I believe this was after his rookie year. Bowles is in year 4 n has shown no improvement in game day management
That is why I'm rooting hard for Anthony Garcia to prove himself worthy of being our future LT. It would be huge if the Jets found their answer at LT for the next 10 years on the waiver wire or as a FA, especially knowing that the Pats had released him. Then the Jets wouldn't need to trade up for or worry about the LT position, and could focus on getting a stud pass rusher if they don't sign one in FA (which is unlikely imo), although it's fun to think about the Jets being able to sign Mack or one of the other possible 2019 FA OLB/edge rushers that were mentioned in another thread. Heck, if Garcia proves to be our future LT and the Jets are able to sign one of those stud FA edge rushers, then a #1 WR, RB and C or perhaps OG would become our top priorities and the Jets could possibly trade down in the 1st round, add an additional pick or two and still get a great #1 WR prospect, RB, C or maybe even TE, and still get one of them and a great OG prospect in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. At any rate, I agree that finding our future LT to protect Sam's blind side is key, and along with a stud edge rusher are our top two needs/priorities. I see it as LT #1 and edge rusher #1A.
I'd like to believe that the Jets will spend a lot of money on offense in FA next offseason, but I'll believe it when I see it. I certainly hope that he will sign a FA OL or two, but I think a RB and #1 WR type need to be drafted, not signed as FAs. I would be shocked if Bosa was sitting there at the Jets' pick next draft, but if he is, they have to take him, unless they have no answer at LT and there's an equally great LT prospect sitting there too. I've been screaming for a stud edge rusher since before J. Abe, but protecting out QB's blind side is even more important, even with Darnold being more mobile. Sometimes being more mobile makes having a better OL even more important, because they have to know where he's likely to move to and need to have the speed, athleticism and agility to move with him.
No to Bell. He's a great player, but also a selfish me-first type player, and will be waaaaaaaaaaay too expensive. He also has a lot of mileage and hits on him. Starting RBs need to be drafted not signed as FAs. They can be found in almost any round and would be a lot cheaper and more of a team player.
Excellent point and Mac did try to trade up for Laremy Tunsil. We also don't know that Mac wouldn't have drafted La'el Collins if Collins hadn't had the cloud of doubt cast upon him right before the draft.
Hasn’t been much improvement in the roster either. Could argue there has been regression in the roster. Point is,2016 Pederson = bad hc 2017 with mvp candidate qb = good hc
Na. Damn near 99% of professional (star) athletes are selfish, greedy, me types with top dollar agents behind them etc etc. It's a part of sports. But not a valid enough reason, to not sign a game breaking player who will instantly turn your team into a playoff contender and your offense into a feared one. Over night too. Especially when you'll have a boat load of cap space, and then some. Offense. Defense. And Special Teams. Le'Veon Bell immediately upgrades 33% of your team. He improves 100% of your offense within the grand scheme of things. No. We're not talking about just "any ole RB" here. We're talking dual threat, an every down, 3 down type of overall HB. A top 5 and without question top 10 offensive skilled player within the league today. We're talking about a player. Born in the state of Ohio. Played college ball in the State of Michigan. Built for Northeastern playoff football within the cold. Built for NYC/NJ conditions; that's only if your dream is to make it through and to the S.B that is. A 1x Second Team All-Pro. A 2x First Team All-Pro. And a very recent 3x Pro Bowler (2014, 2016, 2017). Well on his way to Curtis Martin legendary status. Showing sub zero signs of early retirement. Coming off a season consisting of 321 rushing attempts, 1,291 rushing yards, 9 rushing TD's to go along with 85 receptions, 655 receiving yards and 2 TD receptions. And give me a break about Pitt running him into the ground. You can't tell, because those 321 rushing attempts were a career high for Bell. Never been over 300. From start to finish 360+ rush attempts were the norm for Curtis Martin. Now that's... Running your RB into the ground 360+ on the norm. No one is saying he'll need 400+ attempts per season. But to pair Le'Veon Bell alongside a QB prospect such as Darnold with one of the NFL's most dangerous deep threats in Robby... I'm sorry but that's a disgusting trio for an offense to feature behind a QB hopeful. And just wow. 85 receptions? On an offense already featuring Antonio Brown? Just goes to show you the confidence that a SB winning QB in big Ben had in his dual threat RB. Yes, he'll be 27 years of age this up coming offseason; but he's currently only 26 as of February. Far from old. Lots and lots and lots of milage remain. And I'd feel confident with a 3-5 year contract with a star of his magnitude and an elite player of his caliber. All of this "RB's need to be drafted rather than not signed, lots of hits, lots of millage, break down easy" etc etc are all very cliché. Yes. I agree. Does have truth behind it, in regards to (I'll estimate) 95% of NFL back's. But you can not throw Bell into that 95% class. He's a different category. He's a rare 5% type of breed. Some fans forget. Curtis Martin wasn't drafted by NY. He was already 25 when he got here too. Still doesn't change the fact that Le'Veon Bell would automatically become NYJ's most dominant, explosive, game changing, game breaking and most dynamic offensive weapon this Franchise and Fan Base has witnessed since dating back to #28 himself. And dare I say, more? Yes. Bell is that electric. Not only will Bell bring our offense instant respect, but he'll also protect our potential Franchise QB in Sam. By making Darnold's pre-snap reads easier (the defense must spot light Bell). The threat of an audible out of a pass play becomes a real option for Darnold. His rollouts become a real weapon. The opportunity to have a dual threat check down option. A monster one at that. An RB that can take a simple dump off or screen play 50+ yards. Bell makes any Franchise or potential franchise QB's life 10x easier. I'm willing to see Macc cut the check for this. Stack the box all you want. Will only open up the vertical passing attack for Darnold and makes Robby Anderson impossible to deal with deep down the sidelines on Sunday's. I rest my case. When's the last time we've had a real Franchise QB and a top 3 RB on offense? I swear. I'll never be scared of greatness. You've gotta try. Scary money doesn't always pay out. You've gotta roll the dice on a Franchise that hasn't really had a Franchise signal caller since Namath. Le'Veon Bell makes Darnold's 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc years in this league even more exciting to just imagine.
