TE Ben Hartsock (New York Jets)

[Buckskin86]

Chillicothe native Hartsock released by Atlanta Falcons
ChillicotheGazette.com staff reports ? September 2, 2009

Former Unioto and Ohio State tight end Ben Hartsock was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

But he might not be out of work for long.

The 29-year-old Chillicothe native, in his sixth season of pro football, may be signed as early as today by the New York Jets.

Predominantly used as a blocker, Hartsock caught three passes for 26 yards last season for Atlanta. He also has played for Indianapolis, who drafted him in the third round in 2004, and Tennessee.

In his career, Hartsock has caught 27 passes for 273 yards (10.1 yards per catch).

Chillicothe native Hartsock released by Atlanta Falcons | chillicothegazette.com | Chillicothe Gazette

[Buckskin86]

Wilson: Jets sign Ben Hartsock
Veteran tight end joins Jets
Aaron Wilson
September 02, 2009

The New York Jets signed veteran tight end Ben Hartsock today.

Hartsock has previous stints with the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts.

Drafted in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Colts, Hartsock played collegiately at Ohio State

With the Colts, he played a reserve role behind Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark.

Hartsock was cut last September by the Falcons.

Wilson: Jets sign Ben Hartsock | National Football Post

NY Jets sign tight end Ben Hartsock
by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
Wednesday September 02, 2009


Associated Press
Ben Hartsock, right, was released by the Falcons earlier this summer, and scooped up Wednesday by the Jets, who were in need of depth at tight end.

The Jets, who have been searching for a blocking tight end, have signed veteran Ben Hartsock, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to announce the deal.

Hartsock, a sixth-year pro, signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million and appears to figure prominently into the Jets' plans. He spent the last season with the Falcons and was recently released. The Jets were among more than a half dozen teams to show interest in him.

The 6-4, 264-pound Hartsock will be the Jets' second tight end behind starter Dustin Keller, who is primarily a receiver. The Jets had been using tackle Wayne Hunter as their second tight end and will likely continue to use him in that role at times, especially near the goal line.

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/200..._hartsock.html

Jets ink TE Ben Hartsock
By Roderick Boone

Might not quite be the move Jets fans have been angling for (see post below), but the team has apparently signed TE Ben Hartsock, who was released by the Falcons yesterday as teams cut their rosters down to 75 players.

The Jets have been searching for an established blocking tight end and have been using sixth-year reserve offensive lineman Wayne Hunter as an extra blocker. Hunter has also displayed great hands for someone who's 6-5, 303 pounds and the Jets have been practicing the tackle eligible play with him.

However the signing of Hartsock, a blocking tight end who caught only three passes last season and has just 27 receptions in his six-year career, might change all that. Hartsock, who's played for the Titans and Colts, was a part of the Falcons' 2008 free agent signing class. He had inked a four-year, $9 million deal with $2.25 million guaranteed.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/footba...sock-1.1417001

[Buckskin86]

GOTTA HAVE HART: Recently-signed TE Ben Hartsock, who didn't arrive until last Wednesday, is expected to play a significant role Sunday against the Texans. He probably will be used in two-TE packages with Dustin Keller.

Read more: Vernon Gholston to get start for Jets at Houston in Calvin Pace's absence

[TheStoicPaisano]

Nice hookup with Sanchez for the score.

[Buckskin86]

TE Ben Hartsock had never caught a touchdown pass -- until yesterday. Primarily a blocker throughout his career, the sixth-year pro got something to put in his trophy case and took the ball home tonight.

"My career has been full of so many milestones," Hartsock said. "To make it to Ohio State, to winning a national championship, to getting drafted in the NFL, now to be one of the select few to catch a touchdown in the NFL. There's not too many chapters in that book, so it took me a little while to get it. But I'm thankful to have the opportunity and it's something they'll keep in the record book forever."

The play worked brilliantly.

On second-and-goal from the Titans? 2 in the first quarter, the Jets went with offensive lineman Wayne Hunter and Robert Turner as tackle eligibles, making it seem like it was going to be a running play. Hartsock snuck into the end zone on Sanchez?s play action and easily caught the TD.

"It was me or nothing," he said of the options on the play. "So we had worked on it during the week and we knew with their aggressive backfield that they were going to try to come up and stop the run because we run the ball so well. I knew I was going to have the opportunity when the play was called, but I really knew it was going to work at the snap of the ball and I saw all of their guys come up and rush the line of scrimmage. I said, 'Look, just catch it and you're going to get one here.' "

http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/...s=+Mark+Bulger

[Buckskin86]

Reporters' blog ?
For NY Jets blocking tight end Ben Hartsock, a long awaited trip to the end zone
By Dave Hutchinson/The Star Ledger
September 29, 2009, 12:17PM


Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger
Jets tight end Ben Hartsock hauls in his first career touchdown catch, on a goal-line pass from quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Jets tight end Ben Hartsock knows who he is. He's a blocker first, second and third.

But on Sunday, Hartsock, in his sixth season, finally experienced how the other half lives when he caught his first career touchdown, a two-yarder from rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez on a perfectly executed play-action fake, in the Jets' 24-17 victory over the Titans at Giants Stadium.

"It's been a dry spell but I wasn't brought into this league to necessarily do that," said a smiling Hartsock on Monday. "I'm glad to have had the opportunity, though. I jokingly tell my family and friends that I've cracked the seal now and now they (the touchdowns) are going to come in bunches."

Hartsock's Kodak moment came in the first quarter. On the second-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the play came in from the sidelines and his heart skipped a beat.

"We knew coming into the game that with their aggressive style that would be a good play," said Hartsock, who entered the game with 27 catches for 273 yards in 56 career games. "When the play came into the huddle, I knew the ball was either coming my way or it wasn't going anywhere.

"At the snap of the ball, I saw how the defense reacted (the linebacker over him immediately went into run mode) and I knew immediately, even before the ball was in the air that, 'Okay, it's going to work, just catch it.' And I was able to bring it in."


Al Bello/Getty
Jets tight end Ben Hartsock jumps up to celebrate his first career touchdown Sunday against the Titans.

Hartsock, however, didn't have a touchdown dance at the ready. In fact, he was surprisingly calm in the end zone, acting as though he had actually been there before. In what passed for a celebration, he jumped up and down several times.

"The guys laughed at me a little bit," said Hartsock, who signed with the Jets earlier this month after being unexpectedly released by the Falcons. "I hopped around and did a little celebration. But you try not to make a big scene -- and I'm not much of a dancer anyhow."

For NY Jets blocking tight end Ben Hartsock, a long awaited trip to the end zone | New York Jets - - NJ.com

[Buckskin86]

BRIEFS: Ryan was critical of blocking tight end Ben Hartsock, who was twice called for illegal shift penalties on two-point conversion tries. One infraction nullified a successful conversion on a pass from Sanchez to Wallace Wright. That two-pointer would?ve cut the Jets? deficit to 30-27 in the fourth quarter.

He noted that Hartsock has committed similar penalties in practice.

"We took him out and had him run laps," Ryan said, "and then he does the same thing in the game. I?m not picking on Ben. ... There have been others."

The Jets committed six penalties for 40 yards against the Dolphins. Ryan said it was a "possibility" that he would bench Hartsock.

NorthJersey.com: Midseason break for Jets