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It’s time for a heaping helping of Dan’s Jets Website Whispers heading into the weekend. We have notes on Jeff Cumberland, Darrelle Revis, Brandon Moore . . ..
The Jets gave TE Jeff Cumberland, a restricted free agent, a low-level tender ($1.32 million).
According to Manish Mehta, the Jets had considered giving Cumberland a second-round tender.
I can’t confirm that they were thinking that way. The Jets will not confirm or deny this kind of information. This was probably wishful thinking by Cumberland’s agent.
Is this a risky move?
Probably not.
While Cumberland has enormous natural ability at 6-4, 260 pounds with 4.5 speed, he is somewhat inconsistent.
He’s prone to mental errors, like when he gave up a blocked punt against the San Francisco 49ers, heading up field, and failing to staying in long enough to chip linebacker Larry Grant.
Also, not only is he inconsistent, he is one year removed from a torn Achilles tendon.
Hey, I like Cumberland as a player, but I don’t think the low tender is risky in this case . . .
Marty Mornhinweg’s offense focuses a lot on the tight end, so Cumberland, if he stays, could be a big part of what is coming up.
Same with Dustin Keller, if the Jets do bring him back.
But let’s say one thing in defense of Cumberland and Keller (who missed eight games) last year – the quarterback play was poor, and how do you expect these guys to put up impressive numbers, with the way Mark Sanchez played? It’s shortsighted to ignore this factor . . .
It’s time for a divorce for the Jets and Brandon Moore.
It was a nice run for the guard with the Jets.
He owes the organization a debt of gratitude. They took a long shot defensive tackle from Illinois, and made him into a guard, a guard who made a Pro Bowl. He obviously deserves credit as well, for the hard work he put in making the transition.
Moore could easily have been cut early in his career, and headed back to the Midwest to the private sector.
But instead, somebody with the Jets (I hear it was Ted Cottrell) suggested he move to the other side of the ball.
It could not have worked out better.
However, it’s time to move on.
Caleb Schauderaff or Vlad Ducasse or Dennis Landolt will replace him.
Expect the Jets to sign another veteran guard or bring back Matt Slauson (remember, his issues were with Mike Tannenbaum, so now there might be a chance he comes back, though Dallas could make a run at him, with Bill Callahan there).
I think Ducasse improved last year. He still has a ways to go, but the man is a powerhouse, a road-grader. He could be a dominating run blocker, he just needs to be more consistent.
Schlauderaff is a cerebral third-year player ready for his turn. He won’t be a star, but he also won’t make a lot of mistakes.
But with Moore, the Jets need to go in a different direction. He has a little bit of a hip issue, and in some people’s eyes, he’s a little bit of a clubhouse lawyer (hey, that might not be a negative to a lot of people, but generally coaches and management don’t love that).
He had a nice run here, but it’s probably best to part ways . . .
Don’t you get the sense that the Revis camp is scaring off potential Jets trade partners with his reported money demands?
It’s been reported that he wants to make Mario Williams money ($16 million a year). That isn’t happening – ANYWHERE – for a cornerback.
The top corners in the league now are making around $10 million, so that is a more realistic salary for a star corner these days.
Have you noticed now the Revis-camp is now leaking that the corner wants to stay?
It seems like they are playing the media on both sides of the issue, kind of like a bookie trying to play both sides of a bet.
The Post and the Daily News are warring over this – and these two papers are arch-enemies.
So now the Post says he wants to stay, and the Daily News says he’s “a goner.”
But once again, the bottom line is simple – nothing can happen either way until Revis gets healthy.
Some people think the deep class of free agent corners – Sean Smith, Brent Grimes, Aqib Talib, Chris Houston, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Chris Gamble – will hurt the Revis’ trade market.
Perhaps, but a 100 percent Revis is better than those guys.
There will be a market for Revis, but he has to lower his contract demands, significantly. A lot of teams are pulling in the purse strings due to the recession, lower ticket sales and a new CBA that favors the owners.
March 8, 2013
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