Jets Cut Justin Miller
To make room for DB Ty Law, the Jets have released longtime underperformer, Justin Miller. The move was announced by Eric Mangini in this morning’s press conference.
For all the kind words and “he’s coming along” talk from Mangini, Miller just wasn’t getting it done. The team’s only Pro-Bowler two years ago as a returner, he’s been something of a letdown during his almost four years with the team. I’m sure Miller will catch on somewhere … do you imagine the Patriots will sign him today to pump him for information? I wouldn’t be surprised.
Long-term, maybe he’ll find a spot in Kansas City with his old coach. Miller played one game well on special teams this season, but it wasn’t any better than what Ahmad Carroll has been providing the team as a “one” in kick coverage. The Jets are swapping Miller, a guy who’s been activated only once for Law who will likely be activated each week. This might affect an extra linebacker from getting activated on specials … we’ll have to see how this plays out come Thursday.
Thanks to sec108 and Mehl31602 for the for the heads up.
47 Responses to Jets Cut Justin Miller
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Joe B. says:
Where are all the people who kept saying that there was no need to draft a corner because Miller was good enough to be #2?
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JustAGreenGuy says:
I thought he might be. Shows what I know. I was fooled by not seeing him for over a year.
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Had to happen, I guess. Amazing that Miller was considered a value pick in the second round by almost all draft analysts. Dude never had an INT in his career (and only 8 passes defended). Moral of the story – some teams are better than others at drafting, but ultimately the draft is still a crapshoot.
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ramble914 says:
I’m another one who thought Miller would be our #2. The guy was fast and seemed to have potential to be a good CB. Oh well.
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JUNIOR says:
EXPECT TO SEE HIM THURSDAY ACROSS THE SIDELINE
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About Time says:
Millers only asset was speed. Other then that, he sucked at covering WRs, and had his share of fumbling the ball on kick offs and punt returns during the herm edwards era.
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Dean Barbella says:
Dissapointed. Justin Miller’s had injuries, off the field problems, but was also one of the best kick returners.
I know that he’s been around for four years, but his speed should have bought him a position on special teams and time to grow into his CB potential.
What a waste of a second round draft pick and All-Pro kick returner. Oh well, Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois in ’09 Draft.
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vbsiena24 says:
I thought he was solid in the slot playing the nickel. Then again I haven’t seen him cover a WR in 2 years.
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NickyLibs says:
If Ty Law retired today, would he be a Hall Of Famer?
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YOU WILL ALL GET TO SEE HIM PLAY THURSDAY WHEN THE PATRIOTS SIGN HIM AND HE BURNS US SOME HOW
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Tish says:
Is there a longtime Jet fan out there who hasn’t had a fleeting vision of Miller returning a kick for a touchdown on Thursday for the Pats against the Jets?
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Hobbs is just as able to do it against us as Miller would. He won’t be haunting my dreams.
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SackDance99 says:
I also thought Miller might start…he has it all: good size, very good tackling ability and speed. But, he just was not good at man-coverage. I was hoping that it was a learning curve issue. It wasn’t and he was another failed draft pick from the Harmway era. He could be a good Tampa Cover 2 corner where he defends an area, not a man. He couldn’t make it in Mangini’s system. Also, while Miller might want to stick it to the Jets and sign with the Pats, he’d be better off out of the Pats/Jets/Fins man-coverage system. If he’s thinking long-term, he should sign with Herm or any other team that plays Cover 2.
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david i says:
At best, Justin Miller has been an underachiever for the Jets. Good KOR, but terrible at corner. Lowery is already better than Miller has ever demonstrated. No loss. However, it would not surprise me to see him playing Thursday in Foxborough for the Patsies.
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Bent says: The lesson, as always, listen to Bent. ;o)
Lowery > Miller the CB
Leon > Miller the KR -
swizzle81 says:
not too upset with Miller getting cut, but explain to me why Drew Coleman still has a roster spot.
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Bent,
Miller lost the starting job at corner that he never won to Lowery, because Swipe plays smarter.
But, how can you justify sitting Miller on kick off returns? He went to the Pro-Bowl! Yes, Leon is awesome, so why not have them both returning?
An All-Pro KR loses his position, due to injury? And, we risk exposing our starting tailback to injury on speacial teams when we’ve already lost Chapman.
This was a stupid move! Should have put Smith on IR.
Some NFL team is going to capitalize on our second round pick to land an awesome kick returner on the cheap. Dumb.
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Bent says:
He may not even be 100% yet. Remember how much Chad Morton’s return skills had diminished after his injury? If he was capable of doing better than Leon has, I’m sure he’d have been out there.
He is a free agent at the end of the season anyway.
Your points are well made though. My comment was more in response to those who had felt he was a viable option to start this year, whereas I had been saying I’d rather he didn’t.
Maybe Ty Law can be our PJ Brown.
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Doug from Long Valley says:
I thought Miller was the answer at the #2 corner spot as well, but we’ll never know.
What Miller’s draft pick and departure highlights is the need for stability in the front office and coaching staff. Herm and Terry picked Miller in the 2nd round, they’re gone, and the pick becomes a waste because he doesn’t fit our new scheme (See Robinson and Vilma…). For those guys are calling for Mangini to go after 2.5 seasons this is what we would be looking forward to with the last two years draft class. Frustrating, Let’s go #22, I hope you’re in shape.
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i always held out some hope for miller, but he started to show signs of DerrickStrait-itis in his second year with the team. :)
i’m sorry he never worked out, and I don’t think this will happen, but I just hope that lowery doesn’t become the next miller / strait / etc.
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Eddie DiGio says:
Nicky Libs,
MY guess is he wouldnt be first ballot but would get in like a Cris Carter. The guy was a complete shutdown corner on a Super Bowl defense not to mention he averaged about 5 picks a sack and 2 forced fumbles a year for about 7-8 years. He will go in second time like Cris Carter will, just my humble opinion hope i helped Nicky -
Bassett,
Lowery can’t become the next Miller, because he doesn’t have the speed to return kicks – period.
Sure, the Jets estimated Miller with a second round pick. That said, he’s still one of the most dangerous kick returners in the NFL. His speacial teams contribution should have earned him a spot on the team and more time to mature at corner.
Mangini can’t teach Lowery speed. And, Eric Smith watching games from the bench with double-vision concussion ain’t gonna help either.
I’m scratching my head. This was a dumb decision on paper. There must be something we don’t know?
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Correction: I meant, ‘overestimated’ Miller.
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What would we resign him to wait for his next injury? He had a great special teams year in 2006 and I had high hopes for him, but he can’t even stay on the field. Should we have cut Wallace Wright, so Justin can be a special teamer? He is one more dumb move away from a suspension too. Leon is great and smarter. Miller will not be missed.
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Lowry can’t beat Miller on special teams, but unlike Miller he can play CB. We need a CB we have a return man.
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Harlan Lachman says:
Well, it seems to me all the posts above are a bit premature. I want to see where Miller ends up and how he fares next season.
Mangini and Sutton could not get him to do what they wanted. If no one else can either, they will be fully vindicated.
If someone else can get him to perform as a starter who produces, this time next year we will have evidence as to whose fault that was.
Regardless, I would have cut Drew Coleman who is the worst DB I remember as a Jet (and I remember Toast and a host of others) because if Leon got hurt, Miller could at least run back kick offs.
But the only thing we know for sure is that time will expose this move as evidence of another Bradway screwing (i.e., his original selection) or inept coaching.
harlan
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Thanks for the reply Eddie. There is no question that his stats were very good for a substantial amount of time and has 3 Rings, and is a 5 time Pro Bowler(one with the Jets in 05) to back it up. I just feel like he was the product of a really good defensive system. The guy is talented, don’t get me wrong, but look at what happened when he went to KC. I agree with you, most likely he will not be a first ballot selection, but will get in. I was having a debate with another Jet fan about his HOF status and was curious what other Jet fans thought.
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JesusRevis says:
Its funny listening to some of you worry that we wont have Justin Miller on KR’s anymore. Leon is much better and Miller cant stay healthy. I liked him as much as any jet fan, I thought he had the speed, athleticism, and talent to be atleast a solid #2 corner, but like most of you i was wrong. time to move on
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I’m thinking, it’s a business decision or locker room cancer thing. Which would be surprising, beacause the kid said all the right things (Team First) when passed up on the Depth Chart by Lowery… And, Mangini was positive about Miller too.
Miller was in contract year; so, maybe he was expendable, beacuse Jets were not going to re-sign him to second draft pick, cornerback money? Also, I can see that Miller could feel stagnant in NY and want to play elsewhere.
It’s a shame. Mangini is supposed to be a DB-Guru developing fourth rounders like Asante Samuel into All-Pro studs. What gives?
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Dean, Mangini/Tannenbaum did not draft Miller. I think the whole “guru” thing only works if you draft somebody that meets your criteria.
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zenlaw says:
I thought Revis was drafted, in part, b/c of his punt returning ability. What ever happened with that?
Does anyone doubt that we will see Miller on the Patriots’ sideline this Thursday?
