Well that didn't last long. Eric Mangini's reign as God, that is. After being canonized for leading what was thought to be a moribund franchise to a 10-6 record in his first year as head coach, "Mangenius" quickly fell from Einstein to Frankenstein during his team's 4-12 '07 campaign.

Now, Mangini is subject to questioning as he enters his third season as a head coach. Does his chilly Belichick-esque demeanor really get through to players? Are his practices too tough? His rules too draconian? What about his game plan? Too conservative offensively? Too complicated defensively?

Sure, it's somewhat impetuous to raise these questions only one year after awarding a guy the unconditional benefit of the doubt. But Mangini understands--he's probably asked himself the same thing.

After all, look at the personnel changes made during the offseason. The Jets are a portrait of a team that's bent on winning now. Most notably, they brought in the quarterback from the movie There's Something About Mary. By now you've probably encountered some analysis on 38-year-old Brett Favre. The Jets were busy long before trading for Favre. They signed 31-year-old guard Alan Faneca to the richest contract in offensive lineman history (five years, $40 million, $23 million of it guaranteed).

New York didn't stop there, breaking away from the Patriot model that this organization is built around by shipping their third-and fifth-round draft choices to Carolina for discontented defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. They signed the eighth-year pro to a new five-year, $35 million contract upon arrival.

Wanting to bolster their pass-rush, the Jets signed Arizona free agent Calvin Pace to a six-year, $42 million deal, with $22 million guaranteed. Last year, the former first-round pick moved to outside linebacker after four disappointing seasons at defensive end. Praise was heaped all over Pace when he set a career high in sacks with 6.5. The guy soared from bad to decent, yet the Jets paid him record-setting money as if he were great.

Needing a better return on their running game investment than Thomas Jones's 3.6 yards per carry, they signed 36-year-old fullback Tony Richardson. The hope is that he can remain an elite lead-blocker for another year or two. They also signed serial underachiever Damien Woody. Once a Pro Bowl force for New England, Woody started just 13 games the past two seasons in Detroit because of injury and weight issues. The Jets also signed tight end Bubba Franks, a blocking presence who runs like he's wearing snow boots.

None of these are terrible moves. But, aside from Faneca, they're all riskier than riding shotgun next to Lindsay Lohan. What's more, the front office's munificence towards free agents has irked some of the players at home. After finally receiving a new five-year, $33 million contract, fourth-year safety Kerry Rhodes admitted that a few of the veterans had been miffed by management's reluctance to reward its own.

Venerable veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles--who played through a concussion and high ankle sprain despite the team's rudderless season last year--flat-out called the front office liars during dilatory negotiations for the new contract Coles says he was promised. The two sides finally agreed to a deal in March. Still, things have not exactly been harmonious. Coles was obviously displeased about the release of his close friend, Chad Pennington. Little harmony has been found with Chris Baker as well. With the arrival of first-round pick Dustin Keller (drafted 30th overall) and the addition of Franks, Baker, a starter, is the team's third-highest paid tight end. Claiming he'd been promised a new deal last year, Baker spent the offseason avoiding voluntary activities and ripping the organization at every turn. At one point, he asked reporters if they thought Mangini would be happy being the third- highest paid coach on the staff. Interesting angle.

Baker compared his saga to the Pete Kendall ordeal from a year ago. Also claiming to have been victimized by a broken promise about a new contract, the 13th-year guard publicly aired his grievances last season. Eyes rolled and heads shook when the coaching staff flippantly demoted the veteran who, a year earlier, had helped save New York's season. Shortly before the season opener, the Jets dealt Kendall to Washington, leaving a gaping hole at left guard that helped kill the run game.

No doubt, the Jets front office and coaching staff operate staunchly. Iron fists can rule if they bring forth prosperity. But unless a head coach has won a Super Bowl--like a Parcells or a Belichick--he had better at least be somewhat malleable in dealing with his players.

Also, Mangini and Tannenbaum want to accelerate to the top, but they must not turn their back on the construction of this franchise's long-term foundation. There are some really good pieces in place here.

