JET NOTES
Either Shane Burton is a fast healer, or the Jets’ brass are good motivators. On Saturday the Jets put Burton on the non-football injury list with a broken toe and signed former Redskin DE Anthony Cook, ostensibly as Burton’s replacement. But no sooner did Cook show up for yesterday’s practice than Burton shook off his injury and got back out on the field.
The team signed the 28-year-old Cook – who played for new Jet defensive coordinator Mike Nolan last year in Washington – to a one-year deal for $440,000. But the Jets took Cook off the injury list before yesterday afternoon’s practice and he worked out with the team.
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QB Vinny Testaverde admitted he hasn’t been consistent so far in camp, but that’s due to rust, not injury. He says his Achilles is fine, and as he gets back into football shape, his consistency will improve.
“If you don’t play for an entire season, when you come back you’re gonna be rusty. I don’t feel like I’m staying on that same level of consistency I was two years ago. (But) I don’t feel like my leg is holding me back. I’m over that hump,” said Testaverde, who has dedicated this season to his late father Al, who died of a heart attack last Valentine’s Day.
“It’s something that I didn’t get to do a year ago, but something that I (want to). Just thinking about – because of my injury, whether in the weight room or out running on the field or just going through rehab – memories of him, what he’s meant to me. I just felt this would be a great year, a great time to dedicate the season to him.”
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Testaverde, who lobbied hard for disgruntled Bengals WR Carl Pickens, seemed somewhat disappointed the Jets haven’t acquire him, saying “Like I said before, I’d worked with him at (the Pro Bowl), he’s a good guy and I thought he’d fit in well. But I can’t be concerned about who’s not here right now. You work with the people you have.”
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The Jets had no official word on the status of backup LT Greg Lotysz, but he’ll have an MRI today and all indications are he has ligament damage and will need surgery on the left knee he injured Saturday. Coach Al Groh said the team was “monitoring” the situation with retired LT Jumbo Elliott. In the meantime, second-year man Ian Rafferty will be the backup at left tackle.
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Among the stars of yesterday’s practice were: Rookie WR Windrell Hayes, with a nice diving grab on a crossing route in traffic; DT Jason Ferguson, batting a Testaverde pass and intercepted it; rookie LB Jon Abraham, who sacked Chad Pennington and also stripped RB Richie Anderson; and CB Aaron Glenn, who broke up one deep pass and picked off another.
