It is only the first game of the season, and the Jets' offense, despite its collection of proven performers, remains an unknown quantity.

UNTIL anyone comes up with a better model, or a new roster of proven performers, the industry's war horses are doing their best to keep going.

A proven performer, speedy Ferguson averaged over 46 stolen bases per season and collected a personal-best 91 steals in 1951.

So his backers are betting on a proven performer.

He is a proven performer in the Grand Tours and the major one-day races.

If Juande Ramos holds his nerve and sticks by proven performers, the results will come.

It is also a proven performer as a back-up pistol for some officers, who carry a larger caliber pistol at their waist.

Because Hernández is a proven performer, he may be able to pitch in the regular season on less spring work than normal, Torre said.

Perhaps that accounts for the feverish, at-sea quality that seems to possess the show's team of talented, proven performers.

But when the stakes were highest, the offense revisited its most reliable strategy and many of its most proven performers.