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The Jets' decision to retain WR Santonio Holmes was a no-brainer from their perspective.

Even if they were willing to eat his guaranteed 2012 salary ($7.75 million), the thing they couldn't bare to swallow was the cap charge for releasing him -- $12 million. That's a lot of dead money, roughly one-tenth of the entire salary cap. They'd better hope they can get Holmes back on the reservation because this is the kind of situation that can get people fired. They're now locked into him for $15.25 million.

In other contract news, the Jets apparently have decided to keep RT Wayne Hunter, whose $2.45 million salary for '12 became guaranteed on Wednesday, a source confirmed. This is a head scratcher.

Hunter, who signed a four-year, $14 million contract last summer, is well-liked by his teammates -- he's the guy who called out Holmes in the huddle on that fateful day in Miami -- but he struggled in his first season as a starter. He allowed a team-high 8.5 sacks, according to STATS, and committed a team-high 11 penalties.

Assuming Hunter didn't take an 11th-hour pay cut, a $2.45 million salary usually is starter's money, but it's not the type of salary that makes a player an untouchable. This tells us the Jets aren't too confident in Vladimir Ducasse's ability to compete for a starting job.

WR Patrick Turner, set to become a restricted free agent on March 13, signed a one-year, $875,000 contract, a source confirmed.

Turner will earn $615,000 in base pay, plus a $250,000 signing bonus and a $10,000 workout bonus.

The 6-foot-5 Turner, originally a third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2009, caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown last season. His touchdown came late in the final regular-season game after replacing Santonio Holmes, who was benched because he was jawing with teammates. He also contributed on special teams.

Turner was a teammate of Mark Sanchez at USC.

Tough day for the Jets. New York City is picking up confetti from the Giants’ victory parade. The Jets? Well, they're still picking up the pieces from a shattered season.

But, hey, life is a learning experience, and the Jets can learn plenty from Super Bowl XLVI. Six things they can take away from it:

1. You need a franchise quarterback. There are rare exceptions, of course, but the reality is you need an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Unless they’re lying through their teeth, the Jets believe they have that guy in Mark Sanchez. We’ll find out the truth in about a month, when Peyton Manning is expected to become available.

2. Pass rush is important. Because it's a passing league, you need to have the ability to put the quarterback on the ground. Once again, the Giants proved that it’s vital to have pressure players. Instead of trying to manufacture a pass rush with scheme, the Jets need to bring in some horses. They've ignored this for too long.

3. Chemistry is key. The prevailing theme in the Giants’ locker room late Sunday night was team unity, how their belief in one another helped them navigate a turbulent season. The Giants were 7-7, and everybody wanted Tom Coughlin’s head on a platter, but the team never succumbed to the adversity. The Jets, who did, have a lot of work to do in this area.

4. Depth isn’t a luxury, it’s a must. Both the Giants and Patriots suffered a number of injuries throughout the season, but they kept it together, in many cases with no-name players. The Jets, now paying for having traded away so many draft choices over the years, have depth issues at quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker and safety.

5. Continuity is big. Eli Manning has been in the same offensive system his entire career. For the most part, so has Tom Brady. Both teams have a system that works, and they know how to find players to fit the system. The Jets have that on defense, but not on offense – and they won’t anytime soon. They’re starting over with a new coordinator, Tony Sparano, and a new system.

6. Strong leadership is essential. You may not like their styles, but Coughlin and Bill Belichick have a style, an unwavering philosophy on how to lead their respective teams. Rex Ryan still is finding himself, conceding he needs to tweak his approach. Ryan deserves some slack because he’s a lot less experienced than Coughlin and Belichick, both of whom are in their second head-coaching job, but it’s time for Ryan to settle in and chart a course for the Jets.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kenrick Ellis' trial for malicious wounding, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed until May 22, according to court records in Hampton, Va.

This marks the third continuance. It was originally scheduled to go to trial last July, three months after he was drafted in the third round by the Jets. The alleged incident took place in April, 2010.

The second-year defensive tackle is charged with attacking another student on the campus of Hampton University. Because he's a non-U.S. citizen (born in Jamaica) and because it's a felony charge, he risks deportation if convicted.

Will the Colts and Peyton Manning reach a deal? Liz Merrill weighs in.

And if they don't ... you fill in the blank.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Shortly after the Giants' 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, Jets owner Woody Johnson released a statement, congratulating the Giants on their fourth championship.

"On behalf of the New York Jets, I would like to congratulate the Mara and Tisch families, Coach Coughlin and the entire New York Giants organization," Johnson said. "It was a closely contested game that showcased all of the best elements that our sport has to offer. The Giants demonstrated poise and resolve in earning a hard-fought victory in Super Bowl XLVI. Also, I want to congratulate the Kraft family, Coach Belichick and the New England Patriots on a tremendous effort and an excellent season."


UPDATE: On Monday, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs responded to Johnson's congratulatory statement. "That's big of them, no question about it," he said in the lobby of the team hotel. "When the Jets went to the AFC Championship Game the last two years, I was rooting for the Jets to win. They're a good football team. I'd like to thank them for their congratulations. Better luck to that football team and organization next year."

The complimentary words were a bit surprising from Jacobs, who, as you may recall, had a heated exchange with Rex Ryan on the field after the Giants beat the Jets on Christmas Eve.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thoughts and observations, the Super Bowl XLVI edition:

1. Santonio Holmes tweeted this Saturday night: "@Mark_Sanchez @Pouha91 Hope your getting as antsy as me for the 2012-13 season to start. One more day til we start to make that journey." This came one day after Rex Ryan told me Sanchez and Holmes are planning some sort of extended sit-down, maybe a weekend retreat. (Why do I keep having images of Vince Vaughn?) These are certainly positive developments for the Jets' fractured locker room. But I wonder: Holmes' tweet wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that his $7.75 million guarantee jumps to $15 million if he's still on the roster after Wednesday, would it?

2. Ryan told reporters Saturday night he will take a more active role in the defense. In other words, he'll be calling plays again.

3. Curiously, the Jets haven't made any official announcements regarding the holdovers from the previous offensive staff -- i.e. QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, who's still under contract. They expressed interest in former Dolphins O.C. Brian Daboll (see: Tony Sparano connection), but Daboll just landed the same gig with the Chiefs. I'm hearing Karl Dorrell is a possibility for the QBs coach job, another Sparano guy. Sources say Sparano wants to bring in his own guy, which is understandable, but Ryan prefers to keep Cavanaugh. The coaches return Monday from vacation. The Jets need to firm this up because it's unfair to keep Cavanaugh floating in limbo -- if, in fact, he hasn't been informed of his status.

4. Interesting that former Jets P Steve Weatherford, now with the Giants, wears ear plugs when he punts. I know what you're thinking: He started doing that so he wouldn't have to hear Mike Westhoff barking at him. Not true. Weatherford's close friend, K John Carney, introduced him to the idea.

5. Congratulations to Curtis Martin on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My favorite Martin memory: Dec. 14, 2003 at Giants Stadium. In a driving snowstorm, Martin rushed 30 times for 174 yards. Everybody else was slipping and sliding, but Martin seemed to be on air, gliding. GM Mike Tannenbaum has a picture of Martin, parting the snowflakes, hanging in his office.

6. The life of a quarterback: After the season, Sanchez underwent precautionary MRIs on his ankles, knees and shoulders. Everything apparently checked out OK.

7. The Giants were very Jets-like during the run-up to the Super Bowl, with a handful of rather bold statements. I asked the King of Bold, Rex Ryan, if he had a comment on the Giants' bravado. He laughed and said he wasn't aware of the comments because he was in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl.

8. On Friday, I wrote a story about how the Giants discovered Victor Cruz at UMass, noting how college scout Chris Pettit did most of the leg work. Whitey Walsh, the longtime Giants scout now retired, also was involved. He used to run the Giants' local Pro Day at Giants Stadium. Walsh is in Indianapolis for the game, which is fitting.

9. Here's my opinion of Plaxico Burress: He did what he did for 12 games ... and disappeared.

10. Prediction: I'll stick with my initital feeling about the game -- a Giants victory, 31-27. I must admit, though, I'd be concerned about the vibe around the Giants. Too chatty. Bill Belichick is a master at using slights -- or perceived slights -- to his advantage.

Years ago, before the Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl, there was a report about how the city of Philadelphia already had planned a victory parade. Belichick read the exact parade route to his players, according to former Patriot-turned-ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi. Belichick once told me that, during the run-up to the Giants-Bills Super Bowl in 1991, they took a newspaper photo of Bruce Smith, getting fitted for a ring at a jewelry store, and posted it in their meeting room.

