http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/10/suspended_ny_jets_linebacker_c.html Suspended NY Jets linebacker Calvin Pace keeping close eye on team as return nears By Dave Hutchinson/The Star Ledger October 02, 2009, 12:10AM Calvin Pace spent the first week of his suspension in Las Vegas training in mixed martial arts. Linebackers Bart Scott, David Harris, Bryan Thomas and Marques Murrell have called. So have defensive end Marques Douglas and defensive tackle Sione Pouha. Running back Leon Washington and fullback Tony Richardson have spoken to him. Right tackle Damien Woody has sent him a text message. And there are other teammates who have reached out to Calvin Pace. ??I don?t even know how half those guys got my number,?? Pace, the Jets? playmaking linebacker, told The Star-Ledger Thursday via cell phone from his home in Atlanta. Pace is serving the final few days of a four-game suspension for violating the league?s policy on taking a banned performance-enhancing drug. He?s allowed to rejoin the team on Monday. The Jets (3-0), who play the Saints on Sunday, travel to Miami for a Monday night game against the Dolphins on Oct. 12. ??A lot of the guys have been so supportive,?? said Pace, who had 67 tackles and seven sacks last season. ??I didn?t really know how people would respond. Would they forget about me? ??But it has been so encouraging. It really has. It makes me really want to get back and help the guys out.?? The Jets want Pace back as much as Pace wants to be back. Second-year linebacker Vernon Gholston has started two of the three games in place of Pace and has been pedestrian, recording seven tackles. Gholston, Murrell, and rookie Jamaal Westerman have combined to fill the void left by Pace. ??I can?t wait to get Calvin Pace back,?? Scott said unsolicited following the Jets? 24-17 victory over Tennessee last Sunday. ??I talked to him and he?s been chomping at the bit.?? Pace, who is expected to energize the pass rush and give the Jets? multi-dimensional defense even more flexibility and ferocity, spent the first week of his suspension in Las Vegas, training with mixed martial arts guru Randy Coulture. He decided to take up MMA training because he felt that grueling, full-contact sport was the closest he could get to assimilating football. Originally, Pace planned to stay in Vegas for two weeks but he left after the first week and returned to Atlanta. ??I felt I could get the same thing in Atlanta,?? said Pace. ??You go to Vegas to party. I didn?t go out there to party. It worked out all right but to stay there two or three weeks is impossible.?? In Atlanta, Pace trained five days a week, nearly 4 1/2 hours a day. In the morning, Pace ran and did different football-related drills for two hours with his personal trainer. Around mid-day, he went to the gym to work with MMA instructor Tony Tucci. In the afternoon, he lifted weights. ??It?s been a lot of grinding, working out and staying in shape,?? said Pace. ??I?m also trying to stay sharp mentally, keeping up with the playbook. I?m just preparing myself for the Dolphins. ??I feel good right now. But I can tell you more after Wednesday?s practice. That?s when I?ll know where I am physically. I don?t know if I have fresh legs. We?ll see.?? For the past three Sundays, Pace has been resting comfortably at home, watching the Jets on his big-screen television ? with a huge smile on his face. ??I feel like I?m a father watching my kids,?? Pace said with a chuckle. ??I?m so proud of them. They?re playing well in every phase of the game. It makes me so eager to get back. I?m another piece to the puzzle. ??I?ll tell you what, the fact that the guys are winning has really helped me out. It has made things more bearable. Every game has been a different challenge and the guys have answered the bell. I?m excited, man. If anything, this whole experience has made me more hungry than ever."
Good read. I really wished he was back for this New Orleans game he wouldve really given us a huge boost. But oh well cheers Calvin can't wait for your return, can you imagine our defense even nastier??
If Pace comes back strong and Strick and Sheppard are healthy, win or lose against the Saints, we're going to shut the Dolphins out in an embarrasing way. I bet they bring in Thigpen at the half.
I'm sure Pace learned a lot from Tony Tucci during his MMA training....it'll be fun to watch him sinch in a "cross-arm breaker" on Brady in November.
What's great is that Pace will help finish some of these pass rushes (our best pass rushing linebacker). Instead of our rushes ending with a pass sailing out of bounds, a lot of them will end in sacks.
AS long as Calvin is not experimenting with any new supplements during his furlough, he should be a welcome addition to the 2009 defense.
Once Pace gets back, as well as Sheppard and Strickland... this defense is going to be a force to be reckoned with... damn!
This is good to hear, atleast he wasn't out getting trashed and treating this like a extended vacation
As much as I wish Pace was back this week, having him back - and fresh - for our next 4 games will be huge for our defense. 3 of the next 4 games will be against divisional rivals. A win this week gives us confidence and respect, but wins in the next 4 weeks will impact us more for the post season possibilities.
Monday Night will be fun. I'm almost looking past the Saints game just to hurry up and beat on Miami.
Hehe , the way I'm looking at it is he'll be fresh and hungry for blood, which is all great, especially as I have him in my fantasy team
You just made my weekend.........again. Pace will be a great shot in the arm at a good time in the season.
