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Mike Tannenbaum spent the last couple of days turning over the bottom of the roster, and perhaps also saving the team some money as well.
The Jets claimed six players, and got three.
This is the sort of action you would expect from a rebuilding team like St. Louis, not a supposed a playoff contender.
I would praise Tannenbaum for his Labor Day activity, if he had a lot to show for it.
He does this ever year, and right now, all that is left from all his Labor Day moves, is Patrick Turner.
Here is the info – The New York Jets have claimed NT Isaako Aaitui (MIA), WR Clyde Gates (MIA) and TE Konrad Reuland (SF) and waived S Antonio Allen, DT Marcus Dixon and TE Dedrick Epps.
Dixon was popular in the locker room, and a decent player. This had to leave players scratching their collective heads.
Rich Cimini explained the swapping of Dixon for Aaitui this way – “It’s hard to imagine his modest salary ($540,000) was a factor, but I’m telling you, the Jets are pinching pennies even though they have cap room. According to sources, it was mentioned at a contentious personnel meeting last week that certain moderately priced veterans were on the bubble because of salary. It’s the reason why FB John Conner ($540,000) was on the bubble.”
Considering the price of Jets tickets, this “pinching pennies” as Cimini puts it, is unacceptable.
You expect this sort of approach in Cincinnati or Tampa Bay, not New York.
I told you guys a few months ago that VP Matt Higgins resigned from the Jets because Woody’s money manager, Ira Axelrad, was driving him crazy.
As the old expression goes, “Follow the money.”
Clearly ticket sales are lagging, and it’s impacting the bottom of the roster.
As we mentioned the other day, the trailer is back in the Jets parking lot – the boiler room – to house temporary workers to sell tickets – is back.
But I will say this about the move to bring in Aitui for Dixon, there is some merit to the decision from a football standpoint.
Dixon has a good motor and very tough, but he’s a little undersized for the 3-4 end spot. Did you know he only weighs 280 pounds?
Aitui is 315.
I’m not saying that size is everything, but Dixon is really on the small end for 3-4 end, and probably didn’t help himself when Chris Polk bounced off of him in Philly on a touchdown run.
As for the tight end swap, this could be another size move – Konrad Reuland is bigger and more powerful than Epps.
The Jets wanted to bring in a large, brutish blocking tight end, and feel the 260-pound Reuland can be that guy.
As for Clyde Gates (who went by the name of “Edmund” in college), they are taking a flyer on a guy who can fly. He runs a 4.37 forty, and knows Sparano’s offense from Miami.
The biggest problem I have with Tannenbaum’s myriad Labor Day moves, aside from the underwhelming results over the years, is the learning curve issue.
You are throwing guys out who you have taught the system to over the last five months, and replacing them, right before the opener, with guys who have to start from scratch, who don’t have a clue what you are doing.
It puts a lot of stress on coaches who should just be focusing on Buffalo, not teaching guys the playbook from square one.
Obviously, it’s smart to claim a player or two if you have a big need, but Tannenbaum tends to overdue it, and feels he needs to do it every year, come hell or high water.
September 1, 2012
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