None of these releases are a huge surprise. There was no way Gholston was returning for another season, Jason Taylor is due for too high of a roster bonus in 2011, Jenkins has been hurt the last two seasons, and reports recently surfaced that the Jets were looking to move second-year man Vladimir Ducasse to right tackle, which is the position Woody plays.

Mehta, however, says any of those players could be re-signed at a cheaper rate.

A top rated defense and a top rated running game is a formula for success in the NFL. In the past, teams that have led the NFL in those two categories usually have had postseason success. The Jets were no different until they ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts Sunday in the AFC Championship. Amid all the disappointing regular season losses, the Jets still made a nice run in 2009, but it ended two wins short. What they did in the latter part of the regular season and playoffs is showing of a team that will be a contender for quite some time.

Peyton Manning may have taken the wind out of the Jets’ sails a game away from the Super Bowl, but this team is going to be a contender for the next several years. Their future is very bright with Rex’s defense, Sanchez’s maturation and a phenomenal offensive line that will produce a strong running game. They have a young group of players and a coach that the players have bought into. Tighten a few areas up, workout some kinks, add a few other pieces like another cornerback and receiver, and the Jets will get back into the AFC Championship soon and hopefully be able to go one step further and get into the Super Bowl.

What’s not to look forward to? They have a defensive guru, Rex Ryan, as their head coach, who has earned respect after his first year on the job no matter how much he talked. They have a young quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who matured right in front of our eyes this season and had an incredible performance in the AFC Championship game and playoffs as a whole. They have a young running back, Shonn Greene, who made some eye-popping runs during the playoffs and has great potential if combined with another running back. They have a tough, physical and consistent offensive line that will open up holes and protect Sanchez for years to come. They have a young tight end, Dustin Keller, who will excel in the passing game and has improved his blocking this season. They have two great players, Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, that are going to come back next year after missing this season with injuries (their return is like acquiring two great players). They have a slash-type of player in Brad Smith who can do it all and plays well on special teams and in the Wildcat. They have a great front seven on defense that will keep getting better the more time they spend in Rex’s defensive scheme. They have one of the premiere cornerbacks in the game, Darrelle Revis, who can be left alone to cover an opponent’s best receiver. 

Doesn’t it make you smile thinking about what the Jets have? This will be a critical offseason for the Jets. Keeping offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will be crucial for the offense and Mark Sanchez in particular. He has one year under his belt in Schotty’s offense and he’ll be better next season. Adding the right pieces could mean the Jets have the opportunity to get back to the AFC Championship as soon as next season.

Gang Green limps into Foxboro at the worst time. Not only have they lost five of their last six games, but Belichick’s blunder gives New England extra motivation to beat the Jets. The Patriots and Jets never need any extra motivation when they tangle but this is different. What would the Patriots look like if after Belichick’s flub against the Colts, they lost to the reeling Jets? It could be the worst back-to-back losses in franchise history.

I’m not a betting man but the Patriots are going to cover the 10.5 point spread and Belichick is going to try to win by the spread twice over. This isn’t the same Jets team that beat the Pats in week two, nor is it the same Pats team. The Jets were riding high after an opening day win over the Texans, who were picked by many to beat the Jets and be a playoff contender. Health wasn’t a concern early in the season like it is now. Rex Ryan’s crew is playing without Pro Bowlers Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, both of whom have been out with season-ending injuries. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez isn’t the same guy either. His confidence has shrunk smaller than the Jets playoff chances. On the other hand, the Patriots didn’t have receiver Wes Welker in their week two loss to the Jets and in their week one win, they had to drive down the field late in the fourth quarter to beat the Bills. I repeat… to beat the BILLS. At least the Patriots can say they beat the Bills this season and their quarterback didn’t throw five interceptions in a disaster of a game against them. That’s something the Jets can’t say.

Even if the Jets can beat the Patriots and come to within one game of the division lead, they still have six games left and six chances for another letdown. For the second straight season the Patriots looked beatable and the division was wide open. For the second straight season the Jets will be on the outside looking in.

The Jets (4-4) are well within striking distance of the first place Patriots (6-2) but their schedule in the second half may prohibit them from getting closer. The Jets still have road games at New England, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis. They host Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta and Cincinnati.

Rex Ryan looks much grayer since the Jets have lost four of their last five games. The outspoken team was smacked in the mouth twice by Miami in a matter of four weeks. What happened to just playing football and letting your play on the field do the talking? The Jets can talk and tweet a big game but aren’t the same team that beat the Patriots 16-9 in week two.

With two major injuries to Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, the Jets’ confidence has taken a beating and they’ll need to play really well to go 4-4 in the second half to go 8-8 on the season. That won’t be enough for a wild card spot.

There’s nothing else the Jets can do but try to replace Jenkins and Washington as best as possible. The middle of the Jets defensive line isn’t going to be as strong without Jenkins and the Jets kick return game isn’t going to be as strong without Washington. The Jets running game should be fine since rookie Shonn Greene had a breakout game against the Raiders. It appears Danny Woodhead will see some time back at running back and add extra depth at the position. 

I expect the Jets to do the right thing with Leon Washington and give him a decent contract over the offseason. They wouldn’t budge before this season but they’ll work out a deal in the coming offseason. Washington isn’t going to get the Maurice Jones-Drew figures he covets but he’ll get a good deal.

Knowing how competitive Jenkins and Washington are, they will be ready to make an impact on the Jets in 2010.

The Jets haven’t had luck with injuries and haven’t had Edwards and Cotchery on the field at the same time much since acquiring Edwards from the Browns a few weeks ago. Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins is out of the year with a torn ACL and the Jets have had injuries to cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland.