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WR Santonio Holmes, CB Antonio Cromartie and S LaRon Landry didn't participate in Thursday's OTA session for various reasons.

Holmes was off to Germany on a good-will trip, visiting U.S. troops over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the team. On Wednesday night, he was still in town, as he was spotted at a Red Bulls soccer game in Newark, N.J. In fact, he was shown on the scoreboard -- and promptly booed by the crowd.

Cromartie simply skipped the session to be with his family over the holiday weekend, the team said, stressing the workouts as voluntary. Cromartie and Holmes did participate in the first two OTAs, Monday and Wednesday.

Landry has been a no-show. He has been rehabbing an Achilles-tendon injury from last season, but Rex Ryan wouldn't use the injury as the reason for Landry's absence. He didn't give a reason, although CB Darrelle Revis said Landry is dealing with "family issues."

Ryan didn't sound totally confident that Landry will be ready for training camp.

"He obviously had a significant injury, there is no question about that," Ryan said. "But we're excited to get him up to speed. Hopefully, by training camp, he's ready to go. I'm not sure medically when he'll be cleared."

The Jets improved their safety depth by signing former Dolphin Yeremiah Bell, whom the organization envisions as a starter with Landry. Bell and incumbent Eric Smith worked with the starting unit on Thursday, with Bell intercepting a Tim Tebow pass in 7-on-7s.

Smith will head to the bench at some point, assuming Landry gets healthy, but he has no problems with the addition of Bell. Smith envisions a three-safety rotation of sorts, which he believes will keep him fresher later in games.

INJURY REPORT: LB David Harris (strained calf), LB Bryan Thomas (Achilles tendon) and LG Matt Slauson (shoulder surgery) sat out team drills. No surprise with Thomas and Slauson. Ryan said Harris' injury is minor.

In Mark Sanchez's eyes, Tim Tebow is a backup quarterback and a good business decision.

Sanchez, in an interview Friday morning on WFAN, gave his thoughts on the reason behind the Tebow trade. (Yeah, two months later, we're still talking about it.) Probably echoing the company line he received from management, Sanchez described Tebow as a cost-effective addition to the roster.

"You’re always going to have a backup quarterback and this guy can do so many other things," Sanchez said. "From a business standout, if you’re running a team, and your backup quarterback can do five other jobs, from a business standpoint, you’re saving money. It’s a solid move, just like Brad Smith used to do for us. He returned kicks and punts and did everything, and he played quarterback."

In a vacuum, yeah, you could rationalize it that way. But we all know Tebow isn't your typical backup quarterback.

Sanchez, perhaps in denial, actually said Tebow's presence will help him deal with the media scrutiny. He noted there were more media at Tebow's locker during Thursday's media session than his own locker, adding, "He can take pressure off you, as weird as that may be."

Sanchez touched on other topics during the interview.

On his immediate reaction to the Tebow trade: (He paused and chuckled) "I don't know, that's a good question. A little curious."

On Tony Sparano's vocal coaching style: "It hasn’t been all smiles, he’s a no-nonsense guy. He’s pretty stern, but he’s fair … It’s loud and everybody can hear it. I'm really starting to like him, I'm understanding the system."

On his relationship with Santonio Holmes: "It feels like it did when he first arrived (in 2010)."

On the silver lining from the season-ending debacle in Miami: "Looking back now, I'm glad it happened that way because we needed to go into this season making changes. If we would've played well and won the game ... Let's say I threw five touchdowns and everything was great, do we really solve anything? We didn't make the playoffs, but is everything okay? Do we solve anything? I don’t think so. It was almost like a necessary evil."

On embattled RT Wayne Hunter: "He's just a physical freak, he’ just a monster of a human. He’s got all the ability, there no doubt. I have all the faith that he's going to have a great season."

Rich Cimini and Jane McManus discuss the Jets' quarterback dynamic this offseason, Darrelle Revis' war of words with Bill Belichick and the relationship between Wayne Hunter and Santonio Holmes.

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.

Santonio Holmes believes the Jets need a few good men -- on the offensive line.

Holmes, who created a firestorm last season by publicly criticizing the offensive line, said in a Disney interview at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex that the Jets needs to bolster the line and the receiving corps in the draft.

"We're looking for a few offensive linemen, some guys that are ready to come in and play right away," said Holmes, who works out at the complex. "We need a few more receivers to give Mark (Sanchez) more weapons to throw the ball to. And, hopefully, our defense comes around.

