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The Jets lost one of their most famous fans Wednesday with the stunning death of actor James Gandolfini, 51, aka Tony Soprano, who reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack or stroke while vacationing in Italy.

"We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini," the Jets tweeted Wednesday night. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends."

Gandolfini was a Jersey guy long before he became a suburban mobster on TV. He was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Rutgers. He went to many Jets home games in recent years. In fact, he witnessed at least three memorable games -- a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Houston Texans in 2010, the emotional and dramatic 2011 opening win over the Cowboys on the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11 and the crushing Christmas Eve loss to the Giants in 2011.

The accompanying photo is from the Christmas Eve game. Judging from the look of angst on Gandolfini's face, it could be his reaction to Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown. (On a personal note, the gentleman in the background is my father. Gandolfini, seated in the row ahead of him, graciously posed for a picture with members of my family before the game.)

Not many people know this, but Gandolfini narrated the video of the Jets' 2011 season, which was used as part of NFL Films' "NFL Yearbook" series. It was probably the best thing to happen to the Jets that year, an 8-8 disappointment.

Gandolfini's most celebrated connection to the Jets occurred in June 2007, when then-coach Eric Mangini made a cameo appearance (as himself) in one of the final episodes of "The Sopranos." Mangini didn't have any speaking lines; it was just a quick exchange of pleasantries with Tony Soprano in the fictional restaurant of his boyhood friend, Artie Bucco (John Ventimiglia).

"It took me a long time to get into character," Mangini joked at the time. "Playing me eating dinner is a real stretch, but I worked with an acting coach and I think I really nailed it."

Mangini said he wasn't afraid of getting whacked.

"I knew the context of what we were doing prior to getting into it and felt very comfortable with being at the restaurant," he said, laughing. "It's not like Tony and I had any previous affiliation or subsequent affiliation. It was more or less just meeting another person at a restaurant who happened to be a fan of the Jets."

Former Jets and Giants punter Dave Jennings, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996, died Wednesday morning at his home in New Jersey. He was 61.

Jennings finished his career with the Jets, playing three seasons, 1985-87. When he was done, he decided to go into broadcasting and he was a natural. He was the Jets' radio analyst from 1988 to 2001. He was a rising star in the business, smart and insightful, but Parkinson's began to take its toll.

He joined the Giants' radio booth in 2002, and it was only fitting that he finish with his forever team. He played with the Giants from 1974-84, making four Pro Bowls. He still owns some franchise records.

Former Jets teammate Marty Lyons bumped into Jennings a few years ago at the old Giants Stadium and they had lunch in the press lounge.

"My heart just broke," Lyons said Wednesday afternoon. "You saw a former teammate, a guy who was so healthy, and now he was fighting this terrible disease. All you can say is, he's in a better place now. With all the suffering he endured, fighting that disease, you've got to know that his heart is in a better place."

Jennings was a true gentleman. He grew up in Garden City, L.I., and got a chance to live out his dream, playing for both local teams. He was a great listen on the radio, possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of the rule book. And he never thought he was too big to sit down and talk football with a young football beat writer. He'll be missed.

The hiring of former Cardinals GM Rod Graves as the senior director of football administration didn't garner big headlines -- it occurred the same day as Tim Tebow to the Patriots -- but this was an important decision by GM John Idzik.

Because Idzik's expertise is on the business side (salary cap, contracts, etc.), Graves becomes the Jets' highest-ranking official with a personnel background. Idzik has a comfort level with Graves; he worked under him with the Cardinals from 2001 to 2004.

"It’s exciting," Idzik said. "I've know Rod since actually [my] teenage years. We were ball boys together back in the old Philadelphia Eagle days. We've known each other for a long, long time. ... I've known him side-by-side and in personnel circles, and of course in our time together in Arizona. I'm grateful to have him on board."

How does Graves rate as a talent evaluator? He headed the Cards' football operation for nine years, but it's hard to get a clear picture of his impact because the two head coaches under him, Dennis Green and Ken Whisenhunt, had significant say in personnel decisions, especially Green. Graves often deferred to his coaches, focusing his efforts on contract negotiations and the big picture. In that respect, he's a lot like Idzik.

