A mix of interesting quotes from Eric Mangini’s Wednesday press conference via the New York Jets website:

We released Evan Prall from the practice squad. Danny Ware was signed to the Giants active roster. We signed Alvin Banks, running back, and Shaine Smith, wide receiver, to the practice squad. They’ll both be out there today.

On if it’s frustrating he hasn’t been able to use [Leon] Washington more as he did Sunday …

You’re really looking to get the yards per carry up for both those guys, and that’s a cumulative deal. But in terms of catching the ball, there’s been some times where you’d like to get him out in space, whether it be on screens or things like that, and some of those have been sniffed out by the defense and you don’t get it to him. But it’s trying to work him in a lot of different areas. It’s game-plan-specific.

On his relationship with [Cleveland Head Coach Romeo] Crennel …

Rac is a great friend, great guy. I was lucky to be with him here when we were at the Jets for three years, and he was great during that time where I was really learning the defense and he was a guy that I’d go to with questions on the front, questions on the secondary. It was me, Bill [Belichick], Rac and Al [Groh], and those guys had been in the system for years. They were always drawing on their Giants experiences, and I had seen the Giants games, but from my living room [smiles]. They had experienced them. But he was always very patient and helpful there.

When I went to New England, he was great to game-plan with, to spend time with, and when you spend as much time as you do with the assistant coaches, it can be tough. It’s like a submarine sometimes. He’s a guy that you were always glad to be able to go and work with day in and day out.

On closing the season strong despite every year being its own entity …

It’s really about looking at the progress we can make within the context of this year and not just the group progress but the individual progress, and that’s always something you’re going to take into account moving into the next season as you make decisions and all those elements. It’s still game-by-game, and you’re looking at all the different factors.

Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.