01/04 — As we forge ahead into the off-season, I'll be revisiting some areas from 2007 as I complete one spreadsheet or database after another on the season just finished. Today the topic is penalties.

In short, head coach Eric Mangini's unflagging efforts to reduce flags against his team paid dividends again. The Jets had 63 penalties marked off against them for 486 yards, both figures the second-lowest in the NFL behind Seattle's 59 flags for 428 yards.

Further, the Jets' penalty differentials are also high in the rankings. The Green & White had 21 fewer penalties than their opponents, better than all but the Giants (minus-41) and the Seahawks (minus-40), and the Jets were assessed 275 fewer penalty yards than their opponents, better than all but Seattle (minus-328).

Some skeptics out there will insist that not committing penalties is overrated and point to their favorite Raider playoff teams to prove it. And how did the perfect Patriots do this year? (Good but not great — tied for seventh with 78 penalties, 16th with 690 yards).

But in general, not committing fouls is a good thing. Seven of the top 10 teams in fewest penalties this season are playing in the postseason. Also, fewer penalties on you and more on your opponents is hidden yardage in your favor, and hidden yardage often helps make bad teams good, good teams better and very good teams super.

The Jets did so well this season in penalties, in fact, that they set at least one club record. Here are the top teams in franchise history in penalty yardage per game:

A major reason the Jets fared so well this season was because their defense was on its best behavior. I have no records on this, but the 13 penalties committed by the "D" (for 128 yards) may well be a franchise low, too.

Some Jets penalty leaders this season:

Most Penalties Marked Off Against: T D'Brickashaw Ferguson (six, 46 yards) and QB Chad Pennington (6-30)

Most Penalty Yardage Marked Off Against: Darrelle Revis, 58 yards on five penalties

Most Penalties Forced by Opponents: Pennington, 10 (62 yards)

Most Penalty Yardage Forced: Leon Washington, 65 yards (five penalties)

And here is a short honor roll of this year's regular starters who were not flagged once: DEs Shaun Ellis and Kenyon Coleman, DT Dewayne Robertson, LB Bryan Thomas and WR Jerricho Cotchery. Additionally, LB Victor Hobson (one penalty, declined), S Kerry Rhodes (two penalties, both declined) and CB Hank Poteat (two penalties, both offset) had no penalties walked off against them.

Thanks for the Memories, Mike

For those who appreciate special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff's contributions to the Jets or just love good football video and interviews, check out the tribute that John Seiter, our esteemed senior director of multimedia production, and his crew put together that is now up on the newyorkjets.com multimedia page.

The piece begins with an excellent video tribute that the players saw Sunday before the Kansas City game, Westhoff's last before he undergoes surgery on his leg and a year of rehab. The second half is JetsTV reporter Karen Keyes' exclusive interview with Westhoff earlier this week.

The video lasts 14 minutes, but it's a quarter of an hour well-spent for those who like Mike.