Under Graves' leadership, the Cards enjoyed a dramatic rise (the 2008 NFC Championship) and suffered a three-year tailspin (2010 to 2012), resulting in his ouster. The inability to replace QB Kurt Warner was the main problem. They failed with six different quarterbacks, including Kevin Kolb, a $21 million bust. The offensive-minded Whisenhunt was largely responsible for the QB blunders, but Graves was involved in the decisions. That raises questions, especially on a team like the Jets, who may be in the market after the season.

In terms of the draft, the Graves-led Cards picked only four players that went on to multiple Pro Bowls, including WR Larry Fitzgerald and CB Patrick Peterson. They had a monster draft in 2004 and a couple of other decent drafts, but that's about it. Graves never was considered a draft guru. To repeat, he leaned heavily on those around him. A look back at the Graves-era drafts:

2012: WR Michael Floyd (first round) has a chance to be pretty good. OT Bobby Massie (fourth) was a turnstile as a full-time starter on a poor offensive line.

2011: Peterson (first) is one of the top young defensive players in the game and could eventually surpass Darrelle Revis as the top corner. Otherwise, this was an underwhelming draft. They missed on RB Ryan Williams (second).

2010: LB Daryl Washington (second), a star on the rise, is the best of the bunch. First-round DT Dan Williams is pulling a Gholston -- no sacks in three seasons.

2009: Picking 31st after the Super Bowl season, the Cards whiffed the entire draft. First-round RB Beanie Wells already is a goner.

2008: They hit with the first two picks, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (first) and DE Calais Campbell (second), although DRC's career has faded with the Eagles. Campbell was one of the top picks of the Graves era. The rest of the draft ... ugh.

2007: Another stinker. OT Levi Brown, picked fifth overall, hasn't come close to meeting expectations. The other four picks are gone.

2006: QB Matt Leinart was selected 10th overall. Need we say more?

2005: S Antrel Rolle is the sole survivor from this draft, a cast of characters that made no impact in the league.

2004: They built a terrific foundation with this draft, landing four big-time players -- Fitzgerald (first), LB Karlos Dansby (second), DT Darnell Dockett (third) and DE Antonio Smith (fifth), who has thrived with the Texans. Unfortunately for the Cards, they never came close to duplicating this haul.

This week marks a one-year anniversary that Kenrick Ellis would like to forget. On June 15, 2012, he started a 45-day jail sentence for assault, stemming from a 2010 incident in college. The nose tackle served his time, and now he's looking forward to a season with nothing but football on his mind.

"A year ago at this time, my body was here, but my mind wasn't," Ellis said at the conclusion of last week's minicamp. "You know the situation. I don't want to talk about it. Not having to worry about it, I'm finally starting to be me. I don't have to be all tense and all scared. It's all football and life. I'm happy. Everything is good right now."

Ellis went from minicamp last June directly to a jail cell in Hampton, Va. He was released in time for training camp -- it was a split sentence -- but 23 days behind bars took its toll on his conditioning. It's too bad because, despite the distraction of looming jail time, he was impressive last spring, according to Rex Ryan.

"I was like, 'Wow, this guy may end up winning our starting job,'" Ryan said. "I was really pleased with him. When he came back in the summer, he wasn't quite to that level and then he got injured early in the season. ... [He] never really hit his stride until late in the year, but now is the time for him to step up. I think he understands that the opportunity is right there in front of him and I believe the young man is going to do a tremendous job for us."

Ellis, 25, is expected to replace Sione Po'uha as the starting nose tackle. This is a big leap for Ellis, who played only 233 defensive snaps (22 percent) last season. The former third-round pick didn't contribute much in his first two seasons, admittedly relying too much on his natural talent.

"Being a small-school guy -- a small-school, black-college guy -- I was here off my athleticism," said Ellis, who played at Hampton University.

Ellis (6-foot-4, 345 pounds) believes he has sharpened his mental approach to the game, learning how to read blocking schemes and understand tendencies. He also has honed his technique, especially hand placement. The jail experience also taught him a life lesson.

"Be grateful for your situation, because somebody always has it worse," he said. "If it's dark, there's always day. There's always a way to get out. Keep persevering, keep pushing. This is all I know. This is easy now."

The offseason came to an unofficial end last Thursday with the conclusion of the mandatory minicamp. The Jets report July 25 to Cortland. So what happens between now and then? Because they're the Jets, something unexpected will happen. For now, a look at some items on the agenda:

1. Unsigned draft picks: Three of the seven choices remain without contracts -- CB Dee Milliner (first round), DT Sheldon Richardson (first) and QB Geno Smith (second). GM John Idzik said last week he expects to have them all signed by training camp.

