Tannenbaum deserves bonus for signings

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

You want an idea of just how absurdly busy it has been for the Jets in the last seven days in this epic free-agency signing period? Consider this:

With the pace of post-lockout signings at warp speed, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and many of his front-office staff spent four nights sleeping in their offices.

The chaos carried with it another unfortunate side effect: some waist-expanding appetites on the part of Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan. When I asked Tannenbaum what the experience has been like, he quipped: "About 25,000 calories."

Their preferred dessert in the meeting rooms? Said Tannenbaum, "Friendly's Fribble after Friendly's Fribble."

But after all the dust -- and calories -- had settled, Tannenbaum and Ryan felt awfully good about what had happened. No, they didn't get coveted free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, but they did manage to keep wide receiver Santonio Holmes, tackle Wayne Hunter and cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who turned out to be the $32- million fallback option for Asomugha.

That deal wasn't consummated until about 1:30 a.m. Monday. It wasn't even 24 hours after the Jets signed former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress to a one-year, $3.017-million deal.

In the end, the stress was worth it, because the Jets go into the season with largely the same roster that got them to a second consecutive AFC Championship Game. They lost Brad Smith, and they decided to part ways with Braylon Edwards. But when you can keep your core together, especially in a league in which players regularly take the money and run elsewhere, you are doing something right.

So no wonder the Jets were thumping their chests as they practiced for the first time since the lockout ended. Plenty of reason for them to feel confident.

"I'm pretty sure our coach will tell you what I'll tell you," Holmes said. "We are the team to beat."

"We're going to contend. That's what we do," All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "We're going to contend for the Super Bowl. That's our No. 1 goal."

About the only guy who didn't mention the Super Bowl was -- believe it or not -- Ryan. The coach who in the past could barely get through a sound bite without predicting a Super Bowl win made no such predictions Monday. Well, sort of.

After pronouncing this roster the best he's had since his arrival in January 2009, Ryan said of his prospects this season: "I'll stand by what I always say. "

And what does he always say? That the Jets will win the Super Bowl.

It's not a ridiculous thing to think at all. With back-to-back appearances in the AFC title game, with an emerging quarterback in Mark Sanchez, with a formidable receiving corps that includes one of the best red-zone threats in Burress, and with a defense among the NFL's elite, the Jets have enough pieces to make a run.

And they're not done yet. There still is the matter of what to do with 34-year-old free-agent defensive end Shaun Ellis (the Jets should sign him) and there's talk of adding another receiver, possibly at the expense of reliable Jerricho Cotchery (they shouldn't trade him).

But you can safely assume Tannenbaum and Ryan will complete the roster aggressively -- and consume a bunch more Friendly's Fribbles. And by the time it's over, this will look like a championship contender capable of backing up the smack talk.