It won't be easy and it may cause some waves but the Jets need to start looking at how to lock up Jerrico Cotchery longterm. He's headed for the 75 catch for 1,000 yards season that marks the emergence of a young superstar receiver. He's made some of the best use of the field after catching balls also, and is a threat to go all the way on every ball he catches. The extension is going to have to wait until the season is over, so as not to add any negative elements to the Jet's locker-room but it's important that it get done shortly thereafter to avoid putting all the leverage on Cotchery's side next season. Think Laveranues Coles circa 2002 and how much the Jets would have profited from locking him up before that breakout season, which was also his RFA year. Well, with Cotchery they've gotten lucky as his breakout season has come with a full year left on his contract and at a price (460k) where they have some leverage too in the multi-million dollar deal to come.
Sign Cotchery and Kerry Rhodes to 5 years deals...they are the best players on their respective side of the ball.
Ever notice how the posession guys thrive with short-armed penny? They work well together. Santana for Coles was almost as good a move as starting J-Co!
Very good point. We really need to shore him up for the future. And I agree that we cannot let Rhodes go either.
I have enough confidence in Tannenbaum and Mangini that anybody they "allow" to leave were not in their long term plans... l
not to say that I don't like Cotchery, I do. He is a physical WR with good hands that plays bigger than he is. however, a 1,000 yard season does not mark the "emergence of a young superstar". I doubt many of the below WRs would be called "superstars" 2006: Antonio Bryant, Eddie Kenninson,Derrick Mason and Joey Galloway all had 1,000+ yards (as did 16 others) 2005: Brandon Stokley, Michael Clayton, Ashley Lelie, Nate Burelson
It's an unnecessary distraction at a time when all of the players should be focussed on the next game, not on what somebody else just got. They did Thomas in season because they were running out of time with him. They have the extra couple of months to do Cotchery and still have some control over events. You don't want Cotchery's new contract being in the back of everybody's mind, particularly if it's the biggest contract in Jets history for a receiver, and it's likely to be that.
Oh god, the players have nothing to do with extensions. That's what Agents do. They're paid to do that. I can guarantee you the Cotchery contract won't even be in ANY part of their mind. Trust me.. Cotchery's contract will NOT exceed Coles. If it does, than there is NO REASON to extend him right away.
Your list is faulty. Many of those guys are a victim of their own bad attitudes. Their talent has helped them achieve when they felt like it. They're not turds based on ability, they're turds based on mindset. Cotchery has shown himself to be a high character guy, nothing but class, since he's been here. The rest of that list has benefitted from an excellent passing system, and that's obvious. I wouldn't call the Jets passing system high powered or stat inflating. Moreover, neither Derrick Mason nor Joey Galloway belongs on your list. Before his knee exploded and was replaced by a hydraulic robocop one, Galloway was THE premiere deep threat in the league. Now that he's healthy again, he seems to have re-invented himself as a solid all-around guy. Should he put up 1,000 yards again this year at 35 it would be quite an accomplishment. Derrick Mason had 6 straight 1,000 yard seasons. That's nothing to scoff at either. He's a two time Pro Bowler. Any team would pay a handsome price for a receiver who could match 6 straight 1,000 yard seasons. The Jets can't repeat the mistakes they made with Laveranues Coles. Coles breakout season, where he showed glimpses, was when he caught 59 for 868. The Jets decided to wait, and then he blew up . They were forced to let him go when the Redskins signed him to an absurd deal. They were lucky to get him back. Expecting a Justin McCareins or Matthew Hatchette to emerge as a solid number two option is ridiculous. They have to lock this kid up. -X-
I'll argue, AGAIN, that I don't think the Coles thing was a MISTAKE. I think it was their calculated plan to get a 1st rounder. Their mistake was thinking they could live without Coles... I don't think the mistake was letting it happen that way.. The Jets got the best of a Coles for a 1st round pick "trade." They ruined it by using it as leverage to move up. I didn't think then, and I do not think now, Coles is a 1st round WR. He's a possession receiver, and those type of guys can be had in later rounds. Cotchery, same thing. Now, I think he's deserving of a good contract, but let's not break the bank here boys.
I believe Reggie Brown got 5yrs/$25 mil and a $10 mil signing bonus. For showing promise late last season and being pretty good this year. I think that'd be pretty fair to Cotchery, maybe a little more guaranteed, but that definately should be on par with the contract he'd want.
I guess I was putting the brakes on the use of "superstar". In addition to naming names, my point was that there were 20 WRs with over 1,000 yards last season. I would consider only 3 or 4 "superstars"...Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, etc. Mike Furrey is going to eclipse 1,000 yards this season for the Lions...is he a "superstar"? Mason has had a solid but unspectacular career. I don't really think that Michael Clayton or Burelson suffer from attitude issues. Clayton just struggled last year and Burleson was signed for $40mm+ by the Seahawks based on one solid season of production (and the hawks wanting to get back at Minny).
Trust me. Any agent who allows Jerrico Cotchery to sign a deal at 2003 numbers in 2006 is gonna lose a lot of business in the process. Cotchery's contract is guaranteed to be worth significantly more than the contract Coles signed nearly 4 years ago. If the Jets wait to sign Cotchery the price will just get steeper, as it did for Coles when the Jets fumbled the negotiations in the 2002 offseason. If Cotchery continues to produce the way he has so far he would get a near record breaking contract for a wide receiver in February of 2008, and remember that he will be a UFA not an RFA so no direct compensation from the signing team.
Cotchery could easily be a 100 catch receiver in a couple of years. Look what he's doing in his first real chance with a healthy Coles opposite him. He has excellent hands, runs great routes and makes lots of yards after the catch. What about him does not suggest superstar in a year or two?
Bro, put the pipe down. Coles is a first round WR, rembember he was touted as a late first round pick until he got cought with Peter Warrick (was he worth it??). He has the speed to stretch the field and has the GUTZ to make the catch over the middle, oh yeah hes very hard to Jam because of his strength and runs perfect routs (remember Dwight Stone toutoring him in his rookie year?).......anyways I do not see Jerico in the same class, he is more of a #2 and the posession guy you are talking about.
