Let me take a counter position to all you "fiscally concerned" Jets fans on here: What happens if we pay him the extra million, and on top of that let the team know that if you perform on a high level, and increase your numbers by a certain percentage (~25% or so) then they too will have their contract reworked within reason. Would more Jets start showing up to work? Would we get an extra effort and umph out of each play as we exploit the greed within human nature? Would ex-Jets like Justin McCareins catch the ball when it came their way? (You guys remember our friend Justin McCareins, don't you?) What if...
Another nail in the coffin. Ya gotta just win baby if you want to play the iron handed dictator. Otherwise the players slack off a bit cuz they hate you and you're not winning anyway and guess who gets fired in the end?
yep, when you win then everyone shuts up including those who incessantly call for the collective head of the CS and FO.
Did I miss something? Did Baker make the Pro Bowl last year? Last year was Baker's breakout year and these are the tight ends who had more yards: Tony Gonzalez Jason Witten Kellen Winslow Antonio Gates Chris Cooley Owen Daniels Jeremy Shockey Dallas Clark Donald Lee Heath Miller Tony Scheffler Desmond Clark Vernon Davis Alge Crumpler Zach Miller Randy McMichale Bo Scaife So in his stellar breakout season 17 TEs had more yards than Baker. So what does that make him? About average to me. And yes the offensive line stunk but Coles was injured so the Jets should have gone to the TE more. I'm sure you'll come up with some other argument as to how good Baker was but the fact is he's just an average tight end. Teams do not stay up at night trying to figure out how to stop Chris Baker. I doubt he's ever more than an afterthought. Have a good day.
Mr. Baker signed a contract. Mr. Baker also accepted an accelerated payment at the end of last season. Mr. Baker should honor his word, and let his performance speak for itself. Now his actions on the bicycle at OTAs have made this a done deal. What are you going to do for us now, Mr. Baker, to justify your continued career?
Bad argument. Baker didn't have more yards, because the plays to him were not called. As the other poster clearly noted, Baker was asked to block more. If his number was called more, I have no doubt that he would have had many more yards. But to call him average, is foolish and shows that you just did not watch the games. The last few years, Baker has been exceptional and has done everything that the team asked of him. And you know what, he gave 100% when he did it. It's easy to blast him for his complaining about his pay, but please don't overlook what a great addition he has been to the Jets. I hope he continues to shine wearing green and white, and I hope the Jets work something out with him, so that there's no animosity off the field. But animosity or not, I want him to remain a Jet. He is way too valuable to get rid of or trade away, especially when our receiving core is so thin.
i can't see how anyone can be happy about this. i like Baker, and think he's one of the more under rated Jets. wish we could work this mess out.
Are you Baker's agent?? Or his brother?? Or his wife??? So much praise for so little performance. I would rather lose Baker than: Ferguson Faneca Mangold Moore Woody Coles Cotchery Jones Washington Clemens Pennington Jenkins Ellis Coleman Harris Pace Gholston Barton Reavis Rhodes Nugent by my count, that's 21. I'm sure there's more players that I would keep over him. Let's face it - in his last two seasons, he has averaged 35 catches for 350 yards and 3 TDs. That is not even average for a tight end. Franks can give the Jets that and Keller adds a receiving dimension that Baker can only dream about. Let's face it, Baker's best play as a Jet was an incomplete pass against the Browns. He should shut up and honor his contract. I don't see that he gives any more effort than any other player on the list above except Ellis. Sorry, I'm not buying this Baker belongs in green or bust stuff. I'm with management on this one.
That's an extra $45 million in payroll for all game day players on the roster. How in the world do the Jets fit under the cap paying out that much extra money????????
We have Coles and Cotch. Coles is getting on in years and had a decent injury, so who knows if he's 100%. Cotch looks very good, but not a superstar. Is Brad Smith a 3? I like him, but I don't know that he's a 3. Then, you have some guys that are untested. Maybe one will come out of pre-season looking good. Then, you have the rookie TE. He looks good. He can't really block. And can he play right away? So yes, our receiving core is very thin. Some of you think that Chris Baker could be traded to another team just like that, without the Jets feeling it during the season. But if you think it through, and you go back and watch the tape and see how hard he plays and how consistent he is and how he blocks when he is told to do so, you'll come to the same conclusion that I have -- the Jets need Chris Baker. Whether you guys want to admit it or not, he is valuable to this team, and he is a big part of the Jets. I also want to say that, while I think he got a raw deal with management, I don't necessarily think that management did the wrong thing by not giving Baker more money. The Jets had/have other needs, and it was a business decision. Not a great one for Baker, but he has to live with the fact that pro football is a business, and sometimes you come out on the short end of the stick. Anyway, he had his say to the media. I think it's time that he gets off his rear, closes his lips, and gets on the field to play.
