The Jets put the franchise tag on linebacker David Harris on Tuesday.
But it’s highly unlikely he will play under that tag once the season starts.
He will probably get a long-term deal between now and then.
I keep hearing that Harris is going to end up making more than Bart Scott, who makes an average of $8 million per season.
Why?
Scott is overpaid. So why do the Jets need to beat a contract so out of whack with reality?
And plus, I think we would all agree that Harris had a good year this year, but not great.
I don’t want to make too big of a deal out of one play, but seeing Harris caught from behind by 33-year-old, 275-pound tight end Alge Crumpler, on a pick in the New England playoff game, didn’t help him.
It showed that he doesn’t have great speed, and if you are going to give an inside linebacker $9-10 million a year, he better be an athletic freak like San Francisco’s Patrick Willis.
A contact in the $6-7 million a year range seems more than fair for Harris.
And maybe some of that money can be taken from a Scott reduction to the $4-5 million ballpark.
