Chris Baker sure made his presence felt on the first day of mandatory minicamp.

Last season's starting tight end ripped into the Jets Friday, saying the team welched on their promise to rework his contract after the 2007 season.  Baker has two years remaining on his deal and is due to make a base salary of $683,000 in 2008.  That ranks him dead-last on the team's tight end salary depth chart, behind newly singed Bubba Franks ($1.66 million) and freshly drafted Dustin Keller ($5 million guaranteed as the 30th pick overall).

Baker contends that the Jets promised his former agent that the team would look at his contract if he turned in a good year and he finished with a career-high 41 receptions.  GM Mike Tannenbaum didn't come out and say Baker "misremembered" the discussions, but he disagreed with his assessments.

"I just think Chris and I have a difference of opinion about those conversations," Tannenbaum said. "I was part of those conversations. I know what was said."

This is the third player to accuse the Jets front office of reneging on contract talks.  First it was Pete Kendall, who was eventually shipped to D.C., then it was Laveranues Coles, who received a guarantee on the final two years of his deal.

If you follow that pattern, it looks like the Green and White aren't going to budge on Baker.  The Jets claim they redo contracts on a case-by-case basis and it seems like Baker doesn't have much of a case considering the team has a solid veteran tight end and one highly-touted one.  Too bad.  I like Baker and feel the Jets haven't utilized him as much as they could have in the past.  Baker wants to be traded, but so far the Gotham Green aren't budging.

Honestly, I don't know who to believe.  The Jets have had a disturbing pattern of dealing with their own lately and those players have also been somewhat vocal.  Coincidence?  Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it.  Baker may not have much leverage, but he did come out with this doozy:

"I'm not happy. ... I have a question for you. Imagine coach (Eric) Mangini was the third highest-paid coach on the staff, you think he'd be happy about that?"

Zing!

Posted by Mike at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

I've been a bit negligent in my Jets coverage (after all, it's June), but I caught an interesting article in The Star-Ledger via nj.com and if you didn't catch it, here's the rundown.

Turns out linebacker Bryan Thomas wasn't giving it his all last season.  This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who watched him play, but he was surprisingly candid.  Here were his quotes:

"It's not hard to realize my numbers were off. My practice habits weren't good last year and those things carried over to Sunday.

"Maybe I got too complacent. In this league, you can't do that. You have to stay on your toes all the time. And now you have competition in here, so you know you can't do it. You have to go out and work hard every day. If not, I'll have my (butt) on the sidelines watching and I don't want that to happen.

"That hurt me, seeing that my numbers were down. I don't want (people to say), 'Okay, you did good one year.' I don't want to be analyzed as that.

"It's a matter of pride. I can't let my numbers be like that again. We have too many good players on this defense to let one guy be the weak link."

In case you forgot, Thomas parlayed his 2006 season (8 1/2 sacks, 77 tackles) into a five-year, $25 million deal.  He fell short of those numbers (and by "short of" I mean "miles away from") last season, finishing with 43 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks.

I read Eric Mangini's reaction to BT's comments from Erik Boland via jetsblog.com.  If you missed them, here they are:

“One of the things we talk about quite a bit, whether it’s after a practice or after a game, after a season, everybody spend some time and be honest with themselves. And that’s the only way you’re going to grow, to sit there and be honest with yourself and how you did. You know whether you did well or achieved to the best of your ability. That’s how you’re going to get better. It’s good that everybody does that … Whenever you have a season like we did, or like we had before (in 2006 when the Jets went 10-6), a lot of people had to do things very well, a lot of people had to do things better. There’s a lot of things I could do better. That’s part of the process. Those are the types of guys that you want, guys that look at it and say, ‘I could do better.’”

A lot of honesty is flying around the Jets so far.

Whether that translates into more wins in 2008 remains to be seen.

Posted by Mike at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The third year of the Tangini draft era wrapped up on Sunday and time will tell if the Jets found any contributors.

Gang Green went into the draft with needs at defensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback and running back (other than that, things are just fine with the Green and White).  I kid, I kid.  Anyway, here's what general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini's 2008 draft looked like:

Round 1. Vernon Gholston DE (Ohio State)
Round 1. Dustin Keller TE (Purdue)
Round 4. Dwight Lowery CB (San Jose State)
Round 5. Erik Ainge QB (Tennessee)
Round 6. Marcus Henry WR (Kansas)
Round 7. Nate Garner OT (Arkansas)

As you can see, needs were addressed (in theory).  I liked the Gholston pick even though he might be the top candidate for biggest potential bust out of the first ten picks.  The story is that Vern gets up for big games, but disappears in others.  Well, I guess every game is going to have to be a big one for The Ghol.

I saw some more highlight film of Dustin Keller and the kid doesn't look like a tight end.  And sure enough, he started his collegiate career at wide receiver.  He's been compared to Dallas Clark of the Indianapolis Colts.  Hey, I'm all for that.  The Jets haven't had a reliable, big-play tight end since Mickey Shuler.

The word on Dwight Lowery is that he's better in zone coverage.  That means he has nickel back written all over him.  But he did lead the nation in picks in his junior season. 

Erik Ainge is the nephew of former professional basketballer and baseballer and current Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge.  Anige threw for 3,522 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his final year as a Volunteer.  But scouts questioned his arm strength (even though he's a big kid -- 6'5, 223), ability to handle pressure and overall mental and physical toughness.  Other than that, he has the chance to be a real star.

Marcus Henry is the big wide receiver (6'4, 207) the Jets desperately need.  Henry has long arms and could be a real asset in the red zone.  His biggest drawback is that he fails to gain separation and doesn't rack up those important yards after the catch.

Nate Garner is big (6'6, 326), but raw.  It looks like another Jacob Bender "pet project" situation.

There it is -- the Jets Class of 2008.

Check back in a few years to see if the right choices were made.

Posted by Mike at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It was the easy pick.

Running back Darren McFadden was off the board as was quarterback Matt Ryan (thank Budda) so the Jets chose wisely and selected the speed pass-rusher Vernon Gholston from Ohio State with the sixth pick in the 2008 draft.  Gholston recorded a school-record 14 sacks last year and picked up 22.5 sacks in his last 25 games at The Ohio State University.  Those numbers should bolster an anemic Jet pass rush that generated only 29 sacks last season.

Gholston was a defensive end with the Buckeyes, but his size (6'3, 266) makes him a perfect fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.  The Detroit native put up impressive numbers during his pre-draft workout  -- running the 40 in 4.67 seconds and performing a scouting combine-best 37 reps on the bench press.

The biggest drawback about Gholston is his passion -- or lack thereof.  Here's what one scout had to say:

"He's a talented, athletic kid, but his instincts and efforts aren't what they should be."

Said an opposing GM:

"When you watch his tape, he's probably a first-round pick. When he works out, he's in the middle of the first round. When he takes his shirt off, he's a top-10 pick."

Gholston didn't want to be a team's second or third or, in this case, sixth choice.  "I want to go where the team wants me," Gholston said when asked about the Jets. "I don't want to be in a situation where [a team says] 'We wanted this guy, but we just pick up Vernon Gholston.'"  That shows me that he has some fire in the belly.  Whether it's always burning remains to be seen.

Gang Green also pulled off a trade and netted themselves another first-round pick.  The Jets sent their second and fourth-round picks in this year's draft to the Green Bay Packers for the right to pick at No. 30.  And the Jets choose ... a tight end.  Strange.  The Green and White selected Purdue's Dustin Keller.  I'm not that familiar with Keller, but here's what the good people at Scouts Inc. had to say about the 6'3, 242 pound tight end:

No tight end in this year's class projected as a first-round pick in our opinion, making this pick a reach. One of the biggest knocks on Keller is that he's probably never going to develop into an excellent in-line blocker. Also, he doesn't have the frame to add a lot of bulk without sacrificing his greatest strength: his speed. However, Keller certainly has the athletic ability, versatility and burst to make an immediate impact as a receiver. He will be a tough matchup for opposing defenses; his size can cause enormous problems for defensive backs and most linebackers are going to have problems turning to run with him.

The Jets are a team lacking playmakers, but Keller gives offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer a lot of versatility with his personnel groupings and matchups. He has good hands and gives them a threat in the passing game, unlike Chris Baker or Bubba Franks. Look for Schottenheimer to move him around and detach him in the formation. The Jets have spent heavily on offensive line and defense in the offseason, and now Keller will help them put points on the board.

Again, it's a strange decision.  The Jets certainly need playmakers on offense, but there were a slew of wide receivers out there who were available.  This could also mean that the Jets are really, really down on current tight end Chris Baker.  Baker is unhappy with his contract status and has stopped reporting to the Jets' offseason program.  The Daily News said Baker recently asked the Jets for a trade, but the team responded with a negative.

So, the first day of the NFL Draft ended with one expected pick and one surprise pick for the New York Jets.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Posted by Mike at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

And so the other shoe has dropped.

The Jets traded defensive lineman Dewayne Robertson to the Denver Broncos Thursday for what appears to be a late-round conditional pick in the 2009 draft.  The Star-Ledger reports Gang Green could land at least a third-round selection if Robertson reaches certain playing requirements -- that would be sweet.  The move should come as no surprise to Jet fans -- D-Rob was almost traded to the Cincinnati Bengals last month for a 4th and 5th round pick and the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles were also rumored to be interested in the five-year veteran.

Robertson was due to collect a $3 million bonus in June and with the acquisition of Kris Jenkins and re-signing of lineman Sione Pouha, the former first-round pick out of Kentucky was made expendable.  The Green and White will save about $8.4 million with the trade.

If you're keeping score at home, that's two former first-round picks the Jets have traded in the past two months.  Linebacker Jonathan Vilma was sent to the New Orleans Saints at the end of February.

Speaking of the draft, it's this coming Saturday.  The Jets own the sixth pick and speculations are running wild.  Running back Darren McFadden is the sexy choice, but I don't think he'll be around by the time the Jets select.  Other players rumored to be heading to New York include: linebacker/defensive end Vernon Gholston, defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis, cornerback Leodis McKelvin and even quarterback Matt Ryan.  There's also the possibility the Jets trade down (or maybe up?).

I've wavered on who the Jets should take, but if McFadden is available it would be almost impossible not to grab him.  There have been questions about McFadden's character (he was involved in a bar fight earlier this year and has claimed responsibility for two children by two different women), but the guy has incredible raw talent.  Still, I wouldn't cry foul if the Jets opted for Gholston.  The Jets had trouble getting to the quarterback last year and the product out of Ohio State should (stress should) help in that department.

But the one guy I do not want the Jets to pick (repeat -- DO NOT) is the QB from Boston College.  The Jets aren't settled at the quarterback position by any means (the jury's out on Kellen Clemens and I'm shocked that Chad Pennington is still on this team), but to bring in another young guy would make absolutely no sense to me.  But that's me.  The Jets have done well in the draft the past few years (the recently traded former first-round picks notwithstanding), let's see if it continues.

Anyway, Arin from Arin It Out will be live blogging the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.

Hopefully, whomever the Jets select won't be traded away in a couple of years.

Posted by Mike at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The journey begins in Miami.

Gang Green will open the 2008 regular season against the Dolphins -- a team the Jets beat twice last season, which accounted for half of their win total -- on Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.  The Green and White will then head to the Meadowlands and renew hostilities with the AFC champion New England Patriots.  It will be the third straight year the Jets open up their home schedule against the Pats.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Oh, I can't wait to hear more about spygate -- can you?  The Jets and Pats will play the second game on a Thursday night (Nov. 13) in New England.

The schedule makers also shocked me (and maybe the Jets) by awarding the team a Monday night tilt in Week 3 at the San Diego Chargers.  The Jets made the playoffs in 2006 and weren't on MNF in 2007 and now they are coming off a horrible 4-12 campaign.  Doesn't make much sense, does it?  Bruce Paine from the Cobra Brigade doesn't understand it either.

The Jets will also work in some frequent-flier miles.  Gang Green will jet (Ha!) to the left coast not once, not twice, not even thrice, but four times.  There's the already mentioned trip to San Diego which will be followed by treks to Oakland on Oct. 19, San Francisco on Dec. 7 and finally Seattle on Dec. 21. 

The Jets will get their bye in Week 5.

If you want to get technical (and I'm sure you do), the Jets will "technically" open against the Browns in Cleveland on Aug. 7.  The rest of the preseason schedule goes Washington, Giants and at Philadelphia.

It's always dangerous to predict in April, but there are a bunch of winnable games on New York's docket.  The Jets will play only five games against playoff teams in 2007 (and two of those games are against the Patriots).  But I'm sure teams will be looking at the Jets the same way.  Time will tell.

The season will wrap up the way it started when the Dolphins visit the Meadowlands in Week 17.

It will be important for the Jets to get off to a good start since they spent a ton of cash this past offseason on free agents.  But fans and media shouldn't go ballistic if Gang Green stumbles out of the gate.  The New York Giants started out 0-2 and were staring 0-3 right in the kisser last season.

How did things turn out for them?

Posted by Mike at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Who says the Jets don't know how to treat their boys?

Gang Green inked safety Kerry Rhodes to a five-year, $33.5 million extension on Thursday.  The deal includes $20 million in guaranteed cash.

This now makes Rhodes one of the richest safeties in the league.  Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders recently signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.  Rhodes isn't in Sanders' class, but it's a smart move by the Green and White to lockup one of their own before he hit the free agent market.  Rhodes had one more year remaining on his contract.

Number 25 got off to a slow start in 2007 (along with everyone else on defense) and finished with the worst totals of his three-year NFL career, but came on strong in the second half of the year.  Rhodes had a four-game interception streak that started against the Pittsburgh Steelers and finished with 67 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 INTs, 10 passes defensed and returned a fumble for a score.

Good, but not great numbers.  However, those totals don't accurately reflect the type of player Rhodes is and can be.  When he's on, he can be a powerful force and a play-maker on D.  But now with the big-time money comes greater responsibility (yeah, I'm working in a Spider-Man reference). He's going to have to bring his "A" game to the table every time out now and help lead the Jets defensive resurgence.

I think he's up to it.

Posted by Mike at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The saga is complete.

The Jets guaranteed the final two years of Laveranues Coles' $11 million deal Friday, thus ending a potentially long-standing feud.  This really goes to show how fragile an NFL contract is.  In most circles a contract, by its very definition, is guaranteed.  But not in the wacky, crazy world of the National Football League.  That's why I don't usually go off the deep end when a football player wants to rework his contract.  He's always one play away from selling insurance or driving a truck for a living.

Unofficially, the Jets have assured Coles that he'll get the long-term deal he was looking for if he stays healthy and puts up big numbers next year.  If those conditions don't happen, LC will be given permission to seek a trade.  Again, these stipulations seem silly to me, but if No. 87 is happy then so am I.

This agreement also shows that the Gotham Green have learned a thing or two from the Pete Kendall debacle.  Kendall's departure ripped holes in the offensive line and locker room which were never repaired and if Coles was taken out of the picture, it could have been equally damaging to the team.  Coles will never be considered one of the top receivers in the league, but pound for pound, he may be one of the toughest.  And even though he may be a bit unorthodox as a leader, the entire squad respects and looks up to him.

And I'm glad he'll be wearing the Green and White again in 2008.

Posted by Mike at 8:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Maybe there's a happy ending to this after all.

Disgruntled wide out Laveranues Coles arrived at the Jets' voluntary offseason conditioning program Tuesday after a week long absence.  Word on the street is that the two sides are working toward a new agreement.  What that means is anyone's guess, but it's rumored that LC was promised he would receive a long-term deal next year if he stayed healthy this upcoming season.  That sounds ridiculous if you ask me.  Coles shouldn't have to prove anything to anyone in the locker room or the front office.  But if that's what got him to report, then I'm all for it.  The other theory has Coles seeking a trade on his own.

I sure hope it's option A.  I've heard a lot of fans bash Coles after he tore into the Jets last month, but No. 87 is a gamer and I'd want him on my team anytime.  And the Jets really need his heart and grit on the field.  We all know Gang Green threw a ton of money around during the free agency period and to not take care of one of their own would be borderline criminal.  But that's just me.

That means there's just one missing face in camp for the Green and White.  Nose tackle Dewayne Robertson is still a no-show and his status with the team is still up in the air.  Potential trades to the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions went up in smoke and D-Rob has a $3 million roster bonus coming to him in June.  The former No. 1 draft pick is also set to earn $9.8 million this season.  I can't see the Jets giving in to those figures so possible scenarios would probably include a draft day deal or a reworked contract.

And the Jets have had a checkered past with veteran players and their contracts.

Posted by Mike at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Another week, another dip into the free agent pool for the New York Jets.

Gang Green inked tight end Bubba Franks to a one-year, $1.65 million contract Monday.  The three-time Pro Bowler was cut by the Green Bay Packers last month.

The combination of Franks, the No. 1 pick by the Pack in 2000, and incumbent tight end Chris Baker gives the Green and White two quality blockers and receivers along the offensive line.  Franks has been slowed by injuries and finished with just 18 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns in eight games last season.  But, if healthy (and he's coming off a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee), Bubba is still one of the best inside the red zone.  He's 6'6, 265 pound frame should be another viable option for whoever is manning the offense next season.

The Jets can also now jettison the other tight ends that are clogging up roster space.  The Jets already axed Sean Ryan (who signed with the Miami Dolphins) and I hope to bid a good day to Joe Kowalewski and Jason Pociask soon.  I just don't see the need to have four tight ends on a squad, do you?

The Jets also began their "voluntary" offseason program today at Hofstra University.  All the old and new faces were expected to show up.  All but one, that is.  Laveranues Coles is still unhappy with his contract situation and will not attend.

I guess it's not all peaches and cream for the acquisition-happy Jets.

Posted by Mike at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The boys in Green are at it again.

The Jets signed running back Jesse Chatman to a one-year contract on Sunday.  Chatman rushed for 515 yards and one touchdown in 128 carries last season for the Miami Dolphins.

I'm going to assume Gang Green made this move simply to add depth at the running back position and nothing more.  That's what Jets beat writer and blogger Rich Cimini thinks and hopefully he's correct.  I guess signing running backs in the NFL these days is like picking up pitchers in the Majors -- you can never have too many.  Initially, I feared this pick up was a signal that the Jets were shying away from drafting running back Darren McFadden.  I still waver back and forth on whether the Jets should draft McFadden, but if he's available when the Gotham Green pick at No. 6, the addition of Chatman should in no way affect their decision.

But the draft is still more than a month away. 

As far as Chatman goes, he's a good story if you're into those.  I remember reading about how he conquered his weight problems in an issue of Sports Illustrated last year.  I can't find the article online, but I still possess the "hard" copy. Yeah, I still like reading actual magazines.

Anyway, Chatman went from being LaDainian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego in 2004 (gaining 392 yards at a 6.0 clip) to being out of football by 2005.  Injuries and a lack of playing time caused Chatman's 5'8 frame to balloon to nearly 270 pounds by year's end and the Chargers released him.  After failed stints in Miami and New Orleans, Chatman was ready to call it quits.  But through diet and perseverance, Chatman was able to shed the weight and hooked up with his old Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron last season in Miami.

Chatman will have another reunion of sorts when he joins the Jets.  Gang Green's offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Chatman worked together in San Diego.

A nice story, but Chatman will need to work even harder if he expects to receive significant playing time in the Jets backfield next season.

With or without the arrival of McFadden.

Posted by Mike at 9:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Reinforcements keep on coming.

The Jets continued their quest to pick up every free agent on the market by signing Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson to a one-year deal Thursday.

Richardson, 36, has made a career of blocking for 1,000 yard rushers.  His best seasons came as a Kansas City Chief where he helped pave the way for the likes of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.  Richardson spent the past two seasons in Minnesota's Purple and Gold and opened holes during Chester Taylor's 1,216 rushing year in 2006 and Adrian Peterson's 1,341 ground assault in 2007.

This is the second straight season that Eric Mangini and company have signed a free-agent fullback.  Last year Darien Barnes was supposed to light the way for Thomas Jones, but that never materialized.  Barnes played sparingly and was released in November.

Richardson was once a receiving threat coming out of the backfield, but I think 13 years in the NFL have neutralized that part of his game (go figure).  Still, it's a solid pickup by Gang Green.  I just hope they utilize Richardson's talents and get rid of the four tight end philosophy that they implemented last season.

This free agent spending spree may have lifted the spirits of some Jet fans, but all is not well within the organization's green and white walls.  An anonymous Jets player vented his frustration in Wednesday's Daily News:

"You pay guys you don't even know, and the guys in the locker room - the guys that have your back - you don't give a damn about them.  It shows where the loyalty is."

Most feel that the unnamed player is wide receiver Laveranues Coles.  It's true that Coles is unhappy with his current contract and is seeking a long-term deal, but he already voiced his displeasure.  Why would he then rip the Jets anonymously?

It's always a bit dangerous to speculate, but if I was a betting man, I'd say that the mystery player is tight end Chris Baker.  Baker is also searching for a new contract and isn't shy about speaking his mind.  He ripped the Jets play-calling after their shoddy performance against the Philadelphia Eagles last year.

