Hey, guess who, besides NJ Governor Chris Christie and Daily News columnist Denis Hamill, also wants to make it clear that the 2014 Super Bowl will be held in NJ? Why, the senior Senator of NJ, Frank Lautenberg. He sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week, first congratulating and thanking the NFL on the decision. Then he got to the point—he doesn't want New York hogging the Super Bowl glory!

I am also writing to ensure that the NFL appropriately describes the site of the game as New Jersey/New York and not simply “New York.” I also urge the league to utilize and promote New Jersey in its marketing and events associated with the Super Bowl. To be sure, the entire New Jersey/New York region has much to offer and will benefit economically from the game. But the reality is that the Super Bowl will be played in New Jersey, and the NFL’s marketing, promotion, and events should reflect that fact. more ›

Put any thoughts of the new Giants-Jets Stadium being named Mara Field (after the recently deceased and beloved Giants owner Wellington Mara) far from your heads. Sports marketing experts believe that the value of slapping a corporation's name on the arena, which is expected to be completed in 2010 and cost $1.3 billion, could generate revenues of $25 million to $30 million annually for the two teams. In comparison, the Mets are charging Citigroup $20 million annually for 20 years to name the team's new stadium in Queens Citi Field. more ›

John McCain's Straight Talk Express headed into Manhattan today, taking him to Grand Central Terminal where he got the endorsement of former governor George Pataki. McCain, along with wife Cindy, appeared with Pataki, Alphonse D'Amato, Joseph Lieberman and Rudy Giuliani as the Republican candidate appears to be leading in many Super Tuesday polls over rivals Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. more ›

If this team is going to be able to survive all of these injuries, Eli Manning is going to have to get a lot better. Manning spent the first half of the Giants’ 26-10 loss in a daze, making bad decisions and overthrowing receivers. He got better in the second half, but it was too late as Jacksonville made the plays they needed to for the win. more ›

Dominated every which way it seemed, the Jets managed to make a 31-21 loss to New England look a bit closer after two late TD receptions by Laveranues Coles, but it was clear that Monday night's broadcast was interesting for one reason only – it was the final Monday Night Football on network television. more ›

OK, the two potentially "sexiest" subplots for the remainder of the Jets season are now kaput. Both Curtis Martin's quest for an 11th consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season (his season and streak of 119 consecutive regular season starts were cut short due to bone chips in his right knee would need surgery) and the chances of the franchise gaining the 2006 draft's top choice by finishing dead last. more ›

The sad Jets host the disappointing Raiders, Sunday at 1 p.m. in East Rutherford. With former Giants QB Kerry Collins struggling, Oakland looks to start the physical Marques Tuiasosopo, who hasn't even taken a snap in game action this season. more ›

When the NFL first released its 2005 schedule, someone somewhere was happy at the prospect of seeing the defending champion New England Patriots have to play the upstart Jets twice in the season's final month - both Sunday in Foxboro, Mass. (4:15, TV: WCBS - 2, Radio: 1050 AM ESPN), and in a Dec. 26 Monday night matchup in East Rutherford. more ›

The image of San Diego's Ladainian Tomlinson burning former All-Pro cornerback Ty Law for a 25-yard touchdown will be a difficult one for any Jets fan to forget. But for a while, that pain almost was forgotten, as Brooks Bollinger replaced a slightly injured and mostly ineffective Vinny Testaverde to rally the Jets (2-6) to turn a would-be laugher into a nail-biter, as the Chargers (5-4) held on for a 31-26 victory Sunday in East Rutherford. more ›

Don’t be surprised to get a bigger than average taste of the team’s No. 2 RB, Derrick Blaylock, who was acquired in the offseason after four years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Blaylock has only once had more than 20 carries in a game. Leftwich hopes to play after pulling his groin against Indianapolis, where he also made an obscene gesture at a Colts coach and was fined over $5,000 – (Leftwich may have been goaded by some ill-advised taunting during the moment of his injury). Because Laveranues Coles (whose personal revelation has gotten some journalists thinking bigger ones may follow around the league) is starting to enter a groove with Chad Pennington, Gothamist predicts a 24-10 Jets win. more ›

Thanks to a handful unforced errors on the Dolphins' part, a shaky start eventually yielded to a settled down performance by Chad Pennington and company, who are now receiving "Blue Collar Worker" metaphors and accolades, particularly after a late 90-yard scoring drive that provided the final cushion. more ›

Gothamist knew that the West Side stadium fracas would get nutty, but we didn't think that the Giants might be contenders as well. Apparently, the Giants are at an impasse during their negotiations with NJ over a new Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. Interestingly, NJ's Acting Governor Richard Codey had been crowing about the proposed $750 million complex, saying the Jets should consider staying in NJ. The Giants claim its intention is to stay in NJ, but as the Giants are more a NYC team (the Jets' fan base seems to be strongest in Long Island), the idea of the Giants in Manhattan is intriguing - they were last in NYC in the '70s, playing at Yankee Stadium. Fascinating business of sports teams tidbit: NY Times also notes that Giants want to get a deal settled soon, because it's "crucial for the Giants to be able to start selling luxury suites and club seats before any competition can develop from other new sports facilities, such as the new arena that has been proposed for Brooklyn, or the Jets' stadium." more ›

And starting next week, it'll be Olympics 2012 in NYC round the clock, the IOC team coming to town. They'll be staying at the Plaza and visiting all the proposed venues, so that's why there are tons of Olympics ads starting to pop up - including the ones where the type runs sideways so you can't really read them. The NY Times notes how Deputy Mayor Daniel "Olympics Boy" Doctoroff is getting ready for the visit. Gothamist on the IOC's analysis of NYC's potential as an Olympics city and the rest of our NYC 2012 coverage. more ›

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So buckle in for a week of "The Jets Don't Have What It Takes" stories leading into next Sunday's road game in St. Louis (1 p.m.), because that's where they have put themselves. And, yes, Gothamist agrees that Chad Pennington's "You should be honored to cover us" diatribe was well-intended, but misdirected (at beat writers rather than the smarmy columnists). If the season goes down in flames, that will no doubt mark the turning point in the media's love affair with him. Oddly enough, he complied with the media better after yesterday's nearly emasculating loss than last week's resounding win. more ›

In his return from a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for a couple weeks, quarterback Chad Pennington looked like the Pennington of old, completing 20 of 27 passes for 155 yards and two scores. more ›

It was a great sign for Jets fans, but (unlike the Redskins) it probably had absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the pending election - other than making several thousand New Yorkers stay up a bit late. more ›

Although Vinny Testaverde will not be present, Gothamist can't help but think of the last time these two teams met in East Rutherford on a Monday night. more ›

As the Jets trailed 14-3 in the first half as the Niners had just scored on two consecutive possessions, defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson left his skybox booth for the sole purpose of confronting his players. Shortly into the second half, it appeared to have worked. more ›

Doug Brien's 38-yard field goal with 58 seconds remaining was the difference, as Chad Pennington went 31-of-42 for 304 yards passing on the afternoon, but nothing bigger than going 7-of-8 for 51 yards on what would be the game's decisive drive. Pennington's fourth quarter interception allowed Buffalo to get back in the game and showedhe is human after all. more ›

Veteran defensive back and last minute signee Terrell Buckley is being praised as a surprising leadership presence for the Green and White. Bills rookie receiver Lee Evans has the kind of big play potential that teammate Eric Moulds is known for. more ›

Jets defensive back Donnie Abraham's 66-yard interception return for a score was the lone highlight of an ugly second half that featured four turnovers by the fish. It was one of several examples of a dominating performance by the Jet defense on the afternoon. Rookie Jonathan Vilma had a respectable first NFL start, in his hometown no less, leading the team with 8 tackles (3 solo). Victor Hobson (pictured) got in the action with an interception in the third quarter. more ›

Martin had one of the most impressive games in recent memory, rushing for 196 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and adding a touchdown reception to lead the Jets to a season-opening 31-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in East Rutherford. Box Score. more ›

New defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson came up with a barrage of blitzes that resulted in five sacks and four turnovers, including a fumble on a sack of quarterback Eli Manning that was returned 27 yards for a touchdown by safety Omare Lowe. more ›

Things went about as well as possible for Pennington, who completed each of his first 10 passes to finish 10 of 11 for 169 yards and one touchdown in a the better part of a half of action. While former C.W. Post standout Ian Smart staked his claim to the squad with a 59-yard punt return for a score (a total of five returns for 114 yards), number two running back Lamont Jordan made headlines when he expressed his displeasure with being relegated to get his reps with the third offensive unit (while Jonathan Reese again spent time with the second team), but on Sunday, both he and coach Herman Edwards seemed to downplay whatever rift there may or may not be between the two. more ›

The Detroit Free-Press' Mitch Albom marvels at Veal, calling him a "big, chunky redheaded bench player"; the Times notes that Scalabrine, though unlikely hero, isn't the best defensive player. Plus, the Star-Ledger on Scalabrine's hot hand. And the Gothamist-Whatevs bet on this series. Game 6 is tomorrow night in East Rutherford. more ›