Kassell/spencer Story In Todays Newsday

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jet...0,4176084.story

Newsday.com

Jets' Texas twosome go way back together

BY TOM ROCK

tom.rock@newsday.com

September 3, 2007

Everywhere they go, people think Brad Kassell and Cody Spencer are brothers. The close friends certainly act that way. They play the same position, speak with the same Texas twang and look the part, too. Whether in a convenience store or the Jets' locker room, the sibling supposition is strong.

But there's one way to tell them apart. Only one smiles.

"He's more fun-loving and happy guy, and I'm grumpy guy," Kassell said recently. "I probably wouldn't want to be friends with someone like me."

Yet here they are, friends and teammates who can't seem to get rid of each other. It started at the University of North Texas, where Kassell was two years ahead and played inside linebacker while Spencer played beside him at the outside position. After college, they were together with the Titans in 2004 and 2005. Kassell signed with the Jets in the spring of 2006 and Spencer, after being waived by the Titans before the opener, joined the Jets in late September.

"It's been fortunate we've been able to play together as long as we have," Spencer said. "It's been kind of cool to have two players from North Texas getting to play together in two organizations." Added Kassell, "The odds of that are astronomical."

They play mostly special teams, so Spencer and Kassell don't spend much time together playing defense. Spencer carved out a special-teams niche on the Jets last year as a hard hitter. Kassell saw less playing time last year after starting in Tennessee. But their longtime bond helps both, coach Eric Mangini said.

"I think the more that guys like each other, the guys enjoy playing with each other, that's always a positive thing," Mangini said of his Lone Star linebackers.

It's also helped their families adjust to life in New York. Their wives have become close friends and their children - Kassell has two daughters, Spencer has a son - are close in age.

Kassell said the two would have been strong friends even if they never played together in the NFL. But having a teammate who also is a true friend can come in handy. "If you have a bad game, you can kind of clown each other and because we're friends, you don't get --," Kassell said. "You can buoy each others' spirits. It's good to have somebody there who can ... treat you just like when you were a kid and not take everything too seriously."

Spencer joked about not really liking Kassell, giggled about their first meeting ("Nothing I'd like to mention in public," he said mischievously) and scoffed at the idea of being roommates. "We couldn't live together," he said. "It'd be too much trouble."

The stoic Kassell was more straightforward and serious in addressing his relationship with Spencer. "It's like having a family member [on the team] because he's just like my brother," he said. "I don't make too many friends, so when I really have a friend, well, he's one of the few people I trust in the world."

Notes & quotes: The Jets kept eight offensive linemen. They are heavy at cornerback and tight end and could be shopping Andre Dyson or Sean Ryan in a trade for a starting guard. They could be willing to part with Justin Miller, especially considering his off-the-field legal troubles this summer and the development of Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith and Leon Washington as able returners ... The Patriots will be without Rodney Harrison (suspended) and Richard Seymour (reserve/physically unable to perform list).

Sunday

Patriots

at Jets

1 p.m.

TV: Ch. 2

Radio: WEPN (1050)