"When the Jets return to Florham Park later this year, with a new offensive coordinator, other changes to the coaching staff and wounds from the final collapse of a frustrating 8-8 season, coach Rex Ryan is hoping for a new beginning.

That includes his quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who is coming off an inconsistent year and most recently was the target of criticism from anonymous teammates in a New York Daily News article. Ryan affirmed strongly that the organization and players "have a great deal of belief and admiration" for the player heading into his fourth season.

"I don't know how many (players) don't feel confident in Mark Sanchez," Ryan said on a conference call with reporters Friday. "I'll tell you this, if it is not all of them, it's the majority of (the players) that have a great deal of confidence in Mark Sanchez. And when he walks through that door, his head is going to be held high. There's no question about it. That's what I know."

Ryan's attempt to turn around this team after missing the playoffs has already begun. One step was hiring offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, the former Miami Dolphins coach who shares Ryan's affinity for physical, run-first football. The next step, albeit harder, will be rebuilding team unity."