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05/09 – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to bring in Hofstra offensive lineman Shawn McMackin for a workout prior to the draft. An aspiring NFL player, McMackin happened to receive a favorable call from the Bucs at a bad time. “The Bucs were like, ‘We have you scheduled for a flight tonight, 9 o’clock, out of Newark, N.J. Is that right?’ “I was like, ‘Wait, wait, wait.’ "They were like, ‘Yeah, we’re flying you down.’ "I was like, ‘I’m in Mexico.’ And they were like, ‘Oh.' ” McMackin and his girlfriend were south of the border vacationing at her timeshare. He never made that trip to Tampa and he completed his vacation as planned. Last weekend, the 6’3”, 272-pound McMackin was among the 34 tryout invitees to the Jets’ rookie minicamp. “It was pretty much everything that I had hoped for and more,” he told newyorkjets.com this week. “Coach Mangini and the staff, they do a good job of not getting you lost in the whole college-to-pro atmosphere and trying to get you adjusted to the playbook as comfortably as possible.” The pro game is much faster than the college game and McMackin was thinking tempo throughout the weekend. He practiced at a game pace while putting his best foot forward. “I was pretty much playing full speed and just going out, making sure my assignments, my steps and everything were perfect,” he said. “I can’t look back and say, ‘You know what? I wish I had that play over.’ I just went out and paid attention to what Coach [Bill] Callahan had to say as far as techniques and the playbook.” A day after minicamp concluded, McMackin was the only one of the 34 tryout players who still remained. He signed Monday with the club after displaying good versatility throughout the weekend. “Coach Callahan had me bumping around,” he said. “He told me, 'This play go to center. In three plays, go to guard. In four plays, go to left tackle.' I don’t know, maybe that helped opened up some eyes that we have a guy we can bounce and put him pretty much anywhere we want.” Not only did McMackin play collegiately across the street, but he also grew up in River Vale, N.J. The local product caught scouts’ eyes prior to the draft with a superb pro day, registering a 4.77 time in the 40-yard dash and at least 40 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. There was a little discrepancy for the bench total between an Eagles scout and McMackin. “I knew it was 42 and he yells '40.' I kind of just tilted my head and said, ‘Why 40?’ He said, ‘Two of them looked a little gray, so I’m going to take them away.’ I was like, ‘Well, I guess that’s that.’ ” No matter the final rep number, the performance was beyond solid. “I’m just thankful to God for having that strength and producing such numbers that basically got me noticed,” he said. And after getting noticed last weekend, McMackin has earned the right to test himself against some NFL regulars when OTAs commence. He is pleased to have the opportunity to learn under Callahan, a well-respected O-line technician. “He just understands the game to another level and he does a great job of teaching what needs to be taught to your mental capability,” McMackin said. “I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve had line coaches that have been absolute teachers of the game and he’s definitely another one.” McMackin will return to Hofstra in two weeks to practice with much of the rest of the 80-man roster. A long way from Mexico and back in familiar territory, a great anticipation builds for the unknown. “You’ve heard all the rumors about the speed and the size. I’m definitely anxious,” he said. “I still haven’t fulfilled what’s it like yet and that’s going to be a real eye-opener when I get in there.”
05/09 – The New York Jets and Marc Ecko Enterprises have announced a unique partnership in which Marc Ecko will design the 2008 New York Jets Flight Crew uniforms and will personally direct other aspects of styling from hair and make-up to photography. The squad, entering its second season, will grow from 10 members in its inaugural year to 22 in the season ahead. “We are thrilled to have Marc on board to take the look and feel of our newly expanded Flight Crew to another level,” said Jets president Jay Cross. “Ecko is not only an area native but a world-class designer who we know will create a very unique and cutting-edge uniform design for the crew." The uniforms will be unveiled in late summer. "When the Jets approached me to design the flight crew uniforms, I knew within a few minutes what I wanted to do," said Ecko, chief creative officer of Marc Ecko Enterprises. "We are excited to partner with one of my hometown teams to bring a new and fresh look to the squad." Auditions for the 2008 New York Jets Flight Crew begin May 17 and the deadline to apply has been extended to Tuesday, May 13. The application fee for tryouts is $25. Ecko will serve as one of several guest judges for the final day of auditions. Other celebrity judges will be named at a later date. The first round of auditions will be held at the Jets' practice facility on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Marc Ecko Enterprises headquarters, in New York City, will be the site of the final auditions on Sunday, June 1. At the conclusion of the audition process, 21 team members will be selected for the squad and the 22nd and final member of the Flight Crew will be voted in by Jets fans at www.newyorkjets.com. About the New York Jets Flight Crew The New York Jets Flight Crew was created in 2007 to enhance the overall fan experience by infusing additional energy and enthusiasm into each home game. Members of the multitalented, multipurpose entertainment team are dancers, flag runners, athletes and active participants in the Jets community. Whether they are performing a choreographed dance routine or appearing at Jets charity events, all members of the New York Jets Flight Crew are committed to excellence and serving as role models for Jets fans across the globe. About Marc Ecko Enterprises The youngest member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s board of directors, Marc Ecko is founder of *ecko unltd., the world-famous rhino brand. Since its creation in 1993, the group of companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises has grown to include: *ecko unltd.® juniors apparel, eckored, as well as outerwear, footwear, watches, belts, bags and more. Marc Ecko Enterprises also includes Marc Ecko “Cut & Sew” (a contemporary menswear line launched fall 2004); Zoo York® (a line of action-sports-inspired clothing and accessories); and Avirex® (a mid-tier brand launched spring 2005). The company also publishes Complex® magazine, a men’s consumer magazine with a rate base of 340,000, and Marc Ecko Entertainment, a full-service production company with a focus on interactive entertainment.
05/08 – In surfing the Web this afternoon, I came across stories on two of the tryout invitees to last weekend's Jets rookie minicamp. The Albany Conquest are happy to have WR Antwun Williams back in the fold. Williams (6'2", 185) is the arenafootball2 team's top receiver with 28 catches and nine touchdowns. He had to take a game off to participate in the minicamp, and Albany suffered a 61-49 loss to Tennessee Valley. Williams told the Schenectady, N.Y., Daily Gazette he brought back green and white gloves, cleats, hats and T-shirts back north with him to commemorate his short stay with the Jets, but mostly he’ll keep the memory of being looked at by an NFL coaching staff. “It was a wonderful experience, a dream come true,” he said. “What more can you ask for? It’s the NFL. There was a lot of things thrown at me as far as plays and getting to know the coaching staff, but I had to make the adjustment. I’d love to do it again, and hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to do that.” Williams said the Jets advised him that he's on the short list to be called back during training camp if the wideout position were to suffer a rash of injuries. Then S Zach Catanese (6'2", 230), a West Coast man all the way, told the Redding, Calif., Record he enjoyed his several days back east with the Green & White. "It was fun," Catanese said. "I think I did well, but obviously it wasn't well enough. It's been 16 months since I last played football and there was rust to me. I was a little hesitant playing. With all those months off, I may have lost some of my instincts." His layoff was due to a knee injury suffered in his final collegiate game for Arizona State. He's clearly on fence about whether his football days are over, even though he has a couple of CFL workouts on his schedule. "I'm just going to wait right now, see if other opportunities come up," Catanese said. "It was a good experience. I learned what I have to do to make it. I'm not disappointed, just glad to get the opportunity." Kenyon Returns Stateside DE Kenyon Coleman was back at the Jets training complex today. It's the first time I've seen him since he returned from his 13-day mission of empowerment and equpiment donation to the African countries of Uganda and Burundi. He's obviously very excited about the experiences and the good work he and the Tribal Praise Ministries-affiliated group did during their journey. And equally important to Jets fans, head coach Eric Mangini and strength boss Sal Alosi, Coleman says he didn't lose any weight from his 6'5", 295-pound frame and continued to work out on his trip. We'll meet up with Kenyon and let him take you through the highlights of his story in the coming days. Next Up for the Jets Coleman is not alone in returning to Weeb Ewbank Hall. Jets veterans are back this week after a long weekend away from Alosi's off-season strength and conditioning program. The Jets vets are now entering the OTA stretch of their calendar — non-contact, voluntary organized team activity sessions — that will culminate in a full-squad minicamp June 5-7. None of these OTAs is open to the public, but there is some limited media availability — a week from today and on the two succeeding Thursdays, plus Wednesday, May 28. And that means you should keep watching on those days and for the next month for features on the veterans you haven't heard from in a while on your favorite sports Web sites, starting, of course, with newyorkjets.com.
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| Garner Ready to Give It the Old College Try | Mon 11:57 AM |
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Mexican Holiday Helpe...
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to bring in Hofstra offensive lineman Shawn McMackin for a workout prior to... More
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