ESPN

Now the Jets have two "Hard Knocks" stars at fullback.

Joining incumbent John Conner is former Bengal Fui Vakapuna, who is expected to sign with the Jets, a source confirmed. Vakapuna, a seventh-round pick of the Bengals in 2009, was one of the featured "long shot" players in the 2009 "Hard Knocks" series. The following summer, of course, Conner received considerable air time as a rookie in the Jets' training camp.

Vakapuna has no NFL game experience (he also has spent time with the Colts and Cards), but the Jets wanted to add competition at fullback. Conner didn't light it up in his first season as a starter. Just recently, GM Mike Tannenbaum raised eyebrows when he said Conner was on the team "for now."

Sports Business Journal first reported the Vakapuna agreement.

The Jets began their OTAs Monday with an expected absence: S LaRon Landry didn't show up for the voluntary session, a league source confirmed.

Landry, whom the Jets signed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract in March, still is rehabbing from an Achilles' tendon injury he suffered last season with the Redskins. He didn't have surgery, but he's on a long rehab program. The Jets have said they expect him to be ready for the regular season opener, although GM Mike Tannenbaum admitted it would be a "challenge."

Landry has been scarce around the Jets' facility over the last few weeks. In Washington, he was known to skip the offseason program, preferring to work out on his own.

Monday's practice was closed to the media. The first open OTA is Thursday. The Star-Ledger of Newark first reported Landry's absence.

For the second training camp in a row, the Jets will have a player coming from prison. A year ago, it was Plaxico Burress. This summer it will be second-year NT Kenrick Ellis, who will report to a Hampton, Va., jail on June 15 to serve a minimum of 45 days.

Ellis' legal issues, which came under the glare of the New York spotlight when he was drafted 13 months ago, finally got resolved Monday in a Hampton court room. A judge accepted a plea bargain, from felony malicious wounding to misdemeanor assault and battery, and imposed the previously arranged sentence -- 179 days in jail, with 89 suspended. With good behavior, he'll be out in 45 days, according to his attorney.

This worked out rather conveniently for the Jets and Ellis, whose attorney was able to negotiate the timing of the sentence. He won't miss any OTAs or minicamp, which ends June 14, and he'll miss only a few days of training camp. From a football standpoint, he'll be behind in conditioning, but it could've been a lot worse. From a real-life standpoint, it's six weeks behind bars for Ellis, who also got slapped with a $3 million civil suit by the victim.

The Jets took a lot of heat for drafting Ellis, who was looking at five to 20 years in prison at the time. They were desperate for a nose tackle and felt Ellis, despite his legal woes, was worth the gamble. This is what GM Mike Tannenbaum said after picking him: "Maybe his risk is more than others, but if we didn’t feel he’d be successful here, we wouldn’t have taken him."

The Jets probably are breathing a sigh of relief because, take my word for it, Ellis' situation caused a lot of angst within the organization. His situation was complicated by the fact that he's not a U.S. citizen -- he was born in Jamaica -- and a felony assault conviction for a non-citizen means deportation, based on immigration law.

But the Jets shouldn't feel any vindication here. A crime was committed and a player -- one of their players -- is going to prison. That's never a good thing. Tannenbaum & Co. still have to answer for Ellis, who, coming off a disappointing rookie year, still hasn't come close to validating his third-round status.

Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. MARKED MAN: This notion that the Jets are setting up Mark Sanchez to fail because they want Tim Tebow to be the starting quarterback is total bunk. (One talking head actually suggested "the fix is in.") To paraphrase Wes Welker, the Jets have 20 million reasons to root for Sanchez -- the $20.5 million he's guaranteed in 2012 and 2013. Like they say in the old mob movies, just follow the money. That's how it works in professional sports. Why would the Jets want Sanchez, the handpicked QB of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, to crash and burn? Yeah, the coaches and players are talking up Tebow (Darrelle Revis was in full gush), but it's just hot air in May. Here's the thing about players: They'll back whichever QB gives them the best chance to win. Right now, that's Sanchez. The organization hopes it stays that way.

2. DECISIONS, DECISIONS: QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh, in an interview with the New York Daily News, said most of Sanchez's 18 interceptions last season resulted from poor decisions. No kidding. Check out this stat: Over the last three seasons, Sanchez has thrown 38 interceptions when facing four or fewer rushers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The bloated total, tied with Drew Brees for most in the league, suggests that, yes, he makes bad decisions when opponents use a standard rush and drop at least seven into coverage. By the way, Brees has 62 more TD passes than Sanchez against such pressure.

3. RINGING THE BELL: The Jets envision newly-signed safety Yeremiah Bell as a starter, meaning a Bell-LaRon Landry safety tandem. Here's the concern with that pairing: Both players are new to Ryan's defensive system, which is mentally challenging for the safeties. You need a cerebral player back there to make calls, and you could have the blind leading the blind with Bell and Landry. That's why Jim Leonhard was always so valuable; he knew how to get everybody lined up.

4. RUN, JOEY, RUN: Joey Clinkscales decided to leave his post as the head of college scouting, in part, because he was frustrated he wasn't given a bigger say on draft picks, according to a league source. He let his contract expire and took a job as the Raiders' director of player personnel -- maybe not a lateral move, but not a significant advancement, either. I hear the Jets, perhaps trying to convince him to stay, gave him a bigger say in the recent draft. Obviously, that didn't do the trick.

5. THE NEW GUY: The Jets hired Midwest scout Jeff Bauer to replace Clinkscales. Interesting background: He was a high-school coach in the Kansas City area and his backup QB was Mike Bradway, son of then-Chiefs executive Terry Bradway, according to the Des Moines Register. Bauer and the elder Bradway became friendly. A short time later, in 2001, Bradway was hired as the Jets' GM and he wound up hiring Bauer as the Midwest scout. Bradway remains with the Jets as a senior personnel executive. Bauer's glowing scouting report on RB Shonn Greene was one of the reasons why they drafted him in 2009.

6. MY TURN: I see that former Jets punter Steve Weatherford called me out on Twitter, claiming it was out of context to say he "ripped" Sanchez. I like Weatherford -- I wrote a glowing profile of him a few days before the Giants' Super Bowl win -- but this is a classic case of an athlete making a stink about the headline instead of owning up to his quotes below the headline. There's no doubt that Weatherford was critical of Sanchez's maturity level. That's the real story, not the headline.

7. MARSHALL PLAN: Because of Tony Sparano's background with the Dolphins, the Jets have been watching some Miami tape in an effort to learn his system. Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill has spent a lot of time studying ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall, another big-bodied wideout. Hopefully, Hill doesn't try to emulate Marshall's lack of balance along the sideline.

8. ROGER THAT: I'm dating myself here, but offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo's effusive defense of right tackle Wayne Hunter reminded of a long-ago quote from a long-forgotten Jets assistant. If you didn't catch it, DeGuglielmo said of Hunter, "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle." Back in '87 or '88, running backs coach Bobby Hammond was peppered with questions about the struggling Roger Vick, a No. 1 pick in '87. Hammond got fired up and said he'd "go to my grave" believing Vick would be a top back. That was a swing and a big miss; we're talking a Dave Kingman miss.

9. THE POWER OF BILL: Welker wouldn't make a good agent. He told reporters his contract negotiations have "actually gotten worse," and suddenly there's a story in the Boston Globe saying those comments weren't well-received in the Belichick bunker. So Welker backtracked, saying it was "probably a bad choice of words" and insisting he's happy with his franchise tag. At least he didn't say they were taken out of context; give him credit for that.

10. TALL TALE: 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told a radio program that Michael Crabtree has "the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver." Wow, and they say Rex Ryan is prone to hyperbole.

Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. COVERING SAN-BOW: I've covered a lot of backup QBs, from Pat Ryan to Bubby Brister to Mark Brunell, but I've never seen one draw as much media attention in the locker room as Tim Tebow did during Thursday's media period. It was almost surreal. The Jets are used to the spotlight, but one player shook his head and told me, "It's going to be an interesting year."

Mark Sanchez, in a radio interview the next day, acknowledged the crowd around his locker was smaller than usual -- and he thinks that might be a good thing if it continues that way.

"He can take pressure off you, as weird as that may be," Sanchez said of Tebow.

Huh? Sanchez speaks to the media only 30 minutes per week -- tops -- always drawing the most reporters. If he thinks that's pressure, you wonder how he'll respond when the pressure gauge starts climbing, when he and Tebow start playing for real.

2. BABY STEPS: Tebow told reporters Thursday that he's been practicing exclusively at quarterback -- no Wildcat -- prompting conspiracy theorists to conclude that it's the Jets' secret intention to use him only at QB (to take Sanchez's job), and that the Wildcat plan is nothing but a ruse.

That is ridiculous. Hello? The Jets are learning a new offense. They have to learn the basics of the offense before they can start running gadget plays -- and that goes double for Tebow.

3. DRAFT HINDSIGHT: Turns out the Seahawks' surprising choice of DE/OLB Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick did force the Jets (16) to change their plans -- according to the NFL Network, that is. A report said they had a deal worked out with the Steelers (24), who wanted to trade up for G David DeCastro, but the Jets decided not to do it when Irvin was picked. They would've traded down if Irvin and DE Quinton Coples had been on the board, increasing the likelihood they'd get one of them at 24.

In retrospect, based on the players chosen from 17 to 23, the Jets probably would've had Irvin or Coples -- plus third- and fourth-round picks from the Steelers (an educated guess on the trade compensation). If Irvin and Coples were gone, the Jets could've had WR Stephen Hill, whom they said was rated just below Coples. They got Hill in the second, but it cost them two picks to move up.

GM Mike Tannenbaum, speaking to reporters Saturday during an event at MetLife Stadium, declined to comment on the reported Steelers trade that fell through, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. It's easy to read between the lines.

4. STURDY LIKE A BRICK: Of the top four picks in the 2006 draft, only one remains with his original team -- LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (No. 4). The Jets could've gone a few different ways in that draft, but it's a credit to Tannenbaum that he got a foundation player. Interestingly, the top three picks are now in the AFC East -- DE Mario Williams (Bills), RB Reggie Bush (Dolphins) and QB Vince Young (Bills), who signed Friday.

5. NEW LEADER: The Jets' defensive linemen are raving about new position coach Karl Dunbar, who was fired by the Vikings. Dunbar had an advantage over his predecessor the moment he walked in the door: He actually played the position and coached it. The previous D-line coach, Mark Carrier, was a former secondary coach who played safety; it made no sense to have him coach the D-Line.

Dunbar already has taught the players a couple of pass-rushing tricks, including the long-arm technique. It's almost like a running back's straight arm, a way to create separation from the blocker. DE Mike DeVito told me it "allows you to read what the offensive lineman is doing. ... It's a great move. He's got a bunch of stuff like that."

Wonder how the long-arm technique would've worked with South Carolina pass rusher Melvin Ingram, whose arms measured only 31.5 inches at the combine -- a perceived shortcoming (no pun intended) that may have hurt his draft stock. The Jets bypassed Ingram with the 16th pick to take DE Quinton Coples (33.25-inch arms).

6. KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Several offensive players said new coordinator Tony Sparano uses play calls that consist of less verbiage than his predecessor, Brian Schottenheimer. After the season, Rex Ryan remarked that Schottenheimer's terminology was too confusing. Sparano definitely has made an early impact: He's a meat-and-potatoes coach and doesn't stand for any ... well, meat heads. As TE Dustin Keller said, "His coaching style is almost like college -- in your face." Linemen usually like that kind of law-and-order mentality; skill-position players -- the divas -- are less apt to embrace it.

7. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: RG Brandon Moore told me it's not unusual to walk into the team cafeteria for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and see a bunch of offensive playbooks open, players studying or quizzing each other on the new system. Said Moore: "Sometimes you feel like a rookie again."

8. TEAM WANTED: So, Plaxico Burress, how's free agency going so far?

9. PAYING RESPECTS: Say what you want about Patriots coach Bill Belichick -- Darrelle Revis said plenty the other day -- but give him credit for this: He attended Junior Seau's private wake Thursday night in San Diego and flew back for his team's rookie minicamp Friday morning. Seau finished his legendary career with the Patriots, 2006 to 2009.

10. PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE: It sounds like the Browns think they drafted the next Jim Brown, the way the coaches are gushing about first-round pick Trent Richardson. He's very good, no doubt, but can we wait until he puts pads on before we anoint him?

Joey Clinkscales' imminent departure as the vice president of college scouting has fueled speculation about possible replacements.

One name to watch is Michael Davis, the assistant director of college scouting. He'd be the logical successor, considering he worked as Clinkscales' assistant, and he has support within the organization. This is an important position because it basically runs the draft for GM Mike Tannenbaum.

The Jets' college scouts are under contract, according to a source, increasing the likelihood that the group will return intact under the new director.

According to a source, the Jets tried to retain Clinkscales, whose contract is expiring, but the Raiders made the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse. The Raiders haven't announced his hiring, but he will have a prominent position in the front office. The Jets haven't confirmed his departure, but multiple sources indicate he's leaving for Oakland.

Since the draft ended, a lot of people have been asking about the top players still available in the free-agent market. The pickings are slim, but GM Mike Tannenbaum has been known to find bargains. Right now, the Jets still have at least three needs -- safety, wide receiver and right tackle. We could expand the list, but we'll keep it to three for now.

Based on the Scouts, Inc., rankings here are the top unrestricted free agents, including their last team and Scouts, Inc., grade:

WIDE RECEIVER

Braylon Edwards, 49ers -- 78
Roy Williams, Bears -- 72
Plaxico Burress, Jets -- 70
Mark Clayton, Rams -- 62

SAFETY

Bob Sanders, Chargers -- 75
Abe Elam, Cowboys -- 73
Sean Jones, Bucs -- 72
Gerald Sensabaugh, Cowboys -- 72
Melvin Bullitt, Colts -- 71
Jim Leonhard, Jets -- 70
Deon Grant, Giants -- 70

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Vernon Carey, Dolphins -- 82*
Kareem McKenzie, Giants --80
Max Starks, Steelers -- 72
Adam Goldberg, Rams -- 67
Brandon Keith, Cards -- 67

* Played guard last season, but was a right tackle before that.

New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano conducted a conference call Thursday with reporters, his first media availability since he was hired in January. Obviously, there was a lot of ground to cover, much of which is included in the main story. Here are some leftovers and take-aways from the Q&A:

1. Sparano, educated in the Bill Parcells school of secrecy, refused to say how Tim Tebow will be deployed. He wouldn't even commit to the wildcat, saying, "If we go in that direction ..." Sorry, I jusy think I had an Eric Mangini flashback.

2. Sparano said he reviewed every snap from the 2010 and 2011 seasons to gain a better perspective on the Jets' personnel.

3. Echoing what GM Mike Tannenbaum said after the draft, Sparano said it was purely a "coincidence" that they drafted three players from option offenses -- WR Stephen Hill, G Robert T. Griffin and RB Terrance Ganaway. The inference, of course, is that they wanted players for their Tebow packages.

4. Sparano danced around the Wayne Hunter question, refusing to say he'll be the starting right tackle. He repeated a story that Rex Ryan told the other day, saying his old team -- the Dolphins -- looked into the possibility of signing Hunter as a free agent. "We thought an awful lot about him, we wanted to bring him down there," Sparano said. That was last summer. In fact, the Dolphins liked Hunter as a swing/insurance tackle, but not a 16-game starter.


5. He said having a big receiver like second-round pick Stephen Hill will help a mobile QB because of his ability to run a comeback route, providing a big window for the QB. "Quarterbacks find those big targets friendly, when they're on the move," Sparano said. Obviously, we think of Tebow as the mobile QB on the team, but Sparano said he's impressed with Mark Sanchez's ability to throw on the run.

6. Sparano said he wants his system to be "as player-friendly as possible." He said he made a handshake agreement with the players, vowing to give his best every day.

7. Sparano on third-string QB Greg McElroy: "This guy is brilliant ... He's a smart, smart player."

8. Sparano defined his terms 'A' and 'B' backs. An 'A' is a big back, a la Shonn Greene, whom he said has good field vision. A 'B' is "scatty," he said, mentioning Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles as examples.

Before the draft, GM Mike Tannenbaum said Tim Tebow's presence -- i.e. his versatility -- could have a "subtle" influence on the Jets' draft plan.

ESPN analyst Bill Polian thinks it was more than subtle. The former Colts GM made a Tebow reference on the air Saturday, commenting immediately after the Jets took Baylor RB Terrance Ganaway in the sixth round.

“When you look at what Ganaway did in college ... option," Polian said. "What did Tim Tebow run in college? Option. You got a package right there. There’s your package. That’s part of what they drafted here."

Actually, the Jets drafted three players that came from option attacks in college -- Ganaway, Baylor G Robert T. Griffin and Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill. Hmm.

As everybody knows by now, the Jets are planning to use Tebow in the wildcat. In reality, it probably will be more of a read-option attack. By definition, the wildcat is when a running back takes the direct snap. Not surprisingly, Tannenbaum dismissed Polian's theory.

"We rated the players for us, as Jets," he said Saturday night. "We use the same grading system and that would just be coincidence."

Tannenbaum, however, mentioned Tebow's name when discussing the backfield depth chart -- specifically, John Conner and Josh Baker at fullback.

"We like the versatility that Josh Baker brings and how much Tim Tebow factors into that analysis," he said, referring to the 95th-best player in the league, per the NFL Network's top 100 players.

PLANNING AHEAD: Many of the Jets' picks highlight Tannenbaum's philosophy of drafting for today, planning for tomorrow. They picked players at positions where the current starter may not be around in 2013. Consider:

Quinton Coples, DE, Round 1 -- Incumbent Mike DeVito is heading into the final year of his contract.

Demario Davis, ILB, Round 3 -- Bart Scott, who will be 32, likely will be a cap casualty in 2013. Rex Ryan already is on record as saying Davis reminds him of a young Scott.

Terrance Ganaway, RB, Round 6 -- Incumbent Shonn Greene, a slighly smaller version of Ganaway, has one year remaining on his contract.

Josh Bush/Antonio Allen, S, Rounds 6 and 7 -- LaRon Landry, the Jets' most noteworthy free-agent acquisition, signed for only one year.

Robert T. Griffin, G, Round 6 -- The current starters, Brandon Moore and Matt Slauson, are entering the final year of their contracts.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?: It's hard to imagine how many times Griffin has heard cracks about having the same name as his former Baylor teammate -- Robert Griffin III. Yeah, that guy. At least Robert T. has maintained his sense of humor. He said his agent started calling him RG II.

"I’m going to keep that name and my motto," he said Saturday on a conference call with reporters. "I’m going to keep the names Big Griff and RG II. It's nothing different."

Big Griff (340 pounds) said it was "fun" to have a more famous teammate with the same name.

"He's like a brother," he said. :We have the same name, but didn’t treat each other any differently. It was an every-day thing, but I was the one putting my hand in the dirt and he was the one putting his hand on the ball and throwing the rock. I didn't feel different. On the inside, I felt I had to do a little extra just for him because we have the same name."

DEEP THOUGHTS: Ryan said the Jets have "unusual depth" on the defensive line. At inside linebacker, he said "we're as deep as we've even been there."

On the D-line, they have three returning starters, plus Coples, Kenrick Ellis, Marcus Dixon and Ropati Pitoitua. Backing up Scott and Davis Harris at ILB, they have Davis, Josh Mauga and Nick Bellore.

DOUBLE-A: Ryan said he was "shocked" that Allen dropped to the seventh round. One of the reasons, Allen believes, is the position he played at South Carolina -- the "spur" position.

"It's not a traditional safety spot," he said. "I'm not 12 yards deep, covering the post on every play. I'm up on the line of scrimmage, tackling people for a loss."

He's right about that. Over the last two seasons, Allen recorded 20 tackles-for-loss, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Over a three-day period, the Jets drafted eight players -- four offense, four defense. Quick thoughts on their biggest draft haul since 2006:

1. Rex Ryan shouldn't have anointed DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill as starters -- not yet, anyway. Coples, their first-round pick, arrives with the reputation of being and hot-and-cold player, lacking intensity at times. What good does it do to reward a player like that before he steps on the field? Make him earn it. Plus, it wasn't a good way to treat incumbent LDE Mike DeVito, a solid starter and respected veteran.

2. This was a boom-or-bust draft for the Jets. Ultimately, it'll be defined by Coples and Hill, a couple of extraordinary athletes who, for different reasons, didn't produce in their final college years. If the Jets' scouts are right, if these two players reach their ceilings, they will have two blue-chip talents. If not, the draft will be a bust. Mike Tannenbaum, Ryan & Co. went for broke, all or nothing, in this critical draft.

3. I will say this: They definitely improved their team speed at wide receiver (Hill), defensive end (Coples), inside linebacker (Demario Davis) and safety (Josh Bush). That was a must because, let's face it, the Jets were a slow team last season. They still have speed issues in the backfield and at outside linebacker.

4. You got the feeling that special teams coach Mike Westhoff had a lot of say in the draft. Davis, Bush, Allen and perhaps WR Jordan White should be core special teamers. This draft was like a retirement gift to Westhoff, who is planning to leave for the sunset after the 2012 season.

5. Two needs that didn't get addressed -- right tackle and outside linebacker. TannyRex did their best to sell the current personnel, claiming RT Wayne Hunter and OLB Bryan Thomas (coming off Achilles-tendon surgery) are capable of holding down their respective forts. Ryan actually said he expects Hunter "will have a big year for us," hinting that Tony Sparano's system will suit him better than the Brian Schottenheimer system. He'd better be right because there's no way they can endure another season with sub-par play at right tackle.

6. Sparano must have been one happy dude. The Jets drafted a 241-pound running back in the sixth round (Terrence Ganaway) and a 340-pound guard (Robert T. Griffin) on the very next pick. Ground and Pound, baby. By the way, Ganaway and Griffin were teammates at Baylor.

7. ESPN analyst Bill Polian, the former Colts GM, made an interesting comment on the air Saturday. He noted that Hill, Ganaway and Griffin all came from option offenses in college, suggesting the Jets did that to suit running QB Tim Tebow. Not surprisingly, TannyRex wouldn't admit to that. Tannenbaum said it was "a coincidence."

8. Realistically, how many of these picks will have roles this season on offense and defense? Obviously, Coples and Hill will see significant action. Beyond them, though, there are no guarantees. Maybe Davis, because he can run, can work his way into a sub package on passing downs. If Bush can cover, he could be a dime back. Maybe Allen can be used as a situational blitzer, a la Drew Coleman, 2010.

9. Here's a positive: The Jets didn't draft anyone with major, off-the-field issues -- at least none that we know of.

10. With Hill targeted for a significant role, there's really no need to re-sign Braylon Edwards. With two new safeties, the Jets seem willing to move on from Jim Leonhard.

11. Ryan said Coples reminds him of Shaun Ellis and Trevor Pryce. Hill was compared, athletically, to Calvin Johnson. And Ryan said Davis reminds him of a young Bart Scott. Ellis/Pryce, MegaTron and Scott -- that's a hell of a draft.

Quick thoughts on the first two days of the Jets' draft:

1. In recent years, the Jets have become a size/speed drafting team. That philosophy, which can be dangerous, was never more apparent than with their first two picks -- DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill. For different reasons, neither player produced a lot last season, but they're big and fast and they performed well in the Underwear Olympics -- a.k.a. the scouting combine. As team officials discussed the picks, the words "athleticism" and "potential" kept coming up. Buyer, beware.

2. The Jets have been doing that a lot in recent years, taking height/weight/speed prospects with questions about productivity, level of competition and football traits -- i.e. Vernon Gholston, Vladimir Ducasse, Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis. It's like they've become infatuated with 40 times and wing spans. Sometimes it works out (Wilkerson), sometimes it doesn't.

3. That said, I like the Hill pick. Yeah, he's raw, having played in a run-oriented offense at Georgia Tech, but his arrow is pointed up. From all reports, he has the right attitude, he's willing to work, he's a tenacious blocker and he has a good football acumen. You'd rather take a chance on a player like that, as opposed to Coples, whose motivation came into question after a lackluster senior year. Both players have high ceilings, but at least Hill is going in the right direction.

4. The Jets had a first-round grade on Hill. A lot of teams did. This is what one NFC scout told me about him: "It's hard to predict [his future]. I saw him catch more balls at the combine than I did during the season, but he's got all the talent. He could be a big-time player."

5. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm having a hard time with LB Demario Davis in the third round. Why? He's a bit of a projection, a 4-3 OLB becoming a 3-4 ILB. At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, he's undersized for the Jets' 34 front. Their inside 'backers are responsible for taking on guards, and that will be difficult for him. This also wasn't a "need" position. Sure, they can use some young legs behind David Harris and Bart Scott, but they had bigger needs at safety and offensive tackle. The Davis pick has Mike Westhoff's fingerprints all over it; he rated Davis as one of the best special teamers in the draft.

6. In case you're wondering, the Davis pick doesn't mean the end for Scott. GM Mike Tannenbaum, in an unsolicited remark, said Scott isn't going anywhere. But now his heir apparent is on campus.

7. The common denominator with all three picks is speed. The Jets wanted -- and needed -- to improve their team speed, and they've done that. Coples (4.71 in the 40), Hill (4.31) and Davis (4.52) all have above-average speed for their respective positions. Asked about the need for speed, VP of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said, "I'm sure that was in the back of our mind. We wanted to get faster. The league is getting faster with spread offenses and being able to score points. It was important to add that."

8. Obviously, the Jets aren't going to emerge from this draft with an offensive tackle who can pose an immediate threat to embattled RT Wayne Hunter. Does that mean another season of Hunter? You can't get a straight answer from the Jets. Tannenbaum, speaking in code, said Hunter is "still competing for the position." Asked if that means it's an open competition, Tannenbaum said Hunter remains the starter "right now" -- the Tannenbaum kiss of death. Look for them to make a move in post-draft free agency.

9. On Day 3, the Jets will wait -- a lot. They have no fourth-round pick (Tim Tebow trade) and no fifth-round pick (sent to the Seahawks in the trade-up for Hill), so they don't pick until the sixth round. They have five picks left, four of which are compensatory -- and those picks can't be traded.

10. I guess Santonio Holmes doesn't have much pull in the personnel department. They haven't picked any offensive linemen.

Now Quinton Coples can celebrate at his own draft party, with no questions asked.

In May, 2011, Coples was investigated by the NCAA for his presence at a post-draft party in Washington D.C. He attended with former North Carolina teammates Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin, who was chosen by the Giants in the second round. The NCAA wanted to know how Coples paid for his travel to the party, who paid for his admission and his hotel, and if he accepted any free food or drink.

Coples supplied hotel receipts and was cleared of any wrongdoing -- another tumultuous chapter in his stay at Chapel Hill. There also was the agent scandal.

Austin missed the 2010 season after being dismissed by the Tar Heels for violations of NCAA agent benefits, preferential treatment and ethical conduct rules. The NCAA also ruled Quinn and WR Greg Little permanently ineligible for the same violations.

North Carolina opened last season without 13 players, including many stars, because of an NCAA investigation that included a look into both agent extra benefits and also allegations of academic misconduct.

Coples, speaking to reporters Thursday night after being chosen by the Jets in the first round, sounded relieved after a long, eventful year.

"It's unbelievable, the perseverance it took," Coples said. "It's unbelievable to get rewarded and be a Jet."

Naturally, the Jets did a thorough investigation. They determined that the turmoil may have played a minor role in Coples' disappointing senior year.

"I think it was a small part in it at best, because he was a kid that went through everything that went on there," said Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' VP of college scouting. "He stayed above the fray. He never really got into any trouble ... The kid stayed clean through all the transitions with all the coaches."

Coples had two head coaches and four position coaches.

NO TRADE-ZONE: After all the chatter about possibility trading up or down, the Jets stayed put and drafted Coples at 16. GM Mike Tannenbaum said they received some calls from teams looking to move up. The Jets, who used most of their allotted time, were interested in moving down, a source said, but they couldn't find the right deal.

At 18, the Chargers were looking to move up. The Jets could've dropped two spots and would've been guaranteed to get Coples or South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram or Syracuse DE/OLB Chandler Jones, but they didn't want to risk it. Ingram ended up going to the Chargers at 18, Jones went to the Patriots (in a trade-up) at 21.

HERE'S THE BEEF: The Jets certainly have rebuilt their defensive line in the last two drafts. Last year, they took DE Muhammad Wilkerson (first round) and NT Kenrick Ellis (third). Now they have Coples, who will play left end, Mike DeVito's spot. This doesn't bode well for DeVito's long-term future with the team; he's entering the final year of his contract.

HANDS-ON COACH: Rex Ryan attended the North Carolina pro day and got up close and personal with Coples, putting him through extra drills.

"He went through all the defensive-line drills and he wasn't winded, so I wanted to push him," said Ryan, who tested Coples in linebacker drills.

Ryan said he couldn't get him tired, and he remembered turning to someone and saying, "I think I just made this young man a lot of money."

DAY TWO: On Friday, the Jets will have two picks -- second round (47th overall) and third round (77). They will be looking for a wide receiver, a safety and an offensive tackle.

The draft landscape is ever-changing, and here is the latest scoop as the Jets head into Thursday night's first round:

• There's a decent chance the Jets, picking 16th, will move out of that spot -- up or down. Here's why: They have eight to 10 players ranked in the upper tier of their draft board. After that group, there's a group of a dozen or so players with similar grades. If the top group is gone by 16, it makes sense to move down and pick up an extra choice. In fact, they're exploring trade-down scenarios, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported. Easier said than done; who's willing to move up to 16?

• The Jets remain interested in Alabama RB Trent Richardson, but as we reported Wednesday, it's a long shot. The cost to move into the top five is prohibitive. And they know it. To quote the Rolling Stones, you can't always get what you want.

• If the Jets trade up, it would be for a defensive player, with Alabama S Mark Barron, LSU DE Michael Brockers and Mississippi State DE Fletcher Cox the most likely targets.

Barron would fill an obvious need; Brockers and Cox would be value picks. They used last year's first-round pick on a lineman, Muhammad Wilkerson, but the Jets deem Cox and Brockers as special talents. There is little chance any of these players will slide to 16. Brockers could get close, but it would be hard to get past the Cowboys (14th) and Eagles (15th).

• Contrary to popular belief, the Jets don't rate South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram among the upper-tier players. They like him enough to take him at 16, but they won't trade up for him. There has been a lot of buzz about Ingram. They think he's a good football player, and he'd obviously fill a need, but he's not a gotta-have-him talent in their eyes.

• If the Jets have to make a pick at 16, and Ingram is gone, this is where it will get interesting. The fallback options are Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd and Stanford G David DeCastro, whom the Jets may consider at right tackle. Chances are, DeCastro wouldn't be received well at Radio City; a first-round guard isn't sexy. Floyd would be a popular choice, but is he really that much better than the receivers likely available in the second round?

Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw has been linked to the Jets in many mock drafts (heck, I took him in my mock for SportsCenter), but the late word is that he's not a consideration at 16.

• If the Jets trade down, they'd look at the next tier of pass rushers -- Syracuse DE/OLB Chandler Jones and Illinois DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus. Jones' stock has been soaring. The NFL Network's Mike Mayock said Jones is one of the best defensive players in the draft. There's a lot to like about Jones, but he's never played OLB and his production was average. But the Jets like him. North Carolina DE Quinton Coples and Memphis NT Dontari Poe have been mentioned elsewhere as possibilities, but I haven't heard much buzz connecting them to the Jets. In my opinion, they're far too risky.

In six drafts as the Jets' GM, Mike Tannenbaum never has traded down in the first round. But there's always a first.

If the Jets don't address their pass-rushing need in the first round, they could turn to Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd with the 16th pick.

Floyd has been linked to the Jets for several weeks, but the Floyd/Jets buzz has gained momentum in recent days. Everybody knows they need a wide receiver, and Floyd has impressive credentials. The primary concern with him is an off-the-field issue -- three alcohol-related arrests in college.

Floyd, speaking Wednesday at an NFL Play 60 Youth Football event in Manhattan, said he was grilled by the Jets during a recent visit to the team's facility. He met with owner Woody Johnson, GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan.

"They basically said, 'Is it over? Did you learn your lesson?'" Floyd said. "It was stuff like that -- and I have (learned my lesson). I'm moving forward from that and trying to be excited for this time in my life."

A rundown on Floyd's transgressions:

• In May, 2009, he was cited for under-age drinking near his home in Minnesota. He pleaded guilty.

• In January, 2010, he was again cited for under-age drinking in Minnesota. He allegedly left the scene of a fight that involved six to 10 people, according to Pro Football Weekly. Floyd was a passenger in a car that was pulled over; he reportedly had blood on his hands and shirt.

• In March, 2011, he was arrested for DUI in South Bend, Ind. Floyd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunk driving. He was sentenced to a year probation, wasn't allowed to drive for 90 days, had an ignition/alcohol device installed in his car and was required to take a drunk-driving course.

The Jets did "a lot of off-the-field work on him," according VP of college scouting Joey Clinkscales. The Jets apparently are satisfied that Floyd won't have problems in the future because they "would be excited to have him ... Michael Floyd is a supremely talented wide receiver."

On the field, Floyd put up big numbers, catching 100 passes last season for 1,147 yards and nine TDs. He tested well, running in the 4.4s -- exceptional for a 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network called him a "beast," the best blocking receiver in the draft.

The question is, will Floyd last to 16? His stock is rising, one personnel executive said Wednesday, and he could go as high as 10th to the Bills.

If they can't trade up for Alabama RB Trent Richardson, a long shot, the Jets will look at South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram, Floyd and LSU DE Michael Brockers.

Floyd said he's aware of the Jets' need at receiver.

"That's a good possibility, to play there, and I would love it," he said.

Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. The Gholston factor. The Jets say they learned a hard lesson from the Vernon Gholston debacle in 2008, one they will apply to the evaluation of DE/OLB hybrids in the upcoming draft. They drafted Gholston, a DE at Ohio State, to play OLB in their 3-4 system. They knew his football instincts were suspect, but they figured he'd be able to overcome the deficiency with his size and speed. They were wrong, as wrong as you can be about a player. This year, the scouting department placed a much greater emphasis on instinct during the grading process. Joey Clinkscales, VP of college scouting, claimed they won't be "gun shy" about picking a DE/OLB projection.

2. Drive a hybrid. The draftboard is filled with DE/OLB 'tweeners. In fact, seven of the eight OLBs on the Jets' board were DEs in college, the exception probably being Courtney Upshaw (Alabama). The Jets had better be confident in their grading system, because there are several hybrids that will be considered in the first and second round -- Melvin Ingram (South Carolina), Whitney Mercilus (Illinois), Andre Branch (Clemson), Chandler Jones (Syracuse) and Nick Perry (USC). When making the DE/OLB projection, athleticism, arm length and intelligence also are weighed heavily, according to Clinkscales.

3. Round 1 game plan. Here's what I expect the Jets to do Thursday night in the first round: A. Explore the possibility of trading way up for Alabama RB Trent Richardson; B. Explore the possibility of trading up a few spots for Ingram; C. Remain at No. 16 and take the best available player. They prefer a pass-rushing OLB, but could settle for a S (Alabama's Mark Barron), a DLM (Memphis' Dontari Poe) or a WR (Notre Dame's Michael Floyd).

4. Tony's Time. When a team installs a new offensive or defensive system, it has to tweak its player-evaluation system. You don't want to draft a square-peg player for a round-hole system. Soon after hiring O.C. Tony Sparano, the scouting department asked him to list what he considers the four critical factors at each position on offense. Armed with that info, the scouts did their thing, trying to find players that fit Sparano's system.

5. Strange, but true. During his pre-draft news conference, and later during a Q&A teleconference with season-ticket holders, Tannenbaum mentioned backup LG Caleb Schlauderaff no fewer than seven times. He got more mentions than that Tebow guy. What's up with that? Maybe Tannenbaum just likes the sound of Schlauderaff. I mean, who doesn't? Or maybe he's blowing smoke and is planning to take Stanford G David DeCastro.

6. Jets vs. Revis, III. The Darrelle Revis contract situation bears watching after the draft. It's sure to produce some sharply divided opinions. Pro-Revis: He's the best corner in football, maybe the best defensive player, and is underpaid with a combined $13.5 million over the next two seasons. Anti-Revis: He already has made $47.5 million in five years, exceeding his rookie contract by $11.5 million. He received a six-year, $36 million rookie deal, but the two sides re-negotiated two years ago, with Revis getting a $25 million sweetener on a one-year extension.

7. Oh, brother. If the Jets don't draft Chandler Jones, maybe they should look into signing his brother. Jon (Bones) Jones, 24, is the UFC light-heavyweight champion. He's 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. They could make him an OLB and have him cover former rugby star-turned-TE Hayden Smith.

8. Buzzzz. How can any self-respecting Steelers fan look at their team's new throwback jerseys and not laugh? Or cringe? They remind me of the "Bad News Bees" sketch on the old Saturday Night Live.

9. Go ahead, mock me. My current half-mock (and I reserve the right to change my mind): 1. Colts -- Andrew Luck, 2. Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, 3. Vikings -- Morris Claiborne, 4. Browns -- Trent Richardson, 5. Bucs -- Matt Kalil, 6. Rams -- Fletcher Cox, 7. Jaguars -- Justin Blackmon, 8. Dolphins -- Ryan Tannehill, 9. Panthers -- Stephon Gilmore, 10. Bills -- Michael Floyd, 11. Chiefs -- Luke Kuechly, 12. Seahawks -- Quinton Coples, 13. Cards -- David DeCastro, 14. Cowboys -- Mark Barron, 15. Eagles -- Dontari Poe, 16. Jets -- Melvin Ingram.

10. Different strokes. On Saturday, I wrote a piece on the Jets' draft room -- specifically, the people in the room (a total of 13) and how they make decisions. GM Mike Tannenbaum appreciates input from everyone. Not surprisingly, the Patriots have a different approach. The NFL Network's Mike Lombardi, who used to work with Bill Belichick, described the Belichick way (quote courtesy of ESPNBoston.com): "The draft room will be very small. ... It will only be four people. Belichick's big thing is that he's not looking for more opinions, he's looking for right opinions. The scouts do their job, which is prepare him for the draft, then ... there is only one decision-maker in New England. He doesn't want any confusion on draft day."