Content available exclusively for subscribers
There were a couple of stories this week stating that the Jets are spending way less this year on salaries compared to 2009. Both pieces stated that the Jets are currently on the hook for $104 million on salaries and last season, they were at $128 million. What does this really mean?
Is the story accurate as of right now? Absolutely. But the operative words are “as of right now.” And that is where there is a hole in the story. The Jets aren’t done spending this year. They are in the middle of their calendar year. They could still sign Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold to contract extensions, and of course they are going to sign Kyle Wilson very soon. Perhaps Mark Brunell could be signed. Maybe Marquise Douglas.
That is why this story, perhaps planted by a disgruntled agent, is very misleading.
And according to a Jets source, by the end of 2010, the Jets expect to spend more than last year.
So the angle is somewhat inaccurate . . .
Revis’ uncle, defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, sat out the entire 1997 season over a contract dispute with the Washington Redskins. Sean is a huge influence in Darrelle’s live, so it does make you wonder if a season-long holdout is possible.
Revis is absolutely committed to making more than Oakland Raider cornerback Nmamdi Asomugha. He will take 50 cents more, whatever it takes to beat the deal.
The Jets have no interest in beating a deal that they feel is out of whack with reality. So the two sides are still light years apart.
This is a contentious contract drama with no end in sight . . .
Middle linebacker Kenwin Cummings looks like he’s ready to take a big step this year. He has very good range for a 250-pound linebacker and made a lot of plays in the spring . . .
Bart Scott didn’t think Mark Sanchez was favoring his surgical knee during mini-camp.
“I didn’t see him not stepping into his throw or not following through,” said Scott.
Sanchez was running around like he wasn’t thinking about the knee at all . . .
Antonio Cromartie was Revis-like all spring, displaying outstanding man-to-man cover skills. It was almost impossible to get open on him . . .
I still find it really strange that the Jets moved on from Douglas. He was one of their best defensive players last year and isn’t that expensive.
He was fourth on the team in tackles.
The team isn’t better without him.
They might want to rethink this one.
By the way, he’s represented by the same agency as Revis, but I really don’t think that the Jets are holding that against him.
Don’t be surprised at some point if Rex twists Tannenbaum’s arm to get Douglas back in green.
He’s very reliable . . .
One factor that will help Wilson play quickly is his intelligence. He’s very bright. While a lot of rookies are overwhelmed mentally, this nickel back isn’t. He comes from a very smart family. His brother went to Princeton and MIT . . .
Expect linebacker Jamaal Westerman to have a big role in the defense this year. The coaches love his toughness and natural pass rushing skills. They like to send him on a lot of different exotic blitzes. And like Wilson, he’s extremely bright. He picks up whatever they throw at him.