You can bet copies of the Giants' website faux pas -- the "Congratulations, Super Bowl Champions!" page that appeared briefly Saturday night -- will be displayed prominently in the Patriots' inner sanctum.

But I'll stick with the Giants.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Jets released statements from owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum on Curtis Martin's election to the Hall of Fame.

Johnson: "I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our own Curtis Martin, who will forever stand as one of the greats of the NFL and one of the best to ever wear a Jets uniform. His accomplishments on the field are matched only by his countless acts of kindness and philanthropy off the field during his career, for which he never sought recognition. He exemplifies the very best of the NFL and will now receive the highest admiration, an honor that he very much deserves."

Tannenbaum: "Curtis Martin’s work ethic, durability and ability to consistently play at such a high level are the hallmarks of his career and appropriately recognized by his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I have never come across a player who has been more dedicated to the team and doing his job. Curtis’ tremendous production on the field, regardless of how outstanding it was, pales in comparison to the man he is. An individual of unparalleled integrity, he treats everyone who crosses his path with honesty, kindness and respect and serves as a shining example of how professional athletes should carry themselves on and off the field."

INDIANAPOLIS -- For 11 seasons as a player, Curtis Martin never sought the spotlight. On Saturday night, it finally found him -- and he didn't mind one bit.

Martin, the quiet, dignified and tough running back who helped legitimize the New York Jets in the late 1990s, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. He joined Joe Namath, Don Maynard and coach Weeb Ewbank as the only Hall of Famers who carved their legacy with the Jets.

It could've been a New York-New York party, but former Giants and Jets coach Bill Parcells -- a two-time Super Bowl champion -- wasn't among the five modern-era inductees. The others were Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy and Willie Roaf.

Jack Butler, a Steelers cornerback from the 1950s, was also elected.

Martin, who last played in 2005, became the 29th modern-era running back elected to the Hall. He's the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history, with 14,101 yards.

This caps a remarkable football journey for Martin, 38, who didn't play organized ball until his senior year at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh. He scored on a long run the first time he touched the ball, and he never slowed down, going from Pitt to the New England Patriots to the Jets.

Martin was the embodiment of consistency and durability. He wasn't the biggest or the fastest runner, he didn't make many highlight-film plays and he rarely drew attention to himself with silly touchdown dances. But he showed up every Sunday and performed at the highest level for a decade.

He cracked the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie with the Patriots, and he kept churning them out, all the way to 10 in a row. The only other player to rush for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons is Barry Sanders, a Hall of Famer.

Martin's signature season came in 2004, when he claimed the league rushing title with a career-high 1,697 yards. He was 31, the oldest player to win a rushing crown, delivering his best at a time when most backs are either retired or barely hanging on.

He probably could've kept going, too, but Martin suffered a knee injury early in the 2005 season. He played through the pain -- he once said it felt like chards of glass inside his knee -- but he finally broke down late in the year, ending his streak of 119 consecutive starts. He never played again.

Martin was always concerned with team, not self -- and that will be his greatest legacy. He made a stunning gesture during a slump in 2003, saying he'd gladly take a seat on the bench if the coaches felt it would help the team. How many superstars would do that? The coaches stuck with him, and he still ended up with 1,308 yards.

His humility was -- and still is -- legendary around the Jets. Martin once said he liked to pick up used towels off the locker-room floor once a week because it kept him humble. To honor him, the Jets named their team MVP award after him.

It's rare for a non-quarterback to impact a franchise, but Martin did just that -- two franchises, actually. After three seasons with the Patriots, he followed Parcells to the Jets, signing a clever and complicated offer sheet that made it almost impossible for the Patriots to retain him.

Parcells' heist intensified the acrimony between the two bitter rivals, yet Martin somehow remained above the enmity. It wasn't your typical athlete-franchise divorce, as Martin has maintained a strong relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Truth is, you'd be hard-pressed to find a negative comment about Martin from anyone -- former teammate, opponent, anyone.

With Martin and Parcells in New York, the Jets took control of their rivalry with the Patriots, reaching the AFC Championship Game in their first season reunited, 1998. It came only two years after their 1-15 debacle. The Patriots sagged until Bill Belichick and Tom Brady started winning championships in 2001.

Perhaps the best snapshot of Martin occurred on a practice field, with no crowd and no teammates around. This was in July 2004, before training camp opened. Former general manager Terry Bradway looked out his window, and saw a solitary figure -- Martin -- walking through his plays, over and over.

A simple, yet telling moment from a Hall of Fame career.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Jets didn't make the Super Bowl, as their coach had predicted, but they nevertheless will have a presence Saturday in the heart of Indianapolis.

The Hall-of-Fame voting commenced at 7 a.m., and two of the 15 modern-era finalists have Jets connections -- Curtis Martin and Bill Parcells. The new Hall-of-Fame class will be announced at 5:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.

After reaching the final 10 last year but falling just short in his first year of eligibility, Martin is considered a strong candidate. Parcells, no doubt, also is worthy of being enshrined in the halls of Canton, but his chances appear less certain than Martin. A max of five modern-era candidates can be elected in any one year.

Some of the rules are quirky, too quirky. You could make the argument that Parcells is more deserving than Martin -- after all, he won two Super Bowls -- but the 44-person selection committee has a tendency to do some strange things. For the record, I believe Martin and Parcells belong -- this year. Martin said Parcells was the most instrumental person in his career.

The Jets have only two players in the Hall of Fame that made their names in the Green and White -- QB Joe Namath and WR Don Maynard. Martin, who played from 1998 to 2005, would be the third. Others in the Hall that played for the Jets:

RB John Riggins, 1971-75
S Ronnie Lott, 1993-94
WR Art Monk, 1994

Coach: Weeb Ewbank, 1963-73

Win and he's in. That is Plaxico Burress' take on Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

"He's one win away, I think, from being a Hall of Famer. I really believe that," Burress said Friday on "The Scott Van Pelt Show" on ESPN Radio.

Burress caught the winning touchdown pass from Manning in Super Bowl XLII. Manning will play for his second ring on Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI.

"If he goes out and wins this game," Buress said of his former teammate, "I really believe he's gonna be a Hall of Famer."

The Giants' current five-game winning started with a victory over Burress' Jets on Christmas Eve.

"He's just been lights out for the last month-and-a-half," Burress said of Manning. "His play has really just elevated to a level to where he's throwing the ball with tremendous confidence, putting it in tight places and the guys are out there making plays for him.

"He commands the offense, puts them in great position to get up and down the football field. He goes out and wins this game [Sunday], he's going to silence a lot of people."

Burress made his Super Bowl allegiance clear.

"I think the Giants win." he said. "I'm not going for the Patriots, that's for sure. The Patriots broke my heart too many times when I was in Pittsburgh, all of those AFC championships. Me and Tom Brady have been going at it ever since the Michigan-Michigan State days, so he's been a thorn in my side for the last 12 to 13 years.

"As far as from the Giants standpoint, I've built some great relationships over there and I'm still great friends with some of these guys outside of football. We hang out, even during the season when I was playing for the Jets. I'm running with Big Blue."

Burress' Giants career ended in 2008, when accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub. The incident violated New York's gun laws and led to a prison sentence for Burress.

INDIANAPOLIS -- We all know how Steve Weatherford feels about Mike Westhoff, his former special-teams coach with the Jets. On Thursday, Weatherford ratcheted up the criticism of Westhoff, suggesting Westhoff doesn't know as much about punting as he thinks he knows.

Weatherford wasn't re-signed by the Jets even though he tied an NFL record for most punts inside the 20.

"That wasn't good enough for Mike Westhoff," a sarcastic Weatherford told ESPNNewYork.com at the Giants' media session. "I'm playing for a guy now (Tom Quinn) that's got a Super Bowl ring, so that's not a guy I care to talk about. He does a lot of complaining, but recently he hasn't produced much."

Weatherford was alluding to unflattering comments made by Westhoff in the preseason and early in the season, after Weatherford had signed with the Giants. In various interviews, Westhoff said he was "very, very disappointed" in certain aspects of Weatherford's game, also saying he "wasn't good enough."

Weatherford thinks he knows why Westhoff unloaded on him.

"He saw the punter struggles they were having with the guys they were having compete for the job," he said, "and they started hammering him: 'Why did you let Weatherford go?' He said, 'He wasn't good enough.'

"It's a waste of my breath. Who wants to hear that? He lets Ben Graham go, and Ben Graham is a Pro Bowl alternate the next season. If I'm the GM, I'm thinking, 'What's the common denominator?'"

Interestingly, former Jets punters have played in three of the last four Super Bowls -- Weatherford, Jeremy Kapinos (Steelers, 2010) and Graham (Cards, 2009).

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bumped into a familiar face at the NFLPA meeting Thursday at the Super Bowl media center -- Tony Richardson.

Did the Jets miss him or what?

The classy Richardson, one of the team leaders in 2009 and 2010, said he was "surprised" by the locker-room unrest that bubbled to the surface at the end of the season.

"We had issues when I was there (in 2010), but we kept them in-house," he told ESPNNewYork.com. "Unfortunately, that stuff got leaked this season. It can't help but have an effect on a team."

Richardson said the team's chemistry was hurt because the front office "had to make some tough decisions and took away some key pieces." He made an interesting point, noting that each position group lost at least one leader -- the running backs (Richardson), the offensive line (Damien Woody) and the receivers (Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith).

Richardson said LaDainian Tomlinson filled the void at running back and Brandon Moore on the line, but he said no one stepped up at wide receiver.

"J-Co knew the playbook as well as (Brian Schottenheimer)," he said. "That's why the remaining guys weren't always on the same page."

Richardson, who still keeps in touch with some players, said he wasn't aware of the Mark Sanchez-Santonio Holmes rift.

"That was disappointing," he said. "The quarterback is the leader on our offense and, if I were a receiver, that would be the last person I want to beef with ... You look at Tom Brady and those tight ends and Wes Welker. The reason they light up is because they have such great chemistry."

Richardson said Sanchez is "getting beat up pretty bad" by the criticism, but he added: "I have a strong belief that he'll be back."

Richardson, 40, said he hasn't file retirement papers, but his football career is over. He was out of the league in 2011, concentrating his efforts on the NFLPA. He's a member of the executive board.

INDIANAPOLIS -- New York Jets owner Woody Johnson arrived Thursday at Peyton's Place, but soon his attention will be focused on his own quarterback, Mark Sanchez.

Johnson told ESPNNewYork.com he's planning to have dinner next week with the embattled Sanchez, one of the central figures in the Jets' locker-room mess.

"We'll be discussing things," Johnson said after checking into a downtown Indianapolis hotel. "I always check in on him. He's very important to the franchise."

The timing is interesting because the Jets have to make a decision on wide receiver Santonio Holmes before next Wednesday, based on a clause in the five-year, $45 million contract he signed before the season.

Team officials have said Holmes, whose season-long rift with Sanchez became public at the end of the season, will be on the team next season. But if they wanted to release him, they'd have to do it by Wednesday to avoid a $15 million guarantee. As it stands now, he's already guaranteed $7.75 million for 2012.

Publicly, Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan have said Sanchez will be the Jets' starter in 2012. But in an interview with beat writers two weeks ago, Johnson didn't rule out the possibility of pursuing Peyton Manning, whose time with the Indianapolis Colts appears to be nearing an end.

Sanchez, criticized publicly and privately by teammates, has avoided the media since the season ended. He's not attending any pre-Super Bowl events, a break from his norm.

Johnson, accompanied by Tannenbaum, traveled to the site of Super Bowl XLVI, in part, to do some advance scouting for the 2014 Super Bowl, which will be held at MetLife Stadium. Johnson said it doesn't bother him that the New York Giants are playing for the championship for the second time in four years.

"Well done, well done," said Johnson, who called co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch to congratulate them. "They've had a great run here. My hat's off to them, it really is. They've done a very good job. They peaked at the right time."

Asked if he's envious of the Giants' success, Johnson said: "Any owner is envious of the teams that get in because that's what we're struggling to do. The ultimate goal in NFL football is to get into a Super Bowl. That drives us. We know how hard it is. We've been working 40 years on this."

Johnson's team was expected to contend for a championship -- Ryan guaranteed a Super Bowl -- but it collapsed late in the season amid a fractured locker room. Johnson has owned the Jets since 2000, and he has seen the Giants advance three times to the Super Bowl. That, he insisted, won't have any impact on his approach.

"We're about as determined as you can get anyway," he said. "We're always looking to win. With Mike and Rex and our quarterback, I'm confident we're going to put it together. We're working hard. It's up to us to make it in this game."

This particular Super-Bowl matchup -- Giants versus New England Patriots -- is tough on Jets fans. Johnson said he has no rooting interest in the game. Asked who Jets fans should pull for, he said: "They have to figure that out for themselves."