Solomon Wilcots and Tim Hasselbeck will be interviewed this morning or afternoon on their show. They will try to get to the bottom of Baker's side of the story....not sure if you get NFL Radio with the 3-day trial but there is an onlien trial you can sign up for...
How do you figure? Laveranues Coles blasted the organization and discussed his contract dispute to the media constantly.
Let me just say first, that I am NOT even a big fan of Baker's. He gets alot of support from the posters on this website that I don't think he deserves. However, the guy did have a solid 40 plus catch season with the poor play from QB and the offense in general. I don't think he deserves to get another contract, but the original statement that I argued was that Baker would be released if he talked to the media. That is completely false. For the record, it wasn't production on the field that gave Coles the initiative to seek a new contract. He had under 650 yards receiving and was our #2 Receiver last season. Coles asked for a new contract because he is "sacrificing his body for the organization". In the past 4 seasons...Laveranues Coles has posted ONE 1,000 yard season (1098 yards in 2006.) That kind of production doesn't deserve a new contract. At least Chris Baker actually increased his production from the previous season. 10 more catches and 109 more yards.
Hasselbeck asks about drafting Keller, Baker says things are going in a diff direction, and he'd feel different if they addressed his contract before the draft but it hasn't been addressed yet Solomon is sucking him off saying Baker is a good TE that can help the team win, mentions that the Jets re-did deals for Coles, Rhodes, asks why his negotiations stalled Baker says he doesn't know why, he's been there 6 years and did all they asked for, wanted to be more involved in offense but just went along with their wishes, and doesn;t know why the contract hasn;t been addressed and they told him a coupel times that they would addresshis contract Hasselbeck says the broken FO promises seem to be recurring with the Jets, mentions Kendall, says Baker had best season last year and asks why he thinks the FO hasn't rewarded him dammit my boss came in OK, Solomon almost fell outta his chair when he saw the Jets pick a TE in round one with their trade-up, Baker was in Bahamas with his family but was a little surprised but not completely because he had a feeling they might go a diff direction, he's fine if they wanna go with Keller, it's part of the business Baker doesn't necessarily think they picked Keller because he left mini-camp or mentioned his contract in public, he says if that was their reaction it would be " a heck of a way to react". Isn't sure if he sees himself as a Jet next season, but will if they address the contract, and if they don't he figures they have other plans. He's leaving the ball in their court....he has been a Jets fan all his life, grew up in NY and playing for them has been a dream. Not sure if he will be in mini camps or training camp, hope it doesn't come to that, and wants them to honour what they said they would do. Before he left OTAs, he spoke to Tanny, and Tanny said the Jets aren't loooking to do anything with his contract this year, so at this point it is between Baker's agent and the team....at this point in his career he wants security and to know where he will spend the rest of his playing days He isn't sure if he will play under these conditions of his contract, because if he is the starter he'll be the 3rd highest paid TE on the team as a starter....he wants to be shown that he is a piece of their future Sees himself being able to fit in with the types of TEs the Jets have because Keller is a diff type of player. He doesnt want to leave, but knows that if it comes to that he can make an impact on another team. He has not looked at what other teams he would like to go to, in his mind he is still a Jet and wants to remain one. Kendall's situation was tough to see, became a media circus, but it is part of the business. He doesn't think the Jets treated Kendall fairly, putting him in the rookie dorm and allowing the team to lose an integral part of the O-line over 1 million dollars. Solomon says the team is poised to make a run, but will it be Chad or Kellen? Baker says its still a close battle, hasn't seen either QB since he left OTAs but the solidified O-line will help both of them. Hasselbeck knows Coles loves Chad and prob prefers to have him in there. Baker says Chad and Coles are attached at the hip and are real tight, but Coles is a professional and won't divide the locker room over the coach's choice. Chad and Kellen get along and don't treat it like a position battle. Baker is saying he also thinks there needs to be a way to keep rookie salaries down. It is not fair to guys that are in the league for 10 years but never really cash in, when a draftee is out of the league in 3 yrs and made more in that time than the 10 year vet did in his whole career. Hasselbeck says players who play better than their contract and want more money look greedy, and guys who underperform and negotiate to take less money look generous, then asks baker how much money he wants. Baker says he just wants to be paid comparably to his numbers, and not be the 3rd highest paid on the team when he is listed as the starter. His contract is clearly undervalued and the team ill not do anythign about it, he is leaving the exact salary he expects up to his agent to figure out. Solomon thanks him for being candid and classy (which he was) and the wish him the best and invite him to come back soon.
Come on man, you're a Jets fan. Stats dont even tell half the story of what Coles does on and off the field. He got a new contract because he produces and sacrifices his body for the organization. He's a team role model, Mangini has said that and praised him over and over, before and after he lashed out in the media.
Im not saying I don't appreciate what Coles does. He is very tough, but GM specifically pointed to production as the reason why coles had his contract looked at. As you all know, Coles didn't get a new contract. The contract was just guaranteed. If he had produced more, he probably would have been given a fat contract...(See Kerry Rhodes for production)
Thanks Jtuds, good interview and nice to see hear some inside from the locker room. I like Baker, but it looks like the team is going to move on.
It's just how events are unfolding. Baker walked out of workouts and has been talking to the press and has already been benched for talking to the press and now he's doing radio interviews. Dude's a goner.
So Baker's pissed when a guy who's drafted high in the first round is in and out of the league in 3 years, but makes more money than he did? As a 3rd rounder Baker had a chance to prove himself after the first contract and command a much larger sum of money IF he had the #'s to back it up. He failed to do so, so why is it any surprise that his wallet is thinner than some of his colleagues? Andre Wadsworth owns car dealerships, Chris Baker's driving around in a Hyundai... The guy should just keep his mouth shut....
I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up getting benched or released. Like I said though, I don't think it will be because he went to the media. I think him leaving practices is a bigger problem as you just mentioned.
At this point, I'm guessing that's exactly what he wants. He's being smart about it. He's claiming he still wants to be a part of the team and just wants his deal redone while badmouthing them at every turn. He has to know that they can't keep him around like that. He'll get traded and come out looking like the good guy in the whole situation. He has a legitimate complaint, but he can't make these demands with 2 years left on his contract and the career he's had.
He also pointed to Stacey Tutt as a guy who performed and reaped rewards by being a part of the team, only to cut the guy the next day.
