Bay, Holliday file for free agency

It didn’t take long for Jason Bay to file for free agency. He did so even before the Yankees’ held their ticker-tape parade.

Bay, a key piece to the Red Sox’ offseason plans, was among 79 players to file for free agency Thursday, the first possible day.

Also filing were outfielder Matt Holliday, a possible replacement for Bay should he not re-sign with Boston, and reliever Billy Wagner, who finished the season with the Red Sox.

One outfielder who won’t hit the market is Bobby Abreu, who agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract to stay with the Los Angeles Angels.

“I really feel happy here with Los Angeles,” Abreu said. “I really enjoy to play for them, and I think when they started with the conversation for the contract and we didn’t have any problems back and forth, it was a nice negotiation. It was no problem to stay and come back with the Angels.”

Abreu hit .293 with 15 homers, 103 RBIs, 30 steals and 94 walks as Los Angeles won the AL West and advanced to the AL Championship Series.

Others who filed include pitchers John Lackey and John Smoltz, and first baseman Carlos Delgado.

Mark Kotsay agreed to a $1.5 million contract to remain with the Chicago White Sox rather than become eligible for free agency. The 33-year-old infielder and outfielder hit .278 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games combined with the Red Sox and White Sox.

Porter takes licks on Brady

Says Patriots QB gets preferential treatment

 

November 5, 2009, 10:25 PM

 

By: ESPN.com staff

 

 

Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter says that as he prepares to face New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday, he has to prepare for a particularly difficult challenge: A quarterback who gets protected by a special set of rules.

 

Asked by Rich Eisen on NFL Network’s “Around the League” whether Brady has a special set of rules to take care of him, Porter went off.

 

“No question,” Porter said. “When a guy can tell a ref when to throw a flag, and he gets it, he’s got his own rules. They made the rule that you don’t go at the legs for Tom, so when he feels that someone is going at his legs, he just points to the ref and he gets a flag. So I can honestly say that he gets his own rules.”

 

The comments come a day after Porter said he had “a natural hate” for the Patriots. When pressed by Eisen about why he feels that way, Porter said it all goes back to the Patriots’ practice of videotaping defensive coaching signals.

 

“I still don’t care for New England,” Porter said. “The hate’s been there for a while, especially after all the cheating they did back in the day. … They can sweep it under the rug if they want to, but just like anybody else that’s cheating that gets caught, you put an asterisk by it. But nobody puts an asterisk by those championships.”

 

Chris Forsberg on Porter’s Wednesday conference call »

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Sox get Hermida from Marlins

Minor league lefties Jones, Alvarez sent to Florida

The Red Sox acquired outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins Thursday in exchange for left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Hermida, 25, hit .259 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs over 129 games with the Marlins in 2009 and set a career high with 56 walks. The left-handed hitter appeared in 81 games (73 starts) in right field and 51 (40 starts) in left. He made just one error in 205 total chances for a .995 fielding percentage, sixth among qualifying National League outfielders. He appeared in only three games after Aug. 31 because of an intercostal strain on his right side.

Hermida, Florida’s first-round pick (11th overall) of the 2002 draft, has a .265 career batting average with 57 homers and 210 RBIs in 516 games.

“We still think there’s a good hitter in there,” general manager Theo Epstein said.

“Jeremy is a player who hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet. We were able to acquire him at a reasonable cost to see if he can fulfill that potential with us.”

Epstein cited Hermida’s minor league numbers, age and the team’s scouting reports among the reasons for optimism. “He’s got offensive tools, a sound approach, a good swing,” Epstein said. “He needs to figure things out to reach his potential. That may never happen but we have real good scouting reports and we like his approach.”

Of Hermida’s health, Epstein said, “That’s one of the things that’s held him back. Most of his issues have been soft-tissue related and nothing structural, nothing that should hold him back moving forward. We’ll see what happens.”

Asked if he projects Hermida as an everyday player, a star or a role player, Epstein said, “No one can answer that. When you acquire a player, sometimes you acquire them because you think there’s a chance that with a change of scenery they’ll reach their potential. We feel he may still have considerable promise.”

Jones, 25, made his major league debut this season with Boston and appeared in 11 games in relief. The left-hander posted a 9.24 ERA with the Red Sox, compiling nine strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. In 36 relief outings with Triple-A Pawtucket, he was 4-3 with two saves and a 4.25 ERA. The Red Sox signed Jones as an undrafted free agent out of the Cape Cod League.

