Reggie Bush in 2006?
Reggie, Leinart work out for Jets
 

A contingent of Jets officials, continuing their cross-country, pre-draft star search, got a rare, up-close view yesterday of two Heisman Trophy winners on the same field - Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush.
GM Mike Tannenbaum, coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer flew to Los Angeles with the intention of interviewing and working out Leinart, and only interviewing Bush, but Bush agreed to an impromptu workout. Mostly, he caught passes from Leinart in a 45-minute throwing session, according to a source.

It fueled immediate speculation that the Jets, picking fourth in the April29 draft, might try to trade up for Bush, the presumptive No.1 pick. That's highly unlikely, although Bush wouldn't be upset about coming to New York.

"Reggie will be happy wherever he's drafted, (but) the Jets are one of the teams he's particularly excited about," Bush's agent, Joel Segal, said. "He had a nice day with the Jets, but you've got to trade up to get him."

The Texans, picking first, have yet to open contract negotiations with Bush, according to Segal. But the two sides have been in touch, and barring an upset, the Texans will select him.

After a morning meeting with Bush that lasted about an hour, the Jets' troika invited him to participate in Leinart's workout. He obliged, although one person described it as more of a favor to Leinart than an official audition for the Jets.

Leinart threw to Bush, free-agent wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim and former USC tailback Andre Woodert. After Mangini and Tannenbaum left, Leinart and Schottenheimer repaired to a film room, where they reviewed tape of Leinart's senior year. On Monday night, Leinart dined with the Jets' officials and spent time with them in the classroom.

It was the second leg in a nationwide scouting mission. On Monday, the Jets were in Nashville to work out Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler. Owner Woody Johnson, who attended the Cutler session, didn't make the trip to Los Angeles. Johnson, a member of the NFL's committee to select a new commissioner, apparently had to return to New York for league business.

Today, the Jets' road show will be in Oregon, where they're expected to work out quarterback Kellen Clemens, a second-tier prospect. Tomorrow, they will be in Houston to check out Texas' Vince Young.

At least one of the "Big Three" - Young, Leinart, Cutler - will be available to the Jets at No.4, but they're believed to be leaning toward defensive end Mario Williams or left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

The Jets may not be sold on Leinart because of his less-than-superior arm strength, but he's the most polished prospect. He was hoping to dazzle the Jets' brass with his cerebral aptitude.

"That's something that sets me apart from other people - my mind," he said in a recent interview. "Physically, I'm fine, but I'm not going to run a 4.4 and I'm not going to throw the ball 900 yards down the field. I'm going to beat you with my mind."

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