Look, I know J-MAC had a terrible season last year, but so did every single other player on the team. He had a good season in 2004 with Chad and in 2003 with Mcnair. I know he is not liked by Mangini but who cares that much if he is struggling in practice and the preseason games. Has cotchery really showed us that he is a legitimate #2 yet? I know people wanted to trade him for Duckett but getting Barlow for a 4th round pick was a much better deal. At worst, McCareins is a solid #3 and if we traded him our receiving core would be extremely thin. If Chad is healthy, look for JMAC to have a solid season.
Eh, there was a reason why other players on the team under-performed last year... For example, the running backs were lousy because of the old/beat up offensive line. McCareins just dropped a lot of passes. In fact, he was in the Top 10/Top 5 in the NFL in dropped balls. Plus he's looked out of shape and slower according to many reports from camp.
This is true, but it might not be a bad idea to hold onto him for now. You never know with injuries. Also, players can thrive in different programs, and I'd like to see him reach his potential. I'm afraid though, his window is closing fast, and if he doesn't produce while he's on the field, he won't play anyway with Mangini.
If we can get something for him, draft pick, NT etc, I would do it. We have a good group of receivers with Coles Cotchery, Smith, Dwight and Newhouse. All of these guys were ready for the season, don't take plays off and CATCH THE BALL.
Where do you have evidence that Smith and Newhouse can catch the ball? From one preseason game? Let us see them catch the ball in a real game before we say we are comfortable with them as the #4 and #5 receivers.
Not sure if we have a choice besides cutting him on whether to give up on him or not. Lets face it, we traded for him because of potential...not because he had a history of being even a good receiver. That was the gamble. What he showed his first season was that he has the ability to catch passes in traffic..but that went bye bye last year...could have been the lack of a qb throwing to him. I would be shocked..shocked..if a team traded for him. We gambled on potential...the potential label is a goner. He will either be able to save his career with the Jets..or will be an eventual cut next year. This is a make or break year for him.
Smith and Newhouse have been getting some good write-ups in camp. I am so far off the McCariens bandwagon it is not even funny. I've given him the benfit of the doubt. He has been consistently mediocre: 2003: 47 catches; 813 yds; 7 TDs 2004: 56 catches; 770 yds; 4 TDs 2005: 43 catches; 713 yds; 2 TDs Young players are supposed to get better with age...not worse.
You cannot really look deeply into his 2005 stats. He was playing under 5,000 different qb's who all sucked.
I've given up on Justin...and based on the reports Coles, Jerrico, Dwight, B. Smith, and Newhouse would appear to be enough...in all honestly McCarriens wasn't great before and hasn't taken the next step to at least be an adept #2
If the guy isn't responsible enough to keep in shape in the offseason, then the guy isn't worth keeping on the roster.
I'm getting sick of waiting and not giving up on players. McCareins, Baker and after this season most likely Jolley. I want em' outta here.
That still doesn't excuse the fact he dropped many easily catchable footballs. He has stone hands and hasn't shown a lick of that breakaway speed he supposedly possessed back in Tennessee. Not only is his talent in question, his heart is as well. Even though last year was a lost cause, he gave up on too many plays. There were many instances in which he would just jog out his route or stop altogether instead of hustling to catch up to a pass or make a dive. Some of those plays were manageable if he just showed some effort. Watching that made me sick. Now he shows up to camp out of shape and in Mangini's doghouse? I say he should be kept on a very short leash, if kept at all.
