Jets should have won with Carter

It wasn’t Quincy Carter who called the option pass that Ed Reed intercepted when the New York Jets seemed about to break open their game with the Baltimore Ravens.

Nor was it Quincy Carter who had the late hit that prolonged a TD drive for Baltimore in what turned out to be a 20-17 overtime win for the Ravens on Sunday.

In fact, Carter’s first NFL start since he quarterbacked Dallas at Carolina in a wild-card playoff game last season might have been a success if not for other people’s mistakes.

“I won’t say he played magnificent or great, but well enough for us to win,” running back Curtis Martin said.

Exactly. He was 13 of 22 for 175 yards and almost certainly would have been a winner if the ball had been in his hands rather than a running back’s for the game’s critical play.

That was just after the 2-minute warning in the first half, with the Jets holding a 14-0 lead and the ball at the Baltimore 17. Even a field goal would give New York a 17-0 halftime lead against an offensively challenged opponent.

Instead, the call was an option pass by running back Lamont Jordan. Jordan’s pass was intercepted 4 yards deep in the end zone by Reed and returned for a touchdown. But Will Demps was penalized for holding Carter, who hustled back to try and stop the play, and the ball was placed at the New York 36.

Baltimore eventually scored anyway and it was 14-7 at halftime instead of 17-0 or 21-0. Different ballgame.

Green, Porter duke it out

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter and Cleveland Browns running back William Green were ejected before the game for fighting during warmups.

About 45 minutes before the opening kickoff, the players exchanged several punches near midfield as the teams were going through drills. TV replays appeared to show Green spitting at Porter, whose back was to the camera.

Green’s lower lip was bloodied from the confrontation.

Can Eagles bounce back?

When things were going well for the Dallas Cowboys early last season, Bill Parcells was asked about the great attitudes seen from several players who were not usually described that way. His response sounded more like a warning.

“It’s easy to be a team player,” Parcells said, “when you’re winning.”

His point was that players and teams show their true character in how they respond to losing.

A good example will be on display tonight in Irving, Texas, though not by Parcells’ Cowboys. The scrutiny will be on their foe, the Philadelphia Eagles, who are coming off their first loss after a 7-0 start.