COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

 The worst kept secret in NFL circles is now official, former Denver Broncos head Coach Nathaniel Hackett is now the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets. Formal announcement of his hiring came from beat reporters on Thursday afternoon. Hackett, who went 4-11 as head coach of the Broncos before getting fired in his maiden voyage, comes to the Jets with an extensive background as an offensive coordinator, and of course he has strong ties to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Hackett’s links to the Jets make a lot of sense. He worked with Jets head coach Robert Saleh in Jacksonville when the two were down there from 2017-18.  He also worked under Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who is like a brother to Saleh, and whose actual brother Mike LaFleur was the Jets offensive coordinator until recently. Plus with all the rumors swirling that the Jets could be a major player for Rodgers only adds to the intrigue of this signing.   That being said, Hac...

 Here we go again folks.  I remember in the summer of 2008 when then Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced he was coming out of retirement and that the New York Jets were linked as a possible suitor, not believing my ears.  "Could it be? The New York Jets who have never really had a Hall of Fame type quarterback under center end up with one of the all time great's at the position? Would I really get to see one of my favorite out of market quarterbacks suddenly play on my team?"  Yes, those thoughts crossed my mind, and the mind of every Jets fan back in the sweltering heat of August 2008. Then one evening, BAM! I turned on NFL Network and there it was: in bold type on the bottom scroll the announcement was official, the Jets swung a deal and acquired Brett Favre for draft picks (who cares, right?) while shipping Chad Pennington out of town. (He would end up in Miami as we all know).  The excitement was palpable. It was also the year I ended up with...

 EAGLES 38 – GIANTS 7 When quarterback Jalen Hurts guided the Philadelphia Eagles on a crisp 75-yard scoring drive to open the football game, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown to Dallas Goedert, one had to know that the Giants were in big trouble. Hurts was a perfect 4-for-4 for 60 yards on that opening drive. Any concerns over Hurts’ injured shoulder subsided quickly as he tore apart a healthy Giants defense. Hurts looked like the man that guided the Eagles to a 13-1 start to the season, and the Eagles looked like the team the G-Men saw in Week 14 when they served up a 48-22 smackdown. On the Giants ensuing drive, Daniel Jones had Big Blue moving into Eagles territory with completions to Richie James and Lawrence Cager; but the drive quickly stalled when Jones was sacked for a five-yard loss on third down. Instead of punting the ball and playing defense, Brian Daboll inexplicably decided to go for it on fourth and eight. Jones was nearly sacked before tossing the ...

 GIANTS 31 - VIKINGS 24  Tell the doubters to take a hike. Daniel Jones is the real deal, and the Giants are going to foot one hell of a tab when they negotiate a long term deal with him once this season ends, whenever it ends. That is because Daniel Jones proved once again that he is indeed a franchise quarterback.  His running mate Saquon Barkley also continued to show that he can be a back-breaking difference at running back.'   Perhaps David Gettleman wasn't that crazy after all?   The Giants went into Minnesota and lay down a beating on the Vikings 31-24 in the wild card round. And while there were moments where this game could have gone the way of the Vikes, it never felt that close. The Giants rolled up 431 yards of offense, 28 first downs and held the ball for 34 minutes.    Jones completed 24-of-31 passes for 301 yards and two scores. He also ran for 78 yards as well. His ability to move in and out of the pocket confused the Vikings, who ...

As I wrote for Fox Sports New Jersey !  The New York Jets and Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur have parted ways. After an inconsistent 2022 season, highlighted by Gang Green's inability to develop quarterback Zach Wilson, LaFleur will not return in 2023. According to multiple reports several teams had reached about LaFleur's availability leading to New York to agree to allow the embattled offensive coordinator to pursue other opportunities elsewhere. The Jets had initially played to bring LaFleur back. LaFleur's departure was really no surprise, not after the Jets failed to score a single touchdown in their final three games of the year. Under his stewardship, the Jets offense was one of the worst in the NFL, ranked 29th in scoring this season, and 25th in total offense. Changes had to made. Moreover, the underdevelopment of Zach Wilson was a problem. Wilson's struggles to master the offense, combined with the young signal callers pour mechanics, and -- what many clai...

