Say “Adios” to Sheppard
It seems the Jets will part ways with the injury-prone Lito Sheppard come the end of the season as Adam Caplan of Scout.com via PFT reports that the Jets will not be coughing up his bonus on March 11.
Thus, Sheppard will likely head to unrestricted free agency in 2010. Caplan notes that the two-time Pro Bowler has “played better of late,” but Sheppard’s lengthy injury history will limit his market value. He also appeared to lose his starting job to Dwight Lowery, before Lowery was lost indefinitely with a high left ankle sprain in Week 11.
As Caplan mentioned Lito has been playing better lately but its no doubt for his benefit so he can gain the attention of other teams. This does not come as much of a surprise as the Jets put some duct tape [Sheppard] on the opposite side of Revis until they could address other concerns besides quarterback in the 2010 draft. (Don’t get me wrong, Sheppard is good but only when he is healthy and obviously the Jets don’t want to risk having Lito injury himself again and again therefore Tannenbaum is taking a different direction).
It certainly should be an interesting offseason in addition to CB, the Jets may also need to look for a safety if things continue to go south with Kerry Rhodes and don’t forget both the defensive and offensive lines are aging and the Jets may be looking for some replacements in the later rounds who can be groomed over time.
40 Responses to Say “Adios” to Sheppard
-
Freeman 24 says:
Yeah, one thing we haven’t seen yet is the “Rex Ryan effect” on players wanting to play in this system, for this HC, even if its not the most lucrative deal available.
I’m expecting it to be a big positive for the Jets and one of the reasons its worth putting up with his over the top relationship with the media.
-
m eazii says:
Wow I really want lito back next year if he can stay healthy that is…he is playing great the past few weeks and seems like the perfect corner to be opposit of revis….I really want him back next season
-
Green Lantern says:
All I want is a corner to cover Welker is that too much to ask for?…lol
-
Jeff says:
We might resign him when we release him. But it will be absurd to pay him that bonus
-
jon in bk says:
Non-story. They were never going to pay that absurd bonus- I,personally, would love to see Lito back and hope he can be healthy. Disagree that he lost his starting job- I think a healthy Lito starts over a healthy Lowery.
-
Doug says:
BRADY GOT INTERCEPTED
hahahahaha
-
Brendan says:
CC Brown is playing. Giants are F’d.
-
Shamik says:
What is it about playing in Miami that the Jets and Pats, no matter how good they are, just can’t seem to get wins there? We’ll need some help, but we’ve got a shot!
-
MEL31602 says:
Texans loss is bad for us though- but Miami vs. Jags next week so one of them will lose
-
I also wanted to go onto a Pats blog and tell them that maybe now they can shut up about our losses to the saints and phins. Problem is, there really arent many Pats blogs out there! What surprises me the most are that the Mets and Jets blogs seem to be so popular and well travelled compared to most other teams. Our teams may suck, but they sure do have the best damn fans out there!
-
Organized Chaos says:
Next week we gotta have a Jag win over the Phins. Jax then plays lndy and then the Pats. Dolphins play Miami week 17, so someone is going to have a least 7 looses. Add in the fact that Cincy and Indy probably will have clinched playoffs (and possibly home field) by the time the Jets roll around.
WE HAVE NEW HOPE. -
Amazing endings to some games:
The positives for the Jets
1) Raiders beat the Steelers
2) Dolphins beat the Pats
3) Dolphins play the Jags next week. We will gain something on one of these teams next week.
4) Pats still have 2 road games left as well as a game vs the Jags
So the Jags play each the Pats and Dolphins. If we take care of our business we will be able to gain games on at least 2 of these teams in just those 2 games.
5) Ravens have a tough game tomorrow night at GB. They or the Steelers will be eliminated when they play each other in 2 weeks.
Basically, all these teams play each other slowly but surely teams will be eliminated. -
brian311 says:
i could see the team cutting him and renegotiating, similar to brandon moore situation
-
Harvlis says:
We have plenty of season left. No reason to be talking about Sheppard leaving. He did a good job, this past week. Let’s hope he continues to play well. If so, it is going to be tough to pass on us.
I hate both New England and Miami but, I never tire of seeing Belichek lose.
-
get rid of him…i’m not a fan of him at all…he gets injured every year and i think lowery could be a good #2 for us
-
Bent says: exactly…he was never going to get this bonus. This isn’t even news.
-
Here’s a good laugh for everyone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AqnsjEPLIA&feature=player_embedded -
BigKatFan says:
I really believe that Lito can turn it around these last few games. we”ll see about this.
-
NorCal says:
Bent is correct as usual. He will never see the bonus, but may be re-signed.
-
Gerry says:
Lmao, that guy will fit right in with the Lions.
