01/21 — Bill Callahan will meet with New York Jets reporters some time in the future, but Green & White fans almost have to feel as if they know their new assistant head coach/offense as they know some of the coaches and front office folks on the Patriots, Dolphins and Bills.

After all, the Jets went up against Callahan's offenses seven times in a five-season span — four times when he was Oakland's coordinator from 1999-2001 and three more when he held the Raiders' reins as head coach in 2002-03.

And if there is subliminal satisfaction that Callahan is now on Eric Mangini's team, it may be because the Jets didn't fare that well in those regular-season and playoff run-ins with Callahan's O. The Raiders rushed for 4.5 yards per carry and 146.4 per game and allowed a decent 1.7 sacks per game in those meetings, five of which were won by the Silver & Black.

Here's a stroll down Green memory lane for that seven-pack of contests, all played at Oakland, you may recall. The stats are the Raiders' rushing and sacks-allowed numbers (*playoff game):

I remember Callahan, when he spoke with us reporters on conference calls as the Raiders head coach, to be friendly, not flowery, and focused on many of the core values that Mangini has stressed in his two full seasons at the Jets helm. Here is a smattering of Coach Cally quotes from two CCs during Oakland's 2002 Super Bowl season and the one call the next season, when things weren't going as well for duh Raiduhs:

Before the 2002 RS game

On WR Jerry Rice: "I just marvel at Jerry every day — he's amazing to me. His mental strength and capacity to push through things, focus and isolate on the minute details of the game, is just impressive. It all starts in the mind and in the heart."

On Jets coach Mike Westhoff: "I have great respect for Mike. I think he's one of the finest special teams coaches in the league. Week in, week out, he has an array of scheme and all types of different addendums to his package. He creates problems and confusion for people."

Before the 2002 PO game

On QB Chad Pennington: "I see a young man who has been consistent, who had the highest completion percentage in the league. His ability to make plays and to understand where to go with the ball has really played into his hands. It presents us a challenge. We're going to have to create a pass rush, we're going to get some heat on him. And we're going to have to tighten up some coverages, not give him lanes to throw the ball into. That is an area he seems to thrive in."

On LB Eric Barton (who two years later would leave the Raiders for the Jets): "I see a growth there by Eric that has continued to allow him to continue his progression. And the biggest thing I see is that his instincts and his knowledge of the game have really taken over and helped him to a new level."

Before the 2003 RS game

On how difficult it is getting the 2-6 Raiders prepared for the Jets coming off a four-game losing streak: "I really believe when you go through a portion of losing — everyone goes through it — there is a particular syndrome you go through and part of that is losing your focus and giving in to distraction. It is important that we remain focused and do everything we can to control what we can control. That is our preparation for the Jets. So we have really isolated ourselves here this week and recommitted ourselves to this week."

Now, instead of Callahan preparing for the Jets, he's preparing with them. And after four seasons at Nebraska, he's recommitted himself to the NFL and to helping Mangini coach up the 2008 Jets for the most important day, week, month and year ahead, which is always the next one of each.