Honestly, if he really thinks he's making less than Franks, he's not just annoying, he is down right retarded. He, or his agent, is playing with numbers to try and prove a point. Franks has a 1 year contract for 1.65 million. Baker has a 4 year contract for 6.6 million, an average of 1.65 million per year. Franks was a 1st round draft pick, and played like one when he wasn't injured. Baker was a 3rd round draft pick, and unfortunately for him, has played like one, and is getting paid like one. I hadn't known he was a Jets fan all his life. That does pull at my heart strings, but this is still a business.
I'd like to see him come back, but the FO can not re-do deals like this and set a bad precedent. If they do then every body in their mother is going to pull this crap, every season. I like Baker but he should man up and honor the contract he signed, does not look like he will.
Here's a good comparison: Brandon Marshall has 2 years left on his contract in Denver. He was one of the top 10 WR in the league last season and far better than any other receivers on the team. He makes about 85% less than Brandon Stokley, 3rd on the team. The Broncos also just signed Samie Parker to an equivalent contract. Where are Marshall's complaints? Where are his radio appearances?
I'm a CB fan and take issue with those who question his performance and him having to prove himself. he is just another talented player that my nyjets have used up and want to throw away. his numbers are low because he is asked to be a blocker, not a route runner. Since he came into the league both regines underutilized him as receiver. Now when you look at his highlight film who has been a better tight end with the most exciting catches since Mickey Shuler. Chris Baker. better hands, him. he has done everything the team asked. If anything he wants security since he knows that his talent has been wasted and he unfairly predjudiced (not in the racial sense. talent wise). Dude can be one of the premier TE's in the league in a system that utilizes the TE as a major receiving option. It's like sacrifing your dreams and finances for your wife only to find her excapading with some other dude in a shiney car living with his moms. You did all you were supposed to do sacrificing even sometimes against your will. But you did everything for the good of the team. Sacrificed career dreams, financial goals. Only to look like a sucker in the end and kick yourself for being stupid. Sometimes you do more damage to yourself by not being just a little bit selfish. Dude just wants security.
The time to be selfish is when your contract is up. Sorry, I don't feel bad for our 40 catch TE. Either negotiate some incentives in your contract to protect yourself from "overplaying your contract" or suck it up.
Thanks Jtuds :up: Baker has now broken the circle of trust and gone has spoken the Kendall word. This has kendall II all over it, and how funny that it is happening just before rookie TC. Blah Blah Blah....Baker done everything asked Blah Blah Blah.... Can we PLEASE move on one way or the other. I reckon he'll be gone, 3rd rounder anyone?
Contracts are all about numbers, in terms of the contract itself and the players stats which dictate the value of the contract. He is getting paid 650,000 because his numbers indicate thats how much he deserves. You don't get paid for the "yea, but" part of your career. He's going to have to deal with it.
He probably feels stupid for signing a new deal and then the team goes out and finds more talent at his position. I'm sick of these guys that just get content with being the starter. If he can't stand competition at the position, I wouldn't want him on the team regardless of how good his hands are. I can understand what he's doing from a career standpoint because he's probably nervous that he'll get outperformed and wants to go to a team that is shallow at his position, but this situation does nothing for the team but create problems.
41 recs, 409 yds- BOTH career highs. That doesn't deserve an extension. Coles had the low #s b/c he was HURT. He has always been a very productive player for us(and Washington). He didn't have 1,00 yds in '05 but that may have been the best season of his career playing mostly w/ a 4th string QB and a team full of backups as we were so beat up. He is one of the best WRs in team history and he certainly deserved a guarantee more than Baker who just had the opportunity 2 years ago to be a FA and no one else wanted him.
All of this discussion of Coles is neglecting a key point: his contract wasn't extended OR increased. The last two years were guaranteed. For a guy certain to be on the team the next two seasons, it was hardly a questionable move. Coles had wanted more years, but he came back to what the Jets offered. Big difference between that situation and this one.
I don't think Baker is asking for more years, he has 4 remaining. He wants a higher base salary for each year, which his stats don't dictate he deserves. 41 Rec., 409 yds warrants the contract he has.
He actually only has 2 years remaining on a 4 year contract. Aside from that, I agree he doesn't deserve to renegotiate right now. His argument is that he's done everything that has been asked of him. In other words, "It's not my fault they haven't involved me more in the offense". If he has another year like this one, come back and renegotiate next offseason. Plenty of players are underpaid at this point in their contracts. It's the nature of an escalating salary cap and yearly escalating contract values.
Where do you guys keep getting this 4 year/6.6 million contract from? Can I get a link? Rotoworld still says 3 years/5.4 million=1.8 million/year
I didn't see this article posted yet: http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2008/04/agent_again_says_jets_should_t.html The agent for disgruntled Jets tight end Chris Baker reiterated that his client should be traded after the club drafted Purdue tight end Dustin Keller (30th overall). Baker, a six-year veteran, is coming off a career-year with 41 catches and wants a new deal. He's scheduled to earn $683,500 in 2008. "If the Jets feel like they've drafted Chris' replacement, it seems like it would make sense for them to try and trade him and get some value," said Jonathan Feinsod, who has already requested a trade for his client. The Jets yesterday released TE Joe Kowalewski and FB Stacy Tutt.
if he didnt just sign a new contract in december i would some what understand were he's coming from, but since he did he needs to honor it
Ah, i didn't know it was 2 remaining. I see his defense, because with Keller those receptions may drop to low 30s or even the 20s if this kid is the next Dallas Clark. He wants the money and years now before he is expendable. If I were him i wouldn't ask for a raise, but to tack on more years. With escalating cap numbers i can see why he wants more money, but his numbers don't warrant it. Baker is in the plans, so he's just going to have to suck it up. Franks is here for red zone and short yardage only, and to mentor Keller and help Baker. I think that we will see alot of 2 TE sets this year, giving the Jets a punishing running game and the ability to run the middle of the field and keep safeties honest in the middle, maybe freeing up a 1 on 1 match-up on the outside with Coles or Cotch. I would like our QBs to be able to throw to the sidelines effectively if the WR is only be covered by one DB on out routes, or be able to hit a guy like Coles deep on a 1 on 1.
Honestly, the best thing he can do to guarantee a contract extension next year is to block well this season. Franks isn't the TE he once was, and we know Keller isn't big on blocking. The FO will take care of him if he again does what's expected of him in the passing game and improves in run support.
I don't see the FO re-negotiating Chris Baker's contract again after the 12Dec07 announcement of a restructured deal. There hasn't even been a season yet, and he wants to change it? Next year, when he again "does what they want him to do well and without complaints", then he will be rewarded as the "good doobie" that he sees himself as.
