He's a solid player, nothing more, nothing less. I'd prefer if the JETS were able to keep him on the roster as he does have good hands. He obviously over values himself, and will screw himself in the process. His actions are bullshit, and is reaping what he has sown, but I would like to see an amicable resolution as I don't want to put too much faith in a rookie's hands.
Without Baker, we're probably going to see a rotation of Franks and Keller. Keller is going to be lining up all over the place, so he should be able to create mismatches and put up decent numbers as a rookie.
I agree, I like Chris but all this bitching, moaning and whining is stupid, the best way to beat a person/people is to outclass them and to make them pay is to be better than they expect you to be.
The Giants have a veteran void at TE now with Shockey gone. They've got 5 "kids" (as Coughlin calls them in today's paper) jockeying for the position in TC. If their (the Giants) camp doesn't produce a "startable" TE and/or good depth, it's possible Tanny may be getting a call from the Giants. Now, if we can get a mid-rounder for Baker and the Giants stink up their division this year as much as I think they will, it could turn out to be a decent pick. Just speculating as to one possible home for Baker.
I say leave the jackass on the PUP list all year. That sends a clear and distinct message to everyone in the organization: "Enough is enough".
I never understood why the Jets should consider trading Baker? He is under contract for the next two years. The Jets hold all the cards. As others have pointed out: to trade Baker is sending a signal to all the other players that one must only follow the Kendall school of whining enough and they can get whatever they want (a trade or a raise). I appreciated the FO/CS taking a firm position in this case.
I agree 100% w/this & I consider myself to be a Baker fan more than a Baker anti-fan. My opinion was that this guy was a victim to a horrible passing game. I really wonder what he could have become (or not become) with a passing game of 3800 yards+ during the season. Granted, he doesnt get the best separation, but Baker has good hands. But our FO & CS are heading down the right path. We need to put a stop to this annual ritual of some player "unhappy w/my contract, so therefore I will become a distraction at TC like Pete Kendall did & get traded like Pete Kendall did."
And how does this benefit the organization? Do you have any firm basis for saying you know the organization has treated Baker on the up and up? If not, how will this approach change things in the future?
It keeps clowns like Kendall and Baker from acting like this to get whatever they want. They HAVE to take a stand and not give in to this type of behavior or anyone who wants out will simply hire this douche agent and follow the script.
LC is the only player on the squad last year that had more TD's than Baker. TD's win games, there is something to be said about that.
It has been sayed from both parties that they had to use him in more blocking situations, then passing. He has made some amazing catches and some clutch plays for us when his number has been called. He works hard and has improved every year, what more do people want? Your entire arguement is based off coincidence, nothing more. Those things are just something that people have been saying to spin this into something that sounds more fitting for this situation and the FO. Nothing more. Franks has seen his better days. I am not strung up on him and I'm definitely not expecting a whole lot from him at his age. I don't think Franks could hold a candle to CB at this point, this does not mean I think that CB has always been better, only time will tell I guess. In turn, I don't think that either TE can replace, Baker. I think this will be the exact same thing to the Kendall situation. The right side of our line is still the weak link on the OL, Baker will be a huge asset there still. The only way this will work is if your theory is true with, Franks. Which I am on the fence with, I just don't think he will produce like, Baker. Keller will be a huge mismatch for other defenses but until he can learn how to block, Baker is still going to be needed until Keller can mold into someone who can do all that is asked from this FO. Blocking is obviously one of those things. Overall, the depth is not as good as you may think it is. If we do get rid of Baker, you'll see. I think he has also carried this dilema out to long but I also believe he had a right to voice his oppinion on the issue. The difference is that he should have understood the bussiness side of it by now, it sucks, but atleast you are still getting paid. I don't like the way either party is handling their bussiness and you would like to think they would just end this debacle asap. Apparently drama fuels this FO, so carry onward.
