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I think the Jets are playing this right. This isn’t the time to be shopping on Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue.
After throwing around money like drunken sailors the last two years, they are more reserved so far this year.
As they should be.
After getting burned over-and-over again the last two years by bad contracts, profligate spending, they are taking a more measured approach this year.
Today they officially released Darrelle Revis. $39 million down the drain. $39 million for two years of poor play. Some Revis apologists will tell you he played well in 2015. I don’t agree. He was bad, just not as bad as 2016. This signing was a mistake of biblical proportions. It was one of the worst contracts in team history.
Buster Skrine – bad contract.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – bad contract.
Mo Wilkerson bad contract (so far).
Think about it. The Jets went 6-10 last year, and they ended the season in cap hell. If you are going to spend that kind of money on players, you would expect at least a better result.
Talk about not getting a lot of bang for your buck.
2017 should be about sensible contracts. This isn’t the year for blockbusters. They have been there and done that the last two years, and have little to show for it.
They need to sign players to reasonable – club friendly-deals, and draft a heck of a lot better. That is what they need to do.
The Jets signed Ben Ijalana to a two-year, $11 million deal today. It has $5 million guaranteed in the first year. This is the kind of contract I’m talking about. Not crazy money, and he will start at left tackle.
Ijalana can get the job done at left tackle. He was solid in 2016. Not perfect, but solid. I think he will get better in his second years as a starter. His eight starts over the second half of 2016 were his first left tackle starts in the NFL. He now has a better feel for the challenge. He has the feet, arm length and technique to handle the job. I’m with Bill Belichick. I don’t go by PFF’s grades.
I have no idea of their criteria and who is doing the grading. Steve Marshall thinks he can handle left tackle and so do I.
The Jets gave Wesley Johnson a second-round tender today. That shows you how much they value him. Remember, he can into the league as a fifth-round draft choice. A big reason they bit the bullet and moved on from Nick Mangold is they are very high on Johnson, and feel he’s an ascending player. Aside from a few plays, he did a really nice job for them last year after Mangold hurt his ankle.
The Jets also re-signed OLB Josh Martin – two years, $4.3 million. He was there best special team’s player and is an underrated OLB. It was ridiculous he didn’t play more at OLB last year. Basically after he got a sack in Miami right before the half, we didn’t see him at OLB again. Not sure what the Jets were thinking on this one, but they did the right thing bringing him back.
There is talk the Jets are considering Jay Cutler. If he’s healthy, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. If the new offensive coordinator (John Morton) and QB coach (Jeremy Bates) think it’s a good idea, go for it. They know what they need to execute their offense, and Bates was a QB coach in Denver where Cutler did a decent job. Now I wouldn’t spend a lot, and I’d bring in another veteran, but if Morton, Bates and Rex Hogan check off on this, go for it. Hogan was a long-time Bears executive who now works for the Jets. He was with Cutler for six years in Chicago. He’s knows a heck of a lot about the player.
Thursday, March 9
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