NEW YORK, N. Air Max 97 Discount .Y. - Geno Smith still thinks of himself as the New York Jets starting quarterback. Until hes told otherwise. Smiths up-and-down rookie season ended with four solid games as the Jets finished 8-8, but out of the playoffs. Both coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik have said that while Smith improved greatly, they will wait until they see whos on the roster in a few months before considering their starters at any position. "It motivates me," Smith told The Associated Press on Friday. "I know Rex, and he knows how to push my buttons. Im definitely going to go into this season as I always do: with a chip on my shoulder with that edge." Smith was in midtown Manhattan serving fans from an ice cream truck as part of a promotional event for New Era caps — a few hours after Ryan did the same. Smith, who had 12 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions, is expected to be in the quarterback mix whether the Jets sign a veteran or draft someone to compete with him. But, it appears he didnt do enough for the Jets to anoint him the starter as they head into the off-season. "Ive gotten better, but Ive got a long ways to go," Smith acknowledged. "Ive got to continue to progress and Im going to take this year just as I took last year, and thats to try to get better every single day." Smith declined to comment on his recent off-field issues, which included a disagreement with a flight attendant at Los Angeles International airport, for which Virgin America airline later apologized. "Nah, were not talking about that stuff," he said. Taking a quick break from handing out ice cream cones on Super Bowl Boulevard in Times Square, Smith talked about how much he enjoyed seeing the area jam-packed with football fans getting ready for the NFLs biggest game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. It also reminded him of his ultimate goal on the field. "Just being here and being around this atmosphere has definitely made me even more hungry," he said. "Just to get into this position has been something Ive been longing for my entire life, so I just want to work toward it." Smith started all 16 games for the Jets after claiming the job once Mark Sanchez went down for the season with a shoulder injury in the preseason. There were flashes from Smith at times, particularly with four winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime of the Jets first seven games. But there were also troubling stretches, such as the seven-game stretch midway through the season in which he had one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions. While Smith insisted "I dont do grades," he said he learned a lot on the job — a crash course in life in the NFL that not many rookie quarterbacks get to experience. "It was very valuable, man," Smith said. "Not only from the standpoint of being on the field, but off the field. All the emotions I had to go through and all the good and bad things I had to go through, and ultimately, it strengthened me. "It made me a better player and made me a better person off the field." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Air Max 97 Cheap Online . Pistorius mindset when he stood on his stumps in a bathroom and pulled the trigger on his 9 mm pistol in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013 remains the crux of the South African trial that has captured worldwide attention and is about to start its seventh week of globally televised proceedings. It was initially scheduled to run for three weeks. Air Max 97 Cheap Sale .C. Now hes squarely in the U.S. capital and helping the Washington Wizards playoff drive. John Wall scored 33 points, Gooden got 11 of his 21 in the final quarter and the Wizards overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. http://www.cheapairmax97.net/ . A police inspector told The Associated Press the crane operator is not yet suspected of any wrongdoing but is considered a key witness to the accident at the Arena Corinthians.Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys head into Sundays game against the Colts leading the NFC East and on the verge of a playoff berth. A ton of the credit for that should go to head coach Jason Garretts assistants.Garretts the one thought to be on the hot seat entering the season. Hes the one who has owner Jerry Jones whisper in his ear on the sideline. And hes the one whos likely to receive plenty of praise from fans if the Cowboys do return to the post-season for the first time since 2009.Truth is, Garrett has become little more than a caretaker for Dallas (10-4). Its the folks working under him who are steering a team that was supposed to be an also-ran to respectability — and their contributions are about as underappreciated as it gets in todays NFL.I feel really good about where our co-ordinators are in running their different units and how our position coaches are coaching, Garrett said. Its my job to oversee it and create an environment for them where they can be successful.Last off-seasons shuffle is working.Coming off three consecutive 8-8 finishes, Dallas demoted defensive co-ordinator Monte Kiffin and removed Bill Callahan as play caller. Now Scott Linehan calls plays (something Garrett used to do), helping turn running back DeMarco Murray into a star. Callahan, meanwhile, has thrived while focusing on what is probably the leagues top offensive line.New defensive co-ordinator Rod Marinelli has overseen significant improvement, while linebackers coach Matt Eberflus has produced a pretty good group despite the loss of Sean Lee and others to injury.In general, assistant coaches do not get a lot of publicity or kudos — this season, for the first time, the AP NFL awards will include one for top assistant — but Dallas group deserves both.Heres a look at some other underappreciated — and overblown — aspects of the NFL:UNDERAPPRECIATED:BUFFALOS Defence: Presumably, Mario Williams & Co. will finally start to get the wide acclaim they deserve after holding Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers to a combined zero touchdown passes and four interceptions over the past two weeks.BOBBY WAGNER: With the linebacker back from a right foot injury, the Seahawks are 4-0 and allowing 6.75 points per game. Air Max 97 Clearance. Asked about his five-game absence hurting his cause for awards or recognition, Wagner replied: Thats fine. Who has been the best backer on the field when hes been on the field?ARIZONAS HOME EDGE: That New England, Denver and Green Bay are unbeaten at home should surprise no one. That Arizona takes a 7-0 home mark into its showdown with Seattle on Sunday night? Now thats remarkable.DENVERS DEFENSIVE DUO: A lot of attention was paid when the Broncos added Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward. Less-known Chris Harris Jr. and Brandon Marshall (aka the other Brandon Marshall) have been a big part of Denvers success, even if fans arent racing to vote them into the Pro Bowl.REDSKINS CAPACITY FOR DYSFUNCTION: Seemingly boundless.OVERBLOWN:PATRIOTS DEMISE: That 41-14 loss at Kansas City in Week 4, the one that had folks wondering when Tom Brady would retire and whether Bill Belichicks magic was gone, sure seems long ago now, doesnt it?JOHNNY FOOTBALL: OK, its only one game, but Johnny Manziels NFL debut as a starting quarterback for the Browns was a doozy: 80 yards passing, two interceptions, three sacks, and zero points. Certainly not the stuff that justifies his hype. But he deserves time, of course.NEW COACHES: When Lovie Smith was introduced as Tampa Bays head coach, he averred, Its time for us to become a relevant team again. So much for the idea that a new coach can help things improve right away. The Bucs are 2-12; even worse, Ken Whisenhunts Titans are 2-13. Jay Grudens Redskins are 3-11 (see above). On the other hand, Jim Caldwell (Detroit) and Bill OBrien (Houston) have done a fine job in Year 1.CAM NEWTON, COLIN KAEPERNICK, ROBERT GRIFFIN III: The toast of the NFL not too long ago, none of that trio of QBs looks ready for prime time lately.SAINTS HOME EDGE: New Orleans was unbeaten at home for more than a season before the current 0-4 rut in its dome heading into Sunday against Atlanta.___AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon in Irving, Texas, and Tim Booth in Renton, Washington, contributed to this report.___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '