04/29 — The Jets' strange draft is over, and Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini seem pleased and not too tired after the way it all unfolded — two first-day tradeups for top defensive players, two late second-day stay-at-home picks for lesser known offensive players.

In a little banter to capture the mood, Dave Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger asked Tannenbaum, "With this draft, Mike, how did you change your team? Do you feel you guys got tougher, faster, smarter?"

With Mangini smiling and waiting the answer, the GM replied with a smile of his own: "Yeah, I like all those things."

The two Sunday picks, OL Jacob Bender in Round 6 and WR Chansi Stuckey in Round 7, both have chances to compete at their positions. Bender could get a look at all four line spots besides center. Stuckey, who played QB at his Georgia high school, is not big but has very good speed and a shot at playing in the slot.

But one major development involving the Jets' AFC East rivals has their followers most concerned about competing in the division, and that was the Raiders' trade of WR Randy Moss to the Patriots early in Sunday's restart to the draft.

Even before the Moss deal, the Pats were stockpiling good-to-very-good wideouts. (Can Bill Belichick devise a seven-WR set?) Were the Jets reacting to that with their first-round drafting of Pitt CB Darrelle Revis?

"I wouldn't say it's reactionary," Mangini said of selecting Revis. "It's more a function of trying to make our team better."

"We were made aware of the Moss trade," Tannenbaum said, "but we were focused on the Jets all weekend."

As everyone would chime in now on Family Feud, "Good answer!" Sure, the Patriots have done some good things this free agency and draft period. But despite the likes of ESPN talking heads Chris Mortensen and Mark May handing the Super Bowl to the Patriots, the Jets aren't going to phone in 2007.

"I think the road to anywhere starts with the next minicamp and training camp," Mangini said. "Last year is last year. We're starting on the process."

Tannenbaum finished answering another question, then stopped and stared at the muted TV monitor in the upper corner of the media room. The Jets GM was caught by the action on the screen, not of the last few picks of NFL Draft but of the New York Rangers' overtime battle with the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"It's so nice of Mike," Mangini said, "to focus on the press conference."

But the Jets' front office could afford a little hockey decompression — before reaching out to undrafted free agents beginning as soon as Detroit made the 255th and last pick. The Green & White are clearly not unhappy with their four-man draft (five, counting Thomas Jones), but because of those low numbers, Mr. T reminded all the still unclaimed college players in the sound of his voice: "We're the land of opportunity. If you weren't drafted, you'll probably be hearing from us."