09/05 — As Emeril Lagasse might say, the atmosphere in the Jets locker room was kicked up a notch — only appropriate since today is the big media day before Opening Day.

The room was crawling with print and electronic reporters and camera crews as Patriots week was officially kicked off. Early on, newly minted captain Laveranues Coles bantered with my good friend Steve Serby of the New York Post, with a small group of reporters laughing at the byplay.

Larger groups gathered around Jonathan Vilma, Jacob Bender, Thomas Jones, Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis. The Jones group was interesting, since TJ, now back in practice mode, was talking — only not a whole lot to the reporters in the locker room. The Patriots media requested Jones — not QB Chad Pennington — for their player conference call, so Jones made a brief appearance at his locker, was converged on by the Jets media, then was extricated to do the Pats call.

Shortly, Jones returned with Jared Winley, senior manager of media relations and also my good friend, who regretted to inform the group, "Three questions please," then, after allowing a fourth query, stating, "Guys, I gotta take him." Jones needed to get in some quick weightlifting and a light lunch before taking the field barely a half-hour later.

Eric Allen will report on Jones in our afternoon feature story on newyorkjets.com.

A couple of notes of interest: RB Leon Washington was trying to be as inconspicuous as he could be while wearing baggy orange, not green, shorts. Closer inspection revealed a pawprint on the leg. Clemson? Yes, because the Tigers held off the Florida State Seminoles on Monday night, 24-18. CB Justin Miller, the Clemson product, had been giving Washington, from FSU, a lot of flak during recent practices and the two had a bet on the game, with the loser wearing the winner's colors for the day.

And a change in the seating arrangements: T Anthony Clement moved his locker from further down on the western wall dominated by O-linemen to the prime location on the corner of the wall that for two seasons had held the belongings of Pete Kendall.

Were congratulations in order for AC? "Nah, it's just a locker," Clement said, although I detected a hint of a smile.

With the season opener against New England now four days away, the Jets also have added a former Patriot to their payroll.

Confirming reports, head coach Eric Mangini announced at his news conference that Mike Elgin, the Iowa guard/center who was the Pats' seventh-round pick, No. 247 overall, has been signed to their practice squad. Elgin (6'4", 277) was in the locker room and at practice today.

Mangini also acknowledged that his first meeting with Coles and other team captains produced a slight change in schedule. Mangini's 11:05 a.m. news conference was moved 30 minutes earlier and the 45-minute media availability window was shifted from 11:25-12:10 to 11:20-12:05.

"I know you got the change in schedule," Mangini told reporters. "I met with some of the captains yesterday and that was something they wanted to address. We worked through it."