the botched Bills squib kick to set up the Jets’ second TD drive, was waived today. Ryan declined to go into details of the release: “Every decision we make is for the benefit of our football team. I’m not going to get into the specifics of what led us to make a decision one way or another. But he was released and we’re going to activate Tracy Wilson off our practice squad. He’s been doing a great job. He’s one of the hardest-working guys we’ve got on this team.”

Ryan didn’t specifically address LaDainian Tomlinson, but LT is getting closer to a return from his knee injury, as is Kerley from his knee. “We’ll be excited to get him back,” Ryan said of his rookie WR/PR. “I’m hopeful he’s back this week.”

“Inside the Jets”

The Jets’ Monday night radio show will be held at Grasshopper Off the Green in Morristown, N.J., from 7-8 p.m. ET tonight and will also air live on 1050 ESPN New York. Ryan Ruocco is guest-hosting for Bob Wischusen and the special guest tonight is cornerback Kyle Wilson.

Jets on “NFL Replay”

The Jets-Bills game will be featured this week on NFL Network’s Week 12 airing of “NFL Replay.”  The game, which features the show’s mix of bonus NFL Films and NFL Network footage, will air at 8 p.m. ET, with the Broncos-Chargers game set to air right after Jets-Bills at 9:30 p.m.

Comeback Kids Catch On Again in Crunch Time

Fourth-quarter magic from the passing game is nothing new for Mark Sanchez and company. And with their season hanging in the balance, Sanchez led the Jets on an absolutely critical 12-play drive that culminated on his 16-yard gamewinner to Santonio Holmes with 1:01 remaining as the Jets moved to 6-5 with a 28-24 triumph over the Bills.

It was the eighth time in the third-year QB’s career that he has led the Green & White to victory after facing a fourth-quarter deficit.

“They collapsed the defense and just left a wide-open hole to the right, so I started running and I was ready to throw it away or get a couple of yards and get out of bounds and save some time,” Sanchez said. “Coach Cavanaugh just reminds us to remain a passer and keep your eyes up. Tone freed up, gave me his hand and let me know where he was going and that was it.”

Holmes has a flair for the dramatic himself, having already caught five game-winning TDs in the final minute throughout his six-year career. But this was a team win and nobody will soon forget Plaxico Burress’ one-handed 18-yard stab of Sanchez’s blitz-beater on a third-and-8 following the two-minute warning.

“I didn’t think he was going to throw it, but he did,” Burress said. “It goes back to practice, him having confidence in myself and Santonio to go out and make plays when we need to. We came up big. He hung in there when times were tough and that’s what it’s all about.”

“It was a big-time catch in a crucial situation and it really gave us a chance to take the lead there,” Sanchez added. “If that doesn’t happen, we have a long field goal ahead of us, so it made it a lot easier on our kick team and gave us an extra chance to win.”

Those two plays were made possible only because of Patrick Turner. With 2:44 remaining and the Jets facing a third-and-8, Sanchez went to his former Southern Cal teammate for 12.

“He’s stepped up in a major way,” said TE Dustin Keller. “Half the people in this locker room probably didn’t even know that he was really in the rotation, that he was a big receiver for us. But when it comes to playing all the different positions and knowing the offense inside and out, he’s like our No. 1 receiver. He knows every single position, and to this point I would definitely give him the most improved player. He’s played his butt off.”

Sanchez’s four TD passes were a career high and Keller (4-61) was on the receiving end of Nos. 1 and 3. DK evened the score at 7-7 on a 3-yard scoring play and then gave the Jets their first lead on a 18-yarder from Sanchez late in the third.

“We had basically a 10-yard in-route and Mark read it and put it between the linebackers,” Keller said of the connection that gave the Jets a 21-14 lead. “I just had to make a little move for the safety to miss and get in the end zone. Once I secured the ball, I definitely was going to get in. I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.”

The Jets walked the tightrope today because of two costly turnovers that resulted in 14 points for the visitors. Drayton Florence picked Sanchez in the second quarter and Antonio Cromartie muffed a punt in the third, leading to Stevie Johnson’s 8-yard scoring reception and Brad Smith’s 36-yarder respectively.

“I think we made it tougher on ourselves. Credit to them for taking advantage of the turnovers we gave them, but there was some miscues and poor execution on our part on offense,” Sanchez said. “We’ll fix those and we have to do better at that to win these games so we’re not in that position at the end where we have to grind it out.”

With 5:44 left and the Bills up, 24-21, Sanchez went to work at his 18. The Jets started out on the ground with Shonn Greene and got 14 yards in addition to 5 for a Bills illegal-use-of-hands penalty. Then No. 6 took over and got Burress for 14 more yards as the home club crossed midfield.

“You never see any nerves or any jitters,” Keller said of Sanchez. “Even if he’s hurting, you don’t see anything on his face. He’s completely poised and calm.”

“He’s done it in the past, so it’s not like it’s anything new,” Greene said. “We have faith and confidence in him, and he went out and did what he had to do.”

The Jets, who were supremely efficient in the red zone with four TDs on their four possessions, got the final score on a second-and-8 from the Bills 16. After losing a few first-team reps to Mark Brunell during the week of practice, Sanchez’s final response came on the move.

Keller said Tone was running an in-route, “so the defensive back was running with him and he slammed on the breaks and took it back to the corner. Mark put it right where it needed to be, he got his feet inbounds, and we took the lead.”

We’ve seen it before. The Comeback Kids rose up once more and they remain alive in the muddled AFC playoff race.

STS*: Kerley Injury, Turnovers Impact Returns

The Jets special teams have arguably been the most consistent unit all season. First-year returners Jeremy Kerley and Joe McKnight have enjoyed success as special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff draws up blocking schemes to spring the two loose in the open field.

Kerley’s numbers as a punt returner are not jaw-dropping. He’s averaging 9.4 yards per return. But he has proven to be a reliable option and has earned the trust and respect of Westhoff.

“I just have a feeling about him,” said Westhoff. “He’s a combination of sure-handed and explosive.”

With Kerley listed as questionable and a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, Westhoff may need to fill his spot. Kerley’s knee injury held him out last Thursday in Denver, leaving S Jim Leonhard to handle the punt-return duties.

In Week 10, the Jets used McKnight to return a punt in addition to Kerley and Leonhard. McKnight fumbled his only opportunity, leading to a New England field goal.

“Joe had been playing pretty well,” said Westhoff. “He came to me and said, ‘I can get this, give me a chance.’ We gave him a shot. I liked the enthusiasm, didn’t like the result.”

As a kickoff returner, McKnight leads the NFL by far with a 36.1-yard average. The temptation to use him as a punt returner in Kerley’s absence is natural, in the hope that his explosive running style will easily translate in returning punts. Still, Westhoff said McKnight likely won’t get another chance to return a punt this season.

“Probably not,” said Westhoff. “Jimmy is more sure-handed and Cro [Antonio Cromartie] wants to do everything. I would have loved to give Joe a whole offseason of practice. It doesn’t mean he’s not adept at it. It’s just not a role I’m comfortable with him in the meantime. I want him to be a kick returner, not a punt returner.”

McKnight put another ball on the ground in last week’s loss to the Broncos. Special teams fumbles are especially deflating, but Westhoff still puts his total support behind the young returner. McKnight’s confidence has increased exponentially since his rookie year, and it is translating into a potential Pro Bowl season.

“He’s trying, he’s really trying. If you want to be a kick returner, this is a good place to show up. Our guys block and they block. He works hard in practice and he’s leading the league,” Westhoff said. “I’m disappointed, frankly, that he doesn’t have more touchdowns.”

On Wednesday, Westhoff said Kerley would have to prove on Friday that he would be “ready to go” to return punts on Sunday. Kerley did not practice Friday, and his availability won’t be known until just before kickoff.

If there is no change in status between now and 11:30 a.m. Sunday, when the Jets’ inactives must be declared, Leonhard will return punts vs. the Bills. Still, Westhoff has seen head trainer John Mellody and his staff pull off miracles before, and he’s hopeful Kerley will be available.

“Jeremy is the guy we want,” he said.

*Special Teams Saturday                             

Defense Knows What’s at Stake on Sunday

When the Jets and Bills met for the first time this season in Week 9, the game featured two teams with winning records battling for position atop the AFC East. Three weeks later, both sit at 5-5 and both are in dire need of a win.

The Bills come into MetLife Stadium riding a three-game losing streak in which they have been outscored, 106-26. A year that had started so promisingly has taken an abrupt turn for the worse, and Buffalo is left scrambling to save its season. The Jets are also looking to stop the bleeding after consecutive losses have dropped them to .500 and in danger of missing the playoffs.

“It’s always a tough game between us and the Bills,” said CB Darrelle Revis. “We’re familiar with them, they’re familiar with us, and we know they’re going to bring it. It’s a must-win for them, too. Both teams know what’s at stake this Sunday.”

After shoring up early-season defensive woes, the Jets have settled in and are playing their traditionally stout defense. A masterful performance in Denver was marred by the late-game 95-yard touchdown drive led by QB Tim Tebow. Nonetheless, the Green & White think they learned something about themselves – and the Bills – after that clinic earlier this month in Orchard Park, N.Y.

“If you can disrupt the short passing game and defend the run, you can stop them,” said Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. “I think that’s the blueprint that we kind of laid out. If you watch, there have been a lot of similar elements of our game plan against them in the last couple of games.”

Coming into the Week 9 tilt, the Bills had averaged 380 yards of total offense per game. The Jets defense mauled Buffalo, holding them to 287 yards of total offense. The Bills possessed the football for only 22:08, easily their lowest possession time of the season.

“If you have the ability to match them 1-on-1, get in the passing lanes early and get decent pressure on the quarterback, that helps,” said Pettine. “We have the challenge of how much do we stay the same, knowing they’ll adjust.”

The Bills will have to adjust without the NFL’s third-leading rusher, RB Fred Jackson, who fractured his fibula in their 35-8 loss in Miami on Sunday. He was ruled out of this week’s game on Wednesday, then placed on season-ending IR shortly thereafter.

Jackson will be replaced by C.J. Spiller, the multithreat second-year speedster. Drafted as a running back out of Clemson in 2010, Spiller has seen an increased workload as a wide receiver since Jackson tightened his stranglehold on the tailback position.

“We have to make some adjustments in our matchups because you are essentially taking a player with wide receiver ability and putting him in the backfield, so you can’t really play him the same way,” said Pettine. “That’s the one advantage he gives them is that he’s both.”

Despite the Pro Bowl-type season Jackson was enjoying prior to his injury, Pettine sees the Bills as a more dynamic passing attack than a damaging rushing squad.

“I think their run game is fairly straightforward,” said Pettine. “I would say the pass game has some complexity to it. They can throw out of two-backs, they can throw out of one-back. It’s a lot more empty backfield than most teams. They have a lot of routes that are very complementary to each other, that are all predicated on what coverage you’re in.”

The win at Ralph Wilson Stadium was one of the best games the Green & White have played all season. Both sides of the ball stepped up to earn the road victory at a critical juncture in the season. Now at another crossroads, the Jets need to duplicate that effort at MetLife Stadium.

The defense is playing well, but has not lived up to the “elite” moniker the coaching staff wishes to apply to its squad. According to Pettine, there is a hurdle in the way.

“We’re close, but if we want to be elite, it’s the closing-games part of it. The inconsistency has led us to where we’re a good enough defense to be 5-5. You are what your record says you are. We’ve had opportunities to close out some games and we haven’t been able to do it.”

Injury Reports

Rex Ryan at today’s news conference at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center laid out his 16-player injury report, with only two players listed as questionable and the rest as probable for the Bills.

The two questionable players are important pieces to the Jets’ offensive puzzle, though — RB LaDainian Tomlinson and WR Jeremy Kerley.

“With LT, I never know if I should put him questionable or doubtful,” Ryan said. “He’s in that range. He’s probably right in the middle there. I think he’d play, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll go,” but what are we going to get? What’s going to happen to him if we play him? That’s a balancing act. We absolutely have to win, but we have to win the rest of ‘em, too.”

Kerley seemed a little closer to returning to action, although he did not participate in today’s shorter practice either. Ryan called his rookie WR a “gametime decision.”

LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson (ankle) was added to the Jets’ list but he practiced full and is listed as probable. Click here for the Jets’ complete injury report for the game.

The Bills are listing six players as out for the Jets, including three that they’ve placed on IR this week — Jackson, WR Donald Jones (ankle) and CB Terrence McGee — plus S George Wilson (neck), WR Naaman Roosevelt (shoulder) and K Rian Lindell. Dave Rayner has been kicking for the Bills since Lindell hurt the shoulder trying to tackle Joe McKnight on his long kickoff return to start the second half at Buffalo three games ago.

Probables after full practices today in Western New York are WRs Stevie Johnson (shoulder) and David Nelson (illness) and T Demetrius Bell (shoulder).

DeVito Confident Green and White Will Bounce Back

Thanks to everyone who participated in today’s live chat with DT Mike DeVito. The 6’3”, 305-pound DeVito, a fifth-year player out of Maine, told fans he strongly believes the Jets will move to 6-5 with a win Sunday over the Buffalo Bills.

“I have 100 percent confidence that we’re going to come out and make it right for us as a team, for us as an organization and for the Jets family out there,” he said. “We know it’s unacceptable to lose the way we lost the past two weeks, but we’re ready to go and we’re ready to bounce back this week. And I can promise you a win this week.”

The Jets defense is ranked seventh overall and continues to improve its numbers against the run. The unit is yielding 4.0 yards per rush attempt, which ranks ninth in the NFL, but fans still clamor for more of a pass rush. The Jets have amassed 19 sacks, which places them in a tie for 22nd in the rankings.

“We get with the offensive line and go through stunts and work on different one-on-one pass drills. We realize it’s something — especially up front — that we need to get better at,” DeVito said. “It’s something we keep pushing and working on. You really see guys improving a lot and a guy I’ll tell you who is a great pass rusher is Marcus Dixon. It’s great to have him out there because he adds so much versatility. He can play the run and then he can really get after it in the pass rush.”

One of the 13 Jets on defense who entered the league as undrafted free agents, DeVito is very high on the team’s No. 1 draft pick last April.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen that really since Revis,” DeVito said of Muhammad Wilkerson, the 30th overall selection from Temple. “The kid’s come in and he’s played unbelievable. I don’t know what he was playing like before, so I can’t speak on that. But just so far as a rookie, I wouldn’t have been able to come in and start in a new system. Playing the way he’s playing — I’m really wowed by that kid and am somebody I’m very grateful to have on our team.”

Watch the entire Mike DeVito chat now.

Turkey, Crab Won’t Slow Down Big Bo for the Bills

Updated 6:19 p.m. ET

You know your Thanksgiving will go swimmingly when you’re living in North Jersey and you’ve got live San Francisco crabs coming in fresh in the morning for the family’s groaning board.

That’s how it is in Sione Pouha’s house.

“Five of our family’s flying in from Frisco,” Sione explained after today’s practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. “They live there, so they’re bringing in a few coolers with them. We’ve also got a lot of island food … you’ve got to have turkey … roast pig … just a lot of food, man.”

Sione, his wife Keiti and their four children have opened their doors as always to family for Thanksgiving. He said about 25 relatives — “my mom, my sisters, nieces and nephews” — are all coming in for the big day, but they’re all from “the mainland,” none of the relatives from his Tongan and Pacific roots.

Never fear that Pouha will get tryptophaned out for Friday’s practice or, more ominously, Sunday’s must-win home game against the Bills.

“I’m pretty much a one-hitter quitter. Once I get that big plate, I don’t tend to go back for seconds,” he said.

It was good to see the burly nose tackle smiling again. The loss to the Broncos really crushed the burly nose tackle — “I feel like garbage,” he said after the devastating 17-13 loss. But it appears he and his teammates have rebounded with a little extra rest and will be ready for the battered and bruised Bills.

