FINAL 1999 AFC EAST STANDINGS

One Week Down, Many to Go
Marvin Jones Gets Started on 2000

Already, it's been one week. Without much fanfare, the Jets went back to work on Monday, kicking off the offseason conditioning program with a tiring routine of running, lifting and drills. Players are expected to complete 40 workouts between now and the beginning of veteran mini-camp in May. "It's good to be back," said LB Marvin Jones this morning. "Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind being home in Florida right now, but this is important. You don't always realize the benefits of this, everyone here at the same time, working together. It makes a difference down the road. It's not always easy to be here, but it's a positive."

	Marvin Jones

Jones, the Jets 1st round draft pick in 1993, is coming off one of the strongest seasons of his career. In 1999, he finished 2nd on the team with 92 tackles. He also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery, one interception, one sack and five passes defensed while starting all 16 games for the second time in his career. All of this came after Jones missed all of 1998 with a knee injury. His teammates honored him with the Ed Block Courage Award at the end of last season. "It was hard work, that's it," said Jones. "It was a lot of time and hard work to get back from the injury, and it will take more of it to continue to stay on the field. I was happy with the way I played last year. This year I'd like to contribute to a playoff team, though. We have talent here, and we showed we could win big games last year, it was just too little, too late. This year we have to get it going early." .....Like in March.

Jets Sign First Unrestricted Free Agent, Bears DT Burton

The New York Jets announced on Monday the signing of their first unrestricted free agent, defensive lineman Shane Burton. Terms of the contract agreement were undisclosed. Burton will be beginning his 5th season in the NFL in the upcoming 2000 season. "As an NFL veteran, Shane Burton has displayed the toughness and experience that should be attributes for him in competing for a spot on the defensive line," said Jets head coach Al Groh. A 6-6, 305-pound product of the University of Tennessee, Burton began his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins in 1996 after being selected in the 5th round of the NFL draft. With the Dolphins, Burton played in 47 regular season games, making 12 starts, and made 104 tackles, 9 sacks, recorded 3 fumbles and forced 2 fumbles. Burton played for the Chicago Bears in 1999 after being waived by the Dolphins late in training camp. With the Bears he played in 15 games as a reserve defensive tackle and recorded 14 tackles, 3 sacks, and intercepted the first pass of his career at San Diego and rambled 37 yards before being hauled down. With his size and strength, Burton has forged a reputation as an excellent field goal blocker, recording 4 blocks over the course of his career.

Grass field likely for Stadium

The Stadium

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the New Jersey Giants and the New Jersey Jets today released the following statement concerning the playing surface at the Stadium: Following a lengthy review of the 1999 experimental grass tray system during the National Football League preseason, the Authority and the two franchises are greatly encouraged by the improvement in the system from the prior year. Significantly, for the first time, our field consultant, Clark Companies, stated that they expect the current tray design augmented by a heating and cooling system, could provide a quality surface for National Football League play from the preseason through January postseason games. While there are operational and financial issues to be resolved, the three parties have agreed to move forward anticipating that Giants Stadium will go to a grass surface for the 2000 season.