Jacksonville at New York


Breaking down the Jags and Jets


Focal Point: Receiving tandems


AFC: They meet in passing


Jets take crash course in Playoffs 101


Dozen years make big difference for Jets


Jaguars try to chill out


Jags rush off to New York

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Bryan Cox remembers the July afternoon when he was sweating on a golf course in St. Louis, and his beeper went off.

	Bryan Cox says the Jets offered the ideal situation for him to return to the NFL.

Usually, he would ignore it and continue his game.

"It was a 911 page," he said, "so I knew it was important."

The message was to call New York Jets coach Bill Parcells. At first, Cox was inclined to finish the front nine. Instead, he made the call that would lead him back to the NFL playoffs.

Parcells was eager to replace linebacker Marvin Jones, who had wrecked his knee in practice. And Parcells wanted Cox.

"He was No. 1 player on our short list at any position that we thought could help the team," the coach said.

Cox was reluctant to return to the game. He played poorly for a pitiful Chicago Bears team in 1997. He had been fined enough money by the league, the Bears or the Dolphins (his previous team) to buy a membership at Augusta National. He was soured on the NFL.

"I asked myself, 'Do I want to do this,' " Cox said Wednesday as the Jets prepared for Sunday's playoff game with Jacksonville.

"I had made up my mind I was retiring and it would have to be absolutely the right environment. I could think of a couple of situations that I could work in, but did I want to?"

He certainly didn't need to. Cox has invested his earnings well. He didn't feel any regret about his playing career. He was fine without football.

"I'm financially secure, I attained a lot of things in this league from an individual standpoint," Cox said. "It was not about ego.

"But I also wanted to have no doubts that I'd go out the way I wanted to go out. The only thing I am chasing now is to go out on my terms, not go out on their terms or with them saying, 'We don't want you anymore.'

"That was the biggest thing that brought me back, the bitter taste. I was on a sorry team with a sorry organization, and I wanted to end it on a positive note."

Now, the end isn't so visible. After signing with the Jets for $500,000 for 1998, he renegotiated a two-year deal through 2000 for $2.2 million after becoming a starter.

He's played superbly and been a force in the locker room for the resurgent Jets, who finished 12-4 this season, won the AFC East and allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL, one behind leader Miami.

Cox played a major role.

"He brought a lot to the defense," All-Pro linebacker Mo Lewis said. "I think he is our defensive MVP. He comes from the middle to the (weakside linebacker) and even end and tackle -- all the things they've asked him to do. It's a lot.

"He's vocal, a leader who makes plays and has elevated his game and all of our games."

Having reached all his individual goals as a pro, Cox said there is one thing left.

"The team goal, obviously," he said. "The Super Bowl. The championship. I want to reach the pinnacle as a team."