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HOT TOPIC
For most of an 11-year NFL career in which he has become a cinch Hall of Famer, the classy, non-demonstrative Curtis Martin has flown under the radar.
So it was again on the first day of the Jets' three-day full-squad mini-camp. Martin, who is trying to come back from knee surgery in December, was overlooked Friday by most of the media as they flocked to talk to Chad Pennington about his rehab from shoulder surgery.
Martin, too, is trying to make a full recovery from injury and regain his form after an injury-plagued 2005 in which he finished with only 735 yards, the first time in his career he didn't reach the 1,000-yard mark. The Jets finished 4-12.
"Yeah, it was a frustrating year," Martin said, "but more so because we lost, not because of the yards or anything but because we weren't winning games."
When asked if this was another challenge, he responded, "I don't even consider it a challenge. I just consider it something that I'm going to do. I've been through this a million times and it's just a matter of working as hard as I can like I always do. The routine doesn't change for me."
Martin participated in most of the drills on the first day of mini-camp, but much like Pennington, he appeared to be somewhat limited. Of course, new coach Eric Mangini didn't talk much about Martin's rehab status, just as he didn't give many details about Pennington's limited practice throwing reps.
"Curtis is involved in all of the drills," Mangini said. "We're monitoring him as well. But he is taking part in all the drills and he is a guy that we are watching and making sure that it's within the framework of his rehab."
Mangini was more expansive in talking about Martin himself.
"I wish everybody had Curtis' approach to getting some work," the coach said, "because he can't get enough work. That's what makes Curtis, Curtis."
Martin said of the new regime, "Everything's cool. We're all getting to know each other, and in my opinion, it's going along well."
Unlike with Pennington, who is being pushed by newcomer Patrick Ramsey, the Jets don't appear to have a Plan B for a featured running back. In fact, projected backup Derrick Blaylock, who missed much of 2005 with a broken foot, didn't participate in the first day of mini-camp because of a leg injury. Mangini said it was unrelated to the broken foot, but provided no other details.
PLAYER NOTES
--C Trey Teague was held out of the Jets' full-squad mini-camp with what coach Eric Mangini termed an injury to his left leg. According to a source, it's an ankle injury. It is serious enough to keep the free-agent pickup out of this important mini-camp and Mangini refused to say whether Teague would be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
If he is a question mark, that will further accelerate the demands on 29th overall pick Nick Mangold of Ohio State, who figured to compete with Teague anyway. Mangold said he has added 15 pounds and is up to 305, but promised he wouldn't lose the quickness that has made him effective on sweeps.
Teague apparently was hurt during one of the voluntary mini-camp sessions, or organized team activities, as the Jets call them.
--Also limited at the mini-camp were DB Ray Mickens and QB-turned-WR Brad Smith, who suffered what Mangini termed "bumps and bruises" before mini-camp. It appears that even Mangini's OTA practices are much tougher than those of previous coach Herm Edwards.
--QB Patrick Ramsey, obtained in a trade with the Redskins, realizes he has a chance at the starting job because of Chad Pennington's status. Plus, everyone, including holdovers such as Pennington and Brooks Bollinger, is learning a new offensive system.
"It puts everybody on an even slate," Ramsey said. "Everyone's trying to learn the small intricacies of what we're doing."
Ramsey, who has a stronger arm, looked impressive during the first day of mini-camp, but was a bit erratic the next morning, and also showed his tendency toward quickly escaping the pocket when the rush gets close.
--Every player is under the microscope with a new regime, but on defense, Bryan Thomas definitely is in the spotlight. The new staff has been working him both as a standup linebacker and a defensive end in a three-point stance in the hopes that he can be a Willie McGinest-type of player.
The staff also is trying DT Dewayne Robertson at both the nose and the end, as part of their commitment to making players more versatile.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
On defense, the new staff is trying some holdover personnel in new roles, such as DE Bryan Thomas at both end and OLB, and DT DeWayne Robertson at both NT and DE. They also signed free-agent LB Alonzo Jackson, a fourth-year player who has spent time with both the Steelers and Giants. In fact, Jackson started in the Giants' playoff loss to Carolina because of all the injuries plaguing them at that position at the time.
MEDICAL WATCH: QB Chad Pennington is still on a "pitch count," as he termed it, but he is throwing and throwing long occasionally. C Trey Teague (ankle) is out for the mini-camp and his status for the start of training camp in late July is very much up in the air.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE John Abraham (traded to Falcons).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Kenyatta Wright (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHST FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--TE Chris Baker: UFA; terms unknown.
--P Ben Graham: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB Matt Chatham: UFA Patriots; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--OT Anthony Clement: UFA 49ers; terms unknown.
--WR Tim Dwight: UFA Patriots; $4.2M/4 yrs, $750,000 SB.
--CB Andre Dyson: FA Seahawks; $11.5M/5 yrs, $3M SB.
--LB Brad Kassell: UFA Titans; terms unknown.
--LB Alonzo Jackson: FA Giants; terms unknown.
--CB Ray Mickens: UFA Browns; terms unknown.
--DT Monsanto Pope: UFA Broncos; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--QB Patrick Ramsey: Trade Redskins.
--DE Kimo von Oelhoffen: UFA Steelers; $9.2M/3 yrs, $3.2M SB.
--OL Trey Teague: UFA Bills; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--DE John Abraham: Franchise FA; traded Falcons.
--LB Mark Brown: Not tendered as ERFA/Cardinals; terms unknown.
--S Oliver Celestin (released).
--WR Wayne Chrebet (retired).
--OT Jason Fabini (released; failed physical).
--QB Jay Fiedler (released; failed physical).
--LB Barry Gardner (released).
--OG Jonathan Goodwin: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--OT Scott Gragg: UFA; retired).
--CB Ty Law (released).
--DT Lance Legree (released).
--C Kevin Mawae (released).
--DT James Reed: Not tendered as UFA/Chiefs; terms unknown.
--FB Jerald Sowell (released).
--QB Vinny Testaverde (UFA; retired).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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