Updated 6:25 p.m. ET
You can tell Ed Reed is getting his sea legs under him as a member of the Jets. He likes to have some fun in the locker room, such as today when both he and WR Stephen Hill became available for group interviews at the same time and Reed told reporters, "Go ahead, talk to Stephen. I'll wait."
And then a few minutes later when who else but Reed popped into the Hill scrum with what looked like a ChapStick container, pointed it like a microphone and asked Hill a question or two.
Further, you can tell Reed didn't get to where he is, as a 12th-year NFL pro some five years shy of induction into the Hall of Fame, without having strategies for dealing with career lulls such as he finds himself in now. In fact, he was asked again about how he's dealing with being personally winless since Super Bowl XLVII (inactive for Houston's two season-opening wins, starting for the Texans' next seven losses, then coming to the Jets for losses eight and nine the past two weeks.
"This is a team sport," Reed started out, trying to give the athletically correct answer. But then he smiled. "I have looked at it, of course. It is a team sport. I'm not playing by myself. There's not 46 Ed Reeds dressing out on Sundays. It's not an individual game.
"Of course I want to win. And when I do win, I might dump Gatorade on myself."
As for the remedy for the Jets defense yielding the longball, Reed was pretty certain he knows what the cure is in time for Ryan Tannehill-to-Mike Wallace on Sunday.
"It comes back to execution, really executing the game plan, being on the same page and doing your job — this is a job, after all," he said. "We've just got to get lined up. I said that a lot during the game. When we did get lined up, we were a dominating defense. When we didn't, we made mental errors and guys were wide open. That's what we've got to do."
Rex Cetera
CB Antonio Cromartie didn't practice today with his aggravated hip injury, leading Rex Ryan to the conclusion that Cro's availability on Sunday is too close to call right now. "That could be a game-timer," the head coach said. "He's had a history, he's a durable guy. I hope he goes, obviously. But we'll see how he feels."
Six other Jets were limited at today's practice in the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center fieldhouse due to the steady North Jersey rains: WR Santonio Holmes (foot/hamstring), RB Chris Ivory (ankle), LB Garrett McIntyre (knee), WR Jeremy Kerley (elbow), C Nick Mangold (wrist) and TE Kellen Winslow (knee).
Ivory "was running around pretty good today," Rex said, while on Kerley he sounds cautiously optimistic. Reporter Charlie Frankel will have a story on JK up on the site in a short while. ... No first-team reps for backup QB Matt Simms today, but Ryan said, "I'm not saying we won't later as the week goes on."
The Dolphins' report lists 12 players, with seven at less than full-go: Out — T Jonathan Martin (illness). Did Not Participate — S Chris Clemons (knee/hamstring), CB Dimitri Patterson (groin), RB Daniel Thomas (ankle). Limited — C Sam Brenner (knee), WR Rishard Matthrews (back), CB Jamar Taylor (hamstring).
TE Chris Pantale was signed from our practice squad to the active roster today, taking the place of LB Troy Davis (chest), who was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. And WR Michael Campbell was re-signed to the practice squad to take up Pantale's spot.
