New York Jets

The New York Jets may reportedly target Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with one of their two top-10 picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported Wednesday the Jets "like Hamilton a lot" and could "double down" with defensive players at both Nos. 4 and 10, though the team's moves in free agency will determine whether it goes defense-heavy in Round 1.

The Jets would likely need to invest the fourth overall pick in the standout safety if he's one of their prized targets, as the early predraft hype suggests he's a long shot to remain on the board at No. 10.

Hamilton recorded 138 total tackles, 16 passes defended, eight interceptions and a touchdown in 31 games across three seasons with the Fighting Irish. His final college campaign came to a premature end in October because of a knee injury.

While he recovered before Notre Dame's bowl game, a Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State, he opted to skip the contest to begin preparations for the draft.

He described it as a "business decision" on the Inside the Garage podcast (via Rivals' Tyler Horka) and said his outlook would have been different if the Irish were playing for a national title.

"It's not that I don't want to play," Hamilton said in December. "If we're in the playoff right now—I've told you guys, I've told all the coaches—if we're in the playoff, I'm going to go. I want to go win a national championship. I'm going to suit up. I'm going to play."

The situation hasn't impacted his draft stock, as he's still one of the most coveted prospects available.

Bleacher Report's Cory Giddings described Hamilton as a "generational talent" in his predraft scouting report.

"Hamilton is a rare athlete who has the frame of a linebacker and the movement skills of a defensive back," Giddings wrote. "He is a long strider who covers a lot of ground, no matter if he is playing as a deep safety or down in the trenches."

The Jets could certainly use more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked last in both total defense (397.6 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (29.6 points allowed per game) in 2021 while also finishing with the second-fewest turnovers forced (14).

Hamilton would be a Day 1 starter and, with a few other upgrades via free agency, could help lead a much-needed resurgence within the New York secondary.

Veteran wide receiver Robby Anderson would savor a New York Jets reunion in the event the Carolina Panthers trade him this offseason, according to DJ Bien-Aime II of the New York Daily News.

"If Anderson is moved, the Jets are his preferred designation, a source said," Bien-Aime reported. "He feels like he has unfinished business in New York and likes Zach Wilson’s talent."

Anderson spent his first four years in the NFL with the Jets before signing with the Panthers in 2020.

New York replaced him with Breshad Perriman and then signed Corey Davis and Keelan Cole to address the passing game in 2021.

However, the Jets once again head into the spring with a pressing need at receiver.

Davis, Cole and Elijah Moore combined to finish with fewer receiving yards (1,479) than Cooper Kupp (1,947), Justin Jefferson (1,616) and Davante Adams (1,553) this past year.

Part of that was attributable to having a rookie quarterback (Zach Wilson) who struggled mightily under center and probably wasn't ready to assume a starting role so early. But the lack of a true No. 1 wideout is glaring.

Anderson is coming off a somewhat disappointing season himself, finishing with 53 receptions, 519 yards and five touchdowns. His 9.8 yards per catch were well below his career average (13.2).

In the 28-year-old's defense, the Panthers offense was one of the worst in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey was limited to just seven games, and a change of scenery did little to help Sam Darnold.

32.4% of Odell Beckham Jr.'s targets (11 of 34) this season have been off-target.

That is the highest off-target percentage for any receiver in 2021 (among 71 players with 30+ targets).

The only other receiver at 30% or higher is Robby Anderson (32.1%). pic.twitter.com/X5RAJ5ZKFX

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 11, 2021

When Anderson had Teddy Bridgewater throwing him passes in 2020, he cracked 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career.

While the 6'3" pass-catcher wouldn't solve all of the Jets' problems, he'd bring something different to New York through his ability to torch opposing secondaries down the field.

Darnold going DEEP to Robby Anderson for his first Panthers TD 💣

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/89jL0XMX3M

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 12, 2021

Carolina might be amenable to a deal, too, considering the financial implications.

Trading Anderson before June 1 would add $7.7 million in dead money but save $9.2 million, per Spotrac. Waiting until after June 1 would spread the dead money hit across 2022 and 2023 and bring $13 million in savings.

On the heels of his career year in the NFL, New York Jets wide receiver Braxton Berrios stopped by Wednesday for an AMA session with Bleacher Report.

Berrios caught 46 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns, and his league-high 30.4 yards per kick return were good enough to earn him All-Pro honors.

Among other topics, the 26-year-old talked about making the All-Pro team and his first season alongside Jets rookie Zach Wilson.

The following is the transcript from the AMA session.

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@Rhettro How did it feel to receive first-team All-Pro honors this year? 

I knew I was in the running for it towards the end of the year, but honestly it’s a dream come true on a personal level. It’s the highest honor I could get as a kick returner.

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@TheSpidaMan What’s your favorite thing about playing with Zach Wilson and what do you guys think you can accomplish next year? 

He’s an absolute competitor. I love playing with people who are competitors. He’s a do whatever it takes guy and I love that about him.

