JET NOTES
FOXBOROUGH – Brooks Bollinger’s season of hard knocks continued yesterday in the Jets’ loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Yesterday was not only a loss for the Jets, their 10th in 12 games this season, but it continued Bollinger’s winless streak.
He’s now 0-5 as the Jets’ starting quarterback this season and that doesn’t include two relief appearances in losses.
In more than 40 offensive possessions led by Bollinger during his five starts, the Jets have scored only one touchdown and seven FGs, 28 total points, which is damning.
Bollinger ironically in college remains the winningest QB in Wisconsin history (30-12).
“As a quarterback, that’s what you’re judged on – wins and losses,” Bollinger said before the game, addressing his winless plight. “It’s a big part of your success and evaluation. You want to get that first one so we can stop talking about it, otherwise it’s obviously out there that you can’t win.”
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Jets DE John Abraham sacked Tom Brady in the first quarter yesterday and ended a three-game sackless streak. Abraham, who has 6½ sacks this season, has never gone four games without a sack … Jets DE Bryan Thomas and DT Dewayne Robertson shared a sack … Perhaps because of the cold weather conditions and rookie CB Justin Miller’s propensity to fumble on occasion, the Jets opted to use WR Jerricho Cotchery on kickoff returns in the first half last night. Miller, though, returned kicks in the second half.
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Jets CB David Barrett returned to action yesterday after missing the last three games with a scratch in his right eye. He and Miller, who started his fourth consecutive game, shared time at right corner, though Miller played most of the game … On the left side was Ty Law, playing his first game against the Patriots, his former team of 10 seasons … As expected, Vinny Testaverde was used as the No. 2 QB Bollinger. Kliff Kingsbury was the emergency No. 3 QB.
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The Jets weren’t penalized much, but they were costly. A Jonathan Vilma illegal block on a Cotchery punt return nullified a big gain and cost the Jets 36 yards in the first quarter. Jets rookie S Kerry Rhodes had an inference penalty that cost the Jets another 22 yards … When Patriots K Adam Vinatieri booted a 34-yard FG late in the first half, he became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 1,131 points … The Patriots are now 9-0 lifetime in home games during which it snowed.