08/12 — In his first public comments about the preseason-opening win over Atlanta on Friday night, Eric Mangini said at today's news conference that there were a lot of things to like and a few not to like as much.

"I was pleased with the overall mechanics," Mangini said, referring to only three penalties on the night and the fluid movements of 80-plus players in and out of the game.

"Offensively, I was pleased with our third-down efficiency [9-for-15] — I thought that was outstanding, especially in the second half. I liked our work in the red area — we were 4-for-5 there. No turnovers was good. Defensively, there was our third-down work [4-for-13] and six points in the second half. Both those things I liked. Special teams, I was pleased with the return game."

Not as pleasing? "Not just with the first-team defense but across the board, one of the main issues we all need to focus on, one of our core values, is communication," he said. "In all phases, the communication could've been better. It needs to be that much crisper. There were times that it wasn't that it should've been."

But even in that area, Mangini found an example of good communication in LB Eric Barton.

"I really liked Eric on the sideline. He was very good when he wasn't in, helping out those guys [who were playing]," the coach said. "And when he was in, the way he was talking through problem areas with the other players. His communication's gotten better."

For that among other reasons, Barton was Mangini's selection as his defensive player of the game. The other awards: Kellen Clemens on offense and Leon Washington on specials.

Mangini started his "presser" with three items of "housekeeping": WR Jesse Pellot-Rosa and OL Andrew Wicker were waived and WR Dante Ridgeway was re-signed.

For Pellot-Rosa, that ends his bid to make the remarkable transition from VCU basketball player to NFL wideout.

For Wicker, it could give him some free time to make an appearance on ABC's "The Next Best Thing." Jets center Nick Mangold was aware of the similarities between his appearance and that of Wicker, the free agent from Ole Miss. As Mangold said earlier in training camp:

"I kept getting texted: 'What are you doing in the building?' or 'Your brother's here.' I came to the training complex [the week of the start of camp] and saw Andrew, it was kind of scary. But my wife says we look nothing alike."

And for Ridgeway, it's another chance to make some space for himself in the NFL. Since coming into the league in 2005, the WR has been cut five times, twice by the Jets and most recently last week by Saints. It would only be appropriate if Ridgeway could make a roster. He is, after all, from Ball State.