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Mark Sanchez has received a lot of criticism this offseason, the latest coming from an unlikely source -- the punter.

Wait, make that the ex-punter.

New York Giant Steve Weatherford, whose 15 minutes of fame have lasted five months, questioned Sanchez's maturity this week during an NFL.com podcast.

"I like Mark -- I think he's a very talented quarterback -- but from my standpoint, I haven't seen a lot of maturation," said Weatherford, making the media rounds this week because the Giants received their Super Bowl rings. "When you're a quarterback and you come in, and you're expected to be the face of the franchise, and you're expected to lead the team.

"That's a lot to take on as a rookie. But as the years go on, I think you're expected to mature, skill-wise, and also mature as a leader, and to be honest with you, as much as I like the guy, I just haven't seen that."

Weatherford has been removed from the Jets for a year. He was Sanchez's teammate in 2009 and 2010, when they reached back-to-back AFC Championship Games, but the Jets decided not to re-sign Weatherford last offseason. He landed with the Giants and, lo and behold, he was a pivotal player in their championship run, landing a new contract.

Weatherford also was critical of Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff at various points during the season.

The Jets like to bill themselves as a transparent organization, but they've become tight-lipped with regard to their plans for Tim Tebow.

When the trade was made in late March, Rex Ryan said they planned to use him in the wildcat offense, later making headlines when he said it could be up to 20 snaps a game. But in recent days, two coordinators -- Tony Sparano and Mike Westhoff -- clammed up when asked about Tebow's role. Even Ryan in recent weeks has been coy when asked about reports that Tebow will be used as a running back, fullback and, possibly, an H-back. The whole thing smacks of irony, considering the Jets' loose-cannon reputation.

Sparano, speaking to reporters last Thursday (his first interview since the trade), went Parcells on us -- perhaps no surprise, considering his mentor is Bill Parcells. Asked to give his vision for Tebow, the offensive coordinator said:

"Well, I won't give you the vision on what I think his role will be in the offense. But I would just say that to the best of my knowledge, I believe that what Coach said is he can play anywhere from one to 20 snaps, somewhere like that. And I would say what Coach said is 100 percent correct. As far as how we'll use Tim or what we'll do with Tim that way, we're going to keep that to us right now."

Westhoff, the longtime special-teams coordinator, is as outspoken as they come. But, in an interview over the weekend with the New York Daily News, he refused to divulge his plan to Tebow. Westhoff called him a "more potent Brad Smith."

What does that mean? Does it mean he'll be returning kickoffs? Hardly. It would make no sense to expose your No. 2 quarterback to injury, asking him to run into 10 frothing tacklers (sorry, the kicker doesn't froth) who'd like nothing better than to make the SportsCenter highlights by taking out Tebow. Plus, the Jets have one of the best kickoff returners in the league, Joe McKnight.

This much we've known: Tebow will be the "personal protector" on the punt team -- a.k.a. the up back. In fact, Westhoff approached Tebow with the idea soon after the trade was finalized, and Tebow was okay with it. Makes sense. In that position, Tebow can receive a direct snap or shift under center, adding wrinkles to the punt team.

Obviously, the Jets think they have a special weapon in Tebow and they'd like to play mind games with their opponents, forcing them to prepare for the unexpected. They will turn Tebow into a shell game, moving him around as discreetly as possible.

Let's call it a clandes-tim approach. Rim shot, please.

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.

There will be the Mark Sanchez offense, and there will be the Tim Tebow offense -- at least that was the perception given to players Monday at the start of the offseason program.

"It’s like we’re going to be two separate teams, but as far as I know, Mark is still going to be our guy," LG Matt Slauson said Monday night at a charity event in Manhattan.

Tebow, the No. 2 quarterback, will be used as the wildcat quarterback. The Jets have been saying that since he arrived last month in The Trade. But they have other plans, as well. He will be used as an H-Back, a fullback and as a running back, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported Monday morning.

And, oh yes, special teams coach Mike Westhoff is planning to use Tebow as the "personal protector" on the punt team.

Slauson said the plan, under new coordinator Tony Sparano, is to go back to the offense they ran in 2009 and 2010 -- Ground and Pound.

"You guys will be really surprised by what Mark’s going to do this year," he said. "The way we’re going to be running things plays right into Mark's strengths, running the ball. It’ll be very similar to what we did in Rex (Ryan's) first two years, very much a style like that -- heavy run, heavy play action and whipping out a deep ball every now and again. That's all the stuff Mark does really well."

Ryan stunned many at the recent league meetings when he told reporters that Tebow could be used up to 20 plays per game. Consider: The Jets have averaged 66 plays per game in Sanchez's three seasons as the starter.

Also consider this: In Sparano's three-plus seasons as the Dolphins' coach, they used the wildcat only 3.7 plays per game, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Jets, with Brad Smith running the wildcat in 2010, used it only 2.7 plays per game.

SHOULDER ON: Slauson, who underwent major shoulder surgery after the season, said he's ahead of schedule on his rehab. He said there's a chance he might be able to participate in OTAs next month; initially, there was no chance of that.

"I have 100 percent range of motion," he said. "Strength isn’t even close yet, but it’s on the way and it’s really coming back quickly. In fact, our trainers have to pull on the reins every now and then, and it’s because I'm doing so well that I want to keep on going. But they're trying to be cautious. They keep saying, 'We want you for August, not for May.'"

Slauson was honored by Our Time, a non-profit organization that helps kids that stutter. Slauson stutters, but he never let it stop him from speaking pubicly. In fact, he was voted by reporters the most media-friendly Jet last season. Sanchez introduced Slauson Monday night at the event in downtown Manhattan. Sanchez wasn't available to the media.

Sunday notes, thoughts and observations -- a total of 15, in honor of you-know-who's number:

1. The world waits for Mark Sanchez to comment on his new teammate, Tim Tebow. If he wants to be the leader of the Jets, Sanchez needs to say something -- anything. He can't wait two months, the amount of time that elapsed before he fired back at the unnamed teammates that ripped him after the season. He needs to be decisive. From what I'm told, Sanchez was stunned by the Tebow trade, coming so soon after the contract extension. He never saw it coming. Not many did, but now it's time to take control of the situation.

2. Sanchez, who took a physical beating last season, is taking a different approach to training in the offseason. His California-based trainer wants him to add muscle to help protect him from the wear and tear. As a result, Sanchez is up to 230, five pounds heavier than last season's playing weight.

3. The Jets are taking a lot of heat for the trade, but how about the Broncos? Tebow was their only viable backup. All they have now is a 36-year-old quarterback coming off four neck surgeries and former Bears backup Caleb Hanie, whom they signed Saturday. He proved last season he can't play. Not too smart for the Broncos. Why was John Elway in such a rush to get Tebow out of town? Said one former GM: "Who gives up a (former) first-round pick that just took your team to the playoffs? They should be at a podium, with a cigarette in their mouth, explaining that one." It was the first time in history that a QB, in his first or second year, won a playoff start and changed teams that offseason, according to Elias.

4. I spoke to Eagles WR Riley Cooper, Tebow's old college roommate, and asked (half-jokingly) to give me some dirt on his close friend. "Everybody always asks for dirt on him," Cooper said. "Tim Tebow is the closest thing to perfect as I've ever been around. The only thing I can think of is that he didn't clean up his dishes. He left dishes and cereal bowls all around our living room. That's all I've got for you."

5. Don't be surprised if Tebow has a small role on special teams. Coach Mike Westhoff probably already is scheming up ways to utilize Tebow's versatility. Coach-turned-analyst Eric Mangini said he expects to see Tebow on teams, saying: "When you look at Mike Westhoff and what he did with Brad Smith as a personal protector, I think that’s an excellent role because there’s always the threat of a fake, and it’s going to change the dynamic on that team. That’s the quarterback of the punt team."

6. So here's the short version of the Jets' offseason: They've added two backups (Tebow and WR Chaz Schilens) and a starting safety (LaRon Landry) with durability concerns.

7. I don't have an issue with the Jets wanting to use a wildcat package, but they didn't have to make a trade to find a guy to run it. They have three capable players on the roster -- Jeremy Kerley, Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight.

8. The Jets also acquired Tebow to help in the red zone and in short-yardage situations. But get this: The Jets led the league in red-zone efficiency and, over the final 11 weeks, they produced the second-best success rate (80 percent) in short-yardage.

9. Now we know why Antonio Cromartie is a good cornerback -- he can backpedal with the best of them.

10. Let's do some number crunching: The Jets had to cough up $2.5 million to close the Tebow deal and they ate a $500,000 signing bonus with Drew Stanton, who lasted a week on the roster. With that $3 million, they could've made a strong play for free-agent WR Mario Manningham, who received $3.55 million in total first-year compensation from the 49ers. He would've filled a huge need.

11. That said, the Jets did right by Stanton, trading him to the Colts after Tebow-ing him.

12. The Jets signed Landry, he of the Achilles-tendon troubles, to a favorable contract that provides protection in the event of an injury. It's a one-year, $3.5 million deal. He received a $950,000 signing bonus, a $700,000 base salary and $1.75 million in roster bonuses, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. The roster bonus is paid out on a game-by-game basis. In other words, every time he plays a game, he receives a $109,000 bonus.

13. Landry's attendance in the off-season program bears watching. When he played for the Redskins, he "never showed up," according to former Washington GM Vinny Cerrato. "He only showed up for the mandatory stuff. He wouldn't return any calls." Landry has incentive to show up -- a $100,000 workout bonus.

14. The Dolphins didn't get Manning or Matt Flynn or Alex Smith, so you have to think they really like Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Here's the problem: The Dolphins own the eighth pick; they'd better hope the Browns don't take him at 4. Otherwise, it's Matt Moore vs. David Garrard in camp. Yawn.

15. Arrogance could ruin the Saints. A couple of years ago, they were the NFL's darlings, but they let it go to their head. Sean Payton, thinking he was above everybody, defied Roger Goodell and allowed to the team's bountry program to continue. Payton got his, a one-year suspension. Now the Saints are playing negotiating games with Drew Brees, the face of the franchise. They used to be easy to root for, but not anymore.

At long last, the Jets announced their full coaching staff Monday. The headline is Matt Cavanaugh, who was retained as the quarterbacks coach. Some quick thoughts on the staff:

1. The Cavanaugh move (or non-move) is a stunner, considering Mark Sanchez's struggles in 2011 and the fact that Cavanaugh's former boss, ex-coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, was shown the door. When a new offensive coordinator comes in (see Tony Sparano), he usually likes to surround himself with people he knows. This could be an awkward marriage.

2. Why keep Cavanaugh? Three possible reasons: A) They didn't want to create too much upheaval around Sanchez, B) They couldn't get anyone better; C) They didn't want to eat the final year of Cavanaugh's contract. I think there were elements of all three that factored into the decision.

3. The coaching staff lacks a so-called passing guru. Sparano, who made his bones as a line coach, is a run-first kind of guy. The new wide receivers coach, Sanjay Lal, has only three years experience as a position coach. That leaves Cavanaugh as the most experienced guy on staff in a passing-related role.

4. If the Jets are plotting a pursuit of Peyton Manning, they sure have a funny way of showing it. First, they hire Sparano, a run-oriented coach. Now, they retain Cavanaugh, Sanchez's personal coach. Based purely on these two moves, you'd think they have no interest in Manning. (Personally, I think they do, and will explore the situation.)

5. This isn't news, but they made a smart move by keeping RBs coach Anthony Lynn. Aside from being a good coach, he's familiar with Sparano, having worked with him in Dallas.

6. I'll be honest, I don't know much about the new DL coach, Karl Dunbar, but I do know this: At least he has experience coaching the defensive line (the last six years with the Vikings). His predecessor, Mark Carrier, was a secondary coach miscast as a DL coach. He was hired Monday by the Bengals to coach the secondary.

7. LBs coach Bob Sutton, who has been around here longer than anyone, was given the title of "assistant head coach" -- and deservedly so. Previously, the title belonged to former OL coach Bill Callahan.

Here's a breakdown of the coaching staff:

Head coach: Rex Ryan.

Offense: Tony Sparano (coordinator), Matt Cavanaugh (quarterbacks), Anthony Lynn (running backs), Dave DeGuglielmo (offensive line), Mike Devlin (tight ends/asst. offensive line), Sanjay Lal (wide receivers), Lance Taylor (asst. tight ends/quality control).

Defense: Mike Pettine (coordinator), Karl Dunbar (defensive line), Bob Sutton (asst. head coach/linebackers), Dennis Thurman (secondary), Mike Smith (outside linebackers), Jim O'Neil (asst. defensive backs), Brian Smith (quality control).

Special teams: Mike Westhoff (coordinator), Ben Kotwica (assistant special teams).

Strength and conditioning: Bill Hughan (head), Justus Galac (assistant) and Paul Ricci (assistant).

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).

Not that there was any suspense, but Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff is back for 2012. With his contract expiring, he signed a one-year contact, it was confirmed.

Westhoff, 64, indicated during the season that he wanted to coach one more year before retiring. Now it's official, his new deal first reported by The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The Jets haven't announced their full coaching staff. They added offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal and offensive-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo. Three holdovers on the offensive side remain under contract -- Matt Cavanaugh (quarterbacks), Anthony Lynn (running backs) and Mike Devlin (tight ends). But there still could be some changes.

In a sign of eternal optimism, special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff isn't waiting to see if the Jets make the playoffs this weekend. He's already getting ready for the first opponent the team would face -- Houston.

"After getting ready to play Miami, of course, I'm working on Houston," he said.

Westhoff said he always starts on Wednesday to work a week ahead to game plan, so today he started working on the game plan for the team that would be the Jets' first opponent in the playoffs. In order to get there, the Jets need to win in Miami and have three other games go their way.

It may sound strange, but if the Jets do squeeze into the wild card at the last minute, Westhoff will look like a genius.

Again.

Santonio Holmes is off to his slowest start since the beginning of his rookie year, 2006, but he's still the No. 1 target on the Jets, according to Brian Schottenheimer.

The Jets' offensive coordinator said he has no knowledge of Holmes being unhappy with his role.

"Tone has never said anything to me about it," said Schottenheimer, adding, "I have no awareness that he feels that way, but Tone is our No. 1. He's a huge part of the plan and that doesn't change each week."

He should be for $9 million a year.

Holmes has only 22 receptions and has been targeted only 41 times, third-most on the team. A recent report by Pro Football Talk said Holmes is unhappy; he dodged questions Wednesday when asked if he's satisfied with his role.

GET OUT OF DODGE: During the bye week, the Jets worked out former Giants P Matt Dodge. It was, according to special-teams coach Mike Westhoff, an "average" workout.

Is T.J. Conley in trouble? Westhoff said he wasn't particularly pleased with Conley's performance in the last game. Conley isn't lighting it up this season, but he's no worse than Steve Weatherford was last season. Conley is averaging 43.5 (gross) and 37.9 (net); Weatherford averaged 42.6 and 38.1, respectively.

MAYHEM: Big week for pass rusher Aaron Maybin, who returns to Buffalo to face the team that drafted him and booted him two years later. Maybin, averaging only about 10 snaps per game, will have an expanded role. The Jets are loving the way he has contributed since being re-signed in Week 4. He's tied for the team lead with three sacks.

"It's been a big impact," defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. "That was the one thing that we were missing, was a guy with a great get off that had some explosiveness.

SIBLING RIVALRY: Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan says he'll be a better head coach some day than his brother. Rex's response: "Hopefully, one day we get to find out." With a smile, he added, "But, you know what, at the end of the day, he's not going to be quite as good as his brother. All I'm doing is basing it on facts."

Facts? Rex said he had a better batting average in baseball and was better across the board in athletics, adding, "I think I've always been able to be just a little bit better."

REVIS STRIKES AGAIN: Yeah, in practice. Darrelle Revis dominates there, too. Team drills are closed to the media, so we'll let Pettine provide a play-by-play of an interception Thursday by Revis: "Darrelle never ceases to amaze me. He made a play on a post route in the end zone that was just ... everybody started laughing. It was ridiculous, how good it was. And as he's falling out of bounds, he pitches it back in bounds to Brodney (Pool), which is a big no-no. Brodney isn't on the list of guys you're allowed to pitch to. It was freakish."

Mike Westhoff didn’t want Brad Smith to leave.

The Jets special teams coach fought with team executives, urging them to shell out the money required to retain their vaunted return man in the offseason. But the Jets wanted to allocate their resources elsewhere, so Smith bolted, signing with the Bills.

Smith was one of Westhoff’s favorite players he’s ever coached, which made losing him difficult. But Westhoff didn’t have time to grieve.

After all, as the sign that hangs in his office inside the team’s practice facility says, “You can’t win with the players you don’t have.”

And Westhoff truly believes it. He has so much confidence in himself and his system, that he feels like he could throw almost anyone in and it would work.

Case and point: Through the first five weeks of the season, no kick returner in the NFL has better numbers than Joe McKnight.

McKnight, thrust into regular duty after Antonio Cromartie hurt his ribs in late September, leads the league in yards per kickoff return (45.6) and is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (one).

Last week, McKnight broke off an 88-yard return in New England; and two weeks ago, there was the 107-yard TD return in Baltimore.

“I just have a lot of confidence in my blockers,” McKnight said. “They’ve never let me down, so I don’t want to let them down.”

The reason Westhoff’s units have been so successful, he says, is because all of his players understand the basics.

“We break everything down into components,” Westhoff said. “We teach you have to double-team, how to set, how to trap, how to roll, how to wedge, how to read, how to lead [and] how to seal. There, I gave you the whole darn thing in two seconds. ... It’s not that hard.”

Westhoff normally draws up 15 different kickoff return formations per week. On Monday night against Miami, he expects to use about three.

The Jets practiced kickoff returns for four minutes on Wednesday, three minutes on Thursday and one minute on Friday.

“We have a solid system,” Westhoff said. “And if we practice it right and block it the right way we always have a good chance [to break one].”

Westhoff says there’s still work to be done, but the Jets have certainly shown themselves to be an explosive kickoff return team, so much so to the point where teams are likely going to start kicking away from them.

Westhoff thinks teams could start blasting the ball out of the endzone or kick the ball toward the corners when the weather gets cold in an attempt to pin them deep in their won territory.

Still, he gives his returners a lot of leeway.

“If we believe it’s a ‘returnable ball’ we’re prepared to take it out,” Westhoff said.

According to McKnight, seven-eight yards deep seems to be the cutoff.

“I mean, it’s frustrating [if they kick the ball away from you or out of the endzone],” McKnight said. “But it lets you know the kickoff return team is doing something special.”

After getting tackled before getting into the endzone in New England, Westhoff and McKnight had the following exchange:

“When I got caught from behind, the first thing he asked me was, ‘What happened?’” McKnight said. “I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘Did you get tired?’ I was like, ‘No.’ ... I was just trying to make moves to try to avoid people, that’s probably why I got caught.’”

Said Westhoff, “It’s my responsibility to make the most out of what we have, and I believe that we have some talented guys.

“We’ve had quite a number of guys we’ve changed like our guards. We lost Rob Turner, he was our best big wedge guy. But we threw Mully [Matt Mulligan] in his place. Jeff Cumberland, I just think that guy was gonna be off to the races as a football player. He had a very intricate role. But we’ve got a bunch of interchangeable parts on this team.”

Up and down: T.J. Conley has drawn the usual rookie review from Westhoff.

“Up and down,” the Jets special team coaches said when asked about his first-year punter. “I’ve seen some excellent punts and some very quality punts that I would be happy with from anyone, and then I’ve seen some others that I’m not very happy with.”

Conley does rank fifth in the NFL in punts inside the 20 with nine.

Backing up: Westhoff said Mulligan is his backup long-snapper. He also said Nick Mangold can do the job.

Starter Tanner Purdum missed practice earlier in the week with a lower back injury, but is probable.

We tease him a bit,” Westhoff said of Purdum. “The reason his [back] muscles were cramping up and sore is because all of a sudden he’s got muscles.

“He’s really moved in the weight room. you have no idea what this kid’s done to himself.
We told him you never pulled a muscle before because you didn’t have any. He has them now.”

QB Mark Sanchez appeared groggy as he met with reporters early Monday morning, shortly after midnight in the aftermath of the Jets' 27-24 win over the Cowboys, but he was fine later in the day -- according to Rex Ryan.

The Jets' coach said he spent four hours with Sanchez and GM Mike Tannenbaum at a charity event in Manhattan, and "he seemed fine to me. We all saw the game. I'm sure he was sore. I'm sure he was beat up. He's not on the treatment list."

Ryan held up a three page list of players receiving treatment. "Nothing major," he said, adding, "When you play a physical football game, this is what your treatment list looks like." (Eric Mangini used to do that all the time. Kidding, of course.)

Sanchez didn't speak to reporters during the media period (he doesn't do Mondays), but he popped into the locker room briefly and seemed okay.

KICKOFF ROTATION: In the preseason, the Jets' plan was to spot Antonio Cromartie on kickoff returns, using him whenever they felt they needed a spark. Against the Cowboys, those plans went out the window. Cromartie returned three kickoffs, Joe McKnight only one.

From now on, Cromartie and McKnight will rotate, according to Ryan.

"I think Cromartie could be exceptional," Ryan said.

Cromartie also has new marching orders, courtesy of special teams coach Mike Westhoff, who demanded: Do not return a kickoff that lands nine yards deep in the end zone. Cromartie did that in the first half, and he brought it out only to the 13-yard line.

"I can't go 109 no more," Cromartie cracked, alluding to his league-record, 109-yard return on a missed field goal from his days with the Chargers.

It was a three-way game for Cromartie, who appeared in one play as a wide receiver. He said he's not sure if he'll get another chance in the future, although he claimed, "I could be a great vertical receiver."

ODDS AND ENDS: RT Wayne Hunter acknowledged his shaky performance in pass protection, but he attributed it to the competition -- star pass rusher DeMarcus Ware (two sacks). Said Hunter: "It can't get any worse than that." ... NT Sione Pouha, a proud Utah alum, was wearing a USC shirt in the locker room. The schools faced each other over the weekend, and Pouha lost a bet to the USC alums on the team, McKnight, Sanchez and WR Patrick Turner. Pouha has to wear a USC shirt every day, but he added his own form of protest. He enlisted a friend to splash the word "SUSPENDED" over the USC logo ... Ryan was annoyed that the defense allowed touchdowns on the opening drives of each half -- un-Jets-like.

AMAZING STAT: Forgot this from Sunday night. The Cowboys were 240-0-1 when leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter. Crazy.

Freddie Coleman, Rich Cimini and Jane McManus debate if Mark Sanchez can make the leap to an elite quarterback, how Shonn Greene will handle carrying the load at running back, and who will emerge as a player to watch this season.

Darrelle Revis is back to being Darrelle Revis, which doesn't bode well for opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers.

One year after his acrimonious, summer-long holdout, the Jets' All-Pro cornerback is, by all accounts, enjoying the best training camp of his career. Revis has been a daily nightmare for QB Mark Sanchez, who ignores the "Revis Rule" and challenges him in practice -- without much success.

It's humbling for Sanchez, but he thinks it makes him a better quarterback.

"They keep saying, 'The Revis Rule, the Revis Rule,' but that's my chance to get after it in practice," Sanchez said Thursday. "I can see what you can fit in and what you can get by with. He keeps you sharp, he keeps you accurate ... You try to take short vacations on Revis Island and try to get out of there as quick as you can."

Said Rex Ryan: "He's the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of defensive backs in this league. He's the best I've ever been around."

PLAX UPDATE: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), who practiced extensively Wednesday for the first time, suffered no residual effects, according to Ryan. Burress will continue to be monitored by the trainers. He's slated to make his Jets debut Sunday night against the Bengals.

INJURY UPDATE: RB Joe McKnight (concussion) was scheduled for a medical evaluation Thursday morning. He's not expected to practice ... The following players will be limited in practice -- QB Mark Brunell (finger), RG Brandon Moore (hip), DT Marcus Dixon (knee), LB Brandon Long (quad), NT Sione Pouha (knee) and LB Bart Scott (lower leg) ... Moore won't play Sunday night ... WR Patrick Turner (shoulder) and OL Chris Stewart (shoulder) are nursing minor injuries.

REX ON ELI: Ryan weighed in on the Eli Manning debate, the contention (by Manning) that he belongs in the same class as Brady. Ryan spoke of Manning in the context of a question about Sanchez, whether he deserves to be mentioned in the Brady-Peyton Manning category.

"Not those two; those two have won Super Bowls," Ryan said. "Peyton Manning has won a Super Bowl and he's won a zillion games. In my opinion, he's the best quarterback in the league. Tom Brady has won only three Super Bowls and he's probably been MVP of the league three times. We're a ways from there, but if you win a Super Bowl ...

"Like Eli saying be belongs in the conversation, I certainly understand where Eli is coming from. He's won one Super Bowl. He's a great quarterback. Now is he Tom Brady and Peyton Manning? Probably not, but he's darn good -- and I think Mark Sanchez is pretty darn good."

GOOD CAUSE: Sanchez took a lot of grief for his pictures in GQ magazine, but there is some good that will come out of his photo spread. He wore Hugo Boss clothes on the cover, and Hugo Boss is making a donation to "Tuesday's Children," children and family members who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This is the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy, and Sanchez, in conjunction with the clothing line, is planning to have a Sept. 2 fundraiser.

ODDS AND ENDS: Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who suffered a spinal-cord injury in a game, was scheduled to visit practice. He was invited by LB Jamaal Westerman, a former Rutgers player ... Newly signed OLB Aaron Maybin, a former first-round flop in Buffalo, will get a chance to contribute on Mike Westhoff's special teams unit. Westhoff said Maybin (6-4, 240) is "well-suited" for certain roles, but he's taking a realistic approach. He knows there's a reason why Maybin was dumped after only two seasons. "I don't think the guys in Buffalo are dummies," he said.

A year ago, Darrelle Revis skipped training camp, mired in a bitter contract holdout that made national headlines for over a month. Fast forward to this summer. Not only did Revis report on time, doing his usual lockdown thing at cornerback, but he brought a member of his family with him -- his uncle Sean Gilbert, the former NFL defensive lineman.

Revis and Gilbert are very close, so close that Gilbert was in Revis' inner circle last year during the holdout. Gilbert is interested in pursuing a career in coaching, and he's working as a coaching intern with the Jets. Specifically, he's helping DL coach Mark Carrier.

"It's like being a pup all over again," said Gilbert, a first-round pick of the Rams in 1992.

Gilbert spent 10 years in the league, playing with the Rams, Redskins, Panthers and Raiders. He knows stuff. He has worked with high-school and college kids near his home in Charlotte, so he decided to see if the coaching life suits him. He asked Rex Ryan if he could come to camp, and the Jets' coach said OK.

Gilbert doesn't get much of a chance to speak with Revis because their day-to-day responsibilities keep them apart, but he enjoys the feeling of being so close.

"It's cool to see him at practice," Gilbert said. "Sometimes you have that moment when you flash back to when he was a baby. He's a grown man now, doing something he loves. I'm happy for him."

Said Revis: "It's great. He's a big part of my life, he's a big mentor to me."

JOE TWEAK: Backup RB Joe McKnight sprained his left ankle Monday and sat out of team drills Tuesday. McKnight is the top candidate to return kickoffs, and he's also being considered for the Wildcat package, along with rookie Jeremy Kerley and LaDainian Tomlinson.

OFF GUARD: Rob Turner is working with the first team at right guard, Brandon Moore's spot. Vlad Ducasse had been there, splitting time between right guard and right tackle, but he's now working exclusively at tackle, behind Wayne Hunter. Moore, on the PUP list because of his surgically repaired hip, is expected back soon, according to Ryan.

ODDS AND ENDS: Backup CB Marquice Cole still isn't in camp. He was excused because of a family matter ... The Jets are really counting on third-year OLB Jamaal Westerman to boost the pass rush. "He's a guy we expect big things from," defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said ... WR Logan Payne, on the practice squad last year, has an excellent chance to make the team as the No. 5 receiver. He's big in Mike Westhoff's plans on special teams.