Baking News: Jets Release Chris Baker
Posted on February 20th, 2009 by Bent
Adam Schefter with the scoop, Robert06907 with the hat tip.
Another $2.1m saved off the cap and, although Schefter speculates that Baker could be back at a lower contract (although I doubt it), the Jets were unwilling to give him the $9m in guaranteed money (Schefter calls this a roster bonus, which I’m not sure is accurate) he was about to become entitled to if still on the team on March 5th.
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no more touchdown maker :(
Aww cry baby is gone. We’ll find another blocking TE.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Thats it Tanny/Rex. make a filet and keep trimming that fat.
Baker was a good player and he had incredible hands…. I hope he does come back. New England might gobble him up
he will definately end up in new england
$9 million is a little much for a blocking TE, but i dont think the CS utilized baker to his full ability. i think he has the potential to be better than he was in 2008.
that being said, non-elite TEs are very replaceable.
i hope all these recent cuts by mr T indicates he is going hard after scott and lenord in FA
No doubt Baker is a good/average tight end. However he was overpaid and was a pain in the ass last offseason. If he comes back at a lower contract fine, if he doesn’t fine. He is not going to make or break this, or any other team in the NFL. I would look for us to pick up a quality (and relatively cheap) blocking tight end at some point this offseasons.
I hope they aren’t doing this because…
***Ray Lewis***
God. I hope not.
Why does everyone seem to think we are actually going to try and get Ray. Does everyone seem to forget that Ray Ray said he would only join the Jets if Favre was the QB???
The Jets are obviously making room for a big deal or two. I find this exciting. As we have Keller & Bubba, we should be okay but, picking up a strong blocking TE will be important.
roybwise
I don’t think it is because of Lewis, but there is a slight chance, but most likely he’s going to stay in Baltimore or end up in Dallas, Jerry Jones is gonna go all out for Lewis and Woody can’t compete with a determined Jones, I don’t anyone can, but it may be because the Jets want to land Scott or maybe a CB, they can also be doing it to make an extension for Leon possible
You’ve got to be kidding me if you think Bubba Franks will make the 09 roster. He only made 08 because he translated for Favre. How many dropped passes did he have?
I’d like to see them bring back Baker. He’s a good all around TE, but just not worth the money they were gonna owe him
I would be COMPLETELY SURPRISED if he comes back to the Jets. There is way too much bad blood between him and Tannenbaum.
I wonder what Baker’s agent told him last year about his likelihood of staying with the team in 2009-2010. $9M is an insane amount of money to guarantee Baker. There is no way he should have been surprised by being cut.
I always liked Chris Baker. He blocked well and had good hands. The writing was on the wall when the Jets drafted Keller. As has been speculated, the Jets will sign a guy like Dan Campbell. I wish they could find a 3rd TE who can be the long snapper so that they can get rid of Dearth, who, while among the best long snappers in the league, simply takes up a roster spot. With Mangini gone, we don’t have to worry about the that roster spot being filled by another kicker! :)
Mike – actually Bubba was picked up before favre got here but people are forgetting he is a FA and i dont expect him back
dmsrad,
Don’t discount a long snapper, (Giants lost a playoff game because of a bad snap, and Pittsburgh lost a game this year because their snapper got hurt. All teams hold a roster spot for a good long snapper.
Bubba is a free agent, he was only on a one year deal.
For all that Tannenbaum is lauded as a cap guru, I don’t think he could sell umbrellas on Fifth Avenue in the rain, judging by his pathetic negotiating skills. Kendall was the tip off that he was over his head as a GM. But what about Favre: paid a third rounder and $13 mill, and gave up Chad for nothing—all the while he should have known he was buying the Jets a QB problem this year and down the road. The Faneca deal (5 years to a guy 31!) will look awful when he’s lining up with a walker. He got zippo for Vilma, double-crossed Chris Baker, and gave Gholston $20 big ones, guaranteed, before finding out Vernon is just hanging around like Hans and Franz (“We’re here to pump you up…”). Bryan Thomas is overpaid for what he does. Watch: he’ll talk tough with Leon, and Leon will walk. My sense is that what Tannenbaum does best is hang with Woody. The rest ain’t there.
yea franks was with the jets before Brett had retired from the packers if I remember correctly
Lewis, Scott, Leonard and mcalister all hitting FA I’m going to assume Rex brings in at least one.
oh and Ray Lewis did not say he will only play with #4 behind center, just said it would be another incentive to go with the tie to Rex
Really wish that previous two coaching staffs used Baker more. His hands were exceptional and I always thought he could be a weapon if they got him more involved. That said, the $ saved is worth it since we now have Keller to be an even better receiving threat. I’m excited to see what the front office can come up with now that there is some significant cap room
He was a great weapon when he tripped against the Raiders. His best play didn’t count.
how about Demetrius Williams or Brandon Jones at wr bart scott at lb and Domonique Foxworth at cb this should make the team very good
He was pushed out of bounds against Cleveland…that was the beginning of the end…he was never the same again…. lol
oh yeah cut coles and b t
Would you give up a second rounder for Lance Moore? I think I would.
And How does Justin McBrickhands continue to still find work? Amazing!
matthewm : regarding the handling of favre and chad, dont forget about who the real boss of the jets is, it aint Mike T and it wasnt Mike T who is trying to sell PSL’s
matthewm,
Vilma was damaged goods with a bad knee and only one year left on his contract, and Tannenbaum got a third-rounder for him. Faneca is a perennial pro bowler and guards last much longer in this league than most other positions. Pete Kendall was 34 when he had his dispute with Tanny — but you’re saying he should have given in to Kendall and thrown more money at 34-yr-old, but not for a far superior 31-year old?
FORGET THE RAVENS ILBs –
Bring back Vilma!!!
Hey J,
I don’t discount the long snapper by any means. I recognize the importance and I recognize that Dearth is as good as the come. Still, if you can find a guy that contributes some other way as well, it saves you a roster spot.
E Ham…you are right on about the PSLs. Woody is going to want a big name. PSLs are being sold as we speak, and the auction held fall of 08 only sold one third of the 2000 elite seats.
Mole57, Good points. But Kendall, who played fairly well, only wanted something like $1 million more to stay on, and Faneca, admittedly good now, got $62 million over 5 years. I am guessing that there is or would have been a $9 million differential in their pay. I would rather have Kendall and $9 million to spend on the team, than Faneca and the hope that he stays healthy until age 36. If we got a third for Vilma, that’s something, but he was Rookie of the Year, and not that old when we shipped him out. Think I would rather have Vilma than a third rounder. Wasn’t Schlegel a third rounder? Agree with Electric Ham: selling seats means more than winning. Favre was a subprime investment.
I have a feeling we’re gonna do wat the Pats did with Billy yates, release him and then resign him to a new deal.
Although Baker doesnt seem like the type of palyer to take a pay cut…
I’ll miss you, Chris. I won’t forget ‘06 and ‘07
Matthewm,
I don’t understand your issue with Faneca. The guy’s never played less than 15 games in a season, and he’s helped improve both Brick and Mangold’s playing skills as Mangold is now a Pro Bowler. We have one of the best run blocking lines in the NFL, and his contract was about 20 million less than you think. Bradshaw drafted BT, not Tanny. No body was getting anything for #10 last year. And 36 isn’t ancient for a lineman. Bruce Matthews played 18 seasons!
Flyboy said it best, cut Coles and BT! Great moves FO!!!!! You are either part of the solution or you are out. I like the moves keep em coming!!! I hope Ainge is cut when we pick up a cheap vet for insurance.
J Roc,
Faneca led the league at his position in sacks allowed, can you spell OVERATED?
Pittsburgh let him go because they knew his best years were behind him.