-
This was always going to be similar to the Vilma/NO situation. Release him and then if they want they’ll bring him back at a reasonable salary. If he stays healthy all season I think they will look to bring him back and then develop a corner below him (I am not convinced Lowery can be that guy, he seems a lot like Strickland to me).
-
toro rosso says:
this is not the time to talk about sheppards future. not when he’s needed most.hopefully the coaching staff reassures him of his current role, or he just might lay down , something we don’t need right now.it’s appears like these players care for each other and that’s critical for success down the the road.the media doesn’t need to meddle in the jets business affairs.
-
Dmazz says:
Updated Playoff wishes
Indy 12-0
Cincinatti 9-3 conf 6-3
San Diego 9-3
NE 7-5 div 3-2 conf 5-4
*remaining opponents car,Buf,Jags,TexansDenver 8-4 conf 6-3
*remaining opponents Ind,Oak,Phi,KC
Jacksonville 7-5 h2h 0/1 conf 6-2
*remaining opponents Mia,Ind,NE,Cle
——————————————-Baltimore 6-5 conf 6-4
*remaining opponents GB,Det,Chi,Pit,Oak
Pittsburgh 6-6 conf 4-5
*remaining opponents Cle,GB,Bal,Mia
Miami 6-6 div 4-2 conf 4-4
*remaining opponents Jag,Ten,Hou,Pit
NY Jets 6-6 div 2-4 conf 5-5
*remaining opponents TB,Atl,Ind,CinJets need——-
Jacksonville to lose 2 out of last 4.
Baltimore to lose 2 out of last 5.
Miami to lose 1 game out of last 4.
Pitt to lose 1 game out of last 4. -
Dean Barbella says:
I don’t think Jets can afford to pay a $10 million option bonus on a injury prone guy.
Lito’s missed considerable time. At least we only have to trade a fifth-round draft choice to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The conditional 2010 draft choice would have been a second-round draft choice if Sheppard played 85 % of the season and receives a four year contract.
-
Eddie DiGio says:
#
Bent, on December 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm Said:exactly…he was never going to get this bonus. This isn’t even news.
Hahahaa
Im pretty sure Bent said that this was exactly what was going to happen when the Lito trade went down.Chalk another one up to the cap master!!!
-
rusty sanchez says:
yeah i also think if we keep him and give him that bonus we have to give up a pick to the eagles too
-
Bent says:
Dean – according to a recent report by Cimini, which corrected his earlier reporting of the trade, the 5th rounder graduates to a 4th if Lito participates in 40% of the snaps this season. He’s below that right now, but if he continues to play full time, he’ll go over the limit for the season in a couple more games.
Even if he does become a UFA, the Jets can get him back for a more reasonable amount next year. No team is going to give him a 27m deal over 4 years with a 10m bonus – if they do, they’re welcome to him and the jets will gladly accept a better comp pick in 2011 instead.
-
Harlan Lachman says:
Bent, what are the cap considerations of letting him go? According to the http://www.nyjetscap.com/ it seems that the cap hit of not paying him the cash will be huge (as is the draft choice of paying him). Am I missing something?
harlan
-
JesusRevis says:
Sheppard is a better corner than Lowery right now. Lowery has a lot of developing left before he can become a legit starting corner.
-
Kirk the Jerk says:
Harlan -
Lito has option in his contract covering next year. That option can only be exercised by the Jets (not the player). They can just choose to not exercise the option with no negative cap implications. -
K the J, if true, that would mean the info on nyjetscap.com about this player is wrong. You may be right. Anyone know for sure?
h
-
who was that guy who said he’d fit in with the lions b/c he’ll be there next year
-
Bent says:
Harlan – Kirk is correct and the info on Jason’s site is not wrong. If you go to Lito’s page: http://www.nyjetscap.com/litosheppard.html it says “The Jets negotiated an extension with Sheppard in which the team will pay Sheppard an option bonus of 10 million dollars in 2010 or allow him to become a free agent.”
Unfortunately, contracts are so complicated that the numbers in the tables for “cap hit if released” can never be 100% accurate because there are too many “what if” type scenarios.
For example:
- If anyone is released in 2010, we think that part of the dead cap hit will bite in 2011.
- For Gholston, if he doesn’t reach 45% of snaps in any of his first 4 years, you can reduce his dead money cap hit by about $3.6m.
- For Rhodes, if he is released in early March his dead money cap hit reduces by almost 5 million.
- For many players the cap hit if they are traded is a lot lower if they have guaranteed salary that is yet to be paid. -
Thanks Bent. IF you have contact with the guy at Jetscap.com, it might be helpful to fans if he added dead money column assuming team wants to minimize hit (less PT for Lito and VG and not picking up the former’s option). It seems that the variations between what he posts and what Tanny can engineer are huge.
You da man.
Harlan
That’s fine but he may still resign especially if he likes the system and he seemed to start to get a good understanding of it on thursday night