Time is running out to determine if Geno Smith is the answer for the Jets, writes Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. It’s starting to feel as if the Smith era is in the process of mirroring the Mark Sanchez era, but the key difference is that Sanchez got the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games. Sanchez got four years before the Jets finally pulled the plug, and the Jets don’t have that kind of time. More from around the NFL..
- Rolando McClain is having a career renaissance in Dallas and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says he’d like to keep the linebacker beyond this season, writes Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News. In four games, the starting middle linebacker has 23 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. McClain is a former top ten pick and Jones feels that he’s finally starting to realize that potential.
- While the move saves money, Broncos GM John Elway is taking a risk with his release of Matt Prater, who is arguably the best kicker in the game, writes Peter King of The MMQB. Even though Brandon McManus has a great leg, he hasn’t really been tested on field goals in 2014.
- Former Packers tight end Tom Crabtree has a workout scheduled with the Saints, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter).
- Patriots coach Bill Belichick says that recent acquisition Tim Wright still has “a long way to go” to learn the Pats offense, but he is impressed with his work ethic and intelligence, writes Phil A. Perry of CSNNE.com.
- If there’s a hot seat for Rex Ryan, there needs to be one for Jets GM John Idzik as well, writes Steve Serby of the New York Post. So who should take over? Bill Polian, who built Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Indianapolis, is Serby’s suggestion.
- Agent David Canter (via Twitter) issued a statement regarding the suspension of Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby.