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Jets: Five things to know

 

Jets: Camp tour | Judge

1. The Pete Kendall saga goes on without a resolution. Kendall is at the team's Hofstra practice fields and works out daily with teammates. But he splits time with Adrien Clarke at left guard, with the position unsettled until Kendall's contract dispute is resolved. In short, the problem is this: Kendall wants a $1 million raise on a contract that pays him $1.7 million, and the Jets won't budge -- especially after re-doing Kendall's deal last year. That is not good for anyone here. Kendall is a three-year starter and didn't allow a sack last season "It'll work itself out," said coach Eric Mangini.

2. Everywhere you look on defense there are reclamations projects. Former first-round pick Andre Wadsworth, the third pick in the 1999 draft, is here. So is former first-rounder Michael Haynes, the 14th overall choice in the 2003 draft. And then there's Eric Hicks, a former starter with the Kansas City Chiefs. Of the three, Wadsworth has the bumpiest road to cover. Not only has he been out of football the past six years; he's trying to make the move from defensive end to outside linebacker. Hicks probably has the best chance of sticking because he seems the most able to make the move from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4.

3. Mark it down: Safety Kerry Rhodes and center Nick Mangold make this year's Pro Bowl. Rhodes should have made it last year, and Mangold is one of the game's best offensive linemen anywhere. If justice is served, their postseason schedule includes a week in Honolulu.

4. I'm sorry, but you can't help but fall in love with the play of Brad Smith. He's a wide receiver. No, he's a running back. No, he's a quarterback. There isn't much the former University of Missouri star can't do. He returns punts. He covers kicks. He makes outstanding catches. He runs through traffic. He finds the open receiver. A year ago, he was listed as a wide receiver. Now, he's listed as a quarterback. I don't know what that means other than this: The man is invaluable and will help the Jets at a variety of positions.

5. There's a nagging feeling that inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma just isn't suited to playing Mangini's 3-4 defense, largely because he's not big enough to take on charging guards. Vilma's asset is his lateral movement, but it's tough to move side to side when you're getting buried by 300-pound linemen. Nevertheless, he's determined to make this work, and that's a good thing. Another good thing is the arrival of rookie linebacker David Harris. This guy is perfectly suited to the Jets defense and would've been taken by New England had New York passed. Wisely, the Jets did not.

 
 
 
 
 
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