Players to be worried based on cap savings/new coach preferences: Player Cap Savings Ellis: 4.5 mil (restructure?) B. Moore: 5.5 mil (hopefully restructure to reduce cap hit) K. Coleman: 1 mil Barrett: 3.7 mil (gone) Baker: 2 mil (hopefully restructure) Kassell: 0.6 mil (gone) E. Smith: 0.5 mil B. Smith: 0.5 mil (this experiment never worked) D. Coleman: 0.5 mil And...Favre: 13 mil (if the new staff prefers R. Lewis or Suggs to Favre...) Total: approx $31 mil (we apparently are 7 mil over the 2009 cap, which means that such moves leave $24 mil in cap space to sign rookies and free agents, including guys like Feely). If the new staff wants to make a run at T. Suggs, B. Scott, J. Leonard, or even R. Lewis, there is room for one from each group: Suggs/Lewis and Scott/Leonard. I prefer Suggs and Leonard (B. Scott is nothing more than the Ravens S. Pippen). We then draft a DE and/or MLB. Cap savings numbers came from: http://www.nyjetscap.com/salary09.html
If the new staff has any say on Favre this could be true. With PSL's to sell and Woodys obvious man crush on Favre I think if he wants to come back, he's our QB if Rex likes it or not.
What Ray Lewis can bring to this team, goes far beyond just his play on the field. He will be a teacher, a leader, and a great role model for our younger players. If Lewis can be had, you go get him.
There are already analysts saying if #4 does return, the jets DO make the playoffs next year. They'll miss it without him, supposedly. being that Rex is a defensive minded headcoach, honestly, I think he too would prefer a veteran QB. We'll see soon on favre. As for getting Suggs or R. Lewis - I don't think so kiddies. Ravens are not letting either go anywhere. As for Leonard: I also doubt they let him go, with how he performed when he got a chance.
Lewis however also knows that he was one step away from the SB with a rookie QB and probably assumes that with a more mature Flaco they would be in a great position to reach teh SB next season, however a new D coordinator could cause issues..
The replacement would have to cost less than the incumbents. The last line states that the approx $24 million would have stretch far enough to pay rookies, free agents, and replacements, i.e.: Feely (to replace Nugent). Barrett's replacement should cost less than almost $5 million. The second TE can cost less than $2 million. B. Moore had a great year, but his cap hit should not be $5 million. I think you get the point. That Tannenbaum can restructure certain contracts, i.e.: Rhodes (currently a $7 million cap hit) only adds room for high price free agents. To be clear, I do not advocate the Redskins approach to buying a Super Bowl (because it does not work). But if REX wants to sign a few leaders to help change the culture, good times. Players like Lewis (or Suggs) provide value (and will help this team win, thus help Woody sell PSLs).
I'm beginning to wonder how other fans think they're going to get a hold of Lewis or Suggs... I mean, do you think the Ravens are just going to watch them sign somewhere else? The Baltimore FO will lock up Ray at all costs, as many fans would sacrifice a winning season to keep Lewis in Baltimore, and Suggs is being signed regardless, after all, that was the POINT of franchising him last year... Scott may in fact end up leaving, but Ray/Suggs are just out of the question.
I just cannot agree with that because Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan were both coordinators who left, and Mike Singletary, Mike Smith, and Jack Del Rio were all his linebacking coaches. I may be biased, but I think the Ravens have done pretty well all things considered.
I agree that it is unlikely that either player will leave Baltimore. But, players leave teams every year (even the great, untouchable guys, i.e.: Favre, Unitas, Namath, Montana, Sapp, Moss, H. Walker, E. Smith). And, money speaks. This is Lewis' last contract -- he may be offered more money elsewhere (including NY, Dallas, etc.). Lastly, if signing Suggs were easy, it would have been done last year. Baltimore tagged Suggs because they could not agree on the financial terms of his contract.
Why does everyone always want to get rid of B. Smith? His special teams contributions are excellent. I feel like I repeat this same thing over and over. Remember how poor our coverage was when he missed a game this year? Remember how many times he was the lead blocker on a LW kickoff return for a TD? He's cheap, keep him!
Money. Rex Ryan. 8-3 through November (thus potential with proper coaching). To be clear, again, I am not suggesting that Lewis likely will leave Baltimore --only that it could happen. The Jets (or Dallas, etc.) could offer Lewis a lot of money in his last contract to play on a team with potential and opportunity. I suspect that Lewis will at least listen to offers from interested teams. I am sure that Lewis and Suggs love Baltimore, but don't pretend that either is impervious to the line: "I will always remember my time in Baltimore, but this is a business." Similar to T. Law, Lewis has a family to feed. As a separate matter, can Baltimore afford Lewis and Suggs?
He might have a better chance to get another ring, why else? The landscape in both cities has changed. Especially if Scott and Suggs leave too. I'm sure they will try and keep them but who knows?
B. Smith is replaceable. After three years, Smith should have devloped into a special teams ace as well as a serviceable WR. The J E T S have too many one-dimensional players (e.g.: Wright, Smith, Dearth). It is okay to have W. Wright or B. Smith, for example, but not both.
I see what you're saying, but it's hard to believe that Ray would leave the city that he has played in for 13 years in favor of a team with "potential." Baltimore was just in the AFCCG, with a rookie quarterback. New York, on the other hand, has Brett Favre drama, and no real solution behind him. That is just the reality of the situation, is it not? Sure, the Jets were 8-3 through November, but the Ravens were 13-5 through January. The Ravens can definitely afford Lewis/Suggs, the problem is that they may not be able to afford Lewis/Suggs AND Scott. They've all mentioned that they'll take pay cuts to stay in Baltimore, but I don't really see that happening with so much money on the table for each guy.
I don't think Baltimore is that far ahead of the Jets. I say this accepting the fact that Baltimore played through mid-January while the Jets watched the playoffs from home. As a Jets fan, it will be interesting to see whether the team collapsed because of poor coaching/motivation, or poor talent. I hope the former. With regard to whether Lewis would leave Baltimore after 13 years, I say again, see, e.g., Favre, Namath, Unitas, Montana, H. Walker, E. Smith, R. Lott -- to name a few greats. It is possible that in each instance the team no longer wanted the player and, instead, sought value at the right time. I think Lewis stays in Baltimore -- but stranger things have happened (and justified with the great "it's business, not personal" line). It also is possible that Baltimore's FO puts on a good show for its fan base (we won't let Lewis go without a fight...), but internally recognizes that the price is not right. Why pay a LB on the wrong side of 30 when it can pay Suggs (to keep the defense young) and use Lewis' money on free agents in positions of need, i.e.: WR (Mason is getting older, and Housh/Boldin likely will be available). I prefer the Jets sign Leonard to a modest contract, draft an inside LB in the mold of R. Lewis (hopefully Rex learned something from Ozzie) and, hopefully, light a fire under VG.
He is a serviceable WR. Special teams is a very important aspect of the game and B. Smith is a "special teams ace". Why get rid of him if his salary isn't bad? I could see if he were making $2 million or something but he's just over league minimum. What's the point?
