Nothing we didn't already know, but still worth the read: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1205732101247650.xml&coll=1 Most Jets Ready To Get Going Today Monday, March 17, 2008 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff New Jets left guard Alan Faneca said a sense of urgency was in the air the moment he set foot in Weeb Ewbank Hall two weeks ago to sign his contract. Twenty to 25 players had been rehabilitating and working out for weeks. Coach Eric Mangini finally conceded he needed a 350-pound space-eater to anchor his 3-4 defense. General manager Mike Tannenbaum put his reputation on the line by going on a $140 million-plus shopping spree. And owner Woody Johnson was front and center in the recruitment of linebacker Calvin Pace, talking to him on the phone and making his private helicopter available to give Pace a tour of New York City and the Jets' new training facility in Florham Park. "No one is happy with 4-12," said Tannenbaum, referring to the Jets' record last season. The Jets begin the arduous task of erasing that bitter memory today, when they begin their offseason program at Hofstra University. Free-agent prizes Faneca, Pace and right tackle Damien Woody and newly acquired nose tackle Kris Jenkins will be among those attending the voluntary workouts. Nose tackle Dewayne Robertson and quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are also expected. One player who won't attend, however, is veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who is seeking a new contract. "We encourage all of our players to come, but this is voluntary," Tannenbaum said. The Jets are eager to get Jenkins in the program. He weighed nearly 400 pounds at the end of last season and the Jets want him at around 360 pounds. He didn't participate in the Carolina Panthers' offseason program last season because he wanted to be traded. "This is a partnership between us and Kris," said Tannenbaum, who nonetheless inserted weight provisions in Jenkins' contract that allow the team to weigh him 10 times per season. "We had a great meeting with him and his agent. We got to know Kris as a person. We're starting this relationship with a clean slate." Although the Jets have come close to trading Robertson -- an ill fit in the 3-4 scheme -- twice in the past three weeks, he's expected to attend, in part, because he's due a $3 million roster bonus in June. Tannenbaum said he has had multiple conversations with Robertson and feels he's a good player who could end up remaining a Jet. At quarterback, Pennington and Clemens will begin their battle for the starting job. Tannenbaum said the playing field will be level and the best player will play. Coles, whom the organization wants to attend the workouts, is upset. He has said the organization "lied" for the past two seasons about giving him a long-term deal. He has recently told teammates that he'll see them in July at training camp. Coles hasn't budged in his demand for a new deal, although the Jets took the unusual step of offering to guarantee the final two years ($11 million) of his contract. But he says that is money he's going to earn anyway. The club has denied his request to seek a trade on his own. "I have all the respect in the world for Laveranues," Tannenbaum said. "We had a good conversation a couple of weeks ago. The dialogue continues." As the Jets welcome several veterans with extensive r?sum?s, Tannenbaum insists the team's philosophy of building through the draft and re-signing its own players hasn't changed. "The Nick Mangolds, D'Brickashaw Fergusons, Darrelle Revises, David Harrises, Leon Washingtons and Brad Smiths are the nucleus of our team," Tannenbaum said. "And it's not like we traded away our draft choices. We have four picks in the first four rounds (first, second and two fourths). "We were just in good shape cap-wise and saw some areas we could get better in through free agency. And these are players we expect will help us over the next three or four years, not just one year. We're sticking to our plan." Note: An official announcement is expected today that the Jets have agreed to terms with veteran TE Bubba Franks, as first reported in The Star-Ledger yesterday.
glad to hear they're ready to get going. fu#k coles. send him to cincinatti, with a 4th rounder, for chad johnson, and a #3
Coles That's bull. This guy is a warrior who gets the crap klicked out of him and takes more pounding than any player on this. Now I don't agree w/ signing him too much beyond his currrent 2 year deal b/c his body simply can't hold up. But show some respect for the what the guy has done and continues to do.
IF he telling the truth about the Jets lying to him then he has every right to be upset and I don't blame him.
Coles is going nowhere. If the Jets thought that poorly of him they wouldn't offer to guarantee his last two years AND deny him the ability to shop himself, like they let Vilma do. The Jets recognize that Coles is an asset to the Jets, but are protecting themselves in case he turns into a major injury case, in which case 2 years of gauranteed money isn't so bad as a long term contract is.
The fact that Brad Smith was considered part of "the nucleus" of the team, is a little worrsome to me. If it were up to me..he'd be gone.
This "Warrior" on the field is a cancer off the field. Remember his famous free-agency leaving for Washington - and then complaining and whining the whole time with the Redskins. Then he wants to come back, but when he does he thinks he's the GM... ...I've had it with Coles...
I said "right now".I have always liked him until he started running his mouth.He signed the contract hes under now.Live with it.
Brad Smith gone? Are you nuts? The guy is going to be a really damn good WR - and has proven to be a leader and athlete. I like everything about him and expect him to step up this season...
Most of us have tremendous respect for Coles and what he's done, but that should go both ways. Here we go again with this "lying" bullshit... shades of Pete Kendall. Both of these players use similar tactics to get their own way. They ramp up the hype in the spring and recall conversations they've had with management in which they've said they want more money, which is usually met with Tannenbaum or others saying, "We'll address that in the spring, Lavernanues," or some such other statement which neither affirms or denies a willingness to cave in to whatever the demands are. Then, with selective recall, players like this regurgitate the conversation as if management "promised" everything they wanted and is now reniging and "lying." Respect goes both ways. You don't call your employer a "liar" over business negotiations that are ongoing and then expect respect in return. Two different things... business and what takes place on the field. I respect Coles for what he's done on the field, but have no respect for him whatsoever in his business-negotiating tactics, which, in my mind, are patently dishonest.
This Coles guy is a total cancer, hobbling out there week after week on a bum leg on a 4-12 team and providing a consistent safety valve for our quarterbacks. I have nothing but disdain for his sure hands and the big hits he's taken over the middle. Moreover, his legitimate criticism of Mangini training camp and respectable dialog with the coach as the team's unquestioned leader the last few years have been so terrible that he's been met with nothing but the harshest glowing praise by both Tannenbaum and Mangini. What a turd! It will be the height of hypocrisy if the Jets, for all their talk about hard work, character, and honesty, dump Coles after giving big money contracts to the likes of Kris Jenkins and Damien Woody. -X-
Loved Coles when he originally played for us then he left us for more money I hated that. I would have rather kept Santana Moss because he was more explosive in my eyes. I say get rid of him and draft 1 wideout and pick up Robert Ferguson. Thats my 2 cents
The way Bradway initially handled the Coles situation that off-season was totally amateur and was an early indicator of his sheer incompetence when it came to negotiating contracts. Bradway essentially gave Coles, a 25 year old who had incredible chemistry with the quarterback and had worked to turn himself from a special teamer to a number one the SAME contract he had given an aging, increasingly ineffective Wayne Chrebet. Moreover, he rested on his laurels(we know now the guy was never interested in the hard work that came with the job) and allowed the Falcons to set the market with an absurd contract offer for Peerless Price. Then he tendered Coles a first round pick when he could have easily given him a one and three and bought himself some time to negotiate. It was an abject disaster. Moreover, it was so bad and such an embarrassment that the Jets dumped a monster contract on Dewayne Robertson months later to avoid the embarrassment of a hold out in its wake. -X-
Rob Ferguson re-signed with the Vikes. Santana Moss is more explosive, but he's a deep threat. Pennington wouldn't have been able to utilize Moss the way he's supposed to be used. Cotchery, Brad Smith, and a rookie or two would be nice to see in mini-camps. Coles is bitching his way out of New York, and I don't have a problem with it at all.
so Cincy would trade the better receiver and the better draft choice for the lesser receiver and lesser draft choice? please expand upon the logic of your proposal. why not Coles and a 6th for Johnson and Cincy's first?
That was then and this is now. And I don't even know what relevance Bradway has in all this either. The NFL is a now situation, everyone knows that, including Coles. What can you do for me today and tomorrow? Contracts aren't given out on what you did 4 years ago, otherwise Pennington's contract should be revisted and he should be offered $60 million. I thought Tannenbaum showed exceptionally good faith by making Coles' contract guaranteed for $11 million for now. There have also been ongoing negotiations with Coles after that, which tells me Tannenbaum is trying to secure a happy medium with Coles. He certainly doesn't deserve being called a "liar" because of this. He's a team guy on the field and a team disruption off the field. My only surprise is that Tannenbaum hasn't given Coles permission to seek a trade on his own. That might turn out pretty well for the Jets if we were to be offered enough.
Or, more to the point, doing what he's paid to do! Yeah, your right, reward the guy some more and set an even more horrible precedent for unhappy players to bitch to renegotiate. LC - act like a leader/captain...
