Bring on the Pads!
Edition #1217: The Jets players enjoyed their second off day in three days yesterday, but today the pads go on!
Good Morning ☕
I’m always reluctant to read too much into practices where it’s highly curated with no pads. But any time I hear that a Jets QB has gone 15-15 with 4 touchdowns across an entire session, well it’s notable. It’s not often a QB will move through a 15 session throwing window without the ball hitting the ground. It was mostly red-zone work so everything within 20 yards, but It’s nice to hear that Geno Smith has found a little mojo to start camp.
Aaron Glenn had this to say after that session on Saturday:
“I think he and Frank are on the same page. Our quarterbacks coach is doing a hell of a job, teaching him and actually expanding his knowledge as far as what we’re trying to do. And one good thing about Geno is, for as long as he’s been in this league, he’s still learning. I think that’s a good trait for any player, that we don’t know it all and we can pick up something new from a new coach.”
It wasn’t quite as good a day for Cade Klubnik who had a couple of interceptions in the red-zone. Things move fast down there but I spoke to someone who was at the session and he mentioned that Cade actually showed some really positive and mature signs despite being a rookie, which included throwing a ball away on a botched snap instead of trying to make up for earlier errors by forcing the ball. Cade’s had a good start to camp, a couple of interceptions won’t ruin that.
Couple of other notable moments from Saturday’s session
David Bailey may have won Thursday’s battle, but Armand Membou won Saturday’s, completely shutting down Bailey. Bailey had this to say after that session: “He’s a really good player, Great feet. Strong. Extremely strong. Ridiculously strong. So he’s been getting me better. He’s a great person to work on my skillset.”
Bailey was asked after the session about players he models his game on. He said that Von Miller was the first guy he studied and he watches a lot of tape on Aidan Hutchinson and Myles Garrett. Three good guys to look up to.
It’s time we really start paying attention to AD Mitchell who continues to be a priority target for Geno Smith, he caught two more TDs on Saturday.
Aaron Glenn was asked about that chemistry: “I think it shows. Those two guys are starting to pick up a rhythm.”
AD had a 25-yard score over Brandon Stephens on Saturday.
Garrett Wilson had five receptions on Saturday.
Harrison Phillips gave a great quote when he was asked what he’s seen from David Bailey so far: “I see him in the backfield all the time.”
Qwan’tez Stiggers bagged himself an INT off of Cade Klubnik.
Sanders was 7/8 which included a 60-yarder which was good. Cade York was 6/7 with a miss from 52 yards. Sanders only miss came off the upright from 55 yards. Close battle so far, seems as though it’s neck and neck.
When it comes to camp I just hope every day that we don’t see those dreaded words “carted off the field”. Bryan Bresee tore his ACL in New Orleans and is out for the year, 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall has undergone surgery and will miss the season and the Carolina Panthers have already lost Chris Brazzell II and Nic Scourton to season ending injuries.
NEWS & NOTES 🗞️
Aaron Glenn offered up some really high praise for Jets guard Joe Tippmann:
“Listen, obviously we signed him because we know what type of player he is, we know what type of leader he is, and type of man he is, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s here. And we want to continue to build this team with men like that. So, very unselfish, communicates very well, does a good job of getting along with his teammates, and does a really good job in the locker room. So I’m happy. I’m happy to have him exactly where he’s at.”
Joe Tippmann had a lot of good things to say about his new OC Frank Reich:
“I think he’s a guy that’s always adapting, he’s somebody who’s not just watching film from the 2000s. He’s up to date with studies in recent years, he’s doing studies on trends in the league, where the league is trending, where he thinks it’s going to go and that’s just the kind of stuff that you sit in a meeting and I just get excited. I get excited about where he’s going to be able to take us this year as an offense and as a team.”
Harrison Phillips is looking forward to the pads coming on today:
“That’s my game. I want pads, I want contact, I want to feel doubles,” Phillips said. “All this offseason has been just working, patiently working really for these moments. This is the time where your identity of a team is built, this is the time that your body is calloused and everything’s been so positive up to this point, I hope we just continue on the trajectory that we are.”
Phillips also had some interesting quotes on the Aaron Glenn defense:
"We're hoping that we can have players who can dominate their one-on-one matchup and do a little bit more to maybe gap-and-a-half, not necessarily straight up two-gap," Phillips said. "In other defences, sometimes everything is gapped out, so every single gap is accounted for, if it hits in that gap, you know exactly what player's responsible for that. Here, we want to play with enough violence, physicality, build walls and set edges that you can eliminate multiple gaps with singular players and I think we have the right people that can do that and play off each other.”