And as important as having a great holiday with his family is, he won’t let that distract him from the importance of beating the battered and bruised Bills.

“I’m ready to roll,” he said. “I’m looking more forward to Sunday than to tomorrow. I’m eager to get back out there.”

Turner’s Long Ball

Before the Denver game gets too far away, here’s one small pat on the back to Patrick Turner for his 25-yard reception on fourth-and-19 on the Jets’ final drive. It was special in several ways, one of which was that it was Turner’s career-long reception.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted in the game, but it felt good because it let the offense stay on the field,” Turner said in the locker room today. “Mark put the ball in a good spot for me to be able to make the play.”

It was significant in a few other ways as well. It was the Jets’ first fourth-down conversion (out of six tries) this season. And it was the Green & White’s longest fourth-down conversion since 1996. Yes, even in that horrific season there were a few positives. In Game 3 at Miami that year, the Jets faced fourth-and-goal at the Dolphins’ 29 when Neil O’Donnell loaded up and found then-rookie Keyshawn Johnson in the end zone for a touchdown that cut the Jets’ deficit to 33-27 in their 36-27 loss with 4:52 to play. Besides six points, that play also counted as a fourth-and-29 pickup.

Needless to say, the most important part of Thursday night’s 25-yard pass has nothing to do with numbers in a loss but with the likelihood going forward that Turner gains confidence in making big plays, Sanchez gains confidence in throwing to him, and they can hook up on some equally impressive plays that help the Jets secure victories going forward.

Injury Picture

Rex Ryan went through his first official injury report of the week. The Jets’ I-list contained 15 names, down three from last week’s Rex-high 18 injured players. But the team’s prognosis seems good.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee), WR Jeremy Kerley (knee) and RB Bilal Powell (illness) all were held out of today’s practice.

“Kerley told me he expects to be ready to roll Friday,” Ryan said. “LT, again I’m not sure. This could be one of those gametime decisions. Hopefully he’ll feel better Friday.”

Two Jets were limited in G Matt Slauson (knee) and TE Matt Mulligan (hip). And 10 players practiced full, including Sanchez (neck). You can find the full Jets report here.

The Bills are not as well off from the look of their report. Eight players did not practice: K Rian Lindell (shoulder), WR Steve Johnson (shoulder), S George Wilson (neck), WR David Nelson (illness), RB Fred Jackson (fibula), CB Terrence McGee (knee), WR Donald Jones (ankle) and WR Naaman Roosevelt (shoulder).

The Bills Web site reported that Jones and McGee have been IRed and just this evening posted a story that Fred Jackson has also been placed on injured reserve with a fibula fracture.

The only wideouts not listed as DNP are third WRs Brad Smith and Ruvell Martin, recently signed Derek Hagan and recently promoted Kamar Aiken. RB C.J. Spiller had been splitting wide this year but with Jackson out, he’s needed in the backfield.

A Year Later, Coach Makes Another Snap Decision

Updated, 7:10 p.m. ET

It’s that time of year, a little earlier than when it last occurred last year. But as Rex Ryan said today, “You know me. If something’s working, I’ll go with it.”

So this week Ryan said he took some first-team offensive reps away from Mark Sanchez and gave them to Mark Brunell.

“I gave Brunell a snap or two, sure,” the Jets head coach said in response to a direct question at his daily news conference following today’s drizzly practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. “So far, literally, two snaps. … Maybe, just quote me, one snap today.”

And how did Sanchez, who half tongue-in-cheek said he wanted to fight his coach when this happened last season, take this week’s loss of a couple of reps?

“Oh, yeah, he’s not happy about it,” Ryan said, adding he could tell from his quarterback’s body language. “And he hasn’t talked to me for real [this week]. He hasn’t said one word.”

Ryan did the same thing last season, during the week following the home loss to Miami on Dec. 12, which followed the road loss at New England. In those two games the Jets offense scored no touchdowns. Following that week, they stunned the Steelers on the road, lost at Chicago, trounced Buffalo (during which Sanchez played only the first series and didn’t throw a pass), then won two road playoff games over the Colts and Patriots before losing in the AFC title game return to Pittsburgh.

