Searching for extra motivation before this weekend's New York turf war, Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine reached back to a 2010 preseason game and came up with an image he hopes to see repeated Saturday at MetLife stadium: Eli Manning crushed between two Jets defenders like a soda can in a trash compactor.
Each week, Jets coaches try to find a photograph for the cover of the team's playbook that symbolizes the challenge represented by New York's next opponent. According to the Star-Ledger, this weekJets players found their playbooks adorned with a photo of a memorable hit on the Giants QB during last year's preseason meeting between the teams.
In that game, Jets linebacker Calvin Pace smashed into Manning from behind, thrusting the QB's helmet into the facemask of Jets safety Jim Leonhard. The double hit knocked Manning from the game with a bloodied forehead that required 12 stitches.
"It was cool to see it again," Pace said, according to the New York Daily News. "Seems like it was so long ago."
As for the intended message of the photo?
"I guess, do it again," Pace said.