PFF have been ranking the top 32 tackles heading into the new season, and the Jets just squeaked into that list with Armand Membou being ranked #32:
“Last year’s seventh overall pick showed New York why he could be its star right tackle for years to come. Membou placed second among qualified rookie offensive linemen with a 72.7 PFF grade. He was the only rookie to earn at least a 72.0 grade as a pass protector and as a run-blocker. The Jets will continue to hope that Membou and Olu Fashanu develop into one of the NFL’s better tackle pairings.”
ROSTER MOVES 🟢⚪🗽
Jets have signed defensive lineman Ben Barten and waived LS Garrison Grimes, which secures the place of the longest tenured Jet Thomas Hennessy.
Barten was a UDFA out of Wisconsin who was waived by the Giants last week. Over his four-year career as a Badger Barten had 63 tackles 3.5 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. Last season he played 360 snaps on defense and had 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack while securing a 71.7 PFF grade in the run game.
With the addition of pads, the overall testosterone level in camp will increase.
Guys fighting for jobs start fighting teammates.
For quite a few, they are trying to accomplish their dreams. Making an NFL roster. Hits will be harder, aggression higher.
Hopefully, the Jets band of 90 hopefuls avoid major injuries.
One of the most depressing training camp injuries in Jet history was when Carl Lawson tore his Achilles tendon during a joint practice with the Pack.
That injury stopped the whole Jet universe in its tracks. What a punch to the gut.
Lawson was having an unbelievable camp, he was unstoppable.
Pads also mean, preseason games are approaching.
The Jets first matchup will be against the Buccaneers on Friday, August 14th. That’s really not that far away.
That will be followed by a game on the 21st against the Steelers.
Two interesting weekend notes from the Steeler’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa.
According to reports, it appears that Drew Allar is having an excellent camp comparable to Klubnink’s.
From the “Dumbest Thing I ever heard from an NFL team’s training camp department”, it appears that a mini brawl erupted among Steeler fans who started pushing each other in an attempt to get players autographs. The stupidity never ends. Nothing beats getting into an altercation for a David Clowney autograph.
To our Brigade members who love salary cap numbers, try this one on for size.
NFL most-expensive offenses: Jets rank in unsurprising position
The New York Jets have invested in their offense this offseason, however, their ranking on the list of the NFL's most and least expensive units in the NFL heading into the 2026 season is unsurprising.
The Jets have a new-look offense. It is led by quarterback Geno Smith, who the team traded for earlier this offseason.
Smith comes to New York with a reasonable contract that has a $3 million salary cap hit and approximately $19M in cash attached to it. Compare that to Patrick Mahomes, who has a NFL leading $63M on his deal in 2026.
Aside from Smith, the Jets added several other pieces to their offense as of late, however, many such as first-round rookies Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq as still on their affordable rookie contracts.
In the end, the Jets enter the 2026 season with the second least-expensive offense in the league at a clip of $97M according to Sharp Football.
most expensive offenses in 2026:
1. Rams ($207M)
2. Buccaneers ($185M)
3. Cowboys ($183M)
4. Vikings ($180M)
5. Bengals ($179M)
6. Lions ($174M)
7. Bills ($171M)
8. Panthers ($170M)
9. Eagles ($166M)
10. Broncos ($163M)
11. Chiefs ($162M)
12. Packers ($154M)
13. Seahawks ($153M)
14. Chargers ($150M)
15. Titans ($150M)
16. 49ers ($150M)
17. Patriots ($142M)
18. Jaguars ($142M)
19. Steelers ($141M)
20. Colts ($138M)
21. Bears ($136M)
22. Falcons ($134M)
23. Commanders ($131M)
24. Saints ($131M)
25. Cardinals ($128M)
26. Raiders ($126M)
27. Texans ($125M)
28. Browns ($124M)
29. Giants ($124M)
30. Ravens ($124M)
<huge gap>
31. Jets ($97M)
<huge gap>
32. Dolphins ($67M)
Going back to Latrobe Pa, it was at one time the original home of Rolling Rock beer. My beer of choice in my early years of inhibiting libations.
Unfortunately, Busch Company bought them out, the beer that tasted like Mountain Champagne now forever ruined, it presently tastes like horse pee.
Here is a fun question. If you had your choice right now, who would you rather have on your team. Abdul Carter or David Bailey.