The Jets are going to Houston next weekend to start the Rex Ryan era. Calvin Pace is going to Las Vegas.
And he's hoping that whatever happens in Vegas doesn't stay there.
Starting Friday, the Jets outside linebacker began serving a four-game suspension, handed down before training camp for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing supplements. Instead of passing the time in New Jersey or at his home in Atlanta, Pace will spend the next two weeks working out with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) guru Randy Couture.
Pace hopes to accomplish enough in Vegas to ensure that he's football-ready when he returns Oct. 5, when the Jets begin preparations for a Monday night game in Miami.
"The reason why I'm doing MMA is it's probably the closest thing you can find to football as far as conditioning, cardiovascular and the physical aspect," Pace said after the Jets' 38-27 win over the Eagles Thursday night in their final preseason game. "I'm not going to be fighting and I'm not going to be getting hit. I'm just going to be training my behind off."
Pace will have company. He will be training with Saints defensive linemen Will Smith and Charles Grant, both of whom are serving league suspensions for similar violations. MMA is a growing sport, if you can call it that, and professional athletes are starting to use the MMA training regimen for conditioning purposes.
"I want to come back the way I left - in shape and focused," said Pace, who concluded a terrific preseason with extra playing time against the Eagles.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/09/05/2009-09-05_calvin_pace_is_plans_to_spend_two_week_suspension_training_with_mma_legend_randy.html
MMA is a growing sport, if you can call it that,
ttt 4 MMA :-)
"MMA is a growing sport, if you can call it that"
I noticed that too. MMA ignorance still exist.
chuck73
1:56:36 PM
Sep 5, 2009
Hey Cimini, you really are an ignorant ***. This has nothing to do with our beloved Jets but you obviously know nothing about MMA and proved what a moron you are for saying 'it's a growing sport IF YOU CALL IT THAT.' How arrogant and stupid of you to say. It most certainly IS a sport and it's exploding in popularity for good reason. Try to learn a little bit about it before you run your mouth off the wrong way about something you lack any intelligence about.