And so it goes for the New York Mets. The Amazin's valiant attempt to lock-down a deal with Carlos Correa ends much the same way it did with the San Francisco Giants a month ago, with Correa signing elsewhere.  After contract negotiations between the Mets and Correa’s camp stalled just before the Christmas break, the two sides never could agree to a deal after it was initially reported that the Amazin’s and Correa agreed in principal to a 12-year $315 million deal on December 21. Like the San Francisco Giants before them, the Mets tried in good faith to sign Correa, but concerns over an ankle injury from years ago would up nixing the deal. The Mets tried to work something out with Correa and his agent Scott Boras, but nothing came to fruition. Instead Correa went back to Minnesota on a six-year $200 million contract — a far cry from the 13-years, $350 million offered to him by San Francisco a month ago. The agreement includes a vesting option for four years and $70 milli...

 DOLPHINS 11 - JETS 6  The Jets 2022 season came to a bitter end in Miami. A field goal fest, that ended somewhat appropriately when Jets back-up quarterback was charged with the safety resulting in an 11-6 defeat to the Dolphins, who stamped their spot as the seventh seed in the AFC Playoffs. As has been the case with the Jets during the six game losing streak that ended their season, they couldn’t get into the end zone. Sunday’s loss marked the third straight game where the Jets failed to score a touchdown. Only Garrett Wilson had a standout afternoon for the Jets, hauling in nine passes for 89 yards. That was it.  Sunday's loss to Miami only highlighted the growing problems with these Jets. They need a new vision offensively. There is no doubt about it. Mike LaFleur needs to go. His mismanagement of Zach Wilson is the most glaring of so many problems with an offense that lacks creativity and focus.  But the blame doesn't just stop there. Robert Saleh and J...

 EAGLES 22 - GIANTS 16  Even though they sat most of their starters including Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkely, the New York Giants gave the Philadelphia Eagles quiet a scare in the late stages of their NFC East battle in Philadelphia. Sure the Eagles had the collateral of the Dallas Cowboys no-showing in Washington against the Commanders, but Davis Webb brought the G-Men back from a 19-0 deficit to give his team a shot at coming back in the final minute. With Big Blue trailing 19-3 entering the fourth quarter, Davis guided the Giants on a nine-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard Davis touchdown run to widdle the deficit down to 19-9.  After the Giants held the Eagles to a field goal, Davis tossed a 25-yard fade into the back of the end zone that much maligned wide receiver Kenny Golladay caught for a touchdown that cut the deficit down to 22-16. For the Eagles, the victory cemented another NFC East title, the franchises 12th all-time, and first since 2019. Th...

More great news coming out of Cincinnati as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin had the breathing tube he was on removed, and was reportedly talking to teammates via Facetime.  The hope is that Hamlin can soon return home with his family.  Hamiln's return to life has been an incredible story to behold. He suffered cardiac arrest on the field after making a tackle in the Bills-Bengals game on Monday night. He was revived by medical personal on the field, who lifted him into an ambulance and took him to Cincinnati Medical Hospital.  Since that time the outpouring of support across the country and in the NFL has been incredible. People have been donating to Hamiln's charity for children's toys at a rapid rate that has now raised over $7 million.  His jersey sales also went through the roof, with proceeds going to his charity as well.  On Thursday it was reported that Hamlin was awake and was able to move his hands. The fact he is able to speak again is an incredible ...

  The NFL has decided that it will not resume the contest between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals that took place on Monday night, and was suspended after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. Hamlin who has been in the hospital ever since Monday’s game has made “remarkable progress,” opened his eyes and held hands with family members. Reportedly he wrote on paper to doctors asking who won the game? The score of the game at the time of Hamlin’s collapse was 7-3 Cincinnati. The Bengals (11-4) and Bills (12-3) were vying for the top seed in the AFC with the Kansas City Chiefs (13-3). Instead the NFL is implementing a scenario where a neutral site would be used for the AFC Title game should either the Bengals or Bills get to the game against Kansas City. Ian Rapoport posted this great graphic that shows how the AFC Title game will play out.  In addition, if the Ravens beat the Bengals this weekend, and hold a 2-0 series edge vs. Cincy, the Beng...

 When you play well, good things get recognition. And that is the case for Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn, who deservedly so, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December.  The Nets are riding a 12-game winning streak after their 139-103 win over San Antonio last night, and went 12-1 in the month of December.  Since taking over for Steve Nash on November 1, Vaughn has overseen a slow, but methodical turn-around for the franchise. The Nets even recognized Vaughn's leadership abilities, naming him the permanent head coach on November 9.  He steadied ship after the Kyrie Irving anti-semitic Tweet crisis, and kept stars like Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons focused on basketball, and now its paying off.  Since November 27 when the Nets were 9-11, Brooklyn has rallied off a record of 16-1.  Durant has been the leading scorer in 11 of those games, twice scoring over 40 points against Orlando on November 28 and Detroit on December 18.  Irving has a...

 As I wrote on Fox Sports New Jersey : "The NFL has not made a decision on when to resume Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest. However the consensus is the game will not be made up this week. "In a statement the League has made no decision on resuming the game at a later date, and Week 18 will proceed as scheduled. "When Hamlin suffered the cardiac episode after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, Cincinnati held a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. "Hamlin received swift and immediate medical attention, namely CPR, and was taken to Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was last listed in critical condition. "The outpouring of support and prayers for Hamlin has been incredible and touching over the past 17 hours. "Both the Bills and Bengals are in a battle with Kansas City for the number 1 seed and home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs."

 Sometimes sports just doesn't matter.  On a night where Penn State won its second Rose Bowl; Rutgers upended number 1 Purdue for the second time in a calendar year; the Brookyln Nets won their 12th in a row; Donavan Mitchell scored 71 points, and in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Bengals played host to the Buffalo Bills in a game with AFC home field on the line.  Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills players pray. Getty Images.     None of those story-lines matter right now after the frightening collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the first quarter of the Buffalo-Cincy game.  Hamlin simply made a tackle in a game where the Bengals led the Bills 7-3. He got up after making that tackle, then collapsed. Medical teams rushed onto the field to administer CPR, and soon thereafter lifted Hamilin into an ambulance to the hospital.  Depending on what news service you are relying on, Hamlin is in critical condition at this very moment. His vitals are back to normal and is o...

 SEAHAWKS 23 - JETS 6 It was listless and dull, and like a tumble weed in the desert came and went with little notice or fanfare. That was the Jets playoff hopes in a dismal 23-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on New Year's Day. Happy New Year Jets fans? More like Groundhog Day. The Jets had no answer on either side of the ball. Robert Saleh and his coaching staff were out-coached from pillar to post by Saleh's mentor Pete Carroll. And ex-Jet Geno Smith delivered the knock-out punch he waited years to for against the team that once drafted him and nearly grounded his career. Smith threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, most of that success coming in the first half, as Seattle carried a 17-6 lead into the break. The game was pretty much decided in the opening drive, when Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III gashed the Jets for 60-yards on the first play of scrimmage. Two plays later Smith lofted a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson to make it 7-0. The Seahawks would never look...

 GIANTS 38 - COLTS 10 When Landon Collins stepped in front of a Nick Foles pass, picked it off and returned it 52-yards for a touchdown the party finally and fully commenced. Yes, it was only the second quarter, but the score made it 21-3, and, all due respect to the woeful Colts, the game was over.  The Giants rolled over Indianapolis 38-10 as Big Blue clinched its first playoff berth in six years. It's been a long time coming for the Giants and their fans. One can't blame them for wanting to soak themselves up in the joy of total victory on a beautiful New Year's Sunday. Daniel Jones continued to pad his resume for the off-season. The free-agent-to-be was 19-of-24 for 177 yards and two touchdown passes. He also led the G-Men in rushing with 91 yards on 11-carries and two scores. According to a report earlier Sunday, the Giants are interested in bringing back both Jones and Saquon Barkley. That would be a great idea. Both players have come into their own this year, especia...