his season. ... The Coyotes visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday

FLORHAM PARK, N. Luis Torrens Jersey .J. -- Geno Smith is unfazed by it all. The presence of Michael Vick doesnt shake his confidence. Neither does his not-so-solid hold on the New York Jets quarterback job. Not even his uncertain status as the future of the franchise. Its all talk, as far as Smith is concerned. More like white noise he can easily tune out. Smith believes in himself. Always has. And now, his teammates are also starting to buy in as well. "Hes taken a quarterback role, hes taken a leadership role and hes always growing," wide receiver Eric Decker said after the Jets first minicamp practice Tuesday. "Hes always maturing, hes always getting better at what he does and hes got a future in the NFL." Smith has transformed from wide-eyed rookie to respected leader in a span of a few months. The second-year quarterback entered minicamp as the starter, ahead of Vick, and Smith intends to keep his spot on the Jets depth chart. "Really, Im a sponge," Smith said. "Im learning as much as I can. Im learning on the fly. Im learning every single day. I just soak it up and continue to work hard." An up-and-down rookie season ended on a positive note for Smith, with three wins in the final four games and the Jets finishing a respectable 8-8. "Really, for me, its just about continuing to stay grounded," he said. "This team has a long way to go and were still working extremely hard to try to reach our ultimate goal." Even as some Jets players have acknowledged being a bit star-struck by Vick, Smith has managed to gain the trust of his teammates -- in the huddle and outside of it. No, there havent been any games. And, no, Smiths body of work doesnt compare to Vicks career. But Smith has taken charge of his situation this off-season, pulling teammates aside on the field to go over plays and studying more film than ever before. When the Jets signed Decker in April, Smith sought out general manager John Idzik to get his new wide receivers phone number so he could welcome him to the team. "I always see myself as a leader and thats in life, in any aspect of my life," Smith said. "Being in this locker room, Ive just continued to be myself and guys gravitate to me because I have just a natural leadership ability, leadership qualities, and thats a part of the reason why Im here in the first place. I just try to continue to push the guys." And make no mistake about it: Smith is pushing himself, too. He knows that last seasons 21 interceptions against 12 touchdowns is no good. He has been working with offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach David Lee to improve on his footwork, and going over the playbook in his mind constantly. He is also noticeably bigger physically, the result of increased work in the weight room. "When it comes to being on the field, I just want perfection," Smith said. "I try and chase perfection. I try and be the best I can be at every single practice, every single rep. I think thats what guys are seeing the most." That includes coach Rex Ryan, who was encouraged by Smiths finish last season and has liked what he has seen from him as he tries to build off that. "He knows this offence forward and backward," Ryan said. "And, I think were going to see some great things from him." The Jets have acknowledged that both Smith and Vick are competing for the starting job, but Smith clearly has an edge going in. That could certainly change, especially if Smith falters and Vick thrives in Mornhinwegs system as he did in Philadelphia. Smith isnt planning on that, of course. He also doesnt believe he needed Vick with New York to push him, calling himself a "self-starter." But having Vick around could play an important role in Smith taking that next step as an NFL quarterback -- and a leader of a franchise. "I think G is a great listener, first and foremost," Vick said. "I think any key to success in this sport at our position, you have to have the ability to listen. "I think Geno wants to learn. He wants to be better." NOTES: RB Chris Johnson, rehabilitating a surgically repaired left knee, participated in individual drills, but will not take part in 11-on-11 team periods during minicamp. The Jets are being cautious with Johnson, who signed with New York in April. ... G Willie Colon, recovering from off-season knee surgery, said hes feeling good and fully intends to be ready for training camp. ... The Jets had six players in for tryouts: Punters Drew Butler and Jacob Schum, kickers Andrew Furney and Carson Wiggs, and offensive linemen Bruce Campbell and Ray Dominguez. Butler is the son of former Bears kicker Kevin Butler and spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Eric Hosmer Jersey . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Habs at 7:30pm et/8:30pm at. Luis Urias Jersey . The game was the first of two international friendlies that Canada is playing during the international break, with the second game against Slovenia set for Tuesday in Celje. Canada looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the game, and every free kick that came into Canadas penalty box looked like ending up in the back of the net. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/1273m-steve-garvey-jersey-padres.html . -- LeGarrette Blount made one last big splash into a soggy end zone.TORONTO - Jonathan Bernier lost sight of a harmless shot Oliver Ekman-Larsson let fly from the neutral zone and missed another that Martin Hanzal banked off his back from the goal-line. With that, the Toronto Maple Leafs chances of ending their losing streak faded away.Bernier allowed two soft goals, including a potentially unforgettable floater from beyond the red-line, as the Leafs lost their eighth straight game, 3-1 to the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night at Air Canada Centre.Both goals I think were bad goals, one from the goal-line, one from their blue-line, interim coach Peter Horachek said. You dont try to understand it totally. I think he rebounded right back and played decently after that, but I dont really know how to explain it.Bernier was strong for the games first 40 minutes and finished with 42 saves on 45 shots. But Ekman-Larssons fluky short-handed goal five seconds into the third period derailed him.Leafs fans who watched their team fall to 0-7-1 in the past eight games wasted little time jeering Bernier for his mistake. He was on the receiving end of Bronx cheers for stopping an innocent clear not long after Ekman-Larssons 100-plus-foot lob beat him.Its tough to stay in, especially when I thought I was playing pretty good and the fans get on you, Bernier said. It gets frustrating, but Ive got to be stronger mentally and stay in it.The Leafs wouldnt have led going into the third period had it not been for Bernier, who made a crucial right-pad save on Hanzal in the second to make Phil Kessels first even-strength goal since Dec. 16 stand up.He played real good tonight, so its not his fault at all, said Kessel, whose goal was his 20th of the season. He made some great saves in there.But when Bernier lost the puck in the stands on Ekman-Larssons 100-plus-foot goal, it deflated a team that was looking for any kind of positivity.Youve got to say, Thats his job and hes got to have that, and Im sure he wishes he could have it back and usuallly does, Horachek said. Eric Show Jersey. Youve got to row with that and move on.Ekman-Larssons goal was the fastest short-handed goal to start a period in NHL history. It also tied the fastest of any kind to start a period in Coyotes franchise history, matching Doug Smail of the first Winnipeg Jets in 1981.We planned that all the way, Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said with a smile. When you get a break like that, its good to take advantage of it.The all-star defenceman said he had never scored a goal like that but added theres a first time for everything.As much as Bernier giving up that goal was shades of Vesa Toskala, the real back-breaker came 3:42 later when Hanzal beat him by shooting off the 5 on the back of his sweater to give Arizona (17-25-6) the lead. The Leafs (22-24-4) couldnt bounce back to score again, and then Sam Gagner scored on a deflection at 16:30 to seal the end of the Coyotes skid at seven games.Its about time we got a bounce, said goaltender Mike Smith, who stopped 24 of 25 shots for the victory. I thought we did a lot of good things and got rewarded for it.The Leafs fell to 0-7-1 in their past eight games and 1-8-1 since Horachek took over for Randy Carlyle. Theyve scored just 15 goals in those 10 games.Were finding ways not to win, Horachek said. Weve got to find ways to win now.Their next challenge is trying to bounce back Saturday at the Philadelphia Flyers.You deal with these negative things like having those couple fluky goals go in, and youve got to move on to the next day, Horachek said. Its got to be a whole new day because you cant put your best foot forward if youre pouting or feeling sorry for yourself or making excuses. Youve just got to go back to work.Notes — Joffrey Lupul played just over 10 minutes in his first game back from missing 11 with a lower-body injury. ... Arizonas 45 shots were its most this season. ... The Coyotes visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '