FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Bart Scott overheard a reporter's question to Marques Douglas regarding the statistic and responded before the defensive end could.

"The numbers don't lie," Scott said.

According to Stats Inc., during the last six seasons (2003-08), in stints with the Ravens, 49ers and again with the Ravens, Douglas ranks third among defensive players in tackles for losses with 41.5. Pat Williams, a defensive tackle with the Bills and Vikings ranks first with 49 and Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is second with 44.5.

The Jets signed the 6-2, 292-pound Douglas as a free agent this offseason, the least heralded of their signings that have ties to the Ravens. That group is led by Scott, of course, and safety Jim Leonhard.

Douglas was an undrafted free agent -- a distinction he shares with Scott -- coming out of Howard in 1999 and signed with the Ravens. He spent 2000 with the Saints before heading back to Baltimore in 2001. After playing sparingly in 2001 and 2002, Douglas broke out in 2003, starting all 16 games and recording 61 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He started 47 of 48 games for the 49ers from 2005-07 before returning to Baltimore in 2008, recording 36 tackles -- 24 solo -- as a backup.

The 32-year-old Douglas knows his career is coming to a close and he wanted nothing more than to finish it with Rex Ryan, the defensive line coach in Baltimore when he had his most productive seasons. Douglas' best year came in 2004 when he had 72 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

"I've known him since I came into the league," Douglas said. "He's always been honest . . . He's not hard to play for. Following him up here to play in New York, I mean that wasn't a hard decision. I know he knows how to use me."

The Jets entered the offseason desperately needing depth on the defensive line and Douglas should provide at least that. He's known for his strength and, as the numbers suggest, his ability to get into the opponents' backfield. Not that too many people other than hardcore fans are aware of it.

"I'm an undrafted free agent who's always overlooked," Douglas said. "But I like to think there's one thing that's universal and that's math. And so you might cheat me out of being 6-2, you might cheat me out of credit, but at the same time you have to look at my stats, and my stats are my stats. Like Bart just said, numbers don't lie. So when it's all said and done, just judge me on that."

Douglas didn't speak angrily or even as if he has a chip on his shoulder -- just with confidence, a trait shared by those Ryan brought with him from Baltimore. Douglas echoed what Scott and Leonhard have said: that players are in for a unique experience.

"Playing in Rex's defense, you better take your book home and study because at any given time you could be playing somebody else's position," Douglas said. "It's definitely a thinking man's defense. But at the same time, it's fun, it's energetic, it's aggressive. It's not the typical stay-in-your-gap-and-hope-somebody-runs-into-you defense. We pursue to the ball. We're going to have fast flowing linebackers and he makes it fun."

 

Source: http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spjets0410,0,3978328.story