Third-year offensive linemen D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold are developing well. Fourth-year safety Kerry Rhodes is a star. Second-year linebacker David Harris is fast becoming one, if he isn't already. Same goes for second-year cornerback Darrelle Revis. And this year, sixth-overall pick Vernon Gholston arrives at outside linebacker.

The Jets have a system in place. Stocking it with young talent must be the top priority. As the Bills have noticed, this is especially true considering New England's utter dominance in the AFC East. (Of course, never in a million years would Mangini or Tannenbaum bow down to the Patriots.)

Below we take a capsule look at the 2008 edition of the New York Jets, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

QB: Brett Favre is getting to start ahead of a 25-year-old quarterback. Of course, it's not the 25-year-old quarterback he'd hoped. Kellen Clemens is exactly where he needs to be: in a backup role. The question is, Where will he be after Favre leaves in 2009 or 2010? As for Favre himself, there is plenty of speculation coming from and going in all directions. It's easy to question his commitment, mainly because he is so transparent in sharing his emotions. Titletown to Broadway is a significant switch for the 38-year-old. And having to learn a new playbook is no minor ordeal. Favre spent 16 years in a West Coast system, but many people don't recall that he actually had to learn a lot of new terminology in Mike McCarthy's first year in Green Bay. It was something he struggled with at times, both in the huddle and during live action. That said, there is an aura of greatness about the guy, which can be invaluable.

RB: Though he was the featured ball carrier on a Bears team that reached the Super Bowl in '06, Thomas Jones is not a top-notch running back. Given that he'll be 30 on opening day and possesses mediocre speed with only intermittent tackle-breaking abilities, there are more than 20 runners in the league who are more threatening than Jones. But most will not run behind a lead-blocker like Tony Richardson. Leon Washington needs to see his touches at least double in 2008. He had only 71 carries and 36 receptions last year. Though his 5'8", 202-pound size caps his availability, Washington offers the speed and quickness that are absent from this offense. Free agent pickups Jesse Chatman and Musa Smith bring nothing the Jets don't have already.

WR/TE: Favre has the arm to stretch the field--something the Jets lacked with Chad Pennington under center. But with slow-footed receivers like Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has no reason to call for many deep passes anyway. Coles and Cotchery are both laudable possession receivers. The former is one of the most courageous men in football, and the latter is coming off a breakout season in which he caught 82 balls for 1,130 yards. Still, the Jets desperately need someone who can stretch the field. The hope is that third-year pro Brad Smith can emerge as a serviceable slot receiver in '08. The tight end position needs to become integrated more into the passing game. Judging by how they traded back into the first round to snag Purdue's Dustin Keller , Tannenbaum and Mangini agree. Keller is a former wide receiver who has enough speed to extend routes down the seams. He's an unpolished blocker, though, which is why Chris Baker, and perhaps even Bubba Franks, could get snaps ahead of him early on.

OL: The Jets' hope is that they'll rarely have to ask tight ends to block on the left side. That's where third-year tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson resides. Drafted fourth overall as an underclassman from Virginia, Ferguson has endured trials and triumphs through his first two seasons as a pro. But if he continues down his current path, he'll sprout significantly toward the end of this season and be in full bloom sometime in 2009. Ferguson is not as far along as fellow third-year pro Nick Mangold. Calling the protections his first two years, Mangold has quickly matured and is poised for a Pro Bowl campaign. Helping both third-year gems on the left side is Alan Faneca lining up between them. He'll bring great mobility to the ground game, and is a wall in pass blocking. The guard on the right side will be Brandon Moore, a reliable sixth- year pro with decent power. Moore can play guard or center, just like his new partner at tackle, Damien Woody. Depth is a major concern along the front five. Assuming the linemen stay healthy, New York should see an improvement in sacks allowed (the Jets gave up the third most per play last season) and rushing output (they ranked 29th a year ago).

