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New York – A couple of notes today on Rex Ryan and the Jets tight end situation. Lets get it started . . .
Remember this quote from Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio last week.
“I’ve never had one conversation with anybody about trading any of our players,” Ryan said.
Well, from what I hear, the Jets had to explain this on background to some reporters.
What was the problem?
To some, that sentence made it seem like he doesn’t even talk to people in his own organization about trading players.
So they had to offer a clarification.
I have to say, I understood what he was talking about. I didn’t need the off-the-record explanation.
I had a different issue with that quote. It was that it was a little misleading. Rex doesn’t engage in trade talks, so it’s a moot point that he hasn’t talked to anybody about a trade . . .
Remember yesterday when we talked that ESPN story connecting the Jets to free agent tight end Fred Davis.
We felt it didn’t make a lot of sense.
He’s had a drug suspension and he’s coming off a torn Achilles.
You really have to take some of these “interest” stories with a grain of salt.
Just because a team makes a preliminary phone call to ask about an agent about a player, doesn’t mean they are legitimately “interested.”
Here is what Washington Redskins beat writer John Keim of the Washington Examiner tweeted today.
“I know Jets and Bills are reportedly interested in Fred Davis. Bills? Clearly. Jets? Does not sound legit as of now. Agent driven? Likely.”
The agent is clearly throwing the Jets name into the mix to drive up the price in Washington or Buffalo, the two teams legitimately interested in signing Davis.
I’m not saying the Jets are out of the tight end market, but Davis isn’t likely.
Right now the Jets have three players at tight end – Jeff Cumberland, Konrad Reuland and Hayden Smith.
It’s also possible they could bring back Josh Baker once his knee heals.
Cumberland could be special with his exotic size-speed ratio, but what could be a challenge for him is yet having another playbook thrown at him. This is his third offense in three years. That is awful for the development of young players.
I think Reuland is underrated. He’s a terrific blocker and an underrated receiver.
You have to give Smith a lot of credit. He’s working his tail off trying to improve. Remember he’s relatively new to football. He was an Aussie Rugby player who actually came to the United States to play college basketball (Metro State in Denver), and was told with his size (6-6, 255) and athletic ability, he might be able to be successful in football.
What doesn’t help Smith is that he was Mike Tannenbaum’s project, and he’s out of the picture. John Idzik isn’t as invested in this project.
This is a terrific tight end draft, so don’t be surprised if the Jets grab one in the middle rounds.
March 25, 2013
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