05/20 — As off-season weeks go, this one is chock full of Jets events.

Everyone wants to know about the football end of things, and there will be significant media availability at Thursday's OTA practice.

The members of the Jets' rookie class returned to the team's training complex late last week and have been working with the veterans this week. But reporters will get to see this mixed grill for the first time in two days. The accent is likely to be on the first-year guys:

Does DE/OLB Vernon Gholston look quick on the outside going up against tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Damien Woody?

Can TE Dustin Keller stretch the first-team D as he did the draft choice and free agent defenders two weeks ago?

How will CB Dwight Lowery fare against the Jets' C&C wideouts? Will Marcus Henry be the big-target WR he looked to be during the rookie minicamp while he's roaming Kerry Rhodes' and Darrelle Revis' secondary? Is QB Erik Ainge a quick study? Is OT Nate Garner ready to graduate from blocking for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at Arkansas to opening holes for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington?

We should get a good glimpse of all the rookies because, as with last week's OTA session, Thursday's practice is open to the media for about 90 minutes.

(Late correction: Because Ohio State and San Jose State have not held graduation yet, Gholston and Lowery have not returned to Weeb Ewbank Hall and will not be at Thursday's practice.)

But there are two charity events and celebrity sighting possibilities before and after Thursday's practice.

On Wednesday night, Jets head coach Eric Mangini hosts his second annul Charity Bowl at the Chelsea Piers lanes in New York City. The event begins at 6 p.m. and runs past 9 p.m. as a night of tournament bowling with Jets players, buffet dinner and silent auction roll on.

And I understand that group packages are still available for late-coming, charity-minded keglers by logging on to www.chelseapiers.com/charitybowl or by calling 212-336-6500 ext. 6564.

Then Thursday night, it's the sixth annual New York Jets Taste of the NFL benefit. This year's event, a team event staged by the Jets, ShopRite, Kraft, Dasani and Nestea to fight hunger, will be held at a different venue: Edison Ballroom, located at 240 West 47th Street in New York, down the street from Times Square.

Among the Green & White signing on for the event are Ferguson, Revis, Washington and Nick Mangold. And Chad Pennington has made the stop in previous years, as have a number of other current and former Jets.

For more details on the food and wine gala, you can email taste@newyorkjets.com or call 212-485-8050.

Finally, some members of the Jets family will have some military involvement over the next four days. On Thursday we hear that Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum is heading into the wild blue yonder. And on Saturday the Jets' rookies will get their sea legs beneath them with their annual visit to New York Harbor. Details to come.

I'm already tired thinking about the week ahead. But my good friend Eric Allen will be at the Charity Bowl, I'll savor the "Taste,": and in between we'll both let you know what we can about the rookies and vets at the OTA.

Practicing Uniform-ity

For those keeping score at home, the three free agent signees of the past two days have uniform numbers for the OTAs and beyond. LSU cornerback Jonathan Zenon will wear No. 32 and Hawaii CB Kenny Patton will don 42. Wake Forest long-snapper Nick Jarvis, whose signing was announced Monday, will sport No. 45.