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Jets Fire Mike Tannenbaum, Keep Rex Ryan

It is official, Mike Tannenbaum will no longer be the General Manager of the Jets. Word came out this morning at approximately 9:10 a.m. that the Jets fired Tannenbaum, and will retain Rex Ryan as Head Coach. No word if Tannenbaum will be reassigned, and the likelihood is that he will no longer be with the organization. Woody Johnson released a statement thanking Tannenbaum for his 15 years of service with the Jets. If Tannnenbaum is totally out of the organization -- it means that the Jets will bring in a brand new GM who will oversee a load of sweeping changes to the Jets front office and football personal. Ryan is now on very thin ice. He will have to win next season, and win very early or he too could be fired. Don't be shocked that if Gang Green gets off to a very sluggish start in 2013 that Ryan is one of the first coaching casualties of next season -- during the season. Tannenbaum's career was marred by horrible draft day selections, with players who never ...

2012-2013 NFL Playoffs are Set

With the 2012 regular season now in the books it is time to get ready for playoff football. The entire season has seen some incredible story lines from the triumpant return of Peyton Manning in Denver, to Adrian Peterson's incredible season in Minnesota. Of course rookies also dominated the headlines as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson each brought their teams to the top of the NFL this season. The AFC playoff picture is virtually the same as last season, with the only exception being that Pittsburgh is not in the playoffs. There will be some familiar faces at the top of the conference with Manning and Tom Brady holding onto the top two seeds in the AFC, thanks in part to the collapse of the Houston Texans and the fantastic second half run by Denver and New England. With the Patriots and Broncos off until the divisional playoffs, the wild card playoff picture is as follows: Cincinnati (10-6) @ Houston (12-4) at 4:30 on Saturday January 5. Indianapolis (11-...

Sanchez, Rex & Jets Wilt in Buffalo Finale

BILLS 28 JETS 9 There is something to celebrate this season Jets fans! The season is over!! The nightmare of a season that has been for the 2012 New York Jets came to fitting conclusion with Mark Sanchez once again playing the lead, and Rex Ryan, again ducking the media. Sanchez was inept in butt-fumble fashion, turning the ball over twice in the Jets season finale. The only reason New York moved the football into field goal range on its opening possession to take a 3-0 lead was because of 42 yards the Jets pounded out on the ground; Sanchez never completed a pass on the drive. When Sanchez finally did rear back to throw, he threw a hedious interception to Bryan Scott (no relation to Bart) who rumbled 20 yards for a touchdown to give the Bills a 7-3 lead. Every single time Sanchez and this offense touched the football, they couldn't do anything with it against a horrible Buffalo defense. All three of the Jets scoring drives died in Bills territory with Sanchez unable to ...

Giants Blowout Philly, but Eliminated from Playoffs

GIANTS 42 EAGLES 7  Needing to win their season finale to give themselves a shot at the playoffs the Giants had their best performance of season both offensively and defensively, as they smacked a Philadelphia Eagles' team that had mailed it in a long, long time ago, 42-7. However, it didn't mean a thing as the Chicago Bears defeated the Detroit Lions 26-24, silencing the Giants playoff hopes. The Giants dream of defending their Super Bowl title is dead. After two of the most dismal games in the Tom Coughlin era that put this team in a huge pickle, the Giants suddenly woke up from their second half swoon to send Andy Reid out rudely in his final game as Eagles coach. Right out of the gate the Giants offense showed the kind of poise and consistency that had been missing for a majority of the season. Perhaps offensive coordinator Kevin Gillbride realized that his job was on the line? Too bad he and this group couldn't play with the same urgency about a month ago! ...

Clueless Nets want Phil Jackson to be Coach

Leave it up to classless and inept management to screw up what appeared to be a good thing in Brooklyn. It didn't take long for the sleek Brooklyn Nets to mirror their past selves, the New Jersey Nets, 28 games into a brand new arena and season, as a team on a mission for ineptitude. The Nets, who are co-owned by Russian billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov and Rapper, Jay-Z have proven two things in their tenure as owners of the Nets. 1) They love publicity. 2) They don't know a damn about how to run a professional sports franchise. On Thursday the Nets kicked Avery Johnson to side weeks after he won Coach of the Month honors for the Nets sizzling 11-4 start. The Nets are 3-10 in the month of December putting them at 14-14. But, even Johnson admitted, and anyone with any knowledge of sports would admit, that the Nets had gone through a rough patch in the journey that is a 82-game season. With the talent they have, they would pull out of it, especially in the lackluster Eastern...

Brooklyn Nets Fire Coach Avery Johnson

It didn't take long for the Brooklyn Nets to make a shocking move in their new digs in New York. Weeks after he was named coach of the month, the Nets decided to part ways with Avery Johnson after the team struggled during the month of December, posting a 3-10 record. In November the Nets got off to a sizzling start, 11-4, including beating their cross town rivals the New York Knicks in the first match-up between the two teams at the Barclays Center. The Nets, 14-14, put up a lackluster effort on Christmas day, losing to the Boston Celtics 93-76 to fall out of second place in the Atlantic Division. ESPN As of now, no interim coach has been named.

Jets fans, guess who's back? Mark Sanchez Returns

Well Jets fans, it didn't take long for Mark Sanchez to return as the Jets starting quarterback. According to multiple sources, the Jets will go back to Sanchez for the clubs' season finale in Buffalo on Sunday, after Rex Ryan discovered that Greg McElroy is suffering from symptoms of a concussion. The fact that McElroy has a concussion should not be surprising since the man was sacked 11 times last week against the Chargers. Sources also say that Rex Ryan was surprised that McElroy was suffering from a concussion:  " Ryan was unaware McElroy was dealing with any head issues until Thursday morning. The coach was clearly perturbed by McElroy's lack of honesty, saying the quarterback wouldn't play regardless of how tests came back. "I was stunned by it," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News . "I admire his courage and everything else, but you have to truthful.'" ( NFL.com ). This means that the Jets get to see "Buttfumble...

Open Mike 12-26-12, New Year's 2013 Edition

In the first hour of the Open Mike program from December 26, 2012, host Michael Cohen asks the tough questions about what has happened to the New York Giants this season after failing to show up the past two weeks in Atlanta and Baltimore. Karen Vankat, Giants fan and host of the Warning Track joins in.  OPEN MIKE 12-26-12 PT 1.  In hour two of the Open Mike program from December 26, Michael Cohen welcomes in Mike Sanfilipo of Triple Coverage to get his take on the Giants collapse. The duo then talk about the Tim Tebow fiasco in New York, and whether the Jets should either fire or demote GM Mike Tannenbaum. That and the boys count down and look back at the year 2012. OPEN MIKE 12-26-12 PT 2 .

Smith Lifts Knicks to Dramatic Win vs. Suns

KNICKS 99 SUNS 97 No one said the road to the best record in the NBA would be pretty. The New York Knicks, who have seen a few struggles of late, found themselves in a battle against a young Phoenix Suns team that just about anyone would have expected New York to blow out. However, just 24 hours removed from their disappointing 100-94 loss to the Lakers on Christmas day the Knicks decided to sweat it out against the Suns. As a result, New York gave us one of their most dramatic victories to date. After a miserable third quarter that saw the Knicks blow a ten-point halftime lead, as the likes of Marcin Gortat (6 points - 3rd quarter), and Jared Dudley (9 points - 3rd quarter) dominated the perimeter for the Suns against a seemingly bewildered and tired Knicks squad. Even though the Knicks were shorthanded with Carmelo Anthony sitting out the back-to-back, the Knicks remained tied with Phoenix after the third thanks to a huge jump shot by J.R. Smith to tie it at 76. The Knic...

Big Blue Christmas: Giants season on brink of extinction

RAVENS 33 GIANTS 14 Twas the night before Christmas, and all that was left for the Giants was a season up in flames, and a Raven that quoted "never more." Needing just about every break one can think of and needing to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in order to stay in the playoff race, the New York Giants may have watched their chances at defending their Super Bowl title go down the drain this holiday season after posting a second consecutive stinker, this time losing 33-14 in Baltimore. Even though the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings had won their games earlier in the day, the Giants still controlled their own playoff destiny if they were only able to win this game; for whatever reason the effort was not there at all. The Giants were flat for the second consecutive week.  Eli Manning couldn't make much impact on this game other than a dismal 14-of-28 for 150 yard performance that will not quiet the doubters of his "Elite" status. The k...

