I think the other big benefit of Faneca beyond run blocking is that he’s a tough SOB and a smart competitor. I’d love to see his intensity rub off on the rest of our line. If we can get him and still have money for a mid-tier FA like Gay and for our draft picks, I’m all for it.

mccarriens though did play with heart. when he wasn’t on the feild, he was chomping to do anything on special teams, and as i remember made a few good plays. so not quite as we expected and missed what could have ben some key plays would be a fair asessment rather than what its being made out to be.

On another note, the Detroit News is reporting that the Lions are getting close to making a deal that would send Shaun Rogers to Denver. This might kill two options for the Jets as Rogers would be in Denver and Denver would have gotten the DT they are looking for. This might open up the Jets to make a play for Roy Williams if Detroit is still interested in Vilma. Somehow, I don’t think the Jets FO was ever really interested in Rogers.

Signing aging big-name players during a rebuilding phase only keeps the bandwagon fans and media happy, but often does little to fix the team long-term. I’m encouraged that this FO seems to ignore what the media stirs a certain element of the fan base into thinking and has taken its lumps in the process. Hopefully now that will lead to long-term success.

“the Jets sound primed to make a push for a Guard like Alan Faneca or a Tackle like Flozell Adams come Friday ”

Players like Justin Smiley and Jake Scott (or both so we can cut Moore) will almost certainly be around to contribute longer and better than Faneca or Adams. Plus, there are probably better RT at our second pick in the draft than Adams (at this point in his career) or Max Starks.

Looking at the current FA crop and draft, I think the best moves would be to sign one or two younger guards and a CB (probably Gay over Samuel). Score a RT with our second pick and maybe a safety in the draft or if one comes free in FA, and we will be set for the next five years on the OL and DBs.

The only other FA I would be interested in is a stud younger WR if is available for trade or is a salary cap casualty. So saving money for that would be fine too. We could then trade or cut Coles and let him find out his true market value.

While our pass rush and rush D will still be inept, no one with half a brain thinks we will be competing with the Colts or Pats after only one off season anyway.

harlan

As for McCareins, “had a bad day” doesn’t quite do it. Has anyone ever done a song called “had a bad career”. “Oops, I did it again” might be more appropriate. Or “Born Slippy”. Or “Can’t Hold On”. Or the little known cult classic “I don’t care if he has offered to contribute to special teams, Eric, the guy couldn’t catch a cold (except in preseason)”. And Matt – I can recall several examples of where J-Mac didn’t contest an underthrown pass, leading to an interception, which constitutes a lack of heart in my book.

Oh, and as bad as Barrett is (although he bizarrely always seems to do better when matched up with someone good), he’s still better than Justin Miller in my book. But, since you asked, I calculate that the cap hit on Barrett is less than his salary, so the Jets would save $2-3m by cutting him. (Cutting Miller has hardly any effect on the cap).

What are the chances of any of these three being on a roster come opening day? For Clarke, I would say no chance whatsoever, but the others might stick somewhere with a lower salary and the hope that “a change of scenery will do them good”.