With a rookie wage scale in the CBA, negotiations should be straightforward, although the question of whether to include offset language could be an issue with Milliner and Richardson. Around the league, only eight first-round picks have signed; 23 second-round picks have signed. Smith negotiation's could be complicated by the fact that his representation, Roc Nation Sports, is being investigated by the NFLPA. Idzik, however, said "nothing is standing in the way" of completing a deal.

2. Free-agent market: At this point on the calendar, teams are generally pleased with their rosters and will wait for training camp to unfold before addressing needs. The Jets have a few glaring needs, namely wide receiver. The most attractive free agent is Brandon Lloyd, but he has a reputation for being a problem child. He has played for six teams in 11 years. He got cut by the Patriots, a team that needs receivers, despite 74 catches for 911 yards last season. The thin free-agent market also includes Austin Collie, Laurent Robinson, Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston and Randy Moss.

3. Tone's time alone: WR Santonio Holmes, recovering from LisFranc foot surgery, said he will remain at the Jets' facility during the hiatus to rehab his injury. In all likelihood, he will begin training camp on the physically unable-to-perform list. Holmes said his "target date" is to be ready for camp, but the organization's target date is Week 1. Holmes knows he's playing for a contract in 2014 (we're assuming he'll be a cap casualty), so you can bet he won't come back until he's convinced he won't re-injure the foot. His rate of recovery likely will impact whether the Jets decide to acquire another veteran.

4. The Goodson situation: The Mike Goodson case was forwarded last week to a grand jury for possible indictment on drug and weapons charges, but prosecuting attorney Peter Foy said he will "continue to speak with counsel about resolving this prior to grand jury" -- meaning a possible plea deal. Obviously, the Jets would like to have a resolution as soon as possible so they could execute a contingency plan, if necessary. They're counting on Goodson to be a significant contributor in their rebuilt backfield.

5. Jets West: Mark Sanchez is planning to hold his annual players-only passing camp in Mission Viejo, Calif. The only question is whether Geno Smith attends. The weeklong event isn't open to the media. How do I feel about that? No comment.

A post-minicamp check on the Jets:

1. Bringing the heat: One of the reasons why Rex Ryan has resumed control of the defense is because the Jets want to get back to their ultra-aggressive style from 2009 and 2010. There was a feeling in the locker room that they got too conservative under former coordinator Mike Pettine, whose role expanded over the previous four years to the point where he was heavily involved in play calling in 2011 and 2012. He left after the season in a mysterious lateral move to become the Bills' DC.

"We're going to do a lot of blitzing and getting after people," LB David Harris told me the other day. "There should be a different brand of football than you were used to seeing the last couple of years." Asked about last season's philosophy, Harris said, "We played more coverage. It wasn't like '09, that's obvious. That's all I'll say about that."

Interesting.

The statistics don't lie. Here's a breakdown of the Jets' blitz percentage (5+ pass rushers) over the past four seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information: 52.4 percent in '09 (first in NFL), 44.7 percent in '10 (third), 32.8 percent in '11 (12th) and 34.0 percent in '12 (11th). Detect a trend? In fairness to Pettine, he lost the top corner in football, Darrelle Revis, which may have caused him to become more cautious. Yet when I mentioned that alibi to two players, they shot it down, saying Antonio Cromartie capably replaced Revis as the No. 1 corner. I'll say this: The defense will be fun to watch in 2013.

2. Special K: The Kellen Winslow, Jr. signing is a low-risk acquisition, but it seems like expectations are getting out of control. Yes, he impressed at minicamp, but the man has endured at least five knee operations since his motorcycle accident in 2005, including a reconstruction in '05 and microfracture surgery in '07. A year ago, he told the Boston media -- during his cup of coffee with the Patriots -- that he plays in constant pain. Winslow said he felt great during his three-day tryout with the Jets, but what did you expect an unemployed player to say?

"I think it's a lot like [David] Garrard," an opposing personnel executive said of Winslow. "He'll be fine in a workout, moving and running, but taking a hit, the grind of training camp and a full, 16-game season will be the litmus tests. ... I'd watch him closely to see if they manage his reps and practice time."