Chargers Maul McElroy and Jets, Tebow never plays

CHARGERS 27 JETS 17 An already abysmal season took a new turn of total absurdity for Gang Green on Sunday, as they put together a heartless, gutless performance against a San Diego Chargers team that had packed it in months ago. The Chargers, who have struggled all season rushing the passer, sacked Jets third string quarterback Greg McElroy 11 times Sunday making the quarterback wish he was holding a clip board again. The offensive line, which was much maligned in 2011, and had played slightly better this season, went back to the 2011 version, as McElroy was totally under siege against the Chargers. Not all of the sacks were the fault of the line, McElroy made his share of mistakes and misreads; he even had a couple of "buttchez" moments like running into offensive lineman Brandon Moore, and later, fumbling the football into the hands of the Bolts. But, when the quarterback is spending most of his day on his rear end, no team has a realistic shot to win. The Jets ...

Jets' D.C. Mike Pettine rejects contract extension

It's not often that someone rejects a contract extension from a lucrative business, but Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine might have a hint of what is to come in the tea leaves for the New York Jets once the season concludes December 30 in Buffalo.  Pettine rejected a contract extension from the Jets, according to sources who spoke with the mainstream press ( NY Post , Daily News), and will be a "free agent" once the season ends. This is an incredible revelation. It's not like Pettine was in danger of getting fired. His unit was, again, one of the best in the NFL, ranked 2nd in pass defense without the services of all pro Darrelle Revis all season. With Pettine heading for the door, it comes across that he is trying to seperate himself from the circus that is the Green and White, and wants to establish his name with a more reputable football team -- maybe even increase his chances for a head coaching job one day. With Pettine gone, Ryan will have to find...

Open Mike Christmas Special

In hour one of the 2nd Annual Open Mike Christmas Special, host Michael Cohen welcomes in two guests, Mike Sanfilipo, of Triple Coverage, and Adam Clarkson of 88.7 fm, to talk about the end of the Mark Sanchez era. Can Mr. Sanfilipo continue to defend the Sanchise? Or will Mr. Cohen finally make his point? Open Mike X-Mas Part I . In hour two of the Open Mike Christmas special, Michael and his guests look over the MLB Hot Stove report, before getting invaded by Santa Claus! Open Mike X-Mas part II .

Jets finally bench Sanchez in favor of McElory

Get the champagne bottles Jets' fans; the Mark Sanchez era is finally over! Hip Hip Hooray! The day after Sanchez spit the bit on not only the Jets season, but his career after a five turnover meltdown against the Tennessee Titans, the Jets finally decided to bench Butt-chez in favor of Greg McElroy, who had been inactive the past two weeks. To say this was a long time coming is the understatement of the year. Sanchez has been just putrid the past two seasons, leading the NFL in turnovers with 24 this year. He has turned the ball over 51 times in his last 30 games, and 87 times in his career. The Jets were long overdue to bench this bumbling fool who has helped wreck this franchise. Also, the fact that Rex Ryan has endorsed Sanchez for this long is beyond laughable, especially when everyone could see this guy just didn't have it. Sanchez's career with the Jets began with much ballyhoo from the Jets brass, who traded up to draft a guy who had only 16 career starts ...

Sanchez turns the ball over 5 times in Music City Meltdown

Titans 14 Jets 10 What more evidence does one need to know that Mark Sanchez is NOT the answer for the New York Jets. Once again the Jets asked the bumbling butt-chez to get the job done, and once again the Sanchise stunk it up royally on national television against a Tennessee Titans team that wanted no part of winning this football game. The Tennessee Titans begged the Jets to win this game. The officials tired to give the Jets the game, (i.e. the roughing the passer call that really wasn't), but when it really mattered Sanchez came up snake-eyes killing the Jets dwindling playoff hopes, and likely writing the epitaph to his career in the Big Apple. Sanchez turned the ball over five times in this disgraceful performance. He struggled to handle the Titans blitzes, struggled to find an open receiver, and even with the return of his favorite receiver, Braylon Edwards, he struggled to find him. The lasting image of this game will not only be of Sanchez on his back, but the c...

Mets Trade R.A. Dickey to Blue Jays for top catching prospect

Well Fred and Jeff Wilpon can take a sigh of relief. They don't have to pay $5 million to R.A. Dickey. The Mets dealt their best pitcher, and reigning Cy Young award winner, R.A. Dickey, to the Toronto Blue Jays for catching prospect Travis D'Arnaud, who is regarded as one of the "best young catching prospects" in baseball. However, D'Arnaud has never made a major league appearance, and is coming knee surgery. Before getting injured, D'Arnaud batted .333 with 16 homers. The Mets better hope that D'Arnaud contributes quickly and makes a major impact on this ball club, because it is not often that a team decides to rid itself of its best pitcher who won 20 games the prior season. While one can argue that the Mets should keep Dickey, trading a 38-year-old pitcher, who may eventually be on the decline for a young talented prospect is a no-brainer on paper. Dickey had a great year in 2012, but does anyone really think he can replicate what he was able t...

