WIth that said he was one game from the SB and better than any Qb who has ever worn Jet Green. Even our beloved Joe Willy. That hurt for me to say but it had to be said.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2008/afceast072708.htm Home > The Way We Hear It > Whispers Whispers — AFC East July 27, 2008 ~ ~ ~ It appears as if the Chris Baker fiasco in New York may be approaching an amicable resolution. Baker, who has accused the organization of lying to him regarding renegotiating his contract, reported to camp and was encouraged by the fact that his agent and Jets management were at least talking. When asked if he wanted to be traded if a deal couldn’t be worked out, Baker responded, “Regardless, I want to be here.” I actually have a problem with this, not Baker reporting, but the fact that it is a media WHISPER after they made a big deal about it earlier.
JETS' BAKER SAYS HE'S 'READY TO GO' DISGRUNTLED TIGHT END ANXIOUS TO PRACTICE Jets tight end Chris Baker is limited to sideline work while on the physically unable to perform list.Posted: 6:31 pm July 30, 2008 New York Jets tight end Chris Baker, unhappy with his contract and troubled by an injured back, said today he's ready to start practicing whenever he's cleared. "I've told the strength coach that I feel great, I'm ready to go," Baker said today at training camp. "When they say, 'Okay, he's fully 100 percent, let's go,' then I'll go. Physically, I'm fine now and feel great." Baker, who sat out part of last month's mincamp with the back problem, has said the Jets had promised to renegotiate his contract, which they have not done. It was speculated Baker may have been put on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on the eve of training camp as punishment for his contract stance and vocal displeasure in the media. In an interview transcript released by the Jets today, Baker did not address his contract status, only his desire to return to the field. "Like I said, I'm ready to go," Baker said. "Once I get back on the field I'll be fine. I'm not getting behind or anything, the offense is the same. I feel very comfortable with the offense. I've been in it for three years. I'm ready to go. "I don't think I've ever missed a training camp practice. For me, it's a little bit different to be over here. At the same time, it has definitely helped me out building my body foundation for the rest of the season, being that I wasn't here in the offseason program. I feel good about it." The Jets signed free agent veteran Bubba Franks and traded into the first round of the draft to select Dustin Keller, adding to their tight end position. Baker said he doesn't have a problem with the competition for playing time. "I'm very confident in myself and my abilities," the six-year veteran said. "I know when I get back that I'm going to be on the field. "At the same time, it makes it good to have more depth at the position and to have guys that can do multiple things. It's just more problems for the defense if you have three guys that can be on the field at once. You can have another guy come in and it's a completely different look to the defense. It's a good situation." Keller said he's making progress daily. "Every single rep that I take in practice whether it's in team, seven-on-seven or just individual, I get critiqued by two really good veterans in the league that have been around for a long time," the Purdue product said. "They tell me what I am doing wrong and what I should be doing. I mean it's just great. I feel like I am getting a step up on everybody else."
very good stuff from baker, i am not surprised and he will continue to do well this year i am sure. everyone can now please stop douchebagging the guy and admit he is an important part of this team...
so, because he honored his contract and showed up at camp we are now to consider him an important part of the team. please explain that logic. how does showing up at camp and not acting like an ass make him a better player on the field?
it doesnt he was an important part of the team the entire time everyone on here was blasting him and calling him names. i am sure many of you would have loved for him to come to camp and be a distraction so you could continue to bash him. however he is in camp and saying the right things and will soon be back on the field. what is everyone going to do when he is blocking well as usual and helping this team as the most complete te that the jets have. he was important whether he did the right things or not. but nobody can talk bad about him just due to his contract situation at this point.
I have always thought he was an excellent TE, I just had problems with the way he and his agents were going about this situation. You cannot deny he has great hands and excellent awareness. His separation speed sucks, but we have a weapon for that now and Keller could split wide in a 2 TE set and draw coverage away from the middle to free up Baker. I think Baker is probably going to have a pretty good year if his head is in it after all of this. On the field he is an excellent asset, he just doesn't have stats the make him flashy. And I doubt the locker room followed this as closely as the media portrays it, this is the business side of it... the players tend to separate that for the most part.
i know its a little odd but i completely and wholeheartedly agree with everything you said in that post!
Chris baker has been the ultimate team player (if you watched the games, you'd see it), one of those "bright spots on a bad team." I am very glad to see that he's taking the high road. He's showing a lot of class. (Yes, he's sort of been forced into it, since he was placed on the PUP list, but on the oher hand, look at the Bret Favre mess and tell me that Baker hasn't seen the light and done the right things!) Again, I have to say that I am very happy with the way things are going in camp this year. With the soft schedule the Jets have? I think they might do all right.
