I like coles on the field but he is NO TEAM PLAYER. HE is selfish and I am sick of his bullshit. I don't understand how these guys don't understand contracts and how they work. I think he is nothing but negative for a team that is on the rise and should be nothing but positive. I don't know what they are going to do with him but I say put with d Rob and trade him for a 2nd rounder. Cothcery could be our #1 with smith still developing and Stuckey is going to be healthy who is a solid WR. Clowney from Green Bay is a good deep threat as well. Cut the dead weight and keep us going in the right direction.
The problem is, I don't think Cotchery is as tough in the middle as Coles is. If Pennington is going to "compete" again for the "open QB position," as Tannenbaum said, and wins the competition and starts, then the durable Coles is the best of our WRs at taking the kind of punishment that Pennington brings when he lets a guy like Coles hang out to dry in the middle while waiting for Chad's bloopers. If Clemens gets the start, as I expect Mangini to do, then I think Coles' services are slightly less important. Either way, I hope there is a way Tannenbaum can reach a comprimise with Coles, so we can avoid this "liar" stuff. With guys like Coles and Kendall, it's always about being held for ransom. "Give me 100% of what I'm looking for or I'll tell everyone you're a liar." I'm not sure I hold as much hope this time though, because, as with Kendall, it got uglier and uglier going into camp. I can't see Tannenbaum and Mangini waiting that long and letting it fester again, like they did with Kendall. In the end it would have been better to ship Kendall out earlier and avoid all that horseshit and distraction.
To establish that Coles "whining about his contract" the first time was legitimate and reasonable. It's relevant to the post that I quote. It's also relevant to why Coles is probably being such a pest about this situation. He's already experienced this organization's gross historical incompetence on more than one occasion. Coles was hurt last season. The year before, he caught over 90 balls. Not exactly four years ago. That might make sense in the Kendall situation. It holds no water here. Moreover, the Jets can't be a "win now" team with a receiver group that consists of Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith(still learning the position) and the nobodies, particularly if Kellen Clemens is the quarterback. It's very hard to talk that kind of tough contract talk when they just gave a pretty good sum to two guys in Woody and Jenkins who are past their prime and have constantly struggled with weight issues indicative of a crappy work ethic. Finally, essentially the same front office gave a declining Wayne Chrebet an extension several years ago when they were a lot tighter with the purse strings. Chrebet couldn't hold Coles' jock. This is misleading, as is the headline of the article in the Ledger. Coles said that he felt he was being "strung along." The phrase "lied to" doesn't seem to appear anywhere. This is irresponsible journalism. Here's the actual quote: ?They?ve told me for the past two seasons that they would take care of me and now I feel they?re stringing me along,? Coles Said. ?I?m not going through this for another year.? ?I don?t want to seem like another greedy player, but I feel I?ve earned the right to know where I?ll finish my career, I?ve done everything this organization has asked me to do and I?m asking them to do this for me. I think I?ve earned that much. I?ve put it all on the line every Sunday for this organization. ?I?ve played hurt. I?ve been a leader in the locker room. I?ve held the team together in bad times. I was an intermediary between management and the players. I sacrificed my numbers for the good of the team. . . . I don?t want to be a disgruntled player. I want to be someplace where I?m happy.? I don't agree. In what way has he been a distraction off the field? He's never been arrested. He's never been called lazy. He's a veteran with a contract concern. Pete Kendall going to the league office about the Jets OTA's was disruptive and seedy. Coles above listed statement is reasonable. Moreover, I don't have faith that a guy who just traded a Pro Bowl type linebacker for a 4th rounder is going to get "enough" for a 30 year old receiver seeking an extension. Coles is worth more to us on the field than he would be in another uniform. I think this is just Coles trying to avoid a portion of the off-season workout a la Michael Strahan. I believe this situation will work out for the best. It would be extremely counterproductive to cut your best receiver when you just spent what the Jets did in free agency, PARTICULARLY when the quarterback situation is as bad as it is. -X-
I'm of two minds with this. Firstly, I can't stand how Coles runs to the media. He's done it in the past, and I've defended him, but at some point, it's got to stop. If you want to negotiate, and even hold out, do it. That's within your power, and somewhat within your right (though I despise when guys hold out. You signed the contract jackass, that's how they work.) On the other hand, Coles is looking to protect himself. This isn't about getting his $11M over the next two years. He's looking for something long-term that he can get bought out a couple years down the road. He knows he's just a couple hits away from the same shit Chrebet deals with. I'd want to protect myself too. I don't know how to resolve this. You really don't want to give up LC. On the field, we don't currrently have a guy his equal (including Cotchery). Do you risk going with what you have, along with whoever you pick up in the draft? Or do you stick with your known commodity? Also, while I disagree with the tactics used by them, maybe Kendall and Coles are telling the truth? We don't know if Tanny is making backroom handshake deals with guys, then telling them "Oops, sorry, no can do". I've had that happen to me at work before, and it pisses me off. And we're not talking about millions in my case. Right now, if I were Mangini, I'd get on the phone with Coles and tell him "Rest up, stay in shape, and I'll see you in July. Come to camp ready to play. But stop talking to the media, or things are going to get ugly." Then let the chips fall where they may after our draftees and incumbents are signed. If there's money left over, talk renegotiation with Coles. If not, he's under contract, so he'll have to just grin and bear it. See if you can trade him during camp in that case. For right now though, I'd try to keep Coles in green. At the same time, he needs to learn how to STFU.
I like Coles, but i feel no one is being extended this year due to the 4-12 season... if i had a 25% efficiency rating, and i walked into my bosses office and said "hey i want to be here longer for more money" he'd spit at me. So why does Coles deserve a raise?
Ya Coles takes a beating. So did Crebet and he played for peanuts most of his career. We dont need this attitude at this stage in time. We will never turn a corner with so called "team leaders" creating a devisive atmosphere. The guy is about as much of a leader as he is a "number 1 WR". He is not performing up to snuff in either role ATM.
This griping about Coles trying to get long term $$ security with the NYJ reminds me of Tiki Barber calling out Strahan when he was negotiating his last contract. I think the NFL players' consensus is, Your Money Is Your Business. I don't think anyone holds it against a player when he tries to get what he feels he is due. Now, once the team does a contract, then the other team members can and do react commercially -- which is only fair. But I think that Coles has performed in an exemplary fashion off-season and on the field for the NYJ. This is why he is held in such high esteem by his team mates. This is also why we should hold him in equally high esteem. I suspect that Coles will continue to maintain a high standard of physical fitness -- especially if he wants to get paid as a starter for the next few years. The problem with getting hurt during the season is that you rarely have the opportunity or the time to heal if you are trying to play in every game the way that LC did in 07. The relentless pace of the games simply caught up with him. I think the attitude that Mike Tannenbaum displayed in his comment on LC and the fact that they already have telegraphed their regard with the 2 year guarantee offer to LC pretty clearly indicate that they will work a long-term deal that is mutually satisfactory this Spring. Moreover, I happen to believe that both Rhodes and Coles will be addressed this Spring, after the Draft. We'll see what happens.
I understand Coles reasoning for wanting a new contract. But he was a major part of a team that went 4-12. If the Jets do well this year and he's a main part of that then you re-evaluate with one year left.
Coles is one of the toughest players in the game, is a leader of this team and is respected throughout the league. I believe that both sides will reach an agreement eventually and this situation will not negatively effect the locker room- THeres a business side to the game and players understand this. Tannenbaum seems to learn from his mistakes and I dont think he has any intention of repeating the Kendall mistake from last year. Coles is extremely important to this team and he will be back.
Watch any Jets kick off.. 70% of the time Brad Smith is in on the tackle. the other 30% he is disrupting the returner.
Well, at the very least, I can agree with you on that, but it still pisses me off that Coles chooses this exact time to put the gun to Tanny's head. I suppose this is smart business though. He wants longer term security and a paycheck that doesn't end in two years. This is a real dilemma, you have to admit. Here's an aging WR who's getting closer and closer to a Chrebet/Toon Concussion Syndrome looking for more than two years at $11 million. There's a point of diminishing returns with a guy like Coles. We need him now (right now... and not necessarily next year even, if we find the right combination of WRs through F/A or draft), but we still need him NOW. The other side of the coin is, we don't need Cap headaches long term with a guy approaching his twilight. I do hope Coles will be reasonable and that Tanny can reach some happy medium. In the meantime, you can't blame any Jets fans who want Coles to STFU already. After all, he read, agree to, and signed this current contract. Now he wants it torn up and if we don't, there's hell to pay by going to the media. That's the part that none of us respect about Coles.
I can understand people being annoyed with Coles' bitching and demanding more money (when he knows he's probably on his last legs) but what I can't understand is how anyone can question him as a player? He's the only player on the Jets offense who makes every around him better. When he is healthy on the field, suddenly the Jets have a passing attack, and Cotchery is running circles around the #2 corner. When Coles is not healthy, the offense is total shit and has no hope of doing anything.
Agreed. Coles can leave. When he left it was for $$. When he wanted to comeback, he wanted more $$. enough.
Well, I think any of us who are approaching this topic sanely are saying exactly that. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't think Coles gives 100% of whatever is in his tank every Sunday. The issue that has everyone getting ticked off now is that he just can't seem to stop talking to the media, and this isn't the first time with him. Eventually, no matter how good you are, your mouth is going to write a check your ass can't cash. See Keyshawn, TO, Moss. And Coles isn't in that company in terms of overall talent.
Coles is simply one of those players that will NEVER be happy and is proving he is one of the greediest players in the NFL.