"Guys are ready to go, man. We're looking forward to a big season this year and, hopefully, make it to the playoffs, finishing off with the right things, holding that trophy."

It wouldn't be a shock if the Jets draft a right tackle, widely regarded as the weakest position on the line. They also could use some depth at guard, but to say they need a few linemen to play right away is a stretch.

The Jets need a starting-caliber wide receiver to play opposite Santonio Holmes, and they're still considering former Jet Braylon Edwards for the role.

"I wouldn't rule him out," GM Mike Tannenbaum said Thursday at the Jets' pre-draft news conference.

Tannenbaum said he doesn't expect to add any players before next week's draft, noting that Edwards could be a possibility in May or June. Right now, Edwards is rehabbing a knee injury from last season.

The Jets had a chance to keep Edwards after the 2010 season, but they opted for Holmes -- both were unrestricted free agents at the time. Edwards ended up signing a one-year deal with the 49ers.

Tannenbaum praised Edwards' blocking ability (which could be key in their run-oriented offense) and he called Edwards a "tremendous" practice player.

The plans could change if they use their first-round pick on a wide receiver, namely Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' VP of college scouting, spoke highly of Floyd.

This is the third part in a nine-part, position-by-position analysis, breaking down needs and draft possibilities:

Position: Wide receiver

Depth Chart: Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, Patrick Turner, Chaz Schilens, Logan Payne, Eron Riley, Scotty McKnight, Dexter Jackson, Royce Adams.

Not Under Contract: Plaxico Burress (UFA).

Scouting Report: Next to safety, this is the thinnest area on the team. The Jets have one starting-caliber receiver -- Holmes -- and a lot of question marks. Kerley showed promise last season in the slot, so there's no need to worry about that, but they still need a starter to play opposite Holmes. (Burress won't be back.) They need a vertical threat, preferably over 6-feet, that can rip the top off the defense, creating room underneath for Holmes & Co.

On paper, former Raider Schilens (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) is the guy, but he has questionable durability, with only 72 catches in four seasons. You're reaching if you expect him to be the No. 2 receiver -- assuming Holmes is the No. 1. He didn't play or act like it last season, finishing with the worst production in his career as a starter. Based on completion percentage, he and QB Mark Sanchez had the worst chemistry of any quarterback/receiver tandem in the league. Why isn't that surprising? Former Jets Braylon Edwards is a post-draft option.

The Last Time: The Jets traded up last year to take Kerley in the fifth round, effectively replacing Brad Smith. The last time they picked a wideout in Round 1 was Santana Moss in 2001.

Potential Targets: The Jets could have a crack at the second-best receiver in the draft, Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), but it's hard to imagine a Rex Ryan-coached team pulling the trigger on a receiver at 16. This is a deep draft for pass catchers, and the Jets have visited with a handful that are projected as second rounders -- Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), Reuben Randle (LSU) and Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers). Brian Quick (Appalachian State) also is rising quickly. They're all at least 6-foot-3, except for Sanu (6-foot-1 1/2). From the Jets' perspective, the best combination of college production and upside belongs to Jeffery, who has the second-highest receiving yardage total in SEC history. His problem is weight fluctuation; dude likes to eat a lot. If the Jets want to get nostalgic, they could pick Nick Toon (Wisconsin) in the third round. He's the son of former Jets great Al Toon.

Need Rating (on a scale of 1 to 10): 9

Next: Tight end

So what did Tim Tebow do on his first official day with his new team? Not much.

Because of rules in the new collective bargaining agreement, NFL players aren't permitted participate in any football-related activities in the off-season program for the first two weeks. Basically, it's all about strength and conditioning.

The only coaches allowed on the field are strength-and-conditioning coaches. No footballs are allowed, except quarterbacks are permitted to throw to receivers -- and they can't be covered by a defender. (Even the Jets' receivers should be able to get open under those circumstances.) No helmets are allowed.

So it was a limited day for Tebow and his teammates. It went something like this:

• Team meeting. At 8 a.m.,Rex Ryan made brief remarks to the team, emphasizing a "new year, new beginning" theme, according to C Nick Mangold. When he was done, Ryan yielded the floor to team executive Jacqueline Davidson, who explained the new CBA rules, and strength coach Bill Hughan.

• Offense/defense. After the team meeting, the players repaired to their separate meeting rooms. Each coordinator made brief remarks and handed out playbooks.

• Workouts. When the meetings broke up, the players headed to the weight room and the adjacent fields for strength and conditioning. Their day was over by noon. Ryan wasn't permitted to stick around and observe; he went into draft meetings. The coach said he had no idea how Tebow interacted with his new teammates.

Mangold and WR Santonio Holmes, the only players made available to the media, said they don't expect any problems with Tebow fitting into the locker room. Mangold, a staunch Mark Sanchez supporter, said Tebow's enormous presence won't have any impact on Sanchez.

"If Mark has been wishy washy with his role and his ability, I could see (problems) creeping in," he said. "But Mark understands what he needs to do and that sets the clear line."

Mangold downplayed the competition angle, actually comparing Sanchez-Tebow to the center position.

"Kris (O'Dowd) is competing for my job," said Mangold, presumably with a straight face (this was on a conference call, so we can't be sure.) "Unfortunately, Kris doesn't have the following Tim does, but it's the same dynamic."

Uh, hello? O'Dowd was an undrafted free agent last year, and has no NFL experience; Mangold is a Pro Bowl center. If he thinks it's the same situation, he probably doesn't think much of Tebow's chances.

Holmes said he was surprised by the Tebow trade.

"He's going to do some great things for our team this year," Holmes said. "He's going to be a guy we can depend on when situations come about. When he gets on the field, he's going to prove he's a playmaker and willing to help the team win by any means."

The Jets plan to use Tebow in a wildcat-like package, which probably will mean fewer balls for Holmes. The mercurial receiver declined to speculate on how his role will be impacted by Tebow.

From Monday to Thursday, Mark Sanchez, Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller, among others, worked out together at the ESPN Wide World of Sports facility near Orlando. Conspicuous by his absence was one of Florida's favorite sons, Tim Tebow, who was nearby in Jacksonville.

Tebow apparently didn't receive an invite to work out with his new teammates -- and he said he was okay with that.

"We'll have enough time working out together," Tebow told reporters Friday night at his charity golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Fla., according to Newsday.

Tebow also said, "I've been in contact with Mark and he's a great guy, we've got a great relationship. We'll look forward to seeing each other on Monday."

Monday is the start of the Jets' off-season program in Florham Park, N.J. Save for a couple of days in the wake of last month's trade, including the ballyhooed news conference, Tebow hasn't spent any time at the facility. He has met a handful of teammates, but the big introduction happens Monday.

All NFL quarterbacks dream of going to Disney World the day after the Super Bowl -- as the MVP, of course. Mark Sanchez is there this week, trying to get a jump on next season.

Sanchez and WR Santonio Holmes, whose strained relationship became the subject of many off-season headlines, are working out together at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The Jets' off-season program doesn't begin until Monday, but Sanchez, Holmes, TE Dustin Keller and WR Patrick Turner decided to meet for some early work. A handful of players from other teams also are participating in the informal workouts, which will continue for the remainder of the week.

"We got that good work in today!" Keller tweeted Tuesday, addressing some of the players.

This marked Sanchez's second trip to Orlando in the offseason. In February, he went there to meet with Holmes in an attempt to resolve their differences and move forward. This time, Sanchez was invited by Holmes, trainer Tom Shaw told The Star-Ledger.
"I know it can work between us," Sanchez told reporters last months at a charity event in Manhattan. "It's not a question of if, it's just a matter of when -- and that's now."

Holmes hasn't done an interview since the day the season ended in Miami, where he was benched late in the game after nearly coming to blows with teammates in the huddle.

Sanchez has spent a lot of time in Florida on football-related matters. Early in the offseason, he made at least two trips to South Florida, where he met with former Jets and Dolphins QB Chad Pennington to learn about Tony Sparano and his offensive system.

Because of the new CBA rules, Sanchez hasn't been allowed to discuss Xs and Os with Sparano, but that changes on Monday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass rusher or wide receiver?

On draft day, the Jets could be faced with that decision in the first round, picking 16th. Even though they've made it clear this offseason they want to be a run-oriented team, they should strongly consider Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd if he's available, according to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay.

McShay conducted a conference call Friday with reporters and discussed the Jets' options at 16.

"If you're going to run the football and be successful, you’ve got to have some balance," he said. "You’ve got have the threat of the pass. To me, if Michael Floyd is there, I think he would fit very well in terms of a complement ... When you look at what they have, Chaz Schilens opposite Santonio Holmes, with Patrick Turner and Jeremy Kerley, doesn’t strike a whole lot of fear.

"I get it, you’re going to be physical and line up and run the football, but you’ve got to be able to back defenses off unless it becomes the Tim Tebow show and they become the Denver Broncos from a year ago. That’s a whole other story. It’s not a high percentage, going with a wide receiver with that first pick because there’s a lot of depth in this class, but I do think, if Floyd falls to them, it would make it a difficult decision."

Floyd, listed at 6-foot-2 5/8, caught 100 passes for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He ran well at the combine, solidifying himself in the middle of the first round. He could go anywhere from 10 to 20.

McShay mentioned some second-round possibilities at receiver -- Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina), Reuben Randle (LSU), A.J. Jenkins (Illinois) and Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers).

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, commenting on the Tim Tebow trade, expressed optimism and curiosity -- which seems to be the prevailing theme among the players that have commented publicly. Ferguson also expects some craziness.

"There's definitely going to be a little bit of a circus atmosphere, but I think the locker room is getting a lot better," Ferguson told reporters Thursday at a public appearance in Manhattan. "The Tebow situation, he brings a lot to the organization, even outside of on-the-field performance. I think that’s something we’ll have to deal with and contend with."

Ferguson suspects that that training camp "will be buzzing and there will be a lot of cameras around. ... It can be a distraction, but at the same rate it can be positive for us as well. We've just got to figure out how best to navigate all those things."

The Jets' Pro Bowl left tackle spoke highly of Tebow's ability, but acknowledged he's not sure how the quarterback dynamic will play out with Mark Sanchez.

"I think we’re all on the same page here: We don’t know how it will affect Mark, we don’t know what’s going to go on," Ferguson said. "At this point, all we can be is optimistic just because it’s so new. ... Until we start putting our hands to the grind, and start practicing, and really start playing some games, we won't know if it will work. But I think the intent or the hope is that it will be a good complement, and that’s all we can set our sights on at this point."

WR Santonio Holmes, tracked down near his Orlando home by the New York Daily News, declined to comment on the trade.

We interrupt Tebow-mania to bring you Todd McShay's latest mock draft on ESPN.com. In his 4.0 version (Insider content), a two-round mock, McShay predicts the Jets will select Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw (16th overall) and Clemson DT/DE Brandon Thompson (47th overall). His explanation for Upshaw:

Upshaw is the kind of physical, versatile front-seven player Rex Ryan loaded up on in his days with the Ravens, showing explosiveness and power as a pass-rusher and as a run defender. (Michael) Floyd also would be a consideration here if he were available, and he would be a good complement to Santonio Holmes.

My analysis: No surprise here. On Tuesday at the NFL meetings, Ryan confirmed his interest in Upshaw. Make no mistake, the Jets want a rush linebacker with their first pick. On Wednesday, Ryan attended the South Carolina pro day, where DE/OLB Melvin Ingram worked out for scouts. He's projected as the 13th pick (Cards) in McShay's mock.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Rex Ryan expressed supreme confidence Tuesday that the Jets' chemistry issues are history. He said the team will use last season's adversity as a rallying point.

"I truly believe this football team is going to be just like this," Ryan said at the league meetings, clasping his hands. "In a way, I feel like we’ve been pushed into a corner, which is a good thing for us because I know how we’re coming out. We’re coming out swinging."

Slight pause.

"I hope we don’t hit each other like we did a little last year," he cracked. "But we’re coming out."

Ryan feels the locker-room discord was overblown, but there's no denying that turmoil existed. Most of it centered around the Mark Sanchez-Santonio Holmes relationship. Funny, but that story has shifted to the backburner, with everyone focused on Tim Tebow's arrival.

Hmm, you wonder if that was a small part of the team's motivation for making the trade. Team officials say no.

Ryan has talked to players throughout the offseason, and he likes what he hears.

"They’re sick and tired" of hearing about last season, Ryan said. "It’s not that we’ve been disrespected -- we brought it on ourselves -- but we weren’t the type of team we know we’re capable of being. I think that’s going to drive us.

"I talked to (Darrelle) Revis and you can almost feel the passion coming through the phone. David Harris, Bart Scott, they’re so ready to get last year behind them."

Per CBA rules, the off-season program will begin April 16.