I appeciate the detailed explanation and recognize I’ve got a lot to learn regarding the D-Rob and Vilma contracts and how the numbers relate to Jets dead cap space. Still, it’s hard to understand how (why) it was better for Jets to sit on D-Rob and Vilma for the season?

Limited availability of NG’s and ILB’s shouldn’t have prevented Jets from moving D-Rob and Vilma, because one thing Jets had no shortage of was holes to fill.

No one expected the Jets to go to the Super Bowl. Why not play with Kassel and Pouha and land players in other positions (O-line, DB,s) or draft picks. I know Tannbaum pulled a “Houdini,” masterfully breaking the shackles to D-Rob’s contract … just days away from eating it. I just can’t fathom how (why) he got himself into the desperate straights to begin with?

I’ll have to understand more about the money side of the house to comprehend how (why) it was better to sit on Vilma and D-Rob for a wasted, injury-filled year.

From where I’m sitting (admittedly ignorant) it still doesn’t make sense?!

Fustrated in ’07 and Elated in ’08!

having this cap is what makes football the best sport by far!!

Thanks for the clarification.

Tannenbaum did not spend any money after 2006 because (a) the types of players they needed were unavailable and (b) they had very limited cap space. I was saying throughout the offseason that year that we shouldn’t expect too many signings, but that the cap would be in great shape for 2008 and they would spend then. And they did, despite many people insisting they wouldn’t because the front office was too cheap. Tannenbaum was called an idiot for not even trying to sign Steinbach to play guard (when he signed for $49.5m over seven years and the Jets had just $2m of cap space). A lot of this was due to the fact that the media misrespresented the amount of cap space the Jets had, so there was a perception that they had simply kept the money which was not true.

They have executed the plan exactly the way I would have done. It’s a shame that last year was such a sour one, but it hasn’t hurt our chances this year. Don’t expect much spending next year, as most of the available money will be needed to re-sign our own.

In Tanny’s defense, I was glad to see the back of Kendall because he was so disruptive. It hurt them in the short term, sure, but I am glad they have Faneca instead now. Note also that they may have sacrificed trade value by keeping Vilma and Robertson that extra year but they saved a ton of money in terms of the dead cap space that would have arisen if they got rid of both a year sooner (and anyway, if they kept Kendall and lost those two, they would surely have ended up 4-12 anyway with Kassel and Pouha starting!)

Rose: Note 2010 MAY BE uncapped. Not necessarily. All bets are off, but the Jets should be in an OK position either way.

Finally – DC Jets fan, Jets would give up their 2009 #4 in that scenario, but it’s possible they could get nothing extra for Vilma or Robertson. That’s fine though. Based on needs and cap space, they have more than enough picks.

If cheap solutions like Ratliff, Clowney, Caulcrick etc can emerge next year or in 2010, the cap situation will look a lot more rosey.

2009 – 1,3,3,4,4,5,6,6,7
2010 – 1,2,3,5,6,7

I see ammo for Tanny to move around the 09 dratf and solidify/upgrade some pieces. Unlike, the last several years, the need positions are not nearly as vast ……so that always works to a club’s advantage.

So far, the two best GM’s seem to be in Gotham but Tanny gets the nod over Reese bc the Jets Roster required a completed overhaul.

Find away to keep Leon Washington in Green and White and i will be a happy fan.

Just something to think about….