Allen Park -- Daunte Culpepper says he feels like a rookie again. He looks like one, too, having dropped 30 pounds from the 290-plus he carried with him out of semi-retirement last fall to start for the Lions at quarterback.
"My whole mind-set this offseason was to get myself in the best shape I can," Culpepper said Friday, looking sharp and in command as the team's first mandatory mini-camp kicked off under head coach Jim Schwartz. "It's kind of funny -- and everybody's getting evaluated -- but I feel like I'm kind of coming out of the draft again, believe it or not. It's kind of strange, but I feel like with the sense that everybody's proving themselves here, everybody's starting from scratch, it's kind of like, 'Hey, it's the beginning again.' It's like my rookie year again. I'm very excited."
Still, he's well aware that another rookie -- possibly Matthew Stafford if he's the No. 1 overall pick in next weekend's draft -- could be joining him soon in Allen Park, where owner William Clay Ford Sr. was among Friday's interested observers.
***snip***
Reuniting with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, whose offense he ran with the Minnesota Vikings in his best years from 2002-04, doesn't hurt, either.
"Being with somebody you've been around, and looking at their offense and their schemes, it's kind of like my planets are getting aligned," Culpepper said. "It just makes sense to me. I think we can do some great things. But even though I know him, it's not like I can relax or anything. It's all about me showing -- re-showing -- who I am and what I can do."
*************************************
Given his best -- and perhaps final -- chance to win the starting quarterback job with the Jets, Kellen Clemens has made quite a first impression on new coach Rex Ryan
For the second straight day, Clemens outgunned Brett Ratliff in their much-anticipated minicamp matchup. In the process, Clemens may be easing the Jets' concerns about uncertainty at the position heading into next Saturday's NFL Draft.
"I thought Clemens looked sharp today," Ryan said Friday in between practices at Florham Park. "I really liked how he took charge of that offense today. He really brought that unit out. The tempo that they had. They had a lot of spark to them. He made some good decisions. He showed poise. He had some pressure in his face.
"Now, like (safety) Jim Leonhard told me, 'Come on, Rex, one good hit. Let us rattle him a couple of times.' I said, 'I don't know, guys, he had your number today.'"
Overall, Clemens completed eight of 12 passes and Ratliff connected on five of seven in 11-on-11 drills. But Clemens was much sharper and decisive with his reads and throws, even though the Jets were installing new plays.
Ratliff, who threw three interceptions on the first day but none Friday, repeatedly checked down to the running backs and displayed a tendency to lock onto receivers at times.
Again, both quarterbacks worked with the first team, with Clemens doing so in the morning and going against the first-team defense.
"Ratty (Ratliff) made some great throws," Ryan said. "He has a talented arm. But he still made a couple of mistakes in there. I'm sure that (the competition) will be going back and forth. Clearly, Clemens had an outstanding day today."
For Clemens, a second-round pick in 2006, this is likely his last hurrah with the Jets. He failed to unseat or seriously challenge Chad Pennington. Last summer, he was outplayed by Ratliff in training camp and narrowly held onto the No. 2 job.
"I think if you're in a competition like this every snap you're trying to show whoever is evaluating you, from your teammates all the way up to the general manager, that you've worked hard and you deserve an opportunity to go out there and play on Sunday," Clemens said.
In 2007, Clemens went 3-5 in eight starts as the Jets finished 4-12. His performance was uneven and underwhelming but many in the organization gave him a mulligan because he was playing behind a weak offensive line.
Now, Clemens has a chance to play behind a top-notch offensive line and for a coach who has vowed to play smashmouth football. He'll be asked to not lose games rather than win them.
"It's been good progress out there," Clemens said. "We have some new wrinkles we're putting in. I would say we're pleased but never satisfied."
http://www.footballhangout.com/news.html
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090418/sp...epper+shapes+up
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/04/g...s_best_and.html
"My whole mind-set this offseason was to get myself in the best shape I can," Culpepper said Friday, looking sharp and in command as the team's first mandatory mini-camp kicked off under head coach Jim Schwartz. "It's kind of funny -- and everybody's getting evaluated -- but I feel like I'm kind of coming out of the draft again, believe it or not. It's kind of strange, but I feel like with the sense that everybody's proving themselves here, everybody's starting from scratch, it's kind of like, 'Hey, it's the beginning again.' It's like my rookie year again. I'm very excited."
Still, he's well aware that another rookie -- possibly Matthew Stafford if he's the No. 1 overall pick in next weekend's draft -- could be joining him soon in Allen Park, where owner William Clay Ford Sr. was among Friday's interested observers.
***snip***
Reuniting with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, whose offense he ran with the Minnesota Vikings in his best years from 2002-04, doesn't hurt, either.
"Being with somebody you've been around, and looking at their offense and their schemes, it's kind of like my planets are getting aligned," Culpepper said. "It just makes sense to me. I think we can do some great things. But even though I know him, it's not like I can relax or anything. It's all about me showing -- re-showing -- who I am and what I can do."
*************************************
Given his best -- and perhaps final -- chance to win the starting quarterback job with the Jets, Kellen Clemens has made quite a first impression on new coach Rex Ryan
For the second straight day, Clemens outgunned Brett Ratliff in their much-anticipated minicamp matchup. In the process, Clemens may be easing the Jets' concerns about uncertainty at the position heading into next Saturday's NFL Draft.
"I thought Clemens looked sharp today," Ryan said Friday in between practices at Florham Park. "I really liked how he took charge of that offense today. He really brought that unit out. The tempo that they had. They had a lot of spark to them. He made some good decisions. He showed poise. He had some pressure in his face.
"Now, like (safety) Jim Leonhard told me, 'Come on, Rex, one good hit. Let us rattle him a couple of times.' I said, 'I don't know, guys, he had your number today.'"
Overall, Clemens completed eight of 12 passes and Ratliff connected on five of seven in 11-on-11 drills. But Clemens was much sharper and decisive with his reads and throws, even though the Jets were installing new plays.
Ratliff, who threw three interceptions on the first day but none Friday, repeatedly checked down to the running backs and displayed a tendency to lock onto receivers at times.
Again, both quarterbacks worked with the first team, with Clemens doing so in the morning and going against the first-team defense.
"Ratty (Ratliff) made some great throws," Ryan said. "He has a talented arm. But he still made a couple of mistakes in there. I'm sure that (the competition) will be going back and forth. Clearly, Clemens had an outstanding day today."
For Clemens, a second-round pick in 2006, this is likely his last hurrah with the Jets. He failed to unseat or seriously challenge Chad Pennington. Last summer, he was outplayed by Ratliff in training camp and narrowly held onto the No. 2 job.
"I think if you're in a competition like this every snap you're trying to show whoever is evaluating you, from your teammates all the way up to the general manager, that you've worked hard and you deserve an opportunity to go out there and play on Sunday," Clemens said.
In 2007, Clemens went 3-5 in eight starts as the Jets finished 4-12. His performance was uneven and underwhelming but many in the organization gave him a mulligan because he was playing behind a weak offensive line.
Now, Clemens has a chance to play behind a top-notch offensive line and for a coach who has vowed to play smashmouth football. He'll be asked to not lose games rather than win them.
"It's been good progress out there," Clemens said. "We have some new wrinkles we're putting in. I would say we're pleased but never satisfied."
http://www.footballhangout.com/news.html
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090418/sp...epper+shapes+up
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/04/g...s_best_and.html