The 20-year-old Alvarez combined to go 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA, 74 strikeouts and 16 walks in 26 games (12 starts) between Class A Salem and Short-A Lowell in 2009. He led the New York-Penn League with a 1.52 ERA while recording eight wins over 14 outings (12 starts) with Lowell. Signed by the Red Sox as a nondrafted free agent on July 2, 2005, Alvarez has compiled a 23-15 record and a 3.21 ERA in 76 career minor league appearances (48 starts) in the Red Sox system.

The Red Sox also outrighted right-handed pitcher Fernando Cabrera, outfielder Joey Gathright and infielder Nick Green to Pawtucket.

Pedro still has Boston in his blood

Says Sox fans will always be special to him

 

November 3, 2009, 6:45 PM

 

By: ESPNBoston staff

 

 

Even wearing Philly Red, Pedro Martinez is thinking about Red Sox fans. When addressing the media Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, preparing to pitch Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday against Andy Pettitte and the Yankees, Pedro said he still considers himself a Bostonian and has a special place in his heart for Sox fans.

 

Here are some of his comments:

 

On why so many Red Sox fans are rooting for the Phillies in the World Series: “I know they don’t like the Yankees to win, not even in Nintendo games.”

 

 

On his relationship with Sox fans: “I’m pretty sure that every Boston fan out there can feel proud that I’m going to try and beat the Yankees and I’m going to give just the same effort I always did for them. They’re special fans and they will always have my respect.”

 

 

On former Red Sox teammate and current Yankee Johnny Damon: “He’s a tough out and he’s going to give you a battle and he’s not going to get unraveled for anything. He’s always going to make it fun. J.D. is just a special human being and special player. I’m glad he’s doing well, too. That’s one of the guys I will always root for.”

 

 

On how he expects to be remembered: “I’m pretty sure my name will be mentioned. I don’t know in which way. But maybe after I retire, because normally when you die, people tend to actually give you props about the good things. But that’s after you die. So I’m hoping to get it before I die. I don’t want to die and hear everybody say, ‘Oh, there goes one of the best players ever.’ If you’re going to give me props, just give them to me right now.”

Reports: Green could miss a month

By Mike Reiss
ESPNBoston.com
Archive

New England Patriots starting defensive lineman Jarvis Green underwent knee surgery last week, and reportedly could be out anywhere from two weeks to a month.

Green confirmed that he had the procedure, which was first reported by Comcast SportsNet, in the Patriots locker room on Tuesday. He was walking without a limp.

“It’s tough to lose any player on the defense,” Patriots defensive lineman Mike Wright said. “We’re going to let Jarvis handle his business and we’re going to take care of what we can on the field.”

Comcast SportsNet reported that, according to an unnamed source, Green could be out until at least early December, but the Boston Globe reported a more optimistic possibility. An unnamed source told the Globe that Green could be back on the field as soon as the Nov. 15 game against the Colts.

Green, an eight-year veteran, is tied for eighth on the team with 23 tackles. He has played right defensive end in both three- and four-man fronts.

The Patriots are likely to turn to Wright, a five-year veteran, to fill that void, and it also might lead to rookie Ron Brace being active for the first time since Sept. 20 against the Jets.

Celtics crush Sixers despite off nights for Garnett, Allen

PHILADELPHIA — Rasheed Wallace keeps making his hometown his stomping ground.

 

Wallace rooted on the Phillies at Game 5 of the World Series and he popped by to watch Philly boxing great Bernard Hopkins train for an upcoming bout.

 

Boston’s top reserve didn’t stop having fun just because it was time to play. Wallace hit six 3-pointers as part of a 20-point effort and the Celtics remained unbeaten with a 105-74 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

 

 

Fast Facts

• The Celtics improved to 5-0 for the second time in the last three seasons and have allowed fewer than 90 points in all five games this season.

• The 76ers fell to 2-2 by scoring a season-low 74 points. They entered the game second in the NBA in scoring average.

• The Celtics have won their first five games by an average of 21.6 points per game, which is the best such start in Celtics history and the third best in NBA history. It trails just the 68-win 1966-67 Sixers and last year’s Lakers.

– ESPN Stats & Information

 

“It’s home,” Wallace said. “A lot of friends and family don’t get the opportunity to see me play. Everybody can’t get that league pass and all that stuff. It’s always fun to come back here and play.”