Big Blue Meltdown: Giants Shutout by Falcons

FALCONS 34 GIANTS 0 The Giants playoff fate is now quickly falling out of their hands. Needing a victory over the Atlanta Falcons in order to stay ahead of the Washington Redskins and even the Dallas Cowboys, got clobbered by the Dirty Birds 34-0. The shutout was the first time Big Blue had been blanked since the wild card playoff game against Carolina, 23-0, in 2005; and the first time in the regular season since December 1, 1996 against the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-0. A week after scoring 52 points, the Giants were putrid offensively. Eli Manning couldn't get into a groove, and the Giants running game, which had been handicapped a bit with the injury to Ahmad Bradshaw, was nonexistent. On the Giants second play from scrimmage, Manning set the tone for the afternoon when he was picked off by Asante Samuel, giving Atlanta the football inside the Giants 20. The Falcons responded by pounding the football with struggling tail-back Michael Turner, who bulled his way to 16-yar...

Knicks Beat Down Hapless Lakers

KNICKS 116 LAKERS 107 Two days after their emotional 100-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, the Knicks trounced the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, and their former head coach Mike D'Antoni, 116-107 at the Garden last night. The Knicks exploded out of the gate with 41 first quarter points, including 22-points from Carmelo Anthony, who must have really enjoyed sticking to D'Antoni, his in-house nemesis over the past two years when D'Antoni coached the Knicks. Anthony connected on three straight three-pointers to open the game, handing the Knicks a huge 11-2 lead right out of the gate, and the onslaught didn't stop there and the Lakers never had an answer. Five Knicks were in double figures on the night, including 18-points each for Tyson Chandler and J.R. Smith, as well as 19-points from Raymond Felton, who had a monster night blowing past the Lakers beat up center Dwight Howard for easy lay-ups. Even though the Lakers got 31-points from ...

Yankees Tab Ex-Red Sox Youkilis at Third Base

In dire need of some help at third base the New York Yankees have come to an agreement with former Boston Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis , bringing one of the more despised players in the eyes of Yankee fans to the Bronx. While most Yankee fans may hate seeing one of Boston's own in their uniform, it is a one year $12 million deal, meaning that he won't be on the team past this season. With Alex Rodirguez out for the forseable future when he goes under the knife for hip surgery in January, that will cause him to miss most of the season, tabbing Youkilis makes sense. While he was apart of the deteriorating locker room that ended both the tenures of Terry Francona and Bobby Valentine in Beantown,  there is no questioning Youk's abilities. He is a .283 career hitter, and between Boston and the Chicago White Sox last season, he hit .238 with 19 homers and 60 RBI. Playing in the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium have been an issue of late for Youkilis, who has hit .231 in the Bro...

Road to Playoffs No Easy Task for Giants

With three weeks to go in their season, the New York Giants are right where they are used to being during the month of December: on the edge. The Giants are in the midst of a dog-fight for the NFC East title, and possibly a wild card spot as they head down the stretch. While it is no fault but their own for finding themselves in this predicament, New York still controls their own destiny.  While the Giants might be 8-5 on the year, their margin for error is zero. They lost three games in the division this year, with Washington and Dallas already owning tie-breakers against them. The Giants remaining three contests will not be easy, with a two game road-trip that has become a highlight of the Giants late season schedule on the horizon. Trips to Atlanta and Baltimore are going to tell all of us what is in store for the Giants as the season wraps up and heads toward January. It is easy for any Giants supporter to scuff at the schedule; the Giants have proven many times in the pa...

"Flip" Wilson leads G-Men in Shootout Over Saints

GIANTS 52 SAINTS 27  After watching their hold on the NFC East get tighter after both the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys won earlier Sunday afternoon, the New York Giants had little margin for error going into their contest with the New Orleans Saints, and Big Blue didn't disappoint.  The Giants rolled past the New Orleans Saints 52-27, thanks to a huge night by rookie running back David Wilson, who finally had the break out game that Tom Coughlin and the Giants had been waiting for. After Eli Manning was picked off Elbert Mack, who brought the ball back 73-yards for a touchdown giving the Saints an early 7-0 lead, Wilson provided immediate fireworks when he returned the ensuing kick-off 97-yards for a touchdown to tie the game. The wild nature of the contest didn't stop there. A fumble by the Saints on their next possession quickly resulted in another Giants score; Eli Manning found Martellus Bennett in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to make it 14...

Jets Outlast Jaguars in Snoozefest

JETS 17 JAGUARS 10 Okay! Wake up, the game is over. What happened? The Jets won. Why? Because Mark Sanchez was told not to throw the football. That basically describes Gang Green's 17-10 bore-fest against the equally inept Jacksonville Jaguars, as the Jets pounded Jacksonville with a consistent running attack of Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell, while quarterback Mark Sanchez took a back seat, and, as he has done throughout his Jets career, road the coat-tails of New York's running game to victory. Sanchez did nothing to quell the storm of critics who want to see his head on a platter. He was ineffective all day, completing only 7 of 11 passes in the first half for 51 yards; his only highlight having been stripped of the football for a fumble that led to the Jaguars first points of the day. Like they did last week, the Jets went into the half trailing 3-0, and, like last week, New York had to change its game plan and keep the ball out of Sanchez's hands in o...

Open Mike 12-5-12 Mark Sanchez's Status & MLB Winter Meetings

Here is the opening hour of the Open Mike program from December 5, 2012. Michael breaks down the Mark Sanchez situation. Was Rex Ryan in the right to go back to the struggling signal-caller? http://www.mtrmedia.com/2012/12/open-mike-12-5-12-pt-1-rex-ryan-jets-endorse-mark-sanchez/   In hour two of the Open Mike program from Wednesday, December 5, Michael Cohen welcomes in Karen VanKat of the Warning Track, and John Pielli of Passed Ball to talk Hot Stove Baseball and the Winter Meetings. http://www.mtrmedia.com/2012/12/open-mike-12-5-12-pt-2-mlb-winter-meetings/

Rex Ryan & Jets decide to stick with Mark Sanchez

Should anyone be really surprised here? Really? The New York Jets have decided to go back to Mark Sanchez after the bumbling quarterback was benched during an inept performance in the Jets 7-6 victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Ryan defended his decision to go back to Sanchez citing that he gives New York the best chance to win, and that he still believes in him. Ryan acknowledged that the move would not come with much praise, and frankly didn't care.  However, the real reason Ryan is going back to "Butt-fumble," as Sanchez has been called in recent weeks by Jets fans, is because the quarterback is owed $8.5 million next season in guaranteed money. Not to mention New York signed Sanchez through the 2017 season when they unconsciously gave him a contract extension after failing to spark any interest in Peyton Manning last off-season. The move by Ryan while ridiculous -- because Sanchez has been on a downward spiral since he has been in New York, has not impro...

Giants Have No Answer for RGIII & Skins

REDSKINS 17 GIANTS 16 The Giants had a golden opportunity Monday night to all but ice the NFC East, and keep their hopes alive for the number two seed in the NFC playoffs with a win against the Washington Redskins. However, as has been the case with Big Blue over the years, nothing they do is ever easy as the Giants found a way to blow a 16-10 lead, and lose to Washington 17-16. Once again the Giants were failed by missed opportunities on offense, as New York settled for three field goals after failing to convert huge third down plays inside Washington's red zone. It wasn't like the Giants weren't playing well between the 20s in this game; they were excellent. Eli Manning looked sharp, completing 20 of 33 passes for 280 yards. But, when New York desperatly needed to move the ball inside the red zone they couldn't do it, as Manning missed Victor Cruz on two crucial third down's, one inside the seven and another at the Washington 16 yard line. As for RGIII,...

Roll Tide: Jets Bench Sanchez, McElroy Leads Gang to Win

JETS 7 CARDINALS 6   For three quarters the New York Jets, once again, looked like a group of zombies as they struggled to do anything against a reeling Arizona Cardinals team that limped into the game on their third quarterback of the season, riding a seven-game losing streak. As has been the case all season, Mark Sanchez was at the eye of the storm; every throw he made turned out to be a total disaster for Gang Green, as New York failed to move the football at any point during the opening three quarters of this football game. From the onset, Sanchez showed Jets fans once again why he is not the answer at quarterback anymore, when he threw a pick to ex-Jet Kerry Rhodes on the Jets first play of the game. That wouldn't be the last mistake by Sanchez, who threw two more interceptions, and completed a woeful 10-of-21 for 92 yards. With each incompletion on third down (Sanchez was 2-of-9 in that situation) and the Jets uncanny inability to do anything against a Cardinals te...