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@Jth44 What was your ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment?

I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty cool when I got drafted to New England. Walking into that locker room, Tom Brady turns around and says, “Hi, I’m Tom.” and just him introducing himself was an amazing moment.

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@NFlugger Why No. 10?

I’ve always liked the number. It’s a special number in soccer. My dad grew up playing soccer, so that’s a part of it. And when you write my last name, a 1 and a 0 fit into there (letter i and o).

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@Maloas23 Do you have any football superstitions or pregame rituals?

I follow a general outline but I try not to be too superstitious. I don’t have like an exact set of things that I do. 

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@Not_MasonRudolph Do you enjoy kick returning or pass-catching more?

That’s tough. They’re two very different things. I don’t think I have a preference - I love them both.

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@Drewski19 If you went on a 12 hour road trip, which 3 Jets teammates are you taking with you? 

Michael Carter – he’s the class clown, he’ll make the drive feel very short. 

Mike White – I just feel like he’s a good road trip partner. Can talk about or debate anything.

Zach Wilson – he’s the same way as Mike and will get along with the rest of the car and it would be a smooth 12 hours.

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@GoMiamiMarlines Since you went to The U, what’s it like playing at Hard Rock as a road team now? 

It’s very cool and familiar, but also weird. The visitor locker room is the same locker room that I was using at The U, so that’s cool.

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@AlecAnselmo What’s your advice to ‘short’ football players? Especially those in high school

Nothing beats hard work – that’s first and foremost. There’s no secret sauce or one thing you can do. Just be a good football player and work hard at being a good football player. Hard work takes care of a lot.

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@Standaman In high school, you did it all - passing, running, catching? Do you have a favorite position if you had the choice or is it WR? 

I loved defense growing up. I played both ways all through high school. I loved safety and the mentality that comes with defense. I don’t really have a favorite position. In another life, I’m probably still a defender somewhere.

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Rapid Fire:

@OfficiallyDK Subway or Jimmy Johns?

Jimmy Johns

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@MrBoban_ Favorite athlete from another sport? 

Not off the top of my head.

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@GoldBrick7460 Best part of being in NY?

I love the city. The energy there is really cool. New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world.

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@Chris_RingHeanu Name your top 5 WRs in the NFL

Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp are interchangeable at 1 and 2. It’s tough from there. You have guys like Chase and Jefferson who are young and taking the league by storm – OBJ who still has it. 

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@Not_theislandboy Who wins the SB? 

I think it’s gonna be a close game. I think the Rams pull it out. I think it’s gonna be under 5 points difference in the game and both teams are in the 20s.

New York Jets offensive lineman Cameron Clark missed all of 2021 because of a spinal-cord injury suffered in training camp, and now it will cause his football career to come to an end.

"Based on the advice of Dr. Andrew Hecht, a prominent orthopedic surgeon at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, Cameron will not be able to continue to play football for the New York Jets," Clark's agent, Alan Herman, told Rich Cimini of ESPN.

The 24-year-old was told he would risk paralysis if he continued to play football.

Clark was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but he never saw a regular-season snap in two years with the Jets.

The Charlotte alum suffered shoulder and knee injuries during his first training camp and spent his rookie season on injured reserve. His second season was lost just six days into training camp.

Clark was motionless on the ground after suffering a neck injury during a rep at the Aug. 3 practice before being taken away in an ambulance. Doctors at Morristown Medical Center told the team he suffered a spinal cord contusion but was expected to make a full recovery.

"It's never good because football goes away at that moment," head coach Robert Saleh said after the practice. "It's about the person, his family, his mom and everything in his life. So that's what takes precedence at that moment. Football kind of goes away. You get empathy in the sense that we all have families. Everything's going to be good."

In November, Saleh provided a positive update on the offensive lineman.

"He's coming along fine," the coach told reporters. "He's got a little road to travel, but he's coming along good."

However, the injury turned out to be severe enough to cost Clark his NFL career.   

Perhaps nobody in the NFL is happier to see Tom Brady retire than the New York Jets, and the AFC East team had some fun with the all-time great's announcement Tuesday:

But seriously, congrats on a first-ballot, Hall of Fame career, @TomBrady.

We may not miss seeing you on the field, but the entire football world will. pic.twitter.com/sgvPfpUa7B

— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 1, 2022

Brady actually did announce his retirement on social media, but there was some confusion about his status Saturday after ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington reported No. 12 was calling it quits.

That led to reports the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren't informed of the retirement and a statement from Brady's agent, Don Yee, saying a decision hadn't been made yet but would come "soon."

It appears the decision is officially official, which is surely welcome news for the Jets after Brady torched them for much of his 20 years on the New England Patriots. All he did was go 31-8 against his former AFC East rivals while throwing 64 touchdown passes to 17 interceptions in those games.

New York can finally rest easy knowing there is no more damage to be done by Brady on the football field.        

The New York Jets are sitting pretty in the 2022 NFL Draft with two top-10 picks, but the team reportedly might seek to deal one of them.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, the Jets are open to trading the No. 10 pick in hopes of acquiring more assets.

"It's too early to know anything, but I've heard rumblings that the Jets prefer to trade this pick if they can," Vacchiano wrote.

New York will also pick at No. 4, making its second selection somewhat expendable for the right price.

Vacchiano pointed out that the Jets could use the pick to land a star player, but he believes the more likely scenario is that they try to add another first-round selection.

"And while they could use it to bring back a player (like, maybe a No. 1 receiver), I think it’s more likely they trade down and see if they can pick up an extra No. 1 pick for next year," Vacchiano wrote.

The 2022 draft is light on quarterback prospects, so if they start to fall the Jets would be in prime position to strike a deal with a desperate team. Vacchiano used the Chicago Bears trading up with the New York Giants to select Justin Fields in last year's draft as an example.

The upcoming draft will be crucial to the Jets' improvement going forward. New York owns nine picks, with four selections in the top 38, so general manager Joe Douglas will have to bring in the right players that will create a foundation for the team for years to come. That's easier said than done with a franchise that is known for draft-day blunders.

The Jets went 4-13 this season and finished in last place in the AFC East. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, last year's No. 2 overall pick, got off to a rough start but finished strong with no interceptions in his final five games.

Don Maynard died Monday at age 86, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.

The professional football world today is celebrating the life of Don Maynard, a record-setting wide receiver who played in several of the sport’s most memorable games.

A member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 1987, Maynard died Monday. He was 86.

More: https://t.co/tQ6jkKzM7s pic.twitter.com/MPSPBvVDmy

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) January 10, 2022

Maynard spent 15 seasons in the AFL and NFL with the New York Giants, New York Titans/Jets and St. Louis Cardinals. He finished his career with 11,834 receiving yards and 88 touchdown receptions.

The Texas native was a member of the 1968 Jets team that upset the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III.

He had six receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns in New York's AFL championship victory over the Oakland Raiders preceding that Super Bowl. His six-yard touchdown catch from fellow Jets legend and Hall of Famer Joe Namath in the fourth quarter was the game-winning score.

We reflect on the career of Hall of Famer Don Maynard. He was a resilient man on and off the field – and someone that his teammates could always count on.#HOFForever pic.twitter.com/TEpOVD1NAZ

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) January 10, 2022

Maynard and Namath spent eight years together on the Jets. Upon meeting the quarterback in 1965, he offered a statement that would prove prophetic.

"Joseph, I'm going to make you a better quarterback, and you're going to make me a great receiver," he said, per the Hall of Fame. "We're going to talk on every play, every route ahead of time."

In 1967, Namath was the AFL's leading passer (4,007 yards), and Maynard was the league's leading receiver (1,434 yards).

Considering how the NFL has become a pass-happy league, it speaks to Maynard's excellence that he remains the Jets' all-time leader in receptions (627), yards (11,732) and touchdowns (88).

Maynard earned enshrinement into the Hall of Fame in 1987. The Jets have also retired his No. 13 jersey, one of five numbers immortalized by the organization.

New York City resident Abdiell Suero filed a lawsuit against the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets for $6 billion in damages he alleges are the result of the teams labeling themselves as New York despite playing their home games in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Trademark lawyer Darren Heitner provided details from the civil suit Wednesday:

A lawsuit has been filed against the New York Giants and Jets on the basis that NFL fans have been damaged by the use of "New York" even those the teams play in New Jersey.

A lawyer actually drafted and signed his name on this Complaint.https://t.co/Eq8qZE3RVj pic.twitter.com/q0PSH7SSgA

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) January 5, 2022

Along with the $6 billion requested as part of the class-action lawsuit, Suero also asked for a court to order both franchises to play in New York by 2025 in order to retain their names or rebrand as East Rutherford, according to Larry McShane of the New York Post.

"If the Giants and Jets want to call themselves New York teams, they need to come back to New York," Suero wrote in court papers. "I've traveled to and from MetLife Stadium by mass transit and car service, and both ways are a nightmare."

Suero argues the legal basis for his claims include false advertising, deceptive practices, the civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and unjust enrichment, per Heitner.

The Giants told McShane "this case has no merit and we will defend it vigorously." The Jets have not publicly commented on the matter.

Neither organization has played its home games in New York City since 1983.

The Giants made stops at the Polo Grounds (1925-55) and Yankee Stadium (1956-73) before a two-year stint at the Yale Bowl in Connecticut. They briefly returned to NYC at Shea Stadium in 1975 before opening Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1976.

The Jets played at the Polo Grounds from 1960 through 1963 and then spent two decades at Shea Stadium before leaving for Giants Stadium in 1984.

MetLife Stadium, the teams' current shared facility in New Jersey, opened in 2010.