Analyzing the Jets Free Agents

As Jets fans hoping to recover from the painful reality that the team did not "lead the league in wins," we can take solace in the fact that the team has a strong young core, an intriguing and successful head coach and an owner that's willing to spend. But with an entire slew of free agents and an unknown and uncharted new labor agreement to come (hopefully), the Jets' most important piece this off-season will be GM Mike Tannenbaum, who adeptly loaded the team with talent for a Super Bowl run this season. Tannenbaum will have his hands full adding the pieces that will hopefully make the Jets a contender in 2011. Here is a breakdown of the Jets most important free agents.

David Harris-MLB: The only member of the "Core Four" that has yet to be offered a long term contract, Harris is coming off a season in which he led the team in tackles and at age 27 is in his prime. His partner in crime, Bart Scott is on the decline and the Jets will need Harris back to maintain their position as one of the league's best defenses. Once the CBA is in place, expect Harris to be the Jets' first priority, but beware, Harris waited all season for this negotiation as the other three (Mangold, Revis and Ferguson) got deals, and he will fight hard for what he thinks he deserves...think Darrelle Revis.

Santonio Holmes-WR: Let's make no mistake: Holmes is the Jets best receiving threat and "Tone Time" is not a myth...it's real. After serving his four game suspension, Holmes worked his way into the starting lineup and gave the Jets a threat that they haven't had since Keyshawn Johnson was in town. Braylon Edwards (see below) is also a free agent, and the Jets have said they want to bring both back. If they can't, expect the Jets to target Holmes as the guy, but this is not certain, it may make sense for them to sign Edwards, who is expected to be a cheaper (if only slightly) option.

Braylon Edwards-WR: Edwards had a very strong year for the Jets, finishing second on the team in receptions and first in receiving yards. He cut down on the drops that plagued him the last few seasons, and is always a good vertical target for Mark Sanchez because of Edwards' size and athleticism. As I said before, the Jets would love to keep both him and Holmes, but we'll see if this is possible. Edwards is a far superior blocker in the open field than Holmes, and certainly has the tools to be a number one receiver, but we'll have to see how much money he commands once free agency begins. It will also be interesting to see if the possibility of Edwards being suspended by the NFL (because of his DWI and past issues) affects the Jets decision to sign or prioritize him ahead of Holmes.

Antonio Cromartie-CB: Cromartie was a fantastic compliment for Darrelle Revis this season. He was brought to New York for that purpose and it certainly worked, but in terms of his overall season–well it was up and down. Cromartie is a good ball hawk and an above average coverage-guy, but he has a tendency to get beat in big spots, and gets flagged for ridiculous penalties way too much. Oh yeah, and his tackling makes Deion Sanders look like Dick Butkus. The fact of the matter is that the Jets spent a first round draft pick on cornerback Kyle Wilson last season and while Wilson had a rough rookie season, he did look useful at times and may be able to take over opposite Revis next season. Cromartie will want/need a lot of cash in the offseason, and the Jets quite frankly may not have the resources to pay him.

Shaun Ellis-DT/DE: The longest tenured Jet heads to free agency this season, and as much as Jets fans will want him to be back (none more than me), it seems his days are numbered. Ellis has played 11 seasons for gang green, and only missed 6 games. Ellis is still a good run defender and a fantastic leader, but he's clearly on the down side of his career and plays a position the Jets must improve. Most of the experts expect the Jets to draft a DT of some sort in the first round to try and improve the team's pass rush–and area that killed them all season, and with Ellis as the only member of the D-line that is a free agent, it seems that he will either not be asked back, or be offered a contract with very little guaranteed money. Ellis may seek employment elsewhere or retire, either way, he will be a Jet for life and enter the Ring of Honor in the near future.

Brad Smith-KR/WR/QB: This is an interesting one. Smith was a crucial part of the offense all season, coming in for the wildcat/option packages that were pretty effective. The problem is how much money will he seek and is he really an essential member of the team? With Sanchez entering his third season, usually the coming out party for quarterbacks, will the Jets really use Smith enough to warrant him coming back? He is a dynamic Kick Returner and Special Teamer for sure, but if Cromartie comes back, that role could be filled. Also, don't forget that the Jets still have Joe McKnight who can also return kicks. Also working against Smith is that the team showed it can be effective on offense without him–beating New England in the playoffs when he was injured and nearly coming back against Pittsburgh without using any of the Wildcat offense. That being said, it is unclear what kind of market their will be for the multi-talented Smith, and if there are few suitors, perhaps the Jets can get him back as a steal.

Kellen Clemens-QB: I expect Mark Brunell to retire and despite the accepted notion that Kellen Clemens will not be brought back, I disagree. Clemens will not have many offers elsewhere, and with his knowledge of the offense, should be a cheap and steady backup for Mark Sanchez. After all, the Jets felt comfortable with Clemens as the backup when Sanchez was a rookie, why not now?

Nick Folk-K: Folk is too inconsistent and my guess is that the Jets really regret not bringing back Jay Feely. Though he started the year strong, Folk hit a mid season stretch that had Jets fans turning over stones to find John Hall. It's too early to see who is available, but is there anybody Jets fans wouldn't take?

Make sure to comment with your thoughts and follow me on Twitter @awolffster!

Rex Reaches Crossroads, Must Define Himself

Hype is an amazing thing. It can make a great player hated, serve as a mechanism for unrealistic expectations and become a gravitational force for attention. The New York Jets have made it all three.

Rex Ryan has done nothing but bring hype to the Jets since he took over last season. Some of it has been good considering the team certainly no longer feels like the Giants' less talented little brother, but some of it has led the Jets into an incredibly uncomfortable position.

After all, in what world do we live in that an early morning Braylon Edwards DUI arrest easily trumps a much more important and tragic story such as the apparent suicide death of Denver Broncos' Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley?

But that is the world the Jets are living in now and regardless of how many big personality players are inhabiting the Jets' locker room (aka the 'Animal House'), the man who is responsible is the same man who must fix the problem, yes I mean Rex Ryan.

The second year coach has done a world of good for the franchise. He has identified himself with the fan base, befriended his players to a point where they play hard for him and to this point has proven himself as maybe the best X's and O's coach the team has had since Bill Parcells. But an undeniable string of ugly events has cast a dark shadow on the team, changing its perception from the lovable underdogs of last year, to a hated band of misfits this year. It must stop now.

Ryan has to prove that he can put his foot down, the obvious next step in his coaching maturation. He has to create a divide between him and his players and that is something that will be tough, but necessary for him to do. If he doesn't, there will be story after story on the misfit Jets, some of them could potentially trump the Edwards incident, the foul language on Hard Knocks, the Ines Sainz debacle and even Ryan himself flipping the bird to some obnoxious Dolphins fans.

His own career depends on it. Honestly, how many incidents/distractions will it take for the Jets zoo to run them out of contention? With a team of trash talkers and players with substance/personal conduct issues, what clout will he hold if he looks for another head coaching job if he can't prove he can control a team?

The change should start with Braylon Edwards Sunday night. the NFL and NFLPA labor agreement prohibits the Jets from suspending or deactivating Edwards for the game, but the Jets have already said he will not start. The question is, will he play at all, and if so, how much? The right move would be to sit him the entire game and make him (or at least try) learn a lesson about putting his team in a bad situation.

More likely, Edwards will sit the first half. After all, the Jets are short of wide receivers as it is (Santonio Holmes is suspended until week 5) and a divisional game at Miami is no time to waive a white flag, especially with all this hype.

Why Revis Will Return Sooner Than Later

Despite a flurry of reports over the past few days that a Darrelle Revis contract is near, it once again appears that the two sides are far apart, however that does not mean a deal won't come. Whether or not the rumblings, rumors, tweets and "sources" are have any merit, I suspect that a peace treaty is near and Revis will be in camp before the regular season begins, and yes, when it happens, it is OK to cry in happiness (or sadness if the Jets are on your favorite team's schedule this season.

Let's be clear, I have no sources or inside information, but at the end of the day the league's best corner will have to fold, unless of course, the Jets do first. While what he wants and what the Jets are offering may never be the same thing, the Jets offer will always be the highest he can get, and any offer is worth more if you don't miss regular season games.

Keep in mind a few things here, like it or not, Revis is under contract for three years including 2010. The Jets don't have to trade him and as long as he holds out, it barely costs them a thing. Certainly they won't trade him before or during this season because there isn't the risk of losing him at season's end to free agency anytime soon.

