Following two seasons without a winning record or playoff appearance, Jets head coach Rex Ryan would seem to be on the proverbial coaching hot seat. But hot seat or not, Ryan is still one of the biggest selling points of the franchise.

Inserted into the mix this offseason is his complete opposite — buttoned-up new general manager John Idzik. But the man who could fire Ryan has instead partnered up with him to form the “Odd Couple” of the NFL.

“He’s been fantastic. From Day 1, I kind of jumped in midstride, we started hiring coaches together, interviewing and hiring coaches together, going through free agency, evaluating our roster, the draft, post-draft signings, minicamp and now we’re getting into more football type things,” Idzik said.

“In a very condensed period of time, we’ve had varied experiences together and it’s all been good. He’s a joy to work with. Moreover, he makes it fun. I think he’s been energized; he’s a great teacher. My observation is that he has been energized by the whole thing. Certainly I’ve been too. He’s a joy to work with.”

Ryan enters his fifth year in New York with a career regular-season record of 34-30. But it was the first two years where he made the playoffs and posted a cumulative playoff mark of 4-2 that Ryan has earned the lion’s share of his reputation as a great NFL head coach. His honeymoon with the media has worn off, as has the love affair he once had with the team’s jaded fan base. A losing record this year, even as the team is rebuilding, might be enough to send him out the door.

A source within the organization tells Metro, “Rex has bought into Idzik. Whatever direction John came in with, Rex was more than eager to complement.”

The all-in approach from Ryan might be as much about job security as it is about a change of direction. The Jets underwhelmed the past two seasons with aging stars. But Idzik has come in and sliced his way through the roster, adding a mix of underappreciated talent and proven veterans to the locker room.

Ryan remains one of the biggest selling points on this team and Idzik likely knows it. With a reputation as a player’s coach, free agents have traditionally flocked to Florham Park, N.J. to play for the affable head coach.

Dawan Landry played for Ryan when he was a defensive coordinator in Baltimore before coming to New York. His brother, LaRon Landry, started at safety for the Jets last year and he told Metro at the start of organized team activities (OTAs) in May that Ryan was a big part of his coming to the Jets.

“I was the one who told [LaRon] about Rex when he was thinking about coming here. He just makes it fun and he’s a great coach,” Dawan Landry said. “But he also knows his defense and he knows how to play the game of football. So when you have a coach like that, who can really coach but does it a way that you want to play for him, it was a no-brainer for me to come here.”

The NFL makes strange bedfellows and the Idzik-Ryan combo certainly qualifies.

Idzik is pragmatic and thorough, providing a counterweight to his emotional head coach. Idzik’s fresh approach is working with free agents. Among those convinced was Willie Colon, a Bronx native who signed with the Jets this offseason.

“This team has always had a reputation of kind of being a circus. I didn’t buy into that,” Colon told Metro. “You can always change your stars, I believe that. I felt that if I came here, I could help with that.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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In a move that surprised no one, the Jets announced Friday afternoon tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. signed a deal with the team. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but it was reportedly a one-year deal.

A former first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Winslow Jr. joins a gaggle of tight ends on the Jets who collectively lack star power and experience.

The Jets carry over three tight ends from last year’s squad in Jeff Cumberland, Konrad Reuland and Hayden Smith, who combine for seven years of experience and a career total of 44 receptions. The team failed to replace Dustin Keller, who departed to Miami via free agency, through the draft or free agency up until the move to sign Winslow Jr. on Friday.

Winslow Jr. is entering his ninth year in the league and has a career total of 438 receptions. He missed the 2005 season due to complications from a motorcycle accident and played just one game last year in New England before asking for his release.

He was invited to minicamp this past week as a tryout player and impressed with good footwork and solid hands.

The potential is there for this to be the perfect match for Winslow Jr. When healthy, Winslow Jr. has always been an impact player. In his last full season in 2011, Winslow Jr. caught 75 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns in Tampa Bay.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

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When Jets general manager John Idzik took the job in January, he stood at the podium and spoke about a new direction for the beleaguered franchise. Turns out, it is easier said than done.

Two of Idzik’s first signings have done nothing to change the perception of a team known for bad decisions and bad choices. There was quarterback David Garrard, signed to provide quarterback competition with Mark Sanchez, who had to retire in mid-May following continued pain in his knee. Then there was the arrest of running back Mike Goodson a couple weeks ago and the subsequent handgun and narcotic charges, which has led to court appearances affecting his presence at offseason team activities.

From the outside, it looks like more bad moves from a team plagued with plenty of head scratchers over the years. Idzik seems unfazed.

“From the inside we have a lot more information and we’ll continue to gather that information and some of those things will work out. You keep pushing, you keep prodding, you keep exploring for any opportunity you get to improve the club,” Idzik said Thursday. “If that means signing a player the quality of David Garrard’s ilk and bringing him in and giving a chance, and it’s a good chance for us, we’re going to take it and see where it leads.”

As part of the task to reshape a team that was 6-10 last season and has missed the playoffs the last two years, Idzik has preached competition. Signing Garrard and Goodson were part of that plan and the separate failures of both players — although Goodson’s legal issues are not yet settled — hasn’t made the new general manager trigger shy.

Idzik refused to comment specifically on Goodson’s future with the Jets, only saying, “Mike Goodson’s a New York Jet. We’re continuing to develop him like all the others.”

“We’re not going to comment to anything specific on any player. Generally speaking, we do our homework. We do our homework with respect to medical concerns, we do our homework with respect to background checks and all that,” Idzik said. “We’re in a human business so when you’re dealing with that, you’re dealing with unpredictability. There’s always going to be a certain degree of risk or unpredictability.”

The issue with Goodson is one thing, but Garrard is another issue and one that showed the frailty of dealing in a business with human bodies.

Garrard hadn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2010 due to a knee injury. He went through a workout with the Jets this offseason and impressed enough to earn a contract to compete at the quarterback position.

Idzik felt comfortable enough with the information they had on Garrard to go forward with the signing.

“I didn’t sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night so I won’t pretend to be a doctor,” Idzik said. “Seriously, we obviously do our homework. Generally speaking, we’ll go through the [medical reports]; we’ll go through the durability type concerns. We’ll go through everything. So yeah, we had a pretty thorough [understanding] of what was going on.”

Jets notes …

» Joe McKnight, who rolled his ankle on Wednesday during a special teams drill, was a full-go in the final minicamp session on Thursday.

» After a strong offseason including a good minicamp this week, cornerback Antonio Cromartie was excused on Thursday to attend to a personal issue.

» When he spoke to the media on Wednesday, wide receiver Santonio Holmes was mum on the timetable for his recovery. Head coach Rex Ryan sounded both optimistic and cautious.

“I know Tone expects to be back by training camp,” Ryan said. “But we’re not going to put him out there to make a deadline.”

» Entering his fourth year in the league, the Jets are expecting former first-round pick Kyle Wilson to take a step forward this year and Ryan has liked what he has seen so far.

“I will say this about Kyle, this is the best camp he’s had and it’s not even close,” Ryan said.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

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Having lost Dustin Keller this offseason via free agency, the Jets have an unproven group of tight ends, which is why the team is now taking a look at Kellen Winslow Jr. during this week’s minicamp. Based off what he has shown this week, a contract offer should be forthcoming.

Brought in as a tryout player, Winslow Jr. is set to enter his ninth year in the league with something to prove. He played just one game last year with the Patriots, asking for his release in late September. Now a free agent, the Jets could present him a tremendous opportunity to not only make an NFL roster but also win a starting job.

During the first two days of minicamp, Winslow Jr. looked good though not surprisingly a bit slow as he has not participated in an NFL offseason conditioning program.

“It was good I think. They wanted to see how I look, how I’m feeling. They wanted to take a look at me. My job is to impress them,” Winslow Jr. said. “I felt good, I give myself a B, maybe a B-minus.”

The son of Kellen Winslow, a Hall of Fame tight end with the Chargers, Winslow Jr. will forever be linked with a 2005 motorcycle accident during the offseason where he tore his ACL and suffered a subsequent staph infection. He recovered from that injury to become one of the league’s better tight ends, as evidenced by an appearance in the Pro Bowl in 2007. But now he is out of work and looking for the Jets to be that kick start to his career.

Winslow took and passed a team physical Thursday morning, setting him up to be officially signed.

Now to stay in shape this offseason, Winslow Jr. has taken up a different type of biking — the kind that involves pedaling and not revving up the engine. He says pedaling his way through the San Diego area has helped keep him in shape while waiting for a call from an NFL team.

He could see himself pursuing the sport seriously when his playing career is over, maybe even at the professional level.

“Definitely, I think that’s what I want to do when I’m done,” Winslow Jr. said, indicating that maybe track cycling would be a good fit for someone with his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame.