 

Wallace, who wore a black Phillies jacket to the game, easily had his best game in his short stint with the Celtics. He pretty much caught the ball, let it rip and watched it sink through the net. Wallace made 6 of 8 3-pointers and sank each long attempt about as easily as a layup in the paint.

 

Wallace was about the only Celtic who had his normal night, even getting whistled for a technical foul for arguing with the refs in the third quarter. His fuse burst late in the quarter when he appeared to be fouled on a shot. The ref called a foul, he just didn’t call it a shooting foul and denied Wallace a trip to the free-throw line.

 

Wallace kept badgering the refs over the perceived blown call until he was hit with the T with 4.5 seconds left in the third.

 

“I just wanted to get my point across,” Wallace said. “I wasn’t going to get thrown out.”

 

Paul Pierce scored 21 points as the Celtics improved to 5-0 even without the usual standout performances from Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

 

“We’re going to win because of our defense no matter how good our offense is,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

 

Allen didn’t score his first field goal until the third quarter and had five points. Garnett made just one basket on seven shots and scored three points when he was yanked with the game out of hand.

 

By the time Wallace got his technical, the game had spiraled into a blowout. Allen scored his first basket and Pierce hit a 3-pointer in a 14-2 run to open the quarter that shook off the Sixers for good.

 

Eddie House made four 3s off the bench for the Celtics and scored 12 points. Shelden Williams added 11 points, helping the Celtics bench to a productive night after the starters and Wallace made this one a rout.

 

Boston went 14 for 20 from 3-point range. The Sixers failed to hit a 3 until Jrue Holiday made one with 1:28 left in the game. The basket only cut Boston’s lead to 102-71.

 

Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 17 points. Philadelphia missed 15 of 16 3-point attempts.

 

Thaddeus Young was the only other Sixer in double digits, scoring 11 points as they snapped their modest two-game winning streak.

 

The Sixers have struggled in two losses against the elite teams in the Eastern Conference (Orlando, Boston).

 

“They are veterans and we know they know how to play together,” Young said.

 

Wallace, friends with Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, didn’t offer a World Series prediction. The Yankees hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

 

“We’ve got the bats for it, we’ve got the pitching for it,” Wallace said.

 

He was also smart enough to stay out of Hopkins’ way during an afternoon visit at a local boxing gym. Hopkins, who attended the game, will fight Enrique Ornelas in a light heavyweight bout on Dec. 2 at Temple’s Liacouras Center.

 

“Nah, I didn’t get in the ring with him this time,” Wallace said. “He’s got a fight coming up and I didn’t want to damage him or nothing.”

 

Instead, he saved his blows for the 76ers.

 

Game notes
Rivers said he did not expect to hear from the NBA over a postgame incident in Boston involving New Orleans guard Chris Paul and the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo. Rondo didn’t want to talk about it. … The Celtics swept the season series (4-0) last season. … The biggest cheer came for Phillies World Series highlights.

Brady: Pats offense had to switch directions

A more balanced attack worked better with personnel

 

November 2, 2009, 2:57 PM

 

By: Mike Reiss

 

 

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was a guest on the Patriots All-Access television show last week and had his regular appearance on sports radio WEEI on Monday.

 

It was interesting hearing Brady discuss on WEEI how much he enjoyed watching Brett Favre in his return to Lambeau Field, as well as him noting that he visited Florida over the bye weekend with his wife, which served as a mini-honeymoon.

 

From a pure Xs and Os standpoint, one comment from his All-Access interview stood out. Brady was asked about the team’s search for a third receiver, and if it has hurt the offense to this point.

 

His answer detailed how the offense thought it was headed in one direction early in the season, before changing course.

 

“The last time I played a full season was ‘07 and we had a great receiving group that was very deep. All those guys were very versatile, and they were all [able to] play different positions and we moved those guys around a lot. I think this year we tried to do some of those things early, but realized that’s not the kind of team we were going to be,” Brady said.

 

“We’re a balanced team. We’re trying to run the ball. We’ve got to do that efficiently and then set up some of our play-action stuff. I think, as a group, we have more clearly defined roles than we did seven weeks ago, which I think we all feel very positive about.”

