No Room At the Trough For Baker?
Last summer, I was pretty much against the notion of the team letting Pete Kendall go, mostly because there wasn’t a backup plan in which I was convinced could guarantee success … practically though, it became clear that trading Kendall was the best of the intractable mess the team had created with their player — but that didn’t mean I had to like it.
Fast forward to today. Since Baker has gone public with his dislike of his contract, my opinion has been that he would be a helpful player to keep around. In this offense, Baker’s versatility allows him to be seamlessly used in pass protection, run blocking and as a receiver. In those three critical areas of Tight End play, he’s done a good job refining his game over his career. With Baker in a gameplan, he causes more concern for defensive coordinators as he adds a dimension of flexibility and surprise that other more singular-dimensioned TEs might not bring.
The problem is, the situation doesn’t look like it’s going to resolve itself amicably much like last summer’s and trading Baker seems to be the likely resolution to the situation yet again.
Although a shame to lose him for the reasons stated above, aside from the simple fact that he’s entering the third year of a four year contract, here are some thoughts on why Baker’s case might be falling on deaf ears. It’s not that there’s not money, it’s that they don’t value spending it on him. See my three contributing factors the team might be considering after the jump.
Receiving Game
Last year Baker was used and often caught passes when he was detached from the offensive line … in motion or set in the slot, etc. Looking at last year’s receiving corps numbers.
| Receiving Statistics | |||||
| Player | Rec | Yds | Yds/Rec | Long | TD |
| Jerricho Cotchery | 82 | 1130 | 13.8 | 50 | 2 |
| Laveranues Coles | 55 | 646 | 11.7 | 57 | 6 |
| Chris Baker | 41 | 409 | 10.0 | 22 | 3 |
| Leon Washington | 36 | 213 | 5.9 | 18 | 0 |
| Brad Smith | 32 | 325 | 10.2 | 29 | 2 |
| Thomas Jones | 28 | 217 | 7.8 | 25 | 1 |
| Justin McCareins | 19 | 232 | 12.2 | 51 | 0 |
| Wallace Wright | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 36 | 0 |
Let’s think about where the team was last year … going into the season Justin McCareins — now cut — was the #3 receiver on the depth chart, which obviously made Chris Baker the team’s third best target. Now in 2008 — and it’s solely projections on my part — the receiving corps looks much more rounded out. With Brad Smith making progress in his second year as a receiver, it’s usually this the third year in which receivers make the greatest gains. Add in a fight for the #3 with second year player Chansi Stuckey (IRed as a rookie) and who looks healthy and able in OTAs, catching everything in sight. The team added two Tight Ends in Bubba Franks (situational RZ pass-catcher) and Dustin Keller (Flex).
Leave the Blocking to Pociask?
I’ve been brutal to the Jets’ TE Jason Pociask ever since he was drafted, but now might finally be the time where he’s called on to do what he was drafted to do … block. Pociask isn’t a great receiver, but
he’s a willing pass and run blocker (he had experience as a FB & TE at Wisconsin), and is reputed to be good at it. With a player that the team handpicked (yeah they also handpicked Antony Schlegel that year) and have developed over the past two years, is this the time when he steps forward in the role for which they drafted him?
An Upgraded Line
Baker said it himself last week in camp “last year, they asked me to stay in and block and I did that.”
Right, they asked him to block because he was better than the turnstile the team was lining up at Left Guard. The problem is the line was upgraded with two respected SuperBowl winning players, albeit in the waning years of their career. Either way, even without seeing a single down, both Alan Faneca and Damien Woody are such superior players to Adrien Clark and Anthony Clement it’s not even funny.
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This whole situation concerns me, but I feel that this is more of a problem with the agents for these players than the players themselves. After the success they had with Kendall last year, why wouldn’t Baker’s agents resort to these tactics? They also negotiated very strongly on Darelle Revis’ contract last year. For the player this is great but for the team it poses a problem. Do we give guys the money and sacrifice cap space in the future or do we sit tight with guy who doesn’t want to be here? I’m all for sitting tight. Baker may give the Jets headaches, but if they can be successful with what they have now they should let him sulk. In a year, he will have one year left on his contract which can be renegotiated. Although it hurts the Jets, sitting out and not playing up to his potential hurts Baker more as he will have trouble receiving a good contract once his current one is up. The Jets gave in to Kendall and in some respect to Coles. If Baker gets his way as well it sends a message that everyone can do it to this FO and that would be a lot worse than losing a marginally above average TE.