“Maybe Velodrome. Cyclists weigh something like 150 pounds, 160 pounds at most. I’m at 240 pounds. I think Velodrome is more realistic. It keeps you fit. It is a challenge. I love it.”

But before he puts on the tight cyclist shorts for good, he still appears to have plenty of football left in him. Tuesday’s opening day of minicamp showed a player who, conditioning wise, was behind the rest of the players on the field. But in terms of skill and overall ability, he looked right there and could be an impact player if the Jets chose to sign him. Wednesday he was solid again, showing good hands on a day where the receivers struggled to hold onto the ball. Thursday was no different.

His feet are still quick and his hands hold onto the ball, making him an intriguing option as the Jets move forward with minicamp.

Head coach Rex Ryan teased that in terms of blocking, Winslow Jr. isn’t a “hired killer” but he still thinks the veteran can add something to this inexperienced group of tight ends.

“The one thing that jumps out at you is his skill and athleticism,” Ryan said. “He still has that.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Santonio Holmes’ nine-month recovery from a Lisfranc injury doesn’t seem to be nearing a conclusion anytime soon.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Holmes indicated he may not be ready for training camp in late July, possibly a big blow for a receiving corps plagued by drops during this week’s minicamp. With training camp six weeks away, Holmes is not participating in the offseason workouts beyond rehab work. He said he plans to stay and continue his rehab at the team’s facility after minicamp concludes on Thursday.

“I know Tone expects to be back by training camp,” head coach Rex Ryan said Thursday. “But we’re not going to put him out there to make a deadline.”

Holmes said what he’s taken from this injury is just how special an athlete’s life is and how unique of a job it is to be a football player.

“I definitely learned what we do for a living cannot be compared to anybody else’s job or to anybody just thinking that they can do what we do. Because we put so much emphasis and stress upon our bodies to train throughout the offseason, to come into minicamps and OTAs to prepare and then we get a six-week break to continue training,” Holmes said. “Then you go into training camp to continue training and then you’ve got a season for six months to play football and you constantly do that year in and year out. It’s very stressful to have to go through that.”

But Holmes is confident he will bounce back and be a playmaker again. Before the Week 4 injury last year, Holmes was on pace to top 1,000 yards for just the second time in his career.

Much has been made of Holmes supposedly having a contentious relationship with quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is currently in a competition with rookie Geno Smith for the starting position. Despite what has been construed by the media as a strained relationship in the past, Holmes said that Sanchez is “going to be our guy.”

“I think everybody believes in him. He wouldn’t be here if anybody didn’t believe in him,” Holmes said. “He’s still wearing the same [No.] 6 jersey that he’s worn since the day he got drafted here and I think the organization and even the team loves him and we’re going to continue supporting him.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The back end of the Jets defense just learned each other’s names a few weeks ago. They’re going to get a lot closer a lot faster over the next couple weeks.

The Jets secondary last year and this year looks nothing like each other. This offseason, the team traded star cornerback Darrelle Revis and it declined to bring back the Top-3 safeties from last year’s team, meaning the secondary is not only younger but also hasn’t worked together. To solve this problem, cornerback Antonio Cromartie is hosting several members of the unit in California over the next few weeks. The workouts will take the unit from the end of minicamp through training camp in late July.

The players will live and train together, hopefully accelerating their understanding on and off the field.

“Josh Bush and those guys came to me and said, ‘Hey, look, everybody is saying you’re in the best shape so we’re coming out there with you,’” Cromartie said.

Cromartie will have his personal trainer there to run the conditioning and the schedule has already been set for a month now. Monday will be the endurance session, including workouts such as pulling sleds and flipping tires. Tuesday is slotted for agility and field work day. Wednesday combines boxing with yoga. Thursday is on the field and Friday is running in the mountains or canyons of California.

The unit is hoping to build a camaraderie that can help them jell in training camp a month later. Part of that will be establishing leaders among the group.

Second-year safety Josh Bush has stepped up as one of those players. Bush played in all 16 games last season but made just 11 tackles. Those are not exactly the kind of numbers that point toward a starting role, let alone the making of a leader on the defense. But through the first two days of minicamp, Bush has been running with the first team and has been active in calling out the coverages.

“Last year I was getting reps with the first team too. Guys like Eric Smith, LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell had me out there learning because they said someday I’d be in that role,” Bush said. “I remember Eric Smith telling me that one day, that I’d have to be in his shoes and teach the younger guys. Eric played everything; he was the guy you wanted to ask if you had a question on the defense. He told me I needed to be that guy someday.”

Bush said that it was defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman who recommended he work out with Cromartie this offseason to get ready for training camp.

The final headcount for Cromartie’s camp is unknown but the secondary is buzzing about the workouts and the chance to get to learn the defense better. Wide receiver Stephen Hill is expected to join the unit to get some work in against the group.

The camp won’t be as high profile as the Jets West event run by quarterback Mark Sanchez but the mindset is clear cut.

“Team unity, working together, competing and just being together, that’s what it is all about,” cornerback Kyle Wilson said. “It’s really simple, to just be putting in that work before the start of training camp.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates throughout team minicamp.

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While he has only shown flashes of talent through the first two days of Jets minicamp, the team is still open to giving quarterback Geno Smith a role on offense.

On Wednesday, head coach Rex Ryan admitted that last year’s experiment with Tim Tebow didn’t work out but even with that failure in mind, the Jets could be prepared to give their rookie quarterback a role in the offense even if he doesn’t win the starting job. Smith, who was praised by both Ryan and quarterback coach David Lee for his quick feet and overall speed, could feature in a package designed to highlight his abilities.

The Jets won’t let the failure with Tebow a year ago mess with any plans they might have for Smith.

“I know what everybody’s thinking if we did that, ‘Oh, didn’t we try that last year?’ Again, certainly that’s a possibility,” Ryan said. “To probably make assumptions now probably isn’t the thing to do but we will let this thing work out and pan out and we’ll see.”

Ryan noted during his Wednesday press conference that last year during their Week 4 blowout loss to the 49ers, the Jets defense was unprepared for Colin Kaepernick. In that game, Kaepernick carried the ball five times for 50 yards and a touchdown. A similar role could be feasible for Smith, who worked primarily out of the shotgun in college and does like to throw on the run.

As far as winning the starting job, it might be a bridge too far right now for Smith. Along those lines, Lee called it an “open, even competition” between Smith and incumbent starter Mark Sanchez but it was clear on Wednesday that Sanchez is making the smarter throws and understands the offense better than the rookie.

Of course, Ryan didn’t squash the idea that the Jets could utilize a version of the Pistol offense or the read-option as a wrinkle in their game-day installation. But right now, Smith has bigger issues to deal with than worrying about carving out a niche for himself.

He continues to struggle in reading defenses and in his ball placement, meaning it is likely too soon for him to begin considering any role other than getting up to speed.

“Each player has his own situation. Right now my current situation is to compete and try to win the starting job,” Smith said. “If that day comes, whatever happens, I can’t speak in hypothetical terms, I can only talk about the present and my job here and now is to compete.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates and photos throughout minicamp.

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The Jets received some welcome news on Tuesday with the return of wide receiver Stephen Hill to the practice field. Hill had been held back during the latter part of organized team activities (OTAs) with a knee injury.

During OTAs, Hill dove for a pass and landed the wrong way, injuring his knee. He told Metro fluid built up in the knee had to be drained, along with subsequent rehab. The injury didn’t bother him much on Tuesday, as he looked sharp and active, making catches and participating in team drills.

“It feels good. It was a lot of swelling but feels good now,” Hill said.

He expects to be out on the field Wednesday for the middle day of minicamp as well.

“I don’t think it’s going to be bad. I didn’t feel anything wrong with it,” Hill said. “We didn’t tape it up to the point where we were preventing anything, just making sure everything is good.”

Hill, a second-round pick in last year’s NFL Draft who was viewed as a project, was more refined in the first day of minicamp than at any point last year. His route running has improved and he is getting off the line better. Hill was was in the option offense at Georgia Tech and utilized more for his blocking than his pass-catching ability. Now he is trying to be a better and more well-rounded wide receiver.

During his rookie year, he struggled in the finer points of being a receiver and was much-maligned for bad drops at key points.  He played in 11 games and had just 21 receptions. He never developed into the red-zone threat the Jets envisioned, with just three touchdown catches.

His offseason was spent getting healthy but also working on the finer points of his game.

“[I am] making sure I’m paying attention to detail when I have a lot of pressure. Other than that, I’m still working on it. Still have a lot to learn,” Hill said. “More polished? Now from last year, yes, but overall? I’m definitely not polished overall.”

He also wasn’t ready to pan the quarterback rotation for the struggle of the receivers to make plays in OTAs and now minicamp. The Jets return a starter in Mark Sanchez who has struggled much of the past two seasons and a rookie in Geno Smith who is learning a new offense.

Hill was unwilling to make excuses for a group of receivers who have failed to consistently make big plays so far this offseason.

“We got to work on ourselves as receivers first before we talk about anything about quarterbacks — making sure we’re in our right spot, making sure we’re getting off the jams and running the correct route and knowing the plays,” Hill said. “Other than that, we can’t say anything about knowing the quarterback. We’ll get that down pat during training camp.”

Jets notes …

» Wide receiver Santonio Holmes did not participate in minicamp and doesn’t look like he will be ready until training camp. Wide receiver Clyde Gates was held back with a hamstring injury.

» Linebacker Garrett McIntyre participated in Tuesday’s minicamp after walking off the field last week with an injury.

» Head coach Rex Ryan was very high on Jeff Cumberland, who is atop the roster of a very thin group of tight ends. Cumberland is entering his fourth year in the NFL and has the inside track on the starting role.

“Jeff Cumberland, I think, is a big, fast guy [who] I think has improved over the years. I think he has really improved. I’ll be excited to see how he progresses,” Ryan said.

Cumberland, known as a pass-catching tight end, has worked on his blocking this offseason to become more versatile.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates and photos from minicamp.

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Three weeks ago, Mark Sanchez fielded questions after organized team activities wearing a headband, creating a stir and a fair amount of mocking from websites such as Deadspin.com.

Now, center Nick Mangold is showing solidarity with Sanchez’s fashion faux pas by sporting a headband of his own. Addressing the media on Tuesday following the first day of minicamp, Mangold touched on a handful of football-related topics including the recent signing of former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow with the Patriots.

But mainly, it was the headband that created most of the stir, which prompted Mangold to say, “If it is good for your feet it is good for your head.”

“You know it is obviously something that is worthy of questions and most notably discussion on the topic of headwear,” Mangold said when Metro asked him about the headband. “I figured it was just a good message to put out there to make sure that it doesn’t matter what is on top of the head.”

Mangold is always one to poke fun of himself or his teammates, such as he did last year when Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones tweeted about having a crush on Tebow. During minicamp, Mangold showed up wearing a T-shirt with a message for Jones that included her Twitter handle.

As far as the headband goes, Mangold said he did not discuss the fashion statement with Sanchez before making the decision.

“I didn’t feel that we needed a discussion on it just as I don’t discuss what button down you’re wearing tomorrow with your suit. It doesn’t need to be called out. I went with it,” Mangold said. “I went with the white Under Armour because I think Under Armour has the best products out there. God willing, it will become a staple of our attire.”

Ironically, Mangold was wearing a Nike Jets T-shirt at the time of his statement.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer. Further headband discussion will be kept to a minimum.

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News that Tim Tebow — former Jets backup quarterback, former personal punt protector and former distraction — was headed to Foxboro to sign with the Patriots was greeted by his old team with praise for the quarterback’s work ethic and character but little else.

Head coach Rex Ryan had nothing but positives to say about a player who had a minimal impact on the field last year but created a firestorm off of it.

Ryan poked a bit of fun at the move, as Tebow is not guaranteed to make the New England roster beyond this week’s minicamp and he could well start the season behind future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett on the depth chart.

“If they want to replace him with Brady, that’s fine,” Ryan said.

Tebow came to the Jets last year in a March trade with the Broncos and his new team promised to utilize him in a variety of ways. But he produced little on the field. He threw just eight passes last year and was never on the field as the quarterback in their conventional offense. It was thought that the Jets’ utilization of him last year — or lack thereof — might damage his prospects of signing with another team after he was released shortly after the NFL Draft this past April.

Reports even indicated that his management were prepared for him to never play in the NFL again. His former coach isn’t surprised Tebow got picked up by another team.

“It’s not surprising to me that Tim got picked up. Obviously as I’ve said before, a tremendous young man, very competitive,” Ryan said. “I’m happy for him. I look forward to competing against him.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates and photos throughout minicamp this week.

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There is no reason to believe that Tim Tebow will not be a success in New England, not with head coach Bill Belichick to help him realize his potential. The same could never be said of his season here in New York with the Jets.

Yesterday’s news that Tebow is set to become a Patriot is the best thing to happen to the former Florida Gator, Bronco and Jet for his hopes of being an NFL quarterback. The Patriots, who are already sewing “2013” onto an AFC East title banner, don’t need Tebow to win, which gives him all the time in the world to develop into a starting quarterback.

In New England, no one is bigger than the Patriots and given his resume, no one is bigger than Belichick. With three Super Bowl titles in New England, and a total of five AFC championships, Belichick has the type of collateral that lets him deal with a player and his future like no other coach in the league.

He will benefit, of course, from being under the best quarterback of his generation. What Tom Brady is on the field, Tebow isn’t. But both are competitors and both are winners, even if they take different paths to get there. It can only make Tebow a better quarterback.

From the start, Tebow was doomed to fail with the Jets. He was a player who from the moment he was traded was the only player on the roster during preseason, minicamp, training camp or the regular season who wasn’t allowed to compete for a starting job.

It was also clear that no matter what Sanchez did, or more aptly didn’t do, Tebow still couldn’t get the job, despite having succeeded in Denver in 2011.

New England is a perfect fit for Tebow, not only to learn and grow in the pocket but simply to be utilized. What Belichick does better than any coach in the NFL is put his players in the best position to succeed. If Tebow sees the field this year, he will do so in a position where his natural skills will best be utilized. That wasn’t the case in New York, where the personal punt protector gimmick grew cold fast and the Wildcat formation quickly became predictable.

But in New England, Tebow will be put in a position to succeed and maximize his God-given talents, much like former Jets Danny Woodhead and James Ihedigbo did in Foxboro. To count Tebow out now in a position where he will be set to succeed is to not understand the genius of Belichick or the heart of Tebow.

But more than anything, it will work between Tebow and the Patriots for the very same reasons it didn’t work here in New York. He will be given the chance to be his best, which he never was with the Jets.

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Former Arizona general manager Rod Graves has been named the Jets’ new senior director of football administration, giving depth and experience to a front office that has gone through some tweaks under new general manager John Idzik.

Graves and his new boss worked together for a while in Arizona when Idzik was assistant general manager from 2001-04. Having been with the Cardinals organization since 1997, Graves was fired this past December after the Cardinals again missed the playoffs with a 5-11 record. The franchise has only made the playoffs twice since 1998 and has been a cumulative 18-30 the past three seasons.

Graves began his NFL front office career in 1984 as a scout with the Bears and will be an asset to an organization Idzik has promised will place a high priority on the NFL Draft. He also boasts an understanding of contract negotiations and salary cap issues from his time in Arizona.

In addition, the Jets made official the appointment of Matt Bazirgan as assistant director of pro personnel. Prior to this promotion, he was previously the West Coast scouting supervisor for the Jets in charge of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates from minicamp all week.

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After three years in the NFL as mostly a niche player, the best athlete on the Jets roster is out to prove he is a specialist no more – but not just by focusing on one position. Instead, Joe McKnight is out to prove that he can excel at them all.

This fourth year is a pivotal one for McKnight, who has earned a reputation as a special-teams maven while getting some limited snaps at running back the past three years. But for McKnight, who even played one game last year at cornerback when injuries decimated the Jets’ back end, this season is about showing he can bring value all over the field. At a point in his career when most players embrace specializing on one position, McKnight continues to embrace his versatility.

Despite his ability to play all over the field, he wants to be known first and foremost as a running back.

With Shonn Greene leaving the Jets via free agency earlier this offseason, there is no clear-cut starting running back to take most of the carries. The arrest of fellow running back Mike Goodson three weeks ago on drug possession and weapon charges, there is an opportunity for McKnight to earn more carries ahead of this week’s minicamp.

“Every day is a new tomorrow to go out there and prove myself. But I just want to make the team better, make myself better,” McKnight said. “If I do that, everything else will take care of itself. No matter the other circumstances or anything else. I have to focus on getting better every day.”

This offseason, McKnight worked on his carryover speed as he felt that he was good at being elusive and getting into the open field but couldn’t finish his runs, losing his strength as he ran down the field and failing to turn big runs into touchdowns. The potential is there for him to be a home run hitter for the Jets.

McKnight has yet to register a rushing or receiving touchdown in the NFL. That might change this year as the Jets have shifted from the “ground and pound” to an offense that seems tailor-made for him.

He possesses the kind of speed, shiftiness, footwork and hands that could make him perfect for Marty Mornhinweg’s West Coast offense. It is an offense McKnight knows well from his college days at USC.

In the West Coast offense, the running back needs to be versatile, which just happens to be McKnight’s middle name. Generally speaking, the West Coast offense calls for timing routes and short passes to systematically open things down the field for the deep pass or out patterns. McKnight’s skillset slides perfectly into what the running back is called to do in the offense.

He now needs to turn his fourth year in the NFL into one where he establishes himself as a key contributor and not just an intriguing athlete.

It is McKnight’s broad skillset that might keep him from being looked at as an every down back in the NFL. But the Jets’ “jack of all trades” doesn’t see his status as the athlete of the team hurting his value on the roster.

“I feel like the more the better. Being the best I can be is a good thing. Whatever coach wants from me, I will do it. If I can make this team [better] by helping out all over, then that is the best way to help the team,” McKnight said. “Versatility on a 53-man roster is never a bad thing and if I can help doing this, doing that — offense or special teams or defense — then I’ll do it.”

Jets notes …

» Jets have invited veteran free agent tight end Kellen Winslow, wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker and defensive lineman Leger Douzable to minicamp this week.

» In addition, undrafted rookie free agent tackle Mark Jackson and cornerback Mason Robinson have been invited to minicamp on a tryout basis. Robinson played at Rutgers and was a standout at rookie minicamp in May.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer. He will be live tweeting with updates and photos from minicamp all week.

The post Jets’ Joe McKnight looking to establish himself in NFL appeared first on Metro.us.

It would have been easy for Mark Sanchez to have packed it in with a fan base that has turned on him and a franchise seemingly ready to move on.

After all, Sanchez was the Jets’ highly touted first-round pick in 2009. After being anointed as starter almost immediately over Kellen Clemens, Sanchez seemed ready to take the next step heading into his third year in the league. But instead, he has struggled the past two years and when the Jets took Geno Smith in the second round this past April, no one would have blamed him for going through the motions.

Instead, Sanchez is not only competing to maintain his grip on the starting job but he’s being a good teammate, trying to help Smith mature and develop.

“I’ve competed my whole life, whether it was high school or college, beating out other quarterbacks, [including] my first year here playing with Kellen. That’s all I’ve known. It’s nothing new or scary. I’m being myself, doing my best and keep doing what I’m doing,” Sanchez said. “It doesn’t bother me. I’m apathetic to it.”

But what is most noticeable is that Sanchez has taken to the competition, not just for himself but also in mentoring Smith. He’s been helping the rookie in acclimating to the NFL.

“Mark has taken to helping Geno, being a real teammate to him,” one team source told Metro. “It is pretty noble actually. He is helping him on the field, in the classroom. It isn’t a show. He is helping him be the best he can be. I think in turn, that is making Mark confident because it is noticeable how much better he has a command of the offense. It is quite obvious.”

Smith needs the help as he comes to the Jets with a reputation as being lazy and not a tremendous classroom presence. A major reason why he dropped from a consensus Top-10 pick to No. 39 in the draft was his reputation off the field.

Right now, he is saying and doing the right things in the quarterback competition. Every day is a learning experience for Smith, even as he has struggled mightily.

“First of all, it is bringing it in practice — coming to practice ready to compete, coming to practice focused [and] taking advantage of every single rep, [including] the mental reps, even when I’m not in,” Smith said. “Obviously the coaches are going to do the grading but you have a knowledge of what you did good, what you did bad.”

Like Sanchez, Smith has embraced the open quarterback competition. While he has struggled during practice and looked out of sorts at times, he doesn’t sound like someone who feels entitled to the starting job.

“Every single day in practice we compete hard — not just in team periods but in walkthroughs. It is in individual periods. It is in everything. That’s the nature of the game,” Smith said. “It’s good to have a guy like Mark who is welcome to teaching me things. He is open to competition and great spirited about it.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith embracing Jets QB competition appeared first on Metro.us.

This time a year ago, Jets nose tackle Kenrick Ellis was getting ready for the biggest challenge of his life. It wasn’t going against a veteran NFL offensive lineman or even a grueling training camp session.

Instead, Ellis was headed to Virginia to serve a 45-day prison sentence for a felony charge stemming from an incident which happened when he was in college. Ellis was able to squeeze in the prison term last year between minicamp and Jets training camp in late August. He served his time, something he says helped him grow mentally as a person and as a football player, and now he is back and fully focused on the task of becoming a contributor with the Jets.

But the prospect of being behind bars and the thought of spending time at the Virginia prison haunted Ellis last summer even before he went into the lock-up. It was something that affected him mentally and kept him from playing his best football last offseason.

“Just the fact that you have to go in a box for 40 days, that’s always in the back of my head last offseason. It’s always there, even if you’re on the field,” Ellis said. “I don’t wish it on anyone and I don’t want to be in it again. Just knowing the fact that I will be sitting in a box with killers and society’s outcasts, yeah, you’re always thinking about that. I’m glad it is over. I am glad to focus on other things.”

Now, Ellis is playing free and clear.

He admits to being uptight on the field a year ago, something that continued to stick with him even after he served his time. As the Jets finish organized team activities (OTAs) this week and head into minicamp next week, Ellis can reflect on how different his life is than this time a year ago. Now he can play reckless and free, a year removed from spending his time behind bars.

For starters, he can focus on the football field rather than “being in a box.”

“It was tough on him last year; it was in the back of his mind,” second-year nose tackle Damon Harrison said. “When I first came in, I didn’t really know him. He just seemed really quiet and really reserved. But as I got to know him, I could see it weighed on him. Seeing him between last year and this year, you see him having fun now and playing loose.”

Following minicamp last year, Harrison remembers talking with Ellis following the final practice. Ellis turned to him and opened up about having to go to prison in a few days. It was a frank and open conversation about his emotions.

“He was realizing that after this was over, he’d have to go to jail,” Harrison said. “Now for him, it is all football.”

This is a big year for Ellis, who is entering his third year in the league. Ellis has not had the impact expected of a player taken in the third round, playing in 17 games the past two seasons and making just 25 tackles. His meal ticket as an interior lineman in the Jets’ 3-4 defense will be as a run stopper.

In OTAs, he has shown good mobility and lateral movement, the result of an offseason where he focused on refining his footwork. It looks as if Ellis is primed to take a step forward in his development.

“I can just relax and play, [and] mentally focus on my assignment. I can focus on what I need to do; what I need to do physically,” Ellis said. “Being in the best place I can be on and off the field.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets were without wide receivers Stephen Hill (knee), Jeremy Kerley (heel) and Clyde Gates (hamstring) on Wednesday. Holding Kerley out was a precaution from head coach Rex Ryan and he anticipates having Hill and Gates back for minicamp next week.

» Also missing among the wide receivers was Santonio Holmes, who continues to rehab from last year’s season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Ryan said Holmes could start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

» A decision on the Jets’ starting quarterback isn’t forthcoming anytime soon, per Ryan. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Geno Smith has distanced themselves enough to claim the starting spot.

“I don’t believe that’s the case. I don’t believe we’re close to that right now,” Ryan said. “The process, you don’t have to make that move. Until we feel 100 percent comfortable with that decision we’ll leave it to competition.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Before practice, the Jets locker room is busy with players putting on their pads and getting taped up. There is endless chatter, and one of the players is blasting music from his iPod while others fine-tune their gear and down energy drinks.

Then there is tight end Hayden Smith, who is quietly brewing something special to get ready for practice — literally. Smith has an espresso machine plugged into an outlet in his locker and there is a small group seated around him as he pours the shots of coffee into special espresso cups. The Coffee Club was the idea of the former rugby player turned NFL tight end and it is growing in popularity as quick as the prospects of him making an impact this season.

He keeps the pods for the espresso maker in the tiny combination locker meant for valuables inside his locker, lest a teammate decide to prank him and do something to his coffee. But the Coffee Club itself is open to all on the team.

“Sometimes I invite some of the guys down; everyone is welcome. … I enjoy a good coffee; maybe that’s the European in me. And it is kind of fun to sit around and enjoy an espresso and talk a little bit,” Smith told Metro. “It’s just a fun thing I can do.”

Mark Sanchez has made his way down for an espresso, as has fellow quarterback Greg McElroy. Defensive tackle Tevita Finau is a regular in the club and just this week both center Nick Mangold and cornerback Antonio Cromartie have stopped by for what Smith calls “a cup of culture.” Smith himself enjoys a double espresso every day — sometimes more often than that. The club is always accepting new members; defensive end Quinton Coples a couple locker spaces down from Smith got an invitation for next time.

“I’ll make my way over there,” Coples said with a laugh. “Right now, I’m taking it easy.”

Smith tells him that he likely will want to come by when minicamp starts up soon.

“It’s more of a socializing thing. We talk a little bit of football, but mainly things outside of this place,” Smith said. “It is a time to sit down, enjoy each other’s company. I think it brings a lot of value socially.”

Away from his prized espresso machine, Smith is settling in as a tight end. This time a year ago, everything was brand new for Smith. In fact, rookie minicamp was the first time in his life he had ever put on a football helmet. His transition from rugby to football was rough to say the least.

There are still growing pains for Smith, who is beginning to look more like an NFL player. He played in five games last year as a 27-year-old rookie, quite an accomplishment for someone who never played football at a competitive level let alone in college. As new as he is to the sport, there was Smith, hauling down two Mark Sanchez passes in athletic fashion during organized team activities last Thursday. On both occasions he leapt and snagged the overthrown balls in the face of defensive pressure.

Both catches drew cheers from his teammates.

Smith has tremendous balance and a fascinating blend of agility, size and speed. But Smith’s lack of understanding of the nuances of the game often frustrated last year’s offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. His lack of patience with “Aussie” was evident on the practice field.

“It really changes everything. No longer am I learning the game of football; I can focus on the details,” Smith said. “It changes everything. The game seems slower now. I’m focused more on getting better and not just trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing.

“This offseason, I worked pretty hard on my strength, my footwork, especially in the run game. Just been trying to get the work in. One of the points of emphasis from the [coaching] staff was being more explosive off the line. That’s something different than rugby and something I had to learn.”

The opportunity is there for Smith to find a role with the team as well. The Jets lost Dustin Keller through free agency this offseason and didn’t replace him in the draft or via free agency. Only Konrad Reuland and Jeff Cumberland return from last year’s squad.

As Thursday showed, Smith can make plays and is arguably the best athlete among the current tight ends. Now, he just needs to continue the process of becoming a football player.

“Just trying to get better each day. That’s what this offseason was about — just trying to get better,” Smith said. “Hopefully, I can make an impact and help the team more this year.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets’ Hayden Smith enjoying cup of coffee with his NFL education appeared first on Metro.us.

In the wake of an investigation by the player’s association, Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith said Thursday he wasn’t influenced by rap mogul Jay-Z to join upstart agency Roc Nation Sports. Smith announced last week he had become a client of the upstart firm, headed by Jay-Z.

The NFLPA is looking into what Jay-Z’s influence on Smith might have been, especially since Roc Nation did not have any certified negotiators on staff at the time. Smith fired his original representation shortly after the NFL Draft, when he plummeted from a projected Top-10 pick to the Jets at No. 39.

He denied the NFLPA has reached out to him on the matter.

“I don’t have any concerns. Jay-Z didn’t recruit me,” Smith said. “I chose Roc Nation Sports for management because it was something that myself and my family came to a conclusion and we felt comfortable with and I’m happy to be a part of that.

“I’m here to talk about football and that’s life outside of football. And what I do in this locker room and on that field is what matters.”

It has been a struggle on the field for Smith as well, who did well in rookie minicamp but has had more downs than ups since then.
Smith frequently underthrew his wide receivers on Thursday during organized team activities (OTAs) and his timing was frequently off on his routes. On one play, second-year safety Antonio Allen sat underneath the coverage and perfectly broke on the ball to break up the pass. The recognition of coverages has been slow and his decision making has been suspect.

Smith has yet to sign a contract with the Jets.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Geno Smith denies Jay-Z recruited him to Roc Nation appeared first on Metro.us.

Calvin Pace is back where he always wanted to be.

Signed by the Jets in 2008 as part of former general manager Mike Tannenbaum’s highly touted free agent class, Pace came to the team as an outside linebacker with a reputation as a pass rusher. But injuries have slowed him down in recent years and while he played 16 games last year, his sack total dipped to its lowest level since 2006.

The Jets cut Pace in February, then re-signed him last month. He spoke on Thursday for the first time since being brought back. He is one of the few veterans on a team that has seen a drastic overhaul and rebuilding this offseason.

“[I'm] happy to be back, happy to have a job. It’s all good. [There are] a lot of different faces, trying to get acclimated to that,” Pace said. “Nowadays, it is kind of the way of football. It was good while it lasted. It is a lot of new guys, a lot of youth. I guess our task is to try to get to know everyone as quick as possible, everybody get on the same page.”

Pace brings experience to a group of linebackers who are talented but relatively inexperienced. The 32-year-old Pace doesn’t necessarily see himself as a mentor but during organized team activities (OTAs) on Thursday, Pace was all over the field as head coach Rex Ryan joked he even lined up at cornerback on one play.

For Pace, it didn’t take any convincing for him to want to come back to the Jets as this is where he wanted to be all along. He called the team the “best fit for me.”

“It wasn’t really a pitch. When I got released, people asked me, ‘Where do you want to play?’ I didn’t know,” Pace said. “This thing has been the best for me the past five years so I said ‘New York.’ When they said they wanted me back, it wasn’t hard for me. So I just signed and put it behind me and kept it moving.”

The initial move to cut ties with Pace had as much to do with his salary as it did with his dip in production. Pace’s contract for this year was set to be $11.6 million before he was cut, an astronomical figure for a player whose better days have passed him by. He wasn’t ready to say his salary cap hit was the reason he was cut in February. His focus is more on the fact that he is gainfully employed again.

“I don’t know, you have to ask them. I try not to think about it too much,” Pace said. “It’s not a happy topic, thinking about getting fired. It happens and I’ve moved past it.”

Even with his recent struggles with injuries and the lack of production, Pace was still welcomed back by the Jets. He has his limitations, including subpar pass coverage and his speed isn’t what it used to be, but the coaching staff still wanted him back at the right price.

And the right price seems to have been found.

“That was a big signing for us because he’s kind of like the glue,” Ryan said. “We’re doing a lot of different things with him. We’re moving him all over the place.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Calvin Pace talks being ‘fired’ by Jets, filling veteran role appeared first on Metro.us.

The Jets quarterback competition officially became four on Thursday morning with the team placing David Garrard on the reserve/retired list.

Garrard told Adam Schein of NFL.com via a text message two weeks ago that he was planning to retire but an official announcement was lacking until Thursday morning. With the official roster move, the veteran quarterback is no longer in the mix and his career is likely over. The former Jaguars star hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2010 due to knee injuries.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out. It’s one of those things that sometimes before the skill level leaves you, sometimes it is harder to recover,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “When you get older, it is harder to recover. I think that’s what it was more than anything else.”

Sources tell Metro New York that Garrard was in pain during offseason workouts and that his knee injury severely hampered him on the field and affected his movement, including his ability to throw and his pocket presence.

Garrard came to the Jets this offseason to compete with incumbent starter Mark Sanchez. But with the Jets taking Geno Smith in the second round of last month’s NFL Draft and with Matt Simms and Greg McElroy already on the roster, the need for Garrard became less pressing.

In fact, sources say Sanchez and Smith were both ahead of Garrard on the team’s quarterback depth chart before the veteran decided to retire.

“I don’t know how much it changes the dynamic, with the one major exception that the reps he was going to get are now obviously shipped out differently now,” Ryan said. “It was something that, obviously, David had two years off but when we brought him in for the workout, the physical, we thought ‘Let’s give this a shot.’ We knew he wasn’t going to be the same guy eight years ago or something like that. But he was impressive. In the workout, he was impressive. There’s no question we were excited about him to come in and compete.”

With the open roster slot, the Jets signed former Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu. During his six years in Seattle, Obomanu had 87 receptions for 1,209 yards with seven touchdowns.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets officially place Garrard on retired list, sign Obomanu appeared first on Metro.us.

This No. 15, unlike their last one, might actually be given the chance to make an impact for the Jets .

Zach Rogers, an undrafted rookie free agent who is trying to latch on with the Jets, is making a case to get a look at next month’s minicamp and perhaps beyond. Rogers comes to the Jets as an underappreciated wide receiver at Tennessee, where last year he was fourth on the Volunteers in receiving yards. But he’s a solid route runner with very quick feet and even faster hands and he comes to the Jets with a legitimate chance at making the roster.

And he inherits jersey No. 15, the same number worn last year by quarterback Tim Tebow, who was released shortly after the NFL Draft. Tebow, of course, is the much-talked-about and highly scrutinized quarterback who spent an underwhelming season with the Jets in 2012.

“When I got here, that was the number given to me. I literally just walked in and that was the number given to me,” Rogers said following OTAs earlier this week. “I knew it was his number, as I watched him last year, but I just wanted to roll with it.”

Before the NFL Draft, Rogers prepared for his Pro Day at the Volunteers’ facility at D1 Sports Training just outside of Nashville, Tenn. There he was joined in his workouts by none other than Tebow himself.

The Jets’ last No. 15 was throwing passes to the Jets’ current incarnation of that number.

“He was great to work with and a great guy,” Rogers said. “He was always very open with us and willing to give his time and share his thoughts on playing in the league. He was a great guy.”

