07/25 — Eric Mangini discussed several topics at his just concluded daily news conference today, and two of the names that came up were very big names.

Vernon Gholston's mention was expected. Mangini announced that "Vernon's in the house," that the Jets' sixth-pick-of-the-draft linebacker signed his first NFL contract and was about to participate in his first training camp workout with his new team when today's single practice begins at 1:30 p.m.

Brett Favre's mention was not, but ESPN.com reported before the news conference that the Jets have been granted permission to talk to the retired Packers quarterback.

Despite Mangini mentioning Gholston at the top of his opening remarks, the first half of the news conference dealt with the Favre rumors. The head coach was steadfast in declining to discuss the reporting by Chris Mortensen.

"With all discussions, those things are internal and that really hasn't changed," Mangini said with an occasional smile, adding that he and general manager Mike Tannenbaum "talk every night about a lot of different things. Those things we always keep internal."

The coach said nothing has changed since Thursday, when he said he was happy with the quarterbacks he has on his roster and in training camp, specifically Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, first-year man Brett Ratliff and fifth-round draft choice Erik Ainge.

"I feel the same way as I felt yesterday," Mangini said. "As with any conversations Mike and I have, Mike likes to talk about a lot of different scenarios. He enjoys a good chart, a good graph, a lot of scenarios. That's what he does, that's what he's supposed to do."

But he would not confirm if their recent talks included the future Hall of Fame signalcaller. When a reporter said that a report that the Jets have asked for and received permission to talk to a player is "black and white," Mangini responded:

"The fact that [our talks are] internal is black-and-white also. Like I said, I hope you can understand that."

Mangini also was asked if he felt a need to clear the air for his QBs and his players, many of whom are probably aware of the report.

"I think we all hear rumors about a lot of different things," he said. "There are always things coming out, always external scenarios put in place. That's no different. What you've got to do is focus on here, the things we're doing here. The other things are things that aren't going to affect your practice today, your performance today, your ability or our ability to improve today. When you lose sight of those things, you don't focus on those things, you lose sight of the progress you're trying to make."

Progress on Gholston's contract, on the other hand, was made slowly but steadily until all the i's were dotted and t's crossed and the team could make the announcement today.

"Vernon was here but he wasn't here," Mangini said about Gholston's presence at Weeb Ewbank Hall on Thursday while the finishing touches were put on the contract by the Jets and by Gholston's representatives. "You can't really do anything with a player until he signs the document. It was a little bit of hurry-up-and-wait. It wasn't anybody's fault. Everybody just wants to make sure it's right.

"With a contract, and with a contract like his, it might be triple-checked or quadruple-checked."

Now, the coach said, the Jets' top pick has catching-up to do.

"He's been running around pretty good," Mangini said. "He's got to make it up in a hurry. The train doesn't stop. The installation keeps going on."

Mangini had two other "housekeeping" announcements: Jesse Chatman and Musa Smith, the two veteran free agent running backs who went on the Jets' Active/Non-Football Injury list together on the eve of camp, have come off the list together and will participate in today's practice.

Brett Favre