ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bumped into a familiar face at the NFLPA meeting Thursday at the Super Bowl media center -- Tony Richardson.

Did the Jets miss him or what?

The classy Richardson, one of the team leaders in 2009 and 2010, said he was "surprised" by the locker-room unrest that bubbled to the surface at the end of the season.

"We had issues when I was there (in 2010), but we kept them in-house," he told ESPNNewYork.com. "Unfortunately, that stuff got leaked this season. It can't help but have an effect on a team."

Richardson said the team's chemistry was hurt because the front office "had to make some tough decisions and took away some key pieces." He made an interesting point, noting that each position group lost at least one leader -- the running backs (Richardson), the offensive line (Damien Woody) and the receivers (Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith).

Richardson said LaDainian Tomlinson filled the void at running back and Brandon Moore on the line, but he said no one stepped up at wide receiver.

"J-Co knew the playbook as well as (Brian Schottenheimer)," he said. "That's why the remaining guys weren't always on the same page."

Richardson, who still keeps in touch with some players, said he wasn't aware of the Mark Sanchez-Santonio Holmes rift.

"That was disappointing," he said. "The quarterback is the leader on our offense and, if I were a receiver, that would be the last person I want to beef with ... You look at Tom Brady and those tight ends and Wes Welker. The reason they light up is because they have such great chemistry."

Richardson said Sanchez is "getting beat up pretty bad" by the criticism, but he added: "I have a strong belief that he'll be back."

Richardson, 40, said he hasn't file retirement papers, but his football career is over. He was out of the league in 2011, concentrating his efforts on the NFLPA. He's a member of the executive board.

Thoughts and observations on the Jets' roster, as it stands Sunday morning:

1. When evaluating the safety position, Rex Ryan obviously felt comfortable with Brodney Pool and Emanuel Cook as the backups to Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith. That resulted in the trade of Dwight Lowery to the Jaguars. In a sense, Lowery was victimized by the change in systems. He was drafted by Eric Mangini, who played mostly zone -- ideal for Lowery, who has terrific instincts but not ideal speed. In Ryan's man-to-man scheme, Lowery simply didn't have the wheels to play corner at a high level. But I know this: The dude made plays. In limited action last season in sub packages, he had two sacks and three interceptions.

2. Want a scouting report on rookie G Caleb Schlauderaff, the newest member of the offensive line? Hall-of-Fame NFL writer Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, who does the best tape breakdowns in the business, wrote this about the former Packers lineman:

"The coaches must have been really down on Schlauderaff after his brutal outing against the Colts because he didn’t see the field until the 8-minute mark of the third quarter (in the final preseason game). To his credit, he didn’t have a bad play in 13 snaps at left guard.

"Schlauderaff, a sixth-round draft choice, can only play guard. With 4 minutes left, he attacked Jovan Belcher, the Chiefs’ starting inside linebacker. When Belcher went onto his back, Schlauderaff made sure to rake his knees and feet across his foe’s neck and head.

"Belcher certainly didn’t appreciate that but Green Bay’s coaches most assuredly did. Schlauderaff’s zeal to finish and overt nastiness are his redeeming qualities. Still, he lacks desired athleticism and strength."

3. The Jets will start filling their eight-man practice squad once players clear the 24-hour waiver period. Some of the candidates are LB Matt Berning, CB Julian Posey, QB Drew Willy, WR Patrick Turner, WR Scotty McKnight, TE Josh Baker, C Robby Felix and G Matt Kroul.

4. They didn't make a move for a fullback, which suggests they believe John Conner (sprained ankle) will be ready for the opener. Ryan seemed confident, but not certain that Conner will be good to go. Tony Richardson is a phone call away, but if he's on the opening day roster, his salary becomes guaranteed -- and they don't want to guarantee $910,000.

5. The next move to expect? They need a No. 3 quarterback. The most likely candidate is Kevin O'Connell, who was waived by the Dolphins. At least he knows the Jets' system. He was one of the participants in Mark Sanchez's "Jets West" camp, so he obviously has a good rapport with Sanchez.

6. A lot of people are asking about S Brandon Meriweather, cut by the Patriots. I'd never say "never" with GM Mike Tannenbaum, who likes to explore every available player (especially when he can tweak the Patriots), but a move for Meriweather would be a surprise. He'd cost decent money, and the Jets don't like to spend a lot of safeties. Plus, they just gave Eric Smith a three-year, $7.5 million deal. In Ryan's system, the safety position is mentally demanding (ask Kerry Rhodes) and it would take time to get comfortable. So I see them sticking with the Smith-Jim Leonhard tandem. Ryan answered the question Saturday, when discussing the reason for the Lowery trade. He said "we're pretty much loaded" in the secondary.

First-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson admitted he made a "rookie mistake" by swinging back at Giants RB Brandon Jacobs, resulting in a double ejection Monday night, but Wilkerson wasn't about to apologize for his actions.

"I retaliated," Wilkerson said Tuesday. "Was it smart move? No. Do I regret it? No, but it’s football and I'm not going to let somebody try to take advantage of me."

In the third quarter, Wilkerson tried to bull rush Jacobs and their helmets collided. Jacobs took offense to it and took a swing at the rookie from Temple. Wilkerson punched back. They received offsetting penalties and tossed from the game.

Wilkerson knows he has to do a better job of controlling his emotions, and that goes double for Jacobs, a veteran who should know better. You never want to condone that kind of behavior, but you know what? Wilkerson probably scored points with his veteran teammates. At least he showed some fire, more than you could say about a certain No. 1 pick from long not ago.

"You do like to see that from young guys," S Jim Leonhard said. "He’s not backing down. You love to see that."

Said Rex Ryan: "It was getting a little hot in there and that guy (Jacobs) clearly crossed the line. It’s just one of those things where calmer heads have to prevail, but in that situation, it’s tough. Once somebody hits you in the face first, it’s hard to hold back sometimes."

ROSTER CUTS: In addition to PK Nick Novak and P Chris Bryan, the Jets waived rookie WR Courtney Smith to get down to the 80-man limit.

REVIS, CONNER BANGED UP: There were two new names on the injury report -- CB Darrelle Revis (undisclosed right-hip injury) and FB John Conner (sprained left ankle). Conner was seen after the game with his ankle heavily taped, and he was in a walking boot Tuesday.

Revis' injury isn't serious (so says Ryan) and he will continue to practice, although his reps will be monitored. Conner's injury is more significant, although Ryan indicated he expects Conner to be ready for the Sept. 11 opener against the Cowboys. Conner is the only fullback on the roster. If he were to suffer a long-term injury, the Jets would reach out to graybeard Tony Richardson.

"With John, it's not like his ankle is broken," Ryan said. "Tony would be the ideal guy ... but right now, it's not even close to that ... I'm not a doctor, but I don't think it's going to be that big a deal.

Also, WR Logan Payne will have surgery to repair a dislocated wrist. He will miss significant time, but Ryan wasn't ready to say he's done for the year.

BUMPS AND BRUISES: QB Mark Brunell (calf), NT Sione Pouha (knee), TE Jeff Cumberland (hamstring), WR Derrick Mason (knee) and OL Trevor Canfield (knee) remain on the injury report. Payne will have surgery and miss a significant amount of time, although Ryan wasn't ready to say he's out for the season.

Only Cumberland has a chance to face the Eagles in the final preseason game Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Pouha and Mason weren't going to play anyway. None of the veteran starters will play. Wilkerson, rookie NT Kenrick Ellis and second-year CB Kyle Wilson are among the notables that will see action. Looks like rookie QB Greg McElroy will start.

HAND WRITING ON THE WALL: It's not looking good for former Bills No. 1 pick Aaron Maybin, who was held to one assist against the Giants.

"I think he’s going to have to do more," Ryan said. "He’s going to have to show he’s the pass rusher we think he has a chance to be."

Translation: Maybin is toast.

It looks like Jamaal Westerman and Garrett McIntyre will be the third and fourth OLBs, respectively. Westerman is "rushing the passer as well as anyone we have," according to Ryan.

Mark Sanchez knows the deal. When you play in New York, you're going to be compared to the Giants' quarterback, and a certain former Jets quarterback who led the team to a Super Bowl win, and the icon in New England.

And he's okay with that.

"[Eli Manning] has won a Super Bowl, so that puts him in that category -- a certain status," Sanchez said Wednesday. "There's a lot to live up to in this town ... There's always going to be a Joe Namath comparison, an Eli Manning comparison and a Tom Brady comparison. That's the world you live in, playing for the Jets."

GAME PLAN: Rex Ryan said he's planning to play his starters into the third quarter Saturday night against the Giants, but he doesn't anticipate them going more than one series into the third.

That's a little less playing time than what most teams do in the third preseason game, and less than what the Jets did against the Redskins last summer in the third game. But that may have been dictated by circumstances. The offense opened the second half with a three-and-out, so Ryan sent them out again. The result was a long touchdown drive that spilled into the fourth quarter.

It's always a delicate balance, weighing pre-season preparation vs. injury risk. The Jets close the preseason against the Eagles, and you probably won't see any starters in that game.

INJURY REPORT: The news is that WR Plaxico Burress tweaked his lower back Tuesday while reaching for a ball. He "seems to be doing fine," according to Ryan, but he will be re-evaluated before the afternoon practice and probably will be limited.

In other injury news, backup QB Mark Brunell (calf), TE Jeff Cumberland (hamstring) and G Trevor Canfield (knee) won't practice. Brunell didn't even appear on the field for the morning walk-through; he hasn't been seen since pulling his calf muscle last week. He's in the injury-protection program, so to speak.

ROSTER MOVES: The Jets waived OL Chris Stewart and LB Brandon Long.

TONE TIME: Nearly 24 hours later, Sanchez still was gushing about Santonio Holmes' diving, 21-yard touchdown catch to end Tuesday's practice. Sanchez said he called his brother immediately after practice to talk about the catch.

"That was a sweet catch ... oh, my God," he said. "I thought it was better than his Super Bowl catch (as a member of the Steelers). I thought it was better than the Houston Texans catch (from last season). It was sick."

I asked Holmes, half-jokingly, if it was better than his catch for the ages, his toe-tapping grab that beat the Cardinals.

"I couldn't agree with that," he said, smiling.

CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE: On Thursday, the Jets will travel to Hempstead, L.I., their former home, for a 6 p.m. practice at Hofstra Stadium. Traditionally, nothing much happens at the annual Hofstra practice -- it's basically a glorified walk-through -- but it did provide a storyline last summer in HBO's "Hard Knocks" series.

If you recall, some players stopped at a nearby McDonald's for cheeseburgers and brought them to the practice, eating the grub on the field. A few days later, Ryan lashed into the team for its lack of discipline. This time, he doesn't expect any fast-food runs. Ryan, jokingly, said they'd limit their cheeseburger eating to the team bus.

"There will not be that issue ... at least there better not be," he said.

T-RICH HOLDING: Ryan said that, if he ever lost starting FB John Conner to an injury, he'd have "one guy that's a phone call away." He meant Tony Richardson, 39, currently a free agent. Richardson hasn't made any public declarations about his plans. The Jets are planning to carry only one fullback. A year ago, they defied conventional wisdom, carrying Conner and Richardson.

Rainy day thoughts and observations:

• I find Rex Ryan's choice of captains to be particularly interesting, a reflection of the direction of the team. Instead of picking older players like LaDainian Tomlinson, Bart Scott, Brandon Moore or Jim Leonhard -- all deserving -- Ryan opted for the "younger" crowd. He chose Mark Sanchez, Santonio Holmes, Darrelle Revis, Sione Pouha and Eric Smith.

The exception might be Pouha, 32, but he's regarded as an emerging leader, the most vocal player on a defensive line that has undergone a youth movement. The point is, Ryan seems intent on putting his younger stars in leadership roles. Makes sense, considering some of their older leaders no longer are with the team --Damien Woody, Shaun Ellis, Tony Richardson, et al. It's changing-of-the-guard time.

• I wonder who the players would've voted for as captains if Ryan had opted for a democratic process. Just saying.

• Best player in camp so far: Revis. Hardly a shocker, right? Think back to a year ago. Right about now, he was two weeks into a nasty holdout, trying to stay in shape by working out on his own. He signed the week of the opener, pulled a hamstring and needed more than half the season before he was right. If the Jets get the real Revis from Day 1, it'll make their defense that much better.

• Revis' performance in 2009 was considered by some to be one of the great years for a cornerback in recent history. Asked if it was a once-in-a-lifetime season that can't be duplicated, Revis replied, "No, it wasn't ... I don't know if you can sit here and say 'duplicate, but if you noticed last year, I came back and finished the season strong. The guys I did cover, they didn't have the numbers they usually average per game. If you look at those stats, you would know."

• Final thoughts on Shaun Ellis going to the Patriots: The Patriots offered four times as much money as the Jets. Who can blame a guy for taking that deal? At the same time, you have to wonder about Bill Belichick's decision to pay $4 million to a 34-year-old defensive end with an ailing hip. In the 11 games prior to his monster playoff game against the Patriots, Ellis had only one sack and no more than four tackles in any one game.

• Tomlinson rushed 22 times last preseason. Something tells me it's going to be a lot less this summer.

In his role as the Jets' player rep, Brandon Moore serves as the conduit between his teammates and the NFLPA's executive committee. For nearly five months, Moore has been in the middle of the fray, living the lockout on a day-to-day basis. So it came as no surprise Monday when Moore called the settlement "a big, big, huge sigh of relief."

Moore said the players will benefit from "huge gains" in the proposed collective bargaining agreement. The stepped-up emphasis on player safety, he said, may be the biggest positive.

"Everybody will be talking about the cash, but the one thing that gets overlooked is the rule about training camp, no two-a-days, the reduction in padded practices -- all that stuff that will protect the guys," Moore told ESPNNewYork.com. "All that was huge for the guys; it wasn't negotiable. I also think it could help change the way they do things in college and high school. It will have a positive impact. The product will be better on Sunday because guys will be rested and refreshed."

Ironically, one of Moore's teammates -- Bart Scott -- came out last week and blasted the elimination of two-a-days, denouncing it as a wimpy move that will make players soft. Moore said he spoke to Scott about those comments. He said Scott indicated some of it was taken out of context. He tried to impress upon Scott that the new rules are designed to protect them from coaches that push the envelope, overworking players.

In the CBA negotiations, the new rules became known as "The Mangini Rules," a reference to former Jets and Browns coach Eric Mangini. He was known for his relentless (some might say draconian) style.

"Rex (Ryan) runs a good team and he takes care of his players, but a lot of coaches didn't adhere to the rules," Moore said. "These new rules protect the guys that don't have a Rex Ryan or Tony Dungy as their coach. It protects you from a lot of unnecessary hitting."

* * *

One of the unsung heroes of the labor negotiation was Jets FB Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA executive committee. There's a good chance that Richardson, 39, will announce his retirement in the coming weeks (he's an unrestricted free agent), but he worked tirelessly throughout the process to help the players achieve a favorable agreement.

"He told us many times in the room that he's not even going to benefit from this (new CBA), but he worked selflessly," Moore said. "The guys should be proud of their leaders, players that negotiated face to face with the owners for the first time in history. I hope that, when I'm on the way out, we have leaders like that, that will fight for the players like he did. T-Rich was fighting for guys when they didn't even realize he was fighting for them."

If this was Richardson's last act as an active player, it was a heck of a way to go out.

The NFL released its list of free agents Monday night. No surprises here -- the Jets have 16 unrestricted free agents (four or more accrued seasons) and one restricted free agent (three accrued seasons). Here you go:

UNRESTRICTED

FB Tony Richardson
DE Trevor Pryce
DE Shaun Ellis
WR Braylon Edwards
OL Wayne Hunter
S Brodney Pool
QB Kellen Clemens
CB Drew Coleman
CB Antonio Cromartie
WR Santonio Holmes
LB Lance Laury
WR Brad Smith
S Eric Smith
P Steve Weatherford
PK Nick Folk
S James Ihedigbo

RESTRICTED

OL Robert Turner

With the NFL labor dispute reportedly in its final stages, the lockout could be lifted as soon as Friday -- and you know what that means. It'll be madness, with free-agent signings, rookie signings, trades, etc.

As a refresher, here's an updated depth chart (our version), based on the roster posted on NewYorkJets.com. Unrestricted free agents are in caps, rookies in italics.

Some quick observations: Obviously, the big story is wide receiver, where the Jets have three key free agents. Potentially, they also face significant turnover in the secondary. They're thin on the offensive line and linebacker, areas that could be targeted with undrafted free agents.

So here you go, a complete depth chart. Chances are, it's going to look a lot different in about 10 days.

OFFENSE

WR BRAYLON EDWARDS, BRAD SMITH, Patrick Turner, Logan Payne
LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson
LG Matt Slauson, Dennis Landolt
C Nick Mangold, Rob Turner, Robby Felix
RG Brandon Moore, Marlon Davis
RT Vladimir Ducasse, WAYNE HUNTER
TE Dustin Keller, Matt Mulligan, Jeff Cumberland
WR SANTONIO HOLMES, Jerricho Cotchery, Jeremy Kerley, Scotty McKnight
QB Mark Sanchez, Mark Brunell, KELLEN CLEMENS, Kevin O'Connell, Greg McElroy
FB TONY RICHARDSON, John Conner
RB Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, Bilal Powell, Carlos Brown, Chris Jennings

DEFENSE

DE SHAUN ELLIS, Ropati Pitoitua, Muhammad Wilkerson
NT Sione Pouha, Martin Tevaseu, Kenrick Ellis
DT Mike DeVito, TREVOR PRYCE, Marcus Dixon, Jarron Gilbert, Matt Kroul, Carlton Powell
OLB Calvin Pace, Garrett McIntyre
ILB Bart Scott, Josh Mauga, Joey LaRocque, Brian Toal
ILB David Harris, LANCE LAURY, Brashton Satele
OLB Bryan Thomas, Jamaal Westerman, Brandon Long
CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE, Kyle Wilson, Marquice Cole, Will Billingsley
CB Darrelle Revis, DREW COLEMAN, Ellis Lankster, Richard Taylor
S Jim Leonhard, Dwight Lowery, Emmanuel Cook
S BRODNEY POOL, ERIC SMITH, JAMES IHEDIGBO

SPECIALISTS

PK NICK FOLK, Nick Novak
P STEVE WEATHERFORD, T.J. Conley
LS Tanner Purdum

Tony Richardson isn’t filling the calendar with workouts, but the Jets' fullback may be one of the busiest NFL players during the lockout. As one of the players on the former NFL Players’ Association executive committee, he is in meetings from Maryland to Minnesota trying to craft a fair deal.

Richardson talked to Bob Fescoe at KCSP 610 Radio in Kansas City, where he still keeps a home, about everything from free agency to his playing future. With another promising young fullback on the Jets, John Conner, Fescoe asked if Richardson was year by year.

“Right now I’m month by month,” he said.

But Richardson said his own situation wasn’t the main concern. The 17-year player is looking at how he can turn the game over to the next generation without giving up the gains of the previous one.

“I think I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s very bright.” Richardson said. “It’s just a matter of, my biggest goal is to see this process through as far as getting guys back on the field.”

In addition to labor questions -- Richardson is optimistic that they can get a deal done, but not in a hurry to take the wrong one -- he was asked about playing for Jets coach Rex Ryan, whose brash approach to public relations isn’t necessarily beloved outside of the greater New York area.

“You have to love Rex Ryan,” Richardson said. “I think that sometimes people kind of have the wrong impression of Rex. The one thing I can say about him is he absolutely loves his football team, loves his players and would do anything to help guys be successful. People say he talks too much, but in the last couple years, having a young quarterback, I think Rex has done a phenomenal job of really taking the media attention away from Mark (Sanchez) and putting it on himself.”

You can catch more quotes and audio of the entire interview here.

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

Position: Running back.

Depth chart: Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, John Conner, Tony Richardson, Joe McKnight, Bilal Powell (R), Chris Jennings, Carlos Brown.

Not under contract: Richardson.

Player hurt most by the lockout: McKnight.

Player with most to gain: Tomlinson.

Analysis: More than most, this unit could be hit hard by the lockout. The reason is, you're talking about a handful of young players that could've really benefitted, mentally and physically, from a full offseason. McKnight, in particular, needed the time, considering his early-season struggles last season as a rookie. For all the promise he demonstrated as a rookie, Conner, projected as a the opening-day starter at fullback, also could've used all the time in the off-season program. The Jets have high hopes for Powell, a fourth-round pick, but he will be in a serious catch-up mode, severely diminishing his chances of making an impact.

Greene, the likely feature back, has dealt with weight issues in the past, and the Jets have to be a bit concerned about him working out on his own. Fortunately for the Jets, they have Tomlinson, a pro's pro who knows how to train and prepare himself for a season. The plan is to reduce his carries, making him more of a third-down back, but they might have to adjust if he's in the best shape among the backs. Richardson, heavily involved in the labor fight as a member of the players' executive committee, probably won't be re-signed.

Tony Richardson admitted that Monday's decision by the Eighth Court of Appeals to uphold the NFL lockout was a "big step" backward for the players, but the Jets' fullback -- a member of the former NFLPA's executive committee -- remains optimistic that there will be a season.

"The decision pushes things back, and it was a big step," Richardson told Newsday and the New York Daily News Tuesday night at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, where he and the Giants' Chris Canty were honored at the annual Gridiron Gala to benefit the United Way. "But I'm believing there's going to be football. There's a process, and we don't quite know what this thing is going to look like. We just have to keep fighting and see how this thing plays out."

Right now, the owners have the leverage, thanks to Monday's decision. Many legal experts have said that the court's wording in the ruling is so pro-owners that it appears the owners also are likely to win their appeal of the injunction that temporarily lifted the lockout -- and that appeal begins June 3. If the owners win that round, it could blow up the season -- unless the two sides agree to a deal.

In the meantime, no minicamps, no OTAs. Basically, the offseason as we know it is shot. A decision on the appeal isn't expected until mid to late June, so even if the players were to win, it would be too late to have anything close to a normal offseason. There would have to be free agency and, by the time that finished, it would almost be time to go to training camp.

"It's a process, and yes, it's hurting a lot of people," Richardson said. "We're trying to get back on the field as fast as we can.''

How does it hurt the players? Richardson mentioned the rookies and undrafted players, who can't be signed until the lockout is over. He also mentioned Jets QB Mark Sanchez.

"If he would have been in this situation (last year), there's no way he would have gone to back-to-back AFC Championship Games," he said, alluding to all the time Sanchez spent with coaches last offseason. "This is going to slow the growth of a lot of players.''

General managers will tell you it's one of the hardest decisions they have to make, knowing when to say goodbye to a popular player whose skills have succumbed to Father Time -- or knowing how to handle the phasing-out of that player. The Yankees are experiencing something like that now with Jorge Posada, and it's not pretty.

The Jets have made several tough decisions in recent years on older players, decisions that seemed unpopular at the time they were made. For the most part, GM Mike Tannenbaum and his staff have been on the money, although these calls are harder to evaluate in football than baseball because of the team nature of the sport.

Right now, Tannenbaum has a few of those decisions on his plate -- namely DE Shaun Ellis, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Mark Brunell, FB Tony Richardson and LB Jason Taylor. From all indications, the Jets have decided to keep Tomlinson, almost 32, for one more season. The same goes for Brunell, 40, but that could come back to bite them if something happens to Mark Sanchez. It looks like Richardson, 39, is a goner. Ellis, almost 34, is up in the air, depending on his contract demands as a free agent. Taylor, 36, is a long shot to return.

Let's take a look at some of the Jets' recent over-30 cuts:

• NT Kris Jenkins. Because of injuries and salary, this wasn't a tough decision. The Jets have a solid nose tackle in Sione Pouha, and they feel they drafted Jenkins' long-term replacement, picking Kenrick Ellis in the third round. Verdict: Jury still out.

• RT Damien Woody. Again, this was dictated by injuries and salary. This was riskier than the Jenkins move because, as of now, there is no proven replacement. They're gambling on Vladimir Ducasse. Verdict: Jury still out, way out.

• LG Alan Faneca (2010). This was controversial, risky and unconventional. The Jets ate $5 million to cut a potential Hall of Famer, asking a couple of unknowns -- Ducasse and Matt Slauson -- to battle for the job. The Jets suffered in the short term, as Slauson experienced major growing pains, but he settled down. Faneca started every game for the Cards, but he wasn't the Faneca of old -- and he knew it. It probably factored into his decision to retire last week. Verdict: A win for the Jets.

• RB Thomas Jones (2010). Another unpopular decision. Jones was coming off a career year, but he faded toward the end of the '09 season and Jets felt he was almost out of gas and not worth his $5 million salary. Jones was a productive player last season for the Chiefs, rushing for 896 yards, but his yards-per-carry dropped significantly, from 4.2 to 3.7. The Jets replaced him with Tomlinson, who rushed for 914 yards, a 4.2 average and provided a new dimension to the offense as a receiver. Verdict: Win for the Jets.

• WR Laveranues Coles (2009). They parted ways with one of the best receivers in team history after a 70-catch season, thinking young WR Chansi Stuckey could step in. The Jets were right about Coles; he showed little in '09 for the Bengals, finishing with 43 catches and a 12.0 average. Stuckey wasn't the answer, and they went out and traded for Braylon Edwards a month into the season. Verdict: A win for the Jets -- but a costly, delayed win.

In recent years, the only aging player who thrived after being released by the Jets was C Kevin Mawae, who was cut after the '05 season. In 2008, at the age of 37, Mawae was named All-Pro for the Titans. It's hard to quibble with this decision, though, because the Jets replaced him with Nick Mangold, a first-round pick in '06. He was All-Pro in '09 and '10.

QB Chad Pennington is borderline in this category. He was 32 when he was released, but it wasn't about age; it was because Woody Johnson developed a man crush on Brett Favre. And, yes, the Jets got burned in '08 because Pennington led the Dolphins to the division title and the Jets ... well, you know the story.

The Jets have released or traded several players that have gone on to success elsewhere -- Danny Woodhead, Leon Washington, Jonathan Vilma, John Abraham,Kerry Rhodes, et al. Most of those moves were dictated by contract demands and scheme changes. They were all players in their prime, but at least the Jets received something in return -- in most cases, anyway.

But when it comes to the outright dumping of older players, the Jets usually know what they're doing.

UPDATE: The players' organization e-mailed players late Monday night and informed them they're legally entitled to report to their team facility Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Unless and until the judge issues an order for a stay (a delay of the injunction), the teams can't block access, the players were told.

UPDATE: The NFL Management Council informed teams to let players into the facilities, but instructed them to keep the weight rooms closed, Schefter reported. Jets veteran leaders were assessing the situation late Monday night.

Will they or won't they? Show up for work, that is.

U.S. District judge Susan Nelson's decision Monday to order an immediate end to the NFL lockout has fueled rampant speculation that players will show up to team facilities Tuesday morning. In fact, the Steelers' Ryan Clark went public, asking teammates to join him at work.

As of 9 o'clock Monday night, the Jets had no organized plan to follow suit, according to assistant player rep Brandon Moore -- although it's possible some players might go on their own. Moore said he discussed the matter Monday with team rep Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA's executive committee. Moore said they agreed to re-visit the matter again Tuesday.

Moore said he was aware of Clark's effort and admitted "it's not a bad idea." But he added, "We'll see how it plays out." Moore, who has been working out at a facility near the Jets' complex, said he wasn't planning as of Monday night to show up.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson's agent, Brad Blank, said he will recommend to Ferguson that he report to the Jets' facility. Ferguson's contract calls for a $750,000 workout bonus, the largest in the league. According to the contract, he must attend at least 85 percent of the off-season workouts to collect. To cover themselves, players in Ferguson's situation might show up to protect themselves legally.

"It only makes sense for a guy with a big workout bonus," said Blank, who was trying to reach the Jets' Pro Bowl left tackle to share his thoughts. "It's not going to be a huge thing. He'll go to the office, the security guard will say, 'No, I can't let you in' and he'll leave quietly. It's not going to be James Meredith at Mississippi, with the national guard."

Other players have big bonuses tied to workouts, including Bryan Thomas ($500,000), Mike DeVito ($350,000), Calvin Pace ($250,000) and Bart Scott ($250,000).

So players may show up Tuesday, but whether they're granted access is another question. The entire situation is murky. The league has said it will appeal Nelson's decision, hoping to receive an immediate stay. That would keep the players out and would keep free agency and trading on the backburner.

Moore said Monday's court victory was significant for the players, but paraphrasing a message sent to the players by NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, he said: "We earned a first down, but we have to keep our head on a swivel. He put it in football terms, and I think it fits.

"We knew we were right all along, but to have a judge rule in our favor feels good," Moore continued. "All we ever wanted was to go back to work. There's no greed, no personal grudge matches, no ego. Guys just want to play football. How do you do that? You get the judge to lift the lockout, and that's what happened.

"I find it strange that we're the ones getting beat up in the press," he went on. "All we want to do is work. The owners are claiming how much they want to help the game, but they're keeping us out. I find it quite strange. I find it disheartening and disappointing."

Moore said he's planning to meet with teammate Nick Mangold this week to discuss plans for an offensive-line get-together -- some classroom work and maybe light drills.

"We can do it in somebody's basement, using a dry-erase board," Moore said. "We can get together to go over plays and protections, and get the brain working toward football. I know in the past, when we started the offseason in March, it was a big adjustment, just getting back to talking football terminology. We don't need anything fancy, just a basement and a dry-erase board."

Mark Sanchez is planning to have a mini-minicamp for skill-position players next month in California.

This is the fourth installment in a nine-part series that will analyze the Jets' needs, position by position, in the upcoming draft.

Position: Running back.

Depth chart: Shonn Greene, John Conner (FB), LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, Tony Richardson (FB), Carlos Brown, Chris Jennings.

Not under contract: Richardson.

Scouting report: The Jets are planning to have three tailbacks on the roster -- Greene, Tomlinson and McKnight -- but do they have a No. 1 back in the bunch? Ah, that is the question. This is Greene's time to shine, but didn't we say that last year? It didn't happen that way, of course, as Tomlinson was the feature back over the first half of the season. McKnight, who arrived with a diva mentality, matured throughout the season (pine time can have that effect) and flashed promise in the meaningless season finale. He'll have a role, possibly as the No. 2 back, bringing much-needed speed to the backfield. Tomlinson could be the third-down back. Conner is locked in as the starting fullback. The classy Richardson, 39, will have to go elsewhere if he wants to keep playing.

The Last Time: The Jets have picked running backs in two straight drafts -- McKnight (fourth round, 2010), Conner (fifth round, 2010) and Greene (third round, 2009).

Potential Targets: It would be an absolute stunner if the Jets pick another runner. They're showing interest in Bilal Powell (Louisville), who is on their list of visits to Florham Park. Powell (5-11, 204) is an interesting prospect because he rushed for 1,405 yards last season, yet some scouts say he's a one-year wonder and point to his average speed. Nevertheless, he figures to fall in the fourth- to fifth-round area. Another runner would create backfield chaos. They'll need a backup for Conner, but it's hard to imagine them picking a fullback two years in a row.

Need Factor (scale of 1 to 10): 2.

Friday: Offensive line.

If the players are granted an injunction to block the NFL's lockout, and if the league implements the 2010 work rules (no salary cap, six seasons for unrestricted free agency, etc.), it would be a huge score for the Jets. Here's why:

Three of their top four free agents -- Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith and Antonio Cromartie -- would be restricted free agents, not unrestricted, under those conditions. The fourth, Braylon Edwards, would be unrestricted -- and would stand to make a killing in what would be a watered-down wide-receiver market.

The Washington Post reported Monday that if the injunction is granted -- a hearing is set for April 6 -- the season almost certainly would be played without a salary cap and with the same restrictions on player movement as 2010. In other words, players with expired contracts would need six accrued seasons to be unrestricted free agents. Prior to 2010, it was only four seasons.

Now you know why the Jets, along with the other teams, made tender offers to potential restricted free agents two weeks ago. In fact, the Jets placed the highest tender in terms of compensation (first- and third-round picks) on Holmes and Cromartie, virtually ensuring their return as RFAs.

This would be a coup for the Jets. Instead of having to dole out lucractive, long-term deals for Holmes and Cromartie, they could retain them on one-year deals for the mandated tender offer -- $3.5 million apiece. It would save money for the organization and it would, in theory, keep Holmes and Cromartie -- players with off-the-field issues -- on their best behavior in another contract year.

A continuation of the 2010 rules would also make RFAs of Smith (second-round tender), Kellen Clemens (third round), Eric Smith (third), Drew Coleman (sixth), Nick Folk (sixth), James Ihedigbo (right of first refusal, no compensation) and Rob Turner (RFF, no comp).

The only players not affected would be Edwards, Shaun Ellis, Trevor Pryce, Tony Richardson, Brodney Pool and Wayne Hunter, each of whom has at least six seasons. Edwards probably would the most coveted receiver on the open market. Holmes and the Vikings' Sidney Rice, arguably the top talents, would be RFAs. That could result in a bidding war for Edwards, which would make it difficult for the Jets to retain him. In theory, the Jets could take the money earmarked for Holmes and use it to give Edwards a long-term deal, but the price could be too rich for their blood because of supply and demand.

Another downside for the Jets would be the likely use of the "Final Eight" rule, according to the Post. It would be 2010 all over again, as the Jets -- a Final Four team -- would be severely restricted in terms of signing free agents. They adjusted nicely last offseason, using trades as a way to improve the team. This time, the rule wouldn't hurt as much because GM Mike Tannenbaum has said the primary objective is to retain their own players instead of bringing in new talent.