COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

 25 years ago, radical terrorists tried to take away our freedoms, filling us with nothing but fear when they hijacked four planes on a crisp Tuesday, September morning. Two of those planes as we known crashed into the World Trade Center; another was driven right into the Pentagon, and, thanks to the heroics of the passengers aboard United Flight 93, the last plane wound up crashing into a field in Pennsylvania.  2,977 people were killed.    I shake with sadness and anger because it's just too horrifying to think about, let alone type into words.  September 11 changed everything in our Nation and around the world.  Not only did radical Islamic terrorists try to take away our freedom, they declared war on it, and led us down a path toward seemingly never ending wars in Afghanistan and later, Iraq.   Moreover our way of life changed forever.  Security checkpoints at airports changed; even security at big social gatherings like stadiums and...

 Let's get this bad boy started!  The 2026 NFL season is upon us, and it all begins this evening when the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots. It will be a rematch of last season's Super Bowl, and it's only the second time since the NFL implemented the Thursday night opener begin with the reigning champion taking on the same team they defeated in the Big Game.  The last time that happened was 2016 when the Broncos faced off with the Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50.   Chances are good the Seahawks, led by quarterback Sam Darnold will crush a Patriots team that has had an off-season full of distractions. We'll see.   Meanwhile back here in New York City, the Jets and Giants are preparing for Sunday's games, with moderately high expectations for the upcoming season.  Can John Harbaugh turn around the Giants? Will Jaxson Dart come into his own? Can the Giants stay healthy offensively? Will Arvell Reese...

 A couple years ago the Athletic published an article about the dysfunction within the New York Jets. New York had just fired its head coach, Robert Saleh following a disappointing trip to London, England, in which they lost to the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 to drop to 2-3 on the season.  When Saleh was fired, many pundits and fans, including myself, thought the move was abrupt. What followed was a scathing story that painted owner Woody Johnson as a meddling owner; detailed his fractured relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and dove into the idea that Johnson's own son Brick and Madden ratings.  It was wild.   Of course Jets fans pounded on Johnson for the handling of the Saleh situation, and the Jets failings over the past 15 years without a playoff appearance.  The media has dissected his every word -- when he does speak in public -- but we never really get HIS side of the story.  That was until now.  Fast forward to today, and The Athl...

 Aaron Judge is back.  At long last the Yankees MVP is back in the lineup tonight against the Colorado Rockies, in what the  Yankees hope is the beginning of a major run by slugger Aaron Judge.  Since landing on the IL on May 31 with a rib injury, the Yankees have bounced up and down all summer long, posting a record of 45-39 during the 84 games Judge was sidelined. New York clearly missed him. New York's run production dropped off considerably from 5.19 per game with him to 4.06 runs per game in Major League Baseball.  There have been points this summer where it felt like the Yankees were the on the precipice of fading. Not only did they not have Judge, but Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger have missed time. Bellinger returned to the lineup a couple weeks ago. Stanton might be done for for the year.  Winning five straight in mid-August which included a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles was really the Yankees saving grace. In addition, the team dominated th...

Odell Beckham Jr. is writing one heck of a redemption story right now with the New York Giants.  The star wide receiver made famous by his ridiculous one-handed catch against the Cowboys in 2014, only to see his star in New York fade quickly due to poor on field behavior, has returned some eight years later as a man on a mission.  Beckham earned his way onto the John Harbaugh's first 53-man roster as Head Coach of the New York Giants, hauling in 13 passes for 76-yards. Beckham said he was brought to tears when he was told by Harbaugh that he had made the team.  "I’m going to be here and I have an opportunity to rewrite some of the last bit of the chapter,” Beckham said after practice Monday. “Don’t know [if it’s my] last year, whatever it is, I just know I’m going to give my all" It's been a long time coming for OBJ. He even looks like a changed man. Gone are his dyed curles of blonde hair, instead he sports a buzz cut, and a nearly full beard that has little pat...

 It became pretty apparent in the Jets 23-6 preseason finale loss to the New York Giants that they need to address the kicking position, especially after incumbent Jason Sanders missed an extra point and a field goal.  A day after the 53-man roster was finalized, the Jets acquired Blake Grupe on waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. Sanders has since been released.  This is a huge addition obviously. Over his career Grupe is 96-of-98 on extra points, and 86-of-105 (82%) on field goals. That's as good as it gets for a player who was perfect from both field goal distance (11-for-11) and extra points (10-of-10) last year for a Colts team that cut him at the end of camp this summer.  Grupe began his career with the New Orleans Saints, and let's be fair, he did struggle last season before a October trade. He was 18-of-26 on field goals last year for the Saints, who play their home games in a dome.  At the very least, the Jets have answered their kicker questions for t...