SPORTS

Jets fans watch and hope as team trains in Florham Park

@dailyrecordspts
By Jane Havsy

FLORHAM PARK – Keymani Evans and Jayden Young threw a football back and forth outside the Jets' practice facility. Young kept moving backward, trying to test his arm, and even drop-kicked the ball a few times.

Three hours later, both were seated in bleachers on the sidelines watching the Jets run plays just a few yards away. Young, an 8-year-old in his fifth year with the Rockaway Rockets, pondered dashing onto the field. He settled for watching, hopeful of getting an autograph from rookie fullback Chad Young.

"They can teach me some passing plays and running plays," said Jayden Young, a Dallas Cowboys fan who wore his green-and-gold Rockets jersey on Wednesday. "Maybe I can give (Jets quarterback) Michael Vick my phone number, and he can give me lessons."

Derek Olsen of Mendham was just hoping for a few more autographs. Olsen, a 20-year-old landscaper and Mendham Twp. volunteer firefighter, had also attended the Jets' open practice sessions earlier in the week and now had 24 names in silver marker on a black cap. He had a specific technique for attracting the players to him: standing right near the kids' section, and stretching his arm out toward them.

Olsen has 12 Jets jerseys, all names and numbers of players who are no longer with the team.

Kyle Wodynski of Roxbury, and his wife Jamie, also have old shirts — but their sons, 7-year-old Caiden, 13-month-old Shawn in a stroller, and even the one due in September, all have current jerseys.

Caiden wore wide receiver Stephen Hill's No. 84, and Shawn had cornerback Dee Milliner. The Geno Smith jersey Shawn had grown out of has been saved for his little brother.

"We got them on clearance after the season," said Kyle Wodynski, who brought a Jets-logo banner about half the team had already signed, which they plan to fill and frame.

"Especially with three kids, you've got to save any way you can. ... Growing up, I watched the (Buffalo) Bills, but I never got to meet them. When you see how cool the players are to the kids, it puts a smile on your face."

Nolan Orr of Morris Plains, was certainly smiling on Wednesday, albeit while leaning on a pair of crutches.

Orr, 12, had attended the Jets' 13-10 preseason win over Indianapolis on Aug. 7, and wouldn't let the hot-pink cast on his lower right leg — protecting damaged cartilage, plus a broken toe from backyard football — keep him away from practice.

"They built momentum in the preseason," Orr said. "They're winning, and when you win, it gives you confidence going into the regular season. Confidence is everything."

The Jets-Colts game was the first 4-year-old Arianna Higgins had watched in person with her father, George.

While Arianna rode his shoulders into the Jets' Florham Park facility, George Higgins noted she had been to Giants practice with her stepmother.

"I don't want that to rub off on her," he said. "Now she's like, 'Both teams are OK.' No!"

Added Arianna, throwing her arms in the air, "I like when they win."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682973-428-6682; jhavsy@dailyrecord.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/

Visit DailyRecord.com for more from the Jets' three days of open practice, including player quotes and a photo gallery.

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