3. Secret weapon: The future of RB Mike Goodson remains up in air, with his case headed to a grand jury. That could take a couple of months, but my sense is there will be a plea deal before then. If the gun charge is dropped and he cops to possession of marijuana, the outcome could be a one-game suspension by the NFL. In 2009, Shaun Ellis received a one-game suspension and a $100,000 fine from the league after he was arrested for possession of marijuana. I can tell you this: Goodson has impressed with his explosiveness, and people in the organization are rooting for him, perhaps selfishly, because they believe he can be a dynamic player.

4. Who needs help?: Some teams, in an attempt to get a better handle on defending the read-option, have consulted with college coaches. Not the Jets. Ryan said they don't need help. He said, "I’m not being arrogant about it, but ..." -- and he went on to mention his long-ago coaching experience in the Big 12. He also noted that LBs coach Brian VanGorder has a college background, including last season as the Auburn defensive coordinator.

"I think we've got a pretty good handle on it," Ryan said. They didn't last year, as they were shredded by Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson. Just saying.

5. Unique competition: QBs coach David Lee is a straight shooter. The question is, will his quarterbacks follow suit? Lee, coaching with his fourth team in nine NFL seasons, said he's never been around a quarterback competition this tight. Previously, he coached Quincy Carter (Cowboys), Vinny Testaverde (Cowboys), Drew Bledsoe (Cowboys) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills). In each case, the starter was clear-cut, he said. Now he has Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, neck-and-neck as they head into training camp.

"It’s never been like this, no, sir," Lee said. And to think, the fun hasn't really started yet.

6. Speak up, kid: Lee said Smith's "delivery in the huddle has to be more consistent." By that, he meant the way Smith relays the play call to his teammates. This is one aspect of the quarterback's job that no one ever talks about. The quarterback must speak clearly and decisively, almost as if he's selling the play to the rest of the huddle. If there's hesitation or doubt, it creates a bad vibe. From what I'm told, Smith botched a few during recent practices. Hey, he's a rookie, so he gets the benefit of the doubt. No one will remember his minicamp hiccups if he blows away everyone in training camp with how much he's improved.

7. Still paying for Tebow: Tebow's contract with the Patriots is a two-year deal for $1.36 million, according to ESPNBoston.com. There's no signing bonus, no guaranteed money, just the minimum salaries and a $25,000 workout bonus in 2014. The Jets aren't paying Tebow anymore, but they're still paying money to the Broncos -- $1.53 million, per last year's trade agreement. In other words, the Jets are paying more for a ghost than the Patriots will pay over two years for the actual player -- if he makes the team. That's hardly a lock, although owner Robert (We Love His Spirituality) Kraft is pulling for him. Tebow is "the real deal," according to Kraft. You can never have too much Tebow. Oh, wait, somebody already said that.

8. Making a mountain out of a Hill: Aside from the quarterbacks, the player under the most scrutiny in training camp will be WR Stephen Hill, who followed a disappointing rookie year with a drop-filled minicamp. The Jets gave him a surprisingly high draft grade and, if DE Quinton Coples hadn't been available, they may have considered Hill with the 16th overall pick last year. (Ryan might have tendered his resignation if that happened.) Now it's time for Hill to produce.

9. Tone talk: Santonio Holmes, who would rather wash dirty locker-room towels than speak to the media, provided details of his Lisfranc foot injury in an interview last week with the Jets' official web site. He said it was diagnosed as a Grade 4 injury (the most serious kind), meaning a muscle tear and joint separation in his mid-foot. Screws and a plate were removed in a follow-up surgery in March, but he said two screws will remain in his foot permanently. He said his "target date" is the first day of training camp, but that seems overly ambitious, considering he still isn't running and cutting. Between Holmes and Hill, the need for a receiver is so blatantly obvious. GM John Idzik needs to spend the next two to three months looking to make a deal or else he's giving the offense no chance.

10. Cortland's coming: Only 39 days until training camp. And no Revis watch. It won't be the same.

The restructuring of the Jets' front office under new GM John Idzik is complete, and we have an exact breakdown right here.

Before we get to names and titles, a couple of notes: Longtime executive Terry Bradway, one of the holdovers from the Mike Tannenbaum regime, has a new title. Bradway will be the senior director of college scouting. Previously, he was the senior personnel executive (2006 to 2012) and the GM (2001-2005). Idzik eliminated the player personnel department, which consisted of Bradway and JoJo Wooden, who left to work for the Chargers.

When reading the front-office roster, keep in mind the three main departments -- football administration, pro personnel and college scouting -- report to directly to Idzik. He wants to make it collaborative effort, so he will lean on Rod Graves, Jacquelin Davidson, Bradway and Jeff Bauer -- his inner circle, so to speak.

Here's the breakdown (* = new to organization)

FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION

Senior director, football administration -- Rod Graves*

Manager, football administration -- Jacqueline Davidson

PRO PERSONNEL

Director, pro personnel -- Brendan Prophett

Assistant director, pro personnel -- Matt Bazirgan

Assistant, pro personnel -- Greg Nejmeh

COLLEGE SCOUTING

Senior director, college scouting -- Terry Bradway

Director, college scouting -- Jeff Bauer

Coordinator, college scouting -- Dan Zbojovsky

Area scouts -- David Boller*, Aaron Glenn, David Hinson*, Cole Hufnagel, Jay Mandolesi, Christopher Prescott*, Rick Courtright (national)*, Kathryn Smith (assistant).

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- If the Jets already know who their starting running back for this upcoming season is going to be, it's news to Joe McKnight.

"We got to get to camp and then you find out who the No. 1 running back is," McKnight said on Thursday. "We don't have no pads on, you can't really tell."

McKnight is one of four candidates to be the starter this season, although he appears to be the longshot. The team used a fourth-round pick to acquire Chris Ivory (the favorite to become the starter), and, legal problems aside, gave Mike Goodson a three-year, $6.9 million deal. Bilal Powell also returns after tallying more than three times the amount of carries McKnight had last year.

"Still got to put the pads on," McKnight said. "You don't play football games in no pads."

McKnight is entering what could be a make-or-break year for him in his fourth season. After being selected in the fourth round of the 2010 Draft, McKnight hasn't lived up to expectations. He has just 112 career carries for 502 yards and no touchdowns, although he has excelled as a return man. McKnight had 30 carries for 179 yards last season, but averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return and even returned one for a score.

At the moment, McKnight appears to be fourth on the team's depth chart, behind the three aforementioned backs.

While Goodson's legal situation could change the dynamics of the backfield, as he has pleaded not guilty to five drug and weapon charges stemming from a May arrest, McKnight has some work to do if he wants to receive carries in the fall.

Earlier this offseason, McKnight said he's not going down without a fight.

"I don't care who they bring in. They're gonna have to kill me to take my spot," McKnight said in mid-May.

He added: "I'm not angry at all. I'm just tired of people just running their mouth, just talking about [how] I'm not gonna be here."

McKnight, 25, tweaked his ankle Wednesday, but participated fully in the final day of minicamp on Thursday and said he felt alright.

While most observers aren't that high on the Jets offense, McKnight likes what he's seen out of the unit thus far. McKnight didn't offer any insight into what type of role the team could be using him in this upcoming season.

"We could be real dynamic. We got four good running backs, we got a lot of good receivers that came in, we just got to stay together as a team," McKnight said. "When we get to camp, we got to work hard and be together as an offensive group."

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- One of the intriguing position battles for the Jets this summer will be at safety, as the team is in need of two new starters.

Newcomer Dawan Landry appears to be the favorite for one spot, and the other starting position appears to be a battle between 2012 late-round draft picks Josh Bush and Antonio Allen. Former Eagles second-round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett also figures to be in the mix as well.

Allen had been working with the first team during OTAs, but he found himself working with the second string during this week's minicamp, which concluded Thursday.

"It's no surprise. I've been going with the first team all OTAs and I guess minicamp, they put me with the second team," Allen said Thursday. "It's a learning experience. I'm not frowning upon it. I just got to work hard."

He added: "Whatever is going to help the team win, I guess. It might not be permanent, but it is for right now."

The Jets find themselves looking for new safeties after last season's starters, Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry, departed this offseason for Arizona and Indianapolis, respectively. The Jets also released veteran Eric Smith as part of their purge of veterans this offseason.

Allen, a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina, played in just seven games for the Jets last season and had six total tackles. Tuesday, it appeared he made an error which landed him in the doghouse for the minicamp. Allen did say he thought he had a pretty good camp "for the most part."

"[Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman]'s a good coach, he knows what he's looking for," Allen said. "I'm just motivated to come back knowing the playbook a little bit more. Come back faster, stronger. Everything I can do to get that spot."

