The New York Jets have made significant progress with All-Pro center Nick Mangold on a contract extension, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported Sunday, citing league sources.
The contract is still being hammered out, but it is expected to top the five-year, $37.5 million deal of St. Louis Rams center Jason Brown, the league's highest-paid center, according to *The Star-Ledger*.
Mangold, an elite center, is one of several Jets seeking new deals this offseason, but has been advised by his agents not to discuss his contract.
"To play football (here) would be fantastic. (Playing) long-term (with the Jets)? I'd love to," Mangold told reporters Monday.
All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis is holding out while locked in a contract dispute with the team. Unlike Revis, Mangold has taken part in all offseason work and showed up on time for training camp.
"When we were going over it back in May and early June and weighing every option, like we did with everything else, and decided that it's in the best interest for me to show up," Mangold said. "I could probably use the work. I know there is a left guard battle going on, (and) hopefully I can lend a helping hand. ... But (holding out) didn't fit my personality. It's not me, it's not who I am, and it's not what I do."
"I'm professional, I've done everything the right way, and I'm going to continue to do that -- be there for my teammates and the coaches. And we'll see how it all plays out," Mangold said last month on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access."
The Jets locked up left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson during the offseason with a six-year extension that included $34.8 million in guaranteed money.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
