I made my first ever trip to the primary training facility of the New York Jets on Tuesday. The team held an open practice at its year-round home base in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Many NFL teams go to a remote location during preseason training camp but the Jets have chosen a hybrid approach to their July/August regimen. Gang Green spends several days in central NY state (Cortland) and then returns to Florham Park near the end of camp. There’s a special night at Hofstra on Long Island Thursday to make good with a significant portion of its fan base located out there.

I was impressed by the Jets complex in Florham Park. I only had access to the outside perimeter but the setup appears top-notch. Four regulation fields (3 grass, 1 artificial) were in immaculate condition. There’s also a field inside the indoor training building that sits in the center of the 27-acre secluded space on a hill. This complex comes courtesy of Jets owner Woody Johnson who spares no expense on his football team.

It was a beautiful day to watch my favorite pro football team get ready for the season. You’re allowed to get pretty close to the action. The Jets set up water stations for the public on one side of the main field. I’d estimate attendance at a couple thousand. There were lots of kids with their Dads on hand.

Evaluations are hard to make when you’re jockeying for a view but I thought Geno (pictured above – #7) looked good. He threw some nice balls and moved sharply on rollouts. But c’mon – I’m just a fan watching a practice and Geno’s biggest vulnerability comes when he’s forced to make decisions under pressure. We’ll probably see him open the season under center two weeks from Sunday against the Raiders.

A still-dynamic veteran quarterback looms on the sidelines should Geno make the kinds of mistakes he made last season as a rookie. You know who we’re talking about of course. It’s Mike Vick (pictured above – #1). Fans will howl for Vick to save the day as early as the third quarter of that first home game. I’d say we see Vick sooner rather than later.

Beyond that, all I can report is that I tried to hone in on Jason Babin after the papers here said he could overtake the talented young linebacker Quinton Coples and start on the outside in a rushing role. Babin was all over the place – lining up on the left side and flashing great speed. I think the way Rex uses defensive players, there’s no reason both Coples and Babin can co-exist happily and successfully – even if they have much the same role. Babin could be seen Tuesday coaching/directing/teaching teammates as practice unfolded. He’s a huge veteran addition and a big bargain at 2 years/3.2 mil. Look for him to have a big year on a team that’s loaded on that defensive line.

The Jets have two punters in camp. Incumbent Ryan Quigley has outpunted Jake Schum in the first two preseason games. The punters spent much of the practice on the field furthest from public view, so I didn’t get to see them launch much. The only other observation I’ll make is that head coach Rex Ryan looked pretty relaxed and didn’t get too deeply involved with instruction on the field. He seemed to leave that up to his assistants.

It was a bit of a chore to reach the Jets complex. I took a New Jersey Transit train on the Morris and Essex line from New York Penn to Convent Station. It’s a one-hour ride. The round trip ticket costs $23. What was tough was the walk from the train station to the practice facility. The two-mile hike each way is not pedestrian friendly. I cut through the picturesque campus of the College of St. Elizabeth which was great but once you hit busy Park Avenue, there are no sidewalks up the hill through the industrial complex that includes the Jets complex. I’m pretty sure I was the only guy at practice who took the train. I would not recommend it unless you’re hearty with the hoofs and don’t mind tromping along shoulders of busy roadway.