Monthly Archives: February 2008
“The Saints reportedly gave up a 2008 draft pick and a conditional 2009 draft pick for Jonathan Vilma.
This makes a lot more sense, although we’re not sure why A) So many stories were proven incorrect Friday and B) there is so much secrecy on the terms of a trade. The deal was originally reported as a conditional 2009 fourth, but the Jets will get a fairer deal. We’ll let you know the exact terms when we know.”
Source: Newsday
This may yet prove inaccurate, but I thought I’d pass it along. Would seem to make more sense than the disappointing 2009 conditional pick they had previously been rumoured (sic) to have received, which I’d assumed was due to his injury. Watch this space.
Update: Tom Rock reports great news! It’s a fourth this year, plus (if he meets playing time targets and signs an extension) either a 2nd or a 3rd next year, but with a 2009 4th rounder going back from the Jets to the Saints.
UPDATE: Looks like I broke the story that Michael Smith couldn’t. Mark this moment down in history. I was just too timid when I thought about questioning Michael Smith and his rugged handsomeness to really go with it.
Rock triangulates what I heard following, saying that Rick Smith said ESPN’s story is a “false report.”
As an FYI, I sent a note to Faneca’s agency, and received a terse reply stating that nothing was imminent, three minutes before Michael Smith broke the story on ESPN.
My night out is a little later than anticipated, so here’s the update as far as ESPN’s Michael Smith knows:
The New York Jets and guard Alan Faneca have agreed in principle to a four-year, $32 million deal that includes roughly $23 million in guarantees, ESPN’s Michael Smith reports. Faneca is expected to travel to New York this weekend when the deal will be finalized.
So the size of the deal didn’t change, just the amount of the guarantees. As long as he’s healthy, Tannenbaum looks like a genius.
To use a baseball analogy, think of Faneca as an excellent hitting short stop, or catcher. Sure they might be paid to do other things, but if they can hit too, their value skyrockets. With Faneca, it’s the same thing, he’s excellent in run support and pass protection, and immediately makes the left side of the line worlds better. We had written months ago that if the Jets wanted to compete, they needed to get Brick some help, and we’re glad that they agree. The Browns were able to improve from one of the worst units in the league (31st) to best (6th) with the help of a better line, and a QB who could throw deep. The Jets now effectively have the core of both, but still need to tweak with the line at RT.
Thanks to all the readers and commenters today, your thoughts on how things unfolded were very interesting to read! For now, I have to take off and will be back later tonight … it seems that the “culture vulture” and new Jet Kris Jenkins and I are heading out to see a Broadway show and then get dinner over at Sardi’s.*
Here’s what’s on tap for this weekend on TJB:
- Our thoughts on the moves so far
- What’s still on the Jets’ to-do list?
- Backup plans if Faneca falls though?
- What does this mean to the Jets draft strategy?
All this and more …
*Could be false
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According to the Jets, in addition to adding Kris Jenkins, they have extended Sione Pouha, who seems the likely candidate for a few years to backup Jenkins and come in for the Jets situationally.
It seems an odd time to extend Pouha, but if they think he’s the right guy for the job, they might as well. This might be a sign that the Jets are in fact close to a deal to move Robertson, but that’s just guessing on my part.
Alan Faneca’s agent, Rick Smith told the Daily News that the Jets are passionately interested in the former Pro-Bowl Guard.
“They’re absolutely all in, to use a poker term.”
I have to admit, I am getting a little nervous now. The hope is that just because they are “all in” doesn’t truly mean there is nothing left in reserve for the Jets to offer should it come to that.
Faneca is clearly weighing his options, like any smart free agent would do. Let’s just hope that the Jets don’t have to sweeten the pot substantially.
UPDATE: To this, T-Rock has added that Smith is compiling the offer sheets and that
Either Saturday afternoon, but no later than Sunday, Smith said, Faneca will make his decision. On Sunday he is expected to board a plane for one of the destinations and sign the contract tat will likely make him the best-paid offensive lineman in the sport.
“One plane, one visit,” Smith said of the weekend’s no-nonsense decision-making.
Wow, so maybe the Jets are all-in. But I have to say that their rush to get an offer out and public could potentially be their undoing. I have to say that I am concerned that the Jets offer is public so the Rams (around $7 million under) and Niners (around $32 million under) know what it would take to beat them.
So now … we wait …
UPDATE 2: This story on NFL.com contradicts that statement from Smith.
In a push to bolster their secondary, the Boston Globe has learned that the Saints have invited the former Patriot and Louisiana native Randall Gay to visit on Saturday.
The Jets could be a contender for Randall Gay with his RFA visit last season, but with a number of #2 CBs and slot corners, the Jets might view this as an area not needing great attention and resources right now as they address larger concerns.
It’s official, the linebacker is heading to the New Orleans Saints for a conditional fourth-round pick in ‘09 that could become a third-rounder, depending on on how Vilma performs. Vilma has yet to receive a new deal with his new team, which is the largest indictment of what he was able to command on the market.
Yeesh, look out draft class of ’09, between this and the Kendall pick, the team is going to be loaded for bear when it comes to the draft.
Well, at least it’s over, but it’s clear that there wasn’t much of a market for the linebacker, and what fans’ expectations and reality are, sometimes don’t exactly intersect. For those that said the Jets should have traded Vilma last offseason, you were right!
The Jets have given Kris Jenkins a rather bonus laden deal (containing about $20 million worth between guaranteed and bonuses), according to Rich Cimini and the Daily News.
I don’t know the specifics, but my thought is that the Jets likely loaded up as much they could in roster bonuses leaving things open ended as best they could after about 3 years.
Call us a little more jaded than Pat Yaskinas of ESPN.com, but he thinks that big city = big season for Kris Jenkins and writes as much on Hashmarks:
Jenkins is the kind of guy who gets bored easily and he got bored and disgruntled in Carolina, where he had stopped believing in the coaching staff several years ago. Panthers coach John Fox likes his players to be robots, and the outspoken Jenkins wasn’t the type to spew the company line.
[Affecting a British accent accompanied by a string quartet somewhere in the background]
Jenkins: I say Porterhouse, did you check out the smashing Exhibit of Helvica font at the MoMA? It is amazing how simple letterforms can truly transform the mundane … no? I’m always amazed how a smashing museum exhibit can help me penetrate the backfield of a foe? Hmm? Hmm?
Mangold: Umm … my name’s Nick and no … I was playing Halo 3 all night on XBOX Online! I raised my ranking by 10,000!
So Pat … have you ever heard an Eric Mangini press conference? Did you know that his former boss was Bill Belichick? All it is is a company line. What you descibed to me was a typical day at the practice facility in Hofstra. All anyone says now in Hempstead is a company line.
Well let’s just hope that the Met, or MoMA or maybe Scores (I don’t think that’s the case … Charlotte is known for it’s gentlemen’s establishments … remember Kerry Collins and Rae Carruth?) or whatever makes Jenkins happy and a Pro-Bowler …
So who is this guy the Jets just got named Kris Jenkins? Here’s a quick compiled scouting report on former Carolina DT Kris Jenkins, after the jump: (more…)
According to PFT, the Eagles announced Asante Samuel will in fact visit the team on Friday, as speculated reports had stated. After that, he will be made available to media at 4:30 p.m. EST.
If that doesn’t sound like it’s pretty much wrapped up, I’m not sure what does.
I’m not really concerned that the Jets aren’t going to sign Asante. Would I have liked them to? Of course, but for the price, I don’t know that it was worth it. The hope is that the $10 million he would have commanded can be put to better use at RT, finding another CB who can compete at the #2 or signing an OLB. Better yet, maybe they can use it to resign guys like Chris Baker and Kerry Rhodes.
It seems that this time around, there was more “grey area” in negotiating with free agents leading up to the actual free agent start time, and whatever the Jets offered wasn’t enough for Samuel to merit a visit. Samuel had made it known he wanted two things: money and to play for a contender.
It’s not missing out on Asante that has me choked up, it’s that it’s probably the last time I get to use that picture …
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