Monthly Archives: February 2005
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but word around the water cooler is that Mason will be signed by Jacksonville, and that the Ealges have a passing interest in Jordan.
Derrick
Mason, WR, Tennessee – All reports are that he is headed for
Jacksonville; maybe Hugh Douglas can call him and change his mind. This
space always has been a Mason fan, and feels he would be ideal for the
Eagles, even at age 31. All he did last year was catch 96 passes, his
second straight 90-plus catch season. The Eagles had their sights on
him in 2001 before he re-signed with the Titans on the eve of free
agency.
Whispers
are rumors are flying around the NFL leading up to the deadline. Looks
like Samari Rolle won't be a Jet and is about to sign a contract with the Skins. In other news the Skins will likely bring Laveranues back, or be forced to drop him and take a huge cap hit. Regarding Rolle:
The
Redskins yesterday were on the verge of landing former Tennessee Titans
cornerback Samari Rolle with a typically huge signing bonus, believed
to be worth $15 million, NFL sources said.
Musical Chairs
As
the veteran quarterbacks shuffle around the league, John Clayton
reports that the Jets will likely get Jay Fiedler or Vinny Testaverde
to backup Chad Pennington. Other players of note: Kelly Holcomb to stay
in Cleveland, Kurt Warner to go to Chicago and Jeff Garcia to Detroit.
To channel Gomer Pile for a moment:
“Well suuuuuprise suuuuuuprise!”
I told you so yesterday! I knew once Peter King got his dirty little fingers on this story, it was cursed.
When
I say cursed, I mean, like
Haitian-Voodoo-lady-with-a-chicken-bone-through-her-nose cursed. Do you
doubt me? Anyone remember Jake Plummer for MVP in 2003 & 2004? I
do.
Although I would have loved to see this deal go through, the deal was paper thin from the start, and now seems to be falling apart as quickly as it was dreamed up.
So,
loyal reader, where do the Jets go from here? Derrick Mason is still a
potential play for the Jets, but after trying to work out deals with
two top-tier receivers, has the Jets' brass had enough, or will they
still try to make something happen? And, most importantly, who would
you speculate the Jets would try to make a run for by trade?
Help me out here! What do you think?
Man has this story evolved, and now Peter King is involved, which
means this trade will never happen. The one good thing is that I love
to see all the wheeling and dealing these days. The NFL never used to
have anything like this.
So, let me understand this, first the Jets were looking to get Laveranues Coles
if he was released by the Skins, and now we want to trade for him and
will have to eat his contract? This just makes no sense to me.
(edited: Now that I understand the Jets would not have to eat his bonus, this is much more palateable – BB)
The
truth is, from looking at the stats from the season, McCareins became
the money receiver and maybe the Front Office thinks he will become an
even more competent #2 with Coles complementing him better than Moss
did, honestly I have no idea.
In another vein, why not just try
to make a play for Mason next week? Moss is a bargain for this season
at $500K but Mason might be a longer term bargain here, and he might
want to play for Heimerdinger, since he won't have to make a big
adjustment.
Peter King – King of Fact Checkers
Peter might want to check his facts on occasion. In the bottom of his column, he lists Coles as being 23… try 27. Remember Coles Peter? He took the wrap for his erstwhile Dillard's shopping buddy Peter Warrick.
With all the message board chatter of
the past few weeks about Randy Moss, looks like the new rumors revolve
around Laveranues Coles and his strong desire to jump ship.
In
an unprecedented move, Coles offered to waive the final $5 million
installment of his $13 million signing bonus to get his release. That
payment is due April 1.
More than likely, if it comes to
this, the Players Union will block the move, but it is impressive to
see how strongly Coles wants to leave the Redskins and to possibly
return to his former team.
Slow news day for the Jets, I wonder how many more we are in for in the next few months…
Regardless,
I will try to do my best to post as much stuff as I can, when I can
about the Jets, or things that might concern the Jets.
This is
actually some information that I have been hanging onto for a few weeks
now, but thought you might care to look over. I wanted to see what Jets
are planning to play in NFL Europe this spring, so that I could look
out for some players if I happen to be bored enough to end up watching
a game.
Here are the players set to play in NFL Europe this
season from the Jets. For more information about the players from the
whole league going to NFL Europe this year, check this link.
2005 NFL Europe Supplemental Draft
Round Name…………NFLEL Team Position College
20….Matt.Chila……Hamburg….TE…….Villanova
NFL Player Allocation
Team..Name…………NFLEL Team Position College
NYJ…L.J. Flowers….Berlin…..RB…….Michigan.State
NYJ…Terrence Stubbs.Berlin…..WR…….Temple
NYJ…Kevin Eakin…..Frankfurt..QB…….Fordham
NYJ…Tim McGill……Hamburg….DT…….None
From looking at the bottom half of the league for rushing yards in
2004, here is my step-through of teams at the bottom of the barrel and
my analysis of their need for Jordan. From looking at the teams, you
might be suprised who will bid for his services.
Jacksonville - No needs here, Fred Taylor is locked up for next year. Jacksonville does not need an heir apparent this year.
LaMont Landing Potential = Slim to none
Cincinnati -
The Bengals are a team that have an embarassment of riches in the
backfield. With Chris Perry in the wings and Rudi Johnson receiving the
franchise tag, there are no needs for Running Backs in Cinci.
LaMont Landing Potential = Not gonna happen
Minnesota -
Another team that has more talent in the backfield than they know what
to do with. Although they are looking for one feature back, they have
three able backs locked up for this year. Michael Bennett, Moe Williams
and Onterrio Smith have been in and out of the rotation for health and
disciplinary needs. The one thing that interests me is that they have
the most cap room of any team at present.
LaMont Landing Potential = Unlikely
Detroit -
Young burner Kevin Jones is just starting to get his legs under him in
the NFL, so Detriot will not be looking to replace their young starter.
LaMont Landing Potential = Unlikely
Dallas -
Julius Jones showed last year that he could carry the load for
“America's Team.” Dallas is not in the market for a Running Back this
year.
LaMont Landing Potential = Slim
Washington - Two words: Clinton Portis
LaMont Landing Potential = Nope
Arizona -
Although this was a possibility just a few days ago, it is now less
likely because Arizona is orchestrating a trade for Buffalo castoff
Travis Henry.
LaMont Landing Potential = Only if the Henry deal falls apart
Cleveland -
What about the Browns? Mix in a new head coach, plenty of cap room ($19
Mil or so), and some underacheiving Running Backs and you might have
the right location for Jordan.
LaMont Landing Potential = Medium
Philadelphia -
Another team with plenty of cap space and consistent injuries for their
Running Backs. With Levens, Buckhalter and Westbrook facing free agency
this year it is a possibility. Although, the way the media was falling
over themselves for Brian Westbrook at the end of the season, I don't
think that the Iggs will be looking for Jordan, but it is a possibility.
LaMont Landing Potential = Slight
Chicago -
With two free agents in their backfield (Adrian Peterson & Anthony
Thomas) a poor running game last year and a good amount of cap space,
Chicago provides one of LaMont's best options. With Defensive minded
Lovie Smith as the Head Coach, there could be plenty of chances for him
to kill clock by grinding at Soldier Field.
LaMont Landing Potential = High
St. Louis - With Marshall Faulk as a backup in St. Louis, there is no reason to consider this a viable option.
LaMont Landing Potential = Impossible
New Orleans - Deuce doesn't need a backup and the Saints are already in cap trouble.
LaMont Landing Potential = Slim to none
Carolina -
Carolina's two competent runners got injured last year, and even the
third stringer stepped in and did fine. John Fox is not looking for
depth in the backfield.
LaMont Landing Potential = Slim
Tampa Bay -
Already in salary cap hell, the Bucs could make a run after LaMont, if
they do some cleaning of their roster. With many free agents this year,
the Bucs could be the sleeper to pull off a deal with Jordan
LaMont Landing Potential = Medium
San Francisco -
Although there are no free agents coming off the stingy Niners in the
backfield, the team has the money ($13 Mil in space) and the motive
(90.3 YPG Rushing). The new look Niners are a team that rubs pennies
together, so who knows whether they will make a run or not at LaMont,
but the environment for San Francisco is right. With the recent
addition of Bishop Harris, could he help lure LaMont to the west coast?
LaMont Landing Potential = More and more intriguing as I think about it
Miami -
Reeling from the woes of recent years and no cap room, the Dolphins
have cleaned house and freed up some space on their team, though they
are still underwater ($2 Mil over the cap). Miami seems an unlikely
spot for Jordan due to all the flux, but the question is, what will
Saban look to build the team around, and what does he need to get
moving in the right direction? If anyone would know Jordan's potential,
it would be the Dolphins, who have seen him often enough in the past
few years even seeing him go off for 136 total yards in Week 7 this
past year.
LaMont Landing Potential = Intriguing
Oakland -
With the worst rushing attack last year, it doesn't look like Oakland
cares about running the ball with the recent re-signing of Jerry Porter
and now the trade for Randy Moss. Honestly I have no idea how Oakland
could stay in the picture for the LaMont Jordan sweepstakes. But if
anyone can figure it out, it has got to be the man in the jumpsuit,
though out of the 32 teams in the NFL, the Raiders rank 30th in cap
space with more than $11 million over the cap.
LaMont Landing Potential = Cap space is the killer
Randy's Honeymooon set to begin in the Black Hole
Well
the Randy Moss rumors going to the Jets are officially dead. Mort
reports that the Raiders have made a deal with the Vikings in principle
to trade Randy Moss for LB Napoleon (Dynamite) Harris and the Raider
1st Rounder (7th overall pick in the draft). I am not sure how the
Raiders are doing this, they are in Salary Cap trouble as it is, and
this will put them 6'4″ under.
I know you might be upset that
the Jets didn't get their man, but for the Jets it would have been
Abraham, a first rounder, and maybe another pick as well. The price was
too high, and Randy's attitude wouldn't go over long in New York. All
in all this works out for everyone, especially the Jets.
Jets' Jordan To Test Market – NJ.com
LaMont Jordan' stock just went up, waaaay up.
With
Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James getting slapped with the franchise
tag by their respective teams, LaMont Jordan might now be the best
Unrestricted Free Agent to hit the market. Jordan has confirmed through
his agent that he will test the market to see what's out there:
“The
Jets have presented us with a very fair offer,” Jordan's agent, Alvin
Keels, told The Star-Ledger. “LaMont doesn't feel slighted at all. The
Jets want to keep him in New York. I realize that and LaMont realizes
it. But LaMont feels he owes it to himself to test the market.“He's
excited. He's looking forward to it. But LaMont stressed to me that
it's not totally out of the question that he won't be back with the
Jets.”
Porter Resigns with Oakland
A while back, I was afraid of some rumors regarding Oakland's interest in Jordan. Looks like LaMont's window has closed in Oakland with the re-signing of Jerry Porter. Oakland is one of the worst teams facing the cap,
so don't expect them to bring in a high priced Free Agent Running Back.
With the tagging of Edgerrin and Shaun, those teams are set in the
backfield, still leaving Miami, Chicago & Arizona as potential
suitors for Jordan.
Looks like the rumor mill is cranking up. Here are three seperate stories that are being tracked regarding the Jets:
Coles to Return?
Last
I checked, the Jets were looking for the prototypical receiver. A big,
tough guy who can go up for some jump balls, and they are looking to
get another sub-six-foot, burner who left due to free agency to sign a
huge contract? I don't even know what to say here…
My only guess is maybe Heimerdinger thinks he can turn McCareins into that guy.
Running Backs Coach Bishop Harris Leaving?
After
his spat with Herm during the Chargers playoff game, things were kept
in the family, and very quiet. If you will remember, Herm got up in
Bish's grill because he wanted LaMont Jordan in the game, as well as he
was frustrated with the playcalls by Hackett and “shot” the messenger
(Bish).
If I had to guess, I think that Bish's response was to
tell Edwards to take it up with the guy calling the shots, not the one
relaying them, and oh, by the way, your guy is in the
game. After taking the high road, I think Harris has had enough, and
wants to look for another job, which should be easy for him to find,
possibly with Crennel in Cleveland.
Hack and Slash (Bottom of page)
Players likely to not be back with the Jets one way or another:
LaMont Jordan (Duh)
Sam Cowart (Double Duh)
Reggie Tongue (Due a $400K bonus…)
Kareem McKenzie (Damn! Too good now!)
As the stadium drama starts to escalate
with the possibility of open bids for the rail yards where the West
Side Stadium is proposed to go, more people are sharing their opinions
and the history on the area, amazing what you can learn if you look a
little. From the Village Voice:
“Eighty
years of history demonstrates that there was not a lot of interest
[there],” Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff told a City Council hearing
last week.In fact, the recent past of the Hudson rail yards is
littered with failed attempts at vast new projects. None other than the
former owners of Madison Square Garden proposed in the mid 1980s that
they be allowed to construct a “world-class sports and entertainment
center” above the yards.
