Daily News from New York, New York • 133

29 0 a I If By BILL BRUBAKER i 'if 'js 5 i if r-i if 'c-vo Sif J. twv 'v Vv fTHILE OTHER JET rookies are sweating out afternoon workouts at Hofstra University, UU No. 1 draft choice Ken O'Brien is playing catch with his best buddies at the Henry Schmitt Park in San Jose, Calif. First, a word about O'Brien's best buddies: their names are Ned and Jeff, and they belong at Henry Schmitt Park, not in the National Football League. "Mostly, I just play a little catch with Ned and Jeff and laugh a lot," O'Brien, the California-Davis quarterback, said yesterday.

"For example, Ned and Jeff will tell me to throw 'em a bomb and make believe that I'm throwing it to (Jet receivers) Wesley Walker or Johnny Lam Jones. "Of course, I have a hard time pretending that Ned and Jeff are Wesley Walker and Johnny Lam Jones. They're both nice guys, but, well, you know, they don't compare very well." O'Brien knows he belongs at the Jets' training camp, not Henry Schmitt Park. But he remained unsigned yesterday as his attorney, Leigh Steinberg, continued negotiations with Jet official Steve Gutman. "It hasn't been easy for me, staying away from camp," O'Brien said.

"I've been throwing the ball a little, running a little, lifting weights and studying the notes I took at the mini-camp, but that's not the same as being in training camp. I hope I can sign a contract soon this week because I've got so much to learn." O'BRIEN, 22, DOESN'T expect to make an immediate impact with the Jets, who have one of the NFL's top quarterbacks in Richard Todd. "Richard is at the top of his career right now, O'Brien said. "I know he has a few good seasons left in him, at least He's proven to be one of the best and he seems to be learning more and more from coach; AP Jets' holdout No. 1 pick Ken O'Brien says he's eager to sign and get on with training camp.

(Joe) Walton. Richard knows the system so well. So does (No. 2 quarterback) Pat Ryan. The Jets are going to groom me so I'll be ready when they need me." But, yesterday, O'Brien was at Henry Schmitt Park, with Ned and Jeff, far from the Jets' grooming "One big difference between me and Richard Todd is that when he throws a play up, he knows how it's supposed to work," O'Brien said.

"But when I throw a play up, I can only guess how it's going to work. That's why I want to get to camp as soon as possible." O'Brien laughed. "I think Ned and Jeff will understand." grounds on Long isiana For Jets' Howell, THE play is still the thing during yesterday morning's workout and nffers him a football scholarship him at tight end would be roadblocks By PAUL NEEDELL during his fifth year of studies toward a degree in social science. Howell accepts the challenge, becomes a fine wide receiver and is drafted by the Jets in the fourth round projected as a tight end. "Hmm, I was watching the draft on television," Howell remembered yesterday in his dormitory room at the Jets' camp at Hofstra, "and they put ihy name up there when the Jets picked me and underneath it was: 'Tight I said, 'OK, I'm all for that.

Of course "Howell's limited back for most rookies, but mis guy is no ordinary Joe. Mike Hickey, the Jets' director or player personnel, admits that the selection of Howell was a gamble. A calculated gamble. "What sold us on him was his super character," Hickey said. "He's a super person with great work habits he'll work all day and at Cal, they kept throwing at him on third and fourth down and he kept catching it He's a risk, but he's been showing us now what we saw of him then." NAMELY, HOWELL can make the tough catch.

He attracted attention ground and the Jets' decision to use by making a couple of acroDauc graDs, Including the play of the camp so far when he stretched his 6-3, 218-pound frame into the air and to his right with a defender draped on his back and pulled one down. "He's got a long way to go," said coach Joe Walton, who still doesn't know if he'll carry a third tight end behind Jerome Barkum and Mickey Shuler, "but he's a real good athlete and can accomplish his goals." "I feel I can fill out and play at 225," Howell said. "The coaches say tight end is one of the toughest positions to learn, and I know to make this team I not only need talent but also brains. I have to hit the playbook. I love being in this position of an underdog, because it's all hard work, and then it's a great satisfaction when you succeed." Speed to get deep is one of Howell's main assets he's run a 4.65 forty but he does have a lot to learn.

He didn't get in any work at tight end in college because Cal has David Lewis there, a 6-4, 240-pound monster with 4.6 speed who figures to be the first or second tight end taken in next year's draft However, tight end coach Rich Kotite says: "Wes has great hand-eye coordination and he's eager to learn. He wants to do well, he wants to be a blocker. He's a pleasure to work with." "I feel I'm getting a good look," Howell said. "If it's meant for me to be here, then I'll be a New York Jet" Upon request, Wes Howell will gladly show you The T-Shirt He'll hold it up against his chest so you can see all the X's and O's and zig-zagging arrows and the group of musical notes in the end zone. Across the top of The T-Shirt reads simply: THE PLAY.

"That's me right there," Howell says, pointing to an near the end zone. "All those notes are the band." THE PLAY, for those with short memories, was the incredibly hilla-rious five-lateral kick-off return for a touchdown with no time remaining that gave California a shocking, 25-20 victory over John Elway-led Stanford last season. You'll recall that Stanford was so certain of its triumph that the school band streamed onto the field as THE PLAY developed. Tubas were sent flying as Kevin Moen pranced into the end zone with Howell throwing the final block near the goal line. As mind-boggling as THE PLAY was it may turn into small potatoes when compared with Howell's evolution as a football prospect Follow closely: HOWELL PLAYS three games of freshman football in high school, but gives it up for basketball and baseball.

Howell goes onto California and plays basketball on scholarship for four years Cal football coach sees him play Jets' secretary-treasurer Steve Gutman met yesterday with Leign Steinberg, agent for hold out QB Ken O'Brien, in Berkeley Calif "We made them a new offer today, Steinberg said during a break in his talk with Gutman, "which we feel very much adresses their needs and is an extremely fair compromise under the circumstances" Walton is concerned 1 with time O'Brien has missed, but one observer noted: "How long will it take Ken to learn how to wear a head-set and hold a clip-board?" Free-agent TE Robert Brewer was waived after he left camp yesterday DE Joe Klecko came by Hofstra in morning and looks to be in great shape coming off knee surgery Walton said he expects to use more formations with speedy WR Lam Jones lined up in backf ield this season He again had nice words for OTs ReMle McEIroy and Jim LusclnskL Walton also is pleased with work of HB Johnny Hector (No. 2), TE Howell (No. 4) and CB Davlln Mullen (No. 8) "Mullen has looked real good in coverage drills," he said. "He closes to real well" Hector will be used some to return kickoffs.

Mullen, George Floyd and CB Kirk Springs will get shot at punts. PaulNeedell.