Chris Baker Leaves Voluntary Activities
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 by Bassett
The Post is reporting this morning that Jets Tight End Chris Baker has left the strength and conditioning progam in Hempstead. Hopeful that he would have a new deal already done, Baker is still waiting and has considered the time right to make his play.
I don’t think it would take a ransom to get the deal done, but the Jets need to clear Robertson off the books first. Baker has played well in the past few years and he has three or four solid years of contribution left, at a minimum. Football Outsiders ranked him highly in 2007, even despite the perception he’s not a pass-catching Tight End.
F– him! Of all the guys to get antsy about his contract. Frankly, I say let him sit out. If he thinks he makes too little, let him see what nothing looks like.
Cincy has the right idea. Heck, they even turn down #1 and 3 (or better) for Chad Johnson.
This guy signed a contract extension only two years ago. Luckily his sitting out will give more time to Bubba Franks to develop a rapport with our QBs.
And, it is not like he is dominating the league like Antonio Gates, Tony Gonazalez or even Kevin Boss.
harlan
Yeah Harlan!
He just sees the money fountain and wants a swim.
Chris Baker spoke out against Tangini. This is Parcells/Hugh Douglas all over again.
harlan you have to look at the situation the jets took care of everybody on the team even bubba franks 1yr. deal make more money then my man baker you cant do something good for 1 player and not the other now its his turn they should take care of the young te. with lots of potential!
Happy Trails!!!!
Taking care of Baker wouldn’t be to costly, and he is very, very underutilized. Next to Becht, Brady et al, he’s pretty damn good and they need to look back at that history before dismissing his so easily. Toss him a bone wit an extra year and a boost to this years salary so he’s higher paid than Franks and move on to more pressing matters.
It isn’t that he wants more money. It is that he is going to walk out of camp over it. He isn’t LC. He deserves more cash, but he is expendable. If you walked out of work would you get a raise? Only if you weren’t replaceable.
I think they’ll be able to take care of him.
He’s no Chad Johnson and he’s been the consummate JET. While certainly not as good of a player as a Coles, has any JET been more consistent, diligent, and consistent than Baker?
Lets get this done; he’s a great JET (note: I’m not saying he’s a great player).
It also won’t break the bank. Over 3-4 years it’ll probably be efficient.
He’s definitley not a “Great JET” Those words shouldn’t be tossed around too loosely. LC is a “Great Jet”, so was C-Mart, Wayne Chrebet, Mo Lewis, MArvin Jones, and some more, but I don’t hink Baker’s there yet. He hasn’t produced enough to be in that category. They will take care of Baker, this is getting ridiculous though with players refusing to play for $$$. They already make more money than necessary. i’d give my left nut to make the league minimum.
You must’ve missed the part where I said “NOT a great player, a great JET”.
How many guys remain on NFL teams this long, hardly ever making a peep through some EXTREMELY lean years that spanned much of his career, never complaining about playing time (despite the fact that he was at times clearly better than guys like Jolley), and showing up everyday and working his arse off?
Thats why I say he’s a great JET. Longevity during tough years and maintaining a winning attitude cannot be discounted.
I understood exactly what you said, I just don’t think he ffits as a “great Jet”. I understand he’s been ariund a while, but that doesn’t mean he’s a “great JET”. I just don’t feel his on-field contributions put him there. Sorry
Apology accepted.
We will agree to disagree about semantics.
Jeez, want to now argue about whether today’s weather is “nice” or “fair”?
Haha.
This was reported by The Post. If it is true (big if), let him stay out a while and then work on it after the draft when the dust settles from trades & signings. I’d be surprised if he actually did this so close to the draft – he must know their hands are tied till after this weekend. I’d bet it’s something else entirely, like the deliberately vague “personal reasons”. Otherwise, I think he’s hurting himself by doing it now.
Marvin Jones was great at breaking his hip.
HaHa, I’d say it’s fairly Nice
Let him walk. He is OK at best. Makes a nice catch here and there but not someone I am concerned about losing. Bring back Fred Baxter.
Currently, the cap has to be tight. To say nothing about everybody concentrating on the draft. This isn’t a good time to walk. His agent should have made that clear!
And the weather is fairly nice today. Overcast, but fairly nice.
I wouldn’t make this into anything big, yet. It’s not like he walked out of training camp. It’s an off-season conditioning program. Of course he knows they’re focused on the draft, now. Easy way to express a little dissatisfaction without appearing super militant and disruptive ala LC or Kendall.
I think Baker’s good, not as good as he thinks, but worth keeping. He’s got great hands, though he’s not a very speedy or sharp route runner. He’s not scaring any DC’s. I’d let him sulk a bit then give him a moderate bump once the draft smoke clears.
I agree with dsmizzle (not getting into any great or not debate) but he certainly does what he’s been asked, is clearly making too little for being a starting TE, has suffered as the team suffered, makes the big catches when thrown his way.
I think he’s underrated and some teams would consider themselves lucky to have him. He also is a good character, team first type player it would seem until now.
For those that liken this to regular Joe workers, if you knew everyone in the same job was making more than you wouldn’t you get upset too? Enough to take a stand.
I agree that maybe he is just showing his disappointment without making it a bigger deal than sitting out training camp.
It comes down to does he deserve more money and I think he does. Now if the Jets made a promise, and who knows if they did like Kendall said, then they should stick by their word but after the draft would seem more appropriate.
What Harlan said. He’s nothing special. If you can get a second or third rounder, let him cry somewhere else.
If you can get a 2nd or 3rd rounder for Chris Baker, please become the next JETS’ GM. That is not a realistic possibility.
But yes, 100000000%, if that opportunity presented itself, you’d do it!
Chris Baker is good and does what we ask him to do. He catches every ball thrown at him. The jets should give him a little bump after the draf tand everything should be fine.
Harlan, Kevin Boss? Really?