E-Boland & Gang Green

So at Eric Mangini's Seventh Annual Football Fundamentals Mini-Camp in Hartford, which I wrote about for tomorrow's paper, at the end of an interview with Mangini I addressed one last thing: What was Mangini's reaction to Bryan Thomas' comments the other day about having "slacked off" last season? Not much.

"One of the things we talk about quite a bit, whether it’s after a practice or after a game, after a season, everybody spend some time and be honest with themselves,” Mangini said. “And that’s the only way you’re going to grow, to sit there and be honest with yourself and how you did. You know whether you did well or achieved to the best of your ability. That’s how you’re going to get better. It’s good that everybody does that.”

Was Mangini disappointed to read Thomas' comments?

"Whenever you have a season like we did, or like we had before (in 2006 when the Jets went 10-6), a lot of people had to do things very well, a lot of people had to do things better. There’s a lot of things I could do better. That’s part of the process. Those are the types of guys that you want, guys that look at it and say, 'I could do better.'

Translation, or my translation, at any rate: Thomas' remarks, while candid, came as no surprise to Mangini. He had to coach him, after all, and saw up close the severe drop in numbers from Thomas, who simply verbalized what Mangini and him had probably discussed many times -- both last season and immediately after the season. The reality, and Thomas put it in words better than anyone else could, was this: anymore slacking off this season and Thomas, as he said, will find his "a**" on the bench.

Another sidenote from the camp, which had 700 kids representing 71 high schools from four different states [New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island], with this note demonstrating the power of television. The campers sat relatively still and quiet - impressive because this was just before lunch - for the following guest speakers: Kellen Clemens, Dustin Keller, Notre Dame fullback Asaph Schwapp – a Hartford native and Camper of the Year here three years ago – ESPN’s Chris Berman, and the radio voice of the Jets, Bob Wischusen, more the MC than guest speaker but he deserves mention. Mangini, naturally, spoke too.

After everyone gave brief speeches [Clemens is pretty comfortable speaking publicly it seems. Keller, too], the large group adjourned for lunch, but many swarmed the speakers for autographs.

By far, far, far, the person drawing the most autograph seekers was Berman.

I didn't talk to Berman - I had no reason to for this assignment, or any other one I've had - but having read elsewhere that he has a rough side, it's only fair to report that Berman signed, happily it seemed, everything put in front of him, including plates that had just been filled with hot dogs and the like. I did have a kid intrepidly walk up to me...and ask for a piece of paper. And an extra pen. I obliged.

Finally, the final Flight Crew tryouts are tomorrow (Sunday) in the city at Marc Ecko Enterprises. Ecko, who is one of the judges, is designing and styling the 2008 New York Jets Flight Crew Uniforms. The process - that word, by the way, should be expunged from the dictionary - will take most of the day so when I post something from there, I can't really predict. Basically, I'll be spending a lot of hours around dancers and, well, how much work I get done can't be determined at this time. I'm sure you understand.