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are-tee says:
“Lowery can’t become the next Miller, because he doesn’t have the speed to return kicks – period.”
Well, he did have a punt return touchdown in pre-season.
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SackDance99,
You’re right. Miller selection goes on Terry Bradway’s tab. And, probably one of his best picks… only as a kick returner – haha.
are-tee,
Lowery is “Quick,” not “Fast.” There is a difference. He’s a heady player and definitely a Mangini guy who can continue to develop. But, speed is his limitation.
He might be a quick learner, but can’t “switch his hips” to put the back peddle to the metal and cover a burner.
Yes, I was trying to rhyme.
As for Lowery’s preseason punt return, Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. Lowery’s no Miller. And, Miller’s no Lowery.
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Hate to see him give up any valuable info to belicheat, but I won’t miss him much.
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Jhomeboy says:
lol hate hate hate thas all u bloggers do my homeboy from my city will make it happen cuz i kno where he come from KENTUCKY baby, this is small **** to a GIANT but continue on with ya’s hate…….
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jvsvn says:
The guy was only active for one game in each of the last two seasons. For all intents and purposes, he had already been replaced. It’s too bad. He had potential and showed flashes but never put it together. Life in the NFL is tough. I wish him well (unless he goes to the Pats).
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Prediction: Miller signs with Oakland. They’re desperate for a kick returner… amongst other things.
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I thought Revis was drafted, in part, b/c of his punt returning ability. What ever happened with that?
Zenlaw,
teams dont risk using elite players to return punts. Revis is the best corner in football, the jets arent going to to put him in harms way, regardless of how good a return man he is. Besides, Washington is awesome on both punt and kick returns. His 26.8 average on KR’s is good for 8th in the NFL, and his 12.9 average on punt returns is good for 4th in the NFL. -
James in TN says:
adios underacheiver
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Bent says:
Maybe the salary cap is an issue too. If they cut Drew Coleman or Eric Smith then this gives rise to an, albeit modest, cap hit on next year’s cap where the Jets already have little breathing room if Favre returns.
There is no saving though, by cutting Miller, (nor would there be for cutting Nugent or Carroll), because these players are in the final year of their contract and their salary became guaranteed for the year when they were on the opening day roster.
btw, considering he hasn’t broken one for a TD, 12.9 average yards on punt returns is excellent. Leon consistently makes the first man miss. Too bad his one mistake came in an OT loss.
I hope the Harlan curse leads to a big day for Drew Coleman this Thursday (actually, I probably hope Coleman doesn’t play).
Lowery *could* be the next Strait or Miller (and I would add Eric Coleman to this group), but he has already made more plays at corner than Miller ever did. We were just lucky to get some value out of him as a return man, but he’s no Leon…especially coming off numerous injuries.
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D Low is a much smarter cover guy, a better tackler, and just a better fit for our 3-4 now. Miller was one of the best KR i’ve seen on the Jets in well, forever. But he is not a great cover guy or tackler, remember the debacle with Plax in the Giant game, getting owned and stiffed armed down the sideline. That’s the kind of stuff that gets you in the doghouse or cut, he was on borrowed time and the Jets weren’t gonna resign him, let’s go with Ty and try and bring someone in this offseason (draft, free agency)
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Reprocity says:
That was Andre Dyson who got stiff armed by Plaxico. What bothered me is between Miller, Coleman, Barrett, Smith it was Miller who got cut.
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Bent says:
OK, maybe I have stumbled upon the reason…out of them four (any of whom could be expendable now that Law is aboard), Miller is the least likely to clear waivers, because he could go to a team that needs a corner (Vikings, Saints) or a return man (Raiders).
Therefore, if any of these teams make a claim, Belichick can’t get his grubby little hands on him…because the Pats will only be able to claim him if nobody with a worse record makes a claim – and the three teams I mentioned above (plus about 20 others) do have worse records.
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Was it Dyson, i thought It was Miller bro, It’s on the NFL Network commercial with JImmy Kimmel, all you see is his back and “MILLER”, but who the hell knows, if he wanted to stick around he should have made a play…
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ED says:
What I don’t get is why we couldn’t get even a low round conditional pick for him. Must be more here than meets the eye. His injury, maybe?
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Miller claimed by Raiders. I’m the NFL’s Nostradamus – Not!
Got lucky. See Bent’s logical deduction above. Still, I agree with ED, something’s definitely rotten in Jersey?!
well let me say its about time , I knew for sure they were not going to resign him in this offseason , but i was routing for this guy to succeed , but it was hard to do after Dwight Lowery started , I just hope Law still has little more left in his tank