Jets coach Rex Ryan has put together a color-coded system to help rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez curb his turnovers. When a pass play is called on the sideline, Sanchez will receive a code word from Ryan, indicating how aggressive the quarterback should be with his throws. The New York Daily News learned that it's a simple red-yellow-green system, with each color telling Sanchez how cautious (red) or aggressive (green) he should be with a particular pass play. Sanchez has thrown 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2009.

The Jets have waived cornerback/kick returner Justin Miller. The team announced the decision on Saturday, just a day after special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff said Miller would probably play on Sunday against the Panthers.

Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards is in the final year of his contract, but is happy in New York. After being dealt by the Browns, who were winless at the time, the Jets have gone 1-5 with Edwards. "I've seen the pits; this is nothing like the pits," he said. "I've seen the baddest of the bad. Coming here, yeah, we're losing, but we're close. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, but in my case it is. It's greener than where I came from." Edwards reiterated his desire to sign a long-term contract extension with the Jets. "If these guys want to extend me to play here, I'd love to be there," he said.

The Jets have demoted safety Kerry Rhodes is favor of Eric Smith. Rhodes hasn't been the playmaker that New York coach Rex Ryan felt he would be. Ryan compared him to Ed Reed, who he coached in Baltimore, prior to the season. The safety has no interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries in 2009.

Jets coach Rex Ryan felt "disrespected" by the Patriots for attempting a deep pass late in Sunday's game. New England defeated New York 31-14 and Tom Brady threw long for Randy Moss on third-and-6 from their 45-yard line with just 30 seconds left in the game. The pass fell incomplete. "We need to stop them anyway, so it's no biggie, but I was surprised, and I did feel a little bit disrespected," Ryan said.

San Francisco 49ers president Jed York is dropping the team's tampering charge against the New York Jets over Michael Crabtree, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Monday.

The Jets aren't expecting the Patriots to run many familiar plays. "I think there is one thing that we can be sure of and that is it will be something we haven't seen," New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. "It will be a surprise." The Jets are expecting the Patriots to blitz rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez more often than usual. "They've never really been a big pressure team against us," Schottenheimer said. "Do I think they'll pressure us more? Absolutely, I think that is what most teams are doing to us now."

Jets coach Rex Ryan says that he was just being himself when he cried in front of his team earlier this week. Ryan got emotional during a team meeting on Monday, one day after New York's 24-22 loss to Jacksonville. He says he believes in himself and his team, and "if that comes out, it comes out." Ryan even poked fun at himself during a news conference on Wednesday, bringing a box of tissues to the podium and declaring, "I'm man enough to be me."

Leon Washington said Thursday that he's "reasonably optimistic" about being ready to play next season. In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, his hometown paper in Jacksonville, Washington addressed several things, including the injury itself and the contractual implications the injury might have on his future. "I'm reasonably optimistic I'll be good to go by the start of the 2010 season,'' Washington said. "When the team gets back [for offseason workouts] in March, it's my goal to be moving around pretty good. "Getting injured was the last thing on my mind. When it happened after my first carry of the game, I was almost in shock. It really didn't hurt that much. I felt a pop in the leg. It felt like slow motion, like it came 10 seconds after the guy rolled on my knee. "I could feel my right leg dangling by itself. I was real nonchalant, thinking, 'I broke my leg.' "

Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis admitted to eating on the sidelines often during his playing days. Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez made headlines last month for eating a hot dog on the sidelines during a victory over the Raiders. "I've had a hot dog. I've had cookies. I actually had a hamburger," Bettis told the Los Angeles Times.