It’s very nice to have power in my home again after the storm knocked it out last night.

Eric Smith was a pleasant surprise for the Jets in 2009. It didn’t seem like the new coaching staff had a ton of faith in him right off the bat. The Jets matched the offer sheet Abram Elam signed from Cleveland and signed Jim Leonhard as a free agent. It seemed like that would take away Smith’s playing time. Then the Mark Sanchez trade sent Elam to Cleveland, and Smith became the primary backup at safety. He saw extensive time in subpackages and played well starting in place of Kerry Rhodes after Kerry’s midseason benching.

Smith is an overachiever. He’s not very gifted naturally. I get the feeling the way Eric Mangini reached for him in the third round of the 2006 Draft has probably hurt the perceptions of him. If he had gone in the mid to late rounds like he should have, people would probably be impressed by the way he’s overcome his physical limitations to become a productive player. Because he went so high, his inability to lock down a starting job has become something of a disappointment.

There are certain things Smith does well and certain things he does not do well. Rex had him blitz more than any other defensive back on the roster, which is telling considering he wasn’t a full time player. He’s aggressive and registered 8 pressures and 2 hits. He’s also strong against the run. Where his lack of athleticism comes into play is in coverage. You can hide him underneath if he’s got help, but he’s in trouble in space against a fast running back or covering a good tight end over an extended period. While he is fundamentally sound, he’s really not a starter.

Smith is a restricted free agent, and the Jets will tender him. I’m inclined to hope the team lets him walk for a Draft pick. The Jets can use that pick to fill a hole. Smith is useful, but he’s really a spare part on the defense. Rex seems to like him so I do expect the team to bring him back. I don’t have a big problem with that. Smith does some good things on the field.

Examiner.com talks with LB Calvin Pace.

RG Brandon Moore blogs about his business school experience.

Mark Cannizzaro: Meat makes grade in Harvard program.

Rich Cimini: Mr. Moore goes to Harvard.

Brandon talks about possibly losing RB Thomas Jones.

NFL insider Charley Casserly talks to SNY about the combine, TJ and the Jets.

The Bears don’t seem interested in their former player.

JetNation.com: Jets roll the dice with Jones and K Jay Feely.

Find out how you can bid on a Jets jersey signed by QB Mark Sanchez.

A Super Bowl in New York is looking more and more probable.

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More connections after the jump.

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Cimini thinks that it is unlikely for QB Chad Pennington to be a Jet again.

AFC East Blogs writes about 3-4 nose tackles.

Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland talks about the division.

NewYorkJets.com is impressed with S Myron Rolle.

The Morning Call: There is a plethora of talent at the NFL combine.

New York Daily News: The NFL is requiring brain activity exams for combine players.

Associated Press: The NFL and the union complete another bargaining session.

New York Post: Commissioner Roger Goodell sees no progress on labor front.

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Let’s look back to the team’s outlook during last year’s offseason.

Madbacker Bart Scott predicted the Jets can be the number one defense:

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Before Sanchez was drafted, OC Brian Schottenheimer believed the starter was already on the roster:

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WR David Clowney hoped to step up after the departure of Laveranues Coles:

Everyone’s favourite beat reporter Rich Cimini posted this update to his Twitter earlier today:

Nothing official yet, but it looks like RFAs Leon Washington and Brad Smith both will be tendered at the 2nd round level ($1.759 mil)

Seems logical. I don’t think anyone takes a roll on Brad for a second but Leon is an interesting case. He is coming off surgery, but he is explosive, anyone looking for a change of pace back, who can also return kicks and punts might be intrigued by this. So starting from the new League year on March 5th, any team can sign either Leon or Brad to an offer sheet. We then have 7 days to match that offer, or let them leave and pick up a 2nd round selection instead.

Of course it all depends on the offers that Leon and Brad get, but if they were offered, and you had the chance to pick up 2nd round draft picks would you let them go? Would you let just one go and not the other?

Obviously this is not set in stone, nothing is official, so things could change.

Just following on from yesterday, we have set the time and place for the live chat to go ahead. It will take place on the 7th of March, which is a week on Monday. We should have John, myself and Matt ready to answer questions. We will be using chat software that is used by all the major newspapers, and I’m sure once you see it you will be very familiar with it. Very simple and basic.

All comments will be screened by us, and selected to be answered. This gives us the ability to keep everything in order, make sure that we don’t answer the same question twice, as well as giving us moderation abilities if some rival fans decide to submit some comments.

This will be the first time we have used this software, so although we are hoping for a clean run, please be patient with us if we do come into contact with some problems.

So we are hoping that you can make it to this, and get any questions you may have ready. We will do our best to answer them all. However being the first time we are taking this on, we are limiting it to a 30 minute session, which doesn’t sound a lot, but can get a lot of questions answered in that time.

Questions can really be about whatever you choose, obviously regarding the Jets. Potential draft prospects, free agent signings, current players, management. Hopes for next season……ball is in your court.

So this is pencilled in for a week on Sunday, at 7:00pm EST, hope to see you all there.

RB Thomas Jones‘s agent and the Jets are going to talk.

The team wants TJ to take a paycut.

Otherwise, the team might let him go.

Jets exec Terry Bradway talks about the combine.

K Jay Feely will be at Honda Classic’s Gold Pro-Am.

Asbury Park Press: Bruce Harper‘s Heroes & Cool Kids live up to the challenge.

Northern Valley Suburbanite: Harper and Heroes are honored by the county.

Yahoo Sports: Teaming Darrelle Revis with Nnamdi Asomugha would be cruel to other teams.

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More connections after the jump.

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The Jets Kvetch wonders whether we could really get Nnamdi.

Jets Fuel also asks about Aso and then considers TJ’s situation.

SNY.tv looks ahead to the next Super Bowl.

CB Antonio Cromartie likes the Jets’ defensive scheme.

AFC East Blog watches the draft.

AFC East Blog: LB Vernon Gholston and Mike Mamula are not two of a kind.

AFC East Blog: QB Tim Tebow‘s makeover has AFC East undertones.

AFC East Blog: Patriots mourn the passing of Mosi Tatupu.

AFC East Blog: Patriots owner Robert Kraft weighs in on some players.

New York Post: Patriots plan to pay the price to win.

Boston Globe: WR David Patten catches on with Patriots.

Miami Herald: Dolphins take NFL combine seriously.

ESPN.com: A combine invite is not essential to NFL success.

NFL FanHouse: Are QBs hurting themselves by passing on combine drills?

USA Today: Guarding QBs’ blind side could spur a run on left tackles in the draft.

ESPN.com: Labor issues raise the importance of the draft.

Randy Lange: NFL scouting combine opens for business.

Rich Cimini previews the scouting combine.

The New York Post lists their top 25 NFL draft prospects.

Ever wonder why Marvell Scott suddenly disappeared from WABC-TV?

RB Brian Westbrook has been released by Philadelphia.

Detroit News: NFL teams don’t hesitate to run with new blood.

The Huffington Post lists their top ten NFL offseason stories.

The Fifth Down: Pushing for HGH testing in the NFL.

Friday Night Lights featuring Mr. Manhattan:

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Adam Schefter on RBs Westbrook and Jones:

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From last year’s draft, RB Shonn Greene: