That, in essence, was the message that came out of Jets camp Friday. Coach Eric Mangini said he knew about the defensive end's arrest before last Sunday's game against Denver but decided to start him anyway. Mangini also plans to play him in Sunday's game against the 49ers.

"We have taken internal disciplinary action and I feel comfortable with the action that we've taken," Mangini said at the Jets' training facility.

Mangini declined to say what sort of disciplinary action the team took against Ellis, who was pulled over for speeding and then arrested for possession by the Hanover (N.J.) Township police at 8:37 a.m. last Saturday. It is likely that the team fined him.

Ellis still could be suspended by the league for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Mangini said he found out about the arrest from a "third party" last Saturday. He said he and general manager Mike Tannenbaum then sat down and discussed the situation with Ellis.

"We expressed our disappointment with what happened," Mangini said. "Shaun did exactly what I expected Shaun to do. He took full accountability for his actions and expressed his disappointment to us, the fans, his teammates, his family and to himself."

Ellis, who is a team captain, leads the Jets with seven sacks, his most in four years. He issued an apology to his family, the fans and the organization in a statement when news broke Thursday. On Friday, he spoke to reporters about the arrest for the first time.

"Obviously a mistake. It's something I have to deal with. Of course, my teammates are brought into the middle of this," he said. "We'll have to move past this. I will be responsible, move on and look forward."

Ellis said he expects some negative reaction from fans as they react to another athlete running into trouble with the law.

"I think for me, I have been a stand-up guy," Ellis said. "I always try to carry myself in that way. It's a bump that I ran across. People will judge. They have a right to do so."

Notes"es: David Harris should be back on the field Sunday after missing five straight weeks with a groin injury. Harris, the Jets' leading tackler last year, has practiced all week with the first team. "I'm eager to be back," he said. "I feel good and I'm ready to play."

Sunday

Jets at San Francisco

4:05 p.m.

TV: Ch. 2

Radio: WEPN (1050), WABC (770), WRCN (103.9)