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Nothing says forever like an arm tattoo.

After selecting West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan told NFL Network on Saturday that embattled incumbent Mark Sanchez will take the first snap when the second phase of the Jets' offseason program begins Monday.

Ryan's pronouncement isn't particularly surprising. NFL coaches always want to preserve the appearance of competition even when there is none.

Tim Tebow will be released as soon as general manager John Idzik realizes he can't squeeze out even a late-round draft pick from another team for the backup. Sanchez might hang on a bit longer due to his $8.25 million in contract guarantees, but Ryan's opinion likely will be changed sooner rather than later.

The Jets simply have too many quarterbacks to operate a smooth practice. Smith, David Garrard and Greg McElroy all need reps. In today's NFL, early-round quarterbacks are expected to play as rookies. It makes no sense to keep Sanchez around as a sacrificial lamb, delaying Smith's inevitable debut as the Jets' Week 1 starter.

How the New York Jets will attempt to replace cornerback Darrelle Revis is major question heading into tonight's NFL draft.

Two of the most discussed corners in the draft are confident they could step into the island-sized hole in the Jets' secondary created by the trade of the Pro Bowl mainstay to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I feel like I'm the guy to do it," Tyrann Mathieu said, The Star Ledger reported Wednesday night.

Gang Green hasn't shown interest in the 5-foot-9 corner -- who made news Wednesday afternoon after he tweeted a flyer announcing a party in his honor, then canceled it. He told The Star Ledger someone else with access to his account tweeted the flyer.

Mathieu said his talent makes him deserving of hearing his name called tonight.

"I expect to go in the first round, yes I do," he said. "I think I'm a first-round talent, but I think I'll fall to the second."

The more likely replacement for Revis could be Alabama's Dee Milliner, widely considered the top corner in draft. Milliner could slide to the Jets at No. 9.

"I talked to them when I visited up there," Milliner said Wednesday, via the New York Post. "They like me. They probably like me more now since they got rid of Revis."

Milliner said he wouldn't feel the pressure of replacing the best cornerback in the NFL.

"I'd feel fine," he said. "I'd go in and just do what I'm supposed to do, do work, and just go about playing the way I've been playing."

The truth is you don't replace a Revis, you try and plug the holes as best you can as the boat takes on water. The Jets could use one of their two first-round picks on a corner, but the major job of filling Revis' production will fall on Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson and those already on the roster.

There aren't a ton of Mark Sanchez supporters these days. A horrid 2012 erased much of the goodwill the New York Jets quarterback built during AFC championship runs in 2009 and 2010.

CBS analyst Bill Cowher, who won the 2005 Super Bowl as the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, still believes.

"There has been so much transition going on there," Cowher said, The Star-Ledger's Dave Hutchinson reported. "Now he has another new coordinator. Another new offensive system. The only thing I will say is (the Jets) went to two AFC Championship games with Mark Sanchez in his first couple of years.

"Granted, he was surrounded by a very good supporting cast, a very good defense, a good running game. But I don't think it's fair to throw this all on him when you had a banged-up offensive line, you had no skill position players."

Former quarterback and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer recently said fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano was a horrible influence on Sanchez. The offense also was devoid of talent at the offensive skill positions once Santonio Holmes went down with a foot injury.

"I don't know where (Sanchez) is (as a player) but I think to say what he is based on last year's performance is unfair," Cowher said. "(Dustin) Keller wasn't there early in the year. Santonio Holmes wasn't there. They were playing with maybe a third and fourth receiver as their best receiver.

"If they can get Santonio Holmes back and get a few good skill position players around him, let's see what he can do. Again, he proved that when he has had a supporting cast, he took them to two AFC Championship games. I'm not saying he's that type of quarterback, but those are the facts."

Still, Sanchez has a lot to clean up after posting 18 interceptions and 14 fumbles. Marty Mornhinweg should be an improvement at offensive coordinator, but the Jets continue to need help on offense. They have the opportunity to address that with the No. 9 and No. 13 picks in the draft, though cornerback is a need after Darrelle Revis was traded.

Bottom line, Sanchez has to make better decisions in 2013 and the Jets need to provide more help

West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin has turned into perhaps the most interesting man in the world this week. Or at least New York City. In a draft lacking great top-shelf skill-position talent, Austin stands out.

That's why it would be such a shame if Austin was drafted by the least interesting offense in the NFL. Austin told Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger that New York Jets coach Rex Ryan showed particular interest.

"(Ryan) said he had a plan for me. I talked to the offensive coordinator (Marty Mornhinweg), and they said they like players like me who can bring big-play ability there," Austin told the Star-Ledger on Thursday.

Ryan even joked to Austin they would possibly use him on defensive plays. With picks No. 9 and 13 in the first round, it's hard to imagine the Jets not investing in some offensive firepower. That could be Austin, tight end Tyler Eifert, or possibly quarterback Geno Smith. (Of course, Austin could always get drafted by Buffalo before even getting to the Jets.)

"I met everybody, and they pretty much said they like me a lot, and hopefully we can make it happen," Austin said.

Then again, Austin knows that pre-draft talk usually isn't worth much.

"I'm just glad at the right time that my name's moving up," Austin said Wednesday. "But at the end of the day, it's about the GMs and the coaches. A lot of these analysts can say where I can go at, but sometimes nobody has a clue, so I'll just wait till tomorrow and see who picks my name and go from there."

Austin is right. Nobody has a clue where he'll go. We'd just be worried that the Jets wouldn't have a clue how best to use Austin in what looks like year where Ryan is set up for failure.

The New York Jets' salary-cap woes are no secret, but the money shortage hasn't stopped new general manager John Idzik from trying to keep his own free agents

A week ago the team was trying to re-sign safety LaRon Landry, who is reportedly seeking at least $6 million per year as a free agent. Now the Jets have turned their attention to run-stuffing defensive lineman Mike DeVito, according to a report by ESPN New York on Saturday.

Rich Cimini views DeVito as the "best bet to stick around" among the Jets' free agents

Beyond the salary-cap implications, though, there is one significant roadblock toward a new deal for DeVito. According to The Star-Ledger, six teams have already touched base with DeVito's agent this weekend.

If DeVito is going to stick around, the Jets are going to have to pay a premium for a solid starter