Allen said he will not be joining the team's defensive backs in California for the workouts hosted by Antonio Cromartie. He believes the vacant starting positions have created a great opportunity for him.

"Trust me, I got it locked in what I want to do," Allen said. "I'm working hard every day and trying to prepare myself for that position."

Bush, a sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest, has a little more experience than Allen. He played in all 16 games last season while recording a total of 11 tackles. The wildcard in the mix is Jarrett, who played in a total of 13 games with Philadelphia in 2011-12 before being released. The Eagles used the 54th pick of the 2011 Draft on Jarrett, although it didn't pan out as they expected.

"He's shown me some stuff," Allen said of Jarrett. "How he came in, he knew the playbook."

In addition to the two new starting safeties, the Jets are expected to use rookie first-round pick Dee Milliner as a starting outside cornerback. Just one season after having primarily a veteran-filled secondary, the Jets will rely on youngsters to help anchor their pass coverage. The Jets allowed the second-fewest passing yards last season, yielding just 189.8 yards per game.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Thoughts and observations from the final day of the mandatory minicamp:

1. A cry for help: For the second straight day, Rex Ryan bemoaned the performance of his receiving corps. This time, it wasn't unsolicited, but he took the question and ran with it, saying, "It has to get better" -- along with a lot of other stuff. It almost seemed like he was trying to send a message to GM John Idzik, the man in charge of finding players. This has to be the No. 1 item on Idzik's agenda. He's way off base if he thinks he can win with the current group, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Santonio Holmes.

2. The Lee factor: Practice was an ode to QBs coach David Lee, the real mastermind behind the Wildcat. (What, you thought it was Tony Sparano?) The Jets devoted an entire team period to the Wildcat, delivering a loud message: Tim Tebow is gone, but who cares? Make no mistake, it will be part of their offensive package, and they'll run it better than last year. It couldn't be worse.

3. What an arm: This might have been Geno Smith's best day of throwing since his Pro Day at West Virginia. I've said this before: When he sets his feet, he can really spin it. He also did a lot of spinning after practice, trying to explain his way out of the "Jets West" controversy.

4. Studs and duds: The players who jumped out to me over the three-day camp were OLB Ricky Sapp, CB Aaron Berry, TE Hayden Smith and RB John Griffin. On the flip side, the players who struggled were WR Stephen Hill, WR Jeremy Kerley and S Antonio Allen.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- John Idzik's first two free-agent signings didn't turn out well. Aging QB David Garrard, with a bone-on-bone condition in his knee, couldn't make it to minicamp and retired. RB Mike Goodson, who arrived with a checkered past, got arrested on drug and weapons charges.

Idzik, speaking to the media Thursday for the first time in a month, defended the signings.

"I know there's a perception from the outside, but we know what goes on on the inside," he said.

Idzik, reiterating the organization's position on Goodson, said he won't make any decisions on the running back's future until the legal process plays out. He said there's no guarantee that Goodson will be on the roster, adding, "There are no guarantees in life and there are certainly no guarantees in the NFL."

The Jets gave a $1 million signing bonus to a player with a history of personal and financial troubles. He's a father of six children with three women, each of whom filed a paternity suit against him.

"We do our homework with respect to medical concerns and with respect to background checks," Idzik said. "We're in the human business. When you're dealing with that, there's unpredictability. There's always a degree of risk or unpredictability with what we do. We like to believe that, based on the information we gather, we take calculated risks with players."

With Garrard, Idzik admitted there was "an unknown there" because he hadn't played in two years. You think?

"I don't know that we were surprised," he said. "We were hopeful. It's one of those things. You take a shot, you go through the paces."

Idzik wouldn't rule out the possibility of adding another veteran quarterback, although it didn't sound like he was rushing to make it happen. He said Mark Sanchez-Geno Smith is a "pretty healthy competition."

He spoke glowingly of Rex Ryan, calling him "a joy to work with. I think he's been re-energized."

If you're looking for a prediction on the season from Idzik, forget it. Not his style. He wouldn't even say if he believes the current team is better than the 6-10 mess he inherited -- probably not what fans want to hear.

"That's tough," he said. "I've only been here five, six months. I don't know that it's a continuum of sorts. I just look at the team as we sit here today. We're pleased in the direction we're headed."

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith said he has no problem with Mark Sanchez and will attend his upcoming camp -- if he’s invited.

In damage control a day after his cryptic no-comments fueled speculation of a rift with Sanchez, Smith called the mini-controversy over “Jets West” a simple misunderstanding.

Smith wasn’t scheduled to speak to the media on the final day of minicamp, but the public relations staff gathered reporters in the locker room so he could “clarify” his remarks from the previous day. On Wednesday, Smith refused to answer when asked if he’s planning to attend “Jets West,” a week of informal, players-only workouts hosted by Sanchez at his old high school in Mission Viejo, Calif. Sanchez has held the camp since 2009; all offensive skill-position players are invited.

Smith said he and Sanchez never discussed it.

“It kind of caught me off guard because it’s not on my schedule or anything,” said the former West Virginia star, competing with Sanchez for the starting job. “I was like, ‘What is Jets West?’ Basically, I didn’t comment because I was always taught if you don’t know exactly what you’re answering about, never to comment on it.”

On Wednesday, Sanchez reiterated that every player is invited. But he, too, was reluctant to discuss it. Other players said “Jets West” has been openly discussed in the locker room. Smith said he’d like to attend the camp. But he’s waiting for an invite.

“Mark hasn’t officially extended the hand to me,” he said, “but I’m pretty sure there’s no problem there. I’m more than willing to go there and get some work with the guys and do all that stuff because it helps team bonding. I fully support it.”

So, basically, he's waiting for an invitation to an event he didn't know existed until 24 hours ago. This sounds like a "Seinfeld" episode.

Smith could’ve avoided the fuss, but he offered only three consecutive “no comment” answers on Wednesday. He insisted his relationship with Sanchez is fine.

“Mark is a great guy, he welcomed me with open arms,” Smith said. “All of these guys have. I never felt any type of negative vibe from him or any other guy. That’s a good thing about being a rookie, being part of the Jets. I get the opportunity to compete for a starting job, which is very rare, especially at this position.”

Sanchez has been complimentary of Smith, but he made it clear at the start of the offseason that it would be hard to become close friends with a direct competitor. Sanchez described his relationship last year with Tim Tebow as cordial and professional, but not buddy-buddy. Tebow attended “Jets West” last summer, as did about a dozen players.

Smith, a second-round pick, remains one of three unsigned draft choices. His representation, Roc Nation Sports, is being investigated by the NFLPA to see if it violated the so-called “runner” rule. If Smith was recruited by rap star Jay-Z, a Roc Nation owner, it would be a violation because he’s not a certified agent.

General manager John Idzik indicated the investigation has no bearing on contract negotiations. “Nothing is standing in the way,” he said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- As the Jets prepare to integrate first-round pick Dee Milliner into their secondary, Kyle Wilson is keeping his attention strictly on him own progress. No matter the team's vision for Milliner, Wilson isn't getting caught up in how that will affect his role with the team.

"Right now my focus is it doesn't matter to me who's here and who's not here," Wilson said. "I don't think anything is going to change the way I go out there and perform on the field. That's really my focus of getting better -- doing my best personally to help out the team."

As he enters his fourth season, and with a new corner challenging for a starting spot, Wilson has made a good impression during the team's spring workouts. Wilson, who played outside last season due to Darrelle Revis being injured, has primarily played in the slot during offseason workouts.

"This is the best camp he's had and it's not close. I've been proud of the way he's come into these OTAs and the way he's competing," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. "The other thing about Kyle, mentally he's a sharp guy as well. He can work inside and outside and we'll play him in both spots."

The Jet drafted Milliner with the ninth pick, and Ryan said the team has every intention of letting him compete for the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Antonio Cromartie. It even appears he's the favorite to win the position due to Wilson's increased time in the slot. Milliner is currently sidelined as he rehabs from labrum surgery, but has said he'll be ready for training camp.

Wilson was primarily been used in the slot during his first two seasons in the NFL, but after Revis went down early last season, he manned the outside spot and played well. That strong play has extended into this offseason, as Wilson has continued to show signs of improvement while primarily playing the nickel.

Leading up to training camp, Wilson will try to attend the defensive backs workouts in California that Cromartie will be hosting.

"Just using my experience to my advantage. I know exactly what to look for," Wilson said. "I know why we're calling stuff and scenarios and I try to use that to think like a coach out there so I'm not having rookie mistakes. You can see things and understand why we're doing it and what we're doing defensively to put myself in a better situation."