Rogers was often overlooked in an offense which boasted wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson. During his Pro Day at Tennessee earlier this spring, Rogers was clocked running a 4.49-second time in the 40-yard dash and he has drawn comparisons to Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola.

He always seems to be in the right spot and he said he worked hard in college on developing quick hands so he can show for the ball and get yards after the catch.

“That’s what I need to do to make a name for myself,” Rogers said. “I’m not big in stature, I’m not the fastest guy out there, but I have to work technique to open up leverage for me.”

Tebow’s time with the Jets was lackluster to say the least. He was used only in the Wildcat offense and on special teams as a personal punt protector. Not one of his eight passes thrown last year was in the conventional offense. He arrived in New York to a press conference with 150 media memebers and a dozen television cameras. He left with questions about his NFL future.

Rogers is hoping his future in the NFL is bright. He earned praise from head coach Rex Ryan two weeks ago during rookie minicamp.

Unlike Tebow, Rogers is hoping to stick around for a while.

“I know Tim made a name for himself here wearing that number and I want to do the same,” Rogers said. “I need to go out there and work hard and show the coaching staff what I can do so that No. 15 is my own.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets’ receiver Zach Rogers taking on ghosts of No. 15 appeared first on Metro.us.

If Mark Sanchez is a better quarterback this year, it might be because he doesn’t have Tony Sparano to kick around any longer.

Sparano, the Jets’ offensive coordinator for last year’s 6-10 season, oversaw Sanchez’s nosedive in performance. The quarterback had his worst statistical season since his rookie year, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.

Now with Marty Mornhinweg calling the plays, Sanchez is hopeful he can bounce back. The experienced offensive coordinator has a reputation for maximizing a quarterback’s potential and he will be charged with rebuilding a fledgling career now at an all-time low.

“I just feel like this coaching staff is going to get the best out of me — just rededicating yourself to the game, rededicating yourself to your preparation and just being excited about this system and what it can do for a quarterback,” Sanchez said. “I think just in these early stages we strung together a couple good days of OTAs. We just got to keep it rolling, stay positive and keep on improving. But I like our attitude and I like the coaching we’ve received so far. I think it’s only going to continue to grow and get better.”

A season ago, the Jets were going to return to the ground game under Sparano and the acquisition of quarterback Tim Tebow to run the Wildcat only underscored that Sanchez’s arm was on the outs in a run-heavy offense. But the ground game sputtered and was inconsistent and injuries beset the wide receivers, leaving Sanchez without a running game or bona fide targets.

It also didn’t help that Sanchez struggled with his progression and regressed to a one-read quarterback as a result of an unimaginative offense lacking playmakers.

Sanchez wouldn’t blame an offense that under Sparano was No. 30 in total offense last season or last year’s coaching staff.

“I don’t know about that. Each system has its own pros and cons. A lot of that stuff is timing and there’s a million things that come into play,” Sanchez said. “At the end of the day, I just have to worry about what I can control.”

What may not be a good sign is that he continues to lose the turnover battle. On Wednesday, Sanchez threw three interceptions, one of which was picked off by nose tackle Damon Harrison.

Sanchez laughed off being intercepted by a player who has been nicknamed by the coaching staff as “Big Snacks” due to his size, but Ryan sounded concerned even if it is only May.

“Yeah it is, absolutely [concerning]. It was a good thing the defense made some plays but I’d rather him not turn the ball over once,” Ryan said. “He did some great things but at the end of the day those are the things that get you beat.”

There is, of course, extra pressure on Sanchez this year as he not only has to improve but he’s engaged in the first true quarterback competition of his professional career.

Geno Smith took the second-most reps in practice after Sanchez and felt he showed “subtle improvement” this week. After a strong rookie minicamp two weeks ago, he struggled with his accuracy and timing.

Part of it is the adjustment to an offense where he is under center, unlike last year at West Virginia where he operated primarily out of the shotgun.

“It just takes reps. Overall, I feel that I’ve been able to pick up on my reads, figure out my depth and drops and how it should be done,” Smith said. “As I said, there’s a total difference in the systems and it’s just a process I have to go through.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets lined up first round pick Sheldon Richardson in the 3-technique today, which he told Metro during rookie minicamp was their ideal spot for him. In college, Richardson primarily played on the edge.

» Smith announced he will be represented by Roc Nation Sports, the agency started by rapper Jay-Z. Head coach Rex Ryan didn’t seem too concerned about his second-round pick going with such a high-profile agency.

“He knows he has to focus on the job at hand here. I’m confident that will happen,” Ryan said. “I don’t even think about who he hired.”

» Second-year wide receiver Stephen Hill was held out of OTAs on Wednesday due to swelling in his knee. He rode the stationary bicycle along with wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who did not practice as he continues to recover from last year’s foot surgery that ended his season.

A team source told Metro New York on Wednesday morning that Holmes “is not expected to be able to run till training camp. His injury is coming along fine but don’t expect him for OTAs or minicamp next month.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Mornhinweg rebuilding Mark Sanchez’s floundering career appeared first on Metro.us.

Lanier Coleman is a 26-year-old rookie trying to make the Jets after more than three years out of football. It is a second chance for the massive defensive lineman after he thought his playing days were done.

Coleman was invited to Vikings minicamp in 2009 after a solid career at Louisiana-Lafayette. He did well in minicamp but not enough to earn an invite to their training camp a month later so Coleman packed his bags and returned to Louisiana to coach high school football. The following spring he played in the Arena Football League, but figured he had hung up the helmet and pads for good when he took an intern position at Louisiana-Lafayette in their weight room.

He stocked protein, racked the weights and cleaned the weight benches. In short, he did the grunt work around the weight room, but he ended up falling in love with the job. He always pictured himself as a coach “but I really got into the intensity and passion of the weight room.”

His thankless efforts did not go unnoticed and in the spring of 2010, Coleman went to Rice University in Houston where he served as assistant strength coach for baseball, football, golf, tennis and swimming. He began to learn more about handling athletes and training them in addition to the administrative side of things. When an opportunity came along a year later to take a similar position at Cal, Coleman hopped on board.

It was there that Chris DiSanto, the Golden Bears’ assistant strength and conditioning coach who is now with the Browns, noticed Coleman’s passion for the game.

“I was at practice, getting excited about practice, jumping around and one of my coworkers, Mr. DiSanto, said that ‘I can tell you still have a fire for this game.’ My thing was, I didn’t have any connections,” Coleman said.

It had been three years since Coleman had played in the Arena Football League and four years since he stepped foot on a football field at the NFL level in Minnesota’s minicamp. His defensive line coach at the Vikings was Karl Dunbar, who became the Jets’ defensive line coach last year. DiSanto pushed Coleman to reach out and see if any opportunities existed.

Coleman felt if he had made an impression on Dunbar four years ago he would have heard from the respected position coach already. He hadn’t, so he assumed Dunbar wouldn’t be interested.

“I felt like if coach Dunbar wanted me, he’d seek me out. But Mr. DiSanto said that I should reach out, show him that I want it,” Coleman said. “So I reached out to him and he reached out to me and we talked. I was shocked because I figured he’d be swamped with people wanting to get to him and he wouldn’t have the time for me. He told me he might have an opportunity for me but that I’d have to bring my A game.

“He was very honest with me. That’s the great thing about him. He’s not only a great coach, he’s a great man as well.”

So Coleman packed his bags and headed to New Jersey as a tryout player in the Jets’ rookie minicamp. Nothing was guaranteed but it was an opportunity he had to take.

It was a worthwhile gamble as he impressed the Jets, especially on the second and third day of minicamp. He played inside at the 3-technique but showed great pursuit and chased down the ball from sideline-to-sideline. Not surprisingly, conditioning wasn’t an issue for him. After the morning workout he looked like he wanted to go out for an afternoon session as well.

That Sunday, the Jets called Coleman up to their office and based off his performance he was offered a contract. It was the contract that had eluded him four years earlier and had led him down this path, from high school football coach to college intern to assistant strength coach.

And now, maybe he will have a spot as an NFL player.

“The huge thing was my effort, my effort and learning the defense as quick as I did; that’s what they liked. The first day was a struggle but the thing was my effort. It stuck out. That’s one thing I’ve always hung my hat on is my work ethic,” Coleman said. “Now I need to make them believe that I’m a great football player as well. It’s been a long way to get here. I just want to help them win games however I can.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for live updates and photos from Jets minicamp this week.

The post Lanier Coleman aiming for Jets roster after four-year journey appeared first on Metro.us.

Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested early Friday morning on Route 80 West in Denville, N.J. for possession of a loaded handgun and marijuana.

