Jets’ bid for inside information shot down
After the Buffalo Bills released Trent Edwards this week, it came as little surprise when Jacksonville claimed the quarterback off waivers.
David Garrard has a tenuous grip on the Jaguars' starting job, and backup Todd Bouman, who hasn't played in a game since 2005, was signed only after Luke McCown tore an anterior cruciate ligament after replacing Garrard in a Week 2 blowout loss to San Diego.
Seeing the New York Jets also try to snap up Edwards, however, was a little stunning.
The team appears to believe it has a young franchise quarterback in Mark Sanchez. The Jets also have veteran backup Mark Brunell and former starter Kellen Clemens, a player they still seem to think has a future with the club.
A look at the schedule could explain why the Jets put in a claim on Edwards, though they lost him to the Jaguars, who are lower in the standings.
New York visits Buffalo on Sunday to play the Bills.
Jets coach Rex Ryan admitted the team was trying to snag Edwards for a week to acquire his insights on the Bills' offensive system.
"The obvious thing would be we were going to pick his brain," Ryan said at a news conference.
He also said he cleared the potential move with Clemens, who was all for it. According to Pro Football Talk, that indicates Edwards would have been the No. 4 quarterback, which means he probably could have been cut after the game.
If Ryan thinks he needs that much help to beat the 0-3 Bills, good luck with those Super Bowl aspirations.
■ NO SMOKING -- Not all residents of Ohio were caught up in pennant fever as they watched the Cincinnati Reds celebrate their first division title since 1995 on Tuesday.
Some remained vigilant enough to notice the law being broken.
As team personnel, including players and owner Bob Castellini, lit up victory cigars, at least five viewers called a statewide smoking ban complaint hotline, health department spokesman Rocky Merz told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
An investigation will be conducted into the violations.
While tips called into the hotline are anonymous, it's believed that at least three of the five dullards also called the Cincinnati Crime Stoppers hotline to report Brandon Phillips for stealing bases.
■ QUALITY PROGRAMMING -- A USA Today article Thursday noted that ESPN plans to produce espnW, with content aimed at women.
Beginning as a blog, the format could expand into its own new network.
Women account for about 24 percent of ESPN viewers, making up the majority of the audience for only two events per year -- the national spelling bee and cheerleading programs.
Oh, yeah, this idea has endless possibilities.
But as bad as this potential network could possibly be, one thing is certain: It will be available in more homes, and watched by more men, than The Mtn.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
