08/30 — The Jets have been in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area since Wednesday afternoon, having bused to their hotel in Cherry Hill — home of Glenn Foley, veteran Jets fans will remember — from their annual kickoff luncheon in Manhattan.

A few players, we hear, even took some free time during the day to go to Center City (that's what Philadelphians call midtown) to sample some of the fare from a local purveyor of cheesesteaks.

A half hour before gametime, the Jets are warming up in their most popular uniform combination, green jerseys and white pants. The Eagles as always are in color counterpoint to their green brethren from , white tops, green pants.

Four Jets defensive starters — LBs Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton and safeties Kerry Rhodes and Erik Coleman — plus TE Sean Ryan are going with that bare-legged look from knees to shoes in warmups. But the NFL's uniform police will be watching during the game, so expect the stockings and socks to be in place by 7:30 kickoff.

Chad Pennington is throwing half-speed and on target in warmups, but he and almost all the Jets' projected starters for Opening Day are expected to get their most activity in warmups and spend the game on the sidelines.

The only expected exceptions: rookie Jacob Bender is likely to start at left guard, Kimo von Oelhoffen (last year's starter but backup after three Kenyon Coleman starts this preseason) at defensive right end. Adrien Clarke, who had started the first two summer games at LG before Bender got the nod vs. the Giants, may be the RG starter in place of Brandon Moore.

Donovan McNabb has been winging some passes for the Eagles before the game. But considering McNabb's value to Philly's fortunes this season and also that No. 5 hasn't played against the Jets in the preseason since 2001, he also is not expected to take the field tonight, nor are any other projected Eagles starters.

It's just about time for the Jets and Eagles to participate in what many fans and media types refer to as the least meaningful game on an NFL team's schedule. But as Bill Parcells used to say, there is no such thing as a meaningless game. And the handful of starters and bushel of backups fighting for roster spots will be intent on proving the truth of that football aphorism beginning in a few minutes.

For those keeping score at home, the Jets' six captains tonight are Kellen Clemens, Stacy Tutt, Anthony Schlegel, von Oelhoffen, Wade Smith and Bobby Hamilton.