The Jets have waived rookie punter T.J. Conley and signed East Stroudsburg product Ken Parrish in his place.
The signing of Parrish - a graduate of East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University who was signed by the Eagles in May, released Aug. 8, and hasn't kicked in an NFL regular-season game - should serve as notice to Hodges, who was cut by the Jets in April and re-signed two weeks later.
Hodges, who had a 55-yard punt Friday, combined with Conley for a 38.3 average. Both pinned a punt inside the 20, but Ryan wants more consistency. "We're going to find a punter," an agitated Ryan said. "If he's here or if he's on somebody else's team, we've got to find a punter."
Disappointing to see the Jets couldn't get more out of Conley, who had a 47.3 average last season at Idaho. He played his home games in a dome in the elevation of the Rocky Mountains, but he did average over 50 yards in two games at sea level last year. Friday night's showing wasn't great. He probably wasn't doing a ton at practice for the Jets to cut him loose after only one subpar night.
We'll see whether Parrish can be the answer. He's never kicked a ball in an NFL game since getting out of school two years ago. He averaged 42 yards per kick as a senior and 43 as a junior, Hodges territory. My guess is the search won't end here.