Nick Mangold admits he has a lot to learn when it comes to the Jets'new offense

The Jets lost one of their most famous fans Wednesday with the stunning death of actor James Gandolfini, 51, aka Tony Soprano, who reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack or stroke while vacationing in Italy.

"We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini," the Jets tweeted Wednesday night. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends."

Gandolfini was a Jersey guy long before he became a suburban mobster on TV. He was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Rutgers. He went to many Jets home games in recent years. In fact, he witnessed at least three memorable games -- a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Houston Texans in 2010, the emotional and dramatic 2011 opening win over the Cowboys on the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11 and the crushing Christmas Eve loss to the Giants in 2011.

The accompanying photo is from the Christmas Eve game. Judging from the look of angst on Gandolfini's face, it could be his reaction to Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown.

Not many people know this, but Gandolfini narrated the video of the Jets' 2011 season, which was used as part of NFL Films' "NFL Yearbook" series. It was probably the best thing to happen to the Jets that year, an 8-8 disappointment.

Gandolfini's most celebrated connection to the Jets occurred in June 2007, when then-coach Eric Mangini made a cameo appearance in one of the final episodes of "The Sopranos." Mangini didn't have any speaking lines; it was just a quick exchange of pleasantries with Tony Soprano in the fictional restaurant of his boyhood friend, Artie Bucco.

"It took me a long time to get into character," Mangini joked at the time. "Playing me eating dinner is a real stretch, but I worked with an acting coach and I think I really nailed it."

Mangini said he wasn't afraid of getting whacked.

"I knew the context of what we were doing prior to getting into it and felt very comfortable with being at the restaurant," he said, laughing. "It's not like Tony and I had any previous affiliation or subsequent affiliation. It was more or less just meeting another person at a restaurant who happened to be a fan of the Jets."

Nick Mangold admits he has a lot to learn when it comes to the Jets’ new offense, but that’s not even close to what Geno Smith needs to know.

Mangold, who has been Mark Sanchez’s center for four years, said the rookie QB — battling his buddy Sanchez for the Jets’ job — could be a starter by Week 1, but it won’t be easy.

“I thought he did pretty well, but there are rookie growing pains,” Mangold told the Daily News at a “Man Cave” event hosted by Proctor & Gamble and Gillette, literally as he had his beard trimmed. “You gotta learn a whole new system. You’re coming from college where you have all of your buddies from the past four or five years, who all know each other. Now all of a sudden you’re coming to a huddle, you’re telling guys who are 30 years old, couple of kids, a mortgage, you’re telling them what to do. It’s a big transition.”

Added Mangold, “He’s not there yet, obviously. But I think he does have the opportunity to be pretty good this year.”

Mangold said that if Smith puts in the work, he believes the quarterback could be ready to take over an NFL starting job in Week 1 if called upon. “He’s got potential, but that’s what training camp is for,” Mangold said.

The center said that between OTAs and minicamp, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had the Jets go over just about everything in their playbook. “I think we were introduced to the whole offense. I don’t think you can learn it all, but you can get introduced,” Mangold said.

Mangold is often identified by Rex Ryan as the non-QB with the most knowledge of the offense. “I gotta learn wide receiver routes again,” Mangold said. “Marty changed them all. New names.”

The center also said he’s more preoccupied with the guard competition than the QB competition, because he’ll have two new guards regardless. Willie Colon, Stephen Peterman and rookie Brian Winters are competing for the two starting guard spots.

“To me, that’s kind of more important, in my mind, than what’s going on behind me,” Mangold said. “No matter what’s happened before . . . I’ve always had Brandon Moore to my right. So now, not having that safety net, it could be a difficult task to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

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Winslow was signed to a one-year deal by the New York Jets

Kellen Winslow Jr. turned a three-day tryout into another chance at reviving his NFL career.

The former Pro Bowl tight end was signed to a one-year deal by the New York Jets on Friday after a solid performance during the team's minicamp this week.

Winslow was brought in on a tryout basis and impressed coach Rex Ryan, who wouldn't comment Thursday as to whether a signing was imminent but seemed to indicate he was pleased with what he saw.

``That athleticism and his ability to catch the football,'' Ryan said, ``it certainly jumps out.''

Winslow received a call from the Jets last Saturday, flew to the New York area Monday and was practicing the next day. He was active during the minicamp practices, making several catches on throws from both Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith. He was also used red-zone drills, in particular, with a few of his receptions coming in those situations.

``He's still a very athletic guy,'' Ryan said. ``How many catches he had specifically, I'm not sure, but you certainly feel his presence.''

Winslow, who turns 30 next month but said his sometimes troublesome knees were healthy, adds depth to a position thin on experience after New York allowed Dustin Keller to leave as a free agent. Jeff Cumberland, with 32 career catches in three seasons, has been the projected starter, with Konrad Reuland, a solid blocker, and former rugby player Hayden Smith the backups.

Winslow played in just one game last season with New England before asking for his release. He expected to get another shot, but was left wondering about his NFL career this offseason when no calls came. Winslow said after his first practice with the Jets that ``I have years left.''

Before leaving the team's locker room Thursday, Winslow said he hadn't heard yet if he would be signed by the Jets but made it clear he thought he could add something to Marty Mornhinweg's offense.

``I feel like it would be a great spot,'' Winslow said. ``I like it here. I like the team, I like the teammates. Hopefully, I can stay.''

Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer and former Chargers star Kellen Winslow, was a first-round draft pick of Cleveland in 2004. After a broken right leg as a rookie and a torn knee ligament the next year, Winslow had 89 catches in 2006 and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate the following year.

He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2009 and had solid seasons of 77, 66 and 75 catches. The Buccaneers traded him to Seattle before last season, but he was waived in September after declining to reduce his salary. He signed with New England a few weeks later and played one game with one catch for 12 yards - before asking for and being granted his release.

``We thought Kellen did a nice job given the fact that you get off a plane, you get into a meeting, and a couple hours later you're out on the field,'' general manager John Idzik said. ``I think all things considered, he did a pretty good job.''

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Keller was Sanchez's security blanket

The New York Jets' decision to draft Geno Smith was the clearest sign that the team had lost faith in -- and was prepared to move on from -- quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Letting tight end Dustin Keller walk out the door was a less publicized (but perhaps equally clear) sign. Keller was Sanchez's security blanket, arguably the only receiver Sanchez ever showed legitimate chemistry with in four years.

Keller eventually signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, and on Sunday, he discussed how the Jets' moves to bring in Smith and Tim Tebow affected his former teammate.

"I think he doesn't like the fact those moves were made," Keller said of Sanchez on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Sunday. "I don't think those were things that made him happy. Could it possibly have been something that pushed him? Maybe, I'm not quite sure. But it definitely lit a fire underneath him. I've talked to him a couple of times this offseason and he's been working. So, I think you can expect some good things from him."

Keller also explained his feelings on the media spotlight in Gotham.

"There's always some type of nonsense going on. When you're in the New York media, you don't say that you're used to all of that; there's always going to be distractions," he said. "But this is really more so than anywhere else. You're really talking about a team -- we didn't even go to the playoffs the year before -- and it seemed like we're in the media more than anyone else, and for the wrong reasons. You never want that.
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"Could it have anything to do with the season, kinda things falling apart? I really don't know. When you're in that market, it just has to be something you're ready to deal with."

The Jets had many problems in 2012, but chief among them was a low baseline of talent that couldn't make up for injuries and continued regression by the quarterback.

Keller says we can expect a rebound from Sanchez, but you wonder if Keller actually thinks his old mate needs to get out of town and start over.

It's not a bad idea.