The New York Jets have released LB David Bowens and LB Brad Kassell. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Bowens (6-3/265/Western Illinois/Detroit, MI) played in 32 games with seven starts in two seasons with the Jets and recorded 44 tackles (17 solo), 6.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In 2008, he played in 16 games with five starts at inside linebacker and recorded 31 tackles (14 solo), four sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He originally signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2007 after spending seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins.  

Kassell (6-3/242/North Texas/Llano, TX) played in 32 games with two starts in two seasons with the Jets and recorded 32 special teams tackles in addition to contributing 43 tackles (25 solo) and one pass defensed. Kassell led the team in 2007 with a career-high 23 special teams tackles. He spent the 2008 season on injured reserve (knee). He originally signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 after spending four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

he New York Jets have signed the following players to reserve/future contracts: CB Tyron Brackenridge, CB Marquice Cole, DE Sean Conover, LB Nate Harris and DT Nate Robinson. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Brackenridge (CB, 5-11, 189, Washington State) originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2007. He saw action in 13 games with one start before being placed on injured reserve on Dec. 23, 2007. He registered 16 tackles (13 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery which he returned 50 yards for a touchdown at San Diego on Sept. 30, 2007. The Pasadena, California native attended training camp with the Chiefs in 2008, but was released Aug. 31, 2008.

Cole (CB, 5-10, 190, Northwestern) was originally signed by the Oakland Raiders as a rookie free agent on May 4, 2007, and was waived on Sept. 1, 2007. He was signed to the Titans practice squad on Dec. 11, 2007 and was signed to the active roster on Feb. 11, 2007. Cole was released on Aug. 8, 2008. He was with the Titans for three regular season contests and one playoff game. He held a brief stint with the New Orleans practice squad from Dec. 9, 2008, until his contract expired on Jan. 5, 2009.

Conover (DE, 6-5, 275, Bucknell) originally signed with the Tennesse Titans as a rookie free agent on May 5, 2006, and was promoted to the active roster on Nov. 22, 2006. In two seasons with the Titans, he played in 11 games with two starts, totaling 25 tackles, one tackle for a loss and two quarterback pressures. He was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on Sept. 1, 2008, and was released on Oct. 29, 2008. He also had a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.    

Harris (LB, 6-0, 230, Louisville) originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on May 15, 2007, and was waived on July 25, 2008. In 2007, he played in 15 games, tallying two solo tackles, and led the club with 20 special teams tackles.

Robinson (DT, 6-5, 315, Akron) was originally signed by the New York Giants as a rookie free agent on May 12, 2008, and was waived on Aug. 1, 2008. As a senior, he played in 10 games with six starts and was credited with 26 tackles (16 solo), five for a loss and two sacks.

The New York Jets have signed LB Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Gholston (6-3/264/Ohio State/Detroit, MI), recorded 14 sacks in 2007 to set the Ohio State single-season record, while his 22.5 career sacks rank fifth in school history. He totaled 87 tackles, 30.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception and one fumble recovery in 34 games. Gholston was an All-American choice by The Associated Press and was named 2007 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches.

The New York Jets signed free agents WR Rudy Burgess, LB Jerry Mackey and waived P Joe Smith. The announcements were made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Rudy Burgess, (5-10, 186/Arizona State/Edwards, CA), originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 29, and was waived on July 28. A four-year performer who started 25-of-45 career games, he saw action at wide receiver, running back, defensive back, punt returner and kickoff returner. Burgess accumulated 4,379 career all-purpose yards with 19 total touchdowns on 446 total attempts. He totaled 229 carries for 1,093 yards and six touchdowns, 125 receptions for 1,536 yards and 12 touchdowns, 68 kickoff returns for 1,517 yards and one touchdown and 31 punt returns for 233 yards.

Jerry Mackey (6-1, 233/Syracuse/Freeport, NY) has served several stints with the Jets. Most recently, he was signed to a reserve/future contract on Dec. 31, and was waived April 25. He originally joined the Jets as a rookie free agent on Aug. 4, 2007. Mackey played four years with the Orangemen, recording 202 tackles (106 solo), three sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He earned All-Nassau County and All-Long Island honors as a high school senior and is a great nephew of NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey.

Joe Smith (6-2, 195/Central Washington/Enumclaw, WA), signed with the Jets on June 10, 2008. A Division II All-America, he finished his senior season (2003) with a 44.2-yard average and served as the national leader every week of the NCAA’s statistical report. Smith spent the last three years with the Yakima Mavericks of the Evergreen Football Semi-Pro League. He averaged 42.8 yards per punt and was named the league special teams MVP in 2007.

The New York Jets have signed free agent LB Brandon Renkart and free agent DB Ron Girault, released DB Andre Woolfolk, and waived DB Darnell Bing. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Renkart (6-2/236/Rutgers/Piscataway, NJ), recorded six sacks over the past two seasons, along with 18 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 10 pressures for Rutgers. In his junior season, first as a linebacker, he ranked sixth on the team with 54 tackles (25 solo), 3.5 sacks, 11.5 stops for losses and two pressures in 13 starts. Renkart also excelled in the classroom, where he was a finalist for the prestigious Draddy Trophy, the academic version of the Heisman Trophy.

Girault (5-10/204/Rutgers/Montvale, NJ)), was a four-year starter at Rutgers. In 45 games (40 starts), he recorded 271 tackles (160 solo), 1.5 sacks (for -11 yards), nine tackles for loss, 10 interceptions for 204 yards, seven passes defended, four forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and two blocked kicks on special teams. Girault originally signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on May 3, but was waived on July 27.

Woolfolk (6-2, 197, Oklahoma), who was originally selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, joined the Jets after being out of football in 2007. In four seasons with Tennessee, Woolfolk played in 39 games and made 11 starts. He totaled 94 tackles, three interceptions, 18 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Bing (6-2, 230, USC) was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft and spent the entire 2006 season on Injured Reserve. He was waived by the Raiders on July 25 and claimed by the San Francisco 49ers July 26. He spent the entire 2007 season on the 49ers practice squad. In 37 career collegiate games (35 starts), he recorded 182 tackles (120 solos), one sack and eight interceptions. An All-American first-team selection by The Associated Press as a senior, he originally signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 15.