GM wants Holmes, Braylon, Cromartie back

Mike Tannenbaum is handcuffed, unable to slip into true due-diligence mode because of the uncertainty surrounding the NFL's labor landscape.

The lack of a new collective-bargaining agreement and clear-cut structures and guidelines has the Jets' general manager essentially pretending he's juggling board games. It's as if he's playing Monopoly, Candyland and Hungry, Hungry Hippos all at once as he prepares to head into the great unknown.

"I think that's why Ari Nissim has the receding hairline that he does," Tannenbaum cracked Friday, referencing the Jets' director of football administration. "We give him countless scenarios, and we'll continue to do that . . . There's a lot of different ways we can go. There's other avenues with trades, but it all comes back to making all the pieces work. And as soon as we know what the rules of engagement are, we'll be ready."

They'd better be, because the Jets have a plethora of personnel decisions to make. Some involve big-name free agents (such as Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie) and others center around a few trusted but aging veterans (such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Tony Richardson, Kris Jenkins and Damien Woody).

An underachiever or two could be on the chopping block, with Vernon Gholston's name at the head of that list.

The Jets also have to focus on their own core. Tannenbaum said signing linebacker David Harris remains a top priority, but he'll probably have to wait a while because there are no plans to ink anyone before a new CBA is in place.

For now, one of the more pressing questions is whether they can sign playmaker Brad Smith along with Holmes and Edwards, the wide receiver duo who totaled 1,841 yards and 16 touchdowns and gave quarterback Mark Sanchez a pair of outside weapons.

"We'd actually like to keep all three, with Brad in the mix there as well," Tannenbaum said. "That would certainly be our goal. We want to keep as many good players as possible, and we'll see what the system looks like and then move forward from there.

"Both of those players, Braylon and Santonio, did a really good job for us. I think they helped Mark's development . . . I'm proud of what both of those guys accomplished for us, and we'll see what the system looks like moving forward. We hope to keep them all.''

Tannenbaum said the Jets also have a strong interest in retaining Cromartie. "Based on his body of work and his year with us, he's a guy we would like to keep," he said. "I'm really proud of what he did on the field this year and I think he bought in, worked hard and helped us win.''

So did Tomlinson and Taylor. Tannenbaum said that at the moment, he expects both to return, although he left himself some wiggle room. He was rather noncommittal, however, about the futures of Woody, Richardson and Jenkins.

It certainly looks as if Gholston's days are numbered. The sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft, who still hasn't recorded his first career sack, has officially reached bust status, staying firmly entrenched on the inactive list during the Jets' three-game postseason run.

"Vern's going to be somebody that we are going to look at in the offseason," Tannenbaum said. "Not playing toward the end obviously is something we are going to take a long look at and see if there is a role that makes sense for him."