I'm not sure why I need anything other than the circumstantial evidence provided by the facts that: 1) Baker's agent is the same agent as Pete Kendall, who pulled the same crap last year. 2) Baker is breaking team policy to keep all issues in-house and never yap to the media. 3) He's an average at-best overall player (a good pass-catcher, and poor blocker) asking for more money. 4) He's flat out lying regarding being underpaid, since he got his money fronted to him last year, and it averages out better than Franks' money. 5) When he last tested the FA market, he didn't get so much as a bite. He basically came back to the Jets with his tail between his legs and took what he could get. It benefits the organization because we don't utilize the 2-TE sets we thought we'd get from Shottenheimer. On top of that, Baker is not nearly as good as he thinks he is. In addition to the fact that we've now got two TEs to play, making him expendable. To give in to his childish bullshit now is to say that the Kendalls and Bakers get what they want, with little to offer in return. Was our line worse not having Kendall? Yes. Would it have still sucked last year? Yes. Will TE be a weaker position without Baker? Perhaps. Will it be significant enough to warrant allowing this behavior in the future? Doubtful. Let's also not forget that in a few years Revis will come up for negotiations again. To tell his agent now that this BS is okay is basically telling Revis to start deciding where he wants to move to in a couple years. F Baker.
In 2006...when we had a relatively "better" OL than in 2007, Chris Baker had 300 total yards and 4 TD's. I guess the CS is to blame for not taking advantage of Baker then and not "calling his number", since he didn't have to stay back and block more often.
Great response. I would add I find it highly doubtful that all these alleged verbal agreements were made. It would take some pretty dumb management to do so and whateve they are, the Jets management isn't dumb. It's absurd to speculate what was actually said and I appreciate the fact the Jets don't argue this crap in the media. It could have been a coach saying if you perform well the money will take care of itself, and the player takes that to mean he's going to get a new contract if he has a decent year. Who knows? The point remains Baker has no leverage because he's really not that good. His time in FA should have been a clue.
Again, we have no receiving core. Coles, who was recently injured. Cotch, who's exceptional. Franks, who is old and has seen his better days. Keller, who has yet to play in the NFL. And Baker, who, as others have said, has great hands. Why you guys say Baker is expendable is beyond me. Is he the best in the league? No. But we're not the Yankees or Mets, and there's a sallary cap. We have what we have. If we lose Baker, we aren't left with much. About Jets management... I like Woody and company a lot, but they are not without fault. Look how Lamont Jordan was strung along. Remember? Granted, it was good to have him as a back-up, but the team was not being honest with him. And although I think it was Kendall's fault, the Kendall situation was not handled well by the Jets. And before that, there was the coaching staff with Mangini, when Mangini was first hired. The Jets didn't handle that well either. With all that in mind, I buy Baker's story, and think that he has every right to criticize management, even publicly. I didn't think the same for Kendall. I was calling for his release. But if I had to do it over, I would have said to keep him, locker room problem or not. It turned out that we needed him, and today we need Baker. I am not Baker's friend or family member or agent, but I respect him and like him as a player. Again, I'm not saying the Jets did anything wrong. Business is business. But I am saying that Baker should be respected by Jets fans more than what is being witnessed on this message board. He has gotten better every year, and he does play with intensity and gives it 100%. Many players don't. And no, many Jets last season laid down and let the other teams run over them. I don't like whiners, so I hope he shuts his trap, but I love his play, and I hope to see him on the field as a Jet soon.
wtf? Coles is a very good receiver, as is Cotch. You don't subtract Coles from the mix because he had an injury last season. Franks was born in 1978, Baker was born in 1979, yet you call Franks old. Franks has hands just as good as Baker (if not better) and is better at getting open. He's also far more accomplished. Why do you think Baker is our entire receiving corps? Coles + Cotch + Stucky + Franks + Keller will be JUST FINE without Chris frikin Baker. I really don't understand where people come up with some of these things. edit: Do you watch the rest of the NFL? Have you seen what top notch TE's do? Baker really isn't anything special man, honestly.
So in a season with a poor OL he got the most catches and yards in his career by having less calls go his way? I don't see the logic there. He was asked to stay in to block but our line couldn't protect the QB at all. This makes Baker a good blocker? I don't see the logic there either. He's an average at best blocker, has below average speed, has a very difficult time getting seperation, but has good hands. Yes, that is what you call average. He signed his contract extension in December of 2007. A couple of months later Franks is signed to a one year deal for the same money. So now 3 months after signing his deal he starts bitching, and lying to the press on top of that. He lied about how much he was making. He lied about what Tanny had promised him. He signed his current contract 8 months ago. No football has been played since the last time he put the ink on the paper. It would be unheard of for an average player to get 2 contracts in 1 offseason. Baker is completely expendable. Franks is a better blocker and also has good hands. When healthy he is a pro bowl player. Keller has the speed and hands to change games in 1 play. Cya pal. If you had kept this behind closed doors you probably could have got a trade to be a backup somewhere else.
