02/21 — A big banner hangs across one of the many second-floor walkways that span the streets of downtown Indianapolis. It contains the slogan "2008 Starts Now" positioned right next to the NFL Scouting Combine logo.

It's true enough as the next draft class of 300-plus college players goes through the annual ritual of being prodded and poked, measured and tested, audiotaped and videotaped under the big white roof of the RCA Dome.

But this growing event — much of it is shown on NFL Network and NFL.com now and by the end of the week a record 500 media credentials will have been issued — isn't just about the college kids. Coaches and GMs take turns at one end of the large room at the convention center to talk with reporters about their veterans as well.

Jets head coach Eric Mangini took the podium at 11:30 this morning to field questions on Chad Pennington, Jonathan Vilma and Laveranues Coles. The coach didn't break any stories as he did last year when he said Pennington was his quarterback heading into training camp. But neither did he give any hint that those big three players were headed anywhere but into the Jets' off-season program, minicamps and training camps in the months ahead.

Here are some of Mangini's remarks from this morning's 15½-minute media session.

On Pennington possibly being traded before the start of the season: "I feel very good about Chad Pennington. There's a lot of things I've talked about over my time with him — his huddle presence, his leadership, things he's been able to do. I like Chad, and one of the things I've always liked about Chad is that he wants to be the starter. That's what you want from any person on this team. I definitely respect that. That's what I like about him so much."

Later on the same subject: "Chad's a member of the New York Jets. That's how we're proceeding. I like the things he brings to the team. That's really how we're operating."

On a QB competition between Pennington and Kellen Clemens: "Kellen had a really good off-season last year. He did some good things with the opportunities he had during the season. He's another guy who's going to work hard this off-season. we'll look at that situation through the course of OTAs, training camp and the preseason games and evaluate them on what gives us the best chance to win."

On Jonathan Vilma's rehab from midseason knee surgery: "Jonathan is one of the hardest-working guys I've come across. He approaches rehab the same way he approaches everything else: full-bore all the time. That's the way he's been progressing this off-season. We monitor it very closely and our doctors and trainers are involved. He's made some good progress."

On Vilma returning to the starting lineup: "It's one of those things where we're going to have to evaluate it as we go. Jon's a good player, a smart player, he's been very productive for us and he's an incredible competitor."

On staying in touch with Laveranues Coles: "Laveranues and I have a very good relationship. I sent him a text the other day. He was shocked that I knew how to send it, I was shocked that it worked. We spent a long time talking. He's one of the most impressive guys I've been around. The captain's role, he's embraced it. What he and I are going to do is sit down and get his feedback on things that we can do better, that I can do better."

On Coles' recent remarks about not being happy with the Jets over his contract situation: "That's the business side of football. It's not something that's different in terms of the Jets versus any other team, and I understand that, I can appreciate that. LC and I have a very good relationship."

I'll be back later this afternoon with a report on Michigan OT Jake Long's impressive media session.