It’s a good thing that Brett Favre is with the Jets. The quarterback and his scandal du jour do a lot to distract everyone from the fact that his team shot itself in the foot during a 16-13 overtime loss to Oakland.

But, in an age where a 15, 20, 25, whatever-minute conversation gets blown into a 90-minute oratory with aerial slides and a laser pointer, that loss is ancient history. (OK, I exaggerate, but even Chiefs coach Herm Edwards called it a fish story yesterday. Meaning it started as a guppy and turned into a whale.)

But the Jets are clearly a work still in progress.

His shoulder, Favre said, is banged up but fine. Jets coach Eric Mangini threw the word “perfect” in there somewhere, too. But then again, he’s a guy who characterized a concussion as “groggy.” The injuries to this team are a concern. Both Eric “Groggy” Smith and Laveranues Coles were listed on the injury report with head injuries.

Coles bristled at questions about whether he had a concussion.

“You know we are not allowed to talk anything about that type of stuff,” Coles said, “so why would you even put me in that position?”

And asked if he would play Sunday, Coles referred to fines the Jets levy for certain infractions.

“I understand that if I speak anything about any type of injury that it is considered conduct detrimental to the team,” Coles said. “Unless anyone wants to fork over some cash don’t ask me anymore %#@* questions about it. Simple as that. Talk to Eric, talk to the doctors. That’s all I can tell you.”

Why a player discussing his own injury is an offense worthy of a fine, I’m not sure. But clearly Coles wasn’t answering anything.

“I’m sure after we left the Arizona game, everyone thought we were on track,” Favre said. “We rushed for (242) yards the other day, 7.3 yards per carry, or something like that. I’ve told Schotty (offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) and I’ve told Eric, I’ll tell anyone who listens, I’m here for one reason and that’s to win. I do not care how we do it.”

The good news is that there is potential here for the Jets to get better. Favre only arrived on Aug. 7, and the offensive line is still in its first year.

“We are trying to find a balance,” Favre said. ” No one is at fault here. We have capable guys, not only in the passing game, but we obviously have capable guys in the run game. How we mix the two is a work in progress. I like our game plans. I like the way Schotty calls the games. We have to be more consistent because I can assure you, if you watch the tape like we do, there were plays to be made individually, me included, numerous plays I could have made that I didn’t make. Those are some of the things that people don’t see. The game happens so fast, you don’t see that. You just kind of think they’re running it, why don’t they throw it? It’s tough on a play caller. It’s tough on a head coach. We have to execute, individually, the game plan. There are always better plays out there, regardless. That’s the way it always works. We’ll be fine.”