 

ANALYSIS: This seems tied in part to the Joey Galloway situation, which was a personnel mistake by the Patriots. They were relying on him to be a bigger piece of the puzzle as the No. 3 option. Also, through two weeks of the season, the Patriots had 101 dropbacks and 43 rushing attempts, highlighted by their Week 2 decision to run the no-huddle throughout their game against the Jets. In retrospect, it seems Brady and Co. are now acknowledging that was a mistake. What has resulted is an offense that has reshaped its identity. In their last five games, the Patriots have had 180 dropbacks and 154 rushing attempts, reflecting the balance that Brady speaks about, which has set up more play-action opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazen decides to stay in Boston

November 2, 2009, 2:26 PM

 

By: Peter Gammons

 

 

Mike Hazen is considered one of the baseball industry’s brightest young stars and this weekend he had a major decision to ponder — stay as farm director of the Red Sox or go to San Diego as the assistant general manager of the Padres under former Boston vice president Jed Hoyer.

 

Fortunately for the Red Sox, the 32-year old Hazen decided to stay. “It was an extremely difficult decision,” says Hazen. “The opportunity in San Diego is tremendous. Jed is going to very successful, and it doesn’t get any better than working with Bud Black [Padres manager]. But the situation in Boston is unique, there is a tremendous spirit in the organization and I have a lot of things that remain to be completed.”

 

When Hoyer took the Padres GM job, Ben Cherington moved over from overseeing scouting and player development to the clear number two position with Theo Epstein. The feeling has been that Hazen and scouting dirtector Jason McLeod are ready to have full authority in their fields.

 

It says something about the environment in the baseball operations department that even though Hazen is a highly-valued member of the organization, Epstein didn’t block Hoyer from reaching out him if the position was considered a promotion. In many cases, when a member of an organization leaves, he is requested not to take others with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NBA looking into Rondo-Paul spat

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive

The NBA is reviewing events during and after Sunday’s game between the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Hornets for possible sanctions after tensions ran high all night between star guards Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul.

 

Rondo Paul

 

The league office confirmed Monday night that a formal review has been opened after Paul and Rondo tangled under the basket in the second quarter, resulting in each player being assessed a technical foul. Media accounts from the game also suggested that Rondo and Paul exchanged heated words after the final buzzer that eventually prompted Paul to try to follow Rondo off the floor.

According to the Boston Globe, Rondo approached Paul while the Hornets’ guard and Boston’s Paul Pierce were exchanging post-game handshakes. The Globe reported that shouting ensued and that the two guards had to be separated.

According to The Associated Press game story, Paul later tried to walk toward the Boston locker room as the Celtics were filing off the court before Celtics assistants stopped him. The AP reported that Hornets coach Byron Scott then came over to retrieve him.

Via his Twitter feed Monday, Paul said: “… [Just] to clear this up I never came close to approaching the Celts locker room last [night]. Not sure where that’s coming from. Also me [and Celtics assistant coach Tom] Thibodeau never got in a shouting match. We talked. … [Too] much respect for him, crazy how it’s twisted.”

Scott said the league didn’t call to interview him about the incident and he didn’t ask Paul much about it.

“I think there comes a point in time in a game or even after a game when somebody says something to you, and the only thing I heard Chris say at the end of the game when we were walking off was that, ‘He’s going to respect me as a man,” Scott said. “So I don’t know what Rondo said, but obviously Chris took exception to it.”

After Boston’s 97-87 victory, Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss advised reporters before Rondo’s post-game address that “Rajon has requested you not ask anything about Chris Paul now, tomorrow, or any other time.”

Said Paul after totaling 22 points and eight assists in the loss: “I think Rondo’s a lucky guy to be able to play with a guy like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and [Kevin Garnett], Rasheed Wallace.”

Asked if that was meant as a slight toward Rondo, the two-time All-Star said: “Like I said, man, he’s a great point guard. He has won an NBA championship, something I hope to achieve.”

Rondo looked back at Paul as he walked to the Celtics’ locker room after the final buzzer sounded, according to the AP, but kept going. The Globe reported that Rondo was ushered into the tunnel by Celtics director of security Phil Lynch, while Paul and Thibodeau continued their conversation.

“The game’s over; you just want everybody to clear the floor,” Allen said. “They’re both feisty. They’re both aggressive, in your face. It can get pretty chippy out there.

“But you have to be able to walk off the floor and say: ‘Way to compete tonight. For those 48 minutes, I cannot stand you. I wanted to fight you. I wanted to do everything I could.’ And when you walk off the floor, you say, ‘Way to battle.’”

The NBA may have to take a look at another play involving Paul from Monday’s game. Al Harrington came up with a loose ball in a scramble after a New Orleans turnover with about 5½ minutes remaining. Paul appeared to hit him in the head while they were on the floor fighting for the ball, but Harrington was able to maintain possession.

“When I dove, my head hit his knee,” Harrington said. “He might have slipped a couple of jabs in there. It didn’t affect me. You know I fight in the summer, so it’s all good.”

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Ginn returns 2 for scores as Dolphins stop Sanchez late to sweep Jets

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ted Ginn Jr. was angry, his ego bruised by an embarrassing benching.

 

The Miami wide receiver took out his frustration on the New York Jets, returning two long kickoffs for touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Dolphins’ defense held on for a 30-25 victory Sunday. 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ted Ginn Jr. was angry, his ego bruised by an embarrassing benching.

 

The Miami wide receiver took out his frustration on the New York Jets, returning two long kickoffs for touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Dolphins’ defense held on for a 30-25 victory Sunday.

“Not being in that starting lineup hurt me deep down inside,” Ginn said. “I just wanted to make plays. You don’t always have to be a starter to make plays.”

 

Ginn certainly made that point loud and clear.

 

Benched in favor of rookie Brian Hartline, Ginn made all the difference on special teams by returning kickoffs of 100 and 101 yards for scores. He also became the first player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter since Green Bay’s Travis Williams in 1967, according to STATS LLC.

 

“To be who I am and to have played as many games as I have as a starter, I had to do things on the other end to keep me confident,” the 2007 first-round draft pick said. “Being a pro, you understand things happen. I got my mind right.”

 

Ginn The Tonic for Dolphins

 

Ted Ginn Jr. amassed 299 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns to help the Dolphins beat the Jets Sunday. It’s the second-most kickoff return yards in a single game in NFL history. The leaders:

Most KR Yards

Year	Player, team	Yds
1994	Tyrone Hughes, Saints	304
2009	Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins	299
1950	Wally Triplett, Lions	294
2002	Chad Morton, Jets	278

– ESPN Stats and Information

 

He also helped Miami (3-4) sweep the two regular-season games against the Jets (4-4) in the teams’ second meeting in 20 days.

 

“We’re responsible for the loss,” said Jets special teams ace Wallace Wright. “That killed us. If they didn’t run back those two kickoffs, it’s over.”

 

Maybe so, especially when the Jets’ defense shut down the Dolphins’ wildcat formation and held Miami to just 104 yards of total offense compared to New York’s 378.

 

“Sometimes things just don’t make sense,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “Statistically, this game isn’t going to look close.”

 

Miami’s second-ranked running attack rushed for just 52 yards, and Chad Henne was 12-of-21 for 112 yards and a late touchdown to Joey Haynos.

 

 

Fast Facts

• Ted Ginn Jr. is the first player in NFL history with two TDs of 100 or more yards of any kind in the same game.

• Miami swept the season series with the Jets for the first time since 2003.

• Eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams have been decided by seven or fewer points.

• Thomas Jones finished with 102 rushing yards but failed to score a TD for the fifth straight game.

• Mark Sanchez was responsible for all three of the Jets’ touchdowns (one rushing).

• Rapid Reaction

– ESPN Stats & Information

 

“They’re a great team,” Jets linebacker Bart Scott said sarcastically. “They’ll probably contend for the Super Bowl.”

 

It was one more shot in a tense rivalry reignited by a big heap of trash talk from both sides. It was ramped up after Jets linebacker Calvin Pace called the Dolphins’ wildcat “nonsense” after Miami’s 31-27 win on Oct. 12. The bad feelings were evident even before the game, when the Jets’ Kerry Rhodes and a few Dolphins players got into a shoving match during warmups. “Not being in that starting lineup hurt me deep down inside,” Ginn said. “I just wanted to make plays. You don’t always have to be a starter to make plays.”

 

Ginn certainly made that point loud and clear.

 

Benched in favor of rookie Brian Hartline, Ginn made all the difference on special teams by returning kickoffs of 100 and 101 yards for scores. He also became the first player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter since Green Bay’s Travis Williams in 1967, according to STATS LLC.

 

“To be who I am and to have played as many games as I have as a starter, I had to do things on the other end to keep me confident,” the 2007 first-round draft pick said. “Being a pro, you understand things happen. I got my mind right.”