Around 3 a.m. on Friday morning, a tow-truck driver pulled along a grey Yukon driven by Garant Evans of Roselle, N.J. in which Goodson was the passenger. The vehicle had stopped in the left-center lane of the four-way highway, located roughly 20 minutes from the Jets’ facility. Evans was was charged with driving under the influence. Goodson was taken for evaluation to nearby St. Clare’s Hospital.

A handgun was found in the vehicle after the police did a search.

Goodson was released from his cell at Morris County Jail around 6 p.m. on Friday evening and after he posted $50,000 bail. The delay had nothing to do with Goodson being held for medical reasons and was merely due to him waiting for the bail to be posted.

The state police found a “small amount of marijuana” on Goodson’s body, per the police statement on the incident. Evans was taken to the local state police barracks in Netcong, N.J. and was processed. His bail was set at $150,000.

According the police release, both Evans and Goodson were charged with possession of marijuana (under 50 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a loaded handgun and possession of hollow-point ammunition.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Last week, head coach Rex Ryan sent a message to linebacker Quinton Coples, calling out the second-year player for what he saw was a lack of effort in the weight room. The former first-round pick says that the message was received.

Neither player nor coach have talked about the perceived lack of effort with Coples saying it was a “first-time experience for me” and that he has never been called out before. He called it a “wake-up” call.

“I wouldn’t say I got comfortable, it was during a drill, it was videotaped and I could have given better effort,” Coples said. “The next day when we came back here, I gave a better effort to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.”

In 2011 during his final year as a Tar Heel, Coples was dogged by criticism he would take plays off and lacked overall effort. It was a talking point that stuck with him throughout last spring’s NFL Draft process, despite his strong metrics.

Coples said he heard about his head coach’s disapproval when his business manager called him about Ryan’s quotes from rookie minicamp. A Google Alert went off in his business manager’s inbox, notifying him of the situation.

“I wasn’t shocked by it; it was just something he did,” Coples sad. “I responded well. I responded in the weight room and got better.”

Last week, Ryan said he holds Coples to a very high standard since he “has all the physical tools to be the best player out on the field and that’s what we need him to be.”

In 2012, Coples played in all 16 games and had 30 tackles. He led the Jets with 5.5 sacks.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Mark Sanchez sounds like someone who is ready to battle for the spot under center.

Following Thursday’s organized team activities, Sanchez addressed the ever-brewing quarterback controversy. The competition got a little less crowded Wednesday with the retirement of David Garrard, who called it quits due to a long-standing knee injury.

“He was one of those guys that I felt like I’d be able to bounce my ideas off of, having that veteran experience,” Sanchez said. “So, it’s tough to see a guy go like that and you just wish him the best health-wise first, and then, he has a career to celebrate, he played a long time in this league and did a heck of a job. It was great to be around him in the short time I had with him and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Taking Garrard out of the picture doesn’t change Sanchez’s perception heading into June’s minicamp and then training camp a month later.

“Nothing’s changed. My mindset is the same,” Sanchez said. “Just stay focused, master this offense, improve on my fundamentals, be as accurate as possible, take care of the football and lead this team.”

Sanchez looked a lot like his rookie self in his fourth season in the league in 2012. He was unsure in the pocket, held onto the ball too long, went consistently with his first read and forced way too many passes.

For the second time in his career and the first since his rookie season in 2009, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns.

Now with Garrard out of the picture, Sanchez will be locked in a quarterback battle with second-round pick Geno Smith in addition to Greg McElroy, who replaced Sanchez in Week 15 last year and then started over him the next game. If he wants to be the starter, Sanchez will need to cut down on his turnovers which means throwing the ball away more.
He’s been working on that in practice.

“Guys will raise their hands if they’re open, and if no one raises their hands, you’re either running or throwing it away,” Sanchez said. “That’s kind of the drill. I think it’s valuable and I think it’s one of those things that we aim to address.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The comeback story of David Garrard didn’t even make it to minicamp.

According to multiple reports, Garrard retired from football Wednesday afternoon just two months after signing with the Jets to battle for the starting quarterback position in the fall. He reportedly told his teammates he would be leaving Wednesday as well.

“Having to call it quits,” Garrard told SiriusXM’s Adam Schein in a text message. “My knee is not holding up.”

Garrard was expected to be a legitimate contender to usurp the starting spot from Mark Sanchez, who has started since his selection in the first round in 2009. Sanchez had his worst season as a pro in 2012 with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Sanchez was so bad by the end of the season that head coach Rex Ryan decided to bench him in favor of backup Greg McElroy.

McElroy did not stand out in two games against the Chargers and Cardinals. He was 19-of-31 with one touchdown, one interception and one fumble. Still, McElroy will now be in the competition along with 2013 second-round pick Geno Smith and Sanchez.

Garrard last played for the Jaguars in 2012 where he was beat out by Blaine Gabbert as starter. He was in camp with the Dolphins last preseason, but was cut from the roster. He had knee surgery while with the Dolphins in August 2012. He didn’t have a history of knee injuries before that, though he did have back surgery in October 2011.

Wednesday’s retirement may have pre-empted the obvious, one member of Jets management told Metro New York.

“With Mark returning he has the proverbial leg-up and I think Geno showed he can come in and compete and maybe even start,” one member of the Jets’ personnel team told Metro New York. “David was needed when there was no other viable option on the roster other than Mark. Geno comes in as a draft pick and does well and showed at the very least potential. You have a new general manager who is preaching that everyone has to compete. Well, after seeing Geno last week at [rookie] minicamp I think he has the goods to compete with Mark, clearly.

“Nothing really changed with today’s news. I think it was Mark and Geno at the top then everyone else. David never really looked comfortable throwing either so the chance of him being here come Week 1? Rather slim.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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There’s an intriguing name or two in nearly every NFL team’s rookie minicamp. For the Jets, it is Mason Robinson.

Robinson, an unsigned invitee, petitioned the NCAA last year for a sixth season at Rutgers following two season-ending knee injuries. He came into the program as a running back in 2007 then switched to wide receiver, cornerback and eventually safety. Robinson has just 19 career tackles. Those aren’t exactly the kind of numbers that jump out at an NFL scouting department.

But Robinson was invited to rookie minicamp by head coach Rex Ryan after a conversation he had with the Rutgers coaching staff.

“He was playing some nickel. I like him,” Ryan said. “The coaches at Rutgers said that no one at Rutgers wanted to fight this guy. I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good for a little corner.’ Now we’ll have somebody that will fight him but that is impressive.”

Robinson was a dominant running back at Somerville High School (Somerville, N.J.), a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com and one of the biggest names hauled in by former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano for his 2007 recruiting class. Robinson played from Day 1 at Rutgers.

He was healthy his freshman and sophomore years, but tore his ACL during the first game of his junior season. His redshirt junior year he bounced back and was healthy, in the first practice following the first game of his senior season, he tore his other ACL.

Robinson fought back to get on the field, no matter the odds.

“I’m a big competitor. I love being scrappy. I guess it was instilled in me as a little kid,” Robinson said. “I was the baby of the family and I always had to defend myself against my brothers and even my sisters. It has always been a part of my life.”

During rookie minicamp, Robinson has been in the Jets’ nickel package and, much like Ryan described him, he’s been active and scrappy. He’s been getting praise not just from his head coach at the podium but also the coaching staff on the field.

“I try not to listen to that or pay attention to that,” Robinson said. “Each day is a new learning experience — be better tomorrow than I was yesterday. Even learn from other’s experience.”

When he transitioned from high school to college, Robinson stayed a running back even as many pundits saw a bright future for him in the secondary given his athleticism and outstanding footwork. Carries were hard to come by those first two seasons. He had just 77 rushing attempts and one touchdown his first two seasons — and then was switched to wide receiver where he had one catch. After his first ACL injury, he got moved to defense.

Having played offense, he brings an innate understanding of his role on defense.

“You see splits, you see guys on the ball, off the ball [and] you’re able to read it a little bit. When splits are cut, you’re able to read that a little bit,” Robinson said. “When you watch film, you know what’s going to come. When you’re on the field, you can sense it a bit more.”

Following his second ACL injury, Robinson requested a sixth year from the NCAA and was granted one, but was only at “85 percent,” according to him. He had 14 tackles in 2012, but now Robinson says he is fully healthy and ready to contribute.

In high school, at the Meet of Champions, Robinson ran a 10.51-second time in the 100 meters and during his Pro Day at Rutgers this past spring, he clocked a 4.35-second hand time in the 40-yard dash. If he can stay healthy, he can bring something unique to the Jets this summer and maybe beyond.

“I just want to do whatever I can to make the team, whatever it takes,” Robinson said. “Special teams, cornerback, safety — whatever it takes. I will push myself to make it, to make this team. I won’t settle for anything else.”