When the Jets drafted Milliner in April, Wilson viewed the move as an example of the team acquiring a player who would help the team improve. While he didn't say too much Thursday about Milliner, Wilson did indicate that the addition of another corner is motivation of sorts.

"Yeah, it's going to do something," Wilson said. "But for me, just staying focused is going to help me out and that's exactly what I'm trying to do."

He added: "For me, this is my first opportunity. I try to take advantage of it every day. I don't need anything else as far as questions and answers regarding this organization's moves."

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Thoughts and observations from the third and final day of mandatory minicamp:

1. Ah, memories: One year after Tim Tebow, the Jets devoted an entire team period to the Wildcat. It probably was the heaviest dose of Wildcat in, like, forever. They used a variety of formations with a variety of Wildcat quarterbacks. David Lee's fingerprints were all over this practice. Lee, the quarterbacks coach, is generally regarded as one of the Wildcat pioneers. He orchestrated the Wildcat as a Dolphins assistant coach in 2008, when he worked under Tony Sparano. If the Jets had Lee last year ... oh, never mind. They also used some read-option plays with Geno Smith. No surprise, considering Rex Ryan spoke Wednesday about Smith's potential in that type of scheme.

2. Geno rocks ... except for one throw: Smith enjoyed one of his best days. Working with the first team for the second straight day, per their quarterback rotation, Smith threw the ball exceptionally well in the field house. (They went indoors because of the rain.) His best throw was a 50-yard strike to Stephen Hill, who managed to hold on (really) and raced another 20 yards to the end zone. He beat S Josh Bush on the play. It was a frozen rope, the kind of throw that Mark Sanchez probably couldn't complete. Smith also starred in a 7-on-7 drill. Now here comes the "but." Later, in a two-minute drill, he telegraphed a second-down sideline pass to Vidal Hazelton. CB Aaron Berry saw it coming and jumped the route for an interception. Smith knew it was a mistake, evidenced by his body language.

3. Attendance check: CB Antonio Cromartie was excused for personal reasons. RB Mike Goodson returned to practice after missing Wednesday due to his legal situation.

4. Safety competition: Bush has moved ahead of Antonio Allen, starting opposite Dawan Landry, but who knows if that will last? Bush was a hair late on the big pass play to Hill, the kind of hesitation that could mean the difference between a win and a loss. Allen dropped a would-be interception of a telegraphed seam pass by Sanchez in the 7-on-7. The safety battle may not be decided until well into training camp.

5. Backfield by committee: It's an equal-opportunity situation at running back. John Griffin, Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell got a lot of reps, with Chris Ivory and Goodson also getting some work. Curiously, Ivory didn't get a lot of reps in minicamp. Granted, it was a pass-heavy camp, not an ideal setting for a physical runner like Ivory, but you still expected him to get more action than he did.

6. Hail, Marty: OC Marty Mornhinweg, covering all the basis, had them practicing Hail Mary passes at the end of the two-minute drill. I'll say this: Smith throws a pretty Hail Mary from about 50 yards.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Kellen Winslow turned his audition into an extended stay -- or at least that's how it might happen. The Jets would like to sign the veteran free agent to a contract, and there's a good chance that will happen soon.

Rex Ryan was coy when asked about it before Thursday's final practice of minicamp.

"I'm not going to discuss that now," he said. "I see exactly what you see. I see that athleticism and his ability to catch the football jumps out at you."

Ryan said Winslow, who hasn't been a full-time player since 2011, still has a "presence" on the field. Based on his three-day tryout, it looks like he'll have a presence in training camp as well.

Odds and Ends: Ryan reiterated what QBs coach David Lee said Wednesday about rookie Geno Smith, acknowledging that Smith is struggling. He expects Smith to take a big leap in training camp. "When he's on, the guy is absolutely terrific," Ryan said. ... CB Kyle Wilson is having his best offseason, according to Ryan. But that doesn't mean he'll replace Darrelle Revis in the starting lineup. Ryan noted that No. 1 pick Dee Milliner was "one of the top corners I've seen come through the draft in a long time." ... It sounds like Ryan, frustrated by all the dropped passes this week, wants to sign a veteran wide receiver. He has a pretty good one on the sideline -- Santonio Holmes, recovering from foot surgery. "We need Santonio Holmes, I don't think there's any doubt about that," Ryan said.