DL: There are three key new components in the New York front seven, plus two second-year players who figure to make a deeper impact. The new central figure is Kris Jenkins who, as the nose tackle, is responsible for leading the all- important fights in the trenches. Though Jenkins has played a three technique throughout his career, he is potentially the first true blocker-eater that Mangini has had in New York. This past offseason, well-regarded Sione Pouha was given a three-year contract extension to return as the No. 2 nose tackle. If Pouha had a little more quickness, he could be the formidable run-stopping end needed to push Shaun Ellis. Ellis is a good pass-rusher (from 2003-04 he notched 23.5 sacks), but this scheme rarely asks him to pressure the quarterback. He has recorded only five sacks in each of his two seasons under Mangini. Kenyon Coleman is the other end. He didn't quite live up to his huge contract last season, though he has the tools to thrive in this system. With C.J. Mosley and Kareem Brown being the only other options up front, the Jets need Coleman to prosper.

LB: Sixth overall pick Vernon Gholston was a defensive end at Ohio State, but the Jets have followed through on plans to convert him to outside linebacker. At 6'4", 264, this is a natural fit for the rookie. Gholston will begin the season in the reserve pass-rushing role that 10th-year veteran David Bowens has occupied. (Bowens in turn could challenge backup inside linebacker Brad Kassell for his job.) When Gholston matures as a pro--which could be right away, sometime around Halloween, sometime next season or, according to those skeptical of his motives and motor, never--he'll replace 2002 first-round pick Bryan Thomas in the starting lineup. Thomas, a longtime defensive end, has recently gotten comfortable making reads in space. But he's not a playmaker. Calvin Pace will handle the outside duties on the right. Mangini and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton do not send pressure only from the edges. Last season, standout rookie inside linebacker David Harris posted a team-high five sacks, all of them coming after Week 7. Now semi-experienced playing in a 3-4 alongside acceptable starter Eric Barton, Harris should ascend to Pro Bowl status in the very near future.

DB: Remarkably, Harris might not be New York's most impressive sophomore. Cornerback Darrelle Revis has thus far exceeded his first-round billing. Always game for facing the opposing team's best receiver, Revis has the shadow skills of an elite cover corner, and has dangerous playmaking abilities in zone. Mangini was Hank Poteat's secondary coach in New England. New York's zone coverage assignments are second nature to the soon-to-be 31-year-old, which is why he has started 15 games the past two seasons (and why he was given another one-year deal worth the veteran minimum, $750,000, over the offseason), but the Jets are hoping that Justin Miller can mature into a solid starter in his fourth year. Miller missed all of '07 with a torn ACL. David Barrett has proven too inconsistent to start, but should beat out Drew Coleman and Dwight Lowery for the nickel back job. With his close friend Jonathan Vilma being traded, strong safety Kerry Rhodes becomes the vocal leader of this Jets defense. Rhodes is cut from the Troy Polamalu/Adrian Wilson model. He's an effective tackler, viable blitzer and, more than anything, rangy pass defender. He'll shoulder a lion's share of the load from whoever starts next to him at free safety, whether it is the more productive Abram Elam or the more reliable Eric Smith.

SPECIAL TEAMS: For the most part, Mike Nugent has fulfilled the promise that made him a second-round pick in 2005. He's improved his leg strength but was only 1-of-4 from 50-yards-out last season. Ben Graham netted an acceptable 37.2 yards per punt in '07. Leon Washington is a superb return artist. He averaged 27.5 yards per kick return and scored three touchdowns last year. That said, Darrelle Revis is electrifying in the return game. He got a lot of return reps during the offseason. The Jets could put Revis back on punts (where Washington caught 14 of the 34 balls he fielded, and failed to break a return longer than 33 yards). Revis could also line up as the No. 2 option on kick returns, which may discourage teams from avoiding Washington.

PROGNOSIS: Any team would improve after bringing in $140 million worth of new veteran talent. The hope is that the newcomers and youngsters on defense can pick up the scheme, and an upgraded front five can compensate for the offense's lack of speed. The Jets are good enough to contend for a Wild Card in 2008.
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