Lito is finito » By Rich Cimini You can file this one under the "Tell-me-something-I-don't know" department, but, hey, it's our job to bring you news, no matter how obvious it seems. It has been confirmed that the Jets will release CB Lito Sheppard on Friday. If there was any doubt about Sheppard, it was erased Jan. 24, when Rex Ryan sent him to the end of the bench for the AFC Championship Game. If it weren't for the injury to Donald Strickland, Sheppard probably wouldn't have played at all. On March 9, Sheppard was due a $10 million option bonus that would've triggered another four-year contract -- and there was no way the Jets were going to pay that. So he will become a free agent. Did a little research on ProFootballFocus.com and uncovered interesting tidbits about the Jets' cornerback performance in 2009. Dwight Lowery and Sheppard finished fifth and sixth in the league, respectively, in the category of percentage of passes completed -- 47.9 and 48.1. (By definition, that's the percentages of balls completed into a player's coverage.) Based on that stat, Lowery should be the odds-on favorite to replace Sheppard, but it looks like the Jets will use the draft and maybe a trade to fortify that area. By the way, some guy named Revis led the NFL in that category at 36.9%. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/#ixzz0gzU2Dp0W
Wouldn't mind trying to bring him back on a more reasonable contract, I thought he was pretty solid most of the time last year. Obviously this was to be expected, but we've already (likely) lost three key veteran pieces from last year with Feely, Jones, and Sheppard that will need to be replaced.
If sheppard was 6th amongst all CBs in passes completed to his side, I'd like him back much cheaper. Like really fucking cheap. Lowery and a draft pick will be the other 2 besides Revis. I wish Strick could last a whole year. The defense was visibly more efficient when he was healthy. What a find by the personnel dept.
As much as everyone hates Cimini, I think he's the best beat writer the Jets have. He's not a super homer and maybe he has his own agenda, but he isn't insanely retarded like Cannizaro. Newsday is a like a revolving door and Lange sold his soul to the Jets. It's between Hutch and Cimini. I like Hutch, but Cimini writes alot more.
Lito's situation is almost the same as thomas jones'. let them walk. let them shop. let them come back to jets at a more reasonable price.
