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It was 9:09 p.m., the Rams had just selected West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft and now the John Idzik Jets were on the clock.
Or were those the Rex Ryan Jets on the clock?
With the ninth pick in the draft, the Jets selected Dee Milliner, cornerback from Alabama.
About 30 minutes later, when the Jets’ second pick in the first round arrived — the 13th overall — they selected Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle from Missouri.
So to review the goings on from Radio City Music Hall to Florham Park, N.J., here are the two most profound things we learned about the Jets last night:
* Rex Ryan lives.
* Mark Sanchez doesn’t.
Rumors of Ryan’s influence being neutered in the presence of Idzik, the newly hired general manager, were apparently greatly exaggerated.
Two defensive players chosen with the two first-round picks for a team that right now would have trouble scoring a touchdown against Summit High School is evidence that Ryan — who bleeds defense — still has significant say inside the walls of the Jets’ bunker.
As for Sanchez, these two picks surely left him and Jets fans everywhere wondering where in the world the help is for one of the worst offenses in the NFL?
A year ago, the Jets brought in Tim Tebow, which was as big a part of sabotaging Sanchez’s psyche as the lack of skill position talent around him turned out to be. Last night, they hung him out to dry by ignoring his needs — for the moment, at least.
In fairness to Idzik, there are six more rounds to this draft, which continues tonight and concludes tomorrow, and the Jets have six more picks to make. So perhaps they find an offensive gem or three in the next two days. Perhaps.
If not, Sanchez is screwed.
It would be foolish, though, to torch Idzik and the Jets for what they did until we find out how good Milliner and Richardson become and until we find out what else the Jets cull from this draft.
“We selected two of our top four players on our board, period,’’ Idzik said. “We said from the beginning that our draft philosophy is going to be a talent-based operation — specifically in the first when picking that high. The two players we drafted — Dee and Sheldon — were two of the top-rated highest rated players on our board by far. They’re going to make an immediate impact on our organization.’’
Idzik conceded there was a temptation to reach for an offensive player at No. 13, “but we were not going to succumb to temptation,’’ he said. “Talent will trump need — especially higher in the draft. You stick to what you believe and if you have players on your board you pick them.’’
Conviction to philosophy is admirable, but it can also be as dangerous a game as reaching for a need. Only time will tell if Idzik stayed too rigid to his philosophy.
“We’re not done,’’ he said. “We have two days of work [to go]. We feel this draft is very deep. Once you get down a little further in the draft, there’ll be more offensive players that stack up. We’re cognizant of [the team’s offensive needs] and we’ll address those needs.’’
Ryan, trying to contain his excitement, said when the scenarios played out and left the two defensive players the Jets coveted available at Nos. 9 and 13, “certain people I know got excited about it.’’
Ryan, that “certain’’ person he knows, then revealed a line he delivered in the war room a short time earlier.
“I said, ‘You can’t blame this one on me,’ ’’ he said.
Ryan then gushed, “These two players that we got … are going to make an impact for us.’’
That’s all well and good. But who’s going to make an impact for the Jets on offense?
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com