He's gotten much better with challenges and the usage of timeouts and not running out of them throughout the game. 2 min drills need to get better, but we need pass-rushers and better QB play in order for that to transpire.
Still passing, would rather draft a RB in the 3rd round that could do about 75% of what Bell can bring to the table.
Name Five (5) current 3rd RD (or later) NFL HB's who's currently putting up 75% of Bell's production with 3 Pro Bowl's during a 4 year span. I'll be waiting. Forget a specific round. I can't even name a recent Jets RB who's anything near 75% of the production Le'Veon Bell has brought to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nice try. Not buying it.
Pro Bowls are a popularity contest and I am not including that in this discussion. This is about production. You do not break the bank for Bell. It is a luxury to have him on the squad and you can easily draft a RB that can give you production in terms of running, catching and blocking. Give me these RBs over Bell and his ridiculous contract demands. 1. David Johnson 2. Alvin Kamara 3. Jordan Howard 4. Kareem Hunt 5. Devonta Freeman That was a breeze.
Not only that, but any deal with a term longer than three years pushes him past the 30 yo mark and I want no part of paying a 30+ year old running back 17mill. Its not good use of cap space at all. Oline and Edge rushers are of much greater importance than a RB in today's game.
Agreed, if there is a pass-rusher available next off-season via FA, that money should go towards an edge rusher. Gotta take care of our own as well (Williams, Q)
Funny. Freeman just signed a $41.25 Million dollar contract with over 22M fully guaranteed. I'm a huge FSU fan but Bell over Freeman all day. Especially within cold climate. And many of those RB's will guarantee large contracts as well. Nonetheless it really doesn't matter. Why, because our offense has not sniffed a dynamic, all purpose, every down type of 3 down elite RB since dating back to #28. With Darnold now in place that trend can no longer continue. That list above is decent. But your strategy requires you to A.) Sit on your ass and B.) Pray to God you run into a lucky pick with an elite mid to late round RB. Well. Good luck. Le'Veon Bell. Todd Gurley. Ezekiel Elliot . Leonard Fournette. Dalvin Cook. Saquon Barkley. Just a few big name HB's drafted during either the 1st or 2nd rounds over the past 5 NFL drafts. The RB position is becoming a big thing again. The position has given birth to new life. And new importance. And yes elite star RB's will get paid. You see. If the opportunity presents itself I'm willing to see my GM get aggressive and go and give my potential Franchise QB in Sam Darnold a star RB to develop alongside of. Regardless if it's thru a big money FA or a 1st or 2nd rounder. Get it done. Indy drafted Peyton Manning 1998. They followed up with the drafting of Edgerrin James the very next draft. 1999. 4th overall too. Marvin Harrison was waiting in the wings in Indy since 1996. Do you know what he did in 1999 during Edge's rookie season? Let's just say he broke out. Forever. And a great trio was formed. Edge dominated his rookie year. Over 1500 rush yards, 13 rushing TD's, over 60 cathches for over 500 receiving yards etc. Some of you will. But i can't say no to a trio of Sam Darnold, Le'Veon Bell & Robby Anderson. Indy doesn't pull the plug on James 4th overall and who knows how Manning's (like Darnold) as a POTENTIAL Franchise QB career plays out; because he sure struggled without Edge during his rookie year of 1998. Some fans forgot what a RUNNING BACK did for Indy, Manning & Harrison. Edge revamped that offense right away. As would Bell do for Sam, Robby & NY. I don't have time for my GM to sit on a bank roll with his legs crossed waiting for a 4th or 5th round prayer of a miracle late round RB. The time is now. Bell hits the FA market? As a GM you go guns blazing after him. If Sam Darnold you make a pitch. You give me a Le'Veon Bell + a 1st round LT & I'm changing my username to OffenseWinsChampionships heading into Darnold's 2nd year. As with Indy of yesterday. The time is now. They didn't wait for a late round QB to wish upon. After the drafting of #18 they never had their legs crossed while waiting for a RB to drop duing "late prayer rounds". They got aggressive. They went out & made a big trio happen. Indy didn't "wait". And the Jets shouldn't pray and/or wait to re-vamp this Franchises starved offense either.
Lots of good pass rushers in the draft too. I have no idea what Macc will do, but he could upgrade the OL in free agency and use his top pick on a pass rusher.
Not discounting the fact that Bell is a great RB, but I am not paying him Antonio Brown type money. Gurley got 45M guaranteed and Bell wants more. I think Freeman's contract is a great contract for a top 5 RB in today's game. Now imagine if the Falcons can lock up their pass catcher in Tevin Coleman? That's keeping a great roster together. The RBs you just mentioned, David Johnson when healthy is better then them IMO. He almost had 1000 receiving to go with his 1300 rushing yards on less carries. You saw what he did to the Jets 2 years ago. I have no issue drafting our next lead back, but I am not paying Bell 60M+ guaranteed. I bet you there will be a RB that will come into the league next year and be extremely productive. Jets don't need Bell. They can find their workhorse elsewhere.
