How Bill Parcells used four first-round picks in 2000 to rebuild the Jets

Just like that, the Jets had a new pass-rushing tandem.

Abraham was a rare commodity, a gifted edge rusher who produced a double-digit sack total in eight total seasons. His original goal was to retire a Jet, but he was traded to the Falcons in 2006. He believes a 2003 DWI arrest destroyed his relationship with Coach Edwards (“We never got along that well,” he said), which might have been the beginning of the end.

Abraham’s career turned out just fine, but it took a physical toll. Forced to retire because of a concussion — he said tests revealed two spots of blood on his brain — Abraham experiences occasional migraines and loss of memory.

“Sometimes I get a little lost in life,” said Abraham, who moved out of a house and into a condo because the smaller dwelling made it easier to find objects such as his credit cards and car keys. “There are certain things that I can’t do that I used to do.”

He lives a quiet life, splitting his time between Atlanta and Columbia. His goal is to become a better father, run football camps for kids and start the next chapter. He promised himself that he would have a new direction by the time he was five years out of football. It has been five years.

Looking back, Abraham wonders what might have been with the Jets.

“It was tough for all of us to leave the Jets, especially when we left and how we left because all of us wanted to finish our careers together,” he said, referring to his three first-round classmates. “We knew it was going to be tough to stay together and win a championship. For four first-round picks, that would’ve been awesome to do.”

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Former Jets QB Chad Pennington describes what he was feeling after being drafted 18th overall in the 2000 NFL draft.

Chad Pennington, QB, No. 18

Career highlights: He led the Jets to the playoffs in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He’s fourth on their career passing list (13,738 yards). He led the Miami Dolphins to the AFC East title in 2008 and was twice named NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2006 and 2008).

Twenty years later, Kiper still can’t believe the Jets got Pennington with the 18th pick. He described it as unconventional strategy.

“It’s rare to see a team wait to take a quarterback they really believe in as a first-rounder,” Kiper said. “This was 2000, so we weren’t as quarterback crazy as we are now, but to sit and wait was a gamble — and it paid off.”

Parcells said that he had no intention of drafting a quarterback because they felt good with Vinny Testaverde, 37 at the time, and a young Ray Lucas (27), but that he felt Pennington’s value was too good to pass up.

Everybody expected the Steelers, in the pre-Ben Roethlisberger days, to grab Pennington with the No. 8 pick. “Everybody” included Pennington, who worked out for Steelers officials in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. The 49ers also showed a lot of interest, but they passed on him at No. 16.

Anthony Becht, TE, No. 27

Career highlights: He played for five teams over the course of 12 seasons, making him the most traveled of the four. He made 188 total receptions, 12th among all players in the 2000 draft.

“I was kind of depressed,” Becht recalled. “I’m thinking, ‘I can’t believe Coach Parcells lied to me. This is crazy.'”

Becht found out when everybody else did, when it was announced on TV. In a way, the moment symbolized his career because he always was an under-the-radar player, tasked with performing the dirty work. In 2004, his perimeter blocking helped Jets star Curtis Martin win the NFL rushing crown.

Although he never attained star status, Becht is proud of his pro career because he was able to adapt quickly to different systems over a long period of time.

Like Pennington, Becht has stayed involved in the sport — as a college football analyst for ESPN. He’s also grooming his son, Rocco, a promising high school quarterback in the Tampa, Florida, area. One day recently, he was out of breath when he answered a reporter’s call. He had been running routes for his son. His days as a blocking tight end are over.

Looking back on the 2000 draft, which included a terrific third-round pick in wide receiver Laveranues Coles, Becht said, “From top to bottom, I don’t think you’ll ever see that again — five guys out of one draft class. I know I’m biased, but that’s hard to fathom.”

Mike Tannenbaum, director of pro player development

Relatively new to the business in 2000, Tannenbaum managed the Jets’ salary cap and negotiated the contracts, which means it was his job to sign the draft picks. In those days, a first-round contract was heavy lifting because this was before the rookie slotting system. The directive from Parcells was to get them done by the start of training camp.

With camp approaching, Tannenbaum flew to Chicago to meet with agent Tom Condon, who represented Pennington, the last unsigned pick. They reached an agreement on the eve of training camp, resulting in a spicy reward from Parcells:

A bucket of 100 chicken wings from the local Hooters restaurant.

“When he got nervous, he would eat,” said Parcells, laughing at the memory. “I was a little like that myself in my younger years.”

Tannenbaum enjoyed the wings, but the biggest satisfaction was knowing he did his part. The scouts scouted, Parcells made the decisions and Tannenbaum got all four first-round picks signed on time for camp.

“I didn’t want to let anyone down,” said Tannenbaum, who is also an ESPN analyst. “It was a feeling of comfort, but it lasted only 10 or 15 minutes. Coach Parcells never let you rest.”