12/10 — The Wednesday Mangini-Favre News Hour (Minus 15 Minutes)" that wrapped up just after 11 a.m. today had quite a few nuggets for Jets fans to sink their teeth into. Perhaps the biggest was Brett Favre's simple declaration at the top of his weekly meeting with reporters:

"I expect us to make the playoffs," Favre stated.

Of course, that's easy to say four days before playing the Buffalo Bills at home on Sunday, but the quarterback's track record would suggest there's more to such an optimistic statement than empty talk.

"I didn't expect us to lose the last two games, but I don't know too many people who expected us to win five straight, except maybe on our team," Favre said. "If we were able to win five straight and accept that, we have to be able to deal with the two games we lost and figure out a way to turn it around.

"We're 8-5 and tied for the division lead," he continued. "There's three games left. We can't worry about the remaining two. We have to worry about this one. It'll be tough, obviously. But I expect us to make the playoffs, and I would hope every guy in the locker room feels the same way. Why think any different?"

I'll have more on Favre's meaty comments with reporters this afternoon.

Head coach Eric Mangini, who will not utter the P-word before it's time, didn't talk about such expectations, but he values the contributions that Favre and the other Jets vets can bring to the table for the youthful contributors on the squad.

"I'm sure Brett's been through every possible media situation there is. I think he provides good insight," Mangini said. "But there's a lot of guys who've been through quite a few seasons. Tony Richardson's an excellent sounding board. Alan [Faneca]'s played a lot of years, Ty Law's played a lot of years.

"You really want to lean on those guys, especially late in the season, especially with the young guys," Mangini said. "Right now they'd be preparing for a bowl game or preparing for exams. Their season is basically over in college football, where you've got a sizable break before you play your last game.

Mangini was asked about the possibility that the young and the old players came together for a players-only meeting in the coming weeks. He said there hasn't been any yet "but I don't discourage anything like that."

And although he's not going to utter any P-word before it's time, he feels his team has not lost confidence from its recent run of success that really got rolling back at Buffalo on Nov. 2.

"All these games have been important, and I've stressed that," he said. "The last time we went into Buffalo, we talked about that as a must-win game. That was seven weeks ago and here we are again.

"Really, there's a way to approach each game, regardless of the significance or the timeframe or any of that stuff. If we do the little things well, focus on our technique and all the things we've done to put ourselves in position to win a game, we'll do that again."

Other Coaching Points

Many fans continue to ask about when we'll see WR David Clowney on the field. Mangini promised nothing today but said he remains happy with Clowney's effort.

"David's been great," the coach said. "He's really been a great story, too. He came in last year and was lost somewhat. He always went fast but it wasn't always going fast in the direction we wanted.

"I think he's done a good job learning the offense. He's very consistent with the show-team things we want him to do. He's always pressuring the defense with the way he practices. We've been looking for a way to get him up for a long time now but it just hasn't worked out because of special teams. But I have no problem with David being on the 45."

Mangini was asked about the condition of Brad Smith after he absorbed a helmet-to-helmet shot from 49ers LB Patrick Willis late in Sunday's game. "We'll monitor him throughout the week and see where he is at the end of the week," Mangini said. Asked if Smith will practice, he said: "It'll be just some light things today, not the full practice."

And on the prospect of going outside today (and even Thursday) with steady rain in the area, the coach said: "I've been torn on that one today. I love going outside because I believe it's hard to simulate lousy, rainy, cold situations. I like going inside because it's warmer and you can do some things in that area that are a little bit crisper."

As I look past the rain-streaked windows to the practice fields beyond, the call for today's practice is outdoors.

Newest Jet: J.R. Reed

Mangini's housekeeping included the announcement of the singing of safety J.R. Reed to the Jets' active roster, replacing RB Marcus Mason, who it was announced Tuesday evening had been waived.

Why Reed, a 5'11, 202-pounder fifth-year man released by the Eagles in October?

"We play them every year in the preseason so we've looked at him," Mangini said. "[Assistant GM] Scott Cohen is here and he knows him from Philly. I've always liked him as a player. He's a very solid contributor on special teams, he's played in multiple games and done a good job in different roles. ... I thought it was a good decision."

Reed is an impressive NFL renaissance man. We'll talk with him later this week.

Leon: "It was a holding"

At Monday night's airing of "Inside the Jets," Leon Washington seemed unsure about the holding call against James Ihedigbo that cost him his second kickoff-return touchdown vs. the 49ers. But during today's locker room media availability, Washington gave a more definitive opinion based on further view.

"To tell you the truth, it was a holding,” Washington said. “Do I wish it would have been called? No, I don’t wish it would have been called. It was a big play for us in the game, but the rules are the rules. The referees are taught if a player wants to dance with a player, then he wants to dance with him. But if he tries to fight free, you have to let him go. It was a holding.”