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Observations on OTA No. 3 (the first session open to the media):

1. Yes, Mark Sanchez outplayed Tim Tebow. So what? It's only May, and it's only OTAs. In the big picture, this means very little. It's almost laughable how some have jumped to conclusions. Chill, people. Frankly, Sanchez should outplay Tebow because he's a better thrower of the football and, with no live pass rush, that's all they're doing -- throwing.

2. There were some dropsies in the early portion of team drills. WR Jeremy Kerley let a well-thrown Sanchez pass sail through his hands, rookie WR Stephen Hill dropped a throw from Sanchez (had plenty of zip on it) and TE Dustin Keller dropped a Tebow pass. Keller rebounded with a diving catch on a Sanchez pass.

3. The play of the day was an 80-yard pass from Sanchez to Hill. The second-round pick got past CB Kyle Wilson on a fly pattern and turned on the jets. He was wide open and Sanchez hit him in stride. As Rex Ryan noted afterward, the Jets want to emphasize vertical passing this season. That's the Tony Sparano philosophy: Hammer them with the running game and hit 'em deep on play-action.

4. RB Shonn Greene is listed at 226 pounds, but it looks like he dropped a few. He ran with a little extra giddy-up. I even saw a little something out of Bilal Powell. Yeah, Powell.

5. The defense, which has three-plus years in Ryan's system, is way ahead of the offense, which is just learning Sparano's scheme. RG Brandon Moore noted how the defense showed a few wrinkles, including a "Bear" front and third-down pressures, forcing the offense to react quickly. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. On a couple of plays, Tebow was scrambling around the backfield, looking to escape an unblocked rusher.

6. You'd better be prepared for a summer-long battle, Nick Folk. Recently signed PK Josh Brown impressed at the end of practice, nailing five of six FGAs. His only miss came from 45 yards.

7. No doubt, LB Bart Scott, 12 pounds lighter than last season, is moving better in coverage. He made a nice interception on a Tebow pass.

8. Sparano is big on tempo. In practice, he's always preaching the offense to pick up the pace. You don't want to be the guy who slows down the rest of the group.

When Tim Tebow walked into the locker room Thursday, with a crowd of reporters already camped out at his locker, his teammates sensed the moment -- a massive scrum/news conference -- and sounded off.

"Te-bow! Te-bow!" several players chanted.

A couple of players were creative and yelled out, "Lo-lo! Lo-lo!" That was a reference to U.S. hurdler Lolo Jones, who recently told HBO's "Real Sports" that she doesn't believe in premarital sex. Tebow, a devout Christian, shares that sentiment.

That the players razz Tebow shows they like him. As Tebow said, "If they didn't, then it means they didn't care. It is awesome, because they give me a hard time about it and that is great. If they didn't, that is when you have to worry."

Said CB Darrelle Revis: "Guys like to have fun. I hope Tim can handle it." Revis said he tweaked Tebow during practice, telling him after one of his interceptions, "Hey, thanks for throwing a turnover to us."

THINKING OF JIM: Rex Ryan insisted the team hasn't ruled out the possibility of re-signing safety Jim Leonhard, who is recovering from major knee surgery.

"I'm never going to say that," Ryan said.

Ryan's words notwithstanding, Leonhard's return appears to be a long shot, especially since they signed veteran S Yeremiah Bell. Leonhard's best chance might hinge on the health of LaRon Landry (Achilles tendon), who isn't a lock to be ready for training camp.

REX LOVES BART: Ryan offered unsolicited praise of LB Bart Scott, who only two months ago seemed like a goner. Scott has dropped 12 pounds and appears to be re-focused after a disappointing 2011 season. That they drafted his heir apparent, Demario Davis, might have a little something to do with it.

"Bart is ready to be Bart Scott, the guy we brought in here," Ryan said. "Bart would tell you that he had kind of a disappointing year last year, just like I'll tell you I had a disappointing year last year. This whole football team, definitely Bart and I, we want to have a great year this year. I think you see that."

Scott slowed down last season and struggled in pass coverage, and he was eventually removed from sub packages. Ryan noted that, with David Harris (calf) nursing an injury, Scott is working as the "Mike" LB in the sub package.

Wait, weren't they ready to trade this guy?

TAKE THIS PAD AND ...: RG Brandon Moore, a member of the NFLPA executive committee, doesn't think much of the league's new rule to mandate thigh and knee pads in 2013.

"I guess they're worried about thigh bruises and knee contusions ... but I don't know how that's helping player safety -- a thigh bruise," he said, alluding to bigger issues -- i.e. head trauma.

Asked if he thinks it was a PR move by the league, Moore said, "I don't know what it is, but I don't know how it falls in with player safety."

THIS AND THAT: As expected, DE Quinton Coples and WR Stephen Hill, both named rookie starters after the draft, worked with the first team. ... In addition to Scott, Ryan also singled out DE Muhammad Wilkerson as a player "jumping out at me." ... Ryan likes the tempo under new O.C. Tony Sparano. The offense is trying to work at a fast pace.

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.

The most celebrated player in Jets history is perhaps the most celebrated critic of the team. Joe Namath doesn't pull any punches, not since he started his radio spot two years on ESPN New York 98.7 -- and it has frayed his relationship with the Jets, especially owner Woody Johnson.

Namath admitted as much Tuesday night at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, where he joined other former and current Jets and Giants at the United Way Gridiron Gala.

"It’s rough, you know," the legendary QB said of his relationship with the Jets. "None of us like to be critiqued, criticized in a negative way. It gets bent sometimes. I don’t like the feeling, the vibes I get back whenever I cross Woody's path. Rex (Ryan) and I have been getting along well when we bump into each other, but I know there’s some underlying sensitivity there the Jets have."

BRANDON AMONG HONOREES: Jets RG Brandon Moore was honored at the 19th annual gala. Moore and Giants RG Chris Snee received the Hometown Hero award to recognize their service to the community. Giants Hall-of-Fame LB Harry Carson was honored for his lifetime achievement.

ON THE BLOCK: TE Dustin Keller, who also attended the event, said Tony Sparano's system includes a larger variety of blocking calls than the previous system. That, he believes, will solve some pass-protection issues ... OT Vladimir Ducasse said he's been working exclusively at right tackle in early drills. Ducasse, a two-year disappointment, acknowledged "this is a big year for me." He didn't make any bold declarations about overtaking incumbent Wayne Hunter, saying only that his "ultimate goal" is to start.

It probably pained their management types to walk away, but the New York Jets made a smart move by saying no to HBO's "Hard Knocks."

Owner Woody Johnson wisely listened to Rex Ryan and his football people, deciding that no amount of free publicity was worth the distraction of having NFL Films cameras imbedded in their training camp for the second time in three summers.

The Jets need to be about football, about healing the locker-room fractures from last season, about doing everything possible for Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow to co-exist and about trying to master Tony Sparano's offense.

Sparano is from the Parcells school of clandestine operations, and you can bet he didn't want a TV camera inside his meeting room. This is a man who, in a conference call with reporters last week, refused to acknowledge they're planning to run the Wildcat with Tebow. You think he wanted his Tebow package on display in living rooms across America?

Yes, the Jets are reality show waiting to happen, but that doesn't mean Joe Coach Potato in Des Moines, Iowa, needs a front-row seat to their inner sanctum. Ryan and his staff deserve the chance to prepare for the 2012 season without having to be concerned with omnipresent TV cameras, and now they will have that opportunity.

Training camp will be a circus, of course, because the Jets signed up for the circus as soon as they traded for Tebow. But it will be in a controlled environment in Cortland, N.Y., their summer home. That wouldn't have been the case with "Hard Knocks."

More than anything, it would've sent a bad message. After last season's disappointment, the Jets must sell "re-dedication" to their fans, not show biz and glitz. When they did "Hard Knocks" in 2010, they were a feel-good story, coming off a successful first year under Ryan. The exposure actually helped the team raise its national profile.

But that was then. Johnson probably could've used the show to sell a few more PSLs and club seats, but he'll find them harder to move if his team sinks to the level of mediocrity. There's a time for "Hard Knocks," but this wasn't the right time.

But here's a guarantee: The Jets will be hard knocking in 2013.

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.

Notes and observations on the Jets and the NFL:

1. IN TONY WE TRUST: The Jets are taking an enormous gamble, opting to stand pat at the right-tackle position. If Vladimir Ducasse doesn't step up, they'll go with the embattled Wayne Hunter, much to the chagrin of Jets fans. Suddenly, we're starting to hear stuff from Rex Ryan about Tony Sparano's system, how it will suit Hunter better than the previous system. In a radio interview last week, Ryan said Hunter was "isolated, one-on-one, for the majority of the time (last season) and I don’t know how many tackles hold up down after down that way." Two thoughts: If Sparano's system can protect suspect right tackles, how come Marco Columbo was a turnstile for the Dolphins? Didn't Ryan always praise Bill Callahan as the best OL coach in the league?

2. SLIM PICKINGS: One well-respected scout told me there were only two legitimate defensive ends in the draft -- Quinton Coples (Jets, 16th pick) and Chandler Jones (Patriots, 21st). The scout said highly-publicized 'tweeners Melvin Ingram (18th, Chargers) and Courtney Upshaw (35th, Ravens) were too short and too short-armed to be effecive pass rushers, and that they were overvalued because of the paucity of true DEs. Obviously, the Jets felt the same way.



3. LUCKY BREAK: Contrary to a report, the Jets had no interest in taking West Virginia DE/OLB Bruce Irvin with the 16th pick -- so they claim. You'd like to believe them because, despite tremendous speed-rushing ability, Irvin is a bit of a head case. An opposing scout, pulling information from his team's report on Irvin, said the player refused an opportunity to become a full-time starter (he started six games last season). According to the scout, Irvin basically told his coach, "I don't want to start, I just want to rush the passer." The Seahawks took him with the 15th pick. Said the scout: "Pete Carroll may have done the Jets a favor."

4. BOY AMONG MEN: Coples discovered at an early age what it's like to play against the big boys. He attended Hargrave Military School in Chatham, Va., and played on their post-graduate football team -- at the age of 17. "He was playing against 21-year-old men," said Hargrave coach Troy Davis, who served as Coples' defensive coordinator. "He grew up real fast and it fueled his confidence." Coples and current teammate Muhammad Wilkerson were the starting DEs for Hargrave in 2007, but they didn't go undefeated. They lost to the University of Tennessee jayvee team.

5. NEW-AGE JETS: Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, discussing why the Jets placed an emphasis on speed in the draft, made an interesting point. To build a defense in today's pass-happy NFL, he said, "You have to work backward," starting with your third-down package. In other words, get pass rushers and coverage people. It makes perfect sense, except for this quirky stat: Opponents threw against the Jets a lot less last season than 2010. The percentage of pass plays was 54.6, down from 58.3.

6. MORE MAYHEM: OLB Aaron Maybin said he's up to 240, having gained eight pounds in the offseason. He'd like to put on a few more pounds, with the hope of increasing his role on defense. He'd like to find a niche in the base package. The Jets could use him because they're awfully thin at OLB.

7. FREE-AGENT SIGNING OF THE YEAR: Kudos to Greg Schiano and the Bucs for signing former Rutgers DL Eric LeGrand. They did it right, even distributing a press release that included his college stats. How can that not put a lump in your throat?

8. SPYGATE: Former Jets coach Eric Mangini, now an ESPN analyst, said on the air last week that he regrets blowing the whistle on the Patriots for their illegal videotaping in 2007. "If there's a decision I could take back, it's easily that decision," he said. "Never in a million years I wanted it to go this way." It ruined his relationship with Bill Belichick. If that hadn't occurred, he'd probably be the Patriots' defensive coordinator.

9. BOUNTY GATE: I think NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came down too hard on Jonathan Vilma. He penalized the soldier as harshly as the generals.

10. SNL REVIEW: I'm sorry, but Eli Manning is just not funny.

The Jets are the land of the rising sons -- at least that's what the sons are hoping.

The team's rookie minicamp roster includes three players with fathers who played in the NFL:

• Tennessee QB Matt Simms -- father, QB Phil Simms, Giants, 1979-93.

• Penn State RB Joe Suhey -- FB Matt Suhey, Bears, 1980-89.

• Penn State DB D'Anton Lynn -- RB Anthony Lynn, Broncos/49ers, 1993-99. Currently, Lynn is the Jets' running backs coach.

Simms probably has the most pressure, simply because his dad is an icon in these parts, a former Super Bowl MVP. His older brother, Chris, a coaching assistant for the Patriots, also played in the league, from 2004 to 2009.

Simms said he received simple advice from his father before heading to minicamp, where he's participating on a tryout basis, hoping to earn a contract: "Don't mess up."

A righthander thrower like his dad (Chris was a southpaw), Simms has a strong arm, but his accuracy and touch need work. Rex Ryan praised him, saying he "has arm talent and, obviously, the right pedigree." Simms didn't get much playing time in college, bouncing from Louisville to a JUCO to Tennessee, where he started only two games last season.

"This game, it's going to take you for a loop every now and then," said Simms, crediting his father and big bro for their support.

Asked for his expectations, Simms shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know," he said. "I just want to keep playing football. It's as simple as that. I just want to keep playing the game that I've been playing since I was a child."

Simms, who lives in Franklin Lakes, N.J., worked out for the Giants before the draft. But they weren't interested.

They all grew up around the game, as did Ryan, son of retired coach Buddy Ryan. Ryan said the NFL pedigree is a "huge advantage" for players.

"If anything, it's helpful," said Suhey, whose father gained fame as the blocking back for the late, great Walter Payton. "They've been through it and know so much about the game."

Like Simms, Suhey is competing on a tryout basis. Lynn has a contract -- he signed as an undrafted free agent -- setting up a daily, father-son reunion. He said he chose the Jets because of his admiration for the defensive coaches and the scheme, not because he'd be close to his father. That was an added bonus.

"It's definitely pretty cool," said Lynn, a productive starter at Penn State. "There aren't that many people that can say they got a chance to play for their dad at the professional level. Even though we're not on the same side of the ball, it's something that's pretty cool."

Lynn said he received a call from Ryan after the draft, asking if it would be "weird" to sign with the Jets. He discussed it with his agent and felt it was the best opportunity.

UPDATE: Rex Ryan, speaking to reporters two hours after practice, said they decided to sit No. 1 pick Quinton Coples in team drills so they could evaluate other players. It wasn't related to an injury or a disciplinary reason.

"He's fine," Ryan said. "There's no injury, there's no nothing. It was just my decision."

Ryan said it's not uncommon to remove players, especially linemen, from drills in a rookie minicamp. He didn't give any reasons, except to say, "We've already evaluated Quinton." Logically, it makes sense because the drills tend to get sloppy and you don't want to risk injury in the trenches, especially to a key player.

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First-round pick Quinton Coples didn't participate in team drills Saturday because of a "coach's decision," he told reporters after Day 2 of the Jets' rookie minicamp.

Coples, who watched the 11-on-11 drills from the sideline with helmet in hand, said he had no idea why he was told to sit out. He said he's not injured; he participated in individual drills.

Rex Ryan doesn't address the media until 3 p.m. This isn't contract-related, according to a source. Sometimes a player will sit out when a deal is on the verge of getting done, but that isn't the case in this situation.

"They told me to sit out and that's what I did," the former North Carolina defensive end said.

Asked if he questioned the decision, Coples said, "There's no time to question it. This is the NFL. If the boss says sit down, sit down. That's what I did."

Coples said he "trusts the staff to make the best decision for me."

Coples, the 16th overall pick, came out of North Carolina with a reputation for inconsistent intensity on the field. By all accounts, he impressed the coaches in Friday's practice. In fact, Ryan raved about Coples, saying he recorded six "sacks" in the non-contact drills.

No. 1 pick Quinton Coples came away from his first practice thoroughly impressed with his performance. He said he didn't make any mental errors, claiming he had absorbed every bit of the defense that was installed.

And that made Rex Ryan smile.

"This is one practice and he has like four defenses in," Ryan said Friday after Day 1 of minicamp. "Our library is a little more extensive than that."

But, hey, you have to like the kid's confidence, right?

The Jets expect big things out of the defensive end from North Carolina, the 16th overall pick. It's tough to evaluate linemen in non-contact drills, but Ryan said he was impressed with Coples' effort, noting he outran teammates in pursuit drills. Coples recorded six "sacks" in team drills, according to Ryan.

They plan to use Coples in different spots, but they kept him at defensive end in the base, allowing him to flip sides based on the offensive formation.

After he was drafted, Coples was given 10 DVDs by the coaching staff, a breakdown of the Jets' defensive fronts from the entire 2011 season. He said it took him five days to get through the DVDs.

Coples arrived with high expectations, saying it's his objective to show "that I can compete at the highest level, that I can compete on the national stage, and that I can help the New York Jets win a Super Bowl."

NO WORRIES: Second-round WR Stephen Hill doesn't have to worry about his contract anymore. On Thursday, he agreed to a four-year, $5 million deal, becoming only the second player in the draft to sign.

"It's definitely getting it off your mind," Hill said. "Not being worried how much money you are going to make, because it's not really about that. It is about going out there and playing football, so that’s why I wanted to get it over with and get on the football field and get to work."

Ryan was impressed with Hill's first day, but he did something out of character -- he actually tried to downplay expectations.

"It is rare for rookies to come into this league and really have an impact as a receiver," Ryan said. "It really takes years. Jerry Rice was a back-up his first year. I'm not going to say he's going to do it right away, but ... I know he’s got that desire and all that. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can progress."

Joey Clinkscales, the VP of college scouting, made a Rex-like proclamation during the draft, saying Hill has Calvin Johnson-like athleticism.

COLEMAN REUNION?: The Jets were one of three teams Thursday that expressed early interest in CB Drew Coleman, who was cut by the Jaguars. Coleman played with the Jets from 2006 to 2010. Coleman appears intent to test the free-agent market. Likewise, the Jets had no immediate plans to sign him, but he's a down-the-line possibility.

TEBOW'S PLACE: This was the first time the media were allowed in the locker room, so I can bring you this breaking news: Tim Tebow's new locker is located next to TE Josh Baker, 10 lockers away from QB Mark Sanchez. Given the size of the Jets' locker room, that means they're in the same area code.

The expectation level for rookie LB Demario Davis just increased by ... oh, 200 percent.

Soon after the first practice of the Jets' three-day minicamp, Rex Ryan gushed about Davis' leadership qualities, saying the third-round pick from Arkansas State reminds him of (please keep a straight face) Ray Lewis.

"I'm not saying Demario is that guy -- there's only one Ray Lewis, but it’s interesting," Ryan said. "His face, mannerisms, passion -- I see some things, and it’s interesting."

So now you're thinking, "How did he learn all that in just one practice?" The Jets did a lot of pre-draft homework on Davis, including an intensive round of interviews. They brought him in for a visit and had him meet with every level of the organization, from scouts to coaches to management. They all came away impressed, according to Ryan.

Ryan said Davis has the ability to be a natural leader, a la Lewis. Ryan, of course, knows Lewis from his days as a Ravens assistant. He wasn't there for Lewis' rookie year, but he heard the stories.

"It's easy to say, 'Well, this guy was a leader for his football team,'" Ryan said. "But does he have that thing where he can lead men? That’s rare, and some guys have it. Ray Lewis had it when he came in. The day he walked into Baltimore, he was the leader of that defense."

The weight on Davis' shoulders just got a lot heavier.

The Jets' rookies (a total of 55 draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout players) practiced for more than two hours in Florham Park, N.J. Thoughts and observations:

1. Second-round WR Stephen Hill shined. He demonstrated explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and didn't drop any passes. He made a circus catch in 7-on-7s. There was one borderline drop on a deep route down the left sideline, on a nice throw from QB G.J. Kinne, but Hill later said it was out of his reach. New O.C. Tony Sparano chided him once for "choppy" steps in a particular route, but the overall first impression of Hill was positive.

2. It was difficult to get a read on first-round DE Quinton Coples -- linemen are harder to evaluate in non-contact drills -- but the things that jumped out were his size and power. Afterward, Rex Ryan estimated that Coples had "about six sacks" in the practice. Not sure about that, but he definitely was flying to the football. Of course, that's what you'd expect of your No. 1 pick in this type of setting. Much like fellow DE Muhammad Wilkerson, I can see Coples being a better interior rusher than on the edge -- and that's how they plan to use him.

3. At 6-foot-2, 239 pounds, third-round LB Demario Davis looked a bit on the slender side for a traditional inside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 scheme. But the tradeoff is his speed. He displayed his coverage ability in the 7-on-7s, showing the ability to turn and cover. Everybody knows the Jets could use that on defense. He also showed some leadership, taking control and instructing teammates. Afterward, Ryan raved about Davis' leadership qualities, saying they remind him of Ray Lewis.

4. Sixth-round RB Terrance Ganaway is shorter than his listed height of 6-foot (at least that's the way it appeared when I stood next to him in the locker room). No matter; he's definitely all of 240 pounds, with a Shonn Greene-body type. He didn't catch that many passes at Baylor, but actually looked pretty smooth coming out of the backfield.

5. Sparano coaches as advertised, which is to say he's a no-nonsense guy -- and loud. He was constantly barking, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fast pace by getting in and out of the huddle. He definitely brings a different vibe to the field, as compared to his predecessor, Brian Schottenheimer. Sparano wasn't shy about scolding players, but he also took them aside for one-on-one instruction.

I've been pontificating for a few days on the Jets' draft; it's time to hear from a few other voices in the draftosphere. Here you go:

MEL KIPER, ESPN

Grade: C

"The Jets surprised me when they went with Quinton Coples over Melvin Ingram in Round 1. To be blunt, I just think Ingram is the superior player -- and I have outside linebacker as New York's top need. Coples is a more natural fit as a 4-3 defensive end, and the obvious conclusion is Rex Ryan intends to move him inside. Still, I don't see him as a significant help in a need area -- the pass rush. Stephen Hill is a major physical talent, but he's a project in terms of route running. He can certainly keep safeties honest, however. You have to account for his deep speed, but I'm not sure he'll be able to help a lot in 2012. I like the value of Demario Davis. He was my fifth-ranked OLB in this draft. Size is a question, but Rex may set him loose situationally."

JERRY CZARNECKI, FOXSports

Grade: C

"This franchise rolled the dice on all their first three picks, which has been their approach lately. It doesn't mean the draftees aren't talented, it's just whether or not they are the right fit. There were questions about North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, the first-round pick. Some scouts thought he had a bad habit of taking plays off. ... They traded up for Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill because he's a great blocker for their power running game. Now, that makes some sense because Hill only caught 49 passes in his college career. And he should be able to block because Tech used a triple-option running game. But Hill is 6-foot-4 and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. ... Demario Davis of Arkansas State is another edge rushing linebacker. ... Baylor's Terrance Ganaway, a 240-pound running back, could be a great find and should help on short-yardage. ... Staying at Baylor, the Jets took right guard Robert T. Griffin, a 335-pounder with no relation to his former quarterback teammate."

PETE PRISCO, CBS Sports

Grade: C-

Best pick: Second-round receiver Stephen Hill has the tools to be an explosive player, but he is raw. Can this regime get the best out of him? If they can, he will be a steal. Boom or bust pick.

Questionable move: Taking Quinton Coples in the first round is a strange move for this team. He doesn't seem to fit what they do. Oh, and he also took last season off at North Carolina.

Third-day gem: Running back Terrance Ganaway put up big numbers in Baylor's offense. He is a big back at 239 pounds.

Analysis: The Jets took two players in the first two rounds who are risks. Is that really something this front office and staff can afford to do? Add in the stupid Tim Tebow trade, and the Jets haven't had a great start to 2012. It's a feast-or-famine draft.

CHRIS BURKE, SI.COM

Grade: D+

"DE Quinton Coples is a colossal roll of the dice at 16 overall, and the Jets decided to address their issues at offensive tackle by completely ignoring that position. WR Stephen Hill (43) will help that underwhelming unit, as might sleeper Jordan White (244). But there was more bad than good here."

VINNY IYER, SPORTING NEWS

Grade: C

"Rex Ryan got some 3-4 pieces, but we just don't know if they're the right ones. Hill has explosive potential with the right QB."

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.