Watching that mini-feed of Baker doing his thing at practice (posted on TJB last week), you can tell the guy is a very good football player. Fluid. Great hand placement blocking-wise, crisp patterns, great hands, etc.
The bottom line is that dropping Baker would make me put a huge question mark next to Tannenbaum’s head that wasn’t there before (or maybe it started forming after his handling of the Kendall disaster).
10-6 plus 4-12 equals 14-18 over two seasons. If they drop Baker and have a bad season, and they miss his various different abilities while struggling this year, it’ll be back to “same Ole’ JETS” in my mind, which is a down-right shame, because I had (and still have) a lot of excitement about Tangini… but the Kendall thing is universally recognized as an embarassment and this would be too.
Do you think a single GM in the NFL would prefer to have Pociask at TE over Baker, even assuming you granted Baker the entire amount of the contract he wants? Not a chance, especially b/c Baker isn’t even asking for a lot of money!
I agree the jets screwed up the Kendall thing last year. We dont even know what Baker is asking for, I do not think he even came out and said what he wants. With that, he did sign a contract, the team gave him the money up front when no one else wanted him, so shut up and play. Funny how athletes act in these situations, I cant imagine going into a bosses office and say, hey you know what im not getting paid enough money or i will leave via trade/getting cut and im going to bitch until i get it, Most would respond by telling there employee dont let the door hit your ass on the way out.
In general, I don’t support players whining about their contracts. But the team did sign Franks as a backup for the same money Baker is making. Why not give Baker an extra 500K for each of the final 2 years of his contract and get this over with. For 1M the problem is solved. When you look at all the money doled out in FA, it’s chump change. I understand that the team doesn’t want to be held hostage but is this drama really worth all the aggravation and distraction. Did they learn nothing from last year. Yes, there is a time for the team to play hardball (see Revis negotiations) but this just looks dumb to me.
Swizzle:
If I wasn’t making current market value in my current job I certainly would walk into my boss’ office and ask for more money (i.e. a raise). If he told me to watch the door hitting my in the ass on the way out, I’d go and find another job at market value (i.e. higher pay). This happens all the time in the business world. If you’re not getting paid what you deserve I highly encourage you to ask your boss for a raise, or you’ll never get the money! That seems to be what Baker is doing here. I’m not sure why him being an athlete makes things any different?
I guess that I’m the sole member of the Bubba Franks fan club. I do not know if Bubba can regain the form that made him a 3-time Pro Bowler in the NFC (I’m not sure he has to if he’s to replace Baker), but there’s really nothing at the TE position that Baker can do, but Bubba can’t. Except that Bubba at 6-6 (3 inches taller than Baker) is a much better redzone and short-yardage target. So, in double TE formations, Pociask would join Bubba and I agree that Baker would be better for double TE formations, but that’s the only time Baker would be missed. Kendall, was the starting LG and was missed on every offensive down. I’ve said this before, but Baker had over 70% of his catches in WR formations for which Brad Smith, Keller, Leon, Stuckey, etc are more than able replacements. As for blocking, Bubba and Pociask can get the job done. A healthy Bubba will lead many Jets fans to say “Chris who?” As for Baker, as long as Shockey looms out there, he’s not like Kendall, who was THE veteran LG on the market. And, for all you fans with nightmare sweats about Brady to Baker, Brady to Shockey is just as likely and twice as frightening.
On an unrelated note, vote on ESPN.com for old no. 99 as the best pass rusher of all time, we can’t have him lose to Strahan and Taylor:
http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/rank?versionId=1&listId=139
Baker would be lucky to find market value elsewhere he would most likely have to take a pay cut, considering his career production is in line with the average TE, why would a team pay him more now when no one friggin wanted him several years ago. Unfortunately for me Buddha, I cant ask for a pay raise cause Uncle Sam doesnt give them, only Congress can authorize them.
We need to focus more on why Baker is in this spot. He signed a contract for 4 years at 6 million. He had himself and his agent to blame for that…and of course he took responsibility for his life and fired his agent? Baker needs to understand he put himself in this situation, not the Jets, and he needs to forget what his past agent TOLD him the Jets said. At the end of the day, when he signed his current deal, it should have been clear to him he was stuck a Jet for four years. Suck it up.
” With a player that the team handpicked (yeah they also handpicked Antony Schlegel that year) and have developed over the past two years”.
Yea, but they cut Anthony Schlegel. Jason Pociask is still with the team, and should prove his worth this year. This is a perfect situation for him, he can bail the Jets out, if he can effectively block. If he can then that makes C. Baker expendable.
Should the starting TE be paid the most? Should any backup be paid more than a starter? I think this is what Baker is asking for. Can anyone say he doesnt deserve to be the highest paid TE on the Team? As for Baker vs Franks… Baker stays healthy cept when he broke his leg but The other than that he’s healthy. Franks and Woody are both ? to last a whole season.
Unlike last year, the Jets seem much better prepared for the Bull Crap players can pull, this time they seem to have options. If the FO caves, it will open the flood gates for this stuff in the future and ruin their salary cap. The FO should trade Baker or just plain cut him. It seems that this agent is a real piece of crap, and should be put in his place.
Reprocity,
From what I have read and believe, the Jets were careful not to pay B. Franks more than C. Baker, they paid them equally, even though over the course of their careers Franks was the better player, both in stats and recognition, Franks has 3 pro-bowls. As far asKeller goes, it’s 7 years later from when Baker was drafted. Baker was a 3rd round pick, Keller was a 1st round pick, thats just the way it goes.
I would have felt better about giving Kendall the money, then I do Baker. We just can’t keep letting this happen every year, the FO needs to take drastic action in resolving the Baker situation, so that no one else does it in the future.
http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10851162
vote for fireman ed
Ramble, I agree Kellers contract for a first round pick is hard to compete with but Franks isnt really ideal for a 16 game starting TE. I know 3 probowls is a nice piece on a resume but if he was still at that level he’d be in Green Bay. Baker is a solid 16 game starting TE while Franks as good as he was isnt. That’s why I believe that they shouldnt be paid the same. There should be some type of percentage difference that says one is the starter and one is not. Any thoughts?
Reprocity,
The way I see it is the FO should tell Baker and his agent to cool it, and stop with the media crap, that after the season they will re-do his contract. This way both sides get what they want and no one is embarrassed. It would be a win/win for both sides.
[...] leave about 1 1/2 hours earlier than needed as there are 2 yarn shops within 3 miles of (0 clicks) No Room At the Trough For Baker?Last summer, I was pretty much against the notion of the team lettin… A rad-trad convertsAs I work out in my head what I shall say in my next installment on the [...]
Ramble, I completely agree with you. Give him his money next year if he earns it. I think that would also set a good precedent.
screw baker – dont give him anytthing.hes not an elite te, he should not be paid as one. how could anyone ask for more money after a 4-12 season?? and also after adding two te’s….is he insane??? Its reasons like this that make me dislike the pro game at times…….
Chris Baker’s production is so average, despite having a “career year” last year. Statistically, he’s a middle of the pack tight end and that’s what he should be paid as. It’s not like he went Kellen Winslow last year, he’s getting paid what his production indicates.
hell yea dave…..kendall had more of a gripe honestly, and even then i was against the jets re-doing his deal one year into a new deal for an older guard that was more of a finese o-lineman. out of the three contract disputes (kendall coles and now baker) i would say baker has the weakest argument. i dont know about anyone else, but i can see the jets side to all of these disputes. kendall has already been stated – coles is on the down side of his career and he is concussed fairly often, and baker is at best middle of the road. please do not get me wrong, i do like all of them – especially coles and even though it might be a bad business decision i feel the jets should re-do his deal as he is worth it if for any other reason his leadership that this team might sorely be lacking in in the near future on the offensive side of the ball. bakers dispute is a joke.