I usually don't like hearing "unknown" players whine, but there is some truth to the comments.  The Jets suffered through a miserable campaign last year, but things could have easily rotted from the inside-out if veteran players like Coles and Chad Pennington didn't help keep the team together.  Then again, both Coles and Baker have two years left on their current deals.  You can't expect an organization to throw money at you after a dismal 4-12 season.  It's also worth noting that Mangini inherited these players from the Herm Edwards regime.  He might want to push these guys out and bring in his guys.

Still, things could work out in the end.  A Dewayne Robertson trade seems imminent and his departure would give the Gotham Green some breathing room.  And I would be shocked if Pennington is still on this team by the time training camp rolls around.  He would also give the Jets more cap space.

One thing is for sure, the Jets don't seem concerned about spreading some of their green around.

Posted by Mike at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) |

Another day, another flurry of activity for the Green and White.

The Jets added free agent linebacker/defensive end Calvin Pace and offensive lineman Damien Woody on Monday.

Pace had a career year in Arizona last season, tallying 98 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and an interception for the Cardinals.  The former first-round pick out of Wake Forest had been a bust in the desert (38 starts in five seasons), but the Jets rewarded his solid play in 2007 with one of the largest deals ever given to a linebacker -- six years, $42 million.

Woody, another former first-round pick, spent his first five seasons as a New England Patriot.  His last four seasons were in Detroit where he played primarily at guard.  Gang Green plan to pencil Woody in at right tackle, replacing Anthony Clement.  Woody, who has played every position along the offensive line during his career, agreed to a five year deal worth $25.5 million.

The Jets are certainly addressing major needs so far (offensive line, defensive line, pass rushing linebacker), but I'm surprised they inked Pace to one of the richest contracts in NFL history.  Pace was almost signed, sealed and delivered to play for the Miami Dolphins, but I guess the boatload of cash the Jets threw at him changed his mind.  What a difference a year makes.  Hopefully, Pace will live up to his monster contract and make people forget about falling through a window and tearing up his right forearm during a bye in 2005.

Woody helped lead the Patriots to two Super Bowl wins during his stay in Foxboro, but his tenure as a Lion was a disappointment.  Woody began 2007 as the Lions starting right guard, but was benched after just three games.  After spending three games on the inactive list, Woody worked his way back as a reserve and finished up the season at right tackle.  That doesn't really give me a warm, fuzzy feeling, especially since the Lions were one of the worst offensive lines in football last year.

The Jets were also set to ship defensive lineman Dewayne Robertson to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday for two picks (a fourth and a fifth) in the upcoming draft, but that deal has since fallen through.  The Bengals then turned and signed former Tennessee Titan Antwan Odom.  It seems like it's just a matter of time before D-Rob is moved out of New York.

The Pace signing, coupled with running back Michael Turner bolting to the Atlanta Falcons, could also mean that the Jets are in line to draft running back Darren McFadden in April's draft.

One thing is for sure, the Jets have made this off-season more exciting than last year's regular season.

Posted by Mike at 9:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Friday was Day 1 of the NFL free agency period and the Jets were busy making headlines.

The Green and White did some adding and subtracting and made themselves a better team.  At least I hope they have.

The day started with the inevitable -- Jonathan Vilma was traded.  The former first-round pick and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was sent to the New Orleans Saints for a conditional 2009 draft pick.  When I first heard the news, it was reported that the Jets would receive a fourth-round pick or a third-round pick if Vilma met certain playing requirements.  I was outraged.  Sure, Vilma is coming off a knee injury, but surely he had to be worth more than one conditional pick?  Right?

Well, looks like those reports were wrong.  Here's the real scoop according to Rich Cimini of the Daily News:

The Jets will receive a fourth-round pick from the Saints in the upcoming draft. If Vilma achieves playing-time incentives and signs an extension with the Saints, the Jets would receive a second- or third-round pick in 2009. In that case, the Jets would send their fourth-rounder in '09 to the Saints so they could recoup this year's fourth rounder.

I'm still not in love with the trade, but it's better than just getting a conditional pick in 2009. Hopefully, Vilma will return to form in Nor'leans, sign an extension with the Saints and give the Jets a second-round pick in '09.

The Jets then traded for defensive tackle Kris Jenkins from the Carolina Panthers.  The Jets website reports that the Jets made the deal for "undisclosed draft choices" but the Associated Press (and other outlets) claim it was for third- and fifth-round picks in this year's draft.  I guess we'll find out eventually, but one thing seems certain -- the Jets reportedly signed the 6'4, 349 pound man-mountain to a five-year, $35 million contract with about $20 million guaranteed.

Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowler, played in the 4-3 in Carolina, but the Jets see him as a perfect fit to man the nose in their 3-4.  The seven-year veteran comes with some baggage (weight problems, conflicts with his former coaches, injuries), but maybe a change of scenery will get him back on track.

The Jets also signed defensive tackle Sione Pouha to an extension.  The three-year pro finished with career highs in games played (16) and tackles (40) last season.  That doesn't sound like a whole lot, but the 6'3, 325 pound Pouha really played well at the end of the year which included an 8 tackle performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.  Pouha also had this great quote in March's issue of Jets Confidential:

"Anything you're good at, you like.  I like eating.  I'm good at it, so I do it.  I'm not really good at long-distance running so that's why I'm not in the Olympics."

Made me laugh.
And finally, the Jets and free agent guard Alan Faneca have tentatively agreed to four-year, $32 million deal with roughly $23 million in guarantees.  The signing could be announced this weekend.

This was a move the Jets had to make.  The 10-year pro, who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a five-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler.  He will immediately upgrade the offensive line at left guard and should help with the maturation of left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold.  He should also bring a certain level of nastiness that the Jets are lacking along the offensive front.

All in all, a pretty eventful day for the Green and White.

Let's hope it translates to wins on the field in 2008.

Posted by Mike at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The reshaping of the Green and White has begun.

The Jets axed three players on Tuesday: cornerback Andre Dyson, wide receiver Justin McCareins and guard Adrien Clarke.

All three players were huge disappointments for Gang Green in 2007.  Dyson was a free agent pickup from the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 and was a solid contributor during the Jets 10-6 finish and wild card playoff berth.  The Utah native finished his first season in the Gotham Green with 62 tackles, 8 passes defensed and 4 interceptions.

But Dyson saw less and less action as his second season in Green unfolded.  Injuries and inconsistent play limited Dyson to only nine games in 2007 (zero starts) and the seven-year pro finished the season with 11 tackles, 4 passes defensed and one interception -- the lowest totals of his career.

McCareins was acquired in a trade from the Tennessee Titans after the 2003 season.  The Jets gave up a second-round pick for the 6-2 wide out from Northern Illinois, but McCareins never lived up to expectations.  After two lackluster seasons under head coach Herm Edwards, McCareins found himself in Eric Mangini's doghouse early on in 2006.  He entered training camp out of shape and then continued his uneven play.  McCareins had a tough 2007 -- his two drops against the Baltimore Ravens cost the Jets a chance at a victory and his failure to come down in bounds in the end zone against the New England Patriots contributed to another Jets loss.  McCareins' best season in Green came in 2004 when he finished with 56 receptions for 770 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Adrien Clarke was signed this past offseason to add depth on the offensive line, but was thrust into the starting lineup when Pete Kendall was shipped off to the Washington Redskins.  The third-year pro was a disaster at left guard and was never able to fill Kendall's shoes.  The Jets eventually rotated Clarke with rookie Will Montgomery for the final two games of the season.  That didn't work out well, either.

By trimming the fat, the Jets are seemingly set up to make plays for free agent cornerback Asante Samuel and free agent guard Alan Faneca.  Both are expected to generate great interest and hefty contracts from around the league.

In other news, the Daily News is reporting that the Jets are apparently shopping nose tackle Dewayne Robertson.  The former first-round pick in 2003 (and fourth pick overall) has had a bumpy tenure in the Green and White.  D-Rob was expected to be a major force as a defensive tackle coming out of Kentucky, but was unable to consistently clog the middle or generate a pass rush.  Matters were made worse once the Jets switched to the 3-4.  Robertson was undersized to man the nose at 6-1 and 317 pounds and was pushed around on an almost weekly basis.  The Jets began to slid Robertson to defensive end during the second half of 2007 (and D-Rob responded), but the writing was on the wall.

Robertson is also owed $9.8 million in 2008 -- $6.8 million in base pay, plus a $3 million roster bonus due in June.  In five seasons with the Jets, Robertson has racked up 258 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 14.5 sacks.

The idea of trading Robertson shouldn't shock any Jet fans.  Once linebacker Jonathan Vilma was given permission to seek a trade on Friday, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Both players are ill-suited for Mangini's defensive scheme and both players were unhappy and poorly utilized in it.

D-Rob and Vilma are still young (Robertson will turn 27 this season and Vilma will turn 26) and have the ability to be play-makers in the right system.

Too bad it won't be with the Jets.

Posted by Mike at 8:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The news isn't shocking, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less.

According to the Daily News, Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been given permission to seek out teams for a trade.  The Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints are reportedly interested, but I'm sure other teams will emerge, including the Cincinnati Bengals.

Again, it's news that I was expecting, but was unwillingly to face.  Sure, Vilma has struggled in Eric Mangini's 3-4 scheme and I lashed out in one of my Jet-induced rages this past season that the Green and White should explore trading Vilma.  Still, I can't get around the idea of trading a former Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler who will turn just 26-years-old in 2008, but I'll give it a whirl.  Let's quickly go through the pros and cons of a potential deal.

PROS:

Although Vilma has played the good soldier, it's clear that he isn't in love with Mangini's defensive system.  Vilma has a good motor and tried like hell to succeed in the 3-4, but his skills, size and style of play are better suited in the 4-3.  In his first two seasons in the NFL, Vilma was a force and a playmaker on D.  In the last year and a half, his play has been pedestrian, at best.  It doesn't look like the Jets are going to scrap the 3-4, but luckily they have David Harris, who did a tremendous job substituting for No. 51 last year, lined up to fill the void.

Vilma is coming off knee surgery and may be slow to rebound for the upcoming season.  The procedure was reportedly a complicated one and Vilma's status for training camp is uncertain.

Vilma has one year left on his five-year deal and he's looking for another long-term commitment.  Given his disdain and lack of play-making ability in the 3-4, it would seem unlikely that Vilma would re-sign with Gang Green.  Better to trade No. 51 and get something in return instead of letting him just walk away.

CONS:

It's still unfathomable to me that Mangini and the Jets took one of the rising stars at middle linebacker and robbed him of his game.  Vilma's strength is going sideline to sideline, but the Gotham Green had him taking on guards in the 3-4.  In fairness to the Jets, if you're a playmaker it shouldn't matter what defensive scheme you're in, but Mangini's stubbornness to implement his style instead of optimizing the talent of players he had may have prematurely pulled the plug on Vilma's career in New York.

Assuming that Vilma is healthy, why not team him up with last season's rookie sensation David Harris?  The two could man the inside positions at linebacker in the 3-4 and help lead a defensive resurgence for the Jets in 2008.  Harris has already proven that he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL and I have to believe that Vilma would benefit from that.  On the flip side, would the two playing together create an uncomfortable situation for the Jets?  Vilma was the play-caller on defense before his injury and Harris assumed those duties during his absence.  Who would be calling the shots if they were in the same huddle?  Vilma is the more experienced player and was a team captain last season, but Harris played better in the system.  It could be a touchy situation.  Anyway, it doesn't look like the Jets will have to worry about that, but it would have been fun to watch No. 51 and No. 52 play side by side.

Word on the street says the Jets could land a third-round pick for Vilma.  A third-round pick for a former No. 1?  Doesn't seem like a fair trade considering Vilma will turn just 26 this year.  True, Vilma is coming off knee surgery and that will undoubtedly hurt his stock, but it still seems low considering the Jets received a fourth-round pick from the Washington Redskins for 11-year veteran guard Pete Kendall last season.

Well, my final tally has it deadlocked at 3 pros and 3 cons for trading Vilma.  Figures.  I guess this isn't an easy decision.  I would like to see Vilma back in the Green and White for 2008 (and beyond), but in my heart of hearts I knew it was a long shot.  Since Vilma is in the final year of his contract and coming off an injury, it would make sense for the Jets to unload No. 51 and get something in return.  Mangini isn't going to implement the 4-3 and Vilma's play in the 3-4 has been subpar.

It may be the smart thing to do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Posted by Mike at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The Green and White have a lot of positions to fill and they started by adding to the coaching staff.

The Jets named Kevin O'Dea their new special teams coordinator.  O'Dea spent the last two seasons as an assistant special teams coach for the Chicago Bears.  O'Dea was also a special teams coach with the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions, was an offensive/defensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Bucs and was a defensive assistant for the San Diego Chargers.

O'Dea will be taking over for Mike Westhoff, who left for health reasons after the 2007 season.  The Bears had a disappointing year last year, but their special teams was still one of the best in football.  Kicker Robbie Gould was 31 out of 36 in field goal attempts last season and punter Brad Maynard and the coverage unit ranked third in the NFL in allowing 5.9 yards a return in 2007.

But the brightest star of Chicago's special teams was (and is) Devin Hester.  Hester had two kickoff returns for touchdowns last season to go with his four punt returns for scores.  Leon Washington isn't in Hester's class (who is?), but O'Dea will be inheriting another home-run-type player on kick returns.  The Jets should also have Justin Miller back at full strength.

In other news, the Gotham Green re-named Mike Devlin the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach and promoted Jerome Henderson to defensive backs coach.  Devlin will be entering his third season with the Jets and Henderson, who was the assistant D-backs coach last season, will be taking over for the departed Mike MacIntyre.

And speaking of defensive backs, the Jets signed safety Artrell Hawkins Tuesday.  Hawkins last played for the New England Patriots in 2006.  It's an unimpressive pickup by Gang Green as Hawkins figures to be just another warm body on the depth chart.

Yes, these are minor moves by the Jets, but they all add up come September.

Posted by Mike at 7:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

For the second straight year, the Jets will begin the off-season with a disgruntled veteran player on their squad.

Laveranues Coles claims that the Jets have lied to him regarding a long-term deal and have "strung him along" the past two seasons.  LC, who has two years left on his current contract, wants a lengthier deal and has said that he would not report to the team's off-season workout program set to begin in March.  Sound familiar? It should.

Last season, Pete Kendall and the Jets were embroiled in an ugly contract dispute that ended with Gang Green shipping the left guard to the Washington Redskins for a mid-round draft pick.  Kendall claimed that the Jets had promised him a raise after he agreed to take a pay cut in 2006.  New York didn't see it that way and refused to give Kendall the extra cash.

On the one hand I understood the Jets' stance on Kendall.  Why set a precedent (a Jets precedent, anyway) and give an aging offensive lineman more money?  But on the other, if a promise was made then it should have been honored (but maybe I'm just being naive).  In any event, the offensive line never recovered after Kendall's departure.

The Coles situation also has two sides.  Here's what No. 87 told The Star-Ledger:

"I don't want to seem like another greedy player, but I feel I've earned the right to know where I'll finish my career.  I've done everything this organization has asked me to do and I'm asking them to do this for me. I think I've earned that much. I've put it all on the line every Sunday for this organization."

The Jets countered by offering to guarantee the final two years of Coles' contract ($5 million in 2008 and $6 million in 2009).  If I were Coles, I'd make sure I get that offer in writing.

Coles is coming off his worst season (production-wise) since his rookie year in 2000, but he more than made up for it in the way he helped keep the team together during a 4-12 campaign.  LC also battled through injuries that limited his season to just 12 games and showed heart by trying to play even when the Jets had nothing to play for.  Yet when Coles approached the team about an extension, he was told that his production was down.  That's the typical response from organizations that want it both ways.  Teams praise a guy for being tough and unselfish and then punish him when his numbers suffer because of it. 

The Jets should do everything in their power to make Coles happy.  Not only would Gang Green benefit on and off the field, but it would also send a signal to other players out there (and in house) that the New York Jets take care of their guys.  How would it look to big-time free agents out there if the Jets constantly jettison respected players?  Players that spit blood and make sacrifices for the good of the team?

Time will tell if the Jets come to their senses and make the right decision.

Posted by Mike at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Just a little clip to remind everyone what makes baseball so special.  Enjoy!

Posted by Mike at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

My "love affair" with the Giants is over.

It's only been two days since Big Blue shocked America and upended the New England Patriots 17-14 to capture Super Bowl XLII, but already I'm growing weary.  Oh, I enjoyed watching Tom Brady getting punched in the mouth and especially enjoyed watching Bill Belichick run off the field with his tail between his legs.  It was also a lot of fun seeing my brother's head almost explode during the game.  But his team won and he turned out just fine.

Now all I hear is Giants this and Giants that.  Eli this and Eli that.  Plaxico this and Plaxico that.  On the radio.  On the television.  I counted no less than eight people wearing Giants paraphernalia when I got on the train this morning to go to work.  And that was just in my car.

If I sound (or read) like I'm whining, well, I guess I am.  The Giants started their Super season with a ton of question marks.  Their best offensive player retired.  The head coach looked like a lame duck.  Their defensive leader talked about retirement and missed most of training camp.  The quarterback was a polarizing figure.  And things didn't start out well on the field either as the G-Men began the season at 0-2.  I don't think the most ardent Giant fan believed his squad had the makings of even making the Big Game, let alone winning it.

Which just goes to show the more I know, the less I understand. 

That brings me to the Jets.  Gang Green also heads into the off-season with a slew of uncertainties.  The quarterback position (presumably) is up in the air.  The O-line needs a major tuneup.  The Gotham Green could also use a playmaker on offense.  The defense lacks a pass rush and plays inconsistently, at best, against the run and the pass.

Does that make them Super Bowl bound in 2008? Hey, why not?

The odds for winning XLIII are out and, you guessed it, the Green and White rank near the bottom at 80-1.

This upcoming 2008-2009 season will also mark the 40th anniversary of the Jets improbable victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.  Gang Green came close to making a return trip to the Big Dance on their 30th anniversary, but ran into a buzzsaw called the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

Will 2008 be the year the Jets return to glory?

The traditional 40th anniversary gift is a ruby, but I'll take a ring all the same.

Hey, stranger things have happened.

Posted by Mike at 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A former New York Jet is on his way to Canton!

What's that?  Art Monk played for the Washington Redskins?  Yes, I am aware, but Monk also donned the Green and White for one season.  The year was 1994 and although Monk was well past his prime, he put together a decent year for Gang Green: 46 catches, 581 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Monk also set the record for most consecutive games with at least one reception while wearing a Jets uniform.  Still, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Monk will be inducted wearing the Burgundy and Gold.

Monk finally got the call in his eighth year of eligibility.  Why did it take No. 81 so long to get his invitation?  Who knows?  If you don't understand how Major League Baseball decides who's worthy or not, the NFL voting process will leave you scratching your head until it's raw and bloody.  Here's a quick comparison:  The National Baseball Hall of Fame has more than 500 people voting for their Hall while the Pro Football Hall of Fame has only 44 (and 11 of those voters are referred to as "at-large delegates").  The NFL also has a rule which states that at least three but no more than six people can be enshrined in a given year.

Monk finished his now Hall of Fame career with 940 receptions (good for seventh all-time), 12,721 yards and 68 TDS.  Monk set the record for most consecutive games with at least one reception with 183 (that record was shattered by Jerry Rice's 274) and was the first player to snag over 100 receptions in a season (106 catches in 1984).

The other five players elected to the HOF were cornerback Darrell Green (Redskins), linebacker Andre Tippet (New England Patriots), defensive end Fred Dean (San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers), offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman (Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos) and cornerback Emmitt Thomas (Kansas City Chiefs).

As usual there were snubs.  Former Philadelphia Eagles and Vikings wideout Chris Carter won't be putting on the beige blazer this summer despite finishing his career ranked second in both receptions (1,101) and touchdown catches (130).  Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue also failed to garner enough votes even though the league's popularity and revenue soared under his watch.  

Other notables missing the cut included: wideout Andre Reed (Buffalo Bills, Redskins), punter Ray Guy (Oakland/L.A. Raiders), defensive end Richard Dent (Chicago Bears, 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Eagles) and linebacker Derrick Thomas (Chiefs).

But with the way the NFL voting process works, all four of those players could be part of the Class of 2009.

Posted by Mike at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

Apparently, nightmares can come true.

Sunday's Super Bowl is the worst possible match-up if you're a Jets fan.  On the one hand, you have the New England Patriots -- the hated division rival on the threshold of a 19-0 season.  And on the other the New York Giants -- the more celebrated cross-town rival making their fourth Super Bowl appearance in my lifetime (and fourth in their history).

You couldn't have handpicked a more troubling championship game.

So, what team should I "root" for?  You would think it would be difficult, right?  You would think.  But, for me, it's not even close.  I'm almost loathe to say it, but on Super Sunday I will be rooting for the G-Men for the first time in my life. 

There was a time when my hatred for Big Blue burned brightly.  The New York/New Jersey area has always been (and will always be) Giant country.  There were probably 10 Giant fans for every one Jet fan when I was growing up.  My dad and brother are Giants fans.  That made for some interesting scenes.  Example:  Where was I when Ken O'Brien flipped the game-winning touchdown pass to Wesley Walker in '86 to down the Dolphins 51-45 in overtime?  Banished to my room and forced to listen on the radio because the Giants-Raiders game had started.  I still look at it as a form of child abuse.