As the NFL lockout FINALLY ends and the 2011 season gets underway, the New York Jets need to decide what to do with the 17 Free Agents who donned green and white last year.
The Jets have a nice young core under contract for the next few years but lets be honest Jets fans - Mike Tannenbaum put all his chips in the middle of the table last year by committing a lot of money to savvy veterans and talented castoffs for the 2010 season. Many of them are FA's this year. For the most part, the risks, if you even want to call them that, worked out for Tanny and the Jets. Most of the team played well and stayed healthy enough to put the Jets within a few downs of the Super Bowl for the 2nd straight season.
This team is SO CLOSE and that's precisely why it's SO CRITICAL that this very short off season ends up being a success. Let's run down each free agent and decide if the Jets should keep them, dump them, or make Marc Summers slime them 1980's Double Dare style and then dump them.
Shaun Ellis - Keep Him. He'll likely sign a one year deal for a veteran's minimum or slightly more than that. He doesn't want to play his entire career for the Jets only to go to some **** hole like Kansas City to watch the Jets finally win a Super Bowl. His presence and leadership should help mold the two DL beasts the Jets just drafted in Kenrick Ellis & Muhammad Wilkerson
Steve Weatherford - Keep Him. I don't want Tanny wasting his time trying to find a new punter when the one we have is just fine. That would be the equivalent of spending your entire day researching used Honda Passport's when you have a perfectly fine used Hyundai Santa Fe in your garage. All the **** is the same. If what you got gets you from A to B then you're fine.
Brodney Pool - Keep Him. I'm probably going against popular opinion here but after a rough start, I liked what Brodney showed at the end of the year and in the playoffs. He will probably come cheaper than the other DB's on this list so I think we can get nice value on him. He stays healthy, keeps his mouth shut, and generally does what the coaches tell him to do.
Tony Richardson - Dump Him. I loved what Tony did for the Jets during his tenure here but The Terminator is ready to get block opposing LB's and pass protect Sanchize like he was a young Edward Furlong.
Wayne Hunter - Keep Him. I guess they already are keeping him. You can never have to many fat dudes, right?
Trevor Pryce - Dump Him. I know Rex loves Trevor (Rex waxes poetic about Pryce in his book), but with the two rookie D-Lineman and his inability to be effective enough last year, it looks as if Pryce is WRONG! #cleverwriting
Antonio Cromartie - Dump Him. I thought Cro did a great job last year considering he played opposite of the soon-to-be-recognized-by-everyone-even-though-I-already-know-he-is best corner back of all-time, Darrelle Revis. It's more that the Jets have already committed to Kyle Wilson by choosing him in the 1st round last year as opposed to Cro not being worth signing again. If the Jets had unlimited money than I'd like him to stay but I want to be realistic in this article.
Lance Laury - Dump Him. Who is this? Is he the assistant manager of locker room operations? I honestly don't know who he is which leads me to believe we can find a rookie to do whatever he did for cheaper and probably better.
Eric Smith - Keep Him. He stepped up his play at the end of the year and in the playoffs after the other white safety got hurt in EFFIN PRACTICE right before the Monday Night Massacre vs. the Pats. #facepalm. He knows Rex's system and can play either safety spot and even on special teams if needed. He is too valuable to let go.
Brad Smith - Dump Him. I love Brad Smith but keeping him is like paying a middle reliever a closer's salary. He is GREAT and adds a lot to a team when he is on it but he will require 15-25 million to keep and that is too much considering the other pieces the Jets MUST have. The Jets drafted Jeremy Kerley who possesses a similar skill set and will likely play 4th WR and return punts/kickoffs.
Drew Coleman - Dump Him. This guy is feast or famine. Either he is making a sick interception or getting ROASTED by an opposing slot receiver. He is too inconsistent for my liking and probably the coaching staffs liking too.
Kellen Clemens - Make Marc Summers slime them 1980's Double Dare style and then dump him. This turned out to be an awful draft pick for the Jets. He is a pretty awful QB and with Brunell and future 2nd stringer Greg McElroy occupying space why the Hell would the Jets resign someone who really is an awful NFL QB. Awful.
Nick Folk - Dump Him. I don't have confidence in him when he lines up behind the holder. He was decent last year and to be honest, I really don't care too much either way. So we can Keep Him for all I care.
James Ihedigbo - Dump Him. James has been a nice special teams player for us but he's never really showed that he can be a starting safety on the Jets. Nothing against the guy, but I think the Jets can find someone cheaper who can basically do the same stuff he has done. If he wants to stay and play back up for back up money then let him but he probably wants the chance to start somewhere.
Braylon Edwards - Keep Him. See why below.
Santonio Holmes - Dump Him. Before you start chucking tomatoes at me, let me just say that I would LOVE to keep Santonio. The guy is electric and single-handedly won 4 games last year. But, if I had to choose between him and Braylon, I'm going with Braylon solely because Bray has a better rapport with Sanchez and in general, is a more consistent player. This is really tough, but I didn't become a blogger because I was scared to make TOUGH decisions that really have no effect on the matter I'm discussing. Santonio will likely require a contract in the general range of 20 million guaranteed for 3 or 4 years if not more. I think that he is too injury prone and he may lose some of that breakaway speed that has gotten him to be one of the biggest offensive threats out there. For a QB that is inaccurate and relies on getting into a rhythm like Sanchez, He needs a big target who he's on the same page with like Braylon. I would like to say on record that I would like to keep BOTH Braylon and Santonio but if pressed to only keep one I'm going with #17.
Sanchez may even restructure his current contract to keep 2 or even 3 of his players. What a guy!
I hoped you enjoyed reading. Congrats on getting through the whole thing. Let me know how stupid I am in the comment section.
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