Lets say that Revis sits out all of 2010 (It pains me to write this), we've all heard the prospect of an uncertain labor outlook and a possible lockout in 2011. If a lockout were to occur (and many believe it will), Revis runs the risk of being off the field for two years and through it all, still being under contract with the Jets.

In that scenario, even if the Jets decide to trade or release him what is the likelihood of him getting top dollar? What will top dollar even look like at the start of the 2012 season? One thing we know about the NFL is that players get paid on performance. This is a 'what have you done for me lately?' league, that's why Revis is lobbying for a new contract, and that's why the same contract won't be there in the future. No owner or GM in their right mind would give a then 27 year old cornerback who hasn't defended a pass in two seasons a 7 year, $140 million contract (that's what one of the Jets offers is estimated at), no matter what he did in 2009.

Believe me folks, the Revis agents are aware of this. They also know that coming off of last season, one of the finest (and most hyped) seasons for an NFL cornerback in quite some time, now is their chance to bargain and get the best possible deal.

That best deal has to come from the Jets, and Revis knows it. It's just a matter of what that contract offer is at the last possible moment to sign. One side will fold, but if the Jets don't, Revis will have to.

Friday's First Round Thoughts: The Jets, The Giants, Tebow and ESPN

The Jets

It wasn't what I expected, but overall I like the Jets drafting Kyle Wilson, a cornerback. Why not add to the secondary? If this kid can play, and Rex Ryan seems to think he can, it is going to be very hard for teams to move the ball against the Jets with Cromartie, Wilson and oh yeah, Darrelle Revis ball hawking. And you thought they blitzed a lot last year....

This season marks the best version of Jets cool aid I've ever had, I hope they don't change the recipe.

The Giants

I like them taking Jason Pierre-Paul here. The Giants historically have always had a big time pass rusher, at least when they are winning (Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan), so it comes as no surprise that the Giants go that route in the first round. I don't know him well enough to predict if he'll make an impact right away, but Osi Umenyiora is now VERY expendable and that should make Giants fans salivate.

Speaking of Cool aid...

Who slipped some to Josh McDaniels? Drafting Tim Tebow in the first round is going to bite the Broncos hard. After four years of college, I still don't see what it is about this guy that is so compelling. I couldn't teach proper throwing motion if I had a gun pointed to my head, but even the highlight package ESPN showed last night showed throws from Tebow that surely would be picked off in the pros.

At least Tebow knows how to conduct a professional interview. His interview with Jeremy Schaap was filled with regurgitations of "I'm such a great leader. I'm going to do what it takes to win a super bowl. It's about the team. I'm such a wonderful role model."

Is anyone else sick of this guy? Enough Already! Perhaps Tom Jackson said it best (the only time last night) when he said, "In the NFL you can only lead if you are on the field."

And You, ESPN...

For the first time I actually really wished I had NFL Network for the production quality. What ESPN did last night was disparaging to TV networks everywhere. The team, fearlessly led by Chris Berman included Steve Young, Tom Jackson, John Gruden and Mel Kiper and only Kiper had any clue as to what to say and when. Young can't spit a sentence out, Gruden has no on air presence and how many of you saw Chris Berman's freakout when he didn't know he was on the air?

Also, how do you ever have suspense in a draft if you show a potential selection beaming while on the phone being hugged by his family and friends MINUTES before he is selected. They did it with Bradford and I thought they would stop doing it after that, realizing their mistake but then again, this is ESPN, they make no mistakes....right?

Jets and Giants Draft Preview with Sean Perry and Alex Wolff

Giants Need to Fill Holes

By Sean Perry

The Giants got out of the gate quickly last year only to limp to the finish line as injuries, poor attitude and underwhelming talent cost them games in the second half of the season. The team has been relatively quiet in the off-season and is looking to fill several areas of need in the draft. I expect the Giants to fill holes at these four positions:

Giant’s team needs:

Cornerback: The Giants struggles in the secondary last year cost them a trip to the playoffs. No one player can shoulder all the blame, however, safety was a particularly glaring problem. In my opinion the Giants front office did a commendable job overhauling their safety positions with the addition of Antrelle Rolle in addition to the return of Kenny Phillips from injury. The Giants could use a cornerback in the first round to make their secondary complete, and the addition of a top flight corner could help turn a position of weakness into a position of strength.

Possible Pick: Junior Kareem Jackson from Alabama could be available to the Giants at 15 and would be a good fit in the revamped secondary.

Offensive Line: The offensive linemen were the unsung heroes of the Giants Super Bowl run in 2008 and are not necessarily a problem area for the team right now. With that said, they can’t be counted on to continue delivering elite level play as the memory of that magical run fades. There is some legitimate concern about the lack of depth and age along the O-line and an infusion of fresh blood would not hurt in the long term.

Possible Pick: Mike Iupati from Idaho could be a blue-collar contributor and a tempting choice for the Giants in the first round.

Running Back: With Brandon Jacobs on the downside of his career and Ahmad Bradshaw in and out of prison, it would be nice for the Giants to acquire a quality running back in the early rounds of the draft.

Possible Pick: If CJ Spiller of Clemson falls to the Giants at 15 every Giants fan will be ecstatic and the Giants will take him. If Spiller is scooped up earlier as most expect, look for the Giants to move up in the second round to select Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State.

Linebacker: The Giants linebacker corps faltered before vocal leader Antonio Pierce got hurt and completely fell apart once he was lost for the season. Despite the glaring issues, the team did little to address the weakness at the linebacker in the off-season. The Giants will have to draft at least two linebackers this year and would be wise to get a potential starter for the 2010 season while players of that caliber are still available.

Possible Pick: Ronaldo McClain of Alabama seems like the obvious pick at 15 and when all is said and done, will be the Giants first pick and starting middle linebacker next year.

* * *

Jets Will Look to Upgrade Already Great Defense

By Alex Wolff

Uneasy, nervous, ignorant, pessimistic and downright disturbed. That is how Jets fans typically feel around this time of year. When the rest of the National Football League is anticipating the next great star to come to their team, fans of gang green are wondering how the enigmatic franchise will mess it up...this time.

But this year the Jets are in an unfamiliar spot, and no, I don't mean drafting so late in the 1st round at 29. Methodically, the Jets have filled basically all of the needs that I or anyone else for that matter projected when their season ended. Here's how they've been filled:

Cornerback: Antonio Cromartie comes in to fill the void opposite Revis Island.

Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwards is back and in comes Santonio Holmes, after his four game suspension that is.

Defensive End: Love him or hate him, opposing quarterbacks should be afraid of him, Jason Taylor is the newest Jet.

The Jets return the best offensive line in the game and the best defense. They added Mark Sanchez as the franchise signal caller in last season's draft and have already filled out their roster with high priced and profile free agents, which poses a whole other set of problems for a team that has no crucial position to draft for.

ATTITUDE. Cromartie has fathered a million children by roughly that same number of women in the same number of states. How will his mind ever be on football? Edwards isn't exactly t he most clear headed guy either, in fact I seem to remember him getting booted out of Cleveland, and it wasn't for having bad hands around the football...Taylor's career is known for three things: sacking the QB, deriding Jets fans, and dancing with the stars. Only one of those is football related.

It's that simple, the Jets have a ton of talent, and a ton of personality, making the personalities work together is the single biggest need for the Jets, and I propose they address that on draft day. But how you ask?

"With the 29th selection in the NFL draft, the New York Jets Select... Dr. John F Murray, Palm Beach, FL!"

That's right folks; the Jets should select a noted sport psychologist. It's perfect. He'll follow the team around and deal with all the issues that are sure to arise. From dealing with Bart Scott, Jason Taylor, Rex Ryan, Cromartie, Holmes and so on, this is the perfect solution.

OK OK OK, I get it, you want to know what the Jets will really do. They really are in a unique position, they don't need any one player to fill a need so they can actually pick the best player available.

My best guess is that they will try to fill Free Safety, since they just signed Taylor. If USC's Taylor Mays falls to them, expect the Jets to grab him. An athletic safety from USC, Mays can fill the "void" that was Kerry Rhodes. Mays projects to be more of a project at this point, but he would see significant playing time in year one, and what better way to get it than in a defense that has such a strong secondary.

If Mays is gone, or I'm wrong (I know it seems impossible, but it does happen) expect the Jets to draft a DE. Despite the fact that they signed Taylor, he is more of a short term fix and will play mostly on third downs. This is a need they must address for the future and expect them to do so in the second round if they draft Mays in the first.

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