After the Jets' last official open practice of 2009, the organization unveiled the New York Titans white jerseys that they'll wear Oct. 25 at Oakland and then a week later at home against Miami.
"I like 'em. They pop," said WR Jerricho Cotchery after today's brief ceremony at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. "You can't do anything but just stare at them. They're nice-looking jerseys. I think they complement the [gold] pants well. I like them better than the blue."
Safety Kerry Rhodes hosted the event, which also featured runway appearances from LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, CB Darrelle Revis, TE Dustin Keller, ILB Bart Scott and J-Co.
"The white's hot," Rhodes said in the locker room before taking the mic.
"I like wearing the different jerseys. It makes you appreciate all the guys that were before us," Cotchery said. "You see them around the league, but I love wearing our jerseys. It's a completely different look than our regular jerseys."
In addition to the two games in Titans white, New York's AFC representative will don the Titans' blue tops on Sept. 27 while their opponents, the Tennessee Titans, will rock out their baby blue Houston Oilers throwbacks. The Jets, who are celebrating their 50th season this year and will wear a patch on their uniforms all season, will also have an AFL patch on their three throwback weekends.
"I haven't thought about it, but we'll have to do something special, then," Cotchery said of the golden anniversary. "It's a long time and we've won only one championship and we want to add to that this year. We want to make this year special. Fifty years is a long time."
The regular season is still a couple of weeks off, but the Jets' starters will get their final extended summer look against the Giants. Head coach Rex Ryan said Thursday he thought his first-stringers would play only the first half as the Jets look to pick up their first preseason win under his command.
"You want to leave the third preseason game feeling good where you are at that point of time," Cotchery said. "Going into the regular season, you want to make sure you pull everything together in the third preseason game and make sure it shows up in the film and make sure it shows up in the game so you can feel comfortable going into the season."
Only days after facing the Ravens, the task will be equally difficult against the Giants. Big Blue won 12 games last season after claiming the Lombardi Trophy to close the 2007 campaign.
"We always play them the third game," said the Jets' top receiver. "It's a good measuring stick because you're going up against a great team who won the Super Bowl just a couple of years ago. You have to be up to the challenge for that third game. It means something. Bragging rights go a long way now."
Rookie Mark Sanchez, who Wednesday was named the team's starting quarterback for the regular season, will make his second pro start in five nights. Cotchery was pleased with the timing of the announcement.
"I'm happy that the decision was made sooner than later because it will allow us to develop some chemistry and move on as a team instead of worrying about a position battle," he said. "Trying to work with two different guys for a while kind of wears on you. Now that the decision was made, we can move on."
Cotchery, who's averaged 78 receptions a season the past three years, had his mind on opening weekend before he returned to his locker and removed the white Titans jersey.
"I'm ready for the regular season. We're ready to get this thing moving now."
A Journey Ends, a Celebration Awaits
The South Shore, Staten Island, baseball team that represented New York State in the Little League World Series had its season come to a close Wednesday with a 4-2 loss to Texas. The Jets organization watched this series particularly closely because Robert Mastroddi, the team's senior director of facilities security, has a son, R.J., who played an integral role on the South Shore Nationals.
"They have achieved so much by getting to the Little League World Series and making it to the semifinal round. They finished 4th in the country," Bobby wrote in an email. "They will have memories that will last a lifetime. We, as parents, are all proud of their accomplishments and how they handled themselves."
After a hero's welcome tonight back on Staten Island, in the coming weeks the team will meet the Mets and the Yankees, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and visit Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall.
