Audible: Nervous Yet?
Posted on March 5th, 2007 by Bassett
It’s gut check time!
With some of the big names off the board through free agency how are you feeling? Some of the names we batted around like Nate Clements, Adalius Thomas and others have now signed deals and all the while, the Jets sat back and watched. While the Patriots were loading up, the Jets stayed out of the newspapers, other than some rumors popping up here and there.
So what does this all make you think? Do you think the approach the organization is taking is right, or are you getting impatient with the team not jumping in early on the free agent market?
Here are some pros and cons to the approach the Jets are taking:
Pros
- Extend those players: Methodical process leaves money to extend deals to any players they would like to extend. As an aside, as much as I would like the Jets to extend Kerry Rhodes, I wonder if he will allow for that. The more I see his persona (acting, limelight, etc.) the more I imagine him to be the type of player who wants to see what’s in store for him via free agency.
- Stop the insanity: Not throwing stupid money around. Sure the money in the NFL is finally catching up with other sports, but some of the deals like Nate Clements’ $80million and Leonard Davis’ $50million to possibly play guard are literally insane.
- More players, less money: During this time of year, where roster size is not important, the Jets can horde extra bodies until cuts in camp, and see where the chips fall. If you waste a bunch of money on one or two players, it limits the number of roleplayers the Jets could bring in.
- Do you know what are you are getting: Most of the hyped guys who hit the free agent market have already played at their peak or are right now. Are you willing to pay top dollar for what guys have done in the past, rather than what they can contribute? Also, are you sure their play in a different scheme can work in a different one?
Cons
- Fill those gaps: The Jets have some serious needs to address at DL, CB, OL & RB along with some others. Locking up one of those “top tier” guys in at least one of those spaces would definitely have helped the Jets as they move further into free agency
- Keeping up with the Piolis: Mangini likes to talk about how they are going to have to deal with the division first, then beyond. When the Patriots, were literally a player or two away from the SuperBowl, and are adding players, it’s not going to get easier for the Jets.
- Does free agency dictate the draft or the other way around? Having some players locked up heading into the draft is like going to the grocery store on a full stomach. Bad decisions can be made when one is blinded by need.
- You know what you are getting: If a player lasts until free agency, a team should have a good sense of what they are getting. With all the film available, it’s easy to review a player’s body of work.
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Except for Thomas, there hasnt been a signing that I have wished the Jets had made. Its painful that the Pats have fortified themselves but the Jets are in a different place, needing many players alnog both front lines.
The Jets made tremedous strides last offseason and I expect the same this year. Patience is a virtue, after all.
I know it may seem frustrating as a Jet fan to sit back and watch all this free agent movement, especially when it’s the Pats who are making all the moves. But I think at this point we have to trust that Tannenbaum and Mangini have there plan and they know what there doing. I would have loved to have Clements or Thomas, but we got to have faith in this new regime and let them build this team the right way. Your point about keeping up with the Pioli’s does bring me back to reality, I know every free agent move doesn’t always work out, but the Pats have made some scary moves. Don’t forget they could also pick up Wes Welker and they have two, yes two first round picks. Scary, scary stuff.
This is probably just sour grapes but here’s an interesting article which sheds some negative light on the Adalius Thomas signing by the Pats.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/03/04/more_of_the_same/?page=1
Now I’m sure if the Jets had signed Thomas I wouldn’t give an article like this any credence.
What we cannot afford to do, which I have seen some people suggest, is to save money specifically in order to sign Michael Turner next year. You cannot put all your eggs in one basket like that. What if he has an amazing year? What if another team comes in with a crazy offer for him? What if he gets a chance to start and it turns out that he sucks? What if he gets hurt? Then we would be left with a plan B, which might be another Barlow or Suggs.
However, the silver lining is that next year’s RB class should be really good, so that will enable us to potentially target him and then re-assess our options draft-wise if that doesn’t pan out.
As for what’s happened so far, I’m quite happy for us to let the market settle before we shell out for second rate talent or someone who isn’t a good fit. Hopefully, some shrewd moves will happen sooner or later. And the fact that the Jets are being cautious is a good sign for next year and beyond.
Also, maybe this Pats spending spree is good news too, because it will hopefully lead to them having to rebuild in a few years and having a load of dead cap space etc. If they are sacrificing the big picture to go after a short term goal (another superbowl before BB retires?) then that should put their “dynasty” in jeopardy in a few years.
Great point Bent! I didn’t realize how strong next years RB class is going to be. With that being said it seems like it would make more sense to sign a one year stop gap like Corey Dillon or just let Cedric Houston and Leon Washington handle the load and focus on RB next year or in the draft. It’s not worth it to waste money on a potential bust like TJ Duckett and your thoery about saving money to sign Michael Turner is dead on.There are too many “what if” scenarios when it comes to Turner and I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I pray your prediction about the Pats having to rebuild with a ton of dead cap space in a few years comes true.
the first few days of Free Agency is exactly the time when your team can make its biggest mistakes (ask Dan Snyder) – laying low isn’t necessarily a bad thing – wait till after the draft to evaluate the offseason
Another variable with Turner is young Schott. Turner is close to him, which I think is one reason they are sitting on MT. However, IF Schott leaves the Jets they lose the recruiting advantage.
That said, 2008 will be deep both in free agency and the draft, so there will be more options than this year.
Think they are intent on giving Leon 20+ touches per game, in which case it makes no sense to empty the vault.
As of this point in free agency, this is what I’d like to see the Jets do. Go after Robaire Smith or David Bowens (would prefer Smith) and Joey Porter strong. These two signings would instantly upgrade the run and pass defense and allow the Jets to concentrate on a top CB with the first round pick. Then, I would go out and find a servicable RT and a stop-gap at RB with an eye towards drafting an OG and a RB in the second round.
After losing out on Clements- and Thomas-like players is when the old regime would panic and immediately sign the likes of Damien Robinson or Curtis Conway or Sam Cowart, who would then turn out to be busts and salary cap anchors for years . . .
As others have said, you can’t assess the off-season by the first week or two — that’s when the Jets signed KVO last year, and I think it’s fair to say that’s not the true benchmark of last year’s off-season and how they went about building the team.
I don’t intend to assess free-agency by the first two weeks and I think you would be hard-pressed to call Joey Porter a Sam Cowart (who was coming off a torn achilles). Porter is the only standout I would suggest the Jets pursue, I don’t think giving reasonable contracts to average players at their position is reaching in free agency. The Jets need to play Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, KC, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, the Giants and an improvng Tennesee team this year. I would not mortgage the future, but a bunch of mediocre signings will not translate to a winning season this year.
I completely disagree with R_in_CT. The best players at G and LB, positions of need for us, are gone. No one without warts will hit the market the rest of the way. The rest are JAGs. One can certainly assess one’s team use of FA now. The rules of the game were clear. The teams with vision, Pats and Jills filled needs quickly. The niners over paid.
I disagree with Ilan’s assessment of the two JAGs he hopes we sign. We will not be able to compete with the Pats, currently a better team, if we sign JAGs while they add versatile and talented players and we rely on the draft and an extra #2 while they use an extra #1.
What everyone seems to forget is that a team like the Pats can add a few solid playes like an AT, a Welker and a blocker like Brady and even if all the cap space this year is gone, the extra space next year will let them go after one of those RB too if Maroney doesn’t shoulder the load — with the ability to offer a sure trip to the playoffs thanks to this year’s upgrades.
Because not only did the cap space jump this year a lot, it will go up a lot each of the next two years.
IOW, the smart teams filled major needs with the best available FA confident that the increased cap space will make these signings not seem as outrageous as they do today. And, most were structured as three year deals so the risk is not all that great.
harlan