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There is no question Jarret Johnson is a tough SOB, but he probably won’t be able to help the Jets much with two of their biggest issues at linebacker.
And those issues, as you all know, are pass rushing and coverage.
Johnson is a pedestrian pass rusher (20 sacks in nine years), and lacks ideal speed to keep up with mobile tight ends.
Coming out of Alabama in 2003, Johnson ran a 5.07 forty.
After nine years of playing in the NFL, and the wear-and-tear associated with that, it’s hard to imagine he is any faster than that.
While he’s not a great athlete or particularly mobile, Johnson is one of those guys who is a smart, instinctive, tough football player.
He plays with an attitude.
But quite honestly, the Jets need to get younger and faster on defense, and signing Johnson isn’t going to help this.
With that being said, if they can get him cheap, it definitely would be worth signing him. He’s the kind of person, leader, high-motor guy the Jets need to add more of this off-season. He would certainly help their locker room, and give them an SOB on defense.
But to give a 31-year-old linebacker, who lacks great wheels, big money, probably wouldn’t be a great idea.
Remember, the Daily News reporter just said the Jets are “interested” in Johnson.
Often-times, this is just an agent planting this kind of information to help create a market for his client.
Remember, the Randy Moss camp recently said the Jets are interested in the receiver. They are?
Reporter will just go with these “interested” stories because if they carry water for the agent, this will lead to plenty of good information in the future.
There is a trade-off here.
Also remember, Mike “Toes” Tannenbaum looks into everything.
Remember, “Toes,” stands for “Turn Over Every Stone.”
And he really does. You can never accuse this man of not doing his due diligence.
While I was at Sirius this morning, one of the televisions in the studio had “The Rich Eisen Podcast” on, and Tannenbaum was on as a guest.
My first reaction to seeing him on camera was, “he doesn’t look great.”
He looked haggard to me.
I don’t think the last month couple of months have been great for Mike.
Aside the late season collapse, and the cross-town Giants winning the Super Bowl, he’s had a lot on his plate – the Brian Schottenheimer settlement, the Bart Scott mess, and the two Daily News’ articles with unnamed Jets bashing Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez.
The same league source that told me Thad Sheely and Matt Higgins bolted the Jets because Woody Johnson and Ira Axelrad have been tough to deal, said he’s hearing Tannenbaum hasn’t been much better.
Hey, if your boss (Woody) is in a bad mood, it stands to reason, his GM manager isn’t going to be a walk in the beach to interact with.
So, the last couple of months have been rough on Mike, and he looked a little worn out to me on the Eisen show.
Once free agency starts, it’s going to be interesting to see what Mike has up his sleeve. He’s been working hard in the lab coming up with a plan to get the Jets’ ship headed in the right direction.
Jarret Johnson could be part of the plan, at the right place.
But that isn’t going to sell any club seats or luxury boxes, which this team needs to do.
That is where Peyton Manning likely enters the picture.
(Premium will return by 8 pm on Monday. Enjoy your Sunday.)