 

Ginn The Tonic for Dolphins

Ted Ginn Jr. amassed 299 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns to help the Dolphins beat the Jets Sunday. It’s the second-most kickoff return yards in a single game in NFL history. The leaders:

Most KR Yards

Year	Player, team	Yds
1994	Tyrone Hughes, Saints	304
2009	Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins	299
1950	Wally Triplett, Lions	294
2002	Chad Morton, Jets	278

– ESPN Stats and Information

 

He also helped Miami (3-4) sweep the two regular-season games against the Jets (4-4) in the teams’ second meeting in 20 days.

 

“We’re responsible for the loss,” said Jets special teams ace Wallace Wright. “That killed us. If they didn’t run back those two kickoffs, it’s over.”

 

Maybe so, especially when the Jets’ defense shut down the Dolphins’ wildcat formation and held Miami to just 104 yards of total offense compared to New York’s 378.

 

“Sometimes things just don’t make sense,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “Statistically, this game isn’t going to look close.”

 

Miami’s second-ranked running attack rushed for just 52 yards, and Chad Henne was 12-of-21 for 112 yards and a late touchdown to Joey Haynos.

 

 

Fast Facts

• Ted Ginn Jr. is the first player in NFL history with two TDs of 100 or more yards of any kind in the same game.

• Miami swept the season series with the Jets for the first time since 2003.

• Eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams have been decided by seven or fewer points.

• Thomas Jones finished with 102 rushing yards but failed to score a TD for the fifth straight game.

• Mark Sanchez was responsible for all three of the Jets’ touchdowns (one rushing).

• Rapid Reaction

– ESPN Stats & Information

 

“They’re a great team,” Jets linebacker Bart Scott said sarcastically. “They’ll probably contend for the Super Bowl.”

 

It was one more shot in a tense rivalry reignited by a big heap of trash talk from both sides. It was ramped up after Jets linebacker Calvin Pace called the Dolphins’ wildcat “nonsense” after Miami’s 31-27 win on Oct. 12. The bad feelings were evident even before the game, when the Jets’ Kerry Rhodes and a few Dolphins players got into a shoving match during warmups.

But, this time, the Dolphins had the final word on the field.

 

“When you have two teams that really hate each other, that’s going to be your best football,” Miami linebacker Joey Porter said. “I wish you could hate every team like you hate your rivals. They brought out our best football.”

 

And, just like the last time these teams met, the game came down to the wire.

 

Facing a fourth-and-13 following a sack by Randy Starks with just over a minute remaining, Mark Sanchez scrambled before firing an incomplete pass over Dustin Keller and Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone to seal the loss for the Jets.

 

“This stings, going into the bye with a loss like this,” said Sanchez, who was 20-for-35 for 265 yards and two touchdowns. “As a competitor and as an offense, we thought we were winning that game, no doubt.”

 

They had a chance, particularly after Keller’s pretty 16-yard diving touchdown catch made it 30-25 with 5:52 remaining. Sanchez connected with Wright for the 2-point conversion, but it was negated by an illegal shift. Sanchez’s next attempt missed.

 

After New York’s defense stopped Miami, the Jets had a shot to stun the Dolphins late. But Sanchez and the offense couldn’t come through in the end.

 

“We felt we were going to be able to go in and seal the deal,” Cotchery said. “Give them credit. They kept us out of the end zone.”

 

After Jay Feely kicked a 55-yard field goal to tie a career and team mark and give New York a 6-3 lead, Miami struck back immediately with Ginn’s 100-yard return.

 

Jason Taylor made it 17-6 with 7:32 left in the third quarter when he returned Shonn Greene’s fumble 48 yards for a touchdown.

 

After Sanchez scored from 1 yard on a pretty play-action fake, Ginn struck again with a 101-yard return that made it 24-13.

 

New York came right back on Braylon Edwards‘ one-handed 19-yard touchdown catch with 1:35 remaining in the quarter. The 2-point conversion failed, making it 24-19.

 

“I’ve never seen a third quarter like that,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. “To win this football game and have a third quarter like that, my hat’s off to that group in the locker room.”

 

Game notes
Ginn’s 101-yard return was second in team history to Mercury Morris’ 105-yarder in 1969 at Cincinnati. … After running for 300-plus yards in two straight games, the Jets were held to 127 — including 102 by Thomas Jones.