eMail: Stallworth or No?
Sluggo in Seattle wants to know about Donte Stallworth and AD …
Now that the Browns have released Stallworth, any sense on whether the Jets would be interested? It would solve the third receiver issue, you get an experienced guy who can play all three positions, albeit a somewhat tainted and checkered past. I guess I kind of think given the strong base that has been established, with Rex putting his stamp on the team, this is the kind of thing that would free up the Jets to make the right draft pick choices (corner back, d-line, o-line), particularly if Adalius gets released by the Pats (and hopefully reunited with Rex, who made him into a star). What do you guys think?
First AD. I don’t know how enthusiastic Rex would be to reunite with AD, who I think went against The Rex Code a few years ago when facing the Ravens in 2007. Read some of those statements from Ray Lewis in that link, or listen here. I don’t think that Ryan thinks much differently than Ray did at that time.
As hard as it is to do when talking about Stallworth, I want to put the manslaughter issue aside and just look at the football portion. I think that Stallworth would be an interesting option for the Jets and here’s why. Although I admit I don’t know the exact cap particulars, if the Jets could sign him now, before the new league year and CBA rules go into effect, and lock up one more spot of depth before the restrictions start, I’d say go for it.
As far as his game, it’s going to be hard to know what he can provide having been away from the game for a year. During the 2007 Patriots campaign, Stallworth wasn’t super productive (46 REC, 697 yards, 3 TDs in 2007), but his presence made a big difference for Randy Moss and Wes Welker to run their routes and be productive. Think about Brady this year and his season-long struggles with finding a third receiver Joey Galloway, Sam Aiken, both trainwrecks. Stallworth was that third guy in 2007, and teams had no answer for that trio.
Stallworth can be wildly inconsistent, hasn’t ever stuck anywhere, so there’s got to be some reasons for that and he’s been away from the game for a year. I don’t think that Stallworth would be a gamebreaker for the Jets, but I think he could take enough away from Edwards and Cotchery in three receiver sets and could be a big push forward for the Jets and allow them to focus elsewhere during the free ageny and draft process. I say go for it.
As cautions, beyond the PR headache he makes. The biggest difference for the 2010 Jets is that Patriots in 2007 didn’t have a Tight End like Dustin Keller — the team’s third option — and a good one at that. Although anything could happen, signing Stallworth could also mean that it’s the end of the road for WR Wallace Wright. So the Jets would have be prepared with a replacement on specials or a sagging in their kick and punt coverage without Wright, a guy in my opinion who is an usung hero on this team.
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