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Jets' Jermaine Johnson never satisfied despite strong season

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Jets' Jermaine Johnson never satisfied despite strong season


Jermaine Johnson had his first NFL interception, touchdown return and fumble recovery in his last game, but that night he was “mad.”

He feels that way often, whether it’s because the Jets lost or he believes he could have done more.

Johnson thinks he’s shown that he’s “a dominant player” in his second NFL season, but he’s not satisfied. He never is. Ever.

“It’s a blessing and a curse because sometimes I’m just like mad,” Johnson told Newsday. “I kind of sit down and I’m like, ‘Nah.’ I’m never really satisfied.”

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The Jets (6-10) will close out the season Sunday in New England, looking to snap a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots in what could be Bill Belichick’s final game as their coach.

The Jets’ defense wants to end the right way after allowing Joe Flacco to pass for 309 yards and three scores in a 34-20 loss in Cleveland on Dec. 28.

Johnson had a good game, though.

New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) New York Jets linebacker Bryce Huff (47) New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (56) celebrate a sack during the second half the Houston Texans at the NY Jets on December 10, 2023 Credit: Lee S. Weissman/Lee S. Weissman

He deflected a Flacco pass into the air, picked it off and ran 37 yards for a touchdown. Later, he scooped up a fumble and took it in for the TD, but the play was ruled dead.

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Johnson called the pick “cool,” but he was hot.

“I was mad,” he said. “It was a good play. It was a cool play. It was probably one of the best I’ve made. We didn’t win. I still didn’t feel like I had enough of a presence in the game.”

After playing 312 snaps as a rookie, Johnson has established himself as a disruptive piece who could play alongside All-Pro tackle Quinnen Williams for a long time.

Johnson’s 714 snaps this year are second on the line to Williams. Johnson is second on the Jets with 6.5 sacks and has seven passes defended.

“He’s having an amazing year,” Williams said. “Just to see the growth from last year to this year . . . You can see the game-changing plays that he makes week in and week out. Not just last week, but this whole season.

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“I’m super-excited to be able to play with him in the future for years to come. We definitely can be one of the best dynamic duos in the league for years to come.”

The Jets envisioned Johnson being a foundation player when they traded up to grab him with the 26th pick in 2022. He spent last year in the shadows of some of the Jets’ other picks: Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.

Johnson stayed hungry, worked hard on his body and game in the offseason and proved he’s just as important to the Jets.

“Jermaine has been awesome, and I feel bad for him because he kind of gets lost in the shuffle of the [three] picks that we had that get celebrated,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “But Jermaine is playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s disruptive. He changes games. He gets after the quarterback. He’s awesome in the run game, playing through so much pain right now.

“It’s so cool just to watch a young man who put in the work that he needed to in the offseason to reap the rewards of his labor. He’s doing a great job, grossly underrated in my opinion, but he’s going to be good for a long time.”

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The defensive coaches believe in letting a rookie watch and learn and then unleashing him when he’s better acclimated. They expect edge rusher Will McDonald, their first-round pick this year who has played only 167 snaps, to follow a similar path.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich noted Johnson’s “huge jump” and said it’s “the same jump I anticipate Will taking next year.”

Ulbrich said Johnson “is rare” because he can do so much from being “a violent edge-setter” to having “great speed and bend and an arsenal of moves — and that is his superpower.”

Johnson also has shown he’s good against the run.

After Johnson’s rookie season, he watched a lot of film of himself and said he didn’t recognize that person. That fueled his offseason work. He said he recognizes himself when he watches tape now — but, you know.

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“I’m still not satisfied, just never really satisfied,” Johnson said. “The tape looks pretty good. I like to win. I like to be an undisputable dominant force and a great teammate. I’m just looking to bring that into the next year and making sure that that’s true.”

Johnson doesn’t know what it will take for him to truly be satisfied.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I just know that when I hit the peak of one mountain, it always ends up to be the base of another. That’s how I’ve always been wired. I can’t tell you what will change that.”

The only thing Johnson knows is that he’ll never stop wanting more.

“My thing is hard work must get done,” he said. “Hard work mixed with the talent that God gives me and mixed with the great teammates and people I have around me should be a recipe for good things.”

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JETS-PATRIOTS GAMEDAY

Line: Patriots by 1.5; O/U 30.5

TV: Fox (Chris Myers, Robert Smith, Jen Hale)

Radio: ESPN (98.7) (Bob Wischusen, Marty Lyons); SiriusXM 380.

All-time series: Patriots lead, 74-54-1 (Patriots have won 15 in a row).

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Last meeting: Sept. 24, 2023,

Patriots 15 (at) Jets 10.

KEY INJURIES

Jets: OUT: QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles), QB Zach Wilson (concussion), TE Jeremy Ruckert (concussion), OL Jake Hanson (concussion). DOUTBFUL: G Wes Schweitzer (calf).

Patriots: OUT: T Trent Brown (illness), TE Hunter Henry (knee): QUESTIONABLE: S Jalen Mills (ankle), WR Tyquan Thornton (ankle); DL Christan Barmore (knee).

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BYE STREAK, BYE BILL?

The Jets, losers of 15 straight games against the Patriots, hope to accomplish two things in what could be Bill Belichick’s final game coaching New England.

“It would be nice to send him out with a loss and end the streak all in one,” tight end Tyler Conklin said.

Both have been talked about among the Jets’ players. They’re tired of hearing about and being asked about the streak. The Jets’ last win over New England came on Dec. 27, 2015. It’s the longest active one in the NFL. “We got to fix it,” C.J. Mosley said. “It’s a great time to start.”

CLIMBING THE CHARTS

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Garrett Wilson is seven catches shy of 100. Brandon Marshall is the only Jet to record 100 receptions in a season. He had 109 in 2015.

Breece Hall needs 105 scrimmage yards to become the fifth Jet with 1,500 yards in a season. Curtis Martin did it six times and Freeman McNeil, Thomas Jones and Marshall once.

With one catch, Conklin will become the third Jets tight end with 60 receptions in a season. Mickey Shuler did it four times and Dustin Keller once.

(All the previous marks were done in a 16-game season).

NEW QBs

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Trevor Siemian will be the eighth Jets quarterback to start against the Patriots since the streak began. Bailey Zappe will be New England’s fourth.

The other Jets’ starters were Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Sam Darnold, Luke Falk, Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty. The Patriots? Mac Jones, Cam Newton and Tom Brady.

QUOTABLE

“It’s a good opportunity to go out there, play a clean football game, start the year and end the season on a win — and obviously end this damn streak.”

— Tyler Conklin

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NUMBER, PLEASE

23-2. Bill Belichick’s record against the Jets since they beat New England in the 2010 AFC divisional round. It was the last time the Jets reached the playoffs

— AL IANNAZZONE



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Cleveland, OH

House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire

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House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A house explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood caught its two neighboring houses and a car on fire and covered the street in thick smoke.

The family who lived in the house that exploded was not home at the time, Cleveland Fire confirmed.

Cleveland EMS told 19 News that paramedics evaluated a 14-year-old boy in stable condition and will be transported by private vehicle for medical assistance.

All residents were safely evacuated and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

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House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches 2nd house on fire(WOIO)

The houses are in the 5900 block of Cable Avenue, east of Broadway.

The two-story house that exploded collapsed after noon, Cleveland Fire confirmed.

The explosion and blaze caught the neighboring houses on both sides on fire, Cleveland Fire said.

House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire
House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire(WOIO)

Below is raw video our 19 News crews captured on scene:

Our cameras captured a first responder carrying a young child on the street away from the home, but it is unknown which house the child lived in.

Cleveland Fire said that 10 companies and 45 firefighters had all fires under control in an hour and a half.

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Clouds of smoke filled the nearby streets, creating dangerously low visibility and difficult breathing conditions.

The plume of smoke could be seen for miles, even in downtown Cleveland and Parma.

House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire
House explosion in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood catches neighboring houses on fire(WOIO)

The cause of the explosion and the estimated damage amount have yet to be determined. Enbridge Gas is on scene, and 19 News is waiting to hear back.

House goes up in flames in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood
House goes up in flames in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood(WOIO)

Return to 19 News for updates.



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Cleveland, OH

Arraignment for teen accused of murder at Cleveland deli

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Arraignment for teen accused of murder at Cleveland deli


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The 17-year-old boy accused of a deadly shooting at a Cleveland deli, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Thursday.

Royal King was indicted on the charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, carrying concealed weapons, and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.

King will continue being held on a $1 million bond at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Facility.

He will return to court on March 2 for a pre-trial.

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Royal King(Fiscalía del Condado de Cuyahoga)

King is accused of killing Jahari Stegall, 17, on Sept. 19, 2025 at the E. 185th Deli in the city’s Northshore Collinwood neighborhood.

PREVIOUS STORY: Teen identified after shooting death at Cleveland deli

King allegedly drove to the deli in a stolen car and walked through the aisles.

Security cameras then show Stegall walking through the parking lot.

King allegedly met Stegall at the door with a gun in his hand and shot him in the back of the head before fleeing the scene.

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Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said Stegall was a good kid who barely knew King.

U.S. Marshals arrested King on Oct. 29, 2025 at home on E. 147th Street in Cleveland.



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Cleveland, OH

Ohio EMA expanding traveler alert system

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Ohio EMA expanding traveler alert system


OHIO — The Ohio Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the National Weather Service offices in Wilmington and Cleveland, is partnering with Lamar Advertising to help expand the Ohio Traveler Alert System to more parts of the state. 


What You Need To Know

  • Ohio EMA said the system will soon include areas of greater Cleveland, Toledo and the Cincinnati Metropolitan area
  • The system first launched in 2024 for parts of Dayton and Columbus
  • The goal is to deliver real-time severe weather alerts to travelers through digital billboards

Ohio EMA said the system will soon include areas of greater Cleveland, Toledo and the Cincinnati Metropolitan area. 

“Severe weather can make driving difficult and dangerous,” said Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. “By expanding the Ohio Traveler Alert System, our goal is to get critical weather alerts to more drivers in real-time.”

The system was launched in 2024 in the areas of Dayton and Columbus. If there’s severe weather, digital billboards display messages alerting travelers about certain conditions, such as high winds, snow squalls, ice and flooding.

“Collaborations like these are the backbone of community safety,” said Sima Merick, Ohio Emergency Management Agency executive director. “When we work together, we strengthen our ability to protect the people we serve. OTAS is a prime example of these partnerships.”

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Ohio EMA said the communication and messaging on billboards is not only an effective way to communicate to Ohio residents but also to travelers who may not be familiar with the area. 



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