Baker will end on in new england for probably alot lower then anyone else would offer just so he can try to burn the jets or i could see him ending up being in cleveland. Winslow is just not happy there and mangina will try to ship him out as well. As for Ray coming to NY thanks but no thanks he is very good but his age and the money he will want will be grand. I would like to draft muauluga if he is available as for a blocking tight end i’m sure you can find one on a practice squad somewhere i mean Ben Patrick was i believe an undrafted player out of delaware who was on the cardinals practice squad and ended up making a great catch in the super bowl so too me its a moot point.
Next to go….Mike Nugent !
Faneca is in my opinion a great player and also a mentor to the younger guys on the line to me he is worth every penny we gave him and kendall was just a cry baby calling the league about practices that they werent suppose to have and crying about money dont these guys realize the trend in the league that when you make a big stink it usually ends up hurting the players credibility and they become known as prima-donas. The guys who just keep there mouth shut are the ones who get paid.
Amen, goodbye Nuge!!! Cut , Cut, Cut!!!!!! We are in a recesssion we need to save!!!!!
How many times does this have to be mentioned, Coles cannot be cut because his salary is guaranteed, he can only be traded. Please no Vilma, he is undersized and overrated. Bart Scott is the only acceptable option for that starting ILB spot.
I understand why they cut Baker,and if he is a team player he will understand as well. Keller is the future, but it is nice to have a dependable TE with above average hands to split time with. If we can get him back(which I doubt),for a lotlessmoney, he would be a huge asset to our team(again).
I think this is a cap move for now and that he will be re-signed.
Who is going to block in 2009?
I think tou’re all wrong about Baker ending up in NE!!! The way I see it, he would be better suited in Miami!!! Chad always loved dumping it off too #86, and I think Baker would have better success in lovely Fla.!!! Regardless, Bye, Bye Baker!!!
More Rex on Gholston:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation?tag=09%20combine
If Rex can’t make Gholston a player, nobody can.
J -
LOL. “can you spell OVERATED?”
Apparently you can’t. Overrated has two R’s buddy. And Faneca’s strength was never pass blocking. Do I wish he had allowed a few less sacks? Sure, but sacks allowed is absurd as an individual stat. When your quarterback gets sacked, blame can go a million different ways, so to pin it all on the lineman that the sacker lined up in front of is silly.
Our running game improved leaps and bounds last year largely because of Faneca, and with a greater emphasis on the run this season, he’ll be even more of a difference maker.
BAker will be a brownie in 2009.
Joe B.
Is this a spelling Bee? Put your “Inner” english teacher away, and concentrate on the issues!!!
Have any of the Faneca haters watched him pull and decleat LBs and DBs? The Jets were great at running around right end and Faneca pulled a lot. I wonder if TJ, who made the Pro Bowl with Faneca’s pulling, thinks he’s overrated.
Clearing more cap space…Once again, the Jets are going to be very active in FA. Gotta love that strategy…they didn’t make the show last year because of Farve’s collapse, but they’re going to try again. You can’t ask more than that of a GM and owner! We have the best offseasons of any team in the NFL. Let’s hope it turns into best postseasons. I go by their facility every day on the way to work and the lights are on at 6am and at 9pm. It ain’t a lack of effort!!!
Well I for one have been expecting this for a long time now. Dustin Keller obviously impressed management enough for the Jets to cut Baker from the roster. Keller seems to have a knack for the TE spot so now it’s his time to truly shine.
Faneca’s a stud, and Pete Kendall could’nt hold his jock strap!!! Anyone who thinks we should have kept a malcontent like Kendall, and not sign Faneca, should “Put The Bong Down”!!!!
largebarge -
I wouldn’t have said anything, except the guy put in caps “CAN YOU SPELL OVERATED?”
I just thought it was funny.
Joe B
I see, said the Blind Man, Too the deaf Woman!!! My Bad!!!
idiots the chemistry is dead 2007 all over again they gunna cheapskate like with kendell
woop meant dat 4 da moore article
can you say NY Ravens!!!