Camp Notes

I love the Bart Scott stuff........he is going to be loved in NY!

The first minicamp practice is in the books, and we've got a whole bunch of blog-worthy stuff. So let's get to it:

The Jets called the Cardinals to inquire about WR Anquan Boldin, a league source confirmed. ESPN was the first to report the Jets' interest, also mentioning the Eagles, Giants and Ravens. The Cards reportedly want first- and third-round picks for the talented receiver. From what I'm told, the Jets don't appear to be serious suitors.

As everybody knows, the Jets need a receiver badly. Rex Ryan spoke highly of Brad Smith and David Clowney, going so far as to call Smith "one of the scariest athletes in the league," but let's be real: They need another presence at the position, and it was apparent just from watching one practice. At times, the receivers seemed to blend together.

One other thing on Smith: Ryan gave a brutally honest assessment of him, saying it's time for him to step up.

* * *

Based on the first practice, Kellen Clemens gets a slight edge over Brett Ratliff in the quarterback competition. Clemens didn't light it up, but he also didn't make any glaring mistakes. Ratliff, under pressure from a safety blitz, threw a wobbly sideline pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by CB Tyron Brackenridge. It was an ugly play that showed his inexperience.

(Disclaimer: These are non-contact practices. Let's not get too crazy over these early sessions. I'll provide stats and details, but let's keep it in the proper perspective, please.)

In full-team drills, Clemens completed 3 of 4 passes for 16 yards. He worked with the first-team offense, facing primarily the first-team defense. Ratliff completed 2 of 4 for 43 yards, with the interception. He played with, and against, the backups.

In 7-on-7, Clemens: 5-for-8, 49 yards, Ratliff 6-for-12, 60 yards. (Note: Yardage totals are estimates.)

* * *

Ryan refused to comment on RB Thomas Jones, who is skipping the minicamp because he's unhappy with his contract. Ryan stressed that the camp is voluntary. That's what they all say. Ryan didn't shed much light on the mysterious Erik Ainge absence, calling it a "personal reason." From what I hear, Ainge has been scarce the entire offseason.

"We feel confident that he'll come back to the team," Ryan said.

* * *

A medical update: DE Shaun Ellis (minor knee surgery), RG Brandon Moore (sports-hernia surgery) and TE Dustin Keller (flu-like symptoms) sat out the practice.

* * *

Ryan ended practice by gathering the team around him, and addressing the troops for a couple of minutes. There's nothing unusual about that, except in this case, the session ended with laughter. The players busted out laughing.

Did Henny Ryan fire off a one liner? Not exactly. Ryan told the players that they need to have more fun on the field. He was serious: He wants more fun.

Fun? What's fun? Some players told me they didn't know how to react at first. Remember, this is a team that spent three seasons under Eric (There's-no-fun-in-football) Mangini.

"We have to be de-programmed," RT Damien Woody said.

LB Bart Scott, who followed Ryan from Baltimore, said the team needs to be "swagger licious." Scott definitely got into it. After breaking up a short pass on the first play of 7-on-7s, Scott started celebrating and trash talking the offense.

"What the (bleep) you think this is?" Scott yelled toward the offensive huddle.

* * *

DL Kareem Brown (6-4, 295) is working at tight end. For a big man, he doesn't move that badly. He dropped a couple of balls, but that's to be expected.

"The routes look good," O.C. Brian Schottenheimer yelled to him. "We'll get the catching part down."

The Jets are woefully thin at tight end. Brandon Pettigrew of Oklahoma State, anyone? He's a possibility with the 17th pick.

* * *

During a special teams session, LB Vernon Gholston was chided by STC Mike Westhoff for pulling up before crashing into a blocking pad during a wedge-busting drill. (Yeah, I know, wedges aren't allowed anymore, but they had three tacklers running into three blockers, so we'll call it a wedge in this blog.) Anyway, the point is, Gholston isn't doing much to change the perception of him. But, hey, it's way early, so let's let it ride before we rip the guy.

At least three minicamp practices.

That's a joke.

* * *

Ryan is wonderfully candid. Two instances: He said he didn't know where to stand at the start of practice, so he jumped in with the defensive linemen (old habits die hard) and started running a drill. He also said that, while sitting in an offensive meeting yesterday, he was thinking to himself how out of place he felt.

He also said he wasn't going to discuss injuries. That, too, was a joke.

Take that, Man-genius.

I'll check in later with the afternoon practice report.