ESPN

Sunday notes, thoughts and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. Let's make a deal. If the Jets want to trade up, the highest logical target is the Jaguars (No. 7 overall), who may be looking to deal out. What would it take to go up nine spots? According to the trade value chart, which serves as a guide to teams, the Jets would have to give up their first-, second- and fifth-round picks -- plus maybe a seventh-round throw-in. There's speculation the Jets are willing to move up to No. 7 for South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram. In my opinion, that would be too much to surrender for a short-armed pass rusher who started only one season. Don't get me wrong, he's a terrific prospect, but he's not one of the elite players. For Alabama RB Trent Richardson, I'd do it. He could change the entire offense.

2. The gang's all here. Monday is the start of the off-season program, which means the Jets will be together for the first time since the Miami meltdown on Jan. 1. Technically, these are "voluntary" workouts, but attendance is critical, especially for the Jets. They need to rebuild their chemistry and start learning Tony Sparano's offense. So far, no word on any disgruntled players that are planning to skip. Yes, CB Darrelle Revis, who is seeking a new contract, will be there on Day 1.

3. Darrelle's dollars. A few days ago, I wrote about the Revis contract, which has two years, $13.5 million remaining. Two years ago, the two sides failed to hammer out a long-term deal, settling for a one-year extension. The Jets expressed two legitimate concerns during those negotiations -- uncertainty with the NFL collective bargaining agreement and the lack of a naming-rights deal for the new stadium. Well, the naming rights came a year later (MetLife reportedly is paying $17 million to $20 million a year), as did a new CBA. With those two issues resolved, it'll be interesting to see how the Jets handle the Revis situation.

4. Tim-bucks. File this under "better late than never," but here are some numbers on Tim Tebow's contract (inherited from the Broncos): In 2012, he will make $1.1 million in base pay, plus a $472,500 roster bonus, due on the second day of training camp. His cap number is $2.572 million, which includes a $1 million payment to the Broncos to satisfy the agreement the two teams made with regard to salary advances. In 2013, he will make $1.055 million in base salary, but his cap figure will be $2.586 million because of a $1.531 million payment due the Broncos. In 2014, his cap charge drops to $895,000, his base salary.

5. Tim-sanity. Those were eye-opening comments by Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas, who questioned Tebow's passing skill and said "some players" were bothered by all the attention lavished upon Tebow. You can bet Jets players will be paying close attention to Tebow and how he handles everything. He certainly hasn't been publicity shy since the trade; did you catch his sitdown on "Good Morning America"? I wonder how Bill Parcells would coach Tebow. Remember, Parcells is famous for saying he dislikes celebrity QBs. I assume that goes for celebrity backup QBs as well.

6. The '03 debacle. Not happy with the Jets' offseason? Relax, it could be worse. It could be 2003. That was a comedy of errors, culminating with one of the worst drafts in team history. It started when they lost WR Laveranues Coles to the Redskins. They received a first-round pick as compensation, but when they found out DT Josh Evans was facing a drug suspension, they panicked. They used the pick, and their own first-rounder, to trade up for DT Dewayne Robertson (No. 4 overall), who had a chronic knee condition. He was a bust; his career lasted only six years.

In fact, all seven players from the '03 draft are out of the league. The Titans and Bucs are the only other teams whose '03 drafts are wiped out -- and the Bucs didn't have a first-rounder. In case you're wondering, the Jets' top three picks that year were Robertson, LB Victor Hobson and FB B.J. Askew. Ah, nostalgia.

7. Irish eyes. I know Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is one of the hot names in the draft, but I don't think the Jets would take him at 16. Nor should they. There's too much quality depth at receiver to take one that high. Plus, I'm not sold on Floyd. At 16, the Jets are looking at Alabama S Mark Barron, Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw and Syracuse OLB Chandler Jones, whose stock is rising.

8. Class act. Phillip Wilson, a Colts beat writer for the Indianapolis Star, tweeted the other day that he received an unexpected phone call from Peyton Manning. The former Colts QB called to thank Wilson for years of coverage. That rarely happens in this business, folks, and it says a lot about Manning.

9. A good turn. Agents sometimes get a bad rap; they're not all shadowy characters. Example: Priority Sports, a Chicago-based firm, held a symposium for its clients last week that was designed to educate them on real-life matters -- everything from money management to divorce to nutrition. Jets G Brandon Moore was one of 45 attendees. The speakers included former MSG exec Steve Mills and several other CEOs from large companies. It's a great idea; maybe they should've invited Warren Sapp.

10. Miami's heat. I think one of the most compelling teams in the draft is the Dolphins, who still haven't found their quarterback. They flirted with a couple of free agents and, somehow, ended up with David Garrard. Now, picking eighth, there's pressure to land Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, who could go as high as fourth. Do they make the move for Tannehill, satisfying a restless fan base, or do they stand pat and risk losing him? It should be great theater.

Notes, thoughts and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. Money sleeps. Potentially alarming news for the Jets: The management council informed teams last week at the league meetings that the salary cap probably will remain relatively flat over the next three years, according to ESPN's John Clayton. The current cap is $120.6 million and, despite soaring revenues, the projected increase is only $1 million by 2015. The Jets already have several huge contracts on their cap and the biggest one of them all is looming in 2013 -- CB Darrelle Revis, who has two years left on his deal. Revis is in line for the biggest contract in history for a defensive player. Prediction: Headaches, lots of headaches. This is why the Jets need to score big in the draft; it's the most cost-efficient way to build a team.

2. Money matters. While on the subject of the cap, the Jets had $7.6 million in space as of Friday, according to ProFootballTalk.com. QB Tim Tebow is counting $2.572 million on the cap, rather hefty for a backup. Approximately $5 million will go to the draft picks, leaving them some money for free agents. The Jets' plan is to wait until after the draft to sign a veteran receiver, with Braylon Edwards on their radar.

3. Te for two. Tebow's running ability could change the way the Jets approach two-point conversions. He had two rushing two-point conversions last season, tying Danny Woodhead and Danny Ware for most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Tebow was the QB for four two-point conversion attempts, the only failure on a pass play. Two of three successes came on option plays (Tebow kept one, handed off another) and the other was on a QB draw.

4. Timsanity. Based on stats, you'd have to say that teams started to figure out how to stop Tebow's running by the end of last season. In his first six starts, he averaged 5.9 yards per carry. In his last five starts, it dropped to 4.7.

5. Living on the edge. You may not agree with all of Mike Tannenbaum's personnel moves, but you have to admit, the man is a fearless GM. Think of all the bold moves he's made -- Brett Favre, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, Edwards and, of course, Tebow. Tannenbaum's managerial style contradicts his conservative persona.

6. If at first ... It's mind-boggling to think how many draft picks the Jets have used in recent years on quarterbacks. 2006: Drafted Kellen Clemens in the second round; 2008: Traded a third-round pick for Favre; 2009: Traded first- and second-round picks to move up for Mark Sanchez; 2011: Drafted Greg McElroy in the seventh round; 2012: Traded a fourth-round pick for Tebow. To recap, that's a 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 -- basically, the guts of an entire draft.

7. Heavy hitters. Rex Ryan believes recently-signed S LaRon Landry will make a major impact. "Wait until you see this dude on the field," he said. "As impressive as he looks, put the tape on and see if he’s not knocking the tar out of people. I mean, you put this guy between Bart (Scott) and David Harris … oh, I can’t wait to see these dudes on the field. There’s gonna be some collisions out there."

8. Cajun Tuna? Sorry, but the idea of Bill Parcells coaching the Saints just has a bad feel. He's a brilliant coach, but the situation would have a substitute-teacher feel to it. I asked former Jets great Curtis Martin about a possible return by his mentor, and he said, "Whatever makes him happy; he's earned it. I really don't have an opinion one way or the other ... Unlike me, football has been the majority of Bill's life. He has a different connection to it than I do." If Parcells returns, he'd have to wait another five years to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. By the way, Parcells already has accepted Martin's invitation to present him at the Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony in August.

9. Poker face. Colts owner Jim Irsay said they haven't decided whether it will be Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III with the first pick in the draft. He said it's "up in the air." Don't believe him; it's Luck all the way. He's been fascinated by Luck for more than a year, before he ever thought he'd have a chance to pick him.

10. QB III. Don't be surprised if the first three picks are quarterbacks -- Luck, RG3 and Ryan Tannehill. The Vikings won't take him with the third pick, but some desperate team (the Dolphins come to mind) will give up the store to move up ahead of the Browns (fourth), who also could be in the QB market. It's amazing how teams will reach for a quarterback.

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

INDIANAPOLIS -- For the second straight year, former Jets great Curtis Martin is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A 44-member selection panel, here at the Super Bowl, will vote on Saturday and the results will be announced Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.

This is highly unscientific, but the vibe I get from several voters is that Martin has an excellent chance of making the Hall this time. Ditto, former Steelers C Dermontti Dawson.

I interviewed to Hall-of-Famer RB Floyd Little the other day for a story about Tom Coughlin and his Syracuse roots, and we got around to talking about Martin's candidacy. Little believes Martin, the fourth all-time leading rusher, is worthy of Canton.

"He’s a guy I’ve admired for many, many years," Little said. "He’s had such a great career. The problem is, he’s fallen in with other good running backs. He comes up against (Jerome) Bettis, who won a Super Bowl. It seems like guys who won a Super Bowl get priority. I know Curtis very well ... I like Curtis. As a player, he’s done a lot. He’s certainly Hall-of-Fame worthy, but it’s not my call."

Former Giants and Jets coach Bill Parcells also is a finalist. I've heard a lot of positive feedback from voters about Parcells, but there appears to be less certainty about his chances than Martin.

Here are the other finalists:

RB Jerome Bettis
WR Tim Brown
CB Jack Butler
WR Cris Carter
Owner Edward DeBartolo, Jr.
DE Chris Doleman
LB Kevin Greene
LB Charles Haley
DT Cortez Kennedy
WR Andre Reed
OT Willie Roaf
G Will Shields
G Dick Stanfel
CB Aeneas Williams

When Bill Parcells was hiring his first coaching staff for the Cowboys in 2003, he gave a shot to a coaching unknown named Tony Sparano. Made him the tight ends coach.

Parcells didn't hire Sparano because he blew him away in the interview or because of his glittering resume. Actually, he gave him the job without ever having met him. That's because Parcells trusted the glowing endorsement of Tom Coughlin.

"I spoke with Tom about Tony," Parcells told ESPNNewYork.com Thursday. "That's how I got together with Tony. I hired him on Tom's recommendation, which I would do."

So there you have it: The man entrusted by Rex Ryan to galvanize the Jets' offense, and to fix Mark Sanchez, got his start in the Parcells coaching fraternity because of another fraternity member, Coughlin. So, in some small way, the Giants' coach is reponsible for the Jets' new offensive coordinator.

Coughlin gave Sparano a thumb's up because he spent a year (2002) on his staff with the Jaguars. He was Coughlin's tight ends coach. With the Cowboys, Sparano coached the tight ends, the offensive line and called plays in 2006 -- his only season of NFL play-calling experience.

Parcells called it "a joint venture" that season, and that wasn't a knock on Sparano. Parcells always liked to stay involved.

"He did good for us," said Parcells, who became the Dolphins VP in 2008 and hired Sparano as his coach. "I was always impressed with him. His work ethic. He's a very loyal guy. He's a really loyal, good person."

Sparano is known as a tough guy from New Haven, Conn., not afraid to get into a player's face if he makes a mistake. He's used to dealing with big egos. In Dallas, he had Terrell Owens. In Miami, Brandon Marshall. That should prepare him for the Jets' locker room -- specifically, Santonio Holmes.

"He has own way of doing things," Parcells said. "He’s not fearful. This guy is not looking for trouble. He goes by what he sees. He's not overbearing. He picks his spots."

Parcells didn't want to comment on Sparano's fit with the Jets, but he did say this about his football philosophy: "He wants to be sound on protection. He wants to protect the quarterback. That's very important. That will be an emphasis there, and that's a good thing. Quarterbacks take comfort in that and become efficient because of that."

On Thursday, the Jets interviewed another member of the Parcells fraternity, Todd Haley, for a position on the offensive staff. The Parcells coaching tree is growing in Florham Park.

Sunday notes, thoughts and observations:

Rex Ryan compared it to Ali-Frazier. I'm calling Sunday night's showdown against the Patriots the biggest regular-season game of the Ryan era.

It's not a do-or-die game (like the '09 season finale against the Bengals), and it doesn't have December drama (last season against the Steelers), but this is bigger than the rest because of all it represents -- not to mention its impact on the AFC East standings.

The Jets have been talking for two-plus years about overtaking the Patriots. Well, now is their chance. Yes, they had a shot last Dec. 6, when both teams entered 9-2. The difference between then and now is, the Jets knew even if they lost last December, they'd still have a great shot to make the playoffs as a wild card.

The Patriots clobbered the Jets, 45-3, a loss that still haunts/drives them. (A player, unsolicited, mentioned it to me the other day, saying it still serves as a source of motivation.)

This time, with a 5-3 record, the Jets might not have that luxury of falling back on the wild card. They might have to win the division, and that's probably not going to happen if they lose. The Patriots are 5-3, but they've dropped two straight, showing signs of vulnerability.

The Jets fought their way back from a three-game losing streak for a night like this, a night that didn't seem possible a month ago. If they want to realize their goal of securing a home playoff game, this is a must.

My three biggest regular-season games of the Ryan era (40 games):

1. Jan. 3, 2010: In a win-and-they're-in game, the Jets crushed the Bengals, 37-0. Virtual playoff games are always big, but this was a honeymoon season for the Jets and, after the Curtis Painter gift from the previous week, was there any doubt they'd beat a Cincinnati team that rested many players?

2. Dec. 6, 2010: There was tremendous hype for what would become known as the Boston Massacre. The Jets were non-competitive and lost, 45-3, falling a game behind the Patriots in the standings.

3. Dec. 19, 2010: The Jets went to Pittsburgh with a two-game losing streak and QB Mark Sanchez was close to getting benched -- and the Jets responded with an impressive 22-17 win that all but sealed a wild-card berth.

BELICHICK LOOKS BACK ON JETS DEPARTURE: On Friday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about his stunning resignation as HC of the NYJ, back in January, 2000. That subject doesn't come up too often in Belichick's presence -- he'd rather talk about Eric Mangini than that chapter in his life -- so I thought you might appreciate the Q & A with a reporter.

Q: Was that the strangest press conference you've ever done?

BB: I don’t really rank them, but it wasn’t a great situation all the way around, with Bill [Parcells] resigning the day before and me resigning the day after that and all that. That’s all water under the bridge.

Q: Do you ever look back on that?

BB: No. Honestly, I don’t spend a lot of time looking back on that, no.

Q: It was good TV.

BB: At that point in time, that situation, I did what I felt like I needed to do and I don’t have any regrets about that. Certainly a lot of things could have been handled differently or whatever, but anyway. It doesn’t matter now.

Imagine how history would be different if Belichick had remained with the Jets.

CUTTING BAIT: GM Mike Tannenbaum took a lot of criticism for parting ways with several popular players before the season, but in case you haven't noticed, not one of them is making him look bad. One thing about Tannenbaum: He usually knows when to say when.

How ex-Jets are faring with their new teams (stats from NFL.com):

DE Shaun Ellis (Patriots) -- No sacks, no forced fumbles, seven tackles.
S James Ihedigbo (Patriots) -- No interceptions, no sacks, 30 tackles.
WR Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers) -- Four catches for 54 yards.
WR Braylon Edwards (49ers) -- Ten catches for 120 yards.
DE Jason Taylor (Dolphins) -- Two sacks, eight tackles.
CB Drew Coleman (Jaguars) -- One interception, one sack, 24 tackles.
S Dwight Lowery (Jaguars) -- Two interceptions, one sack, 22 tackles.
RT Damien Woody -- Retired.
NT Kris Jenkins -- Retired.

THE MASON FIASCO: Looks like the Jets aren't going to get that conditional seventh-round pick for WR Derrick Mason. The deal with the Texans was this: He needed to catch at least 33 passes over their final 11 games for the Jets to get the pick. So far, he has only five catches in four games. In other words, they traded him for the proverbial bag of balls. But it was a classic example of addition by subtraction, as the Jets are 3-0 since the trade.

THE CUT MAN: On Saturday, the Patriots announced the signing of S Ross Ventrone to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. This seemingly is worthy of just a line on the transactions wire, but take a closer look: Ventrone is a boomerang. Since January, he has been cut five times by the Patriots, but he keeps coming back. In what other profession could you get fired five times in less than a year, and re-hired each time by the same employer?

Rex Ryan called it "a man's practice." The Jets got physical Wednesday, as physical as the new CBA allows. The idea, of course, was to eliminate any lingering cob webs from last week's fall break ... er, the six-day respite during the bye.

"That was a real practice, and (we had) a lot of fundamental periods, getting back into hitting and tackling," Ryan said.

Ryan is 0-2 coming out of the bye, and you can tell he's fed up with the criticism. Despite the struggles, he still gave the team a six-day break, but he changed the format a bit on Monday. They started running Bills-specific plays, getting a head start on game preparation. He said they didn't do that a year ago coming off the bye. The result was a 9-0 loss to the Packers.

Most of practice is closed to the media, but during the open portion Wednesday we saw a full-speed, kick-coverage drills. There wasn't tackling, but there was contact. Several players described it as a high-energy practice.

Asked if he's found the right post-bye formula, Ryan said, "Still searching, unfortunately." He likes this week's plan, but acknowledged, "Obviously, my history isn't good."

Reflecting on last season's post-bye approach, QB Mark Sanchez said it was "an ugly week of practice and it showed on Sunday ... I remember that feeling going into the Green Bay game, maybe not being as confident as we wanted to be."

This time, they promised to avoid a post-bye funk, working hard to raise the intensity level. But as Bill Parcells used to say, don't talk about the labor, show me the baby.

Former NFL coach Bill Parcells is surprised by the Jets' early struggles -- who isn't? -- and he believes it would be asking too much of Mark Sanchez to lift the team out of its funk.

"He's a developing player, just like all young quarterbacks, and there's going to be some good and some not-so-good," Parcells, an ESPN studio analyst, said Tuesday on ESPN New York 1050's "The Mike Lupica Show." "The good thing about Sanchez, he's acquired an awful lot of big-time game experience in his short time in the league. I think that will serve him well."

The Tuna added, "Before you can drive a Ford, you have to be able to drive a Cadillac. So if they get everything good around him, I think it will go well. Right now, I don't think he can take the team completely on his shoulders."

Rex Ryan evidently feels the same way. He didn't say so, but that's probably one of the reasons why they scaled back the offense and relied on the running game Sunday against the Patriots. It was a way to take some pressure off Sanchez, who was coming off a four-turnover disaster against the Ravens.

UPDATE: Sanchez, on his weekly spot later in the day on "The Michael Kay Show" had this to say in response to Parcells: "I totally respect his opinion a lot. He knows, as a quarterback, I'm prepared each week to master that game plan and handle everything the coaches are allowing me to do. I love our system, I love what (Brian Schottenheimer) is doing, we just need to convert a couple of third downs. I appreciate his insight. It does mean a lot."

Former Jets OLB Jason Taylor, released by the team in February, isn't ready to pull a Kris Jenkins. Even though he'll be 37 on Sept. 1, Taylor wants to play football in 2011 -- and he hinted about returning to the Dolphins.

Taylor, speaking to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Friday morning at a charity golf tournament in South Florida, changed his position with regard to future employment. In March, shortly after being cut by the Jets, Taylor said "that ship has sailed" when discussing a possible return to the Dolphins. At the time, he said it was the Jets or retirement.

The ship apparently has reversed its course, heading back to the harbor.

"I appreciate the interest and the concern if there is any,” Taylor told the newspaper. “No ships have sailed, no bridges have been burned. There’s nothing to do right now. I’m going to play this year, if there’s a season, and I think there will be. … Until this thing works itself out, I’m playing golf.”

Taylor did a respectable job in his only season with the Jets, recording five sacks and two forced fumbles, but he's considered a long shot to return. The Jets want to get younger and they could use Jamaal Westerman as their No. 3 outside linebacker. Taylor probably knows that, which might be why he's trying to make nice with the Dolphins. Bill Parcells, his LFE (least favorite executive), is out of the picture in Miami, another reason why he might be trying to smooth the way for a return.

ESPNNewYork.com is providing a daily breakdown on how the lockout is affecting the individual position groups.

Position: Defensive line.

Depth chart: Mike DeVito, Sione Pouha, Shaun Ellis, Trevor Pryce, Marcus Dixon, Muhammad Wilkerson (R), Kenrick Ellis (R), Ropati Pitoitua, Martin Tevaseu, Jarron Gilbert, Matt Kroul, Carlton Powell, Lorenzo Washington.

Not under contract: Shaun Ellis, Pryce.

Players hurt most by lockout: Wilkerson, Kenrick Ellis.

Player with most to gain: Shaun Ellis.

Analysis: The lockout is robbing rookies the opportunity to train and learn with their team, minimizing their chances of making an immediate impact. Those coming from a lower level of competition in college -- Wilkerson (Temple) and Ellis (Hampton) -- will feel it more than rookies from, say, the Big 10 of SEC. Wilkerson received a playbook after being drafted in the first round, but there's a huge difference between having a playbook and having a coach around to explain it. There will be a lot of cramming once the league year begins, especially for Ellis, who is attempting to make the giant leap from tiny Hampton to the NFL.

Conversely, the lockout will benefit a veteran like Shaun Ellis, whose experience and knowledge of the system will be invaluable because of the uncertainty surrounding younger players like Wilkerson. Ellis is what Bill Parcells used to call a "hold-the-fort guy." Every good team needs a few of those. Ellis is a free agent, but from all indications, he wants to return. He played well last season in the playoffs, probably earning another contract from the Jets.

Suddenly, there is this notion that the Jets are going to be presented all these wonderful opportunities to trade down in the first round because teams below them are desperate to move up for quarterbacks. I'm not buying it.

The Jets own the 30th pick, and there are at least five teams below them that might want a quarterback -- the Bills (34), Bengals (35), Cards (38), Titans (39) and Redskins (41). In theory, that should raise the value of the Jets' pick, right?

Not necessarily.

First of all, you have to figure one of these teams will get their QB (probably Blaine Gabbert) at the top of the first round, assuming the Panthers take Cam Newton No. 1 overall. Secondly, the teams still in the market will be aiming higher than the Jets. Everybody knows the Seahawks (25) need a QB, which is why QB-needy teams will be trying to leap-frog the Seahawks. That means they will be calling the Eagles (23) and Saints (24) to make deals.

Don't be surprised if the Bills trade up to the Eagles' spot for someone like Andy Dalton or Christian Ponder, among a second tier that includes Ryan Mallet, Jake Locker and Colin Kaepernick. Some people think a total of five could be chosen in the first round.

If the Jets did receive an offer, it's still hard to picture them trading out of the first round. It would be a buzz kill, and we know the Jets are all about making a splash. It's not in Mike Tannenbaum's DNA to trade down, and he shouldn't -- as long as he can get a player at 30 with a first-round grade. Yeah, the Jets could use a couple of extra picks, but is it worth the risk of losing a quality player just to gain, say, fourth- and sixth-round picks for dropping several spots? In other words, don't get too cute.

ARMS RACE: Tannenbaum subscribes to the Ron Wolf theory on quarterbacks, so it wouldn't be a shock if they draft one in the later rounds. When he was the Packers' GM, Wolf drafted developmental quarterbacks, like Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks, even though he had Brett Favre. Years later, he was able to trade them, getting a nice return on his investment.

TUNA TIME: Looking forward to Bill Parcells' draft show Tuesday night on ESPN (9:30 p.m.). Parcells used to take some criticism for his acumen as a personnel man, but he was responsible for two franchise-changing drafts. In 1995 with the Patriots, he drafted Ty Law, Ted Johnson and Curtis Martin. In 2000 with the Jets, he picked Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles.

Parcells, dispensing advice years ago to one of his proteges, Tannenbaum, said the person in charge of the draft room should try to imagine himself as sitting above the room, looking down on the entire operation and listening to all opinions and suggestions before making a final decison. Funny, but that doesn't sound like Parcells' management style. He wasn't afraid to get in someone's face -- and often did.

DRAFT REPORT: A recent analysis, conducted by Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, rated the Jets as the fourth-best drafting team over the last five years. The last five drafts, a total of 27 picks by Tannenbaum, have produced nine starters, including three Pro Bowlers -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis. But it's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business, and last year's draft (Kyle Wilson, Vlad Ducasse, etc.) leaves a lot to be desired.

When Bill Parcells took over the Jets in 1997, the franchise was a laughingstock in the NFL. It was coming off two years of Rich Kotite, a 1-15 season, and it had gone nearly a decade without a winning season. The young Jets fans of today can't even imagine the level of dysfunction that enveloped the franchise.

And yet it didn't compare to what Parcells faced in 1993, when he went to the Patriots.

"New England was a bigger (challenge), because there was a lot more stability at the Jets," Parcells said Monday on a conference call with reporters. (The occasion was his nomination for the Patriots' Hall of Fame.) "The talent level, initially when I went to the Jets, was better. I would say New England was a bigger undertaking because the franchise was in ... there were a lot more areas that lacked structure and stability."

Parcells is right. Even though both franchises seemed like lost causes, the Patriots were in worse shape across the board. The Jets actually had some decent players; they just lacked direction. Parcells became the dominant figure that vanquished the losing culture that permeated every crevice of the organization. But he fell short of his goal, the Super Bowl, losing the 1998 AFC title to the Broncos -- the toughest defeat of his career, he later called it.

The Tuna touched on other New York-related topics on the conference call. Interestingly, he said New England -- not the Giants -- is where he learned his most valuable football lessons. Parcells made his name with the Giants (1981-1990), but he credited his two stints with the Patriots (1980, 1993-96) as his foundation.

"My background in pro football came from the New England Patriots," he said, crediting New England scouting gurus Bucko Kilroy and Mike Holovak as two of the four men that shaped his philosophy on personnel. (He also mentioned Ron Wolf and Al Davis.)

Parcells spoke highly of former assistant Bill Belichick. Their relationship experienced a rough patch when Belichick, refusing to honor his contract as Parcells' successor, bolted the Jets in 2000. Now they have condos in the same building in Jupiter, Fla., Belichick two floors above Parcells.

"We see each other from time to time," Parcells said. "We've had many conversations. We worked together a very, very long time. We were in the same office together for 10 years. You just can't dismiss things like that. He was a big help to me when we were both assistant coaches together, and when I was the head coach, he was a vital part of our organization. Hopefully, I've been a help to him at some point ... He's a great coach. We get along just fine."

Parcells has his own ESPN draft show (April 26), and he said he's in discussion with the network about the possibility of a future gig. What about a return to the NFL?

"No, I'm done," he said. "I know I've said that before, so you better put it down in pencil. I'll be 70 years old in August. I'm enjoying my time now. I left Miami Oct. 1 last year, and this is the first time I've had any extended time to myself. This is a good time for me. Fortunately, I'm in good health. I still have a lot of things I’d like to do in my life, but I'm going to leave the NFL to someone else now."

The feeling here is that Parcells deserves a place in the Jets' Ring of Honor. What do you think?