The New York Jets have signed QB Mark Brunell, P Chris Bryan, WR Plaxico Burress, and DT Kenrick Ellis. The announcements were made by General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Brunell (QB/6-1/217/Washington/Santa Maria, CA), a three-time Pro Bowler, has played 18 seasons with the Packers, Jaguars, Saints and Jets.  He has thrown for 32,045 yards and 184 touchdowns and rushed for 2,421 yards and 15 touchdowns during his career. Brunell played in two games for the Jets in 2010, throwing for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl as a member of the New Orleans Saints in 2009.  He was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by Green Bay, before being traded to Jacksonville in 1995.

Bryan (P/6-5/220/Melbourne, Australia), originally entered the NFL as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers on March 16, 2010. He joined the Buccaneers on September 6, 2010, and played four games, averaging 37.4 yards on 23 punts. Before entering the NFL, he spent four years in Australian Football League playing with the Carlton Football Club and Collingswood Football Club.

Burress (WR/6-5/232/Michigan State/Virginia Beach, VA), has started 121-of-128 games he has played and recorded 505 receptions for 7,845 yards and 55 touchdowns in his nine-year career. He caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII for the Giants.  He played his last game as a member of the Giants in 2008.  Burress was acquired by the Giants as an unrestricted free agent from the Steelers on March 17, 2005.  He entered the NFL as the eighth-overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Ellis (DT/6-4/346/Hampton/Green Acres, FL), was selected in the third round (94^th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.  During his career at Hampton University, he started 27-of-32 games he played in and recorded 184 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, a pass defensed, and one blocked kick.  In 2010, he recorded 94 tackles which is the most in a single season for any defensive tackle at Hampton University.

Dan checks in from Denville with some training camp Whispers, including notes on Burress, Weatherford and Strickland . . .

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The latest issue of Jets Confidential Magazine is out, and loaded with tremendous inside info on the Jets.

Pick it up on a Tri-State area newstand or call 1-800-932-4557 (M-F, 9-5) to subscribe.

You don’t want to miss it.

CB Jeremy McGee 5-10, 185 – Ole Miss (UCLA transfer)

2010: Played in all 12 games with 11 starts … Posted 33 tackles, three pass break-ups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … Earned third letter …

HIGH SCHOOL: Played his final season of football at McKinley HS in Baton Rouge after three seasons at Edna Karr HS in New Orleans … Three-star selection by Rivals.com … Rated No. 22 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com … PrepStar All-Region selection … Two-star pick by Scout.com … Ranked No. 79 among cornerbacks by Scout.com … Selected to the Baton Rouge Advocate’s 5A-4A All-Metro team as a kick returner … In his senior season in 2005, he had 1,300 yards (900 rushing) and 11 touchdowns … He totaled 554 return yards and four touchdowns … He averaged 34.2 yards per kickoff return and 26.5 yards per punt return … He had two punt returns for touchdowns (97 and 77 yards) and one kickoff return for a score (98 yards) … As a junior, he rushed for 800 yards and scored six touchdowns … Made 30 receptions for 400 yards and two scores … As a sophomore, he rushed for 600 yards and had 10 touchdowns … Also lettered in track and field … Placed second in the State meet in the 100 meters …

PERSONAL: Son of Alcie and Genell McGee … Full name is Jeremy C. McGee … Born July 23, 1988 … Has one brother, Alcie, and three sisters, Latashia, Latoya and Latonya … Majoring in Social Work … Made Chancellor’s Honor Roll for Fall 2009 … Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2009-10.

Jake Duron – 6-5, 308 – Missouri State

High School: Named Offensive Lineman of the Year for coach Kevin Johnson’s Springdale (Ark.) Bulldogs as a senior … Earned invite to Kirk Herbstreit’s Ohio vs. USA Event after senior season and was an Arkansas Student-Athlete of the Year nominee … Helped squad to 14-0 state championship season as a junior … Team was also conference champions and USA Today No. 2 ranked team in 2005.

Personal: Jacob Curtis Duron was born 5/27/89 in El Paso, Texas … Son of Bob and Jackie Duron of Springdale, Ark. … Father played three seasons at UTEP (DT) … Majoring in Political Science with minors in General Business and Logistics … Has three brothers, Jason, Jaxon and Jordan.

It’s time for more of “The Good Stuff” from JC publisher Dan Leberfeld. Enjoy . . .

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OT Perry Dorrestein – 6-7, 321 – Michigan

At Michigan … three-year letterman … started 22 games at tackle and appeared in 31 career contests.

Fifth-Year Senior (2010) … earned third varsity letter … started in nine contests at right tackle, one at left tackle and appeared in 11 games … started at right tackle vs. Connecticut (Sept. 4) … selected as a game captain vs. UConn … made start at right tackle against Notre Dame (Sept. 11), Massachusetts (Sept. 18) and Bowling Green (Sept. 25) … started at right tackle in Big Ten opener at Indiana (Oct. 2) … opened the game at right tackle vs. Michigan State (Oct. 9) and Iowa (Oct. 16) … missed two games against Penn State (Oct. 30) and Illinois (Nov. 6) due to a knee injury … selected as a game captain at Purdue (Nov. 13), returning to action as reserve right tackle … started at left tackle vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 20) … made start at right tackle at Ohio State (Nov. 27) … opened the game at right tackle vs. Mississippi State (Jan. 1) in the Gator Bowl.

The Jets picked Wayne Hunter off the scrap heap, and he will never forget that.

Hunter was thrown out of Seattle and Jacksonville. He had off-the-field issues.

The Jets took a chance, got him the help he needed, and it’s worked out very well.

Now he’s going to likely finish his career with the Jets.

According to the New York Post, Hunter signed a four year deal for around $13 million.

And he could end up starting for the Jets at right tackle this year. Vlad Ducasse didn’t get the off-season work he needed to be ready to start in Week One.

AFC

NFC

G Zane Taylor – 6-2, 309 – Utah

UTAH: Three-time all-MWC selection made the first team as a senior … started 38 games at center his last three seasons … began his career as a guard … four-time academic all-conference honoree … strongest player on the team could bench 440 pounds and squat 565 pounds … completed 41 reps at 225 pounds–also best on the team.

2010-First-team all-MWC … started 12 games at center, missing the New Mexico game with a knee injury … led the offensive line in plays per game, averaging 59.7 in the nine games that were graded (no grades kept against Air Force, BYU or Boise State) … nine cuts and nine pancake blocks in 10 games (no grades kept against BYU and Boise State) … 85% season grade … had the highest grade on the team against Pitt (89%), Wyoming (92%), and TCU (89%) … three cuts against SDSU … three pancakes against Wyoming … Academic all-MWC.