Mangini Names His Running Back!!!

With the success Leon Washington is having, reporters hounded Eric Mangini this afternoon if he would be considered for the starting job this week vs. the Cleveland Browns. Here's how the press conference went:

Reporter: Coach, In the last three games Leon Washington has nearly 300 yards rushing vs. Kevan Barlow's 100 yard rushing over the same time frame. Is it safe to say that Leon Washington is your starting running back now?

Mangini: Well, we also have Cedric Houston and Derrick Blaylock to consider too. Every week our runningbacks will have an opportunity in practice prove who will be the starting runningback.

Reporter: Yes, but coach, Washington is electric out there and provides the spart it looks like the Jets really need.

Mangini: You also need to consider what a professional Kevan Barlow is and how he manages the game and how tough a back he is. There are a lot of factors other than yards and "spark" as you say. Plus Houston and Blaylock are in the running as well. It will be a game time decision.

Reporter: How close is Curtis Martin to coming back?

Mangini: He is fairly close. He needs to be cleared by the doctors and then we'll work him out and go from there.

Reporter: Hypothetically, if Curtis did come back and he was in the same condition he was say, in the 2002 season where he rushed for 1,600 plus yards, would he be considered the starter?

Mangini: Well, with Cedric Houston coming along, Barlow's tough running style and the success of Washington we'd have to see who would battle it out between the two. Plus you cannot forget about Blaylock. It would have to be a game time decision.

Reporter: What if Martin comes back, he is 2002 condition and he has bionic legs, would he be considered the starting runningback?

Mangini: It would between Houston, Washington, Barlow, Blaylock and Martin again.

Reporter: Consider if Houston was not on the roster, Leon Washington and Kevan Barlow are dead, you got Curtis in 2002 condition with bionic legs and he is morphed with Barry Sanders, would Martin be considered the starter?

Mangini: We'd have to create a paper mache runningback so Curtis would have someone to compete for the starting job with. And only after a week of practice would we consider a starter. We had a paper mache running back up in New England and he was a pretty tough competitor. Plus I wouldn't put it past Barlow to come back from the dead. So between Paper Mache, Curtis and Back from the Dead Barlow, it would be a game time decision.

Reporter: Who would start if the only two players you had were Back from the Dead Barlow and Paper Mache, who would you start?

Mangini: Well, considering coming back from the dead is usually not that easy to bounce back from, I would have to say Paper Mache.

Reporter: So it is Paper Mache as your running back?

Mangini: Yes, Paper Mache.