Once (Kendall) is a accident, twice (Coles) is a trend. Three times (Baker) is a train wreck waiting to happen.
Not a SINGLE GM in the NFL would prefer Bubba Franks over Chris Baker.
That is a fact. Franks is a good player. Baker, when you factor in his lack of any meaningful weakness, is a very good football player.
Some team is going to get lucky. I’m so fed up with the hating that I almost want him to get cut and thrive elsewhere, because its as if people aren’t watching him play.
Statistics are a slippery slope at a position like TE. Furthermore, I’d rather have Maurice Jones-Drew than Fred Taylor, but Fragile Fred had more yards last year…. might it have something to do with their situations and the way the players are used?
If I were an NFL team with a need at TE, I’d be drooling over the possibility of CB hitting the waiver wire, and I’d jump on a steal for a 5th round pick in a heartbeat.
As the Baker situation is out in the open, and if he is as good as some of you say, why hasn’t any team scooped him up. I’ll tell you why — Baker is Mediocre. Almost every TE in the league has as much yardage as Baker and most have more TD’s. As a seven year veteran, he just had his best year ever – 400 yds — Oooo! He is far from a devistating blocker, as well. He is a distraction. Bye Bye Baker. Keller can easily have over 400 yds, this year, if used in the same capacity.
I just want to know if the Jets do trade Baker does he give back the money that was advanced to him for this year?
Keller almost definitely will get 400 yards if healthy… at a different position from the one Baker plays. Keller isn’t a TE in the NFL, but you will see him there sometimes, more often in the slot or split or motioning in the backfield like Shockey.
I don’t think their drafting of Keller had anything to do with Baker, whatsoever.
Again, the only option the Jets have is to make Baker play at his current salary. If they trade, or rengotiate, it will open pandora’s box, and the team will not be able to function.
I think that Baker should not make matters worse. Kendall clearly had the right argument coming in his last year of his contract and our front office made a mistake. Baker has two years remaining and just because another proven tight end is making more money doesn’t mean that you should complain and point fingers. Its time to prove you are the best among tight ends. You are coming off your best season. In the prime of your career you have only one good season? He needs to prove his worth and by bringing in two tight ends there is competition. Glad Mangini is seeing this. In 2005 after we lost Kareem McKenzie to free agency and our defensive line had holes in it (Ferguson gone no depth at DT) we were 4-12 despite losing Chad which was a big mistake because again we didn’t address the o-line in free agency to protect him (Fabini, Kevin Mawae hurt, adrian Jones question mark). In 2006 we drafted two respectable linemen (Kendall helping them) and then we soared with a scheme oriented defense. Not position by position defense. In 2007 free agency we lose Kendall and we dont upgrade the defensive line too much just with Kenyon Coleman. No competition for nose tackle. We fall back to 4-12. Now that we have addressed the lines in Jenkins, Faneca, and Woody with their experience alone we should go back up and be competitive. Forget Baker.
On the business side of this, you have to get to the motivation behind the appearance. This is where Baker is not afraid to burn the bridge and rip the Jets. His agent has given him the way out and he has taken it. He feels that he can get more money on a new contract and that he can only get that from a new team. If his agent feels that he an average talent, that’s still better than half the teams out there. His agent feels he can get Baker on to one of those teams if he can only get released or traded to one of them. Baker seems willing to go that route for the money.
The Jets will not respond. They may not like being ripped, but free speach being what it is, they have to either respond and get muddy or shut up and get hosed.
I say, for the business end of this only, they will shut up and keep him, trading him only if they get reasonable value. At some point this will begin to cost Baker more than it will the Jets. I think it’s the only way to stop this form of free agency.
Does anyone think considering the level of sleaze we have seen from agents (Boras, Rosenhaus) that any agent doesn’t walk out of negotiations give their client a pat on the back look them square in the eyes and say sweet lil lies to them?
We can’t give in on his money demands. He has never been a game changer for us and anyone who has played madden knows there are ways to adjust for his absence that do not include Pociask.
We don’t have a QB screw the TE position.
DSmizzle, I think there are plenty of NFL GMs who would prefer Franks to Baker and I know one of them: Mike Tannenbaum. It all depends upon what you want from your TE. No matter what anyone thinks of Franks’ durability (and there’s no reason to think he isn’t healthy), he’s a far superior redzone and short yardage target. There really isn’t a debate about that, Franks is a very productive redzone TE, Baker is not.
The other comment I keep seeing is that Keller is not going to be a TE. But, Baker last season had over 70% of his catches in WR formations AND he had to stay in to block a lot because of the piss-poor OL. That tells me that Schott wants his TE to be more of a 3rd WR than a traditional TE. Keller fits that description perfectly. Bottom line, Keller is a better receiving option as a TE in WR formations and Franks is better in redzone and short yardage formations. That’s why Adam Schein on this week’s “Jets Nation” said that Baker is no. 3 on the Jets’ depth chart, behind Franks and Keller. I like Baker, but there’s no reason that the Jets’ FO should take a load of crap from an average TE that has been rendered redundant through free agency and the draft.
On the football side of this equation, I agree that Keller was considered better than any WR in the draft, and taken ahead of any of them. That tells you all you need to know. He does not compete with Baker.
Baker is not a key element in the offense. The Jets have loaded up on the line and the backfield to get all the blocking they’ll need. Baker is redundant, getting paid appropriately. A “nice to have” if he wants to play.
If he doesn’t want to play and it were up to me, he’d sit. For 600K he can watch all year. I do not want to hear this song and dance ever again.
Re: Bubba Franks being a better red zone target.
Brett. Favre. Was. More. Productive. Than. Chad. Pennington’s. Best. Year. In. His. Worst. Year.
Dsmizz- Bubba is tall. That makes him a bigger target. For any QB that is handy. It isn’t about stats from ESPN.
I love how everyone says Baker is not properly utilized in this offence then you see most of those, but not all those people take his stats and say he’s an avg TE. He also had to sit behind Becht. Sack, Saying Franks is a better Redzone target and short yardage reciever but might not be healthy is a better option than Baker who is good at both of those as well and healthy is a bit foolish. Keller as of now but might be able to in the future play on the line means we cant run with him out there. With Baker we can run and pass long (Seam) and short! There’s no upside for Franks except the hope he can stay healthy… I’ll take Baker!
If you’re gonna have hope for players???… Why not Hope for Klemens?
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d808be6c2&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0009
Thats an article by Kirwan. He tends to be semi solid and used to work for gang green. It’s what an insider thinks. Food for thought.
If Sack liked Clemens who would I argue with?
Baker, or for that matter the TE position, is so under-utilized in this offense that losing Baker will not hurt too much.
It’s funny that Schott doesn’t design more calls around Baker considering how he developed Gates in SD.
I wonder if the difference stems from a difference in ability between Baker and Gates or if the difference is between the SD and Jets powers that be.
Since I am a UM alum and married to a Packers fan, I’ve watched Bubba for his entire NFL career. Admittedly, his numbers from 2007 don’t come close to Baker’s numbers. However, wasn’t Keller drafted to line up at the TE position?
I would love to see the Jets re-sign Baker and use him more in the offense, but if his demands are too unreasonable, the Jets will be fine without him.
Taken from Cimini’s blog. If Baker was so great why was he a free agent for 24 days with no one interested in him?
Insider’s take on Chris Baker situation
The Chris Baker contract dispute has fueled a torrent of opinions, pro and con. I chimed in Thursday with my take, and Friday I received an e-mail from someone offering a different, yet compelling argument. This person does not wish to be identified, so we’ll refer to him as a “Former NFL Insider.” As you read it, you’ll discover quickly this person knows a little something about the business.
Here’s one person’s viewpoint:
“No team or front office, especially not Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini, promises a player that if they go out and play well that they will rip up their contract and give them more money. This is a locker-room cancer that is promulgated by agents and certain locker-room lawyer players. In the NFL, like life, everything is about timing. The biggest difference in the NFL is that the time frame is reduced to “lately.” As in, what have you done for me lately? If your timing is fortunate, and you perform well when you have leverage – specifically, in a year near the end of your contract – you get paid.
“Baker was drafted in the 3rd round in 2002 and was paid accordingly on a 3-year deal. When his deal expired, he became a restricted free agent in 2005. Since Baker’s performance was little more than average during those three years, the Jets offered Baker what is commonly referred to as the RFA (restricted free agent) low tender. Baker received no offers from other teams, accepted the Jets tender and elected to play out his one-year contract. This is where timing comes in. Baker’s fourth year in the league, the 2005 season, was his big opportunity; it was his walk year. Baker played in only 8 games, had 18 catches for 269 yards with one TD. Injuries? That is part of timing.
“Baker hit the free agent market on 3/1/06. On 3/24/06, after 24 days of “testing the market,” Baker accepted a four-year deal from the Jets, which included a $1 million signing bonus and averaged $1.5 million per year over the first three years. Baker probably believed his future market value was depressed based by his lately (2006) misfortune. But the Jets invested in Baker anyway, and they gave him a $1 million signing bonus in return for a 4-year commitment. Baker did not have to accept this offer. If he truly believed in himself, he would have taken a one-year deal and bet on himself. He did not, but the Jets did and they pushed a $1 million bonus across the table to Baker as their “all in” bet. Baker took the money and left the table. Game over for 4 years. Baker cashed in his chips.
“The mistake the Jets did make is they tried to do “something nice” for Baker during the 2007 season. It wasn’t all charity, as the gesture also helped the Jets. The Jets moved $700,000 of 2008 salary into the 2007 season and gave that money to Baker one year sooner than he was due to receive it. They gave him the cash and guaranteed he’d get it even if he got hurt. No good deed ever goes unpunished. In return for pushing a $1 million in chips across the table to Baker and advancing him another $700,000 from future money, the Jets have to listen to Baker whine when the Jets go and out-recruit him.
“Baker needs to shut up and play – unless, of course, he is now finally willing to wager on himself, with his own money. He can stay away and try to force the Jets’ hand and convince them to trade him. The truth will come out based on the trade offers the Jets receive. If a team steps up with fair trade compensation to the Jets, and that team is willing to re-do Bakers contract, Baker wins his gamble. If Baker’s trade market in 2008 is like his free-agent market of 2006 – non-existent – his gamble will be a failure.
“Even more convincing, Baker could make an offer to the Jets to buy his way out of his contract to become a free agent. Like the Jets did in 2006, Baker could push his chips across the table and go “all in.” No more talking, no more whining, just putting his money where his mouth is. What Baker has to decide is what is a win for him. If there’s a sports book that would accept wagers on this action, the odds-on bet would be with the Jets on this one.”
Reciprocity, I didn’t say that Franks wasn’t healthy. The only knock on Franks is that after his injury he did not return to his pro bowl form. I am assuming he’s healthy and, if he is, then he’s a better TE than Baker. He’s always been a better redzone target. Read my post before pronouncing that something is “foolish.” Also, Baker is not and has never been a better redzone or short yardage TE. I have no idea where you got that from. And, DSmizzle, quality of QB has little or nothing to do with how a TE performs…look at Tony Gonzalez, no matter who plays QB, Gonzo is a top TE. Favre had many options and Franks only had more than Baker’s 41 receptions once. So, how did Bubba make the pro bowl? Because he was a feared redzone target. Look, tall, fast and good hands are all important for a TE. Franks is taller has as good, if not better hands, and is, at worst, only a tad slower than Baker.
Actually I said “a bit foolish.” You would take an Older not in his prime player who has never started 16 games in his career vs some one who is younger and is a tad bit faster and has just as good hands not to mention he stays healthy does seem “a bit foolish.” I’m not making fun of your mother here, I’m just saying those odds dont work in your favor. We need players who can start 16 games and make it through the play offs and guys like franks and Woody have shown the past coupple of years they cant do it. I WANT to be wrong on this! IF… Franks starts and goes the whole season and makes us forget about Baker, i would love it! Bad odds is all I’m saying.
Love the post by JayM! It really sounds on the money about this whole agent/player vs. management business. Is there a book on NFL business/GMing much like “moneyball” for baseball/scouting?
Hey Reprocity, we have Pociask! Don’t count him out as our TE, if/when Baker leaves.
Well Doc, Pociask… I hope he does get his chance. The one thing about football that I never liked is so many people never get a chance other than the preseason. I dont like roster limits and why I do agree it makes things more scientific, ie how many players at each position you keep, I just wish everybody could get a chance being out on the field with the best. Some people dont play 160 games in thier career yet some sports they do in a season. I was a Shane Spencer fan and I was bummed when he broke his shoulder and never really got a chance after that. Anyone remember him?
Reciprocity, Baker has never started all 16 games in a season in his 7 years as a pro. From 2001-2004, Franks started, at least, 14 games each of these 4 seasons. Baker has only done that the past 2 seasons. And, Franks, at 30, is only 2 years older than Baker and he has played sparingly the last 2 seasons, so there’s tread on the tires. In terms of odds, Franks has been injured, but is healthy now and has a track record of great TE play, especially in the redzone…why discount this fact? The opposing defenses will have to worry about Franks in the redzone, which opens up many other options…it’s a big deal. Baker is an average TE, who has not helped the Jets awful redzone TD percentage and is now a malcontent. Plus, what QB wouldn’t want a 6-6 safety valve? Chad’s wild high passes won’t be a challenge for Franks and Bubba’s way easier to see for height-challenged KC. I think the odds tip in Bubba’s favor as the better TE for the Jets in 2008. But, and I’m not ripping your mom either, it’s plain stupid to keep a clubhouse cancer like Baker, who never has backed up his big mouth with superior NFL play, and plays one of the most fungible positions in the NFL. I’m with Mike Tannenbaum on this one, bringing in Franks and drafting Keller gives the Jets way more flexibility at TE than Baker alone could ever provide.
A first round pick and a player with 3 probowls dam well better give us more flexibility. I think we disagree on why he was brought in. I think Franks was brought in so we could use 2 TE sets with actual TEs not a tweener like Keller. I think Franks was losing his starting job in GB and his injuries and age we a part of that. If you look at each players best year with Baker’s being last year and Franks was like 6 years ago and even then its not that far off… though Franks did have 7tds that year to Bakers 3 or 4. I think Keyshawn was a perfect example of the value of a Red zone threat. Our 98 season would have never happened if him and Vinny didnt perfect that endzone fade route. With Injuries added with age, that leaves a player on the sideline but that doesn’t mean more tread and less wear and tear… it means less tred to begin with and the rate of wear and tear increases dramatically. I will say this Sack, I think Franks will have more TDs this year but I’m willing to bet Baker will be our starting TE.. if he’s still around ;) While Baker might be a cancer… He’s no Jessica Simpson!
” I think Franks was losing his starting job in GB”
Franks lost his starting job at the end of 2006. Donald Lee was the starter last year for the packers, did you watch packer games? They used about 5 or 6 receivers(WR/TE) consistently every game, and Bubba was not one of them.
Don’t mean to pick on your quote I just feel like most Jets fans are excited about Bubba just because he was a popular TE playing with Favre, WAS being the key word.
And to say Bubba is ONLY 2 years older is dumb, 2 years in the NFL is relatively a big gap, this isn’t the NBA or MLB where players play for a long time. He’s two years older with a history of getting injured.
Bilal, Franks is only 30 and barely played last season. With juniors coming out and red-shirt seniors, some NFL players start their careers 2 years older than guys in their own draft class. It’s ignorant to just say that 2 years of NFL football automatically means lots of wear and tear. If that is the case, then the Jets better get rid of Thomas Jones, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody, Shaun Ellis, Tony Richardson, Eric Barton, David Barrett, Hank Poteat and Ben Graham because all of these guys are 30 or older and many of them have started more games than Franks.
Bilal, I wouldnt consider that picking on my quote but more punctuating it.