Content available exclusively for subscribers
Early this week it came out that the Jets are raising ticket prices.
Here is how it was explained to a New York Post writer, very plugged into the upper management:
“The addition of Rodgers this offseason and his prospective return next season has driven up demand for season tickets and the Jets are raising prices for 2024 an average of 10 percent. They are also requiring season-ticket holders to renew earlier. They have to renew by Nov. 15. In the past, they could wait until the spring to renew their tickets. The reason for the price hike and the earlier renewal deadline is the increased demand the Jets have seen for tickets this year.”
So that is their explanation.
Something else to consider is the Jets’ enormous player payroll this year. According to a league source, only the Cleveland Browns are spending more cash on players this year.
Some might be perplexed by what that means since the NFL has a salary cap, most assume that teams spend around the same amount on players since there is a floor (minimum teams have to spend to fight cheap teams like baseball has) and a ceiling. So everyone should be in the same spending ballpark. right?
Theoretically yes, but there is a concept called “cash over cap” which is kind of a way around it, though you will eventually pay the piper and get a big cap hit down the road. This concept of “cash over cap” allows you to spend more than the cap allows.
A lot of the “cash over cap” concept is related to signing bonuses. Let’s say you give out a $20 million bonus on a four-year deal, you can have just $5 million count per season over those four years.
So the Jets being only second to Cleveland in “cash over cap” this year, could be a contributing factor to the ticket price hike . . .
Speaking of the Cleveland Browns, they will start P.J. Walker at QB this week. The product of Elizabeth (N.J.) High School and Temple University signed a 1-year deal for about $1 million before the season.
He will start for DeShaun Watson, who makes $46 million a year with the highest guaranteed money in NFL history – $230 million.
Watching them both play this year, there is very little difference in their play, and Walker was the QB two weeks ago when the Browns upset the then-undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
Kind of similar to the New York Football Giants, who will start backup Tyrod Taylor this week, who makes $5.5 million this year. He will start instead of Daniel Jones, who makes $40 million a year. Watching them play, there is very little difference there, also.
Here is the deal – if you are going to pay a QB megabucks, you better make sure he’s special like Patrick Mahomes, or otherwise, say “thanks for no thanks.”
Watson was 28-25 as a start in Houston, so why would Cleveland trade a bunch of premium picks to the Texans and then give him a record contract?
Jones had one good year for the Giants last season, and even in that season he had just 15 TDs, so why would you pay him $40 million a year?
It’s clearly time for a correction in the QB salary market . . .
Guard Joe Tippmann is out this week.
He will be replaced by Wes Schweitzer.
A key matchup is going to be Schweitzer against the Giants’ massive defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (6-4, 350). Against Philly, Schweitzer had some issues with a similar massive, powerful nose tackle in Jordan Davis.
Schweitzer has experience against Lawrence, though, after playing against him while the guard was with the Washington Commanders.
Schweitzer told JC that one of the things that makes Lawrence such a challenge is not only is he huge and powerful, but he has a great motor.
October 27, 2023
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Sunday.
