Jets end morning practice after 70 minutes due to lightning warning

Lightning causes Jets to cut practice short

CORTLAND, N.Y. — The New York Jets got some hard-hitting, goal-line practice in Thursday morning.

Then, the heavy rains came and the session was cut short after 70 minutes because of a lightning warning.

“That’s not bad weather,” defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said, smiling. “It’s football weather.”

The players worked through a drenching rain for most of practice before warning sirens wailed around the SUNY Cortland campus. Coach Rex Ryan ended things shortly after fans and media — along with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath in attendance — were told to leave the field.

“We hadn’t really counted on this,” a rain-soaked Ryan said. “But, it’s a great opportunity to be able to throw a wet football.”

The skies had cleared by the afternoon, and the team was holding its special teams practice.

While All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis missed his fourth straight day of practice because of a contract dispute, it was Jenkins’ first time in full pads since training camp began. He got on the field for some snaps Wednesday after starting camp on the active-physically unable to perform list.

Jenkins missed much of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and had a graft from the hamstring used to repair it. Despite the wet conditions, Jenkins had no reservations about being out there.

“The water was actually good for me,” he said. “It softens the grass up. For heavy guys, it makes it easier on our shins. Plus, if the grass gives, it’s harder for me to get hurt with the slipping.”

Before the heaviest rains came, NFL Films unveiled its “Chopper Cam” while filming HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” It’s a 25-pound remote-controlled mini-helicopter that’s mounted with an HD camera. The “Chopper Cam” is battery-powered, can fly up to 90 mph and can stay in the air for up to five hours.

“As it was flying around, I’m like, ‘Give me a football,’” Ryan said, drawing laughs. “That’s the first thing you want to do is see if you can knock it down, but I’m not so sure about that.”