Jets ink Harris for 4 years/Wilkerson in for Ellis

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Linebacker David Harris, the last member of the group to receive a new contract, signed a four-year deal Tuesday. The total value is $36 million, including $29.5 million in guarantees, a league source said. It's the largest guarantee on a four-year deal in history for an inside linebacker, according to one of his agents, Brian Mackler.

"Last year, (the Jets) pretty much gave me their word that I'd be a priority this year, and they followed up on their word," Harris said after practice.

The deal comes after Harris waited as general manager Mike Tannenbaum took care of other players first and gave out big money. In February, Harris was designated a franchise player, and he signed his $10.4 million tender. The new contract replaces that, meaning he's signed through 2014.

"Every player takes it differently," Harris said. "Coming from a humble background, a blue-collar background, I knew that Mike would come through on his promise and I just wanted to focus on football and not focus on the contract and the business side of it. I just want to go out there and help my teammates win games and I'm glad that it's all done with."

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For 11 seasons, Shaun Ellis has been a fixture on the New York Jets' defensive line, outlasting three head coaches and becoming the longest-tenured player on the team.

Now, two days into training camp, it's weird to not see No. 92 out there. Ellis has been replaced -- for now, anyway -- by rookie Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets' first-round draft pick. Could it be permanent?

"He's our starting defensive end right now," coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday. "That's why we drafted him, not to be a backup."

Ellis, 34, is an unrestricted free agent, and it's quite possible that Ryan's remarks were meant, in part, to send a message to his absent player. Ryan said he'd like Ellis to return, but that doesn't appear to be a slam dunk. The two sides are in talks, according to general manager Mike Tannenbaum, declining to say if he's made an offer.

If they have to go to Wilkerson, the Jets say they'll be fine. At 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, he is the prototypical defensive end for a 3-4 defense. But he played only three seasons at Temple and, like all rookies, he's far behind after missing the offseason program due to the lockout.

In catch-up mode, Wilkerson reports to his position coach's office every day at 6:30 a.m., nearly two hours before the first meeting. He has a lot to learn.

On draft day, Ryan compared Wilkerson to former defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, who played last season with the Jets -- his 15th year in the NFL. He was always considered one of the best big-man pass rushers around (91 career sacks), and the Jets believe Wilkerson has that kind of potential.

So it came as no surprise that, when Wilkerson checked into training camp Sunday, his position coach, Mark Carrier, handed him a DVD to study -- a collection of Pryce plays from last season. Wilkerson said he watches the DVD in between meetings.