A Page Ripped From the Kendall Playbook
Chris Baker held court with the press today, and it seems that he’s had some things to say. Not surprisingly a lot of the things that Baker was saying today are consistent with what Pete Kendall said last year … airing the grievances, indicating that he wants to stay with the team, why he’s been mistreated and ultimatums.
Here are some of Baker’s quotes
… on whether he’s here to avoid penalties …
“That’s the only reason I’m here. The way things are right now, I don’t have the desire to be out here, right now, at this moment.”
… on whether there will be anything done …
“There’s been no indication they want to do anything. It wasn’t like ‘let’s talk.’ It’s ‘no we don’t want to do anything right now.’ It was ‘go and have another good year again.’ … my gut feeling? No. They haven’t done anything to indicate they want to resolve this so, no, I don’t. That’s not saying I don’t want to be here because I do. I don’t believe so but we’ll see. I’ve been here, I want to be here but at the same time it looks like we’re going down that same road.”
… on how Kendall’s situation affected the team …
“[Kendall’s] situation, it was ridiculous. It basically tanked our season last year. His situation was not a good one last year, it wasn’t a pretty situation and hopefully I don’t get put in that same situation.
“You take your starting guard and you have no backup plan behind him. Your offensive line struggles and, in turn, your offense struggles. That affected everybody on offense last year. Seeing the way he was treated … obviously, guys didn’t like it. I didn’t like it either.”
… on Mangini’s role in the negotiations …
“Eric basically stayed out of the situation. He just wanted to keep me up with what was going on offense and things like that. But at that time I wanted to do that, but just sitting there, seeing what was going on with the way they were treating me, I was like I really don’t want to know what’s going on [team-wise things] until something’s done. I don’t want to keep getting put off, ‘We’ll do this next year.’ Yeah, I’m supposed to believe that after what happened this past year?”
… on his role in the offense …
“I asked for the ball quietly the last five, six years. That hasn’t happened. That has nothing to do with me. Last year, they asked me to stay in and block and I did that.”
… on contracts …
“If you don’t get something in writing, you might as well take it with a grain of salt. Obviously, those ends of the bargain aren’t held up.”
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Doesn’t Baker realize that it doesn’t matter who is the cause of his average numbers because at the end of the day, average numbers yield average pay? Good teams don’t pay contract extensions based on potential.
Jets > any self-congratulatory primadona
I have an idea on how to stop hearing an average TE gripe about money.
We stop listening, reading the articles, and posting. If no one wants to hear the story they can’t keep writing the same things. If theres no demand we can hope it will kill supply. I care more about the punter situation than Chris Baker.
Im starting to dislike this guy…YOU’RE NOT PETE KENDALL!!! You are replaceable…I really don’t want to see that happen, but this guy doesent deserve to wear the green and white. Im not saying dont stand up for what was “promised” to you, but grow up alittle…set and example, be a leader on this team
Gee, Baker is represented by the same agents, and he’s saying all the same things …. what are the chances?
I wonder if any of these reporters had the sack to ask: “Hey, why weren’t you complaining like this about the Front Office when they advanced you your next year’s salary in good faith? Don’t you think it’s hypocritical that you took that good faith money and are now complaining about it?”
Oh wait, that might ruin the story, or force them to actually watch minicamp and report on it. This is stupider than a Top 10 about casting a Jets movie!
Chris Baker is a primodona. Ok, first of all….you are NOT Pete Kendall. Not even close. Second, you put up average numbers at best. Over the years you keep dropping passes in the end zone like its hot. Maybe you can block….but your slow and your lucky your making more than a million a year because your worth veteran minimum money. We should trade you for a value meal at mcdonalds.
Baker:
“[Kendall’s] situation, it was ridiculous. It basically tanked our season last year – so, being the opportunist that i am, I figured the recent memory of this would incline the jets to give into my demands…”
If he’s gonna do this crap, they should suspend him/fine him for conduct detrimental to the team.
I do agree with Baker on the Kendall situation, it did tank our season. We had some close games that could have been won if we gave up a couple less sacks. They had no backup plan last year and it killed us. Unfortunately for Baker, they have a backup plan this year, 2 of them.
If you don’t want to hear this year after year, you have to put a stop to it. Trading or cutting them is not the answer. Keeping them is. You play or you pay. After that, you better read your contract before you sign it, because that’s the deal. Live with it.
I agree that Baker is a whiner. As R_in_CT stated, the team advanced him salary. But if he’s traded, who plays TE? An old and oft-injured Franks and a smallish rookie?
Who cares who we bring in this will happen every year? We showed faith in him he doesn’t share the same. We can find a blocking TE.
My idea of ignoring this Bojo failed huh?
I’d like to find a journalist who would ask CB three questions: How do you figure talk like this will aid your stated objective to get a raise? Can we call it what it is? Isn’t this just a way to get to free agency?
The Kendall situation was totally different. The Jets blew that one. From Baker’s perspective, why not try to force a raise a la Kendall. However, Baker’s not worth all this nonsense. He’s an OK player but, in addition to Franks and Keller, there will definitely be a player of his caliber available on the waiver wire by the end of training camp.
I am on the fence on this one. Personally I think Baker is very good. He can block well and catches the ball well. I also think he is underrated and underutilized by the jets. However as an organization you can not allow players to renegotiote with two years left on their contracts. I think they made an exception with coles because of kendall and because coles can be a huge pain in the ass and is a leader on the team. But they don’t want to make a habit out of it.
I think he is thinking he is 28 and if he doesn’t get paid now at 30 it will be alot more difficult.
Thankfully they learned from last year and have a backup plan. Because it looks like baker is saying the types of things that force an organization to trade you.
Chris Baker role in the offense:
2005 18 catches 269yds 1td avg 14.9 yds
Then got his 4 yr $6.6 mill deal
2006 31 catches 300yds 4td avg 9.7yds
2007 41 catches 409 yds 3tds 10.00 avg
So, what is he complaining about? he didn’t catch 82 passes like Cotchery?
Him saying that the Kendall situation tanked their season last year is about as lame of an excuse coming from a pro ball player!!
WE can say that– we don’t play for pay!
CB & his agent-can go scratch- go find another team, workout a deal & leave. As I said before, the Saints we’re looking to upgrade – they couldn’t get shockey–maybe they’ll take you….
Chris Baker: A Legend in his Own Mind…
If Chris Baker hits the waiver wire, he’ll be the best TE, probably the best player, to hit the wire.
There will be no one to replace him.
Bubba Franxxx is a downgrade from Baker and newsflash: we didn’t draft Dustin Keller to be a TE. Bubba Franxxx is also a huge and constant injury risk.
We will likely end up with someone like JoeKo as our 2nd TE, and possibly our #1 if Bubba Franxxx (as he has in the past) gets injured.
Meanwhile, you just know New England is picking up Baker off the waiver wire. Not only does NE want to stick it to the JETS, they also like to stockpile TE’s, and Chris Baker is a good, useful player to boot.
Wait a minute, do you mean to tell me that Pete Kendall’s signing would have ment the playoffs? WOW! You mean to tell me that one man makes a team? WOW! I guess now if we don’t sign Baker and give into his demands, this seasons tanked too! WOW!
Is is somehow ironic that the same agents represent both players? Granted not signing P.K. had an impact on our OL, no arguement from me, but to think that the whole season rested upon his shoulders is moronic. Give Baker a trade, lets pick up a third rounder, maybe a 2nd rounder for him and let the chips fall where they may. Let me ask a question, if you go and buy an auto, and they promise you a free dvd/cd player, do you get it in writing? YOU KNOW YOU DO!!! “but they promised me” BULL, If that was the case, why would they have fronted him his money and not addressed the issue of restructuring his contract all at the same time. This is an issue of sour grapes, one because a FA who has the credentials was signed and the 2nd of 2 no.1’s will get more money than him. Let him show us what he can do, C.P. is in the last year of his contract as well, lets see him work it out, I’m sorry I don’t hear C.P. crryyyyyyiiinnnngggg. Poor Baker, he’s underpaid at 1.6 million per year, waaahhhhhh.
One more thing to add about the Pats picking up Baker:
If and when they do so (and they will if the JETS drop him), Billy Bellicheat will make sure that he gets 60 catches and all their red zone chances. I know this, you know this, and the American people know this.
Is Kyle Brady is still available as a FA…..
…a blast from the past!!
cut his ass
There’s no way we cut him. We can afford a hold out with Baker at $1.6 million. If he really won’t work for his money, then maybe we work out a trade, but no way do we put him on waivers. Doing so would risk the Dolphins and Patriots trying to get him.
The only way to send the right message is to keep him on the team. He’s doing this because Pete Kendal got his way. The FO needs to send the message that they are not going to renegotiate in the middle of a contract.
oh shut up and just play the damn game u should worry bout not losing ur starting position thatn bout money , plz id be so happy if i make 850 k a yr
DSmizzle – there’s no way the pats pick up Baker because there is absolutely, positively no way we cut him. Look at Tanny’s history, he trades players for something, even if very little. They should keep him whether he likes it or not and make him play for what they advanced him last year. Failing that, they will trade, and not cut him.
Rhodes had 2 ints today. Both off Clemens. Clemens got “sacked” twice. Chad was Chad and needed Marcus Henry to jump high and bring down the best pass of the day. I’m sure more will be up soon. 2nd corner spot is rotating Barret and Miller. Miller looks improved.
Chris Baker is an above average TE. He is an excellent blocker with terrific hands. Whenever they throw to him he makes the play. Unfortunately, they have never had another blocking TE to play along side him, so he’s been mostly relegated to blocking duty. Baker makes an excellent point when he asked how Mangini would feel if he were the third highest paid coach on the team? How would you all feel if your boss hired a guy with spotty experience for the same money you make and brought in some guy right out of college and paid him more than you? Players are human and are fighting for employment just like the rest of us.
Stop siding with the man! You should feel a greater attachment to the players than you do to management. What has Woody Johnson done for you except raise ticket prices year after year and drool over raping you with a PSL. It’s the players who provide entertainment – NOT management.
Are all of you going to continue to defend Tannenbaum when there are twp other players who claim he made promises and didn’t keep them? Remember, Tannenbaum was a cap guru with no player management experience. Why give him the benefit of the doubt?
I think the Jets are playing this perfectly. They made moves to secure the TE spot (not like Kendall saga) and the numbers Bake put up can be easily be aquired by someone (anyone) else, with this new OL. Although certainly no where near the same situation or caliber of player, but the Jets are gonna do what Cincy did with Chad Johnson. “YOU DON’T WANNA PLAY? THEN DON’T, AND DON’T GET PAID EITHER”. And look what happened. All of a sudden he’s in camp, shutting his pie hole and getting his check. Suprise supirse. It’s really that simple. What’s Bake gonna do then? Continue to cry while Franks is end zone dancing? Either way we WILL get production from the TE spot, whether or not Baker is there.
Trade him or pay him. It would be pointless to cut him. Do people think Bubba Franks just because we recognize his name? When was his the last good season?
Someone ealier said he drops so many passed in the endzone, what are you talking about? Which games are you referring to?
Comments like “plz id be so happy if i make 850 k a yr,” are really retarded. These guys don’t work with you, they work with a bunch of millionaires. Alot of money to you and I is alot different to what alot of money means to them, its all relative.
Buddha
I think i agree with you and we are in the minority here. I see you posted this on both Chris Baker threads.
I support the Man, not the company!!!!
He is willing to leave the team when he signed a contract. He was more than willing to become a spectacle on multiple occassions. He is not a Jet.
He doesn’t care if he is a Jet. I work 70 hours a week for less than I should make but I talk to my bosses about getting a raise not yell to 3rd parties. Unless Tannenbaum said to him if you catch 40 balls you get a raise he should be a man, shut his mouth and earn his check.
I remember a stupid fumble in the Dallas game. No one on a 4-12 team deserves a raise. Especially a guy who can’t shut up to the media. Rhode was only an exception because he is incredible.
JAGG is absolutely right. Baker is not a Jet. If we got something of value, I would get rid of him. The problem is, he IS the best TE on the team, but Mike T. can’t cave in to whiny players who’d rather be sailing their yacht. It would suck to get rid of him and hope another TE could fill in, but it would also suck to have him around, complaining how sad he is that Bubba makes more money. This is a disgusting display of jealousy and delusions of grandeur and it is a slap in the face to the management, the players, the coaches, and Baker himself. Grow up Baker. He’ll be gone soon. No way Tannenbaum keeps him on the team with this attitude, and no way he sets the example that anyone who cries to the media, gets what they want.
…And NO WAY IN HELL we give him to anyone in the division.
Erik can you please ask Baker if he can return the money that was fronted to him for this year, if he doesn’t want to be here? I am sorry to say but this guy has some nerve to act like this. You sign a contract you stick to the contract, that sounds simple to me.
Can someone please answer the following question:
Do you really think that a player on the JETS current roster is or is not going to do the same thing, based purely upon whether Tannenbaum looks like a “winner” in the process?
I think that if Justin Miller has an All-Pro year, he will make noise like Baker has been (mind you, aside from missing voluntary workouts, thats all he has done, make noise) for a raise, whether or not they “cave in” to Baker.
The Jets are doing what they need to do. Baker will remain here and he knows it. Perhaps he got bad advice from his new agent. The Jets will tell him to play or sit but are probably not saying that publicly to allow Baker to “save face.”
In the team’s defense we know that they fronted him some salary.
In Baker’s defense he has improved every year and been a good soldier.
Maybe they are both right. It’s easy to say pay him and it’s easy to say don’t.
I still think they need him though. Definitely not as much as Kendall who I was hoping they had kept. Kendall’s issue was not just about a promise if I recall but that he took needles in his back to play, took one for the team so to speak, and believed the gesture would be reciprocated in salary.
And yes there is no game without the players but there would never have been a league without men with money and vision to start a league. While the players say they respect the sport I don’t think any of them respect the beginnings and what it took to make it all happen. Look at the WNBA. They aren’t having the easiest of times and sports is already an established entertainment industry unlike back in the day (except for baseball)
But still…the man is holding us all down!
He is our most under utilizied offensive weapon!!! this guy makes all the plays that are his way… hes been the most consistent player on our team… hes more consistent catching than chad is thowing picks to end a game… and we all know how chad likes to lose them in style… i dont know why the FO has to pick one player each year they dont want to pay… and if the FO wanted to front him money last year you tell me the next time you turn down money… thought so!
on the other hand i think my man RK above me said it best
“It’s easy to say pay him and it’s easy to say don’t.”
Cause its not our money!!!
JustAGreenGuy:
No one deserves a raise except for Woody Johnson! They jacked ticket prices and parking after a 4-12 season.
I understand that he can’t seek a new job, is underappreciated, and is personally distressed. I know his salary isn’t tops in the NFL. He isn’t TO tho. I didn’t want to give Coles more money either.
If there wasn’t a brand new practice facility and a new stadium on the way (that doesn’t say giants on the side) he could stick his increase where the sun don’t shine. I never missed watching a game from Ohio I can catch one on the Tele and live another day.
We spent a fortune this offseason. I wanted a huge NT, we got one. I wanted a guard and we got the best one (available). The Jets did more for me this offseason than in the past 20 years. Forgive me if Chris baker isn’t an issue.
Full house back field with Musa and we still have a blocker. No TE set with two backs and they have another reciever to cover. The play book can compensate for his loss, so I can too.
if we lose him its like taking 1 step foward and two steps back… we get all theese good guys and give up some other ones… its like standing still… i want to move foward!
i am aThwwetie . . . and im All About the J E T S . . . YaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaY!!!!!!
PS… I Like It ROugh . . . . (The Game That Is)