So this week’s practice changeup comes three weeks earlier with the Jets staring at six “play-in” games to find out if they can overcome their 5-5 start and reach the AFC postseason grid for the third straight season.

Would this mean Sanchez is vulnerable to being pulled if he and the offense start slow against the Bills at home on Sunday? Ryan unequivocally said no.

He also said he doesn’t even think there’s a cause and effect between Sanchez smoldering during the practice week and then coming out with his hair on fire on Sunday.

Nevertheless …

“He probably knows what I’m doing, but I know Mark Sanchez extremely well,” Rex said. ‘I know how tough he is, that fighting spirit he has. And if it takes me to do this and take a punch in the nose, I don’t care, I’ll take it. But we’ve got to have it from him. He’s my guy and we’ve got to have it from him. When he’s that way, he’s extremely hard to beat.”

Ryan also stressed that Sanchez isn’t the only one who will lose a few reps with the starting unit this week.

“We’re going to play everybody on our roster is what always happens,” the coach said. “We do have to have guys prepared. Mark’s played well, but do I want to get the one guy a snap? Absolutely. And I think it does send a message to every single player. [Darrelle] Revis doesn’t take every single snap in practice.”

The whole Sanchez storyline unfolded because Ryan was asked if he truly feels Sanchez has been getting too much criticism from all sides lately for the offense’s slow early starts and crucial mistakes.

“Absolutely,” Rex said. “But it comes with the territory. I understand it, I know he understands it. But this is a team thing. We’re 5-5 as a team, coaching, playing. Has Mark played at a super high level? We’re 5-5. That’s how I judge myself, that’s how the team judges itself.”

We’ll have more from Sanchez and the Jets in the locker room a little later today.

Health Watch

Ryan said five players — RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee), WR Jeremy Kerley (knee), RB Bilal Powell (illness), TE Shawn Nelson (illness) and WR Plaxico Burress (non-injury-related) — did not practice today. Ten other Jets were listed as injured but full-go at today’s practice, including Sanchez (neck), RB Shonn Greene (rib), G Matt Slauson (knee) and S Brodney Pool (knee).

Ryan was not overly concerned with Sanchez’s injury being serious: “He practiced full … I wouldn’t think it’s a severe thing.”

He said the trainers worked Tomlinson and Kerley “pretty good” on the side Monday and today “they were pretty sore.” No predictions yet on their availability for the Bills game.

Burress Thankful

Burress was back in the Jets’ locker room late this afternoon and confirmed for reporters that he was taking care of charitable endeavors in his home area of Virginia Beach, Va., Monday and at Central Park East Middle School in Harlem today, events he couldn’t tend to the previous two years when he was in prison on his weapons conviction.

“These things were put together months in advance,” Burress said. “My Tuesdays are scheduled around being able to do these things I haven’t been able to do the past two years.

“It says a lot about Rex and this organization to let me go out and fulfill my obligations. I would’ve felt horrible, it wouldn’t have sent a good message about me and different things I’m trying to do, being that I committed to help those kids and families. It’s refreshing to be able to fulfill that commitment.”

The coach wasn’t second-guessing himself for his decision of “several months ago” and for not asking Burress to alter his plans and be at practice the first two days this week.

“I was not going to go back on my word,” Ryan said. “He’ll come back in and this is not going to hurt him, it’s not setting him back. It’s something I agreed upon before and told him I wanted him to take it.

“I’ve done it in the past, given guys even a week off,” he said. “I’ll always be me. I don’t have to refer back to Bill Walsh on how to handle things or whatever. I’m going to do it my way. If it’s something I feel OK with, then that’s something I’ll do.”

TE Nelson Waived

Early this evening the Jets announced that TE Shawn Illness has been waived/non-football injury/illness. Late today. Nelson, the Bills’ fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft, was on the Jets’ active roster after signing on Oct. 31 but was inactive the last three games, including the last two after being listed with an unspecified illness on the Nov. 11 injury report.