Jets notes …

» Rookie minicamp wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux, who was cut by the Jets last week, came in on a tryout this past weekend but will not be back, per source. He likely will look at the Canadian league.

» The Jets announced the signing of defensive tackle Lanier Coleman (Louisiana-Lafayette), kicker Brett Maher (Nebraska), wide receiver Thomas Mayo (California (Pa.)) and outside linebacker Sean Progar-Jackson (Northern Illinois).

» The team also announced the release of kicker Derek Dimke, defensive tackle Roosevelt Holliday and wide receiver Royce Pollard, who was on the practice squad last year.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

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Tommy Bohanon held an NFL Draft party on April 27 as he waited for what he hoped would be a phone call letting him know he was selected. Slated as a late-round pick, Bohanon waited until Saturday to have a big gathering and late in the afternoon, the Wake Forest fullback got that call. He could barely hear the voice on the other end of the line so he did the smart thing and walked outside.

Everyone wanted in on the big moment, so the entire party quieted down and followed him outside. Bohanon put the call on speakerphone so he could hear better. College teammate Brad Idzik was nearby and could hear everything coming out of the phone.

“It was then that Brad said ‘Is that my dad?’ Then I was like, ‘Yeah, it is.’ To be on the phone with him and have his son right there? That’s a little crazy,” Bohanon said.

Brad Idzik is not just a wide receiver on the Demon Deacons but his father is John Idzik, the Jets’ new general manager, who was making the call to let the fullback know he was headed to New York. Bohanon met John Idzik when he was still with the Seahawks as their vice president of football administration but he had no idea he would end up being drafted by the father of one of his best friends. The elder Idzik had scouted Wake Forest before and saw something he liked in the fullback.

Bohanon never asked Brad Idzik if he put in a good word for him with his father but now he comes to a Jets team where he has a chance to compete for a starting position. Incumbent starter Lex Hilliard was solid last year but with a new offensive coordinator there will be plenty of opportunities to come in and compete.

The Demon Deacons ran a spread option offense where Bohanon lined up more as an H-back and ran routes. It is his ability to catch the ball that makes him an ideal fit in the new West Coast offense brought in by offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

“I bring my versatility and that’s part of being a West Coast fullback. You need to be able to catch, you need to be able to run the ball and block. I think I’ll be able to do anything the offense needs me to do,” Bohanon said. “I just want to come in and compete and see how it all turns out in the fall.”

Jets notes …

» Much like the day before, head coach Rex Ryan praised the entire offensive line, but he singled out sixth-round pick Will Campbell out of Michigan. Campbell played along the defensive line last year for the Wolverines and has impressed at left guard as he transitions to the offensive line.

“I’m surprised that he’s not making mistakes,” Ryan said. “It’s like he’s been doing it his whole life.”

» Typically, the Jets hold minicamp the next week after the draft but this year they pushed it back to better coincide with the June minicamp involving the full squad.

“It just made sense,” Ryan said. “Why send them home when they’re already here?”

» On Friday, Ryan called out Quinton Coples for what he saw as less than ideal effort in the weight room the day before. Ryan didn’t back away from the rare criticism, but explained why he went after the second-year defensive lineman, who was a first-round pick last year.

“I expect so much from him that I don’t want him to ever have something where he’s not going full out,” Ryan said. “That’s not my expectation of him.”

Ryan then went on to talk up the player while providing a word of caution.

“Here’s a guy that has all the physical tools to be the best player on the field. And that’s what we expect him to be,” Ryan said.

» Safety Rontez Miles is trying to make the team but he has one thing working against him: a Steelers tattoo on his left arm. Miles has had an impressive rookie minicamp and could get a call to compete at safety come minicamp in June.

“I don’t like his tattoo; he has a Steelers tattoo,” Ryan said. “It could be worse, could be a Patriots tattoo.”

Ryan did praise Miles for his aggressiveness.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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There was no hesitation from Sheldon Richardson when asked where the Jets want him to line up this season.

Richardson, taken by the Jets at No. 13 over, was a standout defensive tackle for Missouri in their 4-3 scheme, earning All-SEC accolades during his final season with the Tigers. When he was drafted by the Jets, it was presumed he would play the 5 technique in their 3-4 defense. It especially held true when the news hit Quinton Coples would be moved to outside linebacker this offseason. But the Jets aren’t tied to Richardson playing at end.

In fact, ask Richardson where the Jets ideally want him to play and the answer was clear and concise.

“They want me at the 3 for sure,” Richardson said, referring to lining up inside on a guard as opposed to a tackle.

Richardson is an explosive athlete who showed well from the interior on Friday as the Jets opened their rookie minicamp. He had 75 tackles for the Tigers last season as he played inside, on the edge and even in a special package where he was a linebacker.

He’s also an enthusiastic player who clearly loves the game.

“One thing we saw was explosiveness, effort to the football,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “One thing you can tell is that the guy loves to play. You could have doubled that practice; he would have been fine.”

He has a unique skillset which made him one of the Top-4 players on the Jets’ draft board. But now they have to find a position for him.

He said he’s comfortable playing the 3 technique with the Jets, even if it is a different role than his responsibilities in college. In most 3-4 systems, the player in the middle tends to be a space eater who can stuff the run and occupy at least two blockers. The Jets have recently had success with the likes of Sione Pouha and Kris Jenkins in that role. Both players have significantly more bulk than the 6-foot-3, 294-pound Richardson. In many ways, Richardson looks more like an end.

The Jets might be looking at him another way.

“Right now, they’re just testing me out, seeing where I best play, best fit,” Richardson said. “They had me at the 3 technique. We’ll see, they want me to learn.”

Jets notes …

» The Jets signed four free agents on Thursday morning, inking tackle Oday Aboushi, fullback Tommy Bohanon, guard Will Campbell and guard Brian Winters. In addition, they signed 14 undrafted free agents including Boston College tight end Chris Pantale and former Rutgers wide receiver K.J. Stroud, who transferred to Bethune-Cookman.

» Ryan didn’t highlight too many players but he had praise for former Rutgers cornerback Mason Robinson, who is attempting to make the team as an undrafted free agent.

“The coaches at Rutgers said no one wanted to fight this guy,” Ryan said.

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Following the first day of rookie minicamp, Jets quarterback Geno Smith sounded humble and contrite, often hitting on how hard he has worked at getting ready for today. In other words, he sounded nothing like the player who drew negative storylines leading up to the NFL Draft.

Smith was the target of a Pro Football Weekly report just three weeks before the NFL Draft that claimed he was “not a student of the game” and “not committed or focused.” The report played a role in Smith dropping to the Jets in the second round. Reports after the draft claimed Smith interviewed poorly and tweeted during predraft meetings with teams. The fact that he fired his agent last week only exacerbated the perception that Smith lacks maturity.

But on Friday following his first time on the field for the Jets, Smith did his best to erase that perception.

“I don’t think anyone who has worked with me or known me in the past has had anything negative to say. From what I’ve seen coaches and teammates have all said great things about me,” Smith said. “But I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on what I have here with the Jets and proving myself to my teammates and coaches. Like I said, I am trying to improve myself daily.”

It was a rocky first day at work for Smith, who at first glance lacked the composure and finesse in the pocket one would hope to see from a top pick. His downfield accuracy struggled and he bopped around the pocket with a lack of comfort and vision. His short passing game was solid but it is clear Smith is a work in progress.

The transition could be steep for Smith, despite his gaudy numbers at West Virginia. Operating out of the Airraid offense, Smith was often in the shotgun and will have to adjust to being under center with the Jets.

“[I'll be under center] probably more than recently but it felt like a natural transition,” Smith said. “Obviously there’s some things I need to clean up and I’m going work on that with [quarterback] coach [David] Lee, [offensive coordinator Marty] Mornhinweg. It didn’t feel too odd to me so I think I did a pretty good job.”

With strong athletic ability and a good arm, Smith has the potential to be a solid quarterback for the Jets. His intermediate passes always were right at the numbers of his wide receivers and in college he showed good arm strength.

He earned praise from head coach Rex Ryan for his command of the huddle and Ryan said there were no red flags in the draft process that would back up the claims made about Smith.

“Maybe I don’t know what diva behavior looks like but he didn’t do it here,” Ryan said.

Smith for his part has been putting in an effort to try to distance himself from the negative criticism. He held a meeting with his offensive line last night to go over verbiage in the huddle and he’s spoken with the three other quarterbacks on the Jets roster. In short, he’s doing what he should be doing.

For someone who isn’t supposed to be a student of the game, Smith is doing his best to sound like one.

“I don’t think it was too foreign to me. First of all, I studied my butt off to get prepared for today,” Smith said. “Then there’s more work going into getting ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be a transition but that’s expected. But I’m going to work at it and work my best to get my best foot forward.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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