Jets' Mangold close to signing lucrative new deal

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Nick Mangold figured the best thing to do was to show up at training camp and get down to work, rather than hold out and grumble about lack of progress on a new contract.

Looks as if he's about to be rewarded for being a good soldier.

The Jets and Mangold Monday moved closer to a deal that should make the All-Pro the NFL's highest-paid center, topping the five-year, $37.5-million contract the Rams' Jason Brown received last year.

Mangold refused to get into specifics about the nearly completed agreement, saying his agents advised him against it until it's a done deal.

"I'm not talking contract," he said after practice. "Been advised not to. Anything else football, I'd love to talk. You can fire away, but I'm stonefaced."

Mangold is scheduled to earn $3.3 million in the final year of his five-year rookie deal. He thought about holding out to voice his displeasure but reported to camp on time.

"We weighed every option, like we did with everything else, and decided that it's in the best interest of me to show up," he said. "I could probably use the work. I know there's a left guard battle going on that hopefully I can lend a helping hand.

"But it didn't fit my personality. It's not me, it's not who I am. And it's not what I do."

While Mangold is close to signing on the dotted line, there's apparently nothing new happening with cornerback Darrelle Revis, whose holdout has reached 23 days.

"No. We're in a quiet phase," owner Woody Johnson told Newsday at an event at New Meadowlands Stadium. "Both sides agreed to do that."

Revis, who has three years left on his current deal, is set to earn $1 million this season, and the Jets have offered him $122 million over 10 years. Revis' camp, however, is looking for a 10-year contract worth $162 million, which would top the $15.1 million Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha averages per season.

Both sides have agreed to negotiate privately, but it's done little to break the stalemate. There was an Internet report claiming the sides probably would have a deal done by as early as Wednesday, but that seemed to be news to Johnson.

Asked about the report, he said: "I don't know. I haven't heard. Did you hear a report? What do you think? Is it accurate or not?"

Johnson smiled briefly before adding: "I don't know. I mean, I haven't heard anything about it. I can't comment, anyway."

Mangold's deal leaves Revis and linebacker David Harris as the only members of the "Core Four" without extensions. Harris likely won't get a new contract until after the season. But tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson signed a six-year, $60-million extension last month, and he said he's pleased Mangold has been locked up, too.

"I'm real happy that progress is being made in that department," the Freeport native said. "It's something he really wanted and I'm glad that it happened. He's a well-deserving lineman and I think he's shown his worth in this league.''

Guard Brandon Moore said: "He treated it like a professional. He easily could have made a stink about it, did some things even when he was here. But you wouldn't even have known. A lot of guys didn't even know it was an issue. And I think that's a testament to the type of professional he is to be able to put that aside and just come to work."

Apparently, Mangold will be working at the same address for years to come.

"Oh yeah, it's great," Rex Ryan said. "You lock up the best center in football. That would absolutely be a big thing for us."

With Kimberley A. Martin