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New Jersey – It’s time for another edition of “Behind the Jets” with a look at Darrelle Revis, LaRon Landry and more. Let’s get it started . . .
The cap goes way up in 2014. I mean way up.
So once the Jets see that Darrelle Revis is back to his old form this season, perhaps they can extend him later in the season, with the new money starting in 2014.
Next year, not only will the cap be going up significantly thanks to a major influx of new TV money, but the Jets will also have extra room created by getting out of two awful contracts – Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes.
So right now is a bad time to extend Revis. First off, you don’t know how his knee is going to respond during the season, and also, the Jets have cap issues this year, they won’t have next year.
So quietly getting a Revis deal done late in the season, is the best way to go . . .
The Buffalo Bills released safety George Wilson, today.
So this led to speculation that the Bills are going to make a run at free agent safety LaRon Landry.
After all, Mike Pettine is now running the Bills’ defense, and the Jets’ former assistant secondary coach, Jim O’Neill, is now on the Bills staff.
If Landry does go to Buffalo, some people might think this is a huge blow to the Jets.
I don’t necessarily agree.
Landry had a solid season. He was a head-hunter at safety, who did a nice job in run support, and did some decent work in coverage, including a Pick Six against Miami.
But while he did make some plays in coverage, he has to be considered a pedestrian coverage safety.
I remember talking to somebody close to the Redskins after the Jets signed him, and the person told me he’s best playing in the box, and not great in coverage.
I spoke to a scout during the season, and he called Landry a “see-and-go” safety. What he meant was, when he sees a pass going to a certain spot, he heads over there to make the tackle. What the scout was saying is that his coverage instincts are so-so, and he doesn’t anticipate well. Anticipation is huge at safety. Just look at Ed Reed.
And while Landry did get through this season healthy, his health is still a big concern. It’s hard to play safety, the way he plays it, as a battering ram, and not get dinged. And he still needs to be on a pitch count at practice.
Honestly, if he went to Buffalo, it might hurt the Jets a little, but it wouldn’t be a devastating blow.
You can find safeties.
It’s pretty clear, even though he’s going to be 35 next season, that Yeremiah Bell can still play. The Jets can probably get him back for the veteran minimum.
Another option could be Wilson.
Wilson is just the kind of guy the Jets need to add to their clubhouse. He’s one of the top character guys in the league. They call him “The Senator” in Buffalo because he’s such a great leader on-and-off the field, and a bedrock in the community.
Guess who also available – Jim Leonhard. They could probably get him for the league minimum as well. He stayed healthy last year in Denver.
And of course the Jets developed two draft pick safeties last year, Josh Bush and Antonio Allen. I also get the sense Donnie Fletcher could be moved to safety.
There are plenty of options for the Jets if Landry bolts.
February 11, 2013
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