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.

Hey Reprocity, we have Pociask! Don’t count him out as our TE, if/when Baker leaves.

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.”