07/28 — Eric Mangini didn't wait for the fewer reporters — the herd was thinned out from Friday's turnout due to a single Saturday practice and the Mets' day-night doubleheader — to ask him about Leon Washington.

"Leon was excused today for personal reasons," Mangini said at the top of his opening remarks for his early afternoon news conference. Later, in response to a question, the head coach repeated: "This is a personal issue. I know you've got to follow up on it. I'd really like to leave it there."

The second-year RB got sick during Friday's first practice and wasn't on the field for the afternoon practice.

With Washington out and Cedric Houston having left the team Thursday, the depth behind Thomas Jones will be tested again at today's single practice. Rookie free agent Alvin Banks and late signee Danny Ware will continue to see the ball.

So should just-signed sixth-year man Tony Fisher, with the Rams last year after four seasons with the Packers. Two other factors for bringing in Fisher — he has that major college experience (Notre Dame) in his background, and he becomes the 10th player on the Jets with an Ohio hometown, having played his high school ball at Euclid, outside of Cleveland.

Other points by the coach today:

● Mangini said he liked the execution of the plays in the first day of training camp but wasn't as thrilled with things like false starts, encroachments, dropped passes or improper tackling technique. "Focus and finish need to remain consistent," he said.

For those players who need reminders, the words "FOCUS," "FINISH" and "COMMUNICATION" have been stenciled in key locations on the Hofstra FieldTurf. Also, for the first time "JETS" has been painted onto the end zone of the grass field adjacent to the turf.

● He touted the off-season work and camp start of tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, "one guy who had a really good off-season, did a lot of work on his own, in the weightroom and the program, with his nutrition, working with the coaches and Lomas Brown [at minicamp]."

● Asked what kind of role seventh-round WR Chansi Stuckey can have, Mangini said: "The first thing he's got to do is make the team. The second thing is carve out a role for himself. There are a lot of receivers, it's a competitive group. That's what he's doing and that's what we're trying to find out as well. There's a lot of work ahead for him."

As there is for all the Jets players, who have now just begun practice today.

The tentative schedule for the next few days calls for double sessions Sunday and Tuesday (both days 8:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.) sandwiched around a 2 p.m. single workout Monday.

Practice blog and features to come.