Transcripts of Monday afternoon conference calls with four Jets players:
DE SHAUN ELLIS
On how much enjoyment is there playing for first place in the AFC East…
It's not fun. We're just trying to take it one game at a time. We're not worrying about that or focusing on that. We just have to keep controlling ourselves. As long as we control ourselves, good things will happen.
We can't worry about first or who's winning or losing. We just have to keep a steady approach and keep going to work and practicing hard and taking it from there, taking it one game at a time.
On if the players are encouraged that they are tied for first place…
It seems like we haven't put it all together or we can play a whole lot better than we've played. It's very encouraging for us to know that we haven't put it all together and once we do, it will bring good things.
Against Buffalo, it was the best collective effort that we played in a while, since Arizona, even though we had that letdown. We carried a little bit of that over into the game this past week. We were able to sustain it for a long period of time. We gave up some plays. They hit us on some things, but it could have been really ugly if we would have kept doing the things that got us in that position. We need to stop blowing coverages and not having miscues on certain things.
On what he thinks about the second half of the Jets' schedule…
I don't even know who we play next. I know we play the Rams, but who do we play after that? The Patriots, because people were mentioning it because it is a Thursday night game. For us, we just take it one game at a time.
On our stat board that we have in the defensive meeting room, it just has our next game. Whatever team we're facing, that is the sticker that goes on the board. It's just a steady approach. We knew that it was going to be a tough ride, the season was going to be long and teams are going to be playing us harder because of Brett [Favre]. We just have to keep grinding it out.
On DT Kris Jenkins play against the Bills…
Kris dominated. That's what he can do. He does a great job of pushing the middle. He puts a lot of pressure on the run game. He does it all. He's a force to be reckoned with.
RB THOMAS JONES
On how it feels to have a share of first place in the AFC East…
It feels good to be in this position, but we still have a lot of football left. We're not really thinking about that much.
On the feeling in the locker room after eight games this year compared to after eight games last year…
Our record is better. That makes all the difference in the world. When you're winning football games and you're above .500, it makes you a lot more optimistic about the season. It gives you a lot of energy in the locker room. You're definitely more energetic about practicing and getting ready for the game.
On the last offensive drive of the Buffalo game…
We knew we had to run the clock down. We were able to get some decent runs. We were able to execute the plays that we had drawn up. Everyone did a great job on each one of those plays to put us in a position to get the field goal.
On his thoughts on third-and-1 when he made the 1-yard catch for the first down…
I knew we had 1 yard. I was thinking that if I could at least catch it and get some lean room forward, I could fall for a yard. I fell on top of a guy, so my knee wasn't down. I was actually able to get a yard and a half. That was a pretty good play on that drive, to keep us out there on the field and not give them a chance with the ball.
On St. Louis having upsets over two winning teams…
We're not looking past any team. The St. Louis Rams have some great players on their team and they're capable of winning football games. They won against Washington, who everyone expected to win.
We don't take anyone for granted. Even the Oakland game, we didn't take Oakland for granted. They came out and played well. We didn't execute and had some turnovers. We ended up losing the game. We're taking it one week at a time, one game at a time. We're definitely not looking past the Rams.
S ABRAM ELAM
On if he has seen the replay of his interception-return touchdown…
I saw the highlights. I haven't watched the game yet.
On what he thought of the play...
I was thankful that I was able to make a play. It turned out to be big and I was able to get in the end zone and score some points for our team.
On if he felt he was running out of gas toward the end of the return…
The adrenaline was flowing and everything happened so fast on the field. My biggest thing was trying to get in the end zone.
On his fellow defensive backs thinking he would be the least likely to go 99 yards…
We joke around a lot in our DB room. During our test during the week, we had a questionnaire and guys were filling in the blanks of who they thought would be the least likely. I fell in that hole, but when I got to the sideline I had to let them know that there was no stopping me once I got the ball in my hands.
On if he was thinking about the results of the questionnaire while he was running…
All I was thinking about was getting into the end zone. I had a clear field ahead of me. The last thing I wanted to do was to get caught on national television.
On which teammates he talked to after he scored…
Justin Miller was my first culprit I had to address, and Coach [Jerome] Henderson as well. Those were the ones that were cracking smiles during the meeting on Saturday night.
On what teammate he said would be the least likely to go 99 yards…
I didn't answer that question. We laughed about it. We went around the room and said who might have been. I thought all of us [would be able to], with the chance to get it, because everyone wants to make a play. I couldn't pinpoint one guy because I thought that if any one of us gets our hands on the ball, then we would be able to take it the distance.
G BRANDON MOORE
On if sharing first place in the division feels good…
Yes, of course being here for a couple years, it feels good to be in the hunt with our goals still being out in front of us as far as the things we want to accomplish. But as far as being in first place, it's a competitive division, that was one game, that was one step in that direction and we're looking forward to next week.
On if it's easy not to let up against the Rams…
I think it's pretty easy. They are playing great ball. St. Louis is playing great ball with Coach [Jim] Haslett. I think guys understand and are able to put things into perspective and understand that the first step last week was a division game. We wanted to get a win and to move forward in our division.
Guys also realize that when it's over and done with, in order to still be in the hunt, you have to win some more games. I think that is the approach guys are going to take and it's going to be real easy to get up for St. Louis.
On if he knew the Patriots had lost Sunday night…
Of course, I read the paper somewhat. I understand where we are in the division. I saw that they had lost and I knew what the standings were, but we still have a long way to go. Getting caught up in where we are right now really doesn't matter. This next game is the most important game.
Winning and being tied right now, nobody will remember that in December when it's all said and done in the final game against Miami. It feels good where we are right now and we know there are still some steps to be made in a competitive division.
On the performance vs. the Bills…
I think this past game against Buffalo was one where there were all three phases helping out for that win. That was something that we have been preaching about. Speaking offensively, we played a lot better in the second half in moving the ball, but we definitely feel good about what we put out on the field on Sunday. We still know there is a lot of room for improvement.
