NFL

JETS BECOMING TOO MUCH LIKE MEEK MANGINI

DURING Eric Mangini’s first year as Jets coach, some of the players nicknamed him “The Penguin.”

The moniker was given because of his body shape and the way he waddles when he walks. It also fits Mangini’s public persona – serene, non-confrontational and never hot, just like the bird.

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Problem is, the Jets have begun to adapt that same persona, playing with the same lack of emotion Mangini shows in his weekly press conferences. Girl Scout troops show more fire than the Jets did in defeats to the Broncos and the 49ers, and the blame lies with Mangini.

The coach preaches the same flat-line approach week after week that’s taken out of Coachspeak 101, “Never get too high, never get too low. Treat every game the same – win or lose.”

Well, you know what? Every game isn’t the same.

When the Jets beat Tennessee two weeks ago, that should have been the confidence boost that carried this team down the stretch run. But instead of thumping their chests after that game, they downplayed the victory.

On Sunday, the Jets laid down in San Francisco against a team that hadn’t had a winning record all year.

They were flat – again. This was all the more galling, coming seven days after their embarrassing performance against the Broncos. We heard all week about how the Denver loss was a “wake-up call,” but it was clear the Jets hit the snooze button.

Still, you won’t hear Mangini tweak his players this week, a practice Bill Parcells made a motivational art form. And you also won’t hear any players guarantee the Bills will be road kill this week at Giants Stadium.

Mangini has conditioned his players to be unconfident, not just through his tepid words but also through his in-game decisions.

In San Francisco, Mangini set the tone for the game on the first drive. Mike Singletary opened the game with an onside kick, giving the Jets the ball at the 49ers’ 46. Here was Mangini’s chance to punch the 49ers in the gut by letting Brett Favre go for the end zone right away. Instead, Thomas Jones gained three yards up the middle.

Two plays later, the Jets faced fourth-and-2 on the San Francisco 38. You could hear Jet fans from Montauk to Manahawkin screaming, “Go for it!” But Mangini opted to punt, the ball going into the end zone for a net of 18 yards.

Mangini said he wanted to pin down the 49ers in their own end. Did he get confused when he saw Mike Martz on the other sideline and think these were the 1999 Rams? The Niners scored 10 points – 10 measly points – against Buffalo the previous week.

Rather than pinning down the Niners, Mangini lifted their spirits and sent a message to his offense that he didn’t have faith in them to get two yards.

Now the Bills limp into East Rutherford, having scored six points combined in their last two games. It’s the perfect setup for the Jets to make a statement.

The Jets need to find their swagger this week. Run over the Bills. Plant J.P Losman in the turf so deep he’ll taste swamp water. Come out firing and don’t stop until the score is about 40-0.

If the Jets want to be taken seriously, it’s time to start strutting like peacocks instead of waddling like penguins.

brian.costello@nypost.com