Darrelle Revis (Neil Miller)
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (AP)
LaDainian Tomlinson (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
What do the Jets do for an encore?
After a loss in the AFC Championship game last January, the next step is the Super Bowl.
Will the Jets get there this year?
It all begins at training camp, with players reporting next Sunday to the Cortland State University campus for a second year of team bonding some four hours away from home.
As the Jets open camp, here are five compelling things to keep a close eye on:
KEY ISSUE: Cornerback Darrelle Revis’ situation. Revis, who is scheduled to make $1 million in 2010, is seeking a new contract that makes him the highest-paid player at his position. Revis is the most important piece to coach Rex Ryan’s defensive puzzle. Ryan has stated that unequivocally.
With the two sides not close to consummating a deal and the opening of camp just days away, this has potential to become an ugly situation that can become damaging to the team. Revis still is pondering whether to hold out, but people close to him say the Jets, who are reticent to give him the large guaranteed signing bonus money he wants, are pushing him to hold out.
Revis isn’t the only player seeking a new deal. Center Nick Mangold and linebacker David Harris are entering the last year of their rookie contracts, want new deals and are keeping a close eye on what happens with Revis.
KEY PLAYER: Mark Sanchez. All eyes will be on Sanchez in his second year for a few reasons. First, he’s coming off offseason left knee surgery. Second, he’s coming off an inconsistent rookie year that included too many turnovers (20 interceptions and three lost fumbles) but finished strong in the postseason.
Sanchez, who worked diligently in the offseason to get himself physically healthy and mentally prepared, has taken more charge as a leader. For example, he had the receivers out to his home in California a few weeks ago for a weeklong private passing camp.
HEALTH WATCH: Sanchez will be a player to watch, though his performance in offseason mini-camp showed that he appears to have come back strong from the left knee surgery. The Jets undoubtedly will be careful with him in camp, and the true test of the knee won’t come until Sanchez takes a hit in a game.
Perhaps the key injury to watch is defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who tore the ACL in his left knee last season and has been rehabbing since surgery. Jenkins, whom Ryan calls a unique and hard-to-replace piece to his defense, took it slowly in the offseason OTAs and mini-camp. The Jets will monitor closely his work in training camp and preseason in an effort to keep him healthy.
Jenkins, along with right tackle Damien Woody, engaged in a weight-loss contest with Ryan this offseason in an effort to preserve their health during the season.
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE: The Jets added a lot of new talent, highlighted by the signing of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who replaces the departed Thomas Jones. Tomlinson, a standout receiver out of the backfield, is expected to complement Shonn Greene in a new one-two backfield punch.
Talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie was added to the defense to start opposite Revis. The Jets hope Cromartie returns to his form of 2007, when he had 10 interceptions, and distances himself from his inconsistent last two seasons (five combined interceptions). He figures to be a great fit in Ryan’s aggressive man-to-man defense.
Santonio Holmes, who wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh with off-field issues, is a fleet-footed, Pro Bowl-caliber receiver who could be the biggest offseason acquisition of all.
Linebacker Jason Taylor is a wildcard addition considering his age and declining production. But there are many who believe he will prosper as a pass rusher in Ryan’s system because of the way he’ll be used.
Quietly, perhaps one of the most important offseason acquisitions was one that didn’t need to be made — at kicker, where reliable incumbent Jay Feely was replaced by inconsistent free agent Nick Folk.
KEY ROOKIES: The two players to watch are the first-round draft pick, cornerback Kyle Wilson, and the second-round pick, offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse. Wilson, a playmaker from Boise State who also can return kicks, should make an immediate impact as a nickel back and returner.
The Jets are expecting Ducasse, a raw youngster from UMass, to take over for the departed Alan Faneca as the starting right guard immediately. That might be a bit much to ask considering his inexperience.
mcannizzaro@nypost.com