I really wish both sides would come to terms already... Baker and Keller would be one hell of a 2 TE set. Looks like Baker will never play another down for the Jets again though.
this is a good message sent to the rest of the team, the mangenius is showing his players, its his way or the highway, and i like it. baker just signed this deal in december of 07, yes 07, so the hell w/him. w/keller being a pass catching te, and franks whos getting lost in all this, is a solid te who can block and catch. who the hell uses 3 te's anyways? good ridance baker, and welcome back eric [soprano] mangenius
RedWhiteBlue&Green, Stop defending Baker, by no means is he "good". He's decent at best. He has a contract he signed, now be a man and play it out. And what is it with you having his back as if you are in bed with him. The guy is ok, and nothing more. So listen to what everyone else has to say and open your eyes, we all can't be wrong!!!!!
The plays to him were not called because he wasn't open. The Jets have been looking for a receiving tight end for years. If he was the answer the team wouldn't hassle over salary and they wouldn't have spent a first round pick on another tight end. The guy was okay and a solid worker, but that's it.
I never said how much each would get. I suppose each player already has incentive clauses in thier contracts, so I may have made a moot point. If not, they should add incentive clauses for more players.
I've come to realize that Franks is the same player as Baker when healthy. Hell he's better. A better blocker and an amazing TE in the Red Zone. Baker's problem was always separation and route running, and never was a threat in the end zone his whole career. He wasn't always asked to block, Franks did a lot of blocking too, but Franks was able to also be a hell of a TE when asked. Baker has great hands and does go the extra mile, but when someone like Franks is signed, Baker is now replaced. Especially after a whiny holdout like he's having now. The Jets felt the Kendall loss since they did not have any replacement for him. Baker can be replaced by two guys. He was loved by Jets fans, but completely unknown to the NFL because he was simply a fan favorite, which means you're the mediocre player who gives 120% and the fans notice and love you for it. A guy who can start as a 3rd round pick for 4 years is pretty valuable. This statement is more love of Chris Baker than seeing the overall picture. I was this way too, until the FO acquired depth at the position and Baker is now a complaining douche. I'm thinking a 3rd rounder for him if it comes to trading him. This is highly contradicting.
He also needs to stop parking his Bentley in the parking spot marked "Team President" and then refusing to move it. If I were the GM, I would have had it immediately towed to the local junkyard.
If $1.6 million a year over 4 years is a raw deal, where do I sign up? He is paying paid what he is worth. How exactly did he get a raw deal? And why do you believe Baker and an agent? Think about it. They both want one of two things - more money or a trade. And how best to get it - follow the Kendall play book - complain, whine, and criticize. As for being one of the "best" Jets - if that is so, we are in deep trouble. Virtually all the Jets played hard for Mangini last year. Not well, but hard. Playing hard in the NFL doesn't get you more money. It is Baker's job to play hard and block "when he is told to." As for his alleged talent and "break out year," think about this. Both Baker and Heath Miller had the same number of passes thrown their way last season - 61. Miller caught 47 passes for 566 yards and 7 TDs. Baker caught 41 passes for 401 and 3 TDs. Miller caught 77% of those thrown his way, Baker 67%. Miller averaged 9.3 yards per catch, Baker 6.7. If there is one position the Jets clearly need to upgrade, it is TE. There are dozens of TEs that are better than Baker: Gates Whitten Winslow Gonzalez Clark Cooley Scheffler Miller Heap Davis Crumpler Lee Watson Shockey (baggage included) Daniels Olsen Smith Z. Miller McMichael Desmond Clark Baker is in a class with guys like Eric Johnson - who just lost his job to Shockey Mercedes Lewis Marcus Pollard John Carlson Alex Smith Leonard Pope David Martin Jeff King Would you pay any of those guye over $2 million to play for the Jets? If so, Baker is your guy then. There is a reason the Jets signed Franks and drafted Keller. They need more than 30 catches, 300 yards, and 2 TDs